Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Kung Fu League (2018) Review

"Kung Fu League" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Kung Fu Alliance Director: Jeff Lau Chun Wai Cast: Vincent Chiu Man Chuk, Dennis To, Danny Chan, Andy On, Bruce Leung Siu Lung Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall Jeff Lau is one of those directors that audiences either love or hate, with the camp you fall into being largely dependent on a tolerance (or perhaps enjoyment) of his everything and the kitchen sink approach to filmmaking. Sure, … Continue reading

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Leg Fighters, The | aka Invincible Kung Fu Legs (1980) Review

The Leg Fighters | Blu-ray (VCI Entertainment)

AKA: Invincible Kung Fu Legs Director: Lee Tso Nam Cast: Ha Kwong-Li, Dorian Tan Tao-Liang, Peng Kang, Wang Yao, Lui Wan-Biu, Chin Lung Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall After 1978 gave us The Zodiac Fighters and 1979 delivered Five Superfighters, in 1980 it was the turn of The Leg Fighters to kick off the new decade. A Taiwanese indie, at the helm was journeyman director Lee Tso Nam, a … Continue reading

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Zeta: When the Dead Awaken (2019) Review

"Zeta: When the Dead Awaken" Theatrical Poster

Director: Amanda Iswan Writer: Amanda Iswan Cast: Cut Mini, Dimas Aditya, Jeff Smith, Edo Borne, Joshua Pandelaki, Willem Bevers, Revaldo, Natasha Gott, Chicco Kurniawan, Atiq Rachman Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall Indonesia may have put itself on the map over the last decade thanks to its martial arts offerings, with the likes of The Raid and its sequel making an impact on action movie fans across the world, however … Continue reading

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Double World (2020) Review

"Double World" Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chen Cast: Henry Lau, Mark Cheng, Peter Ho, Bobo Hu Ming, Jiang Luxia, Him Law, Lin Chen-Han, Xiuyu Lin, Minghu Xu, Ningjiang Zhang, Li Xi-Yu, Wang Yan-Long, Du Xiao-Fan Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall In the mid-2010’s it felt like you couldn’t get away from the big budget fantasy blockbuster in China, with a constant stream of CGI spectacle filled extravaganzas dominating the screens. Zhong Kui: … Continue reading

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One Night in Bangkok (2020) Review

One Night in Bangkok | DVD (Lionsgate)

Director: Wych Kaosayananda Cast: Mark Dacascos, Kane Kosugi, Vanida Golten, Prinya Intachai, Michael S. New, Charlie Ruedpokanon, Alice Tantayanon, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Julie Condra, Shivam Pawa, Siripon Yuktadatta Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2019 Thai director Wych Kaosayananda had somewhat of an epiphany with his feature The Driver. Using nothing more than a stationery car, a green screen, and an action star who’s been off the boil for … Continue reading

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Legacy of Lies (2020) Review

"Legacy of Lies" Teaser Poster

Director: Adrian Bol Producer: Marco Robinson Cast: Scott Adkins, Honor Kneafsey, Andrea Vasiliou, Anna Butkevich, Victor Solé, Matt Mitler, Yuliia Sobol, Martin McDougall, Chee Leon Sua Running Time: 101 min.  By Paul Bramhall The latest Scott Adkins vehicle Legacy of Lies has had an interesting journey to the screen. A passion project of Dutch director and writer Adrian Bol and producer Marco Robinson, it was originally planned that Robinson would … Continue reading

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Ninja Over the Great Wall (1987) Review

"Ninja Over the Great Wall" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Fire on the Great Wall Director: Bruce Le Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Li Ning, Yu Hai, Leung Yim, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Cheng Yuen Man, Xue Bai, Gao Jian-Hua, Ma Zheng, Yang Li-Xin Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall After spending 10 years playing various incarnations of Bruce Lee within the infamous Bruceploitation genre, Huang Kin-Lung (or Bruce Le as he’s more commonly known) directed what could be … Continue reading

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Boyka: Undisputed IV (2016) Review

"Boyka: Undisputed IV" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Todor Chapkanov Co-director: Isaac Florentine Cast: Scott Adkins, Teodora Duhovnikova, Alon Moni Aboutboul, Julian Vergov, Brahim Achabbakhe, Paul Chahidi, Tim Man, Andy Long Nguyen, Hristo Petkov Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall Few actors get to portray a character that comes to embody a franchise so much, their name brings more recognition than the franchise itself. Rambo did it with the 1st Rambo sequel, Rambo: First Blood Part II, … Continue reading

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COF Presents – The Scott Adkins Starter Pack

COF Presents – The Scott Adkins Starter Pack

As many of us have spent a significant portion of 2020 in lockdown, there’s been no shortage of Starter Packs to provide inspiration of what we can do with all that extra time on our hands. Make Your Own Sourdough Starter Pack? Check! Grow Your Own Vegetables Starter Pack? Check! They’re all there, and at COF, we’ve decided to contribute to the cause as well, by unleashing The Scott Adkins … Continue reading

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Magnificent, The (1978) Review

"The Magnificent" Poster

Director: Kim Hyeong-Jun Co-director: Chan Siu-Pang Assistant-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Carter Wong, Casanova Wong, Chan Sing, Doris Lung, Elton Chong, Chang Il-do, Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Martin Chui Man-Fooi, Chan Chan-Wa Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In the late 70’s the kung fu genre was evolving dramatically. After the Bruce Lee mania of the early 70’s there came a wave of ‘basher’ flicks, movies that put an emphasis … Continue reading

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Hocus Pocus (1984) Review

"Hocus Pocus" Theatrical Poster

Director: Chin Yuet Sang Producer: Sammo Hung Cast: Lam Ching Ying, Stephen Tung Wei, Law Ho Kai, Chin Yuet Sang, Peter Chan Lung, Tai San, Alice Lau Ar Lai, Fung Lee, Cheung Ging Boh Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1984 it’d been 4 years since Sammo Hung directed and starred in Encounters of the Spooky Kind, the 1980 horror comedy kung fu flick hybrid that would prove hugely … Continue reading

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A Storm is Coming: Casanova Wong’s Top 10 Fight Scenes

A Storm is Coming: Casanova Wongs Top 10 Fight Scenes

Out of all the old-school kung fu stars, arguably nobody lives up to their nickname more than Casanova Wong, the Human Tornado. A name bestowed upon him during his time in the Korean Army for his incredible spin kicks, it was a talent which saw him destined to be one of the legendary boot-masters to grace the silver screen. Born in Korea as Kim Yong-ho, his kicks lit up the … Continue reading

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Bruce and the Iron Finger (1979) Review

"Bruce and the Iron Finger" Promotional Poster

AKA: Bruce vs. Iron Hand Director: To Man-Bo Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Bruce Leung Siu Lung, Ku Feng, Fong Yau, Dai Sai Aan, Wong Kwong Yue, Lin Ke Ming, Lee Hoi San, Tai San Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1979 the Bruceploitation genre ramped up with a vengeance, spurred on by the posthumous release of Game of Death the year prior, the … Continue reading

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Black Belt Karate (1977) Review

"Black Belt Karate" Theatrical Poster

Director: Suen A-Foo Cast: Bruce Leung Siu Lung, Lo Lieh, Billy Chong Chun Lai, Larry Lee Gam Kwan, Kong Do, Peter Chan Lung, Tony Leung Siu Hung, Lee Tai-Wai, Yip Chin-Yat Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall Before Merantau. Before The Raid. Before The Night Comes For Us. There was – Black Belt Karate! Ok, that’s probably a more bombastic introduction than this 1977 slice of karate goodness deserves, however it does … Continue reading

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Return of Red Tiger (1977) Review

"Return of Red Tiger" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Return of Bul-bom Director: Nam Gi-Nam Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Eagle Han Ying, An Tae-seop, Lee Kang-jo, Kim Jin-hui Running Time: 94 min.  By Paul Bramhall As a kung fu movie fan, have you ever asked yourself if there’s a kung fu flick out there that’s so bad, it could put you off the genre for good? I have, and I’ve kept my fingers crossed that … Continue reading

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