Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Avengement (2019) Review

"Avengement" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jesse V. Johnson Cast: Scott Adkins, Craig Fairbrass, Nick Moran, Thomas Turgoose, Kierston Wareing, Louis Mandylor, Leo Gregory, Beau Fowler, Terence Maynard, Lee Charles Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In the world of DTV action movies, Scott Adkins in prison normally only means one thing – he’s back for another round of playing Boyka in the Undisputed series. That is, until now. Avengement marks the fifth collaboration … Continue reading

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Steel Rain (2017) Review

"Steel Rain" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yang Woo-Seok Cast: Jung Woo-Sung, Kwak Do-Won, Kim Kap-Soo, im Eui-Sung, Lee Kyoung-Young, Jo Woo-Jin, Park Eun-Hye, Ahn Mi-Na, Won Jin-A, Park Sun-Young Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall With improving relations between South and North Korea, the theme of mutual understanding between the divided nation has also begun to be reflected in the South’s cinematic output in recent years. Movies like Confidential Assignment and The Spy Gone … Continue reading

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Killer Angels (1989) Review

“Killer Angels” Theatrical Poster

Director: Tony Liu Chun-ku Cast: Moon Lee, Gordon Liu, Lau Siu Kwan, Leung Kar Yan, Fujimi Nadeki, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Shing Fui On, Ng Man Tat, Tony Liu Jun Guk, Mark Houghton Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Like most fans of Hong Kong action, I have a soft spot for the Girls with Guns genre. Sure it was short lived (almost every entry that falls under the … Continue reading

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Maria (2019) Review

"Maria" Theatrical Poster

Director: Pedring Lopez Cast: Cristine Reyes, Germaine De Leon, KC Montero, Guji Lorenzana, Freddie Webb, Jennifer Lee, Cindy Miranda, L.A. Santos, Ronald Moreno, Ronnie Lazaro, Andrea Del Rosario, Johnny Revilla, Sonny Sison Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Say what you want about Atomic Blonde, but one thing we do have the 2017 Charlize Theron actioner to thank for, is the resurgence of the female lead action flick. While … Continue reading

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Shadow (2018) Review

"Shadow" Theatrical Poster

Director: Zhang Yimou Writer: Zhang Yimou Cast: Deng Chao, Sun Li, Ryan Zheng Kai, Leo Wu, Wang Qianyuan, Hu Jun, Guan Xiaotong Running Time: 116 min. By Paul Bramhall In a year that saw the Chinese film industry more concerned with ensuring its finances where in order than it was with actually making any films (thanks Fan Bingbing!), fifth generation director Zhang Yimou’s latest production Shadow arrived in a decidedly understated manner, with … Continue reading

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Hidden Man (2018) Review

"Hidden Man" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jiang Wen Cast: Eddie Peng, Liao Fan, Jiang Wen, Zhou Yun, Xu Qing, Kenya Sawada, Li Meng, Yuan Shanshan, Ding Jiali, Shi Hang, Paul Morris, Junichi Kajioka, Chen Xi Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall While for many Jiang Wen may be most recognizable as that guy who threatened to act Donnie Yen off the screen whenever they appeared together in 2011’s The Lost Bladesman, he’s also one … Continue reading

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Wonder Seven (1994) Review

"Wonder Seven" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ching Siu-Tung Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Kent Cheng, Andy Hui Chi On, Hung Yan Yan, Vincent Lau Tak,  Kwan Shan, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Chin Ho, Hilary Tsui Ho Ying, Guan Shan Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall By the mid-90’s Hong Kong audiences appetite for the new wave wuxia boom was starting to wane. The likes of the Swordsman trilogy (and, well, any early 90’s movie starring Brigitte Lin) had wowed audiences … Continue reading

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JCVD’s ‘Full Love’ follows ‘The Eagle Path’ to a 3-Disc Blu-ray

It may have taken a long time to get here, but this year, newly established U.S. distributor JVD Rewind will finally release Jean-Claude Van Damme’s long gesticulating sophomore feature as a director, Full Love, as a 3-disc Blu-ray special edition. Read the official press release sent exclusively to City on Fire from JVD Rewind: After a career reviving turn in 2008’s JCVD, the Muscles from Brussels returned to the director’s … Continue reading

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Is that a Threat? – An Interview with Jesse V. Johnson

There’s an old adage that goes ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’, and Jesse V. Johnson’s latest action extravaganza, Triple Threat, comes loaded to the brim with cooks, and ones that can fight at that. Thankfully though, Johnson runs a tight kitchen, and against the odds the British stuntman turned director has delivered a dish that gives a plethora of martial arts talent their own individual moments to shine – … Continue reading

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Project Gutenberg (2018) Review

"Project Gutenberg" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Felix Chong Cast: Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Zhang Jung-Chu, Joyce Feng, Catherine Chow, Alex Fong, Liu Kai-chi, Yao-Qing Wang, Alien Sun, Carl Ng, Leung Kin-Ping Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall When a trailer gets released for a movie, it has one job – to make people want to come and see it. Most trailers do that through editing together some of the key moments in order to grab the … Continue reading

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Triple Threat (2019) Review

"Triple Threat" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jesse V. Johnson Cast: Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Tiger Hu Chen, Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Michael Bisping, Celina Jade, Jeeja Yanin, Ron Smoorenburg, Michael Wong, Dominique Vandenberg, Sile Zhang, Jennifer Qi Jun Yang Running Time: 96 min.  By Paul Bramhall There’s something undeniably daunting when you look at the cast list of Triple Threat. For many fans of martial arts cinema, it’s one that looks too good to be … Continue reading

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Witness, The (2018) Review

"The Witness" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jo Kyu-Jang Cast: Lee Sung-Min, Kim Sang-Ho, Jin Kyung, Kwak Si-Yang, Park Bom, Kim Sung-Kyun, Bae Jung-Hwa, Shin Seung-Hwan, Jung Yoo-Min, Yeon Je-Wook Running Time: 111 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say that violence is as an integral a part of Korean cinema as kimchi is to its cuisine. Sure, you don’t need it with every dish, but when it’s there, it makes for a distinctly Korean … Continue reading

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Drug King, The (2018) Review

"The Drug King" Korean Teaser Poster

Director: Woo Min-Ho Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Cho Jung-Seok, Bae Doo-Na, Kim So-Jin, Kim Dae-Myung, Lee Sung-Min Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall I finished my review of director Woo Min-ho’s last movie, the excellent Inside Men, by stating my hope that “his next movie is at least on par with what he’s pulled off here.” 3 years later and that opportunity is now upon us, and it comes in … Continue reading

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Misbehavior (2017) Review

"Misbehavior" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Tae-Yong Writer: Kim Tae-Yong Cast: Kim Ha-Neul, Yu In-Young, Lee Won-Geun, Lee Hee-Joon, Lee Ki-Woo, Gi Ju-Bong, Jung Suk-Yong, Hong Ahn-Pyo, Lim Hwa-Young, Kwon Soo-Hyun Running Time: 96 min.  By Paul Bramhall There can be no more tried and tested plot device within the world of Korean drama’s than the love triangle. In a way it’s understandable, the kind of relationship dynamic it invokes provides a framework in … Continue reading

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Trough, The (2018) Review

"The Trough" Theatrical Poster

Director: Nick Cheung Cast: Nick Cheung, Xu Jing-Lei, He Jiong, Yu Nan, Michael Miu Kiu-Wai, Yuen Wah, Lam Suet, Louis Cheung, Maggie Cheung Hoh-Yee, Li Hai-Tao, Chris Collins Running Time: 112 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been 3 years since Nick Cheung last sat in the director’s chair for his sophomore feature Keeper of Darkness, which saw him sticking to the horror tropes of his directorial debut. For his third … Continue reading

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