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on THESE GIRLS GOT BALLS! Watch the New Trailer for Stephen Chow’s ‘Kung Fu Soccer’The biggest hit for the summer in China, according to Variety. https://variet…
on THE PERFECT WEAPON IS BACK! Martial arts star Jeff Speakman talks about his comeback film ‘Lost Echoes’Jeff Speakman is undoubtedly one of the best martial artists of my lifetime.…
on Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (2025) ReviewThe movie should have been so much better. For me, the issue is really the ca…
on THE PERFECT WEAPON IS BACK! Martial arts star Jeff Speakman talks about his comeback film ‘Lost Echoes’This is great news... He is a great talent that due to politics we missed out…
on Phone, The (2015) RevewThe ending didn't make any sense. So he comes back from the future to save hu…
on Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (2025) ReviewI love this film. Saw it on an international flight and couldn’t wait to get…
on Chen Kuan-tai, martial artist and Shaw Brothers star of ‘Boxer from Shantung’ and ‘Flying Guillotine’, passes away at 80Absolute legend. Boxer from Shantung, Blood Brothers and Executioners of Shao…
on Chen Kuan-tai, martial artist and Shaw Brothers star of ‘Boxer from Shantung’ and ‘Flying Guillotine’, passes away at 80RIP to a legendary OG and one of my favorite Shaw Actors.
on This collection is FAT! Details and Trailers for Shout’s ‘Chow Yun-fat Collection’ on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray‘Diary of a Big Man’ should be in any discerning HK cinema fans Chow Yun Fat…
on PERFECT!!! Watch the NEW action packed Trailer for Kitao Sakura’s star-studded ‘Street Fighter’ live-action filmOkay this new Trailer was cooking. I love it
on Limited Time Offer!!! Get a FREE Golden Harvest-Inspired Keychain with Any Order or Pre-order!Can't wait for these Keychains, want the SHAW BROTHERS, OCEAN SHORES & GO…
on This collection is FAT! Details and Trailers for Shout’s ‘Chow Yun-fat Collection’ on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-rayI’m pleased with Eighth Happiness and City War being included. I haven’t seen…
on I ain’t afraid of no ghosts! Watch the Trailers for Arrow’s ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’ Trilogy arriving on 4K UHD in OctoberI thought for sure I'd seen one of these in the past but even watching the tr…
on This collection is FAT! Details and Trailers for Shout’s ‘Chow Yun-fat Collection’ on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-rayIt's a real shame they seemingly can't get Chow to participate in any of thes…
on Scott Adkins vs. Kane Kosugi? Watch the explosive New Trailer for ‘One Last Shot’ also starring Dolph Lundgrensaw first one was bad and others wrote second was awful also. at least no man…
on The Bodyguard (2024) ReviewIt was a great watch, though the lighting could have been better. Could recom…
Author Archives: Paul Bramhall
Once Upon a Time in China V (1994) Review
Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Vincent Chiu, Rosamund Kwan, Jean Wong, Kent Cheng, Hung Yan Yan, Mok Siu Chung, Lau Shun, Elaine Lui, Gwok Chun On, Stephen Tung Wei Running Time: 101 min. By Paul Bramhall Remember that time Tsui Hark decided to make his own version of Project A, but film it in the style of John Woo? If not, then it likely means you’ve never seen Once Upon a … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Elaine Lui, Hung Yan Yan, Jean Wong Ching Ying, Kent Cheng Jak Si, Rosamund Kwan, Stephen Tung Wai, Tsui Hark, Vincent Chiu Man Chuk
Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, The (2018) Review
Director: Park Hoon-Jung Cast: Kim Da-Mi, Jo Min-Soo, Choi Woo-Sik, Go Min-Si, Park Hee-Soon, Da-Eun, Choi Jung-Woo, Oh Mi-Hee, Kim Byung-Ok, Lee Joo-Won, Kim Ha-Na Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall As 2018 draws close to an end, the appetite for female driven action movies doesn’t seem to be waning in the West or the East. Warner Brothers appear to know this, so for their latest foray into the … Continue reading
Negotiation, The (2018) Review
Director: Lee Jong-Suk Writer: Choi Sung-Hyun Cast: Son Ye-Jin, Hyun-Bin, Kim Sang-Ho, Jang Young-Nam, Jang Gwang, Lee Moon-Sik Running Time: 114 min. By Paul Bramhall In the Korean film industry, Son Ye-jin is known as the Queen of Melodrama, and Hyun Bin the Rom-Com King. However the movie that’s brought them both together is (perhaps mercifully) neither a melodrama nor a romantic comedy, with The Negotiation instead being a thriller … Continue reading
Rampant (2018) Review
Director: Kim Sung-Hoon Writer: Won Shin-yun Cast: Hyun-Bin, Jang Dong-Gun, Jo Woo-Jin, Kim Eui-Sung, Jeong Man-Sik, Lee Sun-Bin Running Time: 129 min. By Paul Bramhall Less than 3 years ago Korea spawned one of its most unlikely breakout hits, with the zombie action thriller Train to Busan. While personally I didn’t find the concept of zombies on a train to be executed as entertainingly as it could have been, there’s no … Continue reading
Resurrection of the Little Match Girl (2003) Review
Director: Jang Sun-Woo Cast: Lim Eun-Kyung, Kim Hyun-Sung, Kim Jin-Pyo, Myung Gye-Nam, Myung Gye-Nam, Jung Doo-Hong, Kang Ta, Lee Chung-Ah, Seo Jae-Kyung, Park Sung-Woong Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall There are some movies out there that seem destined to only be appreciated in retrospect, such could be the case for Resurrection of the Little Match Girl. It was a title that I avoided since its release, as I … Continue reading
Eastern Cherries – First Experiences of Asian Cinema: Japan Edition Part I
While it was Jet Li’s breakthrough role in Shaolin Temple that provided me with my first real taste of Asian cinema, my curiosity was piqued enough that I soon found myself exploring the realms beyond the kung fu genre. As a result, after binge watching the Hong Kong cinema classics for over a year, I gradually began consuming cinema from countries like Japan and Korea. My exposure to Japanese cinema … Continue reading
Trap: Lethal Temptation (2015) Review
Director: Bong Man-Dae Writer: Lee Chang-Yeol, Bong Man-Dae Cast: Yu Ha-Jun, Jung Min-Gyul, Na Sang-Gyu, Kang Yong-Gyu, Jo Soo-Jung, Lee Sang-Hwa Running Time: 107 min. By Paul Bramhall In Korea director Bong Man-dae is something of an anomaly. Even today he remains the only director to successfully transition from the world of erotic B-movies to mainstream cinema. After cranking out 12 titles in the 3 years spanning 1999 – 2002, … Continue reading
Maximum Impact (2018) Review
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak Cast: Alexander Nevsky, Danny Trejo, Tom Arnold, Kelly Hu, Mark Dacascos, William Baldwin, Alphonso McAuley, Matthias Hues, Keith Powers, Bai Ling, Eric Roberts, Brian Kirchoff, Liliya May, Odin Lund Biron Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall Let me start by saying that I’m a guy who’s all for giving second chances. I mean if I wasn’t, then I’d never have bothered checking out a movie like … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Alexander Nevsky, Andrzej Bartkowiak, Bai Ling, Danny Trejo, Eric Roberts, Kelly Hu, Mark Dacascos, Matthias Hues, Tom Arnold
Keep Calm and Be a Superstar (2018) Review
Director: Vincent Kok Cast: Eason Chan Yick-shun, Li Rong-Hao, Cui Zhi-Jia, Li Yi-Tong, Zheng Ji-Feng, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan, Wilfred Lau Ho-Lung, Hui Siu-Hung, Chris Collins, Vincent Kok Tak-chiu , Edward Ma, Lam Tze-Chung, Steven Fung Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall Most fans of Hong Kong cinema will be familiar with Jackie Chan and Wong Jing’s reported inability to get along while making City Hunter in 1993. As a … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Chris Collins, Danny Chan, Eason Chan, Vincent Kok
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) Review
Director: Jung Bum-Sik Cast: Wi Ha-Joon, Park Ji-Hyun, Oh Ah-Yeon, Moon Ye-Won, Park Sung-Hoon, Lee Seung-Wook Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall The found footage horror film could be said to have started with Italian filmmaker Ruggero Deodato’s notorious 1980 jungle nightmare Cannibal Holocaust, but for many viewers it will arguably be a movie that came almost 20 years later, in the form of The Blair Witch Project, that … Continue reading
Big Brother (2018) Review
Director: Kam Ka-Wai Cast: Donnie Yen, Joe Chen, Yu Kang, Brahim Achabbakhe, Tom Caserto, Alfred Cheung, Ye Fan, Semiquaver Iafeta, Tin-Lung Koo, Gladys Li, Ka Wah Lam, Mike Leeder, Jess Liaudin, Billy Lau Nam-Kwong, Fung Lee, Brahim Chab Running Time: 101 min. By Paul Bramhall In the last 3 years alone Donnie Yen has played a kung fu master, a wandering swordsman, a sci-fi version of Zatoichi, a kick ass … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Alfred Cheung Kin Ting, Donnie Yen, Joe Chien, Mike Leeder
Meg, The (2018) Review
Director: Jon Turteltaub Cast: Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, Cliff Curtis, Shuya Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Robert Taylor, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson Running Time: 113 min. By Paul Bramhall Let’s just get it out of the way upfront. Yes, The Meg is the movie which puts Jason Statham on equal footing with Jackie Chan. Is there another star out there who’s had the pleasure of starring alongside … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Jason Statham, Li Bing Bing, Vithaya Pansringarm, Winston Chao
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (2018) Review
Director: Tsui Hark Writer: Chang Chia-lu Cast: Mark Chao, William Feng Shaofeng, Kenny Lin Gengxin, Carina Lau, Ethan Juan, Sandra Ma, Ma Sichun, Chien Sheng, Yang Yiwei Running Time: 132 min. By Paul Bramhall Before you express concern, don’t panic, the latest entry in the Detective Dee series has nothing to do with the wily sleuth investigating a crime spree instigated by Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, and Leon Lai. With that … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Carina Lau, Ethan Juan, Mark Chao, Tsui Hark, William Feng
Eastern Cherries – First Experiences of Asian Cinema: Hong Kong & China Edition Part I
Over the coming months, myself and other regular contributors here at cityonfire will be weighing in with what movie it was that first got us into Asian cinema. We’ll be breaking it down into 3 regions – Hong Kong/China, Japan, and Korea – in that order, with a month dedicated to each. First out of the gates, as expected, is Hong Kong and China. Most likely the gateway for many … Continue reading
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) Review
Director: Christopher McQuarrie Writer: Christopher McQuarrie Cast: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, Liang Yang Running Time: 147 min. By Paul Bramhall In the closing of my review for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, I’d mentioned how if Tom Cruise waited until 2020 to grace us with another instalment of the franchise, I’d still be first in line to … Continue reading
Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Christopher McQuarrie, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames
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