Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Unlucky Stars (2015) Review

"Unlucky Stars" Theatrical Poster

Director: Dennis Ruel Writer: Dennis Ruel Cast: Dennis Ruel, Ken Quitugua, Sari Sabella, Vlad Rimburg, Jose Montesinos, Steven Yu, Giovannie Espiritu, Sam Hargrave, Emmanuel Manzanares, Roy Chen, Shawn Bernal, George Crayton, Ed Kahana, Troy Carbonel Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall The journey of Unlucky Stars, from when it began filming in 2010, to its eventual release on VOD in 2016, is indicative of just how much effort it … Continue reading

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Golden Dragon, Silver Snake (1980) Review

"Golden Dragon, Silver Snake" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: A Fight at Hong Kong Ranch Director: Kim Si-hyun, Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Johnny Chan (Wang Dae-wi), Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Kong Do, Baak Wong Gei, Chui Man Fooi, Lee Ye Min, Bruce Lai (Chang Il-do), Gam Kei Chu, Cheung Lik, Samuel Walls, Lee Ju-hyeon, Hong Sung-young Running Time: 84 min. By Paul Bramhall Sometimes a kung fu movie will sound great on paper, but somehow turn out to … Continue reading

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Jian Bing Man (2015) Review

AKA: Pancake Man Director: Da Peng Cast: Da Peng, Mabel Yuan, Liu Yan, Sandra Ng, Eric Tsang, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Yue Yunpeng, Yi Yunhe, Liang Chao, Pan Binlong, Cui Zhijia, Qiao Shan, Deng Chao, Amber Kuo, Song Xiaobao, Liu Xiaoguang Running Time: 113 min. By Paul Bramhall A Chinese comedy that features Jean-Claude Van Damme sounds like an unlikely combination, but that’s exactly what Jian Bing Man gives us. Much … Continue reading

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One Million K(l)icks (2014) Review

"One Million Klicks" Theatrical Poster

AKA: One Million Klicks Director: Alex “The Z” Padrutt Cast: Mike Moeller, Martin Baden, Bartholomaeus Kowalski, Volkram Zschiesche, Sabine Steinbach, Li Yan-Long, Michael Bornhütter, Phong Giang Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall I have a confession, and it’s likely one that won’t be very popular. I’m not a fan of the many indie martial arts movies and shorts that crop up with an increasing frequency. Yes, I get it, … Continue reading

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Piper, The (2015) Review

"The Piper" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Gwang-tae Cast: Ryu Seung-ryong, Lee Sung-min, Chun Woo-hee, Lee Joon, Goo Seung-hyun, Jeong Kyeong-ho, Kim Jeong-yeong, Park Yoon-seok, Yoon Dae-yeol Running Time: 119 min. By Paul Bramhall The horror movie is an annual staple of commercial Korean cinema, as every summer the multiplexes become filled with largely uninspired and quickly forgotten tales of vengeful spirits and the like. 2015 however was a surprisingly good year for the horror … Continue reading

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Zombie Fight Club (2014) Review

Original "Zombie Fight Club" Artwork by Kung Fu Bob

AKA: Z.F.C. Director: Joe Chien Cast: Andy On, Jessica Cambensy, Jack Kao Jie, Philip Ng, Michael Wong, Terence Yin, Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung, Abby Feng, Gu Bao Ming Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall At the end of my review for Joe Chien’s 2012 production Zombie 108, I was so appalled at what was proudly billed as China’s first zombie movie that I wrote “if it’s Chien who’s going to … Continue reading

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Fury in Shaolin Temple (1982) Review

"Fury in Shaolin Temple" Chinese VHS Cover

AKA: Friendship Forged in Blood Director: Choe Hyeon-min Cast: Gordon Liu, Philip Ko Fei, Gam Kei Chu, Lee Fat Yuen, Bruce Lai, Jacky Chen, Lee Gang-jo Running Time: 83 min. By Paul Bramhall The image of Gordon Liu as a shaven headed monk is one that’s inextricably associated with the kung fu movie genre. Starring as the monk San Te in Lau Kar Leung’s 1978 picture The 36th Chamber of … Continue reading

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Guardian (2014) Review

"Guardian" Theatrical Poster

Director: Helfi Kardit Cast: Sarah Carter, Tio Pakusadewo, Nino Fernandez, Dominique Agisca Diyose, Belinda Camesi, Kimi Jayanti, Ganindra Bimo, laudia Soraya, Naomi Zaskia Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall When The Raid hit screens in 2011, it well and truly put Indonesia on the map in terms of action cinema. Much like Ong Bak did the same for Thailand back in 2003, many expected a wave of Indonesian action … Continue reading

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Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015) Review

"Mojin: The Lost Legend" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Ghouls Director: Wu Ershan Cast: Chen Kun, Huang Bo, Shu Qi, Angelababy, Xia Yu, Liu Xiaoqing, Cherry Ngan, Ng Man Tat Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall The Mainland Chinese blockbuster is becoming a more and more common sight in recent years, as the local industry looks to satisfy a population that increasingly enjoys going to the cinema with its own big budget movies, rather than having … Continue reading

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Priests, The (2015) Review

AKA: Black Priests Director: Jang Jae-Hyon Writer: Jang Jae-Hyon Cast: Kim Yun-Seok, Gang Dong-Won, Park So-Dam, Kim Eui-Sung, Son Jong-Hak, Nam Il-Woo, Lee Ho-Jae, Kim Byung-Ok, Jo Soo-Hyang, Park Woong Running Time: 108 min. By Paul Bramhall Out of the many genres that can be found within Korean cinema, it’s the supernatural horror movie that seems to struggle to find any consistency in terms of quality. While movies like The … Continue reading

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Our Top 15 Watched Movies of 2015

As the year that was 2015 fades into the distance, it’s that time once more to reflect on the cinematic highs that were enjoyed during the last 12 months. Just like last year, this will be a collection of movies that I watched for the first time during 2015, not movies that were necessarily released in 2015. There’ll be some movies on this list that don’t have reviews on the … Continue reading

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Tiger: An Old Hunter’s Tale, The (2015) Review

AKA: The Tiger Director: Park Hoon-Jung Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Jeong Man-Sik, Kim Sang-Ho, Sung Yoo-Bin, Ren Osugi, Jung Suk-Won, Ra Mi-Ran, Yoo Jae-Myung, Kim Hong-Fa, Woo Jung-Kook Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2015 Korean history was a hot topic, mainly due to President Park Geun-hye’s hugely unpopular decision to replace all high school history text books, currently produced by private publishers, with anonymously written government-issued ones by … Continue reading

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Attack on Titan: Part 2 – End of the World (2015) Review

Director: Shinji Higuchi Writer: Yusuke Watanabe, Tomohiro Machiyama Based on Manga by Hajime Isayama Cast: Haruma Miura, Hiroki Hasegawa, Kiko Mizuhara, Kanata Hongo, Takahiro Miura, Nanami Sakuraba, Satoru Matsuo, Shu Watanabe, Ayame Misaki, Rina Takeda Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall The second installment of Shinji Higuchi’s adaptation of the Attack on Titan manga reached Japanese cinema screens just a month after the first one came to the end … Continue reading

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Shaolin: The Blood Mission | aka The Fourth Largest Shaolin Temple (1984) Review

"Shaolin: The Blood Mission" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Park Woo-sang Writer: Hong Chi-Yun Cast: Hwang Jang Lee, Ho Kei Cheong, Suen Kwok Ming, Poon Cheung, Luo Hua-Sheng, Olivia Hung, Park Dong-yeol, Lee Jin-Yeong, Kim Ki-Bum Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall The name of Korean director Park Woo-sang may not be immediately familiar to many, and understandably so. However once the filmmaker immigrated to America, he continued to direct under a different name – Richard Park – … Continue reading

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) Review

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Star Wars: Episode VII Director: J. J. Abrams Cast: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Max von Sydow, Joonas Suotamo, Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian Running Time: 135 min. By Paul Bramhall As the latest installment of the much loved Star Wars franchise hits cinemas in December 2015, the first under the … Continue reading

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