Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

COF Presents: Top 10 Worst Hong Kong Movie DVD Covers

Warning: This Article May Cause Discomfort for the Eyes Marketing Hong Kong movies to a western audience has always been a tricky business, especially when it comes to DVD releases. Amongst the countless latest Hollywood titles fighting for your attention and shelf space, arguably the most important asset a DVD can have is an attention grabbing cover. Hong Kong movies in particular have been subjected to some ‘interesting’ design choices … Continue reading

Posted in Features, News |

The Kung Fu Fandom Forum is bigger, better and back online!

Many visitors to City on Fire will also no doubt be aware of kungfucinema.com, and are most likely asking the question of why the site has been offline since Sunday 11th July. Unfortunately it was confirmed by site owner Mark Pollard a couple of days ago that kungfucinema.com has been laid to rest, after 12 years online, due to personal reasons. For myself, as I’m sure for many others, the … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Undeclared War (1990) Review

"Undeclared War" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Ringo Lam Cast: Danny Lee Sau Yin, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung, Peter Liapis, Vernon Wells, Olivia Hussey, Rosamund Kwan, Louis Roth, Dean Harrington, Victor Hon Kwan, Mars, Jonathan Isgar, Brad Kerner, Mark King, Jameson Lam Running Time: 103 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1990 it seemed Ringo Lam could do no wrong. Having established himself as a director of realistic and gritty action thrillers with his …on Fire series … Continue reading

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Kickboxer | aka Once Upon a Chinese Hero (1993) Review

"Kickboxer" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wu Ma Cast: Yuen Biao, Shirley Lui Sau Ling, Yuen Wah, Yen Shi Kwan, Sheila Chan Suk Lan, Wu Ma, Gam Sap Yee, Chen Shan, Tai Bo, Anthony Carpio, Chu Tau, Louis Roth, Yuen Mao, Corey Yuen, Max Kasimsky, Leung Kwan-Keung Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall There aren’t many people out there who would disagree that Jet Li being cast as Wong Fei Hung was an inspired choice. … Continue reading

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Memories of the Sword (2015) Review

Memories of the Sword | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Park Heung-Sik Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Jeon Do-Yeon, Kim Go-Eun, Lee Joon-Ho, Lee Kyoung-Young, Kim Tae-Woo, Bae Soo-Bin, Kim Soo-Ahn, Moon Sung-Geun Running Time: 121 min. By Paul Bramhall Korean cinema continues to create some of the most original and innovative movies for audiences to enjoy, however just like many other countries, it also has a film industry that likes to follow trends. If a movie makes it big, a … Continue reading

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Assassination (2015) Review

"Assassination" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Choi Dong-hun Cast: Jeon Ji-hyeon, Lee Jung-Jae, Ha Jung-Woo, Cho Jin-Woong, Choi Duk-Moon, Oh Dal-Su, Heo Ji-Won, Lee Kyoung-Young, Kim Eui-Sung, Park Byung-Eun Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall Director Choi Dong-hoon has built up an impressive resume since he burst onto the scene with the heist thriller The Big Swindle in 2003. With each successive movie, both the budget and the stakes have increased, with his last … Continue reading

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Exclusive: In the Cinema Lounge with Shin Su-won

In a man’s world, director Shin Su-won has created a distinct voice for herself within the Korean film industry, and by all accounts her latest movie, Madonna, should further establish her name as a considerable talent on a global level. Madonna was chosen to premiere in Australia as part of the 2015 Korean Film Festival, and Su-won, with producer Lim Chung-geun, flew in to attend the screening. This year isn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, News |

Monk’s Fight (1979) Review

Director: Yu Kong Writer: Yu Kong Producer: Kam Yuen Bo Cast: Lee Wing, Pearl Chang Ling, Casanova Wong, Choi Wang, Tien Feng, Chan Wai Lau, Chu Tiet Wo, Ho Pak Kwong, Ling Yun, Ching Ching, Chuen Yuen, Tung Li Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall Sporting one of the most generic titles you can come across in the vast landscape of kung fu movies, this 1979 production from Taiwan … Continue reading

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Exclusive: Interview with Kim Sung-ho

In many ways 2003 could be considered as the pivotal year for the Korean film industry. With the advent of the DVD format, Korean movies had already begun filtering through to the western market, with titles such as Shiri, Nowhere to Hide, and Tell Me Something becoming a familiar sight on high street shelves. However in 2003 it seemed the country could do no wrong when it came to movies … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, News |

Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin (1979) Review

"Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Golden Gate Director: Kim Seon-gyeong Cast: Casanova Wong (aka Ka Sat Fat), Eagle Han Ying, Gam Ching Lan, Elton Chong (aka Jeong Jin Hwa), Hyeon Kil-Su, Martin Chui Man-Fooi, Austin Wai Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin is a sure contender for having one of the greatest kung fu movie titles, and there’s plenty of competition out there. However as grand a title as … Continue reading

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SPL II: A Time for Consequences | aka Kill Zone 2 (2015) Review

"SPL II: A Time for Consequences" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Sha Po Lang 2, Kill Zone 2 Director: Soi Cheang Pou Soi Cast: Tony Jaa, Wu Jing, Louis Koo Tin-lok, Simon Yam Tat Wah, Max Zhang Jin, Ken Lo Hui Kwong, Dominic Lam Ka-wah, Baby John Choi Hon Yik, Ai Wai Running Time: 120 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been 10 years since the original Sha Po Lang was released in 2005. Released at a time when many of … Continue reading

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Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) Review

Director: Christopher McQuarrie Writer: Christopher McQuarrie Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin, Zhang Jing Chu, Simon McBurney, Tom Hollander Running Time: 131 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been almost 20 years since Tom Cruise remade the Mission: Impossible TV series into his own one man show, with Brian De Palma’s 1996 production of the same name. Perhaps no less significantly, 2015 … Continue reading

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Wild City (2015) Review

Wild City | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

AKA: Hustle Director: Ringo Lam Cast: Louis Koo, Shawn Yue Man-lok, Joseph Chang, Tong Liya, Jack Kao, Sam Lee, Philip Ng, Dave Wong, Simon Yam, Phillip Keung, Alex Lam, Ken Law Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall Not taking into consideration the segment he directed for 2007’s Triangle, it’s been 12 long years since Ringo Lam directed a Hong Kong movie. Look to when he last directed one of … Continue reading

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Sifu vs. Vampire (2014) Review

Director: Daniel Chan Yee Hang Writer: Wong Jing Producer: Wong Jing Cast: Yuen Biao, Ronald Cheng, Michelle Hu Ran, Philip Ng, Kelvin Kwan Cho Yiu, Jiang Lu Xia, Tony Ho Wah Chiu, Winnie Leung, Ricky Yi Faan Wai, Patrick Keung Hiu Man Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s a sad reflection of audiences expectations from Hong Kong cinema when news of a new hopping vampire (or geung si … Continue reading

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Eternal Fist | aka Fist of Steel (1992) Review

"Eternal Fist" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Death Zone Director: Teddy Chiu (aka Irvin Johnson) Producer: Andy Andico, Vivian Andico Cast: Dale ‘Apollo’ Cook, Don Nakaya Neilsen, Cynthia Khan, Alina Borkowski, Greg Douglas Running Time: 97 min By Paul Bramhall In 1989 a movie by the name of Cyborg unleashed a certain Belgian thespian upon the world in the form of Jean Claude Van Damme. The story, which took place in a dark post apocalyptic world … Continue reading

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