Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Drive Hard (2014) Review

"Drive Hard" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Hard Drive Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith Cast: John Cusack, Thomas Jane, Zoe Ventoura, Christopher Morris, Yesse Spence, Damien Garvey Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall The name Brian Trenchard-Smith should be familiar to anyone who’s a fan of Hong Kong movies, as the British born director was the man behind the 1975 Jimmy Wang Yu vehicle The Man from Hong Kong. A resident of Australia since his late teens, … Continue reading

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Attack on Titan: Part 1 (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, Satomi Ishihara, Pierre Taki, Jun Kunimura, Rina Takeda, Shu Watanabe, Ayame Misaki Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall Attack on Titan was a production which had the odds stacked against it from the start. Putting aside the fact that it’s … Continue reading

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Hunted Hunter, The (1997) Review

Director: Ricky Lau Writer: Foh Ging-Yiu Producer: Shum Wai Chung Wai-Shing Cast: Yuen Biao, Zhang Feng-Yi, Roi Vinzon, Jessica Hester, Jerry Lamb Hiu-Fung, Karen Timbol, Michael Lam Wai-Leung, Wu Ma, Chung Fat, Levy Ignacio, Ricky Lau, Shum Wai Running Time: N/A By Paul Bramhall During the 90’s, it was considered an unspoken rule that the Philippines was the place were the careers of Hong Kong action stars go to die. … Continue reading

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Kill Line (1991) Review

"Kill Line" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Richard H. Kim Producer: Bobby Kim Cast: Bobby Kim, Michael Parker, H. Wayne Lowry, Marlena Shapiro, Michael Ford, Clif Willis, George W. Byers, Sheila Ivy Traister, Tony Carpenter Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall In the 1980’s there was a sort of mini-wave of Korean directors who immigrated to the States. Park Woo-sang, the man behind such old school flicks like Shaolin: The Blood Mission, made the move … Continue reading

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Exclusive: Interview with Won Jin – The Scorpion King

Back in 2002 I could still be considered a relative newcomer to the world of kung fu cinema, having gotten into the genre only a few years earlier. Living in the UK, most of my kung fu movie watching came in the form of picking up the latest release from the Hong Kong Legends label, which at the time was going through its own golden era. This particular year saw … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, News |

Say Yes (2001) Review

Director: Kim Sung-hong Writer: Yeo Hye-yeong Producer: Hwang Gi-Seong Cast: Park Joong-hoon, Chu Sang-Mi, Kim Ju-Hyeok, Gi Ju-Bong, Lee Chang-Yeong Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall Think of Asian horror during the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and the image that comes to mind will most likely be one of a long black haired female ghost. The 1998 Japanese movie Ring triggered a whole host of Asian horror movies, … Continue reading

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Full Strike (2015) Review

"Full Strike" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Derek Kwok Co-director: Henry Wong Cast: Ronald Cheng Chung-kei, Josie Ho Chiu Yee, Ekin Cheng, Tse Kwan Ho, Edmond Leung, Shaw Yum Yum, Wilfred Lau, Andrew Lam, Grace Yip Pui Man Running Time: 108 min. By Paul Bramhall Movies about racquet sports hardly have the most successful track record, either at the box office or critically. Even thinking of one seems liken an unnecessarily difficult struggle. It took me … Continue reading

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Advocate: A Missing Body, The (2015) Review

Director: Huh Jong-Ho Cast: Lee Sun-Kyun, Kim Go-Eun, Lim Won-Hee, Jang Hyun-Sung, Hong Sung-Duk, Kim Yoon-hye, Kwak In-joon, Choi Jae-woong, Park Ji-yeong Running Time: 117 min. By Paul Bramhall Korean cinema has a habit of churning out inferior copycats to the movies that make an impact both on home soil and overseas. That’s why for every The Man from Nowhere we have a Man of Vendetta, and for every Masquerade … Continue reading

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Bruce Strikes Back | aka The Ninja Strikes Back (1982) Review

"Bruce Strikes Back" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Eye of the Dragon Director: Joseph Kong, Bruce Le Co-director: Jean-Marie Pallardy Cast: Bruce Le (aka Huang Kin Long, Wong Kin Lung), Hwang Jang Lee, Casanova Wong, Harold Sakata, Bolo Yeung, Chick Norris, Fabienne Beze, Andre Koob, Monica Lam, Jean-Marie Pallardy, Dick Randall Running Time: 111 min. By Paul Bramhall American producer Dick Randall’s name is synonymous with the exploitation genre, having a career which spanned 3 decades, from … Continue reading

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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

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