Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Daisy (2006) Review

"Daisy" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrew Lau Writer: Felix Chong Producer: Hoon-tak Jung Cast: Jeong Woo-Sung, Jun Ji-Hyun (Gianna Jun), Lee Sung-jae, Cheon Ho-Jin, Simon Yam Tat Wah, David Chiang Da Wei, Yu Sun-Cheol, Dion Lam Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall On paper Daisy reads like an Asian action thriller fan’s dream. A Korea and Hong Kong co-production (which translates to Korea being in-front of the camera and Hong Kong being behind … Continue reading

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Shadowless Sword (2005) Review

"Shadowless Sword" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Young-Jun Cast: Yun So-Yi, Lee Seo-Jin, Shin Hyun-Joon, Lee Gi-Yong, Jeong Ho-Bin, Park Seong-Woong Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall The words ‘Korean’ and ‘wuxia’ are not really two which you’d immediately think of putting together. The Korean film industry has gained a reputation for producing high quality entries in the likes of the gangster, revenge thriller, and melodrama genres. On the other hand, the wuxia genre … Continue reading

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Rage | aka Tokarev (2014) Review

Director: Paco Cabezas Cast: Nicolas Cage, Rachel Nichols, Peter Stormare, Danny Glover, Max Ryan, Michael McGrady, Judd Lormand, Max Fowler, Pasha D. Lychnikoff Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall For several years now Nicolas Cage seems to have had a ‘say yes to everything’ policy in place when it comes to accepting movie roles. It’s a policy which has taken him to some odd places – in 2014 alone … Continue reading

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Master Strikes, The (1980) Review

Director: Kao Pao Shu Writer: Kao Pao Shu Cast: Meng Yuen Man, Tony Ching Siu Tung, Casanova Wong, Yen Shi Kwan, Eddie Ko Hung, Wong Mei Mei, Max Lee Chiu Jun, Meg Lam Kin Ming, Sham Chin Bo Running Time: 85/91 min. By Paul Bramhall The Master Strikes is one of those movies that seems to split audiences down the middle. Some fans praise it as being the movie in … Continue reading

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Fox Hunter (1995) Review

"Fox Hunter" Chinese DVD Cover

AKA: Hunting Fox Director: Stephen Tung Wai Cast: Jade Leung, Jordan Chan, Yu Rong Guang, Ching Fung, Guy Lai, Ng Git Keung, Roger Lee Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall Fox Hunter was the second of only 4 movies that legendary Hong Kong action choreographer Stephen Tung Wei would direct, as well as taking on action duties. To his credit, with each movie he did something a little different … Continue reading

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Big Match (2014) Review

"Big Match" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Choi Ho Producer: Park Sang-Hyun Cast: Lee Jeong-Jae, Shin Ha-Gyun, Lee Sung-Min, BoA, Kim Yui-Seong, Bae Sung-Woo, Son Ho-Jun, Kim Yun-Sung, Choi Woo-Sik, Park Doo-Sik Running Time: 112 min. By Paul Bramhall Director Choi Ho is certainly not someone you could say is afraid of working at his own pace. Since his feature debut in 1998 with the youth drama Bye June, skip forward 16 years and Big Match … Continue reading

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Exclusive: Interview with the author of the upcoming Alexander Fu Sheng book ‘The Biography of the Chinatown Kid’

Anyone familiar with the Shaw Brothers studio will no doubt be aware of Alexander Fu Sheng. A charismatic performer known for his mischievous persona and physical dexterity, he quickly became a favorite of both Chang Cheh and Lau Kar Leung, starring in such classic slices of Hong Kong cinema ranging from kung fu epics like Five Shaolin Masters, to comedies such as Hong Kong Playboys. His life was tragically cut … Continue reading

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Helios | aka Equator (2015) Review

"Helios" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sunny Luk Co-director: Longman Leung Cast: Jacky Cheung, Nick Cheung, Chang Chen, Shawn Yue, Janice Man, Wang Xue Qi, Ji Jin-Hee, Choi Si-Won, Yoon Jin-Yi, Lee Tae-Ran, Kim Hae-Sook, Mike Leeder Running Time: 119 min. By Paul Bramhall Directors Sunny Luk and Longman Leung team up once more for their sophomore effort, Helios. Looking to match the success of their surprisingly taut 2012 bureaucratic thriller Cold War, here they’re … Continue reading

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Shadowguard | aka The Blood Bond (2011) Review

AKA: The Blood Bond Director: Michael Biehn, Bey Logan Cast: Michael Biehn, Simon Yam, Phoenix Chou, Emma Pei, Jennifer Blanc, Xiao Keng Ye, Thomas Ho, Kenny Lo, Ridwan Amir, Michael Wong Mun-Tak Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall With the dawn of the DVD era, Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan quickly became known for his informative and knowledgeable audio commentaries, recorded for the Hong Kong Legends and Dragon … Continue reading

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Postman Strikes Back, The (1982) Review

"The Postman Strikes Back" DVD Cover

AKA: The Postman Fights Back Director: Ronny Yu Cast: Leung Kar Yan, Chow Yun Fat, Yuen Yat Chor, Fan Mei Sheng, Cherie Chung, Eddie Ko Hung, Brandy Yuen Jan Yeung, Chiang Cheng, Lee Fat Yuen Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall Postman Strikes Back is a unique entry in the Hong Kong action genre for a number of reasons. Set in 1913, it’s a movie which brings together elements … Continue reading

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Wolf Warrior (2015) Review

Wolf Warrior | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Wu Jing Cast: Wu Jing, Yu Nan, Scott Adkins, Kyle Shapiro, Ni Dahong, Zhou Xiaoou, Shi Zhaoqi, Deng Ziyi, Tian Miaomiao, Ma Qiang, Chris Collins, Shan Jiachen Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall After the lukewarm reception of Wu Jing’s 2008 directorial debut Legendary Assassin, 7 years on and 2015 sees him returning to the directors chair for his second feature, Wolf Warrior. While Legendary Assassin was very much … Continue reading

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Saviour Monk, The (1975) Review

Director: Leung Chit Foo Producer: Chang Yan-Tao Cast: Doris Lung Chung Erh, Tong Wai, Philip Ko Fei, Chin Chi Min, Ma Cheung, Yuen Sam, Lee Ying, Tit Mang Chau Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall The Saviour Monk is a tricky movie to review – it looks, feels, and sounds like an old school kung fu movie. It has a cast which includes familiar old school faces like Doris … Continue reading

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Tiger Over Wall (1980) Review

"Tiger Over Wall" Theatrical Poster

Director: Tony Liu Jun Guk Producer: Alex Gouw Cast: Philip Ko Fei, Kong Do, Chu Tiet Wo, Hwang Jang Lee, Cheung Lik, Candy Wen, Chan Lau Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall There’s a certain familiarity to watching an old school kung fu movie, in that you tend to know exactly what you’re going to get. A villain has killed a teacher, and the student vows to get revenge. … Continue reading

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Ode to My Father (2014) Review

"Ode to My Father" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yoon Je-Kyun Writer: Park Soo-Jin Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, Kim Yunjin, Oh Dal-Su, Jung Jin-Young, Jang Young-Nam, Ra Mi-Ran, Hong Suk-Youn, Kim Seul-Gi, Lee Hyun, Uhm Ji-Sung, Go Yoon Running Time: 126 min. By Paul Bramhall When a major Korean studio decides it’s time to churn out a crowd pleasing blockbuster for the masses, things normally go one of two ways. We either get movies which aim purely for the … Continue reading

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Bieber and Rain pair up for McG’s ‘Lethal Weapon Reloaded’

In a Hollywood where increasingly nothing is sacred, it was announced yesterday that the Weinstein’s have started pre-production on a Lethal Weapon reboot, to be titled Lethal Weapon Reloaded. While there’s a certain inevitability about the movies we love eventually being remade, what will no doubt get fans of the original riled up is the casting choices in the remake. Playing the part of Martin Riggs, the role which Mel … Continue reading

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