Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

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

Posted in Interviews, News |

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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I Know Kung Fu: The Second Golden Era of Collecting Kung Fu

By Paul Bramhall Many kung fu movie fans who have been around since the genre’s beginnings would arguably call the 70’s and 80’s the golden era. It was a time when the movies could be experienced first hand as they were released – whether it be going to check out Five Fingers of Death at a grindhouse movie theater on 42nd Street in New York, or heading down to the … Continue reading

Posted in Features, News |

Gangnam Blues (2015) Review

AKA: Gangnam 1970 Director: Yu Ha (aka Yoo Ha) Cast: Lee Min-Ho, Kim Rae-Won, Jung Jin-Young, Seol Hyun, Kim Ji-Su, Lee Yeon-Doo, Jung Ho-Bin, Eom Hyo-Seop, Yoo Seung-Mok, Lee Suk, Choi Jin-Ho Running Time: 135 min. By Paul Bramhall Former poet turned director and script writer Yoo Ha makes his long overdue return to the gangster genre with Gangnam Blues. Ha, whose 2006 movie A Dirty Carnival is considered a … Continue reading

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Strike of Thunderkick Tiger (1981) Review

"Strike of Thunderkick Tiger" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: My Name is Twin Legs Director: Park Woo Sang Cast: Charles Han, Casanova Wong, Bak Min Wong, Han Jee Ha, Peggy Min, Lisa Lee, Billy Yuen, Alfred Ma, Chan Taiyun, Dragon Lee, Phillip Leung, David Kao Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall The Korean old-school kung fu movie is without doubt the most bastardized genre out there. To this day, the number of legitimate releases of old school … Continue reading

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Girl at My Door, A (2014) Review

"A Girl at My Door" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jeong Joo-ri Producer: Lee Jun-Dong Cast: Bae Doo-Na, Kim Sae-Ron, Song Sae-Byuk, Kim Jin-Gu, Son Jong-Hak, Na Jong-Min Running Time: 119 min. By Paul Bramhall Korea has arguably been producing the best movies to come out of Asia for the last 15 years, however one criticism of the industry has always been the lack of lead roles for women, outside of romantic comedies and flower vase roles in male … Continue reading

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Ace Attorney (2012) Review

"Ace Attorney" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Hiroki Narimiya, Takumi Saito, Mirei Kiritani, Akiyoshi Nakao, Shunsuke Daito, Akira Emoto, Rei Dan, Mitsuki Tanimura, Takehiro Hira, Eisuke Sasai Running Time: 135 min. By Paul Bramhall Anyone with even a passing interest in Asian cinema will most likely be familiar with the name of director Takashi Miike. From the early-90’s, all the way up to the mid-2000’s, Miike was responsible for some of the most … Continue reading

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Slaughter in Xian (1989) Review

"Slaughter in Xian" Chinese Poster

AKA: Xian Massacre Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Tung Chi Hwa, Cecilia Wong Hang Sau, Du Yu Ming, Jia Kang Xi, Ku Wing Chuen, Wong Heung Wai Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall Director Chang Cheh is commonly referred to as ‘the Godfather of Hong Kong action cinema’, and it’s a title well deserved. In 1967 he cast Jimmy Wang Yu in The-One Armed Swordsman at a time when most … Continue reading

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