Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Kung Fu Jungle | aka Kung Fu Killer (2014) Review

"Kung Fu Jungle" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chen Cast: Donnie Yen, Bai Bing, Charlie Young, Wang Baoqiang, David Chiang, Alex Fong, Zhang Lan Xin, Stephen Tung Wei, Chin Kar Lok, Xing Yu, William Chan, Raymond Chow, Nicky Li, Deep Ng, Yuen Bun, Andrew Lau Wai-Keung Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall After initially being called Last of the Best, and then Kung Fu Killer, Donnie Yen’s fourth and final starring role of 2014 arrives … Continue reading

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Kung Fu Zombie (1981) Review

"Kung Fu Zombie" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Kung Fu Zombies Director: Wa Yat Wang Cast: Billy Chong Chun Lai (aka Willy Dozan), Kong Do, Kwan Yung Moon, Cheng Hong Yip, Chan Lau, Pak Sha Lik, Jeng Kei Ying, Woo Wai, Wong Yu Running Time: 80 min. By Paul Bramhall Thanks to the success of recent movies such as The Raid and its sequel, Indonesian action stars like Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian have quickly become familiar … Continue reading

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Mission Terminate | aka Return of the Kickfighter (1987) Review

"Mission Terminate" Dutch VHS Cover

AKA: Revenge of the Kickfighter Director: Anthony Maharaj Writer: Joe Mari Avellana Cast: Richard Norton, Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Rex Cutter, Judy Greene, George E. Mahlberg, Nick Nicholson, Henry Strzalkowski, Dick Wei, Franco Guerrero Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall My journey that found me watching Mission Terminate was somewhat of an interesting one. Back in 2008, I’d stumbled across an old Tai Seng DVD of a movie … Continue reading

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Zombie 108 (2012) Review

"Zombie 108" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Z-108 Director: Joe Chien Cast: Yung Cheung, Yvonne Yao, Tai Bo, Jack Kao Jie, Dennis To, Lena Lam, Cica Zhou Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall “The first genre movie combining apocalypse and zombie in Chinese film history” the tag-line for Zombie 108 proudly declares. Well, who doesn’t love a bit of zombie? And if it’s history making zombie, well, even better. The movie is the sophomore feature … Continue reading

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Exclusive: Interview with Hwang Jang Lee

Four decades ago, Hwang Jang Lee burst onto kung fu movie screens with his thunderous kicks, and for the next 20 years he didn’t stop kicking. There’s not too many Hong Kong legends that haven’t been on the receiving end of his boot at one point or another, and he himself is rightly considered a legend in the world of kung fu cinema, dubbed the King of Leg Fighters. In … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, News |

Iceman 3D (2014) Review

"Ice Man" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Law Wing Cheong Cast: Donnie Yen, Wang Baoqiang, Eva Huang Sheng Yi, Simon Yam, Lo Hoi Pang, Jacqueline Chong, Lam Suet, Benny Chan, Mark Wu You Fai, Hu Ming, Lo Fan Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall 2014 has been a busy 12 months for Donnie Yen, with Special ID, The Monkey King, Kung Fu Jungle, and Iceman 3D all hitting cinema screens over the course of the … Continue reading

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Lucy (2014) Review

"Lucy" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Luc Besson Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-sik, Amr Waked, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Pilou Asbæk, Analeigh Tipton, Nicolas Phongpheth, Jan Oliver Schroeder Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in the 1990’s Luc Besson was considered to be in the top tier of action directors, infusing his movies like La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional, and The Fifth Element with a distinctive European style and intelligence, while also … Continue reading

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Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014) Review

"Once Upon a Time in Shanghai" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Ching Po Cast: Philip Ng, Andy On, Mao Jun Jie, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Jiang Lu Xia, Chen Kuan Tai, Yuen Cheung Yan, Fung Hak On, Yolanda Yuan Quan Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall In a Hong Kong which continues to be starved of performers who can deliver screen presence, charisma, and kung-fu skills, the trend over recent years seem to be to push the talented … Continue reading

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Moebius (2013) Review

Moebius | DVD (RAM Releasing)

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Kim Ki-Duk, Kim Woo-Taek, Kim Soon-Mo Cast: Cho Jae-Hyu, Seo Young-Joo, Lee Eun-Woo, Lee Eun-Woo, Kim Jae-Rok and Kim Jae-Hong Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall Kim Ki-duk has remained one of Korea’s most discussed and controversial directors over the last 15 years. His movies usually portray the dark side of human nature with tales dictated by the sex and violence that … Continue reading

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Korea & Kung Fu: A Retrospective on Fire!

"King Boxer" Chinese Theatrical Poster

In popular opinion, it seems to have become a common fact that it was Bruce Lee that led to the kung fu movie becoming a massive hit in the US, with his 1973 movie Enter the Dragon. While its influence can’t be doubted, what is often overlooked is that there was a movie released a full year before in 1972 which had already captured the publics’ imagination, filling out grind-house … Continue reading

Posted in Features, News |

Constable, The (2013) Review

"The Constable" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Dennis Law Cast: Simon Yam, Lam Suet, Maggie Siu, Sam Lee, Lo Hoi Pang, Ken Lo, Niu Meng Meng, Maggie Li, Nick Zy Yi, Mia Chan Jing Yi, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall Everyone who’s a Hong Kong movie fan remembers the golden age of the 1980s. The decade was almost like a storm in a teacup, a relatively small area of land … Continue reading

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Association, The (1975) Review

"The Association" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Cheng Chang Ho Cast: Tien Ni, Yue Bing Lung, Angela Mao, Zhao Lei, Suen Lam, Chiang Nan, Fang Mien, Sammo Hung, Wang In Sik, Chiu Hung, Lee Kwan, Wilson Tong, Carter Wong, Simon Yuen, Yuen Wah, Naomi Oka, Hung Sing Chung Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall The career of Korean director Cheng Chang-ho makes for an interesting read. Chang-ho made his directorial debut in 1951, and went … Continue reading

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Angels 2 | aka Iron Angels 2 (1988) Review

"Angels 2" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Angel 2, Fighting Madam 2 Director: Stanley Tong Cast: Alex Fong Chung-Sun, Moon Lee, Elaine Lui, Gary Siu Yuk Lung, Sin Ho Ying, Jackson Ng Yuk Su, Yuen Tak, Thomas Sin Ho-Ying, Chan Man-Ching Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall The ‘Girls with Guns’ genre is generally considered to have been kicked off by the 1985 Corey Yuen movie Yes, Madam!, which introduced us to the femme fatale … Continue reading

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Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon (2013) Review

"Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Mark Chao, Feng Shaofeng, Kenny Lin Geng Xin, Kim Bum, Angelababy, Deng Chao, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Hu Dong, Chen Kun, Sheng Jian, Ma Jing Jing Running Time: 133 min. By Paul Bramhall Tsui Hark has long been one of Hong Kong’s most prolific creative forces. He’s directed countless movies which are considered Hong Kong classics, from the excess of Zu: Warriors from Magic Mountain to … Continue reading

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Seven Warriors (1989) Review

"Seven Warriors" DVD Cover

Director: Terry Tong Writer: Tsang Kan Cheung Producer: John Sham Cast: Chen Jing, Adam Cheng, Jacky Cheung, Lisa Chiao Chiao, Elaine Kam, Benz Kong, Philip Kwok, Ben Lam, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Lo Lieh, Teresa Mo, Max Mok Siu Chung, Shing Fui On, Wu Ma, Sammo Hung Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall The sterling team over at Well Go USA recently released the little known Hong Kong movie … Continue reading

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