Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

Eternal Fist | aka Fist of Steel (1992) Review

July 21, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"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 →

Posted in All, Asian Related, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014) Review

July 14, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"Black Coal, Thin Ice" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Diao Yinan Cast: Liao Fan, Gwei Lun-Mei, Wang Xuebing, Wang Jingchun, Yu Ailei, Ni Jingyang Running Time: 106 min. By Paul Bramhall While the last decade has seen China become an important market in the film industry, the countries own output has had less success reaching beyond its own shores. Unlike the Hong Kong movies of yesteryear, which gained a dedicated following in the West thanks to their raucous … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

From Vegas to Macau II (2015) Review

July 13, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"From Vegas to Macau II" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Man from Macau II Director: Wong Jing Co-director: Aman Chang Cast: Chow Yun-fat, Nick Cheung, Carina Lau, Shawn Yue, Angela Wang, Michelle Hu, David Chiang, Kimmy Tong, Philip Keung, Wu Yue, Jin Qiaoqiao, Kenny Wong, Derek Tsang, Connie Man, Rebecca Zhu Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall The 2014 Lunar New Year movie From Vegas to Macau was far from perfect. It featured a droll performance by … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Monk Comes Down the Mountain (2015) Review

July 11, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"Monk Comes Down the Mountain" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Monk Director: Chen Kaige Cast: Wang Bao Qiang, Aaron Kwok, Chang Chen, Lin Chi-ling, Fan Wei, Yuen Wah, Vanness Wu, Wang Xueqi, Danny Chan, Lam Suet, Dong Qi, Tiger Hu Chen Running Time: 123 min. By Paul Bramhall Up until recently Shaolin trained actor Wang Bao Qiang’s choice of roles did little to show off his physical talents, from his debut in the 2003 drama Blind Shaft, to … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

World of Kanako, The (2014) Review

July 7, 2015 Paul Bramhall

Director: Tetsuya Nakashima Cast: Koji Yakusho, Nana Komatsu, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Joe Odagiri, Fumi Nikaido, Hiroya Shimizu, Hiroki Nakajima, Ai Hashimoto, Asuka Kurosawa, Miki Nakatani, Hitoshi Hoshino, Mahiro Takasugi, Jun Kunimura Running Time: 118 min. By Paul Bramhall While Japanese mainstream filmmaking has arguably been in a creative slump for a long time, there remains a few directors out there who are worth watching. Sono Sion, Miike Takashi, and Takeshi ‘Beat’ … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews |

Return of the Valuables (1975) Review

July 1, 2015 Paul Bramhall

Director: Chui Dai-Gwan Writer: Gam Kim Producer: Chen Ching-Te Cast: Chen Tao, Joan Lin Feng-Chiao, Gary List, Lee Seung, Lam Chi, Miao Tian, Lan Yun, Gam Kim, Chen Chiu, Chan San-Yat, Tsang Ming-Cheong, Yeung Hung, Keung Hon, Wong Goon-Hung, Chui Lap, Cho Kin, Siu Wong-Lung, Lui Wan-Biu Running Time: 82 min. By Paul Bramhall Toby Russell should be a name that anyone who counts themselves as a fan of kung … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews |

Master Killers | aka The Master Avenger (1980) Review

June 24, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"Master Killers" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Master Avenger Director: Wong Hung Cheung Cast: Casanova Wong, Blacky Ko, Philip Ko Fei, Bolo Yeung, Chiang Kam, Suen Kwok Ming Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall There’s an old romantic cliché that goes something along the lines of everyone has that someone out there who’s ‘the one’, and what a tragedy it would be if they never realize it. Comparatively, for a kung fu fan like myself, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Daisy (2006) Review

June 19, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"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 →

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

Shadowless Sword (2005) Review

June 15, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"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 →

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

Rage | aka Tokarev (2014) Review

June 9, 2015 Paul Bramhall

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 →

Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged |

Master Strikes, The (1980) Review

May 31, 2015 Paul Bramhall

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 →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , |

Fox Hunter (1995) Review

May 25, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"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 →

Posted in Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Big Match (2014) Review

May 19, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"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 →

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

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

May 15, 2015 Paul Bramhall

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

May 12, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"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 →

Posted in Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , |
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