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on Watch a clip from ‘Beast’ starring Daniel MacPherson, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth and martial arts star Bren FosterBeast was a pretty good film. Daniel MacPherson Didn’t have any previous mart…
on Back to school again! Shout announces 4K Ultra HD for Ringo Lam’s 1988 Hong Kong action film ‘School on Fire’Even with the "Extended and Uncensored Footage"? If not, I'm sure Arrow is al…
on Back to school again! Shout announces 4K Ultra HD for Ringo Lam’s 1988 Hong Kong action film ‘School on Fire’Not the full version, even if image quality would be partially "really not go…
on Shaw Brothers Classics Vol 8 | Blu-ray (Shout)Well, the answer is due to licencing, so your still where we were with region…
on Armie uncancels himself in Uwe Boll’s ‘Citizen Vigilante’… grab the signed Limited Edition Blu-ray before it’s gone!So because he became famous by being shit, we're now supposed to defend him b…
on I Love Maria | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Shout!)I wonder whether this version includes the scenes shown in the trailer but mi…
on Hail to the thief! Arrow Video announces 4K Ultra HD for John Woo’s Hong Kong heist actioner ‘Once a Thief’It doesn't have many fans on the west, but still John Woo's most popular movi…
on Hail to the thief! Arrow Video announces 4K Ultra HD for John Woo’s Hong Kong heist actioner ‘Once a Thief’Not a good movie: badly scripted, poorly directed. Looking so cheap... Next!
on The wait is nearly over! Jackie Chan’s 3D kung fu adventure ‘Magnificent Bodyguards’ arrives on Blu-ray this Julyalmost a year later let's pray we finally get it as promised lol
on Mao bang for your buck! Eureka’s announces the ‘Reap The Whirlwind: Four Films with Angela Mao’ Blu-ray collectionDammit. Another great release. So many of them coming along at the same time…
on The Kosugi ninja empire lives on! New Poster for Shane Kosugi’s ‘Seek’ starring Kansuke Asano and Kane KosugiGlad to see that both of Sho Kosugi's sons have been actively busy(film world…
on Bruce Lee returns! Check out the thrilling New Trailer for the ‘Game of Death’-focused documentary ‘Broken Rhythm’That's exactly what I have, and it is awesome. I don't really know what else…
on 🦂 Feel that sting? Here’s the full details for 88 Films’ Blu-ray for the 1992 Golden Harvest classic ‘Operation Scorpio’This is an old favorite of mine. Dare I hope 88films will release this in 4k…
on Hop right to it! New Bruce Lee doc, ‘Mr. Vampire’ reboot and more arriving from veteran Hong Kong producer Bey LoganYou’re no random stranger, Ska. You’re someone hiding behind a fake name who…
on Tarantino says NO, but Lionsgate says GO: Details for the 4K, Blu-ray and VHS editions for ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’I'd only disagree with you, Ska on the extended anime sequence. For years I'v…
on Tarantino says NO, but Lionsgate says GO: Details for the 4K, Blu-ray and VHS editions for ‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’Don't forget the influence of Swedish revenge flick Thriller: A Cruel Movie o…
on I Love Maria | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Shout!)Clip. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYz1PbZiWte/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link…
on Ready to unleash some WANG!? Steve Wang’s cult classic ‘Guyver 2: Dark Hero’ arriving on Blu-ray later this yearI’m even more excited about this one than Roaring Fire. I know we’ll get a co…
Author Archives: Will McGuire
Game of Killers (1982) Review
Director: Hui Sing-Yue Cast: Barry Chan Wai Ji Wan, Lung Chan, Chu Shao-Hwa, Chun-Eah Lung, Su Kuo-Liang, Tu Kuei-Hua, Lin Wan-Chang, Lin Kuang-Yung Running Time: 81/90 min. By Will McGuire Recently I reviewed Dark Forces’ kung fu double feature Shadow Fist Hunter and Deadly Kung Fu Factor those of you who were shopping discs on Black Friday last year may recall that at the exact same time those discs who … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Barry Chan Wai Ji Wan
Monkey Man (2024) Review
Director: Dev Patel Cast: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, Makarand Deshpande Running Time: 121 min. By Will McGuire Monkey Man is Dev Patel’s love letter to Southeast Asian action cinema from 8 Diagram Pole Fighter right up to The Night Comes For Us. It is what a lot of action fans have been clamoring for: a mid budget, carefully produced … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley
Swordsman of All Swordsmen, The (1968) Review
Director: Joseph Kuo Cast: Polly Shang-Kwan, Tin Peng, Miu Tin, Tin Yau, Sit Hon, Kong Nam, Cho Kin, Go Ming, Liu Chu, O Yau Man, Hung Fa Long, Lee Tso Nam, Ngai So Running Time: 85 min. By Will McGuire The Swordsman of All Swordsmen is a film in a unique position in 2024: despite being a little seen but highly regarded early film from one of the legendary directors … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Joseph Kuo, Lee Tso Nam, Polly Shang-Kwan, Tin Peng
Deadly Kung Fu Factor (1975) Review
Director: Chui Dai-Chuen Cast: Michael Chan Wai Man, Charles Heung Wah-Keung, Susanna Au-Yeung Pui-San, Na Na, Chao Lei, Cheng Kei-Ying, Wu Chia-Hsiang, Chieh Yuan Running Time: 86 min. By Will McGuire I recently reviewed the new Dark Forces release of Shadow Fist Hunter, and now it’s time for the second half of this label’s ultra rare kung fu boom double feature. Interestingly enough, Deadly Kung Fu Factor is as different a … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Charles Heung, Chieh Yuan, Michael Chan Wai Man
Shadow Fist Hunter | aka The Shadow Chaser (1973) Review
Director: Fei-chien Wu Cast: Yip Tai Kong, Yi Yuan, Liang Pin, Pearl Chang Ling, Wu Kuan, Kwan Hung, Chen Hui-Lou Running Time: 90 min. By Will McGuire On Black Friday of last year, the small press label Dark Forces released a pair of extremely rare classic kung fu films: Deadly Kung Fu Factor and this film, Shadow Fist Hunter. Remastered from newly discovered 35mm prints, the films represent a fascinating … Continue reading
This is not an error! An interview with Logan Hamrick and Samuel Antezana of the Blu-ray label ERROR 4444
For lovers of Asian genre cinema the world of boutique Blu-ray releases has become a treasure trove of incredible releases aimed right at the serious aficionado. The mainstay labels: Criterion, Arrow, Shout have been joined by smaller specialized labels focused squarely on bringing films that have traditionally not gotten the love they deserve from physical releases to collectors with the best presentation possible. One of the most interesting such labels … Continue reading
Posted in News
Concrete Utopia (2023) Review
Directed: Uhm Tae-Hwa Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Park Seo-Jun, Park Bo-Young, Kim Sun-Young, Kim Do-Yoon, Park Ji-Hu, Lee Seo-Hwan, Kang Ae-Shim, Lee Hyo-Je, Lee Sun-Hee Running Time: 129 min. By Will McGuire Concrete Utopia, South Korea’s nomination for Best Foreign Feature at the upcoming Academy Awards, is a tense thriller, a particularly honest class commentary, a leap forward for special effects work in the Korean cinema, and twenty minutes too long. … Continue reading
Flying Swordsman, The | The Hidden Fox (2022) Review
AKA: The Hidden Fox Director: Qiao Lei Cast: Zhao Huawei, Fu Jia, Yusi Chen, Ray Lui Leung Wai, Shanshan Chunyu, Zihan Chen Running Time: 104 min. By Will McGuire The Flying Swordsman (aka The Hidden Fox) is great entertainment. It is, like the best of contemporary wuxia films, a strong evolution of the style that began in the late-60’s revival of the genre at Shaw Brothers and though it has … Continue reading
Haunted Samurai (1970) Review
Director: Keiichi Ozawa Cast: Hideki Takahashi, Masako Izumi, Isao Natsuyagi, Seiichiro Kameishi, Shoki Fukae, Yûji Odaka, Eiji Go, Masaya Oka, Utako Shibusawa, Maya Kitajima Running Time: 83 min. By Will McGuire Haunted Samurai is the perfect companion to a Lone Wolf and Cub movie marathon. This 1970 saga of evil Yagyu ninjas and noble samurai straining between the rigors of their code and the needs of their conscience feels like … Continue reading
Wandering Earth II, The (2023) Review
Director: Frant Gwo Cast: Wu Jing, Li Xuejian, Ning Li, Andy Lau, Wang Zhi, Zhu Yanmanzi, Sha Yi, Zhang Yi Running Time: 173 min. By Will McGuire The Wandering Earth 2 represents a new high-water mark for production values in Chinese cinema. One look at the opening credits will tell you that both this film and its 2019 first installment are the product of literally the entire Chinese cinematic apparatus, … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Frant Gwo, Wu Jing (Jacky Wu), Zhang Yi
Silent Night (2023) Review
Director: John Woo Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Yoko Hamamura, Vinny O’Brien, Anthony Giulietti, John Pollack, Angeles Woo Running Time: 104 min. By Will McGuire Silent Night represents John Woo’s return to Hollywood after a twenty year absence. Trailers breathlessly proclaim him to be “the Michelangelo of the Action Film”, and this film is clearly meant to re-introduce him to an American audience before his … Continue reading
Phantom Kung Fu (1979) Review
Director: Lee Tso-Nam Cast: Chang Yi, Don Wong Tao, Lee Kwan, Ma Cheung, Jimmy Lee Fong, Shih Ting Ken, Tommy Lee Gam Ming, Wang Tai Lang, Got Heung Ting, Miu Tin Running Time: 90 min. By Will McGuire Lee Tso-Nam is one of the most distinctive directors of independent kung fu films during the 70’s. A favorite of Tarantino, his energetic, workmanlike, style produced kung fu films that stood out … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Chang Yi, Don Wong Tao, Lee Kwan, Lee Tso Nam
Crocodile Island (2020) Review
Director: Simon Zhao Co-director: Xu Shixing Cast: Gallen Lo, Hu Xueer, Liao Yinyue, Wang BingXiang, He Qiwei, Dang Wei, Zhao Zuo Running Time: 86 min. By Will McGuire Crocodile Island is a bad film, but it is a film that’s worth talking about because the question of why it is bad is so instructive to problems in Chinese genre cinema right now. First of all, the film is a throwback … Continue reading
Expect No Mercy (1995) Review
Director: Zale Dalen Cast: Billy Blanks, Jalal Merhi, Wolf Larson, Laurie Holden, Anthony De Longis, Michael Blanks, Réal Andrews, Sam Moses, Jefferson Mappin, Géza Kovács, Richard Fitzpatrick, Brett Halsey, Scott Wickware, Lazar Rockwood Running Time: 91 min. By Will McGuire I adore the world of 80’s and 90’s western martial arts action films. If it stars Sho Kosugi, Jeff Speakman, Don Wilson, or Mark Dacascos it’s probably going to be … Continue reading
Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews
Tagged Billy Blanks, Jalal Merhi
Visible Secret (2001) Review
Director: Ann Hui Cast: Eason Chan, Shu Qi, Sam Lee, Wayne Lai, James Wong Jim, Kara Hui, Anthony Lau Wing, Lee Fung, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Perry Chan Ping Chi, Samuel Yau Man Shing, Cheung Tat Ming Running Time: 98 min. By Will McGuire Visible Secret is not so much a horror film as it is a phantasmagoria. The aim of the picture is neither to inspire fear in the … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Anthony Wong, Eason Chan, Kara Hui, Sam Lee, Shu Qi, Tony Liu (Anthony Lau Wing)
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