After going through a golden age in the 1960’s, Korean cinema went through one of its most challenging decades in the 70’s. Economic growth saw television sets make their way into most households and become the medium of choice, while the ushering in of the Yushin era saw president Park Chung-hee tighten his dictatorial grip on the country, imposing strict censorship on any creative work. After a decade that produced … Continue reading →

It’s been over 25 years since Wu Jing debuted on Hong Kong cinema screens in 1996’s Tai Chi Boxer, a production which saw him billed as the next Jet Li in part thanks to their shared history of being on the Beijing Wushu Team. While it’s debatable exactly what criteria would need to be ticked off in order to fulfil the prediction of being the next Jet Li, what can’t … Continue reading →

Over the last few years many of Jackie Chan’s classics from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s have found a new audience thanks to the stellar work of labels like 88 Films, Arrow Video, and Eureka! Entertainment. Arguably one of the most physically talented performers of the last 50 years, Chan was for many the ultimate action star – combining martial arts prowess, a willingness to put his body on the … Continue reading →

There would be few out there who’d argue that, in the world of kung fu cinema, the names of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao will forever be imprinted. Collectively known as the Three Dragons, between them the trio have headlined some of the defining movies of the genre, and even more when you count their experience behind the camera. Having studied at the same Peking Opera school under … Continue reading →

With the recent release of John Liu’s failed magnum opus New York Ninja, I was reminded of the arduous odyssey I once undertook to visit the location where the final fight took place in his breakout movie, 1976’s The Secret Rivals. It all began in 2014 when I interviewed Hwang Jang Lee in London as part of the SENI Strength and Combat Event that he was there visiting, and the interview … Continue reading →

Drunken Master 2 has finally received a worthy release on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Bros., with its Warner Archive Collection release, finally restoring the Cantonese version uncut. It now feels like the right time to examine this film in the cold light of day, as it has split opinion with Kung Fu and Jackie enthusiasts, ever since grainy versions were available on pirate VHS in the mid ‘90s. Is this … Continue reading →

It may come as a surprise, but the only director who’s worked with Jackie Chan more than Stanley Tong is Lo Wei. Of course the relationship between star and director is quite different. Chan cranked out 7 movies with Lo Wei at the helm in the 4 years spanning 1976 to 1979, starting with the intolerable New Fist of Fury and concluding with Dragon Fist, one of Chan’s best old-schoolers. … Continue reading →

Korean cinema has come a long way since the beginning of the Korean Wave in the late 90’s and early 00’s, culminating in 2020 when Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite cleaned up at the Oscars. Of course Koreans have been present in Hollywood before Parasite gained global attention, with the likes of Lee Byung-hun (Terminator Genisys, The Magnificent Seven), Bae Doona (Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending), and Choi Min-sik (Lucy) all taking on … Continue reading →

We all know there have been plenty of Asian stars who have tried their hand at Hollywood, with the likes of Jackie Chan, Lee Byung-hun, Ken Watanabe, and even Tony Jaa all having varying degrees of success in Tinseltown. But what about those Hollywood stars who attempted their hand at the Asian film market? Those who have ventured to the East have done so for reasons as broad as the … Continue reading →

As many of us have spent a significant portion of 2020 in lockdown, there’s been no shortage of Starter Packs to provide inspiration of what we can do with all that extra time on our hands. Make Your Own Sourdough Starter Pack? Check! Grow Your Own Vegetables Starter Pack? Check! They’re all there, and at COF, we’ve decided to contribute to the cause as well, by unleashing The Scott Adkins … Continue reading →

We were going to start off this introduction with the typical “Although Bruce Lee only made 5 movies, the impact of each can still be felt to this day,” but we’re going to save you the trouble and get right to the good stuff. But before we do, please note: Our choices of Bruce Lee’s “Worst to Best” are not based solely on writing, fight choreography, acting, budget, soundtrack or … Continue reading →

Out of all the old-school kung fu stars, arguably nobody lives up to their nickname more than Casanova Wong, the Human Tornado. A name bestowed upon him during his time in the Korean Army for his incredible spin kicks, it was a talent which saw him destined to be one of the legendary boot-masters to grace the silver screen. Born in Korea as Kim Yong-ho, his kicks lit up the … Continue reading →