Category Archives: All

Broker (2022) Review

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda  Cast: Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doona, Lee Ji-eun, Lee Joo-young, Park Ji-yong, Im Seung-soo, Kang Gil-woo, Lee Moo-saeng, Ryu Kyung-soo Running Time: 129 min.  By Paul Bramhall  There are those filmmakers out there whose cinematic identity feels distinctly attached to the country that they hail from. Akira Kurosawa will always be associated with Japanese cinema much the same way Jean Luc-Godard will always be associated with French … Continue reading

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Cruel Gun Story (1964) Review

Director: Takumi Furukawa Cast: Jo Shishido, Chieko Matsubara, Tamio Kawaji, Shobun Inoue, Yuji Odaka, Minako Kazuki, Hiroshi Nihonyanagi, Hiroshi Kondo, Saburo Hiromatsu Running Time: 87 min. By Henry McKeand In the 1960s, the Japanese studio Nikkatsu made a string of hard-edged crime thrillers that became known as “borderless action” films. They received this distinction because they borrowed from international influences, combining classic American noir and French New Wave gangster cool … Continue reading

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Interceptor (2022) Review

Director: Matthew Reilly Cast: Elsa Pataky, Luke Bracey, Aaron Glenane, Mayen Mehta, Paul Caesar, Belinda Jombwe, Marcus Johnson, Zoe Carides, Kim Knuckey, Deniz Akdeniz Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall I have to be honest, writing about Matthew Reilly in 2022 is not something I saw coming. To give some background, way back in 2000 my friend lent me a book, handing it over with the ominous words “You … Continue reading

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Blonde Fury, The | aka Lady Reporter (1989) Review

Director: Meng Hoi Cast: Cynthia Rothrock, Chin Siu Ho, Meng Hoi, Elizabeth Lee Mei Fung, Roy Chiao, Billy Chow, Ronny Yu Yan Tai, Jeff Falcon, Vincent Lyn, Chung Fat, Tai Bo, Melvin Wong Gam San, Wu Ma, Hsiao Ho, Kwan Yung, James Tien Chun Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison In 1995, when I was 13, I visited my local video shop. Ah, those were the days. How I … Continue reading

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Paid in Blood | aka Tomb of the River (2021) Review

Director: Yoon Young-Bin Cast: Yu Oh-Seong, Jang Hyuk, Park Sung-Geun, Oh Dae-Hwan, Lee Hyun-Kyun, Shin Seung-Hwan, Song Young-Kyu, Kim Jun-Bae, Lee Chae-Young, Han Sun-Hwa  Running Time: 119 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2021’s Paid in Blood everything that’s old feels new again, a Korean gangster flick that harkens back to the late 90’s/early 2000’s heyday, a time when Korea practically made the gangster movie a genre of its own. Of course … Continue reading

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Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021) Review

Director: Sion Sono Cast: Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Tak Sakaguchi, Bill Moseley, Nick Cassavetes, Yuzuka Nakaya, Young Dais, Koto Lorena, Jai West, Cici Zhou Running Time: 103 min. By Henry McKeand When talking or writing about Nicolas Cage, the word “extreme” inevitably comes up. In some ways, it has defined his career, leading to a perhaps unfair reputation as an overactor. This reputation, coupled with memes and viral … Continue reading

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White Storm 2: Drug Lords, The (2019) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Andy Lau, Louis Koo, Michael Miu, Karena Lam, Kent Cheng, Gordon Lam, Chrissie Chau, Cherrie Ying, Michelle Wai, MC Jin (Jin Au-Yeung), Ben Yuen  Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2013 the late Benny Chan unleashed The White Storm, one of the most divisive Hong Kong action movies in recent memory. While some hailed it is a glorious throwback to the heroic bloodshed era, … Continue reading

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Kiltro (2006) Review

Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Cast: Marko Zaror, Caterina Jadresic, Miguel Angel De Luca, Daniela Lhorente, Luis Alarcón, Alejandro Castillo, Man Soo Yoon, Roberto Avendano Running Time: 93 min. By Henry McKeand At first glance, Marko Zaror is what you expect from an action star. A tall, intimidating martial artist from Chile with an intense screen presence, he was first introduced to most action fans as the villainous Dolor in the … Continue reading

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Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (2020) Review

Director: Junta Yamaguchi Cast: Kazunari Tosa, Riko Fujitani, Gôta Ishida, Masashi Suwa, Yoshifumi Sakai, Haruki Nakagawa, Munenori Nagano, Takashi Sumita, Chikara Honda, Aki Asakura Running Time: 70 min. By Paul Bramhall The concept of time travel is always an interesting one when it’s transferred to screen, and the Japanese film industry has flirted with it just as much as any other. From modern day military units transported to feudal Japan … Continue reading

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Super Ninja, The | aka Killers Untouchable (1984) Review

Director: James Wu Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Eugene Thomas, Jack Long Shi-Chia, William Yen, Bruce Lai (Chang Il-do), Tong Lung, Yang Hsiung, Yu Kam-Po, Kim Gi-Jong, Lo Mei Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall  Amongst the many ninja flicks that Taiwan cranked out in the 1980’s, perhaps none stand out more than director James Wu’s unintended ninja trilogy. Kicking off with his directorial debut in 1984 with The Super … Continue reading

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Game of Death Redux (2022) Review

Director: Bruce Lee Produced & adapted by: Alan Canvan Cast: Bruce Lee, James Tien, Chieh Yuan, Dan Inosanto, Ji Han Jae, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Running Time: 34 min.  By Jeff Bona In 1972, Bruce Lee started filming Game of Death, a movie that would not only have been his 4th Hong Kong action feature, but also his sophomore directorial effort. During this time, Bruce filmed over 100 minutes of footage, most of … Continue reading

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Death Ring (1984) Review

Director: Chang Cheh Co-director: Lu Feng Cast: Chen Kuan Tai, Lee Chung Yat, Ti Lung, Chan Sing, Lu Feng, Lau Fong Sai, Keung Hon Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Director Chang Cheh was rightfully known as the Godfather of Hong Kong action cinema, and after the Shaw Brothers studio wound down its movie production, he still managed to crank out a further 11 in Taiwan and Mainland China. … Continue reading

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Bloodmoon (1997) Review

Director: Tony Leung Siu Hung Cast: Gary Daniels, Darren Shahlavi, Michael Depasquale Jr, Keith Vitali, Rob Van Dam, Chuck Jeffreys, Frank Gorshin, Ken Kensei, Jen Sung, Joe Hess Running Time: 102 min. By Henry McKeand “It’s never enough!” These words are spoken by Bloodmoon’s villain in the opening fight scene, but they could double as the unofficial mantra of this maximalist martial arts buddy cop flick. The funny detective being … Continue reading

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Foolish Plan (2016) Review

Director: Sen Dao Cast: Jordan Chan Siu-Chun, Deng Jia-Jia, Jiro Wang Dong-Cheng, Lee Beom-Su, Lawrence Ng Kai-Wah, Zhang Xiao-Jue, Xu Ou-Yi, Piao Wen-Xi Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall  Before the relationship between China and South Korea deteriorated in 2017, which resulted in China imposing an unofficial ban on all things South Korean – including importing Korean movies and all things K-pop – China enjoyed using Korea as a … Continue reading

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Drive My Car (2021) Review

Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Reika Kirishima, Park Yu-rim, Jin Dae-yeon, Sonia Yuan, Ahn Hwitae, Perry Dizon, Satoko Abe, Masaki Okada Running Time: 179 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s perhaps a testament to how much inspiration Japanese author Haruki Murakami is capable of instilling in those who read his work, when you consider that Drive My Car is the second of his short stores in recent years to … Continue reading

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