Category Archives: All

Horrible High Heels (1996) Review

Director: Chow Cheung Co-director: Chen Wei-An Co-director: Mao Chiang-Pang Cast: Shing Fui-On, Dick Wei, Billy Chow Bei-Lei, Suen Tong, Chow Yuk-Ling, Yue Shut-Man, Lin Hsiao-Lu, Lam Chak-Ming, Hung Fung, Fu Kwai Running Time: 97 min. By  Paul Bramhall During the 1990’s the Hong Kong Category III rating practically became its own genre. The equivalent of a US R-rated movie or an 18 certificate in the UK, while in the west such … Continue reading

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7 Assassins | aka Glory Days (2013) Review

Director: Hung Yan Yan Cast: Felix Wong, Max Mok, Eric Tsang, Guo Tao, Ray Lui, Michael Wong, Benny Chan, Gigi Leung, Ni Hong Jie, Hung Yan Yan, Cherie Chan, Ellen Chan, Rose Chan, Ekin Cheng, Edward Chui, Fung Hak On, Kara Hui, Waise Lee Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall The glory days of the Shaw Brothers and Cathay Studio in the 60’s and early 70’s may be long … Continue reading

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212 Warrior | aka Wiro Sableng (2018) Review

Director: Angga Dwimas Sasongko Cast: Vino G. Bastian, Sherina Munaf, Marsha Timothy, Fariz Alfarizi, Happy Salma, Dwi Sasono, Yayan Ruhian, Cecep Arif Rahman, Lukman Sardi, Ruth Marini Running Time: 123 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic 212 Warrior could have been a step-up for Indonesian action cinema. Co-production with Fox International Pictures, first for any Southeast Asian movie, secured a substantial budget, and the award-winning director Angga Dwimas Sasongko was brought … Continue reading

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Walk on Fire (1988) Review

Director: Norman Law Man Producer: Ng See-Yuen Cast: Andy Lau, Cherie Chung, Kent Cheng, Ray Lui, Dick Wei, Lau Siu-Ming, Maria Cordero, Shum Wai, Kam Hing-Yin, May Hoh Mei-Ting, Yung Wai-Man, Teddy Yip Wing-Cho Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1987 iconic Hong Kong director Ringo Lam hit Hong Kong cinema screens with 2 of his bona fide classics, City on Fire and Prison on Fire, creating a … Continue reading

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Runaway Blues (1989) Review

Director: David Lai Dai-Wai Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Shirley Lui Sau-Ling, Ngok Ling, Sunny Fang Kang, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Kelvin Wong Siu, Tanny Tien Ni, Chang Shih, Chan Ging-Cheung Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Say what you want about how in modern Hong Kong cinema Louis Koo is in just about everything, still nothing can compare to the omni-presence of Andy Lau in the mid to late eighties. … Continue reading

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400 Bullets (2021) Review

Director: Tom Paton  Cast: Jean-Paul Ly, Andrew Lee Potts, James Warren, Adesuwa Oni, Steven Blades, Spencer Collings, Wayne Gordon, Adam Sina, Thomas Smart, Tina Barnes, Eddie-Joe Robinson, Duncan Holmes, Jimmy ‘The Bee’ Bennett Running Time: 90 min.  By Martin Sandison Being a huge fan of Jean Paul Ly, especially the deliriously fun Nightshooters – I look forward to every project he does with excited glee. While working as a stuntman on … Continue reading

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Space Sweepers (2021) Review

Director: Jo Sung-Hee Cast: Song Joong-Ki, Kim Tae-Ri, Jin Sun-Kyu, Yu Hae-Jin, Park Ye-Rin, Richard Armitage, Kim Moo-Yul, Oh Ji-Yul, Kim Hyang-Gi, Nas Brown, John D. Michaels Running Time: 136 min. By Paul Bramhall The marketing material for Space Sweepers proudly boasted the production to be “Korea’s first sci-fi film project”, a claim which does somewhat of a disservice to the film industries frequent dabbling with the genre during the … Continue reading

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Great Battle, The (2018) Review

Director: Kim Kwang-Sik Cast: Jo In-sung, Nam Joo-Hyuk, Park Sung-Woong, Bae Sung-Woo, Um Tae-Goo, Seol Hyun, Park Byung-Eun, Oh Dae-Hwan, Jung Eun-Chae, Sung Dong-Il, Jang Gwang, Stephanie Lee, Yeo Hoi-Hyeon, Jung In-Gyeom Running Time: 135 min. By Pau Bramhall The Korean historical blockbuster became particularly heavy handed under the years Park Geun-hye was president, with her policies and influence on the film industry resulting in a number of jingoistic productions … Continue reading

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Bloody Brotherhood (1989) Review

Director: Wang Lung Wei Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Michael Chan Wai Man, Irene Wan Pik Ha, David Lam Wai, Shum Wai, Ku Feng, Dick Wei, Philip Ko Fei, Tin Ching, Wong Hap, Cheung Gwok Wa, Ken Lo Hui Kwong, Sham Chin Bo, Lee Sau Kei, Cho Wing Running Time: 95 min.  By Paul Bramhall While Wang Lung-Wei is perhaps most synonymous for his various villainous turns during his tenure at the … Continue reading

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Circus Kids (1994) Review

Director: Wu Ma Cast: Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, Irene Wan Pik-Ha, Lily Lee Lee-Lee, Wu Ma, Lam Wai, Woo Ying-Man, Ken Lo Wai-Kwong, Bey Logan, Yuen Miu, Bei Lou-Kam, Yuen Miu Running Time: 109 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1994 Wu Ma brought together 3 of the best kickers of the era – Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, and Ken Lo – to feature in the tale of a circus troupe that … Continue reading

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Green Slime, The (1968) Review

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Cast: Robert Horton, Richard Jaeckel, Luciana Paluzzi, Bud Widom, Ted Gunther, Robert Dunham, David Yorston, William Ross, Gary Randolf, Eugene Vince Running Time: 90 min. By Ian Whittle The late Japanese New Wave director Fukasaku Kinji has a formidable reputation for his many Yakuza classics of the 1970s, his contributions to the Hollywood production Tora! Tora! Tora!, and his latter day masterpiece Battle Royale. He also directed … Continue reading

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Bloody Mafia (1994) Review

AKA: Red Mafia Director: Casanova Wong Cast: Casanova Wong (Ka Sa Fa), Choi Byung-cheol, Cha Ryong, O O-seop, Kim Du-han, Yoo Seong, Lee Sang-ho, Kim Chang-won, Kim Yeong-uk, Lee Jeonggu  Running Time: 95 min.  By Paul Bramhall By 1994 the kung fu golden era of Hong Kong that dominated the mid-70’s through to the early-80’s was well and truly over, and with it work also dried up for the Korean boot masters … Continue reading

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Swordsman, The (2020) Review

Director: Choi Jae-Hoon Cast: Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyun-Soo, Joe Taslim, Jeong Man-Sik, Lee Na-Kyung, Lee Min-Hyuk Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall The swordplay genre has fallen largely out of fashion over the last decade in Korean cinema, after it spent most of the 00’s being a regular fixture on cinema screens thanks to the likes of 2003’s Sword in the Moon, 2005’s Shadowless Sword, and 2010’s Blades of … Continue reading

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Fist and Furious (2020) Review

Director: Ha Won-Joon Cast: Jung Doo-Hong, Ryu Deok-Hwan, Seo Eun-A, Jung Eui-Gap, Kim Hae-In, Choi Je-Heon, Yoon Seung-Hoon, Lee Hae-Young, Kwon Hyeong-Joon, Choi Ha-Na Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Coming with possibly the most ridiculous English title since Wheels on Meals, director Ha Won-joon’s sophomore feature Fist and Furious probably has the guys over at The Asylum kicking themselves for not coming up with such a title of … Continue reading

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Derailed (2016) Review

"Derailed" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Seong-Tae Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Minho, Kim Jae-Young, Jung Da-Eun, Lee You-Jin, Baek Soo-Min, Kim Won-Sik, Park Ho-San, Park Sung-Il, Han Soo-Hyun, Seo Ho-Chul Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Derailed had a pretty bumpy road to the screen, as the story which takes place in the world of runaway teenagers was turned down by every investor it was pitched to, for reasons which become apparently clear once … Continue reading

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