Category Archives: All

Wonder Seven (1994) Review

"Wonder Seven" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ching Siu-Tung Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Kent Cheng, Andy Hui Chi On, Hung Yan Yan, Vincent Lau Tak,  Kwan Shan, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Chin Ho, Hilary Tsui Ho Ying, Guan Shan Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall By the mid-90’s Hong Kong audiences appetite for the new wave wuxia boom was starting to wane. The likes of the Swordsman trilogy (and, well, any early 90’s movie starring Brigitte Lin) had wowed audiences … Continue reading

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Killing (2018) Review

"Killing" Japanese Poster

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto Writer: Shinya Tsukamoto Cast: Yu Aoi, Sosuke Ikematsu, Kohji Katoh, Tatsuya Nakamura, Ryusei Maeda Running Time: 80 min. By Martin Sandison I think I was the tender age of 14 when I first saw Shinya Tsukamoto’s Tetsuo. At that point I had seen David Lynch’s Eraserhead, and the two really went hand in hand for me. Both share an otherworldly, DIY, black and white aesthetic, and push … Continue reading

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Project Gutenberg (2018) Review

"Project Gutenberg" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Felix Chong Cast: Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Zhang Jung-Chu, Joyce Feng, Catherine Chow, Alex Fong, Liu Kai-chi, Yao-Qing Wang, Alien Sun, Carl Ng, Leung Kin-Ping Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall When a trailer gets released for a movie, it has one job – to make people want to come and see it. Most trailers do that through editing together some of the key moments in order to grab the … Continue reading

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Triple Threat (2019) Review

"Triple Threat" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jesse V. Johnson Cast: Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Tiger Hu Chen, Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Michael Bisping, Celina Jade, Jeeja Yanin, Ron Smoorenburg, Michael Wong, Dominique Vandenberg, Sile Zhang, Jennifer Qi Jun Yang Running Time: 96 min.  By Paul Bramhall There’s something undeniably daunting when you look at the cast list of Triple Threat. For many fans of martial arts cinema, it’s one that looks too good to be … Continue reading

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Witness, The (2018) Review

"The Witness" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jo Kyu-Jang Cast: Lee Sung-Min, Kim Sang-Ho, Jin Kyung, Kwak Si-Yang, Park Bom, Kim Sung-Kyun, Bae Jung-Hwa, Shin Seung-Hwan, Jung Yoo-Min, Yeon Je-Wook Running Time: 111 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say that violence is as an integral a part of Korean cinema as kimchi is to its cuisine. Sure, you don’t need it with every dish, but when it’s there, it makes for a distinctly Korean … Continue reading

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Drug King, The (2018) Review

"The Drug King" Korean Teaser Poster

Director: Woo Min-Ho Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Cho Jung-Seok, Bae Doo-Na, Kim So-Jin, Kim Dae-Myung, Lee Sung-Min Running Time: 139 min. By Paul Bramhall I finished my review of director Woo Min-ho’s last movie, the excellent Inside Men, by stating my hope that “his next movie is at least on par with what he’s pulled off here.” 3 years later and that opportunity is now upon us, and it comes in … Continue reading

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Miracle Fighters, The (1982) Review

"Miracle Fighters" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Diretor: Yuen Woo-ping Cast: Yuen Yat Chor, Leung Kar Yan, Yuen Cheung Yan, Brandy Yuen Jan Yeung, Eddie Ko Hung, Yuen Shun Yee, Yuen Woo Ping, Tino Wong Cheung, Huang Ha, Chan Tien Lung, Simon Yuen Siu Tien, Lam Moon-Wa Running Time: 95 min. By Matthew Le-feuvre Following the runaway successes of both Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow (1977) and its semi-sequel The Drunken Master (1978), it has always been fervently rumoured that … Continue reading

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Eastern Condors (1987) Review

"Eastern Condors" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Condors Commando Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, Lam Ching-Ying, Dr. Haing S. Ngor, Joyce Godenzi, Yuen Wah, Yuen Wo-Ping, Yasuaki Kurata, Phillip Ko Fei, Billy Lau, James Tien, Ng Hon, Ha Chi-Chun, Billy Chow, Corey Yuen Running Time: 100 min. By  Z Ravas If you only know Sammo from his usual happy-go-lucky characters in old-school kung fu flicks like Knockabout, Eastern Condors might serve as a … Continue reading

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Misbehavior (2017) Review

"Misbehavior" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Tae-Yong Writer: Kim Tae-Yong Cast: Kim Ha-Neul, Yu In-Young, Lee Won-Geun, Lee Hee-Joon, Lee Ki-Woo, Gi Ju-Bong, Jung Suk-Yong, Hong Ahn-Pyo, Lim Hwa-Young, Kwon Soo-Hyun Running Time: 96 min.  By Paul Bramhall There can be no more tried and tested plot device within the world of Korean drama’s than the love triangle. In a way it’s understandable, the kind of relationship dynamic it invokes provides a framework in … Continue reading

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Integrity (2019) Review

"Integrity" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Alan Mak Writer: Alan Mak Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Nick Cheung Ka-fai, Karena Lam, Anita Yuen, Alex Fong, Deep Ng Running Time: 114 min.  By Martin Sandison Alan Mak’s Extraordinary Mission really slipped under the radar a couple of years ago; for me it was one of the best action films of 2017, with the ending reaching insane heights of over-the-top action. Unfortunately, the film under-performed in all territories, and Mak’s new film Integrity is … Continue reading

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Trough, The (2018) Review

"The Trough" Theatrical Poster

Director: Nick Cheung Cast: Nick Cheung, Xu Jing-Lei, He Jiong, Yu Nan, Michael Miu Kiu-Wai, Yuen Wah, Lam Suet, Louis Cheung, Maggie Cheung Hoh-Yee, Li Hai-Tao, Chris Collins Running Time: 112 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been 3 years since Nick Cheung last sat in the director’s chair for his sophomore feature Keeper of Darkness, which saw him sticking to the horror tropes of his directorial debut. For his third … Continue reading

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Handsome Siblings (1992) Review

"Handsome Siblings" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Eric Tsang Producer: Stephen Shiu Cast: Andy Lau, Brigitte Lin, Sharla Cheung, Anita Yuen, Deannie Yip, Francis Ng, Michael Miu, Fung Hak On, Peter Chan, Timothy Zao, Chan Chi Fai, John Chang, Chang Kin Ming, Chow Hong Chiu, Lam Suet, Richard Ng Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in the Shaw Brothers studios heyday, the writings of wuxia author Gu Long provided ample material for big screen adaptations. … Continue reading

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Golden Job (2018) Review

Golden Job | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Director: Chin Kar Lok Producer: Eric Tsang Cast: Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Chin Kar Lok, Jerry Lamb, Michael Tse, Eric Tsang, Kurata Yasuaki, Billy Chow, Alan Ng, Sergej Onopko, Phil Chang Running Time: 100 min.  By Paul Bramhall Hong Kong cinema has changed a lot since the 90’s, and it was during the opening of Golden Job that it hit me just how much. It was no big surprise … Continue reading

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Angel Town (1990) Review

"Angel Town" Theatrical Poster

Director: Eric Karson Writer: S. Warren Cast: Olivier Gruner, Theresa Saldana, Frank Aragon, Tony Valentino, Peter Kwong, Mike Moroff, Mark Dacascos, Bruce Locke, Claudine Penedo Running Time: 102 min.  By Z Ravas It’s a story as old as the Western: a stranger rides into a town plagued by violence and unrest. Boarding with a local, he soon finds that the town’s troubles become his own – and he’s forced to fight … Continue reading

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Revenger (2018) Review

"Revenger" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Seung-won Writer: Bruce Khan Cast: Bruce Khan, Park Hee-soon, T.J. Storm, Yoon Jin-seo, Kim In-kwon, Park Chul-min Running Time: 101 min. By Paul Bramhall The Korean martial arts movie can more or less be said to have died out at some point in the 1990’s. Sure there’s been a few attempts to revive it, the likes of 2006’s City of Violence and 2013’s The Suspect were both sold … Continue reading

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