Category Archives: All

Dongji Rescue (2025) Review

Director: Guan Hu Co-director: Zhenxiang Fei Cast: Zhu Yi Long, Leo Wu, Ni Ni, William Franklyn-Miller, Yang Haoyu, Chen Minghao Running Time: 135 min. By Paul Bramhall The latest blockbuster from China, Dongji Rescue, tells the story of the 1942 sinking of the Lisbon Maru. The freighter was being used by the Japanese military to transport over 1800 British prisoners of war captured during the Battle of Hong Kong in … Continue reading

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Once Upon a Time in China III (1992) Review

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam, Max Mok Siu-Chung, Xiong Xinxin, Lau Shun, John Wakefield, Chiu Chin, Ge Cunzhuang, Meng Chin Running Time: 105 min. By Z Ravas Once Upon a Time in China is a film that convinced you it was telling the story of an entire nation. Tsui Hark’s widescreen canvas depicted a large array of characters, including master martial artist and doctor Wong Fei-hung, … Continue reading

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Back to the Past (2025) Review

Director: Ng Yuen-Fa Co-director: Jack Lai Cast: Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Michael Miu, Wu Yue, Fay Bay Baihe, Jessica Hsuan, Chris Collins, Timmy Hung, Sonija Kwok, Joyce Tang, Louis Cheung, Michelle Saram, Kevin Chu, Jimmy Au, Wong Man-piu, Liu Kai-chi Running Time: 107 min. By Paul Bramhall Back to the Past offers up an intriguing proposition – a movie sequel to A Step into the Past, a 40-episode TVB series … Continue reading

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Belly of the Beast (2003) Review

Director: Ching Siu-Tung Cast: Steven Seagal, Byron Mann, Monica Lo, Tom Wu, Sara Malakul Lane, Patrick Robinson, Vincent Riotta, Eilidh MacQueen, Kevork Malikyan  Running Time: 91 min.  By Henry McKeand Steven Seagal is horrible. He’s horrible to stunt performers, he’s horrible to women, and he’s been a horrible screen presence for the vast majority of his career. His jet black hair dye and overflowing torso and ridiculous outfits have made … Continue reading

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Rip, The (2026) Review

Director: Joe Carnahan Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, Kyle Chandler, Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, Jose Pablo Cantillo Running Time: 113 min.  By Paul Bramhall I recently read an article about the surge in AI generated music beginning to infiltrate streaming platforms, with one service reporting that towards the end of 2025, the number of AI generated songs had risen to represent 34% of … Continue reading

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Hot Blooded (2022) Review

Director: Cheon Myeong-Kwan Cast: Jung Woo, Kim Kap-Soo, Choi Moo-Sung, Ji Seung-Hyun, Lee Hong-Nae, Yoon Ji-Hye, Lee Sung-Woo, Yoon Dae-Yul, Hyun Bong-Sik, Heo Dong-Won Running Time: 120 min.  By Paul Bramhall In the opening scene of Hot Blooded we follow a gangster played by Jung Woo (Dirty Money, Spare) as he’s dropped off on a boat in the open sea. Sat around a table are his fellow criminal brethren, and … Continue reading

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Dirty Money (2024) Review

Director: Kim Min-Soo Cast: Jung Woo, Kim Dae-Myung, Park Byung-Eun, Cho Hyun-Chul, Jung Hae-Kyun, Baek Soo-Jang, Yoo Teo, Lim Hwa-Young, Kim Yoon-Sung Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall  Is there anything more dangerous in cinema than the trope of a character hauling around a bag of cash that doesn’t belong to them? Almost every country has an entry, and Korea is no different, with 2020’s Beasts Clawing at Straws … Continue reading

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Asian Connection, The (2016) Review

Director: Daniel Zirilli Cast: John Edward Lee, Byron Gibson, Pim Bubear, Dean Alexandrou, Michael Jai White, Ron Smoorenburg, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Nick Khan Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall I confess to being a fan of Steven Seagal’s movie output. Sure, depending on the era the kind of entertainment they deliver varies – the reasons you watch a 90’s Seagal movie are very different to the reasons you watch a … Continue reading

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The Great Flood (2025) Review

"The Great Flood" Netflix Poster

Director: Kim Byung-Woo Cast: Kim Da-mi, Park Hae-soo, Kwon Eun-seong, Jeon Hye-Jin, Lee Hak-Joo, Yu-Na, Lee Dong-Chan, Kang Bin, Kim Dong-Yeong, Lee Jun-Hyeok Running Time: 108 min.  By Paul Bramhall The last time Korea had to face a cinematic tsunami threat was in 2009’s Hauendae, and technically it still stands true in 2025, since the latest addition to Korea’s disaster genre catalogue, The Great Flood, went directly to the streaming … Continue reading

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Hard Justice (1995) Review

Director: Greg Yaitanes Cast: David Bradley, Charles Napier, Yuji Okumoto, Clabe Hartley, Benita Andre, Adam Clark, John Koyama, Vernon Wells, Doug Kruse, Harold Cannon, Arthur Roberts, Jim Maniaci, William S. Wong Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall  If you’re a fan of U.S. DTV action, when the Nu Image logo appears onscreen at the beginning of a production, you usually know you’re in for a good time. At best … Continue reading

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Final Justice (1988) Review

Director: Parkman Wong Cast: Danny Lee, Stephen Chow, Shing Fui On, William Ho Ka-Kui, Tommy Wong Kwong-Leung, Victor Hon Kwan, Ricky Yi Fan-Wai, Ken Lo Wai-Kwong Running Time: 95 min. By Z Ravas As much as fans tend to valorize the late 80’s and 90’s Hong Kong scene as a Golden Age for Action Cinema—and it was!—sometimes it’s instructive to remember that not every film released during that era was … Continue reading

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Ruthless Bastards (2025) Review

"Ruthless Bastards" Theatrical Poster

Director: Bruce Fontaine Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Casper Van Dien, Theresa Lee, Don Lew, Hasleen Kaur, Parmish Verma Running Time: 90 min.  By Z Ravas As time marches on and brings changes with it, “progress” doesn’t always feel like progress; perhaps that’s why there’s something comforting about crime movies that feature aging tough guys who can reminisce about the good ‘ol days—before smartphones and social media—while still cracking heads. I’m … Continue reading

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No Other Choice (2025) Review

Director: Park Chan-wook Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Hae-sook, Kim Hyung-mook, Oh Dal-su Running Time: 138 min By Paul Bramhall In the opening scene of director Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice we meet a dedicated company man played by Lee Byung-hun (The Match, Ashfall) who seemingly has it all – a nice house, a loving wife, 2 kids, and … Continue reading

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Afterburn (2025) Review

Director: J. J. Perry Cast: Dave Bautista, Olga Kurylenko, Kristofer Hivju, Samuel L. Jackson, Daniel Bernhardt, Kevin Eldon, Simon Merrells, Eden Epstein, George Somner Running Time: 106 min.  By Z Ravas J.J. Perry is a name that action fans may or may not know, but they really should: over the last three years, the stuntman-turned-director has quietly proved himself one of the best action filmmakers working today. His directorial debut … Continue reading

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Force of Execution (2013) Review

Director: Keoni Waxman Cast: Steven Seagal, Bren Foster, Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo, Jenny Gabrielle, Marlon Lewis, David House, Gillie Da Kid, Andy Brooks, Ivan G’Vera Running Time: 99 min.  By Paul Bramhall If he wasn’t already, then the 2024 Australian martial arts movie Life After Fighting successfully put Bren Foster on the radar of most martial arts cinema fans, in which he both starred and directed, culminating in a final … Continue reading

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