Category Archives: All

Iron Monkey 2 (1996) Review

"Iron Monkey 2" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Chiu Lo-Kong Cast: Donnie Yen, Billy Chow Bei Lei, Wu Ma, Alan Lee, Yuen Man Hing, Cheung, Li Wing Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall There are some movies out there that, with the very mention of their name, seem to cause confusion, and Iron Monkey 2 is without doubt one of those. A sequel to Yuen Woo Ping’s 1993 new wave classic that featured Yu Rong-Guang as … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Aftermath (2017) Review

Director: Elliott Lester Writer: Javier Gullón Producer: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Scoot McNairy, Maggie Grace, Martin Donovan, Hannah Ware, Mariana Klaveno, Kevin Zegers, Larry Sullivan, Teri Clark Linden Running Time: 92 min. By Zach Nix Although Arnold Schwarzenegger (Maggie) is an internationally recognized commodity who was the biggest movie star on the planet in the late 80s and early 90s, he is no longer the hot topic that he used to … Continue reading

Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , |

Missing You (2016) Review

"Missing You" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Mo Hong-jin Producer: Kim Dae-Geun Cast: Shim Eun-Kyung, Yoon Je-Moon, Kim Sung-Oh, Ahn Jae-Hong, Kim Won-Hae, Kim Hong-Fa Running Time: 108 min. By Paul Bramhall There can be no doubt that 2016 was a big year for Korean cinema, with several of the industry’s most prominent talents returning to the screen. After their ventures into Hollywood, directors Park Chan-wook and Kim Ji-woon returned to home soil, releasing The Handmaiden and Age … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Billy Jack (1971) Review

Director: Tom Laughlin Writer: Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor Cast: Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Clark Howat, Victor Izay, Julie Webb, Debbie Schock, Teresa Kelly, Lynn Baker, Stan Rice, David Roya, John McClure Running Time: 114 min. By Zach Nix Steven Seagal is one of the most interesting action stars to ever grace the screen and achieve a significant amount of success. He’s always been a personal obsession of mine, especially because … Continue reading

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged |

Operation Mekong (2016) Review

"Operation Mekong" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Dante Lam Cast: Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Joyce Feng, Sun Chun, Sean Wu, Chen Baoguo, Johnathan Wu, Ken Lo, Carl Ng, Mandy Wei, Yu Dong, Liu Xianda Running Time: 124 min. By Paul Bramhall While Hollywood has long moved on from the flag waving macho heroics that dominated its action cinema in the 80’s, China appears to be going through its own period of nationalistic world saving. In a 12 month period … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Mission Milano (2016) Review

"Mission Milano" Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Producer: Wong Jing Cast: Andy Lau, Huang Xiaoming, Michelle Hu, Shen Teng, Wong Cho-lam, Michelle Hu, Nana Ouyang, Fung Bo Bo, Wu Yue, Xie Yilin, Mao Junjie, Xu Dongdong, Shen Teng, Zhao Yingjun, Qi Wei, Ken Lo, Philippe Joly Running Time: 103 min. By Paul Bramhall Remember the big fuss that was made when Jackie Chan made his 100th movie? Well, that same fuss isn’t being applied … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Incredible Kung Fu Master, The (1979) Review

"The Kung Fu Master" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Kung Fu Master Director: Joe Cheung Tung Cho Cast: Stephen Tung Wei, Sammo Hung, Philip Ko, Lee Hoi San, Peter Chan, Chung Fat, Dai Sai Aan, Huang Ha, Cecilia Wong, Meng Hoi, Austin Wai, Billy Chan, Lam Ching Ying, Mars, To Wai Wo, Ho Pak Kwong, Wu Ma Running Time: 92 min.  By Martin Sandison In 1979, Sammo Hung was at the peak of his powers as an onscreen … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Suddenly in the Dark (1981) Review

AKA: Suddenly in Dark Night Director: Go Yeong-nam Producer: Suh Byung-gi Cast: Kim Young-ae, Yoon Il-bong, Lee Gi-seon Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall While just like Shiri put Korean action movies on the map in 1999, a year prior the high school ghost tale Whispering Corridors did the same for the Korean horror movie. However both genres had been around for long before the titles that gained them international recognition, with horror … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Prison, The (2017) Review

"Prison" Theatrical Poster

Director: Nah Hyeon Cast: Kim Rae-won, Han Seok-kyu, Han Suk-Kyu, Kim Rae-Won, Jung Woong-In, Kim Sung-Kyun, Shin Sung-Rok, Han Sung-Yong, Lee Geung-young, Cha Yup Running Time: 125 min.  By Paul Bramhall In years to come, when people look back on the 2015 – 2016 era of the Korean film industry, it may well look like all it took for a movie to get green lit is for it be about figures in authority … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Diamond Cartel (2017) Review

"Diamond Cartel" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Whole World at Our Feet Director: Salamat Mukhammed-Ali Cast: Karlygash Mukhamedzhanova, Armand Assante, Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa, Bolo Yeung, Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson, Peter O’Toole, Michael Madsen, Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, Aleksey Frandetti, Nurlan Altaev, Serik Bimurzin Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall As a candidate for the cinematic oddity of 2017, Diamond Cartel is certainly a strong contender for the prize. The Kazakhstan production was originally titled The Whole … Continue reading

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Three (2016) Review

Three | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Johnnie To Cast: Louis Koo, Wallace Chung, Vicky Zhao Wei, Lam Suet, Lo Hoi-Pang, Timmy Hung, Michael Tse, Eddie Cheung, Mimi Kung, Raymond Wong Ho-Yin Running Time: 89 min. By Kelly Warner After a couple years spent making comedies, director Johnnie To returns to the gritty crime genre with the cops vs. robbers vs. doctors thriller Three. Like all of To’s finest films, Three is positively dripping with style. Near … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Tunnel (2016) Review

"Tunnel" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Seong-Hun Cast: Ha Jung-Woo, Bae Doo-Na, Oh Dal-Su, Shin Jung-Keun, Nam Ji-Hyun, Cho Hyun-Chul, Kim Hae-Sook, Yoo Seung-Mok, Park Hyuk-Kwon Running Time: 126 min. By Paul Bramhall Not to be confused with the 2014 South Korean horror movie, Tunnel 3D, director Kim Seong-hoon’s latest effort is a decidedly 2D disaster movie, which, in the grand tradition of many a disaster movie, puts its ill-fated location as the title. … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Quick Man (2002) Review

Director: Lee Hyeok-su Writer: Yun Jin-a Producer: Seo Gil-seong Cast: Jeon Hye-yun, Yun Se-ung, Song Geum-sig, Ricky Jun, Park Jeong-gwon, Lee Moo-jung, Kim Youn-soo, Lee Jae-yeong, Min Seong-joo Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall The start of the millennium saw many new directorial talents emerge in Korean cinema, with 2002 in particular seeing the likes of Park Chan-wook unleash Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, and Ryoo Seung-wan deliver his hard … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews |

Sea Fog | aka Haemoo (2014) Review

Director: Shim Sung-Bo Writer: Shim Sung-Bo, Bong Joon-Ho Cast: Kim Yun-Seok, Park Yoo-Chun, Han Ye-Ri, Lee Hee-Joon, Moon Sung-Geun, Kim Sang-Ho Running Time: 111 min. By Kyle Warner I think Memories of Murder deserves to be in the conversation of the finest films ever made. Dark, thrilling, funny, and almost poetic, it’s the movie that made me a fan of director/co-writer Bong Joon-ho, who did not disappoint when he followed up that masterwork with other … Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Review

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Peter Hunt Writer: Richard Maibaum Cast: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Bernard Lee, Gabriele Ferzetti, Ilse Steppat, Lois Maxwell, George Baker, Yuri Borienko, Desmond Llewelyn Running Time: 140 min. By Paul Bramhall Ask any James Bond fan which entry in the series has the ‘Asian connection’, and many will likely say 1967’s You Only Live Twice, which has Sean Connery gallivanting around Japan while taking on ninjas and training in … Continue reading

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , |