Category Archives: All

Murder Unincorporated (1965) Review

Director: Haruyasu Noguchi Cast: Jo Shishido, Yoko Yamamoto, Kon Omura, Yumiko Nogawa, Eiji Go, Daizaburo Hirata, Hiroshi Cho, E.H. Eric, Kanbi Fujiyama, Tonpei Hidari, Hiroshi Hijikata Running Time: 85 min. By Kyle Warner Before the Nikkatsu logo even hits the screen, one of Murder Unincorporated’s characters directly addresses the audience. “Hey, you!” he shouts with a snarl. “If you don’t laugh when you see this movie, I’m going to execute you!” … Continue reading

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Mozu: The Movie (2015) Review

Director: Eiichiro Hasumi Writer: Go Osaka, Kosuke Nishi Producer: Mamoru Inoue, Akira Morii Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Takeshi Kitano, Teruyuki Kagawa, Yoko Maki, Yusuke Iseya, Tori Matsuzaka, Hiroki Hasegawa, Fumiyo Kohinata, Sosuke Ikematsu, Atsushi Ito Running Time: 116 min. By Paul Bramhall Takeshi ‘Beat’ Kitano is easily one of the most recognizable faces in Japanese cinema, directing a number of movies that are rightfully considered masterpieces. When he acts, it’s usually … Continue reading

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Danger Pays (1962) Review

AKA: Danger Paws Director: Ko Nakahira Cast: Joe Shishido, Ruriko Asaoka, Hiroyuki Nagato, Arihiro Fujimura, Eiji Go, Bokuzen Hidari, Kojiro Kusanagi, Torahiko Hamada, Daizaburo Hirata, Toyoko Takechi, Zenji Yamada Running Time: 82 min. By Kyle Warner Danger Pays is an odd little movie. It shifts from wacky comedy to violent action at the drop of a hat. You wouldn’t know it at first, but the opening credits theme song is … Continue reading

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Blood Child | aka Five Fingers of Steel (1982) Review

"Blood Child" DVD Cover

AKA: 5 Fingers of Steel Director: Vincent Leung Cast: Hwang Jang Lee, Yen Shi Kwan, Kwan Yung Moon, Lee Yi Yi, Yuen Mao, Chu Tiet Wo, Chan Lau Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall While Blood Child without doubt belongs in the category of being an old-school kung fu movie, there’s also a few elements to it that undeniably set it apart from being just another cookie cutter fight … Continue reading

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Stranger from Shaolin | aka Fist of Flying Tiger (1977) Review

"Stranger from Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Wing Chun Warriors Director: Tony Liu Jun Guk Cast: Cecilia Wong Hang Sau, Sun Jung Chi, Thompson Kao Kang, Bruce Lai (Chang Il-do), Tony Liu Jun Guk, Chan Lau, Lee Ye Min, Wong Kwok Leung, Bruce Cheung Mong, Baak Wong Gei, Kwon Il-Soo, Baek Hwang-Ki Running Time: 94 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic The name Tony Liu Jun Guk should be well known and celebrated among the fans of kung … Continue reading

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Tokyo Mighty Guy (1960) Review

"Tokyo Mighty Guy" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Buichi Saito Cast: Akira Kobayashi, Ruriko Asaoka, Sanae Nakahara, Arihiro Fujimura, Hiroshi Kondo, Shoichi Ozawa, Toranosuke Ogawa, Shin Morikawa, Hisao Toake, Masao Mishima, Kyosuke Aihara, Yoko Kosono, Fudeko Tanaka Running Time: 79 min. By Kelly Warner I don’t know about you, but when I think about Nikkatsu, I immediately think of their action movies (if your first thought is of Nikkatsu’s Roman Pornos, then you and I have very different … Continue reading

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El Gringo (2012) Review

"El Gringo" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Bad Yankee Director: Eduardo Rodriguez Writer: Jonathan W. Stokes Cast: Scott Adkins, Yvette Yates, Christian Slater, Israel Islas, Erando Gonzalez, Sofia Sisniega Running Time: 102 min. By Zack Nix British martial arts action star Scott Adkins is the saving grace of modern direct to video and low budget action. After breaking out onto the scene with Isaac Florentine’s Special Forces, which finally gave him the screen time necessary to … Continue reading

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Ghost Warrior | aka Swordkill (1984) Review

"Ghost Warrior" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Swordkill Director: J. Larry Carroll Cast: Hiroshi Fujioka, John Calvin, Janet Julian, Charles Lampkin, Frank Schuller, Bill Morey, Andy Wood, Robert Kino, Joan Foley, Peter Liapis, Mieko Kobayashi, Toshishiro Obata Running Time: 81 min. By Kelly Warner One of Ghost Warrior’s poster taglines was, ‘100 Years Ago, He Was a Living Legend… Today, He’s a Living Hell.’ You can almost hear the trailer voice guy reading that, can’t you? … Continue reading

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Good, the Tough & the Deadly, The (2016) Review

Author: David J. Moore Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Description: 1 Edition May 25, 2016, Hardcover Length: 560 pages By Zach Nix The Good, the Tough & the Deadly, the latest book from film journalist, David J. Moore, is possibly the most expansive exploration of action and genre cinema to date. Moore’s previous book, World Gone Wild: A Survivor’s Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Movies, was already an impressive feat, as it covered practically … Continue reading

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Outlaw: Kill! (1969) Review

"Outlaw: Kill!" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Gangster VIP 6 Director: Keiichi Ozawa Cast: Tetsuya Watari, Chieko Matsubara, Eiji Go, Kenji Imai, Goro Mutsumi, Koji Wada, Hiroshi Kondo, Fujio Suga Running Time: 85 min. By Kelly Warner “I don’t get involved in yakuza feuds,” says Goro Fujikawa, the Outlaw antihero who seriously gets involved in a new yakuza feud practically every time he hops off the train. Goro’s not fooling anybody, least of all the audience. … Continue reading

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Final Score | aka Elegy of a Massacre (1986) Review

"Final Score" Theatrical Poster

Director: Arizal Writer: Deddy Armand Cast: Chris Mitchum, Mike Abbott, Ida Iasha, Dicky Zulkarnaen, Zainal Abidin, Siska Widowati, Nizar Zulmi, Ivonne Elisabeth, Andre Mathias, Gino Makasutji, Syarief Friant Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s an age old dilemma – how does one carve out a successful career for one’s self in Hollywood, when one of your family members is an A-list star? It’s a question no doubt such … Continue reading

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Wailing, The (2016) Review

"The Wailing" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Na Hong-jin Writer: Na Hong-jin Cast: Kwak Do-Won, Hwang Jeong-Min, Jun Kunimura, Chun Woo-Hee, Kim Hwan-Hee, Jang So-Yeon, Heo Jin, Jo Han-Chul, Son Kang-Kuk, Kim Do-Yoon Running Time: 115 min. By Jeff Bona Na Hong-jin, the fierce South Korean filmmaker behind Chaser (2008) and The Yellow Sea (2010), is once again unleashing hell with The Wailing – and let me tell you  – I’ve never been happier seeing a … Continue reading

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Master, The | aka The Final Master (2015) Review

The Final Master | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Xu Haofeng Writer: Xu Haofeng Cast: Fan Liao, Xiao Song Jia, Jiang Wenli, Huang Jue, Jin Shijie, Zhang Aoyue, Song Yang, Dong Xiaosong, Leon Dai, Chen Kuan-tai, Xiong Xin-Xin Running Time: 109 min. By Martin Sandison Now that the old guard of Hong Kong martial arts stars are getting on in age, the eyes of the kung fu movie-loving public have turned to Mainland China. With big money behind … Continue reading

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Techno Warriors | aka Computer Hero (1997) Review

"Techno Warriors" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Cyber Warrior Director: Philip Ko Fei Cast: Philip Ko Fei, Tamara Guo, Darren Shahlavi, Winston Ellis, Monsour del Rosario, James Ha Chim Si, Thorsten Nickel, Alan Chan Yiu Lun, Niño Muhlach Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall The career of Philip Ko Fei is an interesting one to say the least, and one which has made me an unabashed fan of his work. If you were to … Continue reading

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Outlaw: Black Dagger (1968) Review

"Outlaw: Black Dagger" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Gangster VIP 5 Director: Keiichi Ozawa Cast: Tetsuya Watari, Chieko Matsubara, Kunie Tanaka, Sanae Kitabayashi, Kaku Takashina, Yoshiro Aoki Running Time: 86 min. By Kelly Warner Outlaw: Black Dagger begins the way most the other Outlaw films end: a bloody knife fight, tragedy, and a love story interrupted. This opening sequence is actually the film’s finest moment, giving us drama and action with no shortage of style. During the … Continue reading

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