Category Archives: All

Hidden Fortress, The (1958) Review

October 19, 2011 JJ Bona
"The Hidden Fortress" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Minoru Chiaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Misa Uehara, Susumu Fujita, Takashi Shimura, Misa Uehara, Eiko Miyoshi, Toshiko Higuchi Running Time: 139 min. By Numskull The titular location isn’t much of a “fortress”… more like a couple of shacks tucked away in a canyon… but the adventure that stops there along the way is highly entertaining. This Akira Kurosawa film takes its time getting where it’s going … Continue reading →

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Speed Racer (2008) Review

October 15, 2011 ningen31
"Speed Racer" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: The Wachowskis Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Roger Allam, Benno Fürmann, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rain, Richard Roundtree Running Time: 135 min.  By Ningen Emile Hirsch plays a one-dimensional guy named Speed Racer who teams up with a random Korean guy played by Rain and a myterious racer named X played by Matthew Fox to take down The Man (aka Royalton) through competitive car racing. … Continue reading →

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Godzilla | aka Gojira (1954) Review

October 14, 2011 JJ Bona
"Godzilla" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Godzilla: King of the Monsters Director: Ishiro Honda Cast: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Takashi Shimura, Fuyuki Murakami, Sachio Sakai, Ren Yamamoto, Toyoaki Suzuki Running Time: 96 min. By Woody Ishiro Honda was a great director. As Akira Kurosawa’s assistant director and right hand man, Honda no doubt learned a lot from the man, and it shows, particularly in this 1954 effort. Gojira is a stark and uncompromising film, filled with nightmarish imagery, but, … Continue reading →

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Dead and the Deadly, The (1982) Review

October 10, 2011 JJ Bona
"The Dead and the Deadly" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wu Ma Writer: Sammo Hung, Barry Wong Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Lam Ching-ying, Cherie Chung, Fat Chung, Ricky Lau, Wu Ma, Peter Chan Lung, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Kwan Yung Moon Running Time: 94 min. By Numskull Another supernatural comedy from Sammo Hung, star and director of Encounters of the Spooky Kind (God, how I hate that title) and its sequel (which is available neither on DVD nor VCD…bloody … Continue reading →

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Tai Chi Master | aka Twin Warriors (1993) Review

October 4, 2011 JJ Bona
"Tai Chi Master" Chinese DVD Cover

AKA: Tai Chi Director: Yuen Woo Ping Cast: Jet Li, Chin Siu Ho, Michelle Yeoh, Fennie Yuen Kit-Ying, Yuen Cheung Yan, Lau Shun, Yu Hai, Sun Jian Kui, Chow Gam-Kong, Yu Yan-Kai Running Time: 94 min. By Numskull Note to Yuen Wo Ping: Stop renting out your justly famous talent as a fight choreographer to other directors and make more of your own movies. They may not be as polished … Continue reading →

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My Father is a Hero | aka The Enforcer (1994) Review

October 4, 2011 JJ Bona
"My Father is a Hero" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Letter to Daddy Director: Corey Yuen Writer: Wong Jing Cast: Jet Li, Anita Mui, Tse Miu, Blacky Ko, Bonnie Fu Yuk Jing, Yu Rong Guang, Ken Lo, Damian Lau, Thorsten Nickel, Paul Rapovski, Henry Fong Ping, Corey Yuen Running Time: 100/105 min. By Numskull You know, for someone whose fame is based on his martial arts skills, I’m not seeing a whole lot of martial arts in Jet Li’s … Continue reading →

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Project S | aka Supercop 2 (1993) Review

October 4, 2011 JJ Bona
"Project S" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Stanley Tong Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Yu Rong Guang, Emil Chau, Fan Siu Wong, Dick Wei, Athena Chu, Bill Tung Biu, Bowie Lam, Alain Guernier, Ailen Sit Chun Wai, Chan Man Ching, Joe Cheung, Mars, Yukari Oshima, Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang Running Time: 98 min. By Numskull It seems that “they”… whoever they are… really don’t want us North American types to see this movie. The DVD and VCD from … Continue reading →

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PTU | aka Police Tactical Unit (2003) Review

October 4, 2011 JJ Bona
"PTU" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Cast: Simon Yam Tat Wah, Lam Suet, Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Eddie Ko Hung, Wong Wa Wo, Lo Hoi Pang Running Time: 88 min. By Alexander PTU certainly isn’t one of Johnnie To’s best efforts, but it does manage to offer up a few surprises, and another excellent performance by Simon Yam (Bullet in the Head). The film meanders … Continue reading →

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Police Woman | aka The Heroine (1973) Review

September 26, 2011 JJ Bona
"The Heroine" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Rumble in Hong Kong Director: Zhu Mu Cast: Yuen Qiu, Charlie Ching, Jackie Chan, Chiang Nan, Hu Chin, Betty Pei Dee, John Cheung Ng Long, Feng Yi, Lee Man Tai, Helena Law Lan Running Time: 90 min By Alvin George I bought this movie for three bucks from Circuit City, hoping it would be better than the other ’70s Jackie Chan movies I’ve seen due to its modern (1970s) … Continue reading →

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Thundering Mantis | aka Mantis Fist Fighter (1980) Review

September 22, 2011 JJ Bona

AKA: Mantis Fist Fighter Director: Yip Wing Cho Cast: Leung Kar Yan, Eddie Ko Hung, Wong Yat Lung, Chin Yuet Sang, Lee Kwan, Fang Mien, Ma Chin Ku, Suen Lam, Shih Ting Ken, Au Lap Bo Running Time: 90 min. By Joseph Kuby Cannibalistic Cult Classic! Thundering Mantis (a.k.a. ‘The Mantis Fist Fighter’ or ‘Crazy Mantis’) is a film that has garnered quite a notorious reputation over the years for … Continue reading →

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Shogun Assassin (1980) Review

September 11, 2011 JJ Bona
"Shogun Assassin" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Lone Wolf and Cub Director: Kenji Misumi Co-director: Robert Houston Cast: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Ohki, Akiji Kobayashi, Shin Kishida Running Time: 89 min. By Joe909 Shogun Assassin is one of those films that demands a recounting of its history, before you can actually review it. In 1980, a pair of producers with ties to Roger Corman got hold of the first two films in the Japanese Baby … Continue reading →

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Pulse | aka Kairo (2001) Review

September 9, 2011 JJ Bona
"Pulse" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Circuit Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa Cast: Haruhiko Kato, Kumiko Aso, Koyuki, Kurume Arisaka, Masatoshi Matsuo, Show Aikawa, Jun Fubuki, Shinji Takeda, Koji Yakusho, Shun Sugata Running Time: 119 min. By Numskull What Kairo sets out to do, it does superbly. However, not everyone will be happy with what it does, which is to sustain an eerie mood for two hours rather than simply tell a scary story. That’s not … Continue reading →

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Oasis (2002) Review

September 2, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: Lee Chang-Dong Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Moon So-Ri, Ahn Nae-Sang, Ryoo Seung-Wan, Chu Kwi-Jung, Son Byung-Ho, Yoon Ga-Hyun, Park Myung-Shin, Park Kyung-Geun Running Time: 132 Min. By Raging Gaijin “Oasis” is a difficult film to watch, let alone review. The story is deceptively simple, as the plot synopsis above describes, but from it grows one of the most unlikely and captivating relationships in cinema history. Writer/director Lee Chang-Dong has crafted … Continue reading →

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Dr. Wai in the Scripture Without Words (1996) Review

August 24, 2011 JJ Bona
"Dr. Wai in the Scripture Without Words" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ching Siu-tung Cast: Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Charlie Young, Kaneshiro Takeshi, Law Kar Ying, Billy Chow Bei Lei, Collin Chou, Johnnie Kong Yeuk Sing Running Time: 91 min.  By Numskull Holy crap, what a waste. Of time, of money, of energy, of potential. This could have been a remarkable action-adventure with a scope the width of which is rarely seen in Hong Kong cinema. Instead, it’s just ninety yawn-inducing … Continue reading →

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Hitman | aka Contract Killers (1998) Review

August 23, 2011 JJ Bona

Director: Stephen Tung Wai Cast: Jet Li, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, Gigi Leung, Keiji Sato, Paul Ropovshi, Frankie Ng, Jude Poyer, Deon Lam Dik On, Sam Wong Shum, John Ching Tung Running Time: 104 min. By Numskull A very welcome change of pace for Jet Li, Hitman features no flying around on wires or other stupid Hong Kong action tricks, unless you count the bad guy who blinds people with light from … Continue reading →

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