Category Archives: Asian Related

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) Review

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Star Wars: Episode VII Director: J. J. Abrams Cast: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Max von Sydow, Joonas Suotamo, Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian Running Time: 135 min. By Paul Bramhall As the latest installment of the much loved Star Wars franchise hits cinemas in December 2015, the first under the … Continue reading

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Drive Hard (2014) Review

"Drive Hard" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Hard Drive Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith Cast: John Cusack, Thomas Jane, Zoe Ventoura, Christopher Morris, Yesse Spence, Damien Garvey Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall The name Brian Trenchard-Smith should be familiar to anyone who’s a fan of Hong Kong movies, as the British born director was the man behind the 1975 Jimmy Wang Yu vehicle The Man from Hong Kong. A resident of Australia since his late teens, … Continue reading

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Double Team (1997) Review

"Double Team" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Colony Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Rodman, Paul Freeman, Mickey Rourke, Hung Yan Yan, Natacha Lindinger, Valéria Cavalli, Jay Benedict, Asher Tzarfati Running Time: 93 min. By Zach Nix International action star Jean-Claude Van Damme (Pound of Flesh) was on a cinematic roll through the late 80s and into the mid 90s. Although few of his films were ever as good or as successful as … Continue reading

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Close Range (2015) Review

Close Range | Blu-ray & DVD (XLRator)

AKA: Dust Up Director: Isaac Florentine Cast: Scott Adkins, Nick Chinlund, Caitlin Keats, Jake La Botz, Tony Perez, Madison Lawlor, Julien Cesario, Jimmy Chhiu, Ray Diaz, Robert Dill, Umar Khan Runnging Time: 80 min. By Zach Nix Close Range is the latest collaboration between Israeli director Isaac Florentine (Undisputed 3: Redemption) and British action star Scott Adkins (Wolf Warrior). The two have previously worked together on Special Forces, Undisputed 2: … Continue reading

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Kill Line (1991) Review

"Kill Line" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Richard H. Kim Producer: Bobby Kim Cast: Bobby Kim, Michael Parker, H. Wayne Lowry, Marlena Shapiro, Michael Ford, Clif Willis, George W. Byers, Sheila Ivy Traister, Tony Carpenter Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall In the 1980’s there was a sort of mini-wave of Korean directors who immigrated to the States. Park Woo-sang, the man behind such old school flicks like Shaolin: The Blood Mission, made the move … Continue reading

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Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, The (1974) Review

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

AKA: Seven Brothers Meet Dracula Director: Roy Ward Baker Co-director: Chang Cheh Cast: Peter Cushing, John Forbes-Robertson, David Chiang, Robin Stewart, Julie Ege, Shih Szu, Chan Shen, Tino Wong Cheung, Fung Hak On, Lau Wai Ling, Lau Kar Wing, Wong Pau Gei, Lo Wai, James Ma Chim Si Running Time: 89 min. By Zach Nix The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is a fun martial arts film co-produced by the … Continue reading

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Redeemer (2014) Review

"Redeemer" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Cast: Marko Zaror, Noah Segan, Loreto Aravena, Otilio Castro, Smirnow Boris, José Luís Mósca, Nuñez Nelson, Mauricio Raab Sanz, Pablo Raab Sanz Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison For my money, the end fight in Undisputed 3 – one of the best martial arts flicks of recent years, which pits Scott Adkins’ iconic Boyka against Marko Zaror’s extravagant villain Dolor – is one of the … Continue reading

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Eternal Fist | aka Fist of Steel (1992) Review

"Eternal Fist" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Death Zone Director: Teddy Chiu (aka Irvin Johnson) Producer: Andy Andico, Vivian Andico Cast: Dale ‘Apollo’ Cook, Don Nakaya Neilsen, Cynthia Khan, Alina Borkowski, Greg Douglas Running Time: 97 min By Paul Bramhall In 1989 a movie by the name of Cyborg unleashed a certain Belgian thespian upon the world in the form of Jean Claude Van Damme. The story, which took place in a dark post apocalyptic world … Continue reading

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Furious (1984) Review

"Furious" VHS Cover

Director: Tim Everitt Co-director: Tom Sartori Cast: Simon Rhee, Phillip Rhee, Arlene Montano, Howard Jackson, Loren Avedon, Mika Elkan Running Time: 73 min. By Jeff Bona In the 80s, walking into a video rental store’s martial arts section was like waiting in line for a rollercoaster: The anticipation was just as exciting as the ride itself. The movie that was finally decided on was always hit or miss, but it … Continue reading

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Outcast (2014) Review

Director: Nick Powell Writer: James Dormer Cast: Hayden Christensen, Nicolas Cage, Liu Yifei, Ji Ke Jun Yi, Andy On, Wang Bozhao, Fernando Chien Running Time: 99 min. By Kyle Warner When a successful Hollywood star decides to star in a Chinese production, I see it as an interesting career choice. Maybe the script drew them in, maybe it was the chance to work on a new sort of film set, … Continue reading

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Colombiana (2011) Review

Director: Olivier Megaton Cast: Zoe Saldana, Michael Vartan, Cliff Curtis, Lennie James, Callum Blue, Graham McTavish Running Time: 108 min. By HKFanatic During the past few years, Luc Besson has made the transition from writer/director to writer/producer, creating a stable of Eurotrash action flicks with a rotating set of directors. He’s helped launch the careers of guys like Louis Letterier, who made the transition from The Transporter to big time … Continue reading

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Pound of Flesh (2015) Review

Pound of Flesh | Blu-ray & DVD (Entertainment One)

AKA: Maximum Blood Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Darren Shahlavi, Aki Aleong, John Ralston, Jason Tobin, Philippe Joly, Brahim Achabbakhe, Andrew Ng, Mike Leeder, Adele Baughan Running Time: 104 min. By HKFanatic About two minutes into Pound of Flesh, Jean-Claude Van Damme wakes up in a bathtub full of ice. His skin pallid, his eyes as sunken as a skull’s, he slowly becomes aware of his surroundings. Crawling … Continue reading

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Skin Trade (2014) Review

"Skin Trade" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ekachai Uekrongtham Producer: Craig Baumgarten, Dolph Lundgren, Mike Selby Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman, Michael Jai White, Celina Jade, Peter Weller, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Conan Stevens, Mike Dopud, Tasya Teles, Leo Rano Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic Like many action stars of the Eighties, Dolph Lundgren has spent the last fifteen years starring in a reliable stream of direct-to-video titles. Except for a welcome appearance in The … Continue reading

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Revenge of the Green Dragons (2014) Review

Director: Andrew Lau, Andrew Loo Writer: Andrew Loo, Michael Di Jiacomo Cast: Ray Liotta, Justin Chon, Shuya Chang, Harry Shum Jr., Kevin Wu, Billy Magnussen, Eugenia Yuan, Jin Auyeung, Joanna P. Adler, Alysia Reiner, Linda Wang, Jim Ford, Ron Yuan, Jon Kit Lee Running Time: 95 min. By oneleaf Revenge of the Green Dragons is a Hong Kong/US co-production based on “true events” sourced from Fredric Dannen’s 1992 The New … Continue reading

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Falcon Rising (2014) Review

"Falcon Rising" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Favela Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Michael Jai White, Neal McDonough, Laila Ali, Lateef Crowder, Hazuki Kato, Millie Ruperto, Masashi Odate, Jimmy Navarro, Jazmín Caratini Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Back in May of 2013, the producers of Falcon Rising boldly announced that the film – which hadn’t released a single image yet – would be the beginning of a series of action movies, with 1-2 entries planned for … Continue reading

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