Category Archives: Asian Related

Only the Brave (2005) Review

"Only the Brave" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Lane Nishikawa Cast: Lane Nishikawa, Jason Scott Lee, Mark Dacascos, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, Pat Morita, Jeff Fahey, Guy Ecker, Greg Watanabe Running Time: 96 min. By Ningen This war flick was so indie, the producer originally had to sell the dvd off an official site, because no studio wanted to distribute it! Based on a true story of former Japanese-American internment camp dwellers who joined the U.S. Armed … Continue reading

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Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011) Review

"Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown" DVD Cover

Director: Michael Jai White Cast: Michael Jai White, Evan Peters, Alex Meraz, Dean Geyer, Todd Duffee, Scott Epstein, Jillian Murray, Lyoto Machida, Eddie Bravo,  John McCarthy Running Time: 99 min. By HKFanatic Michael Jai White’s been paying his dues in the movie industry for awhile now – he donned the billowy red cape of the titular hero in 1997’s “Spawn” and spin-kicked Jean Claude Van Damme’s ass through several sheets … Continue reading

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Nowhere to Run (1993) Review

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray (Image)

Director: Robert Harmon Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rosanna Arquette, Kieran Culkin, Tiffany Taubman, Ted Levine, Edward Blatchford, Anthony Starke, Joss Ackland, Tony Brubaker Running Time: 94 min. By HKFanatic Jean Claude Van Damme released two films in 1993: “Nowhere to Run” in January and “Hard Target” in August. Although Van Damme got to show off his muscles in both movies, the two couldn’t be more different from each other. Say … Continue reading

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Hard Target (1993) Review

"Hard Target" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Arnold Vosloo, Yancy Butler, Kasi Lemmons, Chuck Pfarrer, Wilford Brimley, Robert Pavlovich Running Time: 97 min. By HKFanatic Considering how much time has passed since its theatrical run and the fact that John Woo has gone on to become a Hollywood superstar, it’s easy to forget that “Hard Target” was a contentious film upon its release. Several factors were working against … Continue reading

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Sucker Punch | aka Angel Wars (2011) Review

Director: Zack Snyder Writer: Zack Snyder, Steve Shibuya Producer: Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder Cast: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn, Gerard Plunkett Running Time: 110 min. By HKFanatic NOTE: This is a review of the Theatrical Cut. “Sucker Punch” is the rare film that falls under the banner of ‘Asian Related’ not because the production team featured any … Continue reading

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Assassination Games | aka Weapon (2011) Review

"Assassination Games" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Kevin Chapman, Ivan Kaye, Valentin Teodosiu, Alin Panc, Serban Celea, Michael Higgs, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Marija Karan, Bianca Van Varenberg, Andrew French, Marioara Sterian Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic For many Jean Claude Van Damme fans in the United States, the limited release of “Assassination Games” this summer means the first chance to see their hero on the big screen … Continue reading

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Warrior’s Way, The | aka The Warrior (2010) Review

"The Warrior's Way" UK Theatrical Poster

Director: Sngmoo Lee Cast: Jang Dong Gun, Geoffrey Rush, Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston, Tony Cox, Ti Lung Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic I’m going to have to be the dissenting opinion here because I didn’t enjoy “The Warrior’s Way” nearly as much as Mighty Peking Man. I thought the film had potential, but overall the sluggish pacing and artificial-looking digital world didn’t do much for me. If you have … Continue reading

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Tekken (2010) Review

"Tekken" Italian Theatrical Poster

Director: Dwight H. Little Cast: Jon Foo, Kelly Overton, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Ian Anthony Dale, Tamlyn Tomita, Candice Hillebrand, Luke Goss, Gary Daniels, Mircea Monroe, Cung Le, Marian Zapico, Darrin Dewitt Henson Running Time: 92 min. By HKFanatic Video game to movie adaptations have something of a dirty reputation. I mean, I’ve lost count of how many times director Paul W. Anderson has suckered audiences (myself included) into spending money on … Continue reading

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Grudge, The (2004) Review

"The Grudge" Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Shimizu Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, William Mapother, Clea DuVall, KaDee Strickland, Grace Zabriskie, Bill Pullman, Rosa Blasi, Ted Raimi, Ryo Ishibashi Running Time: 92 min. By Ningen So stop me if you’ve heard this before. Sarah Michelle Gellar walks into a Japanese haunted house, and almost gets attacked by demons. She’s a nurse who happens to be working abroad and living with a whacky family. Unlike … Continue reading

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Ring, The (2002) Review

Director: Gore Verbinski Cast: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Frost, Amber Tamblyn, Rachael Bella, Daveigh Chase, Shannon Cochran Running Time: 115 min. By Numskull This is a remake. Hence, the source material should be taken into consideration before it is discussed. Go read my review for Ring in the Japanese section if you haven’t done so already. I’ll wait. Hmm hm hm hm hmmm… … Continue reading

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Above the Law | aka Nico (1988) Review

"Above the Law" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrew Davis Cast: Steven Seagal, Pam Grier, Sharon Stone, Daniel Faraldo, Henry Silva, Ron Dean, Miguel Nino, Nicholas Kusenko, Joe Greco, Chelcie Ross, Gregory Alan Williams, Jack Wallace, Metta Davis, Joseph F. Kosala Running Time: 99 min. By HKFanatic The man, the myth, the mystique that is Steven Seagal begins here, with 1988’s “Above the Law.” Many wonder how a virtual no-name like Seagal was able to secure a … Continue reading

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Blood and Bone (2009) Review

"Blood and Bone" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Ben Ramsey Writer: Michael Andrews Cast: Michael Jai White, Eamonn Walker, Dante Basco, Michelle Belegrin, Julian Sands, Matt Mullins, Ron Yuan, Bob Sapp, Nona Gaye, Dick Anthony Williams, Kimbo Slice, Gina Carano, Ernest “The Cat” Miller, Maurice Smith Running Time: 93 min. By HKFanatic If you’re a fan of direct-to-video action movies, you may have noticed a sea change within the genre over the past few years. The straight-to-DVD … Continue reading

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L.A. Streetfighters | aka Ninja Turf (1985) Review

"L.A. Streetfighters" Theatrical Poster

AKA: China Town Director: Park Woo-sang Cast: Jun Chong, Phillip Rhee, James Lew, Rosanna King, Bill Wallace, Ken Nagayama, Frank Marmolejo, Dorin Mukama, Mark Hicks, Loren Avedon Running Time: 85 min. By Barey Gusey As a child of the 80s, I was a victim of the ninja craze. It was all about buying martial arts magazines and flipping to the mail order pages to check out the latest ninja gear. … Continue reading

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Enter the Void (2009) Review

AKA: Soudain le Vide Director: Gaspar Noé Writer: Gaspar Noé Cast: Nathaniel Brown, Paz de la Huerta, Cyril Roy, Olly Alexander, Masato Tanno, Ed Spear, Emily Alyn Lind, Jesse Kuhn, Nobu Imai, Sakiko Fukuhara, Janice Béliveau-Sicotte, Sara Stockbridge, Stuart Miller, Emi Takeuchi, Federico Aletta, Simon Chamberland, Edward L. Papazian Running Time: 161 min. By HKFanatic Lately it seems like certain controversial films are premiered at Cannes, creating outrage among French … Continue reading

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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) Review

Director: Stephen Sommers Cast: Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Christopher Eccleston, Karolina Kurkova, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rachel Nichols, Marlon Wayans, Ray Park, Lee Byung-hun, Dennis Quaid, Jonathan Pryce, Gerald Okamura Running Time: 118 min. By JJ Hatfield The overall response to the newest “first” chapter of the “Joe” world seems to be mostly positive. In other words from the studio to the Hasbro company cranking out new and improved “Joe” items, everyone … Continue reading

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