Category Archives: Asian Related

Protector, The (1985) Review

"The Protector" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: James Glickenhaus Cast: Jackie Chan, Danny Aiello, Roy Chiao Hung, Sally Yeh Tse Man, Moon Lee Choi Fong, Bill Wallace, Shum Wai, John Ladalski, Fung Hak On Running Time: 91 min. By JJ Hatfield This movie has two very different versions. The original version was made in the U.S. Jackie Chan made another attempt to break in to the movie market, even after “The Big Brawl” failed to find … Continue reading

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War | aka Rogue Assassin (2007) Review

"War" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Rogue Director: Philip Atwell Writer: Lee Anthony Smith, Gregory J. Bradley Cast: Jet Li, Jason Statham, Terry Chen, John Lone, Devon Aoki, Sung Kang, Ryo Ishibashi Running Time: 103 min. By JJ Hatfield War, uhhh yeah, what is it good for absolutely nothin’… sorry. The song is good. This movie is not. What comes across is rather two dimensional. I felt at times the characters were made of cardboard. … Continue reading

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Super (2010) Review

"Super" American Theatrical Poster

Director: James Gunn Cast: Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Ellen Page, Kevin Bacon, Nathan Fillion, Gregg Henry, Michael Rooker, Andre Royo, Sean Gunn, Stephen Blackehart, Don Mac Running Time: 96 min. By Ningen Rainn Wilson plays a perpetual loser named Frank whose wife Sarah (Liv Tyler) gets taken in by a drug-lord named Jacques(Kevin Bacon), causing him to don a superhero persona and costume to match. As The Crimson Bolt, he … Continue reading

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Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong (2005) Review

"Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong" DVD Cover

Director: Ian Taylor Writer: Ian Taylor Cast: Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Leung, David Chiang, Shih Kien, Gordon Liu, Cheng Pei Pei, Chor Yuen Running Time: 55 min. By Mighty Peking Man After watching Ian Taylor’s Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong, I realize how much of a Hong Kong film connoisseur I’m not. The essence of this IFC produced documentary is that it digs deep into the beginnings of Hong … Continue reading

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Circle of Iron | aka The Silent Flute (1979) Review

"The Silent Flute" Theatrical Poster

Director: Richard Moore Cast: David Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach, Anthony De Longis, Earl Maynard, Erica Creer, Leo Whang, Tom Ascensio Running Time: 102 min. By Raven Bruce Lee had helped write a screen play called The Silent Flute, which was never produced. Following his death, that screenplay was sold and changed beyond recognition, leaving only a few elements of the original. What became of this … Continue reading

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Face/Off (1997) Review

"Face/Off" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Face Off Director: John Woo Cast: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain, Nick Cassavetes, Harve Presnell, Thomas Jane, Margaret Cho Running Time: 138 min. By Numskull There are certain iconoclastic individuals out there who would have you believe that a Hollywood production associated with a Hong Kong film personality is a grievous error…that no film done in any idiom other than the indefinable (and, … Continue reading

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Double Edge | aka American Dragons (1998) Review

"Double Edge" VHS Cover

Director: Ralph Hemecker Cast: Michael Biehn, Park Joong-hoon, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Don Stark, Byron Mann Running Time: 91 min. By Mighty Peking Man Double Edge is one of those titles you’d see at your local video rental store and say: “Oh God…what the hell is this, another straight-to-video piece of shit?” or “Who the hell is that asian guy standing next to Michael Biehn, a wannabe Jackie Chan?” Well, I can’t … Continue reading

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Jade Warrior | aka Jadesoturi (2006) Review

Director: Antti-Jussi Annila Cast: Tommi Eronen, Zhang Jingchu, Krista Kosonen, Markku Peltola, Hao Dang, Taishen Cheng, Elle Kull, Liansheng Tong, Qiupu Tao, Xiaomei Tong Running Time: 110 min. By JJ Hatfield When most people think about martial arts they think of China, Japan, and places like Thailand.  Don’t leave out other countries or regions though. If martial arts are practiced in most countries we know of why wouldn’t every place … Continue reading

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Kundun (1997) Review

Director: Martin Scorsese Writer: Melissa Mathison Producer: Barbara De Fina Cast: Henry Yuk, Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Tethong, Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin, Tenzin Yeshi Paichang Running Time: 134 min. By JJ Hatfield “Kundun” is the fascinating true story of the life and challenges of the ruler of Tibet during times of extreme turmoil. The 14th Kundun is known to most of the world as the Dalai Lama. This excellent film … Continue reading

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Green Hornet, The (2011) Review

Director: Michel Gondry Cast: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Edward James Olmos, Tom Wilkinson, Edward Furlong, Jill Remez, Joe O’Connor, Morgan Rusler Running Time: 110 min. By Ningen Britt Reid’s a goof-off son of a media mogul-played by Seth Rogen-whose dad passes away unexpectedly. After becoming newly acquainted with his dad’s ex-servant, Kato-played by Jay Chou-Britt discovers that Kato’s not just good with making coffee, but also … Continue reading

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Balls of Fury (2007) Review

"Balls of Fury" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Robert Ben Garant Cast: Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, George Lopez, Maggie Q, Thomas Lennon, James Hong, Robert Patrick, Jason Scott Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Patton Oswalt Running Time: 90 min. By Ningen Dan Fogler plays a washed-up ping-pong champion who gets hired by the FBI’s special crime division(led by George Lopez’s character, Ernie Rodriguez) to bust a weapons dealer named Feng (played by Christopher Walken). Since he’s fairly rusty, Randy … Continue reading

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Broken Arrow (1996) Review

Director: John Woo Producer: Terence Chang Cast: John Travolta, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Delroy Lindo, Frank Whaley, Howie Long Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull The John Woo Movie That Is Not A John Woo Movie. The maestro of mayhem served as director and is credited as such, but he had to provie he could turn out a commercially viable, no-frills action flick without getting too violent or stylish for … Continue reading

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Black Dynamite (2009) Review

"Black Dynamite" French Theatrical Poster

Director: Scott Sanders Cast: Michael Jai White, Salli Richardson, Arsenio Hall, Kevin Chapman, Tommy Davidson Running Time: 90 min. By Ningen Black Dynamite’s an ex-CIA agent and Vietnam vet who returns to the force when he finds out his brother OD’ed. He teams up with pimps, hustlers, and Black Panthers to take down the local mob dumping a type of heroin into the black community. What he finds out is … Continue reading

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Ninja Destroyer (1986) Review

"Ninja Destroyer" VHS Cover

Director: Godfrey Ho Producer: Joseph Lai Cast: Stuart Smith, Bruce Barron, Richard Berman, Timothy Nugent, Sorapong Chatri, Na Yen Na, Pedros Ernyes, Rick Jenkins, Roger Seller, Richard Chit, Peter Ramwa, Surian Suryoog, Luck Apichart Running Time: 80 min. By Joe909 Question: When is a Hong Kong action film not really a Hong Kong action film? Answer: When a pair of gwailo actors shoot an unrelated ninja movie and inject it … Continue reading

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Blackjack (1998) Review

"Blackjack" American DVD Cover

Director: John Woo Producer: Terence Chang Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Kate Vernon, Phillip MacKenzie, Kam Heskin, Fred Williamson, Padraigin Murphy, Tony De Santis, Saul Rubinek, Peter Keleghan Running Time: 112 min. By Mairosu Dolph Lundgren is Jack Devlin, an ex-fed turned bodyguard for hire, who suffers a trauma during one shootout and as a result, develops a rabid fear of white colour (?!) . He decides to retire, but is lured … Continue reading

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