Category Archives: Chinese

Steel Fisted Dragon, The (1977) Review

AKA: A Fistful of Dragon Director: Iksan Lahardi Cast: Steve Lee, Enden Marlinda, Ronald Kansil, Vita Fatimah, Chan Lau, Johnny Hong Kong Running Time: 78 min. Paul Bramhall In 1977 the Bruceploitation genre was already alive and well, with guys like Bruce Li bursting onto the scene with 1975’s New Game of Death and Bruce Le unleashing digit related mayhem in 1976’s Bruce’s Deadly Fingers. While the name Bruce combined … Continue reading

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Ninja Champion | aka Poisonous Rose Stripping the Night (1986) Review

Director: Kim Si-hyun Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Choe Eun-hye, Im Ja-ho, Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Baek Hwang-ki, Richard Harrison, Bruce Baron, Pierre Tremblay, Yoon Yang-Ha, Park Se-bum Running Time: 87 min.  By Paul Bramhall There are only 2 types of people in the world who’d want to watch Ninja Champion – those who enjoy cut ‘n’ paste Godfrey Ho ninja flicks, and those who want to check out an obscure … Continue reading

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Tai Chi Boxer | aka Tai Chi II (1996) Review

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Co-director: Cheung Sing Yim Cast: Wu Jing, Christy Chung Lai Tai, Yu Hai, Mark Cheng Ho Nam, Billy Chow Bei Lei, Sibelle Hu Hui Zhong, Darren Shahlavi, Ji Chun Hua, Jin De-Mao Running Time: 96 min.  By Paul Bramhall Most discussions that see Tai Chi Boxer mentioned tend to involve the wire-fu craze that dominated the Hong Kong martial arts genre in the first half of the … Continue reading

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King Swindler (1993) Review

Director: Chu Yen Ping Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Sandra Ng Kwun-Yu, Tuo Tsung-Hua, Liu Chun, Hiu Hiu, Billy Gilman, Lau Kei, Tu Fu-Ping, Chien Te-Men, Tsai Chia-Hung, Lin Hsieh-Wen Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s common knowledge that back in the 1980’s Jimmy Wang Yu stepped in to straighten up some trouble Jackie Chan was having with the Triads, and to repay the One Armed Boxer for his … Continue reading

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Lover of the Last Empress (1995) Review

Director: Andrew Lau Cast: Tony Leung Ka Fai, Chingmy Yau, Chan Kwok Bong, Valerie Chow, Ku Feng, Yu Rong Guang, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Yvonne Yung Hung, Bao Fang, Lo Hung Running Time: 99 min.  By Paul Bramhall Before John Wick went on the rampage triggered by the murder of his puppy, there was Chingmy Yau in Lover of the Last Empress, whose ascent to the position of Empress Dowager is … Continue reading

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Kung Fu from Beyond the Grave (1982) Review

Director: Li Chao Cast: Billy Chong Chun Lai, Lo Lieh, Dai Sai Aan, Alan Chui Chung San, Lai Kim Hung, Fang Mien, Ou-Yang Sha Fei, Goo Gwan, So Kwok Leung Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall Following the success of Sammo Hung’s Close Encounter of the Spooky Kind in 1980, soon a slew of titles mixing kung fu and the supernatural filled Hong Kong cinema, with the likes of … Continue reading

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Mysterious Footworks of Kung Fu (1978) Review

Director: Chen Wah Cast: Charles Heung Wah-Keung, Michael Chan Wai-Man, Chiang Tao, Fan Mei-Sheng, Betty Ting Pei, Gam Ming, Mang Hoi, Do Ping, Kong Do Running Time: 95 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic After starring in Eagle Claws Champion, James Heung realized he preferred working behind the scenes, so he founded Super Win Film with his brother Charles. Heung’s company produced only two films, Mysterious Footworks of Kung Fu and Goose Boxer, both … Continue reading

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Legend of the Drunken Tiger (1991) Review

Director: Robert Tai Cast: Kara Hui, Chui Kei-Wai, Alexander Lo Rei, Cheung Kwok Keung, Ku Feng, Ho Pak Kwong, Man Siu, Wong Hap, Lee Lung Yam, Chan Yue-Ching Running Time: 98 min.  By Paul Bramhall The early 90’s was the peak era for the whole ”Legend of the….” title structure in Hong Kong cinema. Legend of the Dragon gave us Stephen Chow vs Jimmy White, Legend of the Liquid Sword … Continue reading

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Amsterdam Connection (1978) Review

"Amsterdam Connection" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Shaolin Connection Director: Fan Mei-Sheng Co-director: Law Kei Cast: Chan Sing, Mi Lan, Jason Pai Piao, Bolo Yeung Sze, Fan Mei-Sheng, Wong Yuen-San, Fan Siu-Wong, Law Kei, Lam Ching-Ying, Lau Kar-Yung, Wan Fat Running Time: 90 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic If you love watching movies, chances are you’ve seen at least one with the word ‘connection’ in its title. It might have been one of the greats, such … Continue reading

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Ninja in Ancient China (1993) Review

AKA: The Prowess Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Tung Chi-Wa, Mu Li-Xin, Lin Ying-Jun, Chen Die-Yi, Chan Yee-Gong, Cheng Ya-Lin, Du Yu-Ming Guo Jun, Wan Man-Ying, Chu Ka-Lung, Wu Tian-Yun Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall After spending almost 20 years working exclusively for the Shaw Brothers studio, director Chang Cheh had rightfully earned his moniker of the Godfather of the Kung Fu Film. In 1983 he made his final … Continue reading

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Attack of the Joyful Goddess (1983) Review

"Attack of the Joyful Goddess" DVD Cover

AKA: Attack of the Venoms Director: Chang Cheh Co-director: Chiang Sheng Co-director: Lu Feng Cast: Ricky Cheng Tien-Chi, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Chui Chung-Fei, Lee Chung-Yat Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall By 1983 the Shaw Brothers studio as a movie making powerhouse was on its last legs, and within a couple of years would completely close up shop to focus purely on TV production. Compared to the cinema … Continue reading

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Kung Fu on Sale | aka King of Money and Fists (1979) Review

AKA: Drunken Master Dollar Fist Director: Su Chen-Ping Cast: Sze-Ma Lung, Su Chen-Ping, Man Lee-Pang, Tseng Chao, Dean Shek Tin, Tsung Hua, Cheng Fu-Hung, Hsu Pu-Liao, Su Chen-Ping, Lee Kwan Running time: 90 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic It’s safe to say, at least at this point, that Kung Fu on Sale is Su Chen-Ping’s best film, as it also appears to be his only one. Making a name for … Continue reading

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Eagle vs. Silver Fox | aka Flying Martial Arts (1980) Review

Director: Park Yun-Gyo Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Hwang Jang-Lee, Gwak Mu-Seong, Sarah Sit Chi-Lin, Nam Chung-Il, Chiu Chun, Kim Yu-Haeng, Pok Chung-Sit, Choe Mu-Ung, Kim Gi-Jong Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall If there’s one aspect of the kung fu world that’s more deadly than any secret technique, it’s the IFD Films distributed kung fu movie. Virtually every readily available Korean kung fu movie from the 70’s and 80’s … Continue reading

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Revenge of Drunken Master (1981) Review

Director: Gang Beom-Gu Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Johnny Chan (Wang Dae-wi), Bruce Cheung Mong, Kwon Sung-Young, Eagle Han Ying, Lee Mi-Ji, Han Myeong-Hwan, Kim Ki-Ju, Eom Ju-Hyeon Running Time: 82 min. By Ian Whittle As if all the many weird and wonderful Bruceploitation films weren’t enough, the Koreans (and consequently Asso Asia/Godfrey Ho and Tomas Tang) also tried their hand at JackieChansploitation. Following the cross-over with Dragon Lee; Golden Dragon, … Continue reading

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Thunder Run (1991) Review

Director: Hsu Hsia Cast: Ray Lui, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Ha Chi Jan, William Ho Ka Kui, Jason Pai Piao, Fung Hak On, Tony Liu Jun Guk, Ho Pak Kwong, Wan Seung Lam Running Time: 117 min.  By Paul Bramhall At the time of writing in 2021, Ray Lui returned to screens in (the ironically titled) Heroes Return, in which he plays a former soldier that ventures into the Thai … Continue reading

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