Category Archives: Chinese

Runaway Blues (1989) Review

Director: David Lai Dai-Wai Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Shirley Lui Sau-Ling, Ngok Ling, Sunny Fang Kang, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Kelvin Wong Siu, Tanny Tien Ni, Chang Shih, Chan Ging-Cheung Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Say what you want about how in modern Hong Kong cinema Louis Koo is in just about everything, still nothing can compare to the omni-presence of Andy Lau in the mid to late eighties. … Continue reading

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Bloody Brotherhood (1989) Review

Director: Wang Lung Wei Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Michael Chan Wai Man, Irene Wan Pik Ha, David Lam Wai, Shum Wai, Ku Feng, Dick Wei, Philip Ko Fei, Tin Ching, Wong Hap, Cheung Gwok Wa, Ken Lo Hui Kwong, Sham Chin Bo, Lee Sau Kei, Cho Wing Running Time: 95 min.  By Paul Bramhall While Wang Lung-Wei is perhaps most synonymous for his various villainous turns during his tenure at the … Continue reading

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Circus Kids (1994) Review

Director: Wu Ma Cast: Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, Irene Wan Pik-Ha, Lily Lee Lee-Lee, Wu Ma, Lam Wai, Woo Ying-Man, Ken Lo Wai-Kwong, Bey Logan, Yuen Miu, Bei Lou-Kam, Yuen Miu Running Time: 109 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1994 Wu Ma brought together 3 of the best kickers of the era – Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, and Ken Lo – to feature in the tale of a circus troupe that … Continue reading

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No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers (1990) Review

Director: Lucas Lowe Cast: Loren Avedon, Keith Vitali, Joseph Campanella, Rion Hunter, Mark Russo, Luke Askew, David Michael Sterling, Wanda Acuna, Philip Benson, Sherrie Rose Running Time: 101 min. By Martin Sandison Scott Adkins Youtube series Art of Action certainly kept me entertained throughout much of this hellish year, as Adkins interviewed many legendary action filmmakers, such as Richard Norton and Dolph Lundgren. Each revealed how they train, and stories … Continue reading

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Nessun Dorma (2016) Review

"Nessun Dorma" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Janice Man Wing-San, Andy Hui, Candice Yu On-On, Jacky Choi Kit, Wilfred Lau Ho-Lung, Tarah Chan Yi-Lam, Phat Chan Fei Running Time: 94 min.  By Paul Bramhall Out of all the Hong Kong directors who started out during the territory’s cinematic heyday, it’s only Herman Yau who continues to be as prolific today as he was during his 90’s peak. While Yau’s expansive … Continue reading

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Evil Instinct (1996) Review

Director: Barry Chu Cast: Carrie Ng Ka-Lai, Diana Pang Dan, Bowie Lam Bo-Yi, Evergreen Mak Cheung-Ching, Stuart Ong, Chung Sau-Han, Le Rong-Rong, Yeung Ging-Shing Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1996 the golden era of the Category III genre had already past its peak, with the excess of the early 90’s classics like Naked Killer and The Untold Story subsiding to the uncertainty of the HK handover the … Continue reading

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Bodies at Rest (2019) Review

Director: Renny Harlin  Cast: Nick Cheung Ka-Fai, Richie Ren Xian-Qi, Yang Zi, Feng Jia-Yi, Carlos Chan Ka-Lok, Ma Shu-Liang, Ou-Yang Ching, Roger Kwok Chun-On, Ron Ng Cheuk-Hai Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in the 90’s it seemed like Renny Harlin was destined to become one of the great action movie directors working in Hollywood. Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and The Long Kiss Goodnight all deserve a mention … Continue reading

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Revenge: A Love Story (2010) Review

Director: Wong Ching-Po Cast: Juno Mak Jun Lung, Sora Aoi, Chin Siu Ho, Anthony Lau Wing, Ken Lo Hui Kwong, Tony Ho Running Time: 111 min. By Paul Bramhall Most Hong Kong cinema fans hold a special place in their heart for the territories Cat III output that populated the 90’s. A heady concoction usually consisting of graphic violence, ample nudity, and a manic energy which made it impossible to … Continue reading

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Port of Call: Director’s Cut (2015) Review

"Port of Call" Theatrical Poster

Director: Philip Yung Cast: Aaron Kwok, Elaine Jin, Patrick Tam, Jessie Li, Michael Ning, Jackie Cai, Maggie Shiu, Eddie Chan, Hatou Yeung, Ellen Li, Don Li, Ronny Yuen, Tam Ping-man Running Time: 120 min. By Paul Bramhall Port of Call is something of an anomaly for the year in which it was made, being a Category III Hong Kong production which received no financing from the Mainland. The end product … Continue reading

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One-Armed Swordsmen, The (1976) Review

Director: Jimmy Wang Yu Co-director: David Chiang Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, David Chiang, Lo Lieh, Chang Yi, Liu Meng Yan, Han Ying Chieh, Lung Fei Running Time: 109 min.  By Ian Whittle Given Jimmy Wang Yu’s legendary bad behaviour on sets, and David Chiang’s long feud with Ti Lung, I’d love to have been on the set of this Wang/Chiang team-up, which they produced, directed and starred in. The plot, … Continue reading

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Vanguard (2020) Review

Director: Stanley Tong Cast: Jackie Chan, Jackson Lau Hok-Yin, Ai Lun, Yang Yang, Miya Muqi, Zhu Zhengting, Fady Zaky, Xu Ruo Han, Eyad Hourani, Brahim Achabbakhe, Tomer Oz Running Time: 108 min. By Paul Bramhall After reuniting for Kung Fu Yoga, the 2017 promotional video focusing on China-India relations, the ageing action star and director pairing of Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong are back in 2020 with Vanguard! Of course … Continue reading

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Flowers of War, The (2011) Review

"Flowers of War" Theatrical Poster

Director: Zhang Yimou Writer: Liu Heng, Geling Yan Cast: Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Zhang Xinyi, Tong Dawei, Atsuro Watabe, Shigeo Kobayashi, Cao Kefan Running Time: 146 min. By Jacob Walker Zhang Yimou’s underrated war film; 2011’s The Flowers of War, provides a timely reminder that even though we are living through uncertain times, as a species we have experienced and survived much worse. Through urban warfare, the 20th century represented … Continue reading

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Abduction (2019) Review

"Abduction" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Twilight Zodiac Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Scott Adkins, Andy On, Truong Ngoc Anh, Lily Ji, Aki Aleong, Daniel Whyte, Mike Leeder, Tom Caserto, Brahim Chab, Philippe Joly, Semiquaver Iafeta, Jai Day Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall I confess to having intentionally avoided the Scott Adkins vehicle Abduction in 2019. In a year which saw the British martial arts star either headline or feature in the likes of … Continue reading

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Fist of Fury Part II (1976) Review

"Fist of Fury Part II" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Tso Nam Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Lo Lieh, Tien Feng, James Nam Gung Fan, Suen Lam, Philip Ko Fei, Cho Kin, Chan Wai Lau, Lee Kwan, Sit Hon, Jimmy Lee Fong, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Robert Tai Chi Hsien, To Wai Wo Running Time: 104 min. By Ian Whittle 1976 saw director/producer Lo Wei locate to Taiwan to produce a sequel to his box-office smash … Continue reading

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Jade Dynasty (2019) Review

Director: Ching Siu-Tung Cast: Sean Xiao, Li Qin, Meng Mei Qi, Tina Tang, Qiu Xin Zhi, Cecilia Yip, John Chiang, Norman Tsui, Leung Kar-Yan, Hung Yan-Yan, Bao Xiaosong, Chen Liwei, Li Shen Running Time: 101 min.  By Paul Bramhall The hyper-kinetic action and billowing silk of the early 90’s new wave wuxia genre may be a long time ago, but one of the directors whose name is indelibly linked with … Continue reading

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