Category Archives: Chinese

Lackey and the Lady Tiger (1980) Review

"Lackey and the Lady Tiger" Theatrical Poster

Director: Norman Law Man Co-director: Siao Lung Producer: Ng See Yuen Cast: Hwang Jang Lee, Mars, Lee Chun Hwa, Tien Niu, Tsang Choh Lam, Chu Chi Ling, Linda Lin, Sek Kin, Charlie Chan, Yiu Lam, Chiang Kam, To Siu Ming Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall Producer Ng See Yuen and Seasonal Films knew they were onto a good thing with the double-whammy of Snake in the Eagles Shadow … Continue reading

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Iron Mask, The | aka The Mystery of Dragon Seal (2019) Review

"The Iron Mask" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Viy 2: Journey to China Director: Oleg Stepchenko Cast: Jason Flemyng, Charles Dance, Rutger Hauer, Jackie Chan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Helen Yao, Martin Klebba, Christopher Fairbank, Igor Jijikine Running Time: 124 min. By Martin Sandison When I was a kid my parents didn’t allow me to watch violent movies; they wanted to protect me from the horror of the world, I guess. But I was allowed to watch Jackie Chan … Continue reading

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Dragon Bruce Lee, Part II | aka Big Boss 2 (1981) Review

"Dragon Bruce Lee, Part II" Korean Poster

AKA: Dragon Lee Fights Again Director: To Man-Bo Co-director: Lee Eun Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Lee Suk-jin, Cheung Lik, Ju Eun-seop, Jang Ryeok, Bolo Yeung, Tien Feng, Philip Ko Fei, Sham Chin Bo, To Wai Wo Running Time: 75 min. By Ian Whittle OK, this is rather complicated. A 1930’s set kung fu movie starring Dragon Lee that, depending on what version you own, is a sequel to one … Continue reading

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Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue | aka Fist of Death (1982) Review

"Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Fist of Death Director: Wu Chia Chun Co-director: Choe Dong-Joon Cast: Kim Tai-chung, Lee Siu-Ming, Wang Pao-Yu, He Ying, Chang Il-Sik, Eagle Han Ying, Ma Sha, Chen Shan, Baek Hwang-ki, Park Yong-Pal Running time: 90 min.  By Ian Whittle You’d think a film featuring a Bruce Lee clone AND a Jackie Chan clone (not to mention maverick exploitation producer Dick Randall’s name on the credits) would be a lot … Continue reading

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Undercover Punch and Gun (2019) Review

"Undercover Punch and Gun" Theatrical Poster

Director: Philip Lui Co-director: Frankie Tam Cast: Andy On, Philip Ng, Vanness Wu, Carrie Ng, Nicholas Tse, Carrie Ng, Lam Suet, Aka Zhao, Jiang Luxia, Aaron Aziz, Joyce Feng, Jessica Cambensy Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Before you’ve gotten through the plethora of production company logos that kick off Undercover Punch and Gun (and there’s a lot of them!), the title alone is enough to give an indication as to … Continue reading

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Warriors of the Nation (2018) Review

Warriors of the Nation | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

AKA: Unity of Heroes 2 Director: Marco Mak Cast: Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo, Miya Muqi, Kenya Sawada, Na Wei, Lubing Li, Huanhuan Wei Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall To many kung fu fans in the west the genre may be regarded as dead and buried, but in China streaming channels like Youku and iQiyi have been providing a steady stream of original kung fu flicks for a number of … Continue reading

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Three Swordsmen (1994) Review

"Three Swordsmen" DVD Cover

Director: Taylor Wong Writer: Shut Mei Yee Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Elvis Tsui, Brigitte Lin, Yu Li, Leung Si Ho, Siqin Gaowa, Zhao Jian Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1994 the new wave wuxia genre was fizzling out almost as quickly as it had arrived just a couple of years prior, however the sheer volume of wuxia flicks released during this period prove it wasn’t willing … Continue reading

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Eagle Shooting Heroes, The (1993) Review

"The Eagle Shooting Heroes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jeff Lau Writer: Wong Kar-wai Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia, Joey Wong Tsu Hsien, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Kenny Bee Chung Chun-to, Sze-Ma Wah-Lung Running Time: 114 min. By Paul Bramhall In case it’s never been said before, Hong Kong cinema owes a debt of thanks to Wong Kar Wai’s 1994 wuxia, … Continue reading

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Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction (2009) Review

"Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jeffrey Lau Cast: Hu Jun, Betty Sun, Alex Fong, Ronald Cheng, Wu Jing, Stephy Tang, Gan Wei, Law Kar-ying, Eric Tsang, Chin Kar Lok, Hong Jun-Jie Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction opens with the onscreen text “If God created humans, and they created robots, should we not question our maker the way humans question theirs?” Deep stuff, and one may expect the next … Continue reading

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Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019) Review

Ip Man 4: The Finale | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Wilson Yip Cast: Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Danny Chan, Vanness Wu, Chris Collins, Wu Yue, Lo Meng, Kent Cheng, Mark Strange, Jim Liu, Nicola Stuart-Hill, Linda Jean Barry Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall I once read somewhere that there’s nothing wrong with changing your mind, and while I forget exactly where it was, I have a feeling Donnie Yen may have read the same thing too. After 2010’s … Continue reading

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Shaolin Avengers | aka Invincible Kung Fu Brothers (1976) Review

"Shaolin Avengers" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Invincible Kung Fu Brothers Director: Chang Cheh Co-director: Wu Ma Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Chan Wai Lau, Bruce Tong, Lung Fei, Choi Wang, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Chiang Sheng, Leung Kar Yan Running Time: 93 min. By Martin Sandison As a kid I remember settling down to watch Chang Cheh’s Shaolin Temple – for me the crowning achievement of his monumental Shaolin-cycle. A depiction of the classic story … Continue reading

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Dragon Chronicles, The: The Maidens of Heavenly Mountain (1994) Review

"The Dragon Chronicles" DVD Cover

Director: Andy Chin Producer: Jimmy Heung Cast: Brigitte Lin, Gong Li, Sharla Cheung, Frankie Lam, Norman Chu, Ku Tin-yi, Liu Kai-chi Running Time: 97 min. By Paul Bramhall Convoluted plots, a dizzying cast of characters, and breakneck pacing are all some of the defining characteristics of many a wuxia movie. From the Chor Yuen directed Gu Long adaptations during the 70’s Shaw Brothers heyday, through to the wire-filled extravaganzas of … Continue reading

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Scoundrels, The (2018) Review

Director: Hung Tzu-Hsuan Cast: J.C. Lin, Kang Ren Wu, Nana Lee, Nikki Hsieh, Frederick Ming Zhong Lee, Jack Kao, Ming-Shuai Shih, Ling-Li Chen, Naomi Lee, Ming-Lieh Hsu Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall Modern Taiwanese cinema may be well regarded for its dramas and arthouse fare, however one genre that definitely isn’t likely to spring to mind is the action one. While there have been some notable efforts, such … Continue reading

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Invincible Dragon (2019) Review

"Invincible Dragon" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Dragon Tattoo Director: Fruit Chan Cast: Max Zhang, Annie Liu, Anderson Silva, Stephy Tang, Kevin Cheng, Lam Suet, Richard Ng Running Time: 100 min.  By Paul Bramhall I’ll be the first to admit I’m a huge fan of when directors that have a distinctive style decide to take on the martial arts genre. From Peter Chan’s take on the wuxia genre with 2011’s Wu Xia, to Wong Kar-Wai’s interpretation … Continue reading

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Tik Tok (2016) Review

Director: Li Jun Writer: Xiaoyang Ding Cast: Wallace Chung, Lee Jung-jae, Lang Yueting, Lee Chae-yeong, Fan Yang, Lumeng Cui Running Time: 103 min. By Paul Bramhall There was a brief moment, not too long ago, when The Thieves made it seem like the prospect of future collaborations between Korea and China was an exciting one. But then efforts like The Bounty Hunters, Reset, and Bad Guys Always Die quickly put … Continue reading

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