Category Archives: Chinese

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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Thunder Cops 2 (1989) Review

“Thunder Cops 2” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jeff Lau Producer: Wong Hoi Cast: Sandra Ng Kwan, Shing Fui On, Stephen Chow, Ann Bridgewater, Sunny Fang, Wu Fung, Jeff Lau, Lam Siu Lau, Joh Chung Sing, Eddie Ko Hung Running Time: 97 min.  By Paul Bramhall The sheer volume of movies cranked out of Hong Kong in the 1980’s somewhat belies belief, and perhaps understandably, the on-the-fly nature of so many of them sometimes results in confusion. … Continue reading

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Still Human (2018) Review

"Still Human" Theatrical Poster

Director: Oliver Siu Kuen Chan Writer: Oliver Siu Kuen Chan Cast: Anthony Wong, Crisel Consunji, Sam Lee Chan-Sam, Cecilia Yip Tung, Wong Ting-Him Running Time: 115 min. By Martin Sandison One of the all-time greatest actors in Hong Kong movie history, Anthony Wong (The Untold Story), has appeared in so many of the classics in his time, in so many different genres, he’s unclassifiable. In recent times, Wong has shown … Continue reading

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Ash is Purest White (2018) Review

"Ash is Purest White" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Jia Zhang-Ke Writer: Jia Zhang-Ke Cast: Liao Fan, Zhao Tao, Feng Xiaogang, Xu Zheng, Zhang Yibai, Xuan Li, Casper Liang Running Time: 136 min.  By Paul Bramhall In the world of cinema the word ‘epic’ gets thrown around a lot these days, with what often feels like little time spent on justifying if the movie in question is truly deserving of the description. However one movie that definitely warrants the … Continue reading

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Young Lovers on Flying Wheels (1974) Review

"Young Lovers on Flying Wheels" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Motorcycle Director: Ti Lung Cast: Ti Lung, Ching Hoh Wai, Got Dik Wa, Dean Shek Tien, Lee Man Tai, Lam Fai Wong, Gam Gwan, Lee Hoi San, Chiang Nan, Lo Wai, Wu Ma, John Woo Running Time: 99 min. By Matthew Le-feuvre Although, in part, influenced by the ‘biker’ B-flicks of 60’s Americana. This interesting ‘variation on the theme’ was a radical departure for matinee idol, Ti Lung; … Continue reading

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Dark Soul, The (2018) Review

"The Dark Soul" Teaser Poster

Director: Bey Logan Writer: Bey Logan Cast: Kevin Brewerton, Lang-Xing Ye, Lo Meng, Bianca Stam, James Nan, Yang Yifan, Ray Li Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say that any self-respecting review of The Dark Soul should get the elephant in the room out of the way at the start. The production marks the directorial debut of Hong Kong film expert Bey Logan (and no, it’s … Continue reading

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Iceman: The Time Traveler (2018) Review

"Iceman: The Time Traveler" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Iceman 2 Director: Raymond Yip Cast: Donnie Yen, Eva Huang, Wang Bao Qiang, Simon Yam, Yu Kang, Yasuaki Kurata, Maggie Jiang, Hans Marrero, Hee Ching Paw, Minowa Yasufumi, Chen Kuan-Tai Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been a long time since I watched a movie that left me so dumbfounded, I found myself staring at a blank screen for 10 minutes, struggling to figure out how best … Continue reading

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Killer Angels (1989) Review

“Killer Angels” Theatrical Poster

Director: Tony Liu Chun-ku Cast: Moon Lee, Gordon Liu, Lau Siu Kwan, Leung Kar Yan, Fujimi Nadeki, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Shing Fui On, Ng Man Tat, Tony Liu Jun Guk, Mark Houghton Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Like most fans of Hong Kong action, I have a soft spot for the Girls with Guns genre. Sure it was short lived (almost every entry that falls under the … Continue reading

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Shadow (2018) Review

"Shadow" Theatrical Poster

Director: Zhang Yimou Writer: Zhang Yimou Cast: Deng Chao, Sun Li, Ryan Zheng Kai, Leo Wu, Wang Qianyuan, Hu Jun, Guan Xiaotong Running Time: 116 min. By Paul Bramhall In a year that saw the Chinese film industry more concerned with ensuring its finances where in order than it was with actually making any films (thanks Fan Bingbing!), fifth generation director Zhang Yimou’s latest production Shadow arrived in a decidedly understated manner, with … Continue reading

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Hidden Man (2018) Review

"Hidden Man" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jiang Wen Cast: Eddie Peng, Liao Fan, Jiang Wen, Zhou Yun, Xu Qing, Kenya Sawada, Li Meng, Yuan Shanshan, Ding Jiali, Shi Hang, Paul Morris, Junichi Kajioka, Chen Xi Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall While for many Jiang Wen may be most recognizable as that guy who threatened to act Donnie Yen off the screen whenever they appeared together in 2011’s The Lost Bladesman, he’s also one … Continue reading

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