Category Archives: Chinese

Iron Monkey 2 (1996) Review

"Iron Monkey 2" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Chiu Lo-Kong Cast: Donnie Yen, Billy Chow Bei Lei, Wu Ma, Alan Lee, Yuen Man Hing, Cheung, Li Wing Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall There are some movies out there that, with the very mention of their name, seem to cause confusion, and Iron Monkey 2 is without doubt one of those. A sequel to Yuen Woo Ping’s 1993 new wave classic that featured Yu Rong-Guang as … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Operation Mekong (2016) Review

"Operation Mekong" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Dante Lam Cast: Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Joyce Feng, Sun Chun, Sean Wu, Chen Baoguo, Johnathan Wu, Ken Lo, Carl Ng, Mandy Wei, Yu Dong, Liu Xianda Running Time: 124 min. By Paul Bramhall While Hollywood has long moved on from the flag waving macho heroics that dominated its action cinema in the 80’s, China appears to be going through its own period of nationalistic world saving. In a 12 month period … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Mission Milano (2016) Review

"Mission Milano" Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Producer: Wong Jing Cast: Andy Lau, Huang Xiaoming, Michelle Hu, Shen Teng, Wong Cho-lam, Michelle Hu, Nana Ouyang, Fung Bo Bo, Wu Yue, Xie Yilin, Mao Junjie, Xu Dongdong, Shen Teng, Zhao Yingjun, Qi Wei, Ken Lo, Philippe Joly Running Time: 103 min. By Paul Bramhall Remember the big fuss that was made when Jackie Chan made his 100th movie? Well, that same fuss isn’t being applied … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Incredible Kung Fu Master, The (1979) Review

"The Kung Fu Master" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Kung Fu Master Director: Joe Cheung Tung Cho Cast: Stephen Tung Wei, Sammo Hung, Philip Ko, Lee Hoi San, Peter Chan, Chung Fat, Dai Sai Aan, Huang Ha, Cecilia Wong, Meng Hoi, Austin Wai, Billy Chan, Lam Ching Ying, Mars, To Wai Wo, Ho Pak Kwong, Wu Ma Running Time: 92 min.  By Martin Sandison In 1979, Sammo Hung was at the peak of his powers as an onscreen … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Three (2016) Review

Three | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Johnnie To Cast: Louis Koo, Wallace Chung, Vicky Zhao Wei, Lam Suet, Lo Hoi-Pang, Timmy Hung, Michael Tse, Eddie Cheung, Mimi Kung, Raymond Wong Ho-Yin Running Time: 89 min. By Kelly Warner After a couple years spent making comedies, director Johnnie To returns to the gritty crime genre with the cops vs. robbers vs. doctors thriller Three. Like all of To’s finest films, Three is positively dripping with style. Near … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Martial Club | aka Instructors of Death (1981) Review

"Martial Club" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lau Kar Leung Producer: Mona Fong Cast: Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, Robert Mak, Wang Lung Wei, Ku Feng, King Chu Lee, Chu Te Hu, Wilson Tong, Hsiao Ho Running Time: 102 min. By Chris Hatcher Of the storied directors in old school kung fu cinema, none stand higher on the mountain top than the great Lau Kar Leung. His directorial run from 1975-1986 produced some of the Shaw Brother’s … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Dragon, the Young Master | aka Deadly Silver Ninja (1981) Review

"Dragon, the Young Master" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: Eighteen Martial Arts Director: Kim Si-hyun Writer: Kim Kyeong-il Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Yuen Qiu, Choi Min-kyu, Baek Hwang-ki, Kim Ki-ju Running Time: 83 min. Paul Bramhall Back when I was first getting into the kung fu genre many years ago, upon witnessing a handful of Korea’s contributions, I confess to being quick to write them off as low budget imitations of Hong Kong’s far superior output. Looking back, I now feel like I … Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Cold War II (2016) Review

"Cold War II" Theatrical Poster

Director: Longman Leung Co-director: Sunny Luk Cast: Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Chow Yun-Fat, Charlie Young, Janice Man Wing-San, Eddie Peng, Aarif Rahman, Tony Yang, Chang Kuo-chu, Wu Yue Running Time: 110 min.  By Kelly Warner The 2012 Hong Kong crime film Cold War created a lot of buzz before its release and, at least in the West, did not seem to maintain that buzz once it reached audiences. It’s a good looking film, headlined by some of Hong … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

Great Wall, The (2016) Review

The Great Wall | Blu-ray & DVD (Universal)

Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau, Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Lu Han, Kenny Lin, Cheney Chen, Huang Xuan, Karry Wang, Ryan Zheng Running Time: 104 min.  By Kelly Warner In 2008, Zhang Yimou amazed the world with the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. It was a spectacle for the eyes, ears, heart, and mind. As a fan of his movies and as a stunned observer of the … Continue reading

Posted in All, Asian Related, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , |

Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979) Review

"Dance of the Drunk Mantis" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Drunken Master 2 Director: Yuen Woo-ping Producer: See Yuen Ng Cast: Siu Tien “Simon” Yuen, Shun Yee “Sunny” Yuen, Hwang Jang Lee, Linda Lin, Corey Yuen, Yen Shi Kwan, Dean Shek, David Wu, Lee Fat-Yuen Running Time: 121 min. By Chris Hatcher When Siu Tien “Simon” Yuen first stepped onto the Asian cinema scene in 1947 at age 35, one of his earliest roles was as a thug in … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Black Spot (1990) Review

"Black Spot" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Earth & Fire Director: Bruce Le Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Lo Lieh, Kong Do, James Ha Chim Si, Ho Pak Kwong, Cheng Yuen Man, Wong Hap, Andre Koob, Elizabeth Gordon Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall Bruce Le has always been the Bruce Lee clone that can. From starting off as a Shaw Brothers bit player in the 70’s, his resemblance to the departed megastar saw him … Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Shaolin vs. Lama (1983) Review

"Shaolin vs. Lama" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Tso Nam Producer: Ching Kuo Chung Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, William Yen, Sun Jung Chi, Chen Shan, Lee Wai Wan, Chang Chi Ping, Ching Kuo Chung, Wong Chi Sang, William Yen, Li Min Lang Running Time: 90 min. By Chris Hatcher In the world of old school kung fu films of the 1970s and 80s, there is a vast mix of good-to-great films and terribly bad ones; films with superbly fast-paced fight choreography and … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Seeding of a Ghost (1983) Review

"Seeding of a Ghost' Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Richard Yeung Producer: Mona Fong Cast: Norman Chu Siu Keung, Philip Ko Fei, Tin Mat, Maria Yuen Chi Wai, Wong Yung, Wai Ga Man, Hung San Nam, Pak Man Biu, Jaime Chik Mei Jan, Erik Chan Ga Kei Running Time: 86 min. By Martin Sandison Beginning with 1975’s Black Magic, the legendary Shaw Brothers studio began to make horror movies which became increasingly grotesque, darkly funny and gory. Most … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , |

Four Riders (1972) Review

"Four Riders" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Strike 4 Revenge Director: Chang Cheh Cast: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Chen Kuan Tai, Wang Chung, Cheng Li, Lily Li, Yasuaki Kurata, Tina Chin Fei, Tina Chin Fei, Chan Chuen, Chan Dik Hak, Chui Fat, Dang Tak Cheung, Fung Hak On, Ho Hon Chau, Ho Pak Kwong Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall The period from 1971 – 1972 could well be referred to as ‘The Iron Triangle on … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Kung Fu Yoga (2017) Review

"Kung Fu Yoga" Theatrical Poster

Director: Stanley Tong Cast: Jackie Chan, Disha Patani, Sonu Sood, Aarif Rahman, Lay Zhang, Amyra Dastur, Eric Tsang, Miya Muqi, Zhang Guoli, Jain Kumar, Eskindir Tesfay, Lavlin Thadani Running Time: 140 min. By Paul Bramhall The end of 2016 and beginning of 2017 was a busy period for Jackie Chan, with the release of Railroad Tigers and Kung Fu Yoga just a few months apart from each other. In China … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |