Category Archives: Chinese

Panda Plan (2024) Review

Director: Luan Zhang Cast: Jackie Chan, Yanbo Han, Ce Shi, Xiang Wei, Temur Mamisashvili, Aleksandra Smirnova Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall In one of the initial scenes from Jackie Chan’s latest big screen outing, Panda Plan, a character says, “It’s a commercial movie, it needs to entertain.” In many ways the line could be interpreted as director Luan Zhang’s way of announcing his intentions to the audience, and … Continue reading

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The Sword (1980) Review

Director: Patrick Tam Kar-Ming Cast: Adam Cheng Siu Chow, Norman Chui Siu-keung, Jade Hsu, Tien Feng, JoJo Chan Kei-Kei, Bonnie Ngai, Eddy Ko Hung, Lau Siu-Ming, Lee Hoi-Sang Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall In the early 80’s Hong Kong cinema was experiencing what’s come to be labelled the new wave, as a fresh generation of young directors came to the fore. Movies like Tsui Hark’s Dangerous Encounter of … Continue reading

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Ninja in the Dragon’s Den (1982) Review

Director: Corey Yuen Cast: Conan Lee, Hiroyuki Sanada (Henry Sanada), Tanaka Hiroshi, Tai Bo, Hwang Jang Lee, Kaname Tsushima, Someno Yukio, Chin Lung, Tien Feng, Ma Chin-Ku, Best Kwon Yeong-Moon, Paul Wei Ping Ao Running Time: 95 min.  By Ian Whittle In memory of Corey Yuen Kwai, whose death in 2022 was recently made public. The early 80s saw an explosion of ninja-mania, instigated by Eric Van Lustbader’s novel The … Continue reading

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Super Power (1980) Review

Director: Lin Chan-Wai Cast: Billy Chong, Hau Chiu-Sing, Chiang Tao, Ho Kei-Cheong, Annie Liu On Lai, Lau Dan, Fung Ging-Man, Wong Chi-Ming, Wang Han-Chen, Lau Hok-Nin Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall In the late 70’s production house The Eternal Film Co. must have felt like they struck gold by signing on Indonesian martial artist and local movie fixture Billy Chong. While Chong had shown hints of what he … Continue reading

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Sun Dragon | aka A Hard Way to Die (1979) Review

Director: Hua Shan Cast: Billy Chong, Carl Scott, Louis Neglia, Ma Chung-Tak, Hsiao Sung Liang, Joseph Jennings, Gam Biu, Lam Hak-Ming, Hau Chiu-Sing, Lai Sau-Kit Running Time: 90 min. By Henry McKeand Two decades before Hollywood tasked the Andrzej Bartkowiaks and Brett Ratners of the world with melding Hong Kong action with Hip-Hop aesthetics, Shanghai-born director Hua Shan was crafting his own successful Black-meets-Asian action creations. Thanks to martial artist … Continue reading

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Customs Frontline (2024) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Jacky Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Karena Lam, Francis Ng, Liu Yase, Michelle Wai, Angus Yeung, Melvin Wong, Ben Yuen, Amanda Strang, Brahim Chab Running Time: 115 min.  By Paul Bramhall While the flaunting of China’s various authorities and military divisions through the format of cinema has become almost the exclusive forte of Dante Lam, in 2024 he kindly stepped aside to make some room for fellow Hong … Continue reading

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Death Notice (2023) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Julian Cheung, Louis Koo, Waise Lee, Francis Ng, Simon Yam, Myolie Wu, Chrissie Chau Sau-Na, Pakho Chau, Helena Law Lan, Ray Lui Leung-Wai Running Time: 100 min.  By Paul Bramhall Herman Yau is something of an anomaly when it comes to Hong Kong filmmakers. Having made his directorial debut in 1987 and rose to prominence during the 1990’s, he’s the only filmmaker who continues to be … Continue reading

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Big Boss Part II, The (1976) Review

Director: Chan Chue Cast: Lo Lieh, Wong Ping, Lee Kwan, Michael Chan Wai Man, Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Krung Srivilai, Preeya Rongernaug, Hung Wang, Shan Shan, Chiu Lik Running Time: 107 min. By Ian Whittle It’s weird that The Big Boss Part II is as obscure as it is. You’d think being a semi-official sequel to a Bruce Lee movie, it’d have been all over numerous VHS and DVD … Continue reading

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Four 3, The | aka The Four: Final Battle (2014) Review

Director: Gordon Chan Co-director: Janet Chun Cast: Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Deng Chao, Colin Chou, Ronald Cheng, Yu Chenghui, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Wu Xiubo, Jiang Yi-Nan, Alec Su, Ada Liu Running Time: 107 min.  By Paul Bramhall  The closing scenes of The Four 2 saw the team’s internal strife come to a head, leading to Crystal Liu’s Emotionless leaving both the Divine Constabulary and her brooding boyfriend, Deng Chao’s … Continue reading

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Four 2, The (2013) Review

Director: Gordon Chan Co-director: Janet Chun Cast: Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Deng Chao, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Cheng Taishen, Colin Chou, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Wu Xiubo, Yu Chenghui, Ken Lo Running Time: 118 min.  By Paul Bramhall Hot on the coat tails of 2012’s The Four, the following year The Four 2 hit the screens, arriving with the announcement that a third instalment had been filmed back-to-back with the … Continue reading

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Four, The (2012) Review

Director: Gordon Chan Co-director: Janet Chun Cast: Colin Chou, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Anthony Wong, Sheren Tang Shui Man, Deng Chao, Jiang Yiyan, Waise Lee Chi Hung, Cheng Taishen, Bao Bei Er, Ryu Kohata, Michael Tong, Wu Xiubo Running Time: 117 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in 2012 director Gordon Chan decided that China needed its own superhero franchise, the result of which saw the release … Continue reading

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Double Crossers, The (1976) Review

"The Double Crossers" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jeong Chang Hwa Cast: Shin Il-ryong, Chan Sing, Chao Hsiung, Chan Wai-Man, Sammo Hung, Tutie Kirana Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall When is a Korean movie not a Korean movie? The answer is when it’s a Hong Kong movie, and with the influx of Korean talent that was active in Hong Kong during the 1970’s, it’s hardly surprising that some of the territories output would come to … Continue reading

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Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024) Review

Director: Soi Cheang Pou So Cast: Louis Koo Tin-lok, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Richie Ren Yin Chi, Raymond Lam, Philip Ng Wan-lung, Terrance Lau, Tony Wu, German Cheung, Aaron Kwok Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall  There’s been a few attempts to bring an adaptation of the manhua comic City of Darkness to the big screen over the years, probably the most well known being the version that was … Continue reading

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Death Stranding (2023) Review

Director: Danny Pang Cast: Wallace Chung, Francis Ng, Myolie Wu, Qiming Fei, Samuel Ku, Keru Wang Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall  Cinema is a funny thing. There are those movies that catch you off guard in ways that can be life affirming, give you an unexpected adrenaline rush, or even tear up. Then there are those movies that catch you off guard in ways which you leave you … Continue reading

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Bursting Point (2023) Review

Director: Calvin Tong Co-director: Dante Lam Cast: Nick Cheung Ka-Fai, William Chan Wai-Ting, Isabella Leung Lok-Sze, Shaun Tam Chun-Yin, Philip Keung Hiu-Man, Chrissie Chau Sau-Na Running Time: 139 min.  By Paul Bramhall Since helming 2016’s Operation Mekong Dante Lam has become China’s go-to man for bombastic big budget actioners that espouse the virtues of the country’s various military divisions, with the army, navy (2018’s Operation Red Sea) and Search & … Continue reading

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