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on ‘The Raid’ vs. ‘Versus’ star! Iko Uwais to take on Tak Sakaguchi in the martial arts thriller ‘Pendekar: Warrior’I can’t enough of both these legends. I just wish this was done 5-10 years ag…
on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearProbably an important lesson to never make a film out of spite. After Kar-Leu…
on ‘The Raid’ vs. ‘Versus’ star! Iko Uwais to take on Tak Sakaguchi in the martial arts thriller ‘Pendekar: Warrior’I found a teaser on Youtube from 5 months ago, but one comment labelled it "A…
on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearSpeaking of Lau Kar Leung and regret.....has anyone watched Drunken Master 3?…
on A FURIOUS New Chinese Poster debuts for Jason Statham’s ‘Mutiny’ from ‘Blood Father’ director Jean-François RichetI don't know about you folk, but the extremity of brutal violence and explosi…
on Exit 8 (2025) ReviewIt's not too often that I watch the movie adaptation of a video game that I h…
on The power of ghouls compels you! Eureka unleashes ‘Ghouls Gone Wild’ on Blu-ray starring Chow Yun-fat and Ricky HuiWoah, "Magic of Spell" is a HUGE get! Does anyone know if a restoration of th…
on Universal Soldier (1971) ReviewChump change, not “chunk” change, as in one would have to be a chump to work…
on Iceman: The Time Traveler (2018) ReviewLOL I like how you started your comment there, I couldn't stop laughing for a…
on Aces Go Places | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Shout)Karl Maka is one of the all time greats. Sounds your mother made a Typo when…
on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearThat's messed up, given that LKL was one of Shaw's top directors. Sucks to he…
on ‘The Raid’ vs. ‘Versus’ star! Iko Uwais to take on Tak Sakaguchi in the martial arts thriller ‘Pendekar: Warrior’TIMUR WAS A SHAKEY CAMERA NIGHTMARE
on Meta madness! Eddie Peng joins Jason Statham in ‘Jason Statham Stole My Bike’ from ‘John Wick’ creator David LeitchLoved Munich. I do have to disagree with SS calling quits after it, because h…
Category Archives: Chinese
Angel | aka Iron Angels (1987) Review
Director: Teresa Woo San Cast: Saijo Hideki, Elaine Lui, Yukari Oshima, Alex Fong Chung Sun, David Chiang, Hwang Jang Lee, Peter Yang Kwan, Wang Hsieh, Lam Chung, Chiang Tao Running Time: 93 min. By Z Ravas I can’t say this period of history has many consolations for those of us living through it, but getting to experience obscure Hong Kong action films via terrific looking and sounding boutique Blu-ray releases … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Alex Fong Chung Sun, David Chiang, Elaine Lui, Hwang Jang Lee, Saijo Hideki, Teresa Woo, Yukari Oshima
Escape from the 21st Century (2024) Review
Director: Yang Li Cast: Ruoyun Zhang, Chuxi Zhong, Yang Song, Xiaoliang Wu, Yanmanzi Zhu, Zhengrong Wen Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall Keeping up with what is and isn’t allowed in Chinese cinema is always somewhat of a daunting task, with everything from ghosts to cleavage falling victim to strict censorship laws in recent years. While these days the National Radio and Television Administration sits directly under the Central … Continue reading
Hunt the Wicked (2024) Review
Director: Suiqiang Huo Cast: Xie Miao, Andy On, Andrew Lien, Shuang Hong, Sara Aliu, Jing Gu, Rui Han, Jane Wu Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall The challenge of getting noticed in the Chinese web movie world of giant creature features, ropey sci-fi flicks, and kung-fu throwbacks is a real one, however in the 2020’s Xie Miao has arguably risen to the top of the latter. Titles like Eye … Continue reading
Shaolin Boxers, The (1974) Review
Director: Huang Ta Cast: James Tin, Lee Tin-ying, Li Min-lang, Chu Mu, Leung Tin, Tien Mi, Hon Kwok-Choi, Chu Mu, Choi Sui-Cheng, Cheung Chok-Chow, Mars Running Time: 78 min. By Ian Whittle “The only problem with James Tien seems to be his weight. When we first saw him on screen he was slim and muscular but of late his girth seems to have increased somewhat. Perhaps his marriage early in … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, Golden Harvest, News, Reviews
Tagged James Tien, Mars (Cheung Wing Fat)
Monkey Goes West, The (1966) Review
Director: Ho Meng Hua Cast: Yueh Hua, Ho Fan, Pang Pang, Tien Shun, Fan Mei Sheng, Kao Pao-Shu, Lan Wei-Lieh, Li Yin, Diana Chang Chung-Wen, Mao Wei Running Time: 112 min. By Paul Bramhall Having gotten into Asian cinema in the late 1990’s, my first exposure to the phenomena of Journey to the West mania came in the 2010’s. For most of the decade it felt like a big screen … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers
Tagged Fan Mei Sheng, Ho Meng Hua, Yueh Hua
Snake Prince, The (1976) Review
Director: Lo Chen Cast: Lin Chen Chi, Ti Lung, Helen Ko Ti-Hua, Fan Lei, Wong Yu, Ng Hong-Sang, Wong Ching-Ho, Ching Miao, Leung Seung-Wan, Lin Wei-Tu Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall When it comes to 1970’s Shaw Brothers oddities there are a few titles that will likely spring to mind. Whether it be the studios riff on King Kong with The Mighty Peking Man, venturing into mutant territory … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers
Tagged Lin Chen Chi, Lo Chen, Wong Yu
Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu (1981) Review
Director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Gordon Liu, Wang Ryong, Kim Ki-Joo, Seol Ji-Yeon, Kwak Eun-Gyung, Baek Hwang-Gi, John Kelly, Choe Moo-Woong, Lung Ho-Yu, Park Hui-Jin, Lee Hwa-Jin Running Time: 90 min. By Ian Whittle So I picked up the DVD assuming from the cover still of Gordon Liu in his usual monk attire that this was going to be another “Gordon from Shaolin” by way of a Korea flick, but once … Continue reading
Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (2025) Review
Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Xiao Zhan, Zhuang Dafei, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Sabina Zhuang, Bayaertu, Alan Aruna, Ada Choi, Wu Hsing-kuo, Hu Jun, Zhang Wenxin, Zhao Shuai Running Time: 146 min. By Paul Bramhall Novelist Jin Yong’s Legend of the Condor Heroes has been adapted countless times for both the big and small screens since it was first serialised from 1957 – 1959, with each one having to grapple with … Continue reading
Eye for an Eye 2: Blind Vengeance (2024) Review
Director: Bingjia Yang Cast: Xie Miao, Yang Enyou, Huang Tao, Kuishan Pei, Pema Jyad, Fengchao Liu, Jampa Tseten Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In my review for 2022’s Eye for an Eye: The Blind Swordsman I expressed the hope that we’d see a “continued collaboration between Yang, Qin, and Miao in the future”, referring to director Bingjia Yang, choreographer Pengfei Qin, and star Xie Miao. Thankfully we didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Bingjia Yang, Lin Fengchao, Tse Miu (Xie Miao), Yang Enyou
Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force (2025) Review
Director: Wu Ershan Cast: Kris Phillips, Narana Eryeneeva, Wu Hsing-Go, Yu Shi, Luke Chen, Yafan Wu, Ci Sha Running Time: 144 min. By Paul Bramhall I ended my review for Creation of the Gods: Kingdom of Storms by expressing how I “hope we’ll be paying another visit to the Creation of the Gods sooner rather than later”, and sure enough less than 18 months on the sequel (and middle part of an … Continue reading
Magic Crane, The (1993) Review
Director: Benny Chan Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Anita Mui Yim-Fong, Rosamund Kwan Chi-Lam, Damian Lau Chung-Yan, Lawrence Ng Kai-Wah, Norman Tsui Siu-Keung, Zhang Tielin Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2017 the late director Benny Chan unleashed Meow onto the world, the tale of Louis Koo and an oversized ginger cat from space, a production which had much of the action maestro’s fanbase scratching their heads as to … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Anita Mui Yim Fong, Benny Chan Muk Sing, Damian Lau, Norman Chu, Rosamund Kwan, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Prosecutor, The (2024) Review
Director: Donnie Yen Co-director: Ho Pong Mak Cast: Donnie Yen, Julian Cheung, Shirley Chan, Kent Cheng, Michael Hui, Ray Lui, Mark Cheng, Kang Yu, Pak Hon Chu, Adam Pak, Kong Lau, Liza Wang Running Time: 118 min. By Paul Bramhall Is it just me or is Donnie Yen making a bit of a niche for himself riffing on Yuen Biao’s 1980’s era? During the 2010’s we got a 2-part remake … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Donnie Yen, Julian Cheung, Mark Cheng Ho Nam, Michael Hui Kun Man, Ray Lui Leung Wai
Lucky Seven | aka 7 Ninja Kids (1986) Review
Director: Chao Chen-Kuo Cast: Chiao Pei, Yang Wei-De, Lin Tung-An, Wang Chi-Cheng, Cheng Wei-Pai, Chang Chai-Ming, Hsu Yu-Ta, Hsiao Hung-Me, Eugene Thomas, Chang Yi-Teng Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Spend long enough in the niche genre that is kung-fu cinema, and you’ll eventually find yourself exploring some of the more obscure corners of what’s on offer. One such corner is that of the Taiwanese kids kung-fu movie, a … Continue reading
Legend, A (2024) Review
Director: Stanley Tong Cast: Jackie Chan, Bextiyar Gülnezer, Yixing Zhang, Aarif Lee Zhi-ting, Chen Li, Max Huang, Kim Hee-seon, Shawn Dou Yecheng Zheng, Ray Lui Leung Wai Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in 2021 I wrote a retrospective on Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong called ‘Giving the People What They Want’, framed from the perspective of how their collaborations as director and star always appealed to the … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Aarif Lee, Kim Hee-Seon, Max Huang, Ray Lui Leung Wai, Stanley Tong
Black Cat II: The Assassination of Boris Yeltsin (1992) Review
Director: Stephen Shin Cast: Jade Leung, Robin Shou, Zoltan Buday, Bob Wilde, Alexander Skorokhod, Tatiana Chekhova, Mike Miller, Jack Wong Wai-Leung, Wan Seung-Lam Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Despite Black Cat’s middling box office results, it wasn’t enough to deter D&B Films from continuing to push Jade Leung as a bankable action lead for the 1990’s, and just a year later we’d get a sequel in the form … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Jade Leung Ching, Robin Shou, Stephen Shin, Steve Brettingham
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