Category Archives: Chinese

Ninja in the Deadly Trap | aka Hero Defeating Japs (1981) Review

"Ninja in the Deadly Trap" DVD Cover

AKA: Ninja Kung Fu Director: Philip Kwok Cast: Ti Lung, Lu Feng, Philip Kwok, Yasuaki Kurata, Chiang Sheng, Cheung Paang, Wong Yeuk Ping, July Chu Lai, Han Yu, Ma Chin Ku, Cheung Chung Kwai, Cho Boon Feng, Mau Ging Shun, Ma Chin-Ku, Han Yu Running Time: 92 min. By Numskull Philip Kwok (aka Guo Juei, aka Kuo Choi) pulls triple duty as director, actor, and martial arts choreographer in this … Continue reading

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Ninja: The Final Duel (1986) Review

"Ninja: The Final Duel" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ninja’s Final Duel Director: Robert Tai Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Alice Tseng, Lee I Min, Alan Lee Hoi Hing, Richard Tseng, Wong Chi Sang, William Yen, Wong Hap, Eugene Thomas, Ahmed Najja Running Time: 89 min. By Sergio Martorelli NAKED KUNG FU BABES! Got your attention? Good. Now let’s get down to business. Ninja: The Final Duel is a colorful, ultra-kinetic, gore-drenched and delightfully zany Taiwanese production that’s been … Continue reading

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Mad Detective (2007) Review

"Mad Detective" Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Co-director: Wai Ka-Fai Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Andy On Chi-Kit, Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Kelly Lin Hsi-Lei, Lee Kwok-Lun, Karen Lee, Flora Chan Wai-Shan, Eddy Ko Hung, Lam Suet Running Time: 91 min. By Mighty Peking Man Johnny To is usually a hit or miss with me, but I respect the guy. After all, he makes a shit load of movies (usually 2 a year, not counting ones he … Continue reading

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Fong Sai-yuk II | aka Legend of Fong Sai-yuk 2 (1993) Review

"Fong Sai-yuk II" DVD Cover

Director: Corey Yuen  Cast: Jet Li, Josephine Siao, Michelle Reis, Adam Cheng, Corey Yuen, Peter Chan Lung Running Time: 96 min.  By Numskull Not many wire fu movies deliver the goods as well as Fong Sai Yuk does, and not many sequels match up to the original as well as Fong Sai Yuk 2. Jet Li, Michelle Reis, and Josephine Siao all return as the title character, his puppy-dog eyed fiancee … Continue reading

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Fong Sai-yuk | The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk (1993) Review

"The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk" DVD Cover

Director: Corey Yuen  Cast: Jet Li, Josephine Siao, Michelle Reis, Sibelle Hu, Peter Chan Lung, Paul Chu Kong  Running Time: 100 min.  By Numskull Ah, the days when duels to the death (or at least to the severe bruising) were fought in public at the drop of a hat and ripe, buxom young women were offered as prizes to the most skilled combatants. Fling all the synonyms for “barbaric” you … Continue reading

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Infatuation (1995) Review

Director: Jimmy Sin Chi-Wai Writer: Choi Ting-Ting Producer: Chow Yiu-Shan Cast: Francoise Yip, Wong Chung-Kwan, Money Lo Man-Yee, Simon Lui Yu-Yeung, Donna Chu Git-Yee, Hugo Ng Doi-Yung Running Time: 92 min. By Brmanuk Ken (Wong Chung Kwan) has a drunken one night stand with his secretary, Maggie (Francoise Yip Fong Wah), whilst separated from his wife May (Money Lo Man Yee). When Ken and May reconcile, Maggie, who wrongly believes … Continue reading

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Champions | aka Duo Biao (2008) Review

"Champions" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Siu Ming Writer: Tsui Siu Ming Producer: Tom Cheung, Amy Lee, Tsui Siu Ming Cast: Dicky Cheung Wai Kin, Tse Miu, Debbie Ng Tin Yu, Priscilla Wong Cuiru, Chui Heung Tung, Wai Chi Ho, Yu Rong Guang, Maria Cordero, Lee Fai Running Time: 117 min. By HKFanatic If you thought “Ip Man 2” and “Jet Li’s Fearless” went a wee bit overboard with their jingoistic ‘ra ra China’ … Continue reading

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Dream of a Warrior (2001) Review

Director: Park Hee-Joon Producer: Kim Hyung-Joon Cast: Leon Lai Ming, Lee Na-Young, Park Eun-Hye, Yoon Tae-Young, Kim Ji-Moo Running Time: 84 min. By JJ Hatfield A tale of romance and time travel begins with action in a futuristic? form of Korea. Having a question mark in the first sentence should serve as a warning to the reader – there are many questionable aspects of this movie. This film is billed … Continue reading

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Detective Dee & the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010) Review

"Detective Dee & the Mystery of the Phantom Flame" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Li Bing Bing, Deng Chao, Richard Ng Yiu Hon, Du Yiheng, Yao Lu, Teddy Robin Kwan Running Time: 123 min. By HKFanatic As a longtime Tsui Hark fan, it’s great to see the master director return with a film that’s easier for audiences to latch on to. “Detective Dee & the Mystery of the … Continue reading

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Easy Money (1987) Review

"Easy Money" Theatrical Poster

Director: Stephen Shin Cast: George Lam Chi-Cheung, Michelle Yeoh, Kent Cheng Jak-Si, Ku Feng, Dennis Chan Kwok-San, Chan Ging, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Lo Hung Running Time: 92 min.  By Numskull Easy Money is a lot of things. It’s the 6th film in which Michelle Yeoh appeared, and the 4th in which she had the lead role. It’s the last film she made before marrying producer Dickson Poon (whom she divorced … Continue reading

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Taxi Hunter (1993) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Anthony Wong, Yu Rong Guang, Fung Woo, Ng Man Tat, Athene Chu, Chan Fai Hung, Lam King Kong, Lam Chiu Wing, James Ha Chim Si Running Time: 88 min. By Numskull Cabbies beware! Stop rigging those meters! Curb those sloppy driving habits! Don’t snap at those passengers and then expect a generous tip! There’s a new force in town to be reckoned with, and he’s got … Continue reading

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Mission, The (1999) Review

"The Mission" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Writer: Nai-Hoi Yau Cast: Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Jackie Lui Chung-yin, Roy Cheung, Suet Lam, Simon Yam, Tin Lam Wong, Eddy Ko-Hung Running Time: 88 min. By Woody “The Mission” concerns a rich businessman hiring a diverse group of men, including Anthony Wong, Lam Suet, and Francis Ng, to protect him from killers trying to take him out. After they have successfully completed their mission, … Continue reading

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Shaolin Soccer (2001) Review

"Shaolin Soccer" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Stephen Chow Co-director: Lik-Chi Lee Cast: Stephen Chow, Lee Wai, Vicki Zhao, Ng Man-Tat, Cecilia Cheung, Cheung Ming Ming, Law Kar-Ying, Karen Mok, Karen Morris, Alan Tam, Patrick Tse Running Time: 112 min. By Vic Nguyen Overtaking From Beijing With Love as the best introduction to the work of Stephen Chow to western audiences, this big budget, FX laden production more than lives up to the hype, injecting enough … Continue reading

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Legend is Born – Ip Man, The (2010) Review

"The Legend Is Born – Ip Man" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Dennis To, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Fan Siu-wong, Huang Yi, Ip Chun, Kenya Sawada, Betty Huang Yi, Bernice Liu Bik Yi, Lam Suet, Chen Zhi Hui, Kenya Sawada, Sire Ma Sai, Hins Cheung Ging Hin, Louis Cheung Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Viewers would be forgiven for thinking that “The Legend is Born” is a legitimate prequel to Donnie Yen’s “Ip Man” series. Not only … Continue reading

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Farewell My Concubine (1993) Review

Director: Chen Kaige Writer: Lilian, Lee Lu Wei Cast: Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li, Lu Qi, Ying Da, Yidi, Zhi Yitong, Lei Han, Li Chun Running Time: 156 min. By Ningen I don’t know what it is about Peking Opera that looks appealing in martial arts films, but which comes off dull in arthouse flicks. While it’s true that this is only the second film of this genre I’ve … Continue reading

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