Category Archives: Chinese

To Kill with Intrigue (1976) Review

"To Kill with Intrigue" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lo Wei Cast: Jackie Chan, Hsu Feng, San Yat Lung, Yu Ling Lung, George Wang Jue, Tung Lam, Ma Kei, Kong Ching Ha, Chan Wai Lau, Lee Man Tai, Tsang Ming Cheong Running Time: 110 min. By JJ Hatfield This review will be brief as I have already wasted enough time watching the damned movie. Two martial arts families clash and one family is wiped out except for Jackie. … Continue reading

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Gorgeous | aka Glass Bottle (1999) Review

"Gorgeous" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Vincent Kok Cast: Jackie Chan, Shu Qi, Tony Leung, Emil Chow, Richie Ren, Elaine Jin, Bradley Allan, Vincent Kok, Sandra Ng, Sam Lee, Stephen Chow, Stephen Fung Running Time: 121 min. By Vic Nguyen Lovelorn daydreamer Bu (Hsu Chi), on a typical day in her Taiwanese village, finds a mysterious message in a bottle. The contents read, “I’m waiting for you”, signed Albert from Hong Kong. Thinking that this might … Continue reading

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Hard To Kill | aka Interpol Connection (1992) Review

AKA: Hard To Kill Director: Philip Ko Writer: Cindy Chow Producer: Philip Ko Cast: Robin Shou, Yukari Oshima (aka Cynthia Luster), King Kong, Simon Kim, Philip Ko, Iwanabeo Leung, Romulo Grabiel, Jose Babida, Jess Babida, Simon Yam Running Time: 87 min. By Numskull Co Chi Pang (Robin Shou) is a Hong Kong narcotics officer assigned to bring an international heroin dealer named Lo Tak to justice. He is assisted by … Continue reading

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Infernal Affairs 2 (2003) Review

"Infernal Affairs 2" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director Andrew Lau Co-director: Alan Mak Cast: Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Francis Ng, Carina Lau, Edison Chen, Shawn Yu, Andrew Lin, Roy Cheung, Teddy Chan, Arthur Wong, Henry Fong Ping, Chapman To Running Time: 119 min. By Owlman Let me begin by saying that the synopsis is not a spoiler. Being a prequel to the first IA, the ending of IA2 is a foregone conclusion – we know that Sam … Continue reading

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Infernal Affairs (2002) Review

"Infernal Affairs" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrew Lau Co-director: Alan Mak Cast: Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Sammi Cheng Sau-Man, Kelly Chan, Edison Chen, Shawn Yu Man-Lok, Elva Hsiao Ah-Hin, Chapman To, Gordon Lam, Ng Ting Yip, Wan Chi Keung Running Time: 100 min. By Alexander Fellow City on Fire reviewer Raging Gaijin had this to say in a recent review: “Now I know the whole ‘the good, the bad, … Continue reading

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On The Run (1988) Review

"On the Run" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Alfred Cheung Producer: Sammo Hung Cast: Yuen Biao, Pat Ha Man Jing, Charlie Chin, Chan Cheuk Yan, Idy Chan, Lee Heung Kam, Lo Lieh, Yuen Wah, Philip Ko Fei, Alex To, Peter Pau Tak-Hai, Yau Kam-Hung Running Time: 88 min. By Reefer On The Run is as dark and violent as any film I have seen. Imagine an alternate version of Righting Wrongs minus all the kung fu action … Continue reading

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Victim, The | aka Lightning Kung Fu (1980) Review

AKA: Sacrifice Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Leung Kar Yan, Fanny Wang, Chang Yi, Peter Chan Lung, Wilson Tong, Yuen Mao, Cheung Ging Boh, Fung Lee, Karl Maka, To Siu Ming Running Time: 90 min. By Reefer According to the Ric Meyers/Bobby Samuels audio commentary track on the DVD, The Victim marks Sammo Hung’s first directing effort, but originally released 3 or 4 years later. I am not sure … Continue reading

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Victim (1999) Review

"Victim" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ringo Lam Cast: Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Lau Ching-wan, Amy Kwok, Hui Siu Hung, Emily Kwan, Ma Tak Chung Running Time: 100 min. By Mighty Peking Man Ringo Lam steps into the horror-genre with this wickedly-dark film starring Lau Ching-wan and Tony Leung Ka-Fai. There has been endless debate on the film’s plot which leaves the viewer asking themselves: “How much of it is supernatural,” “How much if it is … Continue reading

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Full Contact (1992) Review

"Full Contact" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Ringo Lam Writer: Nam Yin Cast: Chow Yun-fat, Simon Yam, Anthony Wong, Ann Bridewater, Bonnie Fu, Chan Chi Leung Running Time: 99 min. By Joe909 Finally, after reading about it for years, I got to see Full Contact. To say the least, it’s a movie experience. A Hong Kong remake of John Boorman’s ’60s existential action flick Point Blank (also remade recently as the sub par Mel Gibson Payback), … Continue reading

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Dragon Fight | aka Dragon Kickboxer (1988) Review

"Dragon Fight" Korean DVD Cover

AKA: The Defector Director: Billy Tang Cast: Jet Li, Dick Wei, Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Nina Li Chi, Steven Ho, Mark Williams Running Time: 98 min. By JJ Hatfield Viewed as a film, “Dragon Fight” is not very good. However, all is not lost if you are a Jet Li fan, or fond of martial arts films. This is a kind of blending of Jet the Chinese excellent citizen and … Continue reading

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Disciples of Shaolin | aka Invincible One (1975) Review

"Disciples of Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Hung Boxing Kid, Royal Monks Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Kong Do, Lo Dik, Stephen Yip Tin Hang, Chen Ming Li, Fung Hak On, Hon Kong, Lam Fai Wong, Jamie Luk Kim Ming Running Time: 102 min. By JJ Hatfield There are a lot of older movies especially from the Shaw Brothers studio that used the word “Shaolin” in the title or the … Continue reading

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Accidental Spy, The (2001) Review

"The Accidental Spy" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chan Cast: Jackie Chan, Vivian Hsu, Kim Min Jeong, Wu Hsing-kuo, Eric Tsang, Bradley James Allen, Cheung Tat-ming, Alfred Cheung, Ha Ping, Vincent Kuk, Scott Adkins, Murat Yilmaz, Anthony Rene Jones Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull To say that “this is not your father’s Jackie Chan movie” would be both far too vague and somewhat insulting. The Accidental Spy is a much more serious and intricately-structured effort than … Continue reading

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Butterfly and Sword | aka Comet, Butterfly & Sword (1993) Review

"Butterfly and Sword" Chinese Theatrical Advertisement

Director: Michael Mak Tong Kit Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Michelle Yeoh, Joey Wong Tsu Hsien, Jimmy Lin Chi Ying, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Yip Chuen Chan, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong Runing Time: 87 min. By Numskull Maybe this is just a peculiarity of watching a movie at 1 A.M., but it seems to me that Butterfly & Sword was written, produced, and directed by mutant vegetable-people with one brain … Continue reading

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Millionaire’s Express | aka Shanghai Express (1986) Review

"Millionaire's Express" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Olivia Cheng, Eric Tsang, Lam Ching-Ying, Kenny Bee (Chung Chun-To), Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, Yukari Oshima, Wu Ma, Rosamund Kwan, Dick Wei, Richard Ng, Wang Lung-Wei, Yasuaki Kurata (Shoji Kurata), Emily Chu, Yuen Wah, Hwang Jang-Lee, Bolo Yeung Running Time: 98 min. By JJ Hatfield “Millionaire Express” is a film that combines martial arts, comedy and westerns. There are quite possibly more … Continue reading

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Wing Chun (1994) Review

"Wing Chun" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Waise Lee Chi-hung, Catherine Hung Yan, Norman Chu, Tsui Ah Fai, Chui Heung Tung, Cheng Pei Pei Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull In this Yuen Wo-Ping/Michelle Yeoh collaboration, Yeoh is THE Wing Chun, a woman who (in this film, at least) wears mens’ clothing and runs a tofu business with her aunt Abacus (played by a … Continue reading

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