Category Archives: Chinese

Bravest Revenge, The (1970) Review

Director: Chien Lung Cast: Polly Shang-Kuan, Tien Peng, Yi Yuan, Wan Chung Shan, Hsueh Han, Chen Bao-Liang Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Many fans of kung-fu cinema regard the 70’s as the genres golden decade, and rightfully so, with the countless classics cranked out from the likes of the Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest leaving a lasting legacy. In 1970 itself the genre was in an interesting place. Bruce … Continue reading

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Manhattan Chase (2000) Review

Director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Loren Avedon, Cynthia Rothrock, Brendan Kelly, Steve Tartalia, Nicol Zanzarella, Roberto Gutierrez, Robin Berry, Chris Grall, Robinlynn Sweeney Running Time: 97 min. By Paul Bramhall When it comes to Hong Kong cinema, there are a handful of directors whose reputation precedes them, and arguably Godfrey Ho is one of them. For better or worse, Ho pioneered a business model that involved cutting corners in increasingly imaginative ways … Continue reading

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Fist of Fury (1972) Review

AKA: Chinese Connection Director: Lo Wei Cast: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Tien Feng, Robert Baker, Paul Wei Ping Ao, Lo Wei, Riki Hashimoto, Lee Kwan, Feng Yi, Wong Chung Shun, Alexander Grand Running Time: 108 min. By Henry McKeand You can’t take your eyes off of Bruce Lee.  This is by design, of course. At the funeral that opens Fist of Fury, he’s the only one in a small sea … Continue reading

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Master and the Kid (1978) Review

AKA Shaolin Master and the Kid Director: Lin Fu Ti Cast: Yueh Hua, Man Kong Lung, Violet Pan Yingzi, Philip Ko Fei, Chan Sing, Weng Hsiao Hu, Ho Wai Hung, Shaw Luo Hui, Ngok Yeung, Hu Chin, Leung Kar Yan Running Time: 91 min.  By Martin Sandison Lone Wolf and Cub remains one of the most well-regarded comic books and film series to come from Japan. My own love for … Continue reading

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Big Boss: Mandarin Cut, The (1971) Review

Director: Lo Wei Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Bruce Lee, Maria Yi, James Tien Chun, Han Ying Chieh, Nora Miao, Lee Kwan, Anthony Lau, Lam Ching Ying, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Peter Yang Kwan Running Time: 115 min. By Ian Whittle The Big Boss remains a rather intriguing oddity. Golden Harvest’s first contemporary martial arts movie, it was released the same month as Shaw’s also Thailand filmed Duel of Fists. But … Continue reading

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Hidden Blade (2023) Review

Director: Cheng Er Cast: Tony Leung, Wang Yibo, Chengpeng Dong, Zhou Xun, Eric Wang, Huang Lei, Hiroyuki Mori Running Time: 130 min.  By Paul Bramhall Spy thrillers set in the 30’s and 40’s have become something of a genre unto themselves in the Chinese film industry during the last decade or so, with titles likes Alan Mak and Felix Chong’s The Silent War, Ann Hui’s Our Time Will Come, and Chen … Continue reading

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Unleashed (2020) Review

Director: Ambrose Kwok Co-director: Ka Hei Kwok Cast: Sun Zhen-Feng, Ken Lo, Zheng Zi-Ping, Venus Wong, Sam Lee, Raymond Chiu Running Time: 84 min.  By Henry McKeand There’s something quaint about Unleashed, the 2020 kickboxing film from Kwok Ka-Hei and Ambrose Kwok Yat-Choi. Then again, in a modern action climate dominated by assassins and digital blood spray, maybe there’s something quaint about all movies concerned mainly with competitions and training … Continue reading

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Born Invincible (1978) Review

Director: Joseph Kuo Cast: Mark Long, Jack Long, Carter Wong, Lo Lieh, Nancy Yen, Corey Yuen, Yuen Shun Yee, Lung Fei, Alan Chui, Yuen Sam, Chen Chiu, Chu Siu Wa, Yuen Woo Ping Running Time: 83 min. By Ian Whittle My immediate reaction to Born Invincible is that someone must have put all the actor’s names in a hat before assigning roles… we’ve got regular villain Lung Fei playing the master … Continue reading

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Young Ip Man: Crisis Time (2020) Review

Director: Liming Li Cast: Zhao Wenhao, Mu Fengbin, Jonathan Kos-Read, Yuqing Shi, Li Hao Xuan Running Time: 79 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s hard to believe that since Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen’s iconic Ip Man in 2008 we’ve had 3 sequels, a spin-off, 2 more cinematic outings with different actors, a TV series, and 4 web-movies (with 3 more different actors!). That’s without mentioning a certain Wong Kar Wai. … Continue reading

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My Flying Wife (1991) Review

Director: O Sing Pui Cast: Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung, Fennie Yuen, Yu Li, Roy Cheung, Shing Fui On, Terrence Fok, James Ha, Frankie Ng, William Ho Ka Kui Running Time: 90 min.  By Henry McKeand The legacy of Sammo Hung’s work with Jackie Chan is so massive that it’s easy to forget what a diverse filmography he has. In a sense, there are many Sammos. You have … Continue reading

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Sparring Partner, The (2022) Review

Director: Ho Cheuk-tin Cast: Alan Yeung, Mak Pui-tung, Louisa So, Michael Chow, Jan Lamb, Gloria Yip, Jimmy Wong, Choi Tze-Ching, Au Ka-Man, Hui Siu-Ying, Franchesca Wong Running Time: 140 min. By Paul Bramhall When Hong Kong first introduced the Category III rating in 1988, indicating that the title in question couldn’t be viewed by those under 18, few could predict that by the time the 90’s hit, the term Cat … Continue reading

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Operation Bangkok | aka Heroes Return (2021) Review

Director: Du Xiubin Cast: Ray Lui Leung Wai, Yuen Biao, Pavarit Mongkolpisit, Xu Dongdong, Liu Wei-Sen, Zhang Yonghua, Huang Guan, Chu Xu, Li Xing-Yu, Kinsman, Gao Lin Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall China’s massive web movie market is known for its quick and cheap output, primarily driven by a seemingly endless line of monster movies and action flicks, all intended to be disposable and forgotten about a few … Continue reading

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7 Commandments of Kung Fu, The (1979) Review

Director: Got Si Ho Cast: Lee Yi Min, Chang Yi, Goo Jing, Lung Fei, Ma Chin Ku, Siu Foo Dau, Ching Kuo Chung, Suen Shu Pau, Cheung Chung Kwai, Cheung Taai Lun, Li Chu-Yong Running Time: 84 min. By Martin Sandison The genres of the Italian western and the classic, traditional kung fu movie have many similarities. They both arose out of a turbulent, massively creative time in their respective … Continue reading

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Sakra (2023) Review

Director: Donnie Yen Cast: Donnie Yen, Yuqi Chen, Cya Liu Ya-Se, Kara Hui, Wu Yue, Eddie Cheung Siu-fai, Ray Lui, Tsui Siu-Ming, Yuen Cheung-Yan, Du Yu-Ming, Michelle Hu Ran Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall Out of the many famous wuxia novels out there, its Jin Yong’s Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils that takes the award for the one that’s been adapted for the screen the most. On the small screen … Continue reading

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Calamity of Snakes (1983) Review 🐍

Director: William Cheung Kei Cast: Kao Yuen, Hsiang Yun-Peng, Wei Ping-Ao, Zheng You-Xiu, Lee Ying, Ou-Yang Sha Fei Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall  There’s only a handful of movies out there whose reputation precedes them, and 1983’s Calamity of Snakes is one of them. I first came across it in the late 90’s through the pages of the book Mondo Macabro by Pete Tombs (who went on to create … Continue reading

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