Category Archives: Chinese

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

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews |

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

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

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

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews |

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

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

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

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

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

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Invitation Only (2009) Review

Director: Kevin Ko Cast: Bryant Chang, Jerry Huang, Julianne Chu, Kristian Brodie, Maria Ozawa, Kao Ying-Hsuan, Lene Lai, Vivi Ho, Liz Ran Yang, Joseph Ma Running Time: 95 min.  By Paul Bramhall Like every genre, horror is one that goes through phases. While in recent times we increasingly see horror being used as a theme to explore trauma, back in the 2000’s the genre was in a much more visceral … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Code of the Assassins (2022) Review

AKA: Song of the Assassins Director: Daniel Lee Yan-Kong Cast: William Feng Shaofeng, Gina Jin Chen, Zhang Hao, Hu Jun, Summer Xu Qing, Wang Qing-Xiang, Kenneth Tsang, Ray Lui, Norman Tsui, Jack Kao Kuo-Hsin Running Time: 119 min.  By Paul Bramhall After a long and arduous journey, in 2022 Code of the Assassins finally made it to the screen. Filming started way back in 2017 with grand plans to include … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Detective vs. Sleuths (2022) Review

Director: Wai Ka-fai Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Charlene Choi, Raymond Lam, Carman Lee, Tan Kai, Carlos Chan, Kathy Yuen Running Time: 102 min.  By Paul Bramhall  Practically everything about Detective vs. Sleuths on paper indicates it’s a sequel to the 2007 Milkyway classic Mad Detective. Wai Ka-Fai back in the director’s chair? Check. Lau Ching-Wan playing a mentally unbalanced but brilliant detective? Check. Mostly set at night on the streets of Hong … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Warriors of Future (2022) Review

Director: Ng Yuen-Fai Cast: Louis Koo, Lau Ching Wan, Carina Lau, Nick Cheung, Philip Leung, Tse Kwan-ho, Janice Wu, Eddy Ko Hung, Sakurako Okubo, Wan Guopeng Running Time: 99 min. By Paul Bramhall It may sound optimistic, but I’d like to think that years from now, fans of Hong Kong cinema will look back and say 2022 way the year the territory once more found its voice. The likes of … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Super Dragon | aka Bruce Lee Superstar (1975) Review

AKA: Chinese Chien Chuan Kung Fu Director: Lin Bing Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Shan Mao, Paul Wei Ping Ao, Got Siu Bo, Tse Ling Ling, Lung Fei, Tai Leung, Woo Chau Ping, Yeh Hsiao-Yee Running Time: 90 min. By Ian Whittle Bruce Li’s second attempt at a Bruce Lee bio-pic is a better kung fu movie than its predecessor, Bruce Lee: A Dragon Story, but … Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Kung Fu Master (2010) Review

Director: Dou Xiao Cast: Yuen Biao, Jimmy Lin, Leung Kar Yan, Zhao Qiu Sheng, Chunhua Ji, Yang Lu, Yuan Wu Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in the mid-2000’s a US based distributor of Asian cinema called Tai Seng came upon an ingenious way to take advantage of the kung fu cinema resurgence. Applying a Godfrey Ho-esque approach, Tai Seng would take Chinese kung fu TV series starring … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Shaolin Martial Arts (1974) Review

Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Chi Kuan Chun, Alexander Fu Sheng, Fung Hak On, Feng Yi, Leung Kar Yan, Gordon Liu, Lau Kar Wing, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Tino Wong Cheung, Irene Chan Yi Ling, Bruce Tong Yim Chaan, Simon Yuen Running Time: 107 min. By Ian Whittle “I go out and sweat blood to make a swell picture and then the critics and the exhibitors all say, ‘If this picture … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Pom Pom and Hot Hot (1992) Review

Director: Joe Cheung Tung Cho Cast: Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Stephen Tung Wei, Rachel Lee Lai Chun, Alfred Cheung Kin Tin, Austin Wai Tin Chi, Lam Ching Ying, Bonnie Fu Yuk Jing, Ricky Cheung Kwok Leung, Guy Lai Ying Chau, John Ching Tung Running Time: 90 min. By Henry McKeand The early heroic bloodshed films from John Woo and his contemporaries were, above all, Heaven-or-Hell morality tales. These are stories of violent men who fight desperately to … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , |

Wolf Pack (2022) Review

Director: Michael Chiang Cast: Max Zhang Jin, Aarif Lee, Jiang Luxia, Mark Luu, Ye Liu, Chang Yi, Tang Guozhong Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall Ever since Wolf Warrior practically created the Mainland Melody military genre in 2015, movies which sing the praises of China’s military might have become safe bets for local action filmmakers to bank on. At best, the military theme is used as an excuse to … Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |