Category Archives: Chinese

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Era of Vampires, The (2002) Review

AKA: Vampire Hunters Director: Wellson Chin Cast: Michael Chow Man Kin, Danny Chan Kwok Kwan, Ken Cheung Chi Yiu, Lam Suet, Anya, Horace Lee Wai Sing, Yu Rong Guang, Lee Lik Chi, Wong Yat Fei, Ji Chun Hua, Lee Kin Yan, Chen Kuan Tai, Shut Mei Yee Running Time: 107 min.  By Paul Bramhall  In 2002 it had been 10 years since the last entry in the popular Mr. Vampire … Continue reading

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Twins Effect (2003) Review

Director: Dante Lam Cast: Gillian Chung, Charlene Choi, Ekin Cheng, Josie Ho Chiu-Yee, Jackie Chan, Edison Chen Koon-Hei, Mickey Hardt, Karen Mok Man-Wai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Chapman To Man-Chat, Bey Logan, Spencer Lam Running Time: 107 min.  By Henry McKeand Vampires and Kung Fu films have a long, if troubled, history. From 1974’s Shaw Brothers/Hammer Horror co-production Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires to wacky 80s fare such as Encounters … Continue reading

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Exciting Dragon | aka Drunken Dragon (1985) Review

AKA: Drunken Dragon Director: Chiu Chung Hing Cast: Suen Kwok Ming, Chiang Sheng, Chow Mei Yee, Philip Ko Fei, Leung Kar Yan, Yeung Hung, William Yen, Ko Jan Pang, Chen Chin Hai, Lam Gwong Wing Running Time: 94 min. By Henry McKeand One set piece in Chiu Chung-Hing’s Exciting Dragon (or Drunken Dragon, depending on who you ask) involves a man steering a wheeled rowboat as he fights, indoors, against … Continue reading

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Fatal Raid, The (2019) Review

Director: Jacky Lee Cast: Patrick Tam Yiu-Man, Michael Tong Man-Lung, Jade Leung Ching, Sharon Luk, Lin Min-Chen, Jadie Lin, Jeana Ho, Hidy Yu, Chiu Sin-Hang, Yona Fong Running Time: 91 min.  By Paul Bramhall The Fatal Raid originally started out as a sequel to 2016’s Special Female Force, but somewhere along the way it was decided to scrap the sequel angle and make it a standalone story with different characters. … Continue reading

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VR Fighter | aka One More Shot (2021) Review

Director: Tang Qiaojia Cast: Fan Siu-Wong, Yiyi Jiang, Diego Dati, Jiang Yi-Yi, Wang Zhipeng, Song Ziqiao, Tang Hu Running Time: 80 min. By Paul Bramhall The web movie has become something of a cultural phenomenon in China. While what can be considered the first official Chinese web movie is up for debate, it’s a trend which has continued to grow at a rapid rate since their inception in the mid-2010’s. Fuelled … Continue reading

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Sadness, The (2021) Review

Director: Rob Jabbaz Cast: Berant Zhu, Regina Lei, Tzu-Chiang Wang, Emerson Tsai, Wei-Hua Lan, Ralf Chiu, Ying-Ru Chen Running Time: 99 min. By Paul Bramhall  Taiwan may not be the first country that you think of when discussing the zombie genre, but it has thrown its hat into the ring a couple of times in recent years. In 2012 director Joe Chien made his debut with Zombie 108, a low … Continue reading

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Blonde Fury, The | aka Lady Reporter (1989) Review

Director: Meng Hoi Cast: Cynthia Rothrock, Chin Siu Ho, Meng Hoi, Elizabeth Lee Mei Fung, Roy Chiao, Billy Chow, Ronny Yu Yan Tai, Jeff Falcon, Vincent Lyn, Chung Fat, Tai Bo, Melvin Wong Gam San, Wu Ma, Hsiao Ho, Kwan Yung, James Tien Chun Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison In 1995, when I was 13, I visited my local video shop. Ah, those were the days. How I … Continue reading

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White Storm 2: Drug Lords, The (2019) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Andy Lau, Louis Koo, Michael Miu, Karena Lam, Kent Cheng, Gordon Lam, Chrissie Chau, Cherrie Ying, Michelle Wai, MC Jin (Jin Au-Yeung), Ben Yuen  Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2013 the late Benny Chan unleashed The White Storm, one of the most divisive Hong Kong action movies in recent memory. While some hailed it is a glorious throwback to the heroic bloodshed era, … Continue reading

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Super Ninja, The | aka Killers Untouchable (1984) Review

Director: James Wu Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Eugene Thomas, Jack Long Shi-Chia, William Yen, Bruce Lai (Chang Il-do), Tong Lung, Yang Hsiung, Yu Kam-Po, Kim Gi-Jong, Lo Mei Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall  Amongst the many ninja flicks that Taiwan cranked out in the 1980’s, perhaps none stand out more than director James Wu’s unintended ninja trilogy. Kicking off with his directorial debut in 1984 with The Super … Continue reading

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