Category Archives: Documentary

Broken Rhythm: Bruce Lee’s Game of Death (2026) Review

June 17, 2026 Jonathan Hillburn

Some films end when the credits roll. Others continue long after the lights come up. Broken Rhythm belongs firmly in the latter category. Having attended both screenings at the New York City Independent Film Festival last week, it’s taken me some time to evaluate it—not because it’s obscure, but because it demands engagement from its audience. What makes Broken Rhythm so compelling is also what makes it challenging to write … Continue reading →

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Film Safari Ghana (2024) Review

November 13, 2024 Paul Bramhall
"Fim Safari Ghana" Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrew Leavold Cast: Andrew Leavold, Samuel K. Nkansah (aka Ninja), Joseph Osei, Emmanuel Afriyie  Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall While in his native Australia Andrew Leavold may be known for many things – former cult video store owner, punk band frontman, Filipino cinema historian, sometime actor, and documentary filmmaker – internationally he’s likely to be remembered as the guy who directed 2013’s The Search for Weng Weng. … Continue reading →

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Mifune: The Last Samurai (2016) Review

May 3, 2017 Kelly Warner
"Mifune: The Last Samurai" Theatrical Poster

Director: Steven Okazaki Cast: Keanu Reeves, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Koji Yakusho, Sadao Nakajima, Kyoko Kagawa Running Time: 80 min. By Kelly Warner “The ordinary Japanese actor might need ten feet of film to get across an impression; Mifune needed only three.” – Akira Kurosawa Like many others, I have Godzilla to thank for first introducing me to Japanese movies. But when the day finally came for me … Continue reading →

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Search for Weng Weng, The (2013) Review

January 4, 2017 Paul Bramhall
"The Search for Weng Weng" Promotional Poster

Director: Andrew Leavold Cast: Edgardo ‘Boy’ Vinarao, Don Gordon Bell, Rez Cortez, Imelda Marcos, Bobby A. Suarez, Marrie Lee, Imee Marco, Dolphy, Maria Isabel Lopez, Teddy Co Running Time: 92 min.  By Paul Bramhall I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, my first exposure to the 007 styled Filipino midget action star, Weng Weng, was when home video label Mondo Macabro released his 1981 action movie For Your Height Only, packaged with the Bruce Le flick Challenge of the … Continue reading →

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Bruce Lee: Tracking the Dragon (2016) Review

October 25, 2016 Jeff Bona
"Tracking the Dragon" DVD Cover

Director: John Little Writer: John Little Cast: John Little, Malisa Longo, Jon T. Benn, Anders Nelsson, Riccardo Billi, Chaplin Chang Running Time: 100 minutes By Jeff Bona Back in 2013, I reviewed a documentary titled In Pursuit of the Dragon, by noted Bruce Lee historian, John Little (A Warrior’s Journey). Unlike the most of the endless, oversaturated list of Bruce Lee documentaries – many of which featured the same tired footage, usual interview clips and other useless … Continue reading →

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I Am Steve McQueen (2014) Review

April 13, 2015 Kelly Warner
"I Am Steve McQueen" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Jeff Renfroe Writer: David Ray Cast: Robert Downey Jr. (voice), Kristin Kreuk (voice), Chad McQueen, Gary Oldman, Zoe Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Randy Couture, Katherine Haber, Norman Jewison, Pat Johnson, Ali MacGraw Running Time: 90 min. By Kyle Warner “You never know with a Hollywood star whether you’re seeing the real person. You know, everyone said that John Wayne was a great hero but the reality is that John Wayne played great … Continue reading →

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Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) Review

January 7, 2015 Paul Bramhall
"Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films" Theatrical Poster

Director: Mark Hartley Writer: Mark Hartley Cast: Olivia d’Abo, John G. Avildsen, Martine Beswick, Richard Chamberlain, Bo Derek, Lucinda Dickey, Michael Dudikoff, Robert Forster, Elliott Gould, Tobe Hooper, Dolph Lundgren, Franco Nero, Molly Ringwald, Robin Sherwood, Alex Winter, Franco Zeffirelli, Albert Pyun Running Time: 107 min. By Paul Bramhall As a child growing up in the 80’s, I have fond memories of my early movie watching days. Often the TV … Continue reading →

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Bruce Lee: The Legend (1983) Review

August 25, 2014 Matthew Le-feuvre
"Bruce Lee: The Legend" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Writer: Russell Cawthorne Narration: James B. Nicholson Cast: Bruce Lee, Raymond Chow, Nora Miao, Linda Lee Cadwell, Hugh O’Brian, Betty Ting Pei, Gig Young, Chuck Norris, Robert Clouse, Chuck Norris, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Andre Morgan, Fred Weintraub Running Time: 88 min. By Matthew Le-feuvre In 1973, still fresh from the trauma of Bruce Lee’s abrupt and unforeseen death, Golden Harvest decided to produce a full length documentary entitled Bruce … Continue reading →

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Put Up Your Dux: The Story of Frank Dux (2010) Review

May 9, 2014 Jeff Bona
"Put Up Your Dux: The Story of Frank Dux Documentary" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The True Story of JCVD Bloodsport Director: Jesse Barrett-Mills Co-director: Daniel Gallai Cast: Frank Dux, Joe Fiorentino, Jeff Langton, Sheldon Lettich, Brian Thompson, Vic Moore Running Time: 70 min. By Jeff Bona If you’re a fan of 1988’s Bloodsport, then you might be familiar with the name Frank Dux. If not – or if you’ve forgotten – here’s a refresher: In Bloodsport, the name of the character Jean-Claude Van … Continue reading →

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Bruce Lee: In Pursuit of the Dragon (2009) Review

November 1, 2013 Jeff Bona
Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey & Pursuit of the Dragon | DVD (MVD Entertainment)

Director: John Little Writer: John Little Cast: John Little, Bruce Lee, Malisa Longo, Jon T. Benn, Anders Nelsson, Riccardo Billi, Chaplin Chang Running Time: 90 minutes By Jeff Bona If you’re a die hard Bruce Lee fanatic and you’re sick and tired of all the countless Bruce Lee documentaries that contain the same footage, usual interview clips and a bunch of other “talking heads,” then John Little’s In Pursuit of the Dragon is … Continue reading →

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Red Trousers: The Life of Hong Kong Stuntmen (2004) Review

August 30, 2012 ningen31
"Red Trousers: The Life of Hong Kong Stuntmen" DVD Cover

Director: Robin Shou Writer: Robin Shou Cast: Beatrice Chia, Keith Cooke, Hakim Alston, Craig Reid, Sammo Hung, Mike Leeder, Lau Kar-leung, Wong Chi Man, Leung Chi Ming, Monique Marie Ozimkowshi, Jude Poyer, Ng Wing Sum, Ridley Tsui Running Time: 93 min. By Ningen This review is based on a special screening of Red Trousers: The Life of Hong Kong Stuntmen, where Robin Shou is the guest of honor. Before the screening … Continue reading →

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Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong (2005) Review

March 29, 2011 JJ Bona
"Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong" DVD Cover

Director: Ian Taylor Writer: Ian Taylor Cast: Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Leung, David Chiang, Shih Kien, Gordon Liu, Cheng Pei Pei, Chor Yuen Running Time: 55 min. By Mighty Peking Man After watching Ian Taylor’s Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong, I realize how much of a Hong Kong film connoisseur I’m not. The essence of this IFC produced documentary is that it digs deep into the beginnings of Hong … Continue reading →

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Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey (2001) Review

January 28, 2011 JJ Bona
Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey

Director: John Little Cast: Bruce Lee, Dan Inosanto, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ji Han Jae, James Tien, Chieh Yuan, Taky Kimura, Linda Lee-Caldwell, Bey Logan Running Time: 100 min. By Joe909 If I had to make a top ten list of my favorite kung fu movies, the Game of Death footage Bruce Lee shot in 1972 would be in it. There’s just something cool about it. It has that funky ’70s kung … Continue reading →

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