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chrichtonsworld on It’s the FINAL Trailer for the Sly-penned Jason Statham actioner ‘A Working Man’ from director David Ayermmm... You are too forgiving. If you ignore the padding, the action is averag…
chrichtonsworld on It’s the FINAL Trailer for the Sly-penned Jason Statham actioner ‘A Working Man’ from director David AyerThis is made by the same people who done The Beekeeper. Compared to that The…
Ningen on Leonardo DiCaprio to return as Rick Dalton in the Cliff Booth-centric ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ sequel?They can always do the other Bruces.
Paul Bramhall on Leonardo DiCaprio to return as Rick Dalton in the Cliff Booth-centric ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ sequel?There’s a third option - the ‘No Retreat, No Surrender’ approach!
Mstradford on Leonardo DiCaprio to return as Rick Dalton in the Cliff Booth-centric ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ sequel?Looking forward to this, but if it’s set in 1977 no chance of a Bruce Lee cam…
Killer Meteor on Do you believe in miracles? 88 Films’ 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray release for Jackie Chan’s 1989 masterpiece is now shippingHe can't tell Kam Kong from Lee Man-tai, and thinks LO REI directed Fist of F…
Anonymous on John Wick ‘n friends! Check out the New Poster for Len Wiseman’s ‘Ballerina’ starring Ana de ArmasWho are you to tell where I should I post and shouldn't post. I'll post where…
Eric on Do you believe in miracles? 88 Films’ 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray release for Jackie Chan’s 1989 masterpiece is now shippingCouldn't agree more. Bey was THE man when it comes to HK movies commentaries.…
chrichtonsworld on Leonardo DiCaprio to return as Rick Dalton in the Cliff Booth-centric ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ sequel?I don't get it. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is Tarantino's worst, especiall…
sam on Do you believe in miracles? 88 Films’ 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray release for Jackie Chan’s 1989 masterpiece is now shippingelaborate? what's so bad about mike leeder?
dakuan on Under the Gun (1995) Reviewyou're an accountant, right?
Andrew Hernandez on Under the Gun (1995) ReviewWow. How did I never hear of this film before? I just found a used copy on eB…
Paul Taggart on Under the Gun (1995) ReviewThis filmis great, good shout
Andrew Hernandez on Who will replace JCVD? A24 is in negotiations for the remake rights to the Jean-Claude Van Damme’s ‘Bloodsport’Normally I would ignore this, but an A24 take on Bloodsport could be cool. I…
Andrew Hernandez on Lady Whirlwind, move over! Watch the New Trailer for John Maclean’s samurai-Western actioner ‘Tornado’Thank you. I suppose Slow West was meant to be one of those movies that rubs…
Paul Bramhall on Snake Prince, The (1976) ReviewThe dilemma of every Shaw Brothers fan in the 2020’s summarised in 34 words.
James Broome on Snake Prince, The (1976) ReviewI really want to buy these imprint releases. I just dread Arrow announcing Sh…
Tory on Lady Whirlwind, move over! Watch the New Trailer for John Maclean’s samurai-Western actioner ‘Tornado’That’s a fantastic description! Totally accurate. And I can see why obvious s…
Phil Chan on Hong Kong’s Heaven’s Gate? Juno Mak’s anticipated thriller ‘Sons of the Neon Night’ to finally shine this yearOfficially selected for this year's Midnight Screenings at Cannes: https://ww…
Ian C. on Lady Whirlwind, move over! Watch the New Trailer for John Maclean’s samurai-Western actioner ‘Tornado’This looks interesting. The trailer is now out. https://youtu.be/JCW7OoSp0bI
Pete Cook on The return of Jet Li? More on Yuen Woo Ping’s ‘Blades of the Guardians’ starring Wu Jing and Nic TseBring Back Jet Li!!!! for a few more movies. I think Jet Li would GREAT for t…
paul taggart on Brokenhearted, The (2024) ReviewAgreed
Ska Martes on Leonardo DiCaprio to return as Rick Dalton in the Cliff Booth-centric ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ sequel?You could argue a 2 week token theatrical window doesn't really count as a th…
Paul Taggart on Snake Prince, The (1976) Reviewthis sounds insane
Robert Jeffrey Allee on The origins of Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao revealed? Shout! to release Blu-ray for 1988’s ‘Painted Faces’I always wanted to see this and never had any luck finding it. I hope it's go…
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Category Archives: Japanese
Demon City (2025) Review
Director: Seiji Tanaka Cast: Toma Ikuta, Masahiro Higashide, Miou Tanaka, Ami Touma, Taro Suruga, Mai Kiryu, Naoto Takenaka, Takuma Otoo, Masanobu Takashima, Matsuya Onoe Running Time: 107 min. By Paul Bramhall If I had to guess I’d say the audience for Demon City falls into 2 categories – the first being those who’ve been waiting for the sophomore feature from director Seiji Tanaka, and the second being fans of the … Continue reading
Village of Doom (1983) Review
Director: Noboru Tanaka Cast: Masato Furuoya, Misako Tanaka, Kumiko Oba, Isao Natsuyagi, Midori Satsuki Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall The Tsuyama massacre remains one of the most harrowing mass murders in Japan, taking place on the night of 21st May 1938 in the rural village of Kamocho Kurami. After cutting off the electricity to the village shortly before midnight, a 21-year-old man named Mutsuo Toi proceeded to arm … Continue reading
River (2023) Review
Director: Junta Yamaguchi Cast: Riko Fujitani, Yuki Torigoe, Yoshimasa Kondo, Haruki Nakagawa, Masahi Suwa Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall Making a follow-up to a debut that relied heavily on a gimmick is always a tricky proposition, as several directors have found out over the years. In Japan the most obvious example is Shinichiro Ueda, who after his almost flawless debut with 2017’s One Cut of the Dead has struggled to … Continue reading
King Kong Escapes (1967) Review
Director: Honda Ishiro Cast: Rhodes Reason, Linda Miller, Mie Hama, Akira Takarada, Hideyo Amamoto, Yoshifumi Tajima, Yoshifumi Tajima, Andrew Hughes, Shoichi Hirose, Ryuji Kita Running Time: 96/104 min. By Ian Whittle Following the colossal success of King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Toho did not rush to bring back the giant ape in a hurry – the cost of licensing the character from RKO was high, and Toho had been left holding … Continue reading
Baby Assassins 2 (2023) Review
AKA: Baby Assassins: 2 Babies Director: Yugo Sakamoto Cast: Akari Takaishi, Saori Izawa, Joey Iwanaga, Tatsuomi Hamada, Atomu Mizuishi Running Time: 101 min. By Paul Bramhall I confess I wasn’t the biggest fan of Yugo Sakamoto’s Baby Assassins, concluding that the 2021 production “will likely only appeal to those action fans who are willing to wait (or perhaps skip forward) to see Masanori Mimoto unleash under the choreography of Kensuke … Continue reading
One-Percent Warrior | aka One Percenter (2023) Review
AKA: 1%er Director: Yudai Yamaguchi Cast: Tak Sakaguchi, Kohei Fukuyama, Harumi Kanon, Taro Suruga, Togo Ishii, Sho Aoyagi, Itsuji Itao, Kenjiro Ishimaru, Keisuke Horibe, Ohji Hiroi Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall One-Percent Warrior offers up a welcome reunion of 3 of Japan’s most prominent names in action cinema, director Yudai Yamaguchi, star Tak Sakaguchi, and choreographer Kensuke Sonomura. The last time the trio crossed paths in the same … Continue reading
Pistol Opera (2001) Review
Director: Seijun Suzuki Cast: Makiko Esumi, Sayoko Yamaguchi, Kirin Kiki, Mikijiro Hira, Masatoshi Nagase, Kenji Sawada, Hanae Kan, Jan Woudstra, Haruko Kato, Kensaku Watanabe Running Time: 112 min. By Martin Sandison Seijun Suzuki’s 1967 art-yakuza classic Branded to Kill has a hallowed place in movie history. It was deemed too experimental by Nikkatsu, who produced the picture and for whom Suzuki had made many low budget formulaic efforts previously, and … Continue reading
Haunted Samurai (1970) Review
Director: Keiichi Ozawa Cast: Hideki Takahashi, Masako Izumi, Isao Natsuyagi, Seiichiro Kameishi, Shoki Fukae, Yûji Odaka, Eiji Go, Masaya Oka, Utako Shibusawa, Maya Kitajima Running Time: 83 min. By Will McGuire Haunted Samurai is the perfect companion to a Lone Wolf and Cub movie marathon. This 1970 saga of evil Yagyu ninjas and noble samurai straining between the rigors of their code and the needs of their conscience feels like … Continue reading
Lion Girl (2023) Review
Director: Kurando Mitsutake Cast: Tori Griffiths, David Sakurai, Katarina Leigh Waters, Derek Mears, Stefanie Estes, Julie Burrise, Erin Marie Hogan, Shelby Lee Parks, Hidetoshi Imura, Kirk Geiger, Akihiro Kitamura, Wes Armstrong, Taishi Tamaki Running Time: 121 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say that for most of the 2020’s audiences have grown fatigued to the endless superhero fodder that’s dominated cinema screens for the past 15 years, with reboots, … Continue reading
Maniac Driver (2020) Review
Director: Kurando Mitsutake Cast: Tomoki Kimura, Iori Kogawa, Yohta Kawase, Ayumi Kimito, Keisaku Kimura, Ai Sayama Running Time: 75 min. By Paul Bramhall As a director Kurando Mitsutake has proven to be a talent whose work consistently defies expectations. Not entirely dissimilar to Quentin Tarantino, his movies feel steeped in the influence of 70’s cinema, littered with homages and narratives that feel new yet familiar at the same time. The … Continue reading
Bad City (2022) Review
Director: Kensuke Sonomura Cast: Hitoshi Ozawa, Tak Sakaguchi, Masanori Mimoto, Rino Katase, Lily Franky, Katsuya, Akane Sakanoue, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, Yasukaze Motomiya Running Time: 118 min. By Paul Bramhall On paper Bad City is one of those movies that has all the right ingredients to cook up the perfect yakuza action flick. The sophomore feature from stuntman and action choreographer turned director Kensuke Sonomura following 2019’s Hydra, just like with his debut … Continue reading
Sound of Summer, The (2022) Review
Director: Guy Cast: Kaori Hoshino, Shinya Hankawa, Keita Kusaka, Kiyomi Kametani, Kuromi Kirishima Running Time: 75 min. By Henry McKeand The Sound of Summer, the first full length effort from the Japan-based, British-born director known as “Guy,” opens with a transformation. A cicada sheds its skin in unsettling close-up; it’s akin to seeing an alien parasite burst forth from a suffering host. Against a black background, it looks uncanny, almost … Continue reading
Hell Dogs (2022) Review
Director: Masato Harada Cast: Junichi Okada, Kentaro Sakaguchi, Mayu Matsuoka, Miyavi, Kazuki Kitamura, Shinobu Otake, Satoshi Kanada, Mai Kiryu, Arisa Nakajima, Kyoko Running Time: 138 min. By Henry McKeand What happened to the good old-fashioned Yakuza flick? Japanese underworld tales were a dime a dozen pre-Y2K, but they’ve started to fade into the background along with gangster films the world over. Maybe meat-and-potatoes crime stories just don’t stand a chance … Continue reading
A Family (2020) Review
AKA: Yakuza and the Family Director: Michihito Fujii Cast: Go Ayano, Hiroshi Tachi, Machiko Ono, Yukiya Kitamura, Hayato Ichihara, Hayato Isomura, Shun Sugata, Suon Kan, Ryutaro Ninomiya, Taro Suruga Running Time: 135 min. By Henry McKeand “Lately, I’m getting the feeling that I came in at the end. The best is over.” It’s been nearly twenty-five years since Tony Soprano, perhaps America’s last real mafia icon, said these words in … Continue reading
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