Category Archives: Reviews

The Siege (2023) Review

Director: Brad Watson Cast: Daniel Stisen, Lauren Okadigbo, Yennis Cheung, Byron Gibson, Phillip Ray Tommy Running Time: 87 min.  By Henry McKeand At one point in this year’s The Siege, the hitman protagonist played by Norwegian bodybuilding champion Daniel Stisen says those three magic words: “I’ll be back.” If you’re not already reminded of Arnold when you see Stisen’s hulking frame tearing through baddies, this line ensures that you make … Continue reading

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Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022) Review

Director: Lee Suk-Hoon Cast: Hyun-Bin, Yu Hae-Jin, Lim Yoon-A , Daniel Henney, Jin Sun-Kyu, Jang Young-Nam, Park Hoon, Im Sung-Jae, Yoon Sang-Hwa, Park Min-Ha Running Time: 129 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2016 Yoo Hae-jin and Hyun Bin played a South Korean detective and North Korean agent who team up to track down a rogue North Korean general in Confidential Assignment. Somewhat of a precursor to the trend of movies … Continue reading

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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

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Assassin Club (2023) Review

Director: Camille Delamarre Cast: Henry Golding, Noomi Rapace, Sheena Hao, Sam Neill, Daniela Melchior, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Anastasia Doaga, Gianluca Bottoni, Giulio Pampiglione Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall Like every genre, the action movie is one that goes through cycles. For almost 10 years we’ve been in the age of the assassin flick, kickstarted by 2014’s John Wick and its (at least back then) refreshing approach to no frills, … 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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Anchor, The (2022) Review

Director: Jeong Ji-Yeon Cast: Chun Woo-Hee, Shin Ha-Kyun, Lee Hye-Young, Cha Rae-Hyoung, Park Ji-Hyun, Nam Moon-Chul, Im Sung-Jae, Kim Young-Pil, Lee Hae-Woon Running Time: 111 min. By Paul Bramhall There’s something morbidly entertaining about those movies which take a character and put them through the wringer to a point that they become completely unhinged. Jack Nicholson in The Shining, Christian Bale in American Psycho, Natalie Portman in Black Swan – the … 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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Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash (2021) Review

Director: Edwin Cast: Marthino Lio, Ladya Cheryl, Cecep Arif Rahman, Sal Priadi, Reza Rahadian, Ratu Felisha, Lukman Sardi, Djenar Maesa Ayu, Christine Hakim, Ayu Laksmi Running Time: 114 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s perhaps not surprising that little of Indonesia’s arthouse cinema scene has made it across to western shores, however with Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash, director Edwin has (albeit unintentionally) ensured his latest work has an opportunity … 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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Kill Boksoon (2023) Review

Director: Byun Sung-hyun Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-Gu, Kim Si-A, Esom, Koo Gyo-Hwan, Lee Yeon, Lee Jae-Wook, Park Se-Hyun, Ahn Seong-Bong, Kim Sung-Oh, Ki Joo-Bong Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall At this point there are very few active actors and directors left who haven’t worked with Netflix in some form or another, and in 2023 arguably the most highly regarded actress in Korean cinema, Jeon Do-yeon, made her … Continue reading

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Fist of the Condor (2023) Review

Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Cast: Marko Zaror, Eyal Meyer, Gina Aguad, Fernanda Urrejola, Man Soo Yoon, Jose Manuel, Cristian Garin, Francisco Castro, Andrés Cid, Joaquin Puig Running Time: 80 min.  By Paul Bramhall  Chile isn’t the country that first springs to mind when you think about martial arts cinema, however since their debut with 2006’s Kiltro, the director and leading man pair of Ernesto Díaz Espinoza and the ‘Latin Dragon’ … Continue reading

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Furies | aka Thanh Soi (2023) Review

Director: Veronica Ngo Cast: Hoa Thanh, Veronica Ngo, Dong Anh Quynh, Toc Tien, Rima Thanh Vy, Thuan Nguyen Running Time: 112 min.  By Paul Bramhall Multi-talented star Veronica Ngo has maintained an enduring presence since first coming to international audiences attention in The Rebel and Clash during the late 2000’s, both of which served to briefly put Vietnamese action cinema on the map. Naturally Hollywood came calling, however minor supporting … Continue reading

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