Category Archives: Reviews

Tetsuo: The Iron Man | aka The Ironman (1988) Review

"Tetsuo" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto Producer: Shinya Tsukamoto Cast: Tomoro Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Shinya Tsukamoto, Nobu Kanaoka, Renji Ishibashi Running Time: 67 min. By HKFanatic Back in 1988, Japanese filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto unleashed “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” upon an unsuspecting world. The movie was a seething techno-fusion of flesh, sex, and machinery that aimed to shock and disturb. It has since become a cult classic and rightfully so: despite borrowing elements from … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Guns & Talks (2001) Review

"Guns & Talks" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jang Jin Cast: Shin Hyun-Joon, Shin Ha-Gyun, Won Bin, Jung Jai-Yung, Jeong Jin-Young Running Time: 123 min By Equinox21 This film is a classic! Though, it took watching it twice to come to that realization. But every time I watch this one, I come to appreciate it even more. The acting is terrific, the comedy is funny, the action is spectacular, and the music is excellent! The movie is … Continue reading

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Versus (2000) Review

"Versus" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Tak Sakaguchi, Kenji Matsuda, Hideo Sakaki, Chieko Misaka, Yuichiro Arai, Minoru Matsumoto, Ryosuke Watabe, Hoshimi Asai, Yukihito Tanikado Running Time: 120 min. By Numskull Hot damn! Evil Dead and Bad Taste meet in-your-face combat like only those bloodthirsty Asian film makers can do it, God bless ’em, with ample doses of anime and Matrix-style visuals thrown in to let the viewer know, without just coming out … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

Branded to Kill (1967) Review

"Branded to Kill" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Seijun Suzuki Cast: Jo Shishido, Mari Annu, Mariko Ogawa, Koji Nambara, Isao Tamagawa, Hiroshi Minami Running Time: 91 min. By Milkcan I must say I am very glad to have seen this film. Did it make me a better person? No. Did it teach me things about the cinema I never knew? Well, no. But it did, along with “Super Ninjas”, remind me of how much mindless fun movies … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

Black Belt | aka Kuro-Obi (2007) Review

"Black Belt" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Shunichi Nagasaki Cast: Akihito Yagi, Tatsuya Naka, Yuji Suzuki, Fuyuhiko Nishi, Kenji Anan, Takeshi Bito, Arashi Fukasawa, Rei Hanaoka, Atsushi Hida, Yu Kamio, Takayasu Komiya Running Time: 120 min. By Jeff Bona  After their karate master passes away, two of his best students take opposite directions in life. Giryu (Akihito Yagi), chooses a more philosophical approach, practicing his master’s passive, yet effective, teachings on karate. Taikan (Tatsuya Naka), follows … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Reviews |

Battle Royale 2: Requiem (2003) Review

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Co-director: Kenta Fukasaku Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Shugo Oshinari, Ayana Sakai, Riki Takeuchi, Natsuki Kato, Ai Iwamura, Masaya Kikawada, Aki Maeda, Takeshi Kitano, Sonny Chiba Running Time: 134 min. By Equinox21 When good ideas go bad. Ok, so I can understand the point of Battle Royale. I loved the first movie. It made sense (in a sadistic sort of way) to have hooligan kids killing each … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Battlefield Baseball (2003) Review

"Battlefield Baseball" International Theatrical Poster

AKA: Battlefield Stadium Director: Yudai Yamaguchi Producer: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Tak Sakaguchi, Atsushi Ito, Hideo Sakaki, Shôichirô Masumoto, Akiko Mishiro Running Time: 87 min. By Equinox21 Without knowing anything about the movie Battlefield Baseball, I decided to pick it up (a bootleg, unfortunately, as it’s the only format that’s affordable) only because it was a re-teaming of actor Tak Sakaguchi and producer Ryuhei Kitamura of Versus fame. I was expecting … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Eye, The 2 (2004) Review

Director: Oxide Pang Co-director: Danny Pang Cast: Shu Qi, Eugenia Yuan Lai-Kai, Jesdaporn Pholdee, Phillip Kwok Chun-Fung, Rayson Tan Running Time: 98 min. By Raging Gaijin I have good memories of “The Eye”. I saw in the theatre many years ago but I remember it being an altogether absorbing and chilling horror film. Angelica Lee gave a solid performance, the Pang Brothers’ directing was stylish without being overbearing, and it … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , |

Eye, The (2002) Review

Director: Oxide Pang Co-director: Danny Pang Cast: Angelica Lee, Lawrence Chow, So Yut Lai, Candy Lo Hau-Yam, Ko Yin Ping, Edmond Chen, Ben Yuen, Winson Yip, Chutcha Rujihanon, Pierre Png Running Time: 98 min. By Numskull Much like the well-intentioned but underwhelming Inner Senses, The Eye stays a healthy distance away from the camp where past Hong Kong horror films have traditionally spent their summer vacations and attempts to capture … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , |

Pee Hua Kurd | aka The Beheaded (2002) Review

Director: Komsan Tripong Cast: Thep Phongarm, Theng Therdtherng, Thanisorn Satayamongkol, Note Chernyim, Noppawan Srinikorn, Jaturong Mokjok, Chanis Yaisamer Running Time: 120 min. By Numskull This limp-wristed Thai film (all three of it) seems to be afflicted with the cinematic equivalent of multiple personality disorder. It starts off with a ten minute, Mr. Vampiresque segment in which a sorcerer named Master Gorey visits a graveyard with his three bumbling fuckwit assistants: … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Thai |

Tom Yum Goong | aka The Protector (2005) Review

"Tom Yum Goong" Thai Theatrical Poster

AKA: Warrior King Director: Prachya Pinkaew Cast: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Xing Jing, Johnny Nguyen, Nathan Jones, Bongkoj Khongmalai, David Asavanond, Dean Alexandrou, Lateef Crowder, Damian De Montemas, Don Ferguson, Jon Foo, Ron Smoorenburg Running Time: 110 min. By Kioko I’ve been a martial arts fan for over 20 years now. So from the Bruce Lee films, to Jackie Chan, to Jet Li, I have seen most of these trend … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , |

Nang Nak (1999) Review

AKA: Return from the Dead, Nang Nak: Ghost Wife Director: Nonzee Nimibutr Writer: Wisit Sartsanatieng Cast: Indhira Jaroenpura, Winai Kraibutr, Pramote Suksatit, Pracha Thawongfia, Manit Meekaewjaroen Running Time: 101 min. By Mighty Peking Man Nang Nak is the story of Nak (Indhira Jaroenpura), a pregnant woman whose husband, Mak (Winai Kraibutr), is sent off to fight in a war. While he’s away, she gives birth with strange complications. Months later, … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Thai |

Last Life in the Universe (2003) Review

Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang Writer: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Prabda Yoon Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Laila Boonyasak, Yutaka Matsushige, Riki Takeuchi, Takashi Miike, Yoji Tanaka, Sakichi Sat Running Time: 112 min. By Alexander Comparisons between Pen-Ek Ratanaruang’s Last Life in the Universe and Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express are inevitable: both are photographed by Christopher Doyle; both are studies of quirky characters; both explore the relationships of disparate yet similarly lonely men … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , |

Jan Dara (2001) Review

Director: Nonzee Nimibutr Producer: Peter Chan, Jo Jo Yuet-Chun Hui, Duangkamol Limcharoen, Nonzee Nimibutr Cast: Christy Chung Lai-Tai, Santisuk Promsiri, Eakarat Sarsukh, Wipawee Charoenpura, Pathawaran Timkul Running Time: 113 min. By T-Style Ah, the long awaited film for whoever that wanted to see some celebrity tits. To make it more clear for those who aren’t familiar of this film, three words: Christy Chung’s Tits. Before watching this film, I haven’t … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Thai | Tagged |

Quiet Family, The (2002) Review

"The Quiet Family" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji Woon Cast: Park In-Hwan, Na Moon-Hee, Choi Min-sik, Song Kang-ho, Go Ho-Kyung, Choi Cheol-ho Running Time: 105 mins. By Equinox21 Welcome to The Misty Inn Where guests check in, but they don’t check out! And, as the saying goes, the family that kills together stays together. The Quiet Family is a movie about a group of people who make such stupid decisions and are so dysfunctional you … Continue reading

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , |