Category Archives: Reviews

Skyhawk, The (1974) Review

Director: Jeong Chang Hwa Cast: Kwan Tak Hing, Carter Wong, Wang In Sik, Sammo Hung, Nora Miao, Chiu Hung, Lily Chen Ching, Lee Kwan, Gam Kei Chu, Shut-Ma Wa Lung, Kim Ki-ju Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall The Skyhawk is the kind of movie which opens up with kung fu legends Kwan Tak-Hing, Sammo Hung, and Carter Wong strolling down a countryside path together, an image which close to … Continue reading

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Shock Wave 2 (2020) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Lau Ching-Wan, Ni Ni, Tse Kwan-Ho, Philip Keung Hiu-Man, Ron Ng Cheuk-Hai, Marc Ma Yu-He, Kenny Wong Tak-Ban Running Time: 120 min. By Paul Bramhall  In 2017 Herman Yau looked to reinvent himself once more, this time as a director of big budget action blockbusters with Shock Wave, a bomb disposal thriller with Andy Lau as the lead. Armed with the biggest budget … Continue reading

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Lost Bullet (2020) Review

Director: Guillaume Pierret Cast: Alban Lenoir, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Ramzy Bedia, Stéfi Celma, Rod Paradot, Sébastien Lalanne, Arthur Aspaturian, Patrick Médioni, Alexandre Philip  Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bamhall France may not be the first country that springs to mind when it comes to action cinema, however it’s successfully dabbled in the genre on several occasions. From Luc Besson’s iconic La Femme Nikita, through to the stylish grittiness of Dobermann, … Continue reading

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Limbo (2021) Review

Director: Soi Cheang Pou Soi Cast: Gordon Lam, Cya Liu, Mason Lee, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Fish Liew, Sammy Sum, Hanna Chan, Kumer Running Time: 118 min.  By Martin Sandison In recent times the news from Hong Kong has gone from sad to devastating, especially for the Hong Kong film fan, as the mainland prepares to bring in a law that will censor films that have a perceived ‘threat to national security’. … Continue reading

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8th Night, The (2021) Review

Director: Kim Tae-Hyung Writer: Kim Tae-Hyung Cast: Lee Sung-Min, Park Hae-Joon, Kim You-Jung, Nam Da-Reum, Han Sang-Chul, Lee Eol Running Time: 150 min. By Paul Bramhall The streaming service Netflix is increasingly becoming the platform for new Korean horror to debut on, with the likes of #Alive, The Call, and Svaha: The Sixth Finger all premiering with just a few clicks of the remote over the last couple of years. … Continue reading

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Saint of Gamblers, The (1995) Review

Director: Wong Jing Cast: Eric Kot, Chingmy Yau, Ben Lam, Ng Man Tat, Diana Pang Dang, Shing Fui On, Ashton Chen, Bobby Yip, Nat Chan Pak Cheung, Hui Si Man, Pauline Yeung, Donnie Yen, Corey Yuen Kwai, Andy Cheng Kai-Chung Running Time: 96 min. By Paul Bramhall While the Hong Kong gambling movie has been around for several decades, chances are if you ask someone to name one of them, the default answer will be the 1989 classic God … Continue reading

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Idol (2019) Review

Director: Lee Su-jin Cast: Han Suk-Kyu, Sol Kyung-Gu, Chun Woo-Hee, Yoo Seung-Mok, Joe Byeong-Gyu, Kim Jae-Hwa, Hyun Bong-Sik, Jo Dae-Hee, Kang Mal-Geum Running Time: 144 min. By Paul Bramhall The topic of political corruption has always provided fertile ground for filmmakers in Korea, almost to the point that if a politician turns up in a Korean movie, it’s a safe bet that they’ll either end up corrupt (if they’re not … Continue reading

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Double Tap (2000) Review

Director: Lo Chi-Leung Cast: Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, Monica Chan Fat Yung, Vincent Kok Tak Chiu, Joseph Cheung Man Kwong Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall There can be no denying that the Hong Kong film industry was in a miserable place at the turn of the century. There were 2 key factors behind the slump, the first being that many … Continue reading

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From the Highway (1970) Review

Director: Chang Tseng-tse Cast: Peter Yang Kwan, Ingrid Hu Yin Yin, Chui Fook Sang, Suen Yuet, Lee Hung, Yeung Fui Yuk, Lee Man Tai, Ko Fei, Man Man, Chang I Fei, Gam Dai Running Time: 80 min. By Martin Sandison Part of the journey into living in the moment, as far as I can see it, is to admit when someone has more knowledge than you, about the thing you love. … Continue reading

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Seaman No. 7 (1973) Review

Director: Lo Wei Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Maria Yi, James Tien Chun, Tien Feng, Han Ying Chieh, Kelly Lee Hoi Lee, Gam Saan, Chin Yuet Sang, Lo Wei, Lam Ching Ying, Ma Man-Chun Running Time: 100 min.  By Ian Whittle I think we’ve found a winner for the Most Underwhelming Kung Fu Movie Title…no wonder the UK VHS was re-named Wang Yu’s Magnificent Fights. For some reason, after a winning … Continue reading

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Xtreme | aka Xtremo (2021) Review

Director: Daniel Benmayor Cast: Teo García, Óscar Jaenada, Óscar Casas, Andrea Duro, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Alberto Jo Lee, Luis Zahera, Juan Diego, Andrés Herrera, Nao Albet, Cesar Bandera, Isa Montalbán, Joel Bramona Running Time: 111 min.  By Paul Bramhall For the past 20 years fans of the Hong Kong action genre have been asking which country is going to take on the mantle of creating martial arts infused slices of cinematic … Continue reading

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Take Back (2021) Review

Director: Christian Sesma Cast: Gillian White, Michael Jai White, Mickey Rourke, Paul Sloan, Jessica Uberuaga, James Russo, Nick Vallelonga, Jay Montalvo, Chris Browning Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall I’m sure every fan of the American DTV action genre has at some point asked themselves “what could be better than watching Michael Jai White kicking people in the face?” The star of such DTV action classics as Undisputed 2: Last Man … Continue reading

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Voice of Silence (2020) Review

Director: Hong Eui-jung Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Yoo Jae-myung, Moon Seung-A, Yu Seong-Ju, Shin Tae-Yang, Hanna Kim Running Time: 99 min.  By Paul Bramhall  Back in the early to mid-noughties, a period popularly known as the Korean Wave, the countries film industry had a knack for cranking out productions that seamlessly blended genres to create a number of unique cinematic experiences. From the sci-fi zaniness of Save the Green Planet, to … Continue reading

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Steel Fisted Dragon, The (1977) Review

AKA: A Fistful of Dragon Director: Iksan Lahardi Cast: Steve Lee, Enden Marlinda, Ronald Kansil, Vita Fatimah, Chan Lau, Johnny Hong Kong Running Time: 78 min. Paul Bramhall In 1977 the Bruceploitation genre was already alive and well, with guys like Bruce Li bursting onto the scene with 1975’s New Game of Death and Bruce Le unleashing digit related mayhem in 1976’s Bruce’s Deadly Fingers. While the name Bruce combined … Continue reading

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Atomic Eden (2015) Review

Director: Nico Sentner Cast: Fred Williamson, Mike Möller, Hazuki Kato, Everett Ray Aponte, Lorenzo Lamas, Wolfgang Riehm, Nico Sentner, Dominik Starck, Josephine Hies, Jens Nier, Martin Wunderlich, Carolina Rath, Alexander Mack Running Time: 85 min.  By Paul Bramhall There’s a certain recipe for making action B-movies in the 21st century. Step one usually involves finding a star from the same genre who was popular in the 80’s and 90’s and has … Continue reading

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