Category Archives: Reviews

Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (2022) Review

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Nah Hyeon Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Park Hae-Soo, Yang Dong-Geun, Lee El, Song Jae-Rim, Jin Young, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi  Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall Taking its title from a type of spirit that exists in Hindu and Buddhist culture responsible for looking after hidden treasures, Yaksha: Ruthless Operations is also the name of the latest Korean offering from Netflix. Far from being a supernatural outing, here the reference is … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews |

Wind Blast (2010) Review

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director Gao Qun-Shu Cast: Duan Yi-Hong, Ni Da-Hong, Jacky Wu Jing, Zhang Li, Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Yu Nan, Xia Yu, Charlie Yeung, He Tiehong, Wang Shuang-Bao, Chi Qiang Running Time: 114 min.  By Paul Bramhall  If any movie is representative of Chinese mainstream cinema being at a crossroads, then the case for Wind Blast being it is a strong one. Made in 2010, it was a time when China’s rapid … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Hard Hit (2021) Review

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Kim Chang-Ju Cast: Jo Woo-Jin, Lee Jae-In, Jin Kyung, Kim Ji-Ho, Jun Suk-Ho, Ji Chang-Wook, Haerry Kim Running Time: 94 min. By Henry McKeand The best Korean thrillers are successful because they push traditional genre elements to new extremes, creating violent psychodramas that value intensity above all else. These films often have runtimes of at least two hours, but there’s almost zero room for Hollywood sentimentality or warmed-over narrative … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews |

Coffin Homes (2021) Review

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Fruit Chan Cast: Siu Yam-Yam, Paul Che, Tai Bo, Rachel Lee Lai-Chun, Cheung Tat-Ming, Wong Yau-Nam, Peter Chan Charm-Man, Candy Wen Xue-Er, Ai Wai Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall As a director, Fruit Chan has always had the ability to take what appears to be standard genre fare, and give it his own unique off-kilter twist. This was on display in efforts as early as 1993’s Finale … Continue reading →

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Tattooed Dragon, The (1973) Review

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Ian Whittle

Director: Lo Wei Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Sylvia Chang Ai Chi, Sam Hui Koon Kit, James Tien Chun, Dorian Tan Tao Liang, Lee Kwan, Tong Tin Hei, Pipop Pupinyo, Nai Jia Running Time: 94 min. By Ian Whittle After two less than stellar features lensed in Japan, A Man Called Tiger and Seaman No.7, the Lo Wei/Jimmy Wang Yu/Golden Harvest team finally achieve some success with their third collaboration. In … Continue reading →

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A Touch of Sin (2013) Review

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Jia Zhang-Ke Cast: Jiang Wu, Wang Bao-Qiang, Zhao Tao, Luo Lan-Shan, Zhang Jia-Yi, Vivien Li Meng Running Time: 130 min. By Henry McKeand At its most extreme, cinematic violence can serve either as a satisfying catharsis or a stark reminder of real-world suffering. The bloodshed in Jia Zhangke’s A Touch of Sin accomplishes each, sometimes simultaneously. The film is both a seething commentary on exploitation in present-day China and … Continue reading →

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Real (2017) Review

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Sa-Rang Cast: Kim Soo-Hyun, Sung Dong-Il, Sung-Min, Sulli, Jo Woo-Jin, Lee Kyoung-Young, Han Ji-Eun, Kim Hong-Fa, Jung In-Gyeom, Choi Kwon, IU, Ahn So-Hee Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall Once in a while a production comes along whose reputation for being a complete train wreck precedes it. Who can forget Andy Lau apologising for appearing in the 007-inspired spy caper Switch, or Jackie Chan battling an Australian … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Spiritwalker (2021) Review

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
Spiritwalker | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Director: Yoon Jae-Keun Cast: Park Yong-Woo, Lim Ji-Yeon, Park Ji-Hwan, Yoo Seung-Mok, Lee Sung-Wook, Seo Hyun-Woo, Baek Do-Gyum, Woo Kang-Min Running Time: 110 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say the body-swap plot device has been a recurring theme in cinema over the years. While more often than not the gimmick has been used for comedic purposes, thankfully there are filmmakers out there who have been willing to apply … Continue reading →

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Dynamite Shaolin Heroes, The (1977) Review

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Lee Hyeok-Su Co-director: Godfrey Ho Cast: Lo Lieh, Kim Young-In, Choi Sung-Kyu, Kim Ki-Bum, Choe Bong, Kwan Yung-Moon, Roman Lee Kang-Jo, Kwon Il-Soo, Kim Wang-Kuk, Kim Min-Jeong Running Time: 77 min.  By Henry McKeand It’s not always easy to find behind-the-scenes information on the more obscure martial arts flicks from the 70s, but it’s almost impossible when Godfrey Ho is involved. Ho is perhaps best known for his low-budget … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Beast, The (2019) Review

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Paul Bramhall
"The Beast" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Jung-Ho Cast: Lee Sung-Min, Yoo Jae-Myung, Jeon Hye-Jin, Daniel Choi, Kim Ho-Jung, An Si-Ha, Lee Sang-Hee, Kim Byung-Choon, Kim Hong-Fa, Kim Young-Sung Running Time: 130 min.  By Paul Bramhall While the Korean film industry has produced a number of remakes from its Asian neighbours like Japan and China over the years, more recently its increasingly found itself turning to European cinema to offer up a distinctly Korean spin … Continue reading →

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Message Man (2018) Review

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Henry McKeand

AKA: Kill Vengeance Director: Corey Pearson Cast: Paul O’Brien, Aji Santosa, Verdi Solaiman, Mario Irwinsyah, Agni Pratistha, Mike Lewis, Alfridus Godfred, Ronny P. Tjandra, Gary Plant, Denny Baskar Running Time: 91 min. By Henry McKeand “He Killed for Money. Now He’s Out for Justice.” If this tagline isn’t enough to tip you off, Corey Pearson’s Message Man shares a lot in common with films you’ve already seen. It stars South African-Australian … Continue reading →

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Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure, The (2022) Review

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Kim Jung-Hoon Cast: Kang Ha-Neul, Han Hyo-Joo, Lee Kwang-Soo, Kwon Sang-Woo, Chae Soo-Bin, Sehun, Kim Sung-Oh,  Park Ji-Hwan, Kim Ki-Doo, Maeng Sang-Yul, Kim Dae-Han, Park Hoon, Lee Jung-Hyun, Han Jae-Young Running Time: 125 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s debatable if anyone was clamouring for a sequel to 2014’s slight but entertaining high seas adventure The Pirates, made in the wake of Hollywood’s successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews |

Invincible (2020) Review

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Daniel Zirilli Cast: Johnny Strong, Marko Zaror, Vladimir Kulich, Sally Kirkland, Michael Paré, Paul Kennedy, Jason Archilla, David Blazejko, Paul Collett, Nick Khan, Natalie Lorence, May Myat Noe, Ron Smoorenburg Running Time: 92 min.  By Paul Bramhall Whatever happened to Johnny Strong? After supporting roles in the likes of The Fast and the Furious and Black Hawk Down, his leading role in the 2010 flick Sinners and Saints had … Continue reading →

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All U Need is Love (2021) Review

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Paul Bramhall

Director: Vincent Kok Cast: Louis Koo, Tony Leung, Eric Tsang, Francis Ng, Gordon Lam, Philip Keung, Julian Cheung, Louis Cheung, Fiona Sit, Alex Fong, Cecilia So, Cheung Tat-ming, Michael Hui, Chin Kar-lok, Jackie Chan, Yuen Qiu Running Time: 102 min.  By Paul Bramhall If there are 2 movies that show the differences between Mainland China and Hong Kong cinema, then it has to be Chinese Doctors and All U Need … Continue reading →

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Sword of the Beast (1965) Review

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Henry McKeand

AKA Samurai Gold Seekers Director: Hideo Gosha  Cast: Mikijiro Hira, Go Kato, Toshie Kimura, Kantaro Suga, Takeshi Kato, Shima Iwashita, Yoko Mihara, Shobun Inoue, Kunie Tanaka, Eijiro Tono Running Time: 85 min.  By Henry McKeand “I want to become a beast like you. I can’t stand living for a mission anymore.” While Hideo Gosha has never come close to reaching the same level of Western acclaim as Akira Kurosawa, his … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged , |
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