Category Archives: Reviews

A Touch of Sin (2013) Review

March 24, 2022 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

March 22, 2022 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 →

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Spiritwalker (2021) Review

March 19, 2022 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

March 16, 2022 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 →

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Beast, The (2019) Review

March 15, 2022 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

March 9, 2022 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

March 7, 2022 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 →

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Invincible (2020) Review

March 7, 2022 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

March 3, 2022 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

March 1, 2022 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 →

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Pink Force Commando (1982) Review

February 25, 2022 Paul Bramhall

Director: Chu Yen Ping  Cast: Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia, Elsa Yang Hui-Shan, Sally Yeh Chian-Wen, Hilda Liu Hao-Yi, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Alan Liu Te-Kai, Hsu Pu-Liao, Sylvia Peng Hsueh-Fen, Teresa Tsui Jun-Jun, Wang Kuan-Hsiung, Yu Kam-Po Running Time: 87 min.  By Paul Bramhall I may well have swindled myself by watching Pink Force Commando. At the time of writing I’m in the latter stages of a 12-month detox from madcap Taiwanese … Continue reading →

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No Mercy (2019) Review

February 22, 2022 Paul Bramhall

Director: Im Kyung-Taek Cast: Lee Si-Young, Park Se-Wan, Lee Joon-Hyuk, Choi Jin-Ho, Lee Hyeong-Cheol, Kim Won-Hae, Kwak Min-Suk, Kim Ki-Moo, Yoon Song-A, An Se-Ha Running Time: 92 min.  By Paul Bramhall Not to be confused with the 2010 movie of the same name starring Sol Kyung-gu and Ryoo Seong-bum, the 2019 No Mercy is a DTV action vehicle for amateur boxer turned actress Lee Si-young. The list of boxers who have … Continue reading →

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Shaolin Intruders (1983) Review

February 18, 2022 Chris Hatcher

AKA: Battle for Shaolin Director: Tang Chia Cast: Derek Yee Tung Sing, Lau Yuk Pok, Jason Pai Piao, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Chan Shen, Kwan Feng, Lee Hoi San, Philip Ko Fei, Ku Feng, Alan Chan Kwok Kuen Running Time: 95 min.  By Chris Hatcher It’s not every day a good detective mystery shows up in the midst of a great old school kung fu flick. So when a gem like … Continue reading →

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Caught in Time (2020) Review

February 16, 2022 Martin Sandison

Director: Lau Ho-Leung Cast: Daniel Wu, Wang Qianyuan, Jessie Li, Michelle Wai, Da Li, Yu Xiao, Hu Zi-Cheng, Li Xiao-Chuan, Hung Jun-Jia, Rock Ji Huan-Bo, Dante Pang Yu-Nong  Running Time: 95 min. By Martin Sandison  Back a decade or so ago Daniel Wu annoyed me. I had seen him in films such as New Police Story and One Night in Mongkok, very good films, and his presence had made me squirm … Continue reading →

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Ashfall (2019) Review

February 13, 2022 Paul Bramhall

Director: Lee Hae-Jun Co-director: Kim Byung-Seo Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Ha Jung-Woo, Ma Dong-Seok, Jeon Hye-Jin, Bae Suzy, Lee Sang-Won Running Time: 130 min. By Paul Bramhall Korean cinema went for the disaster movie double in 2019, with the low-key Exit offering up a brisk comedic take on the genre, one that saw the residents of Seoul looking to escape a steadily rising cloud of poisonous gas. On the other hand, … Continue reading →

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