Category Archives: Reviews

Doorman, The (2020) Review

"The Doorman" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Ruby Rose, Jean Reno, Louis Mandylor, Hideaki Ito, David Sakurai, Rupert Evans, Aksel Hennie, Philip Whitchurch, Andreea Vasile, Jamie Satterthwaite Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been 20 years since director Ryuhei Kitamura made his feature length debut with 2000’s low budget zombie yakuza flick Versus, and in 2020 it’s still the movie he’s most well known for. The movies he’s made since in his native … Continue reading

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Hero, The | aka Rage of the Master (1972) Review

"The Hero" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Wang Yu the Destroyer Director: Wong Hung Cheung Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lee I Min, Lisa Chiao Chiao, Lung Fei, Shan Mao, Cheng Fu Hung, Sit Hon, Cho Kin, Cheung Bing Yuk, Hong Hoi Running Time: 80 min. By Ian Whittle Every once in a while, you will encounter a kung fu film where the English dubbing is so bad it dominates your views of the film. Fearless Hyena, … Continue reading

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Peninsula (2020) Review

“Peninsula” IMAX Poster

Director: Yeon Sang-Ho Cast: Gang Dong-Won, Lee Jung-Hyun, Lee Re, Kwon Hae-Hyo, Kim Min-Jae, Koo Gyo-Hwan, Kim Do-Yoon, Lee Ye-Won, Kim Kyu-Baek, Moon Woo-Jin Running Time: 116 min. By Paul Bramhall 4 years since the breakout zombie hit Train to Busan, director Yeon Sang-ho returns to make it a trilogy with 2020’s Peninsula. Korea’s seen plenty of zombie action in the years in-between, with the genre supplanted to ancient times with … Continue reading

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Tenet (2020) Review

"Tenet" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh, Clémence Poésy, Andrew Howard, Himesh Patel, Martin Donovan, Anthony Molinari Running Time: 150 min. By Paul Bramhall Director and writer Christopher Nolan may be well known for his high concept blockbusters, but for me he’s also responsible for some of the most exciting action sequences Hollywood has produced in the last 15 years. … Continue reading

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Watch List (2019) Review

"Watch List" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ben Rekhi Cast: Alessandra de Rossi, Jake Macapagal, Arthur Acuna, Jess Mendoza, Angeli Bayani Running Time: 94 min.  By Paul Bramhall Before viewing Watch List it’s important to understand the very real backdrop that the production is set in. When Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines in 2016 he launched the War on Drugs, encouraging both the police force and citizens alike to kill anyone they knew … Continue reading

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Tribal: Get Out Alive (2020) Review

"Tribal: Get Out Alive" Theatrical Poster

Director: Matt Routledge Writer: Johnny Walker Cast: Zara Phythian, Ross O’Hennessy, Rachel Warren, Thomas Dodd, Valerie Thomas, Grayson James Matthews, Charlene Aldridge, Kenan Ali Running Time: 86 min. By Martin Sandison As a kid growing up in the UK during the 90’s, I adored Jackie Chan movies. They were my first taste of the vast well that is golden age Hong Kong action cinema. And I certainly wasn’t alone. Thanks … Continue reading

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Hydra (2019) Review

"Hydra" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Kensuke Sonomura Cast: Masanori Mimoto, Miu, Tasuku Nagase, Takaya Aoyagi, Takashi Nishina, Satoshi Kibe, Kensuke Sonomura, Tsutomu Uchigasaki, Naoki Hayashida Running Time: 75 min. By Paul Bramhall Ask anyone about the best martial arts movies from Japan during the 2010’s, and chances are the unanimous vote would go to the Rurouni Kenshin trilogy, the adaptation of the manga that spanned 2012 – 2014. The reason for why these movies … Continue reading

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Seized (2020) Review

AKA: Rizk Director: Isaac Florentine Cast: Scott Adkins, Mario Van Peebles, Karlee Perez, Steven Elder, James P. Bennett, Matthew Garbacz, David Fernandez Jr., Justin Nesbitt, Luis Gatica Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall Everyone’s favorite British martial artist Scott Adkins stars as a former special force’s agent who, after his wife was killed as part of a mission several years ago, is now a single parent to the child … Continue reading

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Kung Fu League (2018) Review

"Kung Fu League" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Kung Fu Alliance Director: Jeff Lau Chun Wai Cast: Vincent Chiu Man Chuk, Dennis To, Danny Chan, Andy On, Bruce Leung Siu Lung Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall Jeff Lau is one of those directors that audiences either love or hate, with the camp you fall into being largely dependent on a tolerance (or perhaps enjoyment) of his everything and the kitchen sink approach to filmmaking. Sure, … Continue reading

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Leg Fighters, The | aka Invincible Kung Fu Legs (1980) Review

The Leg Fighters | Blu-ray (VCI Entertainment)

AKA: Invincible Kung Fu Legs Director: Lee Tso Nam Cast: Ha Kwong-Li, Dorian Tan Tao-Liang, Peng Kang, Wang Yao, Lui Wan-Biu, Chin Lung Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall After 1978 gave us The Zodiac Fighters and 1979 delivered Five Superfighters, in 1980 it was the turn of The Leg Fighters to kick off the new decade. A Taiwanese indie, at the helm was journeyman director Lee Tso Nam, a … Continue reading

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Showdown at the Cotton Mill (1978) Review

"Showdown at the Cotton Mill" DVD Cover

Director: Wu Ma Cast: Chi Kuan Chun, Dorian Tan Tao Liang, Tong Siu Man, Lee Keung, Fai Wan, Cheung Paang, Chang Chi Ping, Chan Sam Lam, Cheng Sai Gang, Hoh Gong Running Time: 84 min. By Ian Whittle Originally planned as a Chang Cheh production, part of his Chang’s Film Co productions for Shaws, this ended up becoming orphaned when the company collapsed. It’s the third version of the story … Continue reading

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American Fighter (2019) Review

"American Fighter' Theatrical Poster

Director: Shaun Paul Piccinino Cast: Tommy Flanagan, Sean Patrick Flanery, George Kosturos, Christina Moore, Allison Paige Running Time: 98 min.  By Martin Sandison One of the prototype underground fighting films is Hard Times, Walter Hill’s testosterone-fuelled gritty classic with Charles Bronson as the man fallen on tough times who must fight to survive. American Fighter feels much closer to Hard Times than any other recent films in the same genre … Continue reading

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Zeta: When the Dead Awaken (2019) Review

"Zeta: When the Dead Awaken" Theatrical Poster

Director: Amanda Iswan Writer: Amanda Iswan Cast: Cut Mini, Dimas Aditya, Jeff Smith, Edo Borne, Joshua Pandelaki, Willem Bevers, Revaldo, Natasha Gott, Chicco Kurniawan, Atiq Rachman Running Time: 94 min. By Paul Bramhall Indonesia may have put itself on the map over the last decade thanks to its martial arts offerings, with the likes of The Raid and its sequel making an impact on action movie fans across the world, however … Continue reading

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Double World (2020) Review

"Double World" Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chen Cast: Henry Lau, Mark Cheng, Peter Ho, Bobo Hu Ming, Jiang Luxia, Him Law, Lin Chen-Han, Xiuyu Lin, Minghu Xu, Ningjiang Zhang, Li Xi-Yu, Wang Yan-Long, Du Xiao-Fan Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall In the mid-2010’s it felt like you couldn’t get away from the big budget fantasy blockbuster in China, with a constant stream of CGI spectacle filled extravaganzas dominating the screens. Zhong Kui: … Continue reading

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One Night in Bangkok (2020) Review

One Night in Bangkok | DVD (Lionsgate)

Director: Wych Kaosayananda Cast: Mark Dacascos, Kane Kosugi, Vanida Golten, Prinya Intachai, Michael S. New, Charlie Ruedpokanon, Alice Tantayanon, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Julie Condra, Shivam Pawa, Siripon Yuktadatta Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2019 Thai director Wych Kaosayananda had somewhat of an epiphany with his feature The Driver. Using nothing more than a stationery car, a green screen, and an action star who’s been off the boil for … Continue reading

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