Category Archives: Reviews

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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Legacy of Lies (2020) Review

"Legacy of Lies" Teaser Poster

Director: Adrian Bol Producer: Marco Robinson Cast: Scott Adkins, Honor Kneafsey, Andrea Vasiliou, Anna Butkevich, Victor Solé, Matt Mitler, Yuliia Sobol, Martin McDougall, Chee Leon Sua Running Time: 101 min.  By Paul Bramhall The latest Scott Adkins vehicle Legacy of Lies has had an interesting journey to the screen. A passion project of Dutch director and writer Adrian Bol and producer Marco Robinson, it was originally planned that Robinson would … Continue reading

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Ninja Over the Great Wall (1987) Review

"Ninja Over the Great Wall" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Fire on the Great Wall Director: Bruce Le Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Li Ning, Yu Hai, Leung Yim, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Cheng Yuen Man, Xue Bai, Gao Jian-Hua, Ma Zheng, Yang Li-Xin Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall After spending 10 years playing various incarnations of Bruce Lee within the infamous Bruceploitation genre, Huang Kin-Lung (or Bruce Le as he’s more commonly known) directed what could be … Continue reading

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I Am Vengeance: Retaliation (2020) Review

"I Am Vengeance: Retaliation"

Director: Ross Boyask Writer: Ross Boyask Cast: Stu Bennett, Vinnie Jones, Jacob Anderton, Sam Benjamin, Lainy Boyle, Greg Burridge, Lee Charles, Jean-Paul Ly, Jennifer Lee Moon Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison A year or so ago I reviewed the fantastic Nightshooters, a film I believe to have the best martial arts fights in any British movie, courtesy of rising star Jean Paul Ly. With us all eagerly anticipating … Continue reading

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Boyka: Undisputed IV (2016) Review

"Boyka: Undisputed IV" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Todor Chapkanov Co-director: Isaac Florentine Cast: Scott Adkins, Teodora Duhovnikova, Alon Moni Aboutboul, Julian Vergov, Brahim Achabbakhe, Paul Chahidi, Tim Man, Andy Long Nguyen, Hristo Petkov Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall Few actors get to portray a character that comes to embody a franchise so much, their name brings more recognition than the franchise itself. Rambo did it with the 1st Rambo sequel, Rambo: First Blood Part II, … Continue reading

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My Life’s on the Line | aka 60 Second Assassin (1978) Review

AKA: 60 Second Assassin Director: Wang Chung Kwong Cast: Leung Kar Yan, Lung Fei, Wang Lee-pang, Dean Shek Tien, Wong Chi Sang, Kong Ching Ha, Su Chen Ping, Chiang Ching-Hsia, Li Long-Yin Running Time: 91 min. By Ian Whittle The problem with the kung fu comedy craze is that it often meant dramatic films felt forced to compromise, inserting goofy scenes alongside the drama. A case in point is My … Continue reading

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