Category Archives: Reviews

Parasite (2019) Review

"Parasite" Theatrical Poster

Director: Bong Joon-Ho Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Jang Hye-Jin, Choi Woo-Sik, Park So-Dam, Lee Sun-Kyun, Cho Yeo-Jeong, Jung Ji-So, Jeong Hyun-Jun, Lee Jung-Eun, Park Seo-Joon Running Time: 131 min. By Paul Bramhall The following review for Parasite was originally posted on COF in July of 2019. Because the film took home four Academy Awards at the recent 2020 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Film and Best Original Screenplay), we … Continue reading

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Warriors of the Nation (2018) Review

Warriors of the Nation | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

AKA: Unity of Heroes 2 Director: Marco Mak Cast: Vincent Zhao Wenzhuo, Miya Muqi, Kenya Sawada, Na Wei, Lubing Li, Huanhuan Wei Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall To many kung fu fans in the west the genre may be regarded as dead and buried, but in China streaming channels like Youku and iQiyi have been providing a steady stream of original kung fu flicks for a number of … Continue reading

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First Love (2020) Review

"First Love" Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Miike Writer: Masaru Nakamura Cast: Masataka Kubota, Sakurako Konishi, Nao Omori, Shota Sometani, Seiyo Uchino, Becky, Jun Murakami, Sansei Shiomi, Takahiro Miura, Maimi Yajima Running Time: 115 min. By Martin Sandison It’s pretty difficult to be an Asian movie fan in the last 25 years, and not love at least one Takashi Miike film. An omnipresence in challenging, genre-shifting vital cinema, the director is irrepressible and much-loved. Even … Continue reading

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Battle of Jangsari, The (2019) Review

"The Battle of Jangsari" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwak Kyung-Taek Co-director: Kim Tae-Hoon Cast: Kim Myung-Min, Minho, Kim Sung-Cheol, Kim In-Kwon, Kwak Si-Yang, Megan Fox, Jang Ji-Gun, Lee Ho-Jung, Lee Jae-Wook, Dong Bang-Woo, Kim Mi-Hwa  Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall With the thawing in relations between North and South Korea in recent years, movies about the Korean War have taken a back seat, and noticeably been replaced by more action-centric productions which partner agents from … Continue reading

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Human, Space, Time and Human (2018) Review

"Human, Space, Time and Human" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Cast: Jang Keun-Suk, Ryoo Seung-Bum, Ahn Sung-Ki, Mina Fujii, Lee Sung-Jae, Joe Odagiri, Tae Hang-Ho, Park Se-in, Sung Ki-Yoon, Kim Dong-chan Running Time: 122 min. By Paul Bramhall If ever there was an example of a movie destined to seal the fate of its creator, then it could very well be Human, Space, Time and Human, controversial Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk’s latest (and most likely last) movie. … Continue reading

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Three Swordsmen (1994) Review

"Three Swordsmen" DVD Cover

Director: Taylor Wong Writer: Shut Mei Yee Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Elvis Tsui, Brigitte Lin, Yu Li, Leung Si Ho, Siqin Gaowa, Zhao Jian Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1994 the new wave wuxia genre was fizzling out almost as quickly as it had arrived just a couple of years prior, however the sheer volume of wuxia flicks released during this period prove it wasn’t willing … Continue reading

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Eagle Shooting Heroes, The (1993) Review

"The Eagle Shooting Heroes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jeff Lau Writer: Wong Kar-wai Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia, Joey Wong Tsu Hsien, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Kenny Bee Chung Chun-to, Sze-Ma Wah-Lung Running Time: 114 min. By Paul Bramhall In case it’s never been said before, Hong Kong cinema owes a debt of thanks to Wong Kar Wai’s 1994 wuxia, … Continue reading

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Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction (2009) Review

"Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jeffrey Lau Cast: Hu Jun, Betty Sun, Alex Fong, Ronald Cheng, Wu Jing, Stephy Tang, Gan Wei, Law Kar-ying, Eric Tsang, Chin Kar Lok, Hong Jun-Jie Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction opens with the onscreen text “If God created humans, and they created robots, should we not question our maker the way humans question theirs?” Deep stuff, and one may expect the next … Continue reading

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Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019) Review

Ip Man 4: The Finale | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Wilson Yip Cast: Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Danny Chan, Vanness Wu, Chris Collins, Wu Yue, Lo Meng, Kent Cheng, Mark Strange, Jim Liu, Nicola Stuart-Hill, Linda Jean Barry Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall I once read somewhere that there’s nothing wrong with changing your mind, and while I forget exactly where it was, I have a feeling Donnie Yen may have read the same thing too. After 2010’s … Continue reading

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Shaolin Avengers | aka Invincible Kung Fu Brothers (1976) Review

"Shaolin Avengers" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Invincible Kung Fu Brothers Director: Chang Cheh Co-director: Wu Ma Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Chan Wai Lau, Bruce Tong, Lung Fei, Choi Wang, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Chiang Sheng, Leung Kar Yan Running Time: 93 min. By Martin Sandison As a kid I remember settling down to watch Chang Cheh’s Shaolin Temple – for me the crowning achievement of his monumental Shaolin-cycle. A depiction of the classic story … Continue reading

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Dragon Chronicles, The: The Maidens of Heavenly Mountain (1994) Review

"The Dragon Chronicles" DVD Cover

Director: Andy Chin Producer: Jimmy Heung Cast: Brigitte Lin, Gong Li, Sharla Cheung, Frankie Lam, Norman Chu, Ku Tin-yi, Liu Kai-chi Running Time: 97 min. By Paul Bramhall Convoluted plots, a dizzying cast of characters, and breakneck pacing are all some of the defining characteristics of many a wuxia movie. From the Chor Yuen directed Gu Long adaptations during the 70’s Shaw Brothers heyday, through to the wire-filled extravaganzas of … Continue reading

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Driver, The (2019) Review

The Driver | DVD (Lionsgate)

Director: Wych Kaosayananda Cast: Mark Dacascos, Julie Condra, Noelani Dacascos, Jeremy Stutes, Adam Zachary Smith, Charlie Ruedpokanon, Kane Kosugi, Milena Gorum Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall The Driver is the final installment in director Wych Kaosayananda’s thrilling apocalyptic zombie trilogy, and no doubt the one that fans have been waiting for! If that sentence has you scratching your head in bewilderment, then the good news is you’re not alone. … Continue reading

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Dangan Runner | aka Non-Stop (1996) Review

"Dangan Runner" Theatrical Poster

Director: Sabu Writer: Sabu (as Hiroyuki Tanaka) Cast: Tomorowo Taguchi, Diamond Yukai, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Akaji Maro, Ren Osugi, Sabu Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall The world of V-Cinema remains a criminally overlooked one when it comes to being released on either Blu-ray or (are we still allowed to say it in 2019?) DVD. A uniquely Japanese phenomenon, V-Cinema refers to the name given to the DTV style of … Continue reading

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One on One (2014) Review

"One on One" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Kim Young-Min, Lee Yi-Kyung, Cho Dong-In, Yoo Teo, Ahn Ji-Hye, Jo Jae-Ryong, Kim Joong-Ki, Kim Jae-Rok, Joo Hee-Joong, Choi Gwi-Hwa Running Time: 122 min. By Paul Bramhall Just like movies are a product of the time they’re made in, so the same can be said for reviews that are written of them. A review of The Matrix in 1999 described it as an innovative … Continue reading

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Exit (2019) Review

"Exit" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Sang-Geun Cast: Cho Jung-Seok, Yoona, Ko Du-Shim, Park In-Hwan, im Ji-Young, Hwang Hyo-Eun, Lee Bong-Ryun, Bae Yoo-Ram, Yoo Su-Bin, Kim Kang-Hoon, Lee Dong-Hwi Running Time: 103 min. By Paul Bramhall Much like every other film industry in the world, South Korea may not check-in to the disaster genre that frequently, but when it does it tends to go all out. Whether it be big blockbuster FX showcases such … Continue reading

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