Category Archives: Reviews

New Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1974) Review

"New Battles Without Honour & Humanity" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Hiroki Matsukata, Nobuo Kaneko, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Tsunehiko Watase, Kunie Tanaka, Noboru Ando, Seizo Fukumoto, Reiko Ike, Ryuji Katagiri, Takuzo Kawatani, Yoko Koizumi Running Time: 98 min. By Kelly Warner When Toei’s Battles Without Honor and Humanity came to a close in 1974 with Final Episode, audiences still in love with the series demanded more, and the studio was more than happy to oblige. Over the next three years, … Continue reading

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Outrage Coda | aka Outrage: Final Chapter (2017) Review

Outrage Coda | Blu-ray (Film Movement)

Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Beat Takeshi, Nao Ohmori, Ken Mitsuishi, Ren Osugi, Tatsuo Nadaka, Ikuji Nakamura, Toshiyuki Nishida, Hakuryu, Sansei Shiomi, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Pierre Taki Running Time: 104 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Even before he would go on to direct his senior citizen “yakuza” comedy Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen, easily his least memorable effort, Kitano said that the producers wanted him to make another Outrage … Continue reading

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Super Bodyguard | aka Iron Protector (2016) Review

Iron Protector | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

AKA: The Bodyguard Director: Yue Song Cast: Yue Song, Xing Yu, Li Yufei, Collin Chou, Chan Wai Man, Shang Tielong, Xu Dongmei, Yang Jun, Li Changhai, Jiang Baocheng Running Time: 90 min. Kyle Warner Iron Protector, aka The Bodyguard, aka Super Bodyguard, is the sophomore effort of filmmaker and star Yue Song. I didn’t see his debut, The King of the Streets, and cannot comment on how far he’s come in front of and behind the camera in the four years between films. But … Continue reading

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Bitcoin Heist (2016) Review

Bitcoin Heist | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Ham Tran Cast: Kate Nhung, Thanh Pham, Petey Majik Nguyen, Suboi, Jayvee Mai, Lam Thanh My, Teo Yoo, Veronica Ngo Running Time: 110 min. By Kyle Warner Before we get to talking about what kind of movie Bitcoin Heist is, I’m going to start off the same way that the film does by attempting to explain what bitcoins are. Bitcoins are a digital currency with no central repository and no national fingerprint. It’s … Continue reading

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Manhunt (2017) Review

"Manhunt" Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Zhang Hanyu, Tao Okamoto, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Ji-won Ha, Jun Kunimura, Naoto Takenaka, Masaharu Fukuyama, Yasuaki Kurata, Angeles Wo, Stephy Qi Running Time: 106 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic When a director of John Woo’s caliber announces his return to the genre that made his name, it’s always a cause for celebration, just as it is a reason to worry. After signing his name on some of … Continue reading

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Black Scar Blues (2015) Review

"Black Scar Blues" Theatrical Poster

Director: Leroy Nguyen Cast: Leroy Nguyen, Edmond Shum, Jen Barnard, Donald Williams, Daniel Sim, Mahdi Eltigani Running Time: 80 min. By Jeff Bona Sorry folks, no Kris Wu lookalikes here. In other words, if you’re expecting skinny jeans, sleeve tattoos, DJ counter culture or any of that other now-pretentious bullshit, then Black Scar Blues is NOT the film for you. It’s more honest than that. It’s a film that goes against what Millennials would expect from … Continue reading

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Special Female Force (2016) Review

Director: Wilson Chin Cast: Eliza Sam, Joyce Cheng, Jeana Ho, Chris Tong, Cathryn Lee, Mandy Ho, Jacky Cai, Anita Chui, Philip Ng, Evergreen Mak, Jacqueline Chong, Calinda Chan, Terence Chui, Edward Ma, Coco Yuen, Toshika Lau, Hidy Yu, Jenvine Yu, Jade Leung, Chin Kar-Lok Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall If there was an award for a re-make that nobody was asking for, then you have a prime candidate … Continue reading

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Death Note (2017) Review

"Death Note" Poster

Director: Adam Wingard Cast: Nat Wolff, Lakeith Stanfield, Margaret Qualley, Shea Whigham, Paul Nakauchi, Jason Liles, Willem Dafoe, Jack Ettlinger, Matthew Kevin Anderson, Chris Britton Running Time: 100 min. By Z Ravas The Hollywood remake of Death Note is a project that’s been passed like a hot potato from filmmaker to filmmaker for the better part of a decade. Back in 2011, it looked like Lethal Weapon scribe and Iron Man 3 director Shane Black … Continue reading

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Enter the Warrior’s Gate (2016) Review

"Enter the Warrior's Gate" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Warrior’s Gate Director: Matthias Hoene Cast: Mark Chao, Ni Ni, Uriah Shelton, Dave Bautista, Francis Ng, Sienna Guillory, Ron Smoorenburg, Dakota Daulby, Kara Hui, Dakota Daulby, Zha Ka Running Time: 108 min. By Z Ravas Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a meek and bullied young Anglo kid finds himself transported to a distant world of Chinese mysticism and martial arts, where he teams with a band of powerful … Continue reading

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Doberman Cop (1977) Review

Doberman Cop | Blu-ray & DVD (Arrow Video)

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Writer: Buronson, Koji Takada Cast: Sonny Chiba, Janet Hatta, Eiko Matsuda, Masaru Shiga, Tatsuo Endo, Hideo Murota, Koichi Iwaki, Takuzo Kawatani, Hiroki Matsukata, Ryuji Katagiri Running Time: 90 min. By Kelly Warner An Okinawa girl’s been murdered, the latest in what appears to be the work of a serial killer. She was strangled and then her apartment was set on fire, making any positive identification unlikely. The Tokyo cops … Continue reading

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Female Fight Squad (2016) Review

Female Fight Squad | DVD (Lionsgate)

AKA: Female Fight Club Director: Miguel A. Ferrer Cast: Amy Johnston, Cortney Palm, Rey Goyos, Sean Faris, Dolph Lundgren, Shaun Brown, Levy Tran, Folake Olowofoyeku, Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez, Jeanette Samano, Briana Marin, Chuck Zito Running Time: 90 min. By Z Ravas Hot on the heels of Lady Bloodfight’s Netflix debut, Lionsgate has released Amy Johnston’s other martial arts film, the movie formerly known as Female Fight Club, via On Demand services. Unfortunately for fans of the … Continue reading

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Adventurers, The (2017) Review

"The Adventurers" Theatrical Poster

Director: Stephen Fung Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Shu Qi, Zhang Jing-Chu, Tony Yang You-Ning, Jean Reno, Eric Tsang, Sha Yi, You Tian-Yi, Zhang Yi-Qun, Gen Seto, Karel Dobry Running Time: 107 min. By Paul Bramhall Much like the classic 1989 triad movie, Casino Raiders, 2017’s The Adventurers opens with Andy Lau being released from prison after serving his time. However The Adventurers is not a remake of Casino Raiders, nor is … Continue reading

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Death Fighter | aka White Tiger (2017) Review

"White Tiger" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Toby Russell Cast: Matt Mullins, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, Chiranan Manochaem, Joe Lewis, Jawed El Berni, Gigi Velicitat, Yuhkoh Matsuguchi, Prasit Suanphaka Running Time: 88 min. By Z Ravas The movie once known as White Tiger, now titled Death Fighter, has seen a long and winding road to release. I say this primarily because the film represents the last appearance by Joe Lewis, Karate Champion and friend of Bruce Lee, … Continue reading

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Lady Bloodfight (2016) Review

Lady Bloodfight | DVD (Lionsgate)

AKA: Lady Bloodsport Director: Chris Nahon Cast: Amy Johnston, Muriel Hofmann, Jenny Wu, Kathy Wu, Jet Tranter, Mayling Ng, Sunny Coelst, Rosemary Vandebrouck, Lisa Cheng Running Time: 100 min. By Z Ravas Ever wonder what happened to Chris Nahon? After helming Kiss of the Dragon – what many fans consider to be one of Jet Li’s best English-language films, if not the best – way back in 2001, the filmmaker chose to keep a relatively low profile … Continue reading

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Gun Woman (2014) Review

Gun Woman | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Director: Kurando Mitsutake Writer: Kurando Mitsutake Cast: Asami, Kairi Narita, Noriaki Kamata, Matthew Floyd Miller, Dean Simone, Tatsuya Nakadai Running Time: 86 min. By Z Ravas It’d be easy for detractors to label 2014’s Gun Woman another case of low-budget sleaze – after all, Japanese AV turned action star Asami spends most of the film’s climax stark naked and drenched in blood – but director Kurando Mitsutake is far too … Continue reading

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