Category Archives: Reviews

Taxi Driver, A (2017) Review

November 7, 2017 Paul Bramhall
"A Taxi Driver" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jang Hoon Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Thomas Kretschmann, Yu Hae-Jin, Ryoo Joon-Yeol, Park Hyuk-Kwon, Choi Gwi-Hwa, Um Tae-Goo, Jeon Hye-Jin, Ko Chang-Seok, Kim Na-In Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall An interesting element of Korean cinema has always been how much the film industries output reflects the political climate of the time. When the nationalistic Park Geun-hye was elected in 2013, a slew of patriotic themed movies filled the theaters, … Continue reading →

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Buddhist Fist and Tiger Claws | aka Yong-ho’s Cousins (1981) Review

November 1, 2017 Paul Bramhall
"Buddhist Fist and Tiger Claws" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: Yong-ho’s Cousins Director: Lee Hyeok-Su Cast: Charles Han Yong-Cheol, Hwang Jang-Lee, Nam Chung-Yat, Park Ae-Kyung, Han Kyung Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall Buddhist Fist and Tiger Claws is about as perfect an example of Godfrey Ho tampering that you’re likely to come across. A 1981 Korean production titled Yong-ho’s Cousins, directed by Lee Hyeok-su, it became one of the many Korean kung fu flicks that were picked … Continue reading →

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Vampire Cleanup Department (2017) Review

October 28, 2017 Paul Bramhall
"Vampire Cleanup Department" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Chiu Sin-Hang Co-director: Yan Pak-Wing Cast: BabyJohn Choi, Chin Siu-Ho, Lin Min-Chen, Richard Ng, Lo Meng, Yuen Cheung-Yan, Siu Yam-Yam, Bonnie Chiu, Jiro Lee, Eric Tsang, Jim Chim Sui-Man, Stephen Au Kam-Tong, Hana Tam Hang-Lam Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2017 the hopping vampire genre continues to hang on by a thread. After being a mainstay of Hong Kong cinema during the 80’s, when you never … Continue reading →

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Dreaming the Reality (1991) Review

October 24, 2017 Paul Bramhall
"Dreaming the Reality" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Tony Liu Chun-Ku Producer: Chui Fat Cast: Moon Lee, Yukari Oshima, Sibelle Hu, Ben Lam Kwok Bun, Eddie Ko, Hsu Hsia, Lee Ho Kwan Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall The years spanning 1991 – 1993 burned the brightest for the Girls with Guns genre, a 3-year period in which an almost countless number of butt kicking femme fatales graced the screen. Names like Moon Lee, Yukari Oshima, … Continue reading →

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Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017) Review

October 23, 2017 Paul Bramhall

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Kris Wu, Kenny Lin, Yao Chen, Lin Yun, Mengke Bateer, Wang Likun, Yang Yiwei, Wang Duo, Bao Bei-Er, Cheng Si-Han, Da Peng, Yeung Lun, Shu Qi, Zhang Mei-E, Xu Cai-Xiang, Lai Kai-Keung, Anthony Wong, Zuo Jing-Bo Running Time: 108 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s only been 4 years since Stephen Chow helmed 2013’s Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, the first movie in which he … Continue reading →

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Extraordinary Mission (2017) Review

October 20, 2017 Paul Bramhall
"Extraordinary Mission" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Fletcher Poon Co-director: Alan Mak Cast: Huang Xuan, Duan Yi-Hong, Zu Feng, Lang Yue-Ting, David Wang Yao-Qing, Xing Jia-Dong, Wang Yan-Hui, Ding Yongdai, Xiao Cong, Li Xiaochuan Running Time: 122 min. By Paul Bramhall Extraordinary Mission suffered extraordinarily bad timing in terms of when it was released. Hitting screens within months of popular director Dante Lam’s big budget spectacular Operation Mekong, many (including myself) glanced over the awkwardly titled production, in part … Continue reading →

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Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance (2015) Review

October 18, 2017 Paul Bramhall

Director: Gregory Hatanaka Cast: Mathew Karedas, Mark Frazer, Bai Ling, Kayden Kross, Tommy Wiseau, Janis Farley, Cranston Komuro, Laurene Landon, Mel Novak, Gerald Okamura, Kristine DeBell, Melissa Moore, Joe Estevez, Lexi Belle, Melissa Moore, Nicole Bailey, Mindy Robinson, Thomas J. Churchill Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall The expression “so bad it’s good” gets thrown around a lot more than it deserves when it comes to cinema. In truth, … Continue reading →

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Chasing the Dragon (2017) Review

October 17, 2017 Martin Sandison
"Chasing the Dragon" Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Co-director: Jason Kwan Cast: Donnie Yen Ji-Dan, Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Kent Cheng, Phillip Keung, Wilfred Lau, Yu Kang, Kent Tong, Michelle Hu, Xu Dong-Dong, Felix Wong, Bryan Larkin, Philip Ng, Jonathan Lee, Lawrence Chou, Wang Qian-Yu, Kenneth Tsang, Chan Wai-Man, Terence Yin Chi Wai, Chun Wong Running Time: 112 min. By Martin Sandison By the age of 14 my appetite for martial arts movies was voracious, so every … Continue reading →

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God of War (2017) Review

October 16, 2017 Kelly Warner
"God of War" Theatrical Poster

Director: Gordon Chan Cast: Vincent Chiu, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Yasuaki Kurata, Regina Wan, Keisuke Koide, Wang Ban, Wu Yue, Jiang Luxia, Liu Junxiao, Micheal Tong Running Time: 90 min. By Kelly Warner Ming soldiers advance on a fortified gate. Blood from a previous battle runs like a stream over the mud. Thousands of Japanese pirates wait on the other side of the gate, their latest attempt at a land grab to … Continue reading →

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Foreigner, The (2017) Review

October 13, 2017 Paul Bramhall

Director: Martin Campbell Cast: Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Michael McElhatton, Charlie Murphy, Liu Tao, Orla Brady, Katie Leung, Manolo Cardona, Simon Kunz, Pippa Bennett-Warner Running Time: 113 min. By Paul Bramhall The last time we saw Jackie Chan in London was 14 years ago, hanging from the clock face of Big Ben with Owen Wilson in Shanghai Knights. In 2017, he’s back in the British capital, but in a decidedly … Continue reading →

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Metro Manila (2013) Review

October 11, 2017 Paul Bramhall
"Metro Manila" Theatrical Poster

Director: Sean Ellis Cast: Jake Macapagal, Althea Vega, John Arcilla, Erin Panlilio, Iasha Aceio, Moises Mag Isa, Angelina Kanapi, JM Rodriguez, Ana Abad Santos, Reuben Uy Running Time: 114 min. By Paul Bramhall The well-worn tale of naïve country folk heading to the big city for brighter prospects is one that’s been used in cinema for almost as long as the medium has been around. It’s particularly prevalent in Asian … Continue reading →

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Fists, the Kicks and the Evil, The (1978) Review

October 9, 2017 Matthew Le-feuvre
"The Fists, the Kicks and the Evil" DVD Cover

AKA: Fists, Kicks and the Evils Director: To Lo Po Cast: Bruce Leung Siu Lung, Philip Ko Fei, Bolo Yeung Tze, Chiang Cheng, Ku Feng, Lau Hok Nin, Ma Chao, Chan Lau, Lin Ke Ming, Kei Ho Chiu, Ricky Wong Running Time: 84 min. By Matthew Le-feuvre In that rare and exclusive echelon of celebrated kicking tactic­ians, Leung Siu Liang – otherwise known in international circles as Bruce Leung – seemed to … Continue reading →

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New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Last Days of the Boss (1976) Review

October 9, 2017 Kelly Warner
"New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Last Days of the Boss" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Isao Bito, Takeo Chii, Takuya Fujioka, Seizo Fukumoto, Eiji Go, Ryuji Katagiri, Takuzo Kawatani, Chieko Matsubara, Kan Mikami, Michiro Minami, Sanae Nakahara, Kōji Nanjo Running Time: 91 min. By Kyle Warner 1976 just happened to be a leap year. And on February 29th, a woman with a drug problem is murdered. The first suspect is the yakuza Imamura, her known supplier. But then Imamura … Continue reading →

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Acts of Vengeance | aka Stoic (2017) Review

October 6, 2017 Paul Bramhall
Acts of Vengeance | Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

Director: Isaac Florentine Writer: Matt Venne Cast: Antonio Banderas, Cristina Serafini, Atanas Srebrev, Karl Urban, David Sakurai, Paz Vega, Robert Forster, Mark Rhino Smith, Isaac Florentine Running Time: 85 min. By Paul Bramhall Ever since Liam Neeson took that fateful phone call in Taken, now almost a decade ago, the no nonsense over-50 action star has become something of a sub-genre in Hollywood. While Neeson himself has cranked out plenty … Continue reading →

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Bluebeard (2017) Review

October 4, 2017 Kelly Warner

Director: Lee So-Youn Producer: Choi Jae-Won Cast: Cho Jin-Woong, Shin Goo Kim, Dae-Myung, Lee Chung-Ah, Song Young-Chang, Yoon Se-Ah Running Time: 117 min. By Kyle Warner In recent years, serial killer thrillers have fallen out of favor in Hollywood. The reason, I think, is that movies like The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en gave filmmakers a solid blueprint to follow, and many screenwriters followed it too closely. There’s a reason why fictionalized wannabe … Continue reading →

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