Category Archives: Reviews

Great Wall, The (2016) Review

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Kelly Warner
The Great Wall | Blu-ray & DVD (Universal)

Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau, Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Lu Han, Kenny Lin, Cheney Chen, Huang Xuan, Karry Wang, Ryan Zheng Running Time: 104 min.  By Kelly Warner In 2008, Zhang Yimou amazed the world with the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. It was a spectacle for the eyes, ears, heart, and mind. As a fan of his movies and as a stunned observer of the … Continue reading →

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Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) Review

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Martin Sandison

Director: Sam Peckinpah Producer: Martin Baum Cast: Warren Oates, Isela Vega, Robert Webber, Gig Young, Helmut Dantine, Emilio Fernández, Kris Kristofferson Running Time: 112 min. By Martin Sandison Sam Peckinpah’s influence as a filmmaker is undoubted, and his run from The Wild Bunch to Cross of Iron is near-untouchable. Misunderstood at the time, his elegiac, revisionist Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid nearly destroyed his reputation in Hollywood, and was … Continue reading →

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Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979) Review

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Chris Hatcher
"Dance of the Drunk Mantis" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Drunken Master 2 Director: Yuen Woo-ping Producer: See Yuen Ng Cast: Siu Tien “Simon” Yuen, Shun Yee “Sunny” Yuen, Hwang Jang Lee, Linda Lin, Corey Yuen, Yen Shi Kwan, Dean Shek, David Wu, Lee Fat-Yuen Running Time: 121 min. By Chris Hatcher When Siu Tien “Simon” Yuen first stepped onto the Asian cinema scene in 1947 at age 35, one of his earliest roles was as a thug in … Continue reading →

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Handmaiden, The (2016) Review

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Kelly Warner
"The Handmaiden" Theatrical Poster

Director: Park Chan-wook Novel By: Sarah Waters Cast: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Tae-ri, Lee Yong-Nyeo, Yoo Min-Chae  Running Time: 144 min. By Kyle Warner After making his English language debut in 2013 with Stoker, Park Chan-wook returned to South Korea for his next feature film, The Handmaiden. And while obviously a Park Chan-wook film, I feel that The Handmaiden has more of a western-style than Stoker did. Stoker was Park bringing his Korean dark revenge … Continue reading →

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Violent Prosecutor, A (2016) Review

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Paul Bramhall
"A Violent Prosecutor" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Il-hyeong Cast: Hwang Jung-Min, Gang Dong-Won, Lee Sung-Min, Park Sung-Woong, Kim Eung-Soo, Joo Jin-Mo, Kim Won-Hae, Jeon Bae-Su, Shin So-Yul, Park Jong-Hwan, Kim Hong-Fa, Lee Suk-Joon, Kim Byung-Ok Running Time: 126 min. By Paul Bramhall More than any other film industry in the world, it’s the Korean one that arguably reflects its countries current tumultuous state. 2016 delivered a president that’s pending impeachment, shady religious figures exerting their … Continue reading →

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Ley Lines (1999) Review

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Kelly Warner
Black Society Trilogy | Blu-ray & DVD (Arrow Video)

Director: Takashi Miike Writer: Ichiro Ryu Cast: Show Aikawa, Samuel Pop Aning, Takeshi Caesar, Yukie Itou, Michisuke Kashiwaya,Kazuki Kitamura, Dan Li, Ryuushi Mizukami, Ren Osugi, Tomorowo Taguchi, Naoto Takenaka, Koji Tsukamoto, Hua Rong Weng Running Time: 105 min. By Kelly Warner Takashi Miike’s Black Society Trilogy kicked off with a lurid and offensive bang in 1995 with Shinjuku Triad Society. He followed that up with Rainy Dog in 1997, a quieter, more reserved crime drama. (That’s … Continue reading →

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John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) Review

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Paul Bramhall
"John Wick: Chapter 2" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Chad Stahelski Writer: Derek Kolstad Cast: Keanu Reeves, Common, Laurence Fishburne, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Bridget Moynahan, Lance Reddick, Thomas Sadoski, David Patrick Kelly, Peter Stormare, Franco Nero Running Time: 122 min. By Paul Bramhall As a stuntman, it’s not every day the opportunity comes along to direct the actor who you’ve been doubling for the last 20 years, but that’s exactly what happened to … Continue reading →

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Beast with a Gun | aka Mad Dog Killer (1977) Review

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Z Ravas
"Mad Dog Killer" DVD Cover

AKA: Ferocious Director: Sergio Grieco Cast: Helmut Berger, Richard Harrison, Marisa Mell, Marina Giordana, Luigi Bonos, Ezio Marano, Vittorio Duse, Alberto Squillante, Nello Pazzafini Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic Beast with a Gun could loosely be associated with the Poliziotteschi genre (Italian police films) since the hero is a cop, but most of the film’s screentime is devoted to actor Helmut Berger’s crazed bad guy and his violent antics. … Continue reading →

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Black Spot (1990) Review

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Paul Bramhall
"Black Spot" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Earth & Fire Director: Bruce Le Cast: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Lo Lieh, Kong Do, James Ha Chim Si, Ho Pak Kwong, Cheng Yuen Man, Wong Hap, Andre Koob, Elizabeth Gordon Running Time: 98 min. By Paul Bramhall Bruce Le has always been the Bruce Lee clone that can. From starting off as a Shaw Brothers bit player in the 70’s, his resemblance to the departed megastar saw him … Continue reading →

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Shaolin vs. Lama (1983) Review

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Chris Hatcher
"Shaolin vs. Lama" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Tso Nam Producer: Ching Kuo Chung Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, William Yen, Sun Jung Chi, Chen Shan, Lee Wai Wan, Chang Chi Ping, Ching Kuo Chung, Wong Chi Sang, William Yen, Li Min Lang Running Time: 90 min. By Chris Hatcher In the world of old school kung fu films of the 1970s and 80s, there is a vast mix of good-to-great films and terribly bad ones; films with superbly fast-paced fight choreography and … Continue reading →

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Tokyo Fist (1995) Review

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Kelly Warner
"Tokyo Fist" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto Cast: Kahori Fujii, Shinya Tsukamoto, Koji Tsukamoto, Naomasa Musaka, Naoto Takenaka, Koichi Wajima, Tomorowo Taguchi, Nobu Kanaoka  Running Time: 87 min. By Kelly Warner Shinya Tsukamoto, throughout his career, has brought his particular vision to a variety of genres. Due to the legendary status of the Tetsuo trilogy, Tsukamoto is often thought of as a director of cyberpunk. This is wrong. Shinya Tsukamoto is, at his core, … Continue reading →

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Seeding of a Ghost (1983) Review

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Martin Sandison
"Seeding of a Ghost' Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Richard Yeung Producer: Mona Fong Cast: Norman Chu Siu Keung, Philip Ko Fei, Tin Mat, Maria Yuen Chi Wai, Wong Yung, Wai Ga Man, Hung San Nam, Pak Man Biu, Jaime Chik Mei Jan, Erik Chan Ga Kei Running Time: 86 min. By Martin Sandison Beginning with 1975’s Black Magic, the legendary Shaw Brothers studio began to make horror movies which became increasingly grotesque, darkly funny and gory. Most … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , |

Beyond Redemption (2015) Review

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Kelly Warner
Beyond Redemption | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Bruce Fontaine Cast: Brian Ho, Don Lew, Paul Wu, Paul Wu, Anthony Towe, Nickolas Baric, Eddy Ko Hung, Raymond Chan, Peter Chao, Osric Chau, Josette Jorge, Valerie Tian Running Time: 89 min. By Kelly Warner Even as a kid, when I watched Jackie Chan movies I was always well aware that, as awesome as Jackie was, the performers he shared his fight scenes with had to be on a … Continue reading →

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Four Riders (1972) Review

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Paul Bramhall
"Four Riders" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Strike 4 Revenge Director: Chang Cheh Cast: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Chen Kuan Tai, Wang Chung, Cheng Li, Lily Li, Yasuaki Kurata, Tina Chin Fei, Tina Chin Fei, Chan Chuen, Chan Dik Hak, Chui Fat, Dang Tak Cheung, Fung Hak On, Ho Hon Chau, Ho Pak Kwong Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall The period from 1971 – 1972 could well be referred to as ‘The Iron Triangle on … Continue reading →

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Shinjuku Triad Society (1995) Review

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Kelly Warner

Director: Takashi Miike Writer: Ichiro Fujita Cast: Takeshi Caesar, Kyosuke Izutsu, Ren Osugi, Kippei Shiina, Tomorowo Taguchi, Airi Yanagi, Sabu, Yukie Itou, Kazuhiro Mashiko, Yoji Tanaka Running Time: 100 min. By Kyle Warner Takashi Miike began his prolific career as a director in ‘V-Cinema,’ Japan’s direct-to-video film productions. His first film that was meant as a theatrical release from the very start was his 1995 dark crime picture, Shinjuku Triad Society: Chinese Mafia … Continue reading →

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