Category Archives: Reviews

Kung Fu Jungle | aka Kung Fu Killer (2014) Review

"Kung Fu Jungle" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chen Cast: Donnie Yen, Bai Bing, Charlie Young, Wang Baoqiang, David Chiang, Alex Fong, Zhang Lan Xin, Stephen Tung Wei, Chin Kar Lok, Xing Yu, William Chan, Raymond Chow, Nicky Li, Deep Ng, Yuen Bun, Andrew Lau Wai-Keung Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall After initially being called Last of the Best, and then Kung Fu Killer, Donnie Yen’s fourth and final starring role of 2014 arrives … Continue reading

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Kung Fu Zombie (1981) Review

"Kung Fu Zombie" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Kung Fu Zombies Director: Wa Yat Wang Cast: Billy Chong Chun Lai (aka Willy Dozan), Kong Do, Kwan Yung Moon, Cheng Hong Yip, Chan Lau, Pak Sha Lik, Jeng Kei Ying, Woo Wai, Wong Yu Running Time: 80 min. By Paul Bramhall Thanks to the success of recent movies such as The Raid and its sequel, Indonesian action stars like Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian have quickly become familiar … Continue reading

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My Rebellious Son (1982) Review

"My Rebellious Son" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sun Chung Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Ku Feng, Cecilia Wong Hang Sau, Michael Chan Wai Man, John Ladalski, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Ngaai Fei, Tang Ching, Walter Tso Tat Wah, Tin Ching, Yuen Bun, Yuen Wah Running Time: 93 min. By Matthew Le-feuvre It’s difficult to embrace that it has been well over three decades since box office idol Alexander Fu Sheng’s tragic death. In just ten years, this … Continue reading

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Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014) Review

Director: Yun Jong-Bin Cast: Ha Jung-Woo, Kang Dong-Won, Lee Kyung-Young, Lee Sung-Min, Jo Jin-Woong, Ma Dong-Seok, Yun Ji-Hye, Ju Jin-Mo, Song Young-Chang, Jeong Man-Sik, Kim Byung-Ok, Kim Jong-Gu, Kim Seong-Gyun Running Time: 137 min. By Kelly Warner I went into Kundo: Age of the Rampant expecting something like a Korean take on the Robin Hood tale. What I got was a Tarantino-infused post-modern historical action movie that tries to be … Continue reading

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John Wick (2014) Review

"John Wick" Theatrical Poster

Director: David Leitch Co-director: Chad Stahelski Cast: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Willem Dafoe, Daniel Bernhardt, Bridget Regan, Lance Reddick, Keith Jardine Running Time: 96 min. By Jeff Bona If there’s one Hollywood superstar who’s maintained a solid connection with the martial arts film genre, it’s Keanu Reeves. Reeves first made this connection in 1999/2003 with the Matrix trilogy, … Continue reading

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Swelter (2014) Review

"Swelter" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Keith Parmer Writer: Keith Parmer Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Josh Henderson, Brad Carter, Alfred Molina, Lennie James Running Time: 120 min. By Kyle Warner Okay, this one’s kind of silly, but I’m not gonna lie, I enjoyed it. The film begins with a Vegas casino robbery. Four members of a five man crew are captured before they can make off with the loot. The fifth man takes a bullet … Continue reading

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Mission Terminate | aka Return of the Kickfighter (1987) Review

"Mission Terminate" Dutch VHS Cover

AKA: Revenge of the Kickfighter Director: Anthony Maharaj Writer: Joe Mari Avellana Cast: Richard Norton, Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Rex Cutter, Judy Greene, George E. Mahlberg, Nick Nicholson, Henry Strzalkowski, Dick Wei, Franco Guerrero Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall My journey that found me watching Mission Terminate was somewhat of an interesting one. Back in 2008, I’d stumbled across an old Tai Seng DVD of a movie … Continue reading

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American Muscle (2014) Review

Director: Ravi Dhar Writer: John Fallon Cast: Nick Principe, Robin Sydney, Todd Farmer, Malice McMunn, Malice 666, Trent Haaga, John Fallon, Laban Pheidias, Philip Salick, Laban Pheidias, Joshua Lou Friedman Running Time: 90 min. By Dirac American Muscle is the feel-good movie of the year. That is – if you like headshots, painfully bad dialog, and annoying characters. This revenge flick chronicles the exploits of John Falcon (played by Nick … Continue reading

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Snowpiercer (2013) Review

"Snowpiercer" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Bong Joon-ho Cast: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Ed Harris, Ko Ah-Sung, Luke Pasqualino, Alison Pill, Adnan Haskovic Running Time: 126 min. By Kelly Warner In 2013, three of South Korea’s top directors stepped onto a bigger stage with their English-language feature film debuts. Jee-woon Kim (I Saw the Devil) went the big studio route with the Arnold Schwarzenegger comeback actioner The … Continue reading

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Zombie 108 (2012) Review

"Zombie 108" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Z-108 Director: Joe Chien Cast: Yung Cheung, Yvonne Yao, Tai Bo, Jack Kao Jie, Dennis To, Lena Lam, Cica Zhou Running Time: 87 min. By Paul Bramhall “The first genre movie combining apocalypse and zombie in Chinese film history” the tag-line for Zombie 108 proudly declares. Well, who doesn’t love a bit of zombie? And if it’s history making zombie, well, even better. The movie is the sophomore feature … Continue reading

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Flu, The (2013) Review

"The Flu" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Sung-Soo Cast: Jang Hyuk, Soo Ae, Park Min-ha, Yoo Hae-jin, Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Kim Ki-hyeon Running Time: 121 min. By Kyle Warner Films about deadly outbreaks are cinema’s new favorite kind of disaster movie. I guess it’s easy to understand why. Movies about floods and tsunamis remind us too much of the recent disasters in New Orleans and Japan. Earthquakes make for grim stories, not blockbuster entertainment, … Continue reading

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14 Blades (2010) Review

"14 Blades" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Daniel Lee Writer: Abe Kwong, Daniel Lee Cast: Donnie Yen, Vicky Zhao Wei, Wu Chun, Qi Yu Wu, Kate Tsui, Chen Kuan Tai, Wu Ma, Sammo Hung, Xu Xiang Dong, Chen Zhi Hui, An Ruiyun, Ding Xiao Lung, Fung Hak On, Lam Chi Tai, Damian Lau, Law Kar Ying Running Time: 114 min. By Kyle Warner Donnie Yen’s 14 Blades was first released internationally back in 2010. The film … Continue reading

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Iceman 3D (2014) Review

"Ice Man" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Law Wing Cheong Cast: Donnie Yen, Wang Baoqiang, Eva Huang Sheng Yi, Simon Yam, Lo Hoi Pang, Jacqueline Chong, Lam Suet, Benny Chan, Mark Wu You Fai, Hu Ming, Lo Fan Running Time: 104 min. By Paul Bramhall 2014 has been a busy 12 months for Donnie Yen, with Special ID, The Monkey King, Kung Fu Jungle, and Iceman 3D all hitting cinema screens over the course of the … Continue reading

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Bruce Lee: The Legend (1983) Review

"Bruce Lee: The Legend" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Writer: Russell Cawthorne Narration: James B. Nicholson Cast: Bruce Lee, Raymond Chow, Nora Miao, Linda Lee Cadwell, Hugh O’Brian, Betty Ting Pei, Gig Young, Chuck Norris, Robert Clouse, Chuck Norris, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Andre Morgan, Fred Weintraub Running Time: 88 min. By Matthew Le-feuvre In 1973, still fresh from the trauma of Bruce Lee’s abrupt and unforeseen death, Golden Harvest decided to produce a full length documentary entitled Bruce … Continue reading

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Dragonwolf (2013) Review

"Dragonwolf" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Raimund Huber Cast: Kazu Patrick Tang, Johan Kirsten, Macha Polivka, David Winters, Guk Srisawat, Stephen Thomas, Bonnie Zellerbach, Sunanta Yousagoon, Janissa Charoenrach, Vincent Kinne Running Time: 120 min. By Dirac From Raimund Huber – the director of Kill ‘Em All (2012) and Bangkok Adrenaline (2009) – comes Dragonwolf, a Thai-produced, English language martial arts film about two friends who meet on the street as kids, and work their way up … Continue reading

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