Category Archives: Reviews

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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Lucy (2014) Review

"Lucy" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Luc Besson Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-sik, Amr Waked, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Pilou Asbæk, Analeigh Tipton, Nicolas Phongpheth, Jan Oliver Schroeder Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall Back in the 1990’s Luc Besson was considered to be in the top tier of action directors, infusing his movies like La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional, and The Fifth Element with a distinctive European style and intelligence, while also … Continue reading

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Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014) Review

"Once Upon a Time in Shanghai" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Ching Po Cast: Philip Ng, Andy On, Mao Jun Jie, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Jiang Lu Xia, Chen Kuan Tai, Yuen Cheung Yan, Fung Hak On, Yolanda Yuan Quan Running Time: 95 min. By Paul Bramhall In a Hong Kong which continues to be starved of performers who can deliver screen presence, charisma, and kung-fu skills, the trend over recent years seem to be to push the talented … Continue reading

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Moebius (2013) Review

Moebius | DVD (RAM Releasing)

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Kim Ki-Duk, Kim Woo-Taek, Kim Soon-Mo Cast: Cho Jae-Hyu, Seo Young-Joo, Lee Eun-Woo, Lee Eun-Woo, Kim Jae-Rok and Kim Jae-Hong Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall Kim Ki-duk has remained one of Korea’s most discussed and controversial directors over the last 15 years. His movies usually portray the dark side of human nature with tales dictated by the sex and violence that … Continue reading

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Yellow Faced Tiger | aka Slaughter in San Francisco (1974) Review

"Yellow Faced Tiger" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Karate Cop Director: Lo Wei Cast: Don Wong Tao, Sylvia Chang Ai Chi, Chuck Norris, Chin Yuet Sang, Wong Sam, Yee Kwan, Lam Ching Ying, Daniel Ivan, Robert Jones, Ma Man-Chun Running Time: 100 min. By Jeff Bona Despite of the fact that Lo Wei’s Yellow Faced Tiger was produced in 1974, the film’s origin dates back to 1972, when it was originally planned to be Bruce Lee’s 3rd project … Continue reading

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Furious Slaughter (1972) Review

"Furious Slaughter" International Theatrical Poster

AKA: Super Dragon Director: Ding Sin Saai Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Sally Chen Sha Li, Tin Yau, Ma Kei, Lung Fei, Yee Yuen, Got Siu Bo, Lee Keung, Chai Hau Keung, Chang I Fei, Cheung Yee Kwai, Chui Lap Running Time: 84 min. By Matthew Le-feuvre From many critics’ perspective, Jimmy Wang Yu has always been looked upon as an anomalous, yet significant presence in the Hong Kong film industry. … Continue reading

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Lady General Hua Mulan (1964) Review

"Lady General Hua Mulan" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Griffin Yueh Feng Producer: Run Run Shaw Cast: Ivy Ling Po, Chin Han, Chen Yan Yan, Cheung Kwong Chiu, Yeung Chi Hing, Wu Ma, Lee Kwan, Kok Lee Yan, Cheng Miu, Feng Yi, Han Ying Chieh Running Time: 106 min. By JJ Hatfield When the Mongols banded together with other nomadic tribes, they invaded China, beginning with the outlying border towns. The edict went out from the Emperor, reaching … Continue reading

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Suspect, The (2013) Review

The Suspect | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Won Shin-yun Writer: Lim Sang-Yoon Cast: Gong Yoo, Park Hee-Soon, You Da-In, Cho Seong-Ha, Jo Jae-Yun, Kim Sung-Kyun Running Time: 137 min. By HKFanatic When The Bourne Supremacy first hit theaters back in 2005, the close-quarters handheld camerawork and rapid editing during action sequences had some film-goers claiming they experienced motion sickness rather than popcorn thrills. Soon afterwards, the term ‘shaky cam’ began popping up in critical reviews, and … Continue reading

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