Category Archives: Reviews

Kunoichi: Lady Ninja (1998) Review

"Kunoichi: Lady Ninja" Theatrical Poster

Director: Hitoshi Ozawa Cast: Hitoshi Ozawa, Yuko Moriyama, Tomomi Kuribayashi, Kazuki Takeda, Yoshio Shima, Tomoroo Taguchi, Takekazu Shigehisa, Hidehiko Ishikura Running Time: 105 min. By Numskull ‘Ninja Magic: Energy Ball!’ A blazing, luminous sphere is conjured out of thin air by one of the Seven Beasts of Katoh, and with a murderous glint in his eyes, he directs it towards the imperiled Hori girls with deadly speed and accuracy! “But … Continue reading

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Bullet to the Head (2012) Review

"Bullet to the Head" Theatrical Poster

Director: Walter Hill Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Sarah Shahi, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christian Slater, Jason Momoa, Jon Seda, Holt McCallany Running Time: 91 min. By Mighty Peking Man Walter Hill, the acclaimed director of some of the most greatest, testerone-filled films (Warriors, 48 Hours and Last Man Standing) of our time returns with Bullet to the Head, his first theatrical release in over 10 years. Based on … Continue reading

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Bleak Night (2010) Review

"Bleak Night" American DVD Cover

Director: Yoon Sung-hyun Writer: Yoon Sung-hyun Cast: Lee Je-Hun, Seo Jun-Young, Park Jeong-Min, Jo Seong-Ha, Bae Jae-ki, Lee Cho-hee Running Time: 117 min. By HKFanatic Over the last decade, Korean cinema has made great strides into the Western market thanks to its tendency for big-budget commercial spectacle and ultra-violent revenge movies. “Bleak Night” is not one of those films. This nuanced and haunting story about three high school friends began … Continue reading

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Jackie Chan Double Feature: Crime Story & The Protector (1993, 1985) Review

Jackie Chan Double Feature: Crime Story & The Protector Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

The following review is for Shout! Factory’s Jackie Chan Double Feature, which contains 1993’s Crime Story & 1985’s The Protector. To see detailed credits for each title, as well as additional reviews, please click on the links provided within the review below. By HKFanatic THE PROTECTOR When Jackie Chan finally made it big in the United States with 1995’s “Rumble in the Bronx“, it stands to reason that he did … Continue reading

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Assassins, The (2012) Review

Director: Zhao Linshan Writer: Wang Bin Producer: Zhao Xiaoding Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Tamaki Hiroshi, Alec Su You Peng, Annie Yi Neng Jing, Ni Dahong, Yan Ni, Wu Xiu Bo, Yao Lu, Nie Yuan, Roy Cheung Yiu Yeung, Law Kar Ying, Tong Chun Chung, Ken Tong Chun Yip Running Time: 107 min. By HKFanatic While Chow Yun-fat never really left the world of acting, it’s fair … Continue reading

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Doomsday Book (2012) Review

"Doomsday Book" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji-woon, Yim Pil-sung Writer: Kim Ji-woon, Yim Pil-sung Cast: Ryu Seung-beom, Kim Kang-woo, Song Sae-byok, Song Young-Chang, Kim Gyu-Ri Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic “Doomsday Book” is an occasionally awkward mish-mash of off-kilter comedy and big sci-fi ideas; its anthology format tells three stories in total. In development since 2006, the film represents a collaboration between two of South Korea’s most creative directors: “Hansel & Gretel’s” Yim … Continue reading

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Dead or Alive 3: Final (2002) Review

Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Sho Aikawa, Riki Takeuchi, Richard Chen, Terence Yin, Josie Ho, Maria Chen, Hiroyoshi Komuro Running Time: 86 Min. By SlaXor Well, the first thing I’d like to get out of the way is that people may wonder why someone would start with a review for the third and final installment in this excellent trilogy. The reason is that parts one and two of the Dead or … Continue reading

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Dead or Alive (1999) Review

"Dead or Alive" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Riki Takeuchi, Sho Aikawa, Renji Ishibashi, Hitoshi Ozawa, Shingo Tsurumi, Kaoru Sugita, Hirotaro Honda, Minoru Iizuka, Michisuke Kashiwaya, Mizuho Koga, Ren Oosugi, Tomoro Taguchi Running Time: 105 min. By Mairosu And so finally, I rent a Miike Takashi film. After hearing countless stories about him, seeing numerous trailers for his shock-fests such as Ichi the Killer, Audition or Fudoh, I finally took a chance on one … Continue reading

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Wu Dang (2012) Review

Director: Patrick Leung Pak Kin Cast: Yang Mi, Vincent Chiu Man Chuk, Fan Siu Wong, Xu Jiao, Dennis To Yue Hong, Nina Pau Hei Ching Running Time: 101 min. By HKFanatic ‘Vincent Zhao and the Treasure of the Wu Dang Mountains’ – I guess that title is a bit of a mouthful, but it would have likely given viewers a better idea of what to expect from this movie than … Continue reading

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Madam City Hunter | aka Lady Hunter (1993) Review

"Madam City Hunter" Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie Kong Yeuk Sing Cast: Cynthia Khan, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Sheila Chan Suk Laan, Kara Hui Ying-Hung, Tommy Wong Kwong-Leung, Wu Fung, Yau Gin Gwok, Dang Wai Ho Running Time: 95 min. By Numskull A somewhat tepid but reasonably enjoyable “femme fatale” vehicle that has Cynthia Khan trying to eliminate the threat of the Five Finger Gang (with names like Thumb and Middle), mean and nasty bad guys who … Continue reading

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Heroes Among Heroes | aka Fist of the Red Dragon (1993) Review

"Heroes Among Heroes" Theatrical Poster

Director: Yuen Wo-Ping Co-director: Chan Chin Chung Cast: Donnie Yen, Wong Gok, Fennie Yuen Kit-Ying, Ng Man Tat, Kwan Hoi San, Sheila Chan Suk Laan, Lee Ga Sing, Hung Yan Yan, Bao Fang, Lau Yue Ching Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull A sluggish misfire from acclaimed director and martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping (with the, uh, assistance of Chan Chin Chung) dealing with fine, upstanding Chinese trying to put … Continue reading

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Kung Fu Hustle (2004) Review

"Kung Fu Hustle" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Stephen Chow Cast: Stephen Chow, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Leung Siu Lung, Huang Sheng Yi, Chan Kwok Kwan, Lam Tze Chung, Tung Chi Hwa, Chiu Chi Ling, Xing Yu Running Time: 99 min. By Peach “Kung Fu Hustle” is Stephen Chow’s violent, computer effects-driven, wacky dedication to corny kung fu flicks of the 1970s. The film’s main attraction is the candy while everything else takes a back seat. That’s … Continue reading

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Thieves, The (2012) Review

"The Thieves" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Choi Dong-hun Producer: Ahn Soo-hyun Cast: Yun-seok Kim, Lee Jung-jae, Kim Hye-soo, Jun Ji-Hyun, Simon Yam, Angelica Lee, Derek Tsang Running Time: 136 min. By HKFanatic The easy marketing spin for “The Thieves” was to label the film as Korea’s answer to “Ocean’s Eleven.” I suppose that means we can add the movie to the list of other Korean blockbusters, like “Quick” or “Sector 7,” that feel slightly derivative … Continue reading

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Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection (2012) Review

Painted Skin: The Resurrection Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Wu Ershan Cast: Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Vicky Zhao Wei, Yang Mi, Feng Shao Feng, Bei Cheung, Kris Phillips Running Time: 135 min. By HKFanatic “Painted Skin: The Resurrection” was an easy movie for sites like ours to cover since every trailer released for the film looked even more beautiful than the last. Yet I doubt many critics expected “Painted Skin 2” to go on to become the highest-grossing … Continue reading

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Man with the Iron Fists, The (2012) Review

"The Man With the Iron Fists" Theatrical Poster

Director: RZA Writer: RZA, Eli Roth Cast: Russell Crowe, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, RZA, Rick Yune, David Bautista, Jamie Chung, Daniel Wu, Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan-tai, Eli Roth, Pam Grier, Jon T. Benn, Terence Yin, MC Jin (Jin Au-Yeung) Running Time: 96 min. By Laser Beahm If your 11-year-old son, nephew, grandchild, or alter-ego were to write and star in their own version of a Kung-Fu film, “The … Continue reading

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