Category Archives: Reviews

Outlaw Brothers (1990) Review

"Outlaw Brothers" American DVD Cover

Director: Frankie Chan Fan Kei Cast: Frankie Chan, Yukari Oshima, Max Mok Siu Chung, Michael Miu, Sharon Kwok, Sheila Chan Suk Lan, Michiko Nishiwaki, Jeff Falcon, Mark Houghton, Jonathan Isgar Running Time: 97 min. By HKFanatic “Outlaw Brothers” belongs to that most cherished of genres: the late 80’s/early 90’s Hong Kong martial arts movie. Released in 1990, this film directed by, and starring, frequent Jackie Chan collaborator Frankie Chan ticks … Continue reading

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Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012) Review

"Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: John Hyams Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Dolph Lundgren, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Andrei Arlovski, Roy Jones, Jr., Mariah Bonner Running Time: 114 min. By HKFanatic Free will is overrated. Just ask the Universal Soldiers – they’re a group of reanimated corpses brainwashed into becoming government killers. After being released from their programming by revolutionary leader Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), these muscle-bound warriors can finally act of their own violation. … Continue reading

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Return Engagement (1990) Review

"Return Engagement" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Joe Cheung Cast: Alan Tang, Andy Lau, Simon Yam, May Lo, Elizabeth Lee, David Ng, Carrie Ng, Melvin Wong, Stephen Tung, Ku Feng, Chan Chi Fai, Dennis Chan, Stephen Chan, Chang Yi, Chen Jing, Dang Taai Woh Running Time: 109 min. By HKFanatic Until his tragic passing in 2011, actor Alan Tang was a bonafied Hong Kong legend. Tang carried himself with all the swagger of a classic Hollywood … Continue reading

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Friend | aka Chingoo (2001) Review

"Friend" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwak Kyung-Taek Writer: Kwak Kyung-Taek Cast: Yoo Oh-Sung, Chang Dong-Gun, Suh Tae-Hwa, Jung Woon-Taek, Kim Bo-Kyung Running Time: 113 min By Dragon Ma I’ve always wondered about what it means to be a true friend, a brother even. In this film, the director paints a portrait of four friends who thought they would remain friends forever. The plot is mainly the story of four young boys who grow up … Continue reading

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Legendary Amazons (2011) Review

"Legendary Amazons" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Frankie Chan Cast: Cheng Pei Pei, Cecilia Cheung, Liu Xiaoqing, Yu Na, Richie Ren, Yukari Oshima, Kathy Chow, Ge Chun Yuan, Chang Chen, Chen Zihan, Jin Qiao Qiao, David Lam, Liu Dong, Katy Wang Ti, Wang Lee Hom, Wu Ma, Simon Yam Running Time: 109 min. By HKFanatic Love is a battlefield. Or at least that turns out to be the case in “Legendary Amazons,” a 2011 Chinese historical … Continue reading

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Bullet Vanishes, The (2012) Review

"The Bullet Vanishes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Law Chi Leung Cast: Lau Ching Wan, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Yang Mi, Jing Boran, Wu Gang, Liu Kai Chi, Jiang Yiyan, Gao Hu, Yumiko Cheng Hei Yi, Chin Kar Lok Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Ever since the first trailer for “The Bullet Vanishes” hit the web, the film has been labeled a Chinese take on Guy Ritchie’s 2009 “Sherlock Holmes” film. While the movies do share … Continue reading

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Bedevilled (2010) Review

Bedevilled Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Jang Chul-Soo Writer: Choi Kwang-young Cast: Seo Young-hee, Ji Seong-won, Park Jeong-hak, Baek Su-ryun, Lee Ji-Eun, Je-Min Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic Well Go USA’s cover art for “Bedevilled” features a quote proclaiming ‘A must-see for anyone brave enough!’ For once, the implication that viewers must steel their nerves for a movie is not empty hype. This 2010 Korean revenge film might just become the next litmus test … Continue reading

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High Risk | aka Meltdown (1995) Review

"High Risk" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Wong Jing Cast: Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, Chingmy Yau, Charlie Young, Kelvin Wong, Valerie Chow, Billy Chow, Ben Lam, Wu Ma, William Tuan, Lo Hung, Charlie Cho Cha-lee Running Time: 101 min. By Numskull Wong Jing can’t direct worth sh*t. His frequent toy, oops I mean collaborator, Chingmy Yau, isn’t much of an actress. Jet “F*ck-Me-In-The-A$$-I-Wish-To-Hell-I-Hadn’t-Passed-On-Crouching-Tiger-Hidden-Dragon” Li has yet to impress me with any of his HK films. And Jacky … Continue reading

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Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011) Review

"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Jet Li, Kwai Lun Mei, Chen Kun, Zhou Xun, Li Yu Chun, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen, Fan Siu Wong, Du Yiheng, Sun Jian Kui, Viann Zhang Xin Yu Running Time: 125 min. By HKFantic It was Jean-Claude Van Damme of all people who dubbed Tsui Hark ‘the George Lucas of Asia.’ Most likely because his 1983 fantasy film “Zu Warriors From the Magic Mountain” helped launch … Continue reading

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6 Bullets | aka The Butcher (2012) Review

"6 Bullets" German DVD Cover

Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joe Flanigan, Anna-Louise Plowman, Bianca Bree, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Terese Cilluffo, Charlotte Beaumont, Andrei Runcanu Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic 2011’s “Assassination Games” was anticipated as the beginning of a possible comeback for Jean-Claude Van Damme: it paired the aging action star with hot newcomer Scott Adkins and managed to secure decent theatrical distribution in the United States, a first for Van … Continue reading

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R2B: Return to Base (2012) Review

AKA: Back Eagle Director: Kim Dong-Won Writer: Ahn Sang-Hun, Kim Dong-Won Producer: Jang Tae-Gon, Kim Dong-Won Cast: Rain, Yu Jun-Sang, Shin Se-Kyung, Kim Sung-Soo, Lee Ha-Na, Lee Jong-Seok, Jeong Kyung-Ho, Baek Bong-Gi Running Time: 113 min. By HKFanatic Western audiences will most likely recognize actor Rain from Hollywood movies like “Speed Racer” and “Ninja Assassin.” But in his native South Korea, Rain is a bonafied superstar thanks to his pop … Continue reading

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So Close (2002) Review

"So Close" Theatrical Poster

Director: Corey Yuen Cast: Shu Qi, Vicky Zhao Wei, Karen Mok, Song Seung Heon, Ben Lam, Yasuaki Kurata, Deric Wan, Sek Sau, Jude Poyer, Ricardo Mamood, Michael Wei, Henry Fong, Gam Hing Yin, Wong So Bik, May Gwong Man Chun Running Time: 111 min By Reefer During the preposterous opening of Cory Yuen’s action thriller, So Close, I thought I was going to be treated to a half-assed rehashing of … Continue reading

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White Vengeance (2011) Review

""White Vengeance" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Daniel Lee Cast: Leon Lai Ming, Zhang Han Yu, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Fang Shao Feng, Andy On Chi Kit, Jia Qing, Wu Ma, Chen Kuan Tai, Chan Chi Fai, Ding Hai Feng, Du Yiheng, Xu Xiang Dong Running Time: 135 min. By HKFanatic Director Daniel Lee has long seemed to struggle to find his identity as a filmmaker in the … Continue reading

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Dreadnaught (1981) Review

"Dreadnaught" Theatrical Poster

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Yuen Biao, Leung Kar Yan, Kwan Tak Hing, Yuen Shun Yee, Philip Ko, Lily Li, Tong Jing, Fan Mei Sheng, Fung Hak On, Brandy Yuen, Cheung Chok Chow Running Time: 90 min. By Joe909 Dreadnaught is considered one of the “New Wave” HK movies that upped the bar for martial arts films, and Hong Kong cinema in general. Sure. But what most … Continue reading

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Quick (2011) Review

Director: Jo Beom-goo Writer: Park Su-jin Producer: Lee Sang-yong, Yun Je-gyun Cast: Lee Min-ki, Kang Ye-won, Kim In-kwon, Ko Chang-seok, Ju Jin-mo, Xu Fan, Yoon Je-kyoon Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic 2011’s “Quick” has frequently been billed as a Korean take on “The Fast and the Furious.” Truth be told, it’s more of a contemporary update on “Speed” – with Korean biker gangs thrown in for good measure – … Continue reading

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