Category Archives: Reviews

Sword of the Assassin | aka Blood Letter (2012) Review

"Sword of the Assassin" Theatrical Poster

Director: Victor Vu Cast: Huynh Dong, Midu, Van Trang, Khuong Ngoc, Van Anh, Minh Thuan, Jaivee Mai Running Time: 100 min. By oneleaf Sword of the Assassin, aka Blood Letter (2012), a Vietnamese language epic period drama/action starring Huynh Dong, Midu, Kim Hien, Khuong Ngoc, and Minh Thuan is directed by Vietnamese film maker and script writer Victor Vu. The film won a number of awards at the 2012 Golden … Continue reading

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Welcome to the Jungle (2013) Review

"Welcome to the Jungle" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Rob Meltzer Writer: Jeff Kauffman Cast: Adam Brody, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rob Huebel, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone, Dennis Haysbert, Aaron Takahashi, Dennis Haysbert, Juan C. Defendini, Kristopher Varenberg, Bianca Bree Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona There are two facts you should know about Welcome to the Jungle before you dive in: 1) It’s not a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. If you’re expecting something like Kickboxer, you’re in for … Continue reading

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Sword Stained with Royal Blood, The (1993) Review

"The Sword Stained with Royal Blood" Theatrical Poster

Director: Larry Cheung Cast: Yuen Biao, Yip Chuen-chan, Sharla Cheung, Danny Lee, Anita Yuen, Elizabeth Lee, Ng Man-tat, Helen Ma, Wu Ma, Elvis Tsui, Pauline Wong, Melvin Wong Running Time: 95 min. By JJ Hatfield In a temple along the edge of a quiet river, men have gathered to mourn the tragic death of their beloved leader Marshall Yuen, and to swear vengeance upon all those who plotted his violent … Continue reading

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Bruce Lee: In Pursuit of the Dragon (2009) Review

Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey & Pursuit of the Dragon | DVD (MVD Entertainment)

Director: John Little Writer: John Little Cast: John Little, Bruce Lee, Malisa Longo, Jon T. Benn, Anders Nelsson, Riccardo Billi, Chaplin Chang Running Time: 90 minutes By Jeff Bona If you’re a die hard Bruce Lee fanatic and you’re sick and tired of all the countless Bruce Lee documentaries that contain the same footage, usual interview clips and a bunch of other “talking heads,” then John Little’s In Pursuit of the Dragon is … Continue reading

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Fudoh: The New Generation (1996) Review

"Fudoh - The New Generation" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Miike Cast: Shosuke Tanihara, Kenji Takano, Marie Jinno, Tamaki Kenmochi, Toru Minegishi, Miho Nomoto, Riki Takeuchi, Takeshi Caesar, Yuichi Minato, Mickey Curtis Running Time: 100 min.  By Woody Pussy fart darts. Pre-teen assassins. Riki Takeuchi putting out a cigarette on Mickey Curtis’ severed head. A giant member of Riki’s gang kicking a severed head, splattering it into pieces, no doubt angering the young children using it for a game of soccer. … Continue reading

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Last Hero in China | aka Deadly China Hero (1993) Review

"Last Hero in China" Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Cast: Jet Li, Nat Chan Pak Cheung, Alan Chui Chung San, Leung Kar Yan, Dicky Cheung, Chu Tiet Wo, Sharla Cheung Man, Gordon Liu, Anita Yuen, Chun Kwai Bo Running Time: 105 min. By Numskull First of all, I want to say that the World Video DVD for this movie has an unforgivable manufacturing defect. Although Cantonese and Mandarin both appear as language options, you can only … Continue reading

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Grandmaster, The (2013) Review

"The Grandmaster" Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Grandmasters Director: Wong Kar-wai Cast: Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Song Hye Kyo, Zhao Benshan, Max Zhang Jin, Cung Le, Chin Shih-Chieh, Yuen Wo-Ping, Lo Meng, Fang Cheng-Cheng Running TIme: 139 min. Review by Ghost Dragon Triad Wong Kar-Wai’s Ip Man biopic The Grandmaster is a fever dream of a film, a movie as much about the fleeting qualities of love and experience as it is about … Continue reading

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Gonin (1995) Review

AKA: The Five Director: Takashi Ishii Cast: Koichi Sato, Masahiro Motoki, Jinpachi Nezu, Kippei Shiina, Naoto Takenaka Running Time: 109 min. By Equinox21 In 1995, stylish director, Takashi Ishii, brought us a great crime/yakuza piece called Gonin (The Five). It revolved around a disco owner convincing 4 other guys to go along with him in a planned heist of the local Yakuza thugs for over 100 million yen (something like … Continue reading

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Once a Thief (1991) Review

"Once a Thief" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, Cherie Chung, Paul Chu Kong, Kenneth Tsang, Declan Wong, John Woo, David Wu Tai Wai, Patrick Hon Jun Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull You know what we got here? A John Woo chick flick. Well, sort of. It’s “more accessible” (read: less violent) than the heroic bloodshed work he’s known for, and there’s a ho-hum romantic subplot (“Well, sort of” again). But … Continue reading

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Last Supper, The (2012) Review

The Last Supper | Blu-ray & DVD (Random Media)

Director: Lu Chuan Cast: Liu Ye, Daniel Wu, Chang Chen, Qin Lan, Sha Yi, Nie Yuan, Huo Siyan, Zhao Xiang Running Time: 120 min. By HKFanatic Over the past decade, international audiences have been inundated with dozens of Chinese historical epics, from Zhang Yimou’s Hero to John Woo’s Red Cliff and back again, to the point where a sense of viewer fatigue has settled in. But chances are good you’ve never … Continue reading

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Save the Green Planet (2003) Review

'Save the Green Planet" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Jang Joon-Hwan Writer: Jang Joon-Hwan Cast: Shin Ha-Kyun, Baek Yoon-Sik, Hwang Jung-Min, Lee Jae-Yong, Lee Joo-Hyun Running Time: 117 min. By Alexander Leave it to South Korean filmmakers to provide us yet another wholly original, oft shocking, slickly produced, torture-filled revenge fantasy in the vain of Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and The Isle–yet this time with a sci-fi twist. And like 3-Iron, Arahan, JSA and a host … Continue reading

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Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac | aka CZ12 (2012) Review

"CZ12" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jackie Chan Cast: Jackie Chan, Kwon Sang-woo, Liao Fan, Yao Xing Tong, Zhang Lan Xin, Laura Weissbecker, Ken Lo, Oliver Platt, Shu Qi, Daniel Wu, Kazu Patrick Tang Running Time: 123 min. By HKFanatic Shortly into the second act of Jackie Chan’s new film CZ12, one of the movie’s many hapless English-speaking characters tells Jackie and his team “You guys are amazing!” as they launch yet another one of … Continue reading

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Million Dollar Crocodile | aka Croczilla (2012) Review

Director: Lin Li Sheng Writer: Lin Li Sheng Producer: Li Rui Cast: Barbie Hsu Hsi Yuan, Guo Tao, Lam Suet, Shi Zhao Qi, Hung Yan Yan, Pu Ba Jia Running Time: 87 min. By HKFanatic These days, the monster movie has a bad rap. A once fun and thriving subgenre of horror as been relegated to an endless string of ‘SyFy’ Channel movies in which mutated variations of animals and … Continue reading

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Hard Romanticker (2011) Review

Director: Su-Yeon Gu Writer: Mitsunori Gu, Su-Yeon Gu Cast: Shota Matsuda, Kento Nagayama, Atsuro Watabe, Shido Nakamura, Tokio Emotom, Kaname Endo, Sei Ashina, Yoko Maki, Dai Watanabe, Claude Makik, Keiko Awaji Running Time: 109 min. By HKfanatic If there’s a ‘problem’ with the Yakuza genre these days, it’s that there are so many towering masterpieces in the genre it’s easy for some of the smaller films to go overlooked. One … Continue reading

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In the Line of Duty 4 (1989) Review

"In the Line of Duty 4" Chinese DVD Cover

AKA: Witness Director: Yuen Woo Ping Cast: Cynthia Khan Lai Ching, Michael Wong Man Tak, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Yuen Yat Chor, Liu Kai Chi, Lisa Chiao Chiao, Yuen Shun Yee, Michael Woods, John Salvitti, Stephan Berwick, Farlie Ruth Kordica Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull We all know they don’t make ’em like this anymore, at least not in Hong Kong, so I’ll spare you the rant. I’ll spare … Continue reading

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