Category Archives: Reviews

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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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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