Category Archives: Reviews

House of Flying Daggers (2004) Review

Posted on June 11, 2012 by JJ Bona
"House of Flying Daggers" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Lovers Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau, Song Dandan, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Song Dandan Running Time: 119 min. By Owlman Let me start off by saying that House of Flying Daggers is a very beautiful film. The cinematography, the colorful costumes, the action scenes – all very well done and hypnotic during the first viewing of the film. However, like Zhang Yimou’s previous wuxia creation, Hero, House of … Continue reading →

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Hero (2002) Review

Posted on June 11, 2012 by JJ Bona
Hero Blu-ray (Miramax)

Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Donnie Yen, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, James Pak Chin Sek, Liu Zhong Yuan, Zheng Tian Yong Running Time: 96/120 min. By Dragon Ma Hero is like a Chinese painting come to life, the colours are vibrant and stunning. Chris Doyle became a god of cinematography with this film. His use of colour is unmatched, the fight between … Continue reading →

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Sector 7 (2011) Review

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Sector 7" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji-Hun Cast: Ha Ji-Won, Ahn Seong-Gi, Oh Ji-Ho, Lee Han-Wi, Park Cheol-Min, Song Sae-Byuk, Cha Ye-Ryeon, Park Jeong-Hak, Park Young-Soo Running Time: 112 min. By HKFanatic “Sector 7” is the latest film penned by Yun Je-Gyun, the screenwriter behind 2009’s “Tidal Wave,” and if you’ve seen that Korean disaster epic you can probably predict the biggest problem with “Sector 7”: the pacing. “Tidal Wave” spent over an hour … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews |

Wake of Death (2004) Review

Posted on June 8, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Wake of Death" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Philippe Martinez Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Simon Yam, Valerie Tan, Philip Tan, Tony Schiena, Claude Hernandez Running Time: 91 min. By Mighty Peking Man Archer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is an ex-mobster who has discovered that his wife has been brutally murdered by a psychotic triad leader named Sun Quan (played by Hong Kong star Simon Yam). With the help of his old school gangster connections, Archer sets out for … Continue reading →

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Just Heroes | aka Tragic Heroes (1987) Review

Posted on June 5, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Just Heroes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Co-director: Ng Ma Cast: David Chiang, Danny Lee, Chen Kuan Tai, Stephen Chow, Lo Lieh, Cally Kwong, Wu Ma, Shing Fui On, Zhao Lei, Tien Niu, Alan Chan, Fung Hak On, Philip Ko Fei Running Time: 97 min. By Numskull This is the John Woo “gun fu” movie that nobody has seen. It’s listed on the filmographies, but nothing much is ever said about it. It simply gets nestled … Continue reading →

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Lost Bladesman, The (2011) Review

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Z Ravas
The Lost Bladesman | DVD (Anchor Bay)

Director: Felix Chong Co-director: Alan Mak Cast: Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Chin Siu Ho, Andy On Chi Kit, Betty Sun Li, Dong Yong, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Calvin Li Zong Han, Shao Bing, Wang Bo Chieh, Nie Yuan Running Time: 107 min. By HKFanatic Hong Kong’s biggest superstar Donnie Yen teams up with the filmmaking duo behind the “Infernal Affairs” sequels, Felix Chong and Alan Mak, for this Three Kingdoms-era … Continue reading →

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Helpless (2011) Review

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Z Ravas

Director: Byun Young-Joo Cast: Lee Seon-Gyun, Kim Min-Hee, Jo Seong-Ha, Kim Byul, Choi Deok-Mun, Lee Hee-Jun, Kim Min-Jae, Kim Tae-In, Choi Il-Hwa, Bae Min-Hee, Park Sang-Woo Running Time: 117 min. By HKFanatic “Helpless” is the latest in a string of recent Korean films based on Japanese novels (see also: “Howling,” “White Night”). The source material here is a book by Miyabe Miyuki, who is known in Japan as the Queen … Continue reading →

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Dragon Eyes (2012) Review

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Dragon Eyes" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: John Hyams Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Cung Le, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Peter Weller, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Luis Da Silva, Dan Henderson, Rich Clementi, Trevor Prangley Running Time: 91 min. By HKFanatic I don’t think it’s possible to overstate the impact “Universal Soldier: Regeneration” had on the action genre back in 2009. Here was a sequel that no one really asked for, to a franchise that had become mired in … Continue reading →

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Choy Lee Fut | aka Fight the Fight (2011) Review

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Choy Lee Fut: The Speed of Light" (aka Fight the Fight) American DVD Cover

Director: Tommy Law Co-director: Sam Wong Cast: Sammo Hung, Sammy Hung, Kane Kosugi, Lau Kar Wing, Yuen Wah, Sam Wong Ming Sing, Sam Wong Ming Sing, Sam Wong Ming Sing, Ian Powers Running Time: 92 min. By HKFanatic As far as I can tell, “Choy Lee Fut” was produced for two reasons: 1.) to serve as the debut starring vehicle of Sammo Hung’s son, Sammy Hung and 2.) to introduce … Continue reading →

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Let’s Go! (2011) Review

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Let's Go!" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Ching Po Cast: Juno Mak Jun Lung, Jimmy Wang Yu, Pat Ha Man Jing, Stephy Tang Lai Yan, Gordon Lam, Chin Siu Ho, Ken Lo, Tony Ho Wah Chiu, Billy Ching Sau-Yat Running Time: 96 min. By HKFanatic Mild pre-release buzz suggested that “Let’s Go!” was a Chinese martial arts romp inspired by 80’s Japanese superhero cartoons, and the trailer seemed to confirm this general notion. If I … Continue reading →

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Bride with White Hair, The (1993) Review

Posted on May 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
"The Bride with White Hair" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ronnie Yu Cast: Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, Elaine Lui Siu-Ling, Yammie Nam Kit-Ying, Francis Ng, Law Lok-Lam, Pau Fong, Eddy Ko Hung, Joseph Cheng Running Time: 90 min. By Numskull Hmmm…well, not quite as banal as I expected, but still annoying in several respects. For starters, just about everything is blue. Also, the villainess is one of those Saturday morning cartoon types who laughs manically at two things: 1) … Continue reading →

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Tell Me Something (1999) Review

Posted on May 2, 2012 by JJ Bona

Director: Chang Yoon-hyun Cast: Han Seok-Kyu, Shim Eun-Ha, Ahn Suk-Hwan, Yu Jun-Sang, Jang Hang-Seon, Yum Jung-Ah, Kim Jung-Hak, Lee Dae-Ro, Maeng Bong-Hak, Kim Yong-Han Running Time: 116 min. By Numskull Tell ME something… why ruin a perfectly good suspense thriller with one of the most repetitive, redundant, unnecessary, and repetitive final shots in motion picture history? Perfectly good story, perfectly good ending, and they fuck it up with this really … Continue reading →

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Viral Factor, The (2012) Review

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Z Ravas
The Viral Factor Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Dante Lam Cast: Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse, Bai Bing, Lee Byung Hun, Lin Peng, Jung Woo-sung, Andy On Chi Kit, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Liu Kai Chi, Elaine Kam Yin Ling Running Time: 120 min. By HKFanatic “The Viral Factor” is the latest blockbuster from Dante Lam, a man who has become one of Hong Kong’s premiere action director thanks to films like “Fire of Conscience” and “The Stool … Continue reading →

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Punished (2011) Review

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Z Ravas
Punished aka Abduction, Retribution DVD (Vivendi)

Director: Law Wing Cheong Cast: Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Janice Man Wing San, Maggie Cheung Ho Yee, Richie Ren Yin Chi, Candy Lo Hau Yam, Charlie Cho Cha Lei, Wong Yat-Yat Running Time: 94 min. By HKFanatic Revenge has become a de facto theme for Asian films over the last decade, perhaps ever since 2003’s “Oldboy.” Johnnie To, the producer on “Punished,” even helmed a movie called “Vengeance” just a … Continue reading →

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Let the Bullets Fly (2010) Review

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Let the Bullets Fly" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Jiang Wen Cast: Jiang Wen, Chow Yun Fat, Ge You, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Hu Jun, Chen Kun, Liao Fan, Zhou Yun, Feng Xiaogang, Shao Bing, Bai Bing, Du Yiheng, Hu Ming, Jiang Wu, Ma Ke, Miao Pu, Wei Xiao, Yang Qiyu, Yao Lu Running Time: 132 min. By HKFanatic “Let the Bullets Fly” became a breakout hit at the Chinese box office in 2010 and, just a week … Continue reading →

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