Category Archives: Reviews

Helpless (2011) Review

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

"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

"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

"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

"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

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

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

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

"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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In the Line of Duty 3 (1988) Review

"In the Line of Duty 3" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Arthur Wong Co-director: Brandy Yuen Cast: Cynthia Khan, Hiroshi Fujioka, Stuart Ong, Michiko Nishiwaki, Dick Wei, Paul Chun, Yueh Hua, Sandra Ng, Melvin Wong, Robin Shou, Stephan Berwick, Law Ching Ho, Chris Lee, Season Ma Si San, Bennett Pang, Mandy Chan, Stanley Fung, Richard Ng, Eric Tsang Running Time: 83 min. By HKFanatic 80’s action girl Cynthia Khan has long had the reputation of being a ‘replacement’ for Michelle … Continue reading

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No Retreat, No Surrender II | aka Raging Thunder (1987) Review

"No Retreat, No Surrender 2" American VHS Cover

Director: Corey Yuen Cast: Loren Avedon, Matthias Hues, Max Thayer, Cynthia Rothrock, Hwang Jang Lee, Roy Horan, Patra Wanthivanond, Nirut Sirichanya, Chesda ‘Pop’ Smithsuth Running Time: 97/104 min. By Jeff Bona If you think Jackie Chan and John Woo were the first (after Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon, of course) to introduce real Hong Kong action to mainstream moviegoers in America, think again. In 1985, Hong Kong’s Seasonal Film Corporation, … Continue reading

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All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) Review

Director: Shunji Iwai Writer: Shunji Iwai Producer: Koko Maeda Cast: Hayato Ichihara, Shugo Oshinari, Ayumi Ito, Takao Osawa, Miwako Ichikawa, Izumi Inamori Running Time: 140 min. By Alexander As I sit here typing this review I’m still trying to figure out whether I like “All About Lily Chou Chou” or not. On one hand, it’s a beautiful film, filled with gorgeous images of rural Japan. The shot of young Yuichi … Continue reading

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Raid, The (2011) Review

Raid: Redemption Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)

Director: Gareth Evans Cast: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian, Pierre Gruno, Tegar Setrya, Ray Sahetapy, Eka “Piranha” Rahmadia, Verdi Solaiman, Iang Darmawan Running Time: 101 min. By HKFanatic Like most martial arts buffs, I was a fan of writer/director Gareth Evans’ and star Iko Uwais’ first collaboration, 2009’s “Merauntau.” But as good as that movie was – and it certainly had its bone-breaking highlights – there was little … Continue reading

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Rolling Thunder (1977) Review

Director: John Flynn Cast: William Devane, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Haynes, James Best, Dabney Coleman, Luke Askew Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona Being the film nut that I am, I feel like I should have seen this movie years ago. Even its title explodes with coolness. When I think of Rolling Thunder, two things come to mind: The first is an unrelated 1986 video game called Rolling Thunder, a … Continue reading

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Final Impact (1991) Review

"Final Impact" UK DVD Cover

Director: Joseph Merhi Cast: Lorenzo Lamas, Jeff Langton, Mimi Lesseos, Kathleen Kinmont, Michael Worth, Frank Rivera, Gary Daniels, Antoinette Steen, James M. Williams Running Time: 101 min. By Retter The genre of kickboxing and punch fighting movies could easily fill an entire video store (or more). The post-Van Damme video era of the 80’s and 90’s coincided with an explosion in home video. This new market in home entertainment was … Continue reading

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