Category Archives: Reviews

Man from Nowhere, The (2010) Review

"The Man from Nowhere" International Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ajeossi Director: Lee Jeong-beom Writer: Lee Jeong-beom Cast: Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Hee-won, Kim Sung-oh, Thanayong Wongtrakul Running Time: 119 min. By HKFanatic “The Man From Nowhere” is probably the best blind buy I’ve ever made. I decided to pick it up during release week based on the little positive word-of-mouth I’d read online. I figured: hey, it’s a new gritty Korean revenge movie, it has … Continue reading

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Mission, The (1999) Review

"The Mission" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Writer: Nai-Hoi Yau Cast: Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Jackie Lui Chung-yin, Roy Cheung, Suet Lam, Simon Yam, Tin Lam Wong, Eddy Ko-Hung Running Time: 88 min. By Woody “The Mission” concerns a rich businessman hiring a diverse group of men, including Anthony Wong, Lam Suet, and Francis Ng, to protect him from killers trying to take him out. After they have successfully completed their mission, … Continue reading

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Chaser, The (2008) Review

"Chaser" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Chugyeogja Director: Na Hong-jin Cast: Kim Yun-Seok, Ha Jung-Woo, Seo Yeong-Hee, Park Hyo-Joo, Jung In-Gi, Jo Duk-Je Running Time: 123 min. By HKFanatic It took me a second viewing to realize it but “The Chaser” is probably one of the best films I’ve ever seen. It’s also an extremely frustrating experience. “The Chaser” is a thriller that refuses to behave like one as writer/director Na Hong-jin embraces the sad … Continue reading

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2LDK (2002) Review

Director: Yukihiko Tsutumi Cast: Maho Nonami, Koike Eiko Running Time: 70 min. By Alexander I think we’ve all had a Worst Roommate Ever, a roommate we secretly  wished would plummet to their death from the bumper sticker-covered windows of our 4th floor college dorm rooms. A roommate whose laundry “hamper” was the floor, the backs of our chairs and the bottom of the shared closet. The roommate whose idea of … Continue reading

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Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City (2010) Review

Director: Takashi Miike Writer: Kankuro Kudo Cast: Show Aikawa, Riisa Naka, Tsuyoshi Abe, Masahiro Inoue, Naoki Tanaka, Guadalcanal Taka Running Time: 106 min. By HKFanatic No matter what, you can always count on Takashi Miike to do the last thing you expect of him. Just a few months before “13 Assassins” hit theaters in Japan, becoming yet another benchmark in the director’s storied career, Miike directed a sequel to his … Continue reading

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Human Centipede 2, The: Full Sequence (2011) Review

Director: Tom Six Writer: Tom Six Producer: Tom Six, Ilona Six Cast: Laurence R. Harvey, Ashlynn Yennie, Dominic Borrelli, Vivien Bridson, Lee Harris, Peter Blankenstein, Bill Hutchens, Dan Burman, Daniel Jude Gennis, Kandace Caine, Maddi Black, Lucas Hansen, Georgia Goodrick, Emma Lock, Hugo Sampson, Tom Six Running Time: 84/87 min. By Laser Beahm I’m not a huge fan of the horror genre, but I have respect for the art. Films … Continue reading

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Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) Review

Director: Guillermo del Toro Writer: Guillermo del Toro, Mike Mignola Cast: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, John Hurt, Seth MacFarlane Running Time: 120 min. By JJ Hatfield In some ways Hellboy II: The Golden Army surpasses the first movie especially when it comes to creatures of all sizes and personalities. Director Guillermo del Toro deserves much of the credit for making the movie … Continue reading

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Better Tomorrow, A (2010) Review

Director: Song Hae-Seong Cast: Joo Jin-Mo, Song Seung-Heon, Kim Gang-Woo, Jo Han-Seon, Kyeong-yeong Lee, Ji-yeong Kim, Hae-gon Kim, Hyeong-jun Lim, Tae-hwa Seo, Sin-seong Lee Running Time: 124 min. By HKFanatic Considering Hong Kong cinema’s rich history, particularly during the New Wave of the 80’s and early 90’s, it’s surprising that producers haven’t indulged in more remakes. Then again, the Hong Kong film industry has changed so much during the last … Continue reading

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Shaolin Soccer (2001) Review

"Shaolin Soccer" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Stephen Chow Co-director: Lik-Chi Lee Cast: Stephen Chow, Lee Wai, Vicki Zhao, Ng Man-Tat, Cecilia Cheung, Cheung Ming Ming, Law Kar-Ying, Karen Mok, Karen Morris, Alan Tam, Patrick Tse Running Time: 112 min. By Vic Nguyen Overtaking From Beijing With Love as the best introduction to the work of Stephen Chow to western audiences, this big budget, FX laden production more than lives up to the hype, injecting enough … Continue reading

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Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane (2007) Review

Director: Scott Thomas Writer: Sidney Iwanter, Mark Onspaugh, Scott Thomas Producer: David Shoshan Cast: David Chisum, Kristen Kerr, Kevin J. O’Connor, Derek Webster, Dale Midkiff, Erick Avari, Richard Tyson Running Time: 94 min. By JJ Hatfield In the mood for a scary flick instead of watching some of my perennial favorites I decided to catch up on some films I have purposely passed by. Flight Of The Living Dead happened … Continue reading

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Legend is Born – Ip Man, The (2010) Review

"The Legend Is Born – Ip Man" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Dennis To, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Fan Siu-wong, Huang Yi, Ip Chun, Kenya Sawada, Betty Huang Yi, Bernice Liu Bik Yi, Lam Suet, Chen Zhi Hui, Kenya Sawada, Sire Ma Sai, Hins Cheung Ging Hin, Louis Cheung Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Viewers would be forgiven for thinking that “The Legend is Born” is a legitimate prequel to Donnie Yen’s “Ip Man” series. Not only … Continue reading

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Blue Velvet (1986) Review

Director: David Lynch Writer: David Lynch Producer: Fred Caruso Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Hope Lange, George Dickerson, Dean Stockwell Runing Time: 120 min. By HKFanatic People who aren’t video or audiophiles will tell you that blu-ray isn’t much of an upgrade in quality and that they’re perfectly happy with their DVD collections. True AV geeks know the truth: that when enough care is put into … Continue reading

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Farewell My Concubine (1993) Review

Director: Chen Kaige Writer: Lilian, Lee Lu Wei Cast: Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li, Lu Qi, Ying Da, Yidi, Zhi Yitong, Lei Han, Li Chun Running Time: 156 min. By Ningen I don’t know what it is about Peking Opera that looks appealing in martial arts films, but which comes off dull in arthouse flicks. While it’s true that this is only the second film of this genre I’ve … Continue reading

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Bullet Train (1975) Review

"Bullet Train" Theatrical Poster

Director: Junya Sato Cast: Ken Takakura, Sonny Chiba, Kei Yamamoto, Eiji Go, Akira Oda, Raita Ryu, Masayo Utsunomiya, Yumi Takigawa, Etsuko Shihomi, Takashi Shimura, Fumio Watanabe, Mizuho Suzuki, Ken Utsui, Tetsuro Tamba Running Time: 115 min.  By Sergio Martorelli It’s official: american action films sucks mammoth balls, even the ones directed by HK masters like John Woo and Tsui Hark. And do you wanna know why? I’ll tell ya. It’s … Continue reading

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Mortal Kombat: Legacy (2011) Review

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Blu-ray (Warner)

Director: Kevin Tancharoen Cast: Michael Jai White, Jeri Ryan, Darren Shahlavi, Matt Mullins, Sam Tjhia, Jolene Tran, Ryan Robbins, Ian Anthony Dale, Kevan Ohtsji, Peter Shinkoda Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Back in 2010, a director named Kevin Tancharoen appeared out of nowhere with a short film titled “Mortal Kombat: Rebirth.” The film was a ‘proof of concept’ for Kevin’s vision of a Mortal Kombat relaunch, a way to … Continue reading

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