Category Archives: Reviews

Best of the Best (1989) Review

"Best of the Best" American DVD Cover

Director: Robert Radler Cast: James Earl Jones, Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee, Chris Penn, John Dye, David Agresta, Tom Everett, Sally Kirkland, Hee Il Cho, Simon Rhee, James Lew, Ken Nagayama, Ho Sik Pak, Edan Gross, Louise Fletcher Running Time: 97 min. By HKFanatic I put off watching “Best of the Best” for years – to the point where most people’s reaction became “I can’t believe you haven’t seen that movie!” … Continue reading

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Naked Killer (1992) Review

"Naked Killer" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Clarence Ford Writer: Wong Jing Cast: Changmy Yau, Simon Yam, Kelly Yao, Carrie Ng, Madoka Sugawara, Hui Siu Hung, Ken Lo, Dick Lau Dik Ji, Yu Kwok Lok, Sung Boon Chung, Louis Roth Running Time: 88/93 min. By Alexander The image of a gun-wielding, nearly nude Chingmy Yau is undoubtedly burned into the collective conscious of drooling Hong Kong cinema fanboys everywhere. Low budget periodicals like “Asian Cult Cinema”, … Continue reading

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Gantz II: Perfect Answer (2011) Review

Director: Shinsuke Sato Writer: Hiroya Oku, Yusuke Watanabe Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Ken’ichi Matsuyama, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Takayuki Yamada, Gou Ayano, Kanata Hongo, Ayumi Ito, Tomorowo Taguchi Running Time: 141 min. “Perfect Answer” picks up right where the first live-action “Gantz” movie left off and does exactly what you’d hope a sequel would do. The plot is denser, the stakes are raised for our heroes, and the action is even more violent … Continue reading

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I Saw the Devil (2010) Review

Director: Kim Ji-woon Writer: Park Hoon-jung Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Choi Min-Sik, Jeon Guk-Hwan, Cheon Ho-Jin, Oh San-Ha, Kim Yun-Seo, Choi Mu-Seong, Kim In-Seo, Jo Deok-Je, Han Cheol-Woo Running Time: 114 min. By JJ Hatfield I Saw The Devil is a stunning masterpiece of the macabre. A terrifying tale of horrific deeds done for sickening psychotic pleasures and unimaginable acts carried out for a promised justice. In the dark of night … Continue reading

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Throne of Blood | aka Spider’s Web Castle (1957) Review

Director: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Isuza Yamada, Takashi Shimura, Akira Kubo, Hiroshi Tachikawa, Minoru Chiaki, Takamaru Sasaki, Kokuten KodoUeda Kichijiro Running Time: 109 min. By Mairosu Guess what dear readers if there are any, it’s a fortification doubleheader! First, I saw Hidden Fortress today, the film which allegedly inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars (turns out it just inspired some moments of Star Wars rather than the whole … Continue reading

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War of the Arrows (2011) Review

"War of the Arrows" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Han-Min Cast: Park Hae-Il, Ryu Seung-Ryong, Moon Chae-Won, Kim Moo-Yeol, Park Gi-Woong, Lee Han-Wi, Lee Kyung-Young, Park Ki-Woong, Ryohei Otani, Kim Ku-Taek Running Time: 122 min. By HKFanatic “War of the Arrows” is a blockbuster Korean film set during the Second Manchu invasion of Korea in the mid-17th century. Our hero, Nam-Yi, is the best archer in all the land – but his father was murdered when he … Continue reading

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Gantz (2010) Review

Director: Shinsuke Sato Writer: Hiroya Oku, Yusuke Watanabe Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Ken’ichi Matsuyama, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Kanata Hongo, Natsuna Watanabe Running Time: 130 min. By HKFanatic Much like “Death Note,” 2010’s “Gantz” is a two-part live-action adaptation of a popular and long-running manga/anime. While “Death Note” sticks closely to the realm of the supernatural, “Gantz” is pure science-fiction. At times it feels like a cross between “The Matrix” and “Men in … Continue reading

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Tiger on the Beat (1988) Review

"Tiger on the Beat" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Lau Kar Leung Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Conan Lee, Nina Li Chi, Shirley Ng, Norman Chu, Gordon Liu, David Chiang, Philip Ko Fei, James Wong, Wayne Archer, Lau Kar Wing, Shing Fui On, Lydia Shum, Ti Lung, Wilson Tong, Wu Shih, Bill Lui Tak-Wai Running Time: 89 min. By Joseph Kuby More watchable than Lethal Weapon 3 and 4 combined! Although this irreverent film should really be compared to … Continue reading

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Flash Point (2007) Review

"Flash Point" Blu-ray Cover

Director: Wilson Yip Cast: Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Collin Chou, Ray Lui, Xing Yu, Fan Bing Bing, Kent Cheng, Xu Qing, Ben Lam, Ha Ping, Ai Wai, Tony Ho Wah Chiu, Timmy Hung Tin Ming, Helena Law, John Salvitti, Kenji Tanigaki, Austin Wai Running Time: 85 min. By HKFanatic Even as a huge fan of Donnie Yen, I wouldn’t try to argue that “Flash Point” is a great ‘film’ in … Continue reading

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Ninja in the Deadly Trap | aka Hero Defeating Japs (1981) Review

"Ninja in the Deadly Trap" DVD Cover

AKA: Ninja Kung Fu Director: Philip Kwok Cast: Ti Lung, Lu Feng, Philip Kwok, Yasuaki Kurata, Chiang Sheng, Cheung Paang, Wong Yeuk Ping, July Chu Lai, Han Yu, Ma Chin Ku, Cheung Chung Kwai, Cho Boon Feng, Mau Ging Shun, Ma Chin-Ku, Han Yu Running Time: 92 min. By Numskull Philip Kwok (aka Guo Juei, aka Kuo Choi) pulls triple duty as director, actor, and martial arts choreographer in this … Continue reading

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Ninja: The Final Duel (1986) Review

"Ninja: The Final Duel" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ninja’s Final Duel Director: Robert Tai Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Alice Tseng, Lee I Min, Alan Lee Hoi Hing, Richard Tseng, Wong Chi Sang, William Yen, Wong Hap, Eugene Thomas, Ahmed Najja Running Time: 89 min. By Sergio Martorelli NAKED KUNG FU BABES! Got your attention? Good. Now let’s get down to business. Ninja: The Final Duel is a colorful, ultra-kinetic, gore-drenched and delightfully zany Taiwanese production that’s been … Continue reading

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Yellow Sea, The (2010) Review

Na Hong-Jin's "The Yellow Sea"

AKA: The Murderer Director: Na Hong-jin Cast: Ha Jung-Woo, Kim Yun-Seok, Chul-Min Lee, Seong-Ha Cho, Jae-hwa Kim, Kwak Do-Won Running Time: 140 min. By Jeff Bona The director of 2008’s The Chaser returns with The Yellow Sea, a down and dirty thriller that doesn’t exactly have the most catchiest title – personally, I would have titled it The Chaser Part II: Even More F*cked Up, which is pretty much the … Continue reading

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Drive (2011) Review

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn Writer: Hossein Amini, James Sallis Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks, Kaden Leos, Jeff Wolfe, James Biberi Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic When a director has good taste in music, or at least makes the right selections on the soundtrack, it can change the viewer’s entire perception of a film. Nicolas Winding Refn added an unexpected … Continue reading

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Outrage (2010) Review

Outrage: Way of the Yakuza Blu-ray & DVD (Magnolia)

Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Kippei Shiina, Ryo Kase, Tomokazu Miura, Jun Kunimura, Tetta Sugimoto, Takashi Tsukamoto, Hideo Nakano, Renji Ishibashi, Fumiyo Kohinata Running Time: 109 min. By HKFanatic “Outrage” is Takeshi ‘Beat’ Kitano’s first Yakuza film in ten years (since 2000’s “Brother“). Kitano himself admitted he designed the film from the ground up to be a commercial crowd-pleaser, a goal that seems well within his … Continue reading

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Redbelt (2008) Review

"Redbelt" American Theatrical Poster

Director: David Mamet Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Alice Braga, Rodrigo Santoro, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Randy Couture, Caroline de Souza Correa, Mike Goldberg, Damon Herriman, Dan Inosanto, Enson Inoue, Ricky Jay, John Machado, Ray Mancini, Joe Mantegna, Max Martini, Emily Mortimer, David Paymer Running Time: 100 min. By JJ Hatfield Red Belt is truly an exceptional martial arts movie. It achieves this distinction by focusing on one quiet unassuming man … Continue reading

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