Category Archives: Reviews

Long Arm of the Law 2 (1987) Review

"Long Arm of the Law 2" Theatrical Poster

Director: Michael Mak Tong Kit Cast: Stephen Chan Tak Gwong, Hon Yee Sang, Ben Lam Kwok Bun, Alex Man Chi Leung, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Pauline Wong Siu Fung, Yuen Yat Chor, Mama Hung Running Time: 86 min. By HKFanatic This dark, gritty crime flick is another minor masterpiece from late 80’s Hong Kong. Although the first entry in the “Long Arm of the Law” series is still the most … Continue reading

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Tai Chi Master | aka Twin Warriors (1993) Review

"Tai Chi Master" Chinese DVD Cover

AKA: Tai Chi Director: Yuen Woo Ping Cast: Jet Li, Chin Siu Ho, Michelle Yeoh, Fennie Yuen Kit-Ying, Yuen Cheung Yan, Lau Shun, Yu Hai, Sun Jian Kui, Chow Gam-Kong, Yu Yan-Kai Running Time: 94 min. By Numskull Note to Yuen Wo Ping: Stop renting out your justly famous talent as a fight choreographer to other directors and make more of your own movies. They may not be as polished … Continue reading

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My Father is a Hero | aka The Enforcer (1994) Review

"My Father is a Hero" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Letter to Daddy Director: Corey Yuen Writer: Wong Jing Cast: Jet Li, Anita Mui, Tse Miu, Blacky Ko, Bonnie Fu Yuk Jing, Yu Rong Guang, Ken Lo, Damian Lau, Thorsten Nickel, Paul Rapovski, Henry Fong Ping, Corey Yuen Running Time: 100/105 min. By Numskull You know, for someone whose fame is based on his martial arts skills, I’m not seeing a whole lot of martial arts in Jet Li’s … Continue reading

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Project S | aka Supercop 2 (1993) Review

Director: Stanley Tong Producer: Barbie Tung Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Yu Rong Guang, Emil Chau, Fan Siu Wong, Dick Wei, Athena Chu, Bill Tung Biu, Bowie Lam, Alain Guernier, Ailen Sit Chun Wai, Chan Man Ching, Joe Cheung, Mars, Yukari Oshima, Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang Running Time: 98 min. By Numskull It seems that “they”… whoever they are… really don’t want us North American types to see this movie. The DVD … Continue reading

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PTU | aka Police Tactical Unit (2003) Review

"PTU" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Cast: Simon Yam Tat Wah, Lam Suet, Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Eddie Ko Hung, Wong Wa Wo, Lo Hoi Pang Running Time: 88 min. By Alexander PTU certainly isn’t one of Johnnie To’s best efforts, but it does manage to offer up a few surprises, and another excellent performance by Simon Yam (Bullet in the Head). The film meanders … Continue reading

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Flaming Brothers, The | aka Dragon and Tiger Fight (1987) Review

"The Flaming Brothers" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Joe Cheung Writer: Wong Kar Wai Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Alan Tang, Pat Ha Man Jing, Jenny Tseng Yan Lei, Patrick Tse, Philip Chan, James Yi Lui, Norman Chu, Fong Yau, Cheung Chok Chow, Chan Laap Ban Running Time: 101 min. By HKFanatic Chow Yun Fat made this heroic bloodshed film in 1987, smackdab in the middle of “A Better Tomorrow” and “A Better Tomorrow II.” That fact alone … Continue reading

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Dragon Family, The (1988) Review

"The Dragon Family" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Lau Kar Wing Cast: Alan Tam, Andy Lau, Max Mok Siu Chung, Ken Tong Chun Yip, Norman Chu, Michael Miu Kiu Wai, William Ho Ka Kui, Lisa Chiao Chiao, Stanley Fung, Kent Cheng, Ku Feng, Lau Kar Wing, Shing Fui On, Philip Ko Fei, Wayne Archer, Charlie Cho, Kara Hui Ying Hung, Blacky Ko Running Time: 88 min. By HKFanatic Andy Lau and Alan Tam must have had a … Continue reading

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Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (2008) Review

Director: Takuji Kitamura Writer: Tatsuhiko Takimoto, Hirotoshi Kobayashi Cast: Megumi Seki, Hayato Ichihara, Yosuke Asari, Itsuji Itao, Haruma Miura, Maho Nonami, Hiromi Shinjo, Aya Kiguchi Running Time: 109 min. By HKFanatic Don’t let the title fool you: “Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge” is not a film that would fit in with the Sushi Typhoon catalog. There’s no blood, no gore, no strangely appendaged women. The second coming of “Machine Gun Girl” … Continue reading

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Reservoir Dogs (1992) Review

Director: Quentin Tarantino Writer: Quentin Tarantino Producer: Lawrence Bender Cast: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Michael Madsen, Quentin Tarantino, Randy Brooks, Kirk Baltz, Lawrence Bender, Steven Wright Running Time: 99 min. By Ningen While it’s not a legal or officially acknowledged remake of City on Fire, Reservoir Dogs has (unfairly) achieved so much attention, that it’d be impossible to ignore reviewing it. A number of … Continue reading

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Police Woman | aka Young Tiger (1973) Review

AKA: Rumble in Hong Kong Director: Zhu Mu Cast: Yuen Qiu, Charlie Ching, Jackie Chan, Chiang Nan, Hu Chin, Betty Pei Dee, John Cheung Ng Long, Feng Yi, Lee Man Tai, Helena Law Lan Running Time: 90 min By Alvin George I bought this movie for three bucks from Circuit City, hoping it would be better than the other ’70s Jackie Chan movies I’ve seen due to its modern (1970s) … Continue reading

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Stool Pigeon, The | aka Informer (2010) Review

Director: Dante Lam Chiu Yin Writer: Jack Ng Wai Lun Cast: Nick Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Chin Kar Lok, Miao Pu, Liu Kai Chi, Lu Yi, Sherman Chung Shu Man, Gwei Lun-Mei, Deep Ng Ho Hong, Derek Kwok Jing Hung Running Time: 113 min. By HKFanatic For the creative team behind “The Stool Pigeon,” making this film must have been a no-brainer. Director Dante Lam previously collaborated with actors Nick Cheung … Continue reading

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Thundering Mantis | aka Mantis Fist Fighter (1980) Review

AKA: Mantis Fist Fighter Director: Yip Wing Cho Cast: Leung Kar Yan, Eddie Ko Hung, Wong Yat Lung, Chin Yuet Sang, Lee Kwan, Fang Mien, Ma Chin Ku, Suen Lam, Shih Ting Ken, Au Lap Bo Running Time: 90 min. By Joseph Kuby Cannibalistic Cult Classic! Thundering Mantis (a.k.a. ‘The Mantis Fist Fighter’ or ‘Crazy Mantis’) is a film that has garnered quite a notorious reputation over the years for … Continue reading

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Last Blood, The | aka Hard Boiled II (1991) Review

"The Last Blood" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: 12 Hours of Terror Director: Wong Jing Cast: Alan Tam, Andy Lau, Eric Tsang, Leung Kar Yan, May Lo, Jackson Lau, Nat Chan Pak Cheung Running Time: 89 min. By HKFanatic When I told Mighty Peking Man I’d watched this film, he recalled how back in the early 90’s “The Last Blood” was frequently marketed as “Hard Boiled II” by shady video distributors. Considering that “The Last Blood” was … Continue reading

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Man from Hong Kong, The | aka The Dragon Flies (1975) Review

"The Man from Hong Kong" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, George Lazenby, Rosalind Speirs, Frank Thring, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Roger Ward, Sammo Hung, Rebecca Gilling, Grant Page, Bill Hunter, Lam Ching Ying, Yuen Biao, Corey Yuen, To Wai Wo Running Time: 111 min. By Jeff Bona When a Chinese drug courier named Win Chan (Sammo Hung) is arrested in Australia, local police officials enlist the help of Hong Kong Special Agent Fang Sing Leng … Continue reading

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Ninja Assassin (2009) Review

"Ninja Assassin" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: James McTeigue Cast: Rain, Naomie Harris, Ben Miles, Rick Yune, Sho Kosugi, Sung Kang, Randall Duk Kim, Linh Dan Pham, Ill-Young Kim, Yuki Iwamoto, Stephen Marcus Running Time: 99 min. By Mighty Peking Man If any of the following statements apply to you, then chances are, you definitely went through a “ninja phase” in the 1980s: 1. You had a copy of Revenge of the Ninja playing religiously in … Continue reading

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