Category Archives: Reviews

Assassination Games | aka Weapon (2011) Review

"Assassination Games" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ernie Barbarash Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Scott Adkins, Kevin Chapman, Ivan Kaye, Valentin Teodosiu, Alin Panc, Serban Celea, Michael Higgs, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Marija Karan, Bianca Van Varenberg, Andrew French, Marioara Sterian Running Time: 95 min. By HKFanatic For many Jean Claude Van Damme fans in the United States, the limited release of “Assassination Games” this summer means the first chance to see their hero on the big screen … Continue reading

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Warrior’s Way, The | aka The Warrior (2010) Review

"The Warrior's Way" UK Theatrical Poster

Director: Sngmoo Lee Cast: Jang Dong Gun, Geoffrey Rush, Kate Bosworth, Danny Huston, Tony Cox, Ti Lung Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic I’m going to have to be the dissenting opinion here because I didn’t enjoy “The Warrior’s Way” nearly as much as Mighty Peking Man. I thought the film had potential, but overall the sluggish pacing and artificial-looking digital world didn’t do much for me. If you have … Continue reading

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Tekken (2010) Review

"Tekken" Italian Theatrical Poster

Director: Dwight H. Little Cast: Jon Foo, Kelly Overton, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Ian Anthony Dale, Tamlyn Tomita, Candice Hillebrand, Luke Goss, Gary Daniels, Mircea Monroe, Cung Le, Marian Zapico, Darrin Dewitt Henson Running Time: 92 min. By HKFanatic Video game to movie adaptations have something of a dirty reputation. I mean, I’ve lost count of how many times director Paul W. Anderson has suckered audiences (myself included) into spending money on … Continue reading

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Black Water (2007) Review

Director: Andrew Traucki, David Nerlich Writer: Andrew Traucki, David Nerlich Producer: Michael Robertson Cast: Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody, Andy Rodoreda, Ben Oxenbould, Fiona Press Running Time: 88 min. By HKFanatic “Black Water” opens with an ominous message. To paraphrase: “The Saltwater Crocodile population of Northern Australia is increasing.” Pause. “So is the human population.” Even with the knowledge that the film received funding from the Australian Film Commission, you probably … Continue reading

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Grudge, The (2004) Review

"The Grudge" Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Shimizu Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, William Mapother, Clea DuVall, KaDee Strickland, Grace Zabriskie, Bill Pullman, Rosa Blasi, Ted Raimi, Ryo Ishibashi Running Time: 92 min. By Ningen So stop me if you’ve heard this before. Sarah Michelle Gellar walks into a Japanese haunted house, and almost gets attacked by demons. She’s a nurse who happens to be working abroad and living with a whacky family. Unlike … Continue reading

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Ju-On 2 (2003) Review

"Ju-On 2" Promotional Poster

Director: Takashi Shimizu Cast: Shin’ya Egawa, Takashige Ichise, Kunio Kawakami, Yoshinori Kumazawa, Hiroki Numata Running Time: 95 min. By Mighty Peking Man They should have called this movie Ju-On II: Overkill – not only would this title sound cool, but it’s one hell of a double-pun. Like most people, I never expect sequels to be as good as their originals, but Ju-On 2 is too much of the same sh*t, … Continue reading

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Ju-On (2002) Review

"Ju-On" Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Ju-On: The Grudge Director: Takashi Shimizu Cast: Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa, Tomomi Kobayashi, Takashi Matsuyama Running Time: 92 min. By Mighty Peking Man Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and the first thing you see standing over your bed is Linda Blair’s character from The Exorcist staring right at you and coming closer and closer – that’s how creepy this damn film … Continue reading

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Carry On Pickpocket (1982) Review

"Carry On Pickpocket" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Frankie Chan, Lau Hak Suen, Deannie Yip Tak Han, Didi Pang Sau Ha, Peter Chan Lung, Richard Ng Yiu Hon, Dick Wei, James Tien Chun, Paul Wong Kwan, Liu Wai Hung, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Chan Chik Waai, Chan Dik Hak, Cheung Gwok Wa, Johnny Cheung Yiu Wah Running Time: 102 min. By HKFanatic As a Sammo Hung fan, there comes a time when … Continue reading

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Knockabout (1979) Review

"Knockabout" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Yuen Biao, Lau Kar Wing, Sammo Hung, Leung Kar Yan, Lee Hoi San, Mars, Wong Kwong Yue, Karl Maka, Peter Chan, Ho Pak Kwong, Billy Chan, Johnny Cheung Running Time: 104 min. By HKFanatic 1979’s “Knockabout” represents the first starring role for one of the Three Dragons, Yuen Biao. The opening credits even state “Introducing Yuen Biao.” Behind the camera, Sammo Hung – one of Yuen’s … Continue reading

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Bodyguards & Assassins | aka Dark October (2009) Review

Bodyguards and Assassins DVD (Indomina)

Director: Teddy Chen Cast: Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Hu Jun, Edison Wang, Fan Bing Bing, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, Wang Xue Qi, Zhou Yun, Mengke Bateer, Che Kim Fai, Jacky Chung, Cung Le, Li Yu Chun, Gary Mak, Philip Ng, Michelle Reis, John Sham, Dennis To Running Time: 139 min. By HKFanatic Donnie Yen continues his quest to remind global audiences that Hong Kong … Continue reading

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Ring 2 | aka Ringu 2 (1998) Review

AKA: Ringu 2 Director: Hideo Nakata Writer: Hiroshi Takahashi, Koji Suzuki Cast: Daisuke Ban, Kyoko Fukada, Kenjiro Ishimaru, Nanako Matsushima, Katsumi Muramatsu, Miki Nakatani Running Time: 95 min. By Numskull STOP!!! Read this review ONLY if you have already seen Ring 2, if you have seen Ring and want to know more about the sequel before you see it (or decide whether or not to see it), OR if you … Continue reading

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Ring 0 | aka Ringu 0 (2000) Review

AKA: Ringu 0: Happy Birthday Director: Norio Tsuruta Writer: Koji Suzuki Cast: Yuki Nakama, Kumiko Aso, Daisuke Ban, Chinami Furuya, Masami Hashimoto, Kazue Kadokae Running Time: 99 min. By Numskull Here we have both the last and the first installment of the highly successful Ring sequence, rewritten for the screen by creator/novelist Koji Suzuki and directed by Norio Tsuruta, a newcomer to the series. Taking place three decades before the … Continue reading

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews |

Ring | aka Ringu (1998) Review

"The Ring" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Hideo Nakata Cast: Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rikiya Otaka, Miki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, Rie Ino, Masako, Yoichi Numata, Yutaka Matsushige Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull “Frolic in brine, goblins be thine.” Doesn’t make much sense sitting up there all by itself, does it? Well, it may not make much sense after watching the movie, either, but it’s still kinda catchy, I think. Certainly not the only … Continue reading

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Ring, The (2002) Review

Director: Gore Verbinski Cast: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Frost, Amber Tamblyn, Rachael Bella, Daveigh Chase, Shannon Cochran Running Time: 115 min. By Numskull This is a remake. Hence, the source material should be taken into consideration before it is discussed. Go read my review for Ring in the Japanese section if you haven’t done so already. I’ll wait. Hmm hm hm hm hmmm… … Continue reading

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Demon Warriors (2007) Review

"Demon Warriors" Thai Theatrical Poster

AKA: Opapatika Director: Thanakorn Pongsuwan Cast: Somchai Kemglad, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Leo Putt, Athip Nana, Ray MacDonald, Kemapsorn Sirisukha, Nirut Sirichanya, Pongpat Wachirabunjong Running Time: 106 min. By HKFanatic This is a movie I held off watching, largely because the DVD cover didn’t inspire much confidence. The cover blurb declared the movie was something like a “darker X-Men” but I figured it was just another cheesy Thai action flick in the … Continue reading

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