Category Archives: Reviews

Seven Samurai (1954) Review

Posted on June 27, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Seven Samurai" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: 7 Samurai Director: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Daisuke Kato, Isao Kimura, Minoru Chiaki, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yoshio Inaba, Kamatari Fujiwara, Bokuzen Hidari Running Time: 207 min. By Numskull Akira Kurosawa is what I refer to as a “sacred cow” director (others include Ingmar Bergman and Wong Kar Wai). To suggest that any of his films is anything less than perfect in every way is to be labeled … Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Woman Knight of Mirror Lake, The (2011) Review

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Z Ravas
"The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Betty Huang Yi, Dennis To Yue Hong, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Kevin Cheng Ga Wing, Rose Chan Ka Wun, Pat Ha Man Jing, Hung Yan Yan, Lam Suet, Lau Siu Ming, Chui Tien You, Wong You Nam, Mia Yam Running Time: 115 min. By HKFanatic Former b-movie auteur Herman Yau (“Ebola Syndrome,” “Troublesome Night”) has successfully re-invigorated his career as of late, refashioning himself as a … Continue reading →

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Return to a Better Tomorrow (1994) Review

Posted on June 20, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Return to a Better Tomorrow" French Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Ekin Cheng, Michael Wong, Chingmy Yau, Ben Lam Kwok Bun, James Wong Jim, Paul Chun Pui, Lee Siu-Kei, Lo Meng, Collin Chou, Ernest Mauser Running Time: 104 min. By Joseph Kuby Underrated Heroic Bloodshed Gem! Return To A Better Tomorrow is usually looked down upon just because it’s directed by Wong Jing (who receives some fairly biased reviews and is an extremely underrated director – … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Freeze Me (2000) Review

Posted on June 19, 2012 by JJ Bona

AKA: Freezer Director: Takashi Ishii Producer: Takashi Ishii, Nobuaki Nagae, Taketo Niitsu Cast: Shingo Tsurumi, Shunsuke Matsuoka, Harumi Inoue, Kazuki Kitamura, Naoto Takenaka Running Time: 102 min. By Jesse Freeze Me tells the story of a woman who was gang raped by three thugs as a teenager and later starts a new life with a good job and a loving fiance. A few years later, one of the rapists shows … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Running on Karma (2003) Review

Posted on June 16, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Running on Karma" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Co-director: Wai Ka Fai Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Cecilia Cheung, Cheung Siu Fai, Karen Tong Bo Yue, Chun Wong Running Time: 93 min. By Equinox21 Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai’s Running on Karma is one of the strangest yet ultimately fulfilling Hong Kong movies I’ve ever seen. It’s a difficult movie to explain as so much happens in a 90 minute package. The direction the … Continue reading →

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Accident (2009) Review

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Accident" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Soi Cheang Pou Soi Cast: Louis Koo, Richie Ren, Michelle Yip Suen, Stanley Fung Shui Fan, Lam Suet, Monica Mok Siu Kei, Alexander Chan Mong Wa, Han Yuqin, Lai Cheung Wing Running Time: 83 min. By HKFanatic “Accident” is a slick Hong Kong thriller in the Milkyway Image tradition. If you’ve seen recent thrillers like “Eye in the Sky” and “Punished,” you’ll have some idea of what to expect. … Continue reading →

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King of Comedy (1999) Review

Posted on June 14, 2012 by JJ Bona
"King of Comedy"Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Stephen Chow Cast: Stephen Chow, Cecilia Cheung, Ng Man Tat, Karen Mok, Jackie Chan, Bobby Yip, Bruce Law Running Time: 99 min. By Vic Nguyen Stephen Chow Sing-chi has long been considered the undisputed box office king of Hong Kong Cinema (not discounting Jackie Chan or Chow Yun-fat in their heydays), beginning with the remarkable success of the the Jeff Lau helmed All for the Winners. Ever since then, he … Continue reading →

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Zu: Warriors from Magic Mountain (1983) Review

Posted on June 14, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Zu: Warriors From Magic Mountain" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Hark Producer: Leonard Ho Cast: Yuen Biao, Mang Hoi, Adam Cheng, Damian Lau, Sammo Hung, Moon Lee, Brigitte Lin, Norman Chu, Randy Man, Ha Kwong-Li, Tsui Hark Running Time: 98 min. By Numskull An unrestrained martial arts fantasy extravaganza with ample tongue-in-cheek humor delivered with a smug “ain’t I a genius?” attitude by overpraised director Tsui Hark. This sugar rush of a movie bombards the audience with one … Continue reading →

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Full Alert (1997) Review

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Barey Gusey
"Full Alert" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ringo Lam Producer: Ringo Lam Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Francis Ng Chun-yu, Peter Yung Kam-Cheung, Chin Kar-Lok, Monica Chan Running Time: 98 min. By Barey Gusey After making his Hollywood debut in Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Maximum Risk (which was heavily tampered with by the studio), director Ringo Lam (City on Fire) returned to his native Hong Kong to film Full Alert, a dark, superbly written crime drama. Other than a very … Continue reading →

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House of Flying Daggers (2004) Review

Posted on June 11, 2012 by JJ Bona
"House of Flying Daggers" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Lovers Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau, Song Dandan, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Song Dandan Running Time: 119 min. By Owlman Let me start off by saying that House of Flying Daggers is a very beautiful film. The cinematography, the colorful costumes, the action scenes – all very well done and hypnotic during the first viewing of the film. However, like Zhang Yimou’s previous wuxia creation, Hero, House of … Continue reading →

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Hero (2002) Review

Posted on June 11, 2012 by JJ Bona
Hero Blu-ray (Miramax)

Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Donnie Yen, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, James Pak Chin Sek, Liu Zhong Yuan, Zheng Tian Yong Running Time: 96/120 min. By Dragon Ma Hero is like a Chinese painting come to life, the colours are vibrant and stunning. Chris Doyle became a god of cinematography with this film. His use of colour is unmatched, the fight between … Continue reading →

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Sector 7 (2011) Review

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Sector 7" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji-Hun Cast: Ha Ji-Won, Ahn Seong-Gi, Oh Ji-Ho, Lee Han-Wi, Park Cheol-Min, Song Sae-Byuk, Cha Ye-Ryeon, Park Jeong-Hak, Park Young-Soo Running Time: 112 min. By HKFanatic “Sector 7” is the latest film penned by Yun Je-Gyun, the screenwriter behind 2009’s “Tidal Wave,” and if you’ve seen that Korean disaster epic you can probably predict the biggest problem with “Sector 7”: the pacing. “Tidal Wave” spent over an hour … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews |

Wake of Death (2004) Review

Posted on June 8, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Wake of Death" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Philippe Martinez Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Simon Yam, Valerie Tan, Philip Tan, Tony Schiena, Claude Hernandez Running Time: 91 min. By Mighty Peking Man Archer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is an ex-mobster who has discovered that his wife has been brutally murdered by a psychotic triad leader named Sun Quan (played by Hong Kong star Simon Yam). With the help of his old school gangster connections, Archer sets out for … Continue reading →

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Just Heroes | aka Tragic Heroes (1987) Review

Posted on June 5, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Just Heroes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Co-director: Ng Ma Cast: David Chiang, Danny Lee, Chen Kuan Tai, Stephen Chow, Lo Lieh, Cally Kwong, Wu Ma, Shing Fui On, Zhao Lei, Tien Niu, Alan Chan, Fung Hak On, Philip Ko Fei Running Time: 97 min. By Numskull This is the John Woo “gun fu” movie that nobody has seen. It’s listed on the filmographies, but nothing much is ever said about it. It simply gets nestled … Continue reading →

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Lost Bladesman, The (2011) Review

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Z Ravas
The Lost Bladesman | DVD (Anchor Bay)

Director: Felix Chong Co-director: Alan Mak Cast: Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Chin Siu Ho, Andy On Chi Kit, Betty Sun Li, Dong Yong, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Calvin Li Zong Han, Shao Bing, Wang Bo Chieh, Nie Yuan Running Time: 107 min. By HKFanatic Hong Kong’s biggest superstar Donnie Yen teams up with the filmmaking duo behind the “Infernal Affairs” sequels, Felix Chong and Alan Mak, for this Three Kingdoms-era … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , |
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