Category Archives: Reviews

Lost Kung Fu Secrets, The (1979) Review

July 10, 2012 JJ Bona
"The Lost Kung Fu Secrets" DVD Cover

Director: Joe Law Cast: David Chiang Da-Wei, Hsu Feng, Choi Wang, Hu Chin, Wong Hap, Paul Chun Pui, Sun Jung Chi, Weng Hsiao Hu, Yuen Sam, Chiang Han, Wang Man Chuen Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull  The Lost Kung Fu Secrets (abbreviated hereafter as “Lost”) is not just an exercise in pointlessness, it’s a full-blown workout. I’m talking three consecutive Richard Simmons videos, here. The…ah, “plot” begins as a … Continue reading →

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Tokyo Raiders (2000) Review

July 5, 2012 JJ Bona
"Tokyo Raiders" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jingle Ma Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Ekin Cheng, Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Cecilia Cheung, Toru Nakamura, Ken Abe, Maiyu Ozawa, Kumiko Endo, Sirakawa Minani Running Time: 101 min. By Numskull The problem with movies in the “mindless fun” category is that too many of them forget the “fun” part. Happily, Tokyo Raiders does not suffer from this problem and is readily available in unbutchered form on DVD in North … Continue reading →

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Time Traveller: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2010) Review

June 30, 2012 ningen31

Director: Masaaki Taniguchi Writer: Tomoe Kanno, Yasutaka Tsutsui Cast: Riisa Naka, Akiyoshi Nakao, Narumi Yasuda, Masanobu Katsumura, Kanji Ishimaru, Munetaka Aoki, Anna Ishibashi, Shota Chiyo, Tokio Emoto, Mayu Kitaki, Yuya Matsushita, Toshiya Toyama, Maya Okano Running Time: 122 min. By Ningen Akari is former high school student about to head off into college, when her mother gets into a semi-coma after being in the path of a car. Akari’s mom … Continue reading →

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Prison on Fire II (1991) Review

June 28, 2012 JJ Bona

Director: Ringo Lam Producer: Ringo Lam, Karl Maka Cast: Chan Chung Yung, Chow Yun Fat, Victor Hon Kwan, Frankie Ng Chi Hung, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung, Yu Li, Ng Kwok Kin, Roy Cheung You Yeung, Vincent Wan Yeung Ming Running Time: 109 min. By Numskull This here sequel reunites director Ringo Lam, writer Nam Yin, star Chow Yun-Fat, and a few supporting actors in another episode … Continue reading →

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Prison on Fire (1987) Review

June 28, 2012 JJ Bona
"Prison on Fire" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ring Lam Writer: Nam Yin Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Roy Cheung Yiu Yeung, William Ho Ka Kui, Victor Hon Kwan, Tommy Wong Kwong Leung, Frankie Ng Chi Hun Running Time: 98 min. By Numksull Lots of directors out there could learn a valuable lesson from Ringo Lam. No artsy-fartsy cinematic snobbery to be found in his films, for better or for worse. He and screenwriter … Continue reading →

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Seven Samurai (1954) Review

June 27, 2012 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 →

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Cure (1997) Review

June 25, 2012 JJ Bona

Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa Cast: Kōji Yakusho, Masato Hagiwara, Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Anna Nakagawa, Yoriko Dōguchi, Yukijirō Hotaru, Denden, Ren Osugi, Masahiro Toda, Misayo Haruki Running Time: 111 min. By Jesse “Who are you?” That is a question repeated throughout Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 1997 film Cure, but its true meaning does not become clear until the very end. Takabe (Kôji Yakusho) is a detective living in Japan, doing his best that he can … Continue reading →

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Woman Knight of Mirror Lake, The (2011) Review

June 24, 2012 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

June 20, 2012 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 →

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Freeze Me (2000) Review

June 19, 2012 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 →

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Running on Karma (2003) Review

June 16, 2012 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

June 16, 2012 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

June 14, 2012 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

June 14, 2012 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

June 14, 2012 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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