Category Archives: Reviews

Avenging Fist, The | aka Legend of Tekken (2001) Review

"The Avenging Fist" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Andrew Lau Co-director: Corey Yuen Cast: Stephen Fung, Wang Lee Hom, Sammo Hung, Chin Kar Lok, Roy Cheung, Gigi Leung, Kristy Yeung, Yuen Biao, Cecilia Yip, Ekin Cheng, Benjamin Yuen, Brian Banowetz, Sammul Chan, Brian Ireland, Jackson Ng Running Time: 96 min. By JJ Hatfield This movie had a number of reasons why it should be good entertainment. The names Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao starts things off right. … Continue reading

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Most Wanted, The (1994) Review

Director: Wong Kam Sai Producer: Clarence Yip Cast: Lau Ching Wan, Bowie Lam Bo Yi, Eileen Tung Ai Ling, Kent Cheng Jak Si, Robin Shou Wan Bo, Gam Hing Yin, Lee Gwok Lun, Marx Cheung Lui, Lee Siu Kei, Leung Hak Shun Running Time: 90 min. By JJ Hatfield Many law enforcement agencies across the globe have used officers to infiltrate crime organizations. It isn’t a new idea however the … Continue reading

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Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) Review

"Godzilla vs. Megalon" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jun Fukuda Producer: Tomoyuki Tanaka Cast: Katsuhiko Sasaki, Hiroyuki Kawase, Yutaka Hayashi, Robert Dunham, Kotaro Tomita Running Time: 81 min. By Woody My fondest memories of Palmdale, California are of visiting my Grandma Mary, eating TV dinners, and sitting in the guest room to watch the weekly Japanese monster movie on channel 5. It was the high point of my week. Living in Palmdale in the early nineties was … Continue reading

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Peacock King, The | aka Legend of the Phoenix (1989) Review

Director: Nam Nai Choi Producer: Chua Lam Cast: Yuen Biao, Gloria Yip Wan Yi, Pauline Wong Siu Fung, Pauline Wong Siu Fung, Gordon Liu Chia Hui, Eddie Ko Hung, Philip Kwok Chung Fung, Ken Boyle, Siu Tak Foo, Yuen Bun, Kara Hui Ying Hung Running Time: 83 min. By JJ Hatfield All is dark except for an area forming a rough circle around an ongoing archaeological dig. Without warning a … Continue reading

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Hard Boiled (1992) Review

"Hard Boiled" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong, Philip Chan, Teresa Mo, Kwan Hoi San, Philip Kwok, Stephen Tung, Bowie Lam, Bobby Au-Yeung Jan Wa Running Time: 122 min. By Joseph Kuby As far as gun battles go, this is the best action film of all time! Cinematically speaking, it doesn’t hold a candle to Bullet In The Head or The Killer for that matter, but it … Continue reading

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Bruce Lee the Invincible (1978) Review

AKA: Bruce Li the Invincible Director: Law Kei Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Chan Sing, Bolo Yeung, Mars, Fung Hak On, Eric Tsang, Michael Chan Wai Man, Chan Wai Ying, Cheung Lik Running Time: 90 min. By Jeff Bona After disrespecting his fellow countrymen, Chang Lee Kung (Michael Chan Wai Man) promises his teacher (Bolo Yeung) that he’ll start a new, positive life in Malaysia. However, … Continue reading

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Goemon | aka The Legend of Goemon (2009) Review

AKA: Goemon: The Robin Hood of Japan Director: Kazuaki Kiriya Writer: Kazuaki Kiriya, Tetsuro Takita Cast: Yosuke Eguchi, Takao Osawa, Ryoko Hirosue, Gori, Eiji Okuda, Eiji Okuda, Kazuaki Kiriya, Jun Kaname, Masato Ibu, Hashinosuke Nakamura, Susumu Terajima, Mikijiro Hira, Tetsuji Tamayama, Choi Hong-man Running Time: 128 min. By Ningen A revisionist take on the titular legendary Japanese thief, this Hero/300-esque follow-up from the director of the live-action Casshern emphasizes his … Continue reading

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New Legend of Shaolin, The | aka The Legend of the Red Dragon (1994) Review

"The New Legend of Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Cast: Jet Li, Chingmy Yau, Tse Miu, Deannie Yip, Yeung Wai, Johnny Wang, Chan Chung Yung, Adam Cheng, Damian Lau, Chu Ko, Ji Chun Hua, Jacqueline Ng, Corey Yuen, Chiu Gwok, Wong Jing Running Time: 94 min. By JJ Hatfield I watched this film a few years back and recalled thinking it would be a long time before I watched it again. So I checked some notes … Continue reading

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American Yakuza (1993) Review

"American Yakuza" American Promotion Poster

Director: Frank Cappello Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Ryo Ishibashi, Michael Nouri, Franklyn Ajaye, Yuji Okumoto, Anzu Lawson, Robert Forster, John Fujioka, Nicky Katt, James Taenaka, Saiko Isshiki, Fritz Mashimo, Jeff Bankert Running TIme: 95 min. By JJ Hatfield After a prisoner finishes a one year term in solitaire he is released and on his own. He had heard of a couple of places that would hire former convicts and he heads … Continue reading

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Protector, The (1985) Review

"The Protector" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: James Glickenhaus Cast: Jackie Chan, Danny Aiello, Roy Chiao Hung, Sally Yeh Tse Man, Moon Lee Choi Fong, Bill Wallace, Shum Wai, John Ladalski, Fung Hak On Running Time: 91 min. By JJ Hatfield This movie has two very different versions. The original version was made in the U.S. Jackie Chan made another attempt to break in to the movie market, even after “The Big Brawl” failed to find … Continue reading

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Bigger Than Life (1956) Review

Director: Nicholas Ray Writer: Berton Roueche, Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum, James Mason, Nicholas Ray, Clifford Odets, Gavin Lambert Producer: James Mason Cast: James Mason, Barbara Rush, Walter Matthau, Robert F. Simon, Christopher Olsen, Roland Winter, Rusty Lane, Rachel Stephens, Kipp Hamilton Running Time: 95 min. By JJ Hatfield This film is a genuine masterpiece! It was created in 1956 and was turned into reality by Nicholas Ray, the director and … Continue reading

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Magnificent Butcher (1979) Review

"Magnificent Butcher" Hong Kong Theatrical Poster

Director: Yuen Woo-ping Cast: Sammo Hung, Kwan Tak-hing, Yuen Biao, Fung Hak On, Lam Ching-ying, Chung Fat, Wei Pei, Fan Mei Sheng, Lee Hoi San, Kwan Tak-hing, Yuen Mao, JoJo Chan Kei Kei, Chiang Kam, Tong Jing, Billy Chan Wui Ngai Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull Wong Jing penned this early Sammo Hung vehicle, but thankfully, someone else directed it. The fact that that someone else was Yuen Woo-Ping … Continue reading

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Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars | aka The Target (1985) Review

"Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Stanley Fung, Eric Tsang, Michael Miu, John Sham, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Rosamund Kwan, Sibelle Hu, Chung Fat, Yasuaki Kurata, Richard Norton, Philip Ko, Andy Lau, Lau Kar Wing, Dick Wei, Anthony Chan, Charlie Chin, Chin Kar Lok, Kara Hui, Chin Siu-Ho Running Time: 90 min. By Numskull More of the same, but a little better. I’m a little annoyed that I … Continue reading

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My Lucky Stars (1985) Review

"My Lucky Stars" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Producer: Leonard Ho Cast: Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Sibelle Hu, Jackie Chan, Richard Ng, Eric Tsang, Andy Lau, Michiko Nishikawa, Charlie Ching, Stanley Fung, Lam Ching-Ying, Bolo Yeung, James Tien, Yuen Wah, Fruit Chan Gor Running Time: 84/99 min. By Numskull How many people, like myself, saw the Arena Home Video release of this movie in the martial arts section at Media Play and shelled out eight … Continue reading

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Encounter of the Spooky Kind (1980) Review

"Encounter of the Spooky Kind" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Sammo Hung, Chung Fat, Peter Chan, Huang Ha, Lam Ching Ying, Wu Ma, Tai Bo, Billy Chan, Chin Lung, Cheung Ging Boh, Fung King Man, Fung Lee Running Time: 98 min. By JJ Hatfield The first time I saw this movie it was in the form of a very ancient and quite heavy dusty old VHS tape. The story was immensely confusing because … Continue reading

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