Category Archives: Reviews

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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War | aka Rogue Assassin (2007) Review

"War" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Rogue Director: Philip Atwell Writer: Lee Anthony Smith, Gregory J. Bradley Cast: Jet Li, Jason Statham, Terry Chen, John Lone, Devon Aoki, Sung Kang, Ryo Ishibashi Running Time: 103 min. By JJ Hatfield War, uhhh yeah, what is it good for absolutely nothin’… sorry. The song is good. This movie is not. What comes across is rather two dimensional. I felt at times the characters were made of cardboard. … Continue reading

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Winners & Sinners | aka 5 Lucky Stars (1983) Review

"Winners & Sinners" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Richard Ng, Ching Shung Lin, John Sham, Stanley Fung, James Tien, Lam Ching-Ying, Cecilia Yip Tung, Fung Hak-On Running Time: 95/106 min. By Numskull This is generally considered to be the first Lucky Stars film. It isn’t. It’s a blueprint; a not-quite-ripe-yet predecessor. Director/star Sammo Hung would later use many elements and cast members from this movie in “My Lucky Stars” and “Twinkle … Continue reading

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Invincible Eight, The (1971) Review

Director: Lo Wei Writer: Ni Kuang Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Nora Miao, Billy Chan, Paul Chang Chung, Han Ying Chieh, Sammo Hung, Lam Ching Ying, Lee Kwan, Bruce Leung Siu Lung, Angela Mao Ying, Pai Ying, Lydia Shum, Tang Ching, James Tien, Patrick Tse, Lee Ka Ting Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona A group of eight warriors (Nora Miao, Lee Kwan, Angela Mao, Lydia Shum, James Tien, Tang … Continue reading

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King Kong (1933) Review

"King Kong" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Merian C. Cooper Co-director: Ernest B. Schoedsack Cast: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson Running Time: 105 min. Review by JJ Hatfield The one thing that makes the original version fantastic is the special effects. That may sound a bit absurd considering the state of the art and ever evolving fx we have today however that just adds relevance to my comment. Willis … Continue reading

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Super (2010) Review

"Super" American Theatrical Poster

Director: James Gunn Cast: Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Ellen Page, Kevin Bacon, Nathan Fillion, Gregg Henry, Michael Rooker, Andre Royo, Sean Gunn, Stephen Blackehart, Don Mac Running Time: 96 min. By Ningen Rainn Wilson plays a perpetual loser named Frank whose wife Sarah (Liv Tyler) gets taken in by a drug-lord named Jacques(Kevin Bacon), causing him to don a superhero persona and costume to match. As The Crimson Bolt, he … Continue reading

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Skinny Tiger & Fatty Dragon (1991) Review

"Skinny Tiger & Fatty Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Nutty Kickbox Cops Director: Lau Kar Wing Cast: Sammo Hung, Karl Maka, Carrie Ng, Wanda Yung, Lau Kar Wing, Lung Ming Yan, Wu Fung, Cutie Mui Siu Wai, Ni Kuang, Mark Houghton, Brad Kerner Running Time: 105 min. By JJ Hatfield The running time for this movie is 105 minutes, and you will feel each and every one, when fighting is not on the screen. Yes, Sammo is in … Continue reading

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Operation Scorpio | aka Scorpion King (1992) Review

"Operation Scorpio" French DVD Cover

Director: David Lai Cast: Chin Kar Lok, Lau Kar Leung, Kim Won Jin, Frankie Chin, May Lo, Wu Fung, Victor Hon Kwan, David Lo, Yuen Shun Yee, Yuen Tak, Fruit Chan Gor, Ricky Cheung, Lau Sek Yin, Tiffany Lau, Sai Gwa Paau, Sin Ho Ying Running Time: 96 min. By Yi-Long Life is unfair! Why, easy! In a fair world, Kim Won Jin would have been a household name around … Continue reading

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Heroes Shed No Tears (1983) Review

Director: John Woo Writer: John Woo Producer: Peter Chan Ho Sun Cast: Eddie Ko Hung, Lam Ching Ying, Chin Yuet Sang, Fung Lee, Lee Hoi Suk, Cécile Le Bailly, Philippe Loffredo, Tsang Choh Lam, Pang Yun Cheung, Bruce Cheung Mong, Chow Gam Kong, Lam Fai Wong Running Time: 84 min. By Numskull Hard to believe that John Woo had been a director for about a decade before this was produced. … Continue reading

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Bare-Footed Kid, The | aka Young Hero (1993) Review

Director: Johnnie To Kei Fung Cast: Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Ti Lung, Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, Paul Chun Pui, Jacqueline Wu Chien Lien, Kenneth Tsang Kon, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai, Wong Yat Fei, Tin Ching, Chu Tiet Wo, Cheng Ka Sang, Johnny Cheung Yiu Wah, Hau Woon Ling, Benny Lai Keung Kuen, Leung Kai Chi, Ng Wui, Wong Sun, Yuen Ling To Running Time: 90 min. By JJ Hatfield If … Continue reading

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Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong (2005) Review

"Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong" DVD Cover

Director: Ian Taylor Writer: Ian Taylor Cast: Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Leung, David Chiang, Shih Kien, Gordon Liu, Cheng Pei Pei, Chor Yuen Running Time: 55 min. By Mighty Peking Man After watching Ian Taylor’s Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong, I realize how much of a Hong Kong film connoisseur I’m not. The essence of this IFC produced documentary is that it digs deep into the beginnings of Hong … Continue reading

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Circle of Iron | aka The Silent Flute (1979) Review

"The Silent Flute" Theatrical Poster

Director: Richard Moore Cast: David Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach, Anthony De Longis, Earl Maynard, Erica Creer, Leo Whang, Tom Ascensio Running Time: 102 min. By Raven Bruce Lee had helped write a screen play called The Silent Flute, which was never produced. Following his death, that screenplay was sold and changed beyond recognition, leaving only a few elements of the original. What became of this … Continue reading

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To Kill with Intrigue (1976) Review

"To Kill with Intrigue" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lo Wei Cast: Jackie Chan, Hsu Feng, San Yat Lung, Yu Ling Lung, George Wang Jue, Tung Lam, Ma Kei, Kong Ching Ha, Chan Wai Lau, Lee Man Tai, Tsang Ming Cheong Running Time: 110 min. By JJ Hatfield This review will be brief as I have already wasted enough time watching the damned movie. Two martial arts families clash and one family is wiped out except for Jackie. … Continue reading

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Gorgeous | aka Glass Bottle (1999) Review

"Gorgeous" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Vincent Kok Cast: Jackie Chan, Shu Qi, Tony Leung, Emil Chow, Richie Ren, Elaine Jin, Bradley Allan, Vincent Kok, Sandra Ng, Sam Lee, Stephen Chow, Stephen Fung Running Time: 121 min. By Vic Nguyen Lovelorn daydreamer Bu (Hsu Chi), on a typical day in her Taiwanese village, finds a mysterious message in a bottle. The contents read, “I’m waiting for you”, signed Albert from Hong Kong. Thinking that this might … Continue reading

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