Category Archives: Reviews

Butterfly and Sword | aka Comet, Butterfly & Sword (1993) Review

"Butterfly and Sword" Chinese Theatrical Advertisement

Director: Michael Mak Tong Kit Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Michelle Yeoh, Joey Wong Tsu Hsien, Jimmy Lin Chi Ying, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Yip Chuen Chan, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong Runing Time: 87 min. By Numskull Maybe this is just a peculiarity of watching a movie at 1 A.M., but it seems to me that Butterfly & Sword was written, produced, and directed by mutant vegetable-people with one brain … Continue reading

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Millionaire’s Express | aka Shanghai Express (1986) Review

"Millionaire's Express" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Olivia Cheng, Eric Tsang, Lam Ching-Ying, Kenny Bee (Chung Chun-To), Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, Yukari Oshima, Wu Ma, Rosamund Kwan, Dick Wei, Richard Ng, Wang Lung-Wei, Yasuaki Kurata (Shoji Kurata), Emily Chu, Yuen Wah, Hwang Jang-Lee, Bolo Yeung Running Time: 98 min. By JJ Hatfield “Millionaire Express” is a film that combines martial arts, comedy and westerns. There are quite possibly more … Continue reading

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Alatriste (2006) Review

Director: Agustin Diaz Yanes Writer: Agustin Diaz Yanes, Arturo Perez-Reverte Producer: Alvaro Augustin, Antonio Cardenal Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Elena Anaya, Javier Camara, Unax Ugalde, Eduardo Fernandez Running Time: 145 min. By JJ Hatfield This is a great film! I was mesmerized by the story line, the cinematography and the acting. It cannot really be accurate to say it is an action film and yet there is no shortage of action. … Continue reading

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Wing Chun (1994) Review

"Wing Chun" Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Yuen Woo Ping Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Kingdom Yuen King Tan, Waise Lee Chi-hung, Catherine Hung Yan, Norman Chu, Tsui Ah Fai, Chui Heung Tung, Cheng Pei Pei Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull In this Yuen Wo-Ping/Michelle Yeoh collaboration, Yeoh is THE Wing Chun, a woman who (in this film, at least) wears mens’ clothing and runs a tofu business with her aunt Abacus (played by a … Continue reading

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Beyond Our Ken (2004) Review

Director: Pang Ho Cheung Writer: Pang Ho Cheung Cast: Daniel Wu Yin Cho, Gillian Chung Yun Tung, Tao Hong, Jimmy Wong Ka Lok Running Time: 98 min. By Slaxor After really enjoying Edmond Pang’s previous film, ‘Men Suddenly in Black,’ I was anxious to see how his next film, ‘Beyond Our Ken,’ would turn out. After hearing the basis of the movie and the fact that a member of the … Continue reading

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Armageddon (1997) Review

Director: Gordon Chan Kar Shan Writer: Gordon Chan Kar Shan, Vincent Kok Tak Chiu Producer: Gordon Chan Kar Shan Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Michelle Reis, Michael Ian Lambert, Kim Maree Penn, Vincent Kok Tak Chiu, Kim Yip Kwong Kim, Michael Lui Mai Go, Angel Wong Tsui Ling, Rocky Lai Keung Kun, Wayne Lai Yiu Cheung, Ray Pang Lap Wai, Victy Wong Yin Keung Running Time: … Continue reading

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Mob Sister (2005) Review

"Mob Sister" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ah Sou, A Sao Director: Wong Ching Po Cast: Annie Liu, Karena Lam, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Simon Yam, Eric Tsang, Alex Fong, Anthony Wong, Chan Chung Yung, O Chun Hung, Lau Yip, Yuen Wah, Lawrence Cheng, Him Law Chung Him, Liu Kai Chi Running Time: 90 min. By Owlman After watching Jay Chou mangle the Cantonese dialect in Initial D, I put in Ah Sou and watched Anne … Continue reading

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Adventurers, The | aka The Great Adventurer (1995) Review

Director: Ringo Lam Writer: Ringo Lam, Sandy Shaw Cast: Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan, Wu Chien Lien, David Chiang, Paul Chun Pui, Philip Ko Fei, Nam Yin, William Ho Ka Kui, Georges Kee Cheung, Four Tse Liu Shut, Ron Yuan, Victor Wong Chi Keung Running Time: 109 min. By Mighty Peking Man The story should have been simple, but Ringo Lam’s The Adventurers has a plot that’s a convoluted cluster-f*ck to … Continue reading

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Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky | aka Ricky Oh (1991) Review

Director: Nam Nai Choi Writer: Nam Nai Choi Cast: Fan Siu Wong, Fan Mei Sheng, William Ho Ka Kui, Yukari Oshima, Tetsuro Tamba, Gloria Yip Wan Yi, Philip Kwok, Lam Suet, Frankie Chin Chi Leung Running Time: 88 min. By Numskull As cult favorite Hong Kong films go, this one is pretty good… that is to say, it wasn’t as disappointing as Ronny Yu’s overblown “The Bride With White Hair”, … Continue reading

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In the Line of Duty | aka Royal Warriors (1986) Review

"In the Line of Duty" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Police Assassins Director: David Chung Chi-Man Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Sanada Hiroyuki, Michael Wong, Pai Ying, Chan Wai Man, David Lam Wai, Gam Hing Yin, Kenneth Tsang, Ninna Reiko, Dennis Chan Running Time: 85 min. By Numksull Michelle Yeoh, with short hair, fights a bunch of people. Henry Sanada, with a big stuffed bunny rabbit, fights a bunch of people. Michael Wong, with a persistent hard-on for Michelle, makes a … Continue reading

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My Young Auntie (1980) Review

"My Young Auntie" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lau Kar-Leung Cast: Lau Kar Leung, Kara Hui, Hsiao Hou, Wang Lung Wei, Gordon Liu, Wilson Tong Wai-Shing, Kwan Yung-Moon, Walter Cho Tat-Wah, Yuen Tak, Robert Mak Tak-Law, Wang Ching-Ho, Wang Sha, Ngai Tung-Gwa Running Time: 119 min. By JJ Hatfield My Young Auntie is one of the best period pieces with Lau Kar Leung at the helm. His job was made a lot easier with a cast that … Continue reading

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Jade Warrior | aka Jadesoturi (2006) Review

Director: Antti-Jussi Annila Cast: Tommi Eronen, Zhang Jingchu, Krista Kosonen, Markku Peltola, Hao Dang, Taishen Cheng, Elle Kull, Liansheng Tong, Qiupu Tao, Xiaomei Tong Running Time: 110 min. By JJ Hatfield When most people think about martial arts they think of China, Japan, and places like Thailand.  Don’t leave out other countries or regions though. If martial arts are practiced in most countries we know of why wouldn’t every place … Continue reading

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Moment of Romance, A (1990) Review

"Moment of Romance" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Benny Chan Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Wu Chien-Lien, Ng Man-Tat, Tommy Wong Kwong-Leung, Leung Shan, Lau Kong, Sandra Lang, Wong Sa-Lei, Wong Man-Wai, Yuen Bun Running Time: 88 min. By Mighty Peking Man “Good girls always go for the bad boys”… I can definitely understand why and Benny Chan’s Moment of Romance makes me understand the line better. What we have here is a modern day Romeo and Juliet meets … Continue reading

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El Topo (1970) Review

"El Topo" Theatrical Poster

Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky Cast: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Brontis Jodorowsky, Mara Lorenzio, David Silva, Paula Romo Running Time: 125 min. By JJ Hatfield “El Topo” is not an easy film to review. For some it is not an easy film to watch. “El Topo” was made in 1968 and hitting the non -conventional movie theatres in 1970. This was the beginning of “midnight movies” that immediately garnered a fanatically devoted cult audience. … Continue reading

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Django (1966) Review

"Django" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sergio Corbucci Cast: Franco Nero, Loredana Nusciak, José Bódalo, Ángel Álvarez, Eduardo Fajardo Running Time: 97 min. By JJ Hatfield “Django” (no not the jazz great) may be considered amongst the “spaghetti westerns” seeing that it was made in Italy and helmed by Sergio Corbucci, with Bruno Corbucci and made Franco Nero a name associated with stardom. “Django” (1966) should really be categorized as a sub genre, with movies … Continue reading

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