Category Archives: Reviews

Dragon Fight | aka Dragon Kickboxer (1988) Review

"Dragon Fight" Korean DVD Cover

AKA: The Defector Director: Billy Tang Cast: Jet Li, Dick Wei, Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Nina Li Chi, Steven Ho, Mark Williams Running Time: 98 min. By JJ Hatfield Viewed as a film, “Dragon Fight” is not very good. However, all is not lost if you are a Jet Li fan, or fond of martial arts films. This is a kind of blending of Jet the Chinese excellent citizen and … Continue reading

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Disciples of Shaolin | aka Invincible One (1975) Review

"Disciples of Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Hung Boxing Kid, Royal Monks Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Kong Do, Lo Dik, Stephen Yip Tin Hang, Chen Ming Li, Fung Hak On, Hon Kong, Lam Fai Wong, Jamie Luk Kim Ming Running Time: 102 min. By JJ Hatfield There are a lot of older movies especially from the Shaw Brothers studio that used the word “Shaolin” in the title or the … Continue reading

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Lament | aka Elegy of the Earth (1997) Review

"Lament" Korean DVD Cover

AKA: Jisangmanga Director: Kim Hee-Cheol Cast: Shin Hyun-Joon, Lee Byung-Hun, Jeong Seon-Kyung, Choi Hak-Rak, Yeo-kyeong Kim Running Time: 87 min. BY JJ Hatfield When we first meet Lee Kwang Su (Shin Hyun Jun) he is in very bad shape. His entire life he has tried to forget and escape from a nightmare of a childhood. His only family is an older brother who is half insane. Kwang Su does his … Continue reading

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Accidental Spy, The (2001) Review

"The Accidental Spy" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chan Cast: Jackie Chan, Vivian Hsu, Kim Min Jeong, Wu Hsing-kuo, Eric Tsang, Bradley James Allen, Cheung Tat-ming, Alfred Cheung, Ha Ping, Vincent Kuk, Scott Adkins, Murat Yilmaz, Anthony Rene Jones Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull To say that “this is not your father’s Jackie Chan movie” would be both far too vague and somewhat insulting. The Accidental Spy is a much more serious and intricately-structured effort than … Continue reading

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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

"The Adventurers" Chinese VCD Cover

Director: Ringo Lam 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 the max. As many unnecessary … Continue reading

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

"Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: 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”, Sammo Hung’s plodding “The … 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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