Category Archives: Vietnamese

Fish, Fists and Ambergris | aka Chase for Amber (2025) Review

September 17, 2026 Paul Bramhall

I’m always grateful for those moments when watching a movie leaves me that little bit smarter after the closing credits roll than I was before them. In the case of Vietnam’s Fish, Fists and Ambergris it takes the form of an expanded vocabulary, with the newly acquired knowledge that ambergris refers to “the solid, waxy, and flammable byproduct created in the digestive system of sperm whales” (thanks Google). Also commonly … Continue reading →

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Foggy Mountain | aka The Foggy Mountain-Dinh Mu Suong (2020) Review

February 8, 2024 Paul Bramhall

Director: Phan Anh Cast: Peter Pham, Kim Long Thach, Simon Kook, Cong Ninh, Pham Huy Thuc, Truc May Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall In the world of martial arts cinema Vietnam has been in somewhat of a unique position in the 21st century, in that its most popular star is female, with Veronica Ngo leading the charge with the likes of Furie and its sequel, Furies, which she … Continue reading →

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Furies | aka Thanh Soi (2023) Review

March 24, 2023 Paul Bramhall

Director: Veronica Ngo Cast: Hoa Thanh, Veronica Ngo, Dong Anh Quynh, Toc Tien, Rima Thanh Vy, Thuan Nguyen Running Time: 112 min.  By Paul Bramhall Multi-talented star Veronica Ngo has maintained an enduring presence since first coming to international audiences attention in The Rebel and Clash during the late 2000’s, both of which served to briefly put Vietnamese action cinema on the map. Naturally Hollywood came calling, however minor supporting … Continue reading →

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Head Rush | aka Lôi Báo (2017) Review

March 3, 2023 Paul Bramhall

AKA: Lôi Báo Director: Victor Vu Cast: Cuong Seven, Tran Thi Nha Phuong, Quach Ngoc Ngoan, Ngoc Anh Vu, Jason Ninh Cao Running Time: 107 min. By Paul Bramhall There was a time in the mid-late 2000’s when it seemed like Vietnam was going to be the next big thing when it came to action filmmaking in Asia. After briefly facing off against Tony Jaa in 2005’s Tom Yum Goong, … Continue reading →

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Luc Van Tien: Tuyet Dinh Kungfu (2017) Review

August 5, 2019 Martin Sandison
"Luc Van Tien: Tuyet Dinh Kungfu" Vietnamese Theatrical Poster

Director: Hoang Phuc Cast: Andy Long, Diep Lam Anh, Thanh Loc, Kim Tuyen, Du Au, Khoi Chau, Andy Le, Brian Le Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison Some years back my friends and I were active in the Indie kung fu movie scene, and made some features and shorts. We posted on the Stunt People Forum, which is a great way to share videos and support each other. Although there … Continue reading →

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Furie (2019) Review

May 17, 2019 Matija Makotoichi Tomic
"Furie" Theatrical Poster

Director: Le-Van Kiet Writer: Kay Nguyen Cast: Veronica Ngo Thanh Van, Cat Vy, Phan Thanh Nhien, Phạm Anh Khoa, Tran Thanh Hoa Running Time: 98 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Veronica Ngo is back, and with her, so is the Vietnamese martial arts action. It’s been a while since we’ve last seen Vietnam delivering an action movie worth praising, but that changes with Furie, and the deadly art of Vovinam … Continue reading →

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Bitcoin Heist (2016) Review

September 13, 2017 Kelly Warner
Bitcoin Heist | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Ham Tran Cast: Kate Nhung, Thanh Pham, Petey Majik Nguyen, Suboi, Jayvee Mai, Lam Thanh My, Teo Yoo, Veronica Ngo Running Time: 110 min. By Kyle Warner Before we get to talking about what kind of movie Bitcoin Heist is, I’m going to start off the same way that the film does by attempting to explain what bitcoins are. Bitcoins are a digital currency with no central repository and no national fingerprint. It’s … Continue reading →

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Tracer | aka Truy Sát (2016) Review

October 4, 2016 Paul Bramhall
"Truy Sat" Vietnamese Theatrical Poster

Director: Cuong Ngo Cast: Trung Ngoc Anh, Lamou Vissay, Marcus Guilhem, Maria Tran, Trung Ly, Thien Nguyen, Mike Leeder, Antony Nguyen, Hieu Nguyen, Cuong Seven Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2007, Thailand was still riding the coat tails of Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong, a double whammy of action brutality, that seemed to proclaim the South East Asian kingdom as the new home of bone crunching martial arts cinema. However with Tony … Continue reading →

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House in the Alley (2012) Review

July 19, 2016 Kelly Warner
"House in the Alley" Vietnamese Poster

Director: Le-Van Kiet Writer: Le-Van Kiet Producer: Dan Trong Tran Cast: Veronica Ngo, Son Bao Tran, Van Hai Bui Running Time: 93 min. By Kelly Warner It’s been my experience that some of the finest horror films work so well because they build their dread and terror by taking their time, letting the scares linger, allowing the horror to slowly bubble over. An in-your-face horror film like Shinya Tsukamoto’s Tetsuo: The … Continue reading →

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Once Upon a Time in Vietnam | aka Lua Phat (2013) Review

June 23, 2014 Jeff Bona
"Once Upon a Time in Vietnam" Vietnamese Theatrical Poster

Director: Dustin Nguyen Writer: Dustin Nguyen Cast: Dustin Nguyen, Roger Yuan, Veronica Ngo, Thai Hoa, Nguyen Hoang Quan, Xuan Phat, Hieu Hien, Dinh Ngoc Diep Running Time: 104 min. By Jeff Bona Since Dragon Dynasty’s U.S. release of 2006’s The Rebel, Asian movie enthusiasts have had a major hard-on for Vietnamese action films. The Rebel, with its snappy fight choreography and rich storyline, proved that a Vietnamese production could hold its … Continue reading →

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Sword of the Assassin | aka Blood Letter (2012) Review

February 25, 2014 oneleaf
"Sword of the Assassin" Theatrical Poster

Director: Victor Vu Cast: Huynh Dong, Midu, Van Trang, Khuong Ngoc, Van Anh, Minh Thuan, Jaivee Mai Running Time: 100 min. By oneleaf Sword of the Assassin, aka Blood Letter (2012), a Vietnamese language epic period drama/action starring Huynh Dong, Midu, Kim Hien, Khuong Ngoc, and Minh Thuan is directed by Vietnamese film maker and script writer Victor Vu. The film won a number of awards at the 2012 Golden … Continue reading →

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Clash | aka Bay Rong (2009) Review

September 3, 2011 Z Ravas
"Clash" International Theatrical Poster

Director: Le Thanh Son Cast: Johnny Tri Nguyen, Veronica Ngo, Hieu Hien, Hoang Phuc Nguyen, Lam Minh Thang Running Time: 100 min. By HKFanatic Hot on the heels of their 2007 martial arts hit “The Rebel,” still the highest grossing Vietnamese film of all time, the creative team behind that movie reunite for another high-octane action film, “Clash.” This time the plot is set in modern day Saigon rather than … Continue reading →

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Rebel, The (2007) Review

June 29, 2011 Z Ravas
"The Rebel" Vietnamese Theatrical Poster

Director: Charlie Nguyen Cast: Johnny Tri Nguyen, Veronica Ngo, Dustin Nguyen, Chanh Tin Nguyen, Nguyen Thang Running Time: 103 min. By HKFanatic If you’ve heard of “The Rebel,” it’s probably for one of two reasons. (1.) Upon the time of its release in 2007, it was the most expensive Vietnamese production of all time, with a budget somewhere between 1.5 and 3 million US dollars. (2.) It stars Dustin Nguyen … Continue reading →

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