Leopard Fist Ninja | aka The Return of Twin Dragons (1982) Review

"Leopard Fist Ninja" Theatrical Poster

“Leopard Fist Ninja” Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Return of Twin Dragons
Director: Nam Gi-nam
Cast: Im Ja-Ho, Baek Hwang-Gi, Kim Yoo-Haeng, Jo Choon, Im Hae-Rim, Chia Kai, Kim Ki-Beom, Jo Hak-Ja, Park Jong-Seol, Choe Jong-Sook, Kang Cheol
Running Time: 83 min.

By Paul Bramhall

By the 1980’s the popularity of the taekwon-action genre was starting to wane in its native Korea, a decline brought on by the hugely popular release of Drunken Master, which saw the kung-fu comedy become the order of the day. As with any shift in genre tastes, not every filmmaker was in a hurry to adapt to changes in the current trends, and in Korea one such director was Nam Gi-nam. After spending the 70’s helming movies like Return of Red Tiger and Double Dragon in Last Duel, Gi-nam maintained his poker-faced approach to action movies into the 80’s, of which The Return of Twin Dragons falls squarely into the category of.

While the likes of Jeong Jin-hwa (Elton Chong) and Seo Byeong-heon (Benny Tsui) were attempted to be sold as local equivalents to Jackie Chan, usually cast as high kicking comedic buffoons in a series of Drunken Master inspired outings, another new face on the block named Im Ja-ho wasn’t so lucky. Arguably arriving in the taekwon-action genre a little too late in the game, while Ja-ho had spent the late 70’s playing supporting roles in the likes of the Bobby Continue reading

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Team Japan or Team Korea? Place your bets. Well Go USA’s ‘Harbin’ arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD in April

On April 1, 2025, Well Go USA is releasing the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD for Harbin, a 2024 period thriller from director Woo Min-Ho (The Man Standing Next, The Drug King).

In 1909, several years after Korea is forced into becoming a Japanese colony, freedom fighters plot the daring assassination of Japan’s prime minister Continue reading

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She-nobi! Watch the Trailer for ‘Shogun’s Ninja’ from ‘Kamen Rider’ and ‘Power Rangers’ action director Koichi Sakamoto

"Shogun’s Ninja" Theatrical Poster

“Shogun’s Ninja” Theatrical Poster

On March 28, the “Samurai Vs Ninja” YouTube channel (if you’ve never heard of it, think Hi-YAH, only their focus is Japanese action) will be debuting Shogun’s Ninja (no relation to the 1980 classic of the same name that starred Hiroyuki Sanada and Sonny Chiba).

Shogun’s Ninja is helmed by Koichi Sakamoto (Power Rangers, Kamen Rider), who also handles the film’s action direction. The film stars Himena Yamada (Ultraman Blazer), Kanon Miyahara (Kamen Rider Gotchard), and features famous Japanese suit actors Teruaki Ogawa (Gokaiger Goseiger Super Sentai 199 Hero Great Battle) and Seiji Takaiwa (Shuriken Sentai Ninninger).

Produced by Nihon Eiga Broadcasting Corp, the Japanese-language film is set in the 17th century Edo period and follows sisters Kagaribi Continue reading

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This is a man’s world… but it would be nothing without Kara Hui! Blu-ray for ‘The Lady is the Boss’ now available

Goodie Emporium now has 88 Films’ Blu-ray (Region A/B) for 1983’s The Lady is the Boss. Directed by and starring the great Lau Kar-leung (Shaolin Mantis), The Lady is the Boss blends fun and fighting as only he could – and those fights are some of the very best of his illustrious career.

A culture-clash comedy – with kung fu! A thoroughly Americanised young woman (Kara Hui, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter) returns to Hong Kong to visit the martial arts Continue reading

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Chang Cheh’s ‘The Daredevils’ and ‘Ode to Gallantry’ now on Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment

The Daredevils and Ode to Gallantry | Blu-ray (Eureka)

The Daredevils and Ode to Gallantry | Blu-ray (Eureka)

Now available from Goodie Emporium is a Blu-ray (Region A/B) collection that includes two films directed by Chang Cheh: 1979’s The Daredevils and 1982’s Ode to Gallantry.

During his long and industrious career, the “Godfather of Hong Kong Cinema” Chang Cheh made several films with the celebrated “Venom Mob,” a group of skilled martial arts performers – including Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng, Philip Kwok, Sun Chien, Lo Mang, and Wai Pak – who rose to fame as the stars of his own Five Deadly Venoms. Here, Eureka Classics presents two of the Venom Mob’s best: The Daredevils and Ode to Gallantry.

Set in Republic era China, The Daredevils follows Yang Ta-ying (Lo Mang) as he sets out to avenge his father, a military commander who was Continue reading

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It’s the FINAL Trailer for the Sly-penned Jason Statham actioner ‘A Working Man’ from director David Ayer

"A Working Man" Theatrical Poster

“A Working Man” Theatrical Poster

Steven Seagal was just a cook in Under Siege. Daisy Ridley was just a window cleaner in Cleaner. Jean-Claude Van Damme was just a gardener in The Gardener. Now, Jason Statham (The Meg, Redemption, The Expendables) is just a construction worker in MGM’s A Working Man.

Formerly known as Levon’s Trade, this upcoming actioner – written by Sylvester Stallone (its plot is dangerously similar to Rambo: Last Blood) – reunites Statham with The Beekeeper director, David Ayer (End of Watch, Suicide Squad).

Joining Statham is David Harbour (Extraction), Michael Peña (Narcos: Mexico), Jason Flemyng (The Iron Mask) and Arianna Rivas (The Harvest). Daren Nop, who served as fight coordinator Continue reading

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Kung Fu Rookie (2023) Review

"Kung Fu Rookie" Theatrical Poster

“Kung Fu Rookie” Theatrical Poster

Director: Aman Ergaziyev
Cast: Timur Baktybayev, Irina Azhmukhamedova, Kuat Khamitov, Erkebulan Toktar, Riskul Konakbaev, Janelle Sergazina, Talgat Duisenov, Kuandyk Shakyrzhanov
Running Time: 79 min.

By Z Ravas

2023’s Kung Fu Rookie (AKA “Timuchin”) has a problem. No, it’s not the production values — the film looks sharp for a low-budget project out of Kazakhstan — nor is it the script necessarily, as this action/comedy has more than a few jokes and gags that land. No, it’s the fact that the whole movie is built around the idea that lead actor Timur Baktybayev is a walking, talking tribute to Jackie Chan… except instead of fighting like Jackie Chan, he moves like your best buddy with the beer paunch who says, “Hey, watch this” and then pretends to do a martial arts kick in your kitchen, nearly splitting his groin in the process.

Okay, okay, maybe I’m being a little harsh: Kung Fu Rookie proves it’s hard to pull off a compelling fight scene on camera, and you can tell the cast and crew here are trying. Let’s not forget that Kazakhstan isn’t exactly known for its thriving international action scene. And the setup is adequate for this kind of movie, as Timur Baktybayev’s character visits his uncle in the big city with the intention of joining the local police force. Before long, his uncle’s fruit stall draws Continue reading

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Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu (1981) Review

"Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu" Theatrical Poster

“Raiders of Buddhist Kung Fu” Theatrical Poster

Director: Godfrey Ho 
Cast: Gordon Liu, Wang Ryong, Kim Ki-Joo, Seol Ji-Yeon, Kwak Eun-Gyung, Baek Hwang-Gi, John Kelly, Choe Moo-Woong, Lung Ho-Yu, Park Hui-Jin, Lee Hwa-Jin
Running Time: 90 min. 

By Ian Whittle

So I picked up the DVD assuming from the cover still of Gordon Liu in his usual monk attire that this was going to be another “Gordon from Shaolin” by way of a Korea flick, but once again I have been fooled… here Gordon is the villain! A warlord in what may be Republic era China, but it’s not very clear. And I don’t think Shaolin came into it at all!

So my thoughts on this mess….

  • IFD used the Star Wars music for their damn logo!
  • Gordon Liu is very miscast as a very milquetoast villain, who seems way too fond of his hot sister. I find it very hard to believe the boyish Liu is supposed to be a powerful warlord here. He’s not helped by the weird old man voice given to non-sequiturs they give him – “Arrest everyone….traitors!”
  • An unexplained Roy Horan/Bob Baker/Wallish/ gwailo
  • A rather repulsive hunchback traitor, disfigured Continue reading
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Deal on Fire! The Shadow Boxing | Blu-ray | Only $18.99 – Expires soon!

The Shadow Boxing | Blu-ray (88 Films)

The Shadow Boxing | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for 88 Film’s The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer Part II), a 1979 Shaw Brothers kung fu movie directed by Lau Kar-leung (Eight Diagram Pole Fighter)

From the legendary Lau Kar-leung comes one of his finest – and wildest – rides, following a pair of very special undertakers who transport dead bodies by magical means. But their latest trip is proving tricky; it’s bad enough that a strong-willed young woman has invited herself along for the ride but, even more awkwardly, one of the corpses might not actually be dead…

Pretty much inventing the kung fu horror-comedy, and a huge influence Continue reading

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The Kosugi ninja empire lives on! Watch the Trailer for Shane Kosugi’s ‘Seek’ starring Kansuke Asano and Kane Kosugi

"Seek" Theatrical Poster

“Seek” Theatrical Poster

Shane Kosugi (9 Deaths of the Ninja, Pray for Death) will be making a directorial debut with Seek, an upcoming martial arts actioner that stars Kansuke Asano (Barashi Fight), as well as Shane’s brother, Kane Kosugi (Tekken 2: Kazuya’s Revenge, Zero Tolerance).

(For those who are not familiar with the Kosugi name, Shane and Kane’s father is the legendary Sho Kosugi, who became the main face of the 80s phenomenon known as the “ninja craze,” after a string of successful ninja movies for The Cannon Film Group, which included Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja and Ninja III: The Domination.)

In Seek, Kyohei Aizawa (Asano), an assassin for a covert non-governmental espionage group in Japan called “SEEK”, is grieving over the Continue reading

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Hong Kong’s Heaven’s Gate? Juno Mak’s anticipated thriller ‘Sons of the Neon Night’ to finally shine this year

"Sons of the Neon Night" Teaser Poster

“Sons of the Neon Night” Teaser Poster

Filmmaker Juno Mak (Revenge: A Love Story, Dream Home), the actor/director of 2013’s Rigor Mortis, is finally putting his finishing touches on One Cool Film Productions’ Sons of the Neon Night, an upcoming gangster epic that was completed back in 2018.

The highly-anticipated film features an all-star cast that includes Takeshi Kaneshiro (Wu Xia), Louis Koo (Three), Ritchie Ren (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In), Tony Leung Ka Fai (League of Gods), Lau Ching-wan (The White Storm 3), Kara Hui (Mrs K), Gao Yuanyuan (Robin-B-Hood), Michelle Wai (As The Light Goes Out) and Conan Lee (Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit).

With a production budget of over $50 million, Asian sales and production firm Distribution Workshop is using the Busan International Film Continue reading

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Tom Hardy isn’t the only one raising ‘Havoc’! Check out the New Poster for Nicholas Tse and Andy Lau’s ‘Raging Havoc’

"Raging Havoc" Theatrical Poster

“Raging Havoc” Theatrical Poster

A thematic sequel to Benny Chan’s 2021 actioner Raging Fire is currently being prepped by director Derek Kwok, who is perhaps best known for helming 2014’s As the Light Goes Out, 2015’s Full Strike, and the recent 2021 film, Schemes in Antiques.

The follow-up, titled Raging Havoc (aka The Unleashed Blaze), is headlined by Nicholas Tse (The Bullet Vanishes), who starred in the original Raging Fire (opposite Donnie Yen).

This time around, Hong Kong heavy Andy Lau (White Storm 2: The Drug Lords) fills the space previously filled by Yen. Ray Liu (Raging Fire, Operation Bangkok) also returns, not to mention the addition Continue reading

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Fallen (2019) Review

"Fallen" Theatrical Poster

“Fallen” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Jung-sub
Cast: Yang Ji, Jang Tae Young, Han Sung Min, Kim Ga Hyun, Lim Jung Min, Lee Ji Yong, Hwang Se On, Yun Ha Bin, Ju Seo Eun, Oh Ji Young, Kwon Ip Sae
Running Time: 110 min. 

By Paul Bramhall 

In the 2019 Korean production Fallen a famous sci-fi author played by Yang Ji, previously only seen in small bit roles in late 2000’s/early 2010’s productions like I Came from Busan and Mr. Idol, is having a bad day. Opening with her as the subject of an on-camera interview for TV, despite it supposedly being about her latest work, it seems the interviewer is more interested in asking about the leaked sex tape she’s featured in, and the fact her mother is a convicted serial killer. Her publicist isn’t much help, insisting she joins him to a local bar considering she’s holed herself up at home for so long, where he suggests that the best thing she can do is to apologise to the public for appearing in the tape. Things go from bad to worse when she wakes up kidnapped, zip tied and stuffed in a drum in an unknown location, her fate in the hands of whoever has taken her captive.

Based on the above description, on paper Fallen probably sounds like it fits the mould of similar female in peril 2010’s era Korean movies like Midnight FM or Manhole, however that would be before taking into account that it’s the directorial debut of screenwriter and producer Lee Jung-sub. Also responsible for scripting 2017’s psychological neo-noir action flick Real, often unfairly Continue reading

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Hey, that’s Hsu Chien!!! James Tien shines bright in Golden Harvest’s ‘Shaolin Boxers’ releasing next week from Eureka

Next week, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) for Shaolin Boxers. Directed by Ta Huang (Chinese Hercules) and released at the height of the 1970s kung fu craze, Shaolin Boxers offers a rare leading role to James Tien – who more often played supporting roles in films such as Fist of FuryThe Iron-Fisted Monk and The Magnificent Bodyguards – in an action-packed narrative that charges him with rescuing innocents from forces of corruption and evil.

In the village of Fukien, the people are terrified of the local security squad – led by Ho Yung (Chu Mu, The Invincible Iron Palm), who gained his position by bribing the referee in the village’s annual martial arts tournament. In order to wrestle control from this band of tyrants, Chuan Tai (Tien) – the master of the local Shaolin school – enters the competition to prove Continue reading

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GET OVER HERE!!! New images of Johnny Cage, Kitana and Shao Khan in New Line’s ‘Mortal Kombat’ reboot sequel

"Mortal Kombat II" Teaser Poster

“Mortal Kombat II” Teaser Poster

A sequel to the James Wan-produced reboot of Mortal Kombat, a martial arts-thriller based on the highly-successful video game franchise of the same name, is currently being prepped for release at New Line. And Simon McQuoid, who directed the original reboot, is back in the director’s chair!

New Line has enlisted the writing skills of Jeremy Slater, who is best known for penning Marvel/Disney+ series Moon Knight (via Deadline). The first film was written by Greg Russo (the upcoming Category 6), Dave Callaham (Wonder Woman 1984), with a story by Oren Uziel (The Cloverfield Paradox).

The first film followed a MMA fighter who seeks out Earth’s greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high Continue reading

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