James Mudge is BeyondHollywood.com's longest contributing movie reviewer. Based out of Glasgow, James is our go-to guy for Asian movie reviews old and new. He has a forthcoming book about Asian movies set to be released sometime this century. Maybe.

Running Turtle (2009) Movie Review

The rather oddly titled “Running Turtle” sees Kim Yoon Seok following up his award winning role in “The Chaser” by playing another down and out cop working outside the law to track down a murderer. The film was written and directed by Lee Yeon Woo, who was previously responsible for “2424”,...

November 7th, 2009 | Read More

24 City (2008) Movie Review

“24 City” is the latest offering from sixth generation Mainland China director Jia Zhangke and sees him continuing to explore themes of the country’s modern history and economic progress. Here, he does this through a semi-documentary that focuses on the story of a munitions factory, once moved...

November 7th, 2009 | Read More

Oppai Volleyball (2009) Movie Review

All that most male viewers probably need to know is that “Oppai Volleyball” translates as ‘breast volleyball’ and that it stars the gorgeous swimsuit model turned actress Haruka Ayase as a teacher who tries to inspire a young school boy volleyball team by promising she will show them her breasts...

November 7th, 2009 | Read More

Sisters on the Road (2008) Movie Review

“Sisters on the Road” marks the debut of female writer director Boo Ji Young, and as the title suggests, is a drama following two sisters on a voyage of discovery and an exploration of their shared pasts. The film has an impressive cast, with the two siblings in question being played by actresses...

November 7th, 2009 | Read More

Whispering Corridors 5: A Blood Pledge (2009) Movie Review

The landmark Korean ghost series “Whispering Corridors” returns for its fifth instalment with “A Blood Pledge”, marking the debut of director Lee Jong Yong, an interesting choice for the helm, given his previous work under Park Chan Wook on the likes of “JSA” and “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance”....

November 7th, 2009 | Read More

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) Movie Review

Originally unleashed back in 1984, “Silent Night, Deadly Night” was the subject of great controversy due to its premise of a serial killer dressed as Santa Claus, with outraged authorities and parents protesting its US release. The film encountered similar moral panic in the UK, where the ever-wise...

November 7th, 2009 | Read More

Lala Pipo: A Lot of People (2009) Movie Review

Having been scripted by Tetsuya Nakashima, the award winning writer director of the excellent “Kamikaze Girls” and “Memories of Matsuko”, it comes as no surprise that “Lala Pipo” is another slice of colourful Japanese pop culture craziness. Marking the directorial debut of Nakashima’s assistant...

October 30th, 2009 | Read More

Palisades Tartan’s Asian Horror: Essential Collection Review

Just in time for Halloween, Palisades Tartan has grouped together three of the most successful Asian horror films of recent years in one region 2 DVD collection. Although terms such as ‘essential’ are woefully overused when it comes to such compilations, in this case it certainly rings true, as the...

October 30th, 2009 | Read More

Staunton Hill (2009) Movie Review

As his father continues to attempt to rejuvenate his seemingly never-ending “Dead” series, Cameron Romero follows up his debut “The Screening” with another slice of familiar horror in “Staunton Hill”. Although this may sound a little cynical, the film really is pretty basic stuff, being a...

October 24th, 2009 | Read More

Knife Edge (2008) Movie Review

“Knife Edge” sees the return to the horror genre of director Anthony Hickox, who back in the late 1980s and early 1990s turned out a string of popular, offbeat favourites including “Waxwork”, its sequel “Lost in Time”, and “Sundown: the Vampire in Retreat”, the latter two featuring the...

October 24th, 2009 | Read More

Like You Know It All (2009) Movie Review

The cinematic medium can make for a fascinating subject, especially in the hands of a director willing to explore it through personal insights. This is certainly the case with “Like You Know it All” from Hong Sang Soo, one of the current champions of the Korean independent film scene, whose previous...

October 24th, 2009 | Read More

Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells (2008) Movie Review

“Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells” is the latest effort from noted Korean independent director Jeon Soo Il, who previously won praise and prizes for his “With a Girl of Black Soil”. This time, he heads to the wilds of Nepal for a minimalist, yet grand tale featuring some truly breathtaking scenery...

October 24th, 2009 | Read More

On His Majesty’s Secret Service (2009) Movie Review

Wong Jing goes back to the old school with “On his Majesty’s Secret Service” a truly madcap period set comedy in the classic early 1990s style. Although the master of the form himself, Stephen Chow, isn’t starring in such films anymore, there’s certainly no reason to stop making them, and in...

October 12th, 2009 | Read More

Tracing Shadow (2009) Movie Review

“Tracing Shadow” marks the fourth directorial outing for popular Hong Kong Star Francis Ng, and sees him again co-helming with Marco Mak, who he previously worked with on “Dancing Lion”. The film itself is somewhat of a throwback to the glory days of Hong Kong cinema, being a wacky martial arts...

October 12th, 2009 | Read More

Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg (2009) Movie Review

With so many Chinese films still being called ‘Kung Fu’ something or other, and with the continuing global success of Michael Bay’s blockbuster “Transformer” franchise, “Kung Fu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction” was pretty much inevitable. The Hong Kong director getting in on the act is none...

October 9th, 2009 | Read More

Secret Couple (aka My Girlfriend is an Agent, 2009) Movie Review

“Secret Couple” (a far better title than the rather familiar and misleading “My Girlfriend is an Agent”) is basically a Korean take on the recent Hollywood action couple comedy thriller “Mr and Mrs Smith”. Strangely enough, the film was directed by Shin Tae Ra, whose previous efforts were...

October 9th, 2009 | Read More

Blood: The Last Vampire (2009) Movie Review #2

“Blood: the last Vampire” is an interesting proposition, not only because it sees Jeon Ji Hyun (“My Sassy Girl”), one of Korea’s most popular actresses, making her English language debut, but also since it represents one of the few Hollywood Japanese anime adaptations to make a real effort...

October 9th, 2009 | Read More

I Sell the Dead (2008) Movie Review

“I Sell the Dead” marks the debut outing for writer director Glenn McQuaid, and boasts a great offbeat cast, including Dominic Monaghan of “Lord of the Rings” fame, cult director Larry Fessenden (“Habit”, “The Last Winter”), Angus Schrimm (“Phantasm”) and “Hellboy” himself, Ron...

October 6th, 2009 | Read More

Automaton Transfusion (aka Zombie Transfusion, 2006) Movie Review

Originally released back in 2006 under the slightly more interesting, if nonsensical title “Automation Transfusion”, writer director Steven C. Miller’s debut feature now arrives on region 2 DVD via Momentum Pictures as “Zombie Transfusion”. The film is a low budget slice of independent horror,...

October 4th, 2009 | Read More

Cyborg She (2008) Movie Review

“Cyborg She” sees Korean director Kwak Jae Yong of “My Sassy Girl” fame switching to Japanese for a genre blending romantic comedy that adds a science fiction, time travelling twist to his usual formula. Also known as “My Girlfriend is a Cyborg”, the film is not to be confused with “Oldboy”...

October 1st, 2009 | Read More