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Drunken Monkey (2003) Movie Review
I must confess that when it comes to Old School Hong Kong martial arts period films, I’m not privy to a lot of background. For instance, I am familiar with exactly zero actors in...
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Shogun Assassin (1980) Movie Review
Shogun Assassin is actually a series of movies made in the 1970s masquerading as an American release. Shogun Assassin was originally called Lone Wolf and Cub: (Enter Secondary Title Here), and I believe there...
Read More »Sopyonje (1993) Movie Review
What makes “Sopyonje” stand out is its unflinching look and interpretation of a Korea under assault — not assault from foreign attacks or invaders, but from something just as deadly: cultural imperialism. It is...
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Versus (2000) Movie Review
What “Versus” gives in place of a storyline is this: apparently there is a portal to some unknown dimension that promises good things for those who can open, and then enter, it. To achieve...
Read More »Chilsu and Mansu (1988) Movie Review
“Chilsu and Mansu” is a familiar movie. Taken in context as a South Korean movie, made at a time when the country itself was going through a tremendous upheaval, the movie might be better...
Read More »Peppermint Candy (2000) Movie Review
First off, let me assure you that I am not spoiling anything by telling you that Yongho, the main character, commits suicide. This takes place in the movie’s first sequence, about 5 minutes into...
Read More »Our Twisted Hero (1992) Movie Review
“Our Twisted Hero” is a terrific movie with perhaps the worst subtitles of all modern cinema. It’s perplexing why the producers/distributors did such a shoddy job with the translation, as such a ridiculously poor...
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Sanjuro (1962) Movie Review
Sanjuro is the sequel to Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, and returns star Toshiro Mifune as the title character. In this installment, sword-for-hire Sanjuro stumbles into more trouble — or rather, trouble comes to the shack...
Read More »Heroic Duo (2003) Movie Review
I’ve never been a big fan of Ekin Cheng. Whatever it is that the Hong Kong film industry sees that makes them give the guy 10 movies per year is a mystery to me....
Read More »Shaolin Soccer (2001) Movie Review
Computer effects have become a bane for many filmmakers. So many movies are so CGI-reliant these days that the movie themselves have lost any sense of personality. One effects-laden movie has begun to look...
Read More »Legend of Zu (2001) Movie Review
I will first admit to not having followed the career of Tsui Hark, the writer/director of “Legend of Zu”, besides what I have seen of his work in such American fare as “Knock Off”...
Read More »Forbidden City Cop (1996) Movie Review
Stephen Chow is, I am told, a pretty big star over in his native Hong Kong, although I’ve only seen him in “Shaolin Soccer” — and if he was in other movies I’ve seen,...
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Contract Killer (aka Hitman, 1998) Movie Review
This review of “Hitman” is based on the American version, which is dubbed in English and was re-released under the title “Contract Killer”, with an all-new poster (that is also a bit misleading) and,...
Read More »Colour of the Truth (2003) Movie Review
“Color of the Truth” sports such a dubious pedigree that I sat on it for nearly a month before finally taking a stab at it today. Yes, I’m talking about the presence of the...
Read More »Looking for Mr. Perfect (2003) Movie Review
If you’ve seen enough Hong Kong movies you may start to notice that a lot of the same people keep showing up in the same movies. It’s because the present Hong Kong film industry...
Read More »Haunted Office (2002) Movie Review
“Haunted Office”, a 2002 offering from Hong Kong, is a horror anthology consisting of 3 episodes set in the same haunted office building. Unlike other anthologies, there isn’t a middleman (e.g. the Crypt Keeper)...
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The Twins Effect (2003) Movie Review
Using manipulative music in movies is nothing new. Steven Spielberg used to make a living off it. Such is the case with “The Twins Effect”, the new “it” movie from Hong Kong starring two...
Read More »Killer (2000) Movie Review
Movies like Billy Chung’s “Killer” makes me break out that old standby: It ain’t bad, but it ain’t all that good, either. “Killer”, not to be confused with John Woo’s “The Killer”, stars Jordan...
Read More »Extreme Crisis (1998) Movie Review
Movies like “Extreme Crisis” have inspired me to create a new terminology. I’m going to call it Because the Script Says So, or BSSS. In short, BSSS means this: movies have situations or characters...
Read More »Double Tap (2000) Movie Review
Is it wrong of me to wish that the cold-blooded killer played by Leslie Cheung would come up on top? That before he’s done with his killing spree, he gets the chance to take...
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