The Beasts (1980) Movie Review

Originally unleashed back in 1980, “The Beasts” is a nasty piece of exploitation cinema that has been lurking around and gathering a quite reputation for itself over the years, now finally re-issued on DVD. The film was the second from director Dennis Yu, who also gave the Hong Kong horror...

May 11th, 2008 | Read More

Fatal Move (2008) Movie Review

With the awesome “SPL” still fresh in the memory, it’s hard to imagine any Hong Kong action fan not getting excited at the prospect of “Fatal Move”. Boasting a cast reunion of Simon Yam, Wu Jing and the legendary Sammo Hung, and bringing in familiar faces such as Danny Lee,...

May 11th, 2008 | Read More

Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (2008) Movie Review

Daniel Lee’s “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon” is the second of the big-budget Chinese epics that I’ve seen, including the very underwhelming “An Empress and the Warriors”. It is also the first of two movies based on the epic Chinese novel “Romance...

May 6th, 2008 | Read More

Cops and Robbers (1979) Movie Review

Originally released back in 1979, “Cops and Robbers” marked the debut of Hong Kong New Wave director Alex Cheung, who went on to helm other thrillers such as “Man on the Brink” and “Danger Has Two Faces”. A tough slice of police drama that was a big winner at the box...

April 27th, 2008 | Read More

The Saviour (1980) Movie Review

Although he has recently become a familiar name the world over thanks to big budget hits like Jet Li’s “Fearless” and Hollywood blockbuster sequels “Bride of Chucky” and “Freddy vs. Jason”, Hong Kong director Ronny Yu actually has a body of work stretching back...

April 20th, 2008 | Read More

Kung Fu Dunk (2008) Movie Review

Although based upon the manga “Slam Dunk”, “Kung Fu Dunk” is basically an attempt to emulate the success of Hong Kong comedy megastar Stephen Chow’s smash hit “Shaolin Soccer”. A vehicle for popster/actor/director Jay Chou, the film gives him a chance to combine...

April 18th, 2008 | Read More

Summer Palace (2006) Movie Review

(Movie Review by James D. Bass) Like any truly good relationship, the much anticipated arrival of Summer Palace to America carried with it a great deal of hope. The hype that preceded the release had been generated on the independent film circuit, and certainly promised hidden treasure from behind the...

April 18th, 2008 | Read More

An Empress and the Warriors (2008) Movie Review

2008 isn’t the Year of the Rat, it’s the Year of the Martial Arts Epics. In the span of a few months, fans of Chinese cinema will be treated to the biggest number of films featuring big stars, big budgets, and big set pieces the likes of which they’ve never seen before. Tony Ching’s...

April 13th, 2008 | Read More

M (2007) Movie Review

“M” is the latest effort from critically acclaimed Korean director Lee Myung Se, who has won praise both at home and abroad for his highly stylised works that tend to overflow with cinematic flair. With this, his eighth film he seems to be in reflective mood, combing the themes of bittersweet...

March 21st, 2008 | Read More

Linger (2008) Movie Review

Although current critic and fanboy favourite Johnnie To is best known for his action thrillers and crime dramas, his career, which now spans nearly thirty years, has seen him tackle pretty much every genre imaginable. Given this, and the fact that his Milkyway production company has a tendency to spread...

March 15th, 2008 | Read More

Anna and Anna (2007) Movie Review

“Anna and Anna” is the latest from writer and director Aubrey Lam, previously responsible for “Twelve Nights” and “Hidden Track”, and who collaborated with Peter Chan on the scripts of several of his films including “Perhaps Love” and recent blockbuster...

March 8th, 2008 | Read More

Black Cat (1991) Movie Review

With all the fuss in recent years over Hollywood remakes of Asian films, it is sometimes easy to forget that the process works both ways, and indeed has done for many years. A perfect case in point is “The Black Cat”, from director Stephen Shin, a Hong Kong remake of French auteur Luc Besson’s...

February 23rd, 2008 | Read More

In Love With the Dead (2007) Movie Review

Danny Pang returns with “In Love With the Dead”, his latest solo effort away from brother Oxide, and a film which sees him trying something slightly different from the usual ghostly shenanigans for which he is so well known. Of late, the Pangs’ supernatural films, whether working together...

February 17th, 2008 | Read More

Fatal Vacation (1987) Movie Review

Originally released back in 1989 and now re-issued on DVD, “Fatal Vacation” marked a major change of direction for star, writer, director and producer Eric Tsang. Previously known largely as a comedic actor thanks to popular turns in the likes of the hit “Lucky Stars” and “Mad,...

February 16th, 2008 | Read More

Blue Jean Monster (1991) Movie Review

The DVD re-release of “Blue Jean Monster” has been long awaited by cult film fans, having earned itself quite a reputation over the years as a bizarre bad taste mixture of police thriller, gory horror, slapstick comedy and domestic drama. Thankfully the film, which was presumably titled to...

February 9th, 2008 | Read More

Blind Mountain (2007) Movie Review

“Blind Mountain” is director Li Yang’s follow up to his much praised 2003 debut, the mining horror story “Blind Shaft” and sees him continue in his quest to shine a harsh light on some of the darker and frequently hidden aspects of life in China today. Here, he explores...

February 3rd, 2008 | Read More

Ninja in Ancient China (1989) Movie Review

For their first release, new martial arts DVD label Greenfan have made the interesting decision to unearth “Ninja in Ancient China”, a relatively obscure outing most notable for being the final effort from legendary Shaw Brothers director Chang Cheh, best known for such classics as “The...

January 27th, 2008 | Read More

Bloody Parrot (1981) Movie Review

The oddly titled “Bloody Parrot” is a somewhat obscure Shaw Brothers re-release from 1981, the period when the studio was mainly known for churning out lots of gory and grotesque fantasises and tales of dark magic. The film is no exception, being a nasty and often downright bizarre mystery...

January 20th, 2008 | Read More

Bullet and Brain (2007) Movie Review

Any film headlined by living legends of Hong Kong cinema Anthony Wong and Francis Ng should be an automatic hit, and so “Bullet and Brain” from director Keung Kwok Man certainly has a lot going for it from the start. However, its great cast aside, the film does have a potential caveat in...

January 11th, 2008 | Read More

Brothers (2007) Movie Review

“Brothers” is something of an event film as it reunites four of the famous TVB Five Tigers who enjoyed incredible popularity during the 1980s and who hit the screen together in the 1991 thriller “The Tigers”. Although Tony Leung Chiu Wai is notably absent, Andy Lau, Felix Wong,...

January 5th, 2008 | Read More