Who’s Next (2007) Movie Review

Just as “Infernal Affairs” launched a thousand angst ridden undercover cop dramas, Johnnie To’s “Election” has had a similar, if not as marked effect on the Hong Kong film industry, with its international success having inspired a number of similar triad themed productions....

January 5th, 2008 | Read More

When Taekwondo Strikes (1973) Movie Review

“When Taekwondo Strikes” is another classic martial arts film which has been unearthed and re-released on DVD by Joy Sales, this time from back in 1973. The film is a real treat for martial arts fans, serving up an incredible array of talent, including top female genre fighter and international...

January 5th, 2008 | Read More

Blood Brothers (2007) Movie Review

“Blood Brothers” marks the debut of Alexi Tan, and has drawn attention not only for its all star cast but for being heralded as a reworking of John Woo’s classic “Bullet in the Head”, with the legendary action director himself acting as co-producer. Managing to score a high...

January 4th, 2008 | Read More

The Pirate (1973) Movie Review

The pirate themed swashbuckler, though a perennial Hollywood favourite has been rather neglected in Hong Kong cinema, with only a handful of films such as Jackie Chan’s “Project A” tackling the genre. Helping to right this wrong is the re-release of the 1973 Shaw Brothers classic “The...

December 1st, 2007 | Read More

Heads for Sale (1970) Movie Review

Does “Heads for Sale” have the best title ever? Quite possibly, and the Shaw Brothers re-release is very likely to sell plenty of copies as a result. This aside, the film should also be of interest to fans as an early effort from “Broken Oath” director Cheng Chang, which was originally...

November 23rd, 2007 | Read More

Thirteen Princess Trees (2006) Movie Review

“Thirteen Princess Trees” is a film with a sadly chequered release history, having run into trouble with the notorious Chinese censors. Based upon a book by university professor He Dacao, and directed by Lu Yue (a noted cinematographer who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on...

November 3rd, 2007 | Read More

Five Element Ninjas (1982) Movie Review

By the 1980s, having already filmed almost every martial arts story imaginable and facing increasing competition from other studios such as Golden Harvest, the Shaw Brothers were getting a little desperate. The continuing search for innovation took their productions in some pretty outlandish directions,...

November 3rd, 2007 | Read More

Muoi: Legend of a Portrait (2007) Movie Review

“Muoi: Legend of a Portrait” is the latest of the 2007 batch of Korean summer horror films to make it to DVD. As any fan will sadly admit, the genre has of late become rather stale, with directors all too often content to simply recycle the same old tales of vengeance seeking female spectres,...

October 27th, 2007 | Read More

Lady of Steel (1969) Movie Review

“Lady of Steel”, originally released back in 1970, was another vehicle for the Shaw Brothers sword queen Cheng Pei Pei, who appeared in countless classics for the studio including “The Flying Dagger” and “The Shadow Whip”, and who younger viewers might recognise from...

October 27th, 2007 | Read More

The Seeding of a Ghost (1983) Movie Review

The crowning ghoulish jewel in the recent wave of Shaw Brothers horror releases is undoubtedly the notorious, long sought after “Seeding of a Ghost”. Directed by Richard Yeung Kuen (who also gave genre fans “Hell Has No Boundary”, a self-styled ‘exercise in eradication’)...

October 27th, 2007 | Read More

Return of the Dead (1979) Movie Review

The recent wave of Shaw Brothers horror releases continues with “Return of the Dead”, acclaimed director Li Han Hsiang’s 1979 return to the genre following his 1960 classic “Enchanting Shadow”. Although the presence of Li, who won several awards during his career for the...

October 20th, 2007 | Read More

Bewitched (1981) Movie Review

Fans of Shaw Brothers horror and indeed of wild exploitation cinema in general have a real reason to celebrate with the release of the long sought after “Bewitched”. Directed by the legendary Kuei Chih Hung, who gave the studio a number of morally reprehensible genre classics such as “Killer...

October 20th, 2007 | Read More

Hell Has No Boundary (1982) Movie Review

The DVD blurb for the Shaw Brothers release “Hell has no Boundary” is an amazing piece of hyperbole, hailing the horror film as an ‘exercise in eradication’ which assures that ‘gorehounds will be giddy with joy’ – words guaranteed to send a shiver down the spine...

October 20th, 2007 | Read More

Breaking News (2004) DVD Review

With “Exiled” and the “Election” films winning Johnnie To a level of international popularity and respect rarely enjoyed by Hong Kong directors, it’s good to see another of his recent efforts finally being released on region 2 DVD through Tartan, namely the critically acclaimed...

October 6th, 2007 | Read More

Simply Actors (2007) Movie Review

“Simply Actors” is an all-star Hong Kong comedy, which along with big names Jim Chim (recently in “AV” and “Mighty Baby”) and one half of Twins Charlene Choi in the cast boasts an incredible number of cameos from the likes of (to mention but a few) Chapman To, Eric...

September 22nd, 2007 | Read More

The Delightful Forest (1972) Movie Review

“The Delightful Forest” is a rare 1972 Shaw Brothers classic directed by the legendary Chang Cheh (responsible for countless genre masterpieces such as “One-Armed Swordsman” and “Five Venoms”) and with martial arts choreography from the equally renowned Lau Kar Leung...

September 22nd, 2007 | Read More

Swordswomen Three (1970) Movie Review

“Swordswomen Three” is another slice of early 1970s Shaw Brothers martial arts action now given a new lease of life on DVD, and is another sold on the idea of revolving around female protagonists, in this case played by studio actresses Lin Jia (”Return of the One Armed Swordsman”),...

September 22nd, 2007 | Read More

Flash Point (2007) Movie Review

Hong Kong Police Inspector Jun Ma (Donnie Yen) is a baaaaad man. How bad? When we first see him, he’s gotten news that a suspect he has been looking for has resurfaced in a gym. Ma proceeds over to the gym, gets in the ring with the suspect, and beats the living Jesus out of him after verbally...

August 19th, 2007 | Read More

Teeth of Love (2006) Movie Review

“Teeth of Love” marks the debut of director Zhuang Yuxin, a noted television screenwriter and professor at the Beijing Film Academy. Although the subject of his first film may sound depressingly familiar, following a character’s development against the backdrop of economic and social...

July 21st, 2007 | Read More

Getting Home (2007) Movie Review

Simply put, “Getting Home” is one of the best Chinese films of the year. The latest effort from Zhang Yang, who previously delighted viewers with the likes of “Shower”, it sees the Sixth Generation director continuing his rich vein of form with another honest tale of ordinary...

July 21st, 2007 | Read More