The Banquet (2006) Movie Review

It’s hard not to look upon Mainland Chinese director Feng Xiaogang’s latest film “The Banquet” without a certain cynicism, since it in every way seems to be yet another would-be big budget martial arts epic made with the international market in mind. It’s the kind of film...

November 14th, 2006 | Read More

Cell Phone (2003) Movie Review

With his big budget opus “The Banquet” having emerged as one of the most talked about films of 2006, it’s good to see Mainland Chinese director Feng Xiaogang’s earlier “Cell Phone” finally getting a DVD release with English subtitles. Although perhaps not so well known...

November 3rd, 2006 | Read More

Crazy Stone (2006) Movie Review

“Crazy Stone” is the latest offering from Hong Kong megastar Andy Lau’s “FOCUS: First Cuts”, a scheme designed to help young Asian film makers. The film has been a genuine sensation at the Chinese box office, raking in more than 17 million RMB (over US$2 million), an incredible...

October 24th, 2006 | Read More

Dog Bite Dog (2006) Movie Review

Although many Hong Kong thrillers like to style themselves as being gritty and nihilistic, “Dog Bite Dog” is one of the few with the guts to actually follow through on such claims, being one of the darkest and brutal films of the last few years. As such, it marks a change for director Soi...

October 20th, 2006 | Read More

Miracles: The Canton Godfather (1989) Movie Review

“The Canton Godfather” (also known as “Mr. Canton and Lady Rose” and “Miracles”) is another Hong Kong classic which has been digitally remastered on DVD by Joy Sales. The film, which was originally released back in 1989, was directed, written by and starred Jackie...

October 18th, 2006 | Read More

Duel to the Death (1982) Movie Review

“Duel to the Death” is another Hong Kong classic which has been remastered and re-released by Joy Sales, complete with extras including newly edited trailers and interviews. The original film was one of the last of the great Shaw Brothers style martial arts epics, and came out back in 1982,...

October 15th, 2006 | Read More

The Banquet (2006) Movie Review

Over two hours of running time, the most extravagant costumes, eye-catching opulent sets, elaborate fight choreography, and currently the most famous Chinese actress in the world as your star. And yet, director Xiaogang Feng’s “The Banquet” still managed to dull the senses, rot the...

October 4th, 2006 | Read More

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006) Movie Review

Movies based on comic books aren’t expected to be deep on any level, but the extent to which “Dragon Tiger Gate” goes to excising any semblance of respectable storyline borders on impressive. Of course, if you’re only after groovy martial arts duels and half-baked melodrama, then...

September 24th, 2006 | Read More

All About Ah Long (1989) Movie Review

“All About Ah Long” is another Hong Kong classic which has been given the digital remaster treatment by Joy Sales on DVD. The film was originally released back in 1990, when it was hugely popular with audiences and critics alike, winning the Best Actor prize for a young Chow Yun Fat at...

September 8th, 2006 | Read More

Re-Cycle (2006) Movie Review

“Re-Cycle” is the latest effort from Hong Kong ’s dynamic directing duo Danny and Oxide Pang. The film screened at the 2006 Cannes International Film Festival, closing the “Un Certain Regard”, marking the growing international recognition of the talented twins. Although...

September 6th, 2006 | Read More

How is Your Fish Today? (2006) Movie Review

“How Is Your Fish Today?” began life as a British-commissioned Chinese documentary about Mohe, a small village in the northernmost part of China , lying on the Russian border. However, when the crew reached Mohe, a supposedly mystical town where it’s light twenty hours out of the...

August 31st, 2006 | Read More

The Heavenly Kings (2006) Movie Review

“The Heavenly Kings” is a mockumentary which blurs the line between fact and fiction, following a Hong Kong boy band called ‘Alive’, who may or may not have been created solely with the intention of poking fun at the music business. The result is a sharp and at times hilarious...

August 19th, 2006 | Read More

Daisy (2006) Movie Review

On paper, “Daisy” sounds like an Asian film fan’s dream come true, directed by “Infernal Affairs” co-helmer Andrew Lau and starring everybody’s favourite sassy girl, popular Korean actress Jeon Ji Hyun. Unfortunately, despite the talent involved, and the fact that...

August 17th, 2006 | Read More

The Thunderbolt Fist (1972) Movie Review

“The Thunderbolt Fist” is a re-release of the 1972 Shaw Brothers film, directed by Cheung Yat Woo, who also made “The Fists of Vengeance” for the famous studio in the same year. The film is another focusing on the Chinese struggle against the Japanese, though essentially it follows...

July 28th, 2006 | Read More

Godfather of Canton (1982) Movie Review

Gordon Liu is one of the best known Shaw Brothers stars, having been in the classics “36th Chamber of Shaolin” and “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter” to name but two, as well as featuring in fervent fanboy Tarantino’s recent martial arts love letter “Kill Bill”. “Godfather...

July 20th, 2006 | Read More

The Young Avenger (1972) Movie Review

“The Young Avenger” is another in the never-ending line of Shaw Brothers’ re-releases, this time from back in 1972. The film was one of the final efforts of director Yueh Feng, a veteran with a career spanning more than forty years and dozens of films, including the likes of “The...

July 20th, 2006 | Read More

Election 2 (2006) Movie Review

It is now 2 years after the events of “Election”, and the Wo Sing Hong Kong Triads are once again set to elect a new Chairman as per tradition, which requires that one new Chairman be selected every two years and for only one term, without exceptions. This last part proves to be unacceptable...

July 10th, 2006 | Read More

2 Become 1 (2006) Movie Review

Though a Hong Kong comedy about breast cancer conjures up all manner of images of bad taste humour, “2 Become 1″ is actually a fairly level headed attempt to mix romance and ‘issue’ drama. Despite these initial reservations, this bright and breezy approach at least makes for...

May 16th, 2006 | Read More

49 Days (2006) Movie Review

At first glance, “49 Days” has very little going for it, especially given that it features not one, but two pop stars as leading cast members. Mercifully, neither displays their questionable singing talents, and the film turns out to be far more entertaining than expected, mainly due to some...

May 14th, 2006 | Read More

Sons of Good Earth (1964) Movie Review

“Sons of Good Earth” is a re-release of the 1964 Shaw Brothers film, notable for marking the debut of legendary director King Hu. Although he had previously worked on “The Story of Sue San” with Li Han-hsiang (himself an important Chinese director, having made no less than 70...

May 9th, 2006 | Read More