Latest From Reviews

Look for a Star (2009) Movie Review

“Look for a Star” has pretty much everything needed for a successful romantic comedy, with megastars Andy Lau and Shu Qi in the lead roles, an experienced director at the helm in the form of Andrew Lau of “Infernal Affairs” fame, and a picturesque setting in Macau. Add to this an impressive supporting...
April 11th, 2009 | Read More

Forever Enthralled (2008) Movie Review

After the critical mauling he received for his shabby wuxia would-be epic “The Promise”, it’s easy to see Chen Kaige’s return to Peking Opera and “Farewell my Concubine” territory as going back to the well. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, as he certainly has a fascinating subject...
April 11th, 2009 | Read More

The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan (aka Riot in a Gibang in 1724, 2008) Movie Review

“Riot in a Gibang in 1724”, also known by the longer, though no less awkward moniker of “The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan” sees director Yeo Gyoon Dong trying something very different to his low budget road movie “Silk Shoes”. Despite its period setting, the film is a kinetic...
April 11th, 2009 | Read More

Portrait of a Beauty (2008) Movie Review

“Portrait of a Beauty” sees “Le Grand Chef” director Jeon Yun Soo offering a fascinating take on the life of Shin Yun Bok, one of the greatest ever Korean artists, based upon the supposition that the painter was actually a woman who disguised herself as a man in order to chase her dreams in the...
April 11th, 2009 | Read More

Romantic Island (2008) Movie Review

It’s really not hard to see the rationale for making “Romantic Island”, with the premise offering gorgeous, sun-drenched tropical scenery, an eye-candy cast, and plenty of laughter and love – the perfect escapist remedy for the winter blues or financial woes. Certainly, director Kang Chul Woo,...
April 11th, 2009 | Read More

Laid to Rest (2009) Movie Review

“Laid to Rest” is the second outing from noted special effects and makeup talent Robert Hall, which sees him step away from the grounded drama of his debut “Lightning Bug” and into full-on horror. The film is an old school piece of slasher mayhem, with a straightforward genre plot providing an...
April 10th, 2009 | Read More

Red Cliff Part 1 and 2 (2008-09) Movie Review

Within the first 30 minutes of John Woo’s “Red Cliff”, which features a continuous 30-something minutes of battle scenes, you understand why the film ran over schedule and over budget, coming in at a reported “most expensive production ever in Asia” $80 million dollars. Released in Asia in...
April 9th, 2009 | Read More

Tactical Unit: No Way Out (2009) Movie Review

“Tactical Unit – No Way Out” is the second in the series of new films following on from Johnnie To’s acclaimed 2003 police thriller “PTU”. This time around Lawrence Lau, previously responsible for the excellent “My Name is Fame”, steps up to direct, with To acting as producer....
April 9th, 2009 | Read More

House (2008) Movie Review

(Movie Review by Anthony Casella) On their way to counseling, young, pretty couple Jack (Reynaldo Rosales) and Stephanie (Heidi Dippold) take a few wrong turns and end up getting lost on a desolate, country road. After some petty bickering and painful exposition on the duo and their problems, the couple...
April 8th, 2009 | Read More

Fast & Furious (2009) Movie Review

Short review: “Fast & Furious” delivers the goods fast and, er, furiously. Long review: Paul Walker and Vin Diesel reunites on the franchise that made them stars in the first place with “Fast & Furious”, the fourth chapter in the popular car series directed by Justin Lin, who previously...
April 5th, 2009 | Read More

Bedtime Stories (2008) Movie Review

Now Adam Sandler hasn’t exactly been in the most kid-friendly comedies (see his two previous movies You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and I now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry) but he did promise to make one movie his children can enjoy, and so he did. But Bedtime Stories will put anyone who is not under...
April 5th, 2009 | Read More

Chanbara Beauty (OneChanbara: The Movie, 2008) Movie Review

If you actually went out and spent the time to hunt down and watch “OneChanbara” (aka “Chanbara Beauty”), since it’s unlikely you’ll stumble across it while surfing your local channels, you really have no reason to complain about the film’s shortcomings. The movie sells itself: a bikini-clad...
April 5th, 2009 | Read More

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009) Movie Review

You may have noticed that there is a new trend in Hollywood: reviving franchises that the public didn’t care for the first time around. Or “reboots”, as they like to call it. The latest franchiseable series to be given a second stab at cinematic glory is “Street Fighter”, based on the 2-D fighting...
April 1st, 2009 | Read More

…Around (2008) Movie Review

(Movie Review by Anthony Casella) For a movie about a wannabe filmmaker struggling to find inspiration for his movie while in New York City, there’s seemingly little having to do with subject of celluloid in “…Around,” produced, written and directed by David Spaltro. Instead,...
March 28th, 2009 | Read More

Weapons (2007) Movie Review

The first three minutes of “Weapons” are easily the most memorable part of the movie. The opening credits play out over slow-motion footage of a character eating a cheeseburger, and even though the action is mundane, the scene is dreamlike, almost hypnotic. And then, a horrible act of violence...
March 28th, 2009 | Read More

Dead Snow (2009) Movie Review

When you think horror, you think Norwegians. Okay, maybe not so much, but the Norwegians sure are making a nice little name for themselves producing some interesting ditties to the horror genre. They’ve already offered up two of the more notable slasher titles of recent years in the “Cold Prey”...
March 28th, 2009 | Read More

Cold Prey 2 (2008) Movie Review

When the Norwegian slasher “Cold Prey” was released back in 2006, it was hailed by some as being the best example of the form for some years, being a back to basics slice of gory fun and genuine tension. Given its success, “Cold Prey 2” was always inevitable, and the film now arrives on region...
March 27th, 2009 | Read More

Manhunt (aka Rovdyr, 2008) Movie Review

Norwegian horror has been thriving of late, with a number of high profile hits such as “Cold Prey” and the zombie Nazi splatter comedy “Dead Snow”. Further adding to the country’s growing reputation for gore is “Rovdyr” from director Patrik Syversen, who had previously shown his dedication...
March 21st, 2009 | Read More

Lady Cop and Papa Crook (2008) Movie Review

“Lady Cop and Papa Crook” is a film which has attracted publicity for all the wrong reasons, having been delayed after a battle with the notoriously strict Chinese censors. This is a shame, and it is great to see the film finally emerge, as it offers fans of Hong Kong cinema plenty to get excited...
March 21st, 2009 | Read More

Crush and Blush (2008) Movie Review

“Crush and Blush” is exactly the kind of film that the Korean film industry needs more of. A black, harsh though surprisingly moving anti-romantic comedy, it stands head and shoulders above the hordes of cutesy pieces of soulless candy which crowd cinema screens. The film marks the debut of Lee Kyung...
March 21st, 2009 | Read More