Elsewhere (2009) Movie Review

Veteran cinematographer Nathan Hope tries on his Writer and Director caps with “Elsewhere,” a small town thriller released in theatres in January and already out on DVD and Blu-Ray. To be blunt, he really shouldn’t quit his day job. While the production values are high and the acting...

June 20th, 2009 | Read More

Silent Venom (2009) Movie Review

That is it! I’ve had it with these mother******* snakes on this mother******* Pla- Er, Submarine? In a perfect world the idea of this film would have never even been thought of. Unfortunately for us we don’t live in that world and films like Silent Venom actually get made. “Silent Venom”...

June 13th, 2009 | Read More

Sorry for the City (2009) Movie Review

Influential Hong Kong classic “Infernal Affairs” gets the Korean comedy treatment with “Sorry for the City” (also referred to as “City of Damnation”). The film marks the reunion of the popular stars and team behind the hits “My Boss, My Hero” and “My Boss, My Teacher”, with helmer...

June 13th, 2009 | Read More

Tactical Unit: Partners (2009) Movie Review

“Tactical Unit – Partners” is the latest and apparently final entry in the new Johnnie To produced “PTU” series. The film was directed by Lawrence Lau, who also helmed the second in the series, “No Way Out”, as well as a number of other recently acclaimed films such as “My Name is Fame”...

June 13th, 2009 | Read More

The Storm Riders (1998) Movie Review

Having reached its tenth anniversary and with a big budget Pang Brothers directed sequel on the way, the remastered re-release of “The Storm Riders” is both timely and welcome. A massive box office hit on its original 1998 release, the film was a milestone in Hong Kong fantasy cinema, boasting a...

June 13th, 2009 | Read More

A Frozen Flower (2008) Movie Review

Although perhaps not as widely recognised as his contemporaries, former poet Yoo Ha is unquestionably one of the most talented directors working in Korea today. Known for never taking the easy or genre approved route, he has yet to make a bad film, and his track record speaks for itself, including the...

June 13th, 2009 | Read More

Naked Kitchen (2008) Movie Review

The popularity of food related Korean films continues with “The Naked Kitchen” from first time female director Hong Ji Young, who also worked on the recent patisserie-set “Antique”. The film boasts an all star cast in the form of “Princess Hours” heartthrob Ju Ji Hoon (also in “Antique”),...

June 6th, 2009 | Read More

The Sniper (2009) Movie Review

“The Sniper” is a film which hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, thanks to the all-consuming nude photo scandal surrounding star Edison Chen, resulting in a long delay to its release and an apparently drastic cutting down of his role. However, for once this may actually have been a good...

June 6th, 2009 | Read More

A Very Short Life (2009) Movie Review

With Hong Kong cinema not always being known for its sensitive side, a category III rated drama about child abuse and murder may not initially sound like a particularly appetising prospect. Thankfully, “A Very Short Life”, which was written and directed by “Fatal Move” helmer Dennis Law, takes...

June 6th, 2009 | Read More

Wushu: The Young Generation (2008) Movie Review

As a film which is actually about martial arts, it is hard to fault the pedigree of “Wushu – The Young Generation”. Aimed at introducing a new and highly talented bunch of experts, the film also stars the legendary Sammo Hung, and was produced by none other than Jackie Chan. It was directed by...

June 6th, 2009 | Read More

I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer (2008) Movie Review

No doubt because the fans demanded it, the world can now bask in the glory of the first ever cricket themed comedy horror in the form of “I Know How Many Runs you Scored Last Summer”. The Australian film marks the feature debut of husband and wife team Doug Turner and Stacey Edmonds, who had previously...

May 30th, 2009 | Read More

Macabre (1980) Movie Review

“Macabre” was originally released back in 1980 and marked the debut of Italian horror director Lamberto Bava. The son of the legendary Mario Bava, who was responsible for countless influential genre classics including “Black Sunday” and “Black Sabbath”, his works were always somewhat overshadowed...

May 30th, 2009 | Read More

Martyrs (2008) Movie Review

As Hollywood horror slowly drowns in a mire of teen friendly remakes, over the last few years, it is arguably the French who have given genre addicts their much needed fixes, including such gruesome gems as “Switchblade Romance”, “Frontiers” and “Inside”. Following these comes “Martyrs”,...

May 30th, 2009 | Read More

Sleepless (2001) Movie Review

“Sleepless” was originally released in 2001 and saw legendary horror director Dario Argento returning to the Giallo form in an attempt to reverse what had seemed for many years to be the irreversible decline of his once glorious career. Perhaps inevitably receiving mixed reactions from critics and...

May 30th, 2009 | Read More

Pixar’s Up (2009) Movie Review

Pixar goes about making movies in a different way than the vast majority of movie studios do these days. For one thing, these movies take a very long time to make. Pixar says that “Up” took five years to put together and of course, “Up” cost a fortune. Because Pixar only puts...

May 30th, 2009 | Read More

Drag Me to Hell (2009) Movie Review

It doesn’t pay to be a nice guy (or gal) in a Sam Raimi horror movie. The “Spider-Man” director likes to torture people, especially the really nice ones. Just ask Ash from the “Evil Dead” films. Sam Raimi’s latest plaything is Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a bank loan officer in “Drag...

May 28th, 2009 | Read More

The House by the Cemetery (Uncut, 1981) Movie Review

UK gore and horror fans have real reason to rejoice as Lucio Fulci’s 1981 gut muncher “The House by the Cemetery” has at last been passed uncut by the dreaded BBFC. The film now returns to DVD in all its gruesome glory via Arrow Video as part of their Masters of Giallo series, and comes complete...

May 24th, 2009 | Read More

Cutie Honey (2004) Movie Review

A live action version of the enduringly popular Japanese manga and anime series, “Cutie Honey” was directed by Hideaki Anno of “Neon Genesis Evangelion” fame. Originally released back in 2004, the film now arrives on region 2 DVD via MVM Entertainment, finally giving fans a chance to revel in...

May 24th, 2009 | Read More

Kill Switch (2008) Movie Review

Formerly one of the top action movie stars of the ’90s, Steven Seagal has spent the last several years phoning it in, starring in a stream of direct-to-DVD movies which, with only a few exceptions, are all terrible. “Kill Switch” is not one of those few exceptions, but it is a rare...

May 24th, 2009 | Read More

Zombie Virus on Mulberry Street (2006) Movie Review

“Zombie Virus on Mulberry Street”, the first feature from writer director Jim Mickle, picked up a number of plaudits and prizes on its initial release back in 2006 with a successful tour of genre festivals. Now with a new and not entirely necessary expanded moniker (the original title was the simpler...

May 24th, 2009 | Read More