Lesbian Vampire Killers (2009) Movie Review

It’s obvious to anyone who doesn’t have his head stuck up his ass that you don’t go into a movie called “Lesbian Vampire Killers” expecting the second coming of “Citizen Kane”. While the threshold for “success” is undoubtedly set very low as a result, there are nevertheless expectations...

May 24th, 2009 | Read More

Driven to Kill (2009) Movie Review

“Driven to Kill” is Steven Seagal’s second direct-to-DVD film this year. Yes, his second movie released on DVD in the year 2009, and movie #3 is already in the can. There’s really no way to keep track of all the DTV films Seagal has made since his career in theatrical releases...

May 20th, 2009 | Read More

Angels And Demons (2009) Movie Review

“Angels and Demons” holds a niche position in one kind of movie watching hell. I could not let my mind wander while watching it and still follow the tangled intricacies of Robert Langdon’s fascinating professors tour of Rome and simultaneously, I really wanted my mind to wander. So...

May 17th, 2009 | Read More

The Sniper (2009) Movie Review

Hong Kong’s “The Sniper” appeals to me because it’s about those mysterious guys who you never see, but who can kill you from three football fields away, and you’d never know it. When done right, like the 1993 Tom Berenger movie “Sniper” or 2001’s “Enemy at the Gates”, sniping is an...

May 17th, 2009 | Read More

Summer Whispers (2007) Movie Review

“Summer Whispers” marks the debut of first time writer director Kim Eun Joo, and offers a pleasingly understated take on the usual Korean romance. The title is certainly appropriate and evocative, as the film has a bright, though almost ethereal feel, dealing not only with love, but also with life...

May 16th, 2009 | Read More

Iris Chang: The Rape of Nanking (2007) Movie Review

“Iris Chang – The Rape of Nanking” is a documentary produced in 2007 by the Toronto based ‘Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia’ to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nanking Massacre. The film is based upon Chang’s bestselling 1997 book “The Rape of Nanking:...

May 16th, 2009 | Read More

China White (1989) Movie Review

“The China White” was originally released back in 1989 and was the first international film from Hong Kong director Ronny Yu, who has since gone on to helm the likes of Jet Li’s “Fearless” and the forthcoming anime adaptation “Blood: The Last Vampire”. Having been surrounded by controversy...

May 16th, 2009 | Read More

Lost and Found (2008) Movie Review

Following on from her award winning turn in the historical mystery “Shadows in the Palace”, actress Park Jin Hee’s stock continues to rise with the spirited romantic comedy “Lost and Found”. The film marks the debut of writer director Jeong Jeong Hwa, who tries something a little different...

May 16th, 2009 | Read More

The Machine Girl (2008) Movie Review

“The Machine Girl” was always destined for cult fandom due to the simple fact that it revolves around a cute Japanese schoolgirl with a machinegun arm, who goes out for revenge against the bullies and yakuza who killed her brother. With an unbeatable premise such as this, the quality of the film...

May 10th, 2009 | Read More

Tactical Unit: Human Nature (2008) Movie Review

The new “Tactical Unit” series inspired by Johnnie To’s classic “PTU” continues with the latest instalment “Human Nature”, which offers up another tale of morally ambiguous cops and their struggle to uphold the law while battling their own personal demons. With To again serving as producer,...

May 10th, 2009 | Read More

Triad Story (1990) Movie Review

Although Stephen Chow is obviously best known for his comedic genius and hits such as “Kung Fu Hustle” and “Shaolin Soccer”, as a young actor he paid his dues in a variety of genres. Inevitably, as with pretty much every other performer of his generation, this saw him making a number of appearances...

May 10th, 2009 | Read More

Crossing (2008) Movie Review

“Crossing” is the latest film to tackle the North South Korean divide, a highly emotive subject which has inspired a number of heart searching works in recent years. The film represents somewhat of a change of pace for director Kim Tae Kyun, previously known for commercial hits such as the brash,...

May 10th, 2009 | Read More

Raising Jeffrey Dahmer (2006) Movie Review

“Raising Jeffrey Dahmer” takes a slightly different approach to depicting the life and crimes of the infamous American serial killer, focusing not on the maniac himself, but on his parents, in particular his father. Through this, first time director Rich Ambler is able not only to chart Dahmer’s...

May 8th, 2009 | Read More

The Devil’s Tomb (aka Ice 44, 2009) Movie Review

Who would have thought that after bursting onto the scene in 1996 as a loudmouth, Quan-loving jock in Cameron Crowe’s romantic comedy “Jerry Maguire” that ten short years later Cuba Gooding Jr. would be going blow-for-blow with Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Wesley Snipes in the direct-to-DVD...

May 7th, 2009 | Read More

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) Movie Review

All he wanted to do was live a quiet, uneventful life with his sexy Indian live-in girlfriend, but they just wouldn’t leave him alone. They being pretty much everyone who isn’t him. Plus, he’s got a hairy brother who insists on roping him back into their reindeer games. Such is life for the feral...

May 1st, 2009 | Read More

Never Surrender (2009) Movie Review

As the DVD artwork proudly proclaims, “Never Surrender” stars “the world’s top MMA fighters in their first feature film!” In addition to kickboxing champion Hector Echavarria, who not only wrote and directed, but also stars as the lead, the film boasts the presence of professional...

April 29th, 2009 | Read More

The Eleventh Hour (2008) Movie Review

If you can forgive John Lyde and Matthew Reese their lack of resources, then “The Eleventh Hour” is not a bad way to spend 90 minutes. It’s actually a very good action film, and had the duo been in possession of, say, 10% of your average Hollywood budget, they could have produced something special....

April 21st, 2009 | Read More

20th Century Boys (2008) Movie Review

“20th Century Boys” has been one of the most eagerly anticipated events in Japanese cinema for some time. The adaptation of the best selling 24 volume manga by Naoki Urasawa is to be made into a trilogy of films, with a massive total budget of 6 billion yen, setting a new record for the industry....

April 14th, 2009 | Read More

Observe and Report (2009) Movie Review

In “Observe and Report”, Seth Rogen (”Zack and Miri Make a Porno”, “Pineapple Express”)plays Ronnie Barnhardt, a security guard with delusions of grandeur. In Ronnie’s mind, he is the law, and the only thing standing between order and chaos at the local mall....

April 14th, 2009 | Read More

Dragonball: Evolution (2009) Movie Review

James Wong’s live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese manga/anime “Dragonball” might just be the first movie to actually live up to the hype. Unfortunately for Wong and company, that hype was overwhelmingly negative. In all my years of covering movie news, “Dragonball: Evolution” might...

April 12th, 2009 | Read More