All Film Reviews

The pairing of Jet Li and Sammo should have spawned a masterpiece, but instead the audience is left with this disheartening effort.

As a continued supporter of Hong Kong cinema, it gives me no pleasure to call this absurd mess the biggest waste of a big budget in recent memory.

‘Kung Fu Fighter’ is the cinematic equivalent of watching a used corn plaster floating in a muddy canal.

Those of you still hooked on the “corr blimey guv’nor” British gangster flicks may find ‘Kung Fu Flid’ a minor distraction.

In the end, ‘Kung Fu From Beyond The Grave’ is decent entertainment – mainly due to the fights – but lacks the campy charm needed to make it a strong recommendation.

It is a brilliantly constructed spoof of the martial arts genre that includes all of the elements that made Chow such a success.

‘Kung Fu Killer’, despite its B-movie title and the odd moment of cheesiness, comes very close to bringing back the elation one felt when watching golden era Hong Kong action cinema.

‘Kung Fu League’ displays the good and bad of Lau, a fact that means it’s never a smooth journey through the hundred minutes, but you don’t necessarily feel too aggravated by the end.

If you approach a film of this nature, with this cast, with this storyline and with this lack of imagination, there is very little sympathy you (or indeed I) should expect.

In its own way it is quite a diverting drama that has its moments of chemistry between the two leads. It’s just unfortunate that the b-movie direction undermines the hard work of the cast.

‘Kung Fu of Eight Drunkards’ is interchangeable with most of the other independent productions of the time, the same strengths and weaknesses again apparent.

‘Kung Fu On Sale’ is strictly for fans who absolutely must see every film the genre has to offer. The majority of viewers would be best advised looking elsewhere for entertainment.

‘Kung Fu vs. Acrobatic’ is bizarre. Very importantly though, it is also an entertaining and pleasantly silly film.

‘Kung Fu Vs. Yoga’ does not rank among the absolute cream of the genre, but there is definite enjoyment on offer here.

After an appalling first half, perhaps we can be grateful that it at least becomes watchable.

It gives me no pleasure to say that I would even consider, if heavily medicated, watching ‘The Spy Next Door’ again rather than this.

If you get a giggle out of fart jokes and squeaky voices then it may well be the movie for you, but I imagine most will be better suited looking elsewhere.

Aside from a few glimpses of the impressive skills of Rina Takeda, ‘Kunoichi’ doesn’t really have anything else to offer.

A rewarding stand-alone experience, ‘Elegant Slaughter’ is also an irresistible taster for stories yet to come. The queue starts here.

The cast are all gifted fighters and the film does pack in a fair bit of martial arts, just a shame the rest of the film is so amateur, haphazard and, well, naff.

A zippy, expertly performed romantic comedy with an abundance of style and quality, ‘La Brassiere’ is a pleasant surprise.

‘Lackey And The Lady Tiger’ is inoffensive genre fodder that is evidence that Mars is much more than just a stuntman.

Interest is created in ‘Lady Cop & Papa Crook’ by its style and verve, yet the story and characters are successful in doing the opposite.

‘Lady Detective Shadow’ is part Detective Dee and part ‘Come Drink With Me’ though nowhere as good as either.