Reviews

Hit Team

2.5

Action, Crime, Thriller • Hong Kong
Aug 4

Penned by prolific director and writer Wong Jing, ‘Hit Team’ is a formulaic cop thriller done on a low budget, something that makes itself very apparent early on.
Ultimax Force

3.0

Action • Philippines
Jul 26

‘Ultimax Force’ has it all really: great B-movie title, lots of ridiculous moments that defy logic, unintentionally hilarious acting and a heap of cool action.

The Bouncer

3.5

Action, Drama, Thriller • Belgium, France
Jul 12

Perhaps not the most original narrative wise, ‘The Bouncer’ is entertaining thanks to solid direction, a great setting and an excellent performance from the Muscles from Brussels.
Gameboy Kids

3.0

Action, Comedy • Hong Kong
Jul 5

I can imagine watching it thirty years ago and wanting to throw a brick at the screen, but, imbued with a tidal wave of nostalgia today, it was a decent ninety-minute distraction.
Nightshooters

4.0

Action, Comedy, Martial Arts • UK
Jun 28

Overcoming a small budget and using a single location to its advantage, ‘Nightshooters’ is slick, laugh-out-loud funny and when it cuts loose, a full tilt action flick.
Golden Needles

3.0

Action, Adventure, Martial Arts • USA
Jun 14

Ultimately, it is Joe Don Baker that makes ‘Golden Needles’ worth tracking down; it’s by no means his best work, but he’s always great to watch.
Spiritwalker

4.0

Action, Fantasy, Mystery • South Korea
Jun 7

Slick and taught action thriller with a sci-fi twist, ‘Spiritwalker’ is a fine slice of modern Korean filmmaking that propels along on mounting tension, a committed cast and a fun concept.
The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure

3.5

Action, Adventure, Comedy • South Korea
May 31

‘The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure’ is a big, unapologetic action film that borrows all of the pomp and bombast of its American contemporaries.
Escape From Mogadishu

4.0

Action, Drama • South Korea
May 24

Searing blockbuster thrills based on true events where diplomats from both South and North Korea become stranded in the fallen city of Mogadishu during a rebel uprising in Somalia.
It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad World

3.5

Comedy, Family, Fantasy • Hong Kong
May 17

Clifton Ko has been behind the lens for quite a few of these family comedies though the box-office hit ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World’ is one of his best efforts.
The Battle At Lake Changjin

3.0

Action, Drama, History, War • China
May 10

Certainly not subtle but if you can forgive its flaws and instead bask in its blockbuster credentials, then ‘The Battle At Lake Changjin’ delivers some spectacular war movie action.
Shaolin And Wu Tang

4.0

Action, Martial Arts • Hong Kong
May 3

There are some plot holes that become apparent as the film continues, but good quality action and a fine cast cover a multitude of sins.
Midnight

5.0

Thriller • South Korea
Apr 26

A seemingly simple set-up is given verve, Hitchcockian tension, and extra depth via nerve shredding direction and having the two leads both deaf and mute.
Contract To Kill

1.5

Action, Thriller • USA
Apr 26

‘Contract to Kill’ earns an extra half star for the editor’s efforts but the film as a whole is clearly far too broken to ever be fixed.
Caught In Time

3.5

Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller • China, Hong Kong
Apr 19

Lau Ho-Leung has made a solid crime thriller that benefits from its rough and ready approach, decent action, and an intriguing real-life case.
A Massacre Survivor

3.0

Martial Arts • Hong Kong
Apr 11

‘A Massacre Survivor’ features an always watchable Shih Szu as the heroine. Unfortunately, she’s one of the few characters to get much polish.
Castle Falls

3.0

Action, Drama, Thriller • USA
Apr 3

It may be a little slight for the more cynical out there and both action stars have trod similar ground before, but ‘Castle Falls’ is an effectively unfussy flick that delivers the meat and potatoes action.
They Came To Rob Hong Kong

2.0

Action, Comedy • Hong Kong
Mar 28

When you’ve got Dean Shek, Sandra Ng and Eric Tsang all screeching for ninety minutes, you know it’s going to be a tough experience.
One Shot

3.5

Action, Thriller • UK, USA
Mar 21

It’s bloody, down and dirty, and the highlight is the stalk and slash sequence of Adkins making his way through various buildings taking out bad guys with a knife.
The Reckless Cricket

2.0

Comedy, Martial Arts • Hong Kong
Mar 14

Episodic and pantomimic, this is a series of not especially interesting scenes sewn together with a completely uninvolving main narrative.