Reviews

The Double Crossers

3.5

Action, Martial Arts • Hong Kong
Jul 23

A mainly cool slice of retro 70s exploitation that while maybe not Golden Harvest’s finest, is an entertaining revenge romp for fans of old school action.
Message From Space

4.0

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi • Japan
Jul 22

Buoyed by Fukasaku’s energetic direction, copious action, and some still to this day impressive special effects, ‘Message from Space’ delights in being two hours of ambitious infectious fun.

The Romancing Star

2.5

Comedy, Romance • Hong Kong
Jul 16

‘The Romancing Star’ might be a product of a particular time and culture, but its problems do not lay there – the fact is that it’s unfunny and annoying.
Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms

3.0

Action, Drama, Fantasy, War • China
Jul 10

‘Kingdom of Storms’ certainly gives it a good go at adapting the ancient tale for the big screen even though it buckles slightly under its lofty ambitions and reliance on copious CGI.
Legend Of The Fox

3.5

Action, Drama, Martial Arts • Hong Kong
Jul 3

It’s a shame to report that ‘Legend of the Fox’, while peppered with solid characters and decent fisticuffs, is a frustrating experience.
A Queen’s Ransom

2.5

Action, Crime, Martial Arts, Thriller • Hong Kong
Jun 26

Jimmy Wang Yu, Angelo Mao, a very young Bolo Yeung, and one-time Bond, George Lazenby teamed up for this Golden Harvest-produced attempt at cracking the international market.
Chilli Laugh Story

4.0

Comedy, Drama • Hong Kong
Jun 19

‘Chilli Laugh Story’ is pure Hong Kong, a comedy drama about those that would probably be forgotten about by other film industries.
Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In

4.0

Action, Crime, Drama, Martial Arts, Thriller • Hong Kong
Jun 4

Arriving with a heft of rightly earned hype, ‘Walled In’ is an often epic, brutal, and thoroughly entertaining throwback to 80s Hong Kong style cinema.
The Legend And Hag Of Shaolin

3.5

Action, Comedy, Drama, Martial Arts • China
May 28

Once it settles down and the MacGuffin doesn’t become the sole focus of the story, ‘The Legend and Hag of Shaolin’ becomes an enjoyable homage to early 90s Hong Kong cinema.
The Swordsman Of All Swordsmen

4.0

Action, Drama, Martial Arts • Taiwan
May 22

A somewhat straightforward, and at times melodramatic, narrative is given heft by the committed cast, stunning cinematography and set design, and fantastic swordplay action.
Raid On Royal Casino Marine

2.0

Action, Comedy • Hong Kong
May 15

Part three has none of the charm of the original and doesn’t even stack up well against the second part; this is a lazy, charmless affair that had me looking at the clock every couple of minutes.
Mob Psycho 100: Reigen – The Miracle Psychic That Nobody Knows

3.0

Action, Animation, Comedy, Fantasy • Japan
May 15

The new material alone isn’t really worth the time investment, and there are far too many missing elements for newcomers to make this their jumping-off point.
Badland Hunters

4.0

Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller • South Korea
May 6

Slickly helmed by stunt guy and first-time director Heo Myung-Haeng, ‘Badland Hunters’ is some rollicking fun not to be taken too seriously.
Men On The Dragon

3.5

Comedy, Drama, Sport • Hong Kong
Apr 22

Each of the protagonists has their own trial to overcome, each has a solid character arc, and each contributes to the infectious enthusiasm created herein.
The Boy And The Heron

4.0

Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Fantasy • Japan
Apr 8

Beginning somewhat sombre and low key before exploding into a cavalcade of colour and crazy (talking) creatures, ‘The Boy And The Heron’ is pure unbridled Miyazaki.
Bodyguard Kiba 2

3.0

Action, Crime, Drama, Martial Arts • Japan
Mar 21

Not as riotously entertaining as the first instalment, ‘Bodyguard Kiba 2’ is still a fun watch, mainly to see Chiba strutting his cool stuff and for the impressive fight scenes that open and close the film.
Bodyguard Kiba

3.5

Action, Crime, Drama, Martial Arts • Japan
Mar 18

Existing in its own heightened reality, ‘Bodyguard Kiba’ is all about making our hero look cool (and indestructible!) and the bad guys as nasty as possible.
Visitors

3.0

Comedy, Horror • Japan
Mar 12

Owing a lot to likes of ‘Evil Dead’ (and other 80s style demon/zombie/gore films) Kenichi Ugana puts enough of his own spin and Japanese style quirk into proceedings to make it his own.
Fighting Spirit

2.0

Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts • USA
Mar 4

‘Fighting Spirit’ has some energy and a surfeit of almost non-stop fights but is just a little too cheap, hokey, and grimy to recommend as silly fun.
A Guilty Conscience

4.0

Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery • Hong Kong
Feb 26

While not without some dry humour, Jack Ng’s courtroom drama is a mostly sober look at a theme that pops up in cinema worldwide, namely how the legal system tends to favour those with money and influence.