Rating: 3.5

Frivolous of plot it may be but director Huang Ta makes up for the lack of narrative meat by stuffing the film with superb fight action.

Liu lights up the screen with his explosive bootwork while Jack Long and the endearing Blacky Ko provide extra physical presence.

Although ‘Shaolin Mantis’ is a well made and above average, it undoubtedly disappoints when compared with Liu Chia-Liang’s best work.

‘Shock Wave’ is an above average Andy Lau action film that shows that the star can still be called on to play the tough hero when needed.

Bogged down with a little too much cliché and oppressive doom, ‘Silent Night’ may not be what you’re expecting but it is Woo still flexing both his artistic and action muscles to deliver a ‘Death Wish’ style action flick.

Stylistically, ‘Sky Of Love’ has that same easygoing ambience as its Korean inspiration while it also injects later scenes with a surprising amount of melancholy.

While it might not quite hit the heights it sometimes seems to be reaching for, it is still a touching and quietly rewarding meditation on friendship.

‘Space Sweepers’ may not be revolutionary in narrative terms but more than makes up for it with likeable characters, oodles of space-set adventure and lashings of superior CGI.

After a surge of period and fantasy styled films, Donnie Yen returns to modern day cop action territory in the somewhat schlocky but no less entertaining ‘Special ID’.

‘Speed Dating’ is a fast and funny short blast of action-comedy that nicely sets proceedings up for a potential full-length feature – which would be very welcome.

Of course, it is far from perfect and lacks the polish that was applied to Chan’s later vehicles, but it’s still a solid effort that has a distinctly old school charm.

It would take something quite exceptional to take such cliched elements and make them stand out from the crowd and while it’s an enjoyable feel-good film it’s not the kind of the production that leaves much of a lasting impression.