Action choreographer on Hero, House Of Flying Daggers, The Warlords and far too many others to mention, Tony Ching Siu-tung is back in the director’s chair for the first time in five years – but is this the triumphant return we were hoping for…? (more…)
Wong Kar-wai returns to his 1994 classic to produce a definite version – but is it really any better…? (more…)
Fantasy fun from director Yojiro Takita, but seriously, it’s no When The Last Sword is Drawn… (more…)
This Korean Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon styled epic may have been top dog in it’s homeland, but – with a liberal referencing of over thirty years of Hong Kong swordplay films – it’s really more of a mongrel… (more…)
A fun filled pantomime from the Shaw Brothers – with super extending legs that can deliver a kick from a distance, dwarfs that squirt Alien-like acid puss from their spots and pet dragons… (more…)
Just another early 80s wire-fu movie – or at least it would be if not for the performances of leads Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh and some fine action from Ching Siu-tung… (more…)
If you ever wanted to know where Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon came from you only need to know one name, King Hu. This ground breaking film, possibly one of the greatest of the martial chivalry genre, started it all… (more…)
Campy, explosive fun from the film that influenced the Lyre sequence in Kung Fu Hustle. Well, it’s not completely dreadful but… (more…)
Chor Yuan directs Derek Yee in this classic Wuxia tale from Shaw Brothers… (more…)
Osamu Tezuka’s (Astro Boy) Dororo gets the live-action makeover, from director Akihiko Shiota, starring Memories Of Matsuko’s Kou Shibasaki, but spoiled a little by wishy-washy CGI and under-par action from legendary Ching Siu-Tung… (more…)
Over half a decade since making such an impact with Nowhere To Hide, director Lee Myung-se finally returns to our screens with Duelist – but has it been worth the wait?… (more…)
Not the sequel to Come Drink with Me you might be expecting, but a damn fine tale of heroic chivalry from Zhang Che… (more…)
Writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s thoughtful and hilarious take on the samurai genre… (more…)
Nominated for an Oscar, Jet Li stars in director Zhang Yimou’s (Raise The Red Lantern, Not One Less) first foray into the swordplay genre, and it’s one of the most beautiful and offbeat yet… (more…)
A beautiful tale of romance and bitter betrayal, Zhang Yimou’s follow-up to Hero is even better… (more…)
Novelist Kan Shimozawa’s famous blind swordsman Zatoichi, recently brought to the screen by Beat Takeshi, gets a feminine makeover courtesy Fumihiko Sori, director of Ping Pong and the Anime Vexille… (more…)
Peter Chan’s take on the historical wuxia drama is far grittier and more grounded than we’re used to, with a fine performance by Jet Li that will surprise his critics – but do we really need another film like this? (more…)
Yet more Jackie Chan films from the archives, but do we really need them in ‘Ultra-bit’ quality?… (more…)
The funkiest Monkey is back, in a whole new adventure with Tripitaka, Pigsy and Sandy… (more…)
Zhang Che directs Jimmy Wang Yu in the Shaw Brothers classic that made both their careers… (more…)
Yet another historical drama, over blown, over acted and over long – but it’s still easily the best thing John Woo has done in a long time…! (more…)
Say what? Another two hours to find out how the Battle of Red Cliff actually goes? Is it worth it? Oh yes, all you John Woo fans out there, it really is… (more…)
Melodramatic over acting, sworn vengeance for the death of loved ones, scruffy looking tramps who kick arse, superfluous bucktoothed comedy characters and subtitles that don’t make sense… maybe things haven’t changed that much after all! (more…)
Corey Yuen and Daniel Lai co-direct this superb comic book nonsense… (more…)
The latest Tsui Hark movie is more than a decent stab at a ‘wuxia’ movie in the wake of Zhang Yimou’s Hero and House of Flying Daggers – but does it fall short of being the epic he intended?… (more…)
Not a lot of Zen, but really – what were you expecting?… (more…)
A nicely played and well-directed swordplay film – but haven’t we seen it all before? (more…)
The bizarre and often baffling follow up to Swordsman II sees Brigette Lin reprising her role as Asia the Invincible… (more…)
Director Zhang Che on top form with a real gem of a film, but if you’re expecting the usual bloodthirsty, simplistic, macho approach, think again!… (more…)
A morality tale from the master of the ‘extreme close-up’ Zhang Che on why its best not to shag your best mate’s wife… (more…)
The impressive feature debut from Tsui Hark (Seven Swords, Zu: Warriors from Magic Mountain) that kick started the Hong Kong ‘new wave’ of the 80s… (more…)
Director Zhang Yimou’s latest swordplay inspired movie is a visual delight, but this one won’t please the martial arts fans… (more…)
Jet Li and Jackie Chan – together for the first time ever…! (more…)
An early Zhang Che script with a typically macho bent – well what else would you expect?… (more…)
First Zhang Yimou made a film about the same subject as Chen Kaige had, now Kaige has followed Yimou by making a CGI led ‘wuxia pian’ movie – will these guys ever stop treading on each others toes?… (more…)
From the same novel that spawned John Woo’s Red Cliff comes Three Kingdoms, surrounding the legend of Zhao Zilong who became known as The Undefeated General. But do we need another hysterical – I mean historical – drama…? (more…)
