Movie Review – Caught In Time

Caught In Time (Chu bao) Hong Kong/China (2020) Dir. Lau Ho-Leung “Persistence without respite” We’re always told that patience is a virtue which must be a vital requirement for anyone joining the police force - after all, who else could handle long fruitless stakeouts or undertake painstaking mission to catch a master criminal. But ten …

Movie Review – The Battle At Lake Changjin

The Battle At Lake Changjin (Chang jin hu) China (2021) Dirs. Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark, & Dante Lam If there is ever a caveat to making war films it is in the historical accuracy of the details and tone of the narrative. The former is where audiences will show some leniency due to dramatic licence, …

Movie Review – End Game

End Game (Ren chao xiong yong) China/Hong Kong (2021) Dir. Rao Xiaozhi “I need to be myself/ I can’t be no-one else” Those were the first words we heard Liam Gallagher sing when Supersonic heralded the arrival of Oasis in 1994 and almost 20 years later they are apropos to this Chinese/Hong Kong remake of …

Movie Review – Once Upon A Time in China IV

Once Upon A Time in China IV (Wong Fei Hung IV: Wong je ji fung) Hong Kong/China (1993) Dir. Yuen Bun It’s one thing to change the actor for a lead role to do it the middle of a film series is a hell of a risk, especially when the previous star was a marquee …

Movie Review – Ne Zha

  Ne Zha (Ne Zha zhi mo tong jiang shi) China (2019) Dir. Yu Yang Gong hei fat choy or  Gōng xǐ fā cái - Happy Chinese New Year aka Year of the Tiger, and to celebrate I thought it appropriate to watch a film from that neck of the woods. Having scoured the titles …

Movie Review – The Shaolin Temple

The Shaolin Temple (Shao Lin si) China/Hong Kong (1982) Dir. Chang Hsin Yen You’d think that if someone asked you to make a vow never to kill, it would be an easy choice to make. In this day and age, it would be but in Ancient China where disputes were settled with fists, kicks, and …

Movie Review – Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home (Mi mi fang ke) China (2021) Dir. Leste Chen There is nothing like a harmonious family unit, and the clan we feature in this film are nothing like a harmonious family unit! Secrets, lies, and mental controlling abound and that is before we get to the strange guy living in the basement. …

Movie Review – Sunny Sisters

Sunny Sisters (Yang Guang Jie Mei Tao) China (2021) Dir. Bao Bei Er Friends are important in life - or so I’ve heard, I have none - and whilst many come and go, there are those who stay with you through thick or thin, allowing you to all grow old together. Unless that is purely …

Movie Review – Restart The Earth

Restart The Earth (Chong Qi Di Qiu) China (2021) Dir. Lin Zhenzhao Not a bad suggestion if you think about given the way things are going at the moment, with right wing leaders making a mess of everything, COVID, racism, and other issues making the world a pretty miserable place right now. This film however, …

Movie Review – Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight

Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight (Gam man da song si) China/Hong Kong (2017) Dir. Alan Lo Quite often one comes across a film where the response once it ends is “What the hell?”. This might be because it is a deeply thoughtful, impenetrably symbolic arthouse film, or it is so out there it makes little sense. …