Sammo Hung
Blu-Ray Review: Angela Mao: Hapkido and Lady Whirlwind
Although Martial arts films played an important role in Asian cinema since the end of World War II, it wasn’t until the golden age of the late 1970s that they became such big business across the world. While the West started to fall in love with the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, it …
Blu-Ray Review: Encounter of the Spooky Kind
Chinese folklore is full of stories of ghosts, supernatural creatures and monsters. These spirits and apparitions are largely malevolent and play a prominent role in popular culture. Cinema is no exception. The success of A Chinese Ghost Story sparked a surge of similar films (Mr Vampire, The Eye, Rigor Mortis etc) in Hong Kong. Humour …
Blu-Ray Review: Last Hurrah for Chivalry / Hand of Death: Two Films by John Woo
There have been very few film-makers who began their careers in Asian cinema and then made the successful transition to Hollywood. Whilst the language barrier is an obvious difficulty, it’s often cultural differences which provide the biggest hurdles. John Woo is a notable exception. He first came to prominence in the 1990s, with his films …
Blu-ray Review: Wheels on Meals
Sammo Hung, like Jackie Chan, starred in, choreographed and directed him own films. Both men have had impressive careers and were pivotal in opening up Hong Kong martial arts films-making to the Western world. They starred with Biao Yuen in Hung’s Wheels on Meals in 1984. Whilst Chan and Hung both went on to become …
Film Review: Call of Heroes
Hong Kong has built a reputation for producing high quality and action-packed cinema. From the studied nostalgia of Wong Kar-wai to the bullets and mayhem of John Woo, they’ve found a market with English-speaking audiences. When it comes to action, it’s the gangster and cop films of Johnnie To which are prevalent. However, the co-produced …