Action Member: Bruce Law

Even though I was eager to like the film and the trailer helped make this seem a possibility, this is a major disappointment – even for the most forgiving fans of the Samuel Hui/Karl Maka classic.

The lack of urgency and often confusing nature of the plot means ‘Armageddon’ is never as engaging or exciting as it could have been.

‘Bleeding Steel’ starts with promise and then refuses to flesh out any of the plot details, leaving us bewildered shortly after our interest had piqued.

This isn’t a Jackie Chan film, it’s a very entertaining and absorbing action-thriller that just so happens to have a strong central performance from a man called Chan.

If you give it a go it can be a rewarding and all together different movie viewing experience and shows the director is a gifted talent who can switch from gentle and beautiful to the dark and the violent with ease and skill.

‘Eight Taels Of Gold’ rewards those not looking for emotional fireworks or melodramatic denouements.

While it’s not always cohesive in tone and execution, ‘Extreme Crisis’ is nevertheless a solid action film and ideal for those looking for some simple action thrills.

‘First Option’ is definitely a high scorer on the cheese scale, but luckily it’s also loaded with some original action scenes that make it worth your while.

Not a Brunel intellectual challenge, this is a recommended satirical comedy, easy to enjoy and a feather in the cap of Johnnie To’s varied filmography.

‘Hidden Strike’ is an entertaining film though the computer effects sometimes lack finesse and the wirework for an ageing Jackie Chan has become too obvious.

While it doesn’t completely succeed in its intentions it is still a brave, and very dark, experimental thriller recommended to the less judgemental out there.

‘Iceman’ is more of a lame comedy with a little bit a decent action rather than the fantasy blockbuster if could have been.