Country: China

Action fans in particular will find much to appreciate here, especially the chance to see the Drunken style so excellently represented on screen.

Hard to categorise, gorgeously shot and occasionally challenging in form, ‘Up The Mountain’ is quite unlike anything else.

The pacing is just right, the locations are skilfully used and Liu has taken a deceptively simple story and given it layers of interest beneath.

‘Vanguard’ tries to be a slick, Chinese version of ‘Mission: Impossible’ but has no idea what made the Tom Cruise film popular with viewers and critics alike.

A searing action thriller about those on the lower rungs of society desperately trying to get their hands on a large sum of cash.

The casting of Andy Lau and Gong Li – and the inclusion of a somewhat wasted Russell Wong – added to a plush Beijing setting might make this a more appealing watch than first thought.

Granted, the environment in which this production was filmed is breath-taking and leaves a searing impression beyond the final frames. However, the storyline is strong enough not to be a slave to the cinematography.

‘White Vengeance’ – in keeping with the generic expectations of recent years – has big, bruising conflict aplenty and it’s those moments that tend to have the greatest impact.

A modern day western with some stellar action scenes and a distinctive setting memorably rendered on screen to create a unique action film.

Like many modern animations, it’s a very fast-paced and colourful affair that features an easy to warm to set of characters and some simplistic humour that is suitable for all the family.

Wu Jing’s second stab at directing, after ‘Legendary Assassin’, is an all guns blazing, military action, explosions riot.

‘Wolf Warrior II’ excels in delivering adrenaline charged, brilliantly choreographed, stunt filled action that should sate even the most rabid action fan.