Release Year: 2005

A true gangster epic with brilliant performances, direction and action and not a mockney geezer or wideboy in sight. Simply: great.

Lau’s modern interpretation is an extremely wild one that is often mind blowing in its visuals, but in truth it’s the heart warming love story that prevails and makes the film a very entertaining one.

When the main story takes centre stage, the viewer’s interest is likely to be lost and the plot-holes difficult to reconcile.

This sumptuous work was lauded on its release and in this reviewer’s mind was not deserving of quite the reception it got at the Japanese Academy awards.

A worthy follow up to Kitamura’s stylish original and certainly packs a punch in the Samurai action department.

‘b420’ moves from a potentially arresting low-key beginning to a middle section that throws together predictable sub-plots, then Matthew Tang switches to a thriller for the final twenty minutes.

‘Bloodfist 2050’ certainly recaptures the feeling of 90s American martial arts B-movies, so much so that it actually winds up feeling a little late to the party.

‘Bug Me Not!’ is an extremely lightweight production that is often so cringeworthy that you’ll have to resist the urge to hurl your remote at the screen.

Full of humanity and interest, it remarkably manages to takes three or four strong sub-plots and amalgamate them together without letting any of them suffer.

‘Crying Fist’ feels fresh and exciting thanks to the considerable skills of its director, the novel use of two storylines happening at the same time and the excellent performances of the leads.

A touching film which manages to show everything Jet has to offer from his likeable, shy persona to his impressive physical grace.

‘Death Trance’ isn’t quite as good as ‘Versus’ but is nevertheless a visually striking, always creative and if a little slow in pace at stages, still packed with great Eastern flavoured action.