All Film Reviews

The destination will probably be inevitable to you 5 minutes into the movie, but that is unlikely to stop the tears rolling down your cheeks come closing credits and the journey, not the destination is the thing of greatest importance.

‘A Massacre Survivor’ features an always watchable Shih Szu as the heroine. Unfortunately, she’s one of the few characters to get much polish.

As it draws to it conclusion, that Korean melancholy kicks in and the characters begin to extend beyond caricatures.

Despite moments that show a director trying to craft something different from a common storyline, there is no reason why this should be considered unfair; this is mostly well executed yet only mildly diverting fare.

Jimmy Wang Yu, Angelo Mao, a very young Bolo Yeung, and one-time Bond, George Lazenby teamed up for this Golden Harvest-produced attempt at cracking the international market.

The pace flags slightly near the end with a final section that is needlessly padded out, but there’s much to absorb in Tony Au’s work.

‘A Simple Life’ is the perfect marriage of arthouse style and heart-rending substance.

If you are willing to substitute blood for brains and real heart for cheap scares, this movie will be one you will remember long after you see it.

‘A Taste Of Killing And Romance’ may do enough to pass the time if you’re a fan of any of the actors involved but it’s certainly far from anyone’s finest work.

Bathing various scenes with the visual potency that alludes to Tsui Hark and with a rousing soundtrack at his disposal, Ching Siu Tung unleashes a minor epic that is highly recommended.

It is a film that deserves to be watched by fans of all genres though and, alongside classics like ‘Come Drink With Me’, acts as a perfect portfolio for the late, great King Hu.

‘A Violent Prosecutor’ might not be winning awards for originality, but it certainly serves as a good use of two hours.

‘A Wicked Ghost’ is a vaguely interesting premise, let down by some rather pedestrian direction and generally wooden performances by its largely unknown cast.

This is a lustrous production that flatters to deceive, aiming for the intellect, but eventually preferring to show empty spectacle and supposed depth.

There are moments of entertainment here, but the flat denouement sums up the lack of real polish that the preceding 100 minutes had provided.

‘A.f.r.i.k.a’ isn’t rocket science, but if you like a good laugh and are conversant in the basics of Korean pop-culture and society, it should prove an enjoyable treat, nonetheless.

A bit like a SyFy Channel movie mixed with an Adkins actioner, ‘Abduction’ is ninety or so minutes of sci-fi silliness coupled with action awesomeness featuring two of the best screen fighters around.

‘About Her Brother’ showcases Yamada’s deft understanding of the Japanese family, yet has a universality that ensures each significant moment hits home no matter where in the world it is viewed.

Weaving a tangled web, ‘Accident’ is actually elegant in its simplicity but by the film’s conclusion, whatever your thoughts are on the movie itself you are likely to be more cautious of crossing the road or getting out of a car.

Sticking to its sweary and sometimes seedy roots ‘Accident Man’ knuckle sandwiches the audience with a rowdy onslaught of despicable characters, fruity language and searing fight action.

Unlike much of today’s canto-comedy, the humour in ‘Aces.’ translates very well and certainly doesn’t seem to have dated after nearly twenty-years.

The formula that made the original so successful has naturally remained untampered, but the scope of effects and stunts clearly expanded.

Alongside this familiar narrative is the constantly disarming duo of Samuel Hui and Karl Maka and they of course continue to show great comic timing and interplay in the familiar roles of Sam and Kodijack.

Unlike ‘Aces. III’ which failed to integrate the eastern and the western elements of the film, ‘Aces. IV’ succeeds in creating a globe-hopping adventure without losing its main Asian audience.