It cannot be understated just how dominant the Shaw Brothers studio was in the late 60s and early 70s. If you wanted to have any traction in the Chinese market then you had to go through Run Run Shaw and his studio. They had a stranglehold on the theatres (due […]
Shaw Brothers
Beach of the War Gods (1973) A Seven Samurai retelling with epic intensions (Review)
Fist of the Condor (2023) – John Wick star leads a strange, uneven Chilean beat-’em-up (Review)
The impact of the John Wick franchise on modern action cinema cannot be overstated, and its ultra-slick camerawork and gorgeously sexy lighting have led many to imitate, but none to better. It’s also elevated stunt work across the globe to borderline high art, and franchise helmsman Chad Stahelski’s own tenure as […]
Duel to the Death (1983) One of the unsung action movies of the 1980s (Review)
One-Armed Boxer (1972) The Good, The Shaft and the Okinawan Karate Vampire (Review)
Brotherhood of Blades (2014) An all-too-rare outing for that classic Shaw Brothers-style yarn (Review)
It’s not the language barrier, nor the theatrics and flamboyance, no, the biggest cross for martial arts cinema to bear is context. As a Westerner, many of the nuances of Eastern history allude me, unfortunately, its those very nuances that the historical martial arts film (Wuxia) concerns itself with. Even […]