July 20th 1973. A date shrouded in mystery as it is tragedy. The world lost a hero, but created a legend, one that thrives to this day. However, as with most legends, the story varies greatly from storyteller to storyteller, each version getting more lurid and conspiratorial in nature, until […]
Ben Jones
20 Movies for Japanuray
Between Social Media and Marketing agencies, Japanuary is one of these traditions that happen every year, in which people portmanteau months to programme month long sessions into a particular movement – or, in this case, national cinema – into their cinematic diet. Giallo January is another common theme that people […]
The Fall of Ako Castle (1978) Fukusaku gives Historical Epic the Yakuza Papers treatment (Review)
On January 31st 1703, 47 Ronin committed seppuku (ritualistic suicide) having enacted revenge for the death of their master. Their feats of bravery, honour, loyalty and resolve have become the stuff of legend. It is woven into the very fabric of Japanese society and is heralded as the ultimate display […]
Jet Li: Heroes and Villains (95/96/98) Even middling Jet Li is very entertaining (Review)
The Royal Tramp Collection (1992) Stephen Chow delivering laughs whilst he finds his voice (Review)
Beach of the War Gods (1973) A Seven Samurai retelling with epic intensions (Review)
From Beijing with Love (1994) The Universal Language of Stephen Chow (Review)
She Shoots Straight (1990) There’s more to Joyce Godenzi than being Mrs. Sammo (Review)
Blood Flower (Harum Malam)(2022) More is Less in Shudder’s Malay Horror (Review)
Carnivorous plants aren’t the only thing lurking in the corners of Blood Flower, Shudder’s first foray into Malaysian horror. Poverty and superstition often go hand in hand – which can result in some surprisingly simple methods to deal with the supernatural. In China for example, many old buildings have a […]
The Skyhawk (1974) A “not so” Classic passing of the Wong Fei-Hung torch that still carries the weight of history (Review)
There are actors that just become synonymous with certain roles. For instance, if I were to mention Sherlock Holmes then many would think of Benedict Cumberbatch, whilst others would think of Basil Rathbone, and for a character that has appeared in over 250 screen adaptations, that isn’t bad going. The […]