Quick Review: Although it borrows creative ideas from modern genre films, "The Emperor's Sword" is still a prettily-shot wuxia flick with a fairly simple, easy to follow plot, plenty of gorgeous locations, and some well-choreographed fight scenes which are nearly ruined by the overuse of dramatic slow-mo, but sadly none of the characters excel and hardly any of the 'cool' camera tricks, utilized to shake up all the action, achieve the effect they are meant to.
Quick Review: A deftly-conceived, thought-provoking mind-bender with a level of depth as ingenious as its groundbreaking 360° 'camera spin' shooting techniques, innovative use of slow-mo and 'bullet time' effects, expertly-staged kung fu action, and exceptional stunt work, "The Matrix" is revolutionary for the sci-fi genre, and one of the most conceptually and technically accomplished films in cinematic history, led by a trio of adept actors, born to play their out-of-this-world characters.
Quick Review: Despite its pacing issues, Benny Chan's uneven, but truly engrossing last movie is a pure love letter to '90s HK action flicks -- from its classic 'cop vs. former cop turned criminal' plot and profound protagonists with history, who Yen and Tse portray equally as strong, to the frenetic fights, crazy chases, big explosions, relentless shootouts and deft stunts -- everything about "Raging Fire" is executed, directed and acted to a pretty high standard of Chinese film-making.
Quick Review: A rousing if emotive story about an endearing friendship and a family torn by grief that shifts between the present and an 'wuxia' fantasy world which honors Chinese mythology, the deftly-filmed "Shang-Chi" flaunts vibrant visual artfulness alongside the masterful fights, jaw-dropping stunts, and swanky action, enhanced by superb CGIs and nifty use of 3D, but its Asian cast is just as glorious -- Liu breathes his hero, Leung domineers, whilst Awkwafina brings the wit and humor.
Quick Review: Needless, in sense that it spoils the enigma around the main hero, "Snake Eyes" is tonally wrong, overly serious, and failing to work as a 'double' origin story, and find balance, as the film involves too many characters, some of which it wastes, but at least it's capably-shot and visually arresting, thanks to its exotic settings, and tough the action is satisfying, the shaky camerawork lets down some of the fights, which Golding handles just as good, as he does the dramatic parts.
Quick Review: The deftly-crafted intro is superb, but the rest hardly lives up to it, due to an incoherent plot with a bunch of origin stories, dull protagonist, cheesy acting and writing, rushed pacing, and sub-par editing, but the quick-cut fights are as thrilling as the gory fatalities, and though "MK" dares to neglect a few characters, some really stand out -- Sub-Zero is 'freezing' cool and Kano brings the comic relief, but it's Kung Lao that steals the show straight up from his flashy entrance.
Quick Review: Borrowing elements from MCU and "Detective Dee", this is your typical Chinese fantasy with warriors, demons, magicians, royals and monsters, all stuffed in a busy plot that bumpily alternates intrigue, melodrama and overwhelmingly VFX heavy action, but luckily the effects are slick, the gorgeous sets add up to the visual opulence, and the fight sequences, though unsatisfying and rare, are effective enough to make up for the sluggish bits.
Quick Review: Part teen romance, part martial arts flick a'la Karate Kid, part cultural drama about religion, traditions, and natural heritage, this one has a typical run-of-the-mill plot about a spoiled wealthy guy seeking atonement for his misbehavior, and it is as cheesy as it sounds, not to say it takes an hour for any action to kick in, and though the training scenes are fun, the actual 'Sarong' fighting is unspectacular, with Yayan Ruhian being the best bit about this Indonesian mish-mash.
Quick Review: With a lackluster execution, bland portrayal of Ip Man by Yu-Hang To, and gimmicky story filled with overused cliches, familiar elements, and dragged out sappy moments that make it even more tedious, not only "Ip Man: KFM" fails to do its iconic character justice, but also to impress with choreography, as it features only two decent fight scenes, one of which is an inferior, blatant rip-off of "Kung Fu Hustle"'s axe gang mass combat.
Quick Review: A soulless, plotless, senseless martial arts sci-fier about a bunch of shallow warriors battling 'alien ninjas' brought from space by a comet, "Jiu Jitsu" is a tackily-shot nonsense with clumsily staged and lousily performed action, laden with overuse of sleazy slow-mo, which wastes the skills of its action stars-riddled cast, making even Tony Jaa looking average at best during the combats, and putting Cage in yet another ridiculous role that reminds of Seagal's worst period.
Quick Review: Subdued in tone, if refined in style and subtly ravishing, and with a simple key plot elevated by narrative intricacy and profound characters – the ruthless villain and the mystically stone-cold, yet valiant protagonist having greater depth – this Joseon-set Korean wuxia tale of heroism is dramatically riveting, but it is the snappy and sharply-staged swordplay that thrills it up, notably the kinetic first duel, the bloody Tae- Yul vs. the squad stylized mayhem, and the fierce final fight.
Quick Review: Your run-of-the-mill modern Chinese action with generic premise, "Vanguard" captures the eye with its light and bright looks, and pretty locations, and it features some thrilling, if hardly creative fight sequences with loads of wirework, but what ruins the fun here is the over-complicated plot, rocky pacing, poorly-executed CGIs with cartoony effect, and ill-fitting humor, although its real downfall is the under-use of Jackie Chan, who barely stands out from the busy big crowd.
