'The Prosecutor' (2025) Movie Review

Hear me out, Donnie Yen stars as a lawyer. But don’t worry, he may wear a silly robe and wig combo in the courtroom, but he still has ample opportunity to punch, kick, and otherwise pummel his way through throngs of faceless goons on the streets. Thus, we have The Prosecutor, directed by none other than Donnie Yen himself. And dammit if he doesn’t want an Oscar, or equivalent accolades. This movie leans hard into the “I have something to say!” of it all.

'100 Yards' (2024) Movie Review

When a martial arts master dies, his son and his top apprentice vie for control of his wushu school in 1920s Tianjin. On this simple foundation director Xu Haofeng (The Hidden Sword, screenwriter The Grandmaster), with his brother/co-director Xu Junfeng, builds 100 Yards into an intricate exploration of rivalry, social change, the weight of tradition and expectation, and much more, all wrapped in absolute top-tier martial arts choreography. 

'Raging Fire' (2021) Movie Review

A cop haunted by the past, trying to right previous wrongs. Who’s a bit of a hotshot and plays by his own rules, though still operates by a strict code. With a pregnant wife. Yeah, we’ve seen this set up before. But when that cop is Donnie Yen, and we’re talking about Raging Fire, the final film from the great Benny Chan, the result is a top-tier action banger of epic proportions. This sprawling, Heat-inspired cops-and-robbers opus delivers in all the right ways and rules every ounce as hard as one might hope.

'Cliff Walkers' (2021) Movie Review

Director Zhang Yimou is best known for his sweeping historical epics, like Hero and House of Flying Daggers, but it turns out he also has a bit of espionage in his DNA. His latest film, Cliff Walkers, does take place in a certain bygone era, though a much more recent one. And instead of swords and lush period costumes, he delivers his first taut, chilly spy thriller, one full of suspense, betrayal, treachery, and the usual slick execution and eye for detail one expects from him.

Fantasia 2019: 'Master Z: Ip Man Legacy' Movie Review

This is an updated version of an earlier review.

This will surprise absolutely no one, but Yuen Woo-ping can stage the hell out of a fight. The guy is a legend for good reason. And he displays this particular skill front and center in his latest directorial effort, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy, which features choreography on par with some of his best. Inventive and thrilling, it runs the gamut from incredibly technical martial arts acumen to high-flying wire artistry that calls to mind his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 

'Shadow' (2018) Movie Review

Zhang Yimou’s Shadow is a wash of grey; a veritable rainbow of ash and charcoal hues, occasionally punctuated by a splash of blood. This applies both to the visual aesthetic as well as the morality of the characters and narrative. At times, it watches like a black and white wuxia saga, Shakespearean in scope and scale. But while pretty and grand, and the idea of a historical epic from the director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers sounds like a great concept, Shadow falls flat and cold.

'Master Z: Ip Man Legacy' (2018) Movie Review

This will surprise absolutely no one, but Yuen Woo-ping can stage the hell out of a fight. The guy is a legend for good reason. And he displays this particular skill front and center in his latest directorial effort Master Z: Ip Man Legacy, which features choreography on par with some of his best. Inventive and thrilling, it runs the gamut from incredibly technical martial arts skill to high-flying artistry that calls to mind his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 

SIFF 2018: 'Susu' (2018) Movie Review

With Yixi Sun’s Susu, gothic British horror gets filtered through a Chinese lens. Two young students, Qi’an (Ziton Wu) and Aimo (Lun Zhu), living in the U.K. wind up in the middle of a dark, tangled mystery when they take a job digging into the archives of Susu (Junjie Mao), a long-dead Kunqu Opera star. Which, of course, are located in a massive, ancient country manner overseen by a family of weirdos with all manner of secrets and skeletons hidden away in various closets.

'Paradox' Trailer: Wilson Yip Teams With Tony Jaa And Sammo Hung For Face Punching Galore

Fans of modern international action cinema are, or sure as hell should be, fans of Hong Kong director Wilson Yip. He helmed the first three Ip Man movies, with another on the way, SPL: Kill Zone, Flash Point, and tons more. (Also Bio-Zombie. I’ll take any chance to mention Bio-Zombie, because no one talks about it enough.) Now he’s returning to the SPL (Sha Po Lang) franchise with the third chapter, Paradox, which just dropped a badass new trailer.

AFGA Is Bringing 30 Shaw Brothers Classics Back To Theaters, That's Your Cue To Cheer

This news has been floating around for at least a day or two, so it’s not the freshest dish, but I can’t stop thinking about it and getting really, really, ridiculously excited. It is, definitively, the best news. 30 amazing Shaw Brothers joints have been refurbished and are coming back to theaters.

'Wolf Warrior 2' Trailer: Try To Fit More Action Into Two Minutes, I Dare You

Thanks, Well Go USA, you know me so well. You know how much I love guns, explosions, tank battles, hulking dudes with heavy weapons, and Frank Grillo. And you managed to find Wu Jing’s Wolf Warrior 2, which combines all of those elements and more. I feel like this trailer is just for me, but I feel bad because I didn’t get you anything.

Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Tiger Chen, And Angelababy Team Up To Kick All Of The Asses

The Expendables movies are great in theory, but the execution leaves much to be desired. But that’s not going to stop action movies from getting as many badasses in a room at the same time as possible. And a new film called Makeshift Squad just collected a number of the world’s preeminent movie martial artists: Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Tiger Chen, and Angelababy. So, yeah, this is the movie constantly playing in my mind.

SIFF 2016: 'The Bodyguard' (2016) Movie Review

Sammo Hung is a damn living legend. The 64-year-old martial artist and actor has been churning out hits since the 1960s, working with fellow badasses like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and the Shaw Brothers; and helming, starring in, and doing stunts and fight choreography for hundreds of films. His first directorial feature since 1997, The Bodyguard (also known as My Beloved Bodyguard), just made its North American premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival.

SIFF 2016: 'The Final Master' (2015) Movie Review

Xu Haofeng’s The Final Master, making its North American debut at the Seattle International Film Festival, is a throwback to classic wuxia films in every sense. A story fraught with ambition, loyalty, and betrayal, it wears the scope and aesthetic texture of its predecessors. Set in China of the 1930s, there are familiar themes of old versus new, changing times and tides, increasing western encroachment, and impending war.

'Monster Hunt' Trailer Is Full Of Fantasy, Creatures, And Martial Arts

Ramen Hui’s upcoming Monster Hunt is going to be a sight to behold. As you can see in this first trailer, it’s a period piece, a comedic fantasy adventure, a kid-friendly romp, and features a pregnant dude who gives birth to a monster that looks like an albino turnip. Yeah. Take a look for yourself after the jump.