The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)

While I have not seen every Shaw Brothers movie, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984) might be my favourite movie of the studio, so far. Directed by the legendary choreographer Lau Kar-leung who made the 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, and plenty of other Shaw Brothers classics currently available to stream on Mubi. Set in feudal […]

Flesh + Blood (1985)

Flesh + Blood (1985) as a title has always felt like the best summary of Paul Verhoeven as a director. This is what marks his greatness, a keen study of “flesh and blood,” all the ways it can be shown and conceptualised. How moments can stick in your mind through the filmmaker’s capacity to make […]

King Boxer (1972)

Hong Kong action film, King Boxer (1972) is better known in America as Five Fingers Of Death, and is a Shaw Brothers production that became an international cross-over hit. The success of which set the blueprint for martial arts movies. I was mainly drawn to watching it because of the imagery around hero Lo Lieh […]

A Bittersweet Life (2005)

Watching Squid Game: Season 2 and I’m observing the man in the black mask, the Frontman, thinking, “What a handsome guy.” And Sally was reading up on the actor Lee Byung-hun, listing off his credits and little bulbs were popping off in my head, “Oh right, he was in The Magnificent Seven remake, The Good, […]

Sunset Strip (1985)

Sunset Strip (1985) put me in mind of that transition period in video stores where DVDs were coming in, and old VHS stock was being sold off in $1 ex-rental bins. Uncovering and finding video boxes to films I’ve never heard with no recognisable actors, often only distinguished by an illustrated poster or a blown […]