Peking Opera Blues (1986)

Peking Opera Blues (1986) is a rollicking action-adventure comedy-drama, critically regarded as one of the best Hong Kong movies from the 1980s. In the first ten to fifteen minutes, the film might feel overwhelming with all of the characters who are introduced and establishing the 1910s socio-political atmosphere in China. As Peking Opera Blues proceeds, […]

Tai-Chi Master (1993)

Yuen Woo-ping is the legendary Hong Kong action choreographer, who Hollywood eventually took notice of, working on films like The Matrix and Kill Bill. Wire work was one of his signature techniques, delivering beyond the athletic prowess of the actors and stunt people to depict them flying through the air. In Tai-Chi Master (1993; also […]

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 […]

Iron Warrior (1987)

I can’t imagine the Italian filmmakers directing Conan knock-offs in the 1980s really gave a shit about the mythology or the lore in their movies. They weren’t sketching maps of the various realms or had a bible of notes about the kingdoms and tribes living in this fantasy world. Whatever worked in Conan, or any […]

Ator: The Fighting Eagle (1982)

I’ve seen Ator: The Fighting Eagle (1982) before, the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 version from the Netflix revival awhile back, but I decided to watch it without the commentary, inspired by it being on Tubi (naturally) and it being on this excellent Bong Hit/Van Mural list. Ator is a Conan The Barbarian knock-off by Italian […]