Legend of the Fist: Return of Chen Zhen

Get a ‘Visa To Hell’ in the second of our Spooktober podcast specials! Starring, directed, action directed, presented and planned (whatever that means) by legendary film villain Dick Wei, this Halloween mashup will have you asking, what kind of film has both ninjas and Dracula on screen? A Taoist monk (Lin Kuang-Yung) sends policeman Jiu Mo (Lam Wei) on a journey to hell, to avenge the death of his family by heartless criminal Black Panther (Dick Wei). What follows is a cultural mish mash of beliefs and religions, making Hell seem like a pretty fun place after all. Don’t question the method, just come along for the ride.

Donnie Yen in a R rated, Category III sleazefest? Now available in an added nudity theatrical cut on BluRay! Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead is the English title of this 1991 movie that has it all: wacky cop comedy, unexplained kung fu powers for all and a mystical schlock plot set in a Cambodian holiday. Donnie finds himself a suspect of some gory murders, which have actually been committed by the fiendish and gloriously wigged out Moon Devil (Ken Lo). Along the way he gains some sidekicks including not Chow Yun Fatt, a fantastic cop buddy (Ben Lam) and an ex-wife who kicks ass and loses her clothes occasionally, oops. But it turns out that a Cambodian princess holds the key to a mysterious prophecy that may be the only way to defeat the Moon Devil. There’s so much going on to talk about in this episode of Asian Action Cast!

In memory and tribute to the late, great Corey Yuen, we honour his legacy by delving into his 1990 action-melodrama, She Shoots Straight. This action packed Joyce Godenzi vehicle takes us into the lives of a blue-blood-esque police family where (Big) Tony Leung marries Joyce’s Mina and brings her into his family of female cops.Everything is cranked up to 11 with the action being some of the most bone breaking, back crunching stunt work you’ve seen. Joyce proves herself an adept fighter with her dancing background as she moves, kicks, punches and parkours with the best of them. The drama is also jacked up with emotional deaths and an incredibly sleazy and uncomfortable performance by David Lau.Corey Yuen himself makes a cameo appearance in traditional Corey style, as a cigarette smoking, sweaty dock worker – ever the working man. She Shoots Straight contains all your Corey Yuen trademarks with visceral action, heightened violence and dramatic tension. This also contains probably the craziest most badass stunt ever recorded with Yuen Wah leaping with a motorbike, must be seen to be believed!

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is the unicorn of Hong Kong action films, bringing the brash and raw adrenaline of the golden age, with a modern aesthetic, cohesive if not convenient plot and genuine emotions.Sammo Hung’s presence not only legitimises this film as a proper HK actioner, but his grounded charisma elevates what is already a rock-solid showing by Louis Khoo, Raymond Lam, Phillip Ng and many others even when things get fantastic in the best of ways.Don’t expect a perfect film – none of the 90’s HK films were – but Twilight definitely finds that magic formula and sprinkles its own 5 spice blend in. Director Soi Cheang is definitely one to look out for in future, imagine a gang war film where all the Big Brothers are Yuen Academy Alumni? The beauty of this film is it allows us to dream again, check it out!

Always a polarizing figure, love him or hate him you can’t deny Donnie Yen is one of the most prolific martial artists working today. His 2010 love letter to himself Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen is wish fulfilment in its purist form.

If you want Peak Hong Kong Action Cinema, it’s hard to go past Master Yuen Woo Ping’s 1989 Donnie vehicle, IN THE LINE OF DUTY IV! Sassy police action with young talent, hot bod’s and a new attitude.Donnie Yen is so hard boiled in this he’s practically egg jerky: he plays by nobody’s rules, not even his own. Cynthia Khan wears tight stone wash denim like she was born in them, and worthy alternative to the Rothrock/Yeoh duo she homages in her name.Also starring everyone’s favourite heel (and secret love interest LBH), Michael Wong, who has more stars and stripes than captain America. The action is intense, it is non-stop and not even old ladies are spared Donnie’s disrespect. Watch it before Donnie finds you!

Raid on the Lethal Zone is Hermann Yau’s 2023 Chinese border force drama, outlining the trials and tribulations of a special drug enforcement group 8077 trying to stop a narcotics shipment while battling nature’s fury on the southeast Asian Chinese border.The colours are drab, the mood is sombre and the calamities befalling our heroes are unrelenting, much like the rain, floods and mudslides. We felt this film had somewhere between 30% - 75% action (your mileage may vary if you don’t count natural disaster as ‘action’).It’s sticky, hot, wet and there’s bugs, drug dealers, thieves and floods – but gosh darnit, special taskforce 8077 gonna get the job done. Derivative? Yes. Engaging? Not really. Well shot? Surprisingly yes! 16% of the Asian Action Cast gave this a thumbs up so if you’re curious, someone here supports you! (It’s Chris)

The Kaiju film taking the world (and Oscars) by storm, Godzilla Minus One has arrived on the Asian Action Cast. We navigate the bloated deep sea fish to look at Takashi Yamazaki’s 2023 award winning monster epic – and like most of the main characters, we are woefully unqualified for the task.

The Bastard Swordsman Returns! This 1984 Shaw Brothers effects extravaganza brings you eye popping martial arts with the colour and flare that only an SB production can bring.Norman Chiu and Tony Liu headline this epic showdown against the magnificent Alex Man’s charismatically evil Dugu Wu Di, only to find there is a sinister evil lurking in Chen Kuan-Tai’s underhanded Japanese Ega Clan chief.Spectacular Wuxia sorcery fights the forces of mystical ninja magic, it really is a battle between mighty forces. We have no idea who’s good, evil, wrong or righteous but it was fun trying to figure it out and seeing fortune teller fights, doctor duke outs and whacky attacks!

You want 90’s Hong Kong action cinema choreographed by Jackie Chan? You got it! 1990’s Outlaw Brothers has some of the best action choreography and stunt work you’ll find in a golden age blockbuster, just no Jackie Chan!Haha, Sike! But you do get a skinnier, moustachier Frankie Chan, Actor, Composer, Martial Artis, Womaniser, Car Thief with a heart of gold. His outlaw bro from another ho, Max Mok with full moon eyes also brings the swoon.This movie was a bodacious amount of fun with Yukari Oshima tearing guys up and a criminally underused Michiko Nishiwaki camping up the joint. The gwei lo bros Jeff Falcon, Vincent Lyn and Mark Houghton make awesome mini-boss fights look electric and fun, definitely worth your time!