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Till We Meet Again 生前約死後 (2019) - Hong Kong Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)   There is something lingering and beautiful behind popular TV actor Steven Ma turned director, screenwriter and star in “Till We Meet Again”. It is not the usual commercial film experience as it is very much a personal project about his own struggles with grief, depression and dealing with lost. It is the kind of film that is constantly a difficult watch and often cloying to some audience in the way of its pacing, but it’s depiction of mental illness is extremely...

Detention 返校 (2019) - Taiwan Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)   The hard won freedom of modern Taiwan should not be easily forgotten and the latest horror thriller uses the “White Terror” period of Taiwanese history as a backdrop to depict the true horrors of the period. The period of martial law lasted for more than 38 years and during this period of suppression, countless of Taiwanese people were tortured, imprisoned and killed. New Director John Hsu smartly interweaves the blurring of both genres, creepy high school location, dreamlike sequences and the horrors of the 1960s...

The Bravest 烈火英雄 (2019) - China Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) In terms of filmmaking achievements, the latest fire fighting fiasco is given an absolute grand scale treatment in the Andrew Lau’s produced and directed by Tony Chan in “The Bravest”. Whilst the nationalistic pride is unavoidable, the film is largely good one as we see the real life struggles of firefighters risking their lives for the greater good of the rest of the population. It’s a tough job and in these sort of situations, it comes down to team work, individual heroism and mental toughness...

Ip Man: Kung Fu Master (2019) - China   Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Another lesser cash-in due to the current release of the real deal “Ip Man 4” comes a better effort than the atrocious “Ip Man and the Four Kings”.  Dennis To stars in the headline role as Ip Man, and is for most of the film at ease with the heavily burdened role. Having successfully played a bit part in the original Ip Man sequels as well as the younger version of the master in the average “Legend is Born -  Ip Man”...

Invincible Dragon 九龍不敗 (2019) - Hong Kong Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)   Rising action star Max Zhang continues his run of leading martial arts roles with Fruit Chan’s underwhelming “Invincible Dragon”. Billed with MMA fanfare pitting Zhang against MMA Anderson Silva in a Macau tower showdown. The problem starts with this premises as Zhang seems to be acting in a totally different movie. Director Fruit Chan misfires once again in another commercial cinematic attempt, it is perhaps fitting that his next effort bound to be a social commentary flick.   Max Zhang is undoubtedly talented...