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Fong Sai Yuk: The Beginning (新方世玉前传侠者无畏) (2020) - China As part of the ongoing Film Critics - Martial Arts series - “Discovering the world of Martial Arts cinema” Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Help us continue to cover more Asian and Martial Art films by making a donation to Neo Film Blog below. With big boots to fill, the latest reboot of folk legend hero “Fong Sai Yuk”, made famous by Jet Li and Vincent Zhao in the 90s, it’s probably timely that the Chinese streaming giant takes an interest. Casting the fairly uncharismatic Narisu Bai in the title...

Monkey King: Cave Of The Silk Web 孙悟空大战盘丝洞 (2020) - China As part of the ongoing Film Critics - Martial Arts series - “Discovering the world of Martial Arts cinema”   Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)  Help us continue to cover more Asian and Martial Art films by making a donation to Neo Film Blog below. Wong Jing is back to what he does best in rehashing and milking classic Hong Kong TV and movies better moments. Wong brings back Benny Chan who rose to fame as Monkey King in the TVB follow up as Dicky Cheung’s replacement. Chan...

Romeo Must Die (2000) - USA As part of the ongoing Film Critics Series - “Analysing Jet Li in Hollywood”  Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Help us continue to cover more Asian and Martial Art films by making a donation to Neo Film Blog below. In many ways, Jet Li’s first English Language leading role in “Romeo Must Die” remains a breakthrough for Hollywood in its depiction of combo of Asian and Black representation and interracial relationships ended up being a good thing for Hollywood. Putting this aside, “Romeo Must Die” fails in many departments as first time director...

Bulletproof Monk (2003) - USA As part of Film Critics ongoing series - Analysing Chow Yun Fat in Hollywood  Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Help us continue to cover more Asian and Martial Art films by making a donation to Neo Film Blog below. Chow Yun Fat’s Hollywood follow up of the box office hit “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” took a couple of long years with the well meaning yet mindless entertainment action comedy in music video turned director Paul Hunter’s “Bulletproof Monk”. The odd pairing of Chow with “American Pie” Seann William Scott, provides the film one of...

Viy 2: Journey to China (The Iron Mask) 龍牌之謎 (2019) - Russia / China Aka: Mystery of the Dragon Seal Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Help us continue to cover more Asian and Martial Art films by making a donation to Neo Film Blog below. This is by all means a strange film, the sequel to Russian hit 2014’s film 「Viy」 comes a totally standalone co-production between China and Russia. Helmed by Russian director Oleg Stepchenko, 「Viy 2: Journey to China」plays like a combination of various films and throw in the novelty attraction of Jackie Chan chain fighting head...