1. “Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)” movie review.

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    Hark Tsui genre-bends like mad crazy, so wrapped in this cinematic package is: Mystery, intrigue, thriller, kung fu, politics, horror, fantasy, comedy and even a dash of adventure, as well as romance. Erm, you know what? I think I'm also just going to say it's what happens when you cross "Sherlock Holmes" with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"...Yeah, I know that makes me a hypocrite, but that's easier to say and I am incredibly lazy.
  2. “The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)” movie review.

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    You can practically see the fanboyish glee dripping from every frame, but RZA and Roth let their enthusiasm derail the project. Maybe they should've spent more time smoothing out the script instead of spending countless hours designing the weapons. Luckily, all I require to enjoy myself is violence, kung fu and naked women. "The Man with the Iron Fists" gave me all three.
  3. “Dororo (2007)” movie review.

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    “Dororo” is one of those 'almost good' movies. It does a lot right, yet its positive attributes are dragged down by the flaws. But I did get to see Japanese warriors fight some bizarre looking monsters, which was exactly what I wanted out of it.
  4. “The Heroic Trio (1993)” movie review.

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    With the exception of its cast, I shouldn't like anything about “The Heroic Trio”. I'm not a fan of mawkish melodrama, padding, bad special effects, wacky comedy, wire work or bi-polar tones. But somehow, despite having ALL of that, “The Heroic Trio” is a lot of fun.
  5. “Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)” movie review.

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    While yes, "Snow White and the Huntsman" does contain a mundane love triangle that I'm sure was only present due to Kristen Stewart playing the leading lady, it resists the urge to focus on that crap and instead just wants us to feast our eyes on glorious sets, lavish scenery and fascinating creature designs
  6. “Dark Shadows (2012)” movie review.

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    Tim Burton was another great filmmaker who has lost sight of what made him good in the first place. Oh sure, his trademarks are still present, but they don't seem to mean anything anymore. His earlier- and best- efforts were noted for their high octane Gothic imagery, their quirky, morbid sense of humor and their ability to have heart amidst its visual style. The movies were about people who felt (or were) isolated from the rest of the world. They had substance, damn it! But eventually Burton's efforts started being less eccentric and more mainstream. While the visual style was still there, the humor became stale and the loner protagonist was reduced to a cog in a big machine. "Dark Shadows" is pretty much the embodiment of a true Tim Burton film these days. His touches are here, but they're underutilized.