Latest from Richard James Havis
Michelle Yeoh, a star of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, talks about getting into action films and how dancing training helps her fight scenes, in this interview from 1993 after the release of Tai-Chi Master.
Michelle Yeoh, a star of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, talks about getting into action films and how dancing training helps her fight scenes, in this interview from 1993 after the release of Tai-Chi Master.
Kung Fu, the popular 1970s martial arts TV series starring David Carradine, followed the adventures of a Shaolin monk in the Wild West; the failure to give Bruce Lee the lead role has caused much speculation since.
Kung Fu, the popular 1970s martial arts TV series starring David Carradine, followed the adventures of a Shaolin monk in the Wild West; the failure to give Bruce Lee the lead role has caused much speculation since.
Even the best efforts of a strong cast can’t save this confusing adaption of Henry James’s 1898 ghost novella The Turn of the Screw, let down by Floria Sigismondi’s wayward directing.
Even the best efforts of a strong cast can’t save this confusing adaption of Henry James’s 1898 ghost novella The Turn of the Screw, let down by Floria Sigismondi’s wayward directing.
Legendary filmmaker’s 1971 classic bears comparison with Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and John Ford’s The Searchers. Technically innovative, its dramatic storyline mixes romance and martial arts with a spiritual dimension.
Legendary filmmaker’s 1971 classic bears comparison with Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and John Ford’s The Searchers. Technically innovative, its dramatic storyline mixes romance and martial arts with a spiritual dimension.
Tom Hanks carefully plays a difficult role: Fred Rogers was thought to be one of the nicest people in entertainment. The story of a troubled journalist who finds redemption after working with Rogers is predictable but not maudlin.
Tom Hanks carefully plays a difficult role: Fred Rogers was thought to be one of the nicest people in entertainment. The story of a troubled journalist who finds redemption after working with Rogers is predictable but not maudlin.
Its director Chang Cheh believed Golden Swallow, starring the era’s most famous female action star, Cheng Pei-pei, was his best swordplay movie. It was groundbreaking because it added romance to the martial arts hero genre.
Its director Chang Cheh believed Golden Swallow, starring the era’s most famous female action star, Cheng Pei-pei, was his best swordplay movie. It was groundbreaking because it added romance to the martial arts hero genre.
Boston Symphony Orchestra music director Andris Nelsons explains how he researches the personal life of a composer and the politics of the time he wrote a work to better capture its spirit.
Boston Symphony Orchestra music director Andris Nelsons explains how he researches the personal life of a composer and the politics of the time he wrote a work to better capture its spirit.
Sellers’ comic genius, an unforgettable theme tune and opening credits so charming their animated protagonist was awarded its own series transformed this David Niven vehicle into an enduring classic.
Sellers’ comic genius, an unforgettable theme tune and opening credits so charming their animated protagonist was awarded its own series transformed this David Niven vehicle into an enduring classic.
Asian-Americans are often hesitant about discussing politics and social or personal issues with others. Chef Jenny Dorsey aims to loosen their tongues with Lunar New Year themed dishes, poems and virtual reality headsets.
Asian-Americans are often hesitant about discussing politics and social or personal issues with others. Chef Jenny Dorsey aims to loosen their tongues with Lunar New Year themed dishes, poems and virtual reality headsets.
Rotterdam film festival is showing a mix of new short films, documentaries and feature films to give context to the current Hong Kong protests, while New York’s Metrograph Cinema is staging To Hong Kong With Love to ‘give city a voice’.
Rotterdam film festival is showing a mix of new short films, documentaries and feature films to give context to the current Hong Kong protests, while New York’s Metrograph Cinema is staging To Hong Kong With Love to ‘give city a voice’.
Even with the Iron Man star, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland and Ralph Fiennes in the cast, this film falls flat. The lack of a plot, and infantile humour, are the final nails in the coffin for this movie.
Even with the Iron Man star, Selena Gomez, Tom Holland and Ralph Fiennes in the cast, this film falls flat. The lack of a plot, and infantile humour, are the final nails in the coffin for this movie.
When it was released in 1978, Drunken Master started a new trend for kung fu comedies and made Jackie Chan a star across all of Asia. In a 1998 interview, he talked about how he came up with the drunken moves that became so popular.
When it was released in 1978, Drunken Master started a new trend for kung fu comedies and made Jackie Chan a star across all of Asia. In a 1998 interview, he talked about how he came up with the drunken moves that became so popular.
Renée Zellweger gives a Golden Globe-winning performance in Judy as the titular Judy Garland as she tries to find some stability in her life and tries to win back custody of her children from her third husband.
Renée Zellweger gives a Golden Globe-winning performance in Judy as the titular Judy Garland as she tries to find some stability in her life and tries to win back custody of her children from her third husband.
From northern China and with poor Cantonese, Jet Li was a surprise choice to portray southern hero Wong Fei-hung in Tsui Hark’s film, but his dazzling kung fu skills made him an instant hit. The film’s finale is a masterpiece of martial arts choreography.
From northern China and with poor Cantonese, Jet Li was a surprise choice to portray southern hero Wong Fei-hung in Tsui Hark’s film, but his dazzling kung fu skills made him an instant hit. The film’s finale is a masterpiece of martial arts choreography.
Director Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa M. Alcott’s novel about young women who battle social constraints is faithful but she allows her cast act naturally, as opposed to like they are in the 19th century, and this reaps rewards.
Director Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa M. Alcott’s novel about young women who battle social constraints is faithful but she allows her cast act naturally, as opposed to like they are in the 19th century, and this reaps rewards.
The queen of fantasy martial arts films, Brigitte Lin talks about embodying the fantasy of a beautiful woman performing violent acts, her piercing eyes and her gay following in a 1993 interview on the set of The Bride with White Hair 2.
The queen of fantasy martial arts films, Brigitte Lin talks about embodying the fantasy of a beautiful woman performing violent acts, her piercing eyes and her gay following in a 1993 interview on the set of The Bride with White Hair 2.
Veteran director tells stories with the economy of classic American filmmakers, and this biopic of a security guard falsely accused of planting a bomb at the 1996 Olympics is a good example. A shame his right-wing bias infects the film.
Veteran director tells stories with the economy of classic American filmmakers, and this biopic of a security guard falsely accused of planting a bomb at the 1996 Olympics is a good example. A shame his right-wing bias infects the film.
Despite misgivings about working in Hollywood, Yuen Woo-ping met The Matrix’s directors, the Wachowskis, and agreed to work with them. His stunning action sequences included physical wire work techniques he first used in Hong Kong.
Despite misgivings about working in Hollywood, Yuen Woo-ping met The Matrix’s directors, the Wachowskis, and agreed to work with them. His stunning action sequences included physical wire work techniques he first used in Hong Kong.
The tale of friends sharing the pain of existence was both a cry for help and social critique, with the director committing suicide upon the film’s completion.
The tale of friends sharing the pain of existence was both a cry for help and social critique, with the director committing suicide upon the film’s completion.
Gordon Liu stars as a mythical Shaolin Temple graduate turned roaming martial arts teacher in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, classic 1978 film directed by Lau Kar-leung. The kung fu scenes are some of the best choreographed ever seen.
Gordon Liu stars as a mythical Shaolin Temple graduate turned roaming martial arts teacher in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, classic 1978 film directed by Lau Kar-leung. The kung fu scenes are some of the best choreographed ever seen.
Lee as a Chinese martial artist who stands up to foreign enemies struck a popular chord in 1972 colonial Hong Kong.
Lee as a Chinese martial artist who stands up to foreign enemies struck a popular chord in 1972 colonial Hong Kong.
Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 manga-based sci-fi hit, the setting of which was modelled on Hong Kong, questions the ethics of AI, making it more relevant now than ever.
Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 manga-based sci-fi hit, the setting of which was modelled on Hong Kong, questions the ethics of AI, making it more relevant now than ever.
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh says change has come to Hollywood since Crazy Rich Asians but more is needed. She reunites with Henry Golding in new film Last Christmas, in which Emilia Clarke co-stars.
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh says change has come to Hollywood since Crazy Rich Asians but more is needed. She reunites with Henry Golding in new film Last Christmas, in which Emilia Clarke co-stars.
In unpublished 1998 interview ,Hong Kong-born martial arts star talks about how he furthered his career after starting out as a stuntman, and how he volunteered to help cinematographers to learn behind-the-camera skills.
In unpublished 1998 interview ,Hong Kong-born martial arts star talks about how he furthered his career after starting out as a stuntman, and how he volunteered to help cinematographers to learn behind-the-camera skills.
Engrossing whistle-blower drama, in the same vein as All the President’s Men and The Insider, is based on real events surrounding the DuPont scandal over toxins in Teflon. Ruffalo skilfully portrays lawyer Robert Bilott as a true American hero.
Engrossing whistle-blower drama, in the same vein as All the President’s Men and The Insider, is based on real events surrounding the DuPont scandal over toxins in Teflon. Ruffalo skilfully portrays lawyer Robert Bilott as a true American hero.
The phenomenal success of Bruce Lee, the appeal of Jackie Chan and the first kung fu films to make their mark in America are among the topics examined in the upcoming Netflix documentary Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks.
The phenomenal success of Bruce Lee, the appeal of Jackie Chan and the first kung fu films to make their mark in America are among the topics examined in the upcoming Netflix documentary Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks.
Museum of Chinese in America charts the lives of some of the 50,000 Chinese who built part of the first transcontinental railroad in the 1860s – engineers, masons, blacksmiths, explosives experts, and tunnelers, not just labourers.
Museum of Chinese in America charts the lives of some of the 50,000 Chinese who built part of the first transcontinental railroad in the 1860s – engineers, masons, blacksmiths, explosives experts, and tunnelers, not just labourers.
A neuroscientist at Cambridge University says that all our decisions are made by the brain without us consciously knowing why, based on factors including hereditary genetic preferences, past experiences and environmental factors.
A neuroscientist at Cambridge University says that all our decisions are made by the brain without us consciously knowing why, based on factors including hereditary genetic preferences, past experiences and environmental factors.
A terrible script means a great voice cast of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, and Bette Midler are wasted in this latest outing for the morbid bunch. The quality of the animation is also uninspiring, making for a bland feature.
A terrible script means a great voice cast of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, and Bette Midler are wasted in this latest outing for the morbid bunch. The quality of the animation is also uninspiring, making for a bland feature.
Watching performances and sports events in 3D from any angle are two of the immersive experiences offered by new tech. Augmented reality is the format of the future, as virtual reality loses popularity.
Watching performances and sports events in 3D from any angle are two of the immersive experiences offered by new tech. Augmented reality is the format of the future, as virtual reality loses popularity.