Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Larry Yang
Cast: Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Zhang Zifeng, Ci Sha, Jun, Zhou Zhenjie, Wang Ziyi, Lang Yueting, Lin Qiunan, Zac Wang, Li Zhekun
Runtime: 2 hrs 22 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 16 August 2025

Synopsis: A crew of criminal prodigies disappears with billions, evading capture by outsmarting the formidable “Sky Eye” surveillance system. Desperate and outmaneuvered, the Macau police enlist the help of a legend - Wong Tak-Chung (Jackie Chan), a retired tracking expert. He mentors rookie officer Ho Qiuguo (Zhang Zifeng) and rebuilds an elite surveillance unit. Their mission: to track down the elusive “Wolf King,” Fu Longsheng (Leung Ka-Fai Tony), the mastermind behind the heist. As the police close in, the thieves spring a trap of their own. Brains clash, loyalties are tested, and the ultimate cat-and-mouse game is about to begin… 

Movie Review:

Jackie Chan is 71 this year, and you’d do well to let that fact sink in before you judge just what he does or doesn’t do in this latest action thriller. With that in mind, we’re glad – and in fact, extremely proud – to say that ‘The Shadow’s Edge’ is by far the best Jackie Chan movie in years: it has a role well suited for an older Jackie; it has an equally captivating villain played by Hong Kong veteran Tony Leung Kar-Fai; and it is cleverly plotted, brilliantly layered and thrillingly executed.

To say that ‘The Shadow’s Edge’ exceeded our expectations is an understatement. Neither from writer/director Larry Yang’s filmography nor Yang and Jackie’s previous collaboration ‘Ride On’ did we expect their sophomore outing to be such a gripping caper; that, and the fact that the movie boasted a runtime of close to two-and-a half hours gave us pause just how Yang would be able to sustain an almost ‘Mission: Impossible’ marathon. Though it does feel its length, it is an impressive achievement that the movie never has a dull moment, and in fact manages to sustain your attention throughout and leave you hungry for a sequel its mid-credits sequence sets it up for.

Right from the beginning, Yang establishes his tall ambition with a daring heist orchestrated by elusive master thief Fu Longsheng (Leung), otherwise known as ‘The Shadow’, and executed by a band of four criminal prodigies, or five, if you count the bespectacled hacker Simon (Ci Sha) assisting them from behind the scenes. From the lobby of an office skyscraper, to the elevator to the top of the Macau Tower, to parachuting off the Macau Tower to Wynn Macau, and then a cat-and-mouse chase within the Wynn itself, it is a pulse-pounding kickoff that Yang thankfully knows not to try to top later on.

Humiliated by their inability to apprehend the thieves despite being assisted by cutting-edge AI technology, the Macau police decide to enlist the help of former officer Wong Tak-chung (Chan), a top-notch surveillance expert who in a matter of hours proves to rookie officers He Qiuguo (Zhang Zifeng) and Liu Jinxiao (Zhou Zhengjie) that he has lost none of his prowess. Surprised that the force no longer has a surveillance squad, Wong goes about assembling his own from amongst the most nondescript officers in the force, including for that matter Qiuguo and Jinxiao.

Rather than rush through the proceedings, Yang takes care to detail the patient, meticulous nature of surveillance work, as each of Wong’s proteges take up various everyday personas within Macau’s Old Town to try and spot The Shadow. That time is also spent building up a parent-guardian dynamic between Wong and Qiuguo, as the former confesses his guilt over inadvertently causing the death of Qiuguo’s father (Yu Rongguang in an uncredited cameo) years ago. To Yang’s credit too, he carefully choreographs how Wong and Qiuguo pretend to be father and daughter in the same sprawling apartment building as The Shadow, in order to track his movements up close.

Instead of relentless big, blockbuster spectacle, Yang settles in for more intimate scenes of close-quarter tension, allowing both his movie and his characters to breathe and grow. Some of the best scenes in the middle section include a stakeout at the local fish and vegetable market where The Shadow is first spotted, a tense exchange in the elevator of the apartment building where Qiuquo tails The Shadow to, and a meal that Wong offers to host for The Shadow in their make-believe flat within the same apartment complex. Not only does Jackie get to do some of his most nuanced acting in years, his chemistry with Leung, whom he reunites two decades after ‘The Myth’, is priceless.

Besides setting up the game of wits between Wong and The Shadow, Yang also develops further the relationship between The Shadow and his prodigies, in particular with the twins Xiwang and Simon (both played by Ci Sha). Between them, it is Xiwang whom The Shadow both favours and fears more, given the similarities in their proclivities and impulses. Without giving too much away, let’s just say the trust and distrust amongst them unravels in unexpected ways, setting up a third act that is surprisingly audacious and riveting.

Oh yes, from a bold assault on the very Macau Judiciary Police HQ, to another cat-and-mouse game on various fronts within and around Wynn Palace, and ultimately to a more somber but no less satisfying finale around the narrow alleyways of Coloane Village, the third act ratchets the tension, action and exhilaration in extremely rewarding fashion. Yang also deserves credit for maximising the cultural and modern sights of Macau to enliven the scenery in his movie, and we must say we particularly love the juxtaposition of the quaint parts of Macao Old Town with the urban Cotai Strip where the giant Wynn integrated resorts lie.

Still, Yang’s greatest achievement here is in crafting an action vehicle well suited for Jackie at this age. Instead of going solo, Jackie’s role here allows him not just to shine as lead but also to lead an ensemble of younger actors and characters. Yang has also constructed a terrific villain in The Shadow, and found a perfect complement for Jackie in Leung. It is pure cinematic joy seeing both veterans go head to head with each other, including a vicious mano-a-mano near the end that is just about as ferocious as we have seen from either actor. Leung thoroughly chews the scenery as a wily old fox with a brutal streak, and reminds you once again why he is probably one of the most underrated Hong Kong actors of his generation.

If it isn’t yet obvious, ‘The Shadow’s Edge’ exceeded every and any expectation we had for it, and in an absolutely fantastic way. It is not just a relief but an utter joy to see Jackie find something worth his while at his age, instead of coming to the same sad conclusion that he deserves better. Like we said earlier, there is a mid-credits sequence that sets the movie up for a sequel, and we await with eager anticipation how Yang intends to advance the story with a team-up between Jackie and Leung. This is for every Jackie Chan fan out there, and we can say wholeheartedly it is his best in years, and one of the best modern-day action thrillers you’ll see this year.

Movie Rating:

(Intense, intriguing and even exhilarating, this Macao-set action thriller is easily Jackie Chan's best film in years)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Drama/Crime
Director: Bjorn Franklin, Johnny Marchetta
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Toby Kebbell, James Cosmo, Kíla Lord Cassidy, Michael Socha, Elaine Cassidy, Aiysha Hart, Nell Hudson, Barry Ward
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Rating: M18 (Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 24 July 2025

Synopsis: Shia LaBeouf and Toby Kebbell star in an emotional, action-packed film about a prize fighter's battles both inside and outside the ring. When a battered boxer past his prime finds his dreams and his relationships on the ropes, he falls back in with a dangerous crowd and has to take the biggest swing of his life to reclaim his hope and his family.

Movie Review:

Salvable is less an underdog sports tale and more a gritty human drama rooted in hardship, regret and hope. Set in a sleepy English town, the film stars Toby Kebbell (Ben-Hur, Kong: Skull Island) and Shia LaBeouf who surprises with an Irish accent nearly as thick as his beard.

Kebbell plays Sal, an aging boxer living in a trailer, scraping by with a job at a nursing home. His biggest concern is his 14-year-old daughter Molly (Kíla Lord Cassidy) who now lives with her mother and stepfather. Though past his prime, Sal still clings to dreams of a boxing comeback, saving every penny in hopes of buying a proper home and more importantly, rebuilding his fractured relationship with Molly.

Enter Vince (LaBeouf), Sal’s best friend who has just been released from prison. Vince’s return quickly complicates things, drawing Sal into a series of underground boxing matches and shady dealings. As expected, their journey doesn’t head toward a triumphant finale but rather a spiral into darker, more tragic territory.

Written and directed by Bjorn Franklin and Johnny Marchetta, Salvable marks the duo’s first feature-length film. On a positive note, they’ve created a believable, fully fleshed-out character in Sal—a man whose boxing dreams slipped away in his youth but whose passion still burns under the watchful eye of his aging coach and mentor Welly (James Cosmo). Sal is a man stuck in a rut, clinging to one last thread of hope: reconnection with his rebellious daughter.

However, Salvable doesn’t entirely avoid genre pitfalls. The narrative sags when it veers into cliché, particularly with Vince’s subplot, which culminates in a clumsily executed crime-heist finale. The promised climactic boxing match never materializes, leaving the film’s ending feeling more bleak than bittersweet, a missed opportunity to bring catharsis to Sal’s journey.

Despite the script’s shortcomings, Kebbell and LaBeouf deliver emotionally grounded performances. Kebbell shines in a restrained, quietly powerful portrayal of a man with a good heart, constantly caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. LaBeouf, even in a supporting role, commits fully and convincingly, his screen presence never falters, regardless of his character’s moral ambiguity.

At its core, Salvable is a story about resilience and the tragic cost of misplaced hope. It asks a difficult question: when life becomes unbearably bleak, do we keep fighting or finally surrender? There’s no easy answer and the film doesn’t pretend there is. Sometimes, we’re left to figure it out on our own, hoping someone might steer us in the right direction unlike poor Sal.

Movie Rating:

(A slow-burn drama about life choices)

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: On the road to Mt. Everest, big rig driver Mike McCann (Liam Neeson) takes on ruthless mercenaries to protect a busload of tourists and save a village on the brink of destruction.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Out of the many generic action flicks in Liam Neeson’s late-career catalogue, Ice Road surprisingly gets a sequel. For a moment, we mistook it for Cold Pursuit at least that one was a dark, violent action-comedy. Once our memory kicked in, we remembered Ice Road wasn’t terrible, but that doesn’t mean it deserved a follow-up.

Neeson returns as Mike McCann, a man who while not quite Bryan Mills still possesses a “particular set of skills,” namely the ability to maneuver a big rig across treacherous, icy terrain. In Ice Road: Vengeance, McCann travels to Nepal to scatter the ashes of his late brother (Marcus Thomas) at Mount Everest. Naturally, he needs a guide and that comes in the form of Dhani Yangchen, played by none other than Fan Bingbing, once China’s biggest starlet.

In what has to be one of the most conveniently contrived plot turns ever, a group of kidnappers hijacks the tour bus McCann and Dhani are on. Hired by a corrupt developer, the villains’ mission is to eliminate an entire family refusing to sell their ancestral land for a massive hydroelectric dam project. After the driver and a fellow passenger are killed, McCann and Dhani decide to take matters into their own hands. And no, this isn’t Speed even if the plot wants you to think so.

With the help of some dodgy CGI, Australia doubles as Nepal, while writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh does his best to recapture the thrills and spills of the first installment. Unfortunately, the result is a tired, uninspired ride that struggles to maintain momentum. Clocking in at nearly two hours, most of the film is spent inside the bus as McCann and crew fend off a corrupt cop and a few gun-toting henchmen. The action choreography is dull, resembling more of a mannequin toss than actual fight sequences.

To his credit, senior action man Liam Neeson still pulls off a few gruff punches, leaving the heavier stunts to his double. Fan Bingbing has solid chemistry with Neeson and proves more than capable in the action scenes. But while the cast tries to make it work, Ice Road: Vengeance is riddled with implausibilities—be it crossing a gorge via a construction crane or the complete emotional vacuum after loved ones are killed.

Ultimately, Ice Road: Vengeance is a clunky, poorly made “dad movie.” The premise feels like a thin excuse to string together chase scenes and shootouts with only a handful of flashbacks attempting to justify McCann’s grief and motivations. If you’re hoping this film marks a Neeson renaissance, look elsewhere. This is just another icy road best left untraveled.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: On a deep undercover assignment in Taipei, DEA agent John Lawlor was doing everything right… until he fell in love with his informant, beautiful Josephine “Joey” Kwang, one of the Asian underworld’s best transport drivers. Compromised and cover blown, John was forced to flee. Now, years later, John is back in Taipei for the weekend. But is he here to finish the job? Or to win back Joey’s love?

MOVIE REVIEW:

If the Fast & Furious franchise is ever looking to expand with more spinoffs, Universal might want to give Luc Besson a call. Weekend in Taipei is a joint effort between Taiwan’s Film Commission and Besson’s EuropaCorp and stars Fast & Furious alumni Luke Evans and Sung Kang.

The action plot is admittedly generic. Evans plays John Lawlor, a DEA agent who heads to Taipei over a weekend break to gather evidence against a billionaire seafood tycoon/drug trafficker, Kwang (Kang). In a twist, Kwang’s wife Joey (Gwei Lun-mei) happens to be Lawlor’s ex-lover and they even share a 13-year-old son, Raymond (Wyatt Yang).

In many ways, Weekend in Taipei slots perfectly into the Fast & Furious mould. Taiwanese-American director George Huang alongside producer Besson knows exactly what kind of movie they’re making and who it’s for. Within minutes, we’re treated to Joey test-driving a Ferrari through the bustling streets of Taipei, channeling classic Audrey Hepburn glamour. Soon after, Lawlor takes on a gang of Kwang’s henchmen in a cramped kitchen, pulling off Jackie Chan-inspired choreography that’s both chaotic and fun.

Say what you will about Luc Besson but he knows how to package a disposable, high-energy action flick even if he’s not behind the camera. That said, Weekend in Taipei falters with a limp finale. After all the wild chases, brawls and an explosive hotel shootout, the film abruptly shifts to a one-on-one fistfight between Lawlor and Kwang. It’s a baffling choice especially given neither Evans nor Kang are exactly in the league of Scott Adkins or even Keanu Reeves when it comes to hand-to-hand combat.

Performance-wise, Evans and Gwei share enough chemistry to make their rekindled romance believable especially during a nostalgic dumpling-sharing moment. Kang brings a refreshing change of pace playing the villain while Taiwanese veteran Tuo Tsung-hua makes a brief but welcome appearance as a local cop.

Weekend in Taipei certainly has its moments. It’s brisk, flashy and mostly entertaining until that disappointing ending. Ultimately, it’s a fuss-free but forgettable action detour set in a vibrant city many of us know and love.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

INSIDE THE WORLD OF PORSCHE WITH ADRIEN BRODY Posted on 17 Jul 2025 Watch Academy Award winner Adrien Brody as he heads to Stuttgart to work with the people making Porsche sportscars in a documentary called The Intern in which he both directed and starred. ... more

SYNOPSIS: In a world gripped by food shortages, a tenacious Muay-Thai boxer battles a zombie outbreak inside a hospital to save his lover from the jaws of death.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Ziam, the latest Thai zombie flick streaming on Netflix, starts with a promising setup: Earth is dying, food shortages are rampant and governments are imposing strict curfews. A new species of fish is discovered, possibly offering a fresh food source but as you might guess, consuming the contaminated fish comes with horrifying consequences.

However, Ziam isn’t the kind of movie interested in exploring the implications of ecological collapse or bio-contamination. Instead, it quickly shifts focus to a couple: Singh (Mark Prin Suparat), a former Muay Thai fighter now making ends meet through shady jobs and Rin (Nychaa Nuttanicha), a doctor at the local hospital.

From there, everything unfolds predictably. A mysterious zombie virus breaks out at the hospital, trapping Rin inside. Singh springs into action, fists flying and feet kicking to rescue his beloved. The rest of the movie takes place largely within the hospital as Singh battles the undead in increasingly repetitive fight scenes.

To his credit, director Kulp Kaljareuk who also co-wrote the story had a decent idea in combining Thai martial arts with zombie horror. Unfortunately, the execution falls flat. The post-apocalyptic setup feels tacked on, the story lacks originality and the action choreography pales in comparison to the jaw-dropping stunts of early-2000s Tony Jaa films.

Ziam is a major step down for the genre. Even the basic jump scares are absent. Kaljareuk struggles with building tension, reducing the zombie threat to little more than a horde of extras in makeup running aimlessly after the leads. One scene involving a young boy named Buddy teetering on scaffolding, narrowly escaping a zombie, had the potential to be thrilling but it fizzles due to lackluster direction. Most of the attack scenes feel like filler just to keep the story moving.

Suparat and Nuttanicha do what they can with their thinly written roles. Suparat, channeling a Thai version of Won Bin, delivers a few bone-crunching moves while Nuttanicha is relegated to playing a damsel in distress. Aside from a minor spat at the beginning, the couple’s dynamic remains static throughout. Also thrown into the mix is a sinister wealthy man, Visu (Johnny Anfone), who seeks to cure his ailing wife using the tainted fish possibly the source of the zombie outbreak. It’s a half-baked subplot that doesn’t add much to the narrative.

In conclusion, Ziam is a poorly executed Thai horror-thriller that squanders its potential. Despite flashes of Muay Thai action, it serves more as a cautionary tale on how not to make a zombie film. If the genre is already staggering toward the grave, Ziam may well be the final nail in the coffin.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Action/Fantasy
Director: Kim Byung-woo
Cast: Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, NANA, Kwon Eun- seong, JISOO
Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Violence)
Released By: Golden Village and Purple Plan
Official Website:

Opening Day: 31 July 2025

Synopsis: Kim Dokja (Ahn Hyo-seop), an ordinary man in his 20s, is the only reader of an obscure web novel titled “Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse”. Having started reading in his school days, after 10 years of serialization the novel’s conclusion is finally published, and Kim, not liking the ending in which the hero, Yu Junghyeok survives alone. As he writes an angry letter to the author, calling it “the worst novel”. After sending the letter, the apocalyptic world of the novel suddenly becomes reality, and the novel’s omnipotent hero Yu Jung-hyeok (Lee Min-ho) appears before Kim. As the only person who knows how to survive in this world, Kim and his companions rescue Yu Jung-hyeok and strive to save the world by writing his own, new ending.

Movie Review:

Omniscient Reader may not be familiar to everyone, but its popularity is easy to understand. Originally published as a Korean web novel in January 2018, it has since expanded into an English physical novel, an ongoing webtoon adaptation, and an upcoming anime television series. A movie adaptation was only a matter of time — and it's made even more exciting by the casting of top Korean stars Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop. Cue the fan screams!

The web novel written by Sing Shong follows an ordinary man who becomes the sole reader of a web novel — until fiction becomes reality. As the story’s world collides with his own, he’s thrust into the plot with one advantage: he knows how it ends. Now, guided by his knowledge and facing trials set by mythical Korean creatures known dokkaebi, he must fight to change the ending and more importantly, survive.

This story makes the perfect companion for your daily ride — letting you imagine yourself as the protagonist, conquering one challenge after another to save the world. When reality calls and you step off at your stop, you’re already counting down to your next chance to return to that thrilling fantasy realm.

With such a rich setting, the filmmakers behind this entertaining popcorn flick have plenty to work with. As expected, the screen bursts with CGI spectacles — monstrous beings wreaking havoc while humans either battle for survival or scramble to stay hidden. Among them, the dokkaebi will make audiences go “aww”: a mischievous, floating creature so endearing it’s practically made to be a plushie you’d want to clip onto your bag or cuddle at night.

Casting Lee and Ahn was a savvy marketing move. Ahn plays the relatable everyman, Kim Dok-ja — a long-time reader suddenly challenged to change the ending of the novel he knows by heart. In contrast, Lee steps into the role of Yu Jung-hyeok, the novel’s brooding, battle-hardened hero.

Making his feature film debut, Ahn is set to win over even more fans beyond those who already adore him from his TV dramas. He brings a compelling mix of idealism and grit as his character is thrust into an extraordinary situation. Meanwhile, Lee, a seasoned star, effortlessly commands the screen — whether he’s taking down monsters or simply standing still, radiating cool confidence. With few words and plenty of presence, he makes it clear: this is a man you don’t mess with.

K-pop fans will be thrilled to see familiar faces in action. Nana, from girl group After School, takes on the role of a fierce and mysterious warrior, while Blackpink’s Jisoo portrays a cold, sharp-eyed sniper who’s as ruthless as she is captivating. Chae Soo-bin plays Dok-ja’s former co-worker, now a loyal and capable ally in this chaotic new world, and Shin Seung-ho impresses as a stoic ex-soldier known for his formidable defensive skills.

But stealing hearts is the youngest of the bunch — a child character who wields insect-related powers by holding up his fingers, brought to life with irresistible charm by young actor Kwon Eun-seong.

It may well have been a deliberate choice by the filmmakers to steer clear of the story’s deeper themes in favour of keeping the pace brisk and the entertainment value high. But to us, it feels like a missed opportunity. We would have loved to see the narrative dig deeper into Kim Dok-ja’s internal struggle — the burden of knowing the plot and the moral complexity of having the power to change it, all while trying to save the world. There’s also so much untapped potential in exploring the twisted pleasures of the unseen celestial beings — sadistic spectators who revel in orchestrating brutal human-versus-monster, and even human-versus-human, showdowns.

The ending of the 117-minute movie clearly sets the stage for a sequel, and with strong box office numbers, the plan to adapt the story into a reported five feature-length films seems well on track. Perhaps we’ll just have to be patient — and let the CGI-driven spectacle keep our senses buzzing — while we wait for the deeper storylines to unfold in the instalments to come. 

Movie Rating:

(This CGI-laden popcorn flick delivers on spectacle and only scratches the surface of the story's deeper themes, but fans of Lee Min-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop will gladly show up to watch their heroes battle monsters on the big screen)

Genre: Drama
Director: Jason Buxton
Cast: Ben Foster, Cobie Smulders, Gavin Drea, William Kosovic
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scene)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 31 July 2025

Synopsis: Sharp Corner is the story of a man's spiral as he tries to find greater purpose in his life. It follows Josh, a hapless family man who is drawn into saving the lives of the car crash victims at the sharp corner in front of his house. As Josh's obsession takes hold, he places his wife and son in jeopardy, setting in motion a series of events that threaten to break his family apart.

Movie Review:

Sharp Corner starts with a bang—literally.

Josh (Ben Foster), his therapist wife Rachel (Cobie Smulders) and their young son Max (William Kosovic) have just moved into a new house far from the city. But on their very first night, a car driven by an intoxicated teenager crashes onto their front lawn, sending a tire flying through their living room window.

As it turns out, the property sits on the edge of a dangerously sharp bend in the road explaining the suspiciously low price. This is just the beginning of many similar accidents to come and Josh slowly develops a morbid obsession with saving potential crash victims. As his fixation grows, his marriage with Rachel begins to unravel. Josh resists selling the house, gradually withdrawing from his family and work and instead pours all his energy into CPR training, plastic dummies and racing to accident scenes trying to be the first on site before emergency services arrive.

Canadian writer-director Jason Buxton adapts Sharp Corner from Russell Wangersky’s 2012 short story and the film is certainly not for the impatient or those seeking cheap thrills. In many ways, it feels like a story pulled from the pages of a Stephen King novella—rich in character study and layered with slow-burning psychological dread.

In fact, Sharp Corner carries more than a few of King’s hallmarks. We watch with unease as Josh’s obsession becomes increasingly unhinged and disturbing. Why does he show up at a stranger’s funeral pretending to be the dead man’s golf buddy? Why is he less concerned about his own son, Max who is clearly traumatized by the steady stream of accidents at their doorstep? Josh is spiraling, consumed by a dark compulsion he can neither explain nor control.

Ben Foster is phenomenal. A master at playing emotionally complex characters, Foster brings quiet intensity to Josh without veering into melodrama. Known for portraying unstable and volatile roles, Foster keeps Josh restrained and internalized never exploding but always teetering on the edge. He remains awkward, insecure and deeply human throughout. The only thing that changes is his grip on reality.

That said, Sharp Corner is not for everyone. It’s deliberately paced, eerily quiet (despite the frequent crashes), and entirely devoid of jump scares or dramatic twists. Some may even find it frustrating or pointless. But for those open to something different, the film offers a haunting meditation on trauma, mid-life disillusionment and the fraying threads of a once-stable marriage.

It’s not a comfortable watch but that’s exactly the point.

Movie Rating:

(A morally complex human drama worth checking out)

Review by Linus Tee

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Da Peng
Cast: Da Peng, Bai Ke, Sabrina Zhuang, Terrance Lau, Andy Lau, Yang Mi
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 31 July 2025

Synopsis: The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Ma Boyong. Set during the Tang Dynasty's Tianbao era, it follows Li Shande (Da Peng), a middle-aged man who grumbles his way through countless tasks and pinches every penny, only to remain an insignificant low-ranking official. However, things seem to take a turn when he's suddenly summoned – someone has arranged for him to take on the lucrative role of 'Litchi Envoy'. If he succeeds, glory and wealth await and a chance to turn his life around. But if he fails...

Movie Review:

The first thing that struck us after watching this Chinese film was how much we take fresh fruit for granted. These days, we can enjoy a wide variety of fruits with ease, rarely thinking about how they reach us.

Set during the Tang Dynasty, the movie follows a protagonist on an extraordinary mission: to deliver fresh lychees from Lingnan (south of the Nanling Mountains) all the way to the imperial city of Chang’an. The journey spans over 5,000 miles, with travel limited to horseback over land and ships across the sea. To make things even more challenging, lychees are highly perishable — they lose their flavour just three days after being picked.

As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that this is more than just a story about a man finding ways to transport fresh lychees from Lingnan to Chang’an. The protagonist, Li Shande, is a low-ranking official who initially believes his task is to deliver lychee fritters. However, due to a cunning and deceptive scheme by higher-ranking officials, he soon discovers that what he must deliver are not fritters, but fresh lychees — a much more difficult and demanding challenge.

The fresh lychees are intended as a birthday gift for the emperor’s favourite concubine — so you can imagine how high the stakes are. As expected, there’s plenty of political scheming among the officials, and the mission turns out to be about much more than simply delivering fruit. For Li Shande, success means freedom from financial hardship — a powerful motivation to give his all for the sake of his wife and child.

Directed by Da Peng, who also stars as Li Shande, the film is engaging on many levels. It begins as a comedy, with the idealistic Li Shande narrating his life story — how he started out wanting to make a difference in his work, only to end up like many others, struggling to make ends meet. We laugh at the absurdity of his situation, but beneath the humour lies a relatable truth for many of us in the working world.

The story then follows Li Shande as he overcomes one obstacle after another to complete his mission. One clever idea leads to the next, and with the help of his newfound allies — played by Bai Ke, Terrance Lau, and Sabrina Zhuang — he tackles each challenge with growing determination. They become his greatest supporters, united in their belief that their plan will succeed. It’s emotionally satisfying to watch the underdogs band together and hatch their plan with heart and ingenuity.

The film takes a dramatic turn when Li Shande’s carefully laid plans are sabotaged by the antagonists, putting his friendships to the test. One particularly poignant moment sees Da Peng and Bai Ke’s characters in a simple exchange — a near-heartbreaking scene where their bond appears shattered by what seems like a selfish betrayal on Li Shande’s part.

But the tension doesn’t end there. A gripping sequence unfolds as a fleet of enemy horsemen threatens to derail the entire delivery. And perhaps most chilling is a quiet yet powerful scene between Da Peng and Andy Lau’s characters, where a sinister plot is finally revealed. It’s a masterfully executed moment that highlights the film’s ability to shift between humour, suspense, and emotional depth.

The film closes on a quiet, peaceful note, with Li Shande and his wife (Yang Mi) settling into a simple life far from the chaos of Chang’an. It’s a hopeful and heartfelt ending — one that leaves you wishing for the same kind of contentment after years of hard work and struggle. After all the highs and lows, it’s a reminder that peace and purpose are rewards worth striving for.

Movie Rating:

(Da Peng directs and stars in a film that engages on multiple levels, effortlessly shifting between humour, suspense, and emotional depth)

Review by John Li

SYNOPSIS: After being torpedoed by allied submarines, a Japanese soldier and a British POW are stranded on a deserted island and soon discover that they’re being hunted by a ferocious mythological creature, the Orang Ikan.

MOVIE REVIEW:

If you recall the beginning of Kong: Skull Island (2017), there’s a brief scene where a WWII Japanese pilot and an American pilot crash-land on an island inhabited by Kong. Monster Island also known as Orang Ikan takes that very concept and stretches it into a full-length feature. But instead of King Kong, we get a monstrous, amphibious creature: the Orang Ikan.

Produced under Eric Khoo’s Gorylah Pictures, Monster Island is a little-known multinational co-production that quietly debuted on Netflix. It promises a mix of folkloric intrigue and creature-feature thrills but writer-director Mike Wiluan (Buffalo Boys) struggles to deliver on either front.

The film opens with a CGI-heavy prologue involving a Japanese warship transporting prisoners of war for forced labor. Among those onboard are Saito (Dean Fujioka), a Japanese soldier and Bronson (Callum Woodhouse), a British soldier. After a torpedo attack sinks the ship, the two survivors wash up on a mysterious island, where they’re hunted by a fish-human hybrid.

And… that’s pretty much all the narrative has to offer. Despite Wiluan’s efforts to build a story around two former enemies forming a bond, the emotional payoff never lands. The supposed transformation from adversaries to allies feels hollow likely due to stilted dialogue, wooden performances and perhaps a lack of chemistry (or a language barrier) between Fujioka and Woodhouse. Whatever the reason, their friendship simply doesn’t feel earned or convincing.

As for the creature itself, the makeup and practical effects are surprisingly solid especially in close-ups for what is clearly a low-budget production. Unfortunately, any goodwill earned there is quickly undone by disorienting, hyper-edited action scenes. The editing during creature attacks is so frenetic that it’s hard to make out what’s happening. Yes, the violence is bloody, but what’s the point of gore if it’s obscured by rapid cuts and chaotic camerawork?

Strangely, despite the title, Monster Island (aka Orang Ikan) barely connects to any known elements of Malay folklore. Aside from one local prisoner whispering “Orang Ikan” before meeting a grisly end, the mythical roots are left unexplored. Clocking in at just 80 minutes, the film does make the most of Batam’s lush rainforest and waterfalls but it ultimately squanders its potential with a flimsy script and erratic editing.

There was a good monster movie buried somewhere in Monster Island but it never quite makes it to the surface.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee