Author Archives: JJ Bona

Cityonfire interviews ‘The Berlin File’ director Ryoo Seung-wan

Korean filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan has carved a memorable path through genre cinema, earning the attention and acclaim of action fans worldwide. Early works, such as the special effects-heavy superhero film Arahan and the Tarantino-esque City of Violence, featured a one-two punch of humor and martial arts action. Since then, the director’s films have struck a decidedly more serious tone. 2010’s The Unjust took an unforgiving look at Korea’s capitalist society. Now, … Continue reading

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A Malaysian action film called ‘Balistik’ lives up to its title

If you’re missing the good old days of Hong Kong action cinema, then an upcoming Malaysian film titled Balistik is right up your alley. Directed by Silver (Yes, Silver), Balistik tells the story of a professional killer named Saga who goes head-to-head with a police inspector. Here’s the catch: Not only is the police inspector a childhood friend of Saga’s, he’s also married to Saga’s former wife! Judging from the … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Exclusive: Interview with Ryoo Seung-wan

Korean filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan has carved a memorable path through genre cinema, earning the attention and acclaim of action fans worldwide. Early works, such as the special effects-heavy superhero film Arahan and the Tarantino-esque City of Violence, featured a one-two punch of humor and martial arts action. Since then, the director’s films have struck a decidedly more serious tone. 2010’s police action/thriller The Unjust took an unforgiving look at Korea’s … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, News | Tagged |

Deal on Fire! The Bourne Trilogy | Blu-ray | Only $23.89 – Expires soon!

Today’s Deal on Fire is for the The Bourne Trilogy Blu-ray set. Included in the set is 2002’s The Bourne Identity, 2004’s The Bourne Supremacy and 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum. At about $8 a disc, this is a Bourne deal! If you’re a completist and you want The Bourne Legacy, it’s also available at a low price.

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

‘Taekwondo Damashii: Rebirth’ strikes with a new trailer!

A new trailer has been released for the upcoming Taekwondo Damashii: Rebirth, a Japanese martial arts films which is affiliated with the International Taekwon-do Federation Japan (ITF-JAPAN). Rebirth is written and directed by Hideyuki Katsuki (The Yakuza Wives Neo) and stars Masahiro Inoue, Ryoma Baba and Kyosuke Hamao. Official plot: Three brothers are involved in a family conflict over which one of them will be heir to the family taekwondo … Continue reading

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Ice Soldiers | Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)

RELEASE DATE: February 25, 2014 Sony presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Ice Soldiers. From the writers of Dolph Lundgren’s Dark Angel (aka I Come in Peace) comes an action movie that’s straight out of the early 1990s! A scientist discovers the bodies of three frozen genetically modified Russians buried in the North. Upon thawing them out he realizes he has unleashed a deadly threat and must stop them at … Continue reading

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

The Hidden Fortress | Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014 Criterion presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1958’s The Hidden Fortress. Akira Kurosawa directs this spirited period action-adventure in which two conniving peasants are tasked with smuggling a general, a princess and the remains of her family’s wealth through mountainous, hostile territory in feudal Japan. This rip-roaring ride is among the director’s most beloved films and was a primary influence on George Lucas’s Star Wars. Watch … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

The Wrath of Vajra | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014 Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for The Wrath of Vajra, directed by Law Ching Cheong (who is currently wrapping up Donnie Yen’s The Iceman Cometh). In The Wrath of Vajra, a top Chinese martial artist (Yu Xing) sets his sights on a Japanese death cult after they abduct innocent Chinese children and train them to be assassins. Judging by the trailer, the filmmakers … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

Schwarzenegger detoxifies from the ‘Toxic Avenger’ reboot

Variety reports that Arnold Schwarzenegger is in talks to star in a reboot of Troma’s 1984 cult classic, Toxic Avenger. Contrary to what most would expect, Schwarzenegger’s not wanted for the title role, but he will be the main star if he signs up for the movie (how the heck would that work?). The Toxic Avenger reboot will be penned by Steve Pink (director of Hot Tub Time Machine) and … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Commitment | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2014 Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Park Hong-Soo’s Commitment. After his father’s botched espionage mission, North Korean Myung-Hoon (Choi Seung-Hyun) and his young sister Hye-In (Han Ye-Ri) are sent to a labor prison camp. In order to save his sister’s life, Myung-Hoon volunteers to become a spy and infiltrates the South as a teenage defector. Watch the trailer.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

Cityonfire interviews ‘The Raid’ director Gareth Evans

Just in case you missed it: We recently had the privilege of having a chat with Gareth Evans, the writer and director of 2009’s Merantau, 2011’s The Raid and the highly anticipated The Raid 2: Berandal, which is due for release in 2014. In the interview, we ask him questions such as: What his favorite martial arts film of all time is; What action star would he love to work … Continue reading

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Kino releases Jia Zhangke’s ultra-violent ‘A Touch of Sin’

If you’re looking for a new ultra-violent masterpiece from China, be on the look out for Jia Zhangke’s A Touch of Sin. The film – which stars Wu Jiang (Dragon), Vivien Li (The Guillotines) and Lanshan Luo – revolves around four brutal tales set in different geographical settings across modern-day China. Nominated for the Palme d’Or and winner of Best Screenplay at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, it should be … Continue reading

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A Touch of Sin | Blu-ray & DVD (Kino Lorber)

RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014 Kino Lorber presents the Blu-ray & DVD for A Touch of Sin. Both acclaimed and controversial, Jia Zhangke’s A Touch of Sin (a nod to King Hu’s 1969 action classic, A Touch of Zen) has been compared to the works of Sergio Leone and Quentin Tarantino. This ultra-violent film stars Wu Jiang (Dragon), Vivien Li (The Guillotines) and Lanshan Luo. Watch the trailer.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

Dark Desires: The Oniroku Dan 3-Disc Collection | DVD (Switchblade Pictures)

RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2014 Switchblade Pictures presents the DVD set for Dark Desires: The Oniroku Dan, a 3-Disc Collection, which includes 2010’s The Slave Ship, 2009’s The Curse – M and 2007’s The Devil’s Feast. These three films – from the pen of internationally acclaimed bondage novelist and screenwriter Oniroku Dan – explore the darkest secrets of human sexuality. Think of them as Fifty Shades of Grey meets Japanese cult … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

Sword of the Assassin | Blu-ray & DVD (Epic Pictures Group)

RELEASE DATE: February 25, 2014 Epic Pictures Group presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Victor Vu’s martial arts epic Sword of the Assassin (aka Blood Letter). Nguyen Vu (Huynh Dong) is the sole survivor of his family who was executed by the empress of Vietnam. Upon discovering that his family may have been framed for crimes they did not commit, he sets out to bring justice and clear his family name. Also … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |