Category Archives: News

Queen’s Ransom, A | aka International Assassin (1976) Review

"A Queen's Ransom" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Ding Sin Saai Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Angela Mao, George Lazenby, Ko Chun Hsiung, Tien Ni, Charles Heung, Cheung Pooi Saan, Dean Shek, Bolo Yeung, Peter Chan, Cheung Ging Boh, Chu Tiet Wo, Han Ying Chieh, Hon Yee Sang Running Time: 93 min. By Jeff Bona Three years after the passing of Bruce Lee, Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest Studios was still running around like a headless chicken in … Continue reading

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Mifune: The Last Samurai | DVD (Strand Releasing)

RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2017 Mifune: The Last Samurai (read our review), a new documentary by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki (Heroin: Cape Cod, USA), hits DVD on April 25, 2017. Mifune: The Last Samurai explores the accidental movie career of Toshiro Mifune, one of the true giants of world cinema. It also features  interviews with such luminaries as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, plus a narration by Keanu Reeves. Mifune made 16 … Continue reading

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

‘Ip Man 3’ star Danny Chan is back as a ‘Romantic Warrior’

Danny Chan, the actor mostly known for portraying Bruce Lee in both Legend of Bruce Lee and Ip Man 3 (not to mention the Bruce Lee-inspired goalie in Stephen Chow’s Shaolin Soccer), is back in Liu Xiaotong’s Romantic Warrior. With a title like Romantic Warrior, one can only assume a light-hearted production, but if its trailer is any indication of what to expect, some hard-hitting martial arts action should be scattered throughout the film’s duration. Romantic Warrior … Continue reading

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Sly and his psychotic gang of mutts are back!

Sly and his psychotic gang of mutts are back! On October 3, 2017, Lionsgate Home Entertainment will be releasing The Expendables 3-Film Collection (on 3 Blu-ray discs, plus digital copies). This action-packed, star-studded bundle includes The Expendables, The Expendables 2, and The Expendables 3: Unrated Edition. In the series, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jason Statham join forces with Mel Gibson, Mickey Rourke, Wesley Snipes, Harrison Ford, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, … Continue reading

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Zombies, Giant Frogs & Hunchbacks: The Pinoy ‘Supergirl’

Living in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, always brings plenty of surprises, and so it was one evening in early November 2016, I received the following text message: “Hi everyone! 7pm tomorrow I am introducing a secret Makati screening of the super-rare, super-strange 1973 Pinoy SUPERGIRL! Interested? txt me for details!” The number identified the sender as a certain Andrew Leavold, the Australian filmmaker behind the Filipino cinema documentaries … Continue reading

Posted in Features, News |

Deal on Fire! The Toho Godzilla collection | Blu-ray | Only $7.99 – Expires soon!

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for The Toho Godzilla collection, which contains 1993’s Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla and 1994’s Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla. In Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, the United Nations assembles the ultimate weapon to defeat Godzilla, while scientists discover a fresh pteranodon egg on a remote Japanese island. In 1994’s Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla, Godzilla is threatened by both Mogera – another UN built machine; and Space Godzilla, a … Continue reading

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Contract to Kill (2016) Review

Contract to Kill | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Director: Keoni Waxman Cast: Steven Seagal, Russell Wong, Jemma Dallender, Mircea Drambareanu, Sergiu Costache, Ghassan Bouz, Toma Danila, Andrei Stanciu, Camillo Aviles Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall Steven Seagal. What can you say? In 1990 he was Hard to Kill, in 2003 he was Out for a Kill, in 2008 he flipped the Kill Switch, a year later he was Driven to Kill, he started off 2016 by Killing Salazar, … Continue reading

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Lee Byung-Hun’s thriller ‘Master’ hits U.S. theaters in January

CJ Entertainment USA is giving Cho Ui-Seok’s Master a limited theatrical release on January 6th, 2017. This upcoming South Korean thriller stars Gang Dong-won (The Priests), Lee Byung-Hun (I Saw the Devil) and Kim Woo-Bin (Friend 2). An intellectual crime investigation team goes after company Won Network. The company is involved in a massive fraud case. Kim (Gang) is the leader of intellectual crime investigation team. He is smart, charismatic, aggressive and bold … Continue reading

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James Bond’s connection with Asian and Martial Arts Cinema

Being an avid James Bond fan, as well as a writer for City on Fire, I’ve put together a list of Bond titles that are relevant with Asian and martial arts cinema. Whether it be ninjas, samurai, kung fu masters – or just well-known Asian talent  – there’s definitely a connection between 007 and the types of films that are usually covered here at City on Fire. Of course, considering the impact Bond films have had … Continue reading

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Saving Mr. Wu (2015) Review

“Saving Mr. Wu” Theatrical Poster

Director: Ding Sheng Writer: Ding Sheng Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Liu Ye, Wu Ruofu, Wang Qianyuan, Lam Suet, Zhao Xiaoyue, Vivien Li Meng, Cai Lu, Yu Ailei, Liu Wen-Bo, Guo Ming-Yu Running Time: 106 min. Kelly Warner Andy Lau walks out of a nightclub, signs autographs, and waves to his fans. The onscreen text reads, ‘Mr. Wu, Famous Movie Star.’ (I laughed, though I can’t really explain why.) Soon we … Continue reading

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Seagal has a ‘Contract to Kill’ Islamic extremists in February

On February 28th, Lionsgate Home Entertainment will be releasing Steven Seagal’s latest film, Contract to Kill, on Blu-ray & DVD. This time around, the legendary action star is taking on Islamic extremists an drug dealers, simultaneously. Contract to Kill (read our review) is directed by Keoni Waxman (End of a Gun), the writer/director/producer who has helmed several movies with Seagal (End of Gun). In Contract to Kill, a Special Agent (Seagal) is called back into action when the … Continue reading

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Sword Master (2016) Review

Director: Derek Yee Producer: Tsui Hark Cast: Kenny Lin Geng-Xin, Peter Ho Yun-Tung, Jiang Yi-Yan, Jiang Meng-Jie, Norman Chu, Edward Ku, Ng Yuen-Jun, Wang De-Shun, Guo Jiu-Long Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall There have been a handful of Shaw Brothers re-makes over recent years. Some of them have resulted in successful reinterpretations of the source material, such as Daniel Lee’s 2010 production 14 Blades, a pulpy re-imagining of Secret Service of … Continue reading

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Eliminators (2016) Review

"Eliminators" DVD Cover

Director: James Nunn Cast: Scott Adkins, Wade Barrett, Daniel Caltagirone, James Cosmo, Mem Ferda, Ty Glaser, Olivia Mace, Stephen Marcus, Bruce Johnson, Sean Cronin Running Time: 94 min. By Zach Nix British martial artist and actor Scott Adkins has had a busy year in 2016. He appeared in numerous supporting roles, whether it be within low budget direct to video efforts (i.e. Jarhead 3: The Siege, Home Invasion) or theatrical … Continue reading

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Bounty Hunters (2016) Review

Director: Shin Tae-Ra Producer: Raymond Wong Cast: Lee Min-ho, Wallace Chung, Tiffany Tang, Jeremy Xu, Karena Ng, Fan Siu-Wong, Yang Mi Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2016 China continued its mission to create a watchable Hollywood style action blockbuster, and this time they’ve called in some help to back them up. Bounty Hunters is produced by Hong Kong based Raymond Wong, and perhaps sensing that leaving such a … Continue reading

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Operation Chromite | Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)

RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2017 John H. Lee’s (71: Into the Fire) South Korean actioner, Operation Chromite, is exploding its way to Blu-ray & DVD on January 24, 2017, courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Operation Chromite stars Lee Jung-jae (Assassination), Jin Se-yun (Enemies In-Law), Lee Beom-su (The Divine Move) and Liam Neeson (Taken), who portrays General Douglas MacArthur. According to THR, Operation Chromite is the codename for the Battle of Incheon that … Continue reading

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