Panda Plan (2024) Review

“Panda Plan” Theatrical Poster

“Panda Plan” Theatrical Poster

Director: Luan Zhang
Cast: Jackie Chan, Yanbo Han, Ce Shi, Xiang Wei, Temur Mamisashvili, Aleksandra Smirnova
Running Time: 100 min.

By Paul Bramhall

In one of the initial scenes in Jackie Chan’s latest big screen outing, Panda Plan, a character says, “It’s a commercial movie, it needs to entertain.” In many ways the line could be interpreted as director Luan Zhang’s way of announcing his intentions to the audience, and it’s far from being the only meta-aspect of the production. If 2023’s Ride On was Chan’s own way of playing a character who acts as a reflection of his own life, then his latest takes that journey one step further. How? The answer is surprisingly simple – in Panda Plan Jackie Chan is playing Jackie Chan. We’re not talking about the 90’s era Jackie Chan where movies like First Strike and Mr. Nice Guy had his character referred to as Jackie, but there was still some vague concept that he was supposed to be playing a fictional character. No, here he’s world-famous action movie star Jackie Chan, and a zoo on the fictional Noah Island has asked him to adopt a baby panda.

Not just any baby panda mind you, this one is a CGI baby panda with 700 million followers on social media, and features the rare trait of having black eyes of different sizes, apparently making it “the only one in existence.” Naturally, this also means that some Arabs want to get their hands on it, and are willing to pay whatever price is asked for to get it. So they hire Continue reading

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Ready for some post-Shaw Chang Cheh? Visual Vengeance is conjuring a Blu-ray for 1984’s ‘The Nine Demons’

"The Nine Demons" Theatrical Poster

“The Nine Demons” Theatrical Poster

Visual Vengeance will soon be releasing a Blu-ray for The Nine Demons, a 1984 post-Shaw Brothers film from legendary Hong Kong director Chang Cheh (Death Ring, The One Armed Sworsman).

After selling his soul to the devil, Joey (Ricky Cheng Tien Chi, Five Element Ninjas) is given the power to control 9 demons. With their help, Joey must save his childhood friend Gary from a bloody massacre.

The Nine Demons also stars Chris Lee Kin Sang (Full Alert), Lee Chung Yat (Death Ring), Lu Feng (Ninja Condors), Chiang Sheng (Kid with the Golden Arm) and Chui Tai Ping (House of Traps).

This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online Continue reading

Posted in News |

Too fast, too furious! Visual Vengeance working on a Blu-ray for Simon and Phillip Rhee’s 1984 cult gem ‘Furious’

"Furious" VHS Cover

“Furious” VHS Cover

Visual Vengeance is working on a Blu-ray for Furious, a 1984 cult martial arts gem from filmmaker Tim Everitt (Too Fast Too Young).

Furious is the first film to star brothers Simon and Phillip Rhee (4 years before the pair found the greener pastures of Hollywood in the Best of the Best franchise).

The rest of the film’s cast consists mostly of the Rhees’ own students and friends, including a then-unknown Loren Avedon (No Retreat, No Surrender II), former World Kickboxing Champion, Howard Jackson (Code of Silence), former Miss Philippines, Arlene Montano (L.A. Streetfighters) as well as a quick cameo by Susanna Hoffs (of the popular 80s band, The Bangles).

This title will soon Continue reading

Posted in News |

In GODFREY We Trust… Visual Vengeance to release a Blu-ray for the martial arts oddity ‘Born a Ninja’

"Born a Ninja" Promotional Poster

“Born a Ninja” Promotional Poster

Visual Vengeance is prepping a Blu-ray for IFD Films’ Born a Ninja, a martial arts film – produced somewhere between 1988 and 1991 – from director Law Chi (Thunderbolt) with some copy ‘n paste help from Godfrey Ho (Manhattan Chase).

In the film (aka American Commando Ninja), a group of Russians, a Chinese terrorist group and a Japanese ninja are trying to capture a Japanese WWII scientist and steal his formula for germ warfare.

The film stars Meng Fei (Young Tiger), Patrick L’Arcent (Commando the Ninja), Hung Kuan (Young Dragons: Kung Fu Kids), Daniel Garfield, Henry Kwan, Kelvin Wong (High Risk) and Laura Continue reading

Posted in News |

Uprising (2024) Review

"Uprising" Netflix Poster

“Uprising” Netflix Poster

Director: Kim Sang-man
Cast: Gang Dong-won, Park Jung-min, Cha Seung-won, Jung Sung-il, Kim Shin-rok, Jin Sun-Kyu
Running Time: 126 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Much of the publicity for Uprising has leant into the fact that it’s co-scripted by Park Chan-wook, the director who gave us such modern-day classics like Decision to Leave and The Handmaiden. It’s an understandable approach, as while Chan-wook is most well known for the times he’s sat in the director’s chair, he’s also penned a number of classics where the directorial reigns have gone to someone else. From Lee Moo-young’s A Bizarre Love Triangle, to his protégé Lee Kyoung-mi’s Crush and Blush and The Truth Beneath, even when not directly involved in the production his touch is still felt.

For Uprising directorial duties have gone to Kim Sang-man, who worked on a number of Chan-wook’s productions in the 2000’s, primarily in the marketing department. In 2007 he’d make his own directorial debut with the action-comedy Girl Scout, going on to helm Midnight FM in 2010 and 2014’s The Tenor Lirico Spinto, before pulling that distinctive trait Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Watch a New Featurette for Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In’ on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD arriving on November 19

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In | 4K Ultra HD (Well Go USA)

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In | 4K Ultra HD (Well Go USA)

Director Soi Cheang Pou Soi (SPL II: A Time for Consequences, The Monkey King) – and producers Wilson Yip (Paradox, Ip Man Franchise) and John Chong (The Invincible Dragon) – join forces for Media Asia’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (formerly Kowloon Walled City), which hits Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD November 19th from Well Go USA.

This all-star martial arts actioner (read our review), stars Louis Koo (Organized Crime and Triad Bureau), Sammo Hung (King Swindler), Richie Jen (Trivisa), Raymond Lam (Line Walker) and Philip Ng (Undercover Punch and Gun), and with action by Kenji Tanigaki (Enter the Fat Dragon).

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is an adaptation of the cult manhua (Chinese comicbook) series City of Darkness by Andy Seto. Set in the eighties Continue reading

Posted in News |

The East meets WEST! Watch the New Trailer for October’s Hi-YAH! Original ‘Westbound Inn’

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel has just announced their New Releases for the month of October.

If you want to give Hi-YAH! a go, visitors of this site can use the promo code “CITYONFIRE” for a FREE 30 Day trial!

Read on for the full list of New and Exclusive Continue reading

Posted in News |

Before you sleep…’Pray for Death’! Kino Lorber is releasing Sho Kosugi’s 1985 ninja actioner on Blu-ray in December

Pray for Death | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

Pray for Death | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

On December 10, 2024, Kino Lorber is releasing a Blu-ray for Pray for Death (read our review), a 1985 actioner directed by Gordon Hessler (Rage of Honor). This two-disc special edition includes both the R rated and unrated versions of the film.

They Shattered His American Dream. The Ninja Master himself, Sho Kosugi (9 Deaths of the Ninja), stars as Akira, a Japanese immigrant who starts a new life with his family in America, only to stumble onto the headquarters of a bloodthirsty gang of criminals. When the gangsters begin a rampage of murder that takes the lives of his two sons, Akira must step out of his quiet, peace-loving life and reveal his hidden identity, that of a perfectly skilled Ninja, the most lethal and mysterious of all martial artists. He has sounded his warning to top thug Limehouse (co-star/screenwriter James Booth, Avenging Force) and his henchmen: “Stay away from my family, or you will Pray for Death.” It’s time Continue reading

Posted in News |

Sho ’nuff… Kino Lorber is releasing Sho Kosugi’s 1987 actioner ‘Rage of Honor’ on Blu-ray in December

Rage of Honor | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

Rage of Honor | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

On December 10, 2024, Kino Lorber is releasing a Blu-ray for Rage of Honor (read our review), a 1987 actioner directed by Gordon Hessler (Pray for Death).

International action icon Sho Kosugi (9 Deaths of the Ninja) unleashes a devastating display of martial arts virtuosity as the forces of evil push him over the edge…and into a Rage of Honor.

When his best friend is slain by a vicious drug ring, undercover agent Shiro (Kosugi) vows revenge. Warned by his superiors to drop his vendetta, Shiro pretends to comply, traveling to South America with girlfriend Jennifer for a long overdue “vacation.” Picking up the villains’ trail in Brazil, Shiro forces a confrontation—but it backfires when Jennifer is kidnapped by the drug-runners. Pushed to the limit, Shiro’s mission of vengeance explodes into a bone-crushing Continue reading

Posted in News |

Seire (2022) Review

"Seire" Theatrical Poster

“Seire” Theatrical Poster

Director: Park Kang
Cast: Shim Eun-woo, Seo Hyun-woo, Ryu Abel, Ko Eun-Min, Kim Woo-Kyum, Jeon Woon-Jong
Running Time: 100 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Taking its name from a traditional Korean custom that follows childbirth, Seire refers to a newborns first 21 days, during which time the entrance of a property has a protective rope hung on it to ward off evil spirits, and the baby should have minimal interaction with those outside immediate family. The reason behind the custom is that newborns are believed to be at their most vulnerable to bad luck and curses during their first 3 weeks. In the opening we meet a new mother played by Shim Eun-woo (The Closed Ward, Each), who thanks to her mother is a firm believer in sticking to tradition, while the restrictive rules of the custom see her husband, played by Seo Hyun-woo (Escape, Thunderbird), looking forward to getting it over with.

Despite being supportive of his wife’s beliefs, Hyun-woo is clearly exhausted by the challenge of being a new father while balancing a busy job, and finds himself increasingly haunted by dreams of rotten apples and a woman who’s not his wife. The woman turns out to be his ex-girlfriend of 6 years, played by Ryu Abel (Young Adult Matters, A French Woman), and when he wakes up one morning there’s a text revealing she’s passed away. Invited to the 3-day funeral Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews, Top 4 Featured |

Stuff of legends? New title has been revealed for Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio’s upcoming ‘Karate Kid’ movie

"Karate Kid: Legends" Teaser Poster

“Karate Kid: Legends” Teaser Poster

The highly successful motion picture franchise that spawned three sequels, a remake, and a series is getting another reboot – or should we say crossover?

Sony’s new Karate Kid film, titled Karate Kid: Legends, will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle, who has served as a director and executive producer on two popular Netflix original series including I Am Not Okay With This and The End of the F**ing World.

The upcoming film is a continuation of both 2010’s Karate Kid (Jackie Chan/Jaden Smith), and the original franchise (Pat Morita/Ralph Macchio) that took place in 1984’s The Karate Kid, 1986’s The Karate Kid Part II, 1989’s The Karate Kid Part III and in the events Continue reading

Posted in News |

Deal on Fire! The Last Blood | Blu-ray | Only $19.99 – Expires soon!

The Last Blood | Blu-ray (88 Films)

The Last Blood | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for The Last Blood (aka Hard Boiled II), a 1991 Hong Kong actioner directed by Wong Jing (Return to a Better Tomorrow) that stars Andy Lau (Saving Mr. Wu) and Alan Tam (Armour of God).

The Last Blood is definitely one to watch for anyone who looks back fondly at the late 80’s, early 90’s heyday of Hong Kong action cinema. Wong Jing’s ill-advised humor gets in the way, the supporting characters grate at times, and there may be a slow patch or two, but when Jing shuts up and lets action director Blackie Ko take the reigns, the movie kicks into overdrive and delivers in a big way. This is action movie junkfood of the highest caliber.

Andy Lau is out Continue reading

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Glue, broken glass and… steel? Details for Lionsgate’s 4K Ultra HD SteelBook for Van Damme’s 1989 classic ‘Kickboxer’

On December 3, 2024, Lionsgate is releasing a 3-Disc SteelBook for Kickboxer on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray, which will also include the rarely-seen International version of film. Directed by Mark DiSalle (The Perfect Weapon) and David Worth (American Tigers), this 1989 cult martial arts hit further elevated the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme (Black Water), and was responsible of the sparking the kickboxing boom of the 80s and 90s.

In the film, kickboxing champ Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio) is crippled in the ring by the evil Tong Po (Michel Qissi). Eric’s younger brother, Kurt (Van Damme), seeks Continue reading

Posted in News, Top 4 Featured |

Take a look at this beauty! Radiance announces Blu-ray for Seijun Suzuki’s 1958 noir-thriller ‘Underworld Beauty’

Underworld Beauty | Blu-ray (Radiance)

Underworld Beauty | Blu-ray (Radiance)

On January 25, 2025, Radiance is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Underworld Beauty, a 1958 thriller from director Seijun Suzuki (Pistol Opera, Branded to Kill).

Retrieving the diamonds he stashed before his arrest, thief Miyamoto hopes to help his old partner Mihara, crippled during the heist. Their former boss, crime lord Oyane, offers to mediate with a foreign buyer, but secretly wants the stones for himself. The deal goes awry when gunmen appear on the scene. Mihara swallows the diamonds but dies in the chase, leaving a valuable corpse in the police morgue. Miyamoto forms an uneasy alliance with Mihara’s wildcat sister Akiko to keep the gems away from gangsters, cops and even Akiko’s greedy boyfriend.

This wildly inventive Continue reading

Posted in News, Top 4 Featured |

Punishment is coming in December! Capelight Pictures is bringing Don Lee’s ‘The Roundup: Punishment’ to Blu-ray

The Roundup: Punishment | Blu-ray (Capelight)

The Roundup: Punishment | Blu-ray (Capelight)

On December 10, 2024, Capelight Pictures is releasing the Blu-ray for The Roundup: Punishment (read our review), the fourth film in The Round Up franchise that started with 2017’s The Outlaws, 2022’s The Roundup and 2023’s The Roundup: No Way Out.

Directed by Heo Myung-Haeng (Badland Hunters), The Roundup: Punishment stars Don Lee (Unstoppable), Park Ji-Hwan (The Roundup: No Way Out), Lee Beom-Soo (The Roundup: No Way Out) and Lee Ji-Hoon (The Roundup: No Way Out) with the new cast additions Kim Moo-Yul (Ballerina) and Lee Dong-Hwi (Broker).

While investigating the operators of a drug trafficking app, Detective Ma (Lee) and his team discover a link between a murder case in the Philippines Continue reading

Posted in News, Top 4 Featured |