Newest Comments
Nancy Lo on She’s back and sassier than ever in 4K! Korean favorite ‘My Sassy Girl’ hits U.S. theaters with a gorgeous new restorationPlease come to Denver!!!!!!
Tokyo Shock Days on ‘The Raid’ vs. ‘Versus’ star! Iko Uwais to take on Tak Sakaguchi in the martial arts thriller ‘Pendekar: Warrior’I can’t enough of both these legends. I just wish this was done 5-10 years ag…
Paul Bramhall on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearProbably an important lesson to never make a film out of spite. After Kar-Leu…
Laurine White on ‘The Raid’ vs. ‘Versus’ star! Iko Uwais to take on Tak Sakaguchi in the martial arts thriller ‘Pendekar: Warrior’I found a teaser on Youtube from 5 months ago, but one comment labelled it "A…
Ska Martes on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearSpeaking of Lau Kar Leung and regret.....has anyone watched Drunken Master 3?…
Lamont Cranston on A FURIOUS New Chinese Poster debuts for Jason Statham’s ‘Mutiny’ from ‘Blood Father’ director Jean-François RichetI don't know about you folk, but the extremity of brutal violence and explosi…
Paul Bramhall on Exit 8 (2025) ReviewI have to admit, the coughing kind of got to me too. :-) By the last splutter…
Z Ravas on Exit 8 (2025) ReviewIt's not too often that I watch the movie adaptation of a video game that I h…
Ska Martes on The Furious (2026) ReviewI guess you can't blame the marketing team. "Best action movie since the Raid…
Ska Martes on The power of ghouls compels you! Eureka unleashes ‘Ghouls Gone Wild’ on Blu-ray starring Chow Yun-fat and Ricky HuiBest people to ask are on the bluray.com forums. They have people from the la…
Paul Bramhall on The Furious (2026) ReviewI finally got an opportunity to check out 'The Furious'! Did we ever think we…
Ed on The power of ghouls compels you! Eureka unleashes ‘Ghouls Gone Wild’ on Blu-ray starring Chow Yun-fat and Ricky HuiWoah, "Magic of Spell" is a HUGE get! Does anyone know if a restoration of th…
Jim on Universal Soldier (1971) ReviewChump change, not “chunk” change, as in one would have to be a chump to work…
Brenden Jackson on Iceman: The Time Traveler (2018) ReviewLOL I like how you started your comment there, I couldn't stop laughing for a…
Ska Martes on Exit 8 (2025) ReviewI feel the same way about this movie that I do about Backrooms. It is effecti…
Karl Maka on Aces Go Places | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Shout)Karl Maka is one of the all time greats. Sounds your mother made a Typo when…
squeesh on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearThat's messed up, given that LKL was one of Shaw's top directors. Sucks to he…
ANN on ‘The Raid’ vs. ‘Versus’ star! Iko Uwais to take on Tak Sakaguchi in the martial arts thriller ‘Pendekar: Warrior’TIMUR WAS A SHAKEY CAMERA NIGHTMARE
Paul Bramhall on Exit 8 (2025) ReviewI haven't! However in this case there's nothing to get - endless looping trai…
Ska Martes on Exit 8 (2025) ReviewI assume you've also seen Backrooms. Is Exit 8 as frustrating as a movie goin…
Ska Martes on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearDid Jet refer to this journey back home as Lau's Long March? Be pretty funny…
Ska Martes on Meta madness! Eddie Peng joins Jason Statham in ‘Jason Statham Stole My Bike’ from ‘John Wick’ creator David LeitchWar of the worlds was released a year before Munich, which although not perfe…
Paul Bramhall on OPERATION KAZAKHSTAN! First look at Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4’ with his iconic Asian Hawk gearThis is second hand information from an introduction to 'Martial Arts of Shao…
JJ Bona on Meta madness! Eddie Peng joins Jason Statham in ‘Jason Statham Stole My Bike’ from ‘John Wick’ creator David LeitchLoved Munich. I do have to disagree with SS calling quits after it, because h…
Ska Martes on Meta madness! Eddie Peng joins Jason Statham in ‘Jason Statham Stole My Bike’ from ‘John Wick’ creator David LeitchI liked the first half of Sinners but when it decided to switch up genres lik…
-
Disclaimer: cityonfire.com does not own any of the photos contained in the blog. cityonfire.com was made merely to pay homage to these films, directors, talent, etc. and not for any profit or commercial reasons. No copyright infringement intended. The photos are copyrighted and courtesy by their respective owners.
“Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statue that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, education or personal use tops the balance in favor of fair use.”
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Two Champions of Shaolin (1980) Review
AKA: 2 Champions of Death Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Lo Meng, Chiang Sheng, Candy Wen, Lu Feng, Chin Siu Ho, Yeung Hung, Lam Chi Tai, Sun Chien, Chui Tai Ping, Yeung Jing Jing, Chan Hon Kwong, Chan Hung, Chan Shu Kei, Choi Kwok Keung, Ha Kwok Wing, Ha Kwok-Wing Running Time: 101 min. By Joe909 Back in Spring semester of 1994, my friends and I started up a weekly kung-fu … Continue reading
Five Deadly Venoms, The (1978) Review
AKA: 5 Venoms of Death Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Chiang Sheng, Sun Chien, Philip Kwok, Lo Meng, Lu Feng, Wai Pak, Dick Wei, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Suen Shu Pau, Ku Feng, Chan Hung Running Time: 96 min. By Joe909 I was lucky when I first saw Five Venoms: I’d never seen a Venoms movie, and so I was actually held in suspense throughout. I was also young, which helped. … Continue reading
Arahan (2004) Review
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Ryoo Seung-Bum, oon So-Yi, Ahn Sung-Ki, Jung Doo-Hong, Yun Ju-Sang, Kim Ji-Young, Kim Yeong-In, Baek Chan-Ki, Kwon Bum-Taek, Park Yoon-Bae Running Time: 114 min. By Alexander FINALLY. I’ve FINALLY seen a FUN Asian film. YAY! No live squids being eaten here. No rapes. No severed Achilles tendons. No punctured jugulars. No cannibal babies. Just a lot of comedy, some fantastic martial arts action, a virtuosic performance … Continue reading
Antarctic Journal (2005) Review
Director: Yim Pil-sung Producer: Cha Seung-Jae Cast: Song Gang-Ho, Yu Ji-Tae, Kim Gyeong-Ik, Park Hee-Sun, Yun Je-Mun, Choi Deok-Mun Running Time: 115 min. By Owlman I have to admit something here. I got suckered into buying Antarctic Journal from the selling line at YesAsia – “Suspense and danger lurk everywhere, even at the South Pole!” The premise of a team of explorers trekking through the Antarctic seemed very interesting at … Continue reading
Lady Snowblood: Blizzard from the Netherworld (1973) Review
AKA: Blood Snow, Shurayukihime Director: Toshiya Fujito Cast: Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon, Miyoko Akaza, Noboru Nakaya, Takeo Chii, Yoshiko Nakada, Kaoru Kashiwada, Akemi Negishi, Sanae Nakahara Running Time: 97 min. By Reefer It is unfortunate that Fugita Toshiya’s Lady Snowblood might be remembered most only for it serving as the main source material for Quentin Tarantino’s 2003 hit and Asian cinema tribute Kill Bill. I guess I should … Continue reading
Failan (2001) Review
Director: Song Hae-Seong Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Cecilia Cheung Pak-Chi, Kong Hyung-Jin, Jeong Dae-Hun, Son Byung-Ho, Hae-gon Kim, Ji Dae-Han, Kim Soo-Hyun, Kim Ji-Yeong Running Time: 116 min. By Klotera This is a very unique film. At a very general level, one would call it a drama. But, it is more like a character based gangster film put together with a romance film that has no romance. Yes, it sounds strange, … Continue reading
Green Fish (2001) Review
Director: Lee Chang-Dong Writer: Oh Seung-Wuk Cast: Han Seok-Kyu, Shim Hye-Jin, Moon Seong-Keun, Myeong Kye-Nam, Kim Yong-Man, Lee Ho-Seong, Han Seon-Kyu, Oh Ji-Hye, Sohn Young-Sun Running Time: 111 min. By Equinox21 The story of a guy who can’t find a job so he ends up involved in gangs is nothing new, but don’t let that dissuade you from seeing this one. There is plenty to keep your interest, even if … Continue reading
Exclusive: Interview with Loren Avedon
If you were in contact with martial arts films in the early 90’s, you probably know Loren Avedon. While Van Damme and Seagal were breaking box office records on the big screens, Loren was nearly breaking every bone in his body delivering “Hong Kong-style” action films to our local video stores. Starring in classics such as Corey Yuen’s “No Retreat No Surrender II” and Lucas Lo’s “King of the Kickboxers,” … Continue reading
Returner | aka The Returner (2002) Review
Director: Takashi Yamazaki Producer: Toru Horibe Cast: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Ann Suzuki, Kirin Kiki, Goro Kishitani, Yukiko Okamoto, Mitsuru Murata Running Time: 117 min. By Equinox21 Say you are a Japanese film-maker, how do you make an extremely cool sci-fi action movie? Here’s the recipe; start with an alien invasion (ala ID4), sprinkle in a healthy dose of Terminator (humanity’s last hope is to send someone back in time to stop … Continue reading
Casshern (2004) Review
Director: Kazuaki Kiriya Cast: Yusuke Iseya, Kumiko Aso, Akira Terao, Kanako Higuchi, Fumiyo Kohinata, Hiroyuki Miyasako, Jun Kaname, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Mitsuhiro Oikawa, Susumu Terajima, Hideji Otaki, Tatsuya Mihashi, Toshiaki Karasawa Running Time: 140 min. By Ningen A scientist can’t get funding for artificial organs which he hopes to use to save his ailing wife. He gives in to an offer from a general to fund his project, but the general’s … Continue reading
Zatoichi | aka The Blind Swordsman Zatoichi (2003) Review
Director: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Yui Natsukawa, Michiyo Ookusu, Gadarukanaru Taka, Yuuko Daike, Daigor Tachibana, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura Running Time: 116 min. By Equinox21 I’m very pleased to say that Zatoichi did not let me down. I was afraid that not having any previous knowledge about the franchise and seeing a Kitano movie that didn’t involve yakuza vs. cops would make it a less enjoyable experience … Continue reading
Getting Any? (1995) Review
Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Producer: Masayuki Mori, Hisao Nabeshima, Takio Yoshida Cast: Moeko Ezawa, Hakuryu, Tokie Hidari, Yojin Hino, Minoru Iizuka, Takeshi Kitano, Akiji Kobayashi, Yuuji Minakata, Masumi Okada, Ren Osugi, Shintaro Takado, Susumu Terajima, Kanji Tsuda, Yuurei Yanagi, Tetsuya Yuuki Running Time: 105 Min. By Mairosu It’s often said that the western world doesn’t know real Beat Takeshi. To us, the mention of his name is usually … Continue reading
Fireworks | aka Hana-Bi (1997) Review
Director: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Kayoko Kishimoto, Ren Osugi, Susumu Terajima, Tetsu Watanabe, Hakuryu, Yasuei Yakushiji, Taro Istumi, Kenichi Yajima, Makoto Ashikaw Running Time: 103 min. By Equinox21 Hana-bi was the first Takeshi Kitano film (directed) I’d seen. I really wish I’d waited until I’d seen some of his others first, because none of the others even compare. As much as I love all his films, Hana-bi was heads … Continue reading
Sonatine (1993) Review
Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Aya Kikumai, Tetsu Watanabe, Masanobu Katsumura, Susumu Terajima, Ren Ohsugi, Eiji Minakata, Rome Kanda, Houka Kinoshita Running Time: 90 min. By Len One word: Genius. I could write 400 words on how much I love this film and it still wouldn’t be enough. To me, this represents all that is good in Kitano’s cinema. Kitano plays Murakawa, a respected leader of … Continue reading
Violent Cop (1989) Review
Director: Takeshi Kitano Writer: Takeshi Kitano Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Maiko Kawakami, Makoto Ashikawa, Shiro Sano, Shigeru Hiraizumi, Mikiko Otonashi, Hakuryu, Ittoku Kishibe, Ken Yoshizawa, Hiroyuki Katsube, Noboru Hamada, Yuuki Kawai, Ritsuko Amano, Taro Ishida, Katsuki Muramatsu Running Time: 103 min. By Len Flawed but promising would be the two adjectives I’d use to describe Takeshi Kitano’s directing debut. While watching this film, some characteristics that we have gotten used to … Continue reading





















1 Comment