Bursting Point (2023) Review

Posted on May 6, 2024 by Paul Bramhall
"Bursting Point" Theatrical Poster

“Bursting Point” Theatrical Poster

Director: Calvin Tong
Co-director: Dante Lam
Cast: Nick Cheung Ka-Fai, William Chan Wai-Ting, Isabella Leung Lok-Sze, Shaun Tam Chun-Yin, Philip Keung Hiu-Man, Chrissie Chau Sau-Na
Running Time: 139 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Since helming 2016’s Operation Mekong Dante Lam has become China’s go-to man for bombastic big budget actioners that espouse the virtues of the country’s various military divisions, with the army, navy (2018’s Operation Red Sea) and Search & Rescue (2020’s The Rescue) all getting their moment in the spotlight. Next out of the ranks is Operation Leviathan, expected to hit screens in 2025, but before that Lam was given a brief respite to return to the kind of movie that put him on the map back in the late 00’s – the gritty Hong Kong crime thriller. In 2023 he released Bursting Point, which marked the first time for him to return to the streets of Hong Kong since 2014’s That Demon Within almost 10 years prior.

Lam made his debut as a director with 1997’s Option Zero and became one of Hong Kong’s most consistent filmmakers over the next 10 years, but it was 2008’s Beast Stalker that really made audiences sit up and take notice. A taut thriller with a cast against type Nick Cheung as a relentless villain, the pairing of Lam and Cheung (who first worked together on 2001’s Runaway) resulted in a string of hits during the first half of the 2010’s, encompassing The Stool Pigeon, Unbeatable, and That Demon Within. Bursting Point reunites the director and star, this time with Lam co-directing alongside first timer Calvin Tong, and the title could just as well be a reference Continue reading →

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

Do you want to live forever? Then we have an ‘Immortal Story’ for you that releases from 88 Films in July

Posted on May 3, 2024 by JJ Bona
"Immortal Story" Theatrical Poster

“Immortal Story” Theatrical Poster

On July 15, 2024, 88 Films is releasing the Blu-ray for Immortal Story, a 1986 Hong Kong drama directed by Yonfan (Lost Romance) that stars Sylvia Chang (Slaughter in San Francisco), Yiu Wai (Naked Killer) and Tsurumi Shingo (Dead or Alive).

Immortal Story’s plot centers around a chanteuse and her Japanese beau who met when they were young. Many years later, she became a fallen woman and he a drug addict.

The film also stars Paul Chun Pui (Dance of Death), Fan Siu Wong (VR Fighter) and Teddy Lin Wai Kin (Fulltime Killer).

This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Continue reading →

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Bong Joon-Ho’s 2013 masterpiece thriller ‘Memories of Murder’ gets the 4K Ultra HD from UK label Curzon Films

Posted on May 3, 2024 by JJ Bona
Memories of Murder | 4K Ultra HD (Curzon Film)

Memories of Murder | 4K Ultra HD (Curzon Film)

On, UK label Curzon Film’s is releasing a 4K Ultra HD for Memories of Murder, a 2003 thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer) that stars Song Kang Ho (The Drug King) and Kim Sang Kyung (Tale of Cinema).

Official details:

Curzon Film is proud to present this new 4K Ultra-HD of Memories of Murder, from triple Academy Award-winning director, Bong Joon ho.

Inspired by true events. In 1986 Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, after two women are found raped and murdered, Seoul detective Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang Kyung) is brought in to help local detective Park Doo-man (Song Kang Ho) with Continue reading →

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88 Films will release a Blu-ray for ‘An Autumn’s Tale’ this summer starring Chow Yun-fat and Cherie Chung

Posted on May 3, 2024 by JJ Bona
"An Autumn's Tale" Theatrical Poster

“An Autumn’s Tale” Theatrical Poster

On July 15, 2024, 88 Films is releasing a Blu-ray for An Autumn’s Tale, a 1987 Hong Kong classic from director Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting (City of Glass) starring Chow Yun-fat (The Head Hunter) and Cherie Chung (Walk on Fire).

Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting directed this light hearted, simplistic love story filmed on location in New York City. For the film, Chow Yun-fat earned a best actor nomination for his portrayal of Figgy, a fun loving ex-sailor assigned to show his distant cousin (Chung) the finer life of New York. Beautiful cinematography, finely crafted performances by the leads, and a simple, yet touching screenplay help rank this low budget production as one of the finest Hong Kong films of the 1980’s.

This title will Continue reading →

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Now the real pain begins, Danny-boy! Watch the Teaser Trailer for Netflix’ 6th season for the ‘Cobra Kai’ martial arts saga

Posted on May 2, 2024 by JJ Bona
“Cobra Kai” Season 6 Poster

“Cobra Kai” Season 6 Poster

Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg – all writers, producers, and directors of Cobra Kai – are prepping the final 6th Season of the Cobra Kai saga, which will stream on Netflix.

The upcoming season will be a 3-part, 15-episode event that starts July 18th, then November 28th and ends in 2025 on a soon-to-be-announced date.

Cobra Kai marked the return of Ralph Macchio, William Zabka and Martin Kove playing their respective roles from the highly successful motion picture franchise (the first two were directed by legendary Rocky helmer, John G. Avildsen) that spawned three sequels, a remake, as well as an upcoming 2nd remake.

Later seasons of Cobra Kai saw the return of Karate Kid’s Elisabeth Continue reading →

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A Blu-ray creation for ‘Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms’ arrives from heaven on May 28 from Well Go USA

Posted on May 2, 2024 by JJ Bona
Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

On May 28, 2024, Well Go USA is releasing the Blu-ray for Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (read our review). This fantasy-actioner is directed by Wu Ershan, who is perhaps best known for 2012’s Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection and 2015’s Mojin: The Lost Legend.

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms stars Kris Phillips (Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection), Li Xuejian (The Wandering Earth II), Huang Bo (Journey to the West), Yu Shi (Birth of the Dragon), Chen Muchi (Guardians of the Lands), Kuo Chen (Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon) and Yuan Quan (Call of Heroes).

After conspiring with a conniving fox demon to kill the emperor and seize power, King Zhou reigns as a tyrant so brutal that he Continue reading →

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River (2023) Review

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Paul Bramhall
"River" Theatrical Poster

“River” Theatrical Poster

Director: Junta Yamaguchi
Cast: Riko Fujitani, Yuki Torigoe, Yoshimasa Kondo, Haruki Nakagawa, Masahi Suwa
Running Time: 86 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Making a follow-up to a debut that relied heavily on a gimmick is always a tricky proposition, as several directors have found out over the years. In Japan the most obvious example is Shinichiro Ueda, who after his almost flawless debut with 2017’s  One Cut of the Dead has struggled to replicate the winning formula with subsequent efforts, and in 2023 director Junta Yamaguchi released his sophomore feature River. Coming 3 years after Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes, Yamaguchi’s debut centered around a café owner realising the monitor in his room upstairs is capable of showing 2 minutes into the future, the inconsequence of which is utilised to amusing effect. In my review I’d mentioned how it uses the time travel plot device in a “more minutiae way than any of its predecessors (and perhaps anything that’ll come after it)”.

Well, with River I’ve already being proved wrong, as rather than try something completely new, Yamaguchi has returned to the concept of 2-minute time travel for his sophomore feature. He’s also stuck with Japan’s apparent time travel specialist script writer, Makoto Ueda, who penned Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes and 2005’s Summertime Machine Blues (which received a semi-sequel in 2022 in the form of the anime limited series Tatami Time Machine Blues). However with River it’s not just a couple of rooms experiencing the time glitch, but a whole town. To his credit, Yamaguchi isn’t repeating (pun intended) himself with his sophomore feature, but rather Continue reading →

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

Cynthia Rothrock, Stephen Chow, Andy Lau and Simon Yam: Here’s what’s streaming on Hi-YAH for the month of May!

Posted on May 2, 2024 by JJ Bona

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel has just announced their New Release line up for the month of May, which includes a New title added to Hi-YAH! every Friday.

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, Top 4 Featured |

I smell sex and… 88 Films to release Blu-ray for Michael Mak’s 1991 sexy cult Hong Kong comedy ‘Sex and Zen’

Posted on May 1, 2024 by JJ Bona
"Sex and Zen" Theatrical Poster

“Sex and Zen” Theatrical Poster

On July 29, 2024, 88 Films will be releasing the Blu-ray for Sex and Zen, a 1991 cult comedy Hong Kong film from director Michael Mak Tong Kit (Long Arm of the Law 2) that stars Lawrence Ng Kai Wah (To Be Number One) and Amy Yip Chi May (Miracles).

“Banned for 400 years!” screamed the original poster and you can see why as this erotic comedy is brilliantly bizarre, pretty sleazy and downright weird. Also known as The Carnal Prayer Mat’s Stash of Illicit Love and slightly based on the seventeenth century novel The Carnel Prayer Mat, we follow a desperate man who is convinced by his mentor that he needs to be “well equipped” to pleasure his wife, so he has a horses appendage transplanted onto him! From here on in it gets really strange! A box-office hit in Hong Kong, this Category III movie is an erotic experience like no other and presented Continue reading →

Posted in News, Top 4 Featured |

Deal on Fire! The Corrupter | Blu-ray | Only $12.18 – Expires soon!

Posted on May 1, 2024 by JJ Bona
The Corrupter | Blu-ray (Warner)

The Corrupter | Blu-ray (Warner)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for The Corrupter, a 1999 action/thriller directed by James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross, At Close Range).

The Corrupter stars Hong Kong screen legend Chow Yun-fat (Project Gutenberg, The Killer), Mark Wahlberg (The Departed, Mile 22, The Big Hit), Ric Young (Kiss of the Dragon), Jon Kit Lee (Romeo Must Die), Brian Cox (Braveheart) and Byron Mann (Double Edge, The Man with the Iron Fists).

Nick Chen (Chow Yun-Fat) is not your average New York cop. Working in Chinatown has its multifarious cultural nuances and its fair share of ubiquitous enticement, both of which are reflected in detective Chen’s weary face. He had to get into bed with the highest Continue reading →

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

It’s ON! Hong Kong stars Andy On and Waise Lee collide in ‘Blind War’ arriving on Blu-ray in June from Well Go USA

Posted on April 30, 2024 by JJ Bona
Blind War | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Blind War | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

On June 11, 2024, Well Go USA will be releasing the Blu-ray and DVD for Blind War (read our review), a 2022 martial arts actioner headlined by Hong Kong action stars Andy On (Kung Fu League, Undercover Punch and Gun) and Waise Lee (To Be Number One, The Big Heat).

Directed by Suiqiang Huo (The Nine Talisman Tower), Blind War tells the story of the former SWAT captain Dong Gu, permanently injured during a failed mission for which he took responsibility. After gradually getting out of the haze, his old enemy reappeared and threatens his daughter.

The film also stars Jane Wu (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) and Vincent Matile (The Eight Hundred).

If you haven’t already, don’t Continue reading →

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Who’s ready to rock? Rothrock, that is! ‘China O’Brien’ Parts 1 and 2 now available on 4K UHD and Blu-ray from Eureka

Posted on April 30, 2024 by JJ Bona
China O’Brien 1 & 2 | 4K UHD (Eureka)

China O’Brien 1 & 2 | 4K UHD (Eureka)

Now available from Goodie Emporium is Eureka’s 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray (Region B) for 1990’s China O’Brien and 1991’s China O’Brien, two Golden Harvest cult martial arts classics starring the one, the only Cynthia Rothrock (Manhattan Chase, Blonde Fury).

The inimitable martial arts superstar Cynthia Rothrock stars in two of the most gloriously entertaining films of her career!

In China O’Brien, city cop and formidable martial artist Lori “China” O’Brien (Rothrock) is forced to resign from the force and return home to a small Utah town after her involvement in an accidental death. But upon arrival in Beaver Creek, she finds that her lawman father – Sheriff John O’Brien (David Blackwell) – is desperately trying to bring down local crime boss Edwin Continue reading →

Posted in News, Top 4 Featured |

Is Hi-YAH working exclusively with ‘The Mob’? Watch the Trailer for this upcoming martial arts thriller streaming in May

Posted on April 29, 2024 by JJ Bona
"The Mob" Teaser Poster

“The Mob” Teaser Poster

Here’s an offer you can’t refuse… On May 10, 2024, the gritty gangster actioner The Mob will arrive exclusively on the martial arts streaming service Hi-YAH! This fast-paced thriller is directed by Zhao Cong (Rise of the Jurassic).

After the murder of its high-profile patriarch, the Zhou family seeks revenge against a ruthless rival clan moving to expand its own territory, sparking a brutal conflict between the warring families that throws Shanghai into chaos.

The Mob stars Xu Fangzhou (All These Years), Zhang Junran (Trace), Yan Jiaying (Tiger Killer), Chen Junxi (Annals of Longevity), Guan Xiaotian (Switch), and Zhang Zhiwei (The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake)

If you want to Continue reading →

Posted in News |

Hungry for murder? Watch the Trailer for ‘Nothing Can’t Be Undone By A Hot Pot’ from ‘Railroad Tigers’ director

Posted on April 29, 2024 by JJ Bona
"Nothing Can't Be Undone By A Hot Pot" Theatrical Poster

“Nothing Can’t Be Undone By A Hot Pot” Theatrical Poster

Ding Sheng – the acclaimed director/writer of Little Big Soldier, Police Story 2013, Railroad Tigers, Saving Mr. Wu and A Better Tomorrow 2018 – will soon be serving Nothing Can’t Be Undone By A Hot Pot, an action comedy that will be released in the U.S. by China Lion in May.

Nothing Can’t Be Undone By A Hot Pot features an ensemble cast that includes Yang Mi (A Writer’s Odyssey), Yu Qian (The Old Dog), Tian Yu (1921), Ailei Yu (The Captain) and Li Jiu Xiao (The Sacrifice).

In a theater’s storage room, four individuals divide their spoils, along the way becoming unexpectedly entangled in a murder. When the individuals’ unique truths boil to the surface, a revelation in the face of deceit is uncovered. The fate of man with God watching prove no match for human calculations.

Nothing Can’t Be Undone Continue reading →

Posted in News |

The Roundup: Punishment (2024) Review

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Paul Bramhall
“The Roundup: Punishment” Teaser Poster

“The Roundup: Punishment” Teaser Poster

Director: Heo Myung-haeng
Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Kim Moo-Yul, Lee Dong-Hwi, Park Ji-Hwan, Lee Beom-Soo, Kim Min-Jae, Lee Ji-Hoon, Lee Joo-Bin, Park Bo-kyung, Derek Chouinard
Running Time: 109 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

In a world where it’s perfectly normal to wait a couple of years for a sequel to land, The Roundup rebranded follow-ups to 2017’s The Outlaws have looked to buck the trend. Audiences only had to wait 11 months between the release of 2022’s The Roundup and 2023’s The Roundup: No Way Out, and in my review for the latter I’d expressed that “I hope we’ll get a little more breathing space before the next round.” Such hopes were futile though, as barely 11 months later the 4th instalment has already hit the screens in the form of The Roundup: Punishment, which sees everyone’s favourite burly bruiser Ma Dong-seok return to the role he was born to play.

The directorial reigns have been handed over to Heo Myeong-haeng for the 4th outing (replacing Lee Sang-yong who directed both of the previous entries), a veteran stuntman and action director who made his directorial debut earlier in the same year with the Concrete Utopia spin-off Badland Hunters. His debut also featured Ma Dong-seok as the lead, with the pairs working relationship going back as far as 2014’s Kundo: Age of the Rampant, after which they’d go on to collaborate on over 10 productions in the capacity of action director and actor. While Badland Hunters was essentially a straight-to-streaming taster for Myeong-haeng’s talents Continue reading →

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