Author Archives: JJ Bona

The Kung Fu Instructor | Blu-ray (88 Films)

RELEASE DATE: October 28, 2024 On October 28, 2024, 88 Films is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for The Kung Fu Instructor, a 1979 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Sun Chung (The Deadly Breaking Sword). In this bitterly divided town, there’s no middle ground; you’re either with one side or the other – cross the line and face dire consequences. One clan hires a kung fu master – … Continue reading

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Facets of Love | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Facets of Love | Blu-ray (88 Films)

RELEASE DATE: October 8, 2024 On October 8, 2024, 88 Films is releasing a Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Facets of Love, an erotic Shaw Brothers classic directed by Li Han-Hsiang (Hsi Shih Beauty of Beauties, The Enchanting Shadow, The Magnificent Concubine). The film stars Lily Ho Li-Li (14 Amazons), Yueh Hua (The Water Margin), Hu Chin (The Ghost Story), Teresa Ha Ping (Lucky Stars Go Places), Cheng Kang-Yeh (Daggers 8), … Continue reading

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Live or die, man!? 🐍 Netflix’ 6th season of the ‘Cobra Kai’ martial arts saga is now streaming!

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 15th 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 … Continue reading

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As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be in a ‘Shanghai Triad’: Blu-ray re-release arriving this month

Shanghai Triad | Blu-ray (Film Movement)

On July 30, 2024, Film Movement is re-releasing the remastered Blu-ray for Shanghai Triad, a 1995 thriller directed by Zhang Yimou (Hero, The Great Wall, Shadow). The film stars Gong Li (2046), Li Baotian (The Wanderer and the Swan), Li Xuejian (Monk Comes Down The Mountain) and Sun Chun (New Police Story). When teenager Shuisheng (Wang Xiaoxiao Cuihua) arrives to Shanghai from the country, he is brought by his uncle … Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning | Only $9 – Expires soon!

"Universial Soldier" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for John Hyams’ Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (read our review), starring Jean-Claude Van Damme (Cyborg), Scott Adkins (Hard Target 2), Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski (Universal Soldier: Regeneration) and Dolph Lundgren (Skin Trade). Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning also features top notch action choreography by Larnell Stovall (The Raid 2, Falcon Rising, Kickboxer: Vengeance). In Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, John (Adkins) wakes … Continue reading

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Atten-TION!!! Dante Lam’s follow up to ‘Operation Mekong’ and ‘Operation Red Sea’ explodes onto screens in 2025

"Operation Leviathan" Theatrical Poster

Director Dante Lam (Beast Cops, The Rescue) has been reliably turning out hard-hitting films that have helped expand the scope of the action/thriller genre in Hong Kong and his next film, Operation Leviathan – the follow up to 2016’s Operation Mekong and 2018’s Operation Red Sea – will continue the tradition. The film stars Xuan Huang (Extraordinary Mission), Yosh Yu (Born to Fly), Zhang Hanyu (Manhunt), Karry Wang (The Great … Continue reading

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In the mood for Blood ‘n Cripps? Blu-ray for the 1979 cult Kung Fu oddity ‘Crippled Masters’ now available!

Now shipping from Goodie Emporium is Film Masters’ Special Edition Blu-ray (Region A) for The Crippled Masters (not to be confused with 1978’s Crippled Avengers), a 1979 martial arts/exploitation film from director Joe Law (The Lost Secrets of Kung Fu). The Crippled Masters features two genuinely handicapped martial artists: Shun Chung-Chuen (Two Crippled Heroes) and Thomas Hong

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Demon Pond | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Criterion)

Demon Pond | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: October 15, 2024 On October 15, 2024, Criterion is releasing 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray for Demon Pond, a 1979 film from  Japanese New Wave renegade Masahiro Shinoda (Ballad of Orin), who transforms a classic Kabuki tale with his own extravagant visual style in this dimension-shattering folk-horror fantasia. When a lone traveler (Tsutomu Yamazaki) stumbles upon a remote, drought-stricken village, he finds himself engulfed in a whirlpool of … Continue reading

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3 Movie Tropes That Keep Us Coming Back For More

When you watch a narrative unfold on the screen, you’re going to see some recurring tropes in action. It’s a fact of fiction – tropes make stories and stories need to use tropes to create tension, drama, and (hopefully) a satisfying ending! And sure, some tropes are overplayed and downright boring by now, but some are fun and enjoyable and keep us coming back for more. Indeed, we’ve listed three … Continue reading

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A train ride John Wick wouldn’t want to Raid! Peak at the 4K Ultra HD SteelBook for the Hindi-language actioner ‘Kill’

Lionsgate continues to pump out John Wick-like/The Raid-esque product with Kill, a Hindi-language martial arts actioner from director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat (Hurdang) that’s headlined by Lakshya (Haseena). According to Korean Film Expert Paul Bramhall, some of the film’s action was choreographed by Oh Se-young, whose notable work includes Bollywood films such as Tiger 3 and War, as well as stunts for Snowpiercer and War of the Arrows. When army commando … Continue reading

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Daiei Gothic: Japanese Ghost Stories | Blu-ray (Radiance)

RELEASE DATE: October 28, 2024 On October 28, 2024, Radiance Films is releasing the 3-Film Blu-ray (Region A/B) set for Daiei Gothic – Japanese Ghost Stories, which includes 1959’s The Ghost of Yotsuya, 1968’s The Snow Woman, and 1968’s The Bride from Hades. A collection of three of Japan’s most famous ghost stories that have haunted people for centuries. Kenji Misumi (Lone Wolf and Cub) directs The Ghost of Yotsuya, in … Continue reading

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Avenging Force | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

Avenging Force | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

RELEASE DATE: September 10, 2024 On September 10, 2024, Kino Lorber will be re-releasing the Blu-ray for Avenging Force (aka Night Hunter), a 1986 Cannon Films’ actioner directed by Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja) and starring Michael Dudikoff (American Ninja). Dudikoff portrays Matt Hunter  – a character previously portrayed by Chuck Norris in 1985’s Invasion U.S.A. – an ex-secret service agent trying to protect his best friend from a … Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Maximum Conviction | Blu-ray | Only $11.48 – Expires soon!

Maximum Conviction | Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Maximum Conviction, a 2012 thriller from action director Keoni Waxman (Contract to Kill, End of a Gun) When former black ops operative Steele (Steven Seagal, Above the Law) and Manning (Steve Austin, Tactical Force) are assigned to decommission an old prison, they must oversee the arrival of two mysterious female prisoners. Before long, an elite force of mercenaries assault the prison in … Continue reading

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Uncut Cat III Donnie Yen flick on Blu-ray? ‘Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead’ with Ken Lo and Sibelle Hu now available!

Now shipping from Goodie Emporium is 88 Films’ Blu-ray (All Region) for The Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead, a 1991 action fantasy directed by Tony Lou Chun-Ku (Killer Angels, Holy Flame of the Martial World) that stars Donnie Yen (Raging Fire, Ip Man 4: The Finale, Big Brother). Professor Shiang’s female students are chewed apart by the moon monster. At first, Shiang is a police suspect, but as the … Continue reading

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They call him Bruce! ‘Revenger’ star Bruce Khan returns in martial arts prison flick ‘Purgatory: Zone of Murderers’

"Purgatory: Zone of Murderers" Theatrical Poster

Looking to see a new martial arts classic as much as you’re looking to win some money off BetWinner CI? Martial artist, actor and stuntman, Bruce Khan – who is perhaps best known for starring in 2018’s Revenger and co-starring in 2022’s The Killer – is currently prepping Purgatory: Zone of Murderers, an upcoming actioner he’s co-directing along with Jonathan Hyun Myoung Lee. As Khan did with Revenger, he’s also … Continue reading

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