Author Archives: JJ Bona

Bruceploitation, move over! Billy Blanks and Jalal Merhi return in ‘The Circuit 4’ also starring David ‘Bolo Jr’ Yeung

Cult filmmaker/martial arts star Jalal Merhi (Expect No Mercy) brings us back to the straight-to-video/DVD era with Film One Media’s The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter, a by-name/thematic sequel to his The Circuit film series (2002-2006) that starred Olivier Gruner (Angel Town), and highlighted other MA genre stars such as Loren Avedon (Manhattan Chase), James Lew (Ninja Turf) and Lorenzo Lamas (Final Impact). For this film, Merhi stays behind the camera … Continue reading

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Enter the Clones of Bruce | Blu-ray (Severin)

RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2024 On June 25, 2024, Severin Films will be releasing the Blu-ray for the long-awaited Bruceploitation documentary Enter the Clones of Bruce. Within hours of his 1974 funeral, Hong Kong movie studios began to produce hundreds of unauthorized biopics, spin-offs and rip-offs starring a competing roster of Bruce Lee lookalikes. Over the next decade, ‘Bruceploitation’ would become a staple of global cinema. Director David Gregory – … Continue reading

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The Game of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection Vol 1 | Blu-ray (Severin)

RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2024 On June 25, 2024, Severin Films will be releasing The Game of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection Volume 1, which will be available in a web-store Limited Edition bundle. Also included will be the Enter the Clones of Bruce Lee documentary, and Bruce Le’s super-rare The Big Boss Part II. Read on for the all the official details! Hours after Bruce Lee’s death, Bruceploitation was born. And … Continue reading

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There will be blood! ‘The Bounty Hunter Trilogy’ starring ‘Lone Wolf and Cub’ star Tomisaburo Wakayama now available

Now available is Radiance Films’ release for The Bounty Hunter Trilogy collection on Blu-ray (Region A/B), which includes 1969’s Killer’s Mission and The Fort of Death, as well as 1972’s Eight Men to Kill. Before he made his name in Lone Wolf and Cub Tomisaburo Wakayama starred in this triptych of violent samurai spectacles that draw on James Bond and Spaghetti Westerns for inspiration yet feature the familiar style and

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I feel the need… the need… for Xi Jinping! ‘Top Gun’-style actioner ‘Born to Fly’ lands on Blu-ray next week

"Born to Fly" Theatrical Poster

On March 26, 2024, Well Go USA is releasing the Blu-ray for Born to Fly. This Top Gun-style Chinese production is directed by Liu Xiaoshi and stars Wang Yibo (Hidden Blade). After an unforeseen threat arises mid-air, a talented young air force test pilot (Wang Yibo) is forced to test not only the capabilities of his top-secret aircraft, but also his own physical and psychological limits, in order to survive. … Continue reading

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Red Peony Gambler 1 – 3 | Blu-ray (Eureka)

Red Peony Gambler 1 – 3 | Blu-ray (Eureka)

RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2024 On June 17, 2024, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) set for the Red Peony Gambler series, which will include 1968’s Red Peony Gambler and Red Peony Gambler 2: Gambler’s Obligation, as well as Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game. Originally released between 1968 and 1972, the Red Peony Gambler series is a cornerstone of the ninkyo eiga genre and a clear influence on such cult … Continue reading

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Look, up in the sky! It’s ‘The Raid’. It’s ‘John Wick’. It’s the latest ‘Monkey Man’ Trailer directed by and starring Dev Patel

John Wick, move over! On April 5, 2024, Universal is releasing Dev Patel’s (Slumdog Millionaire) martial arts-infused action thriller, Monkey Man (read our review), a Jordan Peele-produced film that Patel not only directs, but stars in. In the film, a recently released ex-felon (Patel) living in India struggles to adjust to a world of corporate greed and eroding spiritual values. Monkey Man also stars Sharlto Copley (Hardcore Henry), Pitobash Vipin … Continue reading

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Bundle up! Donnie Yen’s snow-filled thriller ‘Polar Rescue’ arrives on Blu-ray next week

On March 26, 2024, Well Go USA will be releasing the Blu-ray for Polar Rescue (read our review), a snow-filled thriller from director Law Chi Leung (The Bullet Vanishes) and martial arts superstar Donnie Yen (Raging Fire, Ip Man 4: The Finale, Big Brother). The upcoming film also stars stars Cecilia Han (The Golden Doll) and Jia Bing (The Eleventh Chapter) Comeback Home is being described as “a father-and-son rescue drama.” Probably … Continue reading

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The World of Kanako | Blu-ray & DVD (Drafthouse Films)

The World of Kanako | Blu-ray & DVD (Drafthouse Films)

RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2024 On July 9, 2024, Drafthouse Films is releasing a new Blu-ray for Tetsuya Nakashima’s 2014 uncompromising thriller, The World of Kanako (read our review). The World of Kanako is a nonstop visual and emotional assault to the senses as it follows ex-detective Akikazu on the hunt for his daughter, Kanako. What he discovers is a web of depravity surrounding both Kanako and himself. As he … Continue reading

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Revenge of the Ninja | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

Revenge of the Ninja | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)

RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2024 On May 21, 2024, Kino Lorber is releasing an new Blu-ray for Revenge the Ninja, a 1983 martial arts actioner from director Sam Firstenberg (American Ninja). The Ninja are back! Brandishing swords and fists, leaping and kicking, wielding blow darts and explosives, they know a thousand ways to kill. Martial arts legend Sho Kosugi (9 Deaths of the Ninja, Rage of Honor) delivers a heart-pounding … Continue reading

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Jake Gyllenhaal does his best Jackie Chan in a full blown fight scene for Doug Liman’s remake for ‘Road House’

"Road House" Prime Poster

Director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Night Crawler) team up for Road House, a remake of Rowdy Herrington’s 1989 actioner of the same name, which starred Patrick Swayze. In the remake, an ex-UFC middleweight fighter (Gyllenhaal) ends up working at a rowdy bar in the Florida Keys where things are not as they seem. Road House also stars Daniela Melchior (Assassin Club, Billy Magnussen (No Time to … Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Replicant | Blu-ray | Only $9.25 – Expires soon!

"Replicant" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for 2001’s Replicant, directed by the late Ringo Lam (Sky on Fire, Wild City). Unable to catch a serial killer by conventional methods, a secret government agency and a police detective team up to find the killer (Van Damme) and stop him once and for all. Using DNA obtained from the killer, a clone (Van Damme) is created to help get inside the mind … Continue reading

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“Oh, you’ve Got To Be F***Ing Kidding” Watch the New Trailer for Netflix’ ‘Parasyte: The Grey’ from ‘Train to Busan’ helmer

"Parasyte: The Grey" Netflix Poster

On April 5, 2024, Netflix will stream Parasyte: The Grey, the latest from writer/director Yeon Sang Ho (Psychokinesis), the visionary filmmaker behind the 2016 hit Train to Busan and its 2020 follow up Peninsula. The upcoming series is based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s best-selling Japanese manga Parasyte (Kiseiju) and will star Jeon So-nee (Jo Pil-Ho: The Dawning Rage), Koo Kyo-hwan (Escape from Mogadishu), Lee Jung-hyun (Peninsula), Kwon Hae-Hyo (Tazza: One Eyed Jack) and … Continue reading

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Thor-ploitation? The action is on high gear in the New Trailer for George Miller’s ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’

"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" Teaser Poster

George Miller’s follow-up to the action packed, post-apocalyptic franchise is now in high gear with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (aka Furiosa), a direct prequel/spinoff to 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, that hits theaters in 2024. The film is headlined by Anya Taylor-Joy (Split), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Tom Burke (Mank). As the world fell, young Furiosa (Taylor-Joy) is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands … Continue reading

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The Last Kumite | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (MPI Home Video)

RELEASE DATE: June 11, 2024 On June 11, 2024, MPI Home Video is releasing a SteelBook for The Last Kumite on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray. The highly-anticipated actioner features cult martial arts icons Cynthia Rothrock (No Retreat, No Surrender 2), Kurt McKinney (No Retreat, No Surrender), Matthias Hues (Ultimate Justice), Michel Qissi (Kickboxer) and Billy Blanks (King of the Kickboxers). The Last Kumite centers around Mathis Landwehr (Lasko) who takes … Continue reading

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