Author Archives: JJ Bona

Find Yoji Yamada’s ‘The Hidden Blade’ on June 19th!

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Palisades Tartan on June 1st: Nominated for 12 Japanese Academy Awards, Yoji Yamada’s slow-burning, character driven samurai drama, The Hidden Blade, is being released for the first time on Blu-Ray in a special edition Blu-Ray/DVD Combo package. Based on a series of best-selling stories by Japan’s premier historical fiction writer, Shuhei Fujisawa, Yamada’s period study picks up right where his 2002 masterpiece, The … Continue reading

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The Sword Identity DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: August 14, 2012 Lionsgate presents the DVD for 2011’s The Sword Identity, starring Chang-Hui Yu. The film is written, directed and choreographed by Xu Hao Feng (the screenwriter of Wong Kar Wai’s upcoming flick, The Grandmasters). The Sword Identity is a quality film with action choreography that’s no-nonsense, realistic and wire-free. Check out the trailer.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

‘Drive’ director up for a ‘Killing Game’ with DiCaprio?

After Drive’s Nicolas Winding Refn wraps up his his Thai boxing flick, Only God Forgives, the director’s next project may be The Killing Game for DreamWorks, which is based on a graphic novel called Button Man by Judge Dredd creator John Wagner and Arthur Ranson. According to Empire, “It’s Red meets The Hunger Games!” The plot of The Killing Game involves millionaires who pay former cops and mercenaries to hunt one another to … Continue reading

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‘Street Fight’ trailer promises Hong Kong-style fight scenes

Street Fight is a 70-minute martial arts film by the Aberdeen based, Noble Brothers Productions. The film follows the story of a young drug addict that wants to turn his life around. However, his plan involves entering a brutal fighting competition that puts him and all the people close to him in great danger. The film contains 12 gruelling fight scenes. Each fight is choreographed by the films editor, producer, … Continue reading

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Franklin returns to gritty crime in ‘City of Night’

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release on May 30th: Meyers Media Group and McDonald Entertainment have announced today that they will co-finance the thriller City of Night. The film, to be directed by award-winner Carl Franklin (One False Move), was written by David Chisholm (Kidnapped in Paradise) and will be produced by Brendan McDonald of McDonald Entertainment and Jesse B’Franklin, and executive produced by Lawrence Meyers (Unfaithful) and Randy Dannenberg … Continue reading

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Son of ‘Rambo’ brings us ‘Beyond the Black Rainbow’

THE MOVIE: Beyond the Black Rainbow is one of the most interesting trailers I’ve ever seen – it’s like a strange fever dream of 2001: A Space Odyssey, THX-1138, and Nicolas Winding Refn’s films. Set in the strange and oppressive emotional landscape of the year 1983, Beyond the Black Rainbow is a Reagan-era fever dream inspired by hazy childhood memories of midnight movies and Saturday morning cartoons. Beyond the Black Rainbow … Continue reading

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Ghosts of War DVD (Palisades Tartan)

RELEASE DATE: July 31, 2012 Palisades Tartan presents the DVD for Kong Su-chang’s Ghosts of War (aka R-Point). During the Vietnam War, a South Korean army base begins receiving mysterious radio transmissions from a patrol that went missing six months earlier. What appears to be a clear search and rescue mission turns into something far more terrifying than any battle. Check out the trailer.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

Moss: Special Edition 2-Disc Set (Bayview Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: August 21, 2012 Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker presents the 2-Disc DVD Set for Moss (aka Iggi), a critically acclaimed, box-office thriller, which is based on the award-winning web comic by Yoon Tae-ho. Moss is directed by Public Enemy’s Kang Woo-suk; it stars Silmido’s Jung Jae-young, The Host’s Park Hae-il and Public Enemy’s Yoo Hae-jin. Check out the trailer.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

Below Zero DVD (Screen Media Films)

RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012 Screen Media Films presents the DVD for Below Zero. Trapped in an abandoned slaughterhouse, a desperate screenwriter (T2’s Edward Furlong) paralyzed by writer’s block is tormented by a horrific serial killer (The Hills Have Eyes’ Michael Berryman). Despite the cheesy DVD artwork, there’s some serious buzz surrounding this flick! Check out Trailer 1 and Trailer 2.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Quick Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2012 Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Quick. This slick, big-budget action thriller has enough vehicular destruction to make Michael Bay stand up and applaud. The film is about an ace motorcycle driver who must transport explosives all over Seoul in order to rescue his ex-girlfriend. Quick earned over $10 million at the Korean box office. Check out the trailer.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

Double Feature: Crippled Masters Parts 2 & 3 DVD Set (Apprehensive Films)

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2012 Apprehensive Films films presents the double DVD set for The Crippled Masters 2 and The Crippled Masters 3 in one amazing package! Pure crippled kung-fu exploitation amusements that could have only come out of Hong Kong in the 1980s! Join Frank Shum and Jack Conn as they take on anyone who gets in their way. Check out the trailers for Part 2 and Part 3.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

Children of the Hunt DVD (R Sqared Films)

RELEASE DATE: August 21, 2012 R Sqared Films presents the DVD for Children of the Hunt. The year is 2052, and if you want to hunt a human for sport, The Brotherhood of Mars can make it happen. At first glance, this may appear to be a  Hunger Games knock off, but this film was actually conceived, written, and shot before the Hunger Games was published. Check out the trailer.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Live a ‘Life Without Principle’ on May 29th

Indomania presents the DVD for Life Without Principle, which releases May 29th. Directed by Johnnie To, 2011’s Life Without Principle delves into Hong Kong’s money-obsessed culture through three characters whose destinies collide one fateful day when a loan shark gets assaulted after withdrawing $10 million from the bank. Life Without Principle stars A Hero Never Dies’ Lau Ching Wan, Accident’s Richie Ren and Merry-Go-Round’s Denise Ho. Watch the trailer.

Posted in News |

Bond 50: 22 James Bond Film Blu-ray & DVD Set (MGM)

RELEASE DATE: September 25, 2012 All 22 James Bond films will be available in the massive Bond 50 Blu-ray Box Set (also available on DVD) due this fall. Update: It also comes with a Limited Edition Hardcover Book. Amazon has the pre-order for $199.99. Details about the supplemental features can be found here.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Butterfly Swords DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: July 10, 2012 Well Go USA is releasing 1993’s Butterfly Swords (aka Butterfly and Sword) on DVD. Directed by Sex and Zen’s Michael Mak, Butterfly Swords stars Michelle Yeoh as a loyalist who attempts to keep the King’s empire from being overthrown by a revolutionary group. Also starring Donnie Yen, Joey Wong, Jimmy Lin and Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Check out the original Chinese trailer.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |