Author Archives: JJ Bona

Frant Gwo’s ‘Wandering Earth II’ starring Wu Jing and Andy Lau arriving on Blu-ray from Well Go USA on December 19

On December 19, 2023, Well Go USA will release the Blu-ray for The Wandering Earth II (read our review), the sequel for Frant Gwo’s sci fi blockbuster hit, The Wandering Earth. The Wandering Earth II stars Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior II), Li Xuejian (Under the Hawthorn Tree), Ning Li (My Country, My Parents), Andy Lau (Shock Wave 2), Wang Zhi (Drug War), Zhu Yanmanzi (The Guilt series), Sha Yi (My Own … Continue reading

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Lesser Known Wong Kar-wai Movies 

One of cinema’s most revered modern auteurs, Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai is noted for his rich and sensuous visual style, non-linear narratives, and atmospheric music. Perhaps even more idiosyncratic are the powerful performances he elicits from his actors, most notably the tacit, simmering-but-never-quite-bubbling love affair between Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung in the 2000 masterpiece In the Mood for Love.  Wong found fame with 1994’s Chungking Express, one of … Continue reading

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Top 10 Educational Movies on Netflix

Have you ever thought about turning your Netflix binge into a learning marathon? That’s right, your favorite streaming service is not just for entertainment. This platform offers a diverse range of films that can enlighten, educate, and even inspire you.  From gripping historical dramas that bring the past to life to cutting-edge scientific documentaries that explore the mysteries of the universe, Netflix is a hidden gem for curious minds. And … Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Jackie Chan: Emergence of a Superstar | Blu-ray | Only $62.49 – Expires soon!

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray collection for Jackie Chan: Emergence of a Superstar, a six-film collection that will include 1978’s Half a Loaf of Kung Fu, 1978’s Spiritual Kung Fu, 1979’s The Fearless Hyena, 1983’s The Fearless Hyena II, 1980’s The Young Master, and 1985’s My Lucky Stars. Official details: Originally tapped as a potential successor to Bruce Lee, Hong Kong martial-arts phenom Jackie Chan soon established his own … Continue reading

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Blu-ray Joseph Kuo’s ‘Swordsman of All Swordsmen’ and ‘Mystery of Chess Boxing’ arriving in March from Eureka

"Swordsman of All Swordsmen" Theatrical Poster

On March 18, 2024, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) for Swordsman of All Swordsmen, a 1968 Taiwanese swordsplay actioner from Joseph Kuo (Shaolin Kids, The Old Master) that stars Tien Peng (The Ghost Hill) and Polly Shang-Kwan (The Return of the 18 Bronzemen). A tale of honour and revenge by a celebrated master of wuxia cinema, Joseph Kuo! Having witnessed the brutal slaying of his entire family as a small child, … Continue reading

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Eureka sets a March Blu-ray release for Ryuichi Takamori’s ‘Bodyguard Kiba 1 and 2’ starring Sonny Chiba

"The Bodyguard" Theatrical Poster

On March 18, 2024, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) for Bodyguard Kiba 1 and 2 (aka The Bodyguard 1 & 2), a a pair of 1973 martial arts thrillers from Ryuichi Takamori (North Sea Chivalry) that star Sonny Chiba (Doberman Cop). A double bill of Japanese martial arts mayhem starring action superstar Sonny Chiba! Based upon the manga by celebrated writer Ikki Kajiwara, Bodyguard Kiba follows the eponymous karate master … Continue reading

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Jeong Yong-ki’s ‘The Ghost Station’ Blu-ray is dead on arrival on December 19th from Well Go USA

The Ghost Station | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

On December 19, 2023, Well Go USA is releasing the Blu-ray for The Ghost Station (read our review), a 2022 South Korean horror film directed by Jeong Yong-ki (Once Upon a Time, Return of the Mafia). After a young reporter covers a suspicious accident, she learns from police that her source was supposedly already dead at the time of their interview. As more mysterious deaths occur, she and her partner … Continue reading

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A Student’s Guide: How to Submit to Film Festivals

Welcome to the vibrant world of film festivals! You might wonder, “What is a film festival?” Simply put, these events are much more than just screenings; they’re a dynamic gateway to the larger universe of cinema for student filmmakers. Film festivals offer unique opportunities to showcase your creativity, network with industry professionals, and gain invaluable exposure. Whether you’re crafting short films in your dorm room or majoring in film studies, … Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! The Doorman | Blu-ray | Only $9.87 – Expires soon!

The Doorman | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for The Doorman, the latest action-thriller from Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus, Lupin the Third). A former Marine (Ruby Rose, John Wick: Chapter 2) turned doorman at a luxury New York City high-rise must outsmart and battle a group of art thieves and their ruthless leader (Jean Reno, LĂ©on: The Professional, The Adventurers) — while struggling to protect her sister’s family. As the thieves become increasingly desperate … Continue reading

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Artwork revealed for 88 Films’ Blu-ray for Li Han-Hsiang’s 1965 historical epic ‘Hsi Shih Beauty of Beauties’ arriving in March

Beauty of Beauties | Blu-ray (88 Films)

In March of 2024, 88 Films is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Hsi Shih Beauty of Beauties, a 1965 Taiwanese historical epic directed by Li Han-Hsiang (The Ghost Story, The Enchanting Shadow, The Magnificent Concubine). Director Li Han-Hsiang was King Hu’s mentor and friend. He directed almost 90 films between the 50s and 90s – most of them – Shaw Brothers productions. A feature-length documentary is currently in the … Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Ip Man: SteelBook | Blu-ray | Only $11.99 – Expires soon!

Ip Man SteelBook | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the SteelBook Blu-ray edition of Ip Man, the 2008 martial arts classic starring Donnie Yen (Sakra) with director Wilson Yip (Bio Zombie) at the helm. Behind every great martial artist lies a teacher. Ip Man, starring Donnie Yen, is the award-winning film adaptation about the life story of Ip Man, grandmaster of Wing Chun and mentor to legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. Set in … Continue reading

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Here’s a look at 88 Films’ sexy Blu-ray for Ryu Murakami’s ‘Tokyo Decadence’ coming (no pun intended) in January

Tokyo Decadence | Blu-ray (88 Films)

In January of 2024, 88 Films is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) for Tokyo Decadence, a 1992 “erotic” Japanese film from writer/director Ryu Murakami (Kyoko). A submissive hooker goes about her trade, suffering abuse at the hands of Japanese salarymen and Yakuza types. She’s unhappy about her work, and is apparently trying to find some sort of appeasement for the fact that her lover has married. The film stars Miho … Continue reading

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Immersive Soundscapes: Audio Design in Interactive Story Telling

Source: Pexels For a long time, music has been used in different settings to tell stories. As Bernard Herrmann suggested, music helps to propel a narrative and helps to envelop an audience into a single experience. People tend to be stimulated by stories that captivate most of their senses, and music can be an excellent tool for achieving this. Studies have proved that using music in storytelling enhances the reception … Continue reading

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Flashback to Your Favorite Movies: Characters Who Are Exceptional Bluffers

If you think about it, bluffing has always been a part of television programs. No matter if you’re watching a movie or TV show, somewhere along the lines, characters come across scenarios where they feel the need to pull off a bluff. These types of scenes can be seen in some fan favorites. Take, for example, Chis Nolan’s The Dark Knight. In the opening bank robbery scene, the Joker bluffs … Continue reading

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Fist of Fury Soul, Swords, Beggars, Dune Devils and Female Thieves: Here’s what’s on Hi-YAH for the month of December

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 December, 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

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