Comic book movies continue to do blockbuster business around the globe, but there’s also a sense that audiences might be suffering from superhero fatigue. Some analysts suggest that video games may be the next undiscovered country for Hollywood to mine for gold. Sure, there have been a few video game adaptations here and there – Mortal Kombat and Silent Hill come to mind – but lately we’re seeing high-profile game … Continue reading →

After the ultra-violent, ultra-bleak bloodbath that was 2010’s I Saw the Devil, you might be forgiven for thinking that the Korean revenge movie has seen and done it all. Well, at least one movie is out to prove that the genre still has a few tricks up its sleeve: opening this Friday, March 13th, in South Korea is a twisted new thriller titled Monster. The movie follows a somewhat developmentally … Continue reading →

Despite hitting the ripe age of 51 years-old, Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau is showing no signs of slowing down. After headlining Tsui Hark’s Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame and making a cameo appearance in Cold War, Andy Lau is, once again, throwing himself back into the action. His next film is a high-octane action/thriller set in modern day Hong Kong. Titled Firestorm, the movie follows … Continue reading →

If you’ve been a connoisseur of Asian cinema as far back as 2005, you’re likely to recall the glory days of Palisade Tartan’s ‘Asia Extreme’ label. The beloved DVD series helped introduce a number of now-classic Asian titles – including Oldboy and A Tale of Two Sisters – to the North American market. Fans were understandably upset when Tartan closed their doors in the States back in 2008. Although the company … Continue reading →

As cinematographer on Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, it’s safe to say Wally Pfister had a key part in shaping the stylish visual palette of the Dark Knight saga. Now, the talented director of photography is breaking out on his own to helm the science-fiction film Transcendence. But Pfister isn’t completely flying solo: he’s brought along regular Nolan players such as Morgan Freeman and Cillian Murphy, not to mention the star … Continue reading →

THE MOVIE: In Wong Jing’s The Man From Macau (aka God of Gamblers 4; Casino; or From Vegas To Macau), Chow Yun-fat returns to the character of Ko Chun, a world-famous gambler, so renowned and talented at winning various games of chance, that he is referred to as the God Of Gamblers. Nicholas Tse (New Police Story) and Chapman To (Men Suddenly in Black) co-star. It’s no stretch of the imagination to say that … Continue reading →

Back in 2007, director Takashi Miike continued his successful streak of adapting violent manga into live-action films with Crows Zero. The movie told the story of warring factions at an all-boys school and their brawling ways. Although the film was considered a very ‘loose’ adaptation of its source material, Miike’s mix of over-the-top humor and rawdy fisticuffs earned the film a strong cult following. A follow-up came with Crows Zero … Continue reading →

THE MOVIE: After returning home from a traumatic tour of duty in Iraq, John (Cung Le) finds himself rescuing a local call girl from a group of violent Aryan Brotherhood pimps. Having killed several of them in the process, John and his family are now the prime targets of Hollis, the ruthless criminal leader of the group. The director of Puncture Wounds (aka A Certain Justice or Justice) is James Coyne, an up-and-coming filmmaker … Continue reading →

Accident and Motorway director Cheang Pou-soi has been developing a big screen, special FX-infused adaptation of the famous Monkey King tale for almost three years now. Production began way back in October of 2010 but we haven’t heard much since then, besides the fact that the film’s high budget means it will have to make at least $88 million at the Chinese box office to break even. The star-studded cast includes … Continue reading →

THE MOVIE: Directed by Rob Meltzer, Welcome to the Jungle is a Lord of the Flies-style comedy/thriller starring Jean Claude Van Damme with Adam Brody (Lovelace), Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords) and Rob Huebel (The Descendants). Also briefly appearing are Van Damme’s kids, Kristopher Van Varenberg (6 Bullets) and Bianca Bree (Assassination Games). Welcome to the Jungle is about employees at a design firm who end up stranded on … Continue reading →

THE MOVIE: A cop and his team of comrades go undercover in one of China’s most ruthless underworld organizations to stop a gang leader, only to put themselves in great danger after being exposed one by one. Special Identity is directed by Clarence Fok, who directed the original The Iceman Cometh that Donnie Yen happens to be remaking. He also helmed the classic Category III flick Naked Killer and the … Continue reading →

THE MOVIE: Once Upon a Time in Shanghai is a martial arts film directed by Wong Ching Po (Let’s Go!) with action choreography from the legendary Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix). The plot involves a laborer who moves to Shanghai in the hope of becoming rich, but ends up using his kung fu skills to survive. The cast includes Phillip Ng (Bodyguards & Assassins, Naked Soldier), Andy On (Special Identity), Luxia … Continue reading →

THE MOVIE: As a fiery inferno rages in a liquor warehouse, the Hong Kong fire department is called in to try and control the blaze. That’s the premise of the upcoming big-budget drama As the Lights Go Out, which is set to star Hong Kong heavyweights Nicholas Tse (The Viral Factor), Shawn Yue (Motorway), and Simon Yam (Nightfall). The film will be helmed by Derek Kwok, who co-directed the well-received martial … Continue reading →

THE MOVIE: Directed by Ding Sheng (Little Big Soldier), Police Story 2013 follows the relationship between Jackie and his daughter; from the sounds of it, a gang kidnaps Jackie’s daughter and holds her at a club, where Jackie and his police force must rescue her. The film co-stars Liu Ye,Huang Bo, Jing Tian, Zhang Lanxin, Wang Zhifei, Zhang Xiaoning, Guli Nazha and Aaron Aziz. Police Story remains arguably the most popular … Continue reading →

It’s a story told often in Hollywood: two rival movie studios are making big-budget movies about the exact same thing. From Armageddon vs. Deep Impact to Mirror, Mirror vs. Snow White & the Huntsman, we’ve seen it happen before and it’s happening again. Only this time, one of Cityonfire.com’s favorite action stars – Scott Adkins (Undisputed III, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) – is going up against The Rock! White … Continue reading →