Category Archives: News

Netflix’ Trailer for John Woo’s May 4th debut of ‘Manhunt’

After years making Hollywood films and big budget Chinese epics like Red Cliff and the recent The Crossing, John Woo, the man behind action classics such as A Better Tomorrow, The Killer and Hard Boiled, has finally made a return to the genre that made him an internationally acclaimed director with Manhunt (read our review). And now, Manhunt will finally make its U.S. debut on Netflix’s streaming service on May 4th – it’s also currently available on Blu-ray & DVD from … Continue reading

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Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

RELEASE DATE: July 10, 2018 On July 10, 2018, Arrow Video will be releasing the Blu-ray for Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards!, a 1963 Japanese yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki (Tokyo Drifter). Check out the official details below: Starring original Diamond Guy, Jo Shishido (Massacre Gun), Seijun Suzuki’s Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! is a hard hitting, rapid-fire yakuza film that redefined the Japanese crime drama. Detective … Continue reading

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‘Shinobi: Ninja Princess’ hardcover is ninja action for all ages

For the first time ever, Martheus and Janet Wade’s Shinobi: Ninja Princess is being collected in a hardcover edition. This beautiful book is 326 pages of epic ninja action, collecting both volumes of Shinobi: Ninja Princess. It’s an action-adventure story in the vein of Japanese anime, the series is a cross between Naruto and Riverdale.  The first chapter introduces Shainndrea, a 14-year-old ninja who is also royalty! She’s on the run from a … Continue reading

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Watch ‘A Better Tomorrow 2018’ right now on Amazon Prime

If Song Hae-Seong’s 2010 Korean remake of A Better Tomorrow didn’t quite do it for you, then get ready for another variation of John Woo’s 1986 seminal gangster classic. Ding Sheng – the acclaimed director of Little Big Soldier, Police Story 2013, Railroad Tigers, and Saving Mr. Wu – has delivered A Better Tomorrow 2018 (read our review) to Amazon Prime. According to Variety, Sheng’s film traces the journey of a former smuggler who attempts to start his life anew … Continue reading

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Downrange (2017) Review

"Downrange" Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Kelly Connaire, Stephanie Pearson, Rod Hernandez, Anthony Kirlew, Alexa Yeames, Jason Tobias, Aion Boyd, Eric Matuschek, Ikumi Yoshimatsu Running Time: 90 min.  By Kelly Warner Ryuhei Kitamura is a director I keep tabs on because he interests me. He has this weird balancing act where he teeters back and forth between almost greatness and absolute garbage – sometimes, in his most well-known films, you get a … Continue reading

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What are the Greatest Fight Scenes Ever Shown in Film?

Choosing the greatest fight scene ever depicted in film is a seriously tricky bit of business. After all, there have been countless showdowns on the silver screen over the years that have filled audiences with sheer adrenaline while watching. Some are so memorable, though, that viewers think about them again years later. Here are a few scenes that have had that effect. Mickey v Gorgeous George – Snatch Many people … Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Wrath of Vajra | Blu-ray | Only $8.02 – Expires soon!

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Law Ching Cheong’s The Wrath of Vajra. In The Wrath of Vajra, a top Chinese martial artist (Yu Xing, star of the recent Super Bodyguard) sets his sights on a Japanese death cult after they abduct innocent Chinese children and train them to be assassins. The film also stars Steve Yoo Seung Jun (Dragon Blade), Jiang Baocheng (Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection), Yasuaki Kurata (Shinjuku Incident) … Continue reading

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‘Riki-Oh’ star Fan Siu Wong gets his own ‘Special Mission’

In the tradition of Wolf Warrior, Extraordinary Mission and Operation Mekong comes Special Mission (no relation to the 1976 South Korean film of the same name), an upcoming actioner starring Fan Siu Wong (Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky). Special Mission tells the story of the daring rescue of a princess in the Middle East by the King of Scorpions. The film also stars Yang Ming, Xu Jiawen, Guo Zhen and Si Li. Special Mission is getting a domestic release on April 27, … Continue reading

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Merciless, The (2017) Review

"The Merciless" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Byun Sung-Hyun Writer: Byun Sung-Hyun Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Siwan, Kim Hee-Won, Jeon Hye-Jin, Lee Kyoung-Young, Jang In-Sub, Kim Sung-Oh, Choi Byung-Mo, Heo Jun-Ho, Kim Ji-Hoon Running Time: 120 min. By Martin Sandison Since its inception in the mid-90’s, the Korean noir genre just keeps producing gems. Movies such as Lee Chang-dong’s Green Fish, Kim Jee-woon’s A Bittersweet Life and Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy are a few of the all-time classics; … Continue reading

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Score (1995) Review

"Score" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Atsushi Muroga Cast: Shu Ehara, Hiroshi Miyasaka, Ryushi Mizukami, Hitoshi Ozawa, Kazuyoshi Ozawa, Miyuki Takano, Takashi Ukaji, Masahiro Yamashita, Ryuji Minakami  Running Time: 88 min.  By Paul Bramhall While Japanese cinema in the 1990’s was already a far cry from its golden age, one of the best genres to come out of this era was that which would become known as V-Cinema. Kicked off by Toei’s 1989 feature Crime Hunter, … Continue reading

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Two Films By Hong Sangsoo | Blu-ray (Arrow Academy)

RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2018 On July 17, 2018, Arrow Academy will be releasing the Blu-ray for Two Films By Hong Sangsoo, which includes Woman is the Future of Man and Tale of Cinema. Check out the official details below: This collection brings together Women is the Future of Man and Tale of Cinema, the fifth and sixth films by Hong Sangsoo, the masterful South Korean filmmaker who has been favorably compared to that great … Continue reading

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Steven Seagal and Fan Siu Wong fight in the ‘Attrition’ Trailer

We’ll soon see Steven Seagal (Above the Law) kicking some ass in Attrition (read our review), a Kurosawa-esque project that Seagal wrote years ago. At once point, Seagal was attached to helm the project (it would have been his first directing gig since 1994’s On Deadly Ground, 22 years ago), but directorial duties were switched over to Mathieu Weschler, the filmmaker behind Covert Operation (aka The Borderland). Hong Kong cinema fans will be delighted to learn that Fan Siu Wong … Continue reading

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Selina Lo, Michelle Yeoh level up to Mel Gibson in ‘Boss Level’

Michelle Yeoh (Reign of Assassins, Royal Warriors) and Selina Lo (Triple Threat, Debt Collector) are joining Frank Grillo (Wolf Warrior 2, Beyond Skyline) and Mel Gibson (Edge of Darkness, Blood Father) in Boss Level, an upcoming action thriller from director Joe Carnahan (Smokin’ Aces, Narc). According to THR, Boss Level centers on a retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran (Grillo) trapped in a never-ending loop, resulting in his death every day. In order to stop his … Continue reading

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Sleeping Beast Within, The (1960) Review

"The Sleeping Beast Within" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Seijun Suzuki Writer: Ichiro Ikeda Cast: Hiroyuki Nagato, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Shinsuke Ashida, Kinzo Shin, Kojiro Kusanagi, Keisuke Noro, Hisano Yamaoka, Ko Nishimura, Shoichi Ozawa Running Time: 85 min.  By Kelly Warner After two years away on business, Mr. Ueki returns home on a ship from Hong Kong to meet his family at the Yokohama pier. None of his business partners are there to meet him and the family thinks this suspicious. After … Continue reading

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The Housemaid | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2018 On July 17, 2018, Shout! Factory will be releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for The Housemaid, an acclaimed Vietnamese horror movie from director Derek Nguyen. Vietnam, 1953: Linh (Nhung Kate), a poor, orphaned young woman, finds employment as a housemaid in a crumbling rubber plantation presided over by the emotionally fragile French officer Sebastien Laurent (Jean-Michel Richaud). Soon, a torrid love affair develops between the two — … Continue reading

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