Category Archives: News

Enter our ‘Sky on Fire’ Blu-ray Contest! – WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Cityonfire.com and Well Go USA are giving away 3 Blu-ray copies of Ringo Lam’s Sky on Fire (read our review) to three lucky City on Fire visitors. To enter, simply add a comment to this post and describe, in your own words, the video below. We will be selecting a winner at random. Be sure to include your email address in the appropriate field so we can contact you for your home address. Also, please ‘Like Us‘ on Cityonfire.com’s … Continue reading

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HBO: The New Home of Kung Fu?

When you think of the famous studios responsible for producing some of the most popular kung fu classics, some names that will likely spring to mind are Golden Harvest, Shaw Brothers, and Cathay, to name but a few. One name that certainly wouldn’t be near the top of anyone’s list, or even on it at all for that matter, is American cable channel HBO. However at the end of 2016, … Continue reading

Posted in Features, News |

Schwarzenegger’s ‘Legend of Conan’ isn’t dead after all…

For the last few years, Legend of Conan (aka King Conan or Conan the Conqueror) – the proposed ‘true’ sequel to 1982’s Conan the Barbarian – has been in an off again/on again status by Universal. The film was most likely pushed aside, numerous times, due to “higher priority” projects (i.e. Terminator Genisys) that involve the series’ returning star, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Over the years, City on Fire has collected news updates regarding the development Legend … Continue reading

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Trust means nothing in the New ‘Merciless’ Trailer

In the tradition of Nah Hyeon’s recent film, The Prison, comes The Merciless (aka Hoodlum), an upcoming crime thriller by writer/director Byun Sung-Hyun (Whatcha Wearin’?). The Merciless (read our review) involves a couple of prisoners (Sol Kyung-Gu of Another Public Enemy and Siwan of The Attorney) and their search for higher power in the criminal world. The film also stars Kim Hee-Won (The Man from Nowhere), Jeon Hye-Jin (Tell Me Lies), Lee Kyoung-Young (The Prison), Kim Sung-Oh (A Bittersweet Life) and Heo … Continue reading

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Well Go USA to unleash the Blu-ray for ‘Final Master’ in July

Well Go USA is finally releasing Haofeng Xu’s highly-anticipated, award-winning martial arts film The Final Master (read our review) on DVD, Blu-ray and On Demand on July 25, 2017. Xu made a name for himself by penning the screenplay for Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster. But it was 2011’s The Sword Identity, his directorial debut, which showed Xu’s true talent. Then came his acclaimed second film, 2012’s Judge Archer (aka Arrow Arbitration). Xu’s trend in both films was presenting … Continue reading

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Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Silvering Spear’ screenplay to be filmed

Three months ago, it was reported that Chinese entertainment company Huayi Brothers (Mojin: The Lost Legend, Dragon Blade) announced the production of The Mask of the Black Death, an upcoming film based on a script by one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress). Now, another never-before-filmed Kurosawa screenplay, Silvering Spear, has been acquired by Jinke Entertainment from Kurosawa Production Co. for a big screen … Continue reading

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Opium and the Kung Fu Master (1984) Review

"Opium and the Kung Fu Master" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Lightning Fists of Shaolin Director: Tong Gai (Tang Chia) Cast: Ti Lung, Chen Kuan Tai, Robert Mak, Philip Ko Fei, Lee Hoi San, Tang Chia, Lau Leanne, Ku Kuan Chung, Alan Chan, Ma Chao, Yuen Wah, Yuen Bun Running Time: 86 min.  By Chris Hatcher Knowing one could be blacklisted in many kung fu cinema circles for making the following statement, here goes nothing: I have always been somewhat … Continue reading

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Jordan Peele tells ‘Akira’ producers to ‘Get Out’…

Two months ago, we reported that Warner Bros. was courting Jordan Peele (director of the sleeper hit, Get Out) to direct the live-action, big screen adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, which has been in development hell for over 5 years. Turns out, Peele, who is a fan of Akira, wants to concentrate on original content. Here’s what he told BH.com: “I think [I could do it] if the story justifies it,” Peele said. “Akira is one of my … Continue reading

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Dancing Warrior | aka Venom Warrior (1985) Review

AKA: Dancing King Director: Cheng Cheh Writer: James Wong Cast: Ricky Cheng Tien Chi, Yang Li-Su, Sun Jung Chi, Yang Guang-Yo, Chen Kuan-Tai, Got Heung Ting, Lui Fong, Dennis Brown, Anita Mui Yim Fong Running Time: 90 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s fair to say that legendary director Chang Cheh more than earned his moniker of the Godfather of Hong Kong action cinema, however while his crowning achievements are many, there can also be no doubt … Continue reading

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An English language remake of ‘Drug War’ is brewing

Producer Roy Lee is back with more Asian remake antics with Drug War, an English language remake of the acclaimed 2012 Johnnie To film of the same name. According to Variety, Lee is producing Drug War alongside Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman, Juan Sola and Jaume Collet-Serra. There is currently no director attached. Lee is responsible for producing English language remakes of countless, high-profile Asian titles, including The Ring, The Departed, My Sassy … Continue reading

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Sleep Curse, The (2017) Review

"The Sleep Curse" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Herman Yau Writer: Erica Li, Lee Sing Cast: Anthony Wong, Jojo Goh, Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Michelle Wai, Mak Kwai-Yuen, Chye Yang Running Time: 102 min. By Martin Sandison After this year’s Udine Far East Film Festival screening of The Sleep Curse – and before my scheduled interview with its prodigiously talented director, Herman Yau – I bumped into the great man outside the theatre. I told him that I’d never seen a film like the masterful Untold Story … Continue reading

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Franco Nero to raise hell on racist bastards in ‘Django Lives!’

Three years ago, it was announced that Django Lives!, a sequel to 1966’s Django, was in the works. Originally, Joe D’Augustine (One Night with You) was attached as director, but now duties have shifted to filmmaker Christian Alvart (Pandorum), off a screenplay by John Sayles (Battle Beyond the Stars). Fortunately, Franco Nero (The 5th Cord, Enter the Ninja, Die Hard 2), the star of the original, is still returning as the titular character. According to SA, Alvart’s Django Lives! will catch … Continue reading

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Deadly Breaking Sword, The (1979) Review

"The Deadly Breaking Sword" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sun Chung Writer: Ni Kuang Cast: Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, Shih Szu, Ku Feng, Chan Wai Man, Lily Li Li Li, Ngaai Fei, Chan Shen, Kara Hui, Ha Ping, Alan Chan, Cheung Gwok, Chow Kin Ping, Gam Tin Chue, Hung Ling Ling, Keung Hon, Eddie Ko Hung Running Time: 101 min. By JJ Hatfield An arrogant assassin and an unlucky gambler are brought together by pride, greed and a captivating courtesan … Continue reading

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Enter the Warrior’s Gate | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2017 Matthias Hoene’s (Cockneys vs Zombies) Enter the Warrior’s Gate (aka Warrior’s Gate), a French-Chinese co-production written by Luc Besson (Lucy), will be released on Blu-ray & DVD 0n June 6th, 2017. After a mysterious chest opens a gateway through time, teen gamer Jack is transported to an ancient empire terrorized by a cruel barbarian king. Jack will need all of his gaming skills as he battles to defeat the … Continue reading

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

Jailbreak (2017) Review

"Jailbreak" Theatrical Poster

Director: Jimmy Henderson Cast: Jean-Paul Ly, Dara Our, Tharoth Sam, Céline Tran, Savin Phillip, Dara Phang, Sisowath Siriwudd, Laurent Plancel, Rous Mony, Sok Visal, Georgina Tan Running Time: 92 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Following in the footsteps of Vietnam, Indonesia, and of course, Thailand before that, it was time for Cambodia to mark its place on the international martial arts movie map. Delivering the country’s first piece of full-fledged … Continue reading

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