Category Archives: News

Well Go USA inks deal with upstart streaming service ‘Japan Flix’

Via Far East Films, Asian film distributor Well Go USA has signed a deal with upstart streaming website Japan Flix to make their catalog of Japanese films available on streaming. The first titles available will include the splatterpunk zombie movie “Helldriver” and the teen martial arts romance “Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge.” This is a major boost for Japan Flix as Well Go USA is arguably the finest distributor of Asian … Continue reading

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Blu-Ray and DVD Releases for 11/22/11

Not a lot on the table this week but cinema buffs should still be able to find something to enjoy, whether you’re craving a gory Japanese flick or a Criterion Collection blu-ray. So here are your Asian and genre-related blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 11/22/11: ASIAN CINEMA Helldriver (blu-ray/DVD) – a 2010 post-apocalyptic zombie road movie from the director of “Tokyo Gore Police.” For fans of Japanese … Continue reading

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Donnie Yen to star in a heist film produced by Jackie Chan

Twitch Film is reporting that Donnie Yen is set to star and choreograph the actions sequences in an upcoming heist film called Ultimate Codebreak. The movie will be produced by Jackie Chan, who will have a small role in the film. Also starring is Wu Chen (14 Blades). A director has not been named at this time but shooting is already set to begin next month.

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Farewell My Concubine (1993) Review

Director: Chen Kaige Writer: Lilian, Lee Lu Wei Cast: Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li, Lu Qi, Ying Da, Yidi, Zhi Yitong, Lei Han, Li Chun Running Time: 156 min. By Ningen I don’t know what it is about Peking Opera that looks appealing in martial arts films, but which comes off dull in arthouse flicks. While it’s true that this is only the second film of this genre I’ve … Continue reading

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Bullet Train (1975) Review

"Bullet Train" Theatrical Poster

Director: Junya Sato Cast: Ken Takakura, Sonny Chiba, Kei Yamamoto, Eiji Go, Akira Oda, Raita Ryu, Masayo Utsunomiya, Yumi Takigawa, Etsuko Shihomi, Takashi Shimura, Fumio Watanabe, Mizuho Suzuki, Ken Utsui, Tetsuro Tamba Running Time: 115 min.  By Sergio Martorelli It’s official: american action films sucks mammoth balls, even the ones directed by HK masters like John Woo and Tsui Hark. And do you wanna know why? I’ll tell ya. It’s … Continue reading

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‘Voltron’ returns on Xbox Live and Playstation Network

Infracells are up, mega thrusters are go and the legendary robot hero is ready to make his resurgence in Voltron: Defender of the Universe, scheduled for release in October on Xbox LIVE® Arcade and PlayStation®Network. In this brand-new take on the classic Voltron animated adventure, players will find themselves teaming up to battle the evil forces of King Zarkon across the varied landscapes of Planet Arus. Interwoven with clips from … Continue reading

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36 Styles kung fu film t-shirts: An all-new brand of ‘Fashion Fu-Wear’

Shaolin Chamber 36, Golden Swallow and Kung Fu Bob have collectively created something for the kung fu film fans: 36 Styles: An all-new brand of Fashion Fu-Wear. Currently, there are 4 stylish types of t-shirts (featuring retro artwork from Snake in the Monkey’s Shadow, The Hot, The Cool, and The Vicious, Dance of the Drunk Mantis, and Invincible Armour) in various colors and sizes (M, L, XL). Please support your … Continue reading

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Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 11/15/11

A diverse range of titles will be available for purchase this Tuesday. A little something for everyone, as they say. So here are your Asian and genre-related blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 11/15/11: ASIAN CINEMA Infernal Affairs (blu-ray) – ignore the gun-toting cover art and enjoy this 2002 Andrew Lau film starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung, now in glorious hi-def Treasure Hunter (blu-ray/DVD) – a 2009 … Continue reading

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Well Go USA takes you on an apocalyptic zombie road trip with ‘Helldriver’

“Helldriver explodes with goodness!” – Cole Abaius, Film School Rejects “Plenty of gore, comedy and carnage to go around!” – Colleen Wanglund, CinemaKnifeFight.com Welcome to Zombie World! HELLDRIVER Japanese Splatter King Yoshihiro Nishimura Delivers a Blood-Soaked Gore Fest on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 22 Extensive Bonus Materials Include Three Spinoff Short Films Set Within the Helldriver Universe:  Helldriver Dokata, Catch Me If You Can! and Bailout! … Continue reading

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Azumi (2003) Review

"Azumi" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Aya Ueto, Shun Oguri, Hiroki Narimiya, Kenji Kohashi, Takatoshi Kaneko, Yuma Ishigaki, Tak Sakaguchi, Yoshio Harada, Kazuya Shimizu Running Time: 124 min. By Alexander Strip the Power Rangers of the space-age outfits and crappy-looking rubber-suited monsters and place them in say, feudal Japan, and what you’re left with is the swordplay epic-lite Azumi. Because like their weekday afternoon brethren, the kids in Azumi say things like … Continue reading

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Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 11/8/11

This is a pretty jam-packed so let’s get right into it. From masters like Terry Gilliam and David Lynch on blu-ray to a Korean remake of one of John Woo’s best loved flicks, there is plenty to discuss. Here are your Asian and genre-related blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 11/8/11: ASIAN CINEMA A Better Tomorrow (blu-ray/DVD) – a stylish, 2010 Korean language remake of John Woo’s classic … Continue reading

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R.I.P. Ricky Hui

Ricky Hui Koon-Ying died of a heart attack on November 8, 2011 at the age of 65. Ricky Hui often acted with his brothers Michael and Sam (the trio were dubbed “The Hui Brothers”). He and his brothers made several comedy blockbusters in the 1970s and 1980s, their most famous title being 1976’s Private Eyes.

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Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005) Review

"Azumi 2: Death or Love" Theatrical Poster

Director: Shusuke Kaneko Cast: Aya Ueto, Yuma Ishigaki, Chiaki Kuriyama, Shun Oguri, Kenichi Endo, Kai Shishido, Eugene Nomura, Tak Sakaguchi, Shoichiro Masumoto Running Time: 102 min. By Equinox21 While Azumi 2 wasn’t as good as its predecessor, it was still enjoyable. It certainly didn’t add anything new or interesting to the samurai-era film genre, and it almost seemed like a simple play off the original’s success. The strangest parts were … Continue reading

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Former John Woo collaborator brings home ‘Cold Steel’ for the Holidays

A new action drama directed by former John Woo collaborator David Wu and starring Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Peter Ho, Song Jia, Angeles Woo (John Woo’s daughter) and Yu Rong-Guang. The film is going to utilize lots of sniper rifles and other firearms in the action scenes, which will make this one of the most action-packed Chinese films this year. Release date is set to December 2. David Wu is a … Continue reading

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Asian DVD retailer SensAsian.com closes its doors

SensAsian.com, a Malaysia-based online retailer that specialized in Asian movies is closing its doors after 10 years of business. This marks the second time a well-known online “Asian” DVD retailer has shut down operations. Earlier this year, HKFlix.com also closed their doors. From SensAsian.com’s website: Dear Valued Customers, We inform you, with great regret that SensAsian.com will be ceasing operations. It has been a great decade or so and we … Continue reading

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