Teaser Poster for Jackie Chan’s ‘The Panda Agent’ from ‘Police Story 3’ director Stanley Tong

"The Panda Agent" Teaser Poster

“The Panda Agent” Teaser Poster

Martial arts superstar Jackie Chan (The Foreigner) and acclaimed action filmmaker Stanley Tong (Police Story 3) will once again team up for 2022’s The Panda Agent (aka Mr. Panda), which will tell the story of “a girl living alone who meets a mysterious and rare panda and is believed to be in great danger.”

Confirmed co-stars include Yang Yang and Ai Lun, who both worked with Jackie and Stanley on last year’s Vanguard. Fellow martial arts star Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2, SPL 2) is rumored to have a role in the film as well (via Thorsten Boose).

Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong created magic together in a string of some of Chan’s most loved films of the 90s, including 1992’s Police Story 3: Supercop, 1995’s Rumble in the Bronx and 1996’s Police Story 4: First Strike. Their most recent Continue reading

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Writer’s Odyssey, A (2021) Review

"A Writer’s Odyssey" Theatrical Poster

“A Writer’s Odyssey” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Assassin in Red
Director: Lu Yang
Cast: Lei Jia-Yin, Yang Mi, Dong Zi-Jian, Yu He-Wei, Guo Jing-Fei, Tong Li-Ya, Dong Jie
Running Time: 130 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Based on Shuang Xuetao’s novel of the same name and its sequel, A Writer’s Odyssey finally arrived on cinema screens for the 2021 Lunar New Year after spending more than 2 years in post-production to complete the special effects work. Directed by Lu Yang, responsible for both 2014’s Brotherhood of Blades and its 2017 sequel, Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield, Yang is a director who’s already proven himself to have an eye for visuals and storytelling, and his latest is certainly his most ambitious work to date.

The plot involves a father whose daughter was kidnapped by child traffickers 6 years ago, and has spent the time since attempting to track them down to bring her back, to the point that he’s now a dishevelled shell of his former self having also lost his marriage and any semblance of his old life. Effectively played by Lei Jia-Yin (Wandering Earth, Cliff Walkers), whenever he falls asleep he’s haunted by dreams of a fantasy world where he can hear his daughter calling him, but has no idea what they mean. When we meet Jia-Yin he’s finally tracked down the child traffickers on a remote road up in the mountains, however after a misunderstanding sees him taken into police Continue reading

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Wong Fei-hung, Mulan, Snow Monsters and more! Here’s what’s streaming on Hi-YAH! for the month of November…

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 November, which includes a New film added to Hi-YAH! every Friday. And don’t forget, you can try it out for FREE for 7-days (in other words, you can potentially watch 80+ movies for zero dollars).

Read on for the full list Continue reading

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Flag of Iron | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Flag of Iron | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Flag of Iron | Blu-ray (88 Films)

RELEASE DATE: February 8, 2022

On February 8, 2022, 88 Films will be releasing the Blu-ray for Chang Cheh’s Shaw Brothers classic, Flags of Iron. A UK (Region B) version of the film will also be available on February 7, 2022.

The film stars Philip Kwok (Seven Warriors), Chiang Sheng (Shanghai 13), Lung Tien Hsiang (House of Traps), Lu Feng (The Magnificent Ruffians), Wong Lik (Chinatown Kid) and Chui Tai Ping (Two Champions of Shaolin).

The Flag of Iron (aka The Spearmen of Death) is a quintessential Hong Kong tale of rivals, betrayal and family feuds. When the master of the Iron Flag clan is killed by a mysterious assassin Continue reading

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Megaton Entertainment promises upcoming Rina Takeda thriller ‘Chungking Mansions’ as “The Raid with zombies”

"High Kick Girl" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“High Kick Girl” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Megaton Entertainment has picked up Chungking Mansions and launching it at the American Film Market with the selling points: “The biggest zombie film in Hong Kong cinema history”, and also as “The Raid with zombies” (via Variety).

The film is set to star Rina Takeda (High Kick Girl), Go Joon-hee (Doomsday Book), Wiyona Yeung (Guilt by Design), Desmond Tan (Control), Rebecca Lim (Doppelganger) and Kevin Leslie (I Am Vengeance) for Chungking Mansions, a zombie film that will take place in the iconic Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong.

According to Deadline, the action-thriller will be primarily in English, as the lead character is an American desperately striving to save his wife and child who are holed up in Chungking Mansions. The film will feature a number of languages including Continue reading

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Red Angel | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Red Angel | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Red Angel | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

RELEASE DATE: January 18, 2021

On January 18, 2021, Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray for Yasuzo Masumura’s Red Angel. This Japanese film takes an unflinching look at the horror and futility of war through the eyes of a dedicated and selfless young military nurse.

Official Details:

When Sakura Nishi is dispatched in 1939 to a ramshackle field hospital in Tientsin, the frontline of Japan’s war with China, she and her colleagues find themselves fighting a losing battle tending to the war-wounded and emotionally shellshocked soldiers while assisting head surgeon Dr Okabe conduct an unending series of amputations. As the Chinese troops close in, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Okabe who, impotent Continue reading

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Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery begin filming Troy Duffy’s ‘The Boondock Saints III’ in May

"The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day” Japanese Theatrical Poster

In May 2021, Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery will start filming The Boondocks Saints Part III with franchise director/creator/writer Troy Duffy.

“The fans have loved these characters for 20 years,” Duffy said. “They use terms of endearment like ‘the Brothers’ or ‘the Boys.’ We left them in jail at the end of Boondock 2 and fans want to know what happened to them. Norman and Sean have been a driving force to keep this franchise on track and break some new ground story-wise. The fans have been waiting. They literally ask about it daily, and I am really excited to be working with Impossible Dream to make Boondock III a reality” (via Deadline).

The Boondocks Saints Part III is being produced by Shaun Redick (Get Out), Yvette Yates Redick (SlantEd Comedy), Don Carmody (Good Will Hunting) and Continue reading

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Tips to Find the Discounts on Streaming Services

There are many ways you can save on entertainment. Whether it’s through the purchase of DVDs or buying a new TV, you can save money if you know how to find streaming services with discount offers. Hulu Black Friday offers and discounts are everywhere, but you won’t find as many opportunities as you might at a discount store when it comes to watching movies and streaming services. Here are some tips to find discount streaming services and discount movie deals on Black Friday.

Two Ways to Save:

It may not be obvious at first glance that you can use discounts on streaming services and movie rentals. However, there are two main ways to save on entertainment. One is by purchasing the movie outright. The other is by obtaining a discount or membership at a site that offers a variety of streaming services and exclusive movie rentals. Either way, you’ll be saving a lot of money on entertainment costs.

Most people are familiar with Blockbuster DVD rentals. The company offers a variety of titles for rent on its website. What many people don’t realize, however, is that they offer more than just titles. They also have a “block set” that contains all titles available in streaming format for instant access. This is a great tool if you frequently attend events like film festivals where you can see new movies before they hit the theaters.

Check Special Discounts and Deals:

While you’re browsing through the Blockbuster website, keep an eye out for special discounts and deals. In particular, you will find “busters nights,” in which Blockbuster will offer a discount on selected titles for their customers. The website also has some recommendations for new and popular films. Keep your eyes open for these kinds of programming as well.

Online Video Streaming Offers:

If you prefer to see movies on your television instead of going to the theater, you have other options for getting new movies. Many companies now offer online video streaming services that use CDs or DVDs to carry the video. Instead of using plastic to hold the movie, users can simply download it onto their computer. In addition to using streaming services, you can also use coupons for streaming services with discount movies.

If you’re a fan of shows and movies that you see on DVD, you should think about subscribing to a service that provides access to online streaming services. Several services are available on the internet. Some are better than others, but they all offer various types of discount movies. All you have to do is find the one that best fits your budget and your viewing preferences.

Check the Different Websites:

If you like to rent video games, make sure to check out the websites of your favorite game rental companies. Often you can save a bundle by signing up for a membership online. These memberships typically come with special discounts that you won’t find anywhere else.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a way to cut back on expenses, look into subscribing to one or more of these streaming services. At first glance, the concept of subscribing to a service that lets you stream over the internet may seem a bit strange. However, once you get started, it isn’t so hard. Once you’ve set up your streaming account and begun getting to know the different features, it will all start to make more sense.

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | 4K UHD Blu-ray & DVD (Marvel)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | 4K UHD Blu-ray & DVD (Marvel)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings | 4K UHD Blu-ray & DVD (Marvel)

RELEASE DATE: November 30, 2021

On November 30, 2021, Marvel is unleashing Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to 4K UHD Blu-ray & DVD (Marvel). This live-action martial arts film stars Canadian actor Simu Liu, who is best known for his role on the CBC sitcom Kim’s Convenience.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is an adaptation of writer Steve Englehart and artist Jim Starlin’s Shang-Chi, also known as Master of Kung Fu (also a recurring character in the 70’s comic book/magazine, The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu).

Co-stars include Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians), veteran Hong Kong actor Tony Leung (Europe Raiders), Fala Chen (The Treasure), Michelle Yeoh (Reign of Assassins), Yuen Wah (Eastern Condors) and Florian Continue reading

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Red to Kill (1994) Review

"Red to Kill" Chinese DVD Cover

“Red to Kill” Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Billy Tang
Cast: Lily Chung Suk Wai, Ben Ng Ngai Cheung, Money Lo Man Yee, Andy Dai Chi Wai, Bobby Yip Kin Sang, Baat Leung-Gam, Simon Cheung Yuk-San 
Running Time: 91 min.

By Paul Bramhall

During the early to mid-1990’s the Hong Kong film industry took to adapting a number of shocking true crime tales, the result of which produced the likes of The Untold Story and Dr. Lamb, and indelibly left their mark on the cinematic landscape forever. Such productions understandably were stamped with a Category III (or Cat III as it’s commonly abbreviated) rating, the HK equivalent of a hard R, and such was their popularity that the rating itself came to be referred to as its own genre. While to the unacquainted true stories of victims chopped up and turned into pork buns and other such atrocities may seems like grim viewing, often such productions were quite the opposite, instead opting for an over the top approach which made the excessive blood and gore as entertaining as it was disturbing. One director who came to prominence from said genre would be the man who was affectionately known as ‘Bloody’ Billy Tang.

While Tang gave some indication as to the dark themes he’d increasingly explore with his 1988 debut Vengeance is Mine, it wasn’t until 1993’s Run and Kill that he left his stamp on the Cat III genre like a hammer to the head. A tour de force of desperation and violence featuring a psychopath played by Simon Yam turning Kent Cheng’s world upside down, Run and Kill features more than one scene were viewers mouths are likely to be left agape, and showed Tang as a director who was willing to go where others feared to tread. As expected, Tang would stick with the genre the following year, in which he’d direct Brother of Darkness, a spin-off of Ivan Lai’s Daughter of Darkness. However while Brother of Darkness is now largely considered a disposable entry Continue reading

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Trailer: ‘I Saw the Devil’ helmer Kim Jee-Woon teams up with ‘Parasite’ star Lee Sun-Kyun for the Apple TV+’s ‘Dr. Brain’

"I Saw the Devil" Theatrical Poster

“I Saw the Devil” Theatrical Poster

Kim Jee-Woon, the acclaimed director of I Saw the Devil and Age of Shadows, is getting ready to unleash Dr. Brain, a sci-fi series for Apple TV+ that stars Lee Sun-Kyun (Parasite, Take Point). This YG Entertainment-produced series will be based on a popular webtoon of the same name.

The series also stars Lee Yoo-Young (Jo Pil-Ho: The Dawning Rage), Park Hee-Soon (The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion), Seo Ji-Hye (Rampant) and Lee Jae-Won (A Hard Day).

Dr. Brain follows a brain scientist (Lee Sun-Kyun) who is obsessive about figuring out new technologies to access the consciousness and memories of the brain. His life goes sideways when his family falls victim to a mysterious accident, and he uses his skills to access memories from his wife’s brain to piece together the mystery Continue reading

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Case Number 1994: Warner’s ‘Drunken Master 2’ Blu-ray


Drunken Master 2
has finally received a worthy release on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Bros., with its Warner Archive Collection release, finally restoring the Cantonese version uncut. It now feels like the right time to examine this film in the cold light of day, as it has split opinion with Kung Fu and Jackie enthusiasts, ever since grainy versions were available on pirate VHS in the mid ‘90s. Is this the greatest modern Kung Fu film ever made or a complete mess that squandered its potential. I open this up to the opposing councils…

Japanese "Drunken Master 2" Promotional Flyer

Japanese “Drunken Master 2” Promotional Flyer Side A

The Prosecution

Despite the fantastic action on show, Drunken Master 2 is a poor film, both tonally and structurally. We are introduced to Wong Fei hung (Jackie Chan) at a chaotic train station accompanied by his stoic father Wong Kei-ying (Ti Lung) and his comedy dogsbody Tso (Chi-Kwong Cheung). Immediately he is acting like the same immature fool from the ’78 original, despite clearly being 40 years old, as he tries to smuggle goods onto a train so they don’t have to pay tax. What follows is a brilliant opening sequence where Wong faces off against original director Lau Kar-leung, first utilising hung gar and then spear vs sword. Unfortunately, we then get an hour of Jackie and his step Mum (Anita Mui, who was only in her early 30s here, which feels jarring) trying to conceal things from his Dad, in the first instance, passing off a tree root for ginseng when they realise it was switched on the train Continue reading

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Check out the New Trailer for Netflix’ Live-Action adaptation of Anime classic ‘Cowboy Bebop’

"Cowboy Bebop" Netflix Poster

“Cowboy Bebop” Netflix Poster

On November 19, 2021, Netflix is premiering their upcoming series for Tomorrow Studios’ live-action adaptation of the popular anime Cowboy Bebop.

The space Western story follows Spike Spiegel and his rag-tag crew of bounty hunters, or Cowboys, as they try to capture the galaxy’s worst criminals and survive the unexpected dangers they encounter throughout space, sometimes saving the world in the process but always leaving millions in damages (via Deadline).

Cowboy Bebop stars John Cho (Star Trek Into Darkness) as Spike, Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage) as Jet, and Daniella Pineda (The Vampire Diaries) as Faye.

The series also stars Continue reading

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Black Cobra 3: The Manila Connection, The (1990) Review

"Black Cobra 3: The Manila Connection" Theatrical Poster

“Black Cobra 3: The Manila Connection” Theatrical Poster

Director: Edoardo Margheriti
Cast: Fred Williamson, Forry Smith, Debra Ward, David Light, Kelly Wicker, Ned Hourani, Buddy Norton, Mike Monty, Edward Santana, Maria Isabel Lopez
Running Time: 92 min.

By Paul Bramhall

In The Black Cobra 2 Fred ‘The Hammer’ Williamson finds himself involuntarily taking part in an Interpol exchange program, one that sees him sent off to Manila and partnered with a local agent played by Richard Hammond. Despite a rocky start, by the end the pair are firm friends, with Hammond’s son even asking Williamson the loaded question of “You are coming back now aren’t you?” in the airport’s departure lounge. Well, just a year later Williamson does return to Manila, even staying in the same hotel. Only he mustn’t have left much of an impression as nobody seems to recognise him (not even the doorman who used to be a cop), and Williamson never does contact Hammond and his family to let them know he’s back in the country. Heartless bastard.

It’s debatable if the third instalment acknowledges the existence of the sequel (which itself disregarded the original) despite also being helmed by Edoardo Margheriti, but either way, the result is Black Cobra 3: The Manila Connection. Not that you’d know it’s a Black Cobra flick from the opening, which sends us straight into Philippines jungle warfare territory as we follow Ned Hourani (an actor who seems to have appeared in every Filipino action cheapie made between 1989 to 1995, including Eternal Fist) ambushing an enemy compound. No further description required – you know the type. After infiltrating the electrified fence in the most time-consuming way possible, soon Hourani is spotted and we get the best action sequence of the trilogy. We’re talking explosions, machine gun Continue reading

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New Featurette for Marvel Studios ‘Eternals’ from director Chloé Zhao featuring ‘Train to Busan’s’ Ma Dong-seok

"Eternals" Theatrical Poster

“Eternals” Theatrical Poster

The super charismatic Ma Dong-seok, aka Don Lee (Unstoppable, Champion, Along with the Gods), who practically stole the show in 2016’s Train to Busan, co-stars in Marvel’s Eternals, an upcoming adventure that tells the story of Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.

Eternals is directed by acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Chloé Zhao, who is perhaps best known for 2020’s Nomadland, which took home best director, best movie and best actress at the Oscars.

The director teased her creative freedom with the project: “I shot exactly the way I wanted to shoot. On location. A lot of magic hour. Three-hundred-sixty degrees on the same camera as I did on Nomadland. Same rigs. It’s a bit Continue reading

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