Practical Tips To Make Savings On Gas Bills

An energy-efficient home or organisation uses its business gas more productively. It can be a good way to save money and the lower consumption of natural resources is better for society in general. Do you want to save money on your gas bills but don’t know where to start? Here we provide you some tips that you can use to lower your monthly gas consumption. 

  1. Installing A Smart Meter

A smart meter helps indicate where most of your energy consumption is taking place. You can help remedy the situation only if you can identify which areas of your premises that are using the most energy. With a smart meter installed you will know exactly where you need to make the changes in your gas consumption. 

  1. Roof Insulation

There are a lot of different places where heat can escape from in office premises or at home. The roof is the main place where the heat escapes from in any piece of property. Older properties are more prone to having worn out or no insulation at all on the roof. This means that more than a quarter of the gas consumed is used to heat the roof. 

Consider upgrading the insulation for your roof especially if your property was built before the ‘90s. The constant gas savings you will be able to make each month will easily justify any spending which needs to be made. 

  1. Changing Your Boiler

The average lifespan of a boiler is anywhere between 10 to 15 years. After that time, these machines might not run as efficiently as they should. This means that you could be incurring extra costs just to continue to let an older boiler function. You can achieve a higher level of energy efficiency with a more updated version of the boiler. 

Avoid purchasing excessively large boilers because they can also add to your gas expenses. Do not hesitate to find out from a professional which size of boiler will be the right choice in your specific scenario. 

  1. Installing Double Glazing

Glazing is a form of protection against losing the heat that is already in your premises. Most offices often have standard single glazed doors and windows. An easy way to ensure that less heat is lost over longer periods of time is to double glaze your doors and windows. Once the double glazing is installed you will begin to notice savings in your gas consumption.

  1. Insulating Hot Water Pipes

Having uninsulated hot water pipes means that these pipes will easily be affected by their surroundings. It also means that it will take longer to heat the same pipes if they do not have some kind of insulation around them. Once they reach the desired temperature, uninsulated hot water pipes will become cooler much faster. This means that a lot of energy will be wasted because the hot water pipes are not insulated. 

Insulating hot water pipes is an easy way to make savings on your energy bills. When choosing the insulation make sure you choose the right insulation based on the walls of your property.

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Chinese Boxer | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Chinese Boxer | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Chinese Boxer | Blu-ray (88 Films)

RELEASE DATE: November 9, 2021

On November 9, 2021, 88 Films is taking its first venture into Region A with the Blu-ray for The Chinese Boxer (aka Hamme of God), a 1970 martial arts film directed by and starring Jimmy Wang Yu (The One-Armed Swordsman) with Lo Lieh (Black Belt Karate) co-starring.

Read the official details below:

From the golden age of kung fu movies, the legendary Shaw Brothers bring you an action-packed tale of revenge, mayhem and flying fists. When his martial arts school is viciously attacked by a rival gang of Japanese thugs, Lei Ming swears to bring them down with violent justice. Written, starring and directed by Jimmy Wang Yu, The Chinese Boxer is a fabulously fast-paced feature full of exquisite set-pieces and Continue reading

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Burning Ambition (1989) Review

"Burning Ambition" Theatrical Poster

“Burning Ambition” Theatrical Poster

Director: Frankie Chan Fan Kei
Cast: Frankie Chan Fan Kei, Simon Yam, Yukari Oshima, O Chun Hung, Eddie Ko Hung, Michael Miu Kiu Wai, Seung Yee, Austin Wai Tin Chi, Lau Siu Ming, Kara Hui
Running Time: 104 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The final year of the 1980’s represented a peak when it came to the elements that had come to define Hong Kong action cinema during the latter half of the decade. Arguably kicked off by Jackie Chan’s Police Story in 1985, the high impact kickboxing style and brutal stunt work that made its action scenes so memorable soon became the go-to action aesthetic, and could be found in almost every corner of the genre. Determined to see out the 80’s with a bang, 1989 gave us triad potboilers like Bloody Brotherhood, Girls with Guns action with Devil Hunters, and even Phillip Ko Fei picked up his directorial game for Final Run. Featuring plentiful knocks and bumps, all of these productions looked to ensure that the stuntmen involved certainly earned their paycheque, and left a legacy of action that’s never been replicated before or since.

Another entry in the 1989 canon was Frankie Chan’s Burning Ambition. While Chan is most well known as being the composer for literally hundreds of Hong Kong movies dating back to the 70’s, he’s sat in the directors chair and appeared in front of camera in a respectable number of movies as well. For many fans of kung fu cinema it’s likely Chan will always be remembered as playing Yuen Biao’s nemesis in Sammo Hung’s seminal 1981 wing chun movie, The Prodigal Son. Despite only being his 2nd time onscreen after his acting debut the year prior in the comedy Read Lips, Chan’s Continue reading

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Sonny Chiba: January 22, 1939 – August 19, 2021

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What Defines Book-to-Film Adaptations’ Success or Failure?

What Defines Book-to-Film Adaptations’ Success or Failure?

What Defines Book-to-Film Adaptations’ Success or Failure?

The cinematic adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” topped the box office when it debuted in the spring of 2012, grossing more than $155 million in its first three days in cinemas.

With novels, how the reader envisions events is totally reliant on the writer’s descriptive abilities. As a result, when descriptions are adapted from the novel to the big screen, the way these descriptions are converted into real visuals has a profound effect.

It’s not really about perfectly recreating a novel’s plot, as this will always have to be altered in some way to accommodate the change in medium. Nor is it about the casting, as there is rarely a perfect real-life match for a fictional character. 

Rather, it’s about delivering the story in the way that fans of the novel would have pictured it in their heads. Good adaptations can even exist between wildly different mediums — as in from movies and books to board games, video games, and even slot machines. Often, the more closely a film’s presentation lines up with readers’ and viewers’ expectations, the more well-received that film will be. Betway Insider will present their arguments below. 

Fidelity to the Source Material

Immediately, one’s mind goes to Peter Jackson’s adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings.” The film is critically acclaimed as one of the best book-to-film adaptations of all time — the book it’s based on is one that many have come to love. 

Jackson not only captured the scenery of Middle Earth, but he also used language straight from the novels to capture its essence. There’s a certain satisfaction in knowing the story ahead of time – there’s no suspense, and you know how it’ll end. You’re aiming for the visual experience, so hearing the dialogue that you’re familiar with just adds to the enjoyment of the experience.

Unrealistic Expectations

People will always be dissatisfied if they go in to see a film of their favorite book with the hope of complete fidelity to the source material — when they decide in advance that they won’t be satisfied unless the film exactly matches the book.

It should go without saying that books and films are two distinct forms of media. You’ll always be disappointed if you walk into the movie hoping to see everything from the book shown on screen.

Reader-viewers unhappy with the screen adaptations say that they wouldn’t mind having to sit through a 9-hour long movie if it meant everything from the book could be included in the film. But they forget screen adaptations of novels have to reach a very wide audience in order to be profitable.

The longer a film is, the more it costs. At the same time, the longer a film is, the fewer people are going to be able to spare the time to watch it. What’s more, it’s simply unfeasible — the Lord of the Rings is one book, with three movies actually totaling a run time of over 9 hours. The film adaptations still weren’t able to include everything from the books, not even remotely.

That said, Film adaptations do occasionally stray too far; the artistic direction of the film’s directors and producers may have a greater focus on aesthetics at the expense of the plot. For example, the Harry Potter films, particularly the latter ones: the graphics and effects are amazing, but the narrative’s intricacy has vanished, whereas the very first film has almost laughable graphical quality but is almost a perfect adaptation of the first Harry Potter book.

Takeaways

The mix of brilliance, inspiration and the popularity of the novel itself is required for box office success. Still, film directors and producers must also pair these aspects meeting reader and viewer expectations. The basic rule is to strive for the greatest production quality and the most detailed visuals, but never at the expense of the novel’s narrative and the overarching plot.

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Fatal Raid | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Fatal Raid | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Fatal Raid | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2021

On August 24th, Well Go USA is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for Jacky Lee’s The Fatal Raid (aka Special Female Force 2: The Fatal Raid), the sequel to the 2016 flick, Special Female Force (read our review), which itself was a remake of the Jackie Chan-produced 1986 Golden Harvest classic, The Inspector Wears Skirts.

In The Fatal Raid (read our review), two elite police teams head up a secret operation following a dangerous smuggling ring across the Macau border, but when their presence is discovered, the mission ends in a deadly firefight. Twenty years later, an escort mission brings the survivors back to the scene of the tragedy — and fosters a highly unwelcome reunion.

The Fatal Raid debuted at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) and includes Continue reading

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Sword of Desperation | Blu-ray (Animeigo)

Sword of Desperation | Blu-ray (Animeigo)

Sword of Desperation | Blu-ray (Animeigo)

RELEASE DATE: December 14, 2021

On December 14, 2021, Animeigo is releasing the Blu-ray for Sword of Desperation, a 2010 samurai actioner directed by Hideyuki Hirayama (School Ghost Stories) and written by Shuhei Fujisawa, author of the Oscar-nominated The Twilight Samurai.

In order to save his fief, an expert swordsman publicly assassinates his lord’s favorite concubine. Instead of being beheaded, he is sentenced to solitary confinement for one year, then ordered to serve as the lord’s bodyguard. This tale of honor, intrigue and deception inevitably ends in bloodshed and betrayal.

The film stars Etsushi Toyokawa (Love Letter, No Way Back), Chizuru Ikewaki (Looking for a True Fiancee), Koji Kikkawa (Kamen Rider W), Naho Continue reading

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Top 3 Iconic Roulette Scenes on the Silver Screen

Nothing lights up the silver screen quite like the glamour and excitement of a casino floor. We’ve seen many a palpably tense moment played out in all its glory against the backdrop of a stunning casino backdrop, such as the sophisticated ambience of an exclusive poker game or the mayhem of bustling room full of buzzing slot machines. But one game above all others perfectly elicits an atmosphere of drama worthy of Hollywood, and that game is roulette. 

You’ve probably played roulette before, so you know how crazy the vibe can get when a large group of gamblers are gathered around a roulette wheel, especially if someone is winning. If you haven’t had a chance to experience a game of roulette in the flesh, you can still pick up the vibe by playing online. You’ll find plenty of live casino roulette games at a real money online casino Canada – and you can easily find a real money online casino Canada from a reputable list of recommendations. You’ll enjoy the movies we’re about to mention a whole lot more if you’ve had some experience playing roulette. 

Let’s get down to business. There are three stand-out silver screen moments that feature the iconic roulette wheel. Each movie is completely different from the other, so you’re sure to find one that tickles your fancy. We think you should watch all three.

Run Lola Run

Run Lola Run is one of the best films ever produced for German cinema. The premise of the film centres on the idea that life has many probable outcomes, but the outcomes are all based on the choices that you make along the way. In the film, we follow the protagonist, Lola, as she desperately tries to find one hundred thousand Deutsche Mark within a 20-minute time frame, which she needs to do to save her boyfriend’s life. The film sets out three possible scenarios for Lola, and in one of the scenarios, Lola tries to win the money on a single game of roulette. The film is high-energy, and the scene at the roulette table is everything you would want it to be – but we won’t give away the ending.

Casablanca 

Casablanca is set during World War II, and the story is played out during one evening at bar called Rick’s Café. The main plot revolves around Rick, his ex-lover, Ilsa, and her new husband. Throughout the evening, a number of subplots play out, and we get to meet plenty of colourful characters. One of those characters is a man who desperately need to purchase a visa for himself and his wife so that they can escape war and persecution in Europe. The man, Jan, tries to raise the money he needs to pay for the visa by playing roulette. From a cinematic point of view, the scene at the roulette table is, perhaps, one of the most beautiful on the silver screen. And from a human point of view, the scene offers a beautiful expression of humanity and empathy through the actions of Rick. This film is must-see.

Diamonds are Forever

We couldn’t possibly write an article about casino moments on film without mentioning James Bond. Bond is, of course, better known for his antics at high-stakes card games, like poker and baccarat. However, in Diamonds are Forever, we meet Sean Connery’s Bond (some might say, the best Bond) at a roulette table. The scene unfolds at the Whyte House mansion, and it is here that we see Bond’s roulette strategy reveal itself – prompting many a roulette player to follow in Bond’s footsteps. Bond places a flat bet on the same numbers every time as a way of beating the odds. It’s a fantastic scene, and it sets up the rest of the film in true Bond fashion, but we wouldn’t recommend Bond’s strategy unless you have extremely deep pockets. 

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X-Cross | Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

X-Cross | Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

X-Cross | Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2021

On September 28, 2021, Media Blasters is releasing a New Blu-ray (4K remastered) for X-Cross (aka XX), from Battle Royale 2 and Yo Yo Girl Cop director Fukasaku Kenta.

Based on the novel by Joko Noboyuki, this over-the-top slasher stars Matsushita Nao (Sand’s Chronicle), pop idol Suzuki Ami (Ouran High School Host Club) and Ikeuchi Hiroyuki (Space Travelers).

Shiyori is a young lady trying to mend a broken heart who travels with her best friend, Aiko, to a remote village known for its therapeutic hot springs. But what was planned to be a relaxing, quiet get away, turns into a nightmare! Unbeknownst to them, the seemingly quiet country village harbors a community of psychopaths that begin to prey on the two friends. Amidst the panic, Shiyori Continue reading

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Who is a better gambler in the casino: a man or a woman?

Who is a better gambler in the casino: a man or a woman?All people by nature crave for a thrill, and many people cannot even stop their gambling at the right time. Looking deeper, we can find out that men are more frequent visitors to gambling establishments. According to statistics, it is true that there are more males registered on betting sites, but this does not mean that women do not play roulette or spin the reels in slots, and there are those for whom playing online casino games has become a habit.

There are women gamblers, and there are quite many of them. It is an entertainment that is equally enjoyable for all people, so it is better to forget about stereotypes. Researchers from Harvard conducted an interesting study. For this, they attracted 40,000 players from different parts of the world. Each participant was given a starting capital, and they all played in the same casino. After some time, they compared the statistics and found that women were more likely to stay in the black.

Most would say that this is due to the caution of women, it turns out the opposite, they prefer an aggressive game. Success helps them to achieve a well-developed intuition, good money management and the ability to stop in time. Tests have shown that women are able to soberly assess the situation and they are less affected by winning or losing.

Gaming preferences and habits

Statistics show that the adult gaming community consists of 57% male players and 43% female players. Studies have shown that preferences and gaming habits differ between the sexes. Men tend to like risky games because of the excitement that comes with high returns, namely blackjack, poker and sports betting.

Women, on the other hand, prefer a relaxing gamble. Most of them prefer to:

  • play games that are more fun-oriented;
  • where there is less competition, such as slot machines;
  • devote more time to each gaming session than men;
  • by playing with lower stakes, they can maximize the length of each game by investing less in each spin!

At the same time, male players bet more per line, thus shortening their playing sessions. It follows that, men participate in more gaming sessions per year than their opposite sex. Among regular players, men spend an average of 115 days a year gambling at online casinos, more than women, who spend an average of 71 days a year.

Factors influencing statistics

It is instead impressive the percentage of female players on sports betting, almost doubled in the last two years: 58.5% of female players like to bet on various sporting events. The number of men who play online bingo, which has recently become very popular among gambling enthusiasts, is increasing: 42.2%, a really considerable percentage.

Actually, it is not only the gender that influences the statistics. We must also consider age as an important factor in determining which games are the favorites. Online poker is very popular among young people between 25 and 34, while sports betting attracts players over 55 years old, covering 70% of frequent players.

Although overall more than two-thirds would cash out their winnings immediately, women were far more cautious than men. In fact, 72.3% said they would cash it in without qualms compared to 61% of men, while only 9% of women are willing to re-invest that money to try to win even more. What about the men? 13% wouldn’t think twice about reusing that winnings to try their luck again. However, motivations can also be influenced by a variety of other reasons. For example, economic availability and even geographic location can influence them. Going by the risk factors inherent in gambling, winning is the one goal that both genders share. But an important part of gambling ability is the reaction when the real numbers come up.

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Black Belt | Blu-ray (Media Blasters)

Black Belt | Blu-ray (Media Blasters)

Black Belt | Blu-ray (Media Blasters)

RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2021

On September 28, 2021, Media Blasters is releasing the Blu-ray for Shunichi Nagasaki’s Black Belt (aka Kuro-Obi). This 2007 Japanese martial arts film (read our review) stars Akihito Yagi (High-Kick Girl!), Tatsuya Naka (Karate Girl) and Yuji Suzuki (Godzilla: Final Wars). For the first time, it will be presented from a new 4K scan.

If you ever decide to check this movie out, try not to watch it back-to-back with any other martial arts movies. If you do, Black Belt will expose just how light, unrealistic and cartoony those titles really are – all 99% of them.

The choreography in Black Belt consists of fights that appear to be as natural and realistic as they possibly could for the camera. As cut and dry as the sequences are, they’re so intense that you can feel Continue reading

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Raging Fire (2021) Review

"Raging Fire" Theatrical Poster

“Raging Fire” Theatrical Poster

Director: Benny Chan
Cast: Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Ray Lui, Qin Lan, Patrick Tam Yiu-Man, Kenny Wong Tak-Ban
Running Time: 126 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Is there anything that gets fans of Hong Kong action cinema more hyped than the promise of a Donnie Yen angry cop movie!? Arguably not, and it’s easy to understand why after Yen put Hong Kong action back on the map during one of its driest spells with 2005’s Sha Po Lang. We’ve had intermittent cop action from Yen in the intervening years, namely in the form of 2007’s Flash Point and 2013’s Special ID, so when it was announced that he was returning to the genre once more for Raging Fire, expectations were understandably set high.

The final movie from director Benny Chan (Big Bullet, The White Storm) before his untimely passing in 2020, the selling point for Raging Fire is the pairing of Yen and Nicholas Tse (Beast Stalker, The Viral Factor) as enemies on a collision course with each other. All 3 have worked together before, with Yen and Tse sharing co-star status (along with Shawn Yu) on the 2006 comic book adaption Dragon Tiger Gate, as well as clocking in memorable supporting roles in 2009’s Bodyguards and Assassins. Chan and Tse go back a long way, with Tse’s big break coming thanks to 1999’s Gen-X Cops, before reuniting for 2004’s New Police Story, 2007’s Invisible Target, and 2011’s Shaolin. After a decade apart, it’s equally as exciting to see Tse back in a Benny Chan flick Continue reading

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3 Best CBD Cookies Recipes You’ll Love

3 Best CBD Cookies Recipes You'll Love

The benefits of edibles are almost the same as with any other CBD product, except for one obvious difference – they taste good! All kinds of snacks, treats, candies, and cookies infused with cannabidiol enable you to harness this all-natural plant-based remedy. 

Suppose you’re not a fan of commercial hemp products claiming a certain CBD amount in them. In that case, you’ll be happy to know that homemade CBD treats can be equally beneficial to your health. Plus, they will taste much, much better. 

You can make yummy cookies infused with cannabidiol and extras as you wish. We give you not one the best CBD cookies recipe, but three of them to make these treats at home. They are just as effective as what you would buy cookies in the store. 

Prepare Your CBD

In most recipes, you can use quality CBD isolate or oil. If you opt for hemp buds, you have to decarb them first. The good thing is that you can choose the strain you want. It means you will know how much CBD, THC, and other compounds your cookies contain.

For maximum health benefits, choose one of the CBD-rich strains. For example, if you take hemp that has 20% of CBD, it means that one gram of these buds yields about 200mg of cannabidiol. It’s easy to calculate how much raw material you need based on the dose of CBD you want in your cookies.

Decarboxylation is nothing but baking raw hemp flowers. It’s best to bake them for about an hour at 240 Fahrenheit. Break raw flowers into small chunks beforehand for a more even baking. After the buds dry, grind them into a fine powder. You will use it in all the above recipes.

Almond Flour CBD Cookies

If you are for a vegan, protein-rich variant of cakes, this is the right recipe for you. It uses Almond flour, the benefits of which can be found at this link. You will need about 2 cups of it, 1/4 tablespoon of baking soda, 1/2 tablespoon of baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Put all this in a bowl and add half a cup of chopped Pecans (or nuts to your taste). Add powdered hemp according to the prescribed dosage.

Of the wet ingredients, you will need 1/3 cup of maple syrup or honey, 1/4 cup of softened coconut oil, and a few drops of almond extract. Put it all into dry ingredients and knead the dough. Take out the tablespoon size of the dough on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.

Bake cookies at 350 Fahrenheit, no more than 15 minutes. After baking, they will be quite soft. But when they cool down, they will harden. Keep these cookies in a jar until you eat them. Then, it’s time for a new batch.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

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What is better than traditional chocolate-rich cookies with a cup of warm milk? For this CBD-infused treat, you will need 2 cups of all-purpose flour, ¾ cup of granulated and the same amount of brown sugar, and one teaspoon of baking soda. You need approximately 2 grams of powdered cannabis flower for this amount of dough.

Next, add one cup of melted butter, two eggs, vanilla extract, and about 9 ounces of chocolate chips to the dry ingredients. Don’t forget a pinch of salt to enhance the chocolate aroma. When everything is mixed, leave the dough in a fridge to cool a bit. It will make it easier to form. 

Tear off pieces of dough and roll them into balls. Place them in a paper-lined tray and press lightly. Bake cookies at approximately 350 F for about 10 minutes. After baking, let them cool a bit, and they are ready to eat.

No-Bake CBD Treat

Although the preparation of CBD cookies doesn’t take too much time, you can speed things up even more if you opt for the no-bake variant. This recipe comes in handy when you absolutely have no time for baking or simply not in a mood.

All you need are a food processor and ingredients you probably have at home. Use 1 cup of all-purpose flour (choose almond for gluten-free variant), 1/3 cup of peanut butter, about 3 grams of powdered CBD buds (or three ml of oil), six dates, and about two tablespoons of milk (or almond milk). 

Check the following source to learn about buying high-quality CBD oil:

https://www.cbdcentral.com/how-to-buy-cbd-oil/ 

Add cinnamon, vanilla extract, cloves, or any spice as desired. Turn on the food processor for a few minutes. If the dough is too hard, add a little more milk. For a chunkier texture, you can add some ground nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruits.

When it’s of good consistency, scoop one tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Put it on a parchment-lined baking pan and press down. You can use a fork to add some charming patter. Leave the cookies to cool in a fridge for half an hour. You can decorate them with melted chocolate, honey, or peanut butter. Healthy, delicious, and easy-to-make treat, what more could you ask for?

When you combine CBD with your favorite snacks, you can enjoy both the taste and all the healing benefits of this ingredient. Cookies are fairly easy to prepare and can stand for quite a long time. Just leave them in a cool, dark place, roughly somewhere where they won’t be easily accessible to you. That way, you won’t eat them all at once.

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Bao Tran’s ‘The Paper Tigers’ is now on Netflix

"The Paper Tigers" Theatrical Poster

“The Paper Tigers” Theatrical Poster

The Paper Tigers (read our review), an independent kung fu/comedy from writer/director Tran Quoc Bao (The Challenger), featuring fight choreography by Ken Quitugua (Unlucky Stars), is now streaming on Netflix!

Our very own Paul Bramhall says: “The Paper Tigers is a resounding success in proving that a small budget is no obstacle when you have the right talent both in front and behind the camera. With his first full length feature Bao Tran has crafted a narrative where the story beats land just as effectively as the actions ones, and the result is a kung fu movie with genuine heart and characters who we can all relate to in some way.”

In The Paper Tigersa dead-beat dad, a fat insurance scammer and an MMA coach find themselves in the middle of a gang war when they must avenge their kung fu Continue reading

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Savage (2018) Review

"Savage" Theatrical Poster

“Savage” Theatrical Poster

Director: Siwei Cui
Cast: Chang Chen, Ni Ni, Fan Liao, Jue Huang, Liu Hua, Li Guangjie, Taili Wang, Xiaojun Yue
Running Time: 112 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The harshness of winter has always lent itself to the visual medium of cinema. From the iconic 1968 spaghetti western The Great Silence, to John Carpenter’s 1982 horror The Thing, and more recently thrillers such as Cold Pursuit. In 2018 China offered up its own winter set thriller in the form of Savage, although tonally it could well be argued that it owes its influence more to The Great Silence, with its western themed soundtrack and characters.

After a trio of thieves ambush an armoured truck carrying a consignment of gold, a pair of local cop’s stumble across them when their vehicle gets stuck in the thick snow while attempting to make a quiet escape. Initially none the wiser, the cops assist them to free their vehicle, but the tense expressions of the trio combined with news of the ambush coming through on the radio soon give the game away, leading to one of the cops taking a bullet and dying at the scene. Narrowly getting away, the other cop is left to slip into that role audiences know so well – a vengeance seeking loner who does things his way and has little regard for his own life. Think Martin Riggs Continue reading

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