Deal on Fire! Ip Man 4: The Finale | Blu-ray | Only $9.96 – Expires soon!

Ip Man 4: The Finale | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Ip Man 4: The Finale | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Ip Man 4: The Finale (read our review). The film sees the return of Donnie Yen (Chasing the Dragon) as the legendary martial arts figure, Ip Man.

Following the death of his wife, Ip Man travels to San Francisco to ease tensions between the local kung fu masters and his star student, Bruce Lee, while searching for a better future for his son.

Joining Yen this time around is Chris Collins (Paradox), Vanness Wu (Dragon Squad), Scott Adkins (The Debt Collector) and of course, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan (Ip Man 3) returns as Bruce Lee. Acclaimed action director Yuen Woo-ping (Ip Man 3) will be handling the film’s fight choreography Continue reading

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

4 Ways to Make Sure Your Fundraising Cash is Safe

4 Ways to Make Sure Your Fundraising Cash is SafeIf you are collecting money for a nonprofit or for some other charitable cause, you need to make sure that any cash or checks that you collect remain as safe as possible. If you can’t safeguard that money, you’re doing a disservice to both the individuals who gave it to you and also the entity for which you are collecting. You also don’t want to lose any of that money or have anyone steal it because then, there is some risk of people thinking you did something underhanded with it.

You can take certain steps to make sure the cash and checks you collect are safe. Let’s look at how you can take a commonsense approach to this issue right now.

You Can Use a Secure Container When Collecting

Safety matters in everything you do. For instance, if you’re trying to access a computer network, and you want to make sure only authorized individuals can do that, you might use multi-factor authentication. If you were crossing the street, you would look both ways, and so forth.

In fundraising, if you’re going to have to carry around checks and cash, you can make it less likely that anything might happen to that money by keeping it in a secure box with a lock on it. There are portable cash boxes you can get that lock, and as long as you retain the keys for that box and don’t let it out of your sight, that’s going to work a lot better than keeping the money in an unsecured location.

You Want at Least Two Unrelated People Handling the Cash

You should also make sure you assign at least two individuals to handle the organization’s cash during the collection process. If you’re collecting for a nonprofit, for example, you’ll want to arrange for a team to deal with that money rather than just one person.

As long as you trust everyone on that team, this is a better situation than assigning just one individual to handle this significant of a job. This way, one person can go to the bathroom or go get some food while the others watch over the cash. It’s much harder for anyone to lose that money or for anyone to steal it if this is a multi-person effort.

Use a Safe Route When Going to the Bank

Until the money you collect is safely in the bank, there are risk elements involved whenever you fundraise. You’re going to have large cash quantities on you, and that can attract someone who might want to steal it. You’d hope they would think twice about their plans because you’re collecting for a nonprofit and a worthy cause, but some unscrupulous people won’t care about that.

When you’re going to the bank to drop off that money, make sure you go in the daylight and that you take a route with plenty of people along the way who can see what’s happening. Visibility is your friend. 

If you take some secluded route to get to the bank, you make it easier for someone to try and rob you. You can avoid this by having as many witnesses around as possible.

Put that Money in the Bank as Quickly as Possible

As long as you have that fundraising money out of the bank, it’s not safe. You want to make sure to get to the bank as fast as possible and drop off that money for your own peace of mind.

You don’t want to leave the cash in your home for days after the fundraising event. Keeping it at home overnight should be okay, but do not delay any longer than that. Once the sun is up the next day and the banks open, make sure to drop off that money before you try to do anything else.

Once you drop off that money, make sure you get a receipt for it as well. You can keep that receipt as proof showing how much money you collected. You will also want to give everyone a receipt who donated. They can write off charitable contributions on their next tax return.

If you follow this approach, you should be able to bank all the cash you collected for your charitable event or nonprofit entity. You run little risk of anyone robbing you or losing any of that money. The charitable organization or nonprofit for which you collected will definitely thank you for it.

 

Posted in News |

Sailor Suit and Machine Gun | Blu-ray (Arrow)

Sailor Suit and Machine Gun | Blu-ray (Arrow)

Sailor Suit and Machine Gun | Blu-ray (Arrow)

RELEASE DATE: November 11, 2021

On November 11, 2021, Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray for Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, a 1981 Japanese actioner directed by Shinji Somai (Wait and See) and starring Tsunehiko Watase (Battles Without Honor and Humanity Vol. 1), Hiroko Yakushimaru (Never Give Up) and Rentaro Mikuni (Shinran: Path to Purity).

Read the official details:

A perky high-schooler takes on the mob in Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, a one-of-a-kind genre-bender that riffs on the yakuza film, coming-of-age drama and ‘idol movie’, inventively adapted from Jiro Akagawa’s popular novel by director Shinji Somai (Typhoon Club, Wait and See), a massively influential figure in Japanese cinema whose work has been little seen outside his Continue reading

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

Commando Ninja | Blu-ray (ETR Media)

Commando Ninja | Blu-ray (ETR Media)

Commando Ninja | Blu-ray (ETR Media)

RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2021

On September 28, 2021, ETR Media is releasing the Blu-ray for Benjamin Combes’ Commando Ninja, a 2018 film that parodies actions films such as Commando and American Ninja (and practically every popular action flick of the 80s).

1986: John Hunter (Eric Carlesi) is a Vietnam veteran, half commando, half ninja, 100% American. He is forced back into action when his young daughter is kidnapped by a secret ninja organization, led by a Central American dictator who wants to create a new world order through time… Unfortunately for them, she is the only thing he would kill again for. Hunter will have to fight his way through an army of ninjas, vietcongs, punks, dinosaurs, mutants, one of his former commandos and a fully equipped private army. With Continue reading

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

Sweet Girl (2021) Review

"Sweet Girl" Netflix Poster

“Sweet Girl” Netflix Poster

Director: Brian Andrew Mendoza
Cast: Jason Momoa, Isabela Merced, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Raza Jaffrey, Justin Bartha, Lex Scott Davis, Michael Raymond-James, Amy Brenneman, Reggie Lee
Running Time: 110 min.

By Paul Bramhall

For a long time it seemed like the musclebound hero was a thing of the past in Hollywood action cinema. The bombastic action movies that dominated the 1980’s filled with ripped six-packs and bulging biceps had long fallen out of favour, and to this day there’s only really 2 options – either 1. You’re Vin Diesel so your “family” has your back, or 2. you get cast as one of the more ripped superheroes in the MCU or DCU. It was option 2 that happened for Chris Hemsworth, who’s biggest claim to fame was playing Patrick Swayze’s role in a disastrous remake of Red Dawn, when he took on the role of Thor and nailed it. It’s a similar story for Jason Momoa, who took the ill-advised decision to step into Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shoes for a critically mauled reboot of Conan the Barbarian, until he found his groove as the nautically inclined Aquaman. Life was good, but what do you do in-between these super-heroic cinematic outings!?

One answer to the question comes in the form of Netflix. With the likes of Cannon Films and PM Entertainment long gone, the streaming service has taken it upon itself to provide a platform (and the funds) for the kind of straight up macho action flicks that the likes of Hemsworth and Momoa would be headlining if we were still in the 80’s. In 2020 we got the Chris Hemsworth vehicle Extraction, a movie that puts him front and centre as an archetypal grizzled action hero Continue reading

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Watch the Trailer for Well Go USA’s post-pandemic Swedish actioner ‘Last Man Down’ from Fansu Njie

Last Man Down | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

Last Man Down | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

On October 19, 2021, Well Go USA is releasing the Blu-ray for Last Man Down, a Swedish actioner from writer/director Fansu Njie.

Read the official details:

After civilization succumbs to a deadly pandemic and his wife is murdered, John Wood – a special forces soldier – abandons his duty and becomes a hermit in the Nordic wilderness. Years later, a wounded woman appears on his doorstep. Maria Johnson is an escaped lab rat, and her pursuers believe her blood is the key to a worldwide cure. Though John is hesitant to get involved, all doubts are cast aside when he discovers Maria’s pursuer is none other than Commander Stone, the man Continue reading

Posted in News |

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.

Posted in News |

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

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

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

Posted in News |

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.

Posted in News |

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

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

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

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

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. 

Posted in News |

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

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