Take Back (2021) Review

Take Back | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Take Back | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Director: Christian Sesma
Cast: Gillian White, Michael Jai White, Mickey Rourke, Paul Sloan, Jessica Uberuaga, James Russo, Nick Vallelonga, Jay Montalvo, Chris Browning
Running Time: 89 min.

By Paul Bramhall

I’m sure every fan of the American DTV action genre has at some point asked themselves “what could be better than watching Michael Jai White kicking people in the face?” The star of such DTV action classics as Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing and Blood and Bone attempted to answer the question in 2020, by facing off against his ass-kicking wife, Gillian White, in Welcome to Sudden Death. If anything, the strangely titled reboot of a Jean Claude Van Damme flick proved that some questions are best left unanswered, as Welcome to Sudden Death was unwatchable trash. In fairness though, it wasn’t the first time for the White’s to feature together in the same movie, as Mrs. White also had a supporting role in 2016’s Never Back Down: No Surrender. It’s 2021’s Take Back though which propels Gillian White to starring status, with her hubby in a supporting role.

The pair play a married couple living in small town California, which I’m sure must have been a stretch for their acting muscles. White’s character is a local lawyer (and stepmom to Jai White’s daughter), with Jai White himself playing a schoolteacher. One day she walks into her local coffee shop to find the barista being threatened by an ex-boyfriend, who ends up on the receiving end of one of her kicks. Captured on CCTV, soon the footage goes viral and White becomes Continue reading

Posted in All, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , |

The Korean filmmaker behind ‘The Chaser’ and ‘The Yellow Sea’ is back (kind of) with a Thai thriller called ‘The Medium’

"The Medium" Theatrical Poster

“The Medium” Theatrical Poster

They call him Na Hong-Jin. If you’re not familiar with his name, maybe you’re familiar with his work. In 2008, he shook the world with his debut feature film, The Chaser. In 2010, he showed us that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder with The Yellow Sea. Then in 2016 came The Wailing, where Na proved his cinematic prowess while tackling the occult subgenre.

So what’s next for the Na? You’re looking at it. A Thai-made horror film titled The Medium (read our review), which he’s not directing, but producing and co-writing. However, from what we we’ve seen, it aligns closely with the look and feel of Na’s The Wailing.

Directed by Banjong Pisanthanakun, the film’s official plot reads: “A horrifying story of a shaman’s inheritance in the Isan region of Thailand. What could be Continue reading

Posted in News |

COF Presents: An interview with Philip Ng of ‘Birth of the Dragon’ and ‘Undercover Punch and Gun’

Philip Ng Wan-lung Interview Undercover Punch and Gun Birth of the Dragon Bruce Lee Well Go USA
Born in Hong Kong, with a good portion of his youth spent in America, Philip Ng Wan-lung is an avid practitioner/teacher of various forms of martial arts. As both an actor and fight choreographer, he’s had a solid film career in his homeland since the early 2000s. He’s already worked with some of the best in the industry, such as Ringo Lam, Donnie Yen, Corey Yuen, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan.

But it wasn’t until 2016 where Ng hit a huge turning point in his career with the controversial Birth of the Dragon, which not only was first Hollywood gig he appeared/starred in, but it was the film where he played the iconic Bruce Lee.

While promoting the debut U.S. release of Well Go USA’s Undercover Punch and Gun, we had the opportunity to do a short, but sweet, interview Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, News |

Voice of Silence (2020) Review

"Voice of Silence" Theatrical Poster

“Voice of Silence” Theatrical Poster

Director: Hong Eui-jung
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Yoo Jae-myung, Moon Seung-A, Yu Seong-Ju, Shin Tae-Yang, Hanna Kim
Running Time: 99 min. 

By Paul Bramhall 

Back in the early to mid-noughties, a period popularly known as the Korean Wave, the countries film industry had a knack for cranking out productions that seamlessly blended genres to create a number of unique cinematic experiences. From the sci-fi zaniness of Save the Green Planet, to the left of field horror antics in To Catch a Virgin Ghost, when it came to Korean cinema you could never be sure exactly what you were in for. In more recent times the country’s output has leaned increasingly towards sticking to one genre, which they often do exceptionally well, but long-time fans can be forgiven for missing an era of filmmaking when it felt like creativity reigned supreme. I mention this period, because 2020’s Voice of Silence very much feels like a hark back to those earlier days when movies frequently defied being pigeonholed.

Focusing on a pair of rural egg sellers played by Yoo Ah-in (#Alive, Burning) and Yoo Jae-myung (Bring Me Home, The Drug King), when not supplying the local community they have a side hustle (an arguably better paying one at that) of assisting gangsters to prepare for any gruesome beatdowns or murders they plan to partake in. While the pair never get involved in the nasty business themselves, decked out in plastic Macs and shower caps they carefully cover the floor Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Wong Kar-Wai’s upcoming follow up to ‘In the Mood for Love’ and ‘2046’ gets a Trailer

"Blossoms" Teaser Poster

“Blossoms” Teaser Poster

Renowned filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai (The Grandmaster) is currently putting finishing touches on Blossoms with Kris Wu (Europe Raiders), a project that’s connected to his previous films, In the Mood for Love and 2046

Based on Jin Yucheng’s 2013 novel, Blossoms follows three Shanghai residents from the early ’60s, at the end of China’s Cultural Revolution and through the ’90s, with a selection of scenes being shot in San Francisco. “Blossoms would be the third part of In The Mood for Love and 2046,” said Wong at the Hong Kong Film Writers Association (via TFS).

Blossoms will be released as a 30-episode series (co-directed with Shen Yan, The First Half of My Life) followed by the feature film (via AFS).

We’ll keep up updated on Blossoms as we learn more. Until then, click here for Continue reading

Posted in News |

Fast Vengeance | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Fast Vengeance | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Fast Vengeance | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2021

On August 17, 2021, Shout! Factory is releasing the Blu-ray for Fast Vengeance, the latest thriller from writer/director Pearry Reginald Teo (The Gene Generation).

This upcoming film stars D.Y. Sao (Champion Road: Arena), Natalie Burn (Hollow Point), Bai Ling (Maximum Impact, The Crow), Lyndon Hoffman-Lew (Recipe for Abduction), Randall J. Bacon (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Jeff Fahey (Only the Brave) and the late DMX (Exit Wounds).

Upon hearing of his brother’s death, a man named Shen returns to his old stomping grounds to find the men responsible and take justice into his own hands. He learns that a biker named Cobra and his ferocious gang, The Midnight Squad, were Continue reading

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

Daniel Wu and Wang Qianyuan’s heist thriller ‘Caught in Time’ now available On-Demand in the U.S.

"Caught in Time" Theatrical Poster

“Caught in Time” Theatrical Poster

Lau Ho Leung, the filmmaker behind Two Thumbs Up (and writer of ThreeKung Fu Jungle and 14 Blades), is back with Caught in Time (read our review), an upcoming heist thriller starring Daniel Wu (Into the Badlands, Sky on Fire) and Wang Qianyuan (Shadow, Saving Mr. Wu).

The film follows Detective Zhong Cheng, who leads a task force in pursuit of Eagle, a criminal gang led by Zhang Sun. Highly methodical and disciplined, the gang manages to avoid capture after each heist.

Caught in Time also stars Michelle Wai (The White Storm 2: Drug Lords, The Sleep Curse) and Jessie Li (The Hidden Sword, Port of Call).

Audiences in Hong Kong currently Continue reading

Posted in News |

Here’s what’s streaming on Hi-YAH! for the month of June

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 June, which includes a New film added to Hi-YAH! every Friday! Keep on reading for the full list:

June 4 | Silat Warriors: Deed of Death

When a young gambler runs afoul of the gang rigging a local betting ring, his luck soon runs out. When they show up to collect, he faces dire consequences, and his siblings must fight for their land and their lives—before time runs out. In addition to actors Namron (One Two Jaga, Dukun, Redha) and Fad Anuar (Dollah Superstar, TV’s KL Gangster: Underworld), first-time film director Areel Abu Bakar selected much of the talent from martial arts training facilities and competitions in order to give a sense of realism the exciting action sequences. Silat Warriors: Deed of Death won the Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema at the 2020 New York Asian Film Festival, the first Malaysian film to win the award.

June 11 | Fight Back to School

A SWAT team leader is going undercover at a high school to retrieve a stolen gun for his captain. Directed by Gordon Chan (Thunderbolt) and starring Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle), Cheung Man (God of Gamblers 2), Ng Man-Tat (Shaolin Soccer) and Roy Cheung (The Mission).

June 18 | Fight Back to School II

Stephen Chow and company are back! An officer in the elite police unit resigns when he is made a scapegoat for a botched investigation. He goes undercover at a school to complete the case and realizes a bumbling detective is also undercover as a student.

June 25 | Fight Back to School III

For the third film, prolific director Wong Jing (City Hunter) takes over directing duties. Chow returns as police officer Chow Sing Sing. This time, he is sent to investigate the murder of millionaire Million Wong

Want to give Hi-YAH! a go? Use promo code “CITYONFIRE” for 50% off the first month following the 30 Day FREE Trial.

Posted in News |

Winning Strategies: 5 Online Gambling Tips

Let’s face it, the point of games of chance is to have fun. Fun isn’t exactly easy to quantify but generally speaking, things going your way is more fun than a downhill slope.

The tension and uncertainty of gambling make the rare big wins extra exciting. Of course, to see the most wins you need to play more than a few times. That’s where these gambling tips come in, to extend your play and enjoyment.

Gambling itself relies on a number of losses to make the wins fun. In psychology circles, this is known as intermittent reinforcement. Receiving a reward only some of the times an action is performed intensifies anticipation of the reward and makes receiving it all the sweeter.

So, sit down, strap in, and read on to supercharge your anticipation of the future.

Handy Gambling Tips

No technique will yield a 100% return rate. That’s as true for gambling as it is for any other venture. Still, going in forearmed with knowledge leads to better outcomes.

The unwritten, well, unnumbered tip zero is this: set expectations. As you learn more and engage with online gambling over time, you’ll modify your expectations several times.

Setting expectations isn’t a ‘set in stone’ type of thing. Rather, it is a flag that helps you see how far you’ve come and lays out where you next want to go.

1. Know the Site

Even outside of what sites you trust with your information, not all sites operate equally. Some cater to one game over another. some offer better introductory incentives while others offer better VIP perks.

Do some research into each site by reading what they offer. It’s alright to trust your instincts when selecting the site that gets your time and energy. Even if you find the site that mathematically offers you the best advantages, it’s not worth it if you find the decor boring or the layout frustrating.

Double-check their policies on security and even give their customer service a test. These are all the same procedures you would take for a brick and mortar establishment, getting to know the place and the staff.

2. Know Your Game

Next, you want to learn as much as you can about your chosen game(s). Sticking with one is a better recipe for success but some gamblers find that it pays to have a secondary ‘cool down’ or warmup game.

If you do pursue two games, make sure they are as separate as possible. You don’t want the subtle differences between two similar games skewing your mental math and strategy crafting.

Or.

Do play two games with similar rules and origins, a variation of a game such as American vs European roulette. The slight change in odds between these two games is a good way to learn how small changes lead to different ends.

Get started online by browsing through the rules of some games, read up on what seems intuitive and then try them out. Dedicating time to some free-to-play versions lets you confirm that the game is fun and works how you envision.

If there are regional or international variants, confirm which one you are playing before you put your money down.

3. Know Your Strategy

Increasingly, gamblers have access to large data sets compiled over a lot of time. Studying these data sets reveals key plays that lead to an increase in favorable outcomes.

Developing a strategy is a slow, but rewarding, process. The tried and true betting and playing strategies you will find with a quick search come with some numerical advantages but don’t yield maximum results.

A home-brew strategy increases your engagement with your chosen game and potentially offers even more of an edge.

Developing a strategy is the central key in how to online gamble. Unlike a brick-and-mortar casino, where taking copious notes is frowned on, you have the time and space to track your results and consider options.

Get involved with a community of players and share your ideas and data sets. The best online casino player lobbies offer opportunities to chat and interact with other players, so take advantage of that. Bonus: playing with others also increases your enjoyment.

4. Know Your Budget

Before you go too far down a rabbit hole of gambling highs and lows, consider your budget. Budget not only your money but also your time.

Setting these two parameters keeps the leisure session in perspective and helps you to categorize your experience. After all, it’s difficult to track your strategy if you blow through a budget in ten minutes or try to suffer through a twelve-hour marathon.

To stretch your budget on both fronts, start with a larger window of time and a smaller pile of cash. Shift your time down and your cash up as you learn. This offers a solid learning curve that is rewarding to you.

Remember that casinos incentivize time and attention. This is true both online and offline. Take full advantage of these perks in designing your time and engagement budgets.

5. Prioritize Fun

Having fun and chatting with a few like-minded players is, over time, the biggest reward of online gambling. If you go in with a mindset centered around having fun and enjoying the time, winning money and proving your strategy become secondary icing on the cake.

As the proverb says, time spent enjoying yourself is never time wasted.

Prioritizing fun also helps avoid the dire highs and lows of the gambler’s fallacy. Games of chance are meant to be fun, when you stop having fun, it ceases to be a game.

Professional gamblers are few and far between, and even they will tell you that anything that becomes a job feels like a job.

Catch the Heat

There you have it, some gambling tips that will get you started on a rewarding pastime of online gambling.

If you find yourself getting burned out on one game, there are always others to pick up.

For more information on the world of the night, check out our other offerings.

Posted in News |

What are the side effects of using CBD cream for arthritis?

You seem to find CBD products everywhere. There are varieties of CBD products ranging from lotions, creams. CBD is also getting well known because of its legit benefits. It is always essential to make sure the stuff you’re buying is legal, includes the good ingredients that will not give side effects, and it is as you wanted. 

This article will have a small discussion about arthritis, CBD cream for pain, and its side effects. 

Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/cream-tube-oil-cbd-skin-care-5501534/

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is swelling or tenderness at joints. It leads to stiffness and joint pain. Arthritis typically gets worse with age. There are nearly 100 types of arthritis. 

The two most common types are:

  • Osteoarthritis (OA) 
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

The symptoms usually develop over time and can also be sudden. At the same time, arthritis is seen most commonly with age. Mostly in adults over the age of 65, but there are chances to develop in younger people, children, teens. Arthritis has also become more common in women than men, also people who are overweight.

Various treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. The goal of any treatment is to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

As arthritis involves joints. The typical sign and symptoms may include:

  • Joint Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling and tenderness
  • Redness of the skin around the joint.
  • Decreased range of mobility

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol or CBD is the most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis. In contrast, CBD is derived directly from the hemp plant. CBD is not marijuana, so it won’t get you high. Over time CBD has become a wildly popular non-intoxicating ingredient. Cannabidiol is naturally occurring. It is available in oils, creams, gummies, tinctures, etc. There are three types of cannabidiol. Full-spectrum Cannabidiol is considered potentially effective. 

What is CBD cream used for?

CBD cream application is made directly to the skin. It benefits on the surface of the skin and also below the skin. The cream penetrates through the skin layers. 

There exists an endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the human body. These ECS help to regulate mood, pain, appetite, etc. Cannabinoids such as CBD helps in activating the ECS of the human body. This is the reason for CBD cream used for chronic pain and inflammation.

Photo Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/cream-tube-oil-cbd-skin-care-5501534/

Benefits of CBD cream

The CBD is a pack of potential benefits:

  • Arthritis: The study of acute joint inflammation in arthritic rats gets reduced over time using local CBD treatment.  
  • Mediate pain and inflammation. 
  • Cream Helps to treat Skin conditions.
  • Effective on Wound care.

Does CBD cream help with arthritis?

The Arthritis Foundation says that research done on CBD for arthritis can be promising but not sure of conclusive. Several animal studies show potential but not well-designed trials. So, that proves CBD cream is beneficial for people with arthritis.

Most research on CBD concluded that it helps reduce the symptoms like inflammation that trigger arthritis pain. It may need long-term use to see the improvement. The study carried on mice with laboratory-induced arthritis. 

Following are the Side effects of CBD cream:

Cannabidiol is generally considered safe. According to the “Arthritis Foundation” moderated CBD doses are safe for most people and should not cause serious side effects. 

There can be minor side effects like tiredness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, and severe, rarely occurring liver problems. 

  • Side effects occur due to uncertainty about the potency or purity of CBD products. 
  • The other main reason for getting side effects can be due to its interactions with other medications. 
  • Pregnant women should be considerate before using the CBD Product. There can be a possible link between inhaled cannabis and lower-birth weight babies, and not clear if this applies to CBD. 
  • Specialists also give few concerns. Like, CBD may lead to upsetting the body’s natural system of pain regulation. Taking CBD leads to tolerance.
  • As with all other medications, the ingredient can interact with other drugs. This interaction can trigger adverse effects.
  • Cannabidiol may also interact with other drugs, including alcohol and opioids. 
  • CBD may also give an allergic reaction. The allergies can be particularly in people with tree or nut allergies.

Most common side effects:

  • You may feel sleepy.
  • People may go through dizziness and inattentiveness.
  • There can be stomach problems like diarrhea or nausea.
  • You can have mood swings.
  • There can be depression.
  • You may feel irritable.
  • change in appetite or weight
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Low blood pressure

According to  Public, researchers demonstrating a growing interest in cannabis treatment says that contact dermatitis may be a side effect of CBD skin cream. At the same time, this can occur with any topical lotion, not just CBD skin creams. CBD is legal in many countries, but you need to confirm if it’s legal in your country.

How to use CBD cream for arthritis?

There must be a proper use of CBD cream. Following are the common tips you should consider before using CBD products.

  • Picking up CBD cream for aches and pains or skin problems, research is essential. 
  • You need to make sure they are purchasing quality CBD products. 
  • Ensure if the CBD brand is approved with FDA standards to qualify. 
  • It’s essential to follow the instructions written on the label.
  • Don’t go on beyond the usual dosage recommended.
  • You can massage the area where you are applying the cream. Massage will help to promote blood flow. 
  • Be patient while using the CBD for several days to see results.

The CBD can’t replace the other high potential or doctor-recommended treatments. 

Conclusion:

You should do proper research and confirm its long-term effect while using CBD products by mouth. You need to talk with a healthcare professional before using CBD products. 

CBD skin cream can be beneficial for people with arthritic conditions if appropriately used. Usually, the effect of CBD products varies with personal health problems.

Various brands offer CBD skin creams. You must confirm the brand you are using is legally approved.  

Posted in News |

Blind Beast | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Blind Beast | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Blind Beast | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2021

On August 24, 2021, Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray for Yasuzo Masumura’s 1969 thriller, Blind Beast, starring Mako Midori (Inumukoiri) and Eiji Funakoshi (Gamera).

Read the official details below:

Blind Beast is a grotesque portrait of the bizarre relationship between a blind sculptor and his captive muse, adapted from a short story from Japan’s foremost master of the macabre, Edogawa Rampo (Horrors of Malformed Men, The Black Lizard, Caterpillar).

An artist’s model, Aki (Mako Midori), is abducted, and awakens in a dark warehouse studio whose walls are decorated with outsized women’s body parts – eyes, lips, legs Continue reading

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

How to choose the right vape juice for your device

Everyone thinks that it’s going to be quite simple. They will just buy a vape pen, pour some e-liquid into it, and there you go! Well, now that you’re vaping, things don’t seem to be exactly right, do they?

Beginner vapers find it tough but that’s exactly where we from vape shop come in to help!
In the grand scheme of events, vaping is easy and simple. The big part of this is your vape juice – vape juice pairing. More specifically, you should have knowledge that which vape juices work for your tank perfectly. We are here to answer you that ‘How to choose the right vape juice for your device.’

Well, the answer is a bit complicated and depends on several things.

  • The vape that is in your hands – various types of tanks are designed for various types of vaping preferences. They all vary in terms of size, shape, power, cloud production, and much more.
  • The ingredients of your vape juice – The two fundamental ingredients in your vape juice are vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG). The percentages sometimes vary and your experience will also vary with them.
  • The amount of airflow – it’s your preference that whether you like a tight draw or something that’s a bit more free-flowing.

Vape tank has a role

There are a lot of vape tanks on the market e.g M2L tanks, sub-ohm tanks, RTAs, RDAs, RDTAs, you name it. You might have heard these abbreviations somewhere because these devices are that common. Well, we’ll limit this search to just 3 of the devices in the vape shop.

So, three types of tanks that use premade coils are:

  • Mouth to lung tanks – M2L tanks are 2md generation tanks that look something like an oversized pen cap.

Some of the good points regarding these vapes are as follows.

• They use vape juice conservatively
• Don’t produce too much vapor
• Have a restricted airflow similar to combustibles
• Designed for use with high PG liquids
• Can be used with high-nicotine e-liquids (12mg and up)
• Coil resistance almost always 1 Ohm and up

  • Sub-Ohm tanks – D2L tanks are usually referred to as cloud beasts that rely on high VG juices to live up to the wildest dreams of cloud-runners. They are a bit more robust and some of them can be used with premade coils and homemade coils.

The good points regarding them are as follows

• Coils under 1 Ohm – plenty of vapor and flavor
• Vape juice guzzler
• Airflow completely customizable
• For use with high-powered mods
• Designed for direct to lung inhales
• Best suited for low nicotine vape juices

  • Closed pod systems- They are a bit of an innovation, with most brands that became available in mid-2017. They are the evolution of vapes. In this particular case, tanks are disposable pods and are attached to the battery.

• Filled up with nicotine salts – up to 60mg of nicotine
• Use disposable pods, no refilling
• Each pod comes with its coil
• Good throat hit, similar to a cigarette
• Best nicotine delivery system among vapes

The ingredients of your vape juice

Not every vape tank is made for every vape juice. As most e-liquids are a mixture of VG and PG, the important thing to keep in mind is their relative percentage. This percentage determines which juice at vape shop is better for an M2L or a D2L tank.
For example, propylene glycol is not very viscous, which means that it can safely be used with M2L tanks that usually have very constricted wicking holes and airflow. On the other hand, VG juices are very thick and viscous and they will have a hard time with M2L tanks.
Highly viscous VG juices are best suited for D2L (sub-ohm tanks) because

    1. They produce more vapor
    2. Sub-Ohm is specifically designed to hold their viscosity.

They have large holes giving large enough spaces to keep the cotton wet at all times.
Also, in comparison to VG, a PG has a bit more throat hit.

The role of airflow

It doesn’t seem like much at first, but it has.

Old M2L tanks don’t have much of an airflow, although they mostly feature an airflow control ring these days, to give you at least a semblance of customizability. The draw is tight, limited, and you can’t hope for huge clouds. If this is the case, then you will want to stick with your vape juice that is low on VG. VG requires a lot of air circulation, so it can evaporate better and create huge plumes of vapor.

On the other side of the spectrum, Sub-Ohm tanks will generally come with a ton of airflow, as well as the ability to customize it further. It doesn’t matter which type of vape juice you use here, high VG or high PG, as long as you keep in mind that more airflow means larger vape juice consumption.

Posted in News |

First Trailer for Yang Feng’s ‘Railway Heroes’ starring Zhang Hanyu, Fan Wei, Vision Wei and Zhou Ye

"Railway Heroes" Teaser Poster

“Railway Heroes” Teaser Poster

Writer/director Yang Feng is currently putting finishing touches on his directorial debut, Railway Heroes, which hits domestically later this year.

Railway Heroes takes place during the war of resistance against Japanese aggression. The film follows members of an underground group in Lincheng, Shandong that are fighting against the enemy to defend their homeland.

Railway Heroes stars Zhang Hanyu (Wine War, Manhunt) Fan Wei (Monk Comes Down the Mountain), Vision Wei (The Eight Hundred) and Zhou Ye (Better Days).

Don’t miss the film’s first Trailer Continue reading

Posted in News |

Delve Deep into the Magical World of Words

Remember the old song from Bee Gees, ‘It’s only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away…’ Yes, words are indeed magical. Communication amongst each other largely helped the prehistoric human beings to climb up the evolutionary tree.

Speaking of communications, there are essentially two kinds of it: verbal, and the other non-verbal. The modern world uses both forms of communication effectively to convey their feelings.

However, the verbal form of communication uses speech to describe their various kinds of feelings. Speech is the vocal form of communication that humans have been using since times immemorial. The trailing aspect of speech is all about language.

Forming a kind of communicative speech in any language requires a string of words juxtaposed in such a way to form sense to the listener in front.

Speech and Words

Language has been lingering in human civilization since its early days. The origin of language cannot be traced in history, primarily because the existence of language has been even before the practice of written records started. There is a mythological perspective on the existence of language.

The Bible states that, after the Tower of Babel fiasco, God punished the human beings by forcing them to speak different languages, so that they would not understand each other thereby giving birth to the concept of different languages.

Whatever might be the origin, today languages form the primary basis of any kind of speech and communication. Words can be easily described as the building blocks of any kind of language. The syntax and the rules by which a speech is formed in any language are known as grammar.

If we look into any language, for example, English we would be able to understand that the grammar of the language is based on elements commonly known as parts of speech.

In the English language, there are eight elementary parts of speech viz,

  • Noun: This part of speech describes specific names of various kinds of objects and living beings
  • Pronoun: This part of speech describes the generic names of various kinds of objects and living beings
  • Verb: This part of speech describes the various actions performed by those who constitute nouns and pronouns
  • Adjective: This part of speech describes the important features of the objects and beings, which make the nouns and pronouns
  • Article: This part of speech helps with the articulations in a speech by indicating whether the nouns and pronouns are single, multiple, or definite
  • Preposition: This part of speech is like connecting various words within a sentence by describing the position of different words concerning one another
  • Adverb: This part of speech is used to modify any other verb or adjective so that the speech or sentence becomes more implicative
  • Conjunction: This part of speech is like a bridge that is used to connect two different words or sentences

Needless to mention, all the definitions above constitute quite specific words which when used in any form of speech and writing wreaths magic in the form of prose and poetry that comprises literature.

Words and Games

Since their inception, words have been intriguing humankind. As and when civilizations started to form their foundations, the mystery regarding the jumbling up of words also strengthened. Jumbling up of the letters in a word is known as an anagram. Ancient Greeks loved this jumbling up of the letters in words.

This was primarily done as a fun exercise of the brain. Besides, they enhanced the mystical and hidden meaning of any kind of words as well.

While the Greeks might be the pioneers in playing up with jumbled letters in words, the Latin influence carried this practice to the modern world. Throughout the medieval ages, anagrams were the favorite of literary scholars. The modern take on anagrams can be attributed to the Victorian age when the general population took a common interest in solving up anagrams.

Today, almost all the daily newspapers have anagrams in their brain exercise sections. Besides, many computer and mobile games are also based on the concepts of anagrams. The most fun part is there are many sites available online that provide solutions to anagrams as well. For example, if you look at unscramble.org, you would be able to solve almost any kind of anagram given to you.

Why are Anagrams still popular?

If you consider that only jumbled-up letters in a word constitute a modern anagram, then you are mistaken. The current version of the anagram consists of jumbled up words and letters of a complete meaningful sentence along with words as well.

While games and puzzles constitute the primary reason for anagrams’ popularity, there are other aspects as well where anagrams prove to be quite efficient.

Some of the areas where anagrams are useful apart from puzzles & games include:

  • Psychometrics: Many psychologists over the world use anagrams to analyze various kinds of implicit memories of children as well as adults.
  • Priority Establishments: Eminent renaissance scientists like Galileo, Kepler, etc. used anagrams to record their findings. This was mainly done to befuddle the church and ensure their safety in some form. The famous Hooke’s law of elasticity was also published as an anagram for the first time.
  • Pseudonyms: In the literary world, pseudonyms are a common occurrence. By using pseudonyms, writers hide their original identities. Anagrams are a great way of making up pseudonyms that not only hides the writers’ identity but also intrigues the readers’ interest.
  • Coding important messages: Anagrams are widely used in the spy world for ciphering important messages. Despite the advancement in technology over the recent years, still, anagrams remain the favorite of the ciphers to send in encoded messages.

Anagrams have given birth to various forms of word puzzles like palindrome, isograms, pangrams, etc. They are a great way of engaging themselves when the whole world is practically stuck indoors due to the pandemic. Besides maintaining sanity in the locked-down state, they are a great way of exercising the brain without any external help.

Posted in News |

‘Triple Threat’ star Tiger Hu Chen to make directorial debut in ‘Quick Bodyguard’ with Scott Adkins and Miya Muqi

"Quick Bodyguard" Teaser Poster

“Quick Bodyguard” Teaser Poster

Yuen Woo-ping protege, Tiger Hu Chen (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum), who made his leading-man debut in Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, will make his own directorial debut in Quick Bodyguard.

The upcoming actioner will see Chen reunite with his Triple Threat co-star, Scott Adkins (Max Cloud, Savage Dog). Also starring alongside Adkins and Chen is Miya Muqi, who is perhaps best known for her appearance in two recent Jackie Chan/Stanley Tong collaborations, Kung Fu Yoga and Vanguard.

Details on Quick Bodyguard are scarce, but a very-preliminary poster (via AFS), which has the film’s release date set for this year, as been released. We’ll keep you updated Continue reading

Posted in News |