Circus Kids (1994) Review

"Circus Kids" Theatrical Poster

“Circus Kids” Theatrical Poster

Director: Wu Ma
Cast: Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, Irene Wan Pik-Ha, Lily Lee Lee-Lee, Wu Ma, Lam Wai, Woo Ying-Man, Ken Lo Wai-Kwong, Bey Logan, Yuen Miu, Bei Lou-Kam, Yuen Miu
Running Time: 109 min.

By Paul Bramhall

In 1994 Wu Ma brought together 3 of the best kickers of the era – Yuen Biao, Donnie Yen, and Ken Lo – to feature in the tale of a circus troupe that find themselves looking for a new life, after their travelling show is blown away by the invading Japanese forces in 1942. This all takes place in the opening minutes, which consist of an extended circus acrobatics routine (prominently featuring Biao doing his thing), before the big top tent is blown away in an impressive explosion, the kind that makes you weep for the CGI explosions that dominate current HK cinema. The movie in question is the decidedly bland sounding Circus Kids (seriously, out of all the Hong Kong movies distributors re-titled for their western release, they chose this one to stick with the direct translation!), however the blandness of the title is sadly nothing compared to the movie itself.

For a second in the mid-90’s it looked like Wu Ma and Yuen Biao were going to become a successful director and star pairing. They made Kickboxer together in 1993, a Once Upon a Time in China inspired tale that pacified Biao’s grievance at only playing a supporting role in Tsui Hark’s 1991 masterpiece, so when they reunited the following year for Circus Kids it seemed like a cause for celebration. However by 1994 it was clear Biao’s popularity was on the wane, and while he would feature opposite Brigitte Lin in the wuxia Deadful Melody the same year, the following year he was reduced to featuring Continue reading

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‘Step Up China’ filmmaker Ron Yuan to direct ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Bruce Lee-actor Mike Moh in ‘8 Dragons’

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" Theatrical Poster

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Theatrical Poster

Martial arts actor/filmmaker Ron Yuan (Step Up China, The Paper Tigers) is teaming up with actor/martial artist Mike Moh (Marvel’s Inhumans) for an upcoming thriller titled 8 Dragons.

8 Dragons is being written by James Frey (Queen & SlimI Am Number Four) and Ray Wong (Burnt Grass). Plot details for the film are currently under wraps (let’s pray that Paul’s synopsis in the comments is legit), but here’s hoping the film will further showcase more of Moh’s footwork.

Moh is perhaps best known for his role as Bruce Lee in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Ryu in the series Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist and Street Fighter: Resurrection.

Ron Yuan is currently putting finishing touches on his futuristic sequel to Continue reading

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Sheep Without a Shepherd | DVD (Artsploitation)

Sheep Without a Shepherd | DVD (Artsploitation)

Sheep Without a Shepherd | DVD (Artsploitation)

RELEASE DATE: March 23, 2021

On March 23, 2021, Artsploitation Films will be releasing the DVD for Sheep Without a Shepherd, a 2019 crime/thriller by Sam Quah that stars Xiao Yang (Dragon Blade), Tan Zhuo (Gone with the Light) and Joan Chen (Purple Storm).

Read the official details below (via SA):

Artsploitation Films has announced the acquisition of Sheep Without a Shepherd, a 2019 film that grossed over $192,000,000 in it theatrical Chinese release.

Malaysian director Sam Quah’s debut feature film is a big budget noirish thriller and a remake of the 2013 Indian film, Drishyam. The film follows family man and self-described movie-geek who is thrown into a battle of wits with the law after his daughter accidentally kills a fellow student who was blackmailing her. The dead Continue reading

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

Green Slime, The (1968) Review

"The Green Slime" Theatrical Poster

“The Green Slime” Theatrical Poster

Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Cast: Robert Horton, Richard Jaeckel, Luciana Paluzzi, Bud Widom, Ted Gunther, Robert Dunham, David Yorston, William Ross, Gary Randolf, Eugene Vince
Running Time: 90 min.

By Ian Whittle

The late Japanese New Wave director Fukasaku Kinji has a formidable reputation for his many Yakuza classics of the 1970s, his contributions to the Hollywood production Tora! Tora! Tora!, and his latter day masterpiece Battle Royale.

He also directed The Green Slime…MGM’s other sci-fi extravaganza for 1968 following Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. And I use the word “extravaganza” most sarcastically.

The pedigree of this film is rather intriguing. Ostensibly it is a follow-up to an Italian series of films distributed by MGM in the mid-60s concerning the space station Gamma I (these films being Wild, Wild Planet, War of the Planets, War between the Planets and, for a change of pace, Snow Devils) produced by Walter Manley. This film, co-produced with Japan’s Toei, and co-scripted by legendary Batman writer (and now acknowledged co-creator) Bill Finger, involves Gamma III. I can only assume Continue reading

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Memories of Murder | Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

Memories of Murder | Blu-ray (Criterion)

Memories of Murder | Blu-ray (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: April 20, 2021

On April 20, 2021, Criterion Collection is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for Memories of Murder, a 2003 thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer) that stars Song Kang Ho (The Drug King) and Kim Sang Kyung (Tale of Cinema).

Read the official details below:

In his breakthrough second feature, Bong Joon Ho explodes the conventions of the policier with thrillingly subversive, genre-defying results. Based on the true story of a string of serial killings that rocked a rural community in the 1980s, Memories of Murder stars New Korean Cinema icon Song Kang Ho as the local officer who reluctantly joins forces with a seasoned Seoul detective (Kim Sang Kyung) to investigate Continue reading

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

Irma Vep | Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

Irma Vep | Blu-ray (Criterion)

Irma Vep | Blu-ray (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: April 27, 2021

On April 27, 2021, Criterion Collection is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for Irma Vep, a 1996 film by French director Olivier Assayas (Paris, je t’aime) that stars Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung (as herself) and Jean-Pierre Léaud (The 400 Blows).

Read the official details below:

The live-wire international breakthrough of Olivier Assayas stars a magnetic Maggie Cheung (In the Mood for Love) as a version of herself: a Hong Kong action-movie star who arrives in Paris to play the latex-clad lead in a remake of Louis Feuillade’s classic silent crime serial Les vampires. What she finds is a behind-the-scenes tangle of barely controlled chaos as egos clash, romantic attractions simmer, and an obsessive director (a cannily cast Jean-Pierre Léaud) drives Continue reading

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

Bloody Mafia (1994) Review

"Bloody Mafia" Theatrical Poster

“Bloody Mafia” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Red Mafia
Director: Casanova Wong
Cast: Casanova Wong (Ka Sa Fa), Choi Byung-cheol, Cha Ryong, O O-seop, Kim Du-han, Yoo Seong, Lee Sang-ho, Kim Chang-won, Kim Yeong-uk, Lee Jeonggu 
Running Time: 95 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

By 1994 the kung fu golden era of Hong Kong that dominated the mid-70’s through to the early-80’s was well and truly over, and with it work also dried up for the Korean boot masters that had left their own distinctive stamp on the genre. By the end of the 80’s the likes of Hwang Jang Lee and Casanova Wong were back in their native Korea, however with the film industry in the doldrums and already past their physical prime, the outlook didn’t look promising for continuing their career on home soil. That all changed in 1990, when director Im Kwon-taek revived the legendary figure of Kim Doo-han (think a Korean version of Ip Man) for The General’s Son, which portrayed the iconic freedom fighter as a sharply dressed Taekwondo kicking whirlwind against the occupying Japanese yakuza, and set the box office alight.

The combination of suits with oversized shoulder pads, trilby hats, and taekwondo kicks breathed a new lease of life into the action genre, and the likes of Dragon Lee, Hwang Jang Lee, and Casanova Wong returned to screens for a brief few years before giving way to the blockbusters of the mid-90’s. 1994 offered up 2 of the best examples of the genre, with Hwang Jang Lee stepping into the director’s chair and in front of the camera to take on Dragon Lee in Emperor of the Underworld, and Casanova Wong following suite (minus Dragon Lee) for Bloody Mafia. Wong had taken a leaf out of his mentor Sammo Hung’s book and started directing once he was back in his native Korea, and just the previous year Continue reading

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Where to Find the Best Adult Toys Near Me

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your love life, you might consider investing in an adult toy or two. But where should you even start?

Thankfully, there are a number of different ways you can purchase your first sex toy. You might search for “adult toys near me” and find a real-world location. And that’s just one way to do it!

Read on to find out the different options available for you to buy adult sex toys.

Search “Adult Toys Near Me” and Find a Local Shop

One way you can find sex toys for sale is by searching for adult toys near me on Google. This should show you a selection of stores that are close by to you. Then, you visit the store, find the toys you want, and buy them as you normally would.

The advantage of this method is that you can talk to the salesperson to get recommendations and suggestions. This is good if you’re unsure of what exactly you want.

Of course, the downside is that not everyone is comfortable being so open about their sex life. If you would rather keep things on the lowdown, you might want to skip this method.

Ordering Online 

If you’re shy about going to a real store, you can always try ordering online. Simply searching for adult sex toys is sure to find you some suitable online stores.

The great thing about online stores is that they have much more stock than real stores, so you’re more likely to find unique sex toys. For example, you might find where to buy a Whizzinator.

When ordering online, there’s no need to interact with another human at all. On top of that, most online sex shops will discreetly handle your transaction.

This means the package will be generic and unassuming. It also means that the store will come up as something innocent on your bank statement.

However, the downside to this method is that you won’t have the chance to be immediately assisted by a salesperson.

Picking up at the Store

This method is a nice middle ground between the two previous options. Many adult toy stores will allow you to make the order online and then pick up the items at a physical location.

This is great if you’re concerned about getting your adult sex toys delivered. For example, maybe you live in an apartment building with multiple people, and you’re looking to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation.

You will probably have to interact with a salesperson. But in this situation, they will simply hand off the items to you.

Have Fun With Adult Stores

As you can see, purchasing from adult stores isn’t hard. Just search for “adult toys near me.” Then, you can either pay the store a visit or make an order.

If you’re interested in learning more about the various types of toys available at these stores, take a look at our blog pages for inspiration.

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This Is When You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

There were more than 39 million doctor visits last year because of accidental injuries. Accidental injuries can often be serious, leading to lost wages and high medical bills.

You might depend on an insurance company to come through and help with those payments. Should you hire a personal injury attorney to assist you?

There are some situations where you should hire a personal injury lawyer. Keep reading to learn what they are.

1. Injured In a Car Accident

There were more than 38,000 deaths in car accidents each year in the United States. Your accident may not have caused a death, but injuries that seem minor could turn into more serious issues.

It’s up to you to link the car accident to your injuries. If you have minor injuries that flare up days or weeks later, it’s harder to prove your case.

If you were injured in a car accident, it’s best to reach out to a personal injury attorney right away. The steps that you take right after the accident are the most important.

2. Hurt at Work

There are personal injury attorneys that specialize in workers’ compensation insurance claims. If you were injured at work, you may have a right to a workers’ compensation claim.

However, these claims are full of paperwork, challenges, and insurance problems. You should find a workers’ compensation attorney that can help you with your claim.

3. You Sustained Injuries Because of Negligence

Let’s say that you paid a visit to a business and tripped over a wire on the floor. If you got hurt, you could receive compensation because the business was negligent.

There are many instances of negligence where you might be entitled to compensation. Medical negligence is a good example, as is product negligence.

Visit this page for more information about personal injuries that involve negligence.

4. Denied Claim

If you’re filing a claim with the insurance company on your own, you’re much more likely to have a claim denied. That’s because you don’t know what they’re looking for.

Personal injury attorneys work with insurance companies every day. They’re very familiar with the needs of insurance adjusters and unemployment claims processors.

If you had a claim that was denied, you need to reach out to a personal injury attorney immediately.

5. Is This a Good Settlement?

Do you know how to place a value on an insurance claim? If you don’t, there’s a very high chance that you’ll accept less than you’re really entitled to.

You can add up your medical bills, and lost wages, but you’re missing a lot more, such as emotional costs. These are costs that you can’t calculate, but a personal injury attorney can.

Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney Is a Smart Move

There’s a lot that you don’t know about personal injury law. If you got injured in an accident or at work, a personal injury attorney helps you get a settlement that you deserve. They also know how to handle insurance companies and make sure that your claim is foolproof.

Check out what else is going on by visiting the Latest News section of this site.

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

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 January, which includes a New film added to Hi-YAH! every Friday! Some of the highlights include Operation Red Sea, A Man Called Hero and this month’s Hi-YAH! exclusive, Invincible Dragon. For the full list Continue reading

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400 Bullets | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout!)

400 Bullets | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

400 Bullets | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: March 2, 2021

On March 2, 2021, Shout! Factory is releasing the VOD, digital  Blu-ray and DVD for 400 Bullets (read our review), an action-thriller from director Tom Paton (Black Site) that stars martial artist Jean-Paul Ly (Nightshooters, Jailbreak, The Division) and Andrew Lee Potts (The Crown, Alice in Wonderland).

One cold winter night in Afghanistan is about to get a whole lot worse for Rana Rae (Jean Paul Ly), a Ghurka Soldier left to guard a British military outpost, when Captain Noah Brant (Andrew Lee Potts) arrives looking for refuge from a group of Rogue Special Ops and a cell of heavily armed Taliban.

The two soldiers must fight for their lives as they attempt to get a call out for back-up before the rogue squad, led by the calculating and backstabbing Sergeant Bartlett (James Warren) can hunt them down and retrieve a case of missile Continue reading

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

Swordsman, The (2020) Review

The Swordsman | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

The Swordsman | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Director: Choi Jae-Hoon
Cast: Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyun-Soo, Joe Taslim, Jeong Man-Sik, Lee Na-Kyung, Lee Min-Hyuk
Running Time: 100 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The swordplay genre has fallen largely out of fashion over the last decade in Korean cinema, after it spent most of the 00’s being a regular fixture on cinema screens thanks to the likes of 2003’s Sword in the Moon, 2005’s Shadowless Sword, and 2010’s Blades of Blood. 10 years on, and 2020 brought a welcome revival for the genre in the form of the aptly named The Swordsman, the directorial debut of Choi Jae-hoon.

Equally as apt is the decision to cast Jang Hyuk as the swordsman the title refers to. A practitioner of Jeet Kune Do and former professional Taekwondo athlete, Hyuk’s big break came when he was cast as the lead in 2001’s Volcano High. An early entry in what became known as the Korean Wave, the futuristic high-school beat ‘em up took plenty of cues from The Matrix for its action aesthetic, but is perhaps most infamous for its American MTV dub, in which the likes of Snoop Dogg, André 3000, and Method Man voice the characters. While Hyuk was cast for his action prowess, it was his good looks that determined his future career, with turns in the likes of Windstruck and Innocent Thing being a world away from the action Continue reading

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Fist and Furious (2020) Review

"Fist and Furious" Theatrical Poster

“Fist and Furious” Theatrical Poster

Director: Ha Won-Joon
Cast: Jung Doo-Hong, Ryu Deok-Hwan, Seo Eun-A, Jung Eui-Gap, Kim Hae-In, Choi Je-Heon, Yoon Seung-Hoon, Lee Hae-Young, Kwon Hyeong-Joon, Choi Ha-Na
Running Time: 90 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Coming with possibly the most ridiculous English title since Wheels on Meals, director Ha Won-joon’s sophomore feature Fist and Furious probably has the guys over at The Asylum kicking themselves for not coming up with such a title of their own (instead they released The Fast and the Fierce in 2017). Awful wordplay aside, the mid-budget Korean production is notable to action fans for featuring the countries most prominent action director, Jung Doo-hong, in his first leading role since co-starring alongside Ryoo Seung-wan in the latters City of Violence in 2006 (which was also his first leading role).

While Doo-hong had memorable supporting turns in many of the early Korean Wave classics such as No Blood No Tears, Resurrection of the Little Match Girl, Arahan, and Fighter in the Wind, by enlarge he’s spent his career behind the camera. Chances are if there’s action in a Korean movie, Doo-hong will be involved in some capacity, so to see him here in only his 2nd leading role in 14 years is a rarity. It’s also a welcome return, as while many action directors may not necessarily be able to turn their talent for orchestrating chaos into onscreen charisma, as proven by City of Violence Doo-hong has a likeable screen Continue reading

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Don’t miss Netflix’ New U.S. Trailer for South Korea’s first sci-fi adventure ‘Space Sweepers’

"Space Sweepers" Theatrical Poster

“Space Sweepers” Theatrical Poster

Guardians of the Galaxy meets Star Wars meets Werewolf Boy? South Korean filmmaker Jo Sung-Hee (Phantom Detective, Werewolf Boy) is doing the fun ‘n gritty space thing with Space Sweepers, which hits Netflix on February 5th.

Billed as Korea’s first sci-fi film project, Space Sweepers (read our review) is set in the year 2092 and follows the crew of a space junk collector ship called The Victory. When they discover a humanoid robot named Dorothy that’s known to be a weapon of mass destruction, they get involved in a risky business deal.

Space Sweepers stars Song Joong-ki (A Werewolf Boy, The Battleship Island), Kim Tae-ri (The Handmaiden), Jin Seon-kyu (The Outlaws, Svaha: The Sixth Finger) and Yu Hae-jin (Confidential Assignment).

Don’t miss the Netflix Trailer Continue reading

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Derailed (2016) Review

"Derailed" Theatrical Poster

“Derailed” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Seong-Tae
Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Minho, Kim Jae-Young, Jung Da-Eun, Lee You-Jin, Baek Soo-Min, Kim Won-Sik, Park Ho-San, Park Sung-Il, Han Soo-Hyun, Seo Ho-Chul
Running Time: 91 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Derailed had a pretty bumpy road to the screen, as the story which takes place in the world of runaway teenagers was turned down by every investor it was pitched to, for reasons which become apparently clear once you look at the era in which it was made. Despite only being made 5 years ago from the time of writing, in 2016 Korea was still under the presidency of Park Geun-hye, who much like her father Park Chung-hee before her, exerted a level of censorship over the film industry that wasn’t visible to the public eye. Any production that cast contemporary Korea in a negative light was unlikely to get the go-ahead, and combined with a first-time director, Derailed reads almost like a checklist of red flags.

However ultimately the production got not one but two saviours, when popular K-pop group SHINee member Choi Min-ho and burly bruiser Ma Dong-seok expressed interest to take the parts of the 2 leads (the Korean title directly translates to 2 Guys). For Min-ho, the role on paper was a vast departure from anything he’d done before. While it wouldn’t be his acting debut, it would be his first time to appear on the big screen, with his previous roles comprising of parts in K-drama shows which played to his pretty boy looks and K-pop fanbase. The danger with his casting was that the script would be shot Continue reading

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