Devil’s Express | Blu-ray (Code Red)

Devil's Express | Blu-ray (Code Red)

Devil’s Express | Blu-ray (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: February 9, 2021

Back from the dead is Code Red’s Blu-ray for Devil’s Express (aka Gang Wars), which hits retail outlets on February 9, 2020. This 1976 martial arts/horror film is directed by Barry Rosen (The Yum Yum Girls) and starring Warhawk Tanzania (Black Force), Wilfredo Roldan (Velvet Smooth), Theodore Gottlieb (The Burbs) and David E. Durston (director of I Drink Your Blood).

Read the official details below:

New York Master Martial Artist Luke (Tanzania) goes to Hong Kong to earn his next level in the Martial Arts world and convinces his student Rodan (Roldan) to accompany him. Once they arrive, they come across an ancient burial site and find an amulet that holds a horrific demon creature in its power. Not knowing what the amulet was for, Rodan steals it and takes it back to gang infested New York Continue reading

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Mel Gibson is a badass Santa in the New Poster for ‘Fatman’

"Fatman" Theatrical Poster

“Fatman” Theatrical Poster

Even during his post-legendary Hollywood status, Mel Gibson has been consistently delivering the goods with films like Edge of DarknessGet The Gringo, Blood FatherDragged Across Concrete, and his directorial comeback, Hacksaw Ridge (we have yet to see The Professor and the Madman and Force of Nature). Now, Gibson is back with another catchy project titled Fatman.

Fatman centers on a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus (Gibson) who is fighting his business decline. Though billed as a comedy, the Trailer puts into play that it’s more of a dark comedy/actioner filled with gunfights and villainous children.

The film also stars Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight, Justified) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace, Blindspot), and is directed and written by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, a pair who are perhaps best known for cult indie favorite Continue reading

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First look at Li Weiran’s Live-action adaptation of ‘The Yinyang Master’ based on the popular Onmyoji mobile game

"The Yinyang Master" Theatrical Poster

“The Yinyang Master” Theatrical Poster

If Teddy Chen’s Double World didn’t quite suppress your mood for videogame-to-film adaptations, then get ready for CKF Pictures’ The Yinyang Master, an upcoming action/fantasy film based on the phenomenal mobile game, Onmyoji.

Directed by Li Weiran (Love Will Tear Us Apart), The Yinyang Master stars Chen Kun (Mojin: The Lost Legend), Zhou Xun (Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection), William Chan (As the Light Goes Out) and Wang Likun (Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 2).

Description from IMDB: Captain of the City Guard Yuan Boya is stripped of rank after the imperial tribute he was guarding is stolen. Unwilling to let things lie, he searches for the thieves, only to end up entering a mystical world of demons. Along the way, he becomes mixed up in a feud between Yinyang Master Qing Ming and the human and demon Continue reading

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Tony Jaa to star in English-language action trilogy from ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ producers

"Ong-Bak" International Teaser Poster

“Ong-Bak” International Teaser Poster

Martial arts wonder Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak, Triple Threat, Paradox, xXx: Return of Xander Cage) has been hitched to lead an English-language action trilogy from Starlight Entertainment (Midway, Crazy Rich Asians).

For the story, Muay Thai master Jaa will play a legendary assassin who disappeared three years ago and becomes the target of all criminal organizations and law enforcement agencies. According to producers, the story will unfold in an unconventional structure and as the manhunt accelerates, the mystery of the assassin’s identity is slowly unraveled (via Deadline).

Jaa will produce along with Peter Luo (Scary Stories to Tell in the DarkMidway) and Mike Selby (Skin Trade, Triple Threat).

Filming is slated to begin next year Continue reading

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Man Standing Next, The (2020) Review

"The Man Standing Next" Theatrical Poster

“The Man Standing Next” Theatrical Poster

Director: Woo Min-Ho
Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Lee Sung-Min, ak Do-Won, Lee Hee-Joon, Kim So-Jin, Seo Hyun-Woo, Ji Hyun-Joon, Park Sung-Geun, Park Ji-Il, Lee Tae-Hyeong, Kim Seung-Hoon
Running Time: 114 min.

By Paul Bramhall

South Korea has had a tumultuous history since its creation after the division of the peninsula in 1954, shortly after the Korean War ended, up to it achieving democracy in 1987. While it spent most of the 33 years under some form of authoritarian regime or another, the era which still causes controversy to this day is the time spent under the rule of Park Chung-hee, who came to power in 1962 following a military coup the year prior. As president Chung-hee kept himself in power up until his assassination in October 1979, and while he’s largely credited for the rapid modernisation of Korea, it’s a legacy which is stained by his autocratic style of ruling. The many restrictions on things like freedom of speech and the press, and the fact that his opponents frequently found themselves held without trial and subject to torture, gradually saw the tide of public opinion begin to turn against him by the late 70’s.

The subject of Chung-hee’s assassination has been covered before in the Korean film industry, notably in Im Sang-soo’s 2005 dark comedy The President’s Last Bang, which covered the 3 hours leading up to the assassination along with the immediate aftermath. 15 years later, the subject is back on the screen with director Woo Min-ho’s latest, The Man Standing Next. Decidedly different in both tone and scope than Sang-soo’s take on the subject, Min-ho has created a poker-faced Continue reading

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Devilman: Special Edition | Blu-ray & DVD (Media Blasters)

Devilman: Special Edition | Blu-ray & DVD (Media Blasters)

Devilman: Special Edition | Blu-ray & DVD (Media Blasters)

RELEASE DATE: December 15, 2020

On December 15, 2020, Media Blasters will release the Blu-ray & DVD for Devilman, is a live-action film directed by Hiroyuki Nasu (Be-Bop High School), based on the manga of the same name by Go Nagai.

Read the official details below:

First time on blu-ray! Best friends Akira and Ryo (played by real life twins Hisato and Yusuke Izaki) are your average high school students, that is, until they learn that Ryo s scientist father stationed in Antarctica has accidentally unleashed a horde of demons upon the earth! The demons spread like a virus throughout the world, possessing ordinary people and turning them violently against each other. (It sounds all too familiar in 2020!) When Akira becomes possessed, he becomes the one and only Devilman, an all-powerful demonic entity who somehow retains his humanity. It’s up to Continue reading

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

Bruce Lee fights back from the grave to save Chuck Norris in Romeo Candido’s fantasy actioner ‘The Dragon Returns’

"Way of the Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Way of the Dragon” Chinese Theatrical Poster

A new “Bruce Lee” project, titled The Dragon Returns, is making its way into the digital edition of the IFFAM Project Market (IPM) during the International Film Festival & Awards Macao, which takes place on December 3-8.

Directed and produced by Romeo Candido (Lolo’s Child), The Dragon Returns involves a plot where Bruce Lee is brought back from his staged death and retirement to save his old friend Chuck Norris from imprisonment (via Deadline).

The film is one of 14 projects that will go through an “intensive program of presentations and meetings conducted digitally with members of the global industry” before it will be eligible for one of four cash awards.

We’ll keep you updated on Continue reading

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Dead Reckoning (2020) Review

"Dead Reckoning" Theatrical Poster

“Dead Reckoning” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Altar Rock
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Cast: India Eisley, K.J. Apa, Scott Adkins, James Remar, Ellie Cornell, Sydney Park, Phuong Diep
Running Time: 91 min.

By Paul Bramhall

2020 has been a good year for the discerning Scott Adkins fan. He returned as French in Jesse V. Johnson’s Debt Collectors, re-teamed with Isaac Florentine for Seized, took the lead in espionage thriller Legacy of Lies, and plays a Muslim terrorist set on blowing up a beachside Fourth of July party in the self-proclaimed “millennial romantic thriller” Dead Reckoning. It’s not difficult to spot the odd one out, but in case there’s any doubt, it’s the last one.

Originally entitled Altar Rock after a location in the story, Dead Reckoning was filmed way back in 2016, and has spent the last 4 years trying to market itself from various angles to be distributed. The tale of the tape can be gauged from looking at the various poster designs over the succeeding years. We’ve had the patriotic angle with the title simply imprinted against the backdrop of the star-spangled banner, complete with the tagline ‘Sacrifices will be made’. We’ve had the teen-centric angle with a collage of the attractive young cast on a sunny beach and huddled around a campfire, with the new tagline of ‘The Summer you’ll never forget’. For its eventual release distributor Continue reading

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Gamera: Showa Era | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

Gamera: Showa Era | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

Gamera: Showa Era | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

RELEASE DATE: January 25, 2021

On January 25, 2021, Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray 4-disc set for the Gamera: Showa Era collection, which includes Camera: The Giant Monster, Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Gyaos, Gamera vs. Viras, Gamera vs. Guiron, Gamera Vs. Jiger, Gamera Vs. Zigra and Gamera: The Super Monster.

Read the official details below:

As giant monsters rampaged through the Japanese cinematic landscape during the “kaiju boom” of the mid-1960s, Daiei Studios introduced a new character to the screen that would be embraced for generations: Gamera, the giant, flying, fire-breathing turtle, and friend of all children!

Buried under the Arctic ice for several millenia, the colossal chelonian is unleashed upon Japan Continue reading

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‘Wolf Warrior’ star Wu Jing gets called into battle in the Trailer for ‘Sacrifice’ with Deng Chao, Zhang Yi and Jang Du

"Sacrifice" Theatrical Poster

“Sacrifice” Theatrical Poster

Martial arts star Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2, Call of Heroes, SPL 2) returns to the battlefield in Sacrifice (aka Jin Gang Chuan), a war epic that also stars Deng Chao (Shadow, The Mermaid), Zhang Yi (Operation Red Sea) and Jang Du (The Captain).

According to AFS, Sacrifice is directed by three different directors: Guan Hu (Dirt, Mr. Six), Lu Yang (Brotherhood of Blades, Colored Youth) and Frant Gwo (The Wandering Earth, My Old Classmate).

Sacrifice is pitched as a simple tale of Chinese soldiers attempting to repair a bridge, while under constant bombardment from U.S. forces and planes. The three directors present three different points of view of the Chinese bravery under fire (via Variety).

Sacrifice had a domestic release date on Continue reading

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Camera: Heisei Era | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

Camera: Heisei Era | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

Camera: Heisei Era | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

RELEASE DATE: January 25, 2021

On January 25, 2021, Arrow Video is releasing the Blu-ray 4-disc set for the Gamera: Heisei Era collection, which includes Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris and Gamera the Brave (don’t miss our review for the actual films here).

Read the official details below:

After laying dormant for fifteen years, Gamera was rebooted for the big screen in a smash hit trilogy masterminded by director Shusuke Kaneko (Necronomicon), writer Kazunori Ito (Ghost in the Shell) and SFX director Shinji Higuchi (who went on to co-direct Shin Godzilla).

Trading the campy, kid-friendly surrealism of the earlier films for a darker, more realistic tone and jaw-droppingly innovative special effects, the Heisei Trilogy are still Continue reading

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

Deal on Fire! Man of Tai Chi | Blu-ray | Only $8.99 – Expires soon!

Man of Tai Chi | Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Man of Tai Chi | Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for 2013’s Man of Tai Chi, the directorial debut of Keanu Reeves (John Wick), who also happens to star in this action-packed homage to classic kung fu films.

Reeves plays a wealthy owner of a Beijing underground fight club who recruits a humble Tai Chi student (Tiger Hu Chen, Monk Comes Down the Mountain) to his closed-circuit battles. But when the young man is seduced by money and power, it will trigger a war between the Hong Kong police, the world’s deadliest combatants, and a peaceful spiritual discipline turned lethal new fighting style.

Man of Tai Chi also stars Karen Mok (Fallen Angels), Iko Uwais (The Raid, The Raid 2), Simon Yam (Wild City, Cross) and features action choreography by martial arts legend, Yuen Woo-ping (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II).

Order Man of Tai Chi from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Need a light? Here’s the Trailer for Chan Kin Long’s ‘Hand Rolled Cigarette’ starring Gordon Lam

"Hand Rolled Cigarette" Theatrical Poster

“Hand Rolled Cigarette” Theatrical Poster

Actor-turned-director Chan Kin Long – who appeared in Fruit Chan’s The Midnight After – will soon be releasing his debut feature film, Hand Rolled Cigarette, starring Gordon Lam Ka Tung (The Brink, Paradox, The Sleep Curse) and Bipin Karma.

Hand Rolled Cigarette tells the story of a retired soldier, formerly in the British colonial army, who agrees to store drugs for a South Asian small-time crook. The two men bond when they realise they are both leftovers from a long-gone colonial past, but loyalties are tested when it’s revealed that the drugs have been stolen from an underworld kingpin (via SD).

The film also stars Chin Siu-ho (Vampire Cleanup Department), Singh Hartihan Bitto (Raging Fire) and Aaron Chow (Firestorm).

A release date is still pending for Continue reading

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Dragon’s Claws (1979) Review

"Dragon’s Claws" Promotional Poster

“Dragon’s Claws” Promotional Poster

Director: Joseph Kuo
Cast: Lau Kar Yung, Hwang Jang Lee, Wong Biu Chan, Yuen Qiu, Hon Gwok Choi, Chan Lau, Chu Tiet Wo, Lau Hok Nin, Sham Chin Bo, Wong Chi Wai, Got Ping
Running Time: 91 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The kung fu genre had a pretty tough act to follow in 1979, following a year which gave us such timeless classics as Drunken Master, Warriors Two, and Heroes of the East. Thankfully kung fu talent was in plentiful supply, and arguably the whole of the late 70’s and early 80’s period is responsible for creating some of the greatest kung fu movies of all time. While studios like Golden Harvest, Seasonal Films, and Shaw Brothers continued to be the big hitters, the independent scene was also cranking out plenty of classics around the same time as well. One name which is synonymous with the independent kung fu movie, is director, writer, and producer Joseph Kuo.

By 1979 Kuo had already been directing movies for over 20 years, however in the mid-70’s he struck up a particularly illustrious partnership with Carter Wong, who became his go-to leading man. Between 1976 – 1978 Kuo and Wong would collaborate as director and star on The Blazing Temple, The 18 Bronzemen and its sequel, The Eight Masters, The Shaolin Brothers, and Born Invincible, however with the 80’s looming, Kuo spent the final 12 months of the 70’s looking for his next leading man Continue reading

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Contacts | Blu-ray & DVD (Indiecan)

Contacts | Blu-ray & DVD (Indiecan)

Contacts | Blu-ray & DVD (Indiecan)

RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2020

On November 10, 2020, Indiecan Entertainment will release the Blu-ray for Alex Chung’s 2019 indie martial arts thriller, Contracts.  

Contracts follows a team of assassins who become victims of a superior killer. The film took home Best Action Film and Best Fight at the 2019 Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

Contracts is directed by and starring Alex Chung, who also serves as a producer, editor and fight choreographer. Chung is perhaps best known for his stunt work on The Man in the High Castle, The Boys and xXx: Return of Xander Cage.

Contracts also stars Jermaine Carty (Haphead), Christena Gaunce (Teenage Love), Dan Sanderson (Martyrs – The Chronicles of Blood), Michael Carter (Heart Strings) and Kyle Stewart Continue reading

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