A Luis Vuitton bag stuffed full of cash sends a group of hard-luck lowlifes on a desperate chase for the fortune in this pitch-black neo-noir crime thriller. Fish-mongering gangsters, a greasy cop, an “innocent” gym cleaner, a young prostitute, her wife beater of a husband, her ruthless boss and her clueless boyfriend all violently scheme to get their hands on the elusive bag. First time director Kim Yong-hoon’s witty thriller is a beautifully constructed puzzle that with each double-cross, the pieces fall into place Continue reading →
“Once Upon a Time in China IV” Chinese Theatrical Poster
Director: Yuen Bun Producer: Ng See Yuen, Tsui Hark Cast: Vincent Chiu Man Chuk, Jean Wong Ching Ying, Hung Yan Yan, Max Mok Siu Chung, Lau Shun, Billy Chow, Chin Kar Lok, Elaine Lui Siu Ling, Louis Roth Running Time: 101 min.
By Paul Bramhall
Hot on the heels of Once Upon a Time in China III, otherwise known as “the one with all the lion dancing”, director Tsui Hark felt like he had his finger on the pulse when it came to knowing what audiences wanted. The answer was clear – more lion dancing. However things weren’t going so smoothly behind the scenes. A contractual dispute led to leading man Jet Li stepping away from the franchise, which left the gaping question of who could step into the wushu wunderkinds’ shoes. The answer wasn’t far away, as in the same year Li had also taken the lead in the Corey Yuen helmed Fong Sai Yuk, a production which gave him the chance to face off against Yuen’s latest discovery (direct from the Beijing Sport University), Vincent Zhao. He had the same wushu background as Li, was also from the Mainland, and was of a similar build. It was difficult to imagine a more suitable candidate to take over the role that made Li famous.
While Zhao proved resistant to Hark’s offer of a 3-year contract, in retrospect he might as well have signed it, since the pair would go on to work together on Green Snake (also from 1993!), Once Upon a Time in China V, The Blade, and The Chinese Feast, before parting ways in 1995. In 1993 though Hark was already helming 2 big budget productions, with the aforementioned Once Upon a Time in China III and Green Snake, so adding another Wong Fei Hung adventure to the slate was going to be Continue reading →
Being an avid James Bond fan, as well as a writer for City on Fire, I’ve put together a list of Bond titles that are relevant with Asian and martial arts cinema. Whether it be ninjas, samurai, kung fu masters – or just well-known Asian talent – there’s definitely a connection between 007 and the types of films that are usually covered here at City on Fire. Of course, considering the impact Bond films have had on cinema in general, none of this should come as a surprise.
Dr. No
Even in the first James Bond film, hints of Asian film culture were already evident. 1962’s Dr. No has Bond (Sean Connery) up against the titular villain, Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), who was 1/2 German and 1/2 Chinese. Surrounded with his deadly Asian henchmen, Dr. No was committed to terrorizing the world with his atomic-powered radio beam. The 1973 Bruce Lee martial arts classic, Enter the Dragon, is considered by many, somewhat of an unofficial remake of Dr. No – in fact, critics have referred to Enter the Dragon as “a remake of Dr. No with elements of Fu Manchu”.
You Only Live Twice
Back in 1967, it was one heck of a gamble for Western movies to feature a prominent Asian cast, but as time went by, there was definitely a demand, so in a way, You Only Live Twice was a look into the future. Samurai warriors aside, the film served as one of the first major appearance of the ninja in a Western pop culture; and unless you were a fan of Japanese cinema, these masked assassins (and their cool assortment of weapons) were relatively unknown back then. Additionally, the film features popular Japanese actor, Tetsuro Tamba (Harakiri), as well as Akiko Wakabayashi (King Kong vs. Godzilla), Mie Hama (Counterattack of King Kong) and Tsai Chin (who would later make a cameo in 2006’s Casino Royale) in supporting roles.
Goldfinger
1964’s Goldfinger has one of the most memorable, if not THE most memorable, villains of all time: Oddjob (played by real-life Japanese weightlifter/professional wrestler, Harold Sakata). This abnormally strong assassin is armed with his trademark razor-edged bowler hat, which is similar to the “Flying Guillotine” weapon that was popular in many kung fu films. Sakata himself would go on to make appearances in a couple of martial arts titles: 1977’s Death Dimension (with Jim Kelley and George Lazenby) and 1982’s Bruce Strikes Back (with Bruce Le and Hwang Jang Lee) where he practically reprises his role as Oddjob.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Especially for the time, 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service displays the franchise’s most inventive, hard-hitting action sequences – similar to what we’d see in a John Woo flick years later. In one example, Bond (George Lazenby) is seen sliding belly-down a snowy hill while simultaneously shooting a high-powered machine gun at his enemies. A few years after his one and only outing as 007, Lazenby would join Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest studios and star in a handful of Chinese productions with the likes of Angela Mao (Enter the Dragon) and Jimmy Wang Yu (The Man from Hong Kong) – one of the projects, Game of Death – would have paired him up with Bruce Lee, but due to the latter’s untimely death, the project was put on the back burner (only to be finished a few years later with a Bond-esque credit sequence and a soundtrack by John Barry, who scored most of the Bond films). The most popular, 1975’s Man From Hong Kong, which has Lazenby as a villain, is essentially a James Bond copycat starring Wang Yu. Lazenby also appears in the aforementioned Death Dimension, not to mention the 1977 comedy, Kentucky Fried Movie, which is largely made up of an Enter the Dragon spoof titled A Fistful of Yen, which showcases Grand Master Bong Soo Han (Force: Five) and Evan C. Kim (Megaforce).
Man with the Golden Gun
Thanks to films like 1973’s Five Fingers of Death (aka King Boxer) and the explosion of Bruce Lee, the popular “kung fu craze” was alive and strong in the 70s. This era even influenced Carl Douglas’ to record the song “Everybody was Kung Fu fighting,” which became a major hit. So Bond producers strategically cashed-in on the “Chopsocky” mania and made sure 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun was heavily infused with some kung fu/karate action. In one fight scene, Bond (Roger Moore), who realizes he doesn’t stand a chance against Charlie Chan You Lam (The Secret Rivals, Part II), takes Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon advice: “Never take your eyes off your opponent, even when you bow,” which results in Bond’s victorious escape. The film also stars Soon-Teck Oh (the villain in Chuck Norris’ Missing in Action 2) and Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle, Dragon Claws).
Licence to Kill
1989’s Licence to Kill, featuring Timothy Dalton as Bond, marked the return of ninjas, which we haven’t seen in a Bond film since You Only Live Twice, 22 years earlier. Although the ninjas (technically, they’re Hong Kong narcotic agents, which doesn’t really make sense) show up for a short amount of time; the sequence can be seen as either memorable or out-of-place, depending on one’s taste. The ninjas are played by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat) and actress/model Diana Lee-Hsu.
Tomorrow Never Dies
In this 1997 Bond flick, Hong Kong action star, Michelle Yeoh (In the Line of Duty), joins forces with Bond (Pierce Brosnan) to take on an evil media mogul (Jonathan Pryce). Because Yeoh’s character – a Chinese secret agent who knows kung fu – isn’t your typical damsel in distress, she’s highly regarded as one of the most unforgettable Bond girls. Not only is she a real “co-star” alongside Brosnan, she also gets a chunk of action-packed screen time, courtesy of Hong Kong-based stuntmen, most notably, Philip Kwok (Five Deadly Venoms).
But wait, there’s more…
The James Bond franchise’ association with Asian Cinema doesn’t stop within the 007 films themselves. The late Richard Kiel (“Jaws” from 1977’s Spy Who Loved Me and 1979’s Moonraker) played a similar character in Tsui Hark’s 1984 action caper Aces Go Places 3 (aka Mad Mission 3: Our Man from Bond Street), a Hong Kong production that stars Sam Hui (Naughty! Naughty!), Karl Maka (Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon), Sugiyama Tsuneharu (an Oddjob wannabe), and get this: Sean Connery’s brother, Neil (Operation Kid Brother) as “Mr. Bond.” Kiel would also team up with Jackie Chan in Golden Harvest’s all-star 1984 comedy Cannonball Run II (the first Cannonball Run film, which also stars Chan, includes Roger Moore, who portrays a Bond-like character).
To be continued…
I can sit here and make connections between Bond movies and Asian/martial arts cinema for days (I didn’t even mention all the Bond knock-off films made in Japan and Hong Kong in the 60s), but for now, I’ll end it here.
Filmmaker Jung Byung-gil – known for his films Confession of Murder and fan favorite The Villainess – is stepping into Hollywood for Monarch Media’s Havoc (not related to Gareth Evans’ planned film of the same name), a thriller written by Eric Tipton, off an original idea by Steve Barnett (300) and Daniel Myrick (The Blair Witch Project).
Inspired by actual events, Havoc tells the story of a U.S. helicopter crashing on the North Korean side of the DMZ. With tensions between the North and South already on the verge of war, the surviving U.S. Army Reservists must work together to protect a civilian tech-specialist and find their way across the DMZ, without the possibility of U.S. military support. Both Jung and Kim served in the South Korean military, performing several missions with U.S. soldiers, and plan to bring their experiences to Havoc (via Deadline).
When you hear about Hong Kong, the first thing that comes into your mind is beautiful sceneries, Chinese culture, and even place of excellent movies. Hong Kongers are known for their commitments to their work in the world.
Whether you’re planning to visit Hong Kong to have the adventure of excellent movies or even enjoy the entertainment, prepare yourself to step in Hong Kong Tower, Repulse Bay Beach, and Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, among others.
Above all, read the article below as it features some of the best movies locations in Hong Kong where you will find movies of your choice.
Aberdeen Movie location
Aberdeen is one of the best places to enjoy the best movies when you visit Hong Kong city. It is located on a beautiful harbor to attract all people who prefer watching movies to comfort the fine breeze coast.
What makes Aberdeen a movie place is that it features many of Bruce Lee’s finest movies. It has other movies from many of the best movie producers in the entire Hong Kong City. Therefore, if you love watching Bruce Lee’s movies, here is the best place you won’t miss your experience.
Chungking Mansion
Are you a movie lover and you’re looking for the best location to find the best movies in Hong Kong? Chungking Mansion is another best place with thousands of best movies. Chungking Mansion place situated in downtown Kowloon’s heart, a place of Wong Kar Wai’s classic movie of two tales
Moreover, the place has a labyrinth of pint-sized shops based on the ground floor and cage-like, grungy hostels situated on the upper floors cleaned to ensure cleanliness. This makes Chungking Mansions the best place for tourists with curiosity seekers and movie buffs globally.
IFC Two Movie Location
You can’t regret your experience in your movies at this IFC movie location. The place is known for being the tallest building captured in the entire Hong Kong city. With Dark Knight, dramatic movies based under the taut direction of Christopher Nolan captured the essence of Hong Kong. Here you can watch new teaser Trailer movies from all seasons.
Whether you’re planning to experience the best movies from prominent Hong Kong movie producers such as Bruce Lee, don’t hesitate to visit this amazing movie location.
Mid- Level Escalators
Mid-Level Escalator has all the reasons to be the distinctive topography of the Hong Kong escalator walkway system with numerous films. It is situated at the middle of the Connaught Road and residential Conduit Road. While in the place, expect to enjoy a long list such as The Dark Knight, Chungking Express, Dark Knight, The New Police Story, and even Jackie Chan’s Accidental Spy
Furthermore, while in Mid-Level Escalators, expect to meet top-class Escalator series, antique shops, and galleries located along Hollywood Road, the best place to have fun while watching the movies.
Wrap Up
Hong Kong is one of the places to experience the best movies from talented actors and actresses such as Bruce Lee and Jacky Chan. Not all places are assigned to air out these amazing movies to tourists from different places. Therefore, those are some of the best Hong Kong movie locations you should now before moving to the place.
Looking for another round of Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale? If so, look no further (kinda, sorta). Director Alastair Orr (House on Willow Street) has teamed up with writer David D. Jones (The Stem) for Trigger, which releases on November 6 from Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Nine friends, all harboring a dark secret, go camping in the woods. After a wild night of partying, they wake up with suicide bombs strapped to their chests, all with varying times on their countdown clocks. They decide to work out how to disarm the bombs or find help – until they discover they can ‘take’ one another’s time by killing each other.
Triggered stars Sean Cameron Michael (The Last Days of American Crime), Liesl Ahlers (Friend Request), Reine Swart (Z Nation) and Suraya Rose Santos Continue reading →
The Black Dragon & Enforcer from Death Row | Blu-ray (Dark Force)
RELEASE DATE: January 19, 2021
On January 19, 2021, Dark Force Entertainment is releasing the Blu-ray Drive-in Double Feature for Ron van Clief’s The Black Dragon (aka Tough Guy) and Leo Fong’s Enforcer from Death Row (aka Ninja Assassin).
Made from the only known existing 35mm print with extensive scene by scene color correction, 1974’s The Black Dragon stars Ron van Clief (Fist of Fear, Touch of Death), Jason Pai Piao (Shaolin Prince), Thompson Kao Kang (The Black Dragon’s Revenge) and Philip Ko Fei (The Fists, the Kicks and the Evil).
Also included is the 1976 Filipino production, Enforcer from Death Row, which stars Leo Fong (Blind Rage) with an early appearance by James Lew Continue reading →
Director: Kim Seung-Woo Cast: Lee Young-Ae, Yoo Jae-Myung, Park Hae-Joon, Lee Won-Geun, Kim Yi-Kyeong, Park Kyung-Hye,Ha Yun-Hui, Choi Hyung, Baek Joo-Hee, Kim Tae-Yul Running Time: 108 min.
By Paul Bramhall
In 2005 director Park Chan-wook would conclude his Vengeance Trilogy with Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, a title which I often refer to as my favorite of the 3 (the others being Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy), depending on which day of the week it is. The figure of vengeance the title refers to was played by Lee Young-ae, who had previously worked with Chan-wook on 2000’s JSA – Joint Security Area, playing the military officer investigating the events the movie revolves around. Before they’d reunite, Young-ae featured in a double whammy of that Korean favorite – the terminal illness melodrama, starring in Last Present and One Spring Day – but for many fans in the west, it’s her uncompromising role in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance that’ll be the one she’s remembered for.
The embodiment of pure evil, Kyung-chul is a dangerous psychopath who kills for pleasure. On a freezing, snowy night, his latest victim is the beautiful Juyeon, daughter of a retired police chief and pregnant fiancée of elite special agent Soo-hyun. Obsessed with revenge, Soo-hyun is determined to track down the murderer, even if doing so means becoming a monster himself. And when he finds Kyung-chul, turning him in to the authorities is the last thing on his mind, as the lines between good and evil fall away in this diabolically twisted game Continue reading →
On December 1, 2020, Warner Home Video will be releasing Blade on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital. This 1999 cult actioner stars Wesley Snipes (Passenger 57), Stephen Dorff (Somewhere) and Kris Kristofferson (Payback).
Awakened to consciousness – and pain – before birth by the bite of the undead vampire that kills his mother, a young boy grows into a mythical warrior (Snipes) bearing a blood-curse: An almost insatiable desire for blood that he must fight every moment of every day. Blade uses his awesome power to battle the vampires led by his mortal enemy, the omnipotent vampire overlord Deacon Frost (Dorff). The undead have infiltrated the corridors of power intent on conquering all mankind; now, against an army of immortals, one warrior must draw first blood.
“Incredible Shaolin Thunderkick” Korean Theatrical Poster
AKA: Water Retailer of Shantung Director: Kim Seon-Gyeong Cast: Benny Tsui, Eagle Han Ying, Chae Eun-hui, Nam Po-Dong, Choe Myeong-hui, Jang Cheol Running Time: 78 min.
By Paul Bramhall
There can be no denying that the old-school Korean kung fu movie comes with a bad reputation, one which in my humble opinion isn’t entirely warranted. Sure they have a lot going against them, number one being that almost all were picked up for international distribution by Godfrey Ho’s Asso Asia Films, and subsequently chopped up, re-edited, and dubbed into atrocities rarely resembling the original version. However even without the legendary cut ‘n’ past ninja master’s interference, Korea’s output was decidedly different from its Hong Kong and Taiwanese counterparts. Bizarre humor, wire-work that can best be described as ‘imaginative’, and clearly low budget, all amount to a sub-section of the genre that’s an acquired taste. It just so happens that I’m one of the few whose tastes have been manipulated enough over the years to find a certain charm in Korea’s always unique take on the genre.
If I was going to attempt to make someone a fan of old-school Korean kung fu flicks though, lets establish now that it wouldn’t start with an introduction involving Benny Tsui (whose real name is Seo Byeong-heon). One of the many enigmatic stars of the kung fu genre Continue reading →
Welcome to Sudden Death (aka Sudden Death 2), a sequel/remake (mostly by name) to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s 1995 actioner, Sudden Death (proving our 2015 article Van Damme is the most ‘remade’ action star in the world was spot on) has finally arrived to DVD and Netflix.
Filling in Van Damme’s shoes is cult martial arts star Michael Jai White (Triple Threat, Accident Man). Co-stars include comedian Gary Owen (Ride Along), Gillian White (Never Back Down: No Surrender), Marrese Crump (Tom Yum Goong 2) and Kristen Harris (Channel Zero).
Jesse Freeman (White) is a former special forces officer and explosives expert now working a regular job as a security guard in a state-of-the-art basketball arena. Trouble erupts when a tech-savvy cadre of terrorists kidnap the team’s owner and Jesse’s daughter during Continue reading →
Ever rising Vietnamese star Veronica Ngo (House in the Alley, Furie) has taken to social media to tease Vinaman, an upcoming superhero flick produced by Studio68, Ngo’s own production company.
“The world has Iron Man, Spider Man and Superman. So what does Vietnam have?” says Ngo, in a lengthy post on social media on Monday. She later adds “…Young people need a hero. And Vietnam needs a representative face.” (via FCS)
To Western audiences, Ngo is mostly known for her work in the acclaimed Vietnamese martial arts features The Rebel and Clashwith Johnny Tri Nguyen, not to mention a minor role in Yuen Woo-ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destinywith Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen. And her recent appearances in Bright, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Da 5 Bloods have gotten her more exposure in mainstream Hollywood. Continue reading →
Two master warriors (Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh) are faced with their greatest challenge when the treasured Green Destiny sword is stolen. A young aristocrat (Zhang Ziyi) prepares for an arranged marriage, but soon reveals her superior fighting talents and her deeply romantic past. As each warrior battles for justice, they come face to face with their worst enemy – and the inescapable, enduring power of love. Set against 19th-century China’s breathtaking landscape, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the action-packed box office smash from two-time Best Director Academy Award winner Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) and featuring stunning martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo Ping Continue reading →
A sequel to Herman Yau’s 2017 box office hit Shock Wave (read our review) is on the verge of being released to either streaming platforms or in theaters this December.
In the upcoming Shock Wave 2 (read our review), Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau (Switch) is back in place. Philip Keung (Chasing the Dragon), who appeared in the first film, also returns. New cast members include Lau Ching-wan (Integrity) and Ni Ni (The Warrior’s Gate).
Shock Wave 2 is said to feature new characters in a related storyline that revolves around a bomb disposal officer who is injured in a blast and then named as a suspect in a terrorist bombing (via SD).
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