‘The Assassins’ filmmaker enlists Nick Cheung to tackle inhumane biological warfare methods in WWII thriller ‘731’

"The Trough" Theatrical Poster

“The Trough” Theatrical Poster

Filmmaker Zhao Lin-Shan – director of Chow Yun-Fat in 2012’s Three Kingdoms period thriller, The Assassins – is planning his second feature, titled 731. The film will be led by Hong Kong star Nick Cheung Ka-fai (The Trough, Integrity).

731 is named after the notorious notorious Unit 731, a top-secret Japanese division which used inhumane methods in their biological warfare research (via CGTN).

Thanks to AFS, we have the film’s preliminary poster with a tagline that reads “Biochemical Revelations.”

We’ll keep you updated on 731 as we learn more. As for now, here’s a look at what Zhao Lin-Shan is capable of in The Assassins: Continue reading

Posted in News |

Lone Wolf McQuade | Blu-ray (Scorpion Releasing)

Lone Wolf McQuade | Blu-ray (Scorpion Releasing)

Lone Wolf McQuade | Blu-ray (Scorpion Releasing)

RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2020

On May 19th, 2020, Scorpion Releasing will release an all-new Blu-ray for Lone Wolf McQuade, a 1983 action film directed by Steve Carver (An Eye for an Eye), starring martial arts legend Chuck Norris (Code of Silence).

For the first time ever, Lone Wolf McQuade will be presented in a Brand New 2K Remaster with supplemental features including interviews with the cast and crew.

Texas ranger J.J. McQuade (Norris) likes to work by himself, until a state trooper, Kayo Ramos (Robert Beltran, Night of the Comet), needs his help to find out who hijacked a U.S. Army convoy. With the help of FBI agent Jackson (Leon Isaac Kennedy, Penitentiary 1-3), Continue reading

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

10 Top Attorney Lead Generation Strategies from the Pros

10 Top Attorney Lead Generation Strategies from the Pros

10 Top Attorney Lead Generation Strategies from the Pros

There are currently over 1,352,027 active attorneys working in the US. If you want your legal practice to grow, you’ll need to learn how to attract new leads. Otherwise, competitors in your area could get ahead instead.

As you acquire new clients, you can establish a strong, online reputation. As more people recognize the benefits of choosing your practice, word will get around! Previous clients will then help you attract new clients, allowing you to grow.

Boost your brand and start attracting new leads! With these 10 attorney lead generation strategies, you can get ahead of the competition and make your mark! Start acquiring new clients and growing your legal practice with these lawyer lead generation tips today!

1. Upgrade Your Website

In order to use the rest of these attorney lead generation strategies, you need to start with your website. An old, outdated website will make your brand look outdated, too. In fact, neglecting to update your website could cause many lawyer lead generation strategies to fail.

There are a few ways you can improve your website.

First, consider utilizing user experience (UX) design trends. Websites that are designed with UX in mind provide users with the best possible experience. The easier your site is to use and navigate, the more likely people will explore.

Once visitors find what you’re looking for, you can then use your lead generation strategies to convert visitors into leads.

First, try to get rid of as much clutter as possible. A cluttered website can feel overwhelming. Visitors won’t know where to look.

Instead, use white space and give your content room to breathe. You can also break apart large paragraphs. Shorten your sentences to improve readability, too.

Next, make sure your site loads quickly. You can use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to determine your current speed. Old plugins or large file sizes could cause your site to slow down.

In that case, you might want to start using new plugins or compressing files. Otherwise, you’ll lose visitors (and potential clients). In fact, 39% of visitors will stop engaging with a site if it takes too long to load.

2. Start Blogging

While you’re upgrading your website, make sure to consider mobile optimization, too.

Google started using mobile-first indexing in March 2018. Today, mobile devices account for 60% of all online traffic. If your site isn’t mobile-optimized, your search engine ranking could drop.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential digital marketing lead generation strategy. The higher you rank on search engines like Google, the more often people will see you. However, boosting brand awareness is only one benefit to SEO.

When you rank higher on search engines like Google, you’re also ranking above the competition. As a result, potential clients will begin to see you as a reputable resource in your industry. Your brand authority will improve, making it easier for potential clients to trust you.

Research

Before you start writing new blog posts, you need to know who you’re writing for. Start by researching your target audience. If you have a broad audience, break your clients into smaller buyer persons.

For example, you can separate clients based on:

  • Location
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • Household income

What services are your target clients looking for? You might want to separate your audience based on the legal services they need, too.

Once you know who your clients are, you can determine what they’re searching for online. Use SEO keyword tools like:

  • SEMRush
  • Ahrefs
  • Moz
  • Google Keyword Planner
  • Google Trends

Once you have a list of keywords to work from, determine what your clients are hoping to find during a search. Then, create content with that user intent in mind.

Google’s latest SEO algorithm, BERT, now utilizes machine learning to provide users with more accurate search results. In order to improve your ranking, you need to provide your target audience with content they actually need and want.

Content

In order to bring in new leads, you need unique, high-quality content. Google wants to provide its users with helpful information. To boost your SEO ranking, consider what you can offer your audience.

For example, let’s say you focus on auto accident cases. You can provide a how-to blog post or ebook that walks clients through the steps they need to take.

There are different types of content you can create, including:

  • Blog posts
  • Tutorials
  • How-to guides
  • Ebooks
  • Quizzes
  • Polls
  • Videos

Consider adding video content to your landing pages, which can increase conversions by over 80%. Video content is a great way to keep website visitors on the page. The longer they stay, the better for your dwell time.

Don’t forget to close your content with a call-to-action (CTA). For example, you might encourage readers to contact you for help with their legal cases.

As a result, you can attract new leads and boost your SEO ranking.

3. Focus on Your Value

As you start creating website content and landing pages, make sure to focus on your value. What can you offer clients that no one else can?

Your value will help you stand out from other legal practices in the area. Otherwise, why should clients choose you instead of someone else?

You can promote your value by highlighting your experience and expertise. Does your law firm have a strong track record? Showcase your experience on your website, blog, and social media to give clients a reason to contact you.

If you specialize in certain casework, let clients know.

As prospects start looking for a law firm, they’ll want to choose someone they can trust. Highlighting your experience and expertise will give them a reason to trust your brand.

4. Get Social

Don’t leave your content sitting on your website. Instead, start gathering an audience of readers. Using social media to promote your website content and boost engagement.

Try creating a social media and content calendar to keep yourself organized. After creating a blog post, consider creative ways to promote the post. For example, you can create images, infographics, and animations that link to the same blog.

Now you have three social media posts from one article!

As people start commenting on your social media posts, make sure to engage. Use social listening to keep track of what followers are saying, too. As you respond, use attorney lead generation tactics to encourage people to visit your site.

Then, you can turn your social media followers into potential leads.

5. Share Successes

Did your legal practice recently win a big case or a local award? Showcase your successes on your blog and social media accounts.

Success stories will give potential clients a reason to trust you. They’ll also highlight your value. When prospects see your successes, they’ll begin to recognize you as a trustworthy, credible resource in the industry.

6. Utilize PPC Advertising

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is another effective digital marketing strategy for generating new attorney leads. Like SEO, PPC uses keyword and audience research to appear in front of prospective clients. You can also have PPC ads display on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Make sure to use your research to target your ideal clients. Then, compose engaging ads that encourage visitors to click on your website.

Don’t forget to mobile-optimize your website. Otherwise, your PPC ad quality score might drop. As a result, your ads will appear below the competitions’.

Search ads can increase brand awareness by 80%. Meanwhile, 60% of smartphone users have contacted a business after searching online. By utilizing PPC, you boost your brand, reach more prospects, and generate more leads!

7. Request Reviews

Have you worked with a lot of satisfied clients in the past? Ask them for help!

About 93% of local consumers use reviews before trusting a local business.

Posting reviews on your website and social media can help you attract new leads for attorneys. Make sure these reviews appear on your Google My Business listing, too. Local reviews can help boost your SEO ranking, which can help you generate new leads.

8. Make Contacting Convenient

While updating your website, make sure to create new conversion opportunities. How do you want people to contact you? For example, you might have a button at the top of every page of your site that links to a form.

Remember, UX is all about quick convenience. Providing numerous opportunities for clients to contact you will encourage them to contact you.

Make sure to test any new forms you create while you’re at it!

9. Reinvite With Remarketing

Remarketing ads allow you to reappear in front of previous website visitors. With remarketing, you have a second chance to attract new leads.

Make sure to set up a remarketing list through your PPC advertising platform. You can use geo-targeting to find legal plan leads in the area, too. These tactics can help you find high-quality leads, making it easier for you to grow your law firm.

10. Up-To-Date Emailing

In order to generate continuous attorney leads, it’s important to remain top-of-mind with subscribers and previous customers. Email marketing is a great way to remind clients you’re there to help. You can use emails to send them blog posts, videos, and updates about your legal practice.

Don’t forget to add an eye-catching CTA button at the bottom of your email. That way, readers have an easy way to contact you for help.

Reel Them In: 10 Attorney Lead Generation Strategies for Sweet Success

Ready to grow your legal practice? Start using these 10 attorney lead generation strategies today! Then, you can watch new leads roll in!

Searching for more helpful tips? Check the News section of the blog today!

Posted in News |

Debt Collectors | DVD (Samuel Goldwyn)

Debt Collectors | DVD (Samuel Goldwyn)

Debt Collectors | DVD (Samuel Goldwyn)

RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2020

Action stars Scott Adkins (Ip Man 4, Avengement) and Louis Mandylor (Martial Law) are back for your money! And on May 29th, 2020, Samuel Goldwyn Films is sending these two Debt Collectors straight to your small screen by way of DVD and VOD.

Debt Collectors is the follow up to 2018’s The Debt Collector (read our review) from acclaimed “action” filmmaker Jesse V. Johnson (Triple Threat), who also directed the original.

Also returning is Vladimir Kulich (Smokin’ Aces), writer Stu Small (Accident Man) and fight coordinator Luke LaFontaine (Savage Dog). Additional cast members include Mayling Ng (Lady Bloodfight), Ski Carr (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Josef Cannon (from JCVD’s unreleased Full Love).

Debt collectors French (Adkins) and Sue (Mandylor) get to work doing what they do best – cracking skulls and breaking bones – as they chase down the various lowlifes who owe money to their boss, Tommy. They’re summoned to Las Vegas to collect from a dirty casino owner, Continue reading

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

Extraction (2020) Review

"Eextraction" Theatrical Poster

“Extraction” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Dhaka
Director: Sam Hargrave
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Priyanshu Painyuli, Golshifteh Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, Suraj Rikame, David Harbour
Running Time: 117 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Say what you want about Netflix (and the endless scroll that usually comes with it), but as action fans it’s treated us remarkably well. Indonesian actioner The Night Comes for Us was saved from production limbo thanks to the platform, we got Gareth Evans follow-up to The Raid in the form of Apostle, and Korean fight flick Revenger all debuted on the streaming giant. Sure none of these movies are exactly suited to an evening of ‘Netflix and chill’, but as a means to get the adrenaline pumping, you can’t go too far wrong. Continue reading

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

The Main Types of Truck Accidents: A Simple Guide

The Main Types of Truck Accidents: A Simple Guide

The Main Types of Truck Accidents: A Simple Guide

When large truck accidents occur, the most common victims are the occupants in smaller vehicles. The size difference between trucks and cars can be such that trucks weigh over 30 times what a regular car might.

It’s important that truck drivers and car drivers understand the dangers of the road and the rights that the law provides in case of accidents.

Accident Types: Jackknife

A jackknife accident occurs when the back part of a big rig swings forward while the cab stays straight, putting the two rig pieces at a right angle to each other. This can happen when the driver slams on the brakes, but the momentum of the back part of the rig seeks to continue forward.

Tractor-trailer accidents often display a jackknife pattern.

Accident Types: Blind Spots

Blind spot accidents occur when a truck tries to change lanes, but there are unseen cars in its blind spots. The longer a truck is, the bigger its blind spots tend to be. In fact, considering how large the blind spots in many trucks are, like those involved in tanker truck accidents, it’s only due to the impressive skill of truck drivers that there are so few blind spot accidents.

Tire Blowout

Like any other vehicle on the road, trucks can suffer from tire blowout accidents.  The greater the weight on a truck, the easier it is for a tire to blowout. Trucks have various regulations to help prevent tire blowouts.

Common Causes of Accidents

Some of the most common causes of accidents on the road are caused by poor driving conditions. Some of these are under the power of other workers, like those who work in construction. Others are under no one’s control, like weather conditions.

Bad weather can make it difficult to see the road clearly. It can also change the properties of the road itself, making it slippery.

In other cases, the road’s properties are naturally poor for driving. This occurs when roads are riddled with potholes or lack shoulders for drivers to retreat to in case of emergency.

Road construction is essential to fix these kinds of road problems. However, during the construction itself, the roads are temporarily filled with obstacles that can make driving more complicated.

How Can an Attorney Help?

Truck driving is an important service that our society depends on. The law has been designed to protect our truck drivers and their essential work.

However, in many cases, a driver in an accident will have to take the initiative. If they wait for someone to find them and tell them what rights they have, they may wait forever. That’s why it’s important to take the initiative to find quality legal counsel.

An attorney can help you understand all the options available to you. Once you’ve decided what you want to do, they can also help you with all the necessary paperwork, filing deadlines, and other legal requirements.

Finding a good lawyer for your truck accident can make sure you don’t forfeit your rights by inaction.

Know Your Rights When Involved in Truck Accidents

We hope you learned something helpful in this brief piece on truck accidents and how the law protects drivers. To learn about the latest in film news and read interviews with movie directors and actors, check out our other pages.

Posted in News |

Watch Now: Silver Harvest Films’ 80s Hong Kong throwback ‘Dragon of the Law’

If you enjoyed the recently released Tiger Cop: Toilet Paper Hero and still want more of that “80s Hong Kong action” nostalgia, then you don’t want to miss Dragon of the Law, a new action short from the independent creatives at Sydney Australia’s Silver Harvest films.

Dragon of the Law is written, directed and choreographed by David Vuong, produced by Therese Chen (who also handles cinematography and screenplay adaptation) with a cast that consists of David Hong, Michael Tang, Eric Tat, Brendon Chhor and Phuoc Quan Vuong. Continue reading

Posted in News |

It’s Time to Chill Out: The Benefits of CBD for Stress Relief

It's Time to Chill Out: The Benefits of CBD for Stress Relief

It’s Time to Chill Out: The Benefits of CBD for Stress Relief

Stress caused by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic is causing everything from weird dreams to high anxiety among the world’s population. The solution to this problem may lie in the marijuana plant.

We’re not talking about smoking a joint, instead, you might be interested in using the extract called CBD. This chemical has been linked to lowered blood pressure and decreased anxiety.

Last year, a survey showed that 14 percent of Americans have used CBD for their health issues. Using CBD for stress and anxiety is one of the most popular uses, along with chronic pain.

So what is CBD and how can it help you? What benefits can it offer and are there any risks involved?

Stick around and let’s look at how using CBD oil for stress could help you get back in control during worrying times.

What is CBD?

CBD is an abbreviated name for the compound called cannabidiol. It’s one of the primary active chemicals in marijuana and high levels of CBD are renowned for producing a stoned feeling when you’ve smoked a bowl.

The compound first became well known back in 2013. A young girl called Charlotte Figi suffered from a severe form of epilepsy which caused 300 seizures per week. When her parents administered an oil made from a strain of marijuana called Charlotte’s Web, bred to be high in CBD and low in compounds that produce a high.

The results were incredible. Charlotte’s seizures were markedly less frequent.

The calming effect on the brain caused by CBD has since been shown to work wonders on some people’s stress and anxiety levels. It achieves this through a range of incredible biochemical interactions, which we’ll take a look at later.

So It Can Work Wonders: Will It Get Me High?

CBD is psychoactive but won’t produce a high. The compound that’s associated with getting high is an entirely different compound called THC. While some extracts do combine CBD and THC, most of them only contain THC in minute quantities.

This means that getting high from low-THC CBD oil is impossible. The only effects you’ll feel with normal dosages will be a subtle relaxation.

The Benefits of Using CBD For Stress

CBD may have exploded into the public eye thanks to its seizure-busting powers yet it has myriad other qualities. Using CBD for stress has become extremely popular in recent years: let’s take a look at some of the effects CBD can have.

Anxiety In Response to Stress Drops

One of the best benefits of using CBD for anxiety is that it doesn’t only lower background stress and background anxiety. It actively helps your body avoid entering fight-or-flight in response to stressful stimuli.

Scientists have proved that CBD makes public speaking easier for people with social anxiety. As public speaking is one of the most stressful experiences of everyday life, it shows great promise in helping you deal with other stress.

Extinction Learning Is Boosted

Humans can learn to associate harmless stimuli with personal harm. One common example of this is in PTSD triggers that can cause immense anxiety in sufferers.

CBD has been shown to help boost extinction learning, AKA, learning to let go of fear. Even when the CBD has worn off, the anti-anxiety effects persist.

CBD Helps Boost Serotonin In Your Brain

Serotonin is a crucial brain chemical that helps to maintain happiness and fight high stress levels. One of the serotonin receptors in your brain is called 5-HT1A and plays a significant role in treating anxiety disorder. It’s this receptor that CBD binds itself to.

In other words, using CBD for anxiety could help provide your brain with the chemicals it needs to stay on a more even keel.

Repairs Damage Caused By Stress

Chronic stress causes brain damage in the form of damaged neurons. Scientists have shown that CBD has natural regenerative properties and can restore your brain to a healthy state.

Is CBD Legal?

CBD is not legal on a federal level due to the ongoing federal criminalization of marijuana. Yet its legality varies from state to state. It is legal in some states where medical marijuana is not legal, as it can also be made from legal hemp plants.

It’s best that you check your state laws before you start taking CBD to ensure that you aren’t illegally having it shipped from other states. This is particularly the case if you buy CBD online.

Will CBD Show Up On a Drugs Test?

If you’re using CBD for stress, the last thing you want to happen is to get in trouble due to a positive drugs test. If the CBD is pure and only contains very low amounts of THC, it will not show up as positive on a drugs test.

However, if the CBD is not pure and contains too much THC, it’s possible that you could be flagged as a marijuana user. This means that when you’re going to buy CBD, you must make sure it’s from a trusted company and only has trace amounts of THC.

Is CBD Safe to Use?

If your CBD is pure, it is nigh-on impossible to overdose on the compound. You would likely run out of cash for new bottles before you got sick.

In terms of contraindications and interactions with other medicines, you must speak to your doctor or pharmacist. While the risk of interaction between CBD and prescription medications is very low, it isn’t impossible. Everyone’s bodies are different and the risk becomes more acute if you’re taking multiple medications.

Want to Read More Interesting Articles Like This?

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about all the benefits that can be had when using CBD for stress. If you’d like to read more articles about CBD, marijuana, and just about anything else, then check out our features section!

You can also follow us on social media and get access to our posts as soon as they are published!

Posted in News |

How Do You Know if You Were Sexually Assaulted and Abused as a Child?

How Do You Know if You Were Sexually Assaulted and Abused as a Child?

How Do You Know if You Were Sexually Assaulted and Abused as a Child?

One in ten children will be sexually assaulted before they have reached the age of 18. This means that approximately 1 in 7 girls and 1 in 25 boys will be sexually abused. This abuse can lead to lifelong trauma that may be difficult to remember and recover from.

So, how do you know if you were sexually assaulted? We recommend that you continue reading to find out how some subtle signs may allude to past sexual abuse when you were younger.

How Do You Know If You Were Sexually Assaulted?

Sexual abuse doesn’t always happen between a child and a grownup, sometimes it can happen between a child and an older sibling, a babysitter, or a child that is the same age. Forms of sexual abuse include forceful exposure of the body and touching, someone exposing themselves to the child, being shown pornographic images, talking about sexual things, and more.

There are some signs that you may have never noticed, but these signs can point to something much more profound. These signs include:

  • Loss of memory surrounding the period when the trauma took place
  • Increased anxiety when it comes to loud noises or being surprised
  • Lack of emotional control
  • Not understanding why specific sounds, smells, or surroundings cause you to become uneasy
  • Feelings of shame and guilt

Why Don’t I Remember?

When a person experiences traumatic events in their lives, typically, the brain will, in a sense, lock those memories away. Some therapists believe that such traumatic events are too painful for a person to remember.

It is prevalent not to remember specific experiences and events from childhood, especially memories surrounding traumatic events such as sexual abuse. As the child grows and becomes an adult, they may experience flashbacks and find that they are uneasy and don’t understand why.

As you begin to remember past sexual abuse it’s important that you talk to a lawyer they may be able to help you get justice. For more information about the legal side of things click this link.

How Will It Affect My Adult Life?

Sexual abuse as a child can cause havoc in a child’s adult life without them understanding what is happening. Some children seek abusive relationships that mirror the abuse they endured when they were younger.

Feeling the need to stay in a relationship where you’re being emotionally, physically, or mentally abused. Another way adult life is affected is the way the adult approaches sex with others.

They may find themselves being overly promiscuous or the opposite and be repulsed by sex altogether. At times the abused may seek to please the other person involved at all times because of the sexual trauma.

The abused may have fantasies where they romanticize the act of being raped and abused as a means of pleasure.

The Wrap-Up

How do you know if you were sexually assaulted? For everyone, that answer may differ slightly. Still, the answers above may give you a starting point when it comes to answering this question for yourself.

If you would like to read more content answering questions such as this one, we encourage you to take a peek at our website for more engaging content posts, such as the one you’ve just read.

Posted in News |

Enter the Forbidden City | Blu-ray (Cinema Libre Studio)

"Enter the Forbidden City" Theatrical Poster

“Enter the Forbidden City” Theatrical Poster

RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2020

On May 26, 2020, Cinema Libre Studio will release the Blu-ray and DVD for Enter the Forbidden City, a historical epic from filmmaker Hu Mei (Chow Yun-fat’s Confucius) and writer Zou Jingzhi (The Grandmaster).

During the dates of celebrating the Emperor’s 80th birthday, an opera troupe from southern China was invited to come to Beijing to perform for the Emperor. Afterwards, the opera troupe was granted to stay in Beijing and became what we had known as ‘Peking Opera today.”

Enter the Forbidden City stars Ma Yili (Cold War 2) and TV actors Fu Dalong and Ma Jinghan (Sword Dynasty).

Stay tuned for pre-infromation. Until then, don’t miss the film’s Trailer below:

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

Inferno of Torture | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Inferno of Torture | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Inferno of Torture | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2020,

On July 6, 2020, Arrow Video will be releasing the Blu-ray for Inferno of Torture from director Teruo Ishii (Blind Woman’s Curse).

Read the official details below:

Exploitation legend Teruo Ishii (Horrors of Malformed Men, Orgies of Edo) delivers one of his most extreme visions of violent eroticism in this, the sixth in his abnormal love series. Tattoos and torture await women forced into servitude in Ishii’s Inferno of Torture.

Unable to repay a local lender, Yumi (Yumika Katayama) takes up an offer to serve as a geisha for two years with a promise of freedom once her debt is repaid. She quickly realises that this is less a house of geishas than an extremely cruel brothel specialising in supplying western visitors with tattooed playthings. Taken under the wing of one of the leading Continue reading

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

Dragon Lee vs. the 5 Brothers | aka The Five Disciples (1978) Review

"Dragon Lee vs. the 5 Brothers" Theatrical Poster

“Dragon Lee vs. the 5 Brothers” Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Si-hyun
Cast: Dragon Lee (Mun Kyong-sok), Yuen Qiu, Kwon Il-soo, Gam Kei Chu, Lee Ye Min, Chui Man Fooi, Kim Ki-ju, Han Myeong-hwan, Choi Hyeong-keun, Jeong Ju-Hyeon, Jang In-Han, Choe Il, Kim Dong-Ho
Running Time: 87 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

The Bruceploitation genre would melt the brain of even the most academic film critic, which is why I prefer to remain on the other end of the scale. A genre dedicated to cashing in on the legacy of Bruce Lee, often by disguising themselves as Bruce Lee movies to an audience long before the internet, I always found it oxymoronic that many of these productions used the imitators name in their actual title. Essentially giving the game away that, not only where these not Bruce Lee movies, but actively promoting the fact that they were imitation flicks. Classic examples include Bruce Li in Snake Island and Bruce Le’s Greatest Revenge to name but two. Continue reading

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

Zombie for Sale | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Zombie for Sale | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

Zombie for Sale | Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2020

On July 6, 2020, Arrow Video will be releasing the Blu-ray for Zombie for Sale (aka The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale), a horror-comedy and debut feature from writer/director Lee Min-jae.

An infectiously funny slice of modern Korean cinema where Train to Busan, The Quiet Family and Warm Bodies collide to create a memorable rom-zom-com from first time director Lee Min-jae.

When the illegal human experiments of Korea’s biggest Pharmaceutical company go wrong, one of their “undead” test subjects escapes and ends up in a shabby gas station owned by the Park family – a band of misfits spanning three generations who hustle passers-by to make ends meet. When the Park family uncover their undead visitor, he bites the head of their household, who instead of transforming into an undead ghoul becomes revitalised and full of life! The family then hatch a plan to exploit this unexpected fountain of youth, allowing locals to pay to be bitten too, until things go wrong…

With a cabbage-munching zombie who prefers ketchup over blood, and a dysfunctional family that gives the Kim family of Parasite a run for their money, Zombie for Sale will warm the deadest of hearts and breathe some new life into the zombie genre.

Special Edition Features:

  • High-Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
  • Original uncompressed Stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD MA options
  • Newly-translated English subtitles
  • Brand new audio commentary with filmmakers and critics Sam Ashurst and Dan Martin
  • Q&A with director Lee Min-jae from a 2019 screening at Asian Pop-Up Cinema in Chicago, moderated by film critic and author Darcy Paquet
  • Eat Together, Kill Together: The Family-in-Peril Comedy – brand new video essay by critic and producer Pierce Conran exploring Korea’s unique social satires
  • Making-Of Featurette
  • Behind-the-Scenes footage
  • Original Trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Mike Lee-Graham
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Josh Hurtado

Stay tuned for pre-order information.

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

New Trailer for Makoto Nagahisa’s ‘We Are Little Zombies’ is a little more than out of this 8-bit world

"We Are Little Zombies" Theatrical Poster

“We Are Little Zombies” Theatrical Poster

Coming soon from Oscilloscope Entertainment is We Are Little Zombies, an acclaimed Japanese feature from writer/director Makoto Nagahisa (And So We Put Goldfish in the Pool).

Judging from what we’ve read, We Are Little Zombies is highly original and pushes the limits of creative freedom. One reviewer says: “If you are sick of watching movies that look all the same and are meaningless, Little Zombies is your solution to your problems.”

Read the official details below:

When four young orphans – Hikari, Ikuko, Ishi, and Takemura – first meet, their parents’ bodies are being turned into dust, like fine Parmesan atop a plate of spaghetti Bolognese, and yet none of them can shed a tear. They are like zombies; devoid of all emotion. With no family, no future, no dreams, and no way to move forward, the young teens decide that the first level of this new existence involves salvaging a gaming console, an old electric bass, and a charred wok from their former homes—just enough to start a band-and then conquer the world. Tragedy, comedy, music, social criticism, and teenage angst are all subsumed in this eccentric cinematic tsunami.

We Are Little Zombies stars Keita Ninomiya, Satoshi Mizuno, Mondo Okumura, and Sena Nakajima, along with Kuranosuke Sasaki, Youki Kudoh, Sosuke Ikematsu, Eriko Hatsune, Jun Murakami, Naomi Nishida, Rinko Kikuchi, and Masatoshi Nagase.

Expect a release date soon from Oscilloscope. For now, don’t miss the film’s Trailer:

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Lady Whirlwind | aka Deep Thrust (1972) Review

"Lady Whirlwind" Theatrical Poster

“Lady Whirlwind” Theatrical Poster

Director: Huang Feng
Producer: Raymond Chow
Cast: Chang Yi, Angela Mao Ying, Pai Ying, Oh Kyung-Ah, Liu Ah-Na, Chin Yuet-Sang, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Huang Feng, June Wu Ching Erh, Chin Nan Yi
Running Time: 84 min.

By Ian Whittle

Golden Harvest’s early years were devoted soley to martial arts films, and keeping up with their main rival, the Shaw Brothers. After a year of wu xia swordplay, 1971 saw Golden Harvest strike it lucky with the Bruce Lee/Lo Wei blockbuster The Big Boss, which beat Shaw’s similary Thailand set contemporary action flick Duel of Fists into submission.

Alongside the swordplay films, Shaws had started to branch out into what fans call “basher” flicks, focusing on empty-handed “Chinese boxing”, set either in the present day or an earlier circa 1920s era. Besides resulting in Golden Harvest’s 1972 collosus Fist of Fury (again Bruce Lee and Lo Wei), their satellite producer/director Huang Feng branched out into the sub-genre, with choreographer Sammo Hung and, in marked contrast to the new male-oriented box office domination of Chang Cheh, Jimmy Wang Yu and Bruce Lee; a female leading lady, Angela Mao Ying.

Having said that, Mao is not top-billed in this, and the Chinese title translates to “Iron Palm Whirlwind Leg”. Lady Whirlwind is actually primarily about Ling Shi-Hao (Chang Yi) and his feud with a gang led by Japanese villian Tung Ku (Pai Ying), a conflict marvellously summed up in the English dub’s hilarious opening lines:

Tung Ku: “Ling Shi-Hao, there’s no escape. You’re a dead duck!”
Ling Shi-Hao: “You dirty lowdown Japanese!”

However, Ling is also marked for death by the mysterious Tien Li-Chun (Angela Mao), who wants revenge for him abandoning her sister to suicide. She will, however, permit him to defeat Tung Ku first. Which isn’t easy, but then Ling rescues an old Korean man from a snake bite, and is taught a new Tai Chi style…

Lady Whirlwind is a interesting example of a kung fu film where the fighting is probably the weakest aspect. The atmosphere is very effective, with the whole film having a desolate Western feel to it that I find very appealing (it wouldn’t surprise me if the plot came from a Western too). And the canned music (John Barry’s fresh from the record-shop Diamonds Are Forever score turns up a lot) works well.

Chang Yi’s leading man roles were never as engaging as his later cackling villains, and for all his efforts here, he is one of the least interesting performers/characters. Mao, effectively playing a male character as Kim Newman once remarked in his excellent book Nightmare Movies, is a striking prescence and you can see why she caught on in the Western markets even more than in Hong Kong. The film also finds room for two other distinctive female characters: Oh Kyoung-Ah as Ling’s new love interest, and Liu Ah-Na as a marvellous “Dragon Lady” style whip-wielding chain-smoking villianess Tiao. Sammo Hung is a frequent punching bag for the rest of the cast, and Chin Yuet-Sang looks patently absurd pretending to be Japanese ronin Wen Tien: all exaggerated bowing and awkwardly fitting top-not.

Incidentally, this film contains one of my all time favourite bad dubbing exchanges

Tiao: “Go to the inn, you’re welcome to any of my birds.”
Wen Tien: “B..i..r..d…what is a…bird?”
Tung Ku: “Ha ha! It’s a woman, you dumb ass.”
Wen Tien: “Wooo…mannn…Ha Ha! I love em! I’ll take two of them! I’ll take two of them!!!”
Tung Ku: “Sure, sure, sure, sure…I’ll take you there myself!”
Tiao: “You what? The hell you will!”

The fights are many, but rather dated, even by the standards of what Hung turned out in the same year’s Hapkido. By that point, most of the Golden Harvest players had been for a crash course in Hapkido under Grandmaster Ji Han-Jae, and the difference is striking. Lady Whirlwind features a lot of Austin Powerish “Judo Chops!” with the extras milling around wondering where their swords are gone. Awkward trampoline jumps, reverse acrobatics… it’s all very stagey, but charming in itself.

Lady Whirlwind caught the wave of interest in kung fu in the USA, becoming a big hit under the not-to-be-confused-with-any-pornos title Deep Thrust. And it was caught for review by a young critic named Joe Dante.

Hmm, one day a man is reviewing an Angela Mao movie, the next he’s a blockbuster film director. There’s hope for me yet!

I liked it more than Joe did, though

Ian Whittle’s Rating: 8/10

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