The Head Hunter (1982) Review

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Paul Bramhall
"The Head Hunter" Theatrical Poster

“The Head Hunter” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lau Shing-hon
Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Rosamund Kwan, Philip Chan Yan Kin, Flora Cheung Tien Oy, O Chun Hung, Tang Ching, Wan Chi Keung, Melvin Wong Gam San, Lo Wai
Running Time: 98 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The early 80’s was an exciting time for Hong Kong cinema, as the collective new blood of directorial talent began to reshape the cinematic landscape, and would produce a number of movies that would come to be known as part of the HK New Wave. This new wave saw a move away from the more traditional kung fu movies and dramas that still dominated the HK box office, and move towards more gritty and realistic crime flicks that dealt with a disenchanted youth and those struggling on the bottom rungs of society. Titles like Alex Cheung’s Cops and Robbers from 1979 (an influence on Police Story) and Tsui Hark’s Dangerous Encounter – 1st Kind from 1980 showed a different, more grounded approach to genre filmmaking, while still being distinctly Hong Kong in their look and feel.

Another director was Lau Shing-hon, who after debuting with the 1980 adult drama House of the Lute, followed up with his sophomore feature The Head Hunter in 1982. Shing-hon is one of those directors with a mysteriously sporadic career. After The Head Hunter he’d go onto direct Heroes Three the following year, and then would disappear completely, with the exception of helming a segment in the little-seen 2002 released omnibus film The Final Night of the Royal Hong Kong Police. While obscure Continue reading →

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Can this be South Korea’s answer to Tak Sakaguchi’s Re:Born? Watch the Trailer for ‘Special Agent’ and find out…

Posted on November 11, 2020 by JJ Bona
"Special Agent" Theatrical Poster

“Special Agent” Theatrical Poster

Stuntman-turned-director Shin Jae-myung (who worked on the action for Gangnam 1970) is getting ready to unleash his first film, Special Agent. The trailer for this upcoming actioner has just been released and begs the question: Has South Korea found its take on Tak Sakaguchi’s Re:Born?

Special Agent tells the story of Won-cheol (Lee Jae-yoon), an agent of the National Intelligence Service of the Republic of Korea, who is in charge of removing VIPs who participated in the operation of developing weapons of mass destruction in North Korea.

The film also stars Gong Jung-hwan (The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos), Kim Kang-il (Unalterable) and Jung Chang-hyun (The Mayor).

Special Agent is releasing domestically later this month. Don’t miss its Trailer Continue reading →

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Chris Pratt and Wu Jing team up for ‘Saigon Bodyguards’ remake

Posted on November 9, 2020 by JJ Bona
"Wolf Warrior" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Wolf Warrior” Chinese Theatrical Poster

An English-language remake of Ken Ochiai’s Vietnamese-made, 2016 action-comedy film, Saigon Bodyguards, is brewing at Universal Pictures with Hollywood A-lister Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World) and martial arts star Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2, SPL II: A Time for Consequences) leading the cast.

Saigon Bodyguards focuses on two pals, one a straight arrow and the other a doof, who try to find a corporate heir who got kidnapped right under their noses. The plot thickens from there (via Deadline).

Our same source adds that Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck (HBO’s Veep) are writing the script. In addition to starring, Pratt will produce, via his Indivisible Productions alongside Mike Larocca, via AGBO; as well as Joe and Anthony Russo (Captain America: Civil War), both of whom consulted on Wu Jing’s Wolf Warrior 2.

We’ll keep you updated on the Continue reading →

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There’s some infernal affairs-type action going on in the Trailer for ‘The Infernal Walker’ starring Michael Tse and Ray Lui

Posted on November 9, 2020 by JJ Bona
"The Infernal Walker" Theatrical Poster

“The Infernal Walker” Theatrical Poster

If you’re into crime films like Infernal Affairs and The Line Walker, then chances are, you’ll want to check out The Infernal Walker (sorry, we couldn’t resist!), an upcoming crime-thriller directed by Wong Ka Fai (The Redeemers) and produced by Billy Chung (From Vegas to Macau).

It’s a story of triad vs. anti-triad where real identities are not what they seem – and – undercover agents are not as “good” as they appear to be. It’s a game where all opposing forces have the challenge of acting their part to stay alive!

The Infernal Walker stars Michael Tse Tin-Wah (Golden Job, Three, Wild City), Pakho Chau (The Sinking City – Capsule Odyssey) and Ray Lui (To Be Number One, Miracles, Project A II), Oscar Leung (The Line Walker), Hui Siu Hung Continue reading →

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Flower and Snake: Zero (2014) Review

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Paul Bramhall
"Flower and Snake: Zero" Theatrical Poster

“Flower and Snake: Zero” Theatrical Poster

Director: Hajime Hashimoto
Cast: Maiko Amano, Noriko Hamada, Rina Sakuragi, Kanji Tsuda, Naoki Kawano, Hideo Sakaki 
Running Time: 113 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Spend enough time in the world of Asian cinema, and somewhere along the line, you’re likely to stumble across the Japanese SM (sadomasochism) genre. At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself for as long as I can remember. Not that I’ve seen that many of them, but people who I know who have tend to believe they stick to the same conventions. Traditional housewife finds herself drawn into a world of being tied up and suspended via various ropes, eventually learns to enjoy the whipping she’s subjected to, and the plots stumble questionably to their ending. At least, that’s what people who’ve watched a fair few of them believe, just to reiterate the point.

One of the most famous examples of the genre is 1974’s Flower and Snake, an adaptation of Oniroku Dan’s novel, about an elderly husband that orders his younger employee to kidnap his reluctant wife, and train her to submit to his desires by breaking her pride via all sorts of perverted nonsense. A distinctly Japanese affair, the movie was so notorious that the title of Flower and Snake wouldn’t stay down for long, and today almost feels like a synonym for rope themed SM movies. From 1985 to 1987 we got 4 more doses of Flower and Snake, all of them standalone tales of debauchery, and featuring Continue reading →

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews |

Zoom Up: Murder Site | Blu-ray & DVD (Impulse)

Posted on November 7, 2020 by JJ Bona
Zoom Up: Murder Site | Blu-ray & DVD (Impulse)

Zoom Up: Murder Site | Blu-ray & DVD (Impulse)

RELEASE DATE: February 9, 2021

On February 9, 2021, Impulse Pictures is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for 1979’s Zoom Up: Murder Site. The film is the first entry in Nikkatsu’s famous Zoom Up adult series, Zoom Up: Murder Site is a dark, violent film that’s described as …a collection of staggeringly repulsive murders, perhaps the most sadistic ever generated on film…The words misogynist and mean-spirited can barely describe the atrocities on hand (Thomas and Yuko Mihara Weisser, Japanese Cinema Encyclopedia).

A violent killer is preying on women and dumping their bodies in an abandoned building. Tomoko (Erina Miyai) cheats on her lover with another man and thinks the killer saw their romantic tryst. She doesn’t want to go to the police, because she’s afraid her affair will be discovered, but the killer continues his murderous spree. What will Continue reading →

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

Milla Jovovich and Tony Jaa take center in the New Japanese Poster for Paul W.S. Anderson’s ‘Monster Hunter’

Posted on November 6, 2020 by JJ Bona
"Monster Hunter" Japanese Poster

“Monster Hunter” Japanese Poster

Director Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat) is back with Monster Hunter, a film adaptation of the popular Capcom video game of the same name.

Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) stars alongside martial arts star Tony Jaa (Paradox, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage), Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages) and recording artist, T.I. Harris (aka T.I.).

When an unexpected sandstorm transports Lt. Artemis (Jovovich) and her unit to a new world, the soldiers are shocked to discover that this hostile and unknown environment is home to enormous and terrifying monsters immune to their firepower. In their desperate battle for survival, the unit encounters the mysterious Hunter (Jaa), whose unique skills allow him to stay one step ahead of the powerful creatures. As Continue reading →

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Flower and Snake | Blu-ray (Impulse)

Posted on November 6, 2020 by JJ Bona
Flower and Snake | Blu-ray (Impulse)

Flower and Snake | Blu-ray (Impulse)

RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021

On March 16, 2021, Impulse Pictures is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for 1974’s Flower and Snake. Based on Oniroku Dan’s famous Japanese novel, the film is the first Nikkatsu erotic film to deal with the subject of sadomasochism (Sir Paul Bramhall recently reviewed a newer rendition of the film).

Makoto (Yasuhiko Ishizu) is a sexually suppressed man living with his mother Miyo (Hiroko Fuji) who owns an adult toy store. When he was a child, Makoto remembers shooting a soldier whom he found having sex with his mother. The elderly man who owns the company Makoto works for has an interest in BDSM and wants Makoto to kidnap and train his wife (Naomi Tani) to submit to him. With Makoto battling the demons of his past and unsure of the consequences of his own sexual awakening, what transpires is one of the most shocking, perverse and jaw-dropping Continue reading →

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

Abduction (2019) Review

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Paul Bramhall
"Abduction" Theatrical Poster

“Abduction” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Twilight Zodiac
Director: Ernie Barbarash
Cast: Scott Adkins, Andy On, Truong Ngoc Anh, Lily Ji, Aki Aleong, Daniel Whyte, Mike Leeder, Tom Caserto, Brahim Chab, Philippe Joly, Semiquaver Iafeta, Jai Day
Running Time: 98 min.

By Paul Bramhall

I confess to having intentionally avoided the Scott Adkins vehicle Abduction in 2019. In a year which saw the British martial arts star either headline or feature in the likes of Avengement, Triple Threat, and Ip Man 4: The Finale, the Roger Corman produced sci-fi romp backed by China felt like it had a “we all have bills to pay” vibe written all over it. You know the ones that occasionally pop up in any actor’s filmography who isn’t regularly headlining big budget Hollywood productions – Incoming, Green Street 3: Never Back Down, Legendary, the list goes on. It had always remained a curiosity somewhere in the back of my mind though, so as 2020 draws to a close I decided to give it a go (I know, checking out a movie a year after it was released is no biggie, but Adkins cranks them out so fast that Abduction is already 7 movies ago).

The main draw behind Abduction is the reunion of Adkins and Andy On, 17 years after they went head to head in the Tsui Hark directed 2002 Hong Kong flick Black Mask 2: City of Masks, back when they were both starting out in the industry. In a word of warning, anyone hoping to see the pair in a slightly less out-there tale than what their first outing offered (in short – Adkins as a mad scientist mixing up the DNA of pro-wrestlers with animals) will be left disappointed. While there’s no pro-wrestlers Continue reading →

Posted in All, Asian Related, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Cobra Kai: Seasons 1 and 2 | DVD (Sony)

Posted on November 5, 2020 by JJ Bona
Cobra Kai: Seasons 1 and 2 | DVD (Sony)

Cobra Kai: Seasons 1 and 2 | DVD (Sony)

RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2020

On November 24, 2020, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing Cobra Kai: Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, which includes Seasons 1 and Season 2 of the Cobra Kai saga.

Read the official press release below:

In Cobra Kai, the highly-anticipated return of two iconic characters, the arch-rivals from the legendary The Karate Kid film series reunite over 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. Now living in the affluent hills of Encino, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) leads an enviable life. Meanwhile, his high school adversary, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), has taken a rocky turn, but seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. Their lives inevitably become intertwined and the rivalry is reignited, setting forth the next generation of “karate kids.”

Bonus material:

  • Bonus Scenes Saved from the Cutting Room Floor
  • Gag Reels
  • Easter Eggs: The cast and crew take you through their favorite Cobra Kai callbacks to the original The Karate Kid franchise
  • Fists & Fury: Fight Choreography: Learn about the training and rehearsal process for the biggest action scenes in Cobra Kai
  • Into the Dojo: The Characters: Discover more about your favorite characters from the first two seasons
  • Cast Chemistry Reads
  • Exploring the Musical Identities of Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do with Composers
  • Musical Performances at the Whiskey a Go-Go with Guest William Zabka

Pre-order Cobra Kai from Amazon.com today! 

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

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

Posted on November 5, 2020 by JJ Bona

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 November, which includes a New film added to Hi-YAH! every Friday! Some of the highlights include the all-star HK actioner Dragon Quad (cast includes Sammo Hung and the Terminator-killer himself, Michael Biehn) and a little bit of Bruceploiation on the side!

Continue reading for the full Continue reading →

Posted in News |

Fist of Fury Part II (1976) Review

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Ian Whittle
"Fist of Fury Part II" Theatrical Poster

“Fist of Fury Part II” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Tso Nam
Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Lo Lieh, Tien Feng, James Nam Gung Fan, Suen Lam, Philip Ko Fei, Cho Kin, Chan Wai Lau, Lee Kwan, Sit Hon, Jimmy Lee Fong, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Robert Tai Chi Hsien, To Wai Wo
Running Time: 104 min.

By Ian Whittle

1976 saw director/producer Lo Wei locate to Taiwan to produce a sequel to his box-office smash Fist of Fury, which was also his second and final collaboration with Bruce Lee. A talky, 2 hour slog, which underused Lo’s new discovery, Jackie Chan, New Fist of Fury was an underwhelming attempt to rekindle past glories – this was made even more obvious by another Taiwanese sequel to Fist of Fury, produced the same year, which ended up feeling a lot more like the original than the sequel from the actual director of the original did!

Fist of Fury Part II follows on from the original at the funeral of Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee), represented by a photo of Lee from…Way of the Dragon. Since Lo Wei represented Bruce in New Fist of Fury with stills from Enter the Dragon, I suppose there must have been a lack of FOF photos, except this film has an opening montage of stills from the original. Since Nora Miao was off making New Fist of Fury, here her character is played by a double in mourning garb…who [ Spoiler Alert ] promptly Continue reading →

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Take ‘One Second’ and check out these New Posters for Zhang Yimou’s upcoming film ‘One Second’

Posted on November 4, 2020 by JJ Bona
"One Second" Teaser Poster

“One Second” Teaser Poster

Zhang Yimou, the acclaimed filmmaker of Hero, The Great Wall and Shadow, will soon be introducing his long-delayed film, One Second, to audiences all around the world.

The upcoming film stars Zhang Yi (Operation Red Sea), Liu Haocun (Impasse, A Little Red Flower), Fan Wei (Air Strike) and Yu Ailei (A Better Tomorrow 2018, Saving Mr. Wu).

One Second is co-written with Zou Jingzhi – Zhang’s screenwriter  for Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles and Coming Home – and is described as a “rural drama” (via AFS).

One Second is just one of three films Zhang Yimou has under his belt (the others being The Coldest Gun and Impasse). A Trailer Continue reading →

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Raining in the Mountain | Blu-ray & DVD (Film Movement)

Posted on November 3, 2020 by JJ Bona
Raining in the Mountain | Blu-ray (Film Movement)

Raining in the Mountain | Blu-ray (Film Movement)

RELEASE DATE: December 8, 2020

On December 8, 2020, Film Movement will be releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for Raining in the Mountain, a 1979 wu xia film from renown director King Hu (Come Drink with Me). The film stars Feng Hsu (To Kill with Intrigue), Yueh Sun (Police Force), Paul Chang (Millionaires Express), Tien Feng (Fists of Fury) and Suen Yuet (City on Fire).

Read the official details below:

During the Ming Dynasty, a Buddhist abbot charged with protecting the sacred scroll of Tripitaka prepares to name his successor. An aristocrat and a general arrive at his secluded mountaintop monastery promising to help in his search, but are in fact scheming to secure the scroll for themselves. As they set about recommending corrupt successors, rival bands of martial artists lie in wait to steal the precious artifact. Soon, the monastery is transformed into an epic battleground for the scroll, with each Continue reading →

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

Jade Dynasty (2019) Review

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Paul Bramhall
"Jade Dynasty" Theatrical Poster

“Jade Dynasty” Theatrical Poster

Director: Ching Siu-Tung
Cast: Sean Xiao, Li Qin, Meng Mei Qi, Tina Tang, Qiu Xin Zhi, Cecilia Yip, John Chiang, Norman Tsui, Leung Kar-Yan, Hung Yan-Yan, Bao Xiaosong, Chen Liwei, Li Shen
Running Time: 101 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

The hyper-kinetic action and billowing silk of the early 90’s new wave wuxia genre may be a long time ago, but one of the directors whose name is indelibly linked with it is thankfully still around – Ching Siu-Tung. Siu-Tung’s distinctive choreography style of the era, defined by its bombastic wife-fu infused set pieces, can be found in the likes of New Dragon Inn, Holy Weapon, and Butterfly and Sword, as well as in the movies he sat in the director’s chair for himself, such as the Swordsman and Chinese Ghost Story trilogies. That era of Hong Kong cinema may be gone, however I confess that when Siu-Tung’s name is attached to a movie, I still get excited about it.

Admittedly as a director the post-millennium world hasn’t exactly been full of highlights. After the riotously fun Conman in Tokyo in 2000, the guilty pleasure (at least for me) of 2002’s Naked Weapon, and the 2003 Steven Seagal vehicle Belly of the Beast, it’d be another 5 years before he directed again. When he returned, it was to make An Empress and the Warriors, the movie that many consider to be the first blip in Donnie Yen’s filmography Continue reading →

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