On April 14, 2020, Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release the Indonesian sci-fi action thriller Foxtrot Six to DVD – at this time, there is no indication if the film will also get a Blu-ray release.
In the near future, the economy has turned upside down and the world is becoming a dystopia. An ex-marine, Angga, rebels against the government and forms “Foxtrot Six,” a squad comprised of old military comrades. Together, they work to save their country from the attacks of a ruthless party leader willing to starve and kill in his quest for power.
Foxtrot Six is helmed by first-time Indonesian director Randy Korompis. Legendary Hollywood player Mario Kassar (Rambo, Total Recall, Terminator 2, Universal Solider), alongside Ario Sagantoro (The Raid), is producing the film.
We expect a U.S. Trailer for Foxtrot Six to pop up soon. Until then, watch an earlier Trailer below:
Last year we compiled the Top 15 Bathroom Fight Scenes, so since we’ve now had time to fully digest, it feels only right to take a visit to that other room where the magic happens – the kitchen. Some might say a visit to the bathroom should come after the kitchen, but hey, at COF we don’t split hairs (or bills). The kitchen feels like the neglected cousin of the bathroom when it comes to being utilised as a space for cinematic action, therefore we felt obliged to serve (pardon the pun) up a feature highlighting the amount of bodily harm that can be inflicted in a food preparation area.
So, if you feel like the art of cooking has been sanitised by the countless number of channels we have dedicated to it, it’s time for us to take a look at what happens when the main ingredients are anger, revenge, and a desire to kill. There’s a few techniques that we’re looking out for when it comes to kitchen fight scenes, and it’s safe to say that number one is the use of the utensils. You have a variety of sharp knives, pots & pans, and red hot stoves, so use what’s at your disposal! Number two is, just like a bathroom fight scene, how is the space used? Kitchens are cluttered places, whether it be a homely household or a sleek spacious restaurant, the environment lends itself to frantic exchanges, so as an action director there’s plenty to work with!
We’ll be plating up our culinary chaos in the order of how much time is spent in the kitchen area, and just like any creative chef, you’ll see that we’ve sprinkled in a couple of liberties here and there. If you feel like any recipes have been missed, feel free to add them in the comments section! So, without further ado, your COF degustation begins with a dish from Indonesia –
The Raid 2 (2014) – Iko Uwais vs. Cecep Arif Rahman Total Cookery Time: 6:50
By the time we get to the kitchen showdown in The Raid 2 there’s already been so much high quality action on display, it’s hard to image anything could top it. Coming straight off of Uwais dealing with the iconic Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Boy, his kitchen clearing stand-off with the (so far) quietly lurking series newcomer Cecep Arif Rahman is one which not only belongs on this list, but any list of top tier fight scenes. A one on one epic clocking in at close to 7 minutes, it’s understandable why director Gareth Evans decided to wrap up the series on such a high note.
Chocolate (2008) – Jija Yanin vs thugs Total Cookery Time: 4:44
The movie that introduced us to the talents of Jija Yanin, one of the late Panna Rittikrai’s final protégés, Chocolate is a masterclass in steadily escalating fight scenes. This particular one takes place mid-film, as Yanin’s autistic character Zen makes a midnight excursion to a meat factory, to demand the money owed to her ailing mother from a less than sympathetic supervisor. When it becomes clear no money is going to change hands without a fight, that’s exactly what goes down, as Yanin single handedly takes on a small army of meat clever wielding butchers.
One Million K(l)icks (2014) – Mike Möller vs. Li Yan-Long Total Cookery Time: 4:23
In 2014 German martial arts wunderkind and stuntman Mike Möller was given his chance to shine by headlining the fight flick One Million K(l)icks. When Möller’s headstrong character finds fame online through clips of him fighting various opponents, he eventually meets his match in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant, run by South Shaolin Master actor Li Yan-Long. In a battle of new school versus old school, the fight brings the kung-fu movie tradition of a softer style being able to neutralise an aggressive one into a contemporary setting, and does so with satisfying results.
After a slew of period pieces, Jet Li returned to modern day action with 1994’s The Bodyguard from Beijing. Teamed up with frequent collaborator Corey Yuen Kwai, the finale pits Li against Collin Chou in an era when both were at the top of their game. Making excellent use of a kitchen that’s part of an open floor plan apartment, the added danger of a leaking gas canister brings a unique element to the fight, as both attempt to take out the other without falling unconscious from the toxic fumes. Li and Chou would face off more than once during the 90’s, but this is my favorite of their encounters.
Sleepless Night (2011) – Tomer Sisley vs. Julien Boisselier Total Cookery Time: 2:59
Thoongaavanam (2015) – Kamal Haasan vs. Kishore Kumar G. Total Cookery Time: 2:25
Sleepless (2016) – Jamies Foxx vs. Tim Connolly Total Cookery Time: 1:47
Our first three-course meal in one sitting, director Frédéric Jardin’s 2011 hit Sleepless Night spawned a Bollywood and a Hollywood re-make, with both providing their own takes on the intense kitchen fight scene the original is known for. In it comic turned actor Tomer Sisley goes up against Julien Boisselier, with the formers Jiujitsu and Krav Maga training delivering a brutal edge (not to mention a ferocious elevator fight that the kitchen fight segues from – but we’ll save that part for another list!). Kamal Hassan’s clumsy running and Jamie Foxx’s Tupperware friendly reinterpretations pale in comparison.
The Kick (2010) – Ye Ji-won & Petchtai Wongkamlao vs thugs Total Cookery Time: 2:40
The 2nd movie on the list to feature Jija Yanin, unfortunately this time she’s not a part of the scene in question. In 2010 Prachya Pinkaew (the director of Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong), somehow convinced the Koreans to make this misguided Thai co-production, about a Korean family that move to Thailand and get embroiled in a (you guessed it) stolen artefact. In this scene Ye Ji-won and Petchai Wongkamlao (the comic relief guy from the previously mentioned Tony Jaa flicks) have to fight off a group of thugs, while thankfully being in the vicinity of a kitchen.
Special ID (2013) – Donnie Yen vs. thugs Total Cookery Time – 2:26
I’m pretty sure I made my feelings for Special ID clear in the review I wrote at the time of its release, but one thing that can’t be denied, is that Donnie Yen’s skirmish through the corridors of a restaurants kitchen while fighting off multiple assailants is an entertaining one. Featuring plenty of painful impacts, falls, and Yen’s trademark flailing fists, as a fight scene it ticks all of the boxes, with the cluttered environment leading to a number of wince inducing close quarter exchanges. If only the rest of the movie was as good as this scene.
A Hong Kong/Australia co-production, in the 2008 documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitaiton, many of the cast and crew recalled how much of a nightmare it was to work with Jimmy Wang Yu. A nightmare he may have been, but we still got this epic kitchen fight in which he squares off against legendary Aussie stuntman Grant Page (whose trousers split barely seconds into the fight, revealing some colourful yellow underwear). If you’re not distracted by the wardrobe malfunction, look out for the vintage Kelloggs Cornflakes boxes that line the shelves!
The Private Eyes (1976) – Michael Hui vs. Cham Kim-Wan Total Cookery Time: 2:04
Some consider The Private Eyes to be the best of the Hui Brothers collaborations, and it’s not hard to see why. Michael Hui’s kitchen duel with Cham Kim-Wan is pure comedic genius, as the pair face off using everything from strainers, sharks, chickens, and most hilariously, a pair of makeshift nunchucks made from a string of sausages. Now, imagine Michael as the lead in Dragon from Russia instead of his brother Sam, that would have been a movie!
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995) – Steven Seagal vs. Everett McGill Total Cookery Time – 1:37
It may have been 1992’s Under Siege which gave us Casey Ryback, but we’d have to wait for its (endlessly more entertaining) sequel to see him in a real kitchen fight. We may never see the combination of Steven Seagal, Katherine Heigl, and China being attacked by crazy Americans in a movie again, but at least it happened. Here, after Seagal and Everett McGill go at each other through several train carriages, they eventually fall down a staircase landing in the kitchen, where Seagal decides it’s time to really get down to business. Watch out for the cheesy one-liner at the end.
Out for Justice (1991) – Steven Seagal vs. William Forsythe Total Cookery Time – 1:14
It seems that in the kitchen, you can’t escape Steven Seagal! I admit my pet hate in screen fights is when they’re too one-sided in the heroes favour, however with that being said, there’s something undeniably joyous in watching Seagal decimate his opponents throughout his early movies. Here it’s William Forysthe, who made the mistake of murdering Bobby Lupo, and the even bigger mistake of ending up in a kitchen with Seagal. Cue being on the receiving end of frying pans, rolling pins, and anything else within arms reach. I’m not too sure the ‘vs.’ is even earned in this scene, but damn it’s fun to watch.
Upgrade (2018) – Logan Marshall-Green vs. Richard Cawthorne Total Cookery Time – 00:56
Probably the most criminally underseen movie of 2018. Fantastic fight scenes? Check. A unique sci-fi concept? Check. Hard R-rated violence? Check. If you haven’t seen it, go check it out, and if you need any further reason to, well this kitchen fight scene should give you all the incentive you need. After Logan Marshall-Green is paralysed in a car crash and his wife murdered, he’s offered a chance at redemption when an experimental computer chip called Stem is linked up to his brain, allowing him to be upwardly mobile once more. For those involved in his wife’s murder, that spells bad news.
The Expendables 2 (2012) – Jet Li vs. thugs Total Cookery Time – 00:41
Jet Li may have spent most of his time in The Expendables franchise being the brunt of height related jokes, but at least he got to unleash for a few seconds (literally, seconds) in the horrendous sequel. Showing off his skills in the opening action sequence set in Nepal, apart from being pretty much the only scene Li would feature in for the whole movie, it’s also the highlight of the bloated, overly self-aware 2nd instalment. As brief as the sequence may be, Li’s energetic burst of action is a memorable one, as he unleashes against wave after wave of blood thirsty opponents.
Bonus dish –
Tom Yum Goong (2005) – Tony Jaa vs. Johnny Tri Nguyen Total Cookery Time – 2:11
Ok so technically this fight doesn’t actually take place in a kitchen, but rather right outside one, with the chefs looking on inside as much a part of the audience as we are. Still, we thought it was worthy of inclusion. After decimating a small army of attackers via an amazing one-shot stairwell fight, in his sophomore starring role Tony Jaa takes on a pre-The Rebel Johnny Tri Nguyen, a pairing which pits Muay Boran against Wushu. With the threat of his beloved elephant becoming the latest item on the menu, Jaa unleashes his inner rage at a time when elbows to the head still felt like a breath of fresh air.
Again, if you feel like any recipes have been missed, feel free to add them in the comments section below. Also, if you want to see what’s going on in the bathroom, don’t miss COF’s Top 15 Bathroom Fight Scenes.
Macs have been notorious for not offering a large library of games compared to Windows, but things have gotten better over the years. If you own a MacBook Pro and you’re itching to play a fighting or action game, we’ve got you covered!
Read on to learn all about gaming on a MacBook Pro with our top fighting and action games–no PC emulation required!
1. Skullgirls
This 2D fighting game was developed by Reverge Labs and published by Autumn Games in 2012. Because of its massive popularity, it’s available on pretty much every system you can think of, including all the major consoles and iOS and Android.
You’ll be fighting in teams of up to three characters with classic fighting game mechanics. It offers tag-team based combat with character assists, snapbacks, and delayed hyper combos.
Its unique twist is its story and setting. It takes place in a fictional world that’s reminiscent of 1940s post-war America. In this world, all of the characters are vying for an ancient artifact called a Skull Heart that curses its user if they don’t have a pure heart.
According to Metacritic, Skullgirls has “generally positive” reviews in the high 70s and low 80s. Critics praised its graphics and presentation with hand-drawn characters, the Art Deco design, and smooth animation.
2. Katana Zero
Katana Zero is a 2D action platforming game developed by Askiisoft and published by Devolver Digital in 2019. Along with macOS, it’s also available on Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch.
Reminiscent of Hotline Miami, this is a game with high difficulty that results in instant death if you’re hit by an enemy. It encourages players to learn the layouts of each level and predict enemy movements in order to progress.
Unlike Hotline Miami, instead of a top-down view of the level, you’ll navigate through side-scrolling levels. Your blade gives you the ability to deflect bullets, and you have the unique ability to slow time with a meter that refills over time.
Your character, called Subject Zero, wields a katana in a neo-noir metropolis called New Mecca. Throughout the game, you’ll be learning about your character’s mysterious past through vivid hallucinations and flashbacks.
Katana Zero has received good reviews in the 80s on Metacritic. Critics largely praise its stylish visuals and fun combat.
3. Brawlhalla
This free-to-play fighting game is developed by Blue Mammoth Games and published by Ubisoft in 2017. Not only is it available on multiple platforms, but all of those platforms are cross-play, meaning you can pick up your save game from one platform to another.
This game has often been compared to Super Smash Bros. because of the goal to knock your opponent off the stage. To do this, you’ll need to damage them repeatedly. You can see how much damage you’ve taken and how close you are to being knocked off or completely out by the color around your character.
Either the last player standing will win or the player with the most points will win the entire match. The best part is you can play either local or online. You can also play competitively through one vs one ranked matches — there have even been professional tournaments through the years that award prize money.
Brawlhalla has received “very positive” reviews on Steam with many players praising how players of different skill levels can “pick up and play” it easily. It’s also known for its bright, fun graphics and uniquely designed characters.
4. Shovel Knight Showdown
Developed and published by Yacht Club Games in 2019, Shovel Knight Showdown is a platform fighting game where you can duel with up to four players. If you own Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, the game is completely free as its part of the saga.
Based on the popular platforming game Shovel Knight, you can choose to play any of the popular 16 characters in the game. You can join your friends in cooperative team battles or do local one versus one battles or four-player free-for-alls.
Even better, the game comes with a multi-stage Story Mode that changes for each character.
The game has overall “good” reviews on Steam with many players mentioning enjoying the unique story for each character. They enjoy that each of the characters has their own styles of gameplay and that each stage brings new environments and challenges.
Of course, the same nostalgic artwork and music that the developer is known for are back in Shovel Knight Showdown.
5. Nidhogg
This side-scrolling fighting game is developed and published by Messhof in 2014, who was the game’s sole programmer. Described as “fencing tug-of-war” on Steam, players duel with swords with a variety of movements, such as lunges, parries, and dirty tricks. If a player is without their sword, they also have the option of punching, rolling, and kicking.
You may be wondering where the term “tug-of-war” comes from. Victory comes from gaining more ground with each kill, giving you the freedom to run, fight, or flee to your goal zone. Each fighting zone comes with unique choke points and formations, making it both a game of strategy and action like fencing itself.
With over four thousand “very positive” reviews on Steam, players are delighted with the unique, strategic gameplay and charmed by the pixel art. Many recommend that playing with a friend is the most enjoyable way to play the game.
Gaming on a MacBook Pro Isn’t Impossible
Our top five picks for the best action and fighting games on the Mac bring a lot of unique elements together. Their unique art styles, settings, and mechanics truly bring new and satisfying experiences for players of all skill levels. Gaming on a MacBook Pro is now more possible than ever before.
Interested in more action and fighting news? Keep reading our blog!
Filipino filmmaker Pedring Lopez (Nilalang, Maria) will soon be working with Sam Worthington (Clash of the Titans) for a thriller titled CounterPlay.
The Avatar franchise star will take on the role of a former kidnap and hostage negotiator who comes out of retirement to help get a young man accused of drug trafficking out of the Philippines and back to Australia (via SD/FCS).
If you already haven’t watched Pedring Lopez’ Maria, the film is currently streaming on a Netflix account near you.
CounterPlay starts production in August in Manila. We’ll keep you updated on the film’s progress as we learn more.
Do you want to attract luck, health, wealth, and money? Feng Shui elements will help you get the positive energy you need to attract money, financial opportunities and abundance. Here’s a list of lucky charms that Chinese men and women are keeping close in the year of the rat to attract positive energy.
Feng Shui Lucky Charms for 2020
Depending on your Chinese Zodiac sign, there are different lucky charms that you can wear in 2020. They include:
Rat
In general, the Rat will be comfortable this year. As such, the natives to this zodiac sign only need to have a positive attitude towards life. That includes people born in 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936 and 1924. However, money, good luck, work, and love won’t hold any more secrets for you this year, though you might need a lucky charm bracelet for the Year of Rat and an obsidian five-element bracelet to attract good luck and wealth.
Ox
For people born in 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, and 1925, this year will bring an unspectacular evolution and luck to the limits of the OX. As such, everything should be ok for the Ox natives, but they’ll need a lot of luck in their financial life. The two lucky charms for you are a Feng Shui money frog to attract wealth and a zodiac figurine for the Ox year.
Tiger
If you were born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974,1962,1950,1938 or 1926, the year of Rat would be very generous to you in financial, love and professional life. You will be well protected by the Tiger lucky charm figurine and a heart charm bracelet to attract love.
Rabbit
2020 will be a satisfying year for people born in the following rabbit years; 2011,1999,1987,1975, 1963, 1951, 1939 and 1927. The natives to the Rabbit zodiac will experience several thrilling moments, but they’ll need their strength. You can expect trips, including abroad, so you should bring along a lucky Rabbit charm figurine and a furball with rhinestone for attracting good luck.
Dragon
For Dragon Natives (2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, and 1928), the Rat year brings you pleasant ambiance and lots of activities. Success will be present, especially at work, but you’ll also need some lucky charms to protect your health. These charms include a lucky dragon charm pendant and a green Pi Xiu statue for prosperity and fortune.
Snake
In general, the Chinese horoscope foretells of a year with promising outcomes for the Snake natives – 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, and 1929. The earning might be substantial, but you’ll need to keep your expenses under control and try to save money. For the singles in this zodiac, this might be the year you meet the love of your life especially with the dream catcher charm and dangle charms for prosperity and fortune.
Horse
For the horse natives (2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942 and 1930), 2020 will bring favorable and unfavorable events in equal measure. The career side is the one that will be hit heavily by negativities and result in issues, but love will appear in abundance. You can attract career fortune with a lucky Buddha charm statue and a lucky horseshoe charm to attract love.
The original hero in a half-shell returns! For the first time ever worldwide, all twelve tales of the adventures of everyone’s favourite titanic terrapin are collected together in one deluxe Blu-ray boxset. This limited edition collector’s set traces the decades-long evolution of Gamera, from the friend of all children in his more light-hearted earlier films, to the Guardian of the Universe in the groundbreaking 1990s reboot series, often hailed as three of the best kaiju films ever made.
Features:
Limited collector’s edition packaging, housed in a large-format rigid box, fully illustrated by Matt Frank
Hours of new and archive bonus features, expert commentaries (including August Ragone, David Kalat, and Steve Ryfle & Ed Godziszewski), interviews with cast and crew, and the worldwide Blu-ray premiere of Gammera the Invincible (the American theatrical version of the first film)
Hardback 120-page comic book including a full-color reprint of the four-issue Gamera comic series originally released by Dark Horse Comics in 1996, and the first-ever English-language printing of the prequel comic The Last Hope by Matt Frank and Joshua Bugosh
Perfect-bound 80-page book including a new retrospective on the series by Patrick Macias, kaiju X-ray illustrations by Jolyon Yates, and much more!
Two clans battle for a legendary treasure hidden in a desolate mountain town. One day, a lone gunman, burdened with deep emotional scars but blessed with incredible shooting skills, drifts into town. Two clans try to woo the lone gunman to their sides, but he has ulterior motives. Dirty tricks, betrayal, desire and love collide as the situation erupts into a final, explosive showdown.
Blu-ray Special Features:
– High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the main feature in 2.35:1 aspect ratio
– Audio: English 5.1 Surround, 2.0 Stereo
– English and Spanish Subtitles
– Sukiyaki Western Django : Extended Cut (SD, 159:57, with Optional Japanese Subtitles)
– Making of Featurette (SD, 52:37, In Japanese with English Subtitles
– Deleted Scenes (SD, 06:37)
– Sizzle Reel (SD, 03:12)
– Promotional Clips (SD, 02:58)
– US and Japanese Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots (SD)
– Reversible Artwork
– Limited Edition Slipcover
DVD Special Features
– Making of Featurette (SD, 52:37, In Japanese with English Subtitles)
– Deleted Scenes (SD, 06:37)
– Sizzle Reel (SD, 03:12)
– Promotional Clips (SD, 02:58)
– Theatrical Trailer (SD)
– Audio: English 5.1 Surround, 2.0 Stereo
– English and Spanish Subtitles
Focus your energy on a solution, rather than stressing about the problem. So many ways to get quick cash exist!
If you need money now, keep reading to learn how to get it!
Take Out a Loan
Whether your car broke down unexpectedly, you want in on a lucrative business opportunity, or you found yourself in over your head with bills, you might need money quickly. Take out a loan!
Filing for a loan means you borrow the money now and then pay it back later with interest. This means you probably want to only take out a loan for serious things you need. Learn more about a cash advance loan.
Sell on Sale Sites
Online sale sites can help you get money fast. You simply sign up and sell items you do not want or need.
While a yard sale limits the number of people who will see your items, selling online expands your reach and increases the likelihood that your items will sell. Where can you sign up?
Facebook contains a large number of garage sale sites that will connect you with buyers in your community. You simply follow the site, post a pic, description, and price for your item, and then meet up with your buyer.
Sign up for Poshmark to sell your clothing and accessories and reach more serious shoppers. This site makes selling simple for you to raise quick cash.
If you want to reach people all across the country, sign up for eBay. This site allows you to list a number of items that you ship to the buyer and get paid via Paypal.
Utilize Crowdfunding
Asking people directly for the money you need can make you feel embarrassed or ashamed. But, crowdfunding allows you to explain your situation and let those who want to help donate to your cause.
The Go Fund Me platform allows you to raise money for literally anything life throws at you, from funeral funds to life goals. You may want to opt for Kickstarter if you want to raise money for a clear project, like writing a book or starting an artistic business.
Shop
Shopping costs you money, right? Not if you shop for other people!
You can make quick and easy money by finding people in your community who want a personal shopper. Wealthy people who do not like to shop and elderly people who cannot easily do so make for the most likely customers.
Babysit
Parents often find themselves in a pinch needing a babysitter. Throw out that you are looking to babysit for a night or two o raise money fast.
You will get cash in hand for this. If you do not do well with children, then offer to pet sit for vacationing friends instead!
Get Creative With These Ways to Earn Quick Cash
Step outside of the 9-5 workbox when you want to find ways to make quick cash. Depending on your circumstances, you can choose between borrowing, raising, or earning money in creative ways.
Raising money also means finding savings! Find hot deals on our website!
Director: Philip Lui Co-director: Frankie Tam Cast: Andy On, Philip Ng, Vanness Wu, Carrie Ng, Nicholas Tse, Carrie Ng, Lam Suet, Aka Zhao, Jiang Luxia, Aaron Aziz, Joyce Feng, Jessica Cambensy Running Time: 90 min.
By Paul Bramhall
Before you’ve gotten through the plethora of production company logos that kick off Undercover Punch and Gun (and there’s a lot of them!), the title alone is enough to give an indication as to what kind of movie is about to hit the screen. Evoking the slightly goofy names that HK action cinema used to be littered with throughout the 90’s, Undercover Punch and Gun is the kind of grammatical car crash that you’d expect to find sitting on a DVD shelf alongside the likes of Tough Beauty and the Sloppy Slop. It’s not only the title that feels like a throwback to the 90’s low budget action genre though, with the movie itself feeling as if it’s been beamed directly from 1995 to 2019.
In fact while Undercover Punch and Gun was released in 2019, it was actually filmed in 2015. The first time directorial effort of screenwriters Philip Lui Koon-Nam and Frankie Tam Gong-Yuen (the pair worked on Gordon Chan’s The Four franchise, who also produces here), here they pair up kung fu thespians Philip Ng and Andy On. Quite what the trigger was for their debuts eventual release is mystery, perhaps it was the case that someone saw On’s performance in the Roger Corman produced Abduction, and insisted that the world was ready. It could also be the case that I’m clutching at straws.
Ng and On have worked together many times before, with roles in the likes of Star Runner, New Police Story, Dragon Squad, Invisible Target, Naked Soldier, and Zombie Fight Club. However their most notable collaboration came in the form of 2014’s Once Upon a Time in Shanghai, were they shared co-lead status, and went toe-to-toe under the choreography of Yuen Woo-Ping. Here they’re given the opportunity to once again share co-lead status and face off against each other, only this time with choreography handled by Ng himself, with assistance from Joe Chu Cho-Kuen.
The plot of Undercover Punch and Gun is cookie cutter fare. Ng plays an undercover cop in a gang run by Lam Suet (who should really put a pantent of these ’Gang boss who shows up for 5 minutes and gets offed’ roles – see also The Trough and The Brink). Ng, like any undercover cop in a movie, is in too deep, to the extent that he’s dating the bosses daughter and has formed a brotherly bond with another member of the gang (Vaness Wu, channeling a Dean Shek level of constant gurning and irritation). When Suet is killed in a shootout, Ng is made leader of the gang and is soon being pulled in every direction. His superior, played by Nicholas Tse in an all too rare screen appearance these days, wants him to go deeper, while Suet’s partner-in-crime, played by the legendary Carrie Ng (Naked Weapon) has her suspicions about Ng’s real motives.
Events lead to Ng being sent to meet On, a former special agent who’s gone rogue, and now runs a meth lab from a cargo ship in international waters. On believes that Suet must have been running his own drug factory somewhere local, and wants Ng to find the person that was making the drugs, and deliver whoever it is to him for gainful employment. With only a cringe inducing Vaness Wu and a special agent (Joyce Feng, Project Guttenberg) for company, Ng sets out to claim his life back, and take out On in the process. The ingredients are all there to replicate the charm of those 90’s contemporary HK action flicks (the likes of Angry Ranger and Retreat of the Godfather – I’m looking at you), however even by 90’s HK standards, structurally Undercover Punch and Gun frequently becomes a baffling experience.
Suet’s daughter (Aka Zhao – who notably hasn’t appeared in anything since) is a tattoo artist, and when the time comes for Ng to break the news that her father has been killed, he does it when she’s in the middle of tattooing one of her customers. It’s hilarious, even moreso when she threatens her customer when she asks to leave and come back another time. The whole runtime is full of bizarre moments like this, some intentionally humerous, others not. In one scene we meet a group of kidnappers who sport a permanent creepy grin and seem incapable of blinking, in another a character is interrupted by a spam sales call from a bank, and in another On takes the time to point out that he’s unfriending Ng from the WeChat application.
In total 7 scriptwriters are credited, of which 2 are directors Koon-Nam and Gong-Yuen, and it kind of feels like they were all writing separately, including parts that they probably felt were guaranteed to be re-written by one of their colleagues, but somehow got left and slipped through the net. However, let’s be honest, nobody is clocking into Undercover Punch and Gun expecting Shakespeare, this is a movie sold on reuniting two of this era’s brightest fighting talents (and, ok, in some circles also as a Star Runner reunion). On the action front, Ng’s choreography, relating both to the choreography itself and his delivery of it, is on the mark. This isn’t mind-blowing stuff, and in an era were movies like The Raid franchise and The Night Comes for Us have shifted the bar higher than it’s been held for a long time, that may not satisfy everyone.
However, Ng eschews any temptation to resort to wirework, and delivers a fight flick that shows a commitment to staying grounded throughout, relying on the skill of the performers rather than the spectacle of assisted kicks or falls. It may be this lack of the spectacular which led to Undercover Punch and Gun staying on the shelf for so long, but as a fan of grounded exchanges that highlight the skills of those performing them, there’s a lot to enjoy here. At one point Ng unleashes a sweet set of chain kicks, and a fight which takes place in a drug lab clearly shows the influence of Jackie Chan’s ‘run and gun’ style of choreography, complimented by multiple prop usage being incorporated into the fray.
Ng and On aren’t the only skilled screen fighters, with the likes of Jiang Luxia (Operation Red Sea, Bad Blood) and Aaron Aziz (KL Gangster, Special Female Force) rounding out the cast as members of On’s entourage. While for the majority of the runtime they have little to do beyond lingering in the background, when it comes to the finale they both get their chance to shine. Luxia faces off against Ng in a furious open hand fight, while a kukri knife wielding Aziz gets to battle against a butterfly knife wielding Vaness Wu. The best is saved for last, with Ng and On throwing down within the confines of a container, and contains plenty of wince inducing impacts. While the requirements of the NRTA mean there’s a distinct lack of blood or any real signs of bodily damage, thankfully this doesn’t become too much of a detriment to the scene itself.
On himself steals the show whenever he’s onscreen, instilling his character with a childlike enthusiasm towards his villainous ways, and likewise for former Shaw Brothers bombshell Susan Shaw, who makes a playful appearance as the chemist Ng is seeking out (oh, and look out for a 2-second cameo by Jessica C, Ng’s co-star from Zombie Fight Club). Ultimately though Undercover Punch and Gun struggles to hit the 90 minute mark, with various scenes reeking all too obviously of filler. One in particular has Vaness Wu pretending to be the chemist, which takes a bizarre turn into a cookery show format, and consists of Wu dancing and other punch-the-screen inducing shenanigans. Others have Ng and On staring at each other for just a tad too long, while watching Joyce Feng searching the ship quickly becomes a chore.
Still, it’s an admirable effort, with the only real difference between now and those 90’s HK flicks of old being that we don’t watch these more recent efforts with the rose-tinted glasses that we do the latter. It’s a straight laced story that unfolds in the usual container yards and warehouses of old, contains plenty of familiar HK faces, and delivers frequent bursts of vintage HK kickboxing style action. For those that frequently bemoan the fact that Hong Kong doesn’t make movies like it used to, well, here’s one that delivers exactly that. As the expression goes, be careful what you wish for.
On March 31, 2020, buckle up for The Captain (aka The Chinese Pilot), which will arrive on Blu-ray from Well Go USA.
Directed by Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs trilogy, Young and Dangerous series, The Storm Riders), The Captain is based on the true story of a pilot who had to ensure the safety of 128 passengers and crew members on the plane when its windshield became damaged mid-flight. The incident is regarded as one of the miracles in aviation history.
Advancements in technology are transforming how we watch TV. This can be seen by the rise of IPTV services, which is now competing directly with traditional TV. However, despite the popularity of IPTV, many people still have a preference for the traditional satellite and cable TV. If you belong to this group, here are three reasons why you need to migrate to IPTV.
1. Access to Live Television and Video on Demand
One of the main reasons why you should consider subscribing to IPTV services is the nature of content that you will access. Like traditional TV, IPTV allows you to access live television, which means that you don’t have to worry about missing your favorite channels.
But, with IPTV, you get much more than just live TV. You are afforded access to video on demand, a service that is not available in traditional satellite and cable TV.
Video on demand allows you to access videos from various categories such as sports, TV shows, movies, and music whenever you have the need. They are arranged with title, which allows you to search for the video you want and play and pause at will.
Therefore, with IPTV, you will enjoy watching television even more since you will have access to more content, both live and pre-recorded. Furthermore, you will get the services at an affordable price since paying with Bitcoin gives you an IPTV subscription btc discount.
2. Ability to Watch Using Various Devices
If you find yourself complaining every time you are forced to move away from the TV due to different reasons, then it is time you considered migrating to IPTV. This is because, with IPTV, you can watch your favorite program from a variety of devices, which include laptops, PCs, tablets, and smartphones.
Therefore, you won’t have to complain each time you have to leave your TV since you can continue following your program on any of the portable devices. Furthermore, if you are unable to follow due to commitment such as work, IPTV allows you to record and then watch it later.
3. Access to Video Quality of Choice
One of the main disadvantages of traditional TV is that you have no control over the quality of the videos that are aired. Hence, if you don’t like the quality of the images, you have no choice but to watch with the bad quality. However, with IPTV, it is different.
In each of the subscription package, IPTV providers give you the option of adjusting the quality of the video to SD, HD, and FHD. This ensures that the videos you watch have the quality that you want, which then enhances your viewing experience.
In conclusion, it is time you considered abandoning traditional satellite and cable TV for IPTV. This is because IPTV will give you access to live TV and video on demand, allow you to watch using various devices, and give you access to the video quality of choice. Migrating to IPTV does not have to be expensive since you get an IPTV subscription btc discount when you decide to pay using Bitcoin.
On May 26, 2020, Shout! Factory will release the Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray for the 1978 Academy Award-winning film, The Deer Hunter, from writer/director Micheal Cimino (Year of the Dragon).
The Deer Hunter follows a group of friends – played by Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken – who go from their blue-collar lives to the hell of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
Hong Kong film connection: John Woo and Sammo Hung cited The Deer Hunter as their influence for their classic films Bullet in the Head and Eastern Condors, respectively. Need we say more?
Special Features:
Disc One – 4K Blu-ray
Feature Film
Audio Commentary with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and journalist Bob Fisher
Disc Two – Blu-rau
Feature Film
NEW We Don’t Belong Here – an interview with actor John Savage
NEW The War At Home – an interview with actress Rutanya Alda
NEW A National Anthem – an interview with producer Michael Deeley
NEW This is Not About War – interview with post-production supervisor Katy Haber and Universal Marketing executive Willette Klausner
Audio Commentary with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond and journalist Bob Fisher
We always see them as perfect on- screen. Some even land themselves on the online casinos nz slot games list.
But, they are a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that will show you that it is a long road to perfection.
Still, in light of all these improvising and fun facts, there is always that one thing that is missing when it comes to movie critics.
Let’s go on to see some of the fun facts that come with some of these Hollywood movies.
The Titanic Portrait Drawn by the Director Himself
This is such a high level of perfectionism shown by the director to the biggest movie in Hollywood history. Well, this explains how it rose to such a status.
Titanic director James Cameron found no one good enough to make the portrait, therefore he decided to just handle it on his own.
But did he manage to bring it out perfectly? Well, this is a debate for another day.
One would think that a famous artist would be hired for the popular portrait since it played a vital part in the movie and in the mo.
Toy Story 2 was Almost Wiped out
By wiped out we mean it was literally deleted for the Pixar servers. To the joy of Toy Story fans, the technical director had an extra copy she was working on from home.
The master machine which stored Pixar’s animations of the popular cartoon movie deleted 90 % of the movie animations, some of the animation you can get from https://www.casinous.com/and stand a chance to win.
The back system they relied on the failed meaning they would have to start again. But all thanks to the director everything was put back in order.
Ratatouille Made Pet Rats Famous
Unlike some people who cringe at the thought of a rat up in your hat. Some people were actually fascinated by it.
Mostly, kids fell in love with the idea that they turned from asking for dogs to rats for pets. So instead of killing that rat, keep it and hope for a sequel of the movie.
Dogs have their own way of communication. Just like humans they can say different things through their bodies as they cannot be vocal. Not only that they have been part of the human world for a long time which makes them part of us. They help us and inspire us in so many ways. Moreover, they are good companions too. Here is a list of dog movies that animal lovers should watch. These will make you appreciate dogs.
Marley & Me
This movie just teaches patience and acceptance when you playing games at bestcasinositesonline online casino usa. It’s about two people who adopt a dog that was not so obedient and they named it Marley. After the struggles and not getting along, they eventually learn to live and love the dog. They understood it and in turn, it understood them and they started getting along.
A Dog’s Purpose
This movie teaches that not only in humans do we find resilience, courage, and drive. This movie is about a dog that discovers its own existence. It goes out of its way to show people its true purpose in life which is to teach love and laughter. He did not only influence the life of humans but also the life of another pet.
Dog Days
A dog is a great companion how about we call it a great connection too. We learn all about it in the Dog Days movie which was released in 2018. This movie is about dog owners who are braided together because of their dogs. They managed to discover each other and become connected because of the dogs that brought them together.
Benji
This movie has since become a hit since the first version was released in the 1970s. It is about a dog that tries to communicate with humans in order to save lives. When not understood Benji would go out of his way and find ways to help the situation whilst at the same time trying to communicate so people can figure out what is wrong. Yes dogs can save us too that is why we hear that dogs need training just like we do n before playing australian sports betting games, we train.
On March 31, 2020, Arrow Video will release the Blu-ray for The Ringu Collection, which will include Ringu, Ringu 2, Ringu 0 – as well as the ‘lost’ original sequel, Spiral.
In 1998, director Hideo Nakata (Dark Water) unleashed a chilling tale of technological terror on unsuspecting audiences, which redefined the horror genre, launched the J-horror boom in the West and introduced a generation of moviegoers to a creepy, dark-haired girl called Sadako. The film’s success spawned a slew of remakes, reimaginations and imitators, but none could quite boast the power of Nakata’s original masterpiece, which melded traditional Japanese folklore with contemporary anxieties about the spread of technology.
A group of teenage friends are found dead, their bodies grotesquely contorted, their faces twisted in terror. Reiko (Nanako Matsushima, When Marnie Was There), a journalist and the aunt of one of the victims, sets out to investigate the shocking phenomenon, and in the process uncovers a creepy urban legend about a supposedly cursed videotape, the contents of which causes anyone who views it to die within a week – unless they can persuade someone else to watch it, and, in so doing, pass on the curse…
Arrow Video is proud to present the genre-defining trilogy – Ringu, the film that started it all, plus Hideo Nakata’s chilling sequel, Ringu 2, and the haunting origin story, Ringu 0 – as well as the ‘lost’ original sequel, George Iida’s Spiral, gathered together in glorious high definition and supplemented by a wealth of archival and newly created bonus materials.
Special Features:
Brand New 4K restoration of Ringu from the original camera negative, approved by director of photography Junichiro Hayashi
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations
Lossless Japanese DTS-HD master audio 5.1 and PCM 2.0 soundtracks
Optional English subtitles
Bonus feature: Spiral, George Iida’s 1998 sequel to Ringu
New Audio commentary on Ringu by film historian David Kalat
New Audio commentary on Ringu 0 by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
The Ringu Legacy, a series of new interviews from critics and filmmakers on their memories of the Ringu series and its enduring legacy
A Vicious Circle, a new video interview with author and critic Kat Ellinger on the career of Hideo Nakata
Circumnavigating Ringu, a new video essay by author and critic Kat Ellinger on the evolution of the Ringu series
Spooks, Sighs and Videotape, a new video essay by critic Jasper Sharp on the J-horror phenomenon
The Psychology of Fear, a newly edited archival interview with author Koji Suzuki
ShaOW!linDudeon100 Yards (2024) ReviewI'm so stoked to get my hands on this movie. Andy On is such a good screen fi…
Kevinon100 Yards (2024) ReviewFighting scenes are well grounded and creative. Movie doesn’t get a theater r…
Disclaimer: cityonfire.com does not own any of the photos contained in the blog. cityonfire.com was made merely to pay homage to these films, directors, talent, etc. and not for any profit or commercial reasons. No copyright infringement intended. The photos are copyrighted and courtesy by their respective owners.
cityonfire.com is a non-profit website for the private use and entertainment and/or parody purposes.
"Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statue that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, education or personal use tops the balance in favor of fair use."
Last year we compiled the 
Be the 1st to Comment