Living Skeleton, The (1968) Review

"The Living Skeleton" Theatrical Poster

“The Living Skeleton” Theatrical Poster

Director: Hiroshi Matsuno
Cast: Kikko Matsuoka, Yasunori Irikawa, Masumi Okada, Nobuo Kaneko, Kō Nishimura
Running Time: 80 min.

By Ian Whittle

In October 1995, I was a young Monster Kid of 9, mainly due to my love of King Kong (1933). That month, I was at a jumble sale at a local church when my eyes fell upon Dennis Gifford’s classic tome A Pictorial History of Horror Movies (1973), which quickly became my bible.

Amidst Gifford’s loving history of classic Hollywood horror (and his notoriously pithy last page putdown of Hammer) were various stills from a variety of films not mentioned in the main text, and some of these were so intense I quickly skipped those pages with my eyes shut tight – charred and blackened bodies (The Sorcerers), a woman Continue reading

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Anybody seen Ritchie? Jason Statham reunites with ‘Snatch’ director for ‘Viva La Madness’ (‘Layer Cake’ follow up)

Action star Jason Statham (The Meg) is reuniting with frequent collaborator Guy Ritchie (Snatch) for Viva La Madness, an adaptation to J.J. Connolly’s novel of the same name, which itself was a follow-up to his novel, Layer Cake. The latter was adapted for the big screen by Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) and Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) in 2004.

Even though Statham is stepping into the role portrayed by Craig in the 2004 film, Viva La Madness is being billed as a stand-alone, original Continue reading

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Millennium Dragon (1999) Review

"Millennium Dragon" Poster

“Millennium Dragon” Poster

AKA: Black Rain
Director: Phillip Ko Fei
Cast: Yuen Biao, Lily Chung Suk-Wai, Choi Jae-sung, Lee Ngai-Chi, Ben Ng Ngai-Cheung, Chiu Lai-Yee, Chin Siu-Ho, Johnny Wang Lung-Wei, Hugo Ng Doi-Yung, Charlie Cho Cha-Lee, William Ho Ka-Kui
Running Time: 94 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The directorial career of kung-fu cinema legend Philip Ko Fei is one that needs to be studied. Helming more than 50 movies in the years spanning 1982 to 2003, his work ranged from cut ‘n’ paste atrocities for IFD, action cheapies shot in the Philippines, all the way through to slices of Category III erotica. In the span of a little over 20 years the guy did everything, and that’s not even taking into consideration the fact he’d already appeared in close to 100 kung-fu movies when he sat in the director’s chair for the first time (and would go on to feature in over 150 more!). Despite his prolificness as a director it still feels like he was somewhat of an enigma as a filmmaker, which perhaps explains why, in 1999 and far from the peak of his career (which, for the sake of this discussion, we’ll say is his late 80’s – early 90’s period), he got to work with Yuen Biao.

The movie was Millennium Dragon, and in the 25+ years since it was released, is one of those productions that tends to find itself featured prominently in discussions on which movies from Biao’s filmography should be avoided. In fairness while it was the first time for him to be directed by Ko Fei, it wasn’t the first time for the pair to work together. From featuring as extras in the likes of Enter the Dragon and The Secret Rivals Part 2 in the 1970’s, through to regularly Continue reading

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Righteousness, Loyalty and FURY! 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD for ‘Samurai Fury’ now available from Well Go USA

Samurai Fury | 4K Ultra HD (Well Go USA)

Samurai Fury | 4K Ultra HD (Well Go USA)

Now available is Well Go USA’s 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD for Samurai Fury (aka Muromachi Burai or Muromachi Outsiders), a 2025 samurai actioner directed by Yu Irie (Ninja Girl, 8000 Miles).

As famine and plague ravage 15th century Japan, the laconic shogun watches and does nothing to help his countrymen. Rebellious wanderer Hasuda Hyoe has seen enough and plots to depose the shogun and save Japan from self-imposed devastation.

Starring Oizumi Yo (I Am A Hero) as the heroic Hyoe, Samurai Fury pits this hero against his one-time friend Honekawa Doken, the iconic Shin’ichi Tsutsumi (Why Don’t You Play in Hell?) in an Continue reading

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Benz Hui, veteran Hong Kong actor, passes away at 76

Benz Hui (Hui Shiu-hung) – a Veteran Hong Kong actor whose career has spanned over five decades – has passed away peacefully in Hong Kong following multiple-organ failure caused by cancer. Benz is perhaps best known for 1998’s Expect the Unexpected, 2004’s Breaking News and 2014’s Line Walker.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers Continue reading

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Force: Five | Blu-ray (MVD)

On February 24, 2026, MVD is releasing a Blu-ray (Region A) for 1981’s Force: Five, a martial arts cult classic directed by Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon, Game of Death, The Big Brawl).

A powerful and dangerous cult, hidden on a remote island fortress, has brainwashed the daughter of a U.S. senator. With local authorities powerless and time running out, the government turns to a highly specialized team of martial arts Continue reading

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Lionsgate just got ‘Furious’! Martial arts film starring Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, Jeeja Yanin and Yayan Ruhian arrives next year

"The Furious" Logo Treatment

“The Furious” Logo Treatment

Martial arts stars Xie Miao (My Father is A Hero, Eye for an Eye: The Blind Swordsman), Joe Taslim (The Raid, The Night Comes for Us), Jeeja Yanin (Chocolate, Triple Threat) and Yayan Ruhian (The Raid, Beyond Skyline) team up for the Edko/XYZ Films English-language actioner, The Furious, which has just been acquired by Lionsgate.

Out of all the aforementioned names, lead star Xie Miao is most likely the one most are unfamiliar with. For fans of Hong Kong action cinema, Miao will most likely always be remembered for his co-starring turns as a child martial arts prodigy in the Jet Li outings The New Legend of Shaolin and My Father is a Hero during the mid-1990’s. While he largely stayed off the radar in the succeeding years, he made a comeback in 2008 with the Tsui Siu-Ming directed Champions, a rousing tale set during the 1936 Olympics that was made Continue reading

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‘Raid’ star Iko Uwais to get raided during a routine ‘MRI’ in an upcoming actioner from ‘Beyond Skyline’ director

Die Hard in a hospital? Indonesian martial arts star Iko Uwais (The Raid, The Raid 2) is reuniting with director Liam O’Donnell (Skyline) for MRI. The two previously worked together on 2017’s Beyond Skyline and the upcoming Skyline: Warpath.

MRI centers on a broken-down hitman (Uwais) with a shattered family and a busted knee, who undergoes a routine MRI when the entire hospital is taken Continue reading

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For those jeans only… Jeff Bezos’ Amazon MGM Studios reportedly wants Sydney Sweeney as the Bond Girl

Acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (Dune franchise) is set to direct the next James Bond film (aka Bond 26). The upcoming 007 actioner will be the first under Amazon MGM Studios, who took over creative control of the franchise from EON Productions in a $20 million deal back in 2022.

Villeneuve himself shared his official statement with Variety: “Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred Continue reading

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In GOD we trust Robert Kun? Kazakhstan filmmaker to direct Jackie Chan in ‘Armour of God 4: Ultimatum’

Legendary martial arts superstar Jackie Chan (The Shadow’s Edge, The Foreigner) is returning to the Armour of God franchise with Armour of God 4: Ultimatum.

The upcoming film will be directed by Kazakhstan’s Robert Kun, who is perhaps best known for his role as second unit director on Continue reading

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Hantang (2023) Review

"Hantang" Theatrical Poster

“Hantang” Theatrical Poster

Director: Jung Cho-sin
Cast: Kan Mi-youn, Han Seong-sik, Kim Joo-kyeong, Yoon Ki-won, Kim Ki-suk, Hwang Ba-ul
Running Time: 90 min.

By Paul Bramhall

While the erotic genre in Korea had its peak during the 1980’s, it’s never really gone away since. Finding its home on the straight-to-VHS format in the 1990’s, and continuing to DVD in the 21st century, while the covers for such movies may promise a gratuitous amount of flesh and sex, the actual productions themselves tend to be decidedly conservative. A result of pornography being banned in Korea, partially clothed dry humping tends to be the order of the day, but still, there’s clearly a market for them (an educated guess of course), and the adventures around making these softcore romps have been the subject of some entertaining indie productions. Both 2007’s Pornmaking for Dummies and 2013’s Playboy Bong proved that the challenge of making a sexy movie within the limitations of what can be shown can make for riotous narratives, and in 2023 Hantang looks to join the ranks.

Focusing on a production team that specialises in making DTV erotica, when the owner of the villa that they’ve rented to film in turns out to be a ruthless gangster, they make the decision to refrain from telling him exactly what kind of movie it is they’re making. With an already Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Execution in Autum | Blu-ray | Only $15.99 – Expires soon!

Execution in Autumn | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Execution in Autumn | Blu-ray (Eureka)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray (Region B) for Lee Hsing’s 1972 film, Execution in Autumn.

Referred to as “the godfather of Taiwanese cinema”, the films of director Lee Hsing (who passed away in 2021 at the age of 91) combined Western realism with the neo-Confucian ideals advocated by the nationalist government in Taiwan. Director of a number of masterpieces, presented here is the film he considered his personal favourite of all his films — and certainly his most successful — Execution in Autumn.

Since his childhood, Pei Gang (Ou Wei) has been spoiled by his rich grandmother who raised him after the death of his parents. Unable to control himself, in a fit of rage, Gang kills a pregnant woman – who indicated him as the father of her unborn child – and her cousins; for this Continue reading

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Elevate Your Gaming Experience With These Simple Steps

Gaming is one of the most popular hobbies in 2025. Globally, there are more than 3 billion regular gamers. Gaming is fun, it helps to reduce stress, it can be a great way to meet new people, and it often tests your mental mettle. Whether you’re new to gaming or you’re a seasoned player, it’s beneficial to optimize the experience. In this guide, we’ll explore some brilliant, simple ways to get more out of gaming. 

Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/fortnite-computer-game-game-gamer-4129124/

Create a gaming space

When you play games, it’s natural to want to get into the zone, focus, and enjoy everything the game has to offer. This can be tough if you’re sharing the living room with avid TV or movie viewers, or you’re trying to command an army or devise a foolproof strategy from your dining table or bed. Creating a gaming space, no matter how big or small, will help you concentrate, immerse yourself in the experience, and improve your gameplay. In an ideal world, everyone would have space for a dedicated games room, but this is a fantasy for many. If you’re short on space, consider options like making guest rooms and studies multifunctional or setting up a games zone in your living room or kitchen. You can enhance privacy with screens or curtains. 

Alternatively, if you have room outside and you’re looking to add value to your home as well as creating more space, why not think about adding a conservatory, cabin, or garden room?

Consider using a dedicated server

Using a dedicated server when you play games offers several advantages, including a smoother playing experience, continuous uptime, access to customization settings, and a lower risk of disruptions and interruptions. You can access benefits if you choose a server for the games you love, like an ARK dedicated server. In many cases, servers cater to players who have multiple favorites, so you can reap the rewards when you play different games. If you’ve never used a dedicated games server before, it’s worth doing some research, getting recommendations and tips from fellow gamers, and comparing options to help you make the right choice. 

Explore new equipment and tools

Gaming has evolved quickly in a short space of time. While many people enjoy playing basic games on a smartphone, there are opportunities to enjoy much more complex games. In addition to expanding your repertoire in terms of titles and new releases, you can delve deeper into gameplay and access new features and capabilities using equipment and tools. From accessories designed to help you focus to specialist keyboards and headsets, you can take your gaming experience to a different level. 

When you’re shopping for new gaming stuff, it’s always beneficial to research, read product information and guides, get advice from gaming blogs and magazines, read reviews, and specify your requirements and preferences. You may find that some types of equipment, accessories, and devices are much better suited to certain games than others. 

Millions of people across the world enjoy gaming. Whether you’re new to this exciting world or you’ve been playing for years, it’s beneficial to elevate your experience. Key steps include creating space to play, using a dedicated server for gaming, and exploring different devices, accessories, and games. 

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King of Beggars | Blu-ray (Eureka)

On January 26, 2026, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for King of Beggars, a 1992 Hong Kong comedy from Stephen Chow (The Mermaid, Kung Fu Hustle, King of Comedy).

At the dawn of the 1990s, following a decade in which Hong Kong martial arts cinema was dominated by Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, a new superstar Continue reading

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

JASON LIVES! ‘Blood Father’ and ‘Mesrine’ director Jean-François Richet and Jason Statham team up for ‘Mutiny’

Action star Jason Statham (The Meg, The Expendables) is teaming up with director Jean-François Richet (Blood Father, Mesrine) for Mutiny, an upcoming action-thriller that releases next year from Lionsgate.

After his billionaire industrialist boss is murdered in front of him, Cole Reed (Statham) is set up to take the fall for the crime – leaving him on the run as he works to uncover Continue reading

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