Producer Roy Lee is back with more Asian remake antics with Drug War, an English language remake of the acclaimed 2012 Johnnie To film of the same name.
According to Variety, Lee is producing Drug War alongside Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman, Juan Sola and Jaume Collet-Serra. There is currently no director attached.
Lee is responsible for producing English language remakes of countless, high-profile Asian titles, including The Ring, The Departed, My Sassy Girl, Old Boy, the upcoming Death Note and a possible Battle Royale.
The original Drug War – which starred Louis Koo, Sun Honglei, Crystal Huang and Wallace Chung – revolves around a drug cartel boss who is arrested in a raid and is coerced into betraying his former accomplices as part of an undercover operation.
Keep it here for more updates. In the meantime, here’s the Trailer for the original film:
Director: Herman Yau Writer: Erica Li, Lee Sing Cast: Anthony Wong, Jojo Goh, Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Michelle Wai, Mak Kwai-Yuen, Chye Yang Running Time: 102 min.
By Martin Sandison
After this year’s Udine Far East Film Festival screening of The Sleep Curse – and before my scheduled interview with its prodigiously talented director, Herman Yau – I bumped into the great man outside the theatre. I told him that I’d never seen a film like the masterful Untold Story before; he thanked me and said that Tai Seng’s U.S. DVD release was the only uncut version ever released; I told him I would seek it out. Fellow COF reviewer (and kung fu brother), Matija, and I, suitably had a few drinks before the midnight showing of The Sleep Curse. The movie reunites Untold Story star Anthony Wong with Yau, and I felt privileged and excited that this was the uncut showing (10 seconds has been cut for the Asian release) – on top of this – we were watching it in the company of Mr. Yau.
Wong stars as Lam, a neurologist who specialises in sleep problems. He is taken on by an old flame, Monique (Jojo Goh), to help cure her elder brother’s extreme insomnia. Seeing that her brother is under a type of black magic, Lam decides to visit a medium and work out his own past to further his work. Thus, the narrative flashes back to WW2, wherein Lam plays his father Lam Sing, who is a translator working with the Japanese during the occupation of Hong Kong.
The beginning and end of the film are very strong, with a great aesthetic that exudes creepiness and brings back the style of the Untold Story. The opening showing the insomniac is depicted in grainy home video footage (this part of the film is set in 1990) and is suitably creepy and powerfully edited. Wong’s character, while not as brilliantly drawn as his psychotic intensity in Untold Story, or as disgustingly manic as in Ebola Syndrome, is a combination of fierce anger and barely concealed psychosis. It’s the kind of performance that Wong can portray in a heartbeat, yet it contains huge amounts of pathos. He shows his range yet again with the depiction of Lam, although the narrative falters a bit in the middle. It’s unfortunate. Those expecting the unrelenting nature of the previous two films will be a little disappointed, as the middle section is without extremity or real horror; it’s more a of a creepy ghost story.
Gordon Lam Ka Tung, who is having something of a career renaissance, gives a performance that elevates the WW2 section of the film, playing it with a veteran’s knowing grace. His character Chow Fook is the real villain over Lam Sing here, and it’s an interesting change of pace in the film. Last year, Lam also starred in Yau’s drama Nessun Dorma, and recently won the best actor award for Trivisa. Doh puts in decent shift. Her only previous credit was Struggle, notable for featuring the late, great Fung Hark On.
Erica Li’s script threatens at the beginning to be something truly great, but falters a little once the narrative switches, but is redeemed towards the end. Li has worked with Yau a lot, most recently on the closing film of Udine FEFF Shockwave, and also scripted one of my favourite Stephen Chow films The King of Comedy.
Yau comes with such a great pedigree as a director and cinematographer (he has worked in the latter capacity on some notable Hong Kong films of the last 20 years, including Tsui Hark’s all star, Seven Swords), that you would expect his return to extreme horror to be atmospherically filmed with some moments to make the audience squirm. On both counts, the film succeeds, but there’s something missing. Maybe it’s the fact that no Hong Kong director can really recreate their masterful films of the 80’s and 90’s in style and joyous abandon. The Sleep Curse actually doesn’t aim for a recreation, rather a reinvention, and Yau himself said that it’s about the evil that men do – the WW2 part of the film reflects this, with its ideas of latent forced prostitution.
The Sleep Curse builds up to a seriously disgusting and over-the-top ending that will have those viewers who loved Yau’s earlier films in raptures; rest assured, these scenes are just as horrendous as the worst in Untold Story. Despite not capturing the otherworldly greatness of that film, if you are a fan of extreme cinema, check The Sleep Curse out.
Three years ago, it was announced that Django Lives!, a sequel to 1966’s Django, was in the works. Originally, Joe D’Augustine (One Night with You) was attached as director, but now duties have shifted to filmmaker Christian Alvart (Pandorum), off a screenplay by John Sayles (Battle Beyond the Stars).
Fortunately, Franco Nero (The 5th Cord, Enter the Ninja, Die Hard 2), the star of the original, is still returning as the titular character.
According to SA, Alvart’s Django Lives! will catch up with Django (Nero) in California in 1914, where he will encounter white supremacists.
The original Django made Nero an international star and spawned over 30 unofficial – or by name only – sequels; the only official sequel was 1987’s Django Strikes Again, which finally saw the return of Nero’s take on the character.
In 2007 and 2012, Takashi Miike (Ley Lines) and Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill Vol. 1) made Sukiyaki Western Django and Django Unchained, respectively. Both films were unconventional tributes to the original. The latter even featured a cameo by Nero (but not as Django).
Django Lives! is expected to shoot soon in in Spain and Berlin, Germany. Keep it here for updates.
“The Deadly Breaking Sword” Chinese Theatrical Poster
Director: Sun Chung Writer: Ni Kuang Cast: Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, Shih Szu, Ku Feng, Chan Wai Man, Lily Li Li Li, Ngaai Fei, Chan Shen, Kara Hui, Ha Ping, Alan Chan, Cheung Gwok, Chow Kin Ping, Gam Tin Chue, Hung Ling Ling, Keung Hon, Eddie Ko Hung Running Time: 101 min.
By JJ Hatfield
An arrogant assassin and an unlucky gambler are brought together by pride, greed and a captivating courtesan in The Deadly Breaking Sword. This wuxia with comedy was the second film Sun Chung directed for the Shaw Brothers with Ti Lung and Alexander Fu Sheng, the first being Avenging Eagle.
Ti Lung (The Savage Five) is Tuan Changging, the titular “Deadly Breaking Sword.” His character is established at the beginning of the movie with the help of an opponent played by Michael Chan. Changging is a master swordsman who finishes his matches with a particular stroke of his blade. He is wealthy, refined, and a pompous ass. Changging is a self-appointed dispatcher of evil-doers, and he never kills indiscriminately. He has rituals for a fight and rules for using his unique sword style.
The comedy is in the form of Fu Sheng (The Chinatown Kid) as Xiao Dao or Little Dagger. He is known as Xiao Dao because he uses small knives when fighting. Xiao Dao’s introduction occurs during a skirmish in a gambling parlor. He is poor, unsophisticated, and a thief when he has no luck at gambling which is often. It is his larceny habit that results in meeting Changging.
Xiao Dao and Changging seemingly share nothing in common. Changging has no use for those who don’t recognize his self-proclaimed superiority in all things. Nor is he much interested in women. Xiao Dao is interested in women, but he has far more passion for pursuing wealth. However, they are both drawn to the courtesan Lin. Shih Szu (Black Tavern) is Lin Yinxu, the newly arrived prostitute at the brothel. She uses her beauty to achieve her objectives, and she knows how to approach a man to get what she wants. Yinxu attempts to manipulate Changging and Xiao Dao to do her bidding. Changging becomes involved because of his egotistical eccentricities, while Xiao Dao’s motivation is money. When Yinxu makes odd statements about the local doctor, Changging must decide whom he should believe before confronting his next opponent.
Xiao Dao brings out the personal side of Changging. When they are together, Changging will let down his emotional guard. Xiao Dao is the only one that dares to make fun of Changging, but he does so without any malice. In a bonding scene, they play the drinking game also seen in Shanghai Noon, but The Deadly Breaking Sword (TDBS) predates that film by over twenty years. The real life friendship comes through in more than one scene. Several times Ti looks as though he is going to break character and burst into laughter, especially when he is supposed to be offended by Xiao Dao.
Most of the screen time is held by Changging or Xiao Dao, or both in the same scene. Shih Szu aside the women don’t fare well in TDBS. Kara Hui is wasted in her role at the brothel, and Lily Li Li has the unfortunate part of Luo Jinhua, owner of a gambling parlor.
Changging is familiar if exaggerated fare for Ti Lung. He seems to enjoy his role of the smug, self – righteous swordsman. Ti has been a sword wielding character in a number of movies but never has he played a narcissist. As usual with Fu Sheng, viewers will either thoroughly enjoy his style of humor or want to see Changging use that sword of his.
Plenty of action is on hand, but half of the fights are disappointingly brief. Tong Gai and Wong Pau-Gei as action directors show standard moves and sword work that appears unusual because of the camera angle. The fighting includes the use of props as weapons at a gambling parlor and in Yinxu’s chambers.
Sun Chung only helmed a few films with the Shaws compared to some. I think directors like Chang Cheh made so many memorable movies that others like Sun became lost in the sheer numbers. However, he was a creative and talented director who has often been overlooked and under-rated. He was interested in finding new ways to use technology to elevate his films. Several new techniques made it into TDBS including the freeze frame.
The screenplay is by the extraordinarily prolific writer Ni Kuang who creates an extreme version of the distinguished swordsman. Unlike many films of the era, the plot does not come from an ancient Chinese epic, story or poem. Ni wrote a simple tale, just enough to give the characters motivation. The audience knows only what the characters know. The addition of a little mystery helps along the thin plot.
The Shaw sets are lavishly decorated. The brothels furnishings are elegant. Costumes are beautiful with rich, vibrant colors, and attention to detail. Yinxu’s wardrobe is dazzling. Changging’s garments are nearly as impressive.
At 101 minutes TDBS would have benefitted from tighter editing. The characters aren’t explored in-depth but then it isn’t necessary. TDBS is not a classic or an epic film. It isn’t cerebral nor does it have the greatest fight scenes ever filmed. It is an entertaining way to spend a little over an hour and a half, and that is good enough.
Enter the Warrior’s Gate | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)
RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2017
Matthias Hoene’s (Cockneys vs Zombies) Enter the Warrior’s Gate (aka Warrior’s Gate), a French-Chinese co-production written by Luc Besson (Lucy), will be released on Blu-ray & DVD 0n June 6th, 2017.
After a mysterious chest opens a gateway through time, teen gamer Jack is transported to an ancient empire terrorized by a cruel barbarian king. Jack will need all of his gaming skills as he battles to defeat the barbarian, protect a beautiful princess, and somehow find his way back home.
Director: Jimmy Henderson Cast: Jean-Paul Ly, Dara Our, Tharoth Sam, Céline Tran, Savin Phillip, Dara Phang, Sisowath Siriwudd, Laurent Plancel, Rous Mony, Sok Visal, Georgina Tan Running Time: 92 min.
By Matija Makotoichi Tomic
Following in the footsteps of Vietnam, Indonesia, and of course, Thailand before that, it was time for Cambodia to mark its place on the international martial arts movie map. Delivering the country’s first piece of full-fledged martial arts action is Jimmy Henderson, Italian-born director who moved to Cambodia six years ago and has since found himself in the director’s chair twice; for the action thriller Hanuman and then a year later when filming the horror Forest Whispers. His latest directorial effort came as a breath of fresh air to the country’s cinema dominated mostly by romantic comedies and ghost horror stories. Seeing the talent in local martial artists, Henderson once again teamed up with his co-writer Michael Hodgson and producer Loy Te of Kongchak Pictures, and delivered action comedy that was to set a new standard for Cambodian action filmmaking.
Made with a lot of heart and a budget that couldn’t be called big even if multiplied by ten, Jailbreak was all about hard work right from the start. And while there’s no doubt about the team’s committment, low budget filmmaking usually tends to results in production shortcomings. Looking at it from that angle, Jailbreak is not without its weak points. Prei Klaa prison as the one location where most of the film’s action is taking place, is not a real one; jail bars and inmates’ uniforms, as well as the prison security system being the most obvious example, are cheap looking and can be seen as failings that might bother some. Looking from a different perspective, this only adds to the exploitation charm of the movie, along with its non-stop action structure and Butterfly gang females dressed in tight black leather.
Taking center stage of the story is Playboy, notorious criminal accused under the suspicion of running the Butterfly girl gang. When faced with the charges against him, Playboy decides to reveal the true boss’ identity, the not-so-mysterious Madame Butterfly who in exchange puts a hit out on him. After two failed attempts at Playboy’s life, first while he is still being held at the police station, and then when being escorted to the Prei Klaa prison, the hunt for his head continues within the prison walls with the prison badass Bolo taking over (yes, the name refers to the one and only Beast from the East). Special task force made of French officer supported by a local police trio has been assigned to keep Playboy safe, but once a simple hit turnes into a bloody prison riot, the team ends up fighting to save their own lives.
Starring as the leader of all female Butterfly gang is French actress Céline Tran in her first action role. Part Vietnamese on her father’s side, Tran is perhaps better known to a wider audience as Katsuni, stage name from her days in the porn industry. Katsuni received numerous awards for her work that includes more than 300 adult films, with Anal Showdown and Great Wall of Vagina being some of my picks as definitive must-sees. Being in her late thirties, Tran, a veteran in the business that still got the looks, obviously decided it’s time for a career change, and the role of whiskey-loving, katana-wielding girl boss fits her just right. Lovely Tharoth “Little Frog” Sam on the other hand has miles to go before becoming a veteran in this line of work. This charismatic Cambodian actress is a rising action star that earned her place in the industry as the first female professional MMA competitor and an expert Bokator fighter. With Jailbreak being the showcase for Bokator, Cambodian very own martial arts style, it is Sam (and her colleague Dara Our) you need to keep an eye on for busting Bokator moves.
Equally charismatic with made-to-be-a-star look is Jean-Paul Ly. Trained in Hapkido, Karate, Capoeira and specialized in acrobatic kicking, it was up to Ly to contribute to the project by bringing new ways to combine different martial arts techniques. After his notable stunt work on films such as Lucy or Now You See Me 2 for which he was nominated for 2017 Taurus Awards for best fight, Ly joined the cast of Jailbreak in his first ever lead role. Despite being born in France and located in London, Ly was somewhat an obvious choice thanks to his Chinese and Cambodian descent. As an experienced stuntman and a passionate martial artist, Jean-Paul also took charge of the film’s fight choreography, teaming up with the local martial artist and actor Dara Our.
Knowing the action being what Jailbreak is all about, Ly and Dara delivered some great, hard-hitting martial arts fighting that will have fans nod in approval. Ridden of wirework and with CGI interventions reduced to a minimum, this is martial arts action that’s always a joy to watch, even more so being that the fights were shot as wide as possible with narrow prison hallways allowing only so much space to work with. Notable is Henderson’s dynamic, creative camerawork in fight scenes. Rather than making a mess using fast cuts, camera just flows with the action, often in long takes and with focus switching from one character to another, a style maybe owed to the fact that this one camera was all the team had at their disposal.
On the bad side, some of the hits at times clearly fail to meet their target. With long takes and limited shooting time this is easily forgivable and can be attributed to the lack of experience. Extras were trained for the movie by Jean-Paul, lacking even the basic skills required, but with good will to spare. Entering the final third fights become somewhat repetitive, but keeping it at the same level of interest are fresh, new moves introduced every now and again to liven things up. One of the best fights in the movie belongs to Jean-Paul and Laurent Plancel starring in the role of Suicide and assisting in the film’s fight choreography. As professionals and friends that have already worked together, be it on short film Dead End, or a major Hollywood blockbuster that is Doctor Strange (earning nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for their stunt performance), Ly and Law make it short but sweet, with a real knockout ending.
Of course, one of the selling points for any action comedy is in the way how it handles its humor, and in that department, Jailbreak works almost flawlessly. Every bit intended and of kind that is easily understandable to an international audience it takes some time to ignite, but by the time we see the escort team freezing in the back of a freezer truck on their way to prison, it’s clear there’s more to be enjoyed here than just the action. Despite the comic note that changes the overall tone, influence of The Raid is still apparent. It’s not just the idea of keeping most of the film’s action in one location, but also in the way it is delivered. Jean-Paul doesn’t hide the fact that the style of action was influenced by Gareth Evans’ masterpiece, insert of which can be seen on the prison TV.
More laughs are on the way as the closing credits roll with bloopers showing that the team had a great fun while filming, despite all the hard work they were facing while working in almost impossible conditions, shooting without air conditioners on a temperature that was well over 30 °C. Fueled on passion and with talent to spare, Jailbreak is hopefully the first of many to come. Local box-office numbers and fan support prove the job was done right and indeed, all things considering, this is a big step for Cambodian cinema and a noteworthy achievement that I’m sure fans will appreciate.
Over ten years ago, Hong Kong megastar Leon Lai (A Hero Never Dies, Fallen Angels) made his directorial debut in the 2006 musical, A Melody Looking. Now, Lai is back in the director’s chair for something a little bit different: Action! – with a film called Wine War (read our review).
When a world renowned Chinese sommelier residing in France is contacted by his childhood buddy in China to help him auction for a bottle of 1855 vintage wine on behalf of the Chinese government, he agrees without question. Little does he realize he is about to be sucked into an age-old feud between rivaling vineyards and a historical mystery that might shatter the whole oenological industry.
“Head to Head: The Seagal vs JCVD Collection” DVD Cover
RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2017
Mill Creek Entertainment presents Head to Head: The Seagal vs JCVD Collection, featuring 8 movies on 2 DVDs.
In the Muscles from Brussels’ corner, we have 1996’s Maximum Risk (read our review), 1999’s Universal Soldier: The Return (read our review), 2006’s Second in Command (read our review), 2006’s The Hard Corps (read our review), 1997’s Double Team (read our review) and 1998’s Knock Off (read our review); And in Seagal’s corner is 2005’s Into the Sun and 2006’s Attack Force. (Van Damme wins by Knock Off).
Director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) is currently working on the development of Live Die Repeat and Repeat, the sequel to his 2014 sci-fi action film, Edge of Tomorrow. Both Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt will be reprising their roles from the first film.
On board as the film’s screenwriters are Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse, the writing duo known for their recent work on the Jesse Owens’ bio-pic Race.
The original was based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s Japanese novel All You Need is Kill, which was also the movie’s title until it was changed to Edge of Tomorrow for its theatrical release; only to be re-titled/remarked again as Live. Die. Repeat. for its Blu-ray & DVD release – hence, the title of the sequel, Live Die Repeat and Repeat.
“We have an amazing story! It’s incredible! Way better than the first film, and I obviously loved the first film. Tom is excited about it, and Emily Blunt is excited about it. The big question is just when we’ll do it. But it’s not an if, it’s a when”, Liman told Collider. Previously, the filmmaker told the same source the sequel would “revolutionize how people make sequels”.
Despite its box office fumble, 2014’s Edge of Tomorrow was praised by both critics and viewers alike. The film involved a military officer (Cruise) who is brought into an alien war against an extraterrestrial enemy who can reset the day and know the future. When this officer is enabled with the same power, he teams up with a Special Forces warrior (Blunt) to try and end the war.
We’ll keep you updated on Live Die Repeat and Repeat as we learn more.
Perhaps more than any other genre, making a good first impression in an action movie is paramount. Sure there can be some characterisation, plot setup etc. beforehand, but when that first action scene hits, it has to count. Because let’s face it, audiences are tuning into an action movie for action. If that first scene when things start to get physical is a damp squib of an excuse to get the adrenalin pumping, then all is lost. Don’t expect the audience to stick around.
Thankfully, when it comes to Asian action, the ratio is definitely more hit than miss. Perhaps what makes it so unique, is that Asian action relies on the physical talents of its stars, rather than large CGI explosions or caped superheroes performing equally superhuman feats of heroism. This is no more apparent than in the kung fu movie, after all, if you’re going to keep someone watching for the next 90 minutes based purely on what you can do with your body, than it better be something exceptional.
Throughout the years there’s been countless martial artists who have lit up the screens with their fists and kicks, and below we’ve picked out what we believe to be 5 of the greatest action entrances in Asian cinema. The criteria is simple – while the scene doesn’t necessarily have to be the first time they appear in the movie mentioned, it does have to be the first time they spring into action. Likewise, the scene in question also doesn’t have to be the first action scene in the movie, but it does need to be the first time we see the martial artist in question do their thing. That’s it. Listed in the order that they were made, we hope you enjoy, and feel free to weigh in with your own choices! –
“Enter the Dragon” Japanese Theatrical Poster
Enter the Dragon (1973) – Bruce Lee makes his UFC debut, 20 years before UFC existed.
Look at any other production from either Hong Kong, USA, or anywhere else for that matter from 1973, and you’ll be unable to find anything that comes as close to being as far ahead of its time as when Bruce Lee takes on Sammo Hung in Enter the Dragon.
Wearing matching black kempo gloves and trunks, the quick efficient striking mixed with acrobatic flourishes was a world away from the basher style of choreography that dominated the era. While Lee taking the win from an arm bar tapout may have become a familiar sight in the 21st Century, it should take nothing away from a scene that provided a glimpse of the MMA style that would become so popular years later.
“The Young Master” Japanese Theatrical Poster
The Young Master (1980) – Whang In-sik demonstrates how to use humans as punching bags.
This entry is unique for 2 reasons – 1. being that it doesn’t feature the star of the movie, Jackie Chan, and 2. that it doesn’t take place until 35 minutes in. However in terms of making an impression, there can be no doubt that nobody leaves quite as lasting an impact, as when Whang In-sik’s villain breaks free en route to being transferred to a new prison.
After refreshing himself with a bucket of water, his intense stare from between his straggly locks is only matched by the kicking showcase he goes on to display. With some fantastic wire enhanced impacts which are painful to watch, In-sik kicks the hapless guard’s mid-air, in the back, in the face, mid-fall from another kick they’ve received, and any other scenario you can think of. Even countless kung fu movie viewings later, In-sik’s entrance in TheYoung Master continues to impress.
“Police Story” Chinese Theatrical Poster
Police Story (1985) – Jackie Chan brings down the house… I mean village… to catch the bus.
Another unique entry involving a Jackie Chan movie, but this one thankfully does involve the man himself. What it doesn’t involve, is any kung fu. Instead, for Chan’s debut directing and starring in a modern day HK police movie, he kicks off proceedings with a surveillance operation taking place in a shanty town set on a hillside.
When Chan and his colleagues find themselves compromised, it results in one of the greatest action openings to be found in the action genre to this day, with Chan front and centre. After a car chase through the shanty town, and when I say through, I mean it literally, Chan takes off on foot to intercept the criminals who have taken the passengers on a double decker bus hostage. What follows is classic Chan, as he clings onto the 2nd floor of the bus with an umbrella, all the time while the criminals attempt to knock him to the road, and some of the most painful stunt work you’ll see on film.
“Operation Scorpio” French DVD Cover
Operation Scorpio (1992) – Won Jin proves never to mess with a man in a purple suit.
The mischievous son character is a familiar one in the kung fu genre, from Jackie Chan’s take on Wong Fei Hung in the Drunken Master movies, to Billy Chong in Kung Fu Zombie, but there’s perhaps no son more memorable in kung fu movie history as Sunny from Operation Scorpio.
Played by super kicker Won Jin (read our interview with him), when called upon to defend his villainous father at just over 10 minutes in, there’s no other sight quite like it. Seemingly able to defy both gravity, and the limits of what a normal human body can do, Won Jin’s ability to mix high impact kicking with acrobatics remains unmatched in terms of its uniqueness. By the time he drops down onto one knee while propping himself up with both hands, arching his other leg over his back to perfectly imitate a scorpion, the fact that the movies very title is a reference to his character is more than justified.
“Tom Yum Goong” Thai Theatrical Poster
Tom Yum Goong (2005) – Tony Jaa flies into a restaurant.
While Tony Jaa captured the attention of just about everyone a couple of years before with Ong Bak, it’s his 2005 follow-up which takes the cake for the most impressive entrance.
Having had his prized elephant stolen, a scene opens in a river-side abode which has a Thai band playing a rather raucous melody, that is, until a body literally comes flying into the room, dislodging a wall mounted buffalo head in the process. While the obvious suspects behind the theft scramble to harness bottles and anything else they can get their hands on as weapons, Jaa flies into frame from the top left corner, planting a damaging knee into a group of 7 suited thugs on the other side of the screen. What follows is a masterclass in bodily damage, as Jaa wades through his opponents like they’re ragdolls, culminating in a flying knee through a glass door.
Director: Ho Yuhang Cast: Kara Hui, Simon Yam, Wu Bai, Faizal Hussein, Kirk Wong, Fruit Chan, Li Xuan Siow Running Time: 90 min.
By Martin Sandison
For me, one of the big draws of this year’s Udine Far East Film Festival was the screening of Mrs K, and the appearance by its director Ho Yuhang. Ho is known for genre hopping and has a lot of successful films under his belt – all made in Malaysia. Martial arts movie fans will be both happy and sad that this movie contains the last action performance by one of the greatest female stars: Kara Hui Yin Hung.
Famously, Kara was discovered by Lau Kar Leung (Martial Club), who taught her screen fighting in the late 70’s. She learnt fast, and starred in one of the greatest kung fu films of all time, My Young Auntie. Her action film comeback came with Peter Chan’s Wuxia in 2011, wherein she faced off against Donnie Yen in a memorable fight. Unfortunately, she didn’t appear in many action films subsequently. She worked with director Ho Yuhang in 2009’s At the End of Daybreak, a low key drama in which she got to flex her acting muscles. Mrs K is a natural progression for director and star, as the film features drama elements alongside the action-style which made her a star.
Come the beginning of the film, Kara is a housewife with a happy family, living in domestic bliss. Soon this is shattered as a former accomplice in a robbery gone wrong reveals Kara’s shadowy past, and she will have to fight for everything she holds dear…
The film is relatively low budget, but thanks to the draw that is Kara’s last action role, director Ho managed to secure the talents of the ubiquitous Simon Yam (Cross). This man needs no introduction, and his part here can be added to his growing number of superb supporting roles. In fact Yam’s performance brought to mind his depictions of psychotic villains in movies such as Exiled and Run and Kill– the latter is one of my favourite category 3 films, made in ’93 when this type of extreme Hong Kong cinema was at its peak.
Also appearing in cameo roles are Kirk Wong (Taking Manhattan) and Fruit Chan (The Midnight After), two of the best directors Hong Kong has ever produced. They are in a flashback scene, which is a welcome humorous diversion.
Of all the films I’ve seen starring Kara, I would have to say this is her best performance. She captures the drama and emotional turmoil her character goes through while also proving, physically, she can still handle herself in tough fight scenes at the age of 56. She also demanded that she do all of her own stunts and fights. What a lady.
Style-wise this film is very strong, with a distinct Spaghetti Western feel that never outstays its welcome. Movies such as The Great Silence spring to mind. In fact, I asked director Ho about this: he said that the latter movie is one of his favourites. He mentioned in his introduction to the film that the Spaghetti Western genre is also reflected in his choice to shoot the film in Malaysia, but with a lot of Hong Kong actors. This creates a parallel with the genre because they were making films set in the American west, but shot in Europe with Italian crews and actors.
Ho’s direction is nuanced, subtle, yet forceful, and there are some great editing transitions. Of course, the movie can also be seen as a homage to classic Hong Kong cinema, with shifts in tone, course humour and standout action sequences.
Unfortunately, fans thinking there will be a feast of action will be disappointed. There are only two hand-to-hand combat scenes. However, they are gritty, exciting and seamlessly edited despite being fast cut. Both opponents are a match for Kara, with Faizal Hussein’s (GK3: The Movie) villain especially giving her a run for her money. Don’t expect anything near the intricacy of Kara’s work with Lau Kar Leung: the style is completely different. This doesn’t detract from the impact of the film as a whole.
Despite not containing lots of action, Mrs K succeeds on many levels, and absolutely gives Kara Hui a beautiful martial arts film swan song. Seek it out.
American servicemen are still being held captive in Vietnam – and it’s up to one man to bring them home in this blistering, fast-paced action/adventure starring martial arts superstar Chuck Norris. Following a daring escape from a Vietnamese POW camp, Special Colonel Braddock (Norris) is on a mission to locate and save MIA soldiers. Aided by a State Department official (Lenore Kasdorf) and a former Army buddy (M. Emmet Walsh), Braddock amasses top secret information and state-of-the-art weaponry. Now this one-man army is prepared to blast his way into Vietnam… but will he be able to blast his way back out?
Director: Steven Okazaki Cast: Keanu Reeves, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Koji Yakusho, Sadao Nakajima, Kyoko Kagawa Running Time: 80 min.
By Kelly Warner
“The ordinary Japanese actor might need ten feet of film to get across an impression; Mifune needed only three.”
– Akira Kurosawa
Like many others, I have Godzilla to thank for first introducing me to Japanese movies. But when the day finally came for me to look beyond the kaiju and discover what else Japanese cinema had to offer, I started with the best: Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. And though I would eventually work my way through the entirety of Kurosawa’s filmography, the first thing I did after watching Seven Samurai was look up all other available Toshiro Mifune films on DVD in the States. In Seven Samurai, Mifune played the wannabe samurai Kikuchiyo, a roguish clown who starts out as the unloved stray dog of the group but ends up becoming the heart and soul of the film. It’s a marvelous performance, one so physical and funny that we don’t always notice the deep humanity until repeat viewings. What I learned over my years of searching out more Toshiro Mifune films is that fantastic performances were the norm for this actor. If I was asked to name the five greatest movie stars of all time, I can say that Mifune would definitely be on that list, and then I would spend a lot of time considering which other four would deserve to join him. So, considering all of that, the new documentary Mifune: The Last Samurai was pretty much a must see film for me.
Mifune: The Last Samurai doesn’t offer much new information to the actor’s biggest fans, but for newcomers it squeezes a good deal of information into its 80 minutes. Oscar winner Steven Okazaki’s documentary uses film clips, new on-screen interviews with Mifune collaborators and admirers, and rare behind-the-scene footage to tell Mifune’s life story. While it breaks no new ground for how such a film is put together, it’s still a handsomely produced documentary.
The film starts by showing us the history of the chanbara genre (samurai swordplay dramas) in Japanese cinema. This section includes some cool footage of silent samurai movies, many of which do not survive in their entirety today. From there the documentary shifts gears to WWII, in which a young Mifune trained pilots going off to war. Mifune was not a true believer in the goals of the Empire of Japan and told his soldiers to think more of their families than of the Emperor. When the war ended, Mifune hoped to use the skills his father taught him to become a cameraman’s assistant at Toho studios, but ended up becoming a movie star instead (quite by accident, according to some accounts). This section of the documentary shares a wealth of rarely seen images of Mifune’s youth, long before superstardom was ever part of the plan.
From there, we move into Mifune’s film career, which developed around the same time that director Akira Kurosawa was becoming a bigger name at Toho. Much time is spent detailing the working relationship between director and star, which is only right. It’s impossible to imagine many Kurosawa films without the inimitable Mifune, just as it is impossible to imagine Mifune becoming the same brilliant actor without Kurosawa. Their working relationship eventually soured, however, and they did not make another film together after 1965’s Red Beard. The documentary does not expressly state the reason for the falling out. Nor does the film go much into the attempts to patch things up, or the later roles that were seemingly written by Kurosawa with Mifune in mind.
Narrating the documentary is the voice of Keanu Reeves (John Wick Chapter 2). Some may take issue with Reeves’ narration, as he is very soft-spoken and monotone, but I had no problem with it. Reeves has a true love for the art of cinema, including martial arts cinema, and his inclusion in the documentary feels right to me.
Okazaki gathered an impressive list of interview participants for his film, including Mifune co-stars Kyoko Kagawa (High & Low) and Yoshio Tsuchiya (Seven Samurai), American admirers Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg (whose early film 1941 featured Mifune in a minor role), film critic Tadao Sato, modern Japanese movie star Koji Yakusho (13 Assassins), Mifune’s eldest son Shiro (After the Rain), and even Godzilla himself, Haruo Nakajima, who was a stunt player in earlier Mifune features. (Clint Eastwood, who played Mifune’s role in the Spaghetti Western remake of Yojimbo, A Fistful of Dollars, would’ve been a nice addition considering that movie solidified Eastwood as more than just a TV star. Also notably absent is Tatsuya Nakadai, who had second billing in many of Mifune’s finest films of the 60’s, and in the 80’s would play the roles in Kurosawa movies that seemed like they were written expressly for Mifune. But perhaps this is just the fan in me wishing for more, more, more.) All interviewees add their own take on Mifune, describing him as a consummate professional on the film set and something of a live wire when left to party. Though it does not spend a whole lot of time on the dark chapters of Mifune’s life, his tabloid scandals and his excessive drinking are among the topics of conversation.
In the film’s final moments, we hear a portion of Kurosawa’s farewell to Mifune that was read at the actor’s funeral (Mifune died in 1997 at age 77. Kurosawa died the next year at age 88). It’s an emotional moment… and then the film is suddenly over. It felt like there was much more that could’ve been said, not just on the topics already discussed but new topics as well. Much time is spent on chanbara at the start, but little is explored about how Mifune (and Kurosawa) reinvented the genre. Nor is there much said about Mifune’s lasting impact in cinema or the actors who took up the craft in his wake. That Koji Yakusho is the only modern Japanese actor in the documentary seems like an oversight.
When all is said and done, the documentary simply feels too short. Toshiro Mifune was a titan of cinema. More needed to be said about the man, his craft, and the movies he left behind (with the exception of the Samurai Trilogy, the movies not directed by Kurosawa only get brief mentions in the doc, if at all). What makes it puzzling is that the film is co-written by Stuart Galbraith IV, who wrote an epic 800-page book on Mifune and Kurosawa, titled The Emperor and the Wolf, so we know that there’s plenty more content that could’ve found its way into the film. Mifune: The Last Samurai is an entertaining documentary, one I’m sure to watch again sometime, but it doesn’t feel like much more than a well-polished special feature from a Criterion DVD. And, to be perfect honest, had it been released that way then I’m sure I would’ve been more forgiving to its shortcomings. Taken as is, it’s probably best viewed as an introduction to the actor’s legacy for newer fans. Mifune’s older fans won’t learn much that’s new to them, but it could make for a nice finale to your next Mifune movie marathon.
In a writing career that stretches over fifty novels, hundreds of short stories, and over forty years, Stephen King considers The Dark Tower to be his magnum opus. The dark fantasy series which involves western gunslingers and demonic villains takes place over eight central novels, but its influences and its secrets have spread to other King works, including The Stand and Hearts in Atlantis. The series follows the gunslinger Roland as he hunts The Man in Black across multiple dimensions while in search of the Dark Tower, which is believed to be the center of all possible universes.
The Dark Tower is one of those pieces of fiction that seems almost impossible to imagine adapted to film but also irresistible to filmmakers looking for a challenge. It’s said that Frank Darabont, who directed some of the finest (and most faithful) King adaptations in The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption, once briefly considered adapting the Dark Tower books before either he or King apparently decided the fit wasn’t right. JJ Abrams stepped up next but he didn’t stay with the project for very long (Abrams would adapt future King works, however, including the 11.22.63 miniseries and the upcoming Castle Rock TV show, both for Hulu). Ron Howard was next and he had a very ambitious plan for how he would bring the world to life, which involved doing a film and then following up that film with a season on HBO and then another film and then I guess more HBO and so on. During this time, Russell Crowe and Javier Bardem were both rumored for the lead role of the gunslinger Roland (early art from the books based Roland’s look on Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name character).
I think it’s safe to say that The Dark Tower series ranks right up there near the top as far as King books that fans feel especially passionate about. So the back-and-forth nature of the film adaptation has been difficult to watch for some of us. But now it looks like it’s finally coming together. Sony will release The Dark Tower on August 4th 2017 (pushed back from its original January 13th date).
The film stars Idris Elba (Thor) as Roland Deschain and Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar) as The Man in Black. Supporting cast includes Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), Katheryn Winnick (Vikings), Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road), Fran Kranz (Cabin in the Woods), Claudia Kim (Avengers: Age of Ultron), and Tom Taylor (Doctor Foster). The film is directed by Danish filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) based on a script rewrite co-written by Arcel, Anders Thomas Jensen (Adam’s Apples), and Batman & Robin screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (groan). If all goes well, the apparent plan is to follow the Ron Howard idea of telling some of the Dark Tower story on TV as well as making future films.
The Dark Tower hits theaters on August 4th, 2017. Watch the film’s New Trailer below:
Kickboxing legend Don “The Dragon” Wilson (Bloodfist) has re-teamed with Martial Arts Kid director Michael Baumgarten in Paying Mr. McGetty, an upcoming action-comedy starring R. Marcos Taylor (“Suge Knight” in Straight Outta Compton, Luke Cage).
After a night of drinking and gambling, Tyrell (Taylor) is awakened by an angry call from his girlfriend, Meena (Anita Clay) and finds himself in bed with a strange woman, Cecelia (Alissa Schneider), a local mob boss’ daughter. Once the local mob boss finds out, he hires Shota (Wilson), a relentless hitman, to go after Tyrell. To make matters worse, the reward on Tyrell’s head has dozens of others looking for him.
Paying Mr. McGetty is produced by James Wilson (Martial Arts Kid) and Karen Kaing (White Tiger) with action choreography by John Kreng (Tsui Hark’s The Master).
A release date is pending. Until then, be sure to watch the film’s New Trailer below:
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Perhaps more than any other genre, making a good first impression in an action movie is paramount. Sure there can be some characterisation, plot setup etc. beforehand, but when that first action scene hits, it has to count. Because let’s face it, audiences are tuning into an action movie for action. If that first scene when things start to get physical is a damp squib of an excuse to get the adrenalin pumping, then all is lost. Don’t expect the audience to stick around.
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