Pray for Death (1985) Review

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Zach Nix
"Pray for Death" Theatrical Poster

“Pray for Death” Theatrical Poster

Director: Gordon Hessler
Writer: James Booth
Cast: Sho Kosugi, Norman Burton, James Booth, Kane Kosugi, Shane Kosugi, Donna Kei Benz, Michael Constantine, Matthew Faison, Parley Baer, Robert Ito
Running Time: 92 min.

By Zach Nix

Japanese martial arts actor Sho Kosugi is well known for starring and appearing in several action films of the 1980s that popularized the notion of the ‘ninja’ in American cinema and culture. After taking part in Cannon Film’s infamous Ninja Trilogy (Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination), Kosugi collaborated with director Gordon Hessler on two action films. The first of their two collaborations, Pray for Death, was released in 1985 and blended Kosugi’s knack for ninja action with a Death Wish-styled tale of vigilante justice. Although nowhere near as insane and bonkers as some of Kosugi’s previous efforts, Pray for Death is a perfectly suitable B-actioner with a surprisingly dramatic story and some entertaining action sequences.

The film opens with Bond styled credits set to a fantastic theme song, “Back to the Shadows,” sung by Peggy Abernathy. Although Hessler’s attempt at aping Bond in his opening credits is far from successful, it helps convey both the film’s cheesy tone and Kosugi’s star image.

Kosugi plays Akira Saito, a Japanese businessman who takes his American born wife’s advice and moves their family to America in order to start up their own business. Before leaving though, Akira advises his adoptive father and sensei of his intentions, as well as his desire to leave his secretive ninja skills to the past. Upon arriving in America, Akira and his family purchase an establishment from a kind old man and turn it into a restaurant. Unfortunately for the Saito family, they happened to pick the one building gangsters and corrupt cops were already using as a hideout for valuable jewelry. When one of the corrupt cops double crosses the mob and steals the jewelry, the mob suspects Akira and his family instead, since they own the property upon which the hiding place resided. After suffering repeated attacks on his family, Akira decides to readopt his ninja ways and go after the mob once and for all. In the words of Akira, “You better pray for death!”

Pray for Death serves up a hearty plate of vigilante justice that combines ninja style action with a fairly solid story. To be honest, the film is surprisingly dramatic and affective in its implications. Viewers will find themselves particularly engaged with the story and its lead character’s plight purely for how innocent and honorable he is. There’s no denying that the film goes off the rails in its final act and occasionally ventures into mean spirited exploitative territory (especially in its unrated cut), but Pray for Death is mostly an affective story of a father who simply wanted to experience the American dream and leave his violent ways to the past.

The film shares many similarities with the Death Wish series, Charles Bronson’s famed franchise of over the top insanity, murderous scumbags, and vigilante justice. It’s ironic that Pray for Death was released within the same year as Death Wish 3, the most insane Death Wish of them all, which shares a similar dangerous neighborhood as the one found in Pray for Death. In fact, Pray for Death shares more in common with Death Wish 4: The Crackdown, as each film pits their protagonist against organized crime. Although produced by Transworld Entertainment, Pray for Death could easily be mistaken as a Cannon production because of its low budget proceedings, star Kosugi, and blend of both the vigilante and ninja sub genre.

Let’s be honest, Kosugi is not a particularly great actor. After all, he admits in the newly conducted interview on Arrow Video’s disc that he never attended acting school, and that he only knew martial arts. However, despite his performance shortcomings, Kosugi is still a likable actor, especially for those with a soft spot for cheesy performers. He’s especially fun to watch during his action sequences, although Kosugi rarely handles his own stunts, as evident by the many obvious light-skinned stuntmen who perform all of his front flips and spins for him. You also have to love the guy for incorporating his sons, Shane and Kane Kosugi (Tekken 2) into his films. Kosugi, both in real life and within Pray for Death specifically, is a real family man.

Pray for Death features a plethora of villains, although one takes the cake as the most despicable. Limehouse Willie, played by James Booth, is both an enforcer for the mob and a complete scumbag. He not only murders the old man that sold the restaurant to Akira’s family, but goes so far as to viciously attack Akira’s children and wife. While I do not want to go into spoilers as to what he does to some of Akira’s family, let’s just say that it is rather vile. Fortunately, Booth gets his comeuppance when he and Kosugi go head to head in a rather lengthy final fight that serves as the film’s best bout of martial arts action thanks to its incorporation of swordplay and a chainsaw. It’s also worth mentioning that Michael Constantine of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame plays the film’s lead mobster, Mr. Newman. Those accustomed with Constantine’s adorable performance as a loving father in that romantic comedy will be shocked to see him play a heartless villain here.

Pray for Death arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video U.S. with a wonderful new transfer that looks fantastic. Genre films of this sort are typically left to rot on DVD or VHS with haphazard early transfers. Fortunately, Arrow has once again given an overlooked genre film the royal treatment with a high definition transfer that should please all viewers.

It’s important to note that this release includes both the unrated and theatrical releases of the film. The unrated cut offers up more bloody violence and a rather disturbing scene of murder and rape. It definitely pushes the film into Death Wish territory with its excessive violence and gratuitous treatment of women. Unfortunately, the source for the excised moments of unrated violence is very poor. Every scene of added violence from the unrated cut suffers from a severe drop in image and sound quality. Therefore, although I recommend checking out the unrated cut for its additions and historical quality, the R rated cut is best suited for repeat viewings because of its consistent transfer. After all, the unrated additions don’t offer up much, as the film is already filled with over the top violence and murder. Still, purists will want to settle for the unrated cut, even with its occasional drop in image and sound quality.

The supplements found on the disc range from a new 19 minute long interview with star Sho Kosugi, a vintage interview with the actor from Martial Arts Forum in 1985, and a trailer gallery of some of his classic films. The new interview is very informative, as Sho himself lays out his life’s history leading up to his first acting gig. He also reveals that he moved to America at age 19 in search of a better life. This is interesting, as his character Akira hoped for the same goal in Pray for Death. The vintage interview on the other hand is quite hilarious, as Sho brings his helmet from the film with him to the interview. The set for the interview is honestly nonexistent as well, as he and the host speak to one another from their chairs. This supplement also features some great archival footage of Sho performing martial arts at the New York premiere for Pray for Death in 1985. It’s great stuff. The disc also includes a trailer gallery, compiling several of Kosugi’s greatest hits, as well as the two films being released by Arrow on Blu-ray.

Overall, Pray for Death and its respective package by Arrow comes highly recommended. Not only is the film a blast to watch, and the high definition transfer superb, but the supplements help give the viewer a greater understanding of Kosugi and his ninja cinema. The disc also comes with two alternate cuts of the film, thereby allowing viewers the choice as to which cut they prefer to watch. Make sure to head “Back to the Shadows” with this release when it comes out on Blu-ray in the United States on Feb. 23, 2016.

Zach Nix’s Rating: 7/10

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

Simon Yam goes for shock value in ‘The Tenants Downstairs’

Posted on February 5, 2016 by JJ Bona
"The Tenants Downstairs" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"The Tenants Downstairs" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Hong Kong star Simon Yam (SPL II, Cross) is back in The Tenants Downstairs, an upcoming thriller by first-time director, Adam Tsuei. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Giddens Ko (You Are the Apple of My Eye).

According to Variety, The Tenants Downstairs is a creepy fantasy involving a dangerous landlord (Yam), a gay tenant (Lee Kang-sheng) and a mysterious female lodger (Shao Yu-wei).

The novel is notorious for its shock-value, and the film’s producers say that they will not tone it down. With that said, don’t miss the film’s trailer (via AFS).

The Tenants Downstairs releases on August 2016.

Posted in News |

Keanu Reeves to take a page from Jackie Chan in ‘Rally Car’

Posted on February 3, 2016 by JJ Bona
"John Wick" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“John Wick” Japanese Theatrical Poster

If nothing else, the 1980’s Cannonball Run films – which focused on a wacky cross-country race with a plethora of celebrity cameos – are remembered as one of Jackie Chan’s first forays into Hollywood cinema. Now it looks as though Keanu Reeves (John Wick) is taking a page from Jackie Chan’s playbook by heading to China for a little racing action of his own in Rally Car. The project, to be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, is a Chinese/American co-production centered around a race across China.

Of course, Keanu Reeves is no stranger to Chinese cinema. His directorial debut Man of Tai Chi featured a bevy of Hong Kong talent, including Karen Mok (Black Mask) and Simon Yam (SPL II), and was shot in cities like Macau and Beijing. Thus, the actor seems like a natural fit to bridge the gap between Hollywood and the East in Rally Car.

Update: Rally Car will be directed by Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid) with a story by Stephen Hamel (Henry’s Crime) and Jeremy Lott. The film is currently in pre-production phase.

Posted in News |

Piper, The (2015) Review

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Paul Bramhall
"The Piper" Korean Theatrical Poster

“The Piper” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Gwang-tae
Cast: Ryu Seung-ryong, Lee Sung-min, Chun Woo-hee, Lee Joon, Goo Seung-hyun, Jeong Kyeong-ho, Kim Jeong-yeong, Park Yoon-seok, Yoon Dae-yeol
Running Time: 119 min.

By Paul Bramhall

The horror movie is an annual staple of commercial Korean cinema, as every summer the multiplexes become filled with largely uninspired and quickly forgotten tales of vengeful spirits and the like. 2015 however was a surprisingly good year for the horror genre, with a number of talented new directors choosing to make their debut within an area of Korean film which has become largely stagnant. Jang Jae-hyeon provided us with the exorcism movie The Priests, Hong Won-chan delivered the serial killer chiller Office, and Yoo Young-seon showed that terror can be found in the workplace just as much as anywhere else with The Wicked.

Another director that weighed in with a horror movie debut is Kim Kwang-tae, who decided to take the interesting approach of adapting the Brothers Grimm tale, The Piped Piper of Hamelin. For anyone not familiar, the tale takes place in the German town of Hamelin during the Middle Ages, a wealthy village that becomes the victim of a significant rat infestation. When a wandering piper stumbles across the village by chance, the mayor offers to pay the piper for him to lead the rats away with his music. The piper duly obliges, leading the rats away from the village. However when the mayor goes back on his promise and refuses to pay up, the piper gets revenge by using his music to lead the children of the village to a grim fate.

The moral of the story of course is the importance of keeping your promises, and this was something Kwang-tae echoed when discussing his reasons behind making The Piper, stating that it was “about the importance of accountability.” In his re-telling, events are transported from Middle Ages Germany to the Korean countryside, shortly after the end of the Korean War.

The role of the piper is given to one of Korea’s most versatile actors, Ryoo Seung-ryong. After playing memorable supporting characters for many years, from the villain of War of the Arrows to the royal aide in Masquerade, Seung-ryong has pushed into leading man territory in recent years. His role as a wrongly accused simpleton in 2013’s Miracle in Cell No. 7 earned him the Best Actor prize at the 50th Grand Bell Awards, and he also took the lead in 2014’s The Target, a remake of the French movie Point Blank. In Kwang-tae’s version Seung-ryong’s piper is also given a young son that acts as his companion, and it’s revealed that the reason for their journey is to see a doctor in Seoul due to the son suffering from tuberculosis.

After staying the night in an abandoned dwelling during a storm, upon waking up to a bright and sunny morning, Seung-ryong discovers that the nights strong winds have revealed a previously hidden trail. Encouraged by his son, the pair decide to follow the trail, at the end of which they discover a village. A sense of foreboding permeates through their arrival, as the villagers working the fields stop and eye the newly arrived pair with obvious suspicion, unsure of what to make of the new arrivals. Thankfully the village mayor, played by Lee Sung-min, welcomes them in, despite his character a little too transparently having ulterior motives to his warm welcome.

For anyone that’s familiar with Korean cinema, the setup for The Piper is alarmingly similar to that of Kang Woo-seok’s 2010 adaption of the Korean webtoon, Moss. The stranger arriving in a mysterious small village, the dubious mayor residing in the house that overlooks the village, even down to a female character who the mayor uses for his own selfish needs. Sung-min’s performance as the mayor also seems to be cut from the same cloth as Jeong Jae-yeong’s mayor in Moss, all of which add up to being so similar that it distracts from becoming fully engaged in the events which are unfolding. This is largely due to the fact that, much like Jae-yong’s turn in Moss, it becomes apparent early on that Sung-min is not the affable character that he presents himself as to Seung-ryong.

The Pied Piper is a very short and simple tale, and could well be interpreted as perfect material for an equally compact and gruesome horror movie. But as previously mentioned, Kwang-tae wanted to do more than make a straight up horror flick, so he fills out the 107 minute runtime with a substantial amount of character development. The issue is, the characters who get the most development don’t necessarily need it. Seung-ryong seems to be mildly echoing his turn in Miracle in Cell No. 7 here, as his piper often comes across as hopelessly naïve and innocent. It’s revealed his wife was killed in the war, which was followed by his son becoming sick, however his cheerful demeanour and unquestioning approach make him seem more like a gullible fool than anything else.

On the other end of the spectrum, Cheon Woo-hee, who plays a character being forcibly pressured into being a shaman for the village, is given very little to do other than come across as a bag of nerves. Likewise for Lee Joon, who after showing so much promise in 2013’s Rough Play, has returned to acting solely in TV dramas. Here he makes a welcome return to big screen productions, playing the son of Sung-min, however apart from acting like an angst ridden teenager who hints at having darker intentions, he’s left largely on the side-lines.

Speaking of characters being left on the side-lines, there are portions of the runtime when you’d swear the main attraction for a tale such as this – the rats themselves – have been all but forgotten about. There is indeed a rat infestation, but so much time is spent focusing on an unspoken event from the past, that combined with a misplaced romantic subplot, the son’s tuberculosis, and the mayors ulterior motives, often the rodents almost feel like an afterthought.

However when they do come, the scenes are suitably impressive, as a legion of the CGI created vermin are sent scurrying through the pristine scenery of Gangwon Province to the tune of the piper. The reveal that the rats have a taste for human flesh leads to the expected twist on the story that, once betrayed, Seung-ryong sends them straight back to where they came from, leading to a suitably gruesome conclusion. Even during the rat filled finale though, there’s still a sense of restraint that stops it from being completely satisfying. Seung-ryong’s transition from the happy-go-lucky piper, to revenge seeking father, is surprisingly given the least amount of time out of all the plot points, and as a result is never entirely convincing. The most important part of the tale feels almost like a footnote, rendering the abduction of the children to a few minutes at the end of the movie.

Knowing that Kwang-tae wanted to deliver a deeper meaning with The Piper, admittedly a lot can be read into from the finale. With the recent criticism of the Korean government and its seeming decision to whitewash the country’s history (see the first paragraph of my review for The Tiger: An Old Hunter’s Tale), the sight of the villages children, willingly following a figure of authority into a place from which they won’t be able to escape, is a powerful one. It’s just questionable if this was the most appropriate genre to place it in.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 6.5/10

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

Is Goo Mo’s ‘Musudan’ Korea’s answer to ‘Predator’?

Posted on February 3, 2016 by JJ Bona
"Musudan" Korean Theatrical Poster

"Musudan" Korean Theatrical Poster

South Korean director Goo Mo (District 820) returns with Musudan (aka Team Moosoo), an upcoming thriller that’s reminiscent of John McTiernan’s Predator (1987).

South Korea forms a unit led by Captain Jo Jin-Ho (Kim Min-Jun) and First Lieutenant Shin Yoo-Hwa (Lee Ji-Ah). They are given 24 hours to find out the truth behind the some deadly incidents that have taken place in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. And something isn’t right…

Musudan also stars Do Ji-Han, Park Yoo-Hwan, Oh Jong-Hyuk and Kim Dong-Young. The film releases domestically on February 25, 2016.

Watch the trailer. If it bleeds, they can kill it.

Posted in News |

Who wants to make a ‘P.A.S.S.’ at Bianca Van Damme?

Posted on February 1, 2016 by JJ Bona
"Paranormal Activity Security Squad" Teaser Poster

"Paranormal Activity Security Squad" Teaser Poster

P.A.S.S. or Paranormal Activity Security Squad is an upcoming martial arts – horror – comedy flick directed by and starring Alexander Wraith (No Tears for the Dead) and Bianca Brigitte Van Damme (6 Bullets, Assassination Games).

Judging from this promotional image, one can easily describe P.A.S.S. as The Ghostbusters meets exploitation cinema with other elements of craziness (i.e. Charlie Sheen, UFOs and lightsabers).

P.A.S.S. also stars Sean Stone (Savages), Rigan Machado (Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor) and Aki Aleong (Pound of Flesh).

In addition to P.A.S.S., Wraith and Van Damme are also collaborating on Enter the Fist and the Golden Fleecing, as well as Kickbox, which be filmed entirely in Thailand.

Updates: Watch a new in-movie commercial for P.A.S.S. We really don’t know what to think (and that’s probably the point). If you’re looking to pre-order a copy, visit the film’s official website.

Posted in News |

Zombie Fight Club (2014) Review

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Paul Bramhall
Original "Zombie Fight Club" Artwork by Kung Fu Bob

Original “Zombie Fight Club” Artwork by Kung Fu Bob

AKA: Z.F.C.
Director: Joe Chien
Cast: Andy On, Jessica Cambensy, Jack Kao Jie, Philip Ng, Michael Wong, Terence Yin, Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung, Abby Feng, Gu Bao Ming
Running Time: 95 min.

By Paul Bramhall

At the end of my review for Joe Chien’s 2012 production Zombie 108, I was so appalled at what was proudly billed as China’s first zombie movie that I wrote “if it’s Chien who’s going to be the driving force behind them, then hopefully it’ll be the last.” However, like a modern incarnation of the village idiot, somehow I found myself drawn to Chien’s 2014 follow-up, Zombie Fight Club. I can say it was the presence of Andy On that drew me in, the fact that the action was being choreographed by Philip Ng, or even just tempted by the concept of a zombie fight club. But I won’t try to justify myself, I chose to watch this movie while of sound mind, so will attempt to write this review while in a similar disposition.

Zombie Fight Club bursts out of the gates in much the same way that its predecessor did. Within the first 5 minutes we have a title sequence that lists actors with names like ‘MC Hotdog’, a vision of Taipei up in flames, a gratuitous shot of a young female’s posterior adorned in denim hot pants, and a guy having his ear chopped off. 10 minutes in and we’ve had a threesome scene, a guy having his manhood bitten off when the girl he’s receiving lip service from chooses a bad moment to become a zombie, and a group of party goers taking selfies together with the zombies. Frankly, there is more insane nonsense in these initial minutes than most movies cram into their whole runtime. But I have to confess, I found myself enjoying it.

In what I promise will be my last reference to my thoughts on Zombie 108, I had written how that movie’s opening also appeared to “basically setup for a throwback to the trashy Category III flicks of Hong Kong’s yesteryear, only in Taiwanese form.” I then went on to explain how it failed miserably. The opening of Zombie Fight Club had me hoping that Chien had learnt his lesson, and maintain the entertainingly trashy lowbrow zombie shenanigans for the duration of the run-time.

One thing that becomes evident rather quickly is that Chien must have enjoyed The Raid, as the structure of the first hour contains several identical setups from the Gareth Evans classic. Andy On is basically Rama (although to keep it simple, here On plays a character called, wait for it, Andy), with Michael Wong in the role of corrupt captain Wahyu. There’s even an almost identical shot which is framed in the van of the SWAT team, positioned as they approach the building they’re planning to infiltrate, in which On questions if what they’re doing is authorized.

Inside the building we focus on the apartment of a young couple who like to party, played by Derek Tsang and half American/half Filipino model Jessica C, who spends the entire movie either (a) wearing a pair of hot pants and a bra, or (b) wearing a pair of hot pants and a vest with no bra. This, and the fact that she cuts her hair short at some point, is the extent of her characterization. Unfortunately due to some contaminated drugs the couple and a group of friends were going to take, everyone ends up turning into zombies, a fate she only narrowly escapes thanks to taking a bathroom break when the other characters pop the pills.

Jessica C’s survival and the arrival of Andy On setup the structure for what amounts to almost non-stop blood splattered zombie mayhem. Zombie Fight Club is still B-grade stuff, but gone is the hyper-editing of the zombie scenes from Zombie 108, replaced with better zombie makeup, better CGI (although still far from perfect), and a heap more zombie extras than his previous effort could afford. The result is admittedly a lot of gory fun. Zombies get punched through the face and out the back of the head, one zombie is beaten to a pulp with a golf club, while the character giving the beating yells “Tiger! Tiger! Tiger Woods!”, and there’s even a man on a Zimmer frame vs. a zombie in the mix. None of it makes a lick of sense, none more so that when the elderly man using the Zimmer frame steps into a robot suit, not dissimilar to the one Sigourney Weaver uses in the finale of Aliens, and armed with a chainsaw creates a bloodbath of zombie decapitation.

The misogynistic streak against women has also thankfully been dialed back for Zombie Fight Club. Chien has still cast 99% of the female characters for their looks, and has them dressed as scantily as possible, but the scenes of degradation and cruelty that made Zombie 108 leave a bad taste have gone. That said, there are still some scenes that will have some viewers feeling uncomfortable. There’s the appearance of a zombie baby, and in one rather bizarre scene, which ends up becoming pivotal to the plot, a middle aged professor is visited by his daughter and her friends. When his daughter is killed by a zombie, instead of trying to rescue her surviving friends, he decides to kill them so that they can be together with his daughter in the afterlife. It may have sounded like a good twist on paper, but it’s arguably in bad taste to set a soft acoustic guitar track to a scene in which he’s murdering a group of young girls in cold blood.

Staying true to its breakneck pacing, at the one hour mark Zombie Fight Club suddenly decides it’s going to skip 1 year into the future. It’s explained onscreen that the world has been overrun by zombies, and that humans have been forced to live underground, ruled over by a mad dictator who enjoys pitting humans vs. zombies in a tournament which resembles something close to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome meets Gladiator. Finally, we get to see the zombie fight club that the movie was named after! Andy On changes here from being Rama in The Raid to Russell Crowe in Gladiator, as he takes it on himself to attempt to free all of the humans being held captive. It’s all very dramatic, especially one scene were he’s being seduced by one of the dictators dominatrix acquaintances, in which he yells at her, “Come on, take off my pants!”

For zombie fans, there are plenty of inventive zombie deaths and liberal use of fake (and CGI) blood throughout. From Andy On storming down a corridor bashing in the brains of zombies using his fist and feet, to a car being used to take out as many of the undead as possible, in a scene which should be used as the basis for the next installment of The Fast & The Furious franchise. For those hoping that Andy On and action choreographer Philip Ng would get a rematch of their fight in Once Upon a Time in Shanghai, thankfully we do. It comes completely without warning, and had it not been for the voiceover that plays over the start of it, which explains that the dictator has created a human vs. human tournament with the victor being granted freedom, you’d be left wondering exactly why it was happening at all.

It’s a decent fight from two performers who could be argued to be the only worthy thespians currently working in HK action cinema, and the fact that part of it takes place in an abandoned bus surrounded by hungry zombies is surprisingly effective at raising the stakes. However, if it’s purely fight action you’re looking for, Zombie Fight Club is not the place to visit. For 90 minutes of blood drenched zombie mayhem and sexy scantily clad women, you could do a lot worse, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what all the best Category III movies provide us with?

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 6.5/10

Posted in Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

‘The Raid’ director is back with a samurai action short

Posted on January 31, 2016 by JJ Bona
"The Raid 2" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"The Raid 2" Japanese Theatrical Poster

While most people spend their holiday relaxing, others, such as Gareth Evans – the acclaimed writer and director of Merantau, The Raid and The Raid 2: Berandal – decide to use the opportunity to test out some cool choreography ideas with visitors like Yayan Ruhian (Yakuza Apocalypse), Cecep Arif Rahman (The Raid 2) and Hannah Al Rashid (Safe Haven segment from V/H/S/2).

Just recently, Evans took to twitter with following news:

“Had the pleasure of having Yayan Ruhian, Cecep Arif Rahman and Hannah Al Rashid visit me in Wales over the summer holidays for a week or so.

While here, we made the following little shot sequence; partly to test out some choreography ideas I had, partly to see if we could create something non-violent my kiddo could see, but mainly cos I really needed to f*cking shoot something after 2 years without picking up a camera.

The four of us made up the entire cast crew with wonderful support in post as ever from music and sound maestros Fajar Yuskemal (Raid 2 composer) and Aria Prayoky (Raid 2 sound designer). Hope you enjoy!”

Does this mean that a future project from Evans might be samurai-related? After all, he is a big fan of Akira Kurosawa… well, only time will tell. Without further adieu, click here to watch Evans’ short action film. Should hold you off until news on Blister or The Raid 3 surfaces (via Paul Bramhall).

Posted in News |

Dragon Blade (2015) Review

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Kelly Warner
"Dragon Blade" Korean Theatrical Poster

“Dragon Blade” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Daniel Lee
Cast: Jackie Chan, John Cusack, Adrien Brody, Lin Peng, Mika Wang, Choi Siwon, Xiao Yang, Wang Taili, Sammy Hung, Yoo Seung-jun, Karena Lam, Li Shao-Ting
Running Time: 103/127 min.

By Kelly Warner

The casting lineup of Jackie Chan, John Cusack, and Adrien Brody for a historical action movie sounds downright crazy – and also, I must admit, rather intriguing. Just ten years ago a movie headlined by those stars would’ve sounded even weirder, but the fall from their A-list status has thrown them together in that very particular level of Hell known as the Daniel Lee Historical Epic. Because of the silly trailers and bad vibes, I wasn’t expecting much from Dragon Blade. However, decent word-of-mouth praise and an appreciation for the three actors made me just curious enough to check it out.

I regretted my decision almost immediately. It’s very clear early on that Dragon Blade is a tone-deaf, ham-fisted movie.

Inspired by a true story, Dragon Blade follows a Roman legion that’s traveling the Silk Road in China. They’re tired and starving, so they require a place to rest. Their general (John Cusack) seeks to sack a city, but the defender of that city (Jackie Chan) convinces both sides to set aside their differences and share the city. In order to earn their keep, the Romans help rebuild the city’s defenses, promising to do so in 15 days. Of course during this time of rushed construction the men take time to dance, spar, and engage in general male bonding that crosses the cultural divide. But not everything is fun and games! An evil Roman Consul (Adrien Brody) is taking his army in pursuit of Cusack, which leads to a confrontation on the Silk Road.

Why are Cusack’s Romans hiding out with Jackie Chan? Why does Adrien Brody want to kill everybody? Well, are you a fan of exposition? Half-way through the film John Cusack sits down to explain his backstory and motivations: “I served under Consul Marcus Licinius Crassus Dives. He moved his troops to the Parthian Empire, formed an alliance with the Queen, who is the sister of our Lady Crassus. Consul Marcus’ elder son, Tiberius, is a vicious and treacherous man. The Consul was planning on naming his youngest son Publius to be his heir and successor. He entrusted me to keep the child alive. The young lord started having problems with his eyes. The Parthian Queen kindly sent medicine to heal his vision. Tiberius laced it with poison, blinding his brother so that he could never become Consul…” and it goes on and on from there, giving us more information than necessary. During the dialogue we get flashbacks to some characters that we never see again and are treated to the first glimpse of a Queen who will become important later on (but only after we’ve almost totally forgotten about her). Cusack reads the lines with about the same enthusiasm that I felt when I went back to rewatch the scene so that I could quote the dialogue. (Which is to say: very little.)

That scene, I think, best explains what’s wrong with the movie: the screenplay sucks. Writer/director Daniel Lee (White Vengeance) shows no understanding of pacing, eloquence, or editing dramatic tension. Info dumps are dropped on the audience like a load of bricks. Characters we don’t bother to know the names of are killed with tearjerker melodrama. And the dialogue, OHHH the dialogue! Later in the film, Cusack begs Brody to spare the young Roman lord’s life, saying that he’s committed no crime and poses no threat. Brody responds, “Of course he’s committed a crime! His crime… his crime is that he took the place in your hearts that belonged to me.” In the words of Harrison Ford, “You can type this shit, but you sure can’t say it.” Daniel Lee, who is no friend to fans to historical epics, deserves a harsh talking-to. (To be fair: I watched the US cut which apparently trims approx. 20 minutes from the film. Whether some of the film’s editing and choppy storytelling is any better in the original cut is unknown to me.)

While the film is often very violent, the central theme is one of togetherness and acceptance. At the center of the story is the city which Chan is defending and it is made up of people from many different nations, cultures, and races. That they all work together to fight evil is something I thought deserved some credit, especially in days like these. However, good intentions only get you so far.

Jackie Chan is probably the best part of the movie. In the role of Huo An, Chan gets to play a bit of his Greatest Hits: he fights, sings, provides slapstick humor, and he gets to play his new favorite sort of role, that of the self-sacrificing savior. Chan also serves as the film’s action director and the action scenes are more exciting and better filmed than much the rest of Dragon Blade. Some of the action beats are overly familiar (has Chan ever fought a female opponent without tripping her and supporting her fall by putting his hands on her breasts?), but there is some entertainment to be had.

I’m not sure what John Cusack’s doing in the film counts as acting… it’s more like he’s just conveniently standing in front of the camera while it’s rolling. Cusack has hit a bit of a rough patch in recent years (though his work in Love & Mercy was excellent). He appears half-asleep in Dragon Blade, giving the character of Lucius just enough life to remain standing. I don’t necessarily blame him. The film is total shit and he’s smart enough to know it, wisely saving battery life for better film projects.

On the flip side of the coin, Adrien Brody goes all-out playing the outrageously evil Tiberius. Brody, the youngest actor to ever win the Oscar for Best Actor (The Pianist), is also at a strange point in his career. This isn’t the role he’s been looking for. Tiberius is evil and… that’s pretty much all there is to the character. Brody’s over-the-top in the part, so much so that I think he’s either in on the joke with the audience or he’s potentially going mad onscreen, I’m not sure which. At least he provides the film with some laughs.

So yeah, Dragon Blade is not the John Cusack/Jackie Chan action movie we’ve all been waiting for. The movie is made with good intentions, strong production values, and decent action, but a cheesy script and lame performances sink the film into oblivion. I’m still interested in the future films of Chan, Brody, and Cusack; they’ve done enough good work in years past to deserve a pass for this mess of a movie. But as for director Daniel Lee, well, he remains on my Shit List.

Kelly Warner’s Rating: 3/10

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

Time Rush | aka Reflex | DVD (Archstone)

Posted on January 30, 2016 by JJ Bona
Time Rush | aka Reflex | DVD (Archstone)

Time Rush | aka Reflex | DVD (Archstone)

RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2016

Archstone and Stunt Power Films presents Time Rush (aka Reflex), an upcoming thriller that fuzes martial arts with Edge of Tomorrow!

Helmed by Daniel Zirilli (director of Steven Seagal’s upcoming thriller, Asian Connection), Time Rush is about a man who is stuck in a repeating loop of time, and must navigate his way through an Asian metropolis (in this case, Thailand).

Time Rush stars Dean Alexandrou (Blunt Force), Selina Lo (The Scorpion King 3), Ron Smoorenburg (Who Am I?, Tekken 2), Ammara Siripong (Chocolate), Byron Gibson (Only God Forgives) and Kecha Khamphakdee (Asian Connection). | Trailer.

Pre-order Time Rush from Amazon.com today!

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

Kung fu brothers and sisters, SC36 needs your help…

Posted on January 30, 2016 by JJ Bona

The Shaolin Chamber 36 Forum is not only the busiest forum on Asian and Martial Arts film – it’s also home to some of the most knowledgeable fans in the world.

However, the cost of maintaining the forum is taking a serious bite out of the owners (Kung Fu Bob’s Artwork and SC36.com) much more than they had anticipated.

It was decided that the easiest way to raise funds would be via donations on an annual basis. This way, if the goal was reached, they’d be covered for a whole year.

City on Fire would like to take this opportunity to ask its visitors to play a part in supporting the forum by making a donation. Big or small (even a $1), all donations are appreciated.

Each person that donates $15 or more will be entered in a drawing, and one person will win a Shaolin Chamber 36 “Treasure Package” consisting of three 11×17″ Kung Fu Bob art prints (of their choice), and two 36 Styles T-Shirts (of their choice).

On behalf of every kung fu movie fan out there, thanks for reading!

Posted in News |

Park Chan-wook looks to ‘Metal Gear Solid’ author for film adaptation of ‘Genocidal Organ’

Posted on January 29, 2016 by JJ Bona
"Oldboy" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Oldboy" Japanese Theatrical Poster

According to TTB, visionary director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) is attached to direct a film adaptation of Project Itoh‘s (Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots) science fiction novel, Genocidal Organ.

Here’s what you can expect from the plot (via Amazon):

The war on terror exploded, literally, the day Sarajevo was destroyed by a homemade nuclear device. The leading democracies transformed into total surveillance states, and the developing world has drowned under a wave of genocides. The mysterious American John Paul seems to be behind the collapse of the world system, and it’s up to intelligence agent Clavis Shepherd to track John Paul across the wreckage of civilizations, and to find the true heart of darkness—a genocidal organ.

We’ll keep you updated on Genocidal Organ as we hear more. Until then, Park Chan-wook is currently putting finishing touches on his forthcoming film, The Handmaid. Stay tuned!

Posted in News |

Voice Without a Shadow (1958) Review

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Kelly Warner
"Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Vol. 1" Blu-ray Cover

“Nikkatsu Diamond Guys Vol. 1” Blu-ray Cover

Director: Seijun Suzuki
Cast: Hideaki Nitani, Yoko Minamida, Jo Shishido, Shinsuke Ashida, Kotoe Hatsui, Taketoshi Naito, Keisuke Noro, Toshio Takahara, Kaku Takashina, Kenjiro Uemura
Runnning Time: 92 min.

By Kelly Warner

In the old days, a film studio would have its contract actors who appeared in multiple releases each year and there was very little cross-pollination of actors working on films for other studios. Of course the bigger stars headlined the biggest films, while other contract players could appear in multiple films, sometimes up to a dozen films in a year. Over at Nikkatsu, they had the ‘Diamond Line,’ a group of their biggest stars who they made sure to put in their best films and provide with the best marketing. Tragedy forced the roster of the Diamond Line to change over time (for example: hot young star Keiichiro Akagi died at age 21 in a go-cart accident), and actors like Jo Shishido were integrated into the Diamond Line in their place.

This week Arrow Video is releasing Diamond Guys Vol. 1, their first in what I hope will be a long line of DVD/Blu-ray releases showcasing the talent from Nikkatsu’s golden age of action movies. First on the agenda is 1958’s Voice Without a Shadow starring Hideaki Nitani, Yoko Minamida, and Jo Shishido, under the direction of Seijun Suzuki.

As a film buff with a love for classic Japanese cinema, there are few things I enjoy more than the chance to see a recently unearthed film from a favorite director. There is a long list of classic Japanese films I want to see one day, some of which were made by Seijun Suzuki, but I must admit that Voice Without a Shadow was completely unknown to me. And that kind of made watching the film even more fun; I had no idea of what to expect, which can’t be said very often about a film that’s over fifty years old.

Voice Without a Shadow was made early in the director’s career. In fact, it’s the second earliest Suzuki film I’ve yet seen, released half a year after the film noir Underworld Beauty (that’s a good one. Check it out). At this point in his career Suzuki was not yet the enemy of the Nikkatsu studio executives, and so he was given good production values and a cast of big names. Still coming into his own as an artist, the visual flair that populates the director’s most well-known films is almost nowhere to be found here. This is a more restrained effort from Suzuki, but the style fits the story he’s telling.

Based on a mystery by one of Japan’s greatest writers, Seicho Matsumoto, Voice Without a Shadow is a very Hitchcockian tale of murder, paranoia, and whodunit. Told in an episodic nature, the film begins with Asako, a telephone operator played by Yoko Minamida (House), who dials the wrong number and hears the voice of a murderer. After police track the call to a crime scene in a pawn shop, Asako is tasked with helping the police identify the murderer by voice alone. Though she can differentiate voices with unrivaled accuracy, Asako is unable to help solve the crime and the case goes cold. Years later, Asako is a doting housewife tending to her husband’s needs. When her husband invites his clients over for endless games of mahjong, circumstances lead Asako to believe that the rowdiest client, Hamazaki (Jo Shishido), is the voice she heard all those years ago.

Another mysterious murder occurs and the mystery deepens, pulling Asako and her loved ones into a dangerous game of hidden truths. It’s at this point that reporter Ishikawa (Hideaki Nitani) takes over the film. He covered Asako’s story when she first heard the ‘voice without a shadow’ and he’s reinvigorated to solve the mystery now that another man has been killed.

While Asako’s storyline works as a paranoia thriller, Ishikawa’s is a noirish detective mystery. I enjoyed both sides to the story. It’s somewhat formulaic and it owes much to the thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock (nothing wrong with that), but it all works on at least some level.

Yoko Minamida is really good as Asako, the woman that nobody believes in. It’s not long before she also begins doubting herself. Minamida plays the conflicted character with gusto, taking Asako to the edge of sanity as the walls start closing in. In the role of Ishikawa, Hideaki Nitani (Tokyo Drifter) has less colorful material to work with but he makes the best of it. Ishikawa’s role in the story is essentially to connect the dots for the audience. Nitani is good in the role; you trust him instantly, which cannot be said about any other character in the film. Jo Shishido (Branded to Kill) makes a strong impression in his supporting role as the suspected murderer. I’m so used to seeing Shishido as an anti-hero, it’s refreshing seeing him play such a sleazy villain.

Those seeking an old-fashioned murder mystery with a good cast and confident direction will find just what they’re looking for here. Voice Without a Shadow may not be a signature film for director Seijun Suzuki but it’s a fine example of the director’s success working in the mystery/thriller genre. Suzuki, for all his acclaim, is not often known for his intricate storytelling. Voice Without a Shadow is a fairly complex film, one with enough plot threads and red herrings to satisfy even the diehard mystery and film noir fans.

Kelly Warner’s Rating: 7.5/10

Posted in All, Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Cityonfire.com’s ‘Zombie Fight Club’ Blu-ray Giveaway! – WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Posted on January 28, 2016 by JJ Bona
"Zombie Fight Club" Blu-ray Cover

"Zombie Fight Club" Blu-ray Cover

Cityonfire.com and Shout! Factory are giving away 3 Blu-ray copies of Joe Chien’s Zombie Fight Club to three lucky Cityonfire visitors. To enter, simply add a comment to this post and describe, in your own words, the film’s trailer.

We will be selecting a winner at random. Be sure to include your email address in the appropriate field so we can contact you for your home address. Additionally, you must ‘Like Us‘ on cityonfire.com’s Facebook by clicking here.

The Blu-ray & DVD for Zombie Fight Club (read our review) will be officially released on February 2, 2016. We will announce the 3 winners on that day.

CONTEST DISCLAIMER: You must enter by February 2, 2016 to qualify. U.S. residents only please. We sincerely apologize to our non-U.S. visitors. Winners must respond with their mailing address within 48 hours, otherwise you will automatically be disqualified. No exceptions. Contest is subject to change without notice.

WINNERS: Opium, Eric V., and Ron R.

Posted in News | Tagged |

‘Hard Target 2’ director goes historical for ‘Admiral’

Posted on January 27, 2016 by JJ Bona
"Admiral" Theatrical Poster

"Admiral" Theatrical Poster

Netherlands-based filmmaker Roel Reiné is primarily known for making straight-to-DVD sequels to theatrical hits like, Death Race 2, The Man with the Iron Fists 2 and The Scorpion King 3. Considering budget constraints, Reiné is one of the very few B movie directors who manages to pump ’em out with quality in mind.

We’ve gotten word from XLrator Media that Reiné’s newest film, titled Admiral (no relation to the similar-themed Korean film of the same name), will be available on VOD and iTunes on February 23, 2016, in theaters (limited release) on March 11, and on Blu-ray and DVD on April 5th.

Here’s what you can expect from Admiral: When the young republic of The Netherlands is attacked by England, France and Germany and the country itself is on the brink of civil war, only one man can lead the county’s strongest weapon, the Dutch fleet: Michiel de Ruyter. The film stars Frank Lammers, Sanne Langelaar, Barry Atsma, Egbert Jan-Weeber, Rutger Hauer and Charles Dance.

Judging from the Admiral’s impressive trailer, it’ll be interesting to see how Reiné’s Hard Target 2 (with Scott Adkins taking over for Van Damme) comes out. It’s no wonder why producers keep coming back to this guy for more sequels.

Posted in News |
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