Deal on Fire! Ip Man 2 | Blu-ray | Only $9.99 – Expires soon!

"Ip Man 2" Blu-ray Cover

"Ip Man 2" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Wilson Yip’s Ip Man 2 starring Donnie Yen. Yen reprises his iconic role as the real-life kung fu Grandmaster Ip Man in this semi-biographical account of Ip Man.

Ip Man 2 centers on Ip Man’s migration to Hong Kong in 1949 as he attempts to propagate his discipline of Wing Chun martial arts. Just as he did with Ip Man, Sammo Hung delivers some of the best martial arts choreography of his career (and he also co-stars!).

Order Ip Man 2 from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Hong Kong action director returns with an ‘Ulterior Motive’

"Ulterior Motive" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Ulterior Motive" Chinese Theatrical Poster

It’s been 27 years since Arthur Wong made his mark with In the Line of Duty 3 (1988), now the Hong Kong filmmaker is back with Ulterior Motive, an upcoming action thriller starring Gordon Lam (Let’s Go), Qin Lan (The Last Supper), Simon Yam (SPL 2), Liu Wei, Steven Miao, Gao Xin, Qu Jingjing, Archie Kao and Ren Shan.

Wong – mostly known for his cinematography work for films such as 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), Dirty Ho (1979), Big Bullet (1996), Knock-Off (1998), Bodyguards and Assassins (2009) – has directed only two films throughout his 38 year career, so Ulterior Motive is exciting news for old-school Hong Kong cinema fans! The film opens in Chinese theaters on September 17th, 2015.

Updates: Watch the trailer (via FCS).

Posted in News |

Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin (1979) Review

"Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin” Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Golden Gate
Director: Kim Seon-gyeong
Cast: Casanova Wong (aka Ka Sat Fat), Eagle Han Ying, Gam Ching Lan, Elton Chong (aka Jeong Jin Hwa), Hyeon Kil-Su, Martin Chui Man-Fooi, Austin Wai
Running Time: 91 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin is a sure contender for having one of the greatest kung fu movie titles, and there’s plenty of competition out there. However as grand a title as it is, Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin is decidedly misleading. Much like Strike of Thunderkick Tiger, the opening titles would have us believe that we’re about to watch a production directed by the equally dreaded and revered Godfrey Ho. For those familiar with Ho’s unique style of movie distribution, using his Asso Asia Films label, it should come as no surprise that he had nothing to do with directing any part of it, nor is it a Hong Kong movie as many sources have it listed.

Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin is actually Ho’s re-working of the 1977 Korean movie, Golden Gate, directed by Kim Seon-gyeong. Seon-gyeong was a well known action movie director in Korea, and had just a year prior made Black Dragon River, a production notable for having super kickers Casanova Wong and Hwang Jang Lee in early roles sharing the screen together. Seon-gyeong also became the go to director whenever Hong Kong productions wanted to film in Korea, often directing various scenes for the movies he was brought in for, despite rarely receiving any recognition for them in the credits. Most famously he co-directed scenes for the Shaw Brothers production Killer Constable in 1980.

Golden Gate gives Casanova Wong his second lead role, after starring in Four Iron Men earlier in the same year, and is an entertaining entry into the Korean kung fu movie genre. As much as it’s easy to deride Godfrey Ho for his questionable film practices, it can’t be denied that often with these types of movie, the English dubs make them just as entertaining as the fight action. Under the new title of Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin (even though “Shaolin” has no connection to the plot whatsoever), some of the best lines are given to the head monk who, perhaps inspired by Star Wars which was made the same year, speaks like Yoda. Yelling at a trio of monks after a lackluster display of fighting prowess, he yells “Idiots, all of you are!” Indeed.

The plot centers around the said trio of monks, two of whom are played by Korean kung-fu movie luminaries Eagle Han and Elton Chong, and their attempts to steal a golden buddha hidden somewhere in the temple that they’re residing in. The trio end up teaming up with a dastardly Mongolian played by Hyun Kil-soo, sporting pig tails and dangly earrings, and what they believe to be Kil-soo’s deaf mute assistant, played by Casanova Wong. Wong gets to play the role like a warm up to his ridiculous turn as a courier driven to insanity in The Master Strikes, made 3 years later. Although deaf and mute, it’s also made overtly obvious that he’s a complete idiot, usually found running around on all fours like a dog, or chewing on strands of his own hair.

Thankfully, around the 40 minute mark, Wong gets framed as a Mongolian spy and is thrown out of the temple, at which point he reveals to Kim Chung-ran (an actress many will recognize from the early Jackie Chan flicks Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin and Half a Loaf of Kung fu) that he’s neither deaf nor mute, it’s been an act the whole time! It turns out that Kil-soo killed Wong’s father in the past, so he’s been following him around waiting for the right time to take his revenge ever since. You may ask why such a task required him to act as a deaf mute idiot, but if you do, don’t expect an answer. Logic isn’t the order of the day in Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin, but it’s forgivable.

Wong’s meeting with Chung-ran is a significant one, as it turns out her father wrote a kung fu manual on how to master the Fire Fist. Learning the Fire Fist could be just what’s needed to overcome Kil-soo’s deadly Wind Blade technique. We get to witness the Wind Blade technique a couple of times in the movie, and I’m still not sure exactly what it does, apart from acting as a cue for some windy sound effects and a swirling sped up shot of some trees. Whatever it does though, it proves to be effective in eliminating the person going up against it. Soon Wong is bare chested on top of a mountain, busting out the moves in preparation for his revenge, with his mastery of the Fire Fist indicated by a red light being shone on to his hands, combined with cut away shots to the sun. This is visual filmmaking at its best, as it’s clearly conveyed that the Fire Fist is powered by the sun.

Best of all though, is that it leads to a deadly serious conversation between our heroes about the weather. How many kung fu movies out there contain a scene in which the characters discuss if it’s going to be a cloudy overcast day tomorrow, of if it’ll be perfect weather for a fight? Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin is that movie. Of course the greatest kung fu movies never give the hero an easy ride, so fate dictates that on the day Wong decides to take his revenge, it is indeed cloudy. This is despite the fact that after this revelation, he proceeds to walk into a brightly lit field which indicates that there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Thank goodness for cloud stock footage.

The final 25 minutes are essentially a kicking showcase for Wong, which as a kung fu movie fan, is exactly what’s required. He takes on the traitorous trio of monks, who have now grown evil moustaches and mohawks to show their ill intent, and are armed with some aesthetically pleasing exotic weaponry. Austin Wai, the brother of Kara Hui, shows up as a guest villain brandishing a pair of double swords for a lengthy duel of blade versus feet, and of course the final showdown against Kil-soo himself. One aspect of Korean kung-fu movies that I find unintentionally charming, is that they’ll always attempt at least one wire assisted move which probably sounded great on paper, but ends up looking ridiculous onscreen. Magnificent Wonderman from Shaolin is no exception, so at one point Wong decides to grab a floored Kil-soo by both of his feet, and proceeds to horizontally lift him off the ground to an almost 75 degree angle, before throwing him so far his landing cuts away to a completely different area. It’s goofy, but it’s entertainingly goofy.

Eagle eyed kung fu movie fans will also notice that the temple the finale takes place at is the same one used for the finale of The Secret Rivals, made a year prior, with the rows of animal statues leading to the entrance being the give away. For those who want a fix of Casanova Wong’s kicking, the final third of the movie more than satisfies, and the rest entertains in a way that only a Godfrey Ho tampered with movie can. I lost track of the number of times a character was referred to as either an idiot or a bastard, there’s a funky Hammond organ driven soundtrack which doesn’t fit the setting in the slightest, and we even get the immortal line, “You’re tired of living?” thrown in for good measure. It may not be magnificent, but it’s far from being terrible.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 6.5/10

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

Battles Without Honour and Humanity Limited Edition Collection | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

"Battles Without Honour and Humanity" Blu-ray Collection

“Battles Without Honour and Humanity” Blu-ray Collection

RELEASE DATE: December 8, 2015

Arrow Films will be releasing Kinji Fukasaku’s Battles Without Honour and Humanity Blu-ray Collection. This limited edition collection (3000 units) includes all 6 films, plus an endless list of supplemental features. I think Arrow just made Kyle Warner’s day…

The following is a press release from Arrow Films:

Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) gave the world Japan’s answer to The Godfather with this violent yakuza saga, influencing filmmakers from Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill) to Takashi Miike (Graveyard of Honor, Audition). Made within just two years, the five-film series brought a new kind of realism and ferocity to the crime genre in Japan, revitalizing the industry and leading to unprecedented commercial and critical success.

Literally exploding onscreen with a mushroom cloud, and ending with Hiroshima’s A-bomb Dome, the epic story of Battles Without Honour and Humanity follows over 100 characters through twenty years of gang wars, alliances, betrayals, and assassinations, in an exciting exploration of criminal power and politics in Japan.

Battles Without Honour and Humanity Limited Edition Collection | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

Battles Without Honour and Humanity Limited Edition Collection | Blu-ray (Arrow Films)

In the opening episode, ex-soldier Shozo Hirono escapes from the post-war black markets to become a key member of the Yamamori gang, but soon finds himself disillusioned by the selfish duplicity of his bosses. Hiroshima Death Match focuses on a demobilized kamikaze pilot drifting through the early 1950’s, whose suicidal impulses find good use as a mob assassin. Proxy War and Police Tactics form a labyrinthine, two-part story of ambition and betrayal set against Japan’s rapid economic growth of the 1960’s, with Shozo caught between warring factions. Final Episode concludes the series in the 1970’s as the former Yamamori gang transforms itself into an economic conglomerate called the Tensei Group, in a bid for mainstream respectability.

Fukasaku and his team broke with the longstanding studio tradition of casting marquee idols as honorable, kimono-clad heroes, defending their gang bosses against unscrupulous villains, and instead adapted true accounts torn from the headlines, shot in a documentary-like style, and with few clear-cut heroes or villains. The vibrancy and dynamism of the filmmaking, plus its shocking violence, Shakespearean plotlines, and wide tapestry of characters, launched a revolutionary new genre, establishing the series as one of the great masterpieces of world crime cinema.

Limited Edition Contents

  • Limited Edition Blu-ray Collection
  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of all five original films
  • Original Mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-rays)
  • Optional English subtitles for all five films
  • Remembering Kinji – a new featurette about director Kinji Fukasaku and his work, featuring interviews with Kenta Fukasaku and film critic and Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane
  • Secrets of the Piranha Army – a new documentary about the troupe of supporting actors who appeared throughout the series, featuring new interviews with original Piranha members Masaru Shiga and Takashi Noguchi, plus second-generation Piranha, Takashi Nishina and Akira Murota
  • All the Bad Guys – a new, comprehensive video guide to the actors in the films
  • Fukasaku Family – a new interview with Proxy War and Police Tactics assistant director Toru Dobashi
  • Man of Action – a new interview with series fight choreographer Ryuzo Ueno
  • Tales of a Bit Player – a new interview with supporting actor and stuntman Seizo Fukumoto
  • Last Days of the Boss – a new interview with Final Episode screenwriter Koji Takada
  • Yakuza Graveyard – a new interview with Takashi Miike about Kinji Fukasaku and the yakuza film genre
  • Original trailers for the series
  • Original poster gallery for the series
  • Limited Edition packaging and reversible sleeves for all five films including original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist

The Complete Saga [Limited Edition Exclusive]

  • English-subtitled premiere of the 224-minute compilation edition of the first four films, previously screened only as part of a limited Japanese theatrical release in 1980 and on the Toei cable channel
  • Introduction by Complete Saga editorial supervisor Toru Dobashi

The Yakuza Papers [Limited Edition Exclusive]

  • 150-page hardback book featuring writing on the history of the yakuza film genre, the background and continuing importance of the Battles series, and additional essays on the men who made them, including a newly-reprinted and fully annotated edition of Paul Schrader’s classic 1974 Film Comment essay Yakuza-Eiga: A Primer, a new, exclusive English translation of screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara’s 1974 Scenario magazine essay on his writing process for the first four films, as well as new essays and interviews from critics and authors Chris D., Grady Hendrix, Patrick Macias, Tom Mes, Mark Schilling, and Jasper Sharp.

Pre-order the Battles Without Honour and Humanity Collection today!

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

Deal on Fire! Shaolin | Blu-ray | Only $9.99 – Expires soon!

"Shaolin" Blu-ray Cover

"Shaolin" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Benny Chan’s Shaolin, starring Andy Lau.

After unscrupulously killing a wounded enemy, Hou Jie (Lau) pays a terrible price for his actions and is forced to seek refuge in the same Shaolin Monastery he blatantly disrespected.

The film also stars Nicholas Tse (The Bullet Vanishes), Fan Bing Bing (Flash Point), Jacky Wu (Kill Zone) and a special cameo by the legendary Jackie Chan. Some call Shaolin the best martial arts film since Ip Man.

Order Shaolin from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Jean-Claude Van Damme to launch a radio show?

"Derailed" Japanese DVD Cover

"Derailed" Japanese DVD Cover

From straight-to-video to straight-to-radio! Jean-Claude Van Damme (Pound of Flesh) has recently announced the launch of an “interactive” online radio show.

Here’s what Van Damme posted on his Facebook page: “Coming soon, JCVDWORLD.com (a radio show)… so, make sure to go on camera and send me your videos at media@jcvd-online.com with your questions and anything you wish to say! I will do the same and send you a video reply to expose the conversation later if you want, of course.”

And yes, JCVDWorld.com is being hosted by Go Daddy.

Also, if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our latest feature: Van Damme is the most ‘remade’ action star in the world!

Posted in News |

Killing Heat | DVD (Wild Eye Raw)

Killing Heat | DVD (Wild Eye Raw)

Killing Heat | DVD (Wild Eye Raw)

RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2015

Wild Eye Raw presents the DVD for Daniel Dahl’s Killing Heat, a bloody, low budget, action packed homage to 1980s action movies. The movie was supposedly made with a two-person crew and $5,000 during a summer in Thailand.

When JD is fired from his desk job his friends promise him the best vacation of his life in Thailand. But following a rowdy drunken night, JD wakes up in the jungle with no memory of how he got there – and with several locals trying to kill him. While fighting his way back to civilization, JD must figure out why he’s been targeted. | Watch the trailer.

Order Killing Heat from Amazon.com today!

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

Van Damme is the most ‘remade’ action star in the world!

Van Damme is the most ‘remade’ action star in the world!Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Jean-Claude Van Damme is a trendsetter when it comes to action and martial arts movies. He’s also a name that helped build franchises that gave birth to endless money-making sequels and prequels. In the late ’80s/early ’90s, films like Bloodsport and Kickboxer rejuvenated a genre that was practically in limbo during the final stages of the Chuck Norris and Ninja-craze era.

Van Damme's influence can only be compared to the Bruceploitation explosion of the '70s.

Van Damme’s influence can only be compared to the Bruceploitation explosion of the ’70s.

Back then, it was Van Damme’s popularity that opened the Hollywood doors to names like Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Olivier Gruner, Dale ‘Apollo’ Cook and Loren Avedon. It was because of films like Bloodsport and Kickboxer that copycat titles (i.e. BloodfistKing of the Kickboxers, American Kickboxer 1-2 and Raw Target) were profit makers on video rental shelves. Even the great Roger Corman will tell you he was riding the waves of Van Damme’s success when he developed the Bloodfist franchise for Wilson.

"Double Impact" most likely gave Jackie Chan the inspiration for "Twin Dragons"

“Double Impact” most likely gave Jackie Chan the inspiration for “Twin Dragons”

Van Damme’s influence can only be compared to the Bruceploitation explosion of the ’70s (Bruceploitation is a term used to describe the Bruce Lee lookalike films that dominated grind house theaters; i.e. Bruce Li, Bruce Le, Dragon Lee, etc). Whereas, Bruce Lee knock-offs had the words “Fist,” “Fury,” “Enter,” “Dragon” and “Game” in their titles; Van Damme’s had the words “Blood,” “Kickboxer,” “Target” and “Impact” in them.

And let’s not forget about Double Impact (1991), a film that most likely gave Jackie Chan the inspiration for Twin Dragons (1992). Ironically, Twin Dragons was made during a time when Hollywood studios were getting ideas from Hong Kong action films, which proves that Van Damme’s impact (no pun intended) was not only game-changing, it was a world-wide phenomenon.

Van Damme was bringing in acclaimed-Hong Kong filmmakers years before most studios caught on.

Van Damme was bringing in acclaimed-Hong Kong filmmakers years before most studios caught on.

Even towards the mid/tail-end of his successful film career, Van Damme was bringing in acclaimed-Hong Kong filmmakers years before most studios caught on. He brought in John Woo for 1993’s Hard Target, Ringo Lam for 1996’s Maximum Risk and Tsui Hark for 1997’s Double Team and 1998’s Knock Off. Ask yourself: What other western actor has worked with all 3 of these Hong Kong legends? (and this isn’t even counting Corey Yuen for 1986’s No Retreat, No Surrender). He even helped launch the career of future Blockbuster-maker Roland Emmerich (ID4, White House Down) with 1992’s Universal Soldier.

Jackie Chan visits the set of Tsui Hark's "Double Team."

Jackie Chan visits the set of Tsui Hark’s “Double Team.”

Ever since the unorthodox, but highly acclaimed J.C.V.D. in 2008, Van Damme has been walking on a comeback trail. Although he never hit that “John Travolta/Pulp Fiction” peak, his career has definitely been well-balanced for the last 5 years.

2012’s The Expendables 2 gave him a co-starring role in a major Hollywood theatrical release alongside legendary names like Stallone and Schwarzenegger; he’s also been in a string memorable commercials for Coors Light, Go Daddy and most recently, Volvo. Sure, he’s still pumping out straight-to-DVD movies, but heck, so is Bruce Willis and Robert De Niro. For the most part, Van Damme’s current output of films maintain a certain quality and entertainment value that fans are proud of (let’s pretend Derailed doesn’t exist).

Whether they’re new or old, Van Damme movies are both marketable and iconic. It’s no wonder why many of his films spawned endless Van Damme-less sequels (Timecop 2, Timecop TV series, Kickboxer 2-6, Bloodsport 2-3, Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms and Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business) relying solely on the film’s titles to make a quick buck.

Today, many of his movies are currently being developed for remakes and/or reboots, as well as sequels. After much thought and a good chunk of research, it has come to my attention that Van Damme is currently the most ‘remade’ action star in the world.

Let’s examine the Van Damme films that are/were in the process of being remade:

Corey Yuen's "No Retreat, No Surrender" helped launched the career of Van Damme.

Corey Yuen’s “No Retreat, No Surrender” helped launched the career of Van Damme.

No Retreat, No Surrender (1986): This cult favorite was Van Damme’s debut martial arts film. Under the direction of Corey Yuen (Transporter), it introduced Hong Kong-style choreography to U.S. audiences. Not only did it jump-start Van Damme’s career, it also sparked a newfound interest in martial arts films.

Even though Van Damme was only in the film for a total of 20 minutes, the public took notice. Keith W. Strandberg (read our interview with him), producer of the No Retreat, No Surrender series, expressed interest in remaking the original No Retreat, No Surrender. If the remake happens, it’ll be interesting to see how they pull off portraying Bruce Lee as a ghost without receiving a lawsuit from the Bruce Lee Estate. Regardless, we’re crossing our fingers for this one.

The original "Bloodsport" was followed by a pack of cheapie sequels starring Daniel Bernhardt.

The original “Bloodsport” was followed by a pack of cheapie sequels starring Daniel Bernhardt.

Bloodsport (1988): Newt Arnold’s Bloodsport is the movie put an expiration date on the two N-words: Ninjas and Norris. At the time, it was a groundbreaking, brutal and lived up to its title. To put it simply, it was my generation’s answer to 1973’s Enter the Dragon. The fact that it was supposedly based on true events (that’s another story) made it even better. Bloodsport also reintroduced the world to the legendary Bolo Yueng (Enter the Dragon) and co-starred future Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker. The original was followed by 1996’s Bloodsport 2, 1997’s Bloodsport 3 and 1999’s Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite – all cheapie sequels starring Daniel Bernhardt (The Matrix Reloaded).

In 2013, it was announced that Phillip Noyce (Salt) was attached to helm a Bloodsport remake, but somewhere along the way, James McTeigue (Ninja Assassin) stepped in. According to sources, the remake will explore the life of 21st century mercenaries as they collide with the underground world of Brazilian Vale Tudo fighting. The remake is currently stuck in development hell.

Angelina Jolie had to start somewhere, right?

Angelina Jolie had to start somewhere, right?

 

Cyborg (1989): Along with 1982’s The Sword and the Sorcerer and 1992’s Nemesis, Cyborg is considered to cult director Albert Pyun’s finest movies. It made enough money to spawn a 1993 Van Damme-less sequel starring Elias Koteas, Jack Palance, Billy Drago, Karen Sheperd and a then-unknown Angelina Jolie. Then came 1995’s Cyborg 3: The Recycler, with Khrystyne Haje, Zach Galligan, Richard Lynch and Malcolm McDowell.

In 2011, it was announced that Pyun was developing a Cyborg remake. For whatever reason, the remake morphed into a prequel called Cyborg Nemesis (aka Cyborg: Rise of the Slingers). The movie, which is currently stranded in post-production phase, stars Kevin Sorbo, Joei Fulco, Dina Meyer, Michael Paré and Sasha Mitchell. Due to Pyun’s health issues and retirement, the release date of Cyborg Nemesis is unknown.

Following "Kickboxer" was a slew of Van Damme-less sequels starring Sasha Mitchell (one starred Mark Dacascos).

Following “Kickboxer” was a slew of Van Damme-less sequels starring Sasha Mitchell (one starred Mark Dacascos).

Kickboxer (1989): Mark DiSalle and David Worth’s Kickboxer holds a special place place in my childhood. After all, it was the first Van Damme movie I ever saw on the big screen. I can vividly remember me and my friends “kickboxing” each other while leaving the theater. It was a moment of excitement that can only be compared to kids pretending to have lightsabers in their hands after just having watched Star Wars in 1977. Following Kickboxer was a slew of Van Damme-less sequels starring Sasha Mitchell (one starred Mark Dacascos).

Currently, a Kickboxer remake, titled Kickboxer: Vengeance, is wrapping up with newcomer Alain Moussi (read our interview with him) in the lead. In addition, WWE star Dave Bautista, UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, former MMA star Gina Carano and the late Darren Shahlavi are also part of the cast, with filmmaker/actor John Stockwell (In the Blood) at the helm.

Additionally, Albert Pyun will be directing Kickboxer: City of Blood, which will serve as a follow-up to Sasha Mitchell’s Kickboxer saga. Indonesian actress Julie Estelle (Macabre), who’s mostly known for playing Hammer Girl in The Raid 2, is attached as the film’s leading lady. As with Cyborg Nemesis, Pyun’s health condition may have brought the project to a temporary halt.

"Lionheart" wins the trophy for having the most aliases: A.W.O.L., Wrong Bet, Full Contact and Leon.

“Lionheart” wins the trophy for having the most aliases: A.W.O.L., Wrong Bet, Full Contact and Leon.

Lionheart (1990): It doesn’t stop there with Albert Pyun. Back in 2014, the filmmaker had this to say about a potential Lionheart remake: “I’ve been approached about directing a remake of Lionheart with Van Damme by the rights holding distributor. Not sure if I will do this as it doesn’t seem to be a film needing a remake. I guess I’d changed the Los Angeles setting to Hong Kong, but I am not sure it fits in with what I do. But I told the rights holder I will consider it depending on how excited JCVD is about it. And if I can make it with my vision of it.” The remake was never brought up again and probably for good reason. As it stands, Sheldon Lettich’s Lionheart – also known as A.W.O.L. or Wrong Bet – is considered, by many, Van Damme’s best movie.

A couple of a years later, Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon) capitalized on Lionheart’s success by bringing in Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport) and Richard Norton (Future Hunters) aboard for the similarly-titled production, Ironheart. One can only imagine how many times some kid’s parent brought home the latter instead of the Van Damme movie, which is exactly what the producers wanted.

We're pretty sure "Universal Soldier: The Return" is worse than all of these put together.

We’re pretty sure “Universal Soldier: The Return” is worse than all of these put together.

Universal Soldier (1992): Directed by Roland Emmerich (ID4) and written by Dean Devlin (Godzilla), this 1992 sci fi/action flick was Van Damme’s answer to 1984’s The Terminator. It also featured fellow action star Dolph Lundgren (Skin Trade). Because of its popularity, Universal Soldier spawned 1999’s Universal Soldier: The Return (with Bill Goldberg and Michael Jai White), 2009’s Universal Soldier: Regeneration (with Lundgren and Andrei Arlovski) and 2012’s Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (with Lundgren, Scott Adkins and Andrei Arlovski). Dare I mention the Van Damme-less, made-for-TV sequels: 1998’s Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms and 1999’s Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business; or The Asylum’s 2007 Universal Soldiers.

In 2011, there were talks of rebooting Universal Soldier into a TV series (a la Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) by Allen Shapiro and Craig Baumgarten, who produced the original. Obviously, the TV series never came to fruition, but there’s always the future.

"Timecop" was definitely Van Damme's most ambitious project.

“Timecop” was definitely Van Damme’s most ambitious project.

Timecop (1994): Unlike his ’90s rival, Steven Seagal, Van Damme toyed with different genres and characters, hence, Peter Hyams’ Timecop, the peak of his career. This live-action adaptation of the Dark Horse comic book was the perfect mix of sci-fi and action. It’s best describe as H. G. Wells meets Back to the Future with martial arts. Branching out of the film’s popularity was the 1997 Timecop TV series and 2003’s Timecop: The Berlin Decision, starring Jason Scott Lee (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story).

The original Timecop still holds up to this day and is considered Van Damme’s most polished film. With that said, a remake is currently in development. No director or star is attached, but the latest news is producers of the remake have hired Mark and Brian Gunn (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island) to write the script.

Since Van Damme's "Street Fighter," there have been numerous video game-to-movie adaptations.

Since Van Damme’s “Street Fighter,” there have been numerous video game-to-movie adaptations.

Street Fighter (1994): I know this is pushing it, but I’d be lying if I told you that Van Damme wasn’t the first action star to appear in a live-action adaptation of Capcom’s Street Fighter series (he was also the main inspiration behind Midway Games’ Mortal Kombat). Sure, it was Wong Jing and Jackie Chan that first spoofed Street Fighter in 1992’s City Hunter, but Van Damme’s was an official, full length feature. Despite being written directed by the talented Steven E. de Souza (screenwriter of films like 48 Hrs, Commando and Die Hard), the film was panned by critics and fans alike. But that didn’t stop it from being one of Van Damme’s highest grossing films of all time.

In 2003, there were talks of a Street Fighter sequel with Van Damme (Guile) returning along with Damian Chapa (Ken) and Byron Mann (Ryu). Both Dolph Lundgren and Holly Valance (replacing Kylie Minogue as Cammy) were also attached. Unfortunately, the sequel never saw the light of day.

Instead, 2009’s Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li was born. It starred Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein, Robin Shou, Michael Clarke Duncan and Hong Kong legend, Cheng Pei-pei (Come Drink with Me). Another live-action reimagining came in the form of 2014’s Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, a web series that was later edited both as a TV series and feature film. With the new Street Fighter V video game just around the corner, we’re bound to see more live-action Street Fighter projects.

Van Damme's 30+ year career is still going strong.

Van Damme’s 30+ year career is still going strong.

So there you have it. Cityonfire.com officially declares Van Damme as the most ‘remade’ action star. We’re obviously jumping the gun since there hasn’t been a single Van Damme remake that has even been released, but I’ll delete this article if someone can give me the name of another action star who’s been the subject of so many remakes, reboots, sequels and copycat titles.

Until then, keep logging on to Cityonfire.com for all the latest news and developments regarding all of the titles discussed in this article.

AND HERE’S AN UPDATE FOR YOU: Since this article was originally published back in August of 2015, there have been two more titles that further prove the legitimacy of this article: A Hard Targetsequel“, which was more of a standalone remake than anything; as well as Kickboxer: Retaliation, the sequel to Kickboxer: Vengeance. Also, Micheal Jai White has his own version of Sudden Death coming out.

Posted in Features, News |

There’s been an awakening in the ‘Young and Dangerous’ saga

"Young and Dangerous" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Young and Dangerous” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Back before Infernal Affairs became a global success and spawned an award-winning Hollywood remake, the Young and Dangerous series was arguably the most popular franchise to come out of post-1997 handover Hong Kong. Based on the popular comic book series Teddy Boy, the movies followed the exploits of several young Triad members and were frequently criticized for glamorizing the gangster lifestyle.

But box office does the talking and Young and Dangerous raked in the dough, launching actors like Ekin Cheng and Jordon Chan to stardom. The series saw four sequels between 1996 and 2000, not to mention a spin-off franchise with Francis Ng and a 1998 prequel starring then-up-and-comers like Nicholas Tse, Daniel Wu, and Shu Qi.

In 2013, producer Wong Jing resurrected the franchise in the form of Young and Dangerous: Reloaded, which was directed by Daniel Yee Heng Chan and starred Law Chung Him, Oscar Leung, Lam Chi-Sing, Paul Huang and Sammy Sum.

Now, Malaysian producer Jack Lee (When Geek Meets Serial Killer) has plans to bring the series to life once again. According to HKSAR, the new movie, which will take place in 2015, will be a continuation of the saga, not a remake. “I am not only happy, but also a little troubled, because too many friends want to invest. Now the investment has exceeded quota. No matter what the key is to make the script good before the next step of casting and other tasks,” said Lee.

So far, the only cast members attached to film are JC Chee (When Geek Meets Serial Killer) and Emily Kong Ching Ling. The comic book’s creator, Ngau Lo, has been approached to direct the project. Production on the new Young and Dangerous is expected to begin at the end of the year. Stay tuned!

Posted in News |

Well Go USA acquires ‘SPL 2: A Time for Consequences’!

"SPL 2: A Time For Consequences" Teaser Poster

"SPL 2: A Time For Consequences" Teaser Poster

Well Go USA Entertainment has announced the acquisition of US and Canadian distribution rights to SPL 2: A Time for Consequences, directed by Pou-Soi Cheang, multiple award-winning director of Motorway and The Monkey King.

SPL 2: A Time for Consequences (read our review) stars Tony Jaa (Skin Trade), and Louis Koo (Flashpoint), as well as Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior) and Simon Yam (Cross), marking their return to the series, but in entirely new roles.

In SPL 2, a drug-abusing undercover cop (Wu Jing) is on the verge of exposing the dying kingpin of an organ trafficking ring (Louis Koo). But an unexpected bust blows his cover and lands him in a Thai prison, caught between life, death, and a prison guard with unprecedented martial arts skills (Tony Jaa).

“We can’t wait to bring the next chapter of the SPL story to the fans who made it a cult classic,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President and CEO of Well Go USA Entertainment. “Combining Tony Jaa with a cast of stars from our best-selling martial arts and action movies was beyond our expectations,” she said. “It’s been worth the wait.”

The deal was negotiated between Doris Pfardrescher at Well Go USA Entertainment and Chiu-Yi Leung of Bravos Pictures on behalf of the filmmaker.

SPL 2: A Time for Consequences will make its debut and premiere in a series of North American film festivals through the fall, with a theatrical release to follow in early 2016.

Posted in News |

Police Story 2013 | aka Police Story: Lockdown (2013) Review

"Police Story: Lockdown" Theatrical Poster

“Police Story: Lockdown” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Police Story 6
Director: Ding Sheng
Cast: Jackie Chan, Lau Yip, Sally Jing Tian, Huang Bo, Yu Rong-Guang, Wang Zhi Fei, Wu Yue, Andy Long Nguyen, Zhang Xiaoning, Ding Sheng, Bruce Law
Running Time: 108 min.

By Kelly Warner

Jackie Chan’s changed. Off-screen his fervent nationalism has had the effect of alienating and upsetting some fans both at home and abroad. On-screen, the actor has had to come to terms with the fact that, since hitting middle age, he cannot do the same sort of movies and stunts that made him such a unique film star. As Jackie’s changed, so have his films. It used to be that a film like 1993’s Crime Story would be considered this gritty oddball entry in Jackie’s filmography that largely consisted of action-comedies. In the past decade, though, dramatic films are popping up with more regularity in Jackie’s output. What’s more, when Jackie returns to the usual comedic actioners that he’s known for in films like Chinese Zodiac, the fun and laughs don’t seem to come as naturally as they did before. Jackie’s made it no secret that he’s trying to reinvent himself as a serious dramatic actor. I might’ve found it funny when he said that he wanted to be thought of as Asia’s Robert De Niro, but perhaps it was wrong of me to doubt his ambitions — because while I might miss the Jackie of old, the new Jackie Chan is still an interesting performer capable of surprising you.

After a brief period in the early 2000s where his starring roles were primarily Hollywood films, Jackie Chan returned home and made New Police Story in 2004, and the film carried a darker, more cynical worldview than any of the previous films in the Police Story series. In New Police Story, Jackie plays Chan Kwok-Wing, a drunken, self-loathing fallen hero instead of the unlucky goof Chan Ka Kui of the first four films. However, despite the edgier tone, the film did have some of the trademarks that reminded you of the series. There was the big action, some colorful set pieces, plenty of collateral damage, and a few instances of slapstick humor along the way. It was different but you could still recognize the Police Story spirit.

That spirit is completely absent from Police Story: Lockdown (originally titled Police Story 2013, but since it’s making its US debut in 2015 a name change was in order). In Lockdown, Jackie plays grizzled police officer Zhong Wei, a failed family man who’s seeking to make things right with his daughter. She invites him to the popular Wu Bar because she has something to tell him: she’s dating the bar’s owner, Wu Jiang (Liu Ye). Zhong tells his daughter that he doesn’t have a good feeling about Wu and is worried about her. Before he knows it, Wu’s bashed Zhong over the head and the other patrons of the bar are getting taken hostage by musclebound thugs. Zhong quickly learns that this was all a trap to lure him there. But who is he to Wu? Zhong sorts through his personal history, trying to pick out a case where he might’ve wronged somebody, while Wu puts his plan into action.

Instead of the Police Story films, what Lockdown most resembles is the original Die Hard, what with the hostage situation and a well-organized villain that’s thought of all the angles. It goes for a claustrophobic atmosphere by giving us an environment of industrial interior design and moody shadows, and wisely denies us a chance to see all that’s happening outside of the bar until later on in the film.

Jackie Chan is good as the haunted cop that’s past his prime trying to prove that he’s still a hero. It’s not the sort of performance that one normally expects from the actor, so some fans will be disappointed, but I thought that he was believable in the dramatic role. In the action scenes, of which there are only a few, Jackie still performs at a high level, even if it’s clear that the editing helps him out on occasion. At the end, in the film’s final shot of Jackie, I’ve never seen the man look so tired. The rest of the cast is pretty good, too, in particular the villain played by Liu Ye. Yu Rong-Guang also makes an appearance as a cop on the outside looking in and the actor makes the best of his limited screen time.

The director of Police Story: Lockdown is Ding Sheng, whom Jackie had worked previously with on Little Big Soldier. I enjoyed that film – actually, I consider it to be one of Jackie Chan’s best from the last decade or more – and they do good work together again here. Ding Sheng also serves as the film’s writer and editor. His shooting and editing style is fast, chopped up action, which gives the film a good pulse, even if it robs some oomph from the punches.

As the film’s writer, Ding Sheng does a good job of setting the table and keeping the audience in the moment, but he loses steam before the finale. In the final act, we get a series of revelations done in a semi-Rashomon-style of storytelling, but these moments are rather limp compared to the rest of the film. At the moment when the film should’ve been kicking into overdrive, the gears grind to a halt to give us some exposition about supporting characters and poorly constructed sub-plots. Things get better right before the end, though, saving the film from ending with a whimper.

I liked this one more than I had expected to. However, I personally think it would’ve been better off dropping the Police Story title altogether. Yes, Jackie Chan plays a policeman, but that’s where the similarities end. The film deserves to stand on its own, and some fans may not take kindly to the dramatic shift in tone and execution.

Police Story: Lockdown arrives on Blu-ray from Well Go USA. The picture quality and surround sound are rather excellent. The special features include 5 minutes of fly-on-the-wall BTS footage and 20 minutes worth of interviews with Ding Sheng, Jackie Chan, and other members of the cast.

Now at age 61, Jackie Chan’s forced to do different kinds of movies. It would’ve made sense for him to gravitate towards pure comedic roles, but he continues to push himself as a dramatic actor. Police Story: Lockdown gives him his meatiest dramatic role since Shinjuku Incident and I thought he really delivered. Jackie has changed. Most attempts to return to the ‘way things were’ have been unsuccessful, but perhaps this late stage of the actor’s career still holds some unique promise. Police Story: Lockdown is not a perfect film, but it’s an interesting one as Jackie Chan continues down this road of reinventing his onscreen image in a darker, more cynical time.

Kelly Warner’s Rating: 7/10

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

Dragon Dynasty 5-Movie Collection | DVD (Anchor Bay)

Dragon Dynasty 5 Movie Collection | DVD (Anchor Bay)

Dragon Dynasty 5 Movie Collection | DVD (Anchor Bay)

RELEASE DATE: October 6, 2015

Anchor Bay presents the Dragon Dynasty 5 Movie Collection. In 2006, The Weinstein Company launched Dragon Dynasty in order to showcase classic and contemporary Asian Cinema, particularly films in the action/martial arts genre. Now, they’re back and once again bringing home the goods!

This 3-Disc DVD set includes the following titles: Born to Defense, The Legend II: Fong Sai Yuk, The Defender, Once Upon a Time in China and America and From Beijing with Love. Please note that this collection may contain the English-dubbed versions only.

Pre-order the Dragon Dynasty Movie Collection today!

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

Chow Yun-Fat returns to the underworld in ‘The Bund’

"A Better Tomorrow" Japanese DVD Cover

"A Better Tomorrow" Japanese DVD Cover

In addition to From Vegas To Macau III and potentially, The Invincible 12, Chow Yun-Fat is teaming up with Wong Jing (From Vegas to Macau II) once again for a gangster-drama titled The Bund, which will be a “movie remake” of the 80s TVB series of the same name that also starred Chow.

According to JS, Chow is reprising his iconic role as Hui Man Keung, a driven man who goes from rags to riches as he rises up the ranks to become the leader of a powerful gang. The 1980 series starred Ray Lui (Firestorm), Lau Dan (All Men Are Brothers), Angie Chiu (Heroes Shed No Tears) and Au-Yeung Pooi San (Crime Story).

We’ll keep you updated as we hear more. For now, here’s the trailer to the original series, which hints some good ol’ heroic bloodshed!

Posted in News |

Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal (2015) Review

"Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal" Theatrical Poster

“Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal” Theatrical Poster

Director: Peter Pau
Co-director: Zhao Tianyu
Cast: Chen Kun, Li Bing Bing, Winston Chao, Bao Bei Er, Jike Junyi, Yang Zishan, Huan Huang, Wenbo Luo, Yidi Hou, Madina Memet, Zhiyi Ren, Peter Pau, Yam Giu
Running Time: 118 min.

By Kelly Warner

There was a time, not long ago, when people would flock to the theatre to see a movie because of its special effects. CGI has forever changed our movies, no doubt about it. But it’s not the shiny new thing anymore. Now CGI, when used properly, is just another filmmaking tool used to bring a story to life. CGI may be considered somewhat commonplace in today’s movies but audiences hold their special effects to a certain standard. Bad CGI, perhaps more than any other special effects technique, really hurts a movie. In Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal, there is no shortage of bad CGI and after a while it sinks the otherwise bright and energetic production.

Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal (aka Zhongkui) is the story of the legendary demon slayer from Chinese mythology, Zhong Kui. Typically depicted as a scruffy looking big guy, Zhong Kui is here played by the considerably less scruffy looking Chen Kun (Painted Skin: The Resurrection). Once every millennium there is a day when the demons in Hell can seek reincarnation with the use of the Dark Crystal. The heroic Zhong Kui is tasked with defending the Dark Crystal in the city of Hu, where the demons will most certainly attempt to steal it away. Sure enough, a group of demons disguised as beautiful female entertainers arrive in the days before the reincarnation event. The group is led by the enchanting Snow Girl (Li Bingbing), who resembles a woman from Zhong Kui’s past. Distracted by memories of a lost love, Zhong Kui’s defenses weaken at the most inopportune moment.

The film’s worldbuilding somehow feels both dense and underdeveloped. I didn’t always understand what was happening or why, though it’s possible that Chinese audiences — or those more versed in the mythology — would follow it with less difficulty. In the end, I decided to just sit back and go with it. While I found the film’s fantasy elements to be a bit muddled, the romance at the center of the film works rather well thanks to two likable leads in Chen Kun and Li Bingbing. Their love becomes a Romeo and Juliet sort of thing, as the demon slayer is expected to kill demons without exception, but Zhong Kui cannot deny the love he feels for the snow demon. It’s well played when the actors are on screen. However, too often the film drops the actors entirely, opting for CGI created characters in both action and drama sequences, with lackluster results.

Zhong Kui is given a magical fan that allows him to unleash his inner demon: a ten foot tall warrior made out of rock and lava. For much of the film’s action sequences, it’s this giant hulking version of Zhong Kui that’s fighting off the villains, not the actor Chen Kun. I would not normally be against this – I enjoy a good superhero movie – but the CGI used to create the characters in the film leaves much to be desired. While backgrounds and environmental special effects stand up well to Hollywood productions, CGI character movements are choppy and stiff, reminding me of cutscenes from videogames made in the late 90s.

Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal is co-directed by Peter Pau and Zhao Tianyu. Peter Pau is a cinematographer of some esteem, having shot a wide range of films including The Killer, Dracula 2000, The Forbidden Kingdom, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (for which Pau won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography). As a director, Pau’s credits are limited. Pau’s previous directorial effort was the Michelle Yeoh misfire The Touch back in 2002. Pau also serves as Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal’s cinematographer and the film is better for it, nicely showing off the impressive set pieces, costumes, and cast. Though Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal boasts some decent production values, the film’s script has its problems, resulting in an occasionally bumpy ride. Pau and Zhao seem to turn to special effects as a storytelling crutch, even though it’s clear that the special effects were the area of the film that needed help the most. The result is a film that’s very rough around the edges and sometimes feels strangely unfinished.

The film arrives on Blu-ray thanks to the good folks at Well Go USA. The picture presentation looks good, even if some of the special effects look almost twenty years old. For sound we get a 5.1 and 2.0 original Mandarin audio. The Blu-ray’s special features include a 5 minute featurette on the film’s impressive score by composer Javier Navarrete (Pan’s Labyrinth) and a 10 minute featurette on the film’s special effects.

Co-directors Pau and Zhao give Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal plenty of chaotic energy, however they fall short of making it connect as a memorable piece of entertainment. A better script would’ve helped matters, but the real problem here is the heavy reliance on substandard CGI to tell the story. The special effects don’t work, so neither does the movie.

Kelly Warner’s Rating: 5/10

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

Black Coal, Thin Ice | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Black Coal, Thin Ice | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Black Coal, Thin Ice | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: September 29, 2015

Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Diao Yinan’s riveting thriller, Black Coal, Thin Ice.

In Black Coal, Thin Ice (read our review), an ex cop and his ex partner decide to follow up on investigation of a series of murders that ended their careers and shamed them, when identical murders begin again.

Black Coal, Thin Ice also stars Liao Fan (Armour of God 3: Chinese Zodiac) and Gwei Lun-Mei (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate). | Watch the trailer.

Pre-order Black Coal, Thin Ice from Amazon.com today!

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