R.I.P. Bunta Sugawara, Japanese actor

"Tattooed Hit Man" Theatrical Poster

"Tattooed Hit Man" Theatrical Poster

Media outlets are reporting the death of Japanese actor Bunta Sugawara, who died at the age of 81 on November 28th, due to liver cancer.

Sugawara has left behind an astonishing 200+ filmography, but he is perhaps best known to mainstream audiences for Tattooed Hit Man (1977), a Yakuza film that was imported by New Line Cinema the same year it was released in Japan.

Some of his most notable Japanese films include Kinji Fukasaku’s Without Honor and Humanity (1973) and the Truck Yaro films (1975 to 1979), which was a popular Toei series about a pair of truckers and their adventures in blinged out trucks. Sugawara also did Anime voice work for Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (2001) and most recently, Mamoru Hosoda’s Wolf Children (2012).

Our condolences go out to Sugawara’s family and friends.

Posted in News |

Tomio | DVD (Tokyo Shock)

Tomio | DVD (Tokyo Shock)

Tomio | DVD (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2015

Tokyo Shock presents the DVD for 2011’s Tomio, a Japanese horror film directed by Junji Ito (writer of Uzumaki). Based on Ito’s manga franchise, Tomie, Yuki Furukawa plays a young man named Tomio who visits a fortune teller with his girlfriend. While there, he meets a sexy and mysterious older woman (Aya Kiguchi) who clouds his mind.

Tomio features creature effects and make up supervised by Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police).

Stay tuned for pre-order information.

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

Weapon of Choice | DVD (Anderson Digital)

"Weapon of Choice" DVD Cover

"Weapon of Choice" DVD Cover

RELEASE DATE: January 13, 2015

Anderson Digital presents the DVD for Weapon of Choice (aka Fist to Fist 2), starring Master Jino Kang, who holds a black belt in Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Kyokoshin-Kai Karate and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

The film follows (read our review) a retired assassin named Jack Lee (Kang) who must rescue his “daughter” (Kelly Lou Dennis) from a notorious crime boss (Douglas Olsson) and his crew of gangster hitmen. With a little help from a lovely rogue cop (Katherine Celio), Jack becomes a one-man kill squad who is determined to get his daughter back by any means necessary. Watch the trailer.

Pre-order Weapon of Choice from Amazon.com today!

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

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013) Review

"Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons” Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: New Chinese Odyssey
Director: Stephen Chow
Co-director: Derek Kwok
Cast: Wen Zhang, Shu Qi, Huang Bo, Chrissie Chow, Lee Sheung Ching, Eddie Yeung Lun, Tong Liya, Xing Yu, Tang Yixin, Fung Min-hun, Chiu Chi Ling
Running Time: 110 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Hong Kong star Stephen Chow is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable names in the industry, having spent the decade that was the 90’s as the quintessential director, writer and star of countless Hong Kong comedy classics.

The new millennium looked to bring even more good fortune his way. Embracing the use of CGI and having the stroke of genius to combine kung fu with soccer, the movie Shaolin Soccer (2001) was not only a hit locally, but proved to be Chow’s breakout into the international market. Shaolin Soccer was followed by the even more successful Kung Fu Hustle (2004), a Looney Tunes-inspired tale of hidden kung fu masters and mystical inner strength.

Just when things couldn’t seem any better, rumors started flying around that Hollywood had hired Chow to not only star as Kato – the role Bruce Lee made famous, in a big screen re-make of the 1960’s US TV show The Green Hornet – but also that they’d signed him up to sit in the director’s chair as well. Stephen Chow directing and co-starring in a mainstream Hollywood comedy, it was too good to be true! And indeed it was: early on in the production the studio announced that it wasn’t confident in Chow’s vision, leading him to walk away not only as director, but also as a cast member, eventually having the role of Kato be filled by Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou.

With the exception of directing CJ7 (2008), the first time he took a step back from being the star by putting himself in a supporting role, Chow went quiet for the next 5 years, until finally, he returned in 2013 with Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.

Journey to the West is a well-known Chinese novel, and has been told several times over the years, from the 70’s TV show Monkey Magic, to Jeff Lau’s A Chinese Tall Story (2005), to Chow’s own A Chinese Odyssey and its sequel, both released in 1995. Even as Conquering the Demons was in production, another movie was also being made alongside it which covered a different chapter of the tale, eventually released as The Monkey King (2014), starring Donnie Yen.

From the perspective of being a Stephen Chow movie, many of his fans will be disappointed to hear that it’s the first time he decides to stay completely behind the camera. However as soon as the titles start rolling, it quickly becomes clear that while he may not be there physically, his mark is still firmly stamped all over it.

Proceedings open with a highly entertaining 20 minute set piece of a river demon which is terrorizing a small fishing village. Enter an innocent demon hunter played by a frazzle haired Wen Zhang, who believes he can turn demons to do good by reading them nursery rhymes, and what plays out is a fun mix of CGI, stunt work, laugh-out-loud comedy, and genuine peril as a baby is attempted to be rescued from the demons jaws. It shouldn’t come as a spoiler to say that nursery rhymes aren’t particularly effective, which allows the gorgeous Shu Qi to make an impressive entrance as, shall we say, a slightly more aggressive demon hunter.

While Zhang is still a relative newcomer to the movie scene, debuting in The Founding of a Republic (2009), Shu Qi has been around since her infamous early days in the Category III romps such as Viva Erotica and Sex & Zen 2 during the mid 90’s. Both are reliable performers, and it’s their relationship with each other which gives the movie its emotional core amongst all the fantastical elements. Qi, if anything, sometimes threatens to steal the show from under Zhang, as she beats the living day lights out of any demon they come across, while Zhang tries to calmly make them see the error of their ways. It’s a hilarious mix, and one which draws some of the biggest laughs of the movie, of which there are many.

I confess to personally not being familiar with the sprawling novel on which the events are based, however, for those that are I’m sure it’ll quickly become clear that the storyline is that of how the character Xuan Zang becomes the divine monk Tripitaka, and accepts the mischievous Monkey King as his disciple. This of course means that the Monkey King also make an appearance, although unlike the Donnie Yen movie of the same name the character is thankfully not the focus of the whole runtime.  That’s not the only thing we have to be thankful about, as unlike Yen’s teeth grindingly annoying version of the dirty damn ape, the Monkey King in Chasing the Demons is a ridiculously evil bastard of a beast.

Initially played in human form by the always watchable Huang Bo, after first being sought out to assist in capturing a particularly powerful pig demon, he’s able to manipulate the naïve Zhang into accidentally freeing him from his 500 year imprisonment. Once released the ugly, and actually rather scary looking, Monkey King takes on his traditional ape like appearance, and proceeds to go on a murderous rampage of anyone that tries to stop him, quickly making the pig demon that everyone’s spent most of the movie worrying about seem like a walk in the park.

If the events described in the last couple of paragraphs don’t exactly fit the bill of being a comedy, then it’s not entirely unexpected, as at times the story goes off into some surprisingly dark places, and when it does it does so effectively. However, like most of Chow’s best movies, he’s able to pull belly laugh inducing moments out of nowhere; whether it be from the numerous dry asides that certain characters deliver – or the expertly placed sight gags – you never go long without being reminded of Chow’s comic genius.

His visual flair is also still intact, and here just like in Kung Fu Hustle, there’s a heavy reliance on CGI. While the CGI is far from Hollywood standards, there appears to be a conscious decision to almost make the various demons and feats of magic seem like animation more than realistic beings. This decision works in the movie’s favor, helping to remind us that we’re watching a colorful Chinese folklore, not the next Lord of the Rings. The onscreen mayhem is orchestrated by action director Ku Huen Chiu, whose previous work includes collaborating with Jet Li on the likes of The Hitman and with Donnie Yen in the recent 14 Blades (2010). Here, he once again gets to work with some solid kung fu talent in the form of Xing Yu. For set pieces, Conquering the Demons certainly shouldn’t leave anyone wanting.

While 5 years might be the longest time Chow has gone without making a movie, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons thankfully proves that he hasn’t lost a step, and perhaps even more significantly, shows that he doesn’t need to be in front of the camera to still deliver his trademark hilarity. Now, let’s just hope we don’t have to wait for another 5 years for his next one.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 8/10

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

Deal on Fire! The Last Stand | Blu-ray | Only $5.99 – Expires soon!

The Last Stand Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

The Last Stand Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for for Kim Jee-Woon’s (I Saw The Devil) The Last Stand, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker and Johnny Knoxville.

The leader of a drug cartel (Eduardo Noriega) busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff (Schwarzenegger) and his inexperienced staff. The director of A Bittersweet Life directing the legendary star of Predator? What’s not to love?

Order The Last Stand from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Die Fighting (2014) Review

"Die Fighting" Theatrical Poster

“Die Fighting” Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Price of Success
Director: Fabien Garcia
Cast: Fabien Garcia, Laurent Buson, Didier Buson, Jess Allen, Dave Vescio, Adelyne Liu, Xin Sarith Wuku, Jose Rosete, Gray Michael Sallies, Davis Chong, Michael Antonio, Aoni Ma, Xango Henry, Marcus Natividad, Nico Johns
Running Time: 110 min.

By Kelly Warner

Found footage films quickly went from being the hot new idea to being the same old thing. This is largely thanks to filmmakers looking to duplicate the thrills found in earlier successful films instead of presenting new and intriguing takes on the concept. And while many others are willing to write it off as a gimmick that’s run its course, I still think there’s life to the sub-genre. What found footage films lack in cinematic flourishes they make up for with visceral thrills. So, when I heard that Die Fighting was something of a ‘found footage martial arts film,’ I was curious.

The film follows four friends who are trying to make it in Hollywood as martial artists. They’ve formed a group called the Z Team and they’re waiting for their big break… but making it in Hollywood is harder than any one of them expected. Worth noting is that the four lead actors are essentially playing dramatized versions of themselves and that the movie is produced by Z Team Films. Very meta, man.

The plot gets moving when Fabien Garcia (who also serves as Die Fighting’s writer, director, and editor) is told over the phone that his wife has been kidnapped. At first Fabien and his friends think it’s a prank, but when they see video of his wife tied to a chair they realize the threat is all too real. The man on the phone says that if they want to see her alive again they must perform a series of tasks. First: rob an armored truck. Of course the men are tortured with moral questions, but when the time comes they pull off the robbery and escape with the money.

The man on the phone is the mysterious Filmmaker and he’s tapped into hidden cameras spread out across the city. He’s decided to make Fabien the leading man of his new action movie that’s to be filmed on the streets of LA, with real blood and bullets. The Filmmaker puts his cast of heroes through one bloody test after another, leading them into encounters with the mob, karate dojos, and gangbangers.

Essentially, the film exists to be a sort of highlight reel for the Z Team’s martial arts skills. They move from one abandoned looking warehouse to the next, beat up the bad guys in extraordinary fashion, then rage against the man on the phone before moving to the next location to do it all over again.

The acting is pretty weak all around, but the basic dialogue doesn’t exactly give the actors much to work with. Whatever failings Fabian Garcia has as a dramatic actor and a writer, he largely makes up for with his skills shooting action. Behind the scenes, Garcia and cinematographer Tarina Reed put the camera in all the right places to best show off the cast’s skills, and manage to make the most of a modest budget.

The reason you’re going to consider watching the movie is because of the fights and I’m happy to say that Die Fighting has some very good ones. Garcia and co-stars Laurent Buson (Merantau), Didier Buson, and Jess Allen show off their considerable fighting skills throughout the film. A couple of the fights are some of the best ever filmed in an American martial arts flick. Excellent, jaw dropping stuff. And the shootouts aren’t half-bad either.

However, a collection of impressive fight sequences just aren’t enough to make Die Fighting a good movie. The plot is an assortment of borrowed ideas from a dozen better films. Because of the mysterious figure putting the men through acts of violence on an assortment of dank sets, the film feels sort of like a martial arts take on the original Saw, complete with a twist ending. However, unlike Saw, which featured a few decent performances and a compelling plot, Die Fighting has some great fight scenes but not much else. In that respect, it’s similar to the Saw sequels: all blood, no brains.

Is Die Fighting worth your time? It’s not a bad way to spend a couple hours. If you want to watch some good martial arts, you could do a whole lot worse. However, I don’t think you’ll remember the film for very long once the end credits roll.

The core members of the Z Team trained at the Shaolin Temple before receiving further tutelage at some of China’s finest martial arts institutions. Their first feature film as a team may be lacking in many places, but it’s impossible to deny the physical talent and martial arts prowess on display. There is potential here. With an improved script and some better acting, this could have really been something special. The Z Team’s background proves they are focused individuals and are willing to go big to improve their craft. I believe we’ll be seeing better things from them in the future.

Kelly Warner’s Rating: 5.5/10

Posted in Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged |

Deal on Fire! The Raid | Blu-ray | Only $8.96 – Expires soon!

The Raid: Redemption Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)

The Raid: Redemption Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for The Raid: Redemption (aka The Raid).

You’ve seen The Raid 2: Berandal, now it’s time to revisit the original! It’s a rookie (Iko Uwais) and his special forces team vs. every killer, gangster and thief in a fifteen-story apartment block building. This groundbreaking martial arts spectacular is considered one of the best action movies of our time!

Read our reviews for both The Raid and The Raid 2, as well as our exclusive interview with the director behind the brilliant brutality, Gareth Evans!

Order the The Raid from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Deal on Fire! Icons of Action Film Set | Blu-ray | Only $8.40 – Expires soon!

"Icons of Action" Blu-ray Cover

"Icons of Action" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for the Icons of Action feature film collection, which contains four films from the greatest actions stars of the millennium.

The set includes 2011’s Blitz starring Jason Statham; 2002’s Eye See You starring Sylvester Stallone; 2009’s Direct Contact starring Dolph Lundgren; and last but not least, 2003’s In Hell starring Jean Claude Van Damme and directed by acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker, Ringo Lam.

For about $2 bucks a title, this is an “un-Expendable” deal!

Order Icons of Action from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Watch the trailer for the Johnnie To documentary ‘Boundless’

"The Mission" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"The Mission" Chinese Theatrical Poster

The trailer for Ferris Lin’s Boundless, a documentary about Johnnie To – one of Hong Kong most respected filmmakers – has just been released. Known for this prolific, genre-hopping body of work, To is often overshadowed by the likes of John Woo, Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam. But to a seasoned cinema fan, To’s legacy is just as celebrated.

Official description: As Hong Kong’s foremost filmmaker, Johnnie To himself becomes the protagonist of this painstaking documentary exploring him and his boundless world of film. Ferris Lin boldly approached To to document the master director. To agreed immediately and Lin’s camera closely followed him for over two years, capturing the man behind the movies and his heartfelt love for Hong Kong cinema.

Don’t miss the English-subtitled trailer, thanks to Twitch/Paul Bramhall.

Posted in News |

Lee Jung-Jae is a martial arts star forced to fight in ‘Big Match’

"Big Match" Korean Theatrical Poster

"Big Match" Korean Theatrical Poster

Releasing domestically in December is Big Match, a Korean martial arts flick from director Choi Ho (Bloody Tie). The film stars Lee Jung-Jae (The Thieves), Shin Ha-Kyun (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), Lee Sung-Min (The Unjust) and BoA (Girls on Top).

Plot from asianwiki: Choi Ik-Ho (Lee Jung-Jae) is a martial arts star with talent for action and humor. But one day, he is framed for murder. Ace (Shin Ha-Kyun ) is a game planner, who makes a game for the Korean upper class. He is a villain who makes a city into a big gameboard through technology. Ace and Choi Ik-Ho become adversaries as Choi Ik-Ho jumps into the game to save his brother.

Update: Watch the 1st trailer. | 2nd trailer.

BREAKING NEWS: Click here for a fight scene that has Lee Jung-Jae taking an entire SWAT team. Thanks to Film Combat Syndicate.

Posted in News |

Deal on Fire! Hard To Kill | Blu-ray | Only $4.88 – Expires soon!

Hard To Kill Blu-ray (Warner Brothers)

Hard To Kill Blu-ray (Warner Brothers)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Steven Seagal’s 1990 flick, Hard To Kill, directed by Bruce Malmuth (Nighthawks, Pentathlon)

Seagal plays a Detective who falls into a coma after being shot during a fire-fight that kills his wife and son. He reawakens 7 years later for revenge. Hard To Kill co-stars William Sadler (Die Hard 2) and Kelly LeBrock (Weird Science).

Fun Fact: The film was originally titled Seven Year Storm, but Warner thought the film would be more marketable with a more action-oriented title like Hard to Kill.

Order Hard To Kill from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Legend of Wisely, The (1987) Review

"The Legend of Wisely" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“The Legend of Wisely” Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Legend of the Golden Pearl
Director: Teddy Robin Kwan
Cast: Sam Hui, Ti Lung, Joey Wong, Teddy Robin Kwan, Bruce Baron, Blacky Ko, Heidi Makinen, Alan Kuo Yau Lun, Alan Lee, Kim Fan
Running Time: 86 min.

By Matthew Le-feuvre

With an unambiguous career spanning back to the infant days of Golden Harvest, Sam Hui – younger brother of Michael and Ricky – is probably better known internationally for his lengthy partnership with fellow comedy director, Karl Maka. Indeed the outrageous thought of combining these unique, yet converse, talents resulted in an ambitious celebration which doubly furnished south-east (Asians) and trans Atlantic cine-patrons with the popular (and very funny!) Aces Goes Places movies that, throughout the eighties, playfully lampoon the likes of Mission: Impossible, Cannonball Run and James Bond; even the mechanical innovations of (pre-Hollywood) Transformers was not exempt from parody. Still, the wacky capers of King Kong and Kodiak became a box office force to be reckoned with, until, sadly, an inevitable downward spiral.

Singing accolades; a hit television sketch show in unison with his brother, Michael; and the opportunity of socializing/instruction by the late maestro himself, Bruce Lee; weren’t enough for Hui to penetrate the highly competitive ‘kung fu’ market in the manner Samo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, who were all able to collectively reinvent with kinetic realism, originality and passion.

Although he appeared in a support capacity for a couple of Lo Wei films –  Back Alley Princess (1972), starring Angela Mao Ying, and the Jimmy Wang Yu potboiler Tattooed Dragon (1974) – before achieving monumental acclaim as a novice gumshoe investigator in Private Eyes (1976), Hui was never really a skilled on-screen fighter (wire-work, minimal techniques and carefully paced editing were his secret methodology) unlike his contemporaries; whom often committed themselves to surreal acrobatic displays or complex stuntwork. Alternatively, he downplayed the traditional martial arts formats, and concentrated very hard on ‘promoting’ as well as ‘sustaining’ his comedic persona of the quintessential ladies’ man or a charming rogue. However, he never quite inherited or matched his elder brothers’ flare for deadpan delivery or wry expressionism.

As with most Hong Kong actors, Hui hankered for more effective control over his projects, especially in areas of production, finance, and casting. For direct advice he turned to his old friend, Maka – then, also – an active board member of Cinema City, the same company which invested in the Aces pictures.

Before long, inspiration came in the form of writers: Philip Cheng, Calvin Poon and Gerald Lin for an unusual script – by Hong Kong standards – entitled The Legend of Wisely (aka Legend of the Golden Pearl), a modern day action-fantasy; though, in essence integrates the panoply of science fiction by way of Chinese/Tibetan mythology. Ostensibly, the writers have modeled their concepts on a variety of stimulus: from Indiana Jones to The Golden Child to Jackie Chan’s own jet setting adventurer The Armor of God. In fact, one could say an eclectic stew of cultural references. Still, Hui was not dissuaded at all with the intended scope, quality or Hollywood comparisons of the screenplay which, in some instances, more or less acts like an expensive travelogue, than a studio-based production reliant on intricate set designs or blue screen technology.

Directed with neo-influenced zeal by Teddy Robin (who incidentally co-stars). Externally, The Legend of Wisely is a tightly packaged affair offering exquisite vistas of both the Himalayas and Egypt (specifically the pyramids), adrenalin-paced visuals, pyrotechnic extravaganzas and top notch choreography from Blackie Ho, whose dynamic arrangements equalize with the likes of Yuen Woo Ping and Ching Siu Tsung (A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy). The downside is the plotting, marred by formulaic dialogue and an editing continuity that flits between artistic grandeur and schizophrenia. However, the film’s core premise objectively concerns itself with the myth (or reality?!) of a magical pearl said to contain properties that expands human conciousness, senses and telepathy.

Enter Howard Hope (the late Bruce Baron), an enigmatic businessman who approaches novelist/playboy, Wisely – pronounced in Cantonese as “Wei-Say-Li” (Sam Hui) – with an inducement of tracking down his missing archeologist friend, David Ko (Teddy Robin); he declines. Out of interest, Wisely travels to the splendor of Nepal, Ko’s last known whereabouts. There, he discovers Ko has stolen the legendary pearl from its Tibetan keepers. It also transpires that Ko was secretly employed by a crime overlord named Pak Kei Wei (Ti Lung), who desires the pearl for himself.

After promising the Tibetans to recover the pearl for them, Wisely returns to Hong Kong and once more, Howard Hope reappears expressing an interest in Wisely’s findings, as well as those who actually retain the pearl. Following further confrontations – both physical and vehicular – Wisely persuades Pak Kei Wei’s sister, Sue Pak (Joey Wong), to unite with him and rescue Ko in perilous quest to solve the mystery of the golden pearl. Their journey ultimately takes the trio back to Nepal, via Egypt, with Pak Kei Wei in hot pursuit. Hidden agendas, concealed identities and labyrinth temple passages all await; but the biggest question remains: who is exactly Howard Hope? And what are his real intentions?!

Verdict: In addition to minor inconsistencies (to reveal more would inconvenience potential audiences into a conjectural debate over the complexity of the storyline which, to a point, coalesces with an almost elaborate formality), there are several loose ends that, despite fostering a need for clarity, never quite resolves itself. And to assert “a twist ending” would somehow advertise an intellectual falsity. Clever it is not! Intriguing, yes! But it’s all about spectacle before all else.

Matthew Le-feuvre’s Rating: 7.5/10

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

Full trailer for John Woo’s romantic war film ‘The Crossing’

"The Crossing" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“The Crossing” Chinese Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: John Woo’s long-in-development movie The Crossing (aka Love and Let Love) is a lush period romance set during the Sino-Japanese War and was previously known under the title 1949. The film stars Zhang Ziyi, Huang Xiaoming, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Masami Nagasawa, and Song Hye-kyo.

The Crossing may not be the action epic that many of John Woo’s fans were hoping he would do next, but it’s still encouraging to have the acclaimed director back in good health and ready to work.

Updates: The movie has so far been billed as a Romeo and Juliet-esque love story, Chang promises that the historical setting means John Woo will be recreating battles from World War II and the Chinese Civil War. Good thing the film has a budget of $30 million, then!

According to THR, The Crossing is being dubbed the “Chinese Titanic,” in which it “celebrates the power of love” during a difficult period in Chinese history.

Updates: Watch the first trailer.

BREAKING NEWS: Watch the first full length trailer.

Posted in News |

Will Schwarzenegger be back for a ‘Running Man’ sequel?

"The Running Man" Theatrical Poster

"The Running Man" Theatrical Poster

Arnold Schwarzenegger will already “be back” for another Terminator, a 3rd Conan and a new Twins (aka Triplets) sequel. Now, there’s another 80s title he may be revisiting: the 1987 Sci Fi action/thriller The Running Man.

During a Q&A event in London, Schwarzenegger had this to say: “It’s an honor to be asked back after all these years, back to the [Conan] franchise. This is really wild… They’re doing a Twins sequel, to be called Triplets. I’ve read the first draft. There’s rumblings of a new Running Man movie, so it’s a great honor to be asked back…”

The original Running Man was based on a story by Stephen King about a futuristic TV show, where condemned criminals are given a chance for freedom by running through a gauntlet of heavily armed killers known as “Stalkers”.

If a new Running Man movie is indeed in the works, we’ll be sure to keep the updates coming. – Thanks to EP.com for the story!

Posted in News |

R.I.P. Ken Takakura: Japanese Actor

"Yakuza" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Yakuza" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Media outlets are reporting the death of acclaimed Japanese actor Ken Takakura, who died at the age of 83 on November 10th, due to lymphoma.

Takakura has left behind a memorable body of work, but he is perhaps best known to mainstream audiences for co-starring in Robert Aldrich’s Too Late the Hero (1970), Sydney Pollack’s The Yakuza (1974), Ridley Scott’s Black Rain (1989) and the comedy, Mr. Baseball (1992), opposite Tom Selleck.

Takakura mostly played Yakuza-type characters, due to his brooding, but cool style. Some of his most notable Japanese films include Golgo 13 (1973), The Bullet Train (1975), The Yellow Handkerchief (1977), Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005), and his latest film, Dearest (2012).

Our condolences go out to Takakura’s family and friends.

Posted in News |