"Gamera Trilogy" Blu-ray Cover
Today’s Deal on Fire is the 2-disc Blu-ray set for The Gamera Trilogy, which contains the following three movies (all directed by Shusuke Kaneko of Death Note fame): 1995’s Guardian of the Universe, 1996’s Attack of the Legion and 1999’s Revenge of Iris. After decades of derision as a childish Godzilla -wannabe, Japan’s monster turtle Gamera roared back in the 1990s with this trio of well-crafted films. Read our review for all three films.
"Submerged" Japanese DVD Cover
The Expendables 3 hasn’t even been released, but there’s already evidence that The Expendables 4 is already being developed. This time around, Steven Seagal may finally be joining Sylvester Stallone’s successful action franchise. Here’s an excerpt from IGN’s Roth Cornet (via EP), during a chat with Seagal:
When we spoke to Seagal today, he said that, “some unpleasant politics” with “certain folks, not the actors” got in the way of his participation with the franchise, which may be in reference to his reportedly less-than-solid relationship with Expendables producer Avi Lerner whom the actor had worked with on several direct-to-video projects previously. In any event, there’s still a chance that we may see the ’90s icon in an Expendables film after all.
Seagal elaborated on his potential involvement, saying, “Hopefully we’ve gone beyond that [the previous roadblocks]. Sly just called me the other day and said that they were still [interested]. And I said, ‘Hey buddy, you’re my friend, let me know.’ He said he was going to send me a script.”
We’ll keep you posted on Seagal’s involvement. In the meantime, who do you think should appear in The Expendables 4? Post your comments below.
"Predators" Blu-ray Cover
Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for 2010’s Predators. A group of elite warriors (headed by Adrien Brody) are hunted by members of a merciless alien race known as Predators. Predators also stars Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins Danny Trejo and Laurence Fishburne. Keep in mind that the original Predator ($4.99) and Predator 2 ($8.49) are also on sale!
"Police Story 2013" Chinese Theatrical Poster
THE MOVIE: Directed by Ding Sheng (Little Big Soldier), Police Story 2013 follows the relationship between Jackie and his daughter; from the sounds of it, a gang kidnaps Jackie’s daughter and holds her at a club, where Jackie and his police force must rescue her. The film co-stars Liu Ye,Huang Bo, Jing Tian, Zhang Lanxin, Wang Zhifei, Zhang Xiaoning, Guli Nazha and Aaron Aziz.
Police Story remains arguably the most popular series of films that Jackie Chan has ever done, with the 1985 original solidifying Jackie’s status as an international action icon. Jackie would return to the series intermittently over the years, adding bigger and more dangerous stunts with each entry.
The last installment in the series was 2005’s New Police Story, which may not have achieved the acclaim of past movies but was undoubtedly a damn fine Jackie Chan flick.
Update: Twitch Film unveiled this promotional poster for the film, which is reportedly just Jackie Chan’s head photoshopped onto Jason Statham’s body from The Mechanic. As such, it’s not yet known if this is an official poster or merely a fan job. | Kung Fu Magazine interviewed Jack Tu, who won a Chinese reality TV contest and became Jackie Chan’s ‘disciple’ for a year. Based on the interview, it looks like Police Story 2013 will be set entirely within Mainland China and put an emphasis on the Chinese police force (most of the extras in the movie are real police officers and firefighters).
Police Story 2013 has officially screened for the public at the Beijing International Film Festival. Word from the director himself indicates that the film is related to the first five Police Story movies in name only. | Official poster. | New theatrical poster for the film. | Looks like Police Story 2013 will hit theaters in China this December 24th, 2013. | First trailer. | Second trailer! | New poster. | Third trailer. | IMAX 3D poster and promotional spot. | Jackie Chan’s new music video for Police Story 2013. | Here’s the new IMAX trailer. | Watch the latest IMAX trailer.
BREAKING NEWS: Here is yet another trailer, this time called the Director’s Edition! Thanks to M.M.A.C. for the heads-up.
"Hercules: The Legend Begins" International Poster
It’s a story told often in Hollywood: two rival movie studios are making big-budget movies about the exact same thing. From Armageddon vs. Deep Impact to Mirror, Mirror vs. Snow White & the Huntsman, we’ve seen it happen before and it’s happening again.
Only this time, one of Cityonfire.com’s favorite action stars – Scott Adkins (Undisputed III, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) – is going up against The Rock!
White hot movie star Dwayne Johnson will portray the mythic figure Hercules for a Summer 2014 blockbuster titled, well, Hercules. This version of the character arrives from Rush Hour director Brett Ratner and is supposedly more of a gritty, less fantasy-based take on the character.
Meanwhile, Millennium Entertainment has Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger helmer Renny Harlin shooting The Legend of Hercules (aka Hercules: The Legend Begins or Hercules 3D) in Bulgaria on a budget of $70 million. In that film, the Greek god will be played by Twilight actor Kellan Lutz. Reportedly, Harlin’s version won’t go too over-the-top either and will instead aim for a tone similar to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.
Where does Scott Adkins fit into all this? The martial artist/actor was recently cast in a major role in The Legend of Hercules as King Amphitryon. The role should allow Adkins to stretch his acting chops, since he’s husband to the woman who is seduced by Zeus and later gives birth to Hercules. Either way, it will be a great opportunity for fans to see Scott Adkins on the big screen again.
Update: Scott Adkins’ official Facebook page offers a quote from director Renny Harlin, in which he reveals there is a shot of continuous action in The Legend of Hercules that lasts six minutes long. This shot will feature fighting on both land and sea, with weaponry as well as hand to hand combat. Harlin, who has directed action movies such as Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, says this is one of the biggest shots of his career. | Here’s the first trailer. | The Legend of Hercules will be released on January 10, 2014 in 2D and 3D. | Film Combat Syndicate has the newest trailer.
BREAKING NEWS: Check out the new Scott Adkins character poster. For the other characters posters, visit impawards.com.
"Special Identity" Chinese Theatrical Poster
DDDHouse.com now has Donnie Yen’s latest, Special Identity, available for pre-order on Blu-ray & DVD. Keep in mind that the DVD version is Region 3 coded, so you will need a multi-region DVD player to view the movie. Fortunately, the Blu-ray version is coded for region A, so it’s good to go on your current North American Blu-ray hardware.
Considering it’s close to Christmas, you might want to pre-order early to lock in a copy. The movie will be shipping on December 20th 2013. See it before everyone else and place your order today!
Clarence Fok’s Special Identity stars Donnie Yen, Jing Tian, Andy On, Zhang Hanyu, Ronald Cheng and Collin Chou. Watch the trailer.
Updates: If you’re waiting for the official North American release, Well Go USA is releasing the movie in theaters on March 7, with an Ultra VOD window beginning February 4, followed by a Blu-ray & DVD release. If you’re impatient, click here.
"City of Violence" Korean Theatrical Poster
Korean filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan has carved a memorable path through genre cinema, earning the attention and acclaim of action fans worldwide. Early works, such as the special effects-heavy superhero film Arahan and the Tarantino-esque City of Violence, featured a one-two punch of humor and martial arts action.
Since then, the director’s films have struck a decidedly more serious tone. 2010’s The Unjust took an unforgiving look at Korea’s capitalist society. Now, Ryoo Seung-wan is back with a globe-hopping thriller in the Bourne vein, The Berlin File. Recently, the busy filmmaker was kind enough to answer some of Cityonfire.com’s burning questions.
Click here to read the interview.
"Balistik" Theatrical Poster
If you’re missing the good old days of Hong Kong action cinema, then an upcoming Malaysian film titled Balistik is right up your alley.
Directed by Silver (Yes, Silver), Balistik tells the story of a professional killer named Saga who goes head-to-head with a police inspector. Here’s the catch: Not only is the police inspector a childhood friend of Saga’s, he’s also married to Saga’s former wife!
Judging from the latest trailer, the film definitely lives up to its title. Balistik will get a domestic release on January 9, 2014.
Battle of the Damned | Blu-ray & DVD | (Anchor Bay)
THE MOVIE: The premise for Dolph Lundgren’s Battle of the Damned sounds like something a 7th grader dreamed up after binging on Mountain Dew and pixie sticks: Dolph Lundgren plays a professional soldier leading a ragtag group of rebels – and an army of robots – against the undead after a zombie outbreak wipes out civilization.
Sounds crazy but apparently it’s legit; writer/director Christopher Hatton says he’s going for a tone similar to 28 Days Later and Escape From New York. The poster certainly looks cool and claims that filming starts in June of this year but it also warns that “credits are not contractual,” leading me to believe that there’s a chance Dolph might not even star in the movie. Rest assured, Cityonfire.com will keep you posted.
Update: Watch the trailer for Battle of the Damned. | Newest poster for Battle of the Damned. | New UK cover art.
BREAKING NEWS: Enjoy the new Red Band trailer. And don’t forget, the North American Blu-ray & DVD is now available for pre-order.
Korean filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan has carved a memorable path through genre cinema, earning the attention and acclaim of action fans worldwide. Early works, such as the special effects-heavy superhero film Arahan and the Tarantino-esque City of Violence, featured a one-two punch of humor and martial arts action.
Since then, the director’s films have struck a decidedly more serious tone. 2010’s police action/thriller The Unjust took an unforgiving look at Korea’s capitalist society. Now, Ryoo Seung-wan is back with a globe-hopping espionage thriller in the Bourne vein. The Berlin File is poised for DVD release in North America on December 24th, 2014, and fans of high-octane action won’t want to miss it.
Recently, the busy filmmaker was kind enough to answer some of Cityonfire.com’s burning questions:
“City of Violence” Korean Theatrical Poster
With many of your earlier films, such as Arahan and City of Violence, it felt like there was a deliberate blend of comedy mixed in with the action/violence. Both The Unjust and The Berlin File seemed to generally carry a much darker and grittier tone. Is this a conscious direction you’re going in as a filmmaker or is it merely how these last two projects have evolved?
I personally think that comedy is really important, in both film and real life. However, I believe that comedy should be used based on the tone of the film. It’s not like you add comedy here and there for your satisfaction. Comedy needs to work well with the movie. For example, the movie The Unjust has many comedic scenes. In The Berlin File, comedy was not necessary because I needed to maintain the dark and gritty tone of the story. So I would say it’s not due to evolution, but rather due to the fact that the story of The Berlin File didn’t require comedy.
Although many of your films are wildly different from each other, they typically contain some element of action. What is it about the action genre that continues to fascinate you, and why do you think it allows for such a wide array of stories to be told?
“No Blood No Tears” Korean Theatrical Poster
‘Action’ is made up of movements. The foundation of a movie is supported by a combination of many movements. In the screen the images move, sounds move, time move, and the audiences’ reaction move. With this in mind, I think action is one of the most purest form of expression in a movie.
Action also means conflict. Drama requires conflict and the way that conflict manifests is in the action. Without conflict, there would be no action. I think the thing that makes action movies appealing is the fact that it pushes conflict to an extremity.
In an age in which computer effects and shaky camerawork are often used to hide actors’ lack of fighting prowess, you really embrace practical stunt work and intricate fight choreography – as seen in fight sequences like The Warriors homage in City of Violence. It clearly makes a difference in the film product, but what makes you as a filmmaker continue to embrace this more ‘old school’ approach to action?
I grew up watching 70s and 80s action movies. For me, the filmmaking process is meaningful in itself but it also has meaning in the process of the way I live my life. In many ways, I am naturally inclined to recall the most memorable moments in my life. Kind of like the way Kane from Citizen Kane seeks “Rosebud.” This is probably the reason why I naturally embrace the more ‘old school’ approach to action. And as time passes, I desire to capture the true and pure state of a moment in life to my films.
It could also be because I’m just not too familiar with new and advanced technology.
“The Unjust” Korean Theatrical Poster
The Unjust, while enjoyable as a straight-up crime/thriller, also felt something like a scathing indictment of capitalism run amok. Did the film receive much attention for its social commentary in Korea?
It’s true that certain elements of the movie is based on stories that happened in real life. That’s probably why the movie received good reviews on its realism.
Korean cinema continues to gain popularity among fans of Asian films in the West. However, it is difficult for most Korean films to find distribution in North America unless they feature action or horror elements. Do you see this trend changing in the future, or perhaps you feel it’s not even a trend that needs to change?
This is a tough question to answer because it depends not only the subject of the movie but also the language, the cast, and the cultural understanding between countries. The Korean film industry have made various attempts to adjust their film to U.S. audiences to successfully enter the U.S. film market but was faced with many challenges. On the contrary, some films with a strong Korean perspective and identity did better.
The Berlin File | DVD (CJ Entertainment)
I think it is natural that more movies with action or horror are introduced internationally because they don’t require much understanding of the country’s culture. It would be nice if audiences who enjoyed Korean action or horror movies to naturally get into other Korean movies of a different genre. However, how do you suppose I be able to accurately predict the future trend of another country other than my own?
Thanks again to Ryoo Seung-wan, Jill Gurich at MPRM Communications and our very own HKFanatic (great questions!) for making this interview happen. Ryoo’s latest film, The Berlin File, hits DVD on December 24th, 2014. Be sure to check it out!
"The Bourne Trilogy" Blu-ray Cover
Today’s Deal on Fire is for the The Bourne Trilogy Blu-ray set. Included in the set is 2002’s The Bourne Identity, 2004’s The Bourne Supremacy and 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum. At about $8 a disc, this is a Bourne deal! If you’re a completist and you want The Bourne Legacy, it’s also available at a low price.
"Taekwondo Damashii: Rebirth" Japanese Theatrical Poster
A new trailer has been released for the upcoming Taekwondo Damashii: Rebirth, a Japanese martial arts films which is affiliated with the International Taekwon-do Federation Japan (ITF-JAPAN). Rebirth is written and directed by Hideyuki Katsuki (The Yakuza Wives Neo) and stars Masahiro Inoue, Ryoma Baba and Kyosuke Hamao.
Official plot: Three brothers are involved in a family conflict over which one of them will be heir to the family taekwondo dojo. One day, they accidentally wander into a mysterious forest where they’re confronted by waves of enemies which they must keep defeating with their taekwondo skills in order to escape. Watch the trailer. – Thanks to Film Combat Syndicate
Update: Watch the newest trailer.
Ice Soldiers | Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)
RELEASE DATE: February 25, 2014
Sony presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Ice Soldiers. From the writers of Dolph Lundgren’s Dark Angel (aka I Come in Peace) comes an action movie that’s straight out of the early 1990s! A scientist discovers the bodies of three frozen genetically modified Russians buried in the North. Upon thawing them out he realizes he has unleashed a deadly threat and must stop them at all costs. Starring Dominic Purcell, Adam Beach and Michael Ironside. Watch the trailer.
The Hidden Fortress | Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)
RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014
Criterion presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1958’s The Hidden Fortress. Akira Kurosawa directs this spirited period action-adventure in which two conniving peasants are tasked with smuggling a general, a princess and the remains of her family’s wealth through mountainous, hostile territory in feudal Japan. This rip-roaring ride is among the director’s most beloved films and was a primary influence on George Lucas’s Star Wars. Watch the trailer.
The Wrath of Vajra | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)
RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for The Wrath of Vajra, directed by Law Ching Cheong (who is currently wrapping up Donnie Yen’s The Iceman Cometh). In The Wrath of Vajra, a top Chinese martial artist (Yu Xing) sets his sights on a Japanese death cult after they abduct innocent Chinese children and train them to be assassins. Judging by the trailer, the filmmakers have been influenced by the Ong-Bak sequels in terms of the slow-motion action photography and a willingness to feature comic book-like villains.
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