Raid 2, The: Berandal (2014) Review

"The Raid 2: Berandal" Theatrical Poster

“The Raid 2: Berandal” Theatrical Poster

Director: Gareth Evans
Cast: Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Alex Abbad, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endo, Kazuki Kitamura, Cecep Arif Rahman, Cok Simbara, Yayan Ruhian, Very Tri Yulisman, Donny Alamsyah, Epy Kusnandar, Roy Marten, Zack Lee, Fikha Effendi, Deddy Sutomo
Running Time: 150 min.

By Paul Bramhall

It’s hard to believe but 2009 is already five years ago, the year that saw the release of Merentau. It was a movie which starred an unknown lead in the form of Iko Uwais, from an unknown Welsh director by the name of Gareth Evans, from a country which was barely known for any type of cinema, let alone of the action variety, in the form of Indonesia.

Like almost any new martial arts based movie these days, fans approached it with a sense of trepidation. The cynical amongst us commented on how Uwais seemed like a blend of Tony Jaa and Jackie Chan, but not being on the same level as either, while the more positive minded noted that Merentau was a breath of fresh air, and just might be the start of something beautiful.

Thankfully, the latter proved to be right, and a couple of years later The Raid hit the screens. A stripped down 100 minute assault of martial arts chaos and violence, choreographed with a sense of immediacy and intensity that hadn’t been seen for a long time. While Merentau gave us a taste for how the Indonesian martial art of Silat could look onscreen, The Raid gave us a hearty mouthful, and then some. The plot was simple – take 1 team of rookie cops, throw in a building which has a drug lord on the top floor, and every floor below crawling with junkies and low lives, and create a setup wherein the rookie team have to get from bottom to top without getting killed. Simple.

So simple in fact, that when a sequel was announced people pondered what could possibly follow such a fantastic shot of adrenaline. Well, skip forward another couple of years and its March 2014, and that sequel is here, not only that, but I just got through watching it last night. If Merentau was a taster and The Raid was a mouthful, then let it be said that its sequel is an all you can eat buffet of epic proportions. The Raid 2 had a budget almost four times that of the original, however the scope of the movie is closer to a hundred times larger in its scale. By the end of the first hour you’ll realise just what a tiny drop in the ocean that building from the original really is.

The stripped down simplicity of the The Raid is replaced here by a layered story of a city, torn between rival gangsters and yakuza. It’s a dark and violent world of weary family heads trying to keep a grip on the empire they’ve built, of blood thirsty offspring willing to do anything to tip the scales of power, of undercover cops so deep they’ve lost their identity, and assassins who will slice you up in an instant. Then thrown into the chaos of this world is Rama, the character played by Uwais, coming directly from the events which took place at the end of the original. He’s picked up by a special unit dedicated to weeding out corrupt cops, told he’ll be declared dead along with the rest of his unit, and sent into prison with the intention of befriending one of the head gangster’s sons that’s doing time there.

This kicks off the events which unfold in The Raid 2, and for 90 minutes, almost the same length as the original, the story develops on a slow boil, punctuated with extreme moments of violence that serve to propel the story forward, compared to the set piece style setup of the original. These punctuations alone serve as some of the best and most brutal action witnessed onscreen since, well, since the original – a frantic prison yard brawl, a desperate assault in a restaurant, a vicious shakedown on a warehouse. Every scene would be the finale in a Hollywood movie, but here they only serve as a link in a chain of events which keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Despite this, there is a danger some might almost be disappointed here. Those who wanted the locomotive pace of the original may be left shuffling in their seats, others may complain that the chaotic camera work during the brawls doesn’t capture the moves as clearly as it should. But that’s ok, the pacing is intentional and Evans displays an assured hand, he’s a film maker who shows a maturity here that belies his relatively short time in the industry. It’s under this assured hand that Uwais turns Rama into not just a rookie cop relying on his wits and fighting skills, but a fully rounded character with very real fears and motives, and this makes us rally for him all the more.

This is just as well, because The Raid 2 clocks in just short of 150 minutes, and it’s at that 90 minutes mark when things EXPLODE. The much spoken of Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Man make their appearance, and believe me they’re worth the wait, Bruce Law puts together a car chase scene which makes his work in Special ID look like he must have been having an off day, there are more wince inducing facial impacts than you can shake a stick at, and throughout it all there is some of the most finely choreographed fight action you’re likely to see this side of the millennium. For its final hour, The Raid 2 crams in so much tension and action, you’ll hardly have time to catch your breath. (As a matter of fact in the screening I attended, one person clearly didn’t and had to be carried out by security)

To go in-depth into the action would probably take another 1000 words, so I’ll simply say that it’s impossible to be disappointed. Big words, but I’ll stand by them. Evans gives Uwais just short of an entire army to wade through, but also knows it’s pointless to have an invincible hero that no one else can match. Rest assured by the time you see him standing at one end of the corridor, with Hammer Girl (played wonderfully by Julie Estelle) and Baseball Bat Man (played with sinister cool by Very Tri Yulisman) standing at the other, you won’t be left wanting. Even if you are, The Assassin, as he’s billed, played by Cecep Arif Yahman, is waiting just behind the doors. If you thought they crammed a lot into the Ninja: Shadow of a Tear finale, then The Raid 2 seems determined to stomp all over it, which is no mean feat for those who have seen Scott Adkins laying on the beat down in his latest effort.

Put simply, it would be easy to talk at length about The Raid 2 for another few hours, but it’s best to leave it at that and say get out there, buy tickets to go see it, then once you have you’ll probably buy another ticket to go and watch it a day later. Evans has constructed a masterpiece here, which is every bit as much of a gangster movie as it is an action one. For those who are looking, there are subtle nods of the head to several of the classic Korean gangster movies, the Nikkatsu movies from the 60s, The Godfather, as well as a host of winks to talent he obviously has a lot of respect for such as Donnie Yen, John Woo, Panna Rittikrai, Takeshi Kitano, and in one scene I’d even say David Lynch. I’ll sign off there, now get out and see it.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 10/10

Posted in Indonesian, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , |

People who need to appear in ‘The Expendables’

"The Expendables" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"The Expendables" Japanese Theatrical Poster

The third installment of the highly popular Expendables film series is due to open on August 15th. With Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes and Antonio Banderas added to the cast, there aren’t many action heroes left in Hollywood yet to appear in the franchise. If there is to be a fourth, which there most likely will be, here are some names we’d like to appear in it:

Floyd Mayweather: The undefeated pound-for-pound king Mayweather would be a perfect adversary for the Expendables. Once he’s fought Marcos Maidana (which shouldn’t be too difficult since he’s 1/16 favorite with Titan Bet to win the fight), he should make a foray into films. He’d be the perfect opponent for Toll Road, played by UFC fighter Randy Couture. If those two were to throw it down, it would be insane. The king of boxing versus one of the true greats of mixed martial arts is something we all want to see.

Jackie Chan: We all love Jackie Chan. He’s one of the true action legends, not just in Hollywood, but around the globe. However, we’d like to see him play a villainous role. The reason being is that we desperately want to see him and Jet Li square off. We have only seen the duo in one film thus far (the 2008 epic The Forbidden Kingdom). Now that film was great but the pair were on the same side; we are still waiting for them to battle one another. A bad guy role in the Expendables would saturate this desire. Who wouldn’t want to see the two greatest living martial arts actors go at each other?!

Steven Seagal: Alongside Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Seagal was the greatest action movie actor of the 1980s/1990s. He is the one name that everyone wants to see added to the cast. It’s not for want of trying on Stallone’s part; he’s offered Seagal a role in all three films but has thus far been turned down. Nonetheless, with acting work starting to dry up for Seagal he surely cannot continue to turn down a role of this magnitude. If a fourth film does materialise and he is offered a part hopefully he will jump at the offer. We want to see Sly take on Steve.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: Currently the highest earner in Hollywood, Johnson is without doubt the modern day action hero. At 6’5 in height and weighing 260lb, Johnson is a monster personified and the perfect opponent for Arnie. A former WWE champion against a former Mr Olympia has every fan boy salivating at the mouth. It would also be great to see the old guard taking on the new players.

Manny Pacquiao: Our next choice is Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao. Professional boxer. Politician. The only eight-division world champion ever. He’s been hailed as both the “Most Exciting Boxer” and “Fighter of the Decade” by the public and worldwide media. If Pacquiao vs. Mayweather never happens, the two dueling it out in an Expendables movie would be the next best thing. Unlike Mayeather, Pacquiao has the acting experience – not only has he appeared in a San Miguel Beer commercial with Expendables’ own Jet Li, but he also starred in a string of films in the Philippines – the guy was made for cameras!

Don “The Dragon” Wilson: Sure, this 11-time World Kickboxing Champion /Martial Arts Hall of Famer may not be a Blockbuster name like Schwarzenegger or Stallone, but there’s no doubt in our minds that he is just as qualified. Besides, if fellow low budget action star Gary Daniels had his time in Expendables, why not Wilson? After all, his 30+ films – including Bloodfist and Ring of Fire – were profit-making “Blockbusters” in their own right. The inclusion of Wilson definitely makes more sense than Liam Hemsworth, wouldn’t you agree? I mean, come on, Wilson is the real deal. Period!

Donnie Yen: Dubbed in the Hong Kong media as “The strongest man in the Universe,” Donnie Yen is another martial arts star that everyone is dying to see in an Expendables flick. Like Seagal and Chan, Yen’s name has always been linked to the franchise. Judging from his busy schedule ahead – and the fact that he’s practically fine with being a living legend on his own stomping grounds – we doubt he’ll give in. Part of us can’t blame him, the other part of us is saying, “Just do the darn film, will you?”

Tony Jaa: Tony Jaa, martial arts star of Ong Bak, is quite possibly the most physically amazing guy living today. We’re talking near-super human abilities. The possibility of Jaa appearing in the Expendables franchise are pretty decent. Considering he has a part in Fast and the Furious 7, he’s obviously not shying away from being part of an ensemble cast in a Hollywood movie. In addition, he’s currently working with Dolph Lundgren in an upcoming film, so he’s already made one strong connection to the franchise. No pun intended.

Iko Uwais: All the other action stars better watch out! There’s a new Sheriff in town, and his name is Iko Uwais. This Silat (Southeast Asian fighting method) martial arts expert took the world by storm in the critically-acclaimed, ultra violent martial arts action film, The Raid. With The Raid 2 just around the corner, Uwais has proved himself to be up there with the Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. Sylvester Stallone himself is even an admirer of The Raid, a film he personally set out to top with Expendables 3! True story.

Runners up…

We obviously can go on and on, but here’s a list of other names that we would love to see in future Expendables movies: Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport, Enter the Dragon), Michael Biehn (The Terminator), Richard Norton (City Hunter), Chow Yun Fat (The Killer), Carl Weathers (Predator), Jean Reno (Leon: The Professional), Kurt Russell (Big Trouble in Little China), Mr. T (Rocky 3, The A-Team), Michael Dudikoff (American Ninja), Benny “The Jet” Urquidez (Dragons Forever), Philip Rhee (Best of the Best) and Sho Kosugi (Revenge of the Ninja).

There is no doubt that The Expendables 3 is going to be an action packed thrill ride and a box office success, so if there is to be a fourth, we can expect a whole host of action names attached. We’ll see what happens…

Posted in News |

Prophecy of Eve | DVD (Shami Media)

Prophecy of Eve | DVD (Shami Media)

Prophecy of Eve | DVD (Shami Media)

RELEASE DATE: July 22, 2014

Shami Media presents the DVD for Ron Santiano’s Prophecy of Eve (aka Eve: Beauty and the Blade), a low budget, supernatural martial arts movie. Eve’s (Ia Villatuya) life is forever altered when her parents vanish without a trace after being attacked by supernatural agents. When she runs into the members of the same organization to which her parents bore allegiance, several unanswered questions from Eve’s childhood reemerge. Watch the trailer.

Pre-order Prophecy of Eve from Amazon.com today!

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

Firestorm (2013) Review

"Firestorm" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Firestorm” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Alan Yuen
Writer: Alan Yuen
Cast: Andy Lau, Yao Chen, Gordon Lam, Hu Jun, Ray Lui, Kenny Wong Tak Bun, Michael Tong, Terence Yin
Running Time: 109 min.

By Sapo

Wow. Did I have high hopes for this one. Andy “Infernal Affairs” Lau in a rock ’em, sock ’em thriller. I’m there. This was one I HAD to see. This was the one that would take the recent sour taste of Blind Detective and Special ID out of my mouth. So why am I am so speechless right now. Was it that good? Not exactly. But let me say this. There is an action scene that arrives at the 30-minute mark that almost saves the entire movie. Almost.

So Andy plays an obsessed cop on the trail of some pretty suave bank robbers. But before you can say “Al Pacino in Heat,” the filmmakers sprinkle in some Infernal Affairs to spice things up. And just for the record, I still believe IA was a better flick than The Departed. Sorry. I love saying that every chance I get. Now back to business. Let me talk about that action sequence which involves an exploding building, two men fighting in the air, but before that, cop and criminal exchange blows on a gate barely supported. Believe you me; I am NOT doing the sequence any justice. It has to be seen. Then after you see it, rewind the damn thing and watch it again.

But a great scene does not make a great movie. Hell, three great scenes do not make a great movie. And that is the best way to describe Firestorm, which is a pretty cool title by the way. The final 20 minutes becomes a “Heat on crack” action bonanza. But it reaches the point where it is almost too much. There are no real characters to root for. You want to cheer for Lau but his performance makes it oh-so difficult. We have the usual mole within the bad guys with a woman dying for him to go straight. Watching Firestorm, one cannot help thinking that we seen this too many times before.

There also comes a point where a movie becomes too flashy or tries to be “too stylish.” I’m afraid Firestorm falls into this category. The action scenes are top notch but once they’re over, the movie slows down and becomes the typical “Oh no. I think we have another informant in the crew,” followed by “let’s all point our guns at each other.” But there is another cool scene in which a flock of pigeons are used as a distraction on a crowded street. I have not seen birds used so effectively since John Woo brought the doves to America in Face/Off.

Overall, you can do a lot worse than Firestorm. You can also do better. Just don’t expect anything new on the acting front and wait for those 2-3 kick ass action scenes to wake you up.

Sapo’s Rating: 6/10

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

Deal on Fire! Jet Li 3-Disc Collection | Blu-ray | Only $9.54 – Expires soon!

"Jet Li Collection" Blu-ray Cover

"Jet Li Collection" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is for the 3-Disc Jet Li Collection Blu-ray set. The set includes three of Jet’s best movies: Corey Yuen’s The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk, Gordon Chan’s Fist of Legend and Yuen Woo-ping’s Tai Chi Master with Michelle Yeoh. For about $3 a disc, this is definitely a deal on fire!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Enemies Closer (2013) Review

"Enemies Closer" Japanese DVD Cover

“Enemies Closer” Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Maximum Soldier
Director: Peter Hyams
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Tom Everett Scott, Orlando Jones, Kristopher Van Varenberg
Running Time: 95 min.

By Jeff Bona

It’s been nearly 20 years since Jean-Claude Van Damme and director Peter Hyams (2010: The Year We Make Contact) made a film together. Hyams first directed Van Damme during the action star’s career-peak in 1994’s Timecop, then again in 1995’s Sudden Death. The duo’s collaboration gave Van Damme’s resume a much-needed cinematic boost, making him a prime contender in the “action star” race, nearly equaling the magnitude of an Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone blockbuster.

Now, 20 years later, after a life filled with ups, downs – as well as a subtle career comeback with films like JCVD and The Expendables 2 – Van Damme teams up with Hyams once again for Enemies Closer.

Despite being a Hyams film, it should be no surprise that Enemies Closer isn’t a big budget film like Timecop or Sudden Death. After all, it is a straight-to-DVD film with a lead who hasn’t had his own theatrical release since 1999’s Universal Soldier: The Return. Even if you’re expecting 1/8th the scope of any of the movies just mentioned, expect to be let down. Enemies Closer may have the stroke of a veteran director making the most out of a low budget, but from the gitgo, it’s apparent it’s a small film. Even Van Damme’s 6 Bullets and Assassinations Games felt more like a “movie” than this.

Enemies Closer is definitely one of the most bizarre titles in Van Damme’s filmography, mainly for the cast itself: Starring alongside Van Damme are Tom Everett Scott (That Thing You Do!) and Orlando Jones (MADtv), two actors who are mostly known for playing light-hearted or comedic characters. Here, they play a couple of Ex-Navy SEAL badasses who take on an evil Van Damme and his gang of criminals. The two pull it off for the most part, but it’s still a solid case of miscasting, no matter how you look at it.

The action pieces and fight choreography are decent. They would have been better if I could see what the heck was going on. Most of the action takes place at night, which is cool and all, but the way they’re filmed leaves little regard for the audience. We’ve all seen enough movies that take place at night and most filmmakers – despite a dark setting – are able to capture a fight scene that’s perfectly visible to the audience. Come to think of it, maybe this is why I thought the action was decent?

If there’s one thing that’s great about Enemies Closer, it’s Van Damme. This is not the first time he has played a bad guy, but it is the first time he plays an impressive one. He’s no Alan Rickman from Die Hard, but his portrayal is natural, humorous and full of character. Minor spoiler: The last thing Van Damme’s character says before we say goodbye to him is one of the best moments in the movie (by the way, look for the nod to Die Hard 2).

There are basically three types of people who should make it a point to watch Enemies Closer: 1) Die hard Jean-Claude Van Damme fanatics; 2) Those who have wet dreams about Tom Everett Scott being an action hero; and 3) Those who have wet dreams about Orlando Jones being an action hero.

Overall, Enemies Closer is a disappointment. Maybe I’m guilty of high expectations knowing that the Timecop duo were back. Regardless, I stand behind my opinion. But if Hyams and Van Damme make another film together, I’m there.

Jeff Bona‘s Rating: 6/10

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

Deal on Fire! Conan the Barbarian | Blu-ray | Only $7.50 – Expires soon!

"Conan the Barbarian" Blu-ray Cover

"Conan the Barbarian" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for 1982’s Conan the Barbarian. Robert E. Howard’s short stories come to life with the help of John Milius (Dillinger) and Oliver Stone (Natural Born Killers). Folks, it seriously doesn’t get any more savage than this: Excessive bloody violence, enormous snakes and one of the best soundtracks ever put on film! Heck, even Darth Vader is practically in this movie. If you do not listen, then to HELL with you!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Newest action packed trailer for Collin Chou’s ‘Ameera’

"Ameera" Chinese theatrical Poster

"Ameera" Chinese theatrical Poster

Film Smash has the scoop on the latest action flick  by Xu Hong Hui’s (Crazy in Love) titled Ameera, which stars Collin Chou (Special ID), Patricia Hu (Angel Warriors), Ambrose Hsu (Fulltime Killer), Andrew Lin (The Man with the Iron Fists), Bryan Leung (Badges of Fury) and Paul Chun (Shinjuku Incident).

Here’s the basic plot according to Film Smash: Following the titular government agent who, after failing her latest mission, must go on the offensive and prevent a terrorist attack. Head over to Film Smash for the trailer.

According to Film Combat Syndicate, Ameera hits Chinese theaters on April 4, 2014.

Update: Watch the new trailer.

Posted in News |

Teaser trailers for ‘Rurouni Kenshin’ sequels

"Rurouni Kenshin 2" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Rurouni Kenshin 2” Japanese Theatrical Poster

We have word that the new sequel trailers for Keishi Otomo’s Rurouni Kenshin 2 and 3 are now online. If you’re not familiar with 2012’s Rurouni Kenshin, it’s an adaptation of the popular 90′s samurai action manga/anime series (known as Samurai X in America) by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The story revolves around a former assassin who resorts to using the dull end of his blade to subdue his enemies.

New and returning cast members include Takeru Satoh, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Emi Takei, Yusuke Iseya, Munetaka Aoki and Yuu Aoi and Yosuke Eguchi, with Min Tanaka, Yukiyoshi Ozawa, Kaito Oyagi, Maryjun Takahashi, Ryosuke Miura and Lisa Ulliel.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Great Kyoto Fire Arc and Rurouni Kenshin: The End of A Legend Arc will be released in Japan on August 1, 2014 and September 13, 2014, respectively. Watch the trailer, which covers both films.

Posted in News |

How ‘Walking Dead’ got its “Grove” back

"The Walking Dead" Japanese Blu-ray Set

“The Walking Dead” Japanese Blu-ray Set

For the past two weeks, AMC’s The Walking Dead has been heading into serious boredom territory. I did not think it was possible to make the character of Daryl seem dull. But the producers behind Dead pulled it off. Even my (once) favorite character Rick, who really needs to discover a razor and a new shirt, has become my least favorite character. This season seemed to be heading into post-Darabont Season Two territory. That is, until “The Grove.”

The opening scene of episode 14 was creepy as hell. Good sign. Then we realize that this is going to be another “let’s only follow these characters” episode. So no Rick again, which gives him more opportunity to shave. But enough of that. This episode presented something that I never saw coming. And I don’t mean the “burnt walkers” whom looked cool and scary at the same time. “The Grove” introduced us to a new kind of evil. An innocent evil. Lizzie saw this new world of the undead in a whole different light. At first I thought she was trying to become the typical annoying kid of the series. But her reasoning was different. When she is hovering over her sister, I thought to myself, “no way Mika is dead.” But she was and there was no doubt in my mind that Lizzie had to go. But then I thought, “no way they’re going to kill off TWO kids in the same episode. That is unheard of.” But Carol did the deed in true Godfather II style. The episode was intense, scary and brilliantly acted. Special shout out to Chad Coleman, who is just as great here as he was in The Wire.

But I save my biggest applause for how the producers chose to handle the confession. Far too many shows have stretched these predicaments for weeks. Smallville was great at that. I call it the “soap opera approach.” The perfect example of this technique is the film People Like Us. Chris Pine plays a man who discovers he has a sister. Of course instead of just telling her, he decides to get close to her and her kid and drag it out for what seems like a five hour running time. But if he did, I guess there wouldn’t be a terrible movie to torture us with. But getting back to Dead, Carol tells Tyrese the truth about the deaths in the prison and it is settled, even if only temporarily. Kudos for not dragging it out for another eighteen weeks.

With more episodes like this, The Walking Dead might be able to reclaim that Season One glory.

Posted in News |

Fantasy, romance and brutality collide in ‘Fighting’

"Fighting" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Fighting" Chinese Theatrical Poster

An upcoming film by Jiang Ping (Looking for Jackie Chan) called Fighting – also known as A Better Tomorrow (no relation to the famous John Woo film of the same name) – mixes romance, fantasy, war and martial arts in one odd package.

Fighting stars Peter Ho (The Monkey King), Lu Yi, Wei Yi (Stool Pigeon), Lam Wai (Legendary Amazons), Hou Yong (Drug War) and Yvonne Yung (The Hero of Swallow). Fighting also marks one of the last appearances by the legendary Wu Ma, who passed away last February.

Film Smash (via Film Combat Syndicate) breaks the news of two new trailers: Trailer 1 | Trailer 2

Update: Check out the new poster.

Posted in News |

Brawl | aka Fighting Fish | DVD (Lionsgate)

Brawl | aka Fighting Fish | DVD (Lionsgate)

Brawl | aka Fighting Fish | DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: June 10, 2014

Lionsgate presents the DVD for Brawl (aka Fighting Fish). Mike moves to Thailand to start a new life when he is robbed and left with nothing… until he meets Yo, a skilled Thai boxer, and his beautiful (and handicapped) wife. The new friends soon enter an underground fight club called “Fighting Fish” in order to make the money they need to survive. Starring Jawed El Berni (Ninja 2), David Ismalone (Beautiful Boxer) and Suchao Pongwilai (Ong Bak). Watch the trailer.

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

Unbeatable | aka MMA (2013) Review

"Unbeatable" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Unbeatable” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Dante Lam
Cast: Nick Cheung, Eddie Peng, Mei Ting, Feier Li, Andy On, Patrick Keung, Wang Baoqiang, Liu Kim Wa, Awayne, Stephen Au Kam-Tong, Mo Lai-Yee
Running Time: 122 min.

By DiP

Here’s a movie that I would say truly cements Dante Lam as one of the leading Hong Kong filmmakers at the moment and that will push his filming skills further if he’s given the right material and the ideas to succeed again. What he has done here was create a story that is put together and emphasized in a way he’s never done before and thereby outdoing his previous works, including his break-out movie The Beast Stalker.

One might be more interested in the MMA aspect surrounding the movie. But if anything, it’s the story and character chemistries between the main characters that make this movie very successful. From Nick Cheung’s interaction with rookie Eddie Peng, and trainer/best friend Philip Keung to traumatized mother Mei Ting and her kid girl Crystal Lee. Then you also have a subplot involving Eddie Peng and his father Jack Kao, as well as the mother jeopardizing herself to get institutionalized and separated from her only kid she has left due to her depression to boost the emotional aspect of the character development and it works.

This is Nick Cheung’s show though. The guy has come a long way and has recently proven to be a fine leading man in his own right and keeps going forward and getting better at his game. The character development between him and the mother/kid was the strongest part of the dramatic side of the movie. I’d go my way and say that without this, the movie would’ve been another sports movie with conventional everything that has become the norm nowadays. Also kudos to Mei Ting and especially child actress Crystal Lee for conveying their acting performances so exceptionally well.

Action-wise, I liked what they did with the MMA although it wasn’t overwhelming nor something new as far as MMA onscreen goes. Lots of techniques, details, logic etc that indicates that Lam has done his research on the sport. On the other hand, I think there were some moments of flashy movements that made me think “shouldn’t there be little flash and more authenticity as far as MMA goes?”.

Plus the camerawork and editing – while being creative and fresh at times – was also a bit bugging as you can’t really see or imagine what’s going on due to odd angles and alignment of each shots. It’s not surprising though, given the fact that the action was staged by Ling Chi-Wah, who regularly works as an action choreographer in Yuen Woo Ping’s stunt team. Nevertheless, they deliver in the action department featuring entertaining training sequences and fight scenes.

Andy On’s moments were the highlight to me, and I can see why they keep hiring him for upcoming action movies. The downside to On’s role is that his character shows up toward the second half as the random champion of Macau. This to me didn’t serve much to the story and makes his character the weakest out of all other ones.

Verdict: Everyone who likes good touchy stories/character mash-ups with entertaining action sprinkled in between should definitely see this. I’d say it’s up there with Drug War as one of the best Hong Kong movies made in 2013. Highly recommended!

DiP’s Rating: 9/10

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

Cityonfire and Well Go USA are giving away 3 Blu-ray copies of ‘The Wrath of Vajra’ – WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The Wrath of Vajra | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

The Wrath of Vajra | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Cityonfire.com and Well Go USA are giving away 3 Blu-ray copies of The Wrath of Vajra to three lucky Cityonfire visitors. To enter, simply add a comment to this post telling us what your favorite film is (from any country, any genre), along with a brief explanation of why it’s your favorite. We know it’s hard, but you can do it! We will be selecting three winners at random. Be sure to include your email address in the appropriate field so we can contact you for your home address. Additionally, you must ‘Like Us‘ on cityonfire.com’s Facebook by clicking here.

The Blu-ray & DVD for The Wrath of Vajra will be officially released on March 18, 2014. We will announce the 3 lucky winners on March 18th and ship out the prizes immediately.

CONTEST DISCLAIMER: You must enter by March 17th to qualify. Also, because Well Go USA holds the film’s U.S. rights, only U.S. residents may enter the contest. We sincerely apologize to our non-U.S. visitors. Winners must respond with their mailing address within 48 hours, otherwise you will automatically be disqualified. No exceptions. Contest is subject to change without notice.

WINNERS: Congratulations to Andy, Travis and Miko. You have all been notified via email.

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Fasten your seat belts for Vincent Zhou’s ‘Last Flight’

"Last Flight" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Last Flight" Chinese Theatrical Poster

If you’re into airplane thrillers like TurbulenceSnakes on a Plane, Flightplan and most recently, Non-Stop, then fasten your seat belt for Last Flight. First time director Vincent Zhou opens with a bang in his upcoming English-language Chinese film that stars Ed Westwick (Children of Men), Zhu Zhu (The Man with the Iron Fists) and Leon Li (Out of Inferno).

Here’s the official plot: As an old Boing 747 takes off for its last red-eye flight from a small Pacific island, unusual events occur intermittently. While all the passengers are panic, the captain and the chief flight attendant try to lead the investigation.

It’s hard not to notice the outdated special effects and questionable acting in Last Flight’s trailer, but who are we to judge? It’s possible that these noticeable shortcomings are part of the film’s charm. We doubt it, but we’ll eventually find out when it’s released on March 21, 2014 in China.

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