Universal’s ‘Timecop’ reboot gets two ‘Mysterious’ writers

Posted on April 10, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Timecop" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Timecop" Japanese Theatrical Poster

THR reports that Universal is developing a remake of 1994’s Timecop. Directed by Peter Hyams (End of Days) and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, the original Timecop took place in the near future where special officers traveled through time to arrest those who used “time travel” to commit crimes.

According to THR, the studio is approaching the new Timecop as a reboot and a re-imagining of the concept and is being handed to writers. As with Phillip Noyce’s (Salt) proposed Bloodsport remake, Van Damme will not be involved with the Timecop reboot.

Based off the Dark Horse comic book of the same name, Timecop was one of Van Damme’s most successful films, both financially and critically. The film even spawned a short-lived 1997 TV series and the 2003 direct-to-DVD sequel Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision, which starred Jason Scott Lee (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story).

If this news of a Van Damme-less Timecop gets you down, keep your head up. The “Muscles from Brussels” has a lot of projects coming out including Swelter, Soldiers and Pound of Flesh.

BREAKING NEWS: According to THR, the producers behind the upcoming Timecop remake have hired Mark and Brian Gunn to write the script. The duo is responsible for writing Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Posted in News |

Watch a new ‘Mud Fight’ action clip for ‘The Raid 2′!

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Z Ravas

"The Raid 2: Berandal" Cinemags Cover

THE MOVIE: Written and directed by Gareth Evans, The Raid 2: Berandal picks up right where the first film left off and follows Rama (Iko Uwais) as he goes undercover and infiltrates the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate in order to protect his family and uncover the corruption in his own police force.

Additional cast members include Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Alex Abbad, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endo, Yahan Ruhian and Kazuki Kitamura

The Raid 2: Berandal opens in New York and Los Angeles on March 28th and everywhere else on April 11th.

Evans has stated there will be even more action in the sequel, with a total of eighteen action sequences planned. While it almost seems impossible for the team to top their efforts in The Raid, it’s clear they’re trying.

Updates: First official poster. | First trailer. | Second trailer is now available. | Gareth Evans hints that there will be a Raid 3: “The Raid 2 takes place 2 hrs after the first, The Raid 3 would start 2hrs before The Raid 2 ends.” | Collider has a new photo, which shows that Capoeira (Brazilian martial arts) will be featured. | Newest (and the best) trailer, courtesy of yahoo.

In case you missed it, please check out our interview with the writer/director of Raid 2, Gareth Evans. | Head over to Collider to catch an interesting interview with Gareth Evans, where he talks about the possibility of making a Marvel movie, John Woo and working with Hong Kong action director Bruce Law. | The new cover for Cinemags. | Newest poster. | 9 new images, courtesy of Collider! | Australian poster.

Check out the new U.S. poster, courtesy of EW.com. | Watch a bloody clip, featuring Julie Estelle (aka Hammer Girl). Clip courtesy of MTV | The latest trailer, courtesy of IGN. You can also check out this UK poster.

We also have links to two Raid 2 treats: The first is a clip of the “car” fight, courtesy of Collider (click here); the second is a deleted scene, courtesy of Film Combat Syndicate (click here). | Watch a new action clip, featuring “Baseball Man”.

BREAKING NEWS: Watch a new action clip, featuring the “Mud Fight,” courtesy of apple.com. If you haven’t yet, check out our review for The Raid 2, courtesy of our contributing writer, Paul Bramhall.

Posted in News |

Tom Yum Goong 2 | aka The Protector 2 (2013) Review

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Paul Bramhall
"Tom Yum Goong 2" Theatrical Poster

“Tom Yum Goong 2” Theatrical Poster

Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Cast: Tony Jaa, RZA, Mum Jokmok, Yanin Vismitananda, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Marrese Crump, Rhatha Phongam, Vince Makiling, Ujal Thapa, Jawed El Berni
Running Time: 103 minutes

By Paul Bramhall

Tony Jaa has had somewhat of a fall from grace since he was widely heralded as action cinemas shining saviour with the arrival of Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong, released in 2003 and 2005 respectively. After an eventful production for his self-directed feature Ong Bak 2, things culminated with him reportedly running off into the jungle and disappearing for a couple of weeks. When he came back, things had gone massively over budget, resulting in his long time mentor Panna Ritikrai being brought on board to assist in finishing the movie (he gets a co-director credit in the final product), and a previously unplanned third installment in the form of Ong Bak 3, which was commissioned simply to make up for the amount of money which had been lost on the second one.

While for this reviewer at least, Ong Bak 2 delivered the goods despite its troubled production, Ong Bak 3 was met with almost universal disdain, and after its release in 2010, for several months word was quite on Jaa and co. It seems there were no future projects on the horizon and nothing to look forward to. Then, in 2011, it was announced that Jaa would be returning to the role of his sophomore feature as a leading man, for Tom Yum Goong 2. Not only that, but it would re-unite him with director Prachya Pinkaew, action choreographer Panna Ritikrai, and he’d be sharing top billing with his female equivalent, the star of Chocolate and Raging Phoenix, Jija Yanin. Thai action cinema was going to be back with a bang, and excitement was duly generated.

Banners were proudly displayed at various film markets showing Jaa and Yanin in high kicking poses above the bold lettering TYG2, and all seemed well with the world. However, the rest of 2011 then passed with barely a word. Then, 2012 proceeded in exactly the same manner. Rumbles began to start, what was taking so long!? Two years to make an action movie!? Finally, around the end of 2012 details began to slowly filter through – Jija Yanin had got pregnant stalling the production indefinitely, Jaa himself had got married, the decision had been made to film it in 3D, RZA was brought on board and worked into the script as the main villain. It all seemed very, well, disorganized.

Finally, close to almost 3 years since it was announced, at the end of October 2013 Tom Yum Goong 2 hit Thai cinema screens. Was the reaction a positive one? Or was it a negative one? Strangely, it was a non-reaction. The movie was finally out there, and no one was saying anything about it, even after it had been out for a couple of weeks, trying to find reviews or opinions on it seemed to be an unreasonably difficult task. So, skip forward to March 2014, and here in Australia the movie has just received a straight-to-DVD release with zero fan fare or marketing. It just quietly hit the shelves and was there. Some come back.

Now having watched it, it’s easy to see why. It’s a struggle to even call this a sequel, as it’s more of a re-boot, and a painfully inferior one at that. Events play out almost identical to the original – shady characters try to negotiate the sale of an elephant, Jaa refuses to sell, they steal it anyway in a truck, Jaa finds the person he left to look after it on the floor beaten. Even the motorbike scene comes in at almost the exact same moment. Story wise, there’s not even a single ounce of originality here, and the original was hardly ground breaking plot wise.

The cost of its labored 2+ year production is there onscreen for every second of its run time, and it’s a heavy cost indeed. We have fight scenes which are sloppily edited full of quick cuts, strange shots which don’t make any sense, a motorbike chase which drags on to the point you’ll find yourself slipping into a coma, some of the worse CGI you’ll ever witness in an action movie, and in the middle of it all is poor Tony Jaa. Say what you like about his acting ability, but he conveys what he needs to, even if that usually is blind rage.

In Tom Yum Goong 2 he’s reduced to an expressionless lump of muscle, I’d dare say a plank of wood could give a better acting performance than he does here. He just seems so, I don’t know what the word is – absent minded? If there was ever a more literal example of a performer phoning it in, then that’s what Jaa seems to be doing here. Remember the anger he oozes when ripping through the restaurant in Tom Yum Goong on the search for his elephant? Well here it’s stolen again, but it’s hard to believe he gives a crap.

Put simply he’s visibly slower and uninspired for the duration. It’s the same moves over and over again, and he actually spends a disproportionate amount of the run time having his ass handed to him. In the finale itself he doesn’t even get to do anything, except hold onto his precious elephants tusks which have been made into bombs that will detonate if he lets go, so it’s left to Jija Yanin to come out of nowhere and suddenly put the beat down on Marrese Crump, while Jaa stands there defenceless getting beaten up by RZA. Speaking of Yanin, her screen time has evidently been significantly chopped, so much so that she barely even registers as a supporting player. The dream double-billing of her and Jaa is a non-starter.

To add to the movies woes, even simple aspects of the story don’t make any sense. At the start we see Jaa with his elephant in the village teaching the local kids some moves, but it soon turns out he and his elephant are no longer welcomed like they once were, his elephant now being considered a nuisance and Muay Thai branded a waste of time. But that’s it, this seemingly important aspect of the plot never appears again. Likewise, when Jaa finds the guy who he knows was responsible for stealing the elephant, he’s dead in his office. At the same moment, two of the guys younger family members (one of which is Jija Yanin) also enter the office, and believing Jaa to be the murderer attempt to take him down. Not only do we never find out how he was killed, but over the course of the movie it seems to be forgotten that Yanin is actually connected to the guy who stole his elephant in the first place, and she and Jaa end up teaming up together! Top this all off with one of the most inconclusive final scenes you’re likely to witness, and it’s hard to be left feeling anything other than frustrated.

I could rant on about Tom Yum Goong 2 for a whole lot longer, but I won’t. All I want and have come to expect from Thai action cinema is a paper thin plot compensated with bone crunching action which comes thick and fast. I wanted it to be a big stupid action movie just like its predecessor, but in the end it was only one of those things – stupid.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 3/10

Posted in News, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , |

Newest poster for Dante Lam’s ‘That Demon Within’

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Z Ravas
"That Demon Within" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"That Demon Within" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Dante Lam is arguably the leading action director in Hong Kong right now (sorry, Wilson Yip) thanks to movies like Fire of Conscience and The Stool Pigeon. Lam is a veteran of the industry going all the way back to 1998’s Beast Cops, but he’s managed to invigorate his career of late by taking well-worn Hong Kong action tropes and reenergizing them with an immediate, Bourne-esque visual style.

Dante looks to be continuing this trend with his latest project, That Demon Within, which will also reunite the filmmaker with his frequent leading man, Nick Cheung. This time around, Nick Cheung is joined by Daniel Wu (New Police Story) as a paranoid cop convinced he’s the only one who can see the dangerous crimes Cheung’s character is committing.

Not to hedge our bets but with a premise like that it sounds like That Demon Within will feature plenty of tense, beady-eyed stand-offs between our two leads and a gun fight or two.

Update: The teaser trailer is now online and it suggests the film may be more of a psychological thriller for director Dante Lam – with elements of horror! Is Nick Cheung’s character a literal demon? Guess we’ll have to wait and find out.

BREAKING NEWS: China Lion Film announces That Demon Within will get an April 18th limited theatrical release for U.S. and Canada audiences, which will be day-and-date with its Hong Kong release. In case you already haven’t, check out the latest trailer and the new poster.

Posted in News |

Deadly Eyes | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Posted on April 8, 2014 by JJ Bona
Deadly Eyes | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Deadly Eyes | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2014

Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1982’s Deadly Eyes (aka The Rats), directed by Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon). Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest studios teams up with Warner Bros. to produce this cult thriller about a scientist who genetically alters a colony of super rats. As they breed and multiply, they must seek ever increasing amounts of food. They soon find a new source of nourishment – human flesh. Deadly Eyes features a memorable scene where the deadly rats attack a movie theater while a Bruce Lee film is being shown. Watch the trailer.

Pre-order Deadly Eyes from Amazon.com today!

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

Action Adventure Movie Marathon | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Posted on April 8, 2014 by JJ Bona
Action Adventure Movie Marathon | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Action Adventure Movie Marathon | Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2014

Shout! Factory presents the Action Adventure Movie Marathon. These sets bring back the good ol’ memories of going to a video rental store; only now you can see these obscure titles without adjusting your tracking. The Blu-ray version includes 1973’s I Escaped from Devil’s Island and 1982’s The Final Option (aka Who Dares Wins); in addition to the films just mentioned, the DVD version also includes 1959’s Shake Hands with the Devil and 1983’s Treasure of the Four Crowns. For your enjoyment, here’s a trailer for Treasure of the Four Crowns. As the trailer states, it’s more groundbreaking than Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Arc combined.

Pre-order the Action Adventure Movie Marathon from Amazon.com today!

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

Jackie Chan’s ‘The Karate Kid 2′ to be directed by a ‘Crazie’

Posted on April 7, 2014 by JJ Bona
"The Karate Kid" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"The Karate Kid" Chinese Theatrical Poster

While promoting Police Story 2013 in Singapore last year, Jackie Chan revealed that one of his next films could be The Karate Kid 2, a sequel to 2010’s The Karate Kid, which also starred Jaden Smith.

In addition, Chan also mentioned the possibility of a sequel to 2012’s CZ12 (which would technically mean the 4th chapter of the Armour of God series).

Other Chan projects that are supposedly in the works are Skiptrace, Rush Hour 4 and Dragon Blade. Then there are the rumored titles – Wolf Flag, Manhattan and even a “silent movie” with Zhang Yimou – that are supposedly in early stages of development.

Update: Deadline reports that Breck Eisner (The Crazies remake) will be helming The Karate Kid 2.

Posted in News |

Don’t miss these martial arts and Asian title releases for April!

Posted on April 7, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Apokalips X" Blu-ray Cover

"Apokalips X" Blu-ray Cover

To most people, Spring means brighter days, sunshine, flowers and singing birds…

To us, Spring means giant monsters destroying cities, Seagal snapping bones, Japanese battleships struggling to save mankind, post-apocalyptic Malaysians slaughtering one another, endless kung fu brawls, bloody samurai epics and killer Chinese spies!

For those of you looking to add a number of exciting Blu-ray & DVD titles to your collection, April is a solid month!

For your convenience, we listed titles by day of release. If you’re interested in purchasing the titles, we’re hoping you’ll click on our links to show your support towards cityonfire.com. As always, we’ll appreciate it!

Warrior Assassin: April 1, 2014
Lionsgate presents the DVD for Dou Xiao’s Warrior Assassin. Two strangers set out on individual quests for revenge, and when they cross paths, they discover that revenge lies with the same man. Joining forces, it will take more than an army to keep them from unleashing the ultimate punishment, even if it means sacrificing their own lives. Starring Pan Yuanjia, Ji Chunhua and Bryan Leung (aka Leung Kar Yan or “Beardy”).

47 Ronin: April 1, 2014
Universal presents the Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D & DVD for Carl Rinsch’s 47 Ronin, starring Keanu Reeves. A band of samurai set out to avenge the death and dishonor of their master at the hands of a ruthless shogun. Also starring Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer), Kou Shibasaki (Battle Royale), Hiroyuki Sanada (Twilight Samurai) and Rinko Kikuchi (Assault Girls).

Switch: April 15, 2014
Funimation presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Switch, starring Andy Lau (Shaolin) as a James Bond-like hero. This highly anticipated Mandarin-language film was shot in Dubai, the same location as Tom Cruise’s now famous hotel-climbing stunt in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, on a budget of about $20 million US dollars, it’s basically Hong Kong’s answer to the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Confession of Murder: April 15, 2014
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Jeong Byeong-gil’s Confession of Murder. The film is about a police officer who is haunted for failing to capture a serial killer 15 years ago, and is back on the case after a novelist publishes the book “I am the Murderer,” claiming responsibility for the crimes. Starring Jung Jae-young and Park Si-hoo.

Seven Warriors: April 22, 2014
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1989’s Seven Warriors, directed by Terry Tong (The Sentimental Swordsman). Seven kung fu fighters band together to protect a village from evil bandits. Seven Warriors is homage to Akira Kurosawas’s 1954 classic Seven Samurai. The film stars Adam Cheng, Jacky Cheung, Max Mok and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Sammo Hung.

Exit Wounds: April 22, 2014
Warner Bros. presents the Blu-ray for Steven Seagal’s Exit Wounds, directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak (Romeo Must Die). First time on Blu-ray! Orin Boyd (Seagal), a tough cop in an inner-city precinct discovers a web of dirty cops and corruption. Exit Wounds also stars Michael Jai White (Never Back Down 2), DMX, Isaiah Washington, Anthony Anderson, Bill Duke, Tom Arnold and Eva Mendes.

Apokalips X: April 22, 2014
Action Slate presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Mamat Khalid’s Apokalips X. This anticipated Malaysian-made martial arts film – about rival gangs who fight for pride and ego in a world destroyed by chemical warfare – stars Farid Kamil, Peter Davis, Jehan Miskin, Adam AF2, Iqram Dinzly, Pekin Ibrahim, Pyan Habib and Ayez Shaukat Fonseka.

Angela Mao Double Feature: Lady Whirlwind & Hapkido: April 22, 2014
Shout! Factory presents the Angela Mao Double Feature: Lady Whirlwind & Hapkido DVD. Directed by Huang Feng (Stoner), 1972′s Lady Whirlwind (aka Deep Thrust) has Mao teaming up with Chang Yi to take on evil Japanese thugs. 1972′s Hapkido (aka Lady Kung Fu), also directed by Feng, has Sammo Hung and Carter Wong going forces with Mao as they take on, you guessed it, more Japanese baddies!

Space Battleship Yamato: April 29, 2014
Funimation presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Takashi Yamazaki’s Space Battleship Yamato, a live adaptation of the Space Battleship Yamato anime TV series by Yoshinobu Nishizaki. The crew of the space battleship Yamato set out on a journey to the planet Iscandar to acquire a device that can heal the ravaged Earth. Starring Takuya Kimura, Meisa Kuroki, Toshirō Yanagiba, Naoto Ogata and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi.

Gamera: Legacy Collection: April 29, 2014
Mill Creek Entertainment presents the DVD for the Gamera: Legacy Collection, which includes Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965), Gamera vs. Barugon (1966), Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967), Gamera vs. Viras (1968), Gamera vs. Guiron (1969), Gamera vs. Jiger (1970), Gamera vs. Zigra (1971), Gamera: Super Monster (1980), Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995), Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996) and Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999).

Gamera: Ultimate Collection Volume One: April 29, 2014
Mill Creek presents the Blu-ray set for the Gamera: Ultimate Collection Volume One, which features Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965), Gamera vs. Barugon (1966), Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967) and Gamera vs. Viras (1968). The first 4 films of Daiei Studios’ monster series Gamera are unleashed and available on Blu-ray for the first time! Your favorite giant turtle returns to Earth leaving no fire-spitting scene behind.

Gamera: Ultimate Collection Volume Two: April 29, 2014
Mill Creek presents the Blu-ray set for the Gamera: Ultimate Collection Volume Two, which features Gamera vs. Guiron (1969), Gamera vs. Jiger (1970), Gamera vs. Zigra (1971) and Gamera: Super Monster (1980). The last 4 films of Daiei Studios’ monster series Gamera are unleashed and available on Blu-ray for the first time!

If you’re looking for a new import release, please visit DDDhouse.com. The trusted retailer carries new and upcoming releases that are not available in North America, such as The Four II, Hwayi and Jackie Chan’s latest, Police Story 2013!

Also, be sure to enter our current Blu-ray and DVD contests!

Posted in News |

‘Once Upon a Time in Vietnam’ gets a July 2014 release date

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Z Ravas
Once Upon a Time in Vietnam | DVD (Lionsgate)

Once Upon a Time in Vietnam | DVD (Lionsgate)

Back in 2007, former 21 Jump Street star Dustin Nguyen managed to reinvent his image by playing a nearly invincible martial artist bad guy in the Vietnamese hit The Rebel. Now, Nguyen is parlaying his status in the burgeoning Vietnamese action scene by stepping behind the camera for an ambitious project.

Previously titled Monk on Fire, but now known under the title of Once Upon a Time in Vietnam (AKA Lua Phat), the film is described as an ‘Eastern Western’ featuring motorbike-riding kung fu monks and large-scale battles. Not only does Dustin Nguyen direct and star, but he also wrote the script.

Update: The final trailer is available.

BREAKING NEWS: Lionsgate gives Once Upon a Time in Vietnam a July 2014 release date for the upcoming DVD. Click here for more details.

Posted in News |

Confession of Murder (2012) Review

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Paul Bramhall
"Confession of Murder" DVD Cover

“Confession of Murder” DVD Cover

Director: Jeong Byeong-gil
Writer: Jeong Byeong-gil
Cast: Jung Jae-young, Park Si-hoo, Jeong Hae-gyoon, Kim Young-ae, Choi Won-young, Jo Eun-ji
Running Time: 119 min.

By Paul Bramhall

As a huge fan of Asian action cinema, I found the 2008 documentary Action Boys, which followed the lives of a group of stuntmen in the Seoul Action School, to be hugely enjoyable. Such was my enjoyment that I visited the school in the same year, to witness first hand the rigors of the training that they went through. Of course a huge part of that enjoyment came from the way first time director, and student of the school himself, Jeong Byeong-gil, structured the story. So I felt pretty excited when four years later, it was announced his first full movie was set for release, Confession of Murder.

I’ll be the first to admit though that upon reading the story line, I had no idea what to expect. It’s fifteen years since the last murder took place by a serial killer who targeted women, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake, and with the case still unsolved, the statute of limitations is about to expire. Once it does, a mysterious character played by K-drama actor Park Si-hoo, making his movie debut, comes out of the woodwork with an autobiography, graphically detailing how he committed all of the murders. The detective who was on the case, played by Jeong Jae-yeong (Moss/Castaway on the Moon), has his doubts if he really is the killer. But first he has to contend with the families of the victims, one of which has clearly been styled after the bow and arrow wielding Bae Doona of The Host, who have formed a club to kill Jae-yeong at the earliest opportunity.

You can see it’s supposed to be a crime drama, but something about the details somehow made me smile. Was this movie really going to attempt to get away with being serious, with such details as a best selling serial killer, and a club of blood thirsty family members!? Byeong-gil also wrote the screenplay, so I hoped that whatever he had in mind, he could pull it off without it becoming too laughable. What I didn’t expect though, was for the action to be thrown onto the screen in such abundance. Sure he’s a graduate from the Seoul Action School, but the synopsis simply didn’t seem to lend itself to many action movie scenarios.

Imagine my surprise then when it opens to a blistering seven minutes of Jae-yeong viciously throwing down with a masked assailant in a makkoli bar, sending glass and cutlery smashing everywhere, which segues into a ferocious chase on foot featuring several extended one take shots, with the camera following them through dark alley ways and even under cars. It’s an exhilarating and frantic sequence to watch, and one which ends on a particularly wince inducing moment. Similarly, later there’s an insane car chase, with Si-hoo grappling with members of the victim’s families on top of cars, a stretcher, and in an ambulance.

It’s worth noting that the action sequences are all choreographed by another Action School Graduate, Kwon Kwi-deok, who at the end of Action Boys is the only one still working in stunts. In the four years since that documentary was made, Kwi-deok has become a respected stuntman and action director in Korea, having worked with the likes of Kim Ji-woon, Ryoo Seung-wan, and Na Hong-jin. He even makes a cameo as a live fish chauffeur.

Between these thrilling moments, it becomes clear Byeong-gil never meant to make this as a dark thriller, so while the plot sounds dark, it’s never particularly portrayed that way on screen. There are plenty of comical moments, such as when the victims family arrange for one of them to dress as a pool cleaner, and drop a bunch of snakes into the pool in which Si-hoo is swimming. There are also a lot of subtle swipes at the way the media is willing to make a celebrity out of anyone, such as when it comes into doubt that Si-hoo may not be the real killer, hordes of young girls’ crowd around screaming their adoration for him and waving banners which read “Si-hoo is the Real Killer!”

This tone takes up over an hour of the movie, however at some point Byeong-gil realizes he has to bring everything to a close somehow, and the final third moves away from both the action and the comedy in order to deliver it’s conclusion, which as with so many things Korean, features a somewhat tragic late in the day revelation. This is perhaps the only time when it becomes clear that this is a debut movie from a new director and screen writer, and there is so much quality on show that for me it was forgivable. Byeong-gil perhaps didn’t think about the fact that if you have an hours worth of great action and black comedy, people are going to expect things to progress in the same way, maybe heading for a big action finale, rather than a complete change of tone to wrap things up.

Still with a second viewing and the correct expectations, I’ve no doubt Confession of Murder will still be a rewarding viewing experience, if not more so than the first. Byeong-gil has proven that he has talent to spare, and that his time at the Seoul Action School hasn’t gone to waste, with some of the most exciting action to come out of Korea in far too long contained within its run time. With a slightly tighter script to work with, Korea might have potentially found its next Ryoo Seung-wan.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged , |

Deal on Fire! District B13 | Blu-ray | Only $4.99 – Expires soon!

Posted on April 5, 2014 by JJ Bona
"District B13" Blu-ray Cover

"District B13" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for District B13 (aka Banlieue 13), directed by Pierre Morel (Taken) and produced by Luc Besson (The Fifth Element). Set in the ghettos of Paris in 2010, an undercover cop (Cyril Raffaelli) and ex-thug (David Belle) try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb. This martial arts/Parkour-based action film is being remade in the form of the upcoming Brick Mansons, with Paul Walker. See the original before you see the remake!

Order District B13 from Amazon.com today! Also available at a low price is the District 13 Collection, which contains the original and the sequel!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Watch the extended TV Spot for ‘Amazing Spider-Man 2′

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Z Ravas
"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Theatrical Poster

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) squares off against the Rhino (Paul Giamatti) and the powerful Electro (Jamie Foxx) while struggling to keep his promise to leave Gwen Stacey (Emma Stone) out of his dangerous life. Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is expected release date for this 3D sequel is May 2, 2014.

Updates: Official look at Spider-Man’s new mask | First set photos. | Spidey’s nemesis Norman Osborn is back and ready to wreak some havoc. Who’s playing the character this time? High caliber actor Chris Cooper (Adaptation, The Bourne Identity). | First look at Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) as Mary Jane Watson. | New photos of Woodley and Stone. | First photo of Jamie Foxx as Electro. | Collider has the first official image of Jamie Foxx as Max Dillion (Electro without a mask) and Dane DeHaan as Harry Osborn.

First, Shailene Woodley’s appearance (as Mary Jane Watson) in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was slimmed down to a bit part. Now, Woodley’s appearance is being completely cut. In fact, she probably won’t be in The Amazing Spider-Man 3 either, due to her busy schedule in the upcoming years. In an interview with THR, director Marc Webb said: “I made a creative decision to streamline the story and focus on Peter and Gwen and their relationship.”

New photos of Spidey, Electro and Gwen Stacey. | Does this new banner poster reveal our first glimpse of the Green Goblin and the Rhino? | AICN has a closer look the Green Goblin (mild spoilers). | Quality version of that banner poster in 3 pieces: 1 | 2 | 3 | First trailer.

Watch the new international trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man 2! Also, according to Collider, Sony Pictures announced that Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods) will write, and possibly direct The Sinister Six (a title referring to Marvel villains Doctor Octopus, Electro, Kraven the Hunter, Mysterio, Sandman, and Vulture); In addition, Alex Kurtzman (People Like Us) is directing a Venom movie, which he is writing along with Roberto Orci (Cowboys & Aliens) and Ed Solomon (Now You See Me). | Newest teaser poster. | Newest poster. For the others, visit impawards. | Super Bowl teaser trailer. | Super Bowl trailers: 1 | 2 | 3 | Collider reports that Spidey is facing yet another villain in The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Alistair Smythe, played by B.J. Novak (Inglourious Basterds). | New trailer. | Final trailer!

BREAKING NEWS: Watch the extended TV Spot.

Posted in News |

The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Posted on April 3, 2014 by JJ Bona
The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: June 24, 2014

Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel. Directed and written by Guan Hu (Design of Death), who calls this film “mass entertainment,” revolves around the fate of two Japanese scientists, who are captured in Beijing during World War II Sino-Japanese War in 1942. The film stars Zhang Hanyu as The Actor, Huang Bo as The Scoundrel, and Liu Hua as The Chef. Watch the trailer.

Pre-order The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel from Amazon.com today!

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

Deal on Fire! Cradle 2 the Grave | Blu-ray | Only $7.88 – Expires soon!

Posted on April 2, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Cradle 2 the Grave" Blu-ray Cover

"Cradle 2 the Grave" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for 2003′s Cradle 2 the Grave (aka Black Diamond), starring Jet Li, DMX and Mark Dacascos. Directed by Romeo Must Die’s Andrzej Bartkowiak, Cradle 2 the Grave has Jet Li and DMX teaming up to rescue a jewel thief’s daughter. Hey, it’s no Kiss of the Dragon, but it’s still a Jet Li flick. Read Numskull’s classic review.

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Deal on Fire! Albert Pyun’s Captain America | Blu-ray | Only $9.49 – Expires soon!

Posted on April 1, 2014 by JJ Bona
Captain America Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Captain America Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray 1990’s Captain America, directed by Albert Pyun (Cyborg). Frozen in the ice for decades, Captain America (Matt Salinger) is freed to battle against arch-criminal, The Red Skull (Scott Paulin). Also starring Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty. Why flock to the theaters for Captain America: The Winter Soldier when you can OWN this cult classic? Be a rebel!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |
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