"Special Identity" Character Poster

Martial arts fans who were pleased by Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse’s 2006 collaboration Dragon Tiger Gate should be happy to hear that the two actors are teaming back up for a new project. Yen and Tse, easily two of the biggest stars in Hong Kong right now, will square off “emotionally and physically” in Enter the Master.

The action film is set in a US-based Chinatown where Donnie Yen’s martial arts master is pulled into the middle of a deadly Triad war thanks to his friendship with a new immigrant, played by Nicholas Tse.

Is it just us or does this almost sound like Donnie Yen’s take on the Shaw Brothers classic Chinatown Kid? Either way, Enter the Master is to be directed by Chan Hing-Kai. Donnie Yen will serve as action director as usual.

Film Business Asia does mention there are hopes of turning Enter the Master into a franchise if the first film is successful.

Update: Twitch offers word that Enter the Master is now titled simply The Master, which may or may not cause confusion with both the 1989 Jet Li movie of the same or Paul Thomas Anderson’s recent work. Directing duties have been handed off to Soi Cheang, who helmed last year’s excellent Hong Kong action racer Motorway. The film will begin shooting this year.

"Green Street 3: Never Back Down" UK DVD Cover

If you’ve ever seen the fights that sometimes break out after a UK football match, you know that sports fans over there can be a testy bunch. Unsurprisingly, the widespread violence related to the sport has proved to be a source of inspiration to filmmakers. Back in 2005, Punisher: War Zone helmer Lexi Alexander directed Elijah Wood in Green Street Hooligans. The film managed to spawn a direct-to-video sequel in 2009, which moved the action to a prison.

Well, it looks like things are about to get even bloodier in Green Street Hooligans: Underground as action extraordinaire Scott Adkins has been called in help fill out the cast. This is actually the first British film that the England-born Adkins has been a part of. James Nunn, the filmmaker behind Fantastic Fest ’12’s breakout hit Tower Block, is handling directing duties. Today Scott Adkins posted several pictures from the film shoot on his Facebook page. Expect more news on this movie as it becomes available!

BREAKING NEWS: Watch the trailer for Green Street Hooligans: Underground (aka Green Street 3: Never Back Down. – Thanks to Film Combat Syndicate!

"Lari" Malaysian Theatrical Poster

At first glance, a new Malaysian martial arts film called Lari appears to be knockoff of The Raid. Whether it was intentional or not, the film’s poster features Aaron Aziz in SWAT-style clothing, similar to what Iko Uwais wears in The Raid, which happens to be the most influential action film of the last 15 years.

To set the record straight, the trailer for Lari looks nothing like The Raid. Instead of taking place in a single building, Lari is filmed with a much broader scope that includes car lots, jungles and boats. In The Raid, Uwais is practically in his SWAT outfit throughout the whole movie; whereas in the trailer for Lari, you’ll notice that Aziz is barely seen wearing SWAT garb at all.

Whether or not marketing strategies (in this case, Lari’s poster design) were feeding off the success of The Raid or not, Lari delivers the goods as far as the trailer is concerned. If anyone out there has seen Lari, definitely share your thoughts.