"Le Samourai" French Theatrical Poster

Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 film Le Samourai remains one of the most influential genre movies of all time thanks to icy, existential cool. The French riff on gangster cinema has inspired filmmakers as diverse as Walter Hill (The Driver) and Johnnie To (Vengeance). Now it looks like legendary Hong Kong director John Woo is planning to tip his hat to Melville’s film – even moreso than he did in The Killer – by helming a remake.

In a recent interview translated by SlashFilm, Woo states that Le Samourai will be one of his next films as a director. The story is being transported to Berlin, thanks to German financiers putting up money for the budget, while the script is currently been worked on. Woo admits his Le Samourai will likely have to be shot in English.

Don’t forget that Woo supposedly has a remake of Youth of the Beast in the works as well. Either way, fans of the director are simply eager for Woo to get behind the camera again.

"Snitch" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: After a lengthy detour into the world of family movies, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is getting back to doing what he does best: action movies. Much fuss has been made over G.I. Joe: Retaliation‘s delay to March 2013, but The Rock has another movie to tide us over in the meantime.

Snitch is a gritty thriller from Summit Entertainment, featuring The Rock as a concerned father out to clear his son’s name of drug charges. In order to do so, The Rock has to go way, way undercover into the dangerous world of drug dealers and armed cartels.

Updates: The trailer for the film is online now. Sure, we wish Snitch was carrying an R rating instead of a PG-13, but with the focus on Fast and Furious-style convoy chases rather than The Rock filling goons with bullet holes, perhaps the rating won’t matter too much.

Either way, prepare for Snitch to spill everything to the feds in theaters this February 22nd, 2013. Introducing the first poster.

BREAKING NEWS: Check out the film’s Super Bowl TV spot.

Jackie Chan Double Feature: Police Story 1 & 2 (Shout! Factory)

International superstar and cultural icon Jackie Chan is a master of action and comedy. Chan’s illustrious film career ranks as one of the most amazing success stories in the entertainment industry. His movies continue to have an enduring impact throughout the world.

On April 16, 2013, Shout! Factory will unleash Police Story I and Police Story II Double Feature deluxe Blu-ray™ and DVD.

Boasting world renowned international film stars and pulse-pounding action sequences, these two highly regarded world cinema classics debut in a double feature movie presentation on Blu-ray™ in North America. A must-have for loyal fans, collectors and movie enthusiasts, own two of popular Jackie Chan cult hits on Blu-ray at an attractive price of $19.97 SRP. The special double feature DVD has a suggested retail price of $12.99.

Pre-order for Police Story and Police Story II Double Feature Collection is available now on Amazon.com.

Features: Outtakes, Theatrical Trailers, Audio: English 5.1, Cantonese 5.1, Subtitles: English, 1985/1988/Color/Police Story – 100 mins./Police Story II – 122 mins.

Cityonfire.com received the above press release from Shout! Factory.

"The Place Beyond the Pines" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: The Place Beyond the Pines is a crime film directed by Derek Cianfrance, written by Cianfrance, Ben Coccio, and Darius Marder. The film reunites Cianfance and Ryan Gosling, with whom he worked on Blue Valentine.

The plot centers around a motorcycle stunt rider (Ryan Gosling) considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, an act that puts him on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician (Bradley Cooper). Also starring Rose Byrne, Eva Mendes, Ray Liotta, Dane DeHaan and Bruce Greenwood. The Place Beyond the Pines made its debut during the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2012.

Updates: Check out the film’s first footage. Nice Hall and Oates reference. The first trailer is now online.

BREAKING NEWS: Take a look at the new poster.

"Taken" Korean Theatrical Poster

THL reports that Pierre Morel (Taken, District B13) is in negotiations to direct an action movie starring Sean Penn in The Prone Gunman, which will be based on the novel of the same by Jean-Patrick Manchette. The film is being produced by Silver Pictures’ Joel Silver (Die Hard) and Andrew Rona (Equilibrium). When deals on made final, production is set to begin this year.

According to Amazon, the book follows Martin Terrier, a hired killer who wants out of the game—so he can settle down and marry his childhood sweetheart. After all, that’s why he took up this profession! But the Organization won’t let him go: they have other plans. Once again, the gunman must assume the prone shooting position.

Bangkok Assassins DVD (Lionsgate)

The last week of January brings slim pickings for Asian film fans, but let’s soldier on anyway. If you’re interested in any of the following titles, you can support the site by ordering through our affiliate. We appreciate it!

Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 1/29/13:

ASIAN CINEMA

Bangkok Assassins (DVD) – Lionsgate presents this 2011 Thai action film about four young men who were trained in Shaolin kung fu as orphans. Also known as “Bangkok Kung Fu,” the movie features action choreography by “Ong-bak”’s Somchai Munma

MAINSTREAM

Die Hard: 25th Anniversary Collection (Blu-ray) – John McClane has always been the right man at the wrong place, wrong time. Score all four “Die Hard” films in stunning hi-def with this box set

Seven Psychopaths (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2012 quirky crime comedy from the director of “In Bruges,” starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Christopher Walken

The Cold Light of Day (Blu-ray/DVD) – from the director of “JCVD”! Bruce Willis and future Superman Henry Cavill co-star in this 2012 spy thriller that failed to catch fire at the box office

All Superheroes Must Die (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 superhero-themed indie thriller is billed as “Batman meets Saw”

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (Blu-ray/DVD) – an aging caped crusader swings into action in the second part of the animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel

Liability (DVD) – actor Tim Roth (“Reservoir Dogs”) headlines this 2012 arthouse-style crime thriller

NEW TO BLU-RAY

The Duelists (Blu-ray) – Shout! Factory presents the first hi-def release of this 1977 film – the first effort of a director you may have heard of, Ridley Scott

Flight of the Navigator (Blu-ray) – this spacefaring Disney family favorite arrives from 1986, now on Blu

The Obscure Object of Desire (Blu-ray) – the final film from the legendary Spanish filmmaker and surrealist Luis Buñuel, this 1977 movie plays a dark game of sexual politics

HORROR

White Zombie: Kino Classics’ Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – Kino presents a remastered edition of this 1932 horror favorite starring Bela Lugosi

Citadel (Blu-ray/DVD) – twisted feral children target a grieving father in this 2012 chiller that gained attention in the film festival circuit

Paranormal Activity 4 (Blu-ray/DVD) – demonic forces just won’t rest in this 2012 sequel to the popular horror franchise

The Awakening (Blu-ray/DVD) – actress Rebecca Hall (“The Town”) stars as a hoax exposer who comes up against a supernatural mystery she can’t simply explain away

Midnight Movies Vol 10: Killer Critters Double Feature (DVD) – Blue Underground presents a 2-film set including the movies “Rats: Night of Terror” and “Venom”

Midnight Movies Vol 9: Zombie Double Feature (DVD) – it’s two Italian horror flicks for the price of one, courtesy of Blue Underground. In this set you can acquire “Hell of the Living Dead” and “Nightmare City”

Midnight Movies Vol 8: Cannibal Double Feature (DVD) – develop a taste for flesh when Blue Underground presents “Cannibal Man” and “Cannibals” together on DVD

Pig/1334 (Blu-ray + DVD combo) – two highly experimental, industrial-style horror short films dating to around 1998, featuring work by Rozz Williams of Christian Death shortly before he took his own life

Cherry Tree Lane (DVD) – a young middle class couple are living the perfect life until a group of teenagers show up at their door wielding knives in this 2010 horror film

Interested in any of these movies? If so, we hope that you’ll consider ordering from our affiliate to help support this site. Thank you!