Angel 3 | aka Iron Angels 3 (1989) Review

"Iron Angels 3" Theatrical Poster

“Iron Angels 3” Theatrical Poster

Director: Teresa Woo San
Cast: Moon Lee Choi-Fung, Alex Fong Chung-Sun, Kharina, Ralph Chan Shing-Gwai, Mark Steinborn, Katy Hickman, Marco Lo Chi-Fung, Bill Rockloff
Running Time: 91 min. 

By Z Ravas

1989’s Iron Angels 3 was the third Iron Angels film in as many years, which makes one wonder whether these movies were a smashing success in the local Hong Kong market or else Teresa Woo’s production company Molesworth simply hit a groove in the late 80’s that saw them turning out these Girls with Guns flicks with efficient ease. Either way, I must once again sing the praises of distributor Vinegar Syndrome for bringing together the entire trilogy in one attractive hi-def package, albeit in a limited number (they apparently sold out of the initial 5,000 print run in a matter of days).

For those of you just joining us, the Iron Angels series is a loose trilogy of Hong Kong action films about a co-ed Charlie’s Angels-like group of mercenaries; the Angels are the team that get called in when a terrorist or criminal threat is simply too much for local law enforcement to handle. I say ‘loose’ trilogy because continuity is not exactly a priority here; the purported leader of the Angels, portrayed by David Chiang, doesn’t show up in any of the sequels, and the lead Continue reading

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

Terrorism is beyond high alert in the New Trailer for Well Go USA’s upcoming action-comedy ‘A Cool Fish 2’

"A Cool Fish 2" Theatrical Poster

“A Cool Fish 2” Theatrical Poster

In theaters on July 18 from Well Go USA is A Cool Fish 2, an upcoming action-comedy from director Rao Xiaozhi (Home Coming, End Game).

Sanjin, the little brother of Yiwu-based businessman Chen, ventures to Southeast Asia to expand his business and prove his mettle. Just as he strikes a deal with a television station, his business is hit by a global recession and a terrorist attack. Will Sanjin choose to be devoured by darkness, or will he be reborn from the ashes?

The film stars Zhang Yu (Dying to Survive), Ren Suxi (A Cool Fish), Pan Binlong (Stand by Me), Ma Yinyin (Under the Skin) and Guo Yiqian (Day Dreaming).

Watch Well Go USA’s New Continue reading

Posted in News |

Peking Opera Blues | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Shout)

On September 23, 2025, Shout Studios is releasing the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray for Peking Opera Blues, a 1986 Hong Kong classic from visionary director, Tsui Hark (Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, The Taking of Tiger Mountain, Knock Off).

In 1913 Beijing, three fierce women (Brigitte Lin, Sally Yeh and Cherie Chung) — disguised rebel Tsao Wan, jewel-seeking Sheung Hung, and opera heiress Continue reading

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

Aki Aleong, actor, singer, activist and action film star, passes away

Aki Aleong, an actor, singer, activist and action film star, passed away on June 22. In addition to a decades-long career in TV shows, some of his most memorable movies includes 1988’s Braddock: Missing in Action III, 2015’s Pound of Flesh and 2017’s Savage Dog.

Our heartfelt thoughts and Continue reading

Posted in News |

Lalo Schifrin, film composer of ‘Mission: Impossible’, ‘Dirty Harry’ and ‘Enter the Dragon’, passes away

Lalo Schifrin, the Grammy-winning music composer of the Mission: Impossible TV theme and film scores including Cool Hand Luke, Bullitt, Dirty Harry, Enter the Dragon, The Big Brawl and Rush Hour, has died of complications Continue reading

Posted in News |

Fight or Flight | Blu-ray (Vertical)

Fight or Flight | Blu-ray (Vertical)

Fight or Flight | Blu-ray (Vertical)

On July 22, 2025, Vertical Entertainment is releasing the Blu-ray for James Madigan’s Fight or Flight, a 2025 fan-favorite that stars Josh Hartnett (Oh Lucy!, Bunraku) and martial arts sensation Marko Zaror (Fist of the Condor, Invincible).

In the film, a mercenary takes on the job of tracking down a target on a plane but must protect her when they’re surrounded by people trying to kill both of them.

Fight or Flight also stars Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Charithra Chandran (Eternals), Julian Kostov (The Last Front), Sarah Lam (Dune: Prophecy), Sanjeev Kohli (Filth), JuJu Chan Szeto (Savage Do), as well as action choreographed by Brahim Chab (Monkey Man).

Pre-order today Continue reading

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

Gonna Catch ‘Em All? Shout Studios brings Hong Kong’s most captivating masterpieces to Los Angeles and New York City

Shout! Studios and Hong Kong Cinema Classics are thrilled to bring some of the best of these movies to audiences through the Hong Kong Cinema Classics Retrospective Film series at Los Angeles’s American Cinematheque and New York City’s IFC Center this August.

This highly anticipated retrospective will continue to tour select markets throughout this fall. Featuring classics from the Golden Princess library by renowned Continue reading

Posted in News |

John Woo’s killer cut? 88 Films’ Blu-ray for ‘Sunset Warriors’ (aka ‘Heroes Shed No Tears’) now shipping

Now shipping is 88 Films’ Blu-ray for John Woo’s Sunset Warriors (aka Heroes Shed No Tears), a 1983 Hong Kong action film that stars Eddie Ko Hung (The Miracle Fighters) and Lam Ching Ying (Mr. Vampire).

An overlooked classic from an action master! Made by John Woo just before the game-changing A Better Tomorrow, Sunset Warriors was hacked about by the studio Continue reading

Posted in News |

The Resurrection of Golden Wolf | Blu-ray (Umbrella)

On October 8, 2025, Australian label Umbrella Entertainment is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) for 1979’s The Resurrection of Golden Wolf, a rare Japanese crime-thriller from a 4K restoration. The film features the iconic Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill Vol. 2) and Yusaku Matsuda (Black Rain).

Yusaka Matsuda stars as a seemingly run-of-the-mill corporate salary man who leads a double life as a vicious criminal by night. In a delicious scheme Continue reading

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

Tong Gai, ‘Shaolin Prince’ and ‘Shaolin Intruders’ director, martial artist, choreographer and actor, passes away

Tong Gai

Tong Gai, a martial artist, filmmaker, choreographer and actor is known for directing 1983’s Shaolin Prince, 1983’s Shaolin Intruders and 1984’s Opium and the Kung-Fu Master. Some of his most memorable roles include 1967’s One Armed Swordsman and 1969’s Return of the One-Armed Swordsman.

Media outlets are reporting Continue reading

Posted in News |

Angel | aka Iron Angels (1987) Review

"Iron Angels" Japanese Poster

“Iron Angels” Japanese Poster

Director: Teresa Woo San
Cast: Saijo Hideki, Elaine Lui, Yukari Oshima, Alex Fong Chung Sun, David Chiang, Hwang Jang Lee, Peter Yang Kwan, Wang Hsieh, Lam Chung, Chiang Tao
Running Time: 93 min. 

By Z Ravas

I can’t say this period of history has many consolations for those of us living through it, but getting to experience obscure Hong Kong action films via terrific looking and sounding boutique Blu-ray releases is most assuredly one of them. The first time I saw Iron Angels, it was on a crappy Region 0 DVD that I ordered off of Ebay; I say ‘crappy’ mostly because the disc kept skipping during the final twenty minutes of the movie. (If you’ve seen Iron Angels, you know some of the film’s best action is crammed into the final twenty minutes. You don’t want to miss that part!). What a difference a few years make: now I have the privilege of watching Iron Angels with a pristine hi-definition transfer, courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome.

And if you’re unfamiliar with this series, it’s absolutely worth springing for Syndrome’s recent 3-film box set. The first film ranks up there alongside Royal Warriors and She Shoots Straight as one of the finest examples of that Hong Kong subgenre fondly remembered as Girls with Guns. The movie has the brilliant idea to ask, ‘What if Charlie’s Angels were co-ed and Charlie was played by Shaw Brothers legend David Chiang?’ The story opens with a sequence that could Continue reading

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

Hi-Five (2025) Review

"Hi-Five" Theatrical Poster

“Hi-Five” Theatrical Poster

Director: Kang Hyeong-Cheol
Cast: Lee Jae-in, Ra Mi-ran, Oh Jung-se, Park Jin-young, Ahn Jae-hong, Kim Hee-won, Shin Gu, Yoo Ah-in, Choi Eun-kyeong, Na Jin-su, Jin Hee-kyung
Running Time: 119 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Where audiences suffering more from superhero fatigue in 2025 than they were in 2022? It’s a question worth pondering, since the 3 years in-between is how long the Korean superhero comedy Hi-Five has sat on the shelf. Delayed from its original release after actor Yoo Ah-in was charged will illegal drug use in 2023, since his release from serving a five-month prison sentence in February 2025, it would appear the completion of his punishment has also served as the cue to release the past productions he was involved in. The Match hit screens in May 2025, a drama which cast Ah-in alongside Lee Byung-hun and had originally been set for release in 2023, and a month later Hi-Five also hit the screens, which had originally been planned for release even earlier in 2022.

Whatever your views are on Korea’s approach to celebrities who commit misdemeanours, its always a relief when a completed movie that was potentially going to have its release cancelled finally sees the light of day, particularly when the director at the helm is Kang Hyeong-cheol (Swing Kids, Sunny). Much like Choi Dong-hoon, Hyeong-cheol is one of Korea’s most Continue reading

Posted in All, Korean, News, Reviews | Tagged |

Ai-YAH!? Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li Hong Kong classics to get reimagined remakes using AI technology

The China Film Foundation is partnering with various Chinese film studios to reimagine Kung Fu classics using AI technology. Some of the titles on the to-do list include Fist of Fury, The Big Boss, Once Upon a Time in China, and Drunken Master.

According to Deadline, the “AI reimagining” includes the goal of remastering 100 seminal kung fu films, using AI to enhance the overall production quality Continue reading

Posted in News |

Flaming Brothers | Blu-ray (Eureka)

On September 15, 2025, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Flaming Brothers, a 1987 Hong Kong actioner from director Joe Cheung (Pom Pom and Hot Hot).

A standout Hong Kong crime thriller released amidst the wave of heroic bloodshed films that followed in the wake of John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow and Ringo Lam’s City on FireFlaming Brothers features Alan Tang and Chow Yun-fat (who was quickly rising Continue reading

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

Which AI Technique Is Commonly Used in Game Playing?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is experiencing rapid development and is now being applied to the world of gaming. It has greatly improved the way people play. Games become more intelligent, lively, and interactive with the help of AI. With the help of these algorithms, game playing teaches AI to make better decisions for various uses.

Among the many AI techniques, the Minimax algorithm is the most notable. This blog will detail how this AI method functions and discuss its impact on playing games.

Photo credit

What is the Minimax Algorithm?

The Minimax algorithm is the strongest method used in AI to help it decide its moves in competitive games. It is mostly found in games where two players play against each other. Examples of these games are chess, tic-tac-toe, and checkers.

It helps players understand what options are available and select the strongest one. Using this algorithm, AI players analyse moves and pick the one that helps them the most, as they consider how their opponent will react.

Key features: 

  • MOVEGEN: This is used to generate all possible moves. 
  • STATIC EVALUATION: It gives a score for each move based on how good or bad it is.

How it works:

  • The first player tries to maximise their chances of winning. 
  • The second player tries to reduce the chances.

The algorithm looks ahead, simulates moves, and chooses the one that leads to the best possible outcome.

How Minimax is used in playing games

Let’s take tic-tac-toe as an example:

  • A win scores +10.
  • A loss scores -10.
  • A draw scores 0.

With the Minimax algorithm, the AI comes up with the best move to make. Either a move that prevents your opponent from attacking or destroying them will be chosen by the program.

That’s how some gaming bots can act smart and choose options like a human.

Other AI Techniques in Game Playing

Minimax is powerful, but it’s not the only AI method in use. Here are a few others:

Rule-Based Systems

They use logic in which events are linked using conditionals. For instance, whenever a player visits a dangerous area, the game brings out an enemy. It may be simple, but it proves to be effective in various games.

Finite State Machines

They let NPCs (non-player characters) switch the things they do in the game. An instance of this is an enemy who moves about during patrol, attacks the player or flees as determined by events in the game.

Machine Learning (ML)

Machine learning helps Artificial Intelligence to learn from what the other opponents do. This will help players learn and grow smarter while playing. 

For example, Platforms like daman colour prediction apply machine learning models to analyse patterns and predict outcomes, seamlessly blending entertainment with engagement. 

Conclusion

AI has revolutionised the gaming industry. Game techniques like Minimax allow moves to be made intelligently by a game, while machine learning and procedural generation move games to a new level.

From guessing your next move in tic-tac-toe to changing stories and levels quickly, AI has become very important in games today.

Keep an eye on how AI continues to transform the way we play. The future of games is not just digital—it’s intelligent.

Posted in News |