"The Assassins" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Well Go USA:

Martial Arts Superstar Chow Yun-Fat Returns

THE ASSASSINS

Yifei Liu and Hiroshi Tamaki Also Star in

Director Linshan Zhao’s Historical Drama

Debuting on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital January 8^th

Bonus Materials Include a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

Details:

Legendary action hero Chow Yun-Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Dragonball: Evolution) tackles his most demanding role yet in Director Linshan Zhao’s action-adventure film THE ASSASSINS, debuting on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital January 8^th from Well Go USA Entertainment. Also starring Yifei Liu (White Vengeance) and Hiroshi Tamaki (Heavenly Forest), the lavish historical action drama is set inthe Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history and focuses on Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao (Chow Yun-Fat) in his latter years, as he explores the areas of military tactics, love, and the relationship between father and son. Bonus materials in a behind-the-scenes featurette.

Synopsis:

During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao stands as the last pillar of power preventing the collapse of the Han throne. Emperor Xian, who sits on that throne, cares more about music and poems than his own power. But behind the Emperor’s disinterest, rumors that Cao Cao wants the throne for himself have driven Emperor Xian to plot Cao Cao’s assassination, a plan that’s been years in the making. An ancient prophecy states that when the four elemental start to align, a new dynasty will arise, and in 221 A.D., they do. With the weakened government and impending omen, Cao Cao has enemies everywhere, and they all want him dead. Someone has been abducting the children of Cao Cao’s dead enemies and training them to be assassins. In 221, they are grown, and sent to infiltrate Bronze Sparrow Tower. When the four stars align over Bronze Sparrow Tower, the struggle for Cao Cao’s life begins …

Bonus Features:
–  Behind the Scenes
–  Trailer

THE ASSASSINS has a runtime of approximately 103 minutes and is not rated

Rashomon Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion Collection)

Autumn is upon us as we move into November. If you’re interested in any of these 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 11/6/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Rashomon (Blu-ray/DVD) – Japanese director Akira Kurosawa gained international recognition with this 1950 samurai-era mystery, faithfully presented in hi-def by the Criterion Collection

Eleven Samurai (DVD) – a 1996 samurai film from Eiichi Kudo, director of the original “The Thirteen Assassins”

Incredibly Ever After (Blu-ray/DVD) – Funimation presents this 2011 Hong Kong/Chinese comedy about a husband and wife superhero duo facing retirement. Starring Louis Koo and Sandra Ng

I Wish (DVD) – a heartwarming 2011 Japanese family drama about two young brothers, separated by their parents’ divorce, who hope a new bullet-train system will reunite them

The Day He Arrives (DVD) – a low key, black & white 2011 Korean drama about a film director who finds himself living each day exactly like the last

The Vertical Ray of the Sun (DVD) – a 2000 Vietnamese-language drama from the director of “The Scent of Green Papaya,” about three sisters dealing with the anniversary of their mother’s death

Wu Tang Iron Fist Collection (Blu-ray) – purchase at your own risk: this collection claims to hold 25 ‘vintage kung fu films’ on a single Blu-ray disc, but makes no mention of whether they’re dubbed or not

FOREIGN CINEMA

Even the Rain (DVD) – this 2010 Spanish-language drama follows a filmmaker’s quest to create a revisionist take on Columbus’ conquest of the Americas

Corpo Celeste (DVD) – in this 2011 Italian-language film, a young girl searches for her own spirituality against a backdrop of organized religion

Kiss Me (DVD) – an engaged woman finds her life complicated when she falls in love with another woman in this 2012 Swedish-language film

Outskirts (DVD) – a 1933 Russian-language picture that has been heralded as a pioneer of early sound

By the Bluest of Seas (DVD) – although many films of the early Soviet era are considered propaganda, this 1936 picture is a comedy about love and friendship

MAINSTREAM

The Amazing Spider-Man (Blu-ray/DVD) – Spidey swings back into action in this 2012 summer blockbuster from “500 Days of Summer” director Marc Webb

Fire With Fire (DVD) – Bruce Willis and Josh Duhamel (“Transformers”) go the direct-to-video route with this 2012 crime thriller

Maximum Conviction (Blu-ray/DVD) – two titans of direct-to-video action movies, Steven Seagal and Steve Austin, collide in this 2012 prison-set feature

360 (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2011 drama about how all lives are connected. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, and Rachel Weisz

Hirokin: The Last Samurai (DVD) – Wes Bentley stars as the ‘last samurai’ in this 2011 post-apocalyptic tale

Fighting Sullivans (DVD) – this 1944 World War II picture is considered one of the ‘inspirations’ for Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan”

Blue-Eyed Butcher (DVD) – Sarah Paxton stars in this 2012 drama about a suburban housewife who seems to have it all…until she murders her husband

Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed (DVD) – a low-budget World War II film made in 2012

CULT MOVIES

Gator Bait (DVD) – it’s some trashy Cajun exploitation with this 1974 redneck drama starring a Playboy Playmate of the Year

Gator Bait II: Cajun Justice (DVD) – the exploitation fun continues over a decade later with this 1988 sequel to “Gator Bait”

Running Cool (DVD) – this 1993 biker film is lauded by real-life bikers for its accurate depiction of the riding pasttime

NEW TO BLU-RAY

Sunset Boulevard (Blu-ray) – the classic 1950 Hollywood film noir starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, now in hi-def 

Die Nibelungen: Kino Classics Deluxe Remastered Edition (Blu-ray) – Kino Films presents this 1924 Nordic epic from legendary director Fritz Lang (“Metropolis”)

Planes Trains & Automobiles (Blu-ray) – Steve Martin and John Candy headline this beloved 1987 comedy from director John Hughes, now in hi-def

Dark Star – Thermostellar Edition (Blu-ray) – John Carpenter’s 1974 sci-fi comedy makes its way to Blu

Von Ryan’s Express (Blu-ray) – a 1965 World War II adventure picture starring Frank Sinatra

The Client (Blu-ray) – Joel Schumacher directs this 1994 legal thriller starring Tommy Lee Jones

The Bonfire of the Vanities (Blu-ray) – Brian De Palma’s 1990 adaptation of the Tom Wolfe novel, starring Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis, was long considered one of Hollywood’s biggest bombs

ANIMATION

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (Blu-ray) – the long unavailable 1989 animated film based on the beloved comic strip comes to hi-def

HORROR

They Live (Blu-ray) – John Carpenter’s 1988 sci-fi/horror cult classic starring “Rowdy” Roddy Piper arrives in hi-def

Rec 3 (DVD) – the 2012 latest installment in the popular [REC] series comes to DVD

The Pact (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2012 indie haunted house tale co-starring Casper Van Dien

American Nightmare (DVD) – Katrina’s Nightmare Theater presents this 1981 horror movie co-starring Michael Ironside

DeathShip (Remastered Widescreen Edition) (DVD) – Scorpion Entertainment offers this 1980 horror movie co-starring Richard Crenna of “Rambo” fame. The Blu-ray hits retail next month

Outpost: Black Sun (Blu-ray/DVD) – during the closing days of WWII, the Nazis are able to create a powerful zombie force in this 2012 flick

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!

"The Crow" Japanese Theatrical Poster

According to the latest issue of BLR, Alex Proyas was in the process of releasing a definitive director’s cut of The Crow, but due to studio politics, his plans fell through.

This is what Proyas told BLR: “There’s a pretty good director’s cut of The Crow and I’d love to do it one day, but last time we tried to put something together, negotiations with the studio fell apart because they were not willing or able to give me the creative control over the project I had asked for. Until I can be assured that I will be allowed to make this in a correct and respectful manner, a definitive Crow will sadly never be done.”

To read the full, revealing interview, grab the October issue of BLR at the fanzine’s official website.

"Triad" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Online now is a trailer for Triad, a new Chinese movie that takes an in-depth look at the Hong Kong Triad. As of late, Chinese moviemakers have shied away from exploring modern organized crime in China and Hong Kong so as to not run afoul of censorship. Perhaps it won’t come as a surprise, then, that Triad is set in pre-1997 handover Hong Kong.

The story follows a college-educated young man (played by William Chan) who decides to give up the straight and narrow for a life in the Triads. He very quickly ascends the ranks, even as he offends his elders by operating extra-circular businesses. But his entire house of cards might come toppling down when he realizes someone close has betrayed him.

Hop on over to Far East Films to check out the trailer. The film appears to have a slightly low-budget aura but, who knows, this might be the throwback to old-school Hong Kong gangster movies we’ve been waiting for. At the very least, the movie is carrying a Category III rating – likely for violence and the fact that it takes a close look at Triad initiations.

Triad is directed by Daniel Chan, who reveals on his production blog that this is the first real gangster movie made in Hong Kong since 2007. Expect Triad in Mainland Chinese theaters on November 15th, 2012.

Update: Far East Films has the second trailer for the film.

"Wolfenstein 3D" PC Box Cover

Panorama Media and Samuel Hadida announced today the production of Castle Wolfenstein. The action-adventure film, inspired by the iconic game franchise, is written and will be directed by Academy Award® winner Roger Avary. Hadida will produce through his Davis Films Productions, and global sales will be handled by Panorama’s Marc Butan and Kimberly Fox. Talks with U.S. distributors are underway.

The story follows a young US Army Captain and a British Special Agent on a top secret mission to Castle Wolfenstein, where Hitler will be for the unveiling of a new secret weapon.

Hadida explained, “With Roger at the helm, we expect everyone will join us for a wild and fun cinematic ride that will grab contemporary film audiences with the same irreverent, hip, over the top approach that Roger brought to Pulp Fiction and the other films he has either written or directed.”

Avary noted, “I’ve been playing the Wolfenstein games since I was a kid, and feel that their outlandish sensibility has deeply influenced my own writing and directing throughout my career.”

The above press release is from Panorama Media, via Collider. For the full press release, please visit Collider.

"Bloodmoon" DVD Cover

Fleur De Lis Film Studios announced today that actor and martial artist Gary Daniels (The Expendables, Bloodmoon, Tekken) will lead the cast of the action-adventure Blackwater, to be directed by veteran stuntman and producer B.J Davis.

Davis, who has worked in stunts on a variety of action classics, including The Delta Force and Universal Soldier, says “Gary Daniels and I go back for decades. He is one of the best in the business. Blackwater will be a real showcase for him – as both a martial-artist and actor. ”

Daniels plays a Special Ops trooper who switches sides and sets out to seek justice for the oppressed he was hired to police.

Andrew Lawrence (Sniper 3) and Christopher Showerman (C.S.I Miami) have also been cast in the film, which action-movie vet John D.Schofield (Doom) is producing. The studio describes the film as All Quiet On The Western Front set in Afghanistan.

Cityonfire.com received the above press release from October Coast.

"The Last Supper" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Chinese director Lu Chuan first made waves internationally with his 2009 film City of Life and Death, a movie praised for its stark depiction of the 1937 massacre of Nanking by the Japanese imperial army. Now Lu Chuan is prepping his latest endeavor, The Last Supper, which takes audiences farther back in history to the end of the Qin Dynasty. The story focuses on the famous Hongmen Banquet, which was held in 206 B.C. by one warlord with the express purpose of assassinating his rival.

If the black-and-white realism of City of Life and Death made you think this new historical epic would be similarly gritty, think again. In a new interview with Film Business Asia, Lu Chuan explains his approach to the material: “I’ve tried to bring a new style to Chinese historical movies. An almost sci-fi look, with flying around and immortal characters.”

In addition, Lu Chuan reveals that this film won’t just be a dusty commentary on something that happened thousands of years ago. Says Chuan: “In China there are many topics we cannot touch openly. However, historical movies act like a cover, a camouflage, [and] obscures the director’s meaning.”

The Last Supper features an impressive cast, including Yu Liu (Curse of the Golden Flower), Daniel Wu (New Police Story), and Chen Chang (Crouching Tigger, Hidden Dragon). The film is expected to release sometime in 2012, though Lu Chuan says that he is not aiming to meet festival deadlines for Cannes or elsewhere, and that The Last Supper is meant for Chinese and global audiences to enjoy once it is completed. In the meantime, you can head over to Chinese Films for a Behind the Scenes video.

Update: Building on our coverage from yesterday, the hallucinatory first trailer and some character posters have hit the web. Here are some new stills from the film, featuring Daniel Wu and his character’s impressive battle armor.

Director Lu Chuan recently spoke about the challenge Chinese directors face in trying to compete with Hollywood. Says Chuan: “Hollywood makes dreams come true for audiences through cameras. Over the past one hundred years, their movies have been the quintessence of cinema aesthetics. Why do Chinese filmmakers always make movies for themselves rather than for our audiences? We should think about that…We should learn from them [Hollywood] and guard the dignity of the Chinese film industry together.”

The Last Supper has been delayed from its original July 5, 2012 release date. There is speculation that the producers did not want to compete with the deluge of Hollywood blockbusters coming this summer, while director Lu Chuan joked that his film simply hasn’t been approved or given a rating by the State Film board yet. A special director’s panel at the Shanghai Film Fest recently discussed issues of movie censorship and Hollywood competition in China. Director Lu Chuan became very emotional while addressing the delay on The Last Supper but would not go into details. Says Lu Chuan: “The year of 2012 is a very dangerous year for the Chinese film industry.”

BREAKING NEWS: After a long delay due to possible censorship issues, The Last Supper will arrive in Chinese theaters on November 29th, 2012. Here’s a new poster to celebrate.

"Punch" Korean Theatrical Poster

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from 5 Points Pictures: Film distributor 5 Points Pictures is pleased to announce the two-disc, special-edition DVD release of Punch, which will be available on February 19, 2013.

A coming-of-age story with equal parts humor and humanity, Punch features direction by Lee Han (Lover’s Concerto, Almost Love) and standout performances from Yoo Ah-in (Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Antique) and Kim Yun-seok (The Thieves, The Chaser), along with Kim Sang-ho (Moss, City Hunter TV), Park Soo-young (Architecture 101) and Jasmine Lee.

Punch was one of 2011’s surprise box-office champs – with more than 5.3 million tickets sold in South Korea – and following its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, it went on to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival, Udine Far East Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, and Fantasia Film Festival, as well as throughout North America.

Based upon a best-selling young-adult novel by Kim Ryeo-ryeong, Punch was produced by UBU Film and Another Pictures. It is presented by CJ Entertainment.

“Both moving and challenging, offering an appealing set of
offbeat characters, sly humour and honest human drama.”

– James Mudge, BeyondHollywood.com

“I was so invested in the film’s protagonists that I was sad
to be leaving them when the credits rolled.
This is the kind of film that reminds you why
Korean cinema is so well-regarded.”

– Pierce Conran, Modern Korean Cinema

Disc details: 5 Points Pictures’ release of Punch will feature an upgraded English translation of the film, plus nearly an hour and 15 minutes of translated and subtitled video extras from the South Korean limited-edition releases. Running time is 107 minutes, exclusive of bonus material.