"The Four" Character Poster with Collin Chou

The Four is a new wuxia film from director Gordon Chan (Fist of Legend), based on author Wan Ray-an’s famous novels about four detectives in ancient China. The cast includes Deng Chao, Ronald Cheng, Collin Chou, and Crystal Liu.

Gordon Chan and the cast were in Beijing yesterday to promote the film, which is considered one of the most anticipated Chinese films of 2012. They unveiled the trailer, which will hopefully appear online any day now. Says Chan, who co-directed the film with Janet Chun: “I never shoot real wuxia films. In this field, my best teacher was Tsui Hark, and I don’t dare get involved in this casually. I hope my teacher is able to see my efforts in this film.”

It was announced that The Four will open in China on July 12th, 2012, just a week after director Lu Chuan’s historical epic The Last Supper.

Enlight Media is the company behind The Four; CEO Wang Changtian claims that this film is just the first installment of a planned trilogy – and that shooting has already begun on Parts 2 and 3. Wang added, “I’m crazy about wuxia.”

Updates: Here’s the teaser trailer, courtesy of Twitch. Chinese Films has some high resolution stills revealing the four warriors in question. And here’s two conceptual posters. The cast promoted the film in Beijing the other day and unveiled seven new character posters. A brand new trailer and even more character posters over at Chinese Films.

A visually-stunning and action-packed new trailer. You probably figured nothing could top that last trailer, right? And you’d be right. So today we’ve got a trailer of behind-the-scenes footage. Can you really believe there’s yet another trailer? Chinese Films has a Special Trailer now online.

Some new images emphasize the supernatural aspect of the film. Makes sense since the plot has our four detective heroes discovering and battling an army of the undead.

BREAKING NEWS: Gordon Chan’s The Four has grossed 100 million yuan at the Chinese box office, making it a smashing success. Which can only mean one thing: sequel time. The cameras have already started rolling on Chan’s second installment of The Four trilogy, with word that Part Three will begin shooting as soon as Part Two is completed. Both Anthony Wong and Collin Chou are returning for the sequels.

"The King of the Streets" Chinese Poster

The King of the Streets is a new Chinese-language action film produced, written, directed, and starring martial artist Yuen Song. Very little is known about the movie, including the plot or even a release date, but this new trailer at Chinese Films speaks for itself. Although most of the fighting is rapidly edited, there’s no denying that the trailer itself has more action than many recent Hong Kong movies in their entirety.

It looks like Yuen Song is trying to get back to the good old days, when one skilled fighter could hold off about twenty opponents in a ramshackle warehouse, making use of nearby props and boards to cause maximum damage. Stay tuned to Cityonfire.com for more info on the film as we discover it. In the meantime, you can check out a few stills and some self-made videos of Yuen Song at this blog.

Update: The film had its premiere in Beijing recently. In The King of the Streets, actor/martial artist Yuen Song squares off against more than 10 top world boxers. The plot concerns Yuen Song as an angry young man looking to avenge the death of his parents some eight years ago to local gangsters.

"The Punisher" Theatrical Poster

First there was the 1988’s The Punisher, directed by Mark Goldblatt (Dead Heat) and starring Dolph Lundgren; Then came 2004’s The Punisher, directed by Jonathan Hensleigh (Kill the Irishman) and starring Thomas Jane; And finally there was 2008’s Punisher: War Zone, directed by Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans) and starring Ray Stevenson.

And now we have 2012’s Dirty Laundry, a short film in which Thomas Jane reprises the role – unofficially – as The Punisher. The short film (watch it now on youtube), which was presented at the San Diego Comic-Con this past Saturday, was put together by Jane and comic book artist Tim Bradstreet (who also worked on both the 2004 and 2008 Punisher movie posters). The short also stars Hellboy’s Ron Perlman.

The youtube description has a few words from Jane: “I wanted to make a fan film for a character I’ve always loved and believed in – a love letter to Frank Castle and his fans. It was an incredible experience with everyone on the project throwing in their time just for the fun of it. It’s been a blast to be a part of from start to finish – we hope the friends of Frank enjoy watching it as much as we did making it.”

"Enter the Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Hong Kong film expert Bey Logan recently posted a video (for the now defunct UK TV channel, CNX) which features a ‘location guide’ to accompany a screening of Enter the Dragon, as well as a mini Bruce Lee documentary with lots of interesting information. Logan also gives his take on Lee’s passing (conjecture as you may, as he states). Watch it now on youtube.com.

While you’re at it, please be sure and visit Bey Logan’s own reeleast.com. Not only does his website have cool articles, but it also has an online store where you can get genuine promotional items from classic Hong Kong films, including movies, books, flyers, posters, lobby cards, T-shirts and much more.

"Finding Mr. Destiny" (5 Points Pictures)

It’s a light week for Asian cinema but any Tuesday that sees the release of vintage Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal movies in hi-def can’t be all bad, right? So let’s get cracking. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 7/17/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Finding Mr. Destiny (DVD) – 5 Points Pictures presents this winsome 2010 Korean romantic comedy about one woman’s quest to reunite with her first love

Jackie Chan’s Project A (Blu-ray) – Echo Bridge offers the Miramax cut and dubbed version of Jackie Chan’s 1983 action classic, co-starring Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao

Operation Condor (Blu-ray) – you can also snag the Miramax cut/dubbed version of Jackie Chan’s 1991 sequel to “Armour of God”

Protect the Boss (DVD) – the 2011 Korean TV drama following quirky office romance comes to North America with a 6-disc DVD set

FOREIGN CINEMA

Extraterrestrial (DVD) – a man wakes up in a beautiful woman’s bed – just as aliens are invading the earth in this quirky 2011 Spanish-language sci-fi comedy

The Turin Horse (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2012 Hungarian-language film from master filmmaker Bela Tarr examines the philosophy of Nietzsche through the life of a peasant farmer

The Fairy (Blu-ray/DVD) – this charming 2010 French comedy follows a hotel clerk who falls in love with a wish-granting fairy

MAINSTREAM

Lockout (Blu-ray/DVD) – produced by Luc Besson, this 2012 sci-fi action movie starring Guy Pearce as a Han Solo-esque tough guy arrives on home formats

Get the Gringo (Blu-ray/DVD) – Mel Gibson finds trouble South of the Border in this gritty 2012 action flick

Intruders (Blu-ray/DVD) – Clive Owen stars in this disturbing 2012 horror film from the director of “28 Weeks Later”

4:44 Last Days on Earth (Blu-ray/DVD) – controversial filmmaker Abel Ferarra (“Bad Lieutenant”) directors Willem Dafoe in this apocalyptic tale of Earth’s last days

Here (DVD) – Ben Forster stars in this 2012 independent film about a brief but intense romance set against the backdrop of Armenia

Down by Law (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers iconoclast director Jim Jarmusch’s 1986 black-and-white indie film co-starring Tom Waits

Deserters (Blu-ray/DVD) – Tom Hardy co-stars as a member of the French Foreign Legion in a new director’s cut of this 2011 thriller

Assassination (DVD) – action icon Charles Bronson stars as a Secret Service agent out to protect First Lady Jill Ireland in this 1987 flick

NEW TO BLU-RAY

Mean Streets (Blu-ray) – starring Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese’s classic 1973 picture comes to hi-def

Hard to Kill (Blu-ray) – fresh out of a coma and out for revenge, Steven Seagal takes no prisoners in this fan favorite 1990 action movie, now in hi-def

Lone Wolf Mcquade (Blu-ray) – arguably Norris’ finest hour, Chuck Norris and David Carradine square off in this 1983 action movie classic – on Blu-ray for the first time

Code of Silence (Blu-ray) – Chuck Norris and his robotic police pal take out the trash on the streets of Chicago in this 1985 action movie from the director of “The Fugitive” and “Under Siege”

Cellular (Blu-ray) – before he became Captain America, Chris Evans starred in this fun 2004 genre flick from the director of “Final Destination 2.” Also featuring Jason Statham as the bad guy

Next of Kin (Blu-ray) – Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson raise hell as backwoods brothers out to protect their own in this overlooked 1989 action movie

The Butterfly Effect Director’s & Theatrical Cut (Blu-ray) – this mind-bending, time-traveling 2004 sci-fi movie starring Ashton Kutcher has maintained a cult following over the years

A Perfect Murder (Blu-ray) – before he was Aragorn, Viggo Mortenson stole Michael Douglas’ wife in this 1998 thriller

Just Cause (Blu-ray) – Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne headline this 1995 legal thriller

Murder in the First (Blu-ray) – Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Oldman star in this 1995 film about a young attorney defending a petty criminal accused of murder in the first degree

RE-ISSUES

Spider-Man Trilogy (IMPORT Blu-ray) – Amazon is offering Sam Raimi’s 00’s “Spider-Man” films together in a UK Blu-ray set for $44.99. Be advised these discs are Region B and will not play on standard American Blu-ray players

CLASSICS

Singin’ in the Rain 60th Anniversary (Blu-ray) – the classic 1952 musical starring Gene Kelly receives a 60th Anniversary Blu-ray release

Camelot (Blu-ray) – Richard Harris stars as King Arthur in the 1967 film adaptation of the medieval musical

First a Girl (DVD) – the 1935 black and white musical, on DVD from VCI Entertainment

The Way Ahead (DVD) – actor David Niven headlines this 1944 World War II classic

HORROR

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Blu-ray) – director Don Siegel’s (“Dirty Harry”) 1956 paranoid sci-fi classic is now in hi-definition

The Blood Beast Terror (Remastered Edition) (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 1968 Hammer horror film starring Peter Cushing comes to Blu-ray. Cushing investigates a blood-sucking giant moth that can take the form of a beautiful woman!

Burke & Hare (Remastered Edition) (Blu-ray/DVD) – history’s most infamous body-snatching duo are brought to life in this 1972 Hammer horror film

Hellraiser VI: Hellseeker (Blu-ray) – those nasty Cenobites just won’t stop in this 2002 direct-to-video entry in Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” series

Darkness (Blu-ray) – Anne Paquin stars in this 2002 horror film from Spanish director Jaume Balagueró (the “REC” series)

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!