"Emperor's Concubine" Korean Theatrical Poster

Online now is the teaser trailer for a steamy new Korean period piece titled The Emperor’s Concubine. The film arrives from director Kim Dae-seung (Blood Rain) and tells the story of what happens when King Sungwon’s concubine becomes embroiled in a love affair with another man.

This all takes place during the Chosun Era, which would be helpful except that Wikipedia tells me that this period of Korean history lasted over 500 years so that doesn’t exactly narrow things down.  At any rate, the poster and teaser trailer certainly look interesting. The Emperor’s Concubine arrives in Korean theaters on June 6th, 2012. Thanks to 24 Frames Per Second for the story.

Update: A steamy new poster and trailer for your perusal.

"Button Man" Graphic Novel

After Drive’s Nicolas Winding Refn wraps up his his Thai boxing flick, Only God Forgives, the director’s next project may be The Killing Game for DreamWorks, which is based on a graphic novel called Button Man by Judge Dredd creator John Wagner and Arthur Ranson.

According to Empire, “It’s Red meets The Hunger Games!” The plot of The Killing Game involves millionaires who pay former cops and mercenaries to hunt one another to the death. Back in 2009, Screen Rant reported that Leonardo DiCaprio had signed to play Harry Exton – the main character in Button Man – who decides to break the  game rules by going after the creators of the event. Judging from the cover of the graphic novel, DiCaprio definitely fits the bill.

"The Bullet Vanishes" AKA "Ghost Bullets" Promotional Poster

Last year, Chinese film distributor China Lion made great strides in releasing more Chinese-language films in North America by partnering with AMC theaters. Chinese Films reports that the company has acquired 5 films at the Cannes Film Festival with the express purpose of screening them in American theaters.

Granted, the hardest part of putting out foreign films in the West is securing enough screens to reach an audience – I’m not sure many people living in the Midwest even realized that Dante Lam’s The Viral Factor saw an American theatrical release last year. But it’s comforting to know that China Lion is making a profit by catering to the large amount of Westerners who are eager to pay money to see Asian films at the movie theater.

Some of China Lion’s acquisitions from Cannes include the Chinese mystery-thriller The Bullet Vanishes, starring Nicholas Tse and Lau Ching-Wan, and the Thai martial arts flick Rebirth AKA Bangkok Renaissance. If action isn’t your bag (but then again, why would you be on Cityonfire.com?), you can look forward to the Hong Kong sex romp Vulgaria and the Taiwanese romantic comedies Girlfriend Boyfriend and When a Wolf Falls In Love With a Sheep. Stay tuned to this spot for further updates, such as theatrical release dates, when they become available.

"Kotoko" Japanese Theatrical Poster

At this point in his career, it’s fair to say that writer/director/actor Shinya Tsukamoto can rightfully be called a genius. The man behind such modern classics as  Tokyo Fist and A Snake of June has made an indelible mark on the genre known as “extreme Asian cinema.” Back in 1989, his 67 minute film Tetsuo: The Iron Man proved to be a landmark cyber-punk film that would go on to influence filmmakers as diverse and respected as David Cronenberg, Darren Aronofsky, and Takashi Miike.

Although Shinya Tsukamoto may have lost his way in recent years, making a stab at commerciality with films like Nightmare Detective and Tetsuo: The Bullet Man, there’s no denying that he’s still one of the most unique and important voices in global cinema.

And now he’s back with Kotoko, a thriller that looks ready to both shock and disturb. The film follows the dark journey of a new mother who’s afflicted with a second sight, one that grants her disturbing visions. Today Beyond Hollywood has a new trailer for the film, which will open in Japan on April 7, 2012. The trailer isn’t subtitled but Kotoko is also set for a theatrical release in the UK this August, with the blu-ray/DVD arriving in October.

Update: Twitch Film has the exclusive UK trailer in preparation of the film’s screening at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

"Kotsutsubo" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Over at Beyond Hollywood, you can scope out the first batch of spooky images from the new Japanese horror film, Kotsutsubo. The plot follows a high school girl trying to save her friend from a cursed urn, and is adapted from a popular short story by author Yamada Yuusuke.

The cast includes Matsubara Natsumi, Yokoyama Rurka, Miyazaki Rina, Itogi Kenta, Kanayama Kazuhiko, and Shinozaki Ai. Kotsutsubo opens in Japanase theaters on May 26, 2012. We’ll be back with a trailer when it’s available.

Update: And we’re back with the trailer and a new poster, as promised.

"Street Fight" Promotional Poster

Street Fight is a 70-minute martial arts film by the Aberdeen based, Noble Brothers Productions. The film follows the story of a young drug addict that wants to turn his life around. However, his plan involves entering a brutal fighting competition that puts him and all the people close to him in great danger.

The film contains 12 gruelling fight scenes. Each fight is choreographed by the films editor, producer, director and lead star, Graeme Noble. The fight scenes in the film are heavily influenced by Hong Kong cinema of the 1980’s. The film was shot entirely on location in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Street Fight shall be submitted to a few film festivals, including the Action On Film International Film Festival in California. Be sure and check out the trailer for Street Fight.

"One False Move" Theatrical Poster

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release on May 30th: Meyers Media Group and McDonald Entertainment have announced today that they will co-finance the thriller City of Night. The film, to be directed by award-winner Carl Franklin (One False Move), was written by David Chisholm (Kidnapped in Paradise) and will be produced by Brendan McDonald of McDonald Entertainment and Jesse B’Franklin, and executive produced by Lawrence Meyers (Unfaithful) and Randy Dannenberg of Meyers Media Group.

In City of Night, Emmett Conlin is a rookie cop aspiring to be one of the finest in the Los Angeles Police Department– until he’s unexpectedly lured into the toughest crime unit in the city and finds that his greatest danger lies within the department. Drawn into a web of deceit and betrayal by a veteran cop who has corrupted all that he touches, Emmett becomes the target of an elaborate psychological game to destroy him. Set against the teeming and dangerous backdrop of South Central L.A., City of Night is an explosive, sexually intense thriller in the tradition of LA Confidential and The Departed.

Franklin first achieved notoriety for directing the moody thriller One False Move, which won him the New Generation Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. A date for principal photography will soon be announced.

"Beyond the Black Rainbow" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: Beyond the Black Rainbow is one of the most interesting trailers I’ve ever seen – it’s like a strange fever dream of 2001: A Space Odyssey, THX-1138, and Nicolas Winding Refn’s films. Set in the strange and oppressive emotional landscape of the year 1983, Beyond the Black Rainbow is a Reagan-era fever dream inspired by hazy childhood memories of midnight movies and Saturday morning cartoons.

Beyond the Black Rainbow is directed by Panos Cosmatos, son of director George P. Cosmatos (Rambo: First Blood Part II, Tombstone) and another example of the talented offspring of famous artists who seem to be coming out of the woodwork lately, i.e. Duncan Jones’ Moon (son of David Bowie) and Jordan Scott’s Cracks (daughter of Ridley Scott).

Updates: We’re a little late on posting this, but be sure to check out a 2-minute clip, courtesy of Apple.com, which also has a trailer. If you’re not an Apple fan, the trailer is on youtube as well.

Life Without Principle DVD (Indomnia)

A sparse selection for Asian cinema this week but you can’t really say it’s a bad time when we’ve got a Johnnie To film on deck. And if you’re into French erotic vampire films from the 70’s, you’re gonna love the Horror section. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 5/29/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Life Without Principle (DVD) – Johnnie To directs this 2011 thriller about the financial crisis in Hong Kong. Starring Lau Ching Wan and Richie Ren

A Better Tomorrow (3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray) – the 2010 Korean remake of John Woo’s classic heroic bloodshed flick gets a Region-Free 3D Blu-ray. Releases on May 31st

FOREIGN CINEMA

Summer With Monika (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection releases this 1953 black-and-white Swedish language film, an early effort from legendary director Ingmar Bergman about lustful young love

Summer Interlude (Blu-ray/DVD) – Criterion Collection offer this 1951 Ingmar Bergman film, seen as a creative turning point for the acclaimed filmmaker

The Vanishing of Pato (DVD) – a 2012 Italian-language mystery film set in the seaside town of Vigata

9:06 (DVD) – a 2010 psychological detective story from the country of Slovenia

Maximum (DVD) – a 2012 Bollywood thriller about two cops deciding the fate of 2003-era Mumbai

Siyaah (DVD) – a 2012 Bollywood horror tale about dead wives and haunted houses

Sket (DVD) – this 2011 film from the UK examines London’s street culture and features an all-girl gang out to get revenge for a sister’s brutal attack

MAINSTREAM

Best of the Best 3: No Returning Back (DVD) – Phillip Ree of “Best of the Best” fame steps into the spotlight to direct and star in this action movie in which his character Tommy Lee kicks some KKK ass

Coriolanus (Blu-ray/DVD) – actor Ralph Fiennes is in the director’s chair to helm this 2011 Shakespeare adaptation that moves the setting to modern day

Memorial Day (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2010 war drama about post-traumatic stress among combat veterans

96 Minutes (DVD) – a 2012 drama/thriller that examines a car-jacking from both sides of the crime

Man on a Ledge (Blu-ray/DVD) – Sam Worthington threatens to jump off a building in this 2012 drama but his career may have already done that due to the film’s failure at the box office

INDIE

We Need To Talk About Kevin (Blu-ray/DVD) – Tilda Swinton headlines this acclaimed 2011 drama about how to deal with the bad seed in the family

The Aggression Scale (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2012 home invasion thriller that has wowed ‘midnight movie’ audiences around the globe. Featuring Ray Wise and Dana Ashbrook of “Twin Peaks” fame

CLASSICS

Too Late Blues (Blu-ray/DVD) – John Cassavetes directs this 1961 gritty drama about jazz musicians

HORROR

Demoniacs: Remastered Extended Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – Redemption Films offers this 1974 shipwreck erotic-horror film from French director Jean Rollin

Requiem For a Vampire: Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – Jean Rollin’s 1973 film is one of the most surreal, dream-like, and flesh-baring vampire tales of all time

The Rape of the Vampire: Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1968 feature is cult director Jean Rollin’s debut film and I suppose the title speaks for itself!

Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (Blu-ray/DVD) – Asylum Entertainment’s cash-in on the upcoming Honest Abe film that’s produced by Tim Burton

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