Female Yakuza Tale | Blu-ray (Discotek Media)

Female Yakuza Tale | Blu-ray (Discotek Media)

Female Yakuza Tale | Blu-ray (Discotek Media)

RELEASE DATE: December 27, 2022

On December 27, 2022, Discotek Media is releasing the Blu-ray for Female Yakuza Tale (aka Love Free-For-All), a 1973 Japanese crime thriller directed by Teruo Ishii (Blind Woman’s Curse).

Female Yakuza Tale stars Reiko Ike (New Battles Without Honor or Humanity), Meika Seri (World of Geisha), Jun Midorikawa (Sex & Fury), Emi Jo (Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion), Toru Abe (Cops vs. Thugs) and Kanjuro Arashi (North Sea Chivalry).

Inquisition And Torture is an anarchistic apex in the career of Japanese cult director, Teruo Ishii, whose fifty year resume includes Horror of Malformed Men and Bohachi Bushido. Notoriously lacking restraint, sexy ‘pinky violence’ star, Reiko Ike, returns in this Continue reading

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Project Wolf Hunting (2022) Review

"Project Wolf Hunting" Theatrical Poster

“Project Wolf Hunting” Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Hong-Sun
Cast: Seo In-Guk, Jang Dong-Yoon, Sung Dong-Il, Park Ho-San, Jung So-Min, Ko Chang-Seok, Jang Young-Nam, Choi Gwi-Hwa, Son Jong-Hak
Running Time: 121 min.

By Paul Bramhall

When it comes to cinema the concept of using one location for a narrative to play out in always produces intriguing results, usually lending itself particularly well to the action and horror genres. From the building that the SWAT team needs to fight their way out of in The Raid, to escaping the zombie masses trapped within the confines of a train in Train to Busan. Director Kim Hong-seon played with a similar theme in his 2012 debut The Traffickers, a dark and grimy black market organ trafficking thriller that mostly took place within the confines of a ferry operating between Korea and China. Hong-seon also scripted his debut, and while the end result showed some promise, the overly serious approach and a plot which frequently tripped up on its own attempted cleverness ultimately saw it fall short.

After the release of his debut Hong-seon took a step back from directing his own material, instead becoming a rarely out of work director for hire. He’d follow it up by helming the 2014 caper flick The Con Artists, with the senior citizen thriller The Chase coming next in 2017, and fully embracing the horror genre for 2019’s Metamorphosis. All are serviceable entries in their respective genres, however are also all fairly unremarkable, with nothing standing out in any of them to recommend a viewer proactively seek them out. Whatever small signs of promise that were shown in The Traffickers, indicating Hong-seon could be a force to be reckoned with if he can find the right balance, alas seemed destined to not come to fruition. So it was with a sense of tentative anticipation Continue reading

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Donnie Yen to star in martial arts series ‘Outright Loser, Hidden Master’ for Peter Chan’s new production company

"Wu Xia" Teaser Poster

“Wu Xia” Teaser Poster

Martial arts superstar Donnie Yen (Raging Fire, Ip Man 4: The Finale, Big Brother) is heading to the small screen for Outright Loser, Hidden Master, an upcoming series from Peter Ho-sun Chan’s (Comrades, Almost A Love Story, Wu Xia) Changin’ Pictures, a brand new production company that will primarily focus on streaming content.

In the series (Yen’s first since 1995’s Fist of Fury series), Yen will star as an Asian American martial artist who, after noticing that some ordinary folks in Hong Kong are actually kung fu masters, discovers that martial artists have been passing down their lineage through imprinting their memories and martial art skills onto strangers’ bodies (via Deadline). It should be noted that Yen hasn’t done a series since 1995’s Fist of Fury.

Other projects in the works Continue reading

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Scott Adkins, Yuen Woo-Ping and Dragon Tamers: Here’s what’s on Hi-YAH for the month of October

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel has just announced their New Release line up for the month of October, which includes a New title added to Hi-YAH! every Friday.

If you want to give Hi-YAH! a go, visitors of this site can use the promo code “CITYONFIRE” for a FREE 30 Day trial!

Read on for the full list of New and Exclusive Continue reading

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Wolf Pack (2022) Review

"Wolf Pack" Theatrical Poster

“Wolf Pack” Theatrical Poster

Director: Michael Chiang
Cast: Max Zhang Jin, Aarif Lee, Jiang Luxia, Mark Luu, Ye Liu, Chang Yi, Tang Guozhong
Running Time: 90 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Ever since Wolf Warrior practically created the Mainland Melody military genre in 2015, movies which sing the praises of China’s military might have become safe bets for local action filmmakers to bank on. At best, the military theme is used as an excuse to create ridiculously bombastic action sequences, such as Dante Lam’s Operation Red Sea (and to a lesser extent its predecessor Operation Mekong) and Wu Jing’s own sequel Wolf Warrior 2. However in recent years the genre has also made a home for itself in the lower budgeted Chinese web movie space, from 2019’s Wolves Action and its Fan Siu-Wong starring 2020 sequel, to the Vincent Zhao vehicle Counterattack from 2021.

Joining the ranks in 2022 is Max Zhang, who top bills the latest military themed action flick in the form of Wolf Pack. At this point there’s only so many more variances using the term ‘wolf’ that filmmakers can resort to. Zhang plays the leader of a private military company called Bei Wei (an awkwardly translated opening piece of onscreen text reads “No matter how powerful the enemy, Facing Bei Wei legion, will all be destroyed.”), who along with his team of 5 travel the globe Continue reading

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Body Reaction to Boxing: Facts You Should Know

For those who begin to engage in boxing (like any other sport), this is at first the notorious “exit from the comfort zone.” Well, then what? What changes occur in the body? First of all, this is cleaning the body. 

Boxing and Bad Habits

Nicotine is harmful to vessels. Alcohol hits the liver, heart, and nervous system of a person. It increases the risk of developing chronic diseases and extremely slow and hard recovery after injuries. Boxing is a powerful incentive to give up bad habits that artificially produce the hormone of happiness, and a person does not seek other sources of quick pleasure. If you decide to cross the threshold of a boxing gym, it is strongly recommended to stop smoking and drinking alcohol regularly. Pick another hobby that will spice things up. For example, study the best online casino list and play gambling in your free time. Such emotional entertainment will help to take your mind off smoking. In addition, each athlete should undergo tests to ensure they have no health pathology. Based on the recommendations of a sports doctor, the trainer can select an individual program for you.

Improving the Coordination of Movements

In boxing, they teach not only to beat but to control the body. Those who practice boxing notice that their coordination of movements improves; they quickly gain balance when their foot slips or they stumble. It is easier for such people to stand on the ice and other slippery surfaces; they quickly learn to play hockey or just go skiing for fun. In boxing, a lot of attention is paid to footwork. Thanks to boxing, awkwardness in movements eliminates.

Excess Weight + Appetite

The problem of excess weight is especially relevant for men and women after 30, especially for those who have sedentary jobs and don’t move much during the day. Unfortunately, most part of modern megapolis citizens lives this way. When you start exercising, you will notice that calories are rapidly leaving your body. Do you want to have a delicious dinner after your workout? Why not? However, it is worth remembering the rules of a healthy diet, especially before activity. An experienced trainer can give you the best advice and will also draw up the nutrition program for you, including getting rid of excess weight.

No Insomnia

A great way to deal with insomnia is boxing. Such a physical activity is quite exhausting, but this is pleasant fatigue. Sleeping like a baby after training is one of the best outcomes of the training, as well as resourcefulness and a full battery in the morning.  

The last but not the least benefit of boxing is an opportunity to participate in competitions and get a prize. It doesn’t mean you have to fight with someone like Mohammed Ali or Mike Tyson – there are lots of local and regional competitions aimed at increasing the level of technique and self-esteem.  

Boxing is a great sport if it brings you pleasure and helps you to feel fit and healthy. No matter what goals you have – training is always a good way to improve your body and spirit. 

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What Type of Casino Bonuses are the Best?

Online casinos have risen to the very top of the gambling industry. Research shows that millions of people worldwide access these sites daily to have a fun gaming experience. These casino sites have hundreds of games by some of the world’s most renowned suppliers – NetEnt, Yggdrasil, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, Play’n GO, Playson, etc. 

They are known for creating games with tons of in-game bonuses, HD graphics, and fantastic gameplay. What’s even more impressive is just like movies are casinos are fully optimized for mobile use, meaning they can be accessed from any device, just as long as your connection to the Internet remains stable. 

However, there is one additional feature that online casinos have that attracts players – bonuses and promotions. As reported by onlinecasinos.net, bonuses are designed to reward players and motivate them to keep playing. Moreover, they are the perfect tool to attract new customers from Canada, Asia and around the world to an online casino. 

We wanted to take a closer look at these casino bonuses.

Without any further ado, let’s dive into the details.

Welcome Offers 

The welcome offer is the first bonus on the list, which also happens to be the most popular casino bonus. As the name of the bonus suggests, it rewards all newly registered players. Here’s what makes it unique. 

Nearly every online casino’s welcome offer provides players with match bonuses on their first or first few deposits, depending on the casino. However, unlike all other bonuses, which can be claimed regularly, the welcome offer is a one-time deal. You claim it once, and that is it. 

In many cases, the online casino is highly likely to throw Free Spins in as well. Some operators can provide you with as many as 100 Free Spins on the first three or four deposits. 

Since welcome offers can help you get up to speed with everything the casino offers, they are considered one of the best bonuses. However, be mindful of the terms and conditions, which is something that we are going to talk about later. 

Reload Bonuses

Many of the casino players are regulars. That means they log in and deposit funds into their account daily so they can play the games, have fun, and maybe win a reward that will crack a smile. 

So, they appreciate frequent bonuses that can reward them daily. That is exactly what reload bonuses are. Furthermore, they are extremely simple – you just need to deposit the minimum required amount and receive a match bonus for it. 

You can use the money to play the selected games and, thus, win extra rewards. In most cases, online casinos feature reload bonuses on specific weekdays. So, you just log in on that day, make a deposit and claim the reward. 

Thanks to their simplicity and good rewards, they are ranked second on our best casino bonuses list. 

Cashbacks

Losing a certain amount of money at an online casino is not new. After all, you wager an amount to win a reward, and since you are dealing with games of luck, you must be aware that you might end up with nothing. 

But online casinos are there to the rescue. Many operators now give players cashback, thus redeeming some of their lost amounts. Most commonly, cashbacks are given weekly, and the only condition to claim them is to have wagered and lost a specific amount. 

Each online casino provides players with cashbacks in different ways. Some like to give them as non-withdrawable cash that needs to be used on the games. Some give them as Free Spins on selected slot games, and finally, some will give the cashback as withdrawable money. 

Thanks to the fact that you get some of the lost amounts back and the cashback bonus is fairly easy to claim as it does not have a lot of T&Cs. So cashbacks are also present on our list of casino bonuses that are the best. 

Loyalty Programs 

Finally, online casinos are also filled with high rollers who wish to raise the stakes and increase the risk for a better reward. They are responsible for a large amount of the casino’s revenue, which is why every operator needs to make sure that they are well appreciated. 

Casinos show their appreciation with loyalty programs. Here’s how they work. They contain a certain number of levels. To rank higher, you need to collect points. Points are collected by wagering real money on the featured games. So the higher you are up the scale, the better the rewards will be. 

And suppose you are wondering what types of rewards you can receive. In that case, the answer is higher cashbacks, birthday gifts, exclusive offers, higher monthly withdrawal limits, faster withdrawals, priority Support, access to VIP tournaments, and more. 

What to Remember When Claiming the Best Casino Bonuses 

While speaking about the best casino bonuses, we mentioned terms and conditions once or twice. They play an important role in claiming bonuses, which is why we feel obliged to share a word or two about them. 

Each bonus at every online casino, including the ones mentioned above, is subject to terms and conditions that you need to meet before you can actually claim them. Some of the T&Cs at casinos that you need to meet include: the minimum required deposit, maximum bonus amount, wagering requirements, bonus validity period, restricted countries, eligible payment methods, etc. 

Wagering requirements are important because they state the amount that you need to stake before claiming the bonus. The lower it is, the better. That is why many casino bonus experts say it is not all about how rewarding the bonus is – it’s about how low the wagering requirements are, making it easier to cash out. 

Giving the terms and conditions a read is essential because you will be able to determine whether the bonus is a good fit for your personal preferences or not. 

Why Are Free Spins Not Listed Here? 

We will close things off by explaining why Free Spins are not listed here. Many players expect them to be on every list of casino bonuses because slots are, by far, the most popular games at every online casino.

Free Spins come with many terms and conditions that make it extremely hard to claim them and receive rewards from them. For example, they always have wagering requirements, maximum bonus amount, are restricted to a few slot games, and must be used within a short period. 

We are not saying the free spin bonus itself is not good. After all, Free Spins are often a no-deposit bonus that allows you to win real money rewards without wagering your own money. We are stating, however, that you need to be aware that they are a bit more complicated than the ones we listed above. 

Last couple of words

I am a movie fan, but I also enjoy good online casinos. However, remember that gambling can be risky, and you can get addicted, so here guide to play safe.

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Watch the U.S. Trailer for Magnolia’s December 2nd release for Lee Jung-jae’s South Korean espionage thriller ‘Hunt’

"Hunt" Theatrical Poster

“Hunt” Theatrical Poster

On December 2, 2022, U.S.-based distribution company Magnolia will release Hunt (read our review), a South Korean thriller that not only stars, but also marks the directorial debut of Lee Jung-jae (Deliver Us from Evil, Svaha: The Sixth Finger, Tik Tok), who is now widely known for his Emmy nominated role in Netflix’ Squid Game. In addition to starring and directing, Jung-jae also wrote and produced Hunt.

Deadline describes Hunt as a stylish espionage action film set in the 1980s that follows two agents in Korean Central Intelligence who are tasked with hunting a spy within the agency and then learn of a grand plot to assassinate the South Korean president.

The film also stars Jung Woo-sung (Beasts Clawing at Straws, Steel Rain), Jeon Hye-jin (The Beast, The Merciless), Heo Sung-tae (Man on High Heels, The Age of Shadows), Ko Yoon-Jung (Alchemy of Souls) and Kim Continue reading

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88 Films’ Blu-ray collection for the ‘Tiger Cage’ Trilogy is back with a vengeance in a New standard edition!

Tiger Cage Trilogy | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Tiger Cage Trilogy | Blu-ray (88 Films)

In case you missed the Deluxe Edition (which is now out of print and sold out at regular price), 88 Films has now released a standard Blu-ray (Region B) set for Yuen Woo Ping’s Tiger Cage action trilogy, which includes 1988’s Tiger Cage, 1990’s Tiger Cage 2 and 1991’s Tiger Cage 3. 

Note: This standard edition does NOT include the booklet or poster. It includes a standard slipcase (not a rigid slipcase, as seen in the previous Deluxe Release).

Collectively, the series is headlined by Jacky Cheung (High Risk), Carol Cheng (Armor of God II: Operation Condor), Simon Yam (Final Run), Donnie Continue reading

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Era of Vampires, The (2002) Review

"The Era of Vampires" DVD Cover

“The Era of Vampires” DVD Cover

AKA: Vampire Hunters
Director: Wellson Chin
Cast: Michael Chow Man Kin, Danny Chan Kwok Kwan, Ken Cheung Chi Yiu, Lam Suet, Anya, Horace Lee Wai Sing, Yu Rong Guang, Lee Lik Chi, Wong Yat Fei, Ji Chun Hua, Lee Kin Yan, Chen Kuan Tai, Shut Mei Yee
Running Time: 107 min. 

By Paul Bramhall 

In 2002 it had been 10 years since the last entry in the popular Mr. Vampire franchise, with the suitably titled Mr. Vampire 1992, an underwhelming effort that arguably should have been the final nail in the coffin for the hopping vampire genre that the original kicked off in 1985 (it wasn’t, with a few dregs still filtering through over the next couple of years). Considering producer and scriptwriter Tsui Hark’s success from that same era – reviving the kung fu genre with the Once Upon a Time in China series, and reimagining the wuxia flick into kinetic wire work fuelled extravaganzas – it likely made sense to see if he had the same Midas touch when it came to hopping vampires. So it was in 2002 the undead returned in The Era of the Vampires.

What audiences they returned for makes The Era of the Vampires an interesting curiosity. It would take 20 years for it to be released in Hong Kong, finally arriving on Blu-ray and DVD in 2022, with the most accessible way of viewing it until this point being in a shortened version called Vampire Hunters distributed in the U.S. by Columbia Tri-Star. Reducing the 107-minute runtime down to 89, chances are they were hoping to bank in on the popularity that John Carpenter’s 1998 feature Vampires saw on home video (also released by Columbia Tri-Star), and it’s not outside Continue reading

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

Isaac Florentine’s actioner ‘Hellfire’ wraps up with Stephen Lang, Harvey Keitel, Dolph Lundgren and Johnny Yong Bosch

"Bridge of Dragons" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Bridge of Dragons” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Cult filmmaker Isaac Florentine (Seized, Acts of Vengeance) – known for consistently delivering the low budget thrillers such as U.S. Seals II, Ninja: Shadow of a Tear,  Close Range and Undisputed 2 – has just wrapped Hellfire, an upcoming actioner starring Stephen Lang (Avatar), Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs), Dolph Lundgren (Section 8) and Johnny Yong Bosch (Death Grip).

The film – written by Richard Lowry (who wrote Florentine’s Seized) – is about a drifter (Lang) with a mysterious past who arrives in a small town and finds the residents in the grip of a ruthless crime boss and realizes he has to help them (via Deadline).

Also be on the lookout for Florentine’s soon-to-be-released film, Hounds of War, which stars Continue reading

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On the Run | Blu-ray (88 Films)

RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2022

88 Films’ Deluxe Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray (Region B) for On the Run is now shipping from U.S. retailer Goodie Emporium.

This highly-anticipated release is a 1988 Hong Kong thriller directed by Alfred Cheung (Her Fatal Ways), and starring Yuen Biao (Zu: Warriors from Magic Mountain) and Pat Ha Man Jing (The Woman Knight of the Mirror Lake).

On the Run also features Charlie Chin (Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars), Lo Lieh (The Face Behind the Mask), Yuen Wah (Police Story 3: Supercop) and Philip Ko Fei (Dragon Blood).

On the Run is perhaps known best for providing Yuen Biao with his finest performance to date. His portrayal as the troubled moralistic cop is dead on, combining both superb restraint and expressive emotions. Ah Biao’s female counterpart, Pat Ha, gives Continue reading

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

Deal on Fire! Memories of the Sword | Blu-ray | Only $7.74 – Expires soon!

Memories of the Sword | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Memories of the Sword | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Park Heung-Sik’s Memories of the Sword (read our review) starring Byung-hun Lee (I Saw the Devil).

As the greed of a corrupt Monarchy threatens to destroy the Goryeo Dynasty, three warriors lead a revolt to overthrow the empire and save its people. But when betrayal costs the life of a swordsman, a plot for justice is set into motion.

Memories of the Sword also stars Jeon Do-Yeon (No Blood No Tears), Kim Go-Eun (Coin Locker Girl), Lee Joon-Ho (Cold Eyes), Lee Kyoung-Young (Kundo), Kim Tae-Woo (Quick), Bae Soo-Bin (Fly High) and Kim Soo-Ahn (The Chosen).

Order Memories of the Sword from Amazon.com today! Continue reading

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Vinegar Syndrome to release Blu-ray for Ringo Lam’s 1994 martial arts film ‘Burning Paradise’

Burning Paradise | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

Burning Paradise | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

Vinegar Syndrome will be releasing a Blu-ray for Burning Paradise (aka Rape of the Red Temple), a 1994 martial arts film from Hong Kong filmmaker Ringo Lam (City on Fire, Maximum RiskSky on Fire) and producer Tsui Hark (The Blade, Once Upon a Time in China V).

Burning Paradise will be Newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative. It can be pre-ordered as part of their Black Friday Sale (Nov 25-28) deal.

Burning Paradise stars Willie Chi (Drunken Master III), Carman Lee (Too Many Ways to Be Number One), Wong Kam Kong (Tiger Cage 3) and John Ching Tung (Return to a Better Tomorrow).

Director Ringo Lam ventures away from modern realism to direct this cynical, claustrophobic Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Rumble in the Bronx | Blu-ray | Only $8.59 – Expires soon!

Rumble in the Bronx | Blu-ray (Warner)

Rumble in the Bronx | Blu-ray (Warner)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Jackie Chan’s Rumble in the Bronx, a 1995 actioner directed by Stanley Tong (Kung Fu Yoga, Vanguard, Police Story 4: First Strike, Police Story 3: Supercop).

Remember the pitch? “To millions of action fans around the world he’s a living legend. If you’ve never seen him before, you’ve never seen action. He’s Jackie Chan and for years he has done something no other action star would dare dream. He’s performed all of his own stunts.”

A young man (Jackie Chan) visiting and helping his uncle (Bill Tung) in New York City finds himself forced to fight a street gang (headed by the late Marc Akerstream) and the mob with his martial art Continue reading

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