Seoul Vibe (2022) Review

"Seoul Vibe" Poster

“Seoul Vibe” Poster

Director: Moon Hyun-Sung
Cast: Yoo Ah-In, Ko Gyung-Pyo, Lee Kyu-Hyung, Park Ju-Hyun, Ong Seong-Wu, Moon So-Ri, Kim Sung-Kyun, Kim Chae-Eun, Baek Hyun-Jin, Eom Ji-Man
Running Time: 138 min.

By Paul Bramhall

There must be something in the Korean air at the moment with setting movies in the lead up to the Olympics. While the 2020 gangster movie Paid in Blood set itself directly in the lead up to the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, 2022’s Seoul Vibe dials things considerably further back, setting itself in the lead up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The 20-year Olympic gap also means that Seoul Vibe leans in far more on the nostalgia factor, complimented by the fact that there was arguably far more riding on Seoul’s hosting of the 1988 Olympics in terms of historical significance.

Coming at a point in time when South Korea had been a democracy for less than a year after decades as a dictatorship, as a country it had a point to prove, and the Olympics further accelerated what was already Seoul’s rapid urban development. The period has already been explored in the popular 2015 drama series Reply 1988, as well as productions from the year itself, such as the iconic Chilsu and Mansu. Seoul Vibe isn’t so much interested in capturing the political upheaval of the period in any way which could be considered serious though, instead opting for a shamelessly commercial caper flick that sees a group of ex-con driving specialists hired to help catch some Continue reading

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Shark: The Beginning | Blu-ray (Media Blasters)

Shark: The Beginning | Blu-ray (Media Blasters)

Shark: The Beginning | Blu-ray (Media Blasters)

RELEASE DATE: October 11, 2022

On October 11, 2022, Media Blasters will be releasing a Blu-ray for 2021’s Shark: The Beginning, a made-for-TV South Korean production from director Chae Yeo-Jun (Justice High). The film stars Kim Min-Suk (Man of Men), Wi Ha-Joon (Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum) and Jung Won-Chang (The Battleship Island).

Official details:

Woo-sol is a young victim of bullying and loses his freedom when he fights back and seriously wounds his juvenile aggressor, Seok-chan. Woo-sol is sentenced to a juvenile detention center where he meets Do-hyun, a mixed martial arts champion, and convinces him to teach him to fight. With the champ’s help, Woo-sol overcomes his physical and mental limistations in preparation for the inevitable and unavoidable rematch Continue reading

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In What Ways Was Quentin Tarantino Inspired by Asian Cinema When Making Kill Bill

It is no secret that as Quentin Tarantino was growing up, he earned money to fund his writing by working in a video store. In doing this he was surrounded by movies all day every day collecting encyclopedic knowledge from a massive array of different genres. Tarantino often refers to this as his free education and makes reference to the number of different movies he watched growing up throughout all of his own films. 

Asian Cinemas Influence on the West 

Before discussing how Tarantino took influence from Asian cinema when he wrote Kill Bill, it is first worth discussing how Asian cinema influenced the west in general as these influences would trickle down onto Tarantino’s screen in the movies he would watch. A lot of western filmmakers were famous for reusing plots that were originally from Asian films. This article by BFI.org on Asian Cinema and its influences show just how much of a massive part of western cinema owes to its Asian counterpart. 

The likes of George Lucas, Sergio Leone, and Martin Scorsese all owe some of the success of their classic movies to Asian cinema as plot points and characters were inspired by films such as Yojimbo, The Hidden Fortress, and Battle Royale. That being said, rather than merely repurposing plots from Japanese and Chinese movies and then relaying over a different template, with Kill Bill, Tarantino did something different. 

Asian Cinemas Influence on Tarantino 

As you can see by this post by Screenrant.com that talks about Kill Bill and why it is so good, there are a number of reasons to like the film. That being said, Tarantino’s originality in how he wears his inspirations on his sleeve is up there with one of the most prevalent reasons. He doesn’t imitate his influences, instead, he pinpoints them and continues storylines within his own film. 

For instance, the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad that the Bride hunts down throughout the film is clearly taken from the Five Deadly Venoms, which is a kung-fu classic by the Shaw Brothers. Not to mention, Hattori Hanzo reprised a role that he originally played in an old Japanese TV series called the Shadow Warriors back in the 80s. 

The Continued Influence of Kill Bill 

It’s clear that Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a movie that continues to give and is respected by film buffs around the world thanks to the continued influence its plot and characters continue to have on popular culture. An example of this comes in the form of the slot game Crazy 88, which has a name and a theme taken from the famous gang portrayed in Kill Bill. The game even utilizes the music that is played during the outrageous fight scene within the movie, as well. This post by Bonus.ca on new casinos outlines some of the new online gambling sites that are available and a lot of these are likely going to continue to have games inspired by Tarantino’s films, given he is such a cultural icon. As such, it is well worth having a look at the likes of King Billy, Jackpot Paradise, and Hell Spin to see if you catch any movie references. 

Tarantino and Asian Cinema 

Thanks to his time working at a video store, Tarantino does not hide the fact that he lets influences creep into his movies. The influence of Asian cinema can clearly be seen throughout Kill Bill except Tarantino separates himself from other western directors as instead of simply reimagining classic characters, he reprised originals and continued storylines. The effectiveness of how well this resonates with audiences is clear on the continued influence that Tarantino films have in pop culture in the likes of online casinos. 

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Brandon Lee, Yuen Biao, Dolph Lundgren, Vincent Zhao and a Janitor! Here’s what’s on Hi-YAH for the month of September

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 September, 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 Continue reading

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The Iceman Cometh | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

The Iceman Cometh | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

The Iceman Cometh | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2022

In September 27, 2022, Vinegar Syndrome will be releasing the Blu-ray for The Iceman Cometh (aka Time Warriors), a 1989 Hong Kong sci-fi actioner directed by Clarence Ford (Special I.D., Naked Killer) that stars Yuen Biao (Circus Kids), Maggie Cheung (The Eagle Shooting Heroes) and Yuen Wah (Kung Fu Vs. Acrobatic).

A special limited edition embossed and spot gloss slipcover (designed by Robert Sammelin) is limited to 5,000 units and is only available at VinegarSyndrome.com.

Note: 88 Films will be releasing their Region B version of the film in November. Read about their release here.

In The Iceman Cometh, two opposing Ming Dynasty warriors fall into an ice crevice and are unthawed in the early 1990’s to a drastically changed Continue reading

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

Red Sun Rising | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

Red Sun Rising | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

Red Sun Rising | Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome)

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2022

In September 27, 2022, Vinegar Syndrome is releasing a Blu-ray for Red Sun Rising, a 1994 thriller directed by Francis Megahy (The Great Riviera Bank Robbery) and stars World Kickboxing Champion Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson (Death Fighter, Showdown in Manila, The Martial Arts Kid).

Official details:

When his partner is killed by the Yakuza, Tokyo detective Thomas Hoshino (Wilson) travels to Los Angeles to pursue the men responsible. After confronting one of the Yakuza leaders in an LAPD elevator, Hoshino witnesses the gangster die in a mysterious fashion. Skeptical of Hoshino, Police Captain Meisler (Michael Ironside) assigns Det. Karen Ryder (Terry Farrell) to watch over Hoshino and make sure he doesn’t interfere Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! The Complete Lady Snowblood | Blu-ray | Only $21.73 – Expires soon!

"The Complete Lady Snowblood" Blu-ray Cover

“The Complete Lady Snowblood” Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is for Criterion Collection’s The Complete Lady Snowblood collection, which includes Lady Snowblood (1973) and Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance (1974).

A young woman (Meiko Kaji), trained from childhood as an assassin and hell-bent on revenge for her father’s murder and her mother’s rape, hacks and slashes her way to gory satisfaction.

Rampant with inventive violence and spectacularly choreographed swordplay, Toshiya Fujita’s pair of influential cult classics Lady Snowblood and Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance, set in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Japan, respectively, are bloody, beautiful extravaganzas composed of one elegant widescreen composition after another. The first Lady Snowblood was a major inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill saga, and both of Fujita’s films remain cornerstones Continue reading

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Fantastic Ways to Have Fun with Your Friends

When you’re building a good life for yourself, one of the best things you can do is foster strong relationships. Friends can improve your life in so many ways, which is why you need to be careful to keep in touch with yours.

Like anything important in life, a good friendship requires care to keep it in its best condition. It can be easy to forget to maintain friendships, but they are much harder to repair once they fall apart. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to help keep your relationships from withering away.

Relax and Play Games

This might seem obvious, but the bread and butter of your friendships is the time you spend with one another. By keeping in touch with your friends and spending time together little and often, you can make sure you don’t start to drift apart. Besides, just because this is a simple truth doesn’t make it any less important.

There are plenty of ways to maintain this constant interaction. For example, if you all enjoy gambling, you could always get together and spend some time playing around with the games in an Aussie casino online or even playing some pokies together at home. Alternatively, if you prefer board games or video games, playing these together every other week is a wonderful way to care for your friendships and enjoy some downtime. Whatever your preferences, games are a great way to spend some time great quality time together with your friends.

Plan for Experiences

One of the most important things to remember when planning time to spend together with your friends is that 9 times out of 10, you are more likely to remember and cherish and experience shared.

While playing games and going for dinners together is a great way to stay in touch, don’t forget to plan an outing that can make your relationships with your friends truly special. Besides, great experiences don’t have to be big expenses, either. 

For instance, you can make dinner a thing to remember if you want to! Plan out a fantastic murder mystery dinner party or book a midnight screening for a film series you and your friends love. Experiences can be found all around you, so long as you are willing to look.

Go Travelling Together

Speaking of amazing experiences, some of the most incredible things you will ever see are found far from home. This means that if you want to craft experiences that you and your friends will never forget, you might want to consider planning an overseas getaway.

Just planning a trip like this can be a great experience for you and your friends. Get together and brainstorm some ideas for things you’ve always wanted to do, and then have a look around to see whether you can do them now. There are so many amazing options available, from visiting the Pyramids in Giza to climbing up to the peak of Kilimanjaro. The world is your oyster.

Finally, after you’ve all worked together to craft a plan that you love, you get to actually experience the holiday too. Make sure to put aside plenty of spending cash and take a great camera; memories like this can truly be once in a lifetime.

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Johnnie To’s 2004 thriller ‘Breaking News’ is now available on Blu-ray to order from Goodie Emporium

Breaking News | Blu-ray (Chameleon Films)

Breaking News | Blu-ray (Chameleon Films)

Chameleon Films’ Blu-ray (Region B) release for Breaking News, a 2004 Hong Kong film from director Johnnie To (Three, A Hero Never Dies), is now available from Goodie Emporium.

The film stars Richie Ren (Bodies at Rest), Kelly Chen (The Monkey King), Nick Cheung (Integrity), Eddie Cheung (Bruce Lee, My Brother), Hui Siu Hung (Naked Killer) and Lam Suet (Undercover Punch and Gun).

Official details:

The premiere of Johnnie To’s Breaking News at Cannes marks the moment when art cinema finally embraced the Hong Kong action genre. Here is a film as intelligent as it is tense as it is well-made. From the breathtaking intricacy of its seven-minute opening take, shot on location in a grungy side street in the New Territories, the complex Continue reading

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Sonny Chiba Collection | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Sonny Chiba Collection | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

Sonny Chiba Collection | Blu-ray (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2022

On November 15, 2022, Shout! Factory will be releasing The Sonny Chiba Collection on Blu-ray. This upcoming set will include 7 movies, spread across 4 Blu-ray Discs.

Read the details below:

Get ready for some of the wildest action films from the impressive legacy of Sonny Chiba! This box set comprises just a small collection from his incredibly successful career. Some of these films are making their North America Blu-ray debut. Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba will be greatly missed by his legion of fans. The “Street Fighter” will live on forever!

Disc One:

Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder (2.35:1, DTS-HD Master Audio Mono, 87 min.)

In this riveting Western, a vengeful man is after the Japanese yakuza for killing his boss and selling his sister into slavery. This exciting thrill-ride is “one of Chiba’s most Continue reading

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

Libera Me (2000) Review

"Libera Me" Theatrical Poster

“Libera Me” Theatrical Poster

Director: Yang Yun-Ho
Cast: Choi Min-Soo, Cha Seung-Won, Yoo Ji-Tae, Kim Gyu-Ri, Park Sang-Myeon, Lee Ho-Jae, Jung Joon, Heo Jun-Ho, Jeong Ae-Ri, Kim Soo-Ro, Park Ga-Ryeong
Running Time: 119 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Korean cinema was in an interesting place at the turn of the millennium. The 90’s was a tricky decade for the film industry, it’s first one as a democracy, and initially the outlook didn’t look promising for local productions which struggled to compete with glossy Hollywood blockbusters. However in 1999 a movie called Shiri came along, and suddenly a countries output which was little known outside of domestic shores found its breakthrough. An action thriller pitting South Korean agents against North Korean spies, Shiri presented a distinctly Korean story, and infused it with liberal doses of Michael Bay style shootouts and explosions. Shiri would open up the doors to international interest in Korea’s output, and by 2003 Korean cinema was well and truly on the map, its output termed as the ‘Korean Wave’.

Libera Me was released the following year after the success of Shiri, and follows the logic that action movies were the way to go, the more bombastic the better. Clearly influenced by the 1991 Hollywood production Backdraft, the plot sees Choi Min-soo (Sword in the Moon, The Terrorist) as a world-weary firefighter whose taken on a devil may care attitude since losing his partner (Heo Joon-ho clocking in a cameo) in a previous blaze, which he blames himself for. He’s forced to put his guilt aside though when a mentally unstable arsonist played by Cha Seung-won (Man on High Heels, Night in Paradise) starts running rampant through Busan, setting off a number Continue reading

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Twins Effect (2003) Review

"Twins Effect" Japanese DVD Cover

“Twins Effect” Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Dante Lam
Cast: Gillian Chung, Charlene Choi, Ekin Cheng, Josie Ho Chiu-Yee, Jackie Chan, Edison Chen Koon-Hei, Mickey Hardt, Karen Mok Man-Wai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Chapman To Man-Chat, Bey Logan, Spencer Lam
Running Time: 107 min. 

By Henry McKeand

Vampires and Kung Fu films have a long, if troubled, history. From 1974’s Shaw Brothers/Hammer Horror co-production Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires to wacky 80s fare such as Encounters of the Spooky Kind and Mr. Vampire, the late-20th century found Sammo Hung and other action experts infusing martial arts stories with hordes of undead bloodsuckers. More specifically, these filmmakers drew upon the rich mythology of the jiangshi, or the Chinese hopping vampire. 

Practically, the most obvious difference between jiangshi and their Western counterparts is their tendency to move by leaping into the air with outstretched arms. In addition to the fight choreography potential, jiangshi films often use this hopping motion as a form of comic relief. While jiangshi are not inherently funny (and they can be frightening), these landmark films laid out a clear blueprint for success by blending horror and comedy elements.

While Hong Kong cinema was developing this new horror-comedy subgenre, Western fiction was learning to take vampires seriously for the first time in decades. Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and a post-70s wave of sexy, stylized vampire Continue reading

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Bruce Lee is back! Alan Canvan’s ‘Game of Death Redux’ to screen at the 2022 Urban Action Showcase & Expo

"Game of Death Redux" Theatrical Poster

“Game of Death Redux” Theatrical Poster

Stay as far away from the stair way as possible! Alan Canvan’s long-awaited Game of Death Redux will be screening at the 2022 Urban Action Showcase & Expo (UASE).

The first release of Game of Death Redux (released exclusively on Criterion Collection’s 2020 boxed set Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits) showcased 23 minutes of the 1972-era Game of Death footage that was presented closely the way Bruce intended, while at the same time, keeping in-tact some of the stronger as aspects of the universally panned, pieced together 1978 film (known to fans as Game of Death ’78), such as John Barry’s acclaimed score, as well some of the film’s strong audio design.

So why is there an updated Game of Death Redux – and more importantly – what can we expect from from it? We asked Canvan ourselves, and this is what Continue reading

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Steel Rain 2: Summit (2020) Review

"Steel Rain 2: Summit" Theatrical Poster

“Steel Rain 2: Summit” Theatrical Poster

Director: Yang Woo-Seok
Cast: Jung Woo-Sung, Kwak Do-Won, Yoo Yeon-Seok, Shin Jung-Keun, Kim Wang-Do, Ryu Soo-Young, Angus Macfadyen, John D. Michaels, Yook Hyo-Myung
Running Time: 131 min.

By Paul Bramhall

In 2017 director Yang Woo-seok helmed Steel Rain, an adaptation of his own web comic of the same name that saw Jung Woo-sung and Kwak Do-won thrown together from opposing sides of the Korean peninsula in an attempt to prevent a nuclear war. 3 years later and Woo-seok is back with Steel Rain 2: Summit, a sequel which also features Woo-sung and Do-won, and once more they’re involved in a tale that involves the threat of nuclear war and the measures that must be taken to prevent it. For those who have seen Steel Rain, the elephant in the room will of course be how exactly Woo-sung and Do-won have been brought back together, and the answer comes in the form of them playing completely different characters than they were in the original.

This isn’t the first time for a director to bring back the same cast members from the original for a thematic sequel. Director Kang Woo-seok’s bringing back of Sol Kyung-gu for 2005’s Another Public Enemy, playing a distinctly different character than he did in 2002’s Public Enemy, immediately springs to mind. Here Woo-seok maintains the theme of Steel Rain, but crafts a decidedly different take on the same material. Whereas last time Woo-sung was a North Korean agent and Do-won was the Foreign Affairs Chief for South Korea, here the actors get a chance to switch their geographical allegiances, with Woo-sung playing the President of South Korea, and Do-won a ruthless Continue reading

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Watch the New Trailer for Lee Demarbre’s over-the-top martial arts parody ‘Enter The Drag Dragon’

"Enter The Drag Dragon" Poster

“Enter The Drag Dragon” Poster

Lee Demarbre, director of 2001’s Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, returns with what’s being branded as “The world’s first Dragsploitation action film”.

Official details below:

From the filmmakers behind Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, Smash Cut, and Harry Knuckles comes a brand-new chapter in Canuxploitation cinema, as Lee Gordon Demarbre invites you to Enter The Drag Dragon! Get ready to go on a Drag-Fu odyssey, filled with face-crunching action, corset-busting comedy, gut-munching horror, and soul-touching musical numbers! You’ve never experienced anything like Enter the Drag Dragon! This blast of true of independent cinema will leave you wobbly in your heels as you try to recover from Continue reading

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