‘Who Am I?’ meets ‘Memento’? Jason Statham takes on ‘John Doe’ from ‘The Beekeeper’ director David Ayer

Action star Jason Statham (The Meg, Redemption, The Expendables) is reuniting with A Working Man and The Beekeeper director David Ayer (End of Watch) for John Doe, an upcoming thriller written by Zak Penn, who is mostly known for penning 2012’s The Avengers and 2018’s Ready Player One. 

John Doe tells the story “of a man with no memory, no past, and no name — and only one face he can’t forget: Eliza. As fragments of his identity return, he discovers he was trained for a mission still in motion and is being hunted by the very people who sent Continue reading

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Salmokji: Whispering Water (2026) Review

"Salmokji: Whispering Water" Poster

“Salmokji: Whispering Water” Poster

Director: Lee Sang-min
Cast: Kim Hye-yoon, Kim Young-sung, Oh Dong-min, Yoon Jae-chan, Jang Da-ah, Kim Jun-han
Running Time: 95 min.

By Paul Bramhall

In 2018 director Jeong Beom-sik had a stroke of genius for a found footage horror movie – film it in a real location that’s said to be haunted, effectively blurring the lines between cinema and reality. The result was Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, a real abandoned psychiatric hospital, which would ultimately end up being demolished the same year. Skip forward to 2026, and for his feature length directorial debut Lee Sang-min has taken a leaf from the Beom-sik playbook, opting for a location that can’t be wiped off the map quite so easily. Salmokji: Whispering Water takes its name from, you guessed it, the Salmokji reservoir in South Chungcheong Province. Already known as a location haunted by ‘water ghosts’ (spirits of the dead restricted to bodies of water) and filmed on location, the setting provides the perfect backdrop for a dose of late-night horror.

Local audiences certainly agree, surpassing 1 million admissions (as of the time of writing), and spurring a surge of midnight pilgrimages to the reservoir by horror fanatics, the sudden surge in popularity seeing the small road that leads to the reservoir bumper to bumper with traffic. Of course it takes more than just utilising an actual real location to make a decent horror Continue reading

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You know, like Caine in ‘Kung Fu’? Production begins on ‘John Wick’ spin-off directed by and starring Donnie Yen

Martial arts star Donnie Yen (The Prosecutor, Chasing the Dragon) will reprise his role as Caine – the blind assassin from 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4in a standalone John Wick spin-off movie titled Caine, which will take place after the events after Chapter 4.

In addition to starring, Yen will also be directing Caine. “The John Wick films have set an immensely high standard for action filmmaking and I greatly appreciate Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! xXx: Return of Xander Cage | Blu-ray | Only $9.48 – Expires soon!

xXx: Return of Xander Cage | Blu-ray (Paramount)

xXx: Return of Xander Cage | Blu-ray (Paramount)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for xXx: Return of Xander Cage (read our review), a 2017 action film directed by D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea) and starring Vin Diesel (The Fast and the Furious) and Donnie Yen (Ip Man 4: The Finale).

The third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments.

The film also stars Continue reading

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Super Inframan, The (1975) Review

"The Super Inframan" Poster

“The Super Inframan” Poster

Director: Hua Shan
Cast: Danny Lee, Wang Hsieh, Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Yuan Man-Tzu, Terry Lau Wai-Yue, Dana, Lin Wen-Wei, Chiang Yang, Lu Sheng, Fanny Leung 
Running Time: 88 min. 

By Z Ravas

As someone who grew up collecting an inordinate amount of comic books, it’s seemed strange to me that I’ve spent the last several years completely disinterested in what’s happening in the superhero movie space; but a viewing of last year’s Hi-Five (perhaps the most purely entertaining new film that I saw in 2025) made me realize I’m not tired of the superhero genre, per se, just Hollywood’s lately very dull conception of it. Case in point: sitting down to rewatch The Super Inframan, the Shaw Brothers’ attempt at a tokusatsu-style superhero movie, confirmed for me all over again that this is one of my favorite efforts from the venerable studio.

In 1975, the Shaw Brothers would have been at the peak of their commercial powers, which must be why they felt they could afford to take such a risk with Super Inframan—both a superhero movie before big screen comic book adaptations were all the rage (a full three years before Superman: The Movie!) and a Hong Kong martial arts film that owed a creative debt to Japanese creations like Ultraman and Kamen Rider. (To that end, the movie features music from Ultraman spinoff Ultraseven and costumes from Japan’s Ekisu Productions, known for their work on Kamen Rider). Even wilder, the studio handed directing duties to Hua Shan, who had served Continue reading

Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, News, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , |

GET OVER HERE! Watch a fight clip from ‘Mortal Kombat II’ starring Karl Urban, Joe Taslim and Hiroyuki Sanada

“Mortal Kombat II” Poster

“Mortal Kombat II” Poster

The James Wan–produced reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise returns with an all-star sequel that arrives in theaters May 8, 2026.

The upcoming follow-up – one again directed by Simon McQuoid – is written by Jeremy Slater, who is best known for penning Marvel/Disney+ series Moon Knight.

The first film followed a MMA fighter who seeks out Earth’s greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.

For Mortal Kombat II, the fighters from the first film – now joined by Johnny Cage himself – are pitted against one another in Continue reading

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Red Sun | 4K Ultra HD (Arrow)

On July 13, 2027, Arrow is releasing the 4K Ultra HD for 1971’s Red Sun. Cultures collide in this ‘East Meets West’ classic from Terence Young. Shot in Almería, Spain, and starring four intercontinental superstars – America’s Charles Bronson (The Great Escape), Japan’s Toshiro Mifune (Yojimbo), Switzerland’s Ursula Andress (Dr. No), and France’s Alain Delon (Le Samouraï) – Red Sun is a Western with a global flair like no other!

A ceremonial Samurai sword intended as a gift to the U.S. President from the Japanese ambassador is stolen by the devilish rogue, Gauche (Delon). To restore their honor and return the sword to its rightful owner, disgraced samurai Kuroda Continue reading

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

Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and more! Star-studded Hong Kong epic ‘1941’ in the works for a 2027 release?

Get ready, because this next bit of news almost feels like an Avengers-moment for the entire Hong Kong action cinema industry!

The Hong Kong Stuntman Association is developing a star-studded historical film to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return Continue reading

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Assassin (2025) Review

"Assassin" Poster

“Assassin” Poster

AKA: Assassination: 1932
Director: Zhou Jiu Qin
Cast: Wang Ming, Jin Long, Cheng Qi, Jinhao Guo, Ray Lui, Di Wang, Tang Hao Yuan
Running Time: 90 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

One of the quirks I always enjoy in the world of Chinese streaming movies is the occasional oddly worded credit introduction, and 2025’s Assassin offers up a good one in the form of ‘Special Invited Lead Actor Ray Lui’, who presumably, by virtue of having his name appear in the credits, was happy to accept the invite. A mainstay of Hong Kong cinema since debuting in the Shaw Brothers production The Informer in 1980, like many familiar faces from Hong Kong’s golden era, Lui has carved out somewhat of a niche for himself in the Chinese streaming era in recent years. Leading roles in the likes of 2023’s Quick Counterattack and 2022’s Shanghai Knight act as kind of modern day iterations of his 90’s outings like Thunder Run and To Be Number One, ensuring a steady stream of work even as he reaches 70 (despite the fact that he doesn’t look a whole lot different from the Flash Point era almost 20 years earlier!).

In Assassin Lui steps into the familiar role of a respected gangster (complete with an omnipresent cigar), considered to be “the king of Shanghai”, who we’re introduced to in the opening meeting with the Japanese military in the club he owns. Resistant to the Japanese suppressors demands, their discussion is interrupted when a foursome from the Iron Continue reading

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Tendências no desenvolvimento de jogos de azar para dispositivos móveis

No ambiente digital brasileiro, os jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis são cada vez mais percebidos como o Jogo da Galera, por serem acessíveis, compreensíveis e perfeitamente integrados ao cotidiano. Os smartphones se tornaram a principal tela de entretenimento e plataformas móveis, o principal espaço onde os jogadores interagem com o conteúdo de jogos, o que está forçando os desenvolvedores a repensarem suas abordagens de design, mecânica e experiência do usuário, tornando os jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis mais flexíveis, emocionais e focados em pessoas reais, e não apenas em recursos técnicos.

O design “mobile-first” e as sessões de jogo flexíveis como a base dos jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis

Uma das principais tendências no desenvolvimento de jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis possui sido o pensamento “mobile-first”, em que um produto é projetado desde o início para controles de toque, telas verticais e sessões de jogo curtas. As interfaces estão se tornando visualmente mais simples, a navegação é mais intuitiva e todas as ações exigem um número mínimo de toques. Essa abordagem permite que os jogadores naveguem rapidamente e comecem a jogar imediatamente, sem preparação desnecessária. Para os jogadores brasileiros, que costumam jogar durante intervalos, em movimento ou por entre as atividades diárias, a velocidade e a facilidade de acesso são cruciais. O jogo deve iniciar instantaneamente, evitar sobrecarregar o usuário com informações e fornecer uma introdução clara, criando uma sensação de controle e conforto desde os primeiros segundos.

Ao mesmo tempo, os jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis são cada vez mais construídos em torno de sessões curtas, porém emocionalmente intensas. Os jogadores não precisam passar longos períodos de tempo jogando, a oportunidade de entrar por alguns minutos e ter uma experiência completa é valorizada, o que influencia diretamente a estrutura da mecânica do jogo e a lógica geral do design.

As principais características de uma abordagem “mobile-first” e formatos flexíveis incluem:

  • Foco em controles de toque e tela vertical;
  • Inicialização rápida e tempos de carregamento mínimos;
  • Navegação intuitiva sem menus complexos;
  • Sessões de jogo curtas, porém completas;
  • Eventos frequentes e resposta instantânea às ações do usuário;
  • Lógica clara que não exige uma longa curva de aprendizado.

Essa abordagem torna os jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis convenientes e naturais para o uso diário. Cada sessão parece independente e completa, aumentando a satisfação do usuário e incentivando retornos regulares ao jogo sem causar sensação de sobrecarga ou fadiga.

Expressividade visual e otimização

Os gráficos em jogos de azar para dispositivos móveis estão se tornando cada vez mais expressivos e otimizados. Cores vibrantes, animações nítidas e detalhes visuais criam um efeito emocional sem sobrecarregar o dispositivo ou reduzir o desempenho.

Isso é especialmente perceptível na cultura brasileira, onde os recursos visuais e a transmissão emocional desempenham um papel significativo. O jogo deve ser vibrante e envolvente, mas estável mesmo em dispositivos de gama média.

Personalização, engajamento social e confiabilidade tecnológica como a base unificada dos jogos de azar para dispositivos móveis

A personalização está se tornando parte integrante do desenvolvimento para dispositivos móveis e está cada vez mais interligada com recursos sociais e estabilidade tecnológica. Os jogos modernos analisam o comportamento do usuário e adaptam recomendações, ritmo de jogo e elementos visuais às suas necessidades, o que cria uma sensação de atenção personalizada, reduz a carga cognitiva e torna a interação mais confortável. Ao mesmo tempo, mecânicas sociais e uma base técnica robusta aumentam a confiança e o engajamento, transformando os jogos para dispositivos móveis em um ambiente digital sustentável.

As principais áreas de personalização e mecânicas inteligentes para jogos de azar de dispositivos móveis hoje incluem:

  • Adaptação da interface ao estilo e à frequência de jogo do usuário;
  • Recomendação de conteúdo com base em ações e preferências anteriores;
  • Ajuste dinâmico do ritmo, da dificuldade e dos efeitos visuais;
  • Eventos, missões e ofertas personalizadas dentro do jogo;
  • Salvamento do progresso e das configurações por entre sessões;
  • Integração de elementos sociais, como placares de líderes e eventos compartilhados;
  • Garantia de uma interface estável e previsível, sem falhas técnicas.

A personalização torna o jogo mais inteligente e intuitivo, os recursos sociais adicionam um senso de participação e emoções compartilhadas, e a estabilidade tecnológica constrói confiança na plataforma e todos esses elementos funcionam em conjunto para esse fim. Para o público brasileiro, que valoriza o envolvimento emocional e a conveniência dos serviços digitais, essa combinação faz do jogo mobile um formato de entretenimento vibrante e confiável, que fideliza os jogadores.

Conclusão

Acreditamos que as tendências no desenvolvimento de jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis no Brasil estão caminhando para a máxima acessibilidade, emotividade e respeito ao usuário. Os formatos para dispositivos móveis estão se tornando mais flexíveis, personalizados e orientados para o convívio social, fazendo dos jogos de azar uma parte natural do estilo de vida digital. É a combinação de conveniência, expressividade visual e estabilidade tecnológica que define o futuro dos jogos de azar em dispositivos móveis e os torna um formato de entretenimento verdadeiramente popular e sustentável.

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Bruceploitation lives! Cult martial arts star Bruce Le (Huang Kin-Lung) comes out swinging for ‘The Fist’

Cult martial arts icon Huang Kin-Lung — better known as Bruce Le of the Bruceploitation era — is making a comeback with The Fist, an upcoming project that was recently in production in Macau.

The Fist isn’t exactly Bruce’s long-awaited return to the kung fu genre. Instead, he steps behind the scenes, serving as producer and action director Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! Ran | Blu-ray | Only $9.36 – Expires soon!

Ran | Blu-ray (StudioCanal Collection)

Ran | Blu-ray (StudioCanal Collection)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Akira Kurosawa’s Ran, a 1985 “interpretation” of Shakespeare’s King Lear.

Throughout Akira Kurosawa’s illustrious career the director often adapted classic literature from overseas and transformed the stories into tales about Japan. Some of his favorite writers that he took the most inspiration from were Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, and Maxim Gorky, but it’s the Shakespeare adaptations that made for the most interesting films. Kurosawa did away with Shakespeare’s words but kept the tragic plots largely intact. Shakespeare’s Macbeth became Throne of Blood, a film about a samurai that commits murder in order to chase destiny. Hamlet was an inspiration for The Bad Sleep Well, a drama about a businessman carefully plotting his revenge against the executives Continue reading

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Rumor has it… Chow Yun-fat to join Jackie Chan in Larry Yang’s sequel to ‘The Shadow’s Edge’?

Given the massive success of 2025’s The Shadow’s Edge, which held the No. 1 position at the China box office for four consecutive weekends, it’s no surprise that a sequel is currently in pre-production.

Last year, Larry Yang (Ride On) and Victoria Hon (Mountain Cry) – director and producer of The Shadow’s Edge, respectively – stated they were open to cash in on a sequel. “We’re considering the idea of a sequel, but right now we’re unsure what direction it will take,” Yang says. “I don’t want to repeat myself so I will very likely find a new approach. We’ll see Continue reading

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Mortal Kombat Kollection | 4K Ultra HD (Arrow)

On June 28, 2026, Arrow Video is releasing the Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD set for the Mortal Kombat Kollection, which includes 1995’s Mortal Kombat and 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

A high-impact fusion of martial arts mayhem, fantasy spectacle and video game mythology, the Mortal Kombat films brought arcade combat to the big screen Continue reading

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

Gundamnit, where’s my ‘Macross’ movie?! Production begins on ‘Gundam’ film starring two stars with good jeans

I wanted Macross, but this will do for now. Production on the live-action Gundam film has officially started in Queensland, Australia. The upcoming sci-fi actioner is written and directed by Jim Mickle, who is best known for making gritty, character-focused genre films. He’s the filmmaker behind 2010’s Stake Land and 2014’s Cold in July, as well as Netflix’ Sweet Tooth.

The upcoming film is a live-action adaptation of the Gundam anime, a Japanese sci-fi franchise that began with Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979. It centers on giant piloted robots used in complex wars between Earth and space Continue reading

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