Shaolin Intruders (1983) Review

"Shaolin Intruders" Theatrical Poster

“Shaolin Intruders” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Battle for Shaolin
Director: Tang Chia
Cast: Derek Yee Tung Sing, Lau Yuk Pok, Jason Pai Piao, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong, Chan Shen, Kwan Feng, Lee Hoi San, Philip Ko Fei, Ku Feng, Alan Chan Kwok Kuen
Running Time: 95 min. 

By Chris Hatcher

It’s not every day a good detective mystery shows up in the midst of a great old school kung fu flick. So when a gem like Tang Chia’s Shaolin Intruders comes along with such a formula, you tend to sit up and take notice. And take notice you will… because the film is magnificent in every sense of the word! From gravity-defying action to intriguing story to great acting, it elevates the typical kung fu tropes to greater heights on every level. In short, it’s Tang’s masterpiece of his directorial trilogy and boasts the excellent fight choreography that made him a household name at Shaw Brothers for nearly two decades.

Tang’s work as a stunt coordinator for Shaw films was the stuff of legend from the mid-1960s through the early 1980s. He collaborated as co-action director with greats like Lau Kar-Leung on more than 170 films (with over 100 of those being for Shaw) and was considered a master at staging all types of weapons-based fights. Tang’s Temple of the Red Lotus (1965) was his first coordinator project for Shaw and it set the tone early on for great things to come; the film broke box office records and was heralded as the start of a new era in Hong Kong martial arts cinema. 

By 1970, Tang worked exclusively for Shaw and became an action staple for directors like Chang Cheh, Chu Yuan, and Sun Chung. His work with Chang in the late 60s and early 70s produced such classics as The One-Armed Swordsman (1967), The Boxer from Shantung (1972), and Shaolin Martial Arts (1974). In 1977 alone, Tang and Chu put out four Wuxia hits: The Sentimental Swordsman, Jade Tiger, Death Duel, and Clans of Intrigue. And by the end of the decade, The Avenging Eagle (1978) and The Deadly Breaking Sword (1979) were two of Tang’s most popular films under Sun. So as the 1980s rolled around, regardless of director or what style of kung fu was being Continue reading

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Taking a Closer Look at the God of Gamblers Movie Franchise

The God of Gamblers is one of the oldest movie franchises as it has been around since 1989. The series features some of the biggest stars in Hong Kong movies including legends like Donnie Yen and Tony Leung Ka Fai. The franchise has numerous sequels, unofficial spinoffs, official spinoffs, and original films. With how long it has been around and how many movies are included in the franchise, it is indeed a unique one. However, we are going to be focusing on the three main movies in the series and not the spinoffs, which deserve separate recognition.

The Original God of Gamblers (1989)

This is the first film in the franchise, and it is widely considered the best film Wong Jing ever made. The movie spans several genres including action, drama, and high comedy. After Ko Chun (Chow Yun Fat) gets into an accident, he is taken in by Knife (Andy Lau) after which Knife realises Ko Chun is a gambling savant. He decides to exploit this newfound friend by using his gambling prowess to win money.

The movie has some serious shifts in tone, with the movie making you laugh one minute from the hilarity that ensues and feeling sad the next. Ko Chun shines in this movie because he can traverse all these emotional and tonal shifts. He is also a great action actor, with his role allowing him to showcase his whole range of acting prowess.

The movie has great sequences, character chemistry and enough action to keep fans entertained. As you can tell from the name, this movie features a heavy casino theme, with card games heavily featured in the film. There is also a bit of card counting and contact lens shenanigans going on. Many of these card games are featured in the best online casinos including the Lucky Nugget casino as well as numerous other sites.

God of Gamblers 2 (1990)

Although this is an official sequel, it does not feature Chow Yun Fat. He is replaced by Stephen Chow whose comedic timing and performance manage to make this movie even funnier than the original. Andy Lau returns to play Knife and his combination with Stephen makes them get into various comedic situations. While this sequel does not have as much action as the first film, it has enough to keep audiences entertained. Audiences should not go into this movie expecting a blockbuster, but instead, they should expect lots of comedy and laughter peppered in with some amazing action sequences.

God of Gamblers 3: Back to Shanghai (1991)

This is a very different God of Gamblers movie because it features musical performances, extremely violent action sequences, time travel, doppelgängers and of course, lots of comedy. Sing is sent to Shanghai in the 1930s where he teams up with his uncle’s grandfather. He also befriends gang boss Ray Liu and starts a gang war.

The third act includes a gambling tournament, where Chow uses his magic to defeat the villains. This film is the last one in this franchise to feature this amazing actress and includes everything fans have come to love about the franchise.

Although the movies in the God of Gamblers franchise have a gambling aspect to them, they are essentially action-comedy films with different plots and premises. There are also spinoffs that you might need to watch to understand some material in the three films above, but you can enjoy them without having watched them.

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Mel Gibson and Cole Hauser bring on the action in the New Trailer for ‘Panama’ from ‘Crank’ director

"Panama" Theatrical Poster

“Panama” Theatrical Poster

Even during his post-legendary Hollywood status, Mel Gibson has been consistently delivering the goods with films like Edge of DarknessGet the Gringo, Blood FatherDragged Across Concrete, his directorial comeback, Hacksaw Ridge, as well as the recent Boss Level. Now, Gibson is back with another catchy project titled Panama, from director Mark Neveldine (co-director of the Crank films and Gamer).

In the film, an ex-marine is hired by a defense contractor to travel to Panama to complete an arms deal. In the process he becomes involved with the U.S. invasion of Panama, and learns an important lesson about the true nature of political power. According to THR, the movie is inspired by true events in 1989 in the country in central America.

Panama also stars Cole Continue reading

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Easter Potluck

The Easter break offers an opportunity for family and friends to come together, and the traditional setting of Easter Potluck has always provided a fun and entertaining way to break bread (or Easter eggs in this case!) together since the phrase was first used in 16th century England.

In an age of influencers and social media savvy, the question of how you can make your Easter Potluck party stand out both for your guests and from the rest is one more and more of us are asking.  

No matter what the era though, the fundamentals still stand.  A few good recipes are an essential ingredient, as are ready-to-serve dishes and preferably food that can travel easily.  Better still, with the communal nature of an Easter Potluck party not all of the recipes need to be made by yourself!  Unlike some of the more formal family holidays, at Easter the focus is much more on casual fun and entertainment, rather than the extensive prep work that’s usually required for the likes of Christmas.  Our personal recommendations for potluck recipes include an Easy French Toast Casserole that’s sure to go down a winner, as well as Banana Upside-Down Pancake Cake for dessert if there’s still room for more.

With the food in hand, you can move onto considering how best to incorporate the theme of Easter into your décor so your guests can get into the spirit of the holiday.  While Easter décor may not be as easy to imagine as Christmas, you can really bring Easter into your home with just a few simple ideas.  An Easter wreath is the perfect welcome, and kids will delight in making one using spring flowers, painted eggs and pastel colours. Once done hang it on the door where your guests will come in, and it’ll provide the perfect welcome as well as setting the scene.

Adding an Easter garland to hang over your centre table or drape across the entrance is another way to bring Easter into your potluck party, and paper chains are easy to put together.  They can even be customised into Easter animal shapes to really get into the spirit of things.  Last but not least, never underestimate the power of balloons to really create an atmosphere of fun, and consider using helium to create balloon bouquets or floating Easter Eggs!

If you have kids coming to your potluck party you may also want to consider incorporating games like an Easter Egg Hunt. The rules are simple, just hide a number of chocolate Easter Eggs around the venue, regardless of if its indoors or outdoors, then set the kids free to go on a hunt to find them all!  At the end you can either share the eggs with the group, or the participants can get to keep the eggs that they found.

Of course before any of your guests arrive, they need to be invited!  There are plenty of ways to do this, from the traditional postal invite to sending a message on social media.  While the latter may lose the personal touch, a great way to bring it back is through using a tool like PosterMyWall, which contains a range of customisable Easter poster templates that even the least tech savvy amongst us will be able to use with ease. You can even use the tool to create customised menus, invites, and posters, allowing you to put your own stamp on your Easter Potluck Party!

With recipes, décor, games, and your invitations all set and ready to go, all that’s left to do is wait for your guests to arrive and enjoy the coming together of friends and family for the Easter holiday!

 

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Tip and Tricks to Enjoy Watching Movies

One of the world’s most popular hobbies is watching movies. No matter who you speak to, everyone has a favorite movie. Plus, in the modern age, everyone also has a favorite method for watching movies.

For example, some people use Netflix, while others use Disney+. On top of this, there are also the people that like to go old-school and use DVDs and blu-rays, instead. 

No matter what your personal preferences are, you might sometimes get a little bored of watching movies. If this happens to be the case, use the following tips and tricks to make the experience more enjoyable for yourself. 

Play Smartphone Games at the Same Time

When you’re watching a movie, there’s nothing wrong with multitasking while you’re doing it. 

Currently, a lot of people like to play games on their smartphone at the same time. This is because it’s fun while not being overly distracting. 

If you’re watching a classic James Bond movie, for example, you could play Spin Palace casino games. Or, if you’re watching an action movie, you could try a smartphone game like Call of Duty: Mobile, instead. 

Create a Better Setup 

If your movie setup consists of a bed and a blanket, you’re doing it all wrong! 

A movie setup should be well designed and comfortable. This way, it makes the experience so much better. 

Here are some general tips regarding this:

  • Have a high-definition monitor
  • Use smart lighting so that you can customize the color of the light depending on the movie’s theme
  • Include a small refrigerator for drinks

Need some further inspiration? Here’s how to create the perfect movie setup.  

Write Reviews and Post Them Online

Are you a passionate individual with a talent for writing? If so, you could grab your smartphone or tablet while the movie is on and make some critical notes. Then, after the movie has finished, you can take your notes and convert them into a full-blown movie review. 

Once your review is complete, you’ll be able to post it across a variety of platforms, from Rotten Tomatoes to YouTube comment sections. On top of this, you could also create your own blog (such as via WordPress), where you can gain a following. 

Boost Your Internet Connection

If you’re using a streaming platform to watch movies (i.e., Netflix or Disney+), then your internet connection is going to dictate the entire experience. When your connection is bad, it totally kills the vibe due to the fact your movie will constantly be buffering. This is why you should focus on boosting your internet connection, which you can do in a variety of ways:

  • Disconnect other devices
  • Move closer to your router
  • Use a wired connection if you’re on a PC or laptop 

After you’ve tried everything and your internet connection still isn’t up to scratch, you should consider switching to a new provider. 

Bring Some Snacks

Lastly, don’t forget snacks. 

Let’s be honest, watching movies is boring without snacks (especially when the movie is over two hours long). Make sure you stock up on your favorites before you put the movie on, as you don’t want to discover halfway through that your fridge is empty! 

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Caught in Time (2020) Review

"Caught in Time" Theatrical Poster

“Caught in Time” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lau Ho-Leung
Cast: Daniel Wu, Wang Qianyuan, Jessie Li, Michelle Wai, Da Li, Yu Xiao, Hu Zi-Cheng, Li Xiao-Chuan, Hung Jun-Jia, Rock Ji Huan-Bo, Dante Pang Yu-Nong 
Running Time: 95 min.

By Martin Sandison 

Back a decade or so ago Daniel Wu annoyed me. I had seen him in films such as New Police Story and One Night in Mongkok, very good films, and his presence had made me squirm in my seat. His face simpered and pouted through bad performances, and I wondered why people liked him. Then I saw The Shinjuku Incident, and something had shifted. I really liked that performance. But not enough to keep watching him. Then I noticed he was going to play the lead in the sweet TV show Into the Badlands, and thought I’d give him a chance. I’m glad I did. He has grown into a mature, nuanced actor and left behind the arrogance of his youthful performances. With a few Hollywood roles under his belt, he’s still appearing in Hong Kong/Chinese pictures, and the latest is the crime thriller Caught in Time. It’s a very interesting one considering the current climate, and Wu sports a prize mullet in the first half that sits happily alongside Van Damme’s barnet in its prime.

Caught in Time is unusual in the recent crop of crime films as despite being from Hong Kong, it’s set in mainland China. The story follows one of the most notorious criminals in recent Chinese history Zhang Jun, a serial killer and robber who murdered 50 people in the 90s. Zhang (Wu) is the leader of a gang of robbers who are able to evade the police with ease. There’s one cop who just won’t give up, Zhong Cheng (Wang Qian Yuan, Brotherhood of Blades), and he pursues Zhang for years. Zhang is a smart cookie, and is able to commit numerous crimes around China, but Zhong is closing in… Continue reading

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Ashfall (2019) Review

"Ashfall" Theatrical Poster

“Ashfall” Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Hae-Jun
Co-director: Kim Byung-Seo
Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Ha Jung-Woo, Ma Dong-Seok, Jeon Hye-Jin, Bae Suzy, Lee Sang-Won
Running Time: 130 min.

By Paul Bramhall

Korean cinema went for the disaster movie double in 2019, with the low-key Exit offering up a brisk comedic take on the genre, one that saw the residents of Seoul looking to escape a steadily rising cloud of poisonous gas. On the other hand, Ashfall opted for the more traditional approach to the disaster epic, complete with the bombast of having the entire Korean peninsula threatened by the eruption of the long dormant Baekdu Mountain (which is notably the literal translation of the Korean title) in North Korea. If anything, the volcano disaster movie is certainly ripe to be re-visited, coming more than 20 years since Hollywood dabbled with the same volcanic threats in 1997’s double whammy of Dante’s Peak and Volcano.

Almost as if to say that such an impending disaster wouldn’t be enough for one director to handle, Ashfall comes with two. Sharing directorial duties are Kim Byeong-seo and Lee Hae-joon, and while neither are known primarily as directors, they’re also no strangers to the film industry. Byeong-seo is an established cinematographer, in recent years lensing the likes of Take Point and the Along With the Gods flicks. Ashfall marks his sophomore feature in the director’s chair, after also co-helming 2013’s Korean remake of Hong Kong’s Eye in the SkyCold Eyes – alongside Cho Ui-seok. Hae-joon is mainly known as a scriptwriter, having contributed his talents to everything from Arahan to the Korean remake of Japan’s Golden Slumber. Ashfall marks his 4th outing as Continue reading

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Simon Yam is back in action in the First Trailer for Richard Lin’s upcoming thriller ‘Man’s Creed’

"Man's Creed" Theatrical Poster

“Man’s Creed” Theatrical Poster

Hong Kong star Simon Yam (Iceman: The Time Traveller, Run and Kill, Operation Red Sea) will be returning to action in Man’s Creed, the sophomore feature of director Richard Lin (Out of Control).

The film also stars Zhang Lanxin (CZ12, Police Story 2013), Sabrina Qiu (Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch, the upcoming Kung Fu Colt Master remake) and Kenneth Tsang (Chasing the Dragon, To Be Number One).

For fans of classics like Tiger Cage, Bullet in the Head, Full Contact and Expect the Unexpected, it’ll be a warm welcome to see Simon Yam back in a film like Man’s Creed.

The film is due domestically on February 2, 2022. As soon as a Trailer arrives, we’ll be sure to let you Continue reading

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Lionsgate to release Blu-ray for shark thriller ‘The Requin’ from ‘Furie’ director Le-Van Kiet starring Alicia Silverstone

The Requin | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

The Requin | Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

On March 29, 2022, Lionsgate Home Entertainment is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for The Requin, the English-language directorial debut of Vietnamese filmmaker Le-Van Kiet, who is perhaps best known for helming 2012’s House in the Alley and 2019’s Furie, both of which were headlined by martial arts star Veronica Ngo (The Rebel, Clash).

The Requin stars Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), James Tupper (Big Little Lies) and Deirdre O’Connell (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

There’s terror in paradise when Jaelyn (Alicia Silverstone) and Kyle (James Tupper) arrive at a remote seaside villa in Vietnam for a romantic getaway. A torrential storm descends, reducing the villa to little more than a raft and sweeping the young couple Continue reading

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JCVD to rematch with Dolph Lundgren, Michel “Tong Po” Qissi, and Bolo Yeung in ‘What’s My Name?’ (aka ‘Headlock’)

"Kickboxer" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Kickboxer” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Although martial arts icon Jean-Claude Van Damme (aka the most re-made action star in the world) has been consistently keeping busy for the last several years, he hasn’t exactly made anything “memorable” since 2009’s Universal Soldier: Regeneration and 2012’s Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning.

In the 2013-2015 period came Swelter, Enemies Closer, Welcome to the JungleJian Bing Man and Pound of Flesh. The years 2016/2017 saw Kickboxer: VengeanceKill ’em All and the series Jean-Claude Van Johnson. Then in 2018-2021, came Black Water, The Bouncerm, Kickboxer: RetaliationWe Die Young and the Netflix original, The Last Mercenary.

Even though these titles were a welcome addition to his filmography, Van Damme fans are really Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! The Sorcerer and the White Snake | Blu-ray | Only $6.99 – Expires soon!

The Sorcerer and the White Snake | Blu-ray (Magnolia)

The Sorcerer and the White Snake | Blu-ray (Magnolia)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Ching Siu-Tung’s The Sorcerer and the White Snake, starring Jet Li (League of Gods).

Jet Li stars as a sorcerer monk in this epic special effects fantasy film based on a Chinese legend. The story centers around a man who falls in love with a thousand-year-old white snake disguised as a woman. Discovering the white snake’s true identity, the sorcerer goes to battle believing that in so doing, he is restoring balance and order between man and the supernatural.

The film also stars Raymond Lam (The Four), Eva Huang (Iceman), Charlene Choi (New Police Story), Wen Zhang (Ocean Heaven), Vivian Hsu (Accidental Spy), Jiang Wu (Wu Xia), Chapman To Continue reading

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Seobok (2021) Review

Seobok: Project Clone | Bu-ray | Well Go USA

Seobok: Project Clone | Bu-ray | Well Go USA

Director: Lee Yong-Joo
Cast: Gong Yoo, Park Bo-Gum, Jo Woo-Jin, Yeon Je-Wook, Lee Un-Jung, Lee Sang-Kyung, Park Byung-Eun, Jang Young-Nam, Kim Jae-Gun
Running Time: 114 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Around the turn of the millennium the Korean film industry saw itself increasingly dabbling in the science fiction genre, with movies like 2001’s 2009 Lost Memories, 2002’s Yesterday, and 2003’s Natural City, and while they all had their moments of inspiration, for the most part they proved to be middling efforts. Now 20 years later, the beginning of the 2020’s seems to indicate a resurgence for Korea’s interest in sci-fi, after being absent for the most part in the preceding 2 decades. In 2021 we got the space adventure Space Sweepers, and the year closed out with the Netflix series The Silent Sea, which followed a mission to retrieve a mysterious sample from the moon that could save the planet. Making it a hat-trick, in the same year we also got Seobok, although notably completed before both Space Sweepers and The Silent Sea, being another production that’s release was much delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eschewing any adventures into space, Seobok takes the more grounded approach of being set in Seoul, and centers around the title character – a human clone. Played by Park Bo-gum (Coin Locker Girl, The Admiral: Roaring Currents), returning to the big screen having stuck to acting in K-dramas since 2015, Seobok is the result of years of top-secret research – he’s immortal, doesn’t need to sleep, and has brain waves so strong he can perform telekinesis. He’s also been confined to a lab for the entirety of his life, required to have daily injections to supress his ever-evolving cells that would kill him if not kept in check, and seemingly accepting of his place in the world. His cells are also believed to hold the cure for a whole variety of diseases, making him a hot commodity, so when one of the leading Continue reading

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Don’t miss Hi-YAH!’s action-packed New Trailer: ‘Kung Fu Stuntmen’ documentary and more headed to Hi-YAH!

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel is getting bigger and BIGGER! The popular streaming company has just released a Brand New Trailer above, promoting many current and upcoming titles headed for release.

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!

Also, here’s a sneak peak on some of their upcoming titles Continue reading

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‘Kung Fu Stuntmen: Never Say No!’ say YES to Well Go USA’s Hi-YAH! streaming service!

"Kung Fu Stuntmen: Never Say No!" Theatrical Poster

“Kung Fu Stuntmen: Never Say No!” Theatrical Poster

Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen, Yuen Woo-ping, Tsui Hark any many more iconic names of Hong Kong action cinema will be featured in a New Chinese documentary titled Kung Fu Stuntmen: Never Say No!, which is headed to the U.S. in April by way of Well Go USA’s Hi-YAH! streaming service!

John Wei, the director of Kung Fu Stuntmen: Never Say No!, had this to say: “Many legendary stuntmen live hard lives and many are unknown,” Wei said. “That’s why I decided to make a documentary film in tribute to their continued efforts and never-yielding spirit.” (via Shine)

Kung Fu Stuntmen: Never Say No! is the first of its kind since Robin Shou’s 2004 doc Red Trousers: The Life of Hong Kong Stuntmen, which featured industry names such as Beatrice Chia, Keith Cooke, Hakim Continue reading

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Michelle Yeoh and Daniel Wu team up with ‘Shang-Chi’ director for the Disney+ Series ‘American Born Chinese’

"American Born Chinese" Graphic Novel

“American Born Chinese” Graphic Novel

Hong Kong stars Michelle Yeoh (Boss Level, Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, Yes, Madam) and Daniel Wu (Sky on Fire, The Last Supper) are teaming up with director Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) for the Disney + series, American Born Chinese.

The upcoming series also stars Ben Wang (Chang Can Dunk), Yeo Yann Yann (Rubbers), Chin Han (Mortal Kombat reboot), Ke Huy Quan (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), Jimmy Liu (Ip Man 4: The Finale) and Sydney Taylor (Just Add Magic: Mystery City).

American Born Chinese is a genre-hopping action comedy adapted from Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel of the same name, which tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang (Wang), who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he’s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Continue reading

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