Lee B. Golden III

About Lee B. Golden III

https://mediumblue-gerbil-491410.hostingersite.com

Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!

Posts by Lee Golden:

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NYAFF XXII: Vital Signs, Geylang, Mad Fate And More Coming In July!

Lee B. Golden III

My fingers are crossed this year as I’m seriously hoping to be able to partake in this year’s New York Asian Film Festival. The line-up just began rolling out on Thursday with a first wave of highlights and titles of interest are already stacking. Singaporean crime thriller Geylang, as well as Thai action comedy Kitty The Killer and Soi Cheang’s Mad Fate are among some of the selects I have in mind. I’m also curious about the opening premiere of Killing Romance with Lee Sun-kyun and Patrick Tam’s Nomad which is getting a 4K restored screening. There’s also Shinichi Fujita’s Mayhem Girls, as well as Vital Signs starring Louis Koo who is expected to be recipient to this year’s award ceremonies along with Japanese film star Ryohei Suzuki whose appearance in Daishi Matsunaga’s Egoist is also listed in the first wave. I could go on more about what I love […]

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LION-GIRL Roars In The U.S. And U.K. From Cleopatra Later This Year!

Lee B. Golden III

If you’re new to director Kurando Mitsutake, I recommend to warming up with some of his previous works. The official trailer for Lion-Girl starring Tori Griffith was finally revealed back in March for the dystopian action sci-fi co-created in association Toei Video and legendary manga artist Go Nagai, and it delivers in full, exploitively festive genre fashion as per what Mitsutake is known for with previous films like Gun Woman and Karate Kill and the more recent Giallo-inspired Maniac Driver. I’ll leave an embedded link below, but if you’re reading this and you’ve at all managed to attend the film’s premieres in Australia and Slovenia this year, all I ask is please don’t spoil it. In the interim, film fans in the U.S. and the U.K. can expect to catch the new flick on Blu-Ray, DVD and on-Demand this November from Cleopatra Entertainment. Alas, click here for the trailer, and then […]

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Simon McQuoid’s MORTAL KOMBAT 2 Lands Its Shao Kahn And More To The Tournament Roster

Lee B. Golden III

Martyn Ford (F9, The Machine, Boyka: Undisputed) has been cast to play Emperor Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 2, according to trade reports on Thursday. Roster additions on the sequel from Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line will also see Desmond Chiam in the role of King Jerrod, Ana Thu Nguyen as Sindel and Damon Herriman as the sinister Quan Chi. Previously enlisted are Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana and Tati Gabrielle as Jade. Most of the cast of the 2021 movie are returning, namely Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden; Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han/Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion and Max Huang as Kung Lao, and Lewis Tan as the newly-minted screen character Cole Young. The sequel hails once again from Atomic Monster and […]

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NOT WITHOUT HOPE: Josh Duhamel Joins Cast Add Of Five To New Survival Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Boss Level and The Grey helmer Joe Carnahan is on set in Malta for Not Without Hope, the new survival drama starring Shazam: Fury Of The Gods actor Zachary Levi. Rounding out the latest round of casting made on Thursday are JoBeth Williams (The Big Chill), and Josh Duhamel (Blackout), along with Carnahan’s Copshop co-star Marshall Cook, and actors Quentin Plair (Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things), and Terrence Terrell (Netflix’s Obliterated). Not Without Hope is based on the New York Times non-fiction best-seller of the same name by Nick Schuyler and Jere Longman. It follows best friends Nick Schuyler (Levi) and Will Bleakley (Cook), and NFL players Marquis Cooper (Plair) and Corey Smith (Terrell), as they depart Clearwater, Florida for a day trip at their favorite fishing spot 70 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. As a severe storm heads their way, a trapped anchor causes their boat to capsize, […]

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Kieu Minh Tuan Takes Flight In New Character Posters For KE AN DANH

Lee B. Golden III

Murmurs out of Vietnam have now spawned some cool new poster art for the latest reteaming of Bad Blood star Kieu Minh Tuan and director Dan Trong Tran. There’s no English title yet but family action adventure Ke An Danh translates to variations like “The Hidden Man” or “Anonymous” so do with that what you will. Tuan reportedly spent six months physically preparing for the role of a gangster whose post-amnesic life as an ordinary man now finds him fighting to protect his new wife and stepdaughter. The cast also lists local talents like Mac Van Khoa and Quoc Truong, and features action sequences by Samuel Kefi Abrikh (Furie, Furies, The Princess) and his team at AC Stunts Prod. The film opens August 25. Check out the posters below!

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KITTY THE KILLER: Lee Thongkam’s NYAFF 2023 Selectee Gets An Official Trailer For The New Thai Actioner

Lee B. Golden III

Thai action is coming to local cinemas with next week’s release of assassin thriller, Kitty The Killer from director Lee Thongkam. The official trailer arrived last month as well following its teaser while the film’s movement is now getting bolstered by some serious attention with a premiere at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival. I suppose a heads-up is in order with the pending official line-up. Yes? Yes. Dina, a girl trained to become an assassin, works with Keng (‘The Gray Fox Guardian’), but one day, Keng is betrayed by his organisation. Keng meets Charlie, an ordinary office worker and develops a special connection with him. Before dying, Keng makes Charlie the new ‘Gray Fox Guardian.’ Charlie’s job is to keep Dina safe from the organisation. The story of the Assassin’s War begins… The official trailer below doles out a wee bit more with animated sequences and graphic novel-style […]

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THE CHANNEL: Catch The Official Trailer For William Kaufman’s New Crime Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

I just spent my morning watching and reviewing one of the worst action films I’ve ever seen. That piece goes up early July, while I can genuinely assert that the official trailer footage signaling the latest from director William Kaufman proffers better times ahead. That brings us to action crime thriller The Channel, heading to theaters and on-Demand on July 14 following its acquisition by Brainstorm Media. It stars Clayne Crawford, Max Martini, and Nicoye Banks from a script by Kaufman and co-writer Paul Reichelt. After their bank heist goes wrong, a desperate criminal, his out-of-control brother and their motley crew of ex-Marines must escape New Orleans and the determined FBI agent who pursues them. Kaufman has a few films coming out in the coming year. In the interim, Fandango and Vudu exclusively premiered the trailer for The Channel on Tuesday which you can view below.

Trailer: Don’t Steal Kuchisake-Onna’s Stuff, Or Prepare To Meet Your Maker!

Trailer: Don’t Steal Kuchisake-Onna’s Stuff, Or Prepare To Meet Your Maker!

Lee B. Golden III

Back to scare the living Bajesus out of anyone looking for a scare at the movies is Phone Of The Dead director Yu Nakamoto. His latest teams him up this time with Sushi Typhoon vet and notable film producer Yoshinori Chiba whose Extreme label has a new action horror slated for July 7. The movie doesn’t have an English title as of yet but all the same though, it’s got a story that aims to thrill. This one centers on “First Love: Hatsukoi” actor Taisei Kido in his feature film debut about a high schooler and his friends who steal mopeds and sell them for quick cash. Eventually he finds himself stealing the wrong moped when they are soon hunted down by a grostesque-looking woman armed with a blade and superhuman abilities… Yikes! The trailer below definitely dives into the thick of it. Also starring are Gai Ueno and Reina […]

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SMALL, SLOW BUT STEADY: Sho Miyake’s Acclaimed Boxing Drama Lands Late June UK Release

Lee B. Golden III

Sho Miyake’s latest boxing drama, Small, Slow But Steady, is enjoying a few quiet theatrical runs nowadays since opening in Japan back in December. The film won awards last year at Berlin, Busan, Karlovy Vary and in London, and I didn’t even know the IFC Center screened it earlier this year as part of its ACA Cinema Project film series. As it stands now, UK label Blue Finch Films is signaling moviegoers to check out Small, Slow But Steady later this month. The film is based on boxer Keiko Ogasawara’s 2011 autobiographical memoir, “Makenaide!,” and centers on a hearing-impaired woman met with the biggest challenge of her life as her dreams of becoming a boxer are met with the threatened closure of her boxing club, along with the illness of its aging president, who has been her biggest supporter. Yukino Kishii leads the cast which also includes Tomokazu Miura, and […]

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NEVER SAY NEVER: Wang Baoqiang Is Backed Into A Corner In The First Trailer For The New MMA Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Wang Baoqiang’s latest film has been ramping up its campaign a bit since earlier this year with teasers and promo images for MMA drama, Never Say Never. The film now has an official trailer with a July 6 release date which you can view at the bottom of the page. For this, we have Wang directing this, his second feature since Buddies In India. He also stars in the film from a script he wrote, based on the true story of a coach who uses MMA training as a means of providing a space for growth and nourishment for underprivileged children. His biggest fight is yet to come, however, when a viral video release negatively shapes his public image, jeopardizing everything he’s worked for. The trailer definitely achieves selling the controversy that drives the story. Wang knows what he’s doing, and I certainly look forward to seeing how his treatment […]

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BLOODHOUNDS Review: Loansharks Versus The Little Guy In Jason Kim’s Story Of Bromance And Ballistic Fight Action

Lee B. Golden III

Bloodhounds is now streaming on Netflix The fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic saw plenty of reports emerge spotlighting criminals taking advantage of people during desperate times. A little research on my end made me realize just how real this was in South Korea – something to consider with Netflix series Bloodhounds, and the 2019 webtoon that the series is inspired by. The series is directed by Jason Kim (a.k.a. Kim Joo-hwan) whose treatment sets things in motion during late 2020. I can’t quite pinpoint where this fits in the webtoon since I’ve never consumed it, and so I can only gauge the series on its own merits. To start, however, I can earnestly state that the first episode delivers a fine, brisk introduction to both sides of the series. Kim Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) is one of the first characters we meet. He’s humble, virtuous and soft-spoken, and typically a good […]

LONDON ACTION FESTIVAL II: Don’t Miss The Sequel For The Action Cinema Celebration Launching Next Week

Lee B. Golden III

I’m late as all hell to the party on this but the second-annual London Action Film Festival is set to kick off its five-day event next Wednesday. Tickets are still selling for the festival which will be held at three different locations three prestigious locations in and around South and High Street Kensington, London for a “campus-style experience”. London Action Fest 2023 will be host to several anniversarial screenings of films like Peter Collinson’s The Italian Job, Martin Campbell’s The Mask Of Zorro, Gareth Evans’ The Raid 2, and Robert Clouse’s Enter The Dragon. The festival will also feature live music performances, as well as panel discussions and award ceremonies with celebrated directors like the aforementioned Campbell and Evans, as well as Nia DeCosta (Candyman), and authors Matthew Field (“The Italian Job”) and panel host Mike Fury (“Life Of Action”). There’s more to discover at the official website with details […]

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PURSUIT Review: Emile Hirsch Gives Chase In Fatigued New Crime Thriller From Brian Skiba

Lee B. Golden III

Pursuit arrives in the UK on Digital Download from June 12 Emile Hirsch’s portrayal of Rick, an audacious hacker on a rash search for his missing wife borders on subpar Nic Cage in Brian Skiba’s recent crime thriller, Pursuit. That’s the first thing that comes to mind watching his performance, which has me pondering a bit what actors go through to prepare for certain roles. It sort of works for Hirsch and gets the job done for the most part, and so its not the most blaring aspect of the film in its delivery. Hirsch is firstly joined by actor Jake Manley who plays NYPD detective Mike Breslin, who soon finds himself thrust into the upheaval when an undercover bust goes awry thanks to Rick’s actions. With the elusive Rick now on his radar, Mike is soon forced to repriortize when after nabbing Rick one evening, in a nutshell, Rick […]

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Get Ready For THE DOMINO FILE, Coming Soon!

Lee B. Golden III

SangHo Entertainment recently unveiled a first look teaser for the new action thriller, The Domino File (regionally titled Domino). Shot last year in parts of New York and Texas, the film is directed by Tino Nguyen with a cast led by actors Thuan Nguyễn (Furies), Henry Nguyen and Quoc Cuong. The Domino File centers on An, the estranged and only son of a crime boss who is summoned to America, and uncovers a deadly double-cross in his father’s organization. With the help of an undercover cop and innocent lives now at risk, it’s up to An to tread a seedy criminal underworld he wanted no part in, in order to bring his father’s killer to justice. Also starring will be The Foggy Mountain actors Peter Pham and Simon Kook, with Pham serving as action director. A release plan is in the works for later this year in the U.S. from […]

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THE WHITE STORM 3: HEAVEN OR HELL Gets An Explosive Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Rough weather is abound once again with the upcoming release of The White Storm 3: Heaven Or Hell. Herman Yau’s return to the hard-hitting non-linear crime franchise now has an official trailer to show for its efforts, following a teaser preview earlier this year. Hong Kong police agent Cheung works undercover in Kang’s drug cartel, while another undercover cop Au successfully earns their trust in an incident, a brotherly-bond is built among the three. After the Police busts the syndicate in Hong Kong, Kang subsequently hides away in the Golden Triangle, by chance he receives a tip-off about the betrayal within his circle of trust… The White Storm 3: Heaven Or Hell stars Aaron Kwok for his first appearance in the action-packed franchise, along with Sean Lau who starred in the first film from late director Benny Chan. Also starring is none other than actor Louis Koo, who now tops […]

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THE VILLAGE: Michihito Fujii’s Chilling New Thriller Comes To Netflix Next Week

Lee B. Golden III

A Family director Michihito Fujii is now the subject of another pending release with his latest dark drama thriller, The Village. Fujii directs a cast led by Ryusei Yokohama (upcoming One Last Bloom), and Fujii’s The Last 10 Years actress Haru Kuroki. This unusual suspense story reflects the darkness of modern society onto the isolated world of a “village.” Set in the small Japanese hamlet of Kamon Village, this story depicts the reality of its inhabitants who are unable to live with their hands completely clean. This film brims with the ills facing modern Japanese society, including environmental issues, the poverty of young people in depopulated villages, expanding society inequalities and a warped social structure that makes it impossible to recover after going astray even once. Starring Ryusei Yokohama, this unprecedented human drama fuses entertainment with real issues plaguing Japanese society. Kadokawa and Star Sands released the film in Japan […]

The purpose of the image is to showcase the film per the line-up in my gallery for Fantasia ahead of its screening.

DEVILS: Jang Dong-Yoon And Oh Dae-Hwan Show Their Horns In The Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Kim Jae-hoon’s feature directing debut is currently pitching online for Devils after showing out for world sales under Finecut this year. The two mains of his film are Project Wolf Hunting star Jang Dong-yoon, and Paid In Blood (a.k.a. Tomb Of The River) actor Oh Dae-hwan. Having lost his colleague who was also his brother-in-law to a serial murderer two years ago, homicide detective Jae-hwan is unable to contain his hatred toward the murderer and dives headfirst into hunting the brutal killer. Jae-hwan finally comes face to face with the murderer Jin-hyuk but in the heat of the chase, they get into an accident. Waking up in a hospital, Jae-hwan realizes his body has been switched with that of the murderer. To protect his family and uncover the secret of this body switch, Jae-hwan, who’s trapped in the murderer’s body, begins a desperate chase. “Chief Of Staff” series actor Jang […]

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THE CHILDE: Don’t Miss The North American Teaser For Park Hoon-Jung’s New Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Park Hoon-jung is a concurrent favorite for Asian film fans, and his latest aims to make that same case once more with action crime thriller, The Childe. The first official U.S. teaser is here too, and shows about as much as earlier footage already has, and so not much has been given away, storywise. Nice one! What we do know is that actor Kang Tae-joo is making his feature debut from a script by Park. Here, he plays an aspiring boxer born to a Filipino mother and living in the Philippines. He gets an unexpected call and jets to South Korea to find the father who abandoned him, only to find himself hunted by malevolent forces for various reasons. That’s it. That’s all we know to the story apart from any stills and footage we’ve seen, and none of us are the wiser. Still, the momentum is cooking. Also starring […]

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A DAY AND A HALF Debuts First Look At The New Hostage Drama Feature From Fares Fares

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Fares Fares who has appeared in films such as The Contractor, Child 44 and Safe House, and series such as “Westworld” and “Chernobyl,” is making his debut as director for hostage drama A Day And Half. Netflix is taking the mantle for its release on September 1, and is debuting a row of first look stills which you can view at the bottom of the page. To reunite with his daughter, Artan (Alexej Manvelov) takes his ex-wife Louise (Alma Pöysti) hostage and embarks on a thrilling and emotion-charged road trip with her and police officer Lukas (Fares Fares). The journey takes them through rural Sweden during a hot summer, all while having police on their heels. Rounding out the cast are Stina Ekblad, Bengt C.W. Carlsson, Annica Liljeblad, Annika Hallin, and Johni Tadi. Fares also penned the script with co-writer Peter Smirnakos, and is joined by producers Christina Legkova, […]

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WARRIOR Tests The Limits Of Peace In The Trailer For Season Three!

Lee B. Golden III

Back in March I attempted a lookback series of articles revisiting the hit Tong series drama, Warrior. The theme was Unsettled Scores, and while I never got around to finishing this mini column, the official series trailer is now here and clearly our mains have some axes to grind since season two. In the wake of the race riots that upended Chinatown in season two, Mai Ling uses her government connections to consolidate power, while Ah Sahm and the Hop Wei must find new ways to survive. June 29 can’t come fast enough. Boy oh boy!