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:

REIGN OF THE ASSASSIN: A Word With ‘Blade Of The 47 Ronin’ Actress Luna Fujimoto

Netflix and Universal 1440 have just released their latest offering this season, Blade Of The 47 Ronin from director Ron Yuan. My review is currently available here while as of last week, I was offered an opportunity to get a word in with one of its cast members, actress Luna Fujimoto, who stars in the film as a member the “Onna-bugeisha”, a clandestine unit of female warriors led by modern-day Samurai lord, Shinshiro, played by Mark Dacascos. In our interview, Luna discusses her upbringing in the arts and what it took to land the role, and ultimately working with the likes of Yuan and his team. She’s actually been making the interview rounds for a while now and I’m honored that Film Combat Syndicate just happened to be her latest stop along the way, and after seeing her on screen, I look forward to seeing even more of her on […]

EL ANGEL GABRIEL Review: Hong Kong Action Fan Service Fuels The Dogma In Angel Vazquez’s Debut Indie Feature

Lee B. Golden III

I largely credit actor José Manuel for bringing a lot of my attention to the goings-on of martial arts action fandom in Puerto Rico, particularly since his heyday stardom with El Testigo (The Witness). It’s been fun keeping up with his stuff, and even more worthwhile catching onto new talent that’s come his way as a result, including but not limited to actor Angel Vazquez, who’s collaborated with Manuel on multiple occasions, in addition to developing his own projects to date. Following his latest return to this year’s tenth Urban Action Showcase & Expo in New York City, five years after presenting his award-winning short, Atrápame, the momentum now shifts in Vazquez’s favor with more than a year’s work put in to complete his own independent feature debut, El Angel Gabriel. For this, we get Vazquez in a title capacity from his own script, as it dives right into the […]

Win Kim Han-Min’s HANSAN: RISING DRAGON On Blu-Ray From Well Go USA!

Lee B. Golden III

Subscribers to Well Go USA’s streaming platform, Hi-YAH!, will currently be able to catch director Kim Han-min’s most recent war epic, Hansan: Rising Dragon. As for the folks out there choosing to purchase a disc, you’re in luck as the film’s release on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital is just around the corner slated for November 15, and we’re giving away a few copies to readers. All you need is to click here and e-mail us your answer the following trivia: How many children did Yi Sun-shin have with his two wives? The contest expires on November 14 – the day before the film’s release – and extends only to residents in the U.S.. Click here to read our review of the film as well! A prequel to The Admiral: Roaring Currents—the most-watched film in Korean cinema history—HANSAN: RISING DRAGON depicts the historical Battle of Hansando. In 1592, Admiral Yi and […]

GANGS OF LONDON S2: E3-E6 Review: Backstabbers And Gamechangers As War Erupts On The Streets

Lee B. Golden III

Following my coverage of the first two episodes of the second season of Gangs Of London, I can certainly confirm that while I await the final two episodes, the next four chapters of the season only get more grim and enticing. The show is already streaming in the UK so folks overseas and anyone who can otherwise currently access it will know what’s what, but I’ll insofar disclose as much that even more twists and dark turns are on the horizon as we follow Elliot’s quest to get out, and ultimately, Marian’s fight for survival as Georgian assassin and gunrunner Koba continues his onslaught throughout London. While more is revealed about the preceding events leading into the second season, the alleged murder of Sean Wallace – played by Joe Cole in season one, it’s only a small peak and doesn’t answer the question of just what happened and why in […]

BHEDIYA Trailer Goes Beast Mode For Amar Kaushik’s Latest Telugu Horror Romp

Lee B. Golden III

Stree helmer Amar Kaushik is ready to take a bite out of November with new horror comedy, Bhediya. Jug Jugg Jeeyo star Varun Dhawan reunites with actress/dancer Kriti Sanon of Kalank and Street Dancer 3D fame this time from a script by Niren Bhatt who also wrote Kaushik’s 2019 comedy, Bala. Set in the forests of Arunachal, Bhediya is a story of Bhaskar, a man who gets bitten by a wolf, and begins to transform into the creature. As Bhaskar and his buddies try to find answers, a bunch of twists, turns, and laughs ensue. The official trailer is online as of Sunday afternoon in my time zone which you can view above. Bhediya also stars Deepak Dobriyal, Abhishek Banerjee, and Paalin Kabak, and opens in theaters November 25.

MAD HEIDI Lands Late 2022 North American Release From Raven Banner

Lee B. Golden III

Folks eagerly awaiting to check out Swissploitation thriller romp, Mad Heidi, will be pleased to learn that Raven Banner Entertainment has acquired the film for what’s being described as an “innovative” North American release plan. The release will include a two-week stay in theaters followed by a two-month run on the film’s official website from December 8 with all the proceeds going straight to the filmmakers – Johannes Hartmann and Sandro Klopfstein, as well as investors who helped push the film through crowdfunding. Starring Alice Lucy, the film tracks a tale of bloody revenge when Heidi is torn from her simple and pure life in the Swiss Alps after her lover is brutally murdered by a cheese fascist, transforming herself into a formidable warrior to liberate her country. Hartmann and Klopfstein make their directing debut on the film, five years in the making after flourishing the concept from a viral […]

GUNFIGHT AT RIO BRAVO Heads To North America From Shout! In 2023

Lee B. Golden III

Shout! Studios has acquired Gunfight At Rio Bravo, the new Western thriller from director Joe Cornet. The film stars and is produced by Alexander Nevsky, and also stars Cornet along with Matthias Hues, Olivier Gruner, Natalie Denise Sperl, Kerry Goodwin, and John Fallon. In Gunfight At Rio Bravo, Nevsky plays a mysterious Russian gunslinger who aids a marshal and a sheriff as they stand up to a bloodthirsty outlaw gang known as The Hellhounds who have invaded their small East Texas town. Cornet directs from a script by Craig Hamann, with Nevsky producing the film for Hollywood Storm, and ETA Films’ Eric Brenner and San Rafael Productions’ Cornet executive producing. “I’m really happy GUNFIGHT AT RIO BRAVO will be released in the U.S. by Shout! Factory. My western debut may have a lot of action, but it’s also a great story about friendship and the endless fight between good and evil,” said Nevsky. “I can’t wait for American audiences to watch it thanks to Shout! and Premiere.” “GUNFIGHT AT RIO BRAVO is […]

WARRIORS OF FUTURE: Netflix Debuts The Official Trailer For The Sci-Fi Action Hit Starring Louis Koo

Lee B. Golden III

Netflix just debuted the official trailer for Warriors Of Future, the latest from director Ng Yuen Fai and starring and produced by Louis Koo. The film was announced on Thursday as part of the streamer’s recent packaging of Chinese-language projects to arrive between now and next year, including four other dramas you can read about here. In 2055, a meteorite, which brings a fast-growing alien vine named “Pandora”, crashes down on a barren Earth ravaged by pollution and global warming. “Pandora” purifies the planet but kills everything in its path. To protect the citizens of their city, the heavily armored military of Hong Kong, armed with the plant’s genetic map, tries but fails to destroy “Pandora” and uncovers a conspiracy. Warriors Of Future also stars Sean Lau, Carina Lau, and Philip Keung.

BLACK WARRANT: Don’t Miss The Official Trailer For The New Actioner Starring Tom Berenger And Cam Gigandet

Lee B. Golden III

Saban Films has proudly unveiled the official trailer for Black Warrant from director Tibor Takacs. The film stars Cam Gigandet and Tom Berenger, along with Jeff Fahey, Rodrigo Abed, Sara Seyed, Helena Haro, Jonathan Avigdori, and Joe Chacon. A semi-retired special ops assassin (Tom Berenger) and a young DEA agent (Cam Gigandet) cross paths on separate missions to stop a cyber terrorist organization that’s built a dangerous machine threatening to attack the power grid & bring catastrophe to the world. Black Warrant will open in select US theaters and on VOD from December 9. Hat tip to First Showing for the trailer and poster art.

MSR Media Touts 35-Title Production Plan In The Caribbean Along With New Action Thriller From ‘Black Noise’ Director

Lee B. Golden III

MSR Media is announcing plans to shoot up to thirty-five films in five years in the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis. The news comes following a meeting this week with the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, and MSR Media whose Philippe Martinez produced several films in the region, including One Year Off, Assailant, A Week in Paradise, Christmas in the Caribbean and Us or Them. The latest project at the top of the list for Martinez and the company will be the action thriller Fast Sea, to be directed by Leigh Scott from a script he wrote with Sean Michael Argo, with cameras set to roll in January. The move will offset a campaign that will include hiring 150 people over the next four months and finalizing the purchase of a leading hotel in Basseterre, St. Kitts, which will create 100 new jobs […]

Now Streaming: BLADE OF THE 47 RONIN, Where Martial Arts And Magic Clash In Ron Yuan’s Pulpy Modern-Day Samurai Sequel

Lee B. Golden III

It was pretty much anyone’s guess nine years ago whether or not Carl Rinsch’s Lord Of The Rings-esque take on the classic tale of the 47 Ronin was going to get a sequel of any kind, as big as the aspirations (and budget) were for Universal’s 2013 box office flop. Suffice it to say that some jaws dropped when the trades reported such a follow-up to be directed by actor Ron Yuan who had long begun racking up his film credits behind the lens and with direct-to-disc/streaming releases becoming the more suitable business model for studios looking to capitalize on residual film fandom. Thus, we have Universal’s 1440 shingle joined by Netflix in rolling out Blade Of The 47 Ronin, the second chapter which is set 300 years after the events of the first film and is set in none other than Budapest, which is where Rinsch’s installment was partly […]

WARRIORS OF FUTURE Lands On Netflix In December, Leads Chinese-Language Drama Slate

Lee B. Golden III

What began as a sizzling hot proof of concept seven years ago as “Virtus”, director Ng Yuen Fai’s hit sci-fi action adventure, Warriors Of Future, has been acquired by Netflix for a December 2 release. The film stars Louis Koo, whose One Cool Film production banner led the charge in developing the project since its early inception. The film also stars Sean Lau, Carina Lau and Philip Keung, and is set in the year 2055 when Hong Kong assembles a heavily armed military unit to combat the onslaught set by a fast-growing alien vine that purifies Earth’s barren atmosphere while killing everything in its path, unraveling a deadly conspiracy. The film had been circulating teasers and trailers for several years now while on the market trail while reportedly delayed from a 2019 release to allow time for post-production. The film opened the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival back in […]

Toho’s GODZILLA Returns To The Big Screen In 2023 From Director Takashi Yamazaki

Lee B. Golden III

I stan guys like director Takashi Yamazaki, so it’s wholly a welcome feat that he’s being tapped to direct a new Godzilla movie coming on November 3, 2023. The Returner, Parasyte: Part 1 and Part 2 helmer’s new feature effort is the latest in succession from the 2016 installment of Shin Godzilla from Shinji Higuchi and Yusuke Ishida, as well as several recent animated features on Netflix, and the current big screen Monsterverse out of Legendary which is now on par for its own Apple TV+ series temp-titled Godzilla and The Titans. 2023, simply put, will be another perfect year to be a monster movie fanatic. Toho also released the official graphic which you can view below: Read more at ANN!

TRIGGER: Raven Banner Loads Up Richard Somes’ New Philippines Action Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

We Will Not Die Tonight helmer Richard Somes’ latest, Trigger, has found a new home for international sales representation with Raven Banner Entertainment as of this week. The company released a first look which you can view above, featuring actor Arjo Atayde as an ex-soldier-turned-security guard whose PTSD becomes the ultimate modifier when he’s forced to protect a woman on the lam from a corrupt police death squad. Trigger hails from Fusee’s Wilfredo C. Manalang who is producing with Somes via Strawdogs Studio Production, Nathan Studios’ Ria Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez, and Theo & Atlas Production Inc.’s Michaelangelo Masangkay and Fernando Henna. Also starring are Julia Montes, Sid Lucero and Kokoy De Santos. “We’re excited to bring a new kind of action film from the Philippines. There were a lot of action movies in the early part of our film history, but the country has shied away from them for […]

Jean-Claude Van Damme On WHAT’S MY NAME?, Says The Film ‘May Happen, May Not Happen’

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme nailed two film deals this week, one of which includes Darkness Of Man from Hot Seat and fortress helmer James Cullen. The two spoke to THR this week in an interview wherein author Alex Ritman asked about the status of Jeremy Zag’s What’s My Name?, the film which was set to be the 62-year-old action star’s final bow as of its announcement back in February out of EFM. “I want to make one more big martial arts film. But I guess it’s not the time right now. Before I believed in destiny, but now I believe in synchronicity. So if something doesn’t go my way, then it’s not supposed to go my way. So What’s My Name? may happen, may not happen. And I have another project that’s as good. But that’s for later. Right now, I’m so into Darkness of Man, which was always working in parallel” said […]

THE ISLAND: Michael Jai White Takes The Fight Home In A First Look At The New Action Crime Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Published November 2, 2022: MSR Media International is launching sales on The Island, with a first look still photo from the new action thriller above and now making the rounds. Shaun Paul Piccinino (Lionsgate’s American Fighter, Netflix’s That’s Amor and A California Christmas: City Lights) is directing the film based on an original story by Philippe Martinez, and scripted by Martinez and Michael Caissie. Starring Michael Jai White and Jackson Rathbone, The Island recounts the story of an LAPD officer who takes down drug traffickers with his wise-cracking partner until his brother dies under mysterious circumstances. He returns to his island home to seek answers, and ultimately vengeance, in a bloody battle with the corrupt tycoon who has taken over the island paradise. The film also stars Gillian White and Edoardo Costa. Producing are MSR Media’s Philippe Martinez and Highfield Grange Studios’ Alan Latham. MSR Media first announced the film […]

ŚAKRA: Donnie Yen Is Unstoppable In Sales Art For The New Wuxia Epic

Lee B. Golden III

Action star Donnie Yen is back in the spotlight with Śakra, his sixth and latest directorial effort in nearly twenty years since the Barbara Wong co-helmer, Protégé de la Rose Noire. Currently in production, Yen’s return to Wuxia is based on Louis Cha’s 1960s novel, “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils”, which underwent several film and television adaptations dating back to the 70s. The new film marks the book’s fourth adaptation for the screen, joining him with mega-producer Wong Jing, who previous collaborated with the star on titles like Big Brother, Enter The Fat Dragon, Chasing The Dragon, and New Kung Fu Cult Master. Set in the Song Dynasty, Śakra sees Yen in the role of Qiao Feng “a tragic hero accused of killing his adoptive parents”. Feng is actually one of three protagonists in the original novel, so in terms of the general plot, this is all we have to work with […]

PATHAAN: A Storm Is Coming In The Latest Trailer For Shah Rukh Khan’s New Action Adventure

Lee B. Golden III

Big things are abound for leading man Shah Rukh Khan and anyone following his work. That includes upcoming action-adventure, Pathaan, which joins Khan with hitmaker Siddharth Anand who came in hot in the last decade with Hirthik Roshan starrers, Bang Bang and War, the latter which also featured Tiger Shroff. Pathaan also stars Deepika Padukone (xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage) and John Abraham (Attack). There’s no direct plot description available from the film’s home base at YRF but the trailer above comes English-subbed, which should do plenty to bring context to Khan’s latest ambitious spy thriller opening on January 25, 2023.

BARBARIAN INVASION: Catch The Trailer For Tan Chui Mui’s Celebrated New Action Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Published November 1: I missed my chance to check out Tan Chui Mui’s newest feature, Barbarian Invasion, when it screened for the New York Asian Film Festival last year. Invariably, the film has been on a journey since its completion, making the festival rounds and ultimately now readying a November 24 release in Malaysia. Hopefully 2023 will bring about some good prospects with this film’s release stateside. Moon Lee, a celebrated award-winning actress, has become a full-time mom and divorcée since retiring. Desperate to regain her sense of self, she jumps at the chance to work with her long-time collaborator, director Roger Woo, again. Only this time, he casts her as the lead in a do-your-own stunts martial arts film. The role requires extensive training and though Moon is at first uncertain, she leaves her young son in the care of Roger’s assistant and commits herself to back-breaking training. As […]

THE AMBUSH Strikes Back On Blu-Ray And DVD From Well Go USA This December

Lee B. Golden III

Director Pierre Morel is currently in Croatia shooting his newest project with Kate Beckinsale which is currently being shopped at the American Film Market this week, and you can learn all about it at Zac Ntim’s Deadline coverage here. In the meantime, fans of the Taken and Peppermint director will be pleased to learn that Saban Films’ Emirati war drama, The Ambush, is now in the sturdy hands of Well Go USA Entertainment following its theatrical release last week and subsequent digital release as of Tuesday. Morel directs from a script by Kurtis Birtell and Brandon Birtell, the story of a unit of Emirati soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in 2018 following the fall of the Yemeni government at the hands of extremists three years earlier. When a unit on patrol during the final week of its tour gets ambushed by terrorists, the brave men and women of the Emirati […]