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JAPAN CUTS XVII: Shadow Of Fire, Shin Godzilla ORTHOchromatic, And So Much More As The Full Line-Up Is Revealed!

The 17th edition of Japan Cuts: Festival Of New Japanese Film is locked in for the summer of 2024. Alas, the full line-up is now available on the official website with tickets and availability, and we’ve got some exciting details to help share. Set for July 10–August 21 in New York City, this year’s edition will present over 30 films spanning 12 days across Feature Slate, Next Generation, Classics and Short Film sections. Among the festival’s lineup are five International Premieres, 10 North American Premieres, four U.S. Premieres, two East Coast Premieres and seven New York Premieres. Additionally, JAPAN CUTS will welcome over eight actors and directors as special guests and host three parties. This edition will mark this site’s fifth effort to remote-cover Japan Cuts since 2019. I’ve managed to screen a wide array of features and shorts in that time – a few of which have yet to see […]

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88 Films Bombards Us With Action With Their June/July/August Slate

British Blu-Ray distributor, 88 FILMS, have been delivering the goods with their martial arts action releases for years now and they’re showing no signs of stopping any time soon. Physical Media fans have a lot to look forwards to over the next few months as 88 Films are set to hit us with a veritable avalanche of classic Hong Kong action flicks. Check out their slate below: JUNE Fist of Legend (6/24) – Everyone and their dog knows this film. Considered Jet Li’s best by many, it tells the story of Chen Zhen (also portrayed by Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury) fighting off the evil Japanese. Features fight choreography from Yuen Woo Ping and a fantastic villain in the form of Billy Chow. Availaiable on both Blu-Ray and 4K UHD.   To Kill Wih Intrigue (TBD) – While a date hasn’t been set in stone for this one, most people are leaning […]

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SHADOW GHOST Taps Andy Cheng To Helm Live-Action Adaptation Of Crowdfunded Indie Hit Comic

Crowdfunding is still a viable source for creators to help get their ideas off the ground. Sifu Kurtis Fujita took note last January when he launched his own campaign for indie comic book Shadow Ghost, successfully achieving 263% of its funding goals. With the first print in toe, it was las November when Fujita signaled fans of a feature/TV adaptation in the works, partnering with Atchity Productions, the studio behind The Meg films. Fast forward six months into the new year and the now-reported movie in question has found a director in renowned stunt-multihyphenate and filmmaker, Andy Cheng. “We are thrilled to have Andy Cheng on board to direct the Shadow Ghost film,” said Atchity Productions CEO, Dr. Ken Atchity. “His unparalleled experience and passion for martial arts cinema make him the ideal choice to capture the essence of the Shadow Ghost saga. We are confident that this collaboration will […]

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Terror Vision Gives Kung Fu Cinema Lovers A Rare Gift – AN OLD KUNG FU MASTER On Blu Ray!

Terror Vision is doing the Lord’s work. Not only are they releasing a steady stream of rare horror gems; they’ve well and truly dipped their toes into kung fu cinema. Two months ago they released the quirky Barry Chan flick, Game of Killers, and this month we get a Blu Ray of the Yuen Siu Tien (Drunken Master, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow) starring old school gem, AN OLD KUNG FU MASTER. In full remastered glory, no less. Those that don’t know Yuen Siu Tien may have head of one of his sons – legendary direction and fight choreographer, Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drgon). In fact, all of his sons are established names in Hong Kong action cinema and, collectively, are known as the Yuen Clan. Yuen Siu Tien starred in almost 350 films during his lengthy career, including countless kung fu classics. Sadly, An Old Kung Fu Master was the […]

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OWL GIRL: Johnny Yong Bosch Hoots For Crimefighting Thrills In This Newest Proof-Of-Concept Short!

Don’t rule Johnny Yong Bosch out. His latest out of Vox Rocket Studio, Spades, is still in toe as the actor and ex-Power Ranger-cum-seasoned filmmaker also set his sights on Tidewater Comic-Con last week with proof of concept, Owl Girl. Following the loss of the Parliament of Owls, Skyway City’s greatest super heroes, a young girl named Lina Lopez rises up to defend the city from villains new and old. Zeke, the lone survivor of the Owls, must reluctantly take her under his wing and teach her what it takes to truly be a superhero. Not just the sky highs, but the lows as well. The series is intended for teen audiences and features a mix of serialized and episodic storytelling that reveals more upon rewatch. Bosch is shepherding the concept with Mike Federali and pairing Vox Rocket with Kamen Ramen Studios. Owl Girl is played by actress and industry […]

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BEFORE DAWN: Catch The Trailer For Jordon Prince-Wright’s New WWI War Flick

July 19 will see the theatrical and digital release of Jordon Prince-Wright’s new war drama, Before Dawn. The film stars Levi Miller, Travis Jeffery, Myles Pollard, Tim Franklin, Jordan Dulieu, and Peter Sullivan, along with Ed Oxenbould and Stephen Peacocke. After leaving his family’s sheep farm in the Australian outback, a young man joins his countrymen on the western front of World War I with hopes of helping expedite an end to the bloody conflict. But as war rages on, he is forced to grapple with the brutal realities of trench warfare, including a near-constant battle to keep himself alive—without leaving another man behind. Prince-Wright and Jarrad Russell created the characters and storied on which Russell’s screenplay is based. Peep the trailer below from Well Go USA.

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THE RAID In 4K Hits Australia And New Zealand Cinemas This Week!

Nope, I don’t live in Australia or New Zealand, but I am here to help promote a good time. That goes for anyone residing in either region who is curious to immerse themselves in Gareth Huw Evans’ 4K renewal of 2011 crime pic, The Raid in cinemas on May 30 from Umbrella Entertainment The movie shot its leading screen talents to genre acclaim with the likes of Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian reaching global stardom after Evans’ tastemaker hit, Merantau. The two are joined by heavy hitter Joe Taslim and Donny Alamsyah as the story culminates the events of a botched tower block raid that pits brother against brother amidst machinations of police corruption, and a landlord crime boss’s violent reprisal with an army at his disposal. Evans, who is also in post-production on Netflix’s Havoc with Tom Hardy, touted his retinkering with The Raid in the last few years, […]

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THE KILLER: John Woo’s Remake Of His 1989 Hong Kong Hit Has Already Wrapped Filming

Remakes and reboots are the center of Rebecca Leffler’s Cannes market coverage over the weekend at Screendaily. Buried in her editorial is the news that John Woo’s revival of The Killer has already wrapped production in Paris. Matthew Stuecken and Josh Campbell, and Eran Creevy adapted the script which centers on an assassin’s efforts to make amends by earning money to help restore the eyesight of a beautiful singer be blinded in a gunfight. Chow Yun-Fat starred in the 1989 original opposite Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, and Kenneth Tsang. Woo’s root flick shot to acclaim through his signature gritty allure and stylish action, becoming part of a staple of golden age Hong Kong films that continue to influence and inspire audiences and creatives to this day. Multiple hands and individuals tinkered with visions for a remake for more than two decades before Woo decided to stake his claim at the […]

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Film Masters Release The Controversial Kung Fu Classic, THE CRIPPLED MASTERS, This July

Controversy isn’t really something one might associate with the kung fu cinema genre. The infamous “Cantonese comedy” found in the classics of yesteryear may be a little on the distasteful side, but it’s easy to say “It’s a product of its time” and move on with your day. However, one martial arts film sticks out like a sore thumb when it comes to distastefulness – 1980’s THE CRIPPLED MASTERS. Over the years, this one’s only been accessible on VHS and DVD’s that were basically shoddy VHS rips, but now, for the the first time, it gets a crisp, remastered Blu Ray from Film Masters. Why the controversy? The Crippled Masters stars Frankie Shum (Shun Chung-Chuen) and Jack Conn (Thomas Hong Chiu-Ming), two disabled martial artists as the titular “masters” and focuses heavily on their impairments. Whether the film celebrates inclusivity or not is purely up to the viewer, but it’s safe to […]

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Ryoo Seung-Wan’s VETERAN 3 In The Works

Director Ryoo Seung-wan is plotting a threequel follow-up to 2015’s Veteran and his latest, I, The Executioner, which just screened Out Of Competition at Cannes. Ryoo confirmed the preliminary details in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s Patrick Brzeski on Sunday. “I’m actually already in talks with the actors. A third one will happen. I already have a spin-off story. I’d like to expand this universe and I feel like there are many more stories that I can tell. Of course, there’s a very important precondition for all that though. If Veteran 2 flops, none of this will happen. If you want to see a third one, please give this film your support!” I, The Executioner reunites Ryoo with the prime cast of the first film led by Hwang Jung-min (12.12: The Day). The two previously collaborated on Ryoo’s hit award-winning 2010 crime thriller, The Unjust. Ryoo also dove a […]

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TACFEST 2024: ‘I’ll Crush Y’all’, ‘Shadow Fist 3’, ‘Kigurumi Blade’ And More Splash Big For Spain’s Second-Year Genre Festivities

The International Toledo Action Films Festival & Expo wrapped its goings-on in Illescas last week. The second-annual festival launced on May 15, kicking off a weeklong spell of film fandom and martial arts fanfare with expos, panels and seminars host to topical discussions on industry and the craft, stunts and much more within the first three days. The latter half of TACFEST II saw a plethora of events rolled into one at the Guillermo Plaza Pavilion in Yuncos in Toledo. Expos, training and exhibition segments, mini-cinema and merchandising were all on hand with over a dozen booths on display, including a photo booth where everyone could share their own Dragonz Magazine cover. The weekend also saw more than twenty martial arts seminars held with Grandmasters of Martial Arts such as Sebas Deibe, Paulino Martín, César Alonso, José Torres II (Killer-Ex), and Musical Kata World Champion Jan Sykora from the Czech […]

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New X-MEN Movie In The Works, Lands ‘Hunger Games’ Writer

Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes scribe Michael Lesslie will write the next X-Men movie, according to the trades on Tuesday. A new film in the franchise had been the talk for some years now but things are finally inching a little closer after the end of last year’s strikes. The Marvel property launched in the comic pages in the 1960s from creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, chronicling the efforts of a band of superheros to mitigate diplomacy in a world then-discovering the existence of mutants. Led by telepath Charles Xavier who founded his School for the Gifted, those efforts often resulted in battling foes both human and mutant alike. The franchise elevated into screen success in the 90s, as well as the most recent revival on Disney+, “X-Men ’97”. On the live-action front, 20th Century Fox got the ball rolling with X-Men in 2000, landing twelve […]

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Aaron Eckhart in MUZZLE

MUZZLE: CITY OF WOLVES Reteams Star And Director For Action Sequel

A sequel to 2023 action thriller Muzzle is in the works. Production will reteam lead actor Aaron Eckhart and director John Stalberg Jr. who collaborated on the original film. Stalberg Jr. will direct Muzzle: City Of Wolves, which he and Carlyle Eubank (The Signal) storied for a script by Jacob Michael King (Caviar). Stalberg, Jr. is also producing via his Slow Burn banner along with David Frigerio through Broken Open Pictures (Land of Bad, Muzzle, Bad Hombres), and Highland Film Group.  Eubank is exec producing for Slow Burn next to Tim O’Hair and RuthAnne Frigerio for Broken Open Pictures. Highland Film Group is handling international rights and is introducing the film to buyers. Haunted by PTSD from his days as a K-9 officer, Jake Rosser (Eckhart) endeavors to lead a peaceful life with his family and retired K-9 companion, Socks. But the tranquility quickly dissolves when a ruthless gang targets […]

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SIERRA MADRE Lines Up Kiefer Sutherland For Fall Action Thriller Shoot

Emmy Award-winner Kiefer Sutherland (Flatliners, “24,” Clint Eastwood’s upcoming Juror #2) is set to shoot action thriller Sierra Madre this Fall. Highland Film Group launched world sales on the film at the Cannes market and is co-financing. Sutherland will play Captain Jordan Wright, granted leave along with his squadron from their mission to attend a crewmate’s wedding in Mexico. When the festivities are interrupted by a cartel’s murderous descent on the small village, Jordan attempts to lead his remaining men to safety, as war breaks out between his squad and the cartel. Now under siege in the enemy’s deadly stronghold, Jordan has no other option but to engage in a full-scale battle to save the only family he has. Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) is directing from a script by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers (The Grey) and Delbert Hancock. “I’m thrilled to be joining the team on Sierra Madre, […]

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DEATHSTALKER Reboot Is Underway As First Look Goes Viral Of Daniel Bernhardt In Full Regalia

Already hitting the trades and genre film forums, a first look is already out and about with featured actor Daniel Bernhardt (John Wick, Nobody, Skylines) for Raven Banner’s Deathstalker. The label launched world sales at the Marché du Film over the weekend with cameras currently rolling in Canada. A reboot of the late Roger Corman’s cult Sword & Sorcery film franchise, Bernhardt stars as the titular character revised by writer and director Steven Kostanski (The Void, PG: Psycho Goreman). Bernhardt portrays the barbarian who finds himself cursed by a magical talisman that draws him into conflict with a malevolent wizard and a clan of monstrous assassins. Corman’s films capitalized on the 80s fan fervor of films like John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian, with a similar collision of pulp fantasy and lurid excess. Kostanski’s new vision promises a greater emphasis on exploring the series’ fantasy setting and filling it with monsters […]

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THIEVES HIGHWAY Hits The Road For Jesse V. Johnson’s New Crime Thriller

Avengement and Triple Threat helmer Jesse V. Johnson will next direct crime thriller Thieves Highway. The film stars Devon Sawa (The Fanatic, Gasoline Alley), and also reteams Johnson with actor Aaron Eckhart (Chief Of Station), along with 308 Enterprises own Corey Large (One Ranger) who is producing. Johnson is directing from a script by Travis Mills, the story of an Oklahoma Stock Detective (Eckhart) in over his head in the “Breaking Bad” world of modern cattle rustling. Kirk Shaw (The Hurt Locker, Papa Hemingway in Cuba, Extraction), Jordan Nott (Assassination) and Jon Keeyes (White Elephant) are exec producing. BondIt Media Capital and Pink 308 will finance. Red Sea Media is handling international sales and debuting the film for buyers at the Marché du Film in Cannes. “’THIEVES HIGHWAY’ is a passion project, for Aaron and me. We spent a lot of time developing Travis Mills’ script, embracing factual anecdotes and […]

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BLOOD PASSAGE: ‘Maria’ Helmer Boards Martial Arts Vamp Thriller

Maria and Nilalang helmer Pedring Lopez is lining up to direct Blood Passage. The film marks the first project out of a deal announced late last year between Singapore-based Very Tay Media and Lopez’s BlackOps Studios Asia in the Philippines. Variety’s Patrick Frater reports: “Blood Passage” is a martial arts vampire action horror feature set in Southeast Asia. Its story follows a rescue mission gone wrong, that pits a private military unit against relentless supernatural forces. Rex Lopez is producing for Blackops Studios Asia & Psyops8 as is Alaric Tay for Very Tay Media. Fred Hedman of Evolution Pictures and GFM Film Sales, and Christopher Shaw are exec producing. On the action front, stunt-multi-hyphenate Sonny Sisson, who provided stunts on Lopez’s recently-completed crime series, “Sellblock,” will return in a similar role. He will be joined by action choreographer Brahim Chab, whose credits partly include Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear, The […]

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[UPDATED] TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS Success Signals Threequel Prospects With New Poster

Announcements were made for the prequel and sequel to Soi Cheang’s Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In. The film had a rousing Out Of Competition screening at Cannes while currently leading the Hong Kong and China box offices. First up is Twilight Of The Warriors: Dragon Throne, a prequel set in the 1950s and 60s, chronicling the earlier years of triad boss Cyclone (Louis Koo) and hitman Jim Chan (Aaron Kwok). The last will bring back the main cast of the first film with Twilight Of The Warriors: The Final Chapter, which is set in 1993, the year of the City’s demolition. Additionally, as Silvia Wong notes exclusively at Screendaily, production on extensive and larger sets is expected to commence around the same time next year, citing Entertaining Power head Angus Chan. Dust To Dust scribe Chou Man Yu will pen the script. The franchise is based on the manhua […]

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Scott Adkins And Marko Zaror Actioner, DIABLO, Rolls Into Post-Production With A New Cast Member

Scott Adkins shows no sign of slowing his output after John Wick 4 shone a significant spotlight on him, as his latest starring vehicle, DIABLO, goes into post-production. Helming the actioner is Ernesto Diaz Espinoza, a name that’s ended up on many “One to watch” lists after his last two efforts, Redeemer and The Fist of the Condor. Chilean powerhouse, Marko Zaror, also stars. Today, Deadline.com has reported that Diana Hoyos has also joined the cast. Hoyos, a veteran of Spanish tv, established herself as an action actress with roles in 2017’s Sniper: Ultimate Kill and Never Back Down Revolt from 2021. Plot details, according to Deadline: The film follows Kris Chaney (Adkins) who, after being released from prison, embarks on a perilous mission to fulfill an old promise but finds himself in danger when he kidnaps Elisa, the daughter of a powerful gangster. Her father, Vincent, puts out a […]

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FALL Franchise Lands Sequel Directors, Plots Course For Trilogy

A seuquel to Scott Mann’s 2022 sleeper hit, Fall, is moving forward from acclaimed horror and thriller directors Michael and Peter Spierig (Lionsgate’s Jigsaw). Mann will pen the script with Jonathan Frank ahead of camera roll in June, as announced on Thursday by Capstone Studios’ CEO Christian Mercuri. Mark Lane and James Harris of Tea Shop Productions (47 Meters Down) are producing once more along with Capstone’s Mercuri. Mann will also produce via Flawless alongside David Haring. Dan Asma, John Long, and Roman Viaris will also reunite as exec producers alongside Capstone’s Ruzanna Kegeyan. Capstone Global is handling worldwide rights to the franchise. Capstone Studios announced plans late last year for a back to back trilogy; Mann is set to write and direct the third installment. Fall 2 and Fall 3 will bring back original characters from the first film, while also leaving room for new ones to be introduced. […]

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