News

Screenshot_20240708_085934

HAVOC (Finally) Begins Additional Photography

Action thriller Havoc is finally underway with additional photography on the Gareth Huw Evans-directed pic. Production previously took place between July and October of 2021 before Evans hinted at some more needed work on the film in the last few years. Several factors hampered its speed in that time, including cast scheduling, the pandemic, and the strikes. In that time, Evans also took the time to refurbish his hit 2011 actioner, The Raid, which screened for select audiences and debuted on 4K disc back in January. With Havoc, the film had reportedly been complete with just five percent of production remaining. On Monday, Evans formally announced on Instagram that that cameras were rolling to get the rest finished. Contrary to rumours over the last 2 and a half years – today actually marks the first day of additional photography to finally complete HAVOC. It’s been a long old road filled […]

More

NINJA SCROLL Returns to Theatres to Celebrate 30th Anniversary

NINJA SCROLL Returns to Theatres to Celebrate 30th Anniversary

The legendary film NINJA SCROLL is returning to the cinema for a special engagement, celebrating 30 years of the iconic film. Originally released in 1993, the film written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (director, Wicked City, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) has stood the test of time as an all time action anime classic, and this writer is excited to see it on the big screen in September! The surprise announcement comes courtesy of Iconic Events Releasing in partnership with HIDIVE, and will roll out as part of the AX Cinema Nights Series, showing in over 500 theatres. Showings are currently set for September 11, 12, and 15, presented both with English dub, and Japanese Audio/English Sub options. (Go see both!) The AX Cinema Nights events represents a chance to see these films as they were originally intended – on massive screens with booming sound systems! The year round series provides […]

More

LAYERS OF LIES still photo

LAYERS OF LIES: Breakout Martial Arts Star Ramin Sohrab In Early Development Of U.S. Remake

Finnish-Iranian actor and martial artist Ramin Sohrab is just one of the latest names circulating martial arts film fandom of late. The release of his feature debut, Layers Of Lies, has been the major contributor to that momentum, having starred and directed in the pic, and is now subject to a U.S. remake. Sohrab wore multiple hats on Layers Of Lies. He directs the pic and stars as Sam, a firefighter whose latest brush with near-death after rescuing survivors from a burning building unleashes a campaign of violent retribution from an unforgiving crime boss who kidnaps his wife, played by Finnish actress and martial artist Jessica Wolff. In addition, Sohrab wrote and storied the script along with a team of writers prior to bringing aboard Chris Larsen (The Long Walk, Dearest Sister) to complete the screenplay. Layers Of Lies took close to ten years for Sohrab to develop before rolling cameras […]

More

NYAFF 2024 LOGO RED

NYAFF XXIII: Fifteen Titles To Feast Your Eyes On This Year’s Festival

The 23rd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival is just DAYS away, and you can guarantee some of the more favored titles are already sold out. Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In, Soi Cheang’s overseas box office hit graphic novel adaptation, took two years to hit screens after circulating the markets and is now on deck to be one of the most exciting entries of this year’s event. The same goes for Herman Yau’s upcoming Well Go USA acquisition, Customs Frontline, etching another history maker for leading man Nicholas Tse who gets to co-sign his screenfighting chops as action director. In addition, you have Baby Assassins: Nice Days, third in line for director Yugo Sakamoto who is not only readying an episodic spin-off drama for his franchise, but is also primed to collect the festival’s coveted Daniel A. Craft award for Excellence in Action Cinema. There’s also the […]

More

wp-17197995705155604883957557576334

ESCAPE Review: Lee Je-Hoon Battles His Way Though Fascism And Unfriendly Fire In Lee Jong-Pil’s Subversive And Daring New Thriller

Escape opens in theaters on July 5 from Well Go USA Entertainment. The movie will also screen for the 23rd New York Asian Film Festival later this month. 4 min. read Filmmaker Lee Jong-pil’s new thriller, Escape, doesn’t hesitate before pulling you into its sights. The movie instantly sets its pace surrounding the tenacious efforts of a North Korean soldier’s quest for freedom, intricately planning a dangerous trek to the DMZ just as he nears the end of his mandatory military service. Gym-nam (Lee Je-hoon) has an elaborate plan, one that requires precision timing and strategy according if he’s to be successful. Having already mapped out a path from his barracks, and into a tunnel beneath the base’s electric fence, as well as a deadly minefield, it’s only a matter of days before he can act and make his way to the DMZ and cross the border safely. It’s a […]

More

Rurouni_Kenshin-0011

Streaming Sleepers: All Five RUROUNI KENSHIN Films Are Now Streaming On Netflix

Today is July 4. It is also the start of Independence Day weekend in the U.S., and, it is also high time I posted a Streaming Sleepers piece which I haven’t done in a while, and for this, we turn to Netflix in its recent release of the Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, and Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends. The streamer was already home to the first installment, 2012’s Rurouni Kenshin which stars Takeru Satoh in the lead. Subscribers also got to check out 2021’s Rurouni Kenshin: The Final, and Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, and now the streamer is home to all five movies. Set against the backdrop of 1870s Japan, Satoh heads franchise as Himura Kenshin, a wandering samurai whose fearsome reputation re-surfaces amid a spate of killings. Banding together with newfound friends and allies, and armed with a pacifist sense that emboldens his use of a reverse blade, our […]

More

Picsart_24-07-03_21-16-09-617

Updates: New Images For Lopez’s SELLBLOCK Revealed, Attaches Yayan Ruhian To Actioner JI

Filmmaker Pedring Lopez is getting a double dose of updates from a few projects. First up is a batch of stills from Sellblock, a new crime drama series which Lopez also produced via BlackOps Studios Asia, and Psyops8. Jericho Rosales (Basurero, Siargao, Pacquiao: The Movie) stars in the series which chronicles the activities of one of Asia’s biggest drug empires operating from inside a Philippines maximum-security prison. The cast also includes Empoy Marquez, Ronnie Lazaro, Mon Confiado, Maria Isabel Lopez, Ria Atayde, and Jaclyn Jose. Deadline covered the show when international sales agent Blue Fox took the show to MIPTV back in April: “Sellblock is more than just a series,” said Rosales. “It’s an immersive experience that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Working alongside such a talented team has been an absolute privilege, and I can’t wait for viewers to see the magic we’ve created.” Lopez […]

More

wp-17200311027059113969204839945852

Undiscovered Realm 2024: PopGeeks Toplines Coverage For TMNT And Thundercats Panels!

Our own parent site Pop Geeks had some time to spare in the past week to take a gander at this summer’s goings on at the Undiscovered Realm Comic Con up in White Plains, N.Y.. They joined two panels for the event, one for the cast of New Line Cinema’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), and another for the voice cast of the classic animated series, “Thundercats” (1985). YouTubers @ms.aislingsasmr and @consistency contributed to the video content provided to Pop Geeks which you can view below. Enjoy, and feel free to visit popgeeks.com for more news and updates. Lead image: Undiscovered Realm Official Website

More

Louis Koo and Sammo Hung - Twilight of the Warriors - Walled In

Fantasia XXVIII: TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED-IN, Jackie Chan’s A LEGEND, And More Revealed In The Third Wave!

I have a lot of movie viewing and writing to do this summer, and my remote summer film festival itinerary has all but assured this. And, you can believe Fantasia is part of the fun that comes with what I do. The third wave is finally here, completing the full-line up for its 28th edition which launches July 18. Read the anmouncement below and check out the official website for more info, and stay tuned for our next piece rasing the curtain as the festival nears! FANTASIA’S 28th EDITION AWARDS FILMMAKER MIKE FLANAGAN, CLOSES WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF ANDRÉ FORCIER’S ABABOUINÉ   Eugene Kotlyarenko’s THE CODE, Jay Song’s 4PM, Steven Kostanski’s FRANKIE FREAKO, Pedro Kos’ IN OUR BLOOD, Koji Shiraishi’s HOUSE OF SAYURI, Jefferey St. Jules’ THE SILENT PLANET, Shen Jie’s THE UMBRELLA FAIRY, Jérémy Clapin’s MEANWHILE ON EARTH, and Stanley Tong’s A LEGEND are among the third wave titles […]

More

wp-17200168713107369643510490691038

Report: ‘John Wick’ Spin-Off Adds Korean Action Star Jung Doo-Hong

Multiple Korean news sources are reporting the addition of actor and martial artist Jung Doo-hong to the cast of action thriller, John Wick Presents: Ballerina. The Len Wiseman-directed John Wick spin-off joins Jung with a cast led prominently by Ana de Armas (No Time To Die, Ghosted) in the title role. The news comes after John Wick franchise shepherd Chad Stahelski was brought onto the project earlier this year for additional photogrpahy to bolster the film’s action. Details on Jung’s character remain under wraps, per the reports at multiple South Korean news sources including MBC. de Armas stars from a script by Shay Hatten for a story set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and John Wick: Chapter 4. The film centers on Rooney, a young dancer trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma who sets out to avenge the murder of her family. Rounding […]

More

wp-17198506020362979488385720072749

KILL Remake In The Works From Lionsgate And ‘John Wick’ Producers

Just days away from the release of Hindi action thriller, Kill, Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro is reporting that a remake is in the works. More specifically, 87Eleven Entertainment and Lionsgate are the companies being detailed as the folks steering its development. 87Eleven is responsible for doling out banner hits in action cinema, making names for the likes of stunt laureates Chad Stahelsli (John Wick franchise), David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, The Fall Guy), and even Jonathan Eusebio (upcoming With Love). With a reimagining of Kill on its radar, the news imaginably adds to the excitement already drawn by the original since its festival run in the past year. Kill stars Lakshya and actress Maniktala as Amrit and Tulika, star-crossed lovers caught in the upheavap of Tulika’s family’s disproval at the start of a train trip to New Delhi for Tulika’s arranged marriage. When armed dacoits take over the train, a violent battle […]

More

24JCUTS_digital_slide_small

Japan Cuts XVII: Time To Raise The Curtain With A Look At Ten Titles Filling Up The Slots For This Year’s Festivities!

The seventeenth edition of Japan Cuts is officially just over a week away, and the festival just added two more titles to its feature slate: Kentaro Hagiwara’s latest screen treatment of Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s upcoming Blue Period, and Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s animated adventure, Look Back, which released in Japan cinemas last week. It was crucial to mention this as I push ahead with coverage this month, especially since now I’m raising the curtain on select titles I think folks might take a liking to. Granted, I haven’t seen the aforementioned titles, but I did get to preview a good deal of what is on the roster, some of which I will have written up. That especially goes for Shun Nakagawa’s new teen drama, Sayonara, Girls., which stars lead VO role actress in Look Back, Yuumi Kawai. That film is one of six in the Next Generation raft of titles, along with another […]

More

wp-17188597164065063647521769694407

BAD BOA’S: New Dutch Buddy Cop Thriller Hitting Netflix In 2025

I dropped the ball on this last month but I figured now’s as good a time as any given that production is still on going. Alas, Bad Boa’s is the name of the new Dutch buddy cop romp from debut director Gonzalo Fernández Carmona, and starring Jandino Asporaat and Werner Kolf. Carmona is directing from a script by Thomas van der Ree, Joost Reijmers and Kenneth Asporaat. It centers on Ramon (Jandino Asporaat), a dedicated special investigating officer determined to make his Rotterdam neighbourhood safer. He is forced to work with Jack (Werner Kolf), a reckless ex-detective temporarily demoted to Ramon’s team after an incident. In working together, they eventually discover they have more in common than they expected: the loss of a loved one who was murdered. As Ramon and Jack become a dream team, they do everything they can to track down the perpetrator, leading to several major […]

More

Untitled

Philip Ng Heads To The Small Screen, With Yuen Biao And Wu Yue By His Side, For ARMORED

Streaming giant iQiyi is the place to be these days for Chinese martial arts stars. Whether it’s Andy On, Xie Miao, Tiger Xu, or even Tiger Chen, making a medium-budgeted film for the streaming service, between bigger projects, seems to be the trend. The massive amount of output from iQiyi has led to mixed results but every now and then they give us a gem. Which leads me onto this story. Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In) announced, via his Instagram page, yesterday, that he is working on a new film for iQiyi, ARMORED. And that will costar the lgend himself, Yuen Biao (The Iceman Cometh). Yuen Biao’s been a little quiet as of late, making lesser known straight-to-streaming films. With Ng by his side, this one certainly has potential. But it doesn’t end there. Also joining the cast is underrated martial arts maestro, Wu Yue (Ip Man […]

More

448759562_1650410439148606_940309595153948742_n

NOBODY 2 Finds A Director in THE NIGHT COMES FOR US filmmaker, Timo Tjahjanto

It seems you can’t dip your toe into the action film genre these days without hearing the name Timo Tjahjanto. And rightly so. He first caught the eye of horror fans with his V/H/S 2 segment, Safe Haven, where he teamed up with Gareth Evans (The Raid) to tell a terrifying tale of an evil Indonesian cult. He then rocketed onto the action scene with the Iko Uwais film, Headshot, cementing his name in the hearts of many with the Netflix production, The Night Comes For Us, also starring both Iko Uwais and bringing The Raid star, Joe Taslim, on board. After The Night Comes For Us, Hollywood jumped on Tjahjanto, with his name being tied to the upcoming Train to Busan remake, The Last Train to New York, and a possible Under Siege remake. While IMDb lists the former as being in post-production, the latter seems to have disappeared […]

More

hq720

FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST: Watch Stephen Koepfer And Paul Varacchi Talk Stunts For Film And TV In New Podcast Series

The action film podcast scene has been a bustling one over the last several years with martial arts stars and fans setting up platforms to lend their voices to the dialogue. Nowadays, listeners are welcome to add stuntmen Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi who’ve since paired up for the Film Fights With Friends Podcast which launched back in April. The Film Fights With Friends Podcast is recorded exclusively at Breakfall Studios in New York City where Koepfer and Varacchi train stunt performers and professionals alike in multiple aspects of screenfighting and choreography. Alas, the show is oriented in all aspects of stunts for film and TV, including guest interviews with fellow stuntmen and coordinators, and other industry multi-hyphenates. There are new episodes every two weeks, and four are already available to consume to your heart’s content, with guests including stunt performer Becca GT (Kevin Can F**k Himself, Law & Order: […]

More

Nezumikozo Jirokichi (Japan Cuts 2024)

Japan Cuts XVII Review: A Roundup Of The Short Cuts Of This Year’s Festivities

There’s a bundle of movies I wanna watch this summer, and the list is only increasing. That certainly goes for the selections I have in mind for covering Japan Cuts next month. The official line-up is here and I’ll be touting a small curtain raiser later next Monday. To start though, I thought I’d dive into the Short Cuts portion to get warmed up. The works below are pretty inspirational and intriguing, and I’ve shared my reviews and thoughts for each in the descriptions of each still below. Director Rintaro’s twenty three-minute short is as much of a revelation as it is a celebration of the work to whom it’s attributed. The animated Edo-set folkloric tale of a Japan’s answer to Robin Hood is drenched in blue tint for its night time setting, and scored to a lively and skittish swing track to capture the playful antics of a infamous […]

More

Youre Next

Second Sight Tells Physical Media Fans YOU’RE NEXT This August

These days, Adam Wingard may best known for giving us giant CGI apes and lizards punching each other in the face, but long before Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire hit our big screens, he was dabbling in horror. In 2014 he delivered the excellent horror-thriller, The Guest, and in 2011 he burst onto the slasher scene with the superb YOU’RE NEXT. Well now we can all sit back and enjoy You’re Next in gorgeous 4K (or standard Blu-Ray, if that’s your preference) when UK-based distributor, Second Sight Films, releases the film with all the bells and whistles on August 19th. Second Sight are at the top of the Blu-Ray game at the moment. Their releases have physical media fans drooling the moment they’re announced, and rightly so. Check our the special features on this bad boy! Special Features  New 4K restoration and HDR Dolby Vision grade approved by Director Adam Wingard Dual format […]

More

Hopeless_Cannes_Still04

HOPELESS: Don’t Miss The Official Trailer For Kim Chang-Hoon’s Crime Drama

Well Go USA is proudly releasing South Korean crime drama Hopeless on digital from June 25. The film is written and directed by Kim Chang-hoon and stars Hong Xa Bin, Kim Jong-soo, and Song Joong-ki. After spending his entire childhood in a town riddled with crime and violence, a teenage boy saves up his money in hopes of someday moving with his mother to start a new, happier life. But after he crosses paths with a local gangster intent on helping him, he is drawn into increasingly dangerous situations that will leave him questioning whether his attempts to escape his hellish reality will instead ensnare him in it—permanently.

More

wp-1718829418488184210000464532788

CUSTOMS FRONTLINE: Official U.S. Teaser And July Date Revealed For Herman Yau’s NYAFF Entry!

It’s about that time again. Indeed, Herman Yau’s newest endeavor with Customs Frontline is readying to screen for the 23rd New York Asian Film Festival next month, and with none other than leading man and entertainment multiphyenate Nicholas Tse on-hand as an honoree. I suppose this is also a great way to assure that Well Go USA can get some eyes on this flick as the company is now heading up its stateside theatrical release on July 19. After boarding an unauthorized cargo ship and finding its entire crew dead, Hong Kong customs officers discover a hidden cache of illegal weapons and trace them back to an ongoing and highly volatile international conflict. But when elite agents go undercover abroad to locate the source of the smuggled firearms, they uncover a complex transnational operation with roots far closer to home than they ever imagined.  Tse stars and also debuts as […]

More

Load More