News

andrew-koji_3-1

WARRIOR – Season 3, Episode 9 – “The Harsh Reality of Who We Are”

When episode 8 ended, Lai infiltrated Strickland’s household. After dispatching Strickland’s guard Shaw, Lai faces off with the man himself in a swordfight. The aftermath has Nellie bringing the defeated Lai back to Ah Toy. Broken and fueled with rage, Nellie stands by Ah Toy, preparing to face off with Strickland themselves. Ah Sahm sees Yan Mi in private, showing her the new counterfeit bills that Young Jun’s men made. Fearful, he urges her to leave San Francisco which she pleads with him to follow. Young Jun learns that Father Jun’s condition is getting worse. The two have their words together as Father Jun urges Young Jun do what’s right, sharing their last moment as father and son. Leary learns about Strickland’s working practices, discovering that their deal is no longer valid. In retaliation, Leary has the Donahues destroy Strickland’s tracks. Strickland responds by having men fight Leary. With Atwood […]

More

wp-1691426623925

FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE Gets An Uncut 30th Anniversary 4K Redux In U.S. Cinemas In September

Film Movement Classics is proudly commemorating Chen Kaige’s high-acclaimed fifth film, Farewell My Concubine, with a debut theatrical release in the U.S. next month. The release will comprise a 4K restoration of the 1993 film, complete with the original and and uncut version featuring late cinema legend Leslie Cheung, beginning with screenings at New York’s Film Forum on September 22, with additional markets to follow. Read the announcement onward and do catch the newest trailer as well! One of the most important motion pictures ever made, FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE is a film of undeniable cultural and social relevance. An innovative, modern production set amidst the deep-seated traditions and vivid tapestry of the Peking Opera, it was selected as one of the “100 Best Films in Global History” by Time magazine and remains the only Chinese-language film to ever win the Palme d’Or. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Film Movement Classics […]

More

wp-1688656235999

DEVILS: Cineverse Takes South Korean Crime Thriller For Screambox Release

The 27th edition of Fantasia wraps this week, and that includes the announcement of acquisition news for some select titles. Kim Jae-hoon’s psychological thriller Devils is no different as the flick is now poised for a U.S. run following its pickup by Cineverse last week, according to Deadline’s Liz Shackleton. You’re gonna get a kick out of this one. The film stars Oh Dae-hwan and Jang Dong-yoon in the story of a Seoul Major Crimes unit whose mission to catch a band of serial killers initiates a shocking turn of events, unraveling a tale of body-swap mystery and gruesome intrigue. The movie will launch this Fall on Screambox, which is powered by Bloody Disgusting. Brad Miska, Managing Director of Bloody Disgusting/Cineverse, said: “Screambox fans are going to go nuts for Kim Jae-hoon’s psychological thriller. The film’s suspense and psychological intensity are reminiscent of the classic thriller Face/Off infused with a […]

More

wp-1691424258673

NIGHT OF THE CAREGIVER: ITN Takes New Supernatural Thriller For August Release

ITN is proudly releasing director Joe Cornet’s new horror thriller, Night Of The Caregiver. Opening in North America on August 15, the film also joins Cornet with a cast headed by Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Natalie Denise Sperl (Mank), and Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight). Hospice nurse Julia Rowe is hired to be caregiver for Lillian Gresham, who lives in an isolated house in a remote area. Although she is terminally ill, the elderly Lillian is a cordial and sweet lady. However, as the night goes on, Julia suspects something demonic is also dwelling in the house causing she and Lillian to be in grave danger… The film also rejoins Cornet with Alexander Nevsky (Gunfight At Rio Bravo, Taken From Rio Bravo) who produced the pic via his company, Hollywood Storm. Cornet exec produced alongside Eric Brenner and Douglas “Fini” Finical with a score Sean Murray, and screenplay by Craig […]

More

wp-1691420954485

CYBER FIGHTER IndieGoGo: Jack Into William Joseph Hill’s New Proof-Of-Concept Martial Arts Action Comedy Sci-Fi Campaign

It’s been close to ten years since I’ve mentioned actor and martial artist William Joseph Hill’s name on this site. Not that he hasn’t been busy – quite the opposite, with other film projects and even getting a book published at one point. That brings us to Hill’s newest effort with Cyber Fighter, a shortfilm adaptation of his 2019 novel. Hill’s Indiegogo campaign is now up and running following completion of virtually half the film, with hopes of bolstering his proof-of-concept with enough momentum before audiences and market banners to get a feature film going in the not too distant future. Chronically underemployed and klutzy un-athletic videogame designer Brian Baldwin takes a temp job at major defense contractor Kirkman Enterprises, where he meets software programmer Humbert Cloogey who convinces him to volunteer to be the test subject for Cyber Fighter: A revolutionary new training program for military recruits.  As part […]

More

joe-taslim-mark-dacascos_1

WARRIOR – Season 3, Episode 8 – “Weddings are not for Everyone”

Weddings have different customs and traditions. In Chinese traditions, there is the tea ceremony and games are played for the groom to see the bride. These games range from the groom singing in humiliation, paying everyone with money and doing a ridiculous dance. Having your groomsmen beat you up with bo staffs and your best man fight you is something I’ve not heard of. The episode is written by Wang Chao himself: Hoon Lee and features no cold open. The Hop Wei, Ah Toy, and Chao attend Mai Ling and Li Yong’s wedding while Buckley is officially sworn in as mayor. The Long Zii elders speak with Li Yong to keep an eye out on Mai Ling, making him question what actually happened to Long Zii himself. Leary plans to get the Donahues out of jail but cannot avoid being arrested, the person he turns to is O’Hara. O’Hara goes […]

More

Mayhem

French Actioner MAYHEM! Goes To IFC Films For U.S. Release In 2024

Just ahead of its upcoming premiere at Fantasia in Montreal, Xavier Gens’ Mayhem! is on deck to release in 2024 from IFC Films. The film stars Nassim Lyes along with Olivier Gourmet, Loryn Nounay, Vithaya Pansringarm and Sahajak Boonthanakit, from a script by Magali Rossitto, Guillaume Lemans and Gens. Here are the programming notes via the fest’s Matthew Kiernan: Sam (Nassim Lyes) is a man without freedom. With a few months left on his prison sentence, the amateur boxer enters a work furlough program that allows him to taste the freedom to come. But that freedom proves elusive and a tragic event forces Sam to flee to Thailand, where years later he believes he’s found it with a loving wife (Loryn Nounay) and daughter. They hope to build a new life on a beachfront property, but ruthless local gangster Narong (Olivier Gourmet) stands in their way. In order to obtain […]

More

wp-1690986156281

3 DAYS IN MALAY: Don’t Miss The Official Trailer For Louis Mandylor’s New War Thriller

Saban Films is poised to release 3 Days In Malay, a new war thriller from actor and director Louis Mandylor and screenwriter Brandon Slagle. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Quentin “Rampage” Jackson also star in the film for its select theatrical, on-Demand and digital release beginning August 11. Inspired by a true story, Marines stationed at an airfield in Malay during WWII get wind of a coming raid by the Japanese. Unable to get reinforcements approved, they engage in a harrowing  3-day battle against enemy forces. Starring Louis Mandylor, Cowboy Cerrone and Quinton Rampage Jackson.

More

wp-1690934571783

Japan Cuts XVI Review: In THE THREE SISTERS OF TENMASOU INN, Life Goes On, Even In The Hereafter

The early 2000s turned out to be a prosperous time for me when it came to my absorption of Asian films and niche DVD releases. Filmmaker Ryuhei Kitamura landed on my radar as one of several auteurs leading the charge, sending audiences off with early zombie gangster sci-fi and jidaigeki hits like Versus, Alive, Aragami and Azumi, and ultimately getting to prove to fans that he was readily capable of delivering more solemn and pensive characters and stories on screen. Kitamura’s work shepherding Tsutomu Takahashi’s “Sky High” manga for television and the big screen became exemplary of this, and I’ve always held onto the 2003 adaptation as a favorite that Kitamura might one day return to. That this is what precisely happened as of late last year was something I didn’t expect, and for reasons obvious to those in the know as I wasn’t online as much as I wanted […]

More

wp-1690853825641

Trailer: Animated Adventure WARRIOR KING Arrives In Theaters This Month From Cineverse

Cineverse is proudly releasing animated adventure Warrior King in theaters on August 25. Lu Qi directed the pic written by Lu Wunan & Wang Yunsheng. This Chinese animated epic fantasy is based on the true story of King Gesar. born to a divine lineage and destined to become a great hero and ruler. As a young man, the future king grew up exiled in a realm overrun by menacing demons and monsters. When evil forces threaten his home, he embarks on a heroic journey to save his people and fulfill his destiny as a legendary leader. The story of Gesar is considered one of Central Asia’s literary classics and was passed down in oral tradition for some 1,000 years, as well as literary, poetic and stage play versions. Its Tibetan iteration may now be the most prominent, It is certainly one of the longest, running to over 100 volumes and […]

More

wp-1689689786059

Silent Comedy Adventure HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS Lands At Raven Banner For International Sales

Mike Cheslik’s feature debut, Hundreds Of Beavers, has landed at Raven Banner for international sales. The film has been running the festival circuit for nearly a year since its world premiere last year at Fantastic Fest, and just picked up another festive screening at Fantasia Festival in Montreal. Featuring action and stunt sequences by Jon Truei, Hundreds Of Beavers reteams Cheslik with Ryland Brickson Cole Tews who stars in the snow-driven silent adventure as Jean Kayak, a happy-go-lucky 19th century drunkard whose applejack business is destroyed by an intrusive beaver population, forcing him to survive the bitter wilderness with the occasional merchant trade. When the local merchant learns that his newest customer has eyes for his daughter, the disapproving merchant instead challenges Kayak to become North America’s greatest fur trapper in order to gain his blessing. Tews also penned the script with Cheslik, marking their latest reunion following Tews’ 2018 […]

More

wp-1690835554768

Japan Cuts XVI Review: In Kaz I Kiriya’s FROM THE END OF THE WORLD, Mankind Stands Trial Once Again In The Face Of Oblivion

Nearly twenty years after breaking onto the scene with Casshern, filmmaker Kaz I Kiriya only has a small handful of films on his resumè. His 2015 film, Last Knights, didn’t fare as well compared to his debut, or even his 2009 release, Goemon, which I didn’t think should have led to such a large career gap between then and now. Kiriya had another project in the works back in 2019 as well with an adaptation of Tendo Arata’s “The Mourner,” which never came to pass, and as it stands, might not ever if its chosen casting remains or talk of Kiriya’s exit from directing are true. If you’re looking to catch up on any of Kiriya’s work, Goemon is unceremoniously available for only half its duration on Funimation’s streaming app and so frankly I don’t blame anyone for taking the wheel to find other legitimate measures of seeing the film […]

More

wp-1689635770290

NYAFF XXII Review: Anastasia Tsang’s A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT, A Figurative And Fond Hands-On Love Story

I grew up with a number of hobbies and passions. Between drawing, music and even acting, I was certain I was going to take up one of these. Don’t ask me how I got here instead or we’ll be here until the bar closes… Indeed though, if you’ve ever taken up the arts or any kind of artisan work, chances are you can identify with films that hinge on craftsmanship as a crucial element to drive a story forward. The emotional journey a character goes through to maintain what feels in large part like a dying art is certainly what takes shape when looking at Anastasia Tsang’s feature directing debut, A Light Never Goes Out. Grief and loss are added to the mix in Tsang’s freshman feature, taking centerstage as Mei-hsiang (Sylvia Chang) is still struggling to cope with the untimely passing of her husband, Bill (Simon Yam), six weeks […]

More

wp-1689636324573

NYAFF XXII Review: In #MANHOLE, Someone Knows Something Someone Isn’t Telling

I’ve only covered trailers for director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s films in the past. My first go nowadays is his latest, #Manhole, which released in Japan back in February and has already taken off at festivals. Storied and written by Michitaka Okada, what follows is an unnerving look into the life of an office worker whose perfect life is turned upside down, in a story that takes an equally intense and chilling tumble. Affable real estate broker Shunsuke (Yuto Nakajima) has a seemingly perfect life. He’s got a great job, a loving fiancé with a baby on the way, and co-workers who support him. Within the first five minutes, Shunsuke arrives to a surprise party at a local bar, joined by his colleagues in celebration of his upcoming marriage the next day. Many a drink is had, with tons of photos and videos taken before Shunsuke and the others leave for the […]

More

Eighteen_Arhats_of_Shaolin_Temple-310284835-largesd

EIGHTEEN ARHATS OF SHAOLIN TEMPLE Review: Violence in the Serve of Justice

Exciting Martial Arts adventure that recreates a heroic deed based on real events, which tells how a group of Shaolin monks faced a group of bloodthirsty Japanese pirates to liberate a village. Growing up as Jet Li´s sidekick on marvelous films such as “My father is a Hero”or  “Legend of the Red Dragon“, must be the closest thing in real life to being Robin for Batman, but also there should also be no better school to become a full-fledged action hero. its been almost 30 years since those endeavors as prodigy child, and there’s no doubt that this privileged early childhood education that he received alongside one of the biggest legends of martial arts cinema, has helped Miu Tse to forge himself as one of the top action heroes of modern action cinema that comes from china. Despite Miu Tse leads the cast of this adventure, the truth is that […]

More

wp-1689635226972

NYAFF XXII Review: MAYHEM GIRLS, Pandemic Pains And Chaos Reigns In Shinichi Fujita’s Superpowered Coming-Of-Age Teen Fable

Director Shinichi Fujita reaches some pretty ambitious heights for his third feature, Mayhem Girls. A coming of age tale set during an all too familiar Covid-19 pandemic, Fujita directs from a script by Erika Nakayama who shares a number of screen credits on both sides of the lens. The film also reteams Fujita with stunt multihyphenate Yuji Shimomura for several feats of wire-infused sequences to help bolster the film’s fantasy spectacle and allure. You get a tiny sense of to what degree Fujita sets out to achieve this in last year’s campaign for the film ahead of its late 2022 release. The footage quickly reveals a woman in midair dodging cars suddenly whizzing by in the air before crashing and exploding into buildings, which made me all the more curious. Alas, before all else, we need a setup for this whole shebang and for this, we turn to Mizuho (Mizuki […]

More

hoon-lee_1

WARRIOR – Season 3, Episode 7 – How We Belong in This World

After bringing Father Jun back to Chinatown, he suffers from PTSD. Spouting his rivalry with Long Zii and giving Young Jun deeper worry among the deal with Mai Ling. Father Jun goes missing and Young Jun has the Hop Wei search for him, only to be returned by Li Yong. Young Jun sees this and what Ah Sahm has been doing as a sense of him losing trust. The Donahue brothers are caught by the police, arresting them for robbing a Chinese grocery store and witnessed by Zimo. Zimo and two others find another Irishman near Chinatown, beating him down as a message. Leary is called to bail out the Donahues but Atwood does not budge. Learning the way Atwood dispenses justice shakes him, putting the perspective into the Irish who threaten to enter Chinatown. Leary decides to settle it his way. Leary enters Chinatown alone to find Ah Sahm. […]

More

wp-1689635227111

NYAFF XXII Review: THE HOST Challenges You To Destroy All Monsters

Bong Joon-ho has been on movies for close to thirty (count ’em) years now. His feature film resumè began several years after, with black comedy Barking Dogs Never Bite in 2000. Indeed, not all of his films have been commercial hits. Still, this is neither to say nor imply his directorial work hasn’t stricken a chord with critics. That includes the milestone success of his 2013 sci-fi epic, Snowpiercer, a explosive coverage of socio-political meltdown amid the dystopian fallout as uprising escalates class warfare on a speeding global train. Of course, the claim to that film’s victor wasn’t without its share of hurdles, with Bong resigned to advocating fervently against the will of cut-crazy producers at the now-defunct The Weinstein Company, for his cut to get the release it deserved. Bong would go on to ante-up even further, partnering with Netflix for the release of Okja which earned two nominations, […]

More

wp-1686233729618

Fantasia XXVII Review: In RESTORE POINT, Robert Hloz’s Debut Resuscitates Czech Sci-Fi From Dormancy

Robert Hloz’s feature debut, Restore Point, is a turning point for genre cinema out of the Czech Republic. Reportedly the first film of its kind in the region since Oldřich Lipský’s A Heartfelt Greeting From Earth, Hloz’s film is also the latest to garner the kind of reception likening it to other notable titles with its arena, namely hits like Blade Runner and Minority Report according to Justin Langlois’s Fantasia programming notes. I’d throw it in with a few other notable titles but I simply haven’t seen that many sci-fi movies to lend a fair comparison that wouldn’t get me chewed out by someone with a little more viewing experience than me. Indeed though, Hloz is apt at the genre with a look and production quality that earns its hype, and a story that bodes more as a slow-burn sci-fi crime procedural. It’s an intricately detailed affair that does take […]

More

wp-1689635658988

NYAFF XXII Review: Soi Cheang’s MAD FATE Dares You To Change Yours

I have yet to get to see Soi Cheang’s recent crime thriller, Limbo. Notably though, the film continues to garner major reception even as Cheang’s latest rolls out with a cast led by Lokman Yeung and award-winning actor and NYAFF laureate Gordon Lam in Mad Fate. Written by Melvin Li and Yau Nai-Hoi, the film centers on a fortune teller called “The Master” (Lam). He leads a pretty frenzied life as he tries to help clients prevent misfortune, using as many tools as he can whether its through reading signs, maps and symbols and determining someone’s feng shui. His latest efforts have since turned to Siu Tung (Yeung), a food deliveryman with a penchant for murderous intent, whose unquenched need for violence has put him on a trajectory to imprisonment – something he wants to avoid. In lieu of all this, however, lies the presence of a sadistic serial killer […]

More

Load More