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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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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.

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Mike Garcia

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Kyle Wong

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. […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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, […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

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

Lee B. Golden III

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 […]

OFFICER BLACK BELT Announced As Latest Netflix Action Comedy Flick From Hit ‘Bloodhounds’ Series Director

Lee B. Golden III

On the count that as you’re reading this then you’re already familiar with the hit Netflix series “Bloodhounds”, be advised to take director Jason Kim’s next offering into consideration as casting is announced for Officer Black Belt, with Kim Woo-bin (Alienoid) and Kim Sung-kyun (Seoul Vibe). In this upcoming film, top star Kim Woo-bin (from Black Knight) portrays the unique character of a martial arts prodigy who has an impressive total of nine dans (meaning ranks) in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo. This ordinary yet extraordinary young man with a knack for crime detection is expected to enthrall audiences with his blend of charm and martial prowess. The story kicks off with Kim Woo-bin’s character saving a ‘martial arts officer’ from a criminal’s assault. That’s an officer who partners with a probation officer solely for physically dangerous situations. As a result of this brave rescue, Kim Woo-bin’s character is made a […]

Japan Cuts XVI Review: SINGLE8, A Far-Out Concept Not Too Out Of This World

Lee B. Golden III

There’s something about watching a film about making a film that arouses the feels. It’s much ado with seeing group creativity in action, which is what makes it so fun seeing films that take on this particular story angle. Narrative and documentary films alike. I immediately point to recent Japan Cuts screenings like Night Cruising and It’s A Summer Film! as notable examples to introduce yet another fun addition to the subgenre as of late, with Ultraman vet Kazuya Konaka’s coming-of-age comedic drama, Single8, set in the late 70s as the fandom of a particular and newly-birthed sci-fi movie franchise began gaining ground around the world. It’s 1978 and George Lucas just reshaped the film landscape with Star Wars, eyeing its fanbase in Japan. Hiroshi (Yu Uemura) loves Star Wars, so much so that he’s fixated on the film’s opening crawl with the Star Destroyer. He daydreams about it in […]

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

Fantasia XXVII Review: Kim Jae-Hoon’s DEVILS, And The Ones We Know…

Lee B. Golden III

Kim Jae-hoon’s feature debut, Devils, left me with a few mixed feelings by the second half. Nevertheless, there’s no denying the marketing savviness it takes to push a crime thriller such as this one, with a campaign that hints at the film being a number of things if you’re used to certain types of genres. What starts as a gut-wrenching crime procedural centered on Seoul’s Major Crimes unit’s efforts to bring a gang of dark web serial killers to justice is brought full circle with an engrossing twist on the “body-swap” genre. It’s more psychological than anything, with dogged detective Jin-hyeok (Oh Dae-hwan) set on solving a series of gruesome murders at an abandoned hideouts where the internal rooms and halls are all adorned in neon paint and ultraviolet light. The incident leads to another tragedy days before an anonymous tip soon leads the unit to another hideout where sadistic […]

NYAFF XXII Review: In Giddens Ko’s MISS SHAMPOO, Sudsy Romantic Cheese Takes A Little Too Much Off The Top

Lee B. Golden III

One of the more promising titles coming out of Taiwan lately brings Vivian Sung and Daniel Hong together for romantic gangster comedy, Miss Shampoo. Going into the film though, you’d be forgiven if you took any of what you’d seen at face value before being nearly upended by one of the most bombastic, self-aware endings to a film of this kind. Indeed, there are some plusses to mind here with Miss Shampoo, but the biggest let-down occurs about midway when any and all progress is brought to a crashing halt in a single moment of unwarranted rancor. It all starts when wounded gangster Tai (Hong) stumbles into a hair salon whose sole occupant, Feng (Sung) takes it upon herself to cover for him, just as a small squad of Thai assassins bogard the place. To no avail, they leave without finding Tai, which leaves Tai and the gang he’s inherited […]

BIG BAD 2023: POLAR RESCUE, KITTY THE KILLER, ECHO 8, Scott Adkins Double Feature, And Much More Outlining The First Edition Of The Action-Packed Festival

Lee B. Golden III

The inaugural Big Bad Film Fest action movie festival is just about around the corner and the official line-up is now online. The festival will host a ten-title roster firstly kicking off with Lee Thongkam’s latest out of NYAFF, Kitty The Killer, followed by a raft of contemporary and classic titles, along with a mystery Scott Adkins double feature, and shorts block containing an octet of action shorts from action actors and thrilling stunt performers. The Big Bad Film Fest, curated by co-chairs Powell Robinson and Patrick R. Young, runs from August 24 through 27. The gallery below contains all the incumbent details of the line-up including the additions of Fist Of The Condor, Maria Tran’s festival-acclaimed independent sci-fi action trilogy installer Echo 8, Ramin Sohrab’s multi-award winning Layers Of Lies, the previously-announced The Man From Nowhere, and more while tickets sales kick off here starting this Saturday TODAY!