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ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Rebels With The First Teaser Trailer

Well over three months and $2 billion dollars in gross later for J.J. Abrams’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney and Lucasfilm have finally gotten their feet well soaked in for today’s enduring generation of sci-fi fandom. And so, the clock ticks for filmmaker Rian Johnson’s efforts with Star Wars VIII which remains in production. For now, it’s a new year and this December will bring us the first of a spate of feature-length spin-offs with none other than Godzilla helmer Gareth Edwards spearheading the December 16, 2016 release, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Actress Felicity Jones leads the cast along with Diego Luna for a sets foot in the events before Episode 3 of the Star Wars canon. Per StarWars.com: “Rogue One takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and will be a departure from the saga films but have elements that are familiar to the Star Wars universe,” […]

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A Case For Better Action Movies: CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY (2016)

As the 1990’s drew huge fervor in Western audiences for Hong Kong cinema with Jackie Chan and Jet Li crossovers, director Ang Lee helped pave the way for Asian cinema ina fashion hugely rewarding. The award-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, released in 2000, achieves some of the highest marks in wuxia filmmaking with a story that brilliantly taps into its source material with a sense of substance and quality that bookmarks it as one of the most memorable movies in history. Surely, the film mingles differently among moviegoers as do all, but the majority on this one is quite certain with Lee’s signature vision setting a visible standard in artful storytelling and drama based on Chinese folklore. On that note and despite its successes as a standalone feature, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon remained as one of several stories recorded in the ancient work of author Wang Du Lu whose pentalogy […]

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The Final Trailer Has Arrived For CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY

That fans still have an interest in seeing Yuen Woo-Ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny on IMAX is an interesting thing to bare in mind, even as The Weinstein Company is rolling back its theatrical locations in most areas around the U.S.. That said, there are still people who don’t have Netflix and probably won’t be able to partake in the fandom right away as soon as those who do, but hopefully that will change. As for the film, the reviews are in and the reactions of so far been of a mixed breed with reflections on the film’s more “Westernized” feel, due in part from its approach compared to Ang Lee’s 2000 masterpiece. Whether this fares at all with your opinions on film is entirely up to you while I look forward to catching this myself for a more informed opinion; I initially preferred this on be […]

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Donnie Yen To Replace Jet Li In xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE

I suppose if it were going to ever be that the likes of action stars Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa would be in a movie together after all these years, that time would ultimately be now. Leave it to actor Vin Diesel who manages the updates on his own Facebook page when it comes to productions he’s involved in, including the latest installment, xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage, in which he is both starring as well as producing with I Am Number Four‘s D.J. Caruso directing The actor posted the above photo on his Facebook fan page featuring himself along with the Ip Man trilogy star in the wake of Jet Li’s departure, reasons pending. The news comes less than a day following the announcement of Paramount Pictures’s addition to the film in its worldwide distribution with Diesel’s One Race Films along with Roth Kirschenbaum Films and Revolution Studios […]

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Donnie Yen Announces FLASH POINT Sequel In Development

Courtesy Of Mandarin Films Distribution Co. Ltd. Hong Kong cinema saw a bit of a sea-change in the past decade, specifically with the release of the 2005 crime thriller, Sha Po Lang. The film, also starring Simon Yam, Wu Jing and Sammo Hung, would mark the first of a four-film journey between action star Donnie Yen and director Wilson Yip as the former would commence the next level of his craft into the world of MMA-branded fight choreography. With this, it was Donnie Yen’s signature film at the time for a new era of martial arts cinema with the 2008 cop thriller, Flash Point, following suit. The film portrayed Yen as a tough Hong Kong Cop in pursuit of a nefarious Vietnamese gang led by actor and martial arts star Collin Chou, and ultimately continued the foreground in what perpetually became one of the single, most memorable fight sequences in […]

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Screener Review: IP MAN 3 (2016)

The past year or so has been quite a journey in observing the various headlines surrounding the production of director Wilson Yip’s newest film, Ip Man 3, along with my own. Going into this movie, it was very refreshing to see action star Donnie Yen back in the role that has done him so well for nearly eight years, and especially to see him reunite with someone like Yuen Woo-Ping who helped punt his career more than thirty years ago. That said, an Ip Man film is not something you go into lightly. Yes, I say this even as the franchise, at current, blurs the line between fact and fiction here and there, so as to present the once living Wing Chun master in almost folkloric fashion. Things like that haven’t sat well with a handful of fans who are more keen on a cerebral, existential approach to Man’s historical […]

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[UPDATED] Win An Exclusive IP MAN PRIZE PACK With Blu-Rays, Posters And More!

*This contest has expired Director Wilson Yip has had a terrific run with actor Donnie Yen stemming from the 2005 release of S.P.L.. It helped spearhead the martial arts action star through a series of films spanning several genres through different directors with Yip contributing to Yen’s further growth in the kung fu genre for the new millenium. For this, the two broke the mold in 2008 with Ip Man and then Ip Man 2 in 2010, erected as illustrious heroic folk tellings of the once-living Wing Chun master whose life and legend capitulated much of the first part of the 20th century for martial arts enthusiasts. Upon further calibration after dabbling in superhero lore and MMA, Yen’s adaptability to Wing Chun worked to his advantage making his as the most signature performance to date, leading to a slew of directors offering their own take on the legendary martial artist […]

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Watch Well Go USA's Final Trailer For IP MAN 3

Action star Donnie Yen is back in the fray this year with director Wilson Yip for one potentially last kung fu stint in the new overseas hit, Ip Man 3. As such, our title character, loosely inspired by the life and times of the once-living Wing Chun grandmaster and teacher of Bruce Lee, has his hands full in this latest installment. Mike Tyson, in the role of a ruthless property developer with a panache for Western boxing, wants to see whose fists are the fastest. Max Zhang, who serviced nicely in Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster and recently in Soi Cheang’s SPL 2, wants to see whose Wing Chun is the greatest. Egos will be tested and brusies will be had in what could notably be Yen’s exit from the kung fu genre while still making action films. As such, having the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping and his team at the forefront […]

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CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY Wields New Character Posters

With the release of the second international trailer for Yuen Woo-Ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny earlier this week, a fresh slate of character posters have finally been unveiled featuring our prime cast, hosting actress Michelle Yeoh, actor Donnie Yen, actress Natasha Liu and actor Harry Shum Jr. Adapted for the screen by writer John Fusco, the film engages the fifth installment of author Wang Dulu’s Iron/Crane Pentalogy which sees Yeoh back in the role of swordswoman Yu Shu Lien following her appearance in director Ang Lee’s award-winning 2000 film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Rounding out the cast are Roger Yuan, Eguenia Yuan and Jason Scott Lee. The film’s release rollout begins in China in early February with subsequent releases in Hong Kong, the U.S. and on Netflix thereafter. Check out the posters below next to a line up of previous artwork. View post on imgur.com

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Swords Clash In The New International Trailer For CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY!

With the Ip Man 3 craze settling by next month, wuxia fans will have plenty of space to take in action legend Yuen Woo-Ping’s newest directorial bid, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny. This one clearly takes a few liberties apart from its award-winning predecessor from helmer Ang Lee, but a proper screening will tell if we’re bound for a sequel worthy of similar attention. At any rate though, we have a new trailer now circulating the airwaves and it doesn’t hold back on the fluid swordplay action we can expect to see from a glistening epic like this. The Wing Chun (1994) get the band back together once more with Yuen reuiniting with Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh for the latest adaptation of the fifth book from Wang Dulu’s Iron/Crane Pentalogy, with release dates in Hong Kong and China set for February 18 and 19 followed by a […]

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Ready For IP MAN 3? Here Are A Few Lessons In Wing Chun

Star Wars fans may be eagerly awaiting action star Donnie Yen to get his turn at intergalactic action this December in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Nevertheless, Ip Man 3 is as much the hype these days with impressive box office returns in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore making headlines, thus validating how strong the Force is in other areas of film. As such, we’re still bound for a release on January 22 in limited theaters and Well Go USA isn’t resting solely on overseas success to help sell. Having an idea here about they operate, their latest promo may be the first of several to roll out online featuring Yen in his element, and this time it’s all about how to gun people down with sick Wing Chun fisticuffs. Well Go USA has done a lot of these promos for Yen actioners, and they’re pretty good at it. […]

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CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY Presents Fresh New Character Posters

As marketing rolls onward for director Yuen Woo-Ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny, we now have a slate of new international poster art making the rounds which you can view below. The film is already a priority for many fans waiting to see what comes of this latest reunion between Yuen, and cast members Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh, and for good reason as the first film is a commercially and critically acclaimed feat. Bearing that in mind, the trailers and this week’s artwork are what count the most as introductory footage and you can be the judge for yourself as to what it means for your expectations. At any rate, I say it’s still a priority for my own viewing as well among other titles in 2016 and the poster below sell it quite adequately. Check it all out album beneath featuring Yeoh and Yen, along with […]

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Donnie Yen: "I Still Have A Little Fire Left In Me"

Well that was pretty quick. Nevertheless it was also quite necessary, especially when talk of retirement for a fan-favorite film actor comes into play, and especially if said actor is martial arts action star Donnie Yen. Still with a few films left through 2016, Yen is currently making the rounds to promote his latest kung fu threequel, Ip Man 3, and with respect to past statements, also acknowledging it as his last martial arts film. That said, Yen graced readers of South China Morning Post with a little clarity in a recent article published on Monday. “I still have a lot of fire in me to make contemporary action movies,” Yen states. “They’re different from kung fu movies because the fights are not as protracted. But it’s still a form of expression for martial arts. I really want to keep going in this regard. I still have a lot of […]

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Donnie Yen Talks Life After IP MAN 3 And More

All the talk that’s been heard about martial arts star Donnie Yen possibly retiring from martial arts films may sound like rhetoric to some fans who are skeptical ahead of the forthcoming release of Ip Man 3. For the man himself though, it’s very much certain despite whatever may happen, and he expanded on this and much more in a recent interview with Time Out Hong Kong. “It’s definitely intended to be my last one, but you know, we can’t predict what’s going on in the future, right?” said Yen, before adding “I have every intention in my mind that it’s going to be my last martial arts movie. It’s really hard. As an actor, I want to move on. I understand that the world changes, so I can’t guarantee ‘never’, but I definitely consider this is my last heroic martial arts kung fu movie.” Yen went forward in citing […]

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CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY Gets An International Trailer

The most recent Netflix trailer for director Yuen Woo-Ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny, drew a number of reactions mixing postive with some that were negative, if not critical in some capacity. That said, there are a few points worth throwing out regarding this new follow-up based on Wang Dulu’s Iron/Crane Pentalogy, and with respect to all the things that made Ang Lee’s 2000 predecessor, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the classic that it is today. If you’ve seen the first trailer then you might have an idea on where some of those points lie – be it some of the bad CGI and choice of song to the fact that the film is entirely in English whereas the first film is in Mandarin. It’s all worth discussing for the sake of better filmmaking, but for all intents and purposes, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny appears to […]

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THE MONKEY KING: HAVOC IN HEAVEN'S PALACE Gets A New U.S. Trailer And Release Date!

Filmko Promotion is underway for director Soi Cheang’s forthcoming sequel fantasy, The Monkey King 2 with actor Aaron Kwok leading the way. In the meantime, fans may already know Kwok as the Bull Demon King opposite action star Donnie Yen in the title role in the first, The Monkey King, which became a Winter smash hit at the Chinese and Hong Kong box office in early 2014. That film had since garnered representation and appeal thanks in part to Global Star Productions as the company announced plans for its franchise expansion. Those plans ultimately included releasing the film in the U.S. now titled The Monkey King: Havoc In Heaven’s Palace and thus, now we have a Digital HD release date set for North America on February 2, courtesy of Cinedigm who now have an extensive new trailer online to watch before then. SYNOPSIS: A monkey is born out of a […]

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IP MAN 3 Enters The 1950's With New Character Posters

For as long as nearly anyone can remember, the folks over at Well Go USA are all-in when it comes to Asian cinema of the action variety. As such, they’re here to remind you of exactly that with the forthcoming release of the new film, Ip Man 3, featuring action star and actor Donnie Yen who has carried the role for up to seven years and put all sorts of Wing Chun ass-kickery on the map in spades. Lynn Xiong joins as Ip Man’s wife along with a much more diverse cast that broadens the universe of good guys and baddies in the martial world that our title hero has to face, namely including former Heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. Max Zhang also stars as the principle antagonist we will likely see in the final fight opposite Yen in a story that pits our mild-mannered grandmaster against local Triads, courrpt […]

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Michelle Yeoh Makes A Comeback In The New Trailer For CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY!

The wait is over and the official trailer has finally arrived for director Yuen Woo-Ping’s new movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny. I doubt that the trailer here though parallels any of the aesthetics that made the first film such an award-winning feat, particularly since it was garnered as a foreign film with plenty of deserving accolades. Nonetheless, it is rewarding to finally see this sequel come to fruition after so much hype, even if it is in English. Michelle Yeoh returns as swordswoman “Yu Shu-Lien” on a mission to protect the Green Destiny from the forces of evil. She is rejoined by fellow film familar, action star Donnie Yen as “Silent Wolf” a new entry into the sequel inspired by author Wang Du Lu’s ancient Iron/Crane Pentalogy with a script by John Fusco, and a cast that adds Jason Scott Lee, Eugenia Yuan, Roger Yuan, Harry Shum […]

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CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY Wields A Trailer Tease!

If you’re pining for more Donnie Yen action post-Ip Man 3D, you won’t have to wait very long. Director Yuen Woo-Ping’s latest directorial offering in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: Sword Of Destiny, is on course for a theatrical and Netflix release in February and the first footage is now available in the form of a trailer teaser. Preceded by a tie-in novel next month from Weinstein Publishing, the film rejoins Yen with returning actress, martial arts star Michelle Yeoh from a script by John Fusco that centers on a band of warriors aimed at protecting the 400-year old blade, The Green Destiny. Other cast members include Harry Shum Jr., Jason Scott Lee, Roger Yuan, Eugenia Yuan and Veronica Ngo and we’ll soon learn a little more about how they all fit into the visual feats aimed at continuing the legacy awarded in director Ang Lee’s 2000 hit film. For […]

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Watch The Final Trailer For IP MAN 3

What with all the talk of marital arts action star Donnie Yen possibly retiring from films in the upcoming months after Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, there’s probably a lot riding on his latest film with director Wilson Yip, Ip Man 3. As it stands however, the franchise is already a major success with plenty of momentum, having established itself quite nicely with a meaty roster of Hong Kong film legends like Sammo Hung, Fung Hak-On and the late Darren Shahlavi. Here and now, we come full circle with a series of new challenges for our title character loosely based on the life of the legendary Wing Chun Grandmaster as he takes on the local triads, a corrupt businessman and his Thai hitman, and a fellow Wing Chun purveyor with a bone to pick against our protagonist. Yuen Woo-Ping styles the action for this explosive finale, and more than […]

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