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JAPAN CUTS XIII: Japanese Auteur Shinya Tsukamoto Takes Center Stage For Centerpiece Presentation & CUT ABOVE Prize In July

Japan Society’s 13th Japan Cuts festival is poised to kick off its nine-day event on July 19. Screening among nearly 30 feature films, ranging from a variety of titles amid multiple genres to be announced on June 11 will be the festival’ss Centerpiece Presentation: Japanese film auteur Shinya Tsukamoto whose new period sword drama, Killing, on July 24. Killing is described as a subversive samurai drama from influential cult director Shinya Tsukamoto that the filmmaker has described as a “scream” in response to the current state of the world. The film has been widely received at festivals since premiering last summer in Venice with international sales firm Nikkatsu shepherding sales rights. Nikkatsu also recently acquired the rights to Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992), Tokyo Fist (1995), Bullet Ballet (1998), A Snake Of June (2002), Vital (2004), Haze (2005) and Kotoko (2011), and The Adventure Of […]

THE KITCHEN: McCarthy, Haddish And Moss Are The New Bosses In Town In The First Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

There’s usually plenty of comedy to go around for the likes of the starring line-up Andrea Berloff’s new DC/Vertigo graphic novel adaptation, The Kitchen. Per the official poster and trailer launch on Thursday from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, you won’t find a whole lot of laugh-out-loud reasons to take a gander at what entails Berloff’s female-fronted dead body-piling gangster drama led by Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and Elisabeth Moss. “The Kitchen” stars Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” “Bridesmaids”), Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), and Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) as three 1978 Hell’s Kitchen housewives whose mobster husbands are sent to prison by the FBI. Left with little but a sharp ax to grind, the ladies take the Irish mafia’s matters into their own hands—proving unexpectedly adept at everything from running the rackets to taking out the competition…literally. Also starring are Domhnall Gleeson, James […]

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD Trailer Spills Online With A Roaring Vengance!

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been 37 years since actor and cinematic trailblazer Sylvester Stallone led the beefcake era of the 80s with Ted Kotcheff’s novel adaptation, First Blood, centered on a stoic war hero fresh from battle and a world of survivor’s guilt triggered by an unruly sheriff. Folks who saw those events unfold in the 1982 hit movie know the unyielding nightmare that ensued, unleashing the name John Rambo into commercial circuitry, and ultimately, household fandom with years of multimedia and merchandising in tow before bookending with a trilogy by 1988. Now, twenty years later and following a fourth outing from Stallone with Lionsgate taking the mantle from Orion and Tristar, it still appears that our titular walking one-man army still has a few more suckers to bring the receipts to with the impending release of Rambo: Last Blood. Past press reports have all but built a world of hype surrounding this […]

VORTEX: Catch The Teaser For Gan Jianyu’s Brooding New Crime Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Gan Jianyu’s newest crime thriller, Vortex, offers a seething and brutal look into a tale of greed and honor. The footage alone speaks volumes for itself and currently serves as one of the crown jewels of Asian arthouse banner Fortissmo Films’ 2019 sales roster going into the new year after recently emerging from bankruptcy. There’s no real release date as of yet but I suspect at least a mid-summer or early Fall rollout given the timing of the teaser now running online. Vortex features The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia actor Da Peng in the role of Liu, a gambling addict whose debt troubles grow more complex when he finds a young girl in the trunk of an unregistered car he tries to sell after stealing. The film also stars Ou Hao, Li Meng, Cao Bingkun and Sha Baoliang, with Cao Weiyu and young actress Audyrey Duo also starring. Peep the […]

ON YOUR OWN Trailer: Get A Kick Out Of Lee Soo-Sung’s All-Girl’s School Gangster Romp

Lee B. Golden III

Anteing up on the coming-of-age beat ’em up action genre from his previous work on the Bullies trilogy, Road Kill director Lee Soo-Sung returned to the fray with On Your Own this year now heading for a local June 5 release. This one gets an assortment of the female-fronted variety about a group of students forced to fend off an vicious gang whose unrelenting leader continues to pressure them to join. Lee Yoon-woo and Song Min-kyeong star along with Joo Won-tak and Go Ran-young. On Your Own won’t make the rounds outside Korea anytime soon so with any luck it’ll land legit on some streaming service that caters to Asian variety choices. It’s nothing special but if you like watching Koreans throwdown on screen then this one ought to suit your fancy.

THE VICTORY: Jo Sung-Hee’s Korea/China-Backed Trailblazing Sci-Fi Shoots Next Month

Lee B. Golden III and 1 more

Developments have been slowly brewing for years for Jo Sung-Hee’s new movie, The Victory. At long last though, it appears the wheels are finally turning for Jo’s long-awaited effort toward shooting South Korea’s first sci-fi feature beginning next month. Principally backed by Merry Chistmas with an investment upwards of $4.2 million dollars from Huayi Tencent Entertainment, The Victory aims to further cement business between China and South Korea following a three year stalemate that has affected China’s Korean film releases according to Variety‘s own Sonia Kil. China and South Korea have had frosty political relations for the past three years and the import of Korean films into China has dried up. In its recently published annual report Huayi Tencent said: “We are of the view that the situation may gradually improve.” There’s next to nothing on story details for The Victory will otherwise reunite Jo with The Battleship Island actor […]

FANTASIA FESTIVAL XXIII: The First Wave Unveils NO MERCY, RIOT GIRLS, KILLERMAN, And THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL Among The Summer Line-Up

Lee B. Golden III

Cannes LXXII is wrapped for the year and Fantasia Festival is only one other of the biggest film events remaining as we kick off summer. The first wave has arrived with a full line-up pending for early July and and things are already looking pretty damn prospective for folks aiming to attend. Long awaited action thrillers like Killerman and South Korean revenge thriller, No Mercy are favorably on the roster along with Jovanka Vuckovic’s most recent Neuchatel 2019 pick, Riot Girls, and a special screening of Alex Proyas’s The Crow to bookend a lifetime achievement award reception for producer Edward R. Pressman. The raft of worldly titles in the mix also include Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winner Makoto Nagahisa’s We Are Little Zombies, Man Of Will helmer Lee Won-Tae’s Stallone-bound Cannes crowdpleaser, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil coming to the U.S. on June 7 from Well Go USA, Zhu Shengwei’s […]

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Zack Snyder’s ARMY OF THE DEAD: Quartet Join Dave Bautista Zombie Thriller For Netflix

Lee B. Golden III

Director Zack Snyder’s new zombie action thriller for Netflix, Army Of The Dead, is officially set for a July shoot according to announcements from the streaming service as of Tuesday. The Dawn Of The Dead, Justice League, Watchmen and Man Of Steel helmer is also scripting with Joby Harold and Shay Hatten. Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted. Casting is also complete with Ella Purnell (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Sweetbitter), Ana De La Reguera (Everything, Everything, Goliath), Theo Rossi (Luke Cage, Sons of Anarchy) and Huma Qureshi (Kaala, Viceroy’s House, Gangs of Wasseypur, Badlapur), all joining actor Dave Bautista who is starring as of April. Snyder is also producing with spouse and partner Deborah Snyder for The Stone Quarry with Wesley Coller. Bautista name will not […]

FIGHTING KING KONG: Danny Chan Throws Hands For QQ’s VIP Release On June 1

Lee B. Golden III

Next month, QQ’s VIP subscribers will see a little more of actor Danny Chan in Fighting King Kong from director Ye Yongjian. Chan stars as Guo Zhengdong, a legendary hero bent on saving China and protecting Southern martial arts through learning a stronger style known as the “King Kong Walking Method”. Also starring are Jin Song who plays Chan’s shifu and Mo Meilin plays his father. Of course there’s no word yet on when or if this will get a legit release though with any luck it’ll be on Cinedigm’s radar or will pop-up on Tubi. Time will tell, for sure, and for those keeping up with Chan’s endeavors, the oft-Bruce Lee-personified screen star will topline next to Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins and Wu Yue in Wilson Yip’s Ip Man 4 this July. Christina Yi Liu contributed to this story. Hat tip to City On Fire for details.

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THE OLD GUARD Adds ‘Aladdin’ Villain To Join Netflix Comic Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

Gina Prince-Bythewood’s new Netflix action thriller adaptation, The Old Guard, is revving up at Netflix and is currently underway with casting announcements and this summer’s production. The latest trade news add to the roster comes from Borys Kit at THR who reports Danish-born actor Marwin Kenzari (What Happened To Monday?, Aladdin) is joining the cast which is being led by Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde) and KiKi Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk, Native Son). Based on the comic book series created by author Greg Rucka and illustrator Leandro Fernández, The Old Guard tells the story of a small covert group of immortal mercenaries who must fight to keep their team together when they discover the existence of a new immortal and their extraordinary abilities are exposed. According to the report, Kenzari’s role is that of one who used to be a Moor warrior. Leandro Fernández illustrated […]

THE MONGOLIAN CONNECTION: Catch The Trailer For Drew Thomas’ US/Eurasian Action Thriller Now Playing At Fantaspoa

Lee B. Golden III

Channeling helmer Drew Thomas’ most recent international venture into action cinema with The Mongolian Connection finally saw audiences with its current line-up at Fantaspoa this year which runs through June 2. The film released in Mongolia last October preceding its rollout in Kazakhstan last month and so the trailer was just actually brought to our doorstep on Tuesday while we await further information on its release and screenings overseas. Working undercover on a human trafficking bust, maverick FBI agent Wade Dalton, captures Serick Ibrayev, a mysterious operative from the Mongolian underworld. With time running out, Wade must escort Serik back to Mongolia, and team up with hard-boiled police detective Ganzorig, to deliver Serik to court to testify against a crime Syndicate that will do anything to stop them. The American/Mongolian/Kazakh production stars Kaiwi Lyman who previously appeared in Den Of Thieves, and stars Mongolia’s Amra Baljinnyam, and Sarik Andreasyan’s Guardians […]

THE WHITE STORM 2: DRUG LORDS Lands A July 12 Release In The U.S., Australia And NZ!

Lee B. Golden III

Herman Yau’s newest sequel continuation heads to the big screen in July with The White Storm 2: Drug Lords. A July 12 release is in tow following the film’s acquisition by CMC Pictures with releases slated for North America, Australia and New Zealand. In the quadripartite drug market in Hong Kong, Jizo (Louis Koo) gradually expands in collaboration with some Mexican drug lords across the border, followed by a chain of dog-eat-dog events which shock and bring the whole trade on high alert. On the other hand, Yu Shun-Tin (Andy Lau), a former gangster member and now a financial tycoon, is offering a bounty to eliminate the No.1 drug dealer in Hong Kong, which causes a stir in society. Policeman Fung (Michael Miu) intends to arrest Jizo, but now he is responsible for protecting Jizo instead due to the bounty. A final battle has broken out between the two tycoons […]

A CASE FOR BETTER ACTION MOVIES: ….Or, Why We Don’t Deserve Another Sequel After BOYKA: UNDISPUTED IV [Reprint/Revisal]

Lee B. Golden III

Director Todor Chapkanov’s latest feature-length affair, Boyka: Undisputed 4, isn’t exactly the kind that would get the big screen treatment in North America. Elsewhere? Perhaps. Not so much here though, and it’s a shame as it was still a hope of mine that I shared as a theatergoer, albeit understandable with a limited number of screens at the least considering how rare it is to see martial arts movies these days, and of the caliber they bare in talent and content. I take this fact to mind in observing the career progression of martial arts star, actor Scott Adkins, once a stuntman and someone who has essentially woven himself into ample popularity as an action-capable actor, and with his biggest audience keen on major martial arts fanfare. It’s a succession that has not been easy – one plagued by the ever-continued proliferation of piracy that causes films like Adkins’s latest […]

THE HIT LIST: May 27, 2019

Lee B. Golden III

It’s Sunday as I’m writing all of this and operating on only four hours of sleep as we speak as I’ve put together this Hit List – I totally blame John Wick for that… Good times! Now it’s time to serve up some more lip service with The Hit List, firstly with a neat round of stunt performance, training and demo work from Yessenia Cossio, Chris Bogdanski, Brian Vigier, Amanda McLeod, Leon Ngo, LeRoyal Tutt, William Bitter, Erin Haus, Travis Ross, Shawn Daniels, Joshua Wade, Mami Spéede Ito, Phillip Wainwright, Tyler Street, Jeffrey Mayfield, Ashley Landrieu, Travis Voisard, Troy Castaneda, Patrick Chu, and Nadine Theron. Following that are reels from fight choreographer and stunt performer Michel Quach, and a pair of recent Emmy nomination reels from stunt coordinators Thom Williams and Stuart Thorp. Next up are a few teasers from groups I just discovered over the weekend. First up is […]

THE INVINCIBLE DRAGON Trailer Unleashes…An Actual Dragon??

Lee B. Golden III

I gotta say, the newest official trailer Fruit Chan’s The Invicible Dragon looks tons of fun as we get more and more footage of story, drama, and featured talents Max Zhang and Anderson Silva trying to beat each other to a pulp. The least I expected was for this latest push to include an actual CG dragon as much as we all thought the tattoo on Zhang’s back was all there was to the “dragon” element of the story. Nope. Not even close apparently. If it feels a bit spoilery for you then there’s no turning back. Pretty plot-twisty in my view, though I’m curious to see how this affects the film from start to finish with Zhang playing an undercover operative whose escapades in aiding the police bring him not only continous troubles, but a spate of killings, and an impending confrontation with a man from his past. The […]

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THE WHISTLERS: Magnolia Snags Romanian Heist Pic For Late 2019 Release

Lee B. Golden III

12:08 East of Bucharest and The Treasure helmer, acclaimed writer/director Corneliu Porimboiu’s recent in-competition Cannes pick, The Whistlers, now has a home stateside at Magnolia Pictures. Vlad Ivanov, Catrinel Marlon, Rodica Lazar, Antonio Buil, Agustí Villaronga, Sabin Tambrea, Julieta Szonyi and George Pisterneanu lead the cast. In The Whistlers, not everything is as it seems for Cristi, a police inspector in Bucharest who plays both sides of the law. Embarking with the beautiful Gilda on a high-stakes heist, both will have to navigate the twists and turns of corruption, treachery and deception. A trip to the Canary Islands to learn a secret whistling language might just be what they need to pull it off. The film has already been well-recived by some critics, including Indiewire who’ve dubbed the film as “A Delightful Romanian Twist On Oceans 11” for their headline. Magnolia is eyeing a theatrical release for later this year. […]

AKIRA Will Open On May 21, 2021 From Warner Bros.

Lee B. Golden III

After nearly twenty years of languishing development, politics and stagnation, a live-action cinematic rendering of classic anime feature staple, Akira, will release in theaters on May 21, 2021. The film will reportedly open against the next installment of the John Wick franchise. The news comes according to Deadline following recent months of developments that now have Thor: Ragnarok helmer Taika Waititi directing possibly this July with locations set in California thanks to an $18.5 million dollar state tax credit approval last month. Akira was created by mangaka Otomo Katsuhiro who shepherded both Kodansha’s 1982 manga and his 1988 feature from Toho. The story centers on two members of a biker gang – childhood friends Kaneda and Tetsuo, living in post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo who find themselves embroiled in government corruption and secrecy when a military experiment turns Tetsuo into a psionic madman. Akira is long considered a staple of Japanese science fiction, […]

COBRA: Stallone Hypes Hopeful TV Reboot Of His Assailed 1986 Box Office Hit

Lee B. Golden III

Nearly thirty-three years since actor Sylvester Stallone’s Cobra, the action star and actor now wants to develop a television reboot. The actor expressed his interest while on hand at Cannes interviewing with press during his masterclass while promoting his next venture, Rambo: Last Blood. “That (conceit) was what if Bruce Springsteen had a gun? That was rock n’ roll meets drama. That should have been another franchise because that character was so cool. And I blew it. My personal life got in the way. But we’re trying to bring it back as a streaming TV series. Bring out the zombie squad. I’m long gone, but the idea is really good,” said Stallone. Cobra, which centers on the leader of a special unit on a mission to protect a witness from a killer cult, drew ire from critics and huge global box office success. The film continues to be a cult […]

THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL: Well Go USA Launches The Official Trailer For South Korean Crime Thriller Opening June 7

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA officially acquired Lee Won-Tae’s new crime drama, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, and is officially poised to release the film in the U.S. on June 7. The Texas-based distro firm made the announcement on Thursday (news via THR) conjoining an official trailer which you can view above. Fierce gang boss Jang Dong-su (Don Lee) is violently attacked after a fender bender on a rainy night. After fighting back, he barely escapes, however his reputation as a feared leader is damaged beyond repair. The only way to restore his image is to find his attacker and exact revenge. Jang teams up with Detective Jung Tae-seok (Kim Moo-yul) to find the assailant, but soon discovers the attacker is actually a serial killer. With no support from the police department, Detective Jung is forced to use gang boss Jang’s resources in order to track down the killer. The two […]

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE Awakens To A New Nightmare In The First Teaser Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been close to four years since Deadpool landed director Tim Miller on the radar for all comic-con and cult fandom. After choosing to move onto bigger-scale projects with the likes of James Cameron on board to produce a new Terminator movie for today’s audiences, it’s safe to say Miller has certainly found his calling. The biggest testament of this, of course, will arrive with the November 1 release of Terminator: Dark Fate, officially taking the wheel for the longstanding sci-fi franchise after Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day became a landmark box office hit in 1991. The first official poster arrived on Wednesday encompassing the return of actress Linda Hamilton back into familiar territory as alpha female Sarah Connor, locked and loaded and joined by actresses McKenzie Davis and Natalia Reyes, and with actors Gabriel Luna, and Diego Boneta, and of course, action legend and franchise mainstay, former California governor […]