ha ji won

MANHUNT: Zhang Hanyu And Fukuyama Masaharu Double Team In The New Trailer

Film auteur John Woo’s latest return to the helm with action thriller, Manhunt, hasn’t been the most celebrated, critically. At best, the reviews are a mix and it’ll also be a neat viewing for loyal fans and completists still keen on his work or interested in seeing a multilingual thriller that promises something in some capacity. Zhang Hanyu and Fukuyama Masaharu star. Manhunt follows the journey of upstanding lawyer Du Qiu (Zhang Hanyu), who is unwittingly drawn into a murder case when all the evidence at the scene points to him being the perpetrator. Knowing that he’s been framed, Du Qiu runs from the law to uncover the truth. The police launch a large-scale manhunt, but veteran detective Yamura (Masaharu Fukuyama) sees that this seemingly open-and-shut case is not that simple after all. During the intense pursuit, a bond begins to build between the fugitive and his pursuer, even though Yamura […]

John Woo’s MANHUNT Hails The ‘Return Of The Maestro’ In The New International Teaser Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

It was back in 2010 when acclaimed Asian action auteur, John Woo, received the Golden Lion for Career Achievement in Venice. It was also right around when he had completed the 2008/09 war epic, Red Cliff, nearly fifteen years following a post-Hong Kong crossover career into Hollywood that saw him directing a litany of titles that continue to pale in comparison to Woo’s glory days of heroic bloodshed and bullet ballet crime thrillers like A Better Tomorrow and Hard Boiled. It’s an era that fans have never forgotten. It is also one that stands as the perpetual driving force for Woo’s latest return to form, Manhunt, hailing from Media Asia this week in an ambitious remake effort inspired by Sato Junya’s 1976 film adaptation of Nishimura Juko’s earlier novel, “Hot Pursuit” which has Zhang Hanyu (Operation Mekong) leading the cast opposite Fukuyama Masaharu Fukuyama (Like Father, Like Son), and actresses […]

John Woo's MANHUNT Begins Principal Photography!

Lee B. Golden III

It’s a great time to be a John Woo fan if you’ve been nostaligic in recent time. As per the hype, expect his return to glory with the new cinematic re-adaptation, Manhunt which is now underway in Osaka, Japan and scheduled through October this year. Screendaily writes of the confirmed cast with actor Hanyu Zhang and Fukuyama Masaharu leading, based on Sato Junya’s 1976 film adaptation of Nishimura Juko’s earlier novel, “Hot Pursuit”, in which a lawyer must set out to clear his name after being framed and wrongfully accused of robbery, rape and multiple murders. Producers Chan Hing Kai (A Better Tomorrow) and Gordon Chan (Painted Skin) wrote the script with Zhang and Fukuyama joined by actresses Ha Ji-Won and Qi Wei. The ensemble cast rounds out with a list of seasoned and upcoming faces like actor Kurata Yasuaki (So Close) Kunimura Jun (Kill Bill, The Wailing) and Takenaka Naoto (Gonin Saga, […]

Woo's MANHUNT Casts Zhang, Lee And Ha For Filming In June

Lee B. Golden III

Reportedly, casting is under way for Media Asia’s forthcoming production of the Japanese crime classic remake, Manhunt. For this, Apple Daily cites a diverse set of names with The Taking Of Tiger Mountain and Special ID co-star Hanyu Zhang along with South Korean leading man Lee Byung-Hun and actresses Ha Ji-Won as among the current crop to star. The film, once an adaptation of Nishimura Juko’s 1976 novel from director Sato Junya and starring the now departed Ken Takakura, centers on a lawyer who must set out to clear his name after being wrongfully accused and framed for robbery, rape and multiple murders. Details on how the remake with furbish things for the plot are nil at the moment as news on this film has been building for months now, and the Apple Daily report boasts a pretty meaty cast worth mettle while we await to find out more on Rurouni […]

THE HUNTRESSES Gets A New Trailer And Release Date!

Lee B. Golden III

Releasing in South Korea on January 29, 2014 is the long-awaited Joseon period sageuk action adventure, The Huntresses. And this week, the film is back with a brand new character trailer which delivers more of what filmgoers can expect, including its fair of high-flying swordplay, quirky dialogue, silly comedy and…bellydancing! The new release date and trailer come just as a new poster and trailer were also unveiled last year, breathing a sign of life back into the film since its delay last year, protracted lengthy post-production process. The Huntresses stars Ha Ji Won, Kang Ye Won, Son Ga In, Joo Sang Wook and Ko Chang Seok and is directed by Park Je Hyun. SYNOPSIS: As a child, Jin-ok witnessed the murder of her father and narrowly escaped death. She is taken under the wing of Mu-myeong, the man who saved her life, and trains in martial arts alongside two other […]