louis koo

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DYNASTY WARRIORS Game Adaptation Already In Production, Cast Announced

Lee B. Golden III

Remember the news of that Dynasty Warriors adaptation announced last Spring? Well, that film is now underway as of July with Roy Chow sitting in the director’s chair and a cast that insofar has Louis Koo, Wang Kai, Ray Lui, Han Geng, Tony Yang, actresses Gul Nazar and Carina Lau, and actor Eddie Cheung (pictured). Plot details remain pending for the film which reunites Chow with Rise Of The Legend scribe Christine To. The movie is inspired by Omega Force’s KOEI Temco game franchise, “Dynasty Warriors/Shin Sangokumusou”, which has spawned well over 60 games – all preset by its origins rooted in PC game lore of the 1980’s with the seperate turn-based war strategy game series, “Romance Of The Three Kingdoms” – adapted from Luo Guanzhong’s 14th century novel set near the turbulent end of the Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period. The Dynasty Warriors franchise launched its first title as […]

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PARADOX Gets A Stimulating New Trailer And Behind-The-Scenes Featurette

Lee B. Golden III

Director Wilson Yip’s latest narrative S.P.L. induction, Paradox, is inching closer to its release in Asia later this month and throughout the Fall and I’m really moreso concerned when we’ll hear on its distribution elsewhere. Everyone and their next of kin is sold on this one as I am and the latest trailer and BTS featurette now online haven’t changed that in the least. As far as the story goes, it’s actor Louis Koo front and center as a Hong Kong cop on a desperate search for his missing daughter, coupled with a series of dark twists and events that arise with the disappearance of a tape that shows her kidnapping. How’s that for a pickle? Also starring are Tony Jaa, Gordon Lam, Wu Yue and Chris Collins with action sequences by the legend himself, Sammo Hung, who can be seen in the featurette far below. The new trailer just above […]

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PARADOX Breaks Out The Big Kicks And Meat Cleavers In The New Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Rest assured, the martial arts fan demographic is still reeling over catching Tony Jaa aligned with some of the best of the best in Jesse Johnson’s upcoming thriller, Triple Threat. That film comes in 2018 and its going to be a sight to see when it arrives while this year has already proven itself fruitful in its promise for the genre with films like the new action crime pic, Paradox, opening next month in theaters and now has a new trailer to show for it. The film marks Wilson Yip’s return to the helm for the project, also branded as an addition to the non-linear Sha Po Lang saga of crime titles with Jaa joining actors Louis Koo and Wu Yue for the story of a Hong Kong cop whose tumultuous search for his missing daughter exposes a bigger conspiracy when footage of her kidnapping is uploaded to the police […]

PARADOX Gets An August Hong Kong Release

PARADOX Gets An August Hong Kong Release

Lee B. Golden III

There’s nothing new in the latest trailer for Wilson Yip’s upcoming crime thriller, Paradox, although save for a release date in Hong Kong now stamped for August 25. You get Louis Koo, Tony Jaa, Wu Yue and Chris Collins among the roster along with action director Sammo Hung on board designating all available means of screenfighting brutality surrounding a story that poses more than meets the eye. Hong Kong cop Lee (Louis Koo) goes on a search in Thailand for his missing daughter Chi (Hanna Chan). Thai Chinese police officer Chui Kit (Wu Yue) lets Lee join the investigation, having no idea that Lee is going to use the mass media to hunt for clues. A short clip which accidentally filmed Chi’s capture is uploaded to the police website, but subsequently deleted. Chui Kit and colleague Tak (Tony Jaa) tracks down the clip owner, but the evidence is destroyed before […]

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Review: Johnnie To’s THREE, And The Intricacies Of Character

From acclaimed Hong Kong action director Johnnie To, this well-crafted action-thriller is set in a hospital environment. Where Hollywood can be bogged down in cliche when it comes to hospital drama, this director imparts his inimitable visual style as an artist brushes the canvass with precision and passion. To‘s brushes on this particular canvass are at once gritty, real, and eventually winds up as a battleground where people are caught in the crossfire. We start off with the introduction of our three major characters with brain surgeon Doctor Tong Qian (Vicki Zhao/Wei Zhao) among a group of doctors evaluating patients, who is vilified by a young man (Jonathan Wong) that is paralyzed from the waist down. She had taken a risk with saving the young man’s life but keeps a stoic yet firm belief he would get better in a few months. But the man is not cooperative and even […]

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WARRIORS OF FUTURE Signals Launch Of One Cool Films’s Slate

Lee B. Golden III

Expect seething drama and action to surface in the new thriller from director Wilson Yip, Paradox, in which actor Louis Koo stars next to a heavy-hitting, power-packed cast. In the meantime, you can also expect to hear more on Koo’s other ventures, including Warriors Of Future which has already begun production as of last month. Next to reteaming with fellow actor Sean Lau, Koo himself is also producing the film via his One Cool Films banner which launched at Filmart this week. Visual-effects veteran Ng Yuen-fai (Bodyguards And Assassins), whose One Cool Films VFX shingle FatFace Production, provided the heavy sci-fi visuals that went into the proof of concept that went viral several years ago as Virtus, is directing. You can check out some behind the scenes footage in the player below along with the video announcement of One Cool’s upcoming slate just beneath which also includes Nick Cheung’s Taste […]

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The New Teaser Trailer For Wilson Yip’s PARADOX Amazes And Graces With Brutality And Drama

Lee B. Golden III

On the evening of the events kicking off this year’s Hong Kong Filmart, a wave of new announcements arose as well as the emergence of trailers. One particular anticipated project was the new Wilson Yip thriller, Paradox (formerly Fate), with none other than action legend Sammo Hung directing the action and a stellar cast headling the film featuring Louis Koo, Wu Yue and Tony Jaa, and as the latest teaser trailer for it details, it presents nothing short of pure promise. SYNOPSIS: When Hong Kong police negotiator Lee Chung-chi (Louis Koo) was informed about the sudden disappearance of his 16-year-old daughter, Lee Wing-chi (Hanna Chan), during her trip to Pattaya, he decides to travel to Thailand to search for her daughter’s whereabouts. There, Lee receives assistance from local Chinese detective, Chui Kit (Wu Yue), and his colleague, Tak (Tony Jaa), and also encounters American gangster, Sacha (Chris Collins). Based on […]

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Louis Koo’s Ambitious Sci-Fi, VIRTUS, Now Filming

Lee B. Golden III

The word is that sequels to Louis Koo and Sean Lau pairings, The White Storm and Out Of Inferno are currently in-bound. In the meantime, even more details are currently needed now that both actors have begun filming Koo’s latest sci-fi film endeavor, Virtus. The project has been a few years in the making while housed over at Koo’s One Cool Film banner which launched in 2013 and is also home to films Line Walker, Wild City and upcoming Meow from director Benny Chan. Ng Yuen Fai, credited for supplying visual effects on films such as The Warlords and The Storm Warriors, as well as both Tai Chi Zero and Tai Chi Hero, will make his feature debut. Plot details are extensively nil but as far as the rest of us are concerned, the various proof-of-concept bits that have found their way online are pretty telling. Koo and Lau suited […]

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Cine Asia Takes Heed Of Benny Chan’s CALL OF HEROES For VoD, DVD & Blu-Ray In January

Lee B. Golden III

If there were ever an actor worthy of big screen appeal as a villain, instantly it would be actor Louis Koo as the heinous, murdering son of a General in Benny Chan’s latest home release prospect, Call Of Heroes. Action legend Sammo Hung himself directed the action headlining the riveting drama telling of a group of skilled warriors uniting against a coming threat with actors Eddie Peng, Wu Jing, Sean Lau and Liu Kai Chi delivering even more of the film’s best performances. My personal favorite action scene takes place in the second half which takes place on a bridge – a scene also exemplary of how to design action to permeate around the drama, lending further weight and credit to the film’s overall story and script. These are just a few points I’ll leave off here about the film for you to mull over while I’m more than pleased […]

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David Lam’s S STORM Gets A Thrilling New Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Director David Lam’s 2014 corporate action thriller, Z Storm, was a mixed bag of good and ridiculous with a story centered on the watchdog exploits of the ICAC. It was quite the thriller with Michael Wong serving as a notable villain, might add, and so this Fall, the next chapter commences with the me S Storm (or Z Storm 2), and with a cast once again led by Louis Koo. SYNOPSIS: Continuing after the anti-corruption battle in the earlier film, Z Storm, the sequel centres on the ICAC agent’s next move towards an even more uncontrollable case about the illegal world of Sports / Soccer gambling, which makes him re-enter the dangerous area? Also starring are Ada Choi, Julian Cheung and Vic Chou for the film’s September 15 release. Watch the latest trailer below!

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[UPDATED] LEAGUE OF GODS Soars Online With A Final Trailer And Music Video

Lee B. Golden III

I suppose it’s a matter of time now before we learn of a wider release for Koan Hui’s latest, League Of Gods. The film opens in Asia this Friday and much to the avail of Jet Li fans despite his role unlikely being written for action. Still though, you get all the spectacle and majesty you could possibly want for as long as this film’s been developed as another milestone step forward for China’s growth into more VFX-heavy cinema. An imaginary time zone parallel to the Shang Dynasty, 1000 BC: The kingdom is in trouble. The autocratic King Zhou (Tony Leung Ka Fai 梁家辉), entranced by his favourite concubine Daji (Fan Bingbing 范冰冰) who is a vixen spirit in disguise, oppresses the people and banishes all opposition. A band of rebellious warriors from the Ji clan unites allied forces to overthrow the tyrant. Amongst them is Ji Lei (Jacky Heung […]

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TVB Crime Adaptation, LINE WALKER Lands An Official Trailer!

Lee B. Golden III

Sequelzing a popular TV show has its appeal, an idea that fans of the hit TVB series, Line Walker may be keen on. Jazz Boon sits at the helm for the latest feature-length follow-up of the show with series co-stars Charmane Sheh and Benz Hui are joined by the likes of Louis Koo, Nick Cheung and Francis Ng among other. SYNOPSIS: After a handler of undercover agents died and his classified files erased, some of the identities of those agents become lost. When someone codenamed Blackjack contacts the police, asserting that he is a lost agent, Inspector Q sends Agent Ting to contact him. Ting soon finds herself manipulated by Blackjack, while Inspector Q encounters a series of peculiar events resulting in the death of the chairman of a finance group. Finally, Inspector Q manages to pin down the whereabouts of Blackjack and uncovers the surreptitious involvement of a business […]

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CALL OF HEROES Gets A Brand New Trailer!

Lee B. Golden III

If there’s one thing I’m glad about while writing about director Benny Chan’s newest period actioner, Call Of Heroes, is the guarantee that it’s coming abroad as well. The film is just less than two months out from its release and host to a raft of fine acting and action talents such as Eddie Peng, Sean Lau, Louis Koo and Wu Jing leading the story of a village in 1914, wrought with danger when its protectors arrest the son of a warlord committing vicious acts of murder. Looking at the trailers of which there have been three so far, there’s no mistaking that the overall tone of this movie is going to be an enthralling one. It’s easily become one of my most anticipated titles of the year among others, and I certainly look forward to viewing it myself on the big screen when it opens in due time. In […]

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Screener Review: THREE (2016)

Lee B. Golden III

Director Johnnie To’s new movie, Three, plays like an adequately-balanced hybrid of genres than a crime thriller in some ways, but you still get a lot of what you’ll be looking for, save for just a few holes and some bad CG and cardboard performances among other things. It’s also the first Johnnie To film I’d seen in a long while so I’m sort of coming at this with somewhat of a fresh perspective and from an experience that gladly wasn’t entirely for nothing. The film picks up at a hospital where we meet a doctor (Vicky Zhao) belaguered by the pressure to be a successful surgeon, and a Hong Kong inspector (Louis Koo) under the duress of an overbearing press crowd as he escorts a high-profile robbery suspect with a bullet in his head (Wallace Chung). The suspect awakens and decides to exercise his right not to be treated […]

Catch The Latest Trailer For David Lam's S STORM!

Lee B. Golden III

Director David Lam’s 2014 corporate espionage thriller, Z Storm was probably better than it deserved to be. It had some great moments with good acting from its cast led by actor Louis Koo, compensating adequately for what it lacked in depth and originality in some areas and Michael Wong was a fun villain to watch as well. Thus, we’ve come to 2016 with a season full of unknowing as to what Louis Koo title to pay attention to first what with Johnnie To’s forthcoming crime thriller, Three, Jazz Boon’s TVB feature follow-up, Line Walker, and Benny Chan’s period martial arts actioner, Call Of Heroes among the endless list. Alas, you can add Lam’s return to the director’s chair for S Storm to your Louis Koo syllabus of forthcoming movie homework with a release rolling out this August throughout Asia, and Koo back in character as the corporate watchdog group of […]

From TVB To The Big Screen, Catch The Slick New Teaser For LINE WALKER

Lee B. Golden III

If you feel like actor Louis Koo is in everything these days, you’re not alone. That said, the latest teaser is now here for director Jazz Boon’s new movie, Line Walker, following in tow from its successful TVB run in 2014. SYNOPSIS: After a handler of undercover agents died and his classified flies erased, some of the identities of those agents become lost. When someone codenamed Blackjack contacts the police, asserting that he is a lost agent, Inspector Q sends Agent Ting to contact him. Ting soon finds herself manipulated by Blackjack, while Inspector Q encounters a series of peculiar events resulting in the death of the chairman of a finance group. Finally, Inspector Q manages to pin down the whereabouts of Blackjack and uncovers the surreptitious involvement of a business company in a huge drug deal in Brazil. However, the drug dealers have found out that there is an […]

Watch The New Trailer For Johnnie To's THREE

Lee B. Golden III

Director Johnnie To’s latest, Three, gave a good showing at Cannes last month upon nabbing several English-speaking territories, including the ever-reliable Well Go USA for North America. Advancing into the summer, the film is poised for a June 24 release in Asia and we now have a new trailer circulating which you can view below. SYNOPSIS: Realizing that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to bide time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all.

CGI-Heavy LEAGUE OF GODS Summons Its First Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

Touting a budget of HK $300 million dollars, directing pair Vernie Yeung and Koan Hui have arrived with the first step in the promotional campaign for China Star Entertainment’s upcoming fantasy epic, League Of Gods. The film was announced around two years ago with production beginning at the top of last year and with a release date set for this Summer, a new teaser began circulating several days ago. SYNOPSIS: Based on the 16th-century Chinese novel The Investiture of the Gods 封神演义. With a production budget of HKD$300 million, the film features a star-studded cast such as Jet Li, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Louis Koo, Fan Bingbing, Huang Xiaoming and Angelababy. A long time ago, a determined King Zhou, supported by his concubine Daji, sets his mind on conquering the Middle Kingdom. After years of slaughter, the unyielding Adept tribes have been eliminated in succession. Jiang and General Ji from Qishan […]

The First Teaser For Johnnie To's THREE Brings Orchestral Demolition

Lee B. Golden III

The folks over at Media Asia are off to a great start following their slate unveil at HKFilmart last month. Moving onward and with an eye a little closer on acclaimed filmmaker Johnnie To, we now come to with the first bits footage from the new crime thriller, Three, and in stunning fashion with actors Louis Koo and Wallace Chung, and actress Vicky Zhao headlining. SYNOPSIS: Realizing that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to bide time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all. The film opens this June and with To […]

KILL ZONE 2 Gets A U.S. Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Close to a year since the film’s release at home, Soi Cheang’s thematic sequel crime thriller, SPL 2: A Time For Consequences, has already marked itself high enough for the prospects of a third film in the weeks and months to come. With that all said and done and following an announcement several weeks ago, Well Go USA is moving forward with its release as Kill Zone 2, a new trailer for the film’s limited theatrical and VoD opening on May 13. SYNOPSIS: When an undercover cop gets too close to revealing the mastermind of a drug syndicate, his cover is blown. Double-crossed and under a false identity, he’s thrown into a Thai prison, where a guard discovers the inmate – claiming he’s a cop – is a bone marrow match for his dying daughter…and his warden may have an even deadlier operation hidden within the prison walls. In this […]