swordplay
Shortfilm Review: ECHOES OF A RONIN (2014)
The story is set in a contemporary Scandinavian/Asian environment with a universal story about injustice and loss of innocence combined with recognizing ones destiny.
Two New Trailers Are Available For Lu Yang's Latest, BROTHERHOOD OF BLADES
One of the biggest setbacks of not being able to read and interpret Chinese is not being able to keep up with a lot of Asian cinema first hand. So, forgive me for letting writer and award-winning director Lu Yang‘s latest contribution to wuxia action, Brotherhood Of Blades, slip through the cracks.
The film is produced by Wang Donghui and regular John Woo cohort Terence Chang, and sets its story in the late Ming Dynasty where three best friends – palace guards are whisked away on a mission to hunt down an exiled eunuch politician, only to discover layers of conspiracy upon their success. Actors Chang Chen, Wang Qianyuan, Li Dongxue, Cecilia Liu and Nie Yuan round out the cast for the film’s current China release as of a few weeks ago August 7.
If you live in China and you’ve seen the film, feel free to drop a line in the comment section and share your opinions. Otherwise, feel free to check out a few new trailers that came after the initial teaser back in June.
THE PIRATES Set Sail With A Swashbuckling New Trailer!
At the onset of Joseon’s founding, envoys bringing the Emperor’s Seal of State to Joseon lose it to a big whale at sea. A bandit Sa-jung goes out to sea to catch the whale with a big reward on its head. But he soon clashes with Yeo-wol, a female captain of pirates, and unexpected adventure unfolds.
Ken Ochiai's UZUMASA LIMELIGHT Honors The Unsung Heroes Of Chambara Cinema
H/T: Emmanuel Manzanares
The New Trailer For NORTHMEN: A VIKING SAGA Roars Its Way Online
Movie goers overseas will have something to look forward to this October when co-writer and director Claudio Fäh unveils his latest film contribution to German audiences with the new foreign-language period action thriller, Northmen: A Viking Saga. UK actor Tom Hopper, Aussie actor Ryan Kwanten, Irish actress Charlie Murphy and forthcoming star of the next Transporter trilogy, actor Ed Skrein lead the principal cast.
The film is also going to be shopped at Cannes this month courtesy of The Salt Company, so fans can expect further distribution in the weeks ahead.
SYNOPSIS:
A gang of Viking marauders under the command of their young leader, Asbjörn, bear down on the coast of Britain, intent on pillaging Lindisfarne of its gold. But, caught in a vicious storm, their longboat is dashed to pieces on the rocks off Scotland. Trapped deep within enemy territory, the shipwrecked men’s only chance of survival is to reach the safety of the Viking stronghold Danelag.
With only the enigmatic Conall, a monk who preaches with his sword to help them, they cut a bloody swath through anyone who gets in their way. But the journey becomes a race for their lives when the King of Scotland sends his most feared mercenaries, the Wolf Pack, after them. Traversing an unfamiliar and hostile land, they are pursued relentlessly. However the hunters become the hunted when the Vikings, eager for battle, set deadly traps and mercilessly decimate their pursuers one by one…
H/T: Twitchfilm
Watch The New U.S. Trailer For ONCE UPON A TIME IN VIETNAM
For as long as I have been writing on my blog, I truly enjoy promoting some films that gain my interest quite heavily and inspire me. One of which is the latest from actor Dustin Nguyen making his directorial debut for Vietnam‘s latest first-ever fanatsy action film, Once Upon A Time In Vietnam. The film was released late last year and began hitting film festivals in select parts of the world, and while I myself haven’t seen it yet, I love the overall look of this film and the starpower it holds, and I also love the concept it delivers as a Western Mad-Max type of film with epic martial arts action with a touch of romance and bloody revenge.
Embattled Hearts Converge In The Latest Epic Kung Fu Short, D.R.Y.
Registration is currently closed for the Sci-Fi London 48 Hour Film Challenge and there are a few entries floating around the interwebs as the event ends on May 4. One of those entries is the latest one-off short film K & K Productions’ own George and Harry Kirby called D.R.Y. which sees actor Aaron Ly in a tragic love triangle that leads to a time-bending one-on-seven epic fight to the finish.
Actress Kunjue Li and actor Bruce Chong also star in this latest vital gem which also comes with its own behind-the-scenes link in the channel as well. The new short also arrives as genre fans are within days from witnessing the long-awaited new trailer for K & K’s upcoming Dragonball Z fan project, Frieza Saga. And there will be more discussion on that project in the coming weeks, so stick around. So, while you’re here, watch D.R.Y. in the embed below where you may also subscribe.
To learn more about the Sci-Fi London 48 Hour Film Challenge, visit their official website by CLICKING HERE.
Watch The New Trailer For For ICEMAN 3D
After roughly a year of production filled with more than it’s share of challenges, it appears things are finally coming together with action star Donnie Yen‘s long-awaited two-part epic reboot thriller, Iceman 3D. And this week, we now have a proper trailer that says so, with a lot more to offer on the film’s narrative than seen in previous footage, and should continue to garner further interest.
Co-directed by The Wrath Of Vajra helmer Law Wing Cheong, Iceman 3D also stars Wang Baoqiang, Eva Huang and Simon Yam, and debuts in Hong Kong on April 17 before it spreads to China a week later, with details still awaiting for the sequel, in addition to Well Go USA’s North American schedule for the film. Stay tuned for more info.
SYNOPSIS:
In the Ming Dynasty, there are four orphans, Ying (Donnie Yen), Yuanlong (Simon Yam), Sao (Wang Baoqiang) and Niehu. Raised in Taoyuan Village, the four are close as brothers. Their exceptional martial arts allow them to reach the highest rank among the imperial guards. They take the order to kill the Japanese troop leader, and return in triumph. The Emperor then orders Ying to escort the Golden Wheel of Time from India back to the capital, which is said to have the power of time travelling and foreseeing the future. On the way of escorting, Ying is set up by his brothers and he chooses to fight against them. The duel has shaken the earth, an avalanche strucks and buries the four. Travelling 400 years in time to modern Hong Kong, Ying meets wasted May (Eva Huang) who gives him shelter.
Action, Romance And Wuxia Majesty Highlight The New Trailer For THE WHITE HAIRED WITCH OF LUNAR MOUNTAIN
Based on the classic martial arts novel by Liang Yusheng, it evolves around a pair of star-crossed lovers — a devilish outlaw (Fan Bingbing) and the righteous Taoist leader (Huang Xiaoming), and their love that could change the fate of the nation.
A Pirate's Escape Ends In Showdown In The New Shortfilm, THE INFLUENCE
Brady Merriman launches his aerial assault in the new Project Rize action short, THE INFLUENCE
Further updates are pending regarding independent filmmaker Danny Vega‘s upcoming feature-length action crime thriller, A Dance With The Devil. In the meantime, he has offered a brand new experimental shortfilm creation via his YouTube platform, Project Rize in the form of The Influence. While Vega directed and filmed the project, the concept mostly belongs to one of its performers, up-and-coming actor and stuntman Ben Aycrigg, who previously appeared several weeks ago in a new year kick-off test fight short promoting fellow Florida action stalwart, David Conk’s new team, Wolf Stunts.
For The Influence, Aycrigg choreographed the action imitating a mild hybridization of swashbuckling swordplay and kung fu, which isn’t so bad from an independent piece and is fun to watch any way you slice it. Hopefully we will learn more about these performers in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, check out The Influence in the embed below, also featuring lead performer Brady Merriman, along with action actors Matt Bricker and Andrew Trask. And stay tuned for more info on A Dance With The Devil and other forthcoming works from Project Rize.
Lionsgate Presents The New Trailer For WARRIOR ASSASSIN
Great achievement is born of great sacrifice in the revenge thriller Warrior Assassin, seeking vengeance on DVD (plus Digital Ultraviolet), Digital HD and Video on Demand April 1 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Filled with explosive action and mesmerizing fight sequences, Warrior Assassin stars Pan Yuanjia (Ju Ke Zhen), Ji Chunhua (Kung-Fu Master) and Bryan Leung (Kung-Fu Master) and will be available for the suggested retail price of $26.98.