well go usa

THE PAPER TIGERS

THE PAPER TIGERS Lands At Well Go USA For A Spring 2021 Release

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a long journey for writer/director Bao Tran‘s kung fu comedy, The Paper Tigers, with nine years of meticulous planning and pitching all the way through production. The film’s next stop on the festival circuit will be the 43rd Asian American International Film Festival as of Thursday, while word from Deadline‘s Dino-Ray Ramos reports the film now has North American acquisition thanks to Well Go USA. The film had its world premiere for the virtual 24th Fantasia Festival back in August. You can check out my review at this link. Billed as an homage to Bruce Lee and Seattle’s kung fu scene, the film stars Alain Uy (Marvel’s Helstrom), Ron Yuan (Disney’s Mulan) and Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Undisputed III), as a trio of former Seattle kung fu badasses years away from their teenage glory. When they learn of their Sifu’s murder, the three are forced to dust themselves off […]

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Your Next Viewing: Well Go USA’s THE LEGEND OF TOMIRIS

Christina Ortega

People often look to the silver screen for female role models, wanting a strong female in both the physical and emotional sense, but they can forget to look for that role model in real life. Well Go USA’s latest release, The Legend of Tomiris, brings a real life strong female’s story to our home screens. I have to admit that I am not at all familiar with Tomiris nor her nomadic people, but when I read the synopsis of the film, I knew I had to see this one: Starring Kazakhstan standouts Almira Tursyn (as Tomiris), Adil Akhmetov (as Argun), and Aizhan Lighg (as Sardana)––who perform all of their own action-packed stunts––THE LEGEND OF TOMIRIS tells the real life story of the great queen who, along with her female warriors, united divided nomadic tribes to create a powerful nation capable of repelling the likes of Persia. According to historical accounts, Tomiris […]

INVINCIBLE DRAGON: Win A Copy Of The New Max Zhang Action Thriller From Well Go USA!

Lee B. Golden III

Director Fruit Chan’s newest action thriller, Invincible Dragon, is coming to Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital on October 6, and we’re giving away three (3) copies to readers as of this week. Simply put, all you need to do is e-mail us at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com with your favorite movie with the word “Dragon” in it, and we’ll include your name in the lottery. Winners will be decided by October 5, a day ahead of the film’s release! When a brilliant but trigger-happy detective (played by martial arts powerhouse Max Zhang) is outsmarted by a serial killer, he pays a high price for his momentary lapse in judgment. Robbed of both his fiancée and his job, he soon spirals out of control and goes back to what he knows best: fighting. Unbeknownst to him, a serendipitous reunion with an old rival (Brazilian mixed martial artist Anderson Silva) may be the key to unlocking […]

JIANG ZIYA Review: Teng Cheng And Wei Li’s Fengshen Sequel Defines What Heroism Is With Sweeping Action And Adventure And Lots Of Heart

Lee B. Golden III

The successful launch of the animated Fengshen Universe with Jiao Zi’s hit movie, Nezha, was exactly what the doctor ordered in order for a sequel installment, now finally set to arrive very soon with Jiang Ziya from directors Teng Cheng and Wei Li. Written for the screen by Xu Zhonglin, Cheng and Li’s Jiang Ziya takes off with a spectacular opening sequence that sees the titular celestial army commander battling King Zhou’s army. Having capturing the nefarious and troublesome Nine-Tailed Fox Demon in the process, Jiang Ziya is then tasked with performing its execution ceremony in order to earn his place among the Gods, only to be interposed by the Fox Demon’s telepathic forewarnings of a young girl in its captivity. In the heat of scuffling with the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, Jiang Ziya’s failure ensues his banishment to the barren, wintery, isolated village of Beihai in the mortal realm to […]

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JIANG ZIYA: Well Go USA To Release The Long-Awaited Animated Sequel October 1!

Lee B. Golden III

If it wasn’t for the idiot Coronavirus earlier this year, Jiang Ziya, the spectacular new follow up to Jiao Zi’s Fengshen Cinematic Universe inaugural, Ne Zha, would’ve enjoyed a promising Chinese New Year release stateside. Eight months later, Planos-based genre firm Well Go USA is proudly stamping an October 1 for the animated sequel, directed by Teng Cheng and Wei Li. To earn his place amongst the gods, celestial army commander Jiang Ziya must vanquish a terrifying fox demon threatening the very existence of the mortal realm. After learning the creature’s fate is tied to that of a young girl, Jiang Ziya disobeys Heaven’s edict and spares the demon, resulting in his banishment to the mortal realm. Ten years later, he is given one more chance to complete the task, and Jiang Ziya must decide: is joining the ranks of the heavens worth the price of one innocent life? Visit […]

CRAZY SAMURAI MUSASHI Lands At Well Go USA For North American Release

Lee B. Golden III

Third in line since debut directing Death Trance and the recent Shudder release of Re:Born, dynamic action duo Tak Sakaguchi and Yuji Shimomura will be bringing the crazy to North America with their latest feat, Crazy Samurai Musashi. Well Go USA has acquired the rights to the ambitious period sword thriller, marking Sakaguchi’s first time back to the label since 2011 with the U.S. release of several Japanese genre titles, namely Mutant Girls Squad, Helldriver, Yakuza Weapon and Deadball. In Crazy Samurai Musashi, Sakaguchi stars as the 17th century samurai of legend, Miyamoto Musashi, who battles more than four hundred warriors in a deadly challenge against the Yoshioka Ryu. Actors Kento Yamazaki, Yosuke Saito, Ben Hiura and Arata Yamanaka also star in the film which is now being sold internationally for this year’s virtual market at the Toronto International Film Festival by sales agent, Princ Films. Crazy Samurai Musashi has […]

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MAX CLOUD: Scott Adkins Sci-Fi Action Comedy Journeys To North America For Well Go USA This December

Lee B. Golden III

Killers Anonymous and Twist helmer Martin Owen’s action-packed sci-fi comedy, Max Cloud, has been acquired by Well Go USA for North American distribution this December on digital and on-demand. Owen directs from a script he co-wrote with Sally Collett, for a cast led by actress Isabelle Allen (Les Misérables, Killers Anonymous), and starring actor and martial artist Scott Adkins (Ip Man 4) in the title role. The story is described as one that “transports viewers back to the era of classic video games, when crimped hair was as hip as velour tracksuits and Animal Crossing and Fortnite were perhaps closer to alien technology than to reality.” Allen plays teen gamer Sarah who accidentally opens a secret portal hidden in her favorite side-scroller, where she finds herself trapped in an intergalactic prison home to the galaxy’s most dangerous villains. To escape the terrifying planet, she must team up with space hero […]

PENINSULA Review: Starring Gang Dong-Won, Yeon Sang-Ho’s Zombie Franchise Reassures With A Pulsating Sequel

Lee B. Golden III

2020 seems to be the year for optimism when it comes to sequels (see Bad Boys For Life and The Debt Collectors). Not all movie fans have a flexible take on a particular kind of story, and directors like Yeon Sang-ho have invariably made note of this fact, and so went the sounds of many a mind blown when news of a sequel to his 2016 film, Train To Busan, was well under way. Enter Peninsula, the latest chapter in Yeon’s sprawling zombie saga that dives right into the ensuing collapse of Korea, introducing Marine Captain Jung-seok (Gang Dong-won), whose own life is about to take a truly dark turn as he attempts to join the exile with his family via naval ship. Chaos suddenly erupts on the ship, forcing a detour from Japan to Hong Kong, where for the next four years, Jung-seok and brother-in-law Chul-min (Kim Do-yoon) are […]

Your Next Viewing: VALLEY OF THE GODS

Christina Ortega

When I received an email about a fantasy/sci-fi drama including a writer, the Navajo community, an ancient legend, and Josh Hartnett, I knew I had to see the film. I sent out my screener request immediately and am glad to report that I was not disappointed in Well Go USA Entertainment’s latest: Valley of the Gods. Here is the official synopsis: Starring Josh Hartnett, Bérénice Marlohe and John Malkovich, VALLEY OF THE GODS contrasts abundance and poverty through three separate storylines, featuring a middle-class writer (Hartnett), an eccentric trillionaire (Malkovich), and a struggling Navajo community. Post-divorce, copywriter John Ecas undertakes the biography of the richest man on earth, who is dead-set on mining sacred lands for uranium. When modern advance runs afoul of long-dormant guardians from ancient legend, even the most unimaginable wealth may soon meet its match. I am a big believer in viewers forming their own opinions on […]

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Win A Free Copy Of SAMURAI MARATHON And GUNDALA From Well Go USA!

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA is ending the month of July on a high note with Bernard Rose’s Samurai Marathon, and Joko Anwar’s Southeast Asian superhero franchise inaugural, Gundala, both on Blu-Ray and DVD. Rose’s film is out now with the latter coming out on July 28, and for this, we’re launching our paired giveaway for both films! About Samurai Marathon: Acclaimed filmmaker Bernard Rose has created a stunning visual feast complemented by a haunting score from iconic composer Philip Glass. Inspired by a race still held annually in Japan, Samurai Marathon is a lively action flick with a samurai twist. In late feudal Japan, a young ninja (Satoh) operates undercover in the court of an aging lord and his rebellious daughter. When the lord challenges his lazy samurai to a punishing marathon—joined covertly by Princess Yuki—the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. Facing impossible odds, this unusual band of […]

THE LEGEND OF TOMIRIS: Akan Satayev’s Epic Historical War Drama Gets A U.S. Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Hard to believe that’s it’s been about three years since Akan Satayev’s female-fronted historical war drama, The Legend Of Tomiris, underwent post production, isn’t it? Indeed, that was definitely the case ahead of its local release in Kazakhstan late last year, and with acquisitions thereafter. At any rate, the film is finally making headway following its acquisition by Well Go USA in June, with an official U.S. trailer now online ahead of its September 29 release on Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD. Based on historical heroine Queen Tomiris of Massagetae and her cadre of female warriors (the real-life 6th century BCE Amazonians who inspired the mythical tales), The Legend of Tomiris recounts the tale of the nomadic ruler who overcame great personal tragedy to repel the powerful Persian empire and unite the Great Steppe. The Legend Of Tomiris stars actresses Almira Tursyn and Aizhan Lighg, and actor Adil Akhmetov.

VALLEY OF THE GODS: Don’t Miss The Official Trailer For Lech Majewski’s Fantasy Drama From Well Go USA

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA’s latest dark fantasy adventure, Valley Of The Gods, has announced an August 11 Digital, DVD and Blu-Ray release. Originally released last year as its Polish incarnation, Dolina Bogò, the film comes from acclaimed Polish-American filmmaker Lech Majewski (Field of Dogs, The Mill & The Cross and The Garden of Earthly Delights), and stars Josh Harnett (Bunraku), John Malkovich (Red), Bérénice Marlohe (Skyfall), Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings trilogy). Starring Josh Hartnett, Bérénice Marlohe and John Malkovich, VALLEY OF THE GODS contrasts abundance and poverty through three separate storylines, featuring a middle-class writer (Hartnett), an eccentric trillionaire (Malkovich), and a struggling Navajo community. Post-divorce, copywriter John Ecas undertakes the biography of the richest man on earth, who is dead-set on mining sacred lands for uranium. When modern advance runs afoul of long-dormant guardians from ancient legend, even the most unimaginable […]

ENTER THE FAT DRAGON: Win A Copy Of The New Donnie Yen Action Comedy From Well Go USA!

Lee B. Golden III

Donnie Yen is in the mix this week and stirring the pot with news both film-related and otherwise. Best of all is he’s tapped Well Go USA for his latest transition to stateside home physical media, Enter The Fat Dragon. Spiritually reimagined from Sammo Hung’s 1978 original kung fu classic, the revival is shepherded by stunt industry professional Kenji Tanigaki in his feature-directing debut, with Yen in yet another body-consuming costumed role. ENTER THE FAT DRAGON is a hilarious chronicle of the events that transformed super-fit super-cop Fallon Zhu (martial arts phenom Donnie Yen) into a glorified records clerk with a major snack cake habit. After a desperate request from an old colleague, Zhu teams up with a wily, wok-wielding restaurateur to solve a mysterious murder—and take his one last shot at regaining both his job and his fiancée. I don’t have a star rating system on this site, but […]

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Well Go USA’s TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA Lands August 2020 Theatrical Release, Exclusive AMC Shudder Release In 2021

Lee B. Golden III

Yeon Sang-ho’s Train To Busan Presents: Peninsula will be heading to 150 theatrical screens throughout North America beginning August 7, in a major deal for Well Go USA, which also gives AMC’s Shudder exclusive streaming rights in early 2021. “Peninsula is one of the most anticipated horror movie sequels of the last decade and exactly the kind of film Shudder members are hungry for,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s general manager. Yeon Sang-ho set the bar for zombie movies with Train to Busan and its prequel Seoul Station, and we’re thrilled to be the home of his new masterpiece—and the only place where movie lovers will be able to stream this outstanding trilogy together.” The news comes on the heels of a planned re-release of the film’s predecessor, 2016’s Train To Busan, which will also include a first look at Peninsula. The film was a soaring hit following Yeon’s animated Cannes […]

Well Go USA’s Fuel-Injected New Trailer TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS: PENINSULA Puts The Pedal To The Metal

Lee B. Golden III

Yeon Sang-ho’s Train To Busan Presents: Peninsula still doesn’t have a release date, but the dystopian sequel to his 2016 zombie horror hit, Train To Busan, looks exciting as ever as it heads toward a virtual Cannes premiere this summer. Bearing in mind, there are also the prospects of a re-release of an extended version of Train To Busan in select territories around the world to help whet the appetite until Peninsula arrives. In the meantime, Well Go USA debuted an official look at a very new trailer that fires on all cylinders. Tones here give off hints of part heist flick, part survival actioner, part horror, and part road adventure, and it feels as amazing as it looks! Four years after South Korea’s total decimation in TRAIN TO BUSAN, the zombie thriller that captivated audiences worldwide, acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho brings us PENINSULA, the next nail-biting chapter in his […]

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COSMOBALL: Well Go USA Picks Up Russian Sci-Fi Action Sports Thriller For January 2021

Lee B. Golden III

Director Dzhanik Fayziev has been a listed favorite at Planos, Texas niche staple Well Go USA for some years now. He first landed distributorship in the U.S. with co-director Ivan Shurhoveckiy for period sword-and-shield thriller, Furious (a.k.a. The Legend Of Kolvorat), and now the company is making its succession this year with Fayziev’s recent sci-fi successor, Cosmoball (f.k.a. Goalkeeper Of The Galaxy). 2071. Galactic wars have destroyed the Moon and changed the climate on the Earth. Now tropical forests are covering Moscow, while New York is iced all over. A huge alien ship towers over Moscow – it is the stadium where spectacular intergalactic Spaceball competitions take place. The game combines both sport and gladiator fights. When the game is on, the whole world stops in its tracks to watch it. The players are called Athletes, only they are allowed to contest because of their powers and ability to control […]

Trailer: GUNDALA Lights Up The Bumilangit Cinematic Universe For North America In July!

Lee B. Golden III

The Bumilangit Cinematic Universe is officially setting sail to North America with the official trailer for Joko Anwar’s comic book adaptation, Gundala. There’s lots of action thrown in for this particular asset seeing as the domestic trailer was a straight tease of things to come, and so I can see the necessary push to appeal to the West. We like when things fly, fight and go boom, so, this is nice. Based on the classic 1969 comic from creator Harya “Hasmi” Suraminata, Gundala is described as “a poignant portrayal of the notion that heroes—whether everyday or superhuman—can be found anywhere (though a superpower never hurts). Indonesian orphan Sancaka spent his life on the streets trying to attract as little attention as possible, but when greed and violence reach a fever pitch in Jakarta, it soon becomes clear that he is the people’s only hope for peace.” Gundala won’t be the […]

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VALLEY OF THE GODS: Well Go USA Snags Josh Harnett/John Malkovich Fantasy Drama For August Release

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA has acquired Valley Of The Gods (Dolina Bogòw), the 2019 fantasy drama epic from acclaimed Polish-American filmmaker Lech Majewski. The Josh Harnett/John Malkovich ensemble feature will have a physical and digital release on August 11, 2020, and also stars Bérénice Marlohe (Skyfall), Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings trilogy). Per the company’s announcement, Valley Of The Gods “contrasts opposing social extremes—namely abundance and poverty––through three separate storylines, which revolve around a middle-class writer, an eccentric trillionaire and members of a struggling nearby Navajo community. After a difficult divorce, copywriter John Ecas (Josh Harnett) takes on the biography of the richest man on earth (John Malkovich), who is both his boss and the man behind a plan to mine sacred Navajo lands for uranium. However, when modern advancement runs afoul of the long-dormant protectors warned of in ancient legend, even the […]

First Love

Hi-YAH!: Martial Arts And Miike Madness Go Mobile In May!

Lee B. Golden III

I long wondered if and when Well Go USA’s Hi-YAH! portal would have a downloadable app apart from its streaming services via Amazon or Hulu. On Friday, the company proudly presented the official launch of its downloadable app for mobile devices and televisions. The Planos, Texas firm launched the niche-driven channel back in 2016, home to more than 500 hours of quality and commercial-free film favorites like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa, and acclaimed directors like Johnnie To, Yuen Woo-Ping, Wilson Yip, and Tsui Hark to name a few. As of the launch, that roster now includes their exclusive streaming release of one of Well Go USA’s proudest titles to date, First Love, billed as part of part of the “Miike Madness” collection featuring many of the classic and fan-favorite films from iconic director Takashi Miike. “With the launch of the app, Hi-YAH! now allows action […]

A SOLDIER’S REVENGE Trailer: A Bounty Hunter’s New War Begins

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA’s 2020 home entertainment roster is looking proud and upward having already announced a stack of upcoming MOD releases next to others. Among the lot will be director Michael Feifer’s Western thriller, A Soldier’s Revenge, which will get its day on Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD beginning June 16. Haunted by wartime horrors, Civil War soldier-turned-bounty-hunter Frank Connor (Neal Bledsoe) spends his time post-war polishing off two things: whiskey and fugitives. When two desperate children arrive on his doorstep and enlist his help to find their missing mother (AnnaLynne McCord), Frank must face his past in order to take down the notorious Major Briggs (Rob Mayes), with whom he has a score all his own to settle. The film also stars Val Kilmer and Jake Busey.