well go usa

Jung Byung-Gil’s THE VILLAINESS Lands An August 25 U.S. Release!

Director Jung Byung-Gil has come quite a ways since hitting theatrical and festival screens with his latest female driven action thriller, The Villainess. The film eventually earned the experienced stuntman-turned-filmmaker the Daniel E. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema at the 16th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), and rewardingly in the days since the Japanese remake of his 2012 hit crime thriller, Confession Of Murder, became a hit with Irie Yu at the helm. The Villainess marks actress Kim Ok-Vin’s debut lead role following two months of intense training and a 70-day filming period – 63 of which included action shots in which she performed nearly all of her own stuntwork. Not for nothing either in that many a pull quote have rendered her performance as one of the best in the genre by far out of South Korea and proving she and Jung make a marketable pair […]

THE FINAL MASTER: Win A Copy Of Well Go USA’s Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack Release

Lee B. Golden III

UPDATE: This contest has expired. Perhaps one of the best martial arts moviegoing experiences ever brought overseas has to be Xu Haofeng’s newest home release, The Final Master. An adaptation of one of his written anthological works, the film shimmers with action and drama with pure wit and charm from its main cast led by actor Liao Fan and acclaimed choreography by Haofeng himself. Its central highlight of Wing Chun (for a release as timely as this one as it came out in theaters just months after Well Go USA released Ip Man 3) is certainly one that I had never seen before in any particular film of this genre centered on its style and it’s hosted with such intensity and focus – Being my first foray into Haofeng’s work, I get him. I understand him. I’m proud to say how much I love this movie and I couldn’t be […]

Well Go USA Announces LEGEND OF THE NAGA PEARLS For Release In August!

Lee B. Golden III

Lei Yang’s directorial debut, Legend Of The Naga Pearls, is just a few weeks away from its China release. As for stateside, Well Go U.S.A. is obliging its Asian cinema fanbase with a date now slated for an August 25 outing and they’ve since presented their own official trailer for good measure. After being defeated by humans centuries ago, the Winged Tribe has lost their ability to fly. Seeking vengeance, a royal descendant of the tribe has begun searching for the magical Naga Pearls, which he plans to use to destroy the humans. When the legendary pearls fall into – and out of – the hands of Heiyu, a wily human street punk, he must join a team of unlikely heroes as they race to prevent the destruction of their people in this magical fantasy adventure. Starring are Darren Wang, Simon Yam, Xing Yu, Tianai Zhang , Guansen Sheng. Catch […]

Watch The North American Trailer For WOLF WARRIOR 2!

Lee B. Golden III

Action star and filmmkaer Wu Jing’s sophomore outing, Wolf Warrior 2 is getting a same-day theatrical release in the U.S. and China on July 28. I would say next to Well Go U.S.A.’s forthcoming release of The Villainess next to any number of hot titles on the way, this pretty much completes my summer. The Wolf Warrior is back, bigger and badder than ever, in this action-packed sequel to the 2015 blockbuster hit. With his career in tatters, China’s deadliest Special Forces operative has settled into a quiet life on the sea. But when he crosses paths with a sadistic band of mercenaries terrorizing innocent civilians, he must reaffirm his duty as a soldier and save the day once again. Fists (and bullets, tanks, missiles and much more) will fly in this adrenaline-fueled tour de force of bravura action filmmaking, all culminating into a climatic battle between the Wolf Warrior […]

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GINTAMA: Beetlehunting, Swashbuckling, And A Battle For The Ages In Three New Promos For The Live-Action Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

With a Japan release on July 14 in tow, Fukuda Yuichi’s latest live-action manga/anime treatment, Gintama, will be having its world premiere at Fantasia Festival in Montreal a day earlier. The film stars actor Oguri Shun who has become a personal favorite of mine in the last fifteen years or more since seeing him opposite Ueto Aya in Kitamura Ryuhei’s Azumi and in Miike Takashi’s Crows Zero and subsequent sequel. Yes, I’m a fan, and not for nothing either with regards to Gintama; I first learned of this movie late last summer which eventually led me to start bingewatching all of well over 300 episodes (4 seasons) of the hit series and ultimately falling in love with the show overall. I still probably couldn’t give you every nook and cranny of what happens, but for the major arcs that occur in between, I would say there is plenty to build […]

Chinese Fantasy Romance Epic, ONCE UPON A TIME, Slates An August 3D North American Release

Lee B. Golden III

Acclaimed cinematographer Xiaoding Zhao (House of Flying Daggers, The Great Wall, The Flower of War, The City of Golden Armor) and decorated VFX wizard Anthony LaMolinara (Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2) will both be making a feature directorial debut this year partnering for the new fantasy romance epic, Once Upon A Time. The film takes its cues from Tang Qi’s popular novel, “Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles Of Peach Blossoms”, which led to Gcoo Entertainment’s TV series succession, Eternal Love. ONCE UPON A TIME is a story of epic battles, deep passion, life-threatening evil, and the power of magic. Bai Qian, a goddess and monarch from the Heavenly Realms, is sent to the mortal world to undergo a trial to become a High Goddess. There, she meets Ye Hua with whom she falls in love and marries. However, when an old enemy reappears in her life, everything she holds dear becomes threatened. […]

Review: RESET Propels Sci-Fi Suspense In A Three-Way Race Against Time

Lee B. Golden III

I’m about as knowledgeable as the next person on who four-time filmmaker Chang is. There’s at least one other title still on my wish list at current with the 2014 Fred Cavayé remake nod, The Target, while his most recent endeavor, Reset, has taken a foothold in China with a release this summer. The film presents a kinetic sci-fi thriller with a nicely woven story that embraces the sort of usual subliminal and obvious messaging on time travel and the shortspan of human life in the course of everyday tasking and multitasking. Actress Yang Mi draws out the narrative for this as Xia Tian, a single mother who finds herself and her son swept into a death spiral when her company’s recent breakthroughs in particle teleportation are made known to its more nefarious rival company. Placed with the obligatory purpose of albeit successfully tugging at our heartstrings is young actor […]

Kick Off Your Weekend With A Sammo Hung Supercut!

Lee B. Golden III

The weekend is ripe with moviegoers ready to take in some DCEU action and adventure in Patti Jenkins’s new movie, Wonder Woman. Our own Khalil Barnett will host his own review in due time, while apart from the superhero fanfare lies a little something fun for Asian cinephiles looking forward to Gordon Chan’s latest, God Of War which opens this weekend from Well Go USA. You’re more than welcome to read my review of the film which has actor Vincent Zhao starring among an ensemble cast that ceremonially includes action legend Sammo Hung. For this, Well Go USA has offered a little treat for Sammo fans in celebration of the release. Check it out below and check our local listings…and make it a double header this weekend to cover your bases!

Review: Gordon Chan’s GOD OF WAR Unwavers With Dogma

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a long time since I had seen a Gordon Chan film. Point in fact the last time I did was with The Medallion – demonstrably one of the lesser-impressive Jackie Chan films even for all his Hollywood hype at the time. Still we’re talking about the same guy who brought us the forever-immortalized Jet Li’s 1995-starrer, Fist Of Legend, showcasing a simplistic, clear-cut tale of wartime drama, murder mystery and intrigue, coupled with martial arts action cinema’s best and legendary in film fight scenery. No doubt though these that Chan can hold his own, apart from the complexities and advancements of film along with his own growth. While not entirely perfect, his newest epic, God Of War, offers a feasible and entertaining array of story and period cinema articulation with actor and martial artist Vincent Zhao in a starring role – something which I can wholly appreciate as […]

Well Go USA Acquires THE INVINCIBLE DRAGON And ‘Ip Man 3’ Spin-Off, CHEUNG TIN-CHI

Lee B. Golden III

Two really great bits of news arrived this past weekend at Cannes with Well Go USA on hand to nab itself a nifty pair of titles after just recently acquiring Jung Byoung-Gil’s The Villainess. Said titles bring actor and martial artist Max Zhang front and center for and even bigger spotlight with news on the acquisition of The Invisible Dragon and Cheung Tin-Chi, the latter which commences filming this summer. Hailing from director Fruit Chan for a 2018 release, The Invincible Dragon casts Zhang opposite Anderson Silva in the story of a detective who, in the wake of a spate of homicides under investigation by his team, sets out to find his fianceé’s kidnapper. Also starring are Stephy Tang, Kevin Cheng and JuJu Chan; Cheung Tin-Chi still awaits production but has Zhang lined-up to reprise the title role as seen in the Donnie Yen-starring 2016 hit, Ip Man 3, and […]

Well Go USA Picks Up THE VILLAINESS

Lee B. Golden III

The exciting news out of Cannes continues with our eye now on the latest report circling Confession Of Murder helmer Jung Byung-Gil’s latest, The Villainess. The film itself hasn’t yet opened in South Korea and only has a teaser to show for its otherwise impressive efforts featuring actress and martial artist Kim Ok-Bin in the title role. Variety‘s report on Saturday has otherwise confirmed a North American distribution of the film as negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher of Well Go USA and Danny Lee of Contents Panda. The film marks the award-winning filmmaker’s fourth outing, here with Kim leading the film as a young girl brought into Korea’s National Intelligence service where she is trained, assigned as a sleeper agent and given a new identity now forced to deal with two men from her past following her wedding. “‘The Villainess’ features peerless action sequences, created by Byung-Gil Jung and his stunt […]

BITCOIN HEIST: Meet Ham Tran’s Ragtag Anti-Heroes In The Official U.S. Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Following its 2016 outing, Ham Tran’s Vietnamese action comedy, Bitcoin Heist debuted an official trailer this week ahead of its June 6 Digital HD release. DVD and Blu-Ray release details remain pending for the film which has Kate Nhung, Thanh Pham, Petey Majik Nguyen, Suboi, Jayvee Mai The Hiep, Lam Thanh My, Veronica Ngo and Teo Yoo. Hackers have become the bank robbers in the new world of crypto-currency. In order to catch the most wanted hacker, “The Ghost”, an Interpol special agent assembles a team of thieves to plan the ultimate heist. But as any good criminal knows, there is no honor among thieves. Check out the trailer below!

Watch The Official Trailer For Well Go USA’s Home Release Of Xu Haofeng’s THE FINAL MASTER

Lee B. Golden III

Details and visual content remain pending for acclaimed martial arts action auteur Xu Haofeng’s upcoming adaptation, The Hidden Blade now circulating at Cannes. In the meantime, it’s been about a year and a half the director’s most recent celebrated release, The Final Master (as it was titled for the U.S.) hit limited screens from United Entertainment Partners and in the wake of much acclaim earned for its overall fight choreography. That said, I can honestly attest to my own experience of the film was pretty fantastic given its theater setting. The sound made it much more engaging to watch the fights whilst engaging the overall mood and dramatic tension with actor Liao Fan starring in the title role of a martial arts instructor who finds himself caught up in a deadly whirlwind of upheaval and miltary proliferation in the early 20th century. In 1930s China, unrest rules the nation. Chen, […]

OPERATION MEKONG: Watch The Official Trailer For Its U.S. Home Release

Lee B. Golden III

Acclaimed director Dante Lam’s 2016 action thriller, Operation Mekong, is now back and present with an official trailer ahead of its Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack release on June 6. Pre-orders are still up for grabs in case you missed the news and with the price edging off a little low over at Amazon, it might be a worthy grab! A band of elite narcotics officers are sent by the Chinese government to uncover the truth behind the ambush of two Chinese commercial vessels traveling down the Mekong River. When it’s discovered the drugs seized from the ships had been planted by a notorious drug cartel, a multi-country joint task force is assembled to stop the criminals. The road to justice is, however, paved with dangerous and deadly obstacles. Eddie Peng and Zhang Hanyu star. Check it out below!

THE LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE – VOL 2: Movement With A Heart

THE LEGEND OF BRUCE LEE - VOL 2: Movement With A Heart

It can be difficult to put into words what Bruce Lee gave to the world of martial arts but I will take his cue to simplify it: movement with a heart. And this second volume, with all its faults and laughingly unintended background with 2000 era bloopers not caught (episode 15 shows John Woo’s “Stranglehold” [2008] on a San Francisco trolley car, twice), this volume gives us that heart to a certain degree, trying to keep a balance between fantasy and actual history regarding Bruce Lee. Beginning with episode 11, after being humiliated by the fight of Karate Master Yamamoto (Mark Dacascos) in the 10th episode, Bruce mulls over why Uncle Shao (Luoyong Wang) decided to stop the match. It was only at Ms. Ruby’s restaurant that Uncle Shao imparts his wisdom to try to temper Bruce’s anger into a more focused, humbled, and disciplined self. “If you’re too impatient, […]

Well Go USA Announces Its Summer Rollout For Ringo Lam’s SKY ON FIRE

Lee B. Golden III

Following their announcement of Dante Lam’s 2016 hit film, Operation Mekong, U.S. distributor Well Go USA is also announcing their presentation of Ringo Lam’s latest, Sky On Fire. This one had its share of mixed reactions upon its release last November but still bodes as a fan favorite for those keen on actor Daniel Wu who leads the film on top of his current momentum on the small screen. The official artwork can be seen below as well as the announcement. Watch this space for pre-order information. Legendary filmmaker Ringo Lam (City on Fire, Full Alert) returns to his Hong Kong roots with SKY ON FIRE, the explosive crime drama packed with high-speed car chases, dramatic plot twists and fiery gunfights. The film also marks Daniel Wu’s return to Asian cinema following his stateside success on the TV series “Into the Badlands” and the international blockbuster Warcraft: The Beginning. Wu […]

Well Go USA Announces Derek Yee’s SWORD MASTER For Digital HD, DVD And Blu-Ray Releases

Lee B. Golden III

I can’t say much about the 3D version, but you can bet that director Derek Yee’s own Death Duel reimagining, Sword Master, was an entertaining feat. My review is up for those of you who have missed out while you can now expect to see forthcoming DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital HD releases courtesy of Well Go USA. The official announcement is just below with all deets and pics availble. PLANO, TEXAS. (February 13, 2017) – Hong Kong cinema giants Derek Yee (Triple Tap) and Tsui Hark (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate) join forces for an epic remake of 1977’s Death Duel, when the wuxia martial arts extravaganza SWORD MASTER debuts on digital March 7 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD April 11 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Visually opulent, the film follows a master swordsman who must once again wield his weapon against those who threaten his desire to live in […]

GIVEAWAY: Win A Free Copy Of COLD WAR 2 Starring Aaron Kwok!

Lee B. Golden III

With its current Digital HD availability, Well Go USA is now ramping up promotion of Cold War 2, the hit sequel of Cold War from directing duo Longman Leung and Sunny Luk. The DVD and Blu-Ray hit shelves online and at your local stores on March 7, but you can now win one of four DVD copies of the film from us personally! All you need to is send us an e-mail at filmcombatsyndicate@gmail.com and tell us your favorite Aaron Kwok film and what you enjoy most about it. Be sure to include “COLD WAR 2 CONTEST” in the subject header or your entry cannot be validated. This contest is strictly for readers in North America due to DVD region settings, so our deepest apologies to readers outside of the U.S.. A suspected criminal mastermind escapes from police custody, throwing the city into turmoil. With the police department now divided, […]

Well Go USA Picks Up Donnie Yen Crime Thriller, CHASING THE DRAGON, And More

Lee B. Golden III

Action star and actor Donnie Yen has been enjoying a rather celebratory year. Two Hollywood films in with the hopeful prospect of another, it was just last month that he wrapped his latest pairing with director Wong Jing for the forthcoming Hong Kong crime drama, Chasing The Dragon. As of last week’s kick off at EFM however, the word now is that Well Go USA has acquired the film for its release in North America and other English-speaking territories. The film reimagines Poon Man-kit’s 1991 crime epic, To Be Number One, with Yen in a cinematic revival of real-life crimeboss Ng Sek-ho, whose Scorsesean rags-to-riches story took to headlines with the escalation of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Acclaimed cinematographer Jason Kwan (Young Bruce Lee, Cold War, Cold War 2) is joined by filmmaker Wong Jing in directing, and also culminates with celebrated actor Andy Lau in a reprisal […]

EFM 2017: Na Hyeon’s THE PRISON Thrills With Sales In U.S. Asia, Europe And More.

Lee B. Golden III

Screendaily is reporting on a raft of stellar sales for Spin Kick and Southbound scribe Na Hyeon’s directorial debut, The Prison. The film has reportedly sold to Well Go USA for North America among terriroties with respective distributors each in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, China, Philippines and Taiwan. SYNOPSIS: Yu-gon (KIM Rae-won), troubled former police inspector, is imprisoned for a hit-and-run accident. While inside, he discovers that the entire penitentiary is controlled by an inmate named Ik-ho (HAN Seok-kyu) who has been running a crime syndicate with the help of the warden and guards which provides them the perfect alibi. Soon enough, Yu-gon becomes a major part of Ik-ho’s crime empire. The Prison is tapped for market screenings this Saturday with a local Korean release set for March. The first official trailer just went live as well and you can now view it below. H/T: Screendaily