yuen woo ping

IP MAN 4 Casts Scott Adkins

If the recent, explosive trailer for Egyptian actioner, Karmouz Wars, wasn’t enough to get your blood pumping, take heed of actor, action star and celebrated “Boyka” screen persona, Scott Adkins who just blew more minds via Instagram hailing his addition to Ip Man 4 with reprising star/director duo Donnie Yen and Wilson Yip. Details on his role weren’t made available nor any other casting names, although the plot does hint at the return of a young Bruce Lee previously played by Danny Chan in the 2016 third installment. I’m extremely excited to report that I’m currently in China shooting Ip Man 4 with the great @donnieyenofficial who I have been a huge fan of since the 80’s. Donnie personally asked me to play this part and for sure you guys won’t be disappointed, especially with our action director being the legendary Yuen Woo Ping. I consider the Ip Man films […]

MASTER Z: IP MAN LEGACY Brandishes New Sales Art For Mandarin Motion Pictures

Lee B. Golden III

Longtime actor and producer Raymond Wong took to the floor at Filmart in Hong Kong to launch Mandarin Motion Pictures, ripe with a slate still fresh with titles both new and pending. The move comes following Wong’s sale of Pegasus Entertainment to Nice Rich Group Ltd. last October, which Wong launched in 2009 with son, Edmond Wong, after establishing himself for years as a staple film producer of Cinema City’s Aces Go Places franchise, and with Mandarin Films in 1991 which served to produce the first two Ip Man titles. This brings us to at least one important title to keep in mind with actor and action star Max Zhang whose career has since begun spanning across the world from Asia to North America. Moviegoers in the former will likely be first to bear witness to his latest headlining role in the Ip Man franchise spin-off, Master Z: Ip Man […]

Review: THE THOUSAND FACES OF DUNJIA Masks Bad CG In The Veneer Of Feasible Light-Hearted Fantasy Adventure

Lee B. Golden III

Most cinephiles crow at the idea of any filmmaker reapproaching a film with the idea of remaking or rebooting it in some capacity. There’s no arguing, however, that there are definitely times when it serves the masses well and there are certainly some examples in that regard. For this, folks who’ve seen Yuen Woo-Ping’s Miracle Fighters can best judge for themselves how his latest, The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia, bodes for its current delivery. The movie is definitely not the remake it was initially reported to be in earlier updates as much as both are their own films, although the two play in the same millieu with respect to wuxia and sorcery. It was Yuen who himself stated he aimed at redefining wuxia with this particular project along with the help of longtime cohort Tsui Hark producing and writing. Rather, it is worth suggesting the film settles for slightly less […]

ON THAT NIGHT…WHILE WE DREAM Brings Martial Arts Stardom Together In The First Official Shortfilm Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

At around this time next week, expect to hear more from the rumblings in China with Alibaba bigwig, Jack Ma, and his latest filmic musings with a kung fu line-up of big-name stars and athletes. We now have the first official trailer announcing On That Night…While We Dream, aptly hailed on poster art with the characters, Gong Shu Dao, a martial arts prose meaning Guard And Defense. A celebration of Chinese culture via martial arts is the reported goal of the new shortfilm project filmed in late Summer – a personal one at that for Ma, a disciple himself of a 19th generation Master descendant of Chens’ Taiji. That goal now reaches closer with a promo that highlights some of the work from our cast with footage from Gordon Chan’s Call Of Heroes, Donnie Yen as Ip Man, Tony Jaa in The Protector 2 and Ma’s Taijizen International founding partner […]

AFM 2017: THE THOUSAND FACES OF DUNJIA Gets A U.S. Day-And-Date Release In December

Lee B. Golden III

Well Go USA has been doing awesomely in the last few years accommodating Asian film titles for its designated niche. Their latest acquisition should be of no surprise with Yuen Woo-Ping’s The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia currently selling at the American Film Market this year under Distribution Workshop. This is a martial arts world of exceptional talents which defy nature. They live in a secluded life and secretly protect the humans against the threat of outer space creatures. What takes them by surprise is that their rivals are becoming more powerful beyond imagination. To save the world, the warriors are ready to face the impossible again. The film is a reinterpretation of Yuen’s own wuxia comedy, Miracle Fighters, which released in 1982 under Golden Harvest. Variety’s report on Sunday cites a December 15 day-and-date release in North America to coincide with the film’s China release. Rounding out the cast are […]

Yuen Woo-Ping’s INVISIBLE GUARD Hails An Announcement Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

If Monday’s news pertaining to action legend Yuen Woo-Ping’s attachment to the live-action adventure tale, Invisible Guard, perhaps the newly-unveiled concept trailer and artwork will seal your interest. There’s no casting info, of course, but it’s a partnership between two longstanding stalwarts thusfar with Yuen joined by John Woo cohort and longtime producer Terence Chang of Lucida Entertainment. View the concept trailer and subsequent artwork below and click here for Monday’s initial verbiage. H/T: Asian Film Strike

INVISIBLE GUARD: Lucida Boards Yuen Woo-Ping Martial Arts Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Legendary martial arts maestro Yuen Woo Ping has a few projects well on the way, including a remake of Miracle Fighters currently titled The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia which is set to arrive this December. Not stopping short anytime soon, he is now reported to be handling another project in the form of Invisible Guard. Variety‘s report on Monday also comes with the announced attachment of multifaceted film firm, Lucida Entertainment, whose founder, veteran producer and John Woo cohort Terence Chang launched the company year ago this week with a five-film syllabus; That package also includes the forthcoming Once A Thief redux, The Adventurers which Chang’s own Mannix Pictures is producing as well. Nothing’s been divulged in terms of plot while the nature of the film, which Chang is executive producing, will be that of a live-action adaptation of a popular animated martial arts action series which has spanned two […]

Yuen Woo Ping’s THE THOUSAND FACES OF DUNJIA Summons New Character Posters

Lee B. Golden III

Currently readying a remake of his own film, Yuen Woo-Ping has re-emerged with producer Tsui Hark for The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia, a reimagining of his seventh career film released in 1982, Miracle Fighters. Following its debut at FilMart earlier this year, Distribution Workshop is now shopping at Cannes as it nears a December release in China. During a time of unrest, the world is about to face a great calamity. To keep the peace of the world, the heroes of the pungalistic world form a secret organization. Kung Fu Yoga co-star Aarif Lee stars along with Da Peng, Ni Ni, Zhou Dongyu and Ada Liu among the cast now visible in a raft of character posters which you can view below.

FilMart Banner And Poster Images Arise For ‘Ip Man 3’ Spin-Off, CHEUNG TIN-CHI

Lee B. Golden III

Ip Man 3 Perhaps one of the biggest prospects coming out of FilMart last week was the addition of actor and martial artist Max Zhang’s upcoming role in Cheung Tin-Chi, spinning off lead actor Donnie Yen’s opposite in the 2016 hit, Ip Man 3. And it’s pretty big, too, for Zhang’s current career progression now landing him roles in several noteworthy projects to date from Asia through Hollywood, including The Invincible Dragon for Pegasus Motion Pictures, and Pacific Rim 2: Uprising for Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures. Front and center though is our title character, as seen in the aforementioned Ip Man 3 who learns of the legendary Wing Chun grandmaster’s skillset. Cheung, a struggling rickshaw driver working hard to feed his family, eventually sees an opportunity to captialize through his own proficient Wing Chun fighting prowess with the launch of his own school, and in doing so, forming his cordial […]

Yuen Woo Ping’s THE THOUSAND FACES OF DUNJIA Gets A Fall Release

Lee B. Golden III

Kung Fu Yoga co-star Aarif Lee’s latest addition comes in the wake of Distribution Workshop’s latest slate now on deck at Filmart. The word now via Screendaily is the actor will be starring in Yuen Woo-ping’s martial arts fantasy The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia which is now in post-production for an October release. Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi are producing with Le Vision Pictures, Acme Image Film Cultural Co and Film Can Production with a story that tells of a band of martial arts warriors who secretly protect the human race from evil outer space creatures during the Northern Song dynasty. Shi describes the film as “a completely fresh approach at telling a story which combines traditional martial arts with science and aliens.”. Dong Chengpeng (aka Da Peng), Zhou Dongyu and actress Ni Ni round out the cast for Yuen who also has Hand Over Fist and in tow as […]

Eureka Entertainment Announces DRUNKEN MASTER Blu-Ray 4K Restoration Release For April!

Lee B. Golden III

If you’ve decided that you’re not feeling any of action star Jackie Chan’s new stuff these days or if you still prefer his old school gems, you’re probably not alone. Thus, you’re likely among the niche in the U.K. aware of who Eureka Entertainment is and may even be delighted about their latest “Masters Of Cinema” announcement, the 4K Blu-Ray restoration of Chan’s 1978 kung fu classic, Drunken Master. Read the announcement, and make your pre-order today! DRUNKEN MASTER, the Original Kung-Fu Classic starring the undisputed Godfather of Martial Arts Action-Comedy Jackie Chan, will be released as part of the Masters of Cinema Series in a definitive Dual-format (Blu-ray & DVD) edition on 24 April 2017. Available to pre-order now http://amzn.to/2kmmSgl Hong Kong action pioneer Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and martial arts superstar Jackie Chan burst onto the scene in 1978 with a one-two punch of […]

Kim's WHO IS GOD In Talks To Cast Liu Yi-Fei As China And South Korea Iron Out Geopolitical Missle Drama

Lee B. Golden III

Actress Crystal Liu Yi-Fei (The Four film saga, The Forbidden Kingdom) is reportedly in extensive talks to star in Kim Ki-Duk’s latest, Who Is God, which is currently set to start rolling cameras on in less than a few months. Should she sign the dotted line, she could very well get the gig…that is, if the stalemate between South Korea and China finally wanes. Variety is reporting that the acclaimed director of films such as 3-Iron, Pieta and the highly talked-about Moebius is currently stranded without a work visa to commence his China production, a war film that centers on Buddhism and how politics manipulate religion. The film, to be produced by Film Carnival International and Dick Cook Studios with Yuen Woo-Ping directing the action, is reportedly the biggest film of his career with well over $24 million dollars to boot, marking a major investment for a director largely known […]

Max Zhang To Reprise Role For IP MAN Spin-Off Movie

Lee B. Golden III

Well into the month of May and with Cannes currently underway, it’s likely that a fourth Ip Man movie may ruminating among those in charge. Details on those efforts remain otherwise pending, though it does signal something worthwhile since Wilson Yip’s latest treatment in the franchise, Ip Man 3, became a theatrical hit throughout Asia earlier this year – box office controversies be damned. The film’s success ultimately catalyzed the proliferation of its main star Donnie Yen, whose continuous portrayal of the once-living purveyor and ‘Grandmaster’ of Wing Chun continues to endure as a headliner for kung fu fanatics. Moreover, the epic story build up between his role and that of co-star Max Zhang remains one of the most resonating dichotomies ever illustrated on film, and assuredly leading up to one of the most admired (and noticeably most pirated if you’re an avid internet user) fight finales ever shot on […]

Emperor's HAND OVER FIST Hands Over Directing Duties To Yuen Woo-Ping

Lee B. Golden III

Things are still in motion over at this year’s installment of Hong Kong Filmart and on this, we look to Emperor Motion Pictures who have just announced the newest titles in their 2016 slate. The first on their list is the new comedy, Hand Over Fist, which is just one of several titles now bearing the attachment of heralded action choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping who is set to direct the film later this year. The film, a co-production with EMP, forsees the story of modern-day protagonists who find themselves swept into a six-century-long feud between ancient martial arts rivals. The film marks the latest piece of news since the lifetime achivement award-winning filmmaker pulled into the fray in recent months next to producer Tsui Hark for the kung fu classic remake, Miracle Fighters. Yuen’s most recent choreographical efforts, Wilson Yip’s Ip Man 3 is a record-breaking box office hit in Hong Kong […]

A Case For Better Action Movies: CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY (2016)

Lee B. Golden III

As the 1990’s drew huge fervor in Western audiences for Hong Kong cinema with Jackie Chan and Jet Li crossovers, director Ang Lee helped pave the way for Asian cinema ina fashion hugely rewarding. The award-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, released in 2000, achieves some of the highest marks in wuxia filmmaking with a story that brilliantly taps into its source material with a sense of substance and quality that bookmarks it as one of the most memorable movies in history. Surely, the film mingles differently among moviegoers as do all, but the majority on this one is quite certain with Lee’s signature vision setting a visible standard in artful storytelling and drama based on Chinese folklore. On that note and despite its successes as a standalone feature, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon remained as one of several stories recorded in the ancient work of author Wang Du Lu whose pentalogy […]

The Final Trailer Has Arrived For CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY

Lee B. Golden III

That fans still have an interest in seeing Yuen Woo-Ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny on IMAX is an interesting thing to bare in mind, even as The Weinstein Company is rolling back its theatrical locations in most areas around the U.S.. That said, there are still people who don’t have Netflix and probably won’t be able to partake in the fandom right away as soon as those who do, but hopefully that will change. As for the film, the reviews are in and the reactions of so far been of a mixed breed with reflections on the film’s more “Westernized” feel, due in part from its approach compared to Ang Lee’s 2000 masterpiece. Whether this fares at all with your opinions on film is entirely up to you while I look forward to catching this myself for a more informed opinion; I initially preferred this on be […]

Yuen's MIRACLE FIGHTERS Remake Casts Kris Wu, Ni Ni & Zhou Dongyu

Lee B. Golden III

Yuen Woo-Ping’s earlier ties to films like Zu Warriors: Dawn Of Darkness and Vigilantes may still be stuck on the shelf, but his latest advancement with fellow auteur, Tsui Hark, remains in bloom. As of last November, the two are presently set to remake Yuen’s own 1982 kung fu comedy classic, Miracle Fighters, remastering the Qing dynasty-set tale of two elderly, quarreling Taoist priests who lend their kung fu training to a young man mistaken to be the crown prince of the Imperial court. The film was Yuen’s seventh directorial offering earlier in his budding career in legendary kung fu filmmaking, and now marks as the latest reunion between him and Hark after having worked plentily before on titles such as Iron Monkey, Black Mask and Once Upon A Time In China 2. As much angst as there may be over remakes, we can at least rest our thoughts knowing […]

Watch The Final Trailer For CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY

Lee B. Golden III

A final trailer has arrived for the February 26 U.S. release of Yuen Woo-Ping’s latest, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny. Michelle Yeoh leads the way with newcomer and actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and actors Harry Shum Jr., action star Donnie Yen and actor Jason Scott Lee with John Fusco adapting the fifth entry into the late Wang Du’lu’s classic Iron/Crane Pentalogy. You’re more likely to find it on Netflix than on IMAX this month with TWC scaling back its theatrical openings – this on top of all the obvious and noticeable differences here compared to director Ang Lee’s award-winning treatment in 2000. Nevertheless, hopefully you’ll still take something away from your experience at home with all the names attached and the action starpower on hand. The reviews are already circulating as of last week which leaves plenty of time to speculate, so check out the new trailer below […]

Watch Well Go USA's Final Trailer For IP MAN 3

Lee B. Golden III

Action star Donnie Yen is back in the fray this year with director Wilson Yip for one potentially last kung fu stint in the new overseas hit, Ip Man 3. As such, our title character, loosely inspired by the life and times of the once-living Wing Chun grandmaster and teacher of Bruce Lee, has his hands full in this latest installment. Mike Tyson, in the role of a ruthless property developer with a panache for Western boxing, wants to see whose fists are the fastest. Max Zhang, who serviced nicely in Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster and recently in Soi Cheang’s SPL 2, wants to see whose Wing Chun is the greatest. Egos will be tested and brusies will be had in what could notably be Yen’s exit from the kung fu genre while still making action films. As such, having the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping and his team at the forefront […]

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY Wields New Character Posters

Lee B. Golden III

With the release of the second international trailer for Yuen Woo-Ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny earlier this week, a fresh slate of character posters have finally been unveiled featuring our prime cast, hosting actress Michelle Yeoh, actor Donnie Yen, actress Natasha Liu and actor Harry Shum Jr. Adapted for the screen by writer John Fusco, the film engages the fifth installment of author Wang Dulu’s Iron/Crane Pentalogy which sees Yeoh back in the role of swordswoman Yu Shu Lien following her appearance in director Ang Lee’s award-winning 2000 film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Rounding out the cast are Roger Yuan, Eguenia Yuan and Jason Scott Lee. The film’s release rollout begins in China in early February with subsequent releases in Hong Kong, the U.S. and on Netflix thereafter. Check out the posters below next to a line up of previous artwork. View post on imgur.com