Below is the first official trailer for the new action epic Once Upon A Time In Shanghai.
In Theatres 9 January 2014 – A laborer moves to Shanghai in the hope of becoming rich. But ends up using his Kung-Fu skills to survive. Starring Philip Ng, Andy On, Sammo Hung.
Asian film specialist retailer Yes Asia have started there annual clearance sale with DVD’s, Blu Rays and many other items at up to 80% off. Worth checking out and getting some of those titles that are on your wish list! Sale ends December 31st.
Here is a new subtitled trailer for Police Story 2013 starring Jackie Chan and directed by Ding Sheng. Looks a lot more down to earth than previous entries.
The acclaimed historical action drama Saving General Yang is getting a release on DVD and Blu ray in the USA by Well Go on December 10th. Both will have original Mandarin language with English, French and Spanish subtitles.Extras will include a making of as well as interviews with cast and director. The DVD will be region 1 and the Blu ray region A.
Below is the first trailer for Jackie Chan’s latest Police Story 2013.
The film co-stars Liu Ye, Huang Bo and Jing Tian. Director is Ding Sheng.
SYNOPSIS:
“Police Story 2013″ follows Jackie Chan’s legendary series “Police Story” and this sixth installment, the film tells the story of one night, at a downtown district bar, all guests were taken hostage. Among them are Interpol, Zhong Wen and daughter Miao Miao. The criminal looks familiar; it is bar owner Wu Jiang whose demand in this hostage situation is the release of a criminal who has been in police custody for a long time. Are things as simple as it looks? What is his true motivation for this desperate action?
Starring: Angela Mao, Tan Tao Liang, Chan Hsing, Han Yin Chieh, Sammo Hung. Directed by: Huang Feng.
Golden Harvest Studio’s had great success in the 1970′s after the death of superstar Bruce Lee with traditional kung fu movies which were all the rage at the time. Sammo Hung was the top fight choreographer at the time and in 1976 made The Himalayan which starred Angela Mao, Chan Hsing and super-kicker Tan Tao Liang.
A scheming murderer employs a look-alike to marry into the Chang family so that he can steal their wealth and govern their provinces. But the bride to be is also a formidable fighter, and when teamed up with a newly outcast member of the clan decides to put an end to the evil plan.
Basic plot to be sure but the location work in The Himalayan mountains give a fresh look even if the final battle scenes are filmed back at the Golden Harvest studios. Angela Mao is good if a bit underused and Chen Hsing plays his usual villain role with glee. Tan Tao Liang steals the film with his amazing kicking ability and the showdown at the end with the villain and his cronies who they both take on and destroy is well worth the wait. The only thing that spoils the film is the obvious budgetary limitations but if you a fan of old school kung fu movies then this is recommended.
7.5 out of 10
The film has been released in Hong Kong on an all region DVD. Picture quality is ok, a little worn in places but othewise fine. Sound is the usual mono (Mandarin), a bit flat but typical of films from this period. The English subtitles are OK, there are plenty of gramatical errors but the film is easy to follow. At the moment the HK DVD can be picked up very cheaply and is great value.
Please click on the image below for more details…
Action cinema from Thailand had a big boost a few years ago with the introduction of Tony Jaa and his team of action choreographers and in 2004 the same film company released Born To Fight starring Dan Chupong and directed by Panna Rittigrai. The film was a remake in name only of one of Panna’s first films, a very low budget action movie that he made in 1986.
The plot was pretty basic. A group of athletes helping a poor village must stop an evil tyrant and his men from terrorizing the village and setting off a nuclear blast. Die Hard in a Thai village to sum it up. But what makes it special is the amazing fight scenes and stuntwork. People are thrown from moving trucks, smash motorbikes through blazing lorries and that is without the great hand to hand combat scenes as a bunch of martial artists and athletes take on the terrorists at there own game. Its not great film-making but if its an action fix you want without the over use of CGI, then this movie delivers in spades. The star Dan Chupong has not been seen in many films released in the West since, but did have a small fighting role in Ong Bak 3 in which he nearly stole the show.
8 out of 10
The film has been released on DVD in English friendly versions. The Thai release (All Region) has DTS sound and English subtitles but is only full screen. (Beware of the other Thai release which has no English subtitles.) The UK release (Region 2) has a good anamorphic widescreen picture original language (DTS option) with subtitles, but few extras. The best version is the 2 disc SE released by Dragon Dynasty in the USA (Region 1). It has a very good anamorphic picture, good subtitles (English and Spanish), English dubbed track if you like that sort of thing and a host of extras. These include a good audio commentary from Bey Logan, a 65 minute making of featurette, action on the set feature and a trailer.
Click the images below for more details…..
From this week we are doing lots of mini reviews of popular Asian action titles and tell you where you can buy them if still available.
ABOVE THE LAW (AKA Righting Wrongs) (1986)
Starrring: Yuen Biao, Cynthia Rothrock, Melvin Wong. Directed by: Corey Yuen.
Typical high quality 80′s action from Golden Harvest with Yuen Biao as a lawyer, angry at the way the law seems to protect the bad guys then decides to take the law into his own hands. Cynthia Rothrock plays a cop out to find the vigilante and Melvyn Wong is the corrupt cop at the head of the scandal. The action is top notch with apparently Sammo Hung helping out in the choreography duties on the amazing end fight. Yuen Biao is at his physical best and overall this is a top notch modern day actioner and is recommended. As a side note two endings were shot one where Rothrock’s character dies at the end and one where she lives.
FILM: 7.5 OUT OF 10
DVD versions are still available, the HK DVD (Region 3) and Blu ray (Region A) have a good remastered picture ( The Blu ray is probably an upscale and has no original mono sound.). But the USA release by Dragon Dynasty (Region 1) is the best with great extras including a Bey Logan commentary, Interviews with Yuen Biao, Cynthia Rothrock and Peter Cunningham as well as both endings of the film. It also has an English dubbed track for those that like this option.
Please click on the images above for more details……
Here is the teaser trailer for the new film starring Andy Lau called Firestorm.
Firestorm stars Andy Lau as a senior police inspector determined to bring down a violent gang of robbers responsible for a string of violent heists across the city. Hu Jun plays the leader of the gang, and Gordon Lam and Cheung Siu Fai also star. Director is Alan Yuen.
The Raid 2 : Berandal. First Trailer
Here is the trailer to one of the most anticipated follow ups in recent years, The Raid 2 : Berandal.
Starring Iko Uwais and directed by Gareth Jones the film will hit screens next year. Looks good.