David Leitch’s 87North is getting ready to reboot the classic martial arts/ western series Kung Fu, and it looks like they’ve found their Caine: the one and only Donnie Yen. The press release doesn’t reveal if Yen is actually playing Caine, but it seems like a no-brainer. The series was infamously developed by Bruce Lee as a starring vehicle for himself, only for the role to be eventually cast with David Carradine in the lead. In the end, it worked out fine, with Bruce Lee gaining immortality with his kung-fu movies for Golden Harvest in Hong Kong (which would have never happened had he been tied to a series), while Carradine became iconic as the enigmatic Caine.
Caine roams the Wild West in the series, looking for his long-lost brother. He was a peace-loving protector of the innocent who only fought when provoked (which happened A...
Caine roams the Wild West in the series, looking for his long-lost brother. He was a peace-loving protector of the innocent who only fought when provoked (which happened A...
- 1/31/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
John Wick: Chapter 4 is marking yet another chance for the West to get to know Donnie Yen, one of Asia’s top leading men. He has already been in several other major Hollywood franchises. He played the scene-stealing Force-sensitive blind master Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the lure for the Asian market role in XXX: Return of Xander Cage, and Commander Tung in the Disney live-action flop, Mulan. However, in that same period when these Hollywood films came out, Yen made 10 of his own Asian-produced films where he was the leading man.
Action films are Yen’s specialty, so Yen’s inclusion in John Wick is a perfect fit. His mother is Grandmaster Bow Sim Mark, a pioneer in the global dissemination of Wushu. Wushu is a flamboyant acrobatic style of Kung Fu, designed for competition. It’s the same style that produced Jet Li along...
Action films are Yen’s specialty, so Yen’s inclusion in John Wick is a perfect fit. His mother is Grandmaster Bow Sim Mark, a pioneer in the global dissemination of Wushu. Wushu is a flamboyant acrobatic style of Kung Fu, designed for competition. It’s the same style that produced Jet Li along...
- 4/2/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Keanu Reeves may be the centerpiece of the "John Wick" films, but the fourth and final chapter finds the perfect match for the titular character in martial arts star Donnie Yen as Caine. Yen has been acting in Hong Kong martial arts films for at least three decades, but English-speaking audiences who may be unfamiliar with his prolific body of work at least know him from the "Star Wars" spin-off "Rogue One," in which he played the blind warrior monk Chirrut Imwe. That may sound familiar to his "John Wick" role, but Yen approaches the two characters with two distinct styles and personalities, a testament to his talent as both an actor and a martial artist.
Caine acts as both the ally and rival of John Wick, the reluctant antagonist who's forced to kill his friend because the bigger bad guy — Marquis de Gramont — is threatening his daughter's life. John...
Caine acts as both the ally and rival of John Wick, the reluctant antagonist who's forced to kill his friend because the bigger bad guy — Marquis de Gramont — is threatening his daughter's life. John...
- 3/28/2023
- by Andrew Housman
- Slash Film
On a chilly Oscars eve, Donnie Yen has just returned from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where he was rehearsing for the Academy Awards along with a slew of fellow global superstar presenters like Spain’s Antonio Banderas and India’s Deepika Padukone. The “John Wick: Chapter 4” scene-stealer, who hails from southern China, feels good about how the following night might unfold, namely for his friend and Hong Kong neighbor Michelle Yeoh. Her victory and that of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” would be a landmark moment for Asian representation, he says.
“I’ve known her for more than 20 years, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here — to support her and share in a possible historical moment,” he says of his “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” co-star. “And ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ has a lot of Chinese language and it talks about the Chinese heritage,...
“I’ve known her for more than 20 years, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here — to support her and share in a possible historical moment,” he says of his “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” co-star. “And ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ has a lot of Chinese language and it talks about the Chinese heritage,...
- 3/27/2023
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Variety Film + TV
New to VOD :Takeshi Kitano collection
It’s fantastic to see lockdown restrictions continue to ease and that people are once again able to enjoy movies on the big screen from next week.
That said, for those that are still not quite ready for that leap right now, then we’re happy to help with a plethora of new VOD titles added to our platform such as the Takeshi Kitano Collection, which includes:
Hana-biKids ReturnA Scene At The SeaGetting Any?KikujiroDolls
Pre-order before release
If you’re more into getting physical, then we’ve also got you covered there. The following titles are available for pre-order on blu-ray formats:
Sammo Hung’s Encounter of the Spooky KindCult hit, One Cut of the Dead: Hollywood EditionTsui Hark’s Time and TideBrand new restoration of One Armed BoxerErotic fantasy, Tezuka’s BarbaraJohnnie To’s Ptu
Terracotta VOD Spotlight
Each month we...
It’s fantastic to see lockdown restrictions continue to ease and that people are once again able to enjoy movies on the big screen from next week.
That said, for those that are still not quite ready for that leap right now, then we’re happy to help with a plethora of new VOD titles added to our platform such as the Takeshi Kitano Collection, which includes:
Hana-biKids ReturnA Scene At The SeaGetting Any?KikujiroDolls
Pre-order before release
If you’re more into getting physical, then we’ve also got you covered there. The following titles are available for pre-order on blu-ray formats:
Sammo Hung’s Encounter of the Spooky KindCult hit, One Cut of the Dead: Hollywood EditionTsui Hark’s Time and TideBrand new restoration of One Armed BoxerErotic fantasy, Tezuka’s BarbaraJohnnie To’s Ptu
Terracotta VOD Spotlight
Each month we...
- 5/14/2021
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Terracotta Distribution has got a sale going on this month for 10 of their kung fu titles, simply go to this link. You’ll be able to watch the Terracotta’s Classic Kung Fu Collection as well as the likes of The Masked Avengers, Five Element Ninjas and One-Armed Swordsman at over 40% off.
In addition to this, we’d like to draw attention to their wider catalogue that are available on Amazon Prime. Otherwise, you can always check out the VOD platform to be able to stream any of their back catalogue, click here.
Here’s a quick guide to the Top 5 Kung Fu films released so far in the Terracotta’s Classic Kung Fu Collection:
Hero Of Shaolin
Fearless Shaolin monks battle ninja assassins, vicious gangs, and even the Undead, in their quest to take the Golden Sutra to Tibet.
Stars Alexander Lo Rei, (Wu Tang Vs Ninja), Kim Fan,...
In addition to this, we’d like to draw attention to their wider catalogue that are available on Amazon Prime. Otherwise, you can always check out the VOD platform to be able to stream any of their back catalogue, click here.
Here’s a quick guide to the Top 5 Kung Fu films released so far in the Terracotta’s Classic Kung Fu Collection:
Hero Of Shaolin
Fearless Shaolin monks battle ninja assassins, vicious gangs, and even the Undead, in their quest to take the Golden Sutra to Tibet.
Stars Alexander Lo Rei, (Wu Tang Vs Ninja), Kim Fan,...
- 5/16/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Iron MonkeyThe 18th New York Asian Film Festival kicks off this weekend with another eclectic roundup of films from East and Southeast Asia. The premier showcase for Asian film in North America, the Nyaff focuses on the three main production centers, Japan, China/Hong Kong/Taiwan, and Korea, while also showcasing films from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Most of the films are new releases, by a healthy mix of heretofore unknown filmmakers and established auteurs, and they range from international festival-type art-house films to glossy genre pictures. This year features as well a number of films that have already seen release in North American multiplexes, albeit in limited runs in major cities. This could either be a by-product of the increasing number, variety, and quality of such releases, or a result of the increasingly opaque and throttling censorship situation in Mainland China. The festival begins on the same day...
- 6/27/2019
- MUBI
Every summer, just when it starts to feel like you’d rather give up on movies forever than trek to the multiplex for yet another blockbuster sequel or remake, the New York Asian Film Festival shows up out of nowhere and saves the day — for New Yorkers, anyway. Unquestionably the country’s best (and most demented) annual showcase of new Asian cinema, Nyaff has established itself as a perennial godsend for cinephiles whose appetites are a bit too adventurous for Hollywood to satisfy, and the festival’s 18th edition — dubbed “Eighteen: Still Too Young to Die” in a cheeky reference to the Kudo Kankuro movie that blew the roof off in 2016 — might be its most promising lineup to date.
This year’s Nyaff kicks off with Bernard Rose’s “Samurai Marathon,” which is an 1850s-set jidaigeki about a bunch of samurai running a marathon. Not that anyone could possibly need more reason to see it,...
This year’s Nyaff kicks off with Bernard Rose’s “Samurai Marathon,” which is an 1850s-set jidaigeki about a bunch of samurai running a marathon. Not that anyone could possibly need more reason to see it,...
- 6/18/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York Asian Film Festival 2019 goes to Hong Kong’s martial arts fight choreographer and director extraordinaire Yuen Woo Ping, perhaps best known to mainstream audiences for his work on “The Matrix”, “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” and “Kill Bill”.
The extremely prolific Yuen started as an actor and stuntman in the 60s. In 1978, he made his phenomenal directorial debut with “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow”, followed quickly with “Drunken Master”, the two films that not only made Jackie Chan an international star but practically created the indelible kung fu comedy genre. His filmography is a litany of kung fu movie classics marked by breathtaking innovations in fight choreography and genre stylings.
Screening in the festival are the seminal Donnie Yen vehicle “Iron Monkey”, a now classic of the 90’s new wave of kung fu movies, on 35mm, the brand new “Master...
The extremely prolific Yuen started as an actor and stuntman in the 60s. In 1978, he made his phenomenal directorial debut with “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow”, followed quickly with “Drunken Master”, the two films that not only made Jackie Chan an international star but practically created the indelible kung fu comedy genre. His filmography is a litany of kung fu movie classics marked by breathtaking innovations in fight choreography and genre stylings.
Screening in the festival are the seminal Donnie Yen vehicle “Iron Monkey”, a now classic of the 90’s new wave of kung fu movies, on 35mm, the brand new “Master...
- 6/9/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Festival to screen Iron Monkey, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy, The Miracle Fighters.
Hong Kong fight choreographer and director Yuen Woo-ping will receive New York Asian Film Festival’s (Nyaff) lifetime achievement award on July 1.
The prolific Yuen’s credits include The Matrix franchise, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and Kill Bill. He embarked on his film career as an actor in the 1960s and in 1978 made his directorial debut with Snake In The Eagle’s Shadow followed by Drunken Master, the two films that made Jackie Chan an international star and pioneered the kung fu comedy genre.
Nyaff will screen...
Hong Kong fight choreographer and director Yuen Woo-ping will receive New York Asian Film Festival’s (Nyaff) lifetime achievement award on July 1.
The prolific Yuen’s credits include The Matrix franchise, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and Kill Bill. He embarked on his film career as an actor in the 1960s and in 1978 made his directorial debut with Snake In The Eagle’s Shadow followed by Drunken Master, the two films that made Jackie Chan an international star and pioneered the kung fu comedy genre.
Nyaff will screen...
- 6/7/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
After decades lost in the darkest corners of video distribution, on samizdat VHS tapes haphazardly dubbed and cropped, or edited by companies like Miramax and even less reputable organizations, the 21st century has been pretty good for the classics of Chinese-language cinema. At least, for those films in the kung fu genre, kickstarted by Celestial Pictures remastering and restoring the original audio of much of the 60s and 70s Shaw Brothers library in the early 2000s. This has led in turn to a growing recognition in the West of the work of directors like Lau Kar-leung and Chang Cheh, thanks to quality releases through imprints like the Weinsteins' sadly defunct Dragon Dynasty label. Recently the U.K. company Eureka Video has picked up where they left off, releasing restored version of 80s and 90s classics like the Police Story (1985), Project A (1983) and Once Upon a Time in China (1991–7) movies,...
- 4/4/2019
- MUBI
Chinese Director Wai Man Yip has completed production on the sequel to “Iceman” (2014). The film once again places Donnie Yen as “The Iceman”, now transported 400 years into the future to continue the battle he left behind.
The film is set to be released in theaters on November 1, 2018. Gsc Movies has previously released a trailer for the film.
Synopsis
The imperial guard and his three traitorous childhood friends ordered to hunt him down get accidentally buried and kept frozen in time. 400 years later pass and they are defrosted continuing the battle they left behind. (IMDb)...
The film is set to be released in theaters on November 1, 2018. Gsc Movies has previously released a trailer for the film.
Synopsis
The imperial guard and his three traitorous childhood friends ordered to hunt him down get accidentally buried and kept frozen in time. 400 years later pass and they are defrosted continuing the battle they left behind. (IMDb)...
- 10/25/2018
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Famed Chinese actor/director/choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping has completed production on his latest film inspired by the Ip Man series. The film stars Jin Zhang as Cheung Tin-Chi, whom while trying to keep a low profile after his defeat against Ip Man accidentally upsets a foreign martial artist, played by Dave Buatista (“Guardians of the Galaxy” “Blade Runner 2049”), leading to a duel between the two.
The film is set to be released in theaters in December 2018 a trailer for the film has been released.
Synopsis
While keeping a low profile after his defeat from Ip Man, Cheung Tin Chi gets into trouble after getting in a fight with a powerful foreigner. (IMDb)...
The film is set to be released in theaters in December 2018 a trailer for the film has been released.
Synopsis
While keeping a low profile after his defeat from Ip Man, Cheung Tin Chi gets into trouble after getting in a fight with a powerful foreigner. (IMDb)...
- 9/18/2018
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
If one was to seek the quintessence of the Golden Harvest martial arts film (wuxia if you prefer), one would have to look not much further than “Iron Monkey”, a film that encompasses all the elements that made the genre so popular, starting with the people in charge, whose names include Yuen Woo Ping, Tsui Hark and Donnie Yen, among others. Let us take things from the beginning though.
In another episode from folk hero Wong Fei-hung’s life, whose heroics have been immortalized in films the “Once Upon a Time in China” series, “Drunken Master”, “Magnificent Butcher” etc, the very young at the time Wong meets Iron Monkey, as he travels with his father Wong Kei-ying.. Iron Monkey is actually the alter ego of a traditional Chinese medicine physician called Yang Tianchun, who, in a combination of Zorro and Robin Hood, dresses in black every night,...
In another episode from folk hero Wong Fei-hung’s life, whose heroics have been immortalized in films the “Once Upon a Time in China” series, “Drunken Master”, “Magnificent Butcher” etc, the very young at the time Wong meets Iron Monkey, as he travels with his father Wong Kei-ying.. Iron Monkey is actually the alter ego of a traditional Chinese medicine physician called Yang Tianchun, who, in a combination of Zorro and Robin Hood, dresses in black every night,...
- 6/9/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
A breathtaking action adventure from perhaps the greatest action choreographer of all time, Yuen Woo-ping’s “Iron Monkey” combines mind-blowing fight choreography, with a classic story of courage, honour and sacrifice.
Wong Kei-ying (Donnie Yen; Ip Man, Rogue One), a physician and martial artist, is mistaken for a masked vigilante known as the Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-kwong); a Robin Hood style hero who has been robbing the wealthy local officials in order to provide medical treatment for the poor. The two men must team up to defeat a corrupt political regime, and protect the lives of the people whose cause they champion.
Presented from a brand new, stunning 2K restoration, Eureka Classics is proud to present this iconic martial arts classic making its UK debut on Blu-ray on 18 June 2018.
Blu-ray Special Features:
· Limited Edition O-card (First print run only)
· Stunning 1080p presentation from a brand new 2K...
Wong Kei-ying (Donnie Yen; Ip Man, Rogue One), a physician and martial artist, is mistaken for a masked vigilante known as the Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-kwong); a Robin Hood style hero who has been robbing the wealthy local officials in order to provide medical treatment for the poor. The two men must team up to defeat a corrupt political regime, and protect the lives of the people whose cause they champion.
Presented from a brand new, stunning 2K restoration, Eureka Classics is proud to present this iconic martial arts classic making its UK debut on Blu-ray on 18 June 2018.
Blu-ray Special Features:
· Limited Edition O-card (First print run only)
· Stunning 1080p presentation from a brand new 2K...
- 3/24/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
With over 70 film credits, Yuen Woo Ping is one of the foremost authorities on kung-fu movies. In addition to directing such genre staples as Drunken Master and Iron Monkey, Woo Ping has also enjoyed much success as a martial arts choreographer. Woo Ping’s latest film finds him taking on both roles—director and choreographer—with True Legend, the epic tale of General Su Can (Vincent Zhao). Just before the movie’s release on May 13, Mm caught up with Woo Ping to discuss the making of True Legend.
- 5/13/2011
- MovieMaker.com
With over 70 film credits, Yuen Woo Ping is one of the foremost authorities on kung-fu movies. In addition to directing such genre staples as Drunken Master and Iron Monkey, Woo Ping has also enjoyed much success as a martial arts choreographer. Woo Ping’s latest film finds him taking on both roles—director and choreographer—with True Legend, the epic tale of General Su Can (Vincent Zhao). Just before the movie’s release on May 13, Mm caught up with Woo Ping to discuss the making of True Legend.
- 5/13/2011
- MovieMaker.com
Cannes is in full swing at TWC has announced in a press release that they’ve acquired Wu Xia, the new film by Donnie Yen, and in typical Weinstein fashion, they’re retitling the film to Dragon. Ugh. Let’s hope they don’t cut the film either as they have notoriously done in prior martial arts acquisitions like Iron Monkey.
The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from We Distribution the distribution rights for the world, outside of Asia and French speaking Europe, to the martial arts, film noir epic Dragon (Wu Xia). TF1 are already confirmed to distribute the film in France. The film will have its world premiere as part of the official selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. A 2011 theatrical release is expected in the Us.
Director, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, is one of Asia’s most celebrated filmmakers,
his critical and...
The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from We Distribution the distribution rights for the world, outside of Asia and French speaking Europe, to the martial arts, film noir epic Dragon (Wu Xia). TF1 are already confirmed to distribute the film in France. The film will have its world premiere as part of the official selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. A 2011 theatrical release is expected in the Us.
Director, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, is one of Asia’s most celebrated filmmakers,
his critical and...
- 5/12/2011
- by Jon Peters
- Killer Films
Though he's hardly a household name (at least in the United States) it's no exaggeration to say that Yuen Woo Ping is one of the most influential filmmakers on the planet. As the director of 1978's "Snake in Eagle's Shadow," Yuen helped launch the career of Jackie Chan and define his unique style of comedic kung fu. He went on to direct or choreograph the fights in almost every major Chinese martial arts film of the last quarter century, and when he brought his unique style to America in "The Matrix" in 1999, he revolutionized the way Hollywood action films were made for years. Yuen Woo Ping's new film as both director and fight choreographer is called "True Legend," but it's a title that might just as well be bestowed upon Yuen himself.
In honor of "True Legend"'s U.S. release this week, we asked Yuen to do something...
In honor of "True Legend"'s U.S. release this week, we asked Yuen to do something...
- 5/11/2011
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
True Legend Review
Yuen Woo-Ping, a master of martial arts choreography, makes his directorial come-back in the fantastical tale of revenge True Legend, which Indomina Releasing acquired after it screened at Fantastic Fest last year. True Legend will have a limited theatrical release on May 13th, and packs some faster-than-possible punches. The martial arts choreography is as sleek and stylized as any fan of the genre could wish, and though the sometimes silly story went on far too long, the film was still a great showcase for Woo-Ping’s action artistry. Austin’s fast-growing genre film festival Fantastic Fest saw a deluge of martial arts entries last year. Director/choreographer Woo-Ping’s Snake in Eagle’s Shadow and True Legend both screened, and Woo-Ping was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Woo-Ping is responsible for choreographing the awesome fight scenes in films like The Matrix Trilogy, Kill Bill, Crouching Tiger,...
Yuen Woo-Ping, a master of martial arts choreography, makes his directorial come-back in the fantastical tale of revenge True Legend, which Indomina Releasing acquired after it screened at Fantastic Fest last year. True Legend will have a limited theatrical release on May 13th, and packs some faster-than-possible punches. The martial arts choreography is as sleek and stylized as any fan of the genre could wish, and though the sometimes silly story went on far too long, the film was still a great showcase for Woo-Ping’s action artistry. Austin’s fast-growing genre film festival Fantastic Fest saw a deluge of martial arts entries last year. Director/choreographer Woo-Ping’s Snake in Eagle’s Shadow and True Legend both screened, and Woo-Ping was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Woo-Ping is responsible for choreographing the awesome fight scenes in films like The Matrix Trilogy, Kill Bill, Crouching Tiger,...
- 5/10/2011
- by Amy Curtis
- We Got This Covered
Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 Jesse Eisenberg & Kristen Stewart star in Greg Mottola’s Adventureland (2009) Billie Bob Thornton is naughty in Terry Zwigoff’s Bad Santa: Unrated Director’s Cut (2003) French cult classic Betty Blue: Original Theatrical Release (1986) Val Kilmer stars in Blood Out (2011) John Travolta stars in Brian de Palma’s Blow Out: Criterion Collection (1981) D.A Pennebaker’s documentary Bob Dylan: Don’T Look Back (2010) Matt Damon & Heath Ledger star in terry Gilliam’s The Brothers Grimm (2005) Ben Affleck stars in Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy (1997) Korean horror director Shin Jung-Won’s Chawz (2011) Renee Zellweger & Catherine Zeta-Jones star in Rob Marshall’s Chicago (2002) Kevin Smith’s Clerks: 15th Anniversary Edition (1994) Sylvester Stallone & Viggo Mortenson star in Daylight (1996) Francis Ford Coppola’s Dementia 13: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo pack (1963) Jeffrey Obrow’s The Dorm That Dripped Blood:...
- 4/25/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
We showed you the one-sheet (here) for Yuen Woo-Ping’s True Legend, China’s first 3D film, which follows Su Qi-Er as a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty, who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, Su dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero known as the “King of Beggars“.
First Showing has some new set pics from the film, which Indomina Releasing is releasing in a limited theatrical run May 13th.
I can’t imagine how amazing this will be, due to Yuen Woo-Ping’s prior action films like Iron Monkey and The Matrix.
First Showing has some new set pics from the film, which Indomina Releasing is releasing in a limited theatrical run May 13th.
I can’t imagine how amazing this will be, due to Yuen Woo-Ping’s prior action films like Iron Monkey and The Matrix.
- 4/13/2011
- by Jon Peters
- Killer Films
Eight new images from the upcoming martial arts film True Legend, which looks like it's going to be one hell of awesome movie, especially if you're into martial arts films. The movie was directed by fight choreographer and director Yuen Woo-Ping (Iron Monkey, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Matrix). If you haven't seen the new trailer for the film yet click here and watch it now.
Synopsis:
Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill Volumes I and II, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero) brings you True Legend, a heart pounding epic about the timeless battle between good and evil. Su Can's (Vincent Zhao) respectable life is obliterated when his vengeful brother, Yuan (Andy On), returns from war armed with the deadly Five Venom Fists. Weakened but not destroyed, Su Can learns a never-before-seen form of martial arts: the Drunken Fist. Armed with this new power, he returns home...
Synopsis:
Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill Volumes I and II, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero) brings you True Legend, a heart pounding epic about the timeless battle between good and evil. Su Can's (Vincent Zhao) respectable life is obliterated when his vengeful brother, Yuan (Andy On), returns from war armed with the deadly Five Venom Fists. Weakened but not destroyed, Su Can learns a never-before-seen form of martial arts: the Drunken Fist. Armed with this new power, he returns home...
- 4/13/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
A trailer for Yuen Woo Ping’s True Legend is finally online. The film opened last year in Asia and in the UK, but hasn’t yet been released anywhere in North America. For anyone unfamiliar, Yuen Woo-ping is renowned as one of the most successful and influential figures in the world of Hong Kong action cinema. He began directing in 1978 with Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, starring Jackie Chan, followed quickly by Drunken Master launching Jackie Chan as a major film-star. He has worked with the biggest stars in Hong Kong and in some of the biggest movies, including with Sammo Hung in Magnificent Butcher (1979), Yuen Biao in Dreadnaught, Donnie Yen in Iron Monkey, and Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh in Tai Chi Master and Wing Chun.
Yuen’s works, particularly his action choreography on Fist of Legend (propably the greatest martial arts movie ever made), attracted the attention of the Wachowski brothers,...
Yuen’s works, particularly his action choreography on Fist of Legend (propably the greatest martial arts movie ever made), attracted the attention of the Wachowski brothers,...
- 3/30/2011
- by Kyle Reese
- SoundOnSight
You've got to watch this new trailer for director Yuen Woo Ping's martial arts film True Legend because it's pretty freakin' mind-blowingly badass! Why does this movie look so awesome? Because it comes from Woo Ping, the man who did the kung fu choreography for The Matrix films, Kill Bill 1 and 2, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Fearless. He was also the director of several classic martial arts films including Snake in Eagle's Shadow, Twin Warriors and Iron Monkey. Just watch the trailer already!
Synopsis:
Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill Volumes I and II, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero) brings you True Legend, a heart pounding epic about the timeless battle between good and evil. Su Can's (Vincent Zhao) respectable life is obliterated when his vengeful brother, Yuan (Andy On), returns from war armed with the deadly Five Venom Fists. Weakened but not destroyed, Su Can...
Synopsis:
Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill Volumes I and II, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero) brings you True Legend, a heart pounding epic about the timeless battle between good and evil. Su Can's (Vincent Zhao) respectable life is obliterated when his vengeful brother, Yuan (Andy On), returns from war armed with the deadly Five Venom Fists. Weakened but not destroyed, Su Can...
- 3/28/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Hey gang! Check out this awesome new 1970's style throwback poster to Yuen Woo Ping's upcoming martial arts film True Legend. For those of you who don't know Woo Ping was the kung fu choreographer of death on The Matrix films, Kill Bill 1 and 2, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Fearless. He was also the director of several classic martial arts films including Snake in Eagle's Shadow, Twin Warriors and Iron Monkey.
The movie was shown at Fantastic Fest last year, and I heard that it was pretty freakin' awesome, so this seems like a movie we can look forward to watching, especially if your a martial arts film fan.
Here's the plot of the movie:
Su Qi-Er (Man Cheuk Chiu) is a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets,...
The movie was shown at Fantastic Fest last year, and I heard that it was pretty freakin' awesome, so this seems like a movie we can look forward to watching, especially if your a martial arts film fan.
Here's the plot of the movie:
Su Qi-Er (Man Cheuk Chiu) is a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets,...
- 3/26/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Master Yuen Woo Ping, who gave us some of the greatest fighting sequence in film with Tai Chi Master, Iron Monkey, and The Matrix, to name a few – is back as a director again with True Legend. Even cooler than that, is this poster, which echoes some of the fun ’70s kung fu films.
This film will be of note to David Carradine fans: it features his last on-screen appearance before his death. It’s also China’s first 3D film.
Source: AICN...
This film will be of note to David Carradine fans: it features his last on-screen appearance before his death. It’s also China’s first 3D film.
Source: AICN...
- 3/24/2011
- by Jon Peters
- Killer Films
Any martial arts / kung fu fans out there? You've got to check this out! AICN has debuted a classic poster for True Legend, the newest martial arts epic from Yuen Woo-Ping, kung fu choreographer on The Matrix films, Kill Bill 1 and 2, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Fearless, and director of numerous martial arts classics including Snake in Eagle's Shadow, Twin Warriors and Iron Monkey. I saw the movie at Fantastic Fest last year and loved it (here's my write-up about it), it's an awesome kung fu flick that has some amazing fight scenes, as Woo-Ping really is the master. The poster really makes me want to see it again. Check it out! You can check out a full-size version of the True Legend poster originally on Ain't It Cool News if you wish. Su Qi-Er (Man Cheuk Chiu) is a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses ...
- 3/24/2011
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Rapidly becoming the one of the most prolific distributors of Asian movies in the UK, Cine Asia have just announced a deal with Entertainment One giving them access to their entire back title list, massively increasing their Asian movie catalogue. Here’s the details…“Continuing our passionate commitment to deliver the very best in Asian action-cinema through our pioneering Cine Asia brand, Showbox Media Group is proud to announce the re-birth of the celebrated Hong Kong Legends action-cinema label. Under the new releasing banner, ‘Cine Asia presents Hkl', Showbox is set to bring the label back to life, and will re-release the cream of Entertainment One's Asian film catalogue, including Jet Li's Once upon a time in China series, Jackie Chan's Police Story 1&2 and Donnie Yen's world-famous, Iron Monkey.
- 3/18/2011
- 24framespersecond.net
Here's the latest undubbed on lethal trailer for IP Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster. This may be one of the most buzzed about movies from the East since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Iron Monkey. IP Man 2 is slated for release on January 28th, 2011. IP Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster is directed by Wilson Yip and stars Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, and Lynn Hung. About IP Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster: International megastar Donnie Yen reprises his iconic role as the real-life kung fu grandmaster Ip Man in this martial arts spectacular. After escaping the Japanese occupation of his hometown of Foshan, China, Ip Man and his family have arrived in Hong Kong, which is living under the iron fist of British colonial rule. Ip wants to support his family by opening up a martial arts academy to teach his unique Wing Chun style. But...
- 12/9/2010
- by Terry Boyden
- BuzzFocus.com
"I'm going to say some things that probably can't be translated," said Tim League before handing the mic over to the Drafthouse's resident kung fu expert Lars Nilsen. "This guy has done some batshit crazy stuff."
Of course, he was referring to Saturday night's guest of honor Yuen Woo Ping, the master fight choreographer behind such films as "The Matrix" and "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon," who was at Fantastic Fest to unveil the North American premiere of his latest directorial effort, "True Legend," the origin story of one of his most famous films "Drunken Master." Instead of Jackie Chan, we get Chiu Man Cheuk as Su Can, a decorated warrior who retires from the army to become a Wushu instructor and spend more time with his wife and child, passing on the governorship that's been offered to him to his brother-in-arms Yuan (Andy On). For reasons that I never entirely understood,...
Of course, he was referring to Saturday night's guest of honor Yuen Woo Ping, the master fight choreographer behind such films as "The Matrix" and "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon," who was at Fantastic Fest to unveil the North American premiere of his latest directorial effort, "True Legend," the origin story of one of his most famous films "Drunken Master." Instead of Jackie Chan, we get Chiu Man Cheuk as Su Can, a decorated warrior who retires from the army to become a Wushu instructor and spend more time with his wife and child, passing on the governorship that's been offered to him to his brother-in-arms Yuan (Andy On). For reasons that I never entirely understood,...
- 9/26/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds turned the enfant terrible into a man
Director: Inglourious Basterds, Pulp Fiction
Had we put together this list two or three years ago, it would have been a different story. Death Proof, his half of the Grindhouse collaboration with Robert Rodriguez, was a flop, and it looked as if Quentin Tarantino, 48, was on the slide. But Hollywood loves a good comeback, and last year's -Inglourious Basterds was a major smash. His most profitable film to date, it picked up eight Oscar nominations, and suddenly Tarantino no longer looked like a dead weight from some hipster past. It would have been a sad way to go, for no single film-maker has had more impact on contemporary cinema, intellectually speaking, than Tarantino. His 1992 debut, Reservoir Dogs, was an icon of instant movie cool, enshrining, and to a great extent instigating, the modern habit of recycling and...
Director: Inglourious Basterds, Pulp Fiction
Had we put together this list two or three years ago, it would have been a different story. Death Proof, his half of the Grindhouse collaboration with Robert Rodriguez, was a flop, and it looked as if Quentin Tarantino, 48, was on the slide. But Hollywood loves a good comeback, and last year's -Inglourious Basterds was a major smash. His most profitable film to date, it picked up eight Oscar nominations, and suddenly Tarantino no longer looked like a dead weight from some hipster past. It would have been a sad way to go, for no single film-maker has had more impact on contemporary cinema, intellectually speaking, than Tarantino. His 1992 debut, Reservoir Dogs, was an icon of instant movie cool, enshrining, and to a great extent instigating, the modern habit of recycling and...
- 9/24/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
Updated through 9/21.
"Tsui Hark, who directed about half of the best films of Hong Kong's golden age (Peking Opera Blues, Once Upon a Time in China, Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain) and produced most of the other half (A Better Tomorrow, A Chinese Ghost Story, Iron Monkey), returns in fabulous form with this gorgeous action picture about the intrigue attending the rise of history's first female emperor," writes Time's Richard Corliss. "Detective Dee is the first China-Hong Kong coproduction since Hero to make good on the grand promise of epic entertainment."...
"Tsui Hark, who directed about half of the best films of Hong Kong's golden age (Peking Opera Blues, Once Upon a Time in China, Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain) and produced most of the other half (A Better Tomorrow, A Chinese Ghost Story, Iron Monkey), returns in fabulous form with this gorgeous action picture about the intrigue attending the rise of history's first female emperor," writes Time's Richard Corliss. "Detective Dee is the first China-Hong Kong coproduction since Hero to make good on the grand promise of epic entertainment."...
- 9/21/2010
- MUBI
Yuen Woo-Ping has carved a name for himself in the mainstream conciousness as the fight choreographer and martial arts advisor on films such as The Matrix and Kill Bill, however Yuen Woo-Ping is also a world reknown director – helming such classic films as Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, and Tai Chi Master. Ping has finally returned to the directors chair for True Legend (aka The Legend of Beggar Su), his first feature film since 1996’s Iron Monkey 2.
True Legend is the extraordinary journey of a man, a martial arts hero, whose greatest dream is to create a unique school of martial arts. All his life, Su Can has been pursuing the summit of martial arts. There are two things he holds dearest to his heart: the dream of creating a unique kind of martial art that will pass on to generations; and his beloved wife. Su has a happy family...
True Legend is the extraordinary journey of a man, a martial arts hero, whose greatest dream is to create a unique school of martial arts. All his life, Su Can has been pursuing the summit of martial arts. There are two things he holds dearest to his heart: the dream of creating a unique kind of martial art that will pass on to generations; and his beloved wife. Su has a happy family...
- 9/10/2010
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Another great announcement regarding Fantastic Fest next month. Fantastic Fest will honor director and master fight choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the world premiere of his new martial arts fantasy True Legend (seen above), starring Vincent Zhao (Dragon Gets Angry), Zhou Xun (The Emperor and the Assassin) with Michelle Yeoh (Babylon A.D.) and the late David Carradine (Kill Bill). We actually featured a trailer for True Legend late last year, which you can still watch right here. That movie will play as part of a double feature with Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Woo-Ping's directorial debut. Besides the numerous films he's directed, Yuen Woo-Ping is also known as one of the greatest martial arts choreographers of all-time who has choreographed many of the unforgettable fights in films like The Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Iron Monkey, Drunken Master, Once Upon ...
- 8/31/2010
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The 6th annual Fantastic Fest will honor director and master fight choreographer Yuen Woo Ping with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the world premiere of his new martial arts fantasy True Legend, starring Vincent Zhao (Fong Sai Yuk, Dragon Gets Angry) Zhou Xun (The Emperor and the Assassin, Suzhou River) with Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and the late David Carradine (Kill Bill), on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at The Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX. The film will play as part of a double feature with Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Yuen Woo Ping’s directorial debut and the film that put action legend, Jackie Chan on the map. Fantastic Fest will play host to Yuen Woo Ping’s first U.S. festival appearance.
If you’ve ever walked out of a movie theatre after watching a martial arts film and left your jaw on the floor, your eyes were...
If you’ve ever walked out of a movie theatre after watching a martial arts film and left your jaw on the floor, your eyes were...
- 8/31/2010
- by George Bragdon
- OriginalAlamo.com
Shanghai -- Harvey Weinstein drew tough criticism at the Shanghai International Film Festival forum on Sunday from popular Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, who accused him of promising financial backing then backing away.
"Harvey is a cheater in the eyes of many Chinese moviemakers," said Feng, whose credits in the region include "Dream Factory" and "If You Are the One." The director, whose films are not as well known in the West, did not offer any specific charges.
Weinstein didn't exactly invite goodwill at the discussion by making a brief appearance there himself, only to leave abruptly, shake Feng's hand and excuse himself to catch a plane.
"Let me talk about Harvey, now that he's gone," Feng teased the crowd of a few hundred, mostly-Chinese industry observers gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The attack, in absentia, proved lively and finally led to a broader discussion of Sino-Hollywood cooperation, hitting issues...
"Harvey is a cheater in the eyes of many Chinese moviemakers," said Feng, whose credits in the region include "Dream Factory" and "If You Are the One." The director, whose films are not as well known in the West, did not offer any specific charges.
Weinstein didn't exactly invite goodwill at the discussion by making a brief appearance there himself, only to leave abruptly, shake Feng's hand and excuse himself to catch a plane.
"Let me talk about Harvey, now that he's gone," Feng teased the crowd of a few hundred, mostly-Chinese industry observers gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The attack, in absentia, proved lively and finally led to a broader discussion of Sino-Hollywood cooperation, hitting issues...
- 6/13/2010
- by By Jonathan Landreth
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Remember the Hk martial arts films from the early 90s? Well, they're back. The first time I picked up some really obvious signs was when watching Tracing Shadows, but with 14 Blades I think the verdict is definitive. The year 1993 is here again and has returned with a vengeance.
For me personally, '93 is the glory year of Hong Kong martial arts cinema. Titles as Iron Monkey, Green Snake, Fong Sai-Yuk and Tai-Chi Master all belong to my absolute favorites in the genre. 14 Blades revives plenty of that former glory, mixing it with more recent period piece styling. Watching 14 Blades, it's easy to recognize influences from Lee's previous film Three Kingdoms just as much as from the classics.
14 Blades also reinforces (once again) the comeback of Donnie Yen. It's funny how he slipped from the scene just when it started to collapse down on itself, only to return when the Hk...
For me personally, '93 is the glory year of Hong Kong martial arts cinema. Titles as Iron Monkey, Green Snake, Fong Sai-Yuk and Tai-Chi Master all belong to my absolute favorites in the genre. 14 Blades revives plenty of that former glory, mixing it with more recent period piece styling. Watching 14 Blades, it's easy to recognize influences from Lee's previous film Three Kingdoms just as much as from the classics.
14 Blades also reinforces (once again) the comeback of Donnie Yen. It's funny how he slipped from the scene just when it started to collapse down on itself, only to return when the Hk...
- 4/19/2010
- Screen Anarchy
St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold
Opens: 2010
Cast: Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, David Tennant, Gemma Arterton, Talulah Riley
Director: Oliver Parker, Barnaby Thompson
Summary: A rollercoaster-style treasure hunt for the legendary Fritton’s Gold ensues as the feisty and ever-resourceful schoolgirls of St Trinian’s face their most fearsome establishment rivals yet - the villainous Pomfrey and his sidekicks from the women-hating secret society known as AD1.
Analysis: While it didn't travel much beyond the UK, 2007's reboot of the "St Trinian's" franchise nearly doubled its £7 million production budget in sales in the UK alone - making it one of the top grossing independent British films of the past decade. Reviews were decidedly mixed but generally pretty weak at the time, so the greenlighting of a sequel surprised quite a few.
Despite a critical drubbing, the core audience of young British teenage girls seemed to be satisfied by...
Opens: 2010
Cast: Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, David Tennant, Gemma Arterton, Talulah Riley
Director: Oliver Parker, Barnaby Thompson
Summary: A rollercoaster-style treasure hunt for the legendary Fritton’s Gold ensues as the feisty and ever-resourceful schoolgirls of St Trinian’s face their most fearsome establishment rivals yet - the villainous Pomfrey and his sidekicks from the women-hating secret society known as AD1.
Analysis: While it didn't travel much beyond the UK, 2007's reboot of the "St Trinian's" franchise nearly doubled its £7 million production budget in sales in the UK alone - making it one of the top grossing independent British films of the past decade. Reviews were decidedly mixed but generally pretty weak at the time, so the greenlighting of a sequel surprised quite a few.
Despite a critical drubbing, the core audience of young British teenage girls seemed to be satisfied by...
- 1/9/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Martial arts fantasy True Legend is an upcoming film I’m very much looking forward to and a new trailer for it has appeared online.
The film is directed by Yuen Woo-Ping who is most famously known for his extensive work as the martial arts choreographer for such films as The Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and Once Upon a Time in China. However, Master Yuen Woo-Ping is also a very capable film director having made numerous fantastic martial arts films like Iron Monkey, Jet Li’s Twin Warriors, and of course the Jackie Chan classic Drunken Master.
Written by To Chi-Long, who also wrote Jet Li’s Fearless, True Legend marks Yuen Woo-Ping’s return to directing feature-length films as he has not done so since 1996 with Iron Monkey 2. Watch the new trailer for True Legend below.
The film is a psychological mystery drama set in Hong Kong, the...
The film is directed by Yuen Woo-Ping who is most famously known for his extensive work as the martial arts choreographer for such films as The Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and Once Upon a Time in China. However, Master Yuen Woo-Ping is also a very capable film director having made numerous fantastic martial arts films like Iron Monkey, Jet Li’s Twin Warriors, and of course the Jackie Chan classic Drunken Master.
Written by To Chi-Long, who also wrote Jet Li’s Fearless, True Legend marks Yuen Woo-Ping’s return to directing feature-length films as he has not done so since 1996 with Iron Monkey 2. Watch the new trailer for True Legend below.
The film is a psychological mystery drama set in Hong Kong, the...
- 1/7/2010
- by Andrew Peters
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
With Us audiences at least, Yuen Woo Ping is probably the best known and most popular of Chinese martial arts movie choreographers. His work on American pictures like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix helped cement his cult status, though it's probably fair to say much of his best work is found in his Chinese and Hong Kong productions like Fist of Legend and Iron Monkey. After a break of fourteen years since his last big screen outing as a director, as opposed to just action director, stunt co-ordinator or choreographer, Yuen is now completing True Legend. As you'd see from the trailer - embedded after the break - it's another telling of the story of Beggar Su, the legendary character described in the official synopsis thus: A wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After...
- 12/22/2009
- by Brendon Connelly
- Slash Film
Before we get to this week's poll results, I think it's worth mentioning that there was some heated discussion over what exactly constitutes a "martial arts movie". The truth is, I have no idea... I was thinking of just about any action movie in which the majority of the combat uses some form of Asian fighting style. Clearly that's a pretty broad way to categorize it, but some people felt that a movie like Seven Samurai should not qualify, probably because it has a little more to it than simply fighting for the sake of fighting. Either way, Bruce Lee came out on top, although the number of votes seemed to correspond largely to how well-known a movie was (ie. the more obscure "classics" ended up getting the least number of votes). Do you agree that Enter The Dragon is the greatest martial arts flick of all time? What are...
- 12/3/2009
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Killer Imports [1] is a regular feature on Film Junk where we explore foreign-language films from around the world that haven’t yet had their chance to shine. Whenever I appear on the Film Junk podcast and review a film, I invariably have a negative opinion. And when I write film reviews for the Film Junk web site, I invariably have a positive opinion, even for films that many Film Junk readers would consider bad. The discrepancy has to do with the fact that I don’t get to choose which films to review on the podcast. I find it easier to give reasons on why I like something rather than why I don’t like something. So for me, writing a positive review is easier to write and seems more worthwhile since someone may be influenced by a positive review to watch a film that I feel deserves attention. No...
- 11/16/2009
- by Reed
- FilmJunk
Sure, the title may not sound like it’s got buckets of martial arts fun waiting for you (”Garnet on the Golden Sand”???), but consider the director involved: Yuen Woo-ping. Westerners will know him as the guy who made the martial arts in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” and the Wachowskis’ “Matrix” movies look credible, while Asian film enthusiasts will know him more as the man behind such kung fu kickassery as “Drunken Master”, “Iron Monkey”, and Stephen Chow’s “Kung Fu Hustle”. Now the legendary director is set to direct the American-Hong Kong co-production “Garnet on the Golden Sand”. So what’s the deal with this not-very-kung-fu sounding “Garnet on the Golden Sand”? Written by Jun Tan, the film is set in the 17th century, and follows a European merchant and two Chinese swordsmen who are recruited by the leader of a prosperous trade town along the Silk Road...
- 10/28/2009
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
In 1978 he achieved his first directing credit on the seminal Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, starring Jackie Chan, then quickly followed with the similar Drunken Master. The films were smash-hits, launching Jackie Chan as a major film-star. He went on to work with such figures as Sammo Hung in Magnificent Butcher (1979), Yuen Biao in Dreadnaught (1981), Donnie Yen in several films including Iron Monkey (1993), and Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh in several films including Tai Chi Master (1993) and Wing Chun (1994). His work, particularly his action choreography on Fist of Legend (1994), attracted the attention of the Wachowski brothers, who hired him as the kung-fu choreographer on The Matrix (1999). The success of this collaboration, plus his action choreography on the following year's hit Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, made him a highly sought after figure in Hollywood. He went on to work on the Matrix sequels and Kill Bill (2003). It's been 12 years since Yuen Woo-ping,...
- 10/22/2009
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo Ping might be best known for his work on The Matrix and Kill Bill(s), but he's been a noted filmmaker in Hong Kong for decades (see Iron Monkey or Wing Chun for a sample of the man's capabilities). He hasn't spent too much time in Hollywood lately, getting back behind the camera and the kicking for old-school action (and sound effects!) in the period martial arts epic True Legend (Su Qi-er). Check the trailer below for a welcome dose of flying fists...
- 10/20/2009
- by Dave Davis
- JoBlo.com
He’s known for being the martial arts choreographer of 'The Matrix' films, the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the 'Kill Bill' flicks, but Yuen Woo-Ping has also had quite the accomplished directorial career. Drunken Master, released in 1978, made a star out of a then-obscure Jackie Chan, and both Fist of Legend and Iron Monkey are considered classics of the genre.
After more than a decade without any directorial efforts, Yuen is getting behind the camera again for True Legend, which tells the tale of Chinese folk hero Su Qi Er. Also known as the King of Beggars, Su is a wealthy Qing dynasty patron whose status and riches are falsely taken from him, but manages to rise up from poverty again, thanks to his martial arts abilities and a few trusted pals. The movie features Vincent Zhao as Su, internationally-recognized stars Michelle Yeoh and Gordon Liu,...
After more than a decade without any directorial efforts, Yuen is getting behind the camera again for True Legend, which tells the tale of Chinese folk hero Su Qi Er. Also known as the King of Beggars, Su is a wealthy Qing dynasty patron whose status and riches are falsely taken from him, but manages to rise up from poverty again, thanks to his martial arts abilities and a few trusted pals. The movie features Vincent Zhao as Su, internationally-recognized stars Michelle Yeoh and Gordon Liu,...
- 10/19/2009
- CinemaSpy
Year: 2009
Directors: Michael J. Bassett
Writers: Michael J. Bassett
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: rochefort
Rating: 6 out of 10
The 1600's don't get nearly enough love in cinema, and it's a real shame. The era of witch hunts, musketeers, and flintlock pistols is a ripe one, and has been the setting for such gems as "Captain Blood", "The Three Musketeers" (partial to the Oliver Reed one, of course; totally badass), and "The Conqueror Worm" (aka "Witchfinder General"). And as much money as the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films have made, their success has led more to the greenlighting of franchises based on rides and brands than any real cinematic rediscovery of the 17th century. Anyway, there's something genuinely irresistible about this time frame, at least for me.
I don't know if it's the constant specter of religious strife in the pre- and post-Cromwell era, the fact that this part of...
Directors: Michael J. Bassett
Writers: Michael J. Bassett
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: rochefort
Rating: 6 out of 10
The 1600's don't get nearly enough love in cinema, and it's a real shame. The era of witch hunts, musketeers, and flintlock pistols is a ripe one, and has been the setting for such gems as "Captain Blood", "The Three Musketeers" (partial to the Oliver Reed one, of course; totally badass), and "The Conqueror Worm" (aka "Witchfinder General"). And as much money as the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films have made, their success has led more to the greenlighting of franchises based on rides and brands than any real cinematic rediscovery of the 17th century. Anyway, there's something genuinely irresistible about this time frame, at least for me.
I don't know if it's the constant specter of religious strife in the pre- and post-Cromwell era, the fact that this part of...
- 10/9/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Monkeys throw their own feces. Doesn.t that make you mad? What does that have to do with the film? Nothing really, just seeing if you were reading the review. This takeoff on Robin Hood and Zorro features some excellent wire-fu, but no feces throwing. Iron Monkey is the masked vigilante who robs from the rich and gives the proceeds to the poor. The corrupt local government is out to stop this pilfering of their wealth. The poor guards whooped by the Iron Monkey are treated gratis by Dr. Yang Tianchun (Yu Rongguang). Unbeknownst to everyone, it was he who beat them up the night before since he.s the Iron Monkey. The governor (James Wong) has his gold stolen...
- 9/30/2009
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
DVD Playhouse—September 2009
By
Allen Gardner
The Human Condition (Criterion) Masaki Kobayashi’s epic (574 minutes) adaptation of Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel was originally made and released as three separate films (1959-61), and is rightfully regarded as a landmark of Japanese cinema. Candide-like story of naïve, good-hearted Kaiji (Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor, to Imperial Army solider, to Soviet Pow, and Kaiji’s struggle to maintain his humanity throughout. Unfolds with the mastery of a great novel, beautifully-shot, and a stunning example of cinematic mastery on the part of its makers. Four-disc set bonuses include: Interview with Kobayashi; Interview with Nakadai; Featurette; Trailer; Essay by critic Philip Kemp. Widescreen. Dolby 3.0 surround.
State Of Play (Universal) Russell Crowe stars as a veteran Washington D.C. political reporter investigating the murder of an aide to a rising congressional star (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be an old friend.
By
Allen Gardner
The Human Condition (Criterion) Masaki Kobayashi’s epic (574 minutes) adaptation of Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel was originally made and released as three separate films (1959-61), and is rightfully regarded as a landmark of Japanese cinema. Candide-like story of naïve, good-hearted Kaiji (Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor, to Imperial Army solider, to Soviet Pow, and Kaiji’s struggle to maintain his humanity throughout. Unfolds with the mastery of a great novel, beautifully-shot, and a stunning example of cinematic mastery on the part of its makers. Four-disc set bonuses include: Interview with Kobayashi; Interview with Nakadai; Featurette; Trailer; Essay by critic Philip Kemp. Widescreen. Dolby 3.0 surround.
State Of Play (Universal) Russell Crowe stars as a veteran Washington D.C. political reporter investigating the murder of an aide to a rising congressional star (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be an old friend.
- 9/26/2009
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
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