Myths and ancient legends have continuously served as a solid backbone to many historical dramas coming from Korea over the past few years. Similar to the brand of Hong Kong or Chinese features, the blend of a known historical backdrop, drama, martial arts and/ a murder mystery has fueled many stories, many of which have been commercially very successful in Korea, but not so much outside, where the majority has been released either digitally or physically. The directorial debut of Ahn Tae-jin falls into this particular category, with “The Night Owl” having won numerous awards in its home country, while it is now being released for home cinema in many countries. The foundation for the features is the mystery surrounding Crown Prince Sohyeon, who attempted to reform his home country but died before doing so.
The Night Owl Comes to VOD on September 26th, courtesy of Capelight Pictures
However, the...
The Night Owl Comes to VOD on September 26th, courtesy of Capelight Pictures
However, the...
- 9/26/2023
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Stars: Jang Hyuk, Lee Chae-young, Lee Seo-young, Bruce Khan, Lee Seung-joon | Written by Nam Ji-woong | Directed by Choi Jae-hun
Not to be confused with John Woo’s classic film of the same name, The Killer (Jugeodo Doeneun Ai) is the new film from Choi Jae-hun and written by Nam Ji-woong based on a novel and webcomic by Bang Jin-ho. The film made its Canadian debut as part of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.
Eui-kang is a retired assassin, married and living a quiet life. When his wife goes on vacation with a friend he ends up, rather against his will, having to watch over the friend’s seventeen-year-old daughter Yoon-ji.
The first night she’s in his care however she becomes the victim of a ring of human traffickers specializing in underage girls. There’s only one thing he can do, come out of retirement to rescue her,...
Not to be confused with John Woo’s classic film of the same name, The Killer (Jugeodo Doeneun Ai) is the new film from Choi Jae-hun and written by Nam Ji-woong based on a novel and webcomic by Bang Jin-ho. The film made its Canadian debut as part of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.
Eui-kang is a retired assassin, married and living a quiet life. When his wife goes on vacation with a friend he ends up, rather against his will, having to watch over the friend’s seventeen-year-old daughter Yoon-ji.
The first night she’s in his care however she becomes the victim of a ring of human traffickers specializing in underage girls. There’s only one thing he can do, come out of retirement to rescue her,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
A retired mercenary must free a kidnapped teen in this lurid and drum-tight thriller
Charismatic star Jang Hyuk plays Bang Ui-gang, a retired mercenary compelled to shoot, maim, slice and dice an assortment of adversaries in this extremely violent action thriller. At all times, Ui-gang also manages to keep his hair immaculately coiffed in a floppy K-pop-by-way-of-1990s-Hugh-Grant style. He’s so darn cool that at one point he arrives at one of the film’s many dens of iniquity with a large coffee in one hand and a gun in the other, and shoots his adversaries stone dead between dainty sips.
This would all seem faintly ridiculous if it weren’t that director Choi Jae-hoon and screenwriter Nam Ji-Woong have injected some biting social critique among all the bloody malarky – notably through the way the story reveals that the sex trafficking ring at the heart of the evildoing is...
Charismatic star Jang Hyuk plays Bang Ui-gang, a retired mercenary compelled to shoot, maim, slice and dice an assortment of adversaries in this extremely violent action thriller. At all times, Ui-gang also manages to keep his hair immaculately coiffed in a floppy K-pop-by-way-of-1990s-Hugh-Grant style. He’s so darn cool that at one point he arrives at one of the film’s many dens of iniquity with a large coffee in one hand and a gun in the other, and shoots his adversaries stone dead between dainty sips.
This would all seem faintly ridiculous if it weren’t that director Choi Jae-hoon and screenwriter Nam Ji-Woong have injected some biting social critique among all the bloody malarky – notably through the way the story reveals that the sex trafficking ring at the heart of the evildoing is...
- 3/21/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Choi Jae-hoon is positioning himself as one of the new hopes of action-based Korean cinema. His track record consists of 3 features in as many years and as many genres. He gained some international attention with the historical spectacle “The Swordsman” (2020), and the horror-thriller “The Hypnosis” ensued the following year. His third film is a straight-up action thriller “The Killer” (2022) based on the somewhat popular web-novel “The Kid Deserves to Die” written by Bang Jin-ho. After the premiere at last year’s Udine Far East Film Festival and a tour of genre-friendly film festivals, such as Fantasia, it has landed on the streaming/video market.
The story revolves around Bang-ui (Jang Hyuk who already worked with the helmer on his debut feature), a semi-retired mob assassin willing to start a new life with his wife Hyeon-soo (Lee Chae-young) making money in the real estate sector. However, she plans a holiday with...
The story revolves around Bang-ui (Jang Hyuk who already worked with the helmer on his debut feature), a semi-retired mob assassin willing to start a new life with his wife Hyeon-soo (Lee Chae-young) making money in the real estate sector. However, she plans a holiday with...
- 2/14/2023
- by Marko Stojiljković
- AsianMoviePulse
Korean filmmakers have produced some of today’s most cutting-edge movies by borrowing the best elements from Hollywood, Chinese, and Japanese cinema, and mixing them their own unique cultural vision. So when it comes to the action genre, K-films are all over the map. K-actioners range from irreverent comedies to gritty brutal ultraviolence. Story arcs move from funny to savage in the blink of an eye.
Always well-crafted, Korean action films are filled with clever plot twists, refreshing characters that are fully fleshed out, and superb cinematography, However, Korean cinema tends to defy being as easily pigeonholed into genre boxes as Western contemporaries.
For example, Park Chan-wook’s disturbing Cannes winner, Oldboy, is more of psychological thriller than an action film, and yet the brilliant one-er hallway hammer fight is consistently referenced as one of the top examples of fight choreography from that year. Snowpiercer, which spawned a TNT series,...
Always well-crafted, Korean action films are filled with clever plot twists, refreshing characters that are fully fleshed out, and superb cinematography, However, Korean cinema tends to defy being as easily pigeonholed into genre boxes as Western contemporaries.
For example, Park Chan-wook’s disturbing Cannes winner, Oldboy, is more of psychological thriller than an action film, and yet the brilliant one-er hallway hammer fight is consistently referenced as one of the top examples of fight choreography from that year. Snowpiercer, which spawned a TNT series,...
- 9/2/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Stars: Jang Hyuk, Lee Chae-young, Lee Seo-young, Bruce Khan, Lee Seung-joon | Written by Nam Ji-woong | Directed by Choi Jae-hun
Not to be confused with John Woo’s classic film of the same name, The Killer (Jugeodo Doeneun Ai) is the new film from Choi Jae-hun and written by Nam Ji-woong based on a novel and webcomic by Bang Jin-ho. The film made its Canadian debut as part of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.
Eui-kang is a retired assassin, married and living a quiet life. When his wife goes on vacation with a friend he ends up, rather against his will, having to watch over the friend’s seventeen-year-old daughter Yoon-ji.
The first night she’s in his care however she becomes the victim of a ring of human traffickers specializing in underage girls. There’s only one thing he can do, come out of retirement to rescue her,...
Not to be confused with John Woo’s classic film of the same name, The Killer (Jugeodo Doeneun Ai) is the new film from Choi Jae-hun and written by Nam Ji-woong based on a novel and webcomic by Bang Jin-ho. The film made its Canadian debut as part of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.
Eui-kang is a retired assassin, married and living a quiet life. When his wife goes on vacation with a friend he ends up, rather against his will, having to watch over the friend’s seventeen-year-old daughter Yoon-ji.
The first night she’s in his care however she becomes the victim of a ring of human traffickers specializing in underage girls. There’s only one thing he can do, come out of retirement to rescue her,...
- 8/3/2022
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Another year, another bountiful crop of action filmmaking. The following article covers some of the best. Like with last year’s installment, the focus will be on action scenes—compact, heightened expressions of action filmmaking craft—rather than films as a whole, which means that some otherwise strong, action-adjacent pictures may be missing and a couple included films look fairly lackluster beyond their set pieces. For the sake of variety, I have limited myself to one scene per film, and all featured films made their official, non-festival, U.S. theatrical and/or streaming debut in 2021. The criterion of “official” excludes the Chinese direct-to-YouTube actioner One More Shot, which was removed after just a few days online. Whenever the film receives a more “legitimate” stateside debut, it will almost certainly be included in that year’s roundup. And now, to the action. The scenes have been organized into loose thematic...
- 1/6/2022
- MUBI
Probably one of the best years for action/martial arts cinema lately, 2021 saw a number of truly impressive titles coming out, as China’s blockbusters seem to be getting better, followed by the Korean ones, Japanese manga adaptations continue to be on a very high-level, at least production level-wise and Asean countries keep on producing some of the most interesting in the category through the combination of social commentary and exploitation elements. Furthermore, a number of movies that do not fall in any of the aforementioned groups but are of equal quality, rounded up a truly great year for Asian genre.
Without further ado, here are the best Asian martial arts/action films of 2021, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2021, we decided to include them.
15. Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (Keishi Ohtomo)
On the other hand, the action element is top notch,...
Without further ado, here are the best Asian martial arts/action films of 2021, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2021, we decided to include them.
15. Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (Keishi Ohtomo)
On the other hand, the action element is top notch,...
- 12/27/2021
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Considering that it took up to five directors to finish filming the first “Swordsman” after King Hu left the project, it was indeed a miracle that it turned out to be a success and a trend setter for the many new wave wuxia movies to follow. This visually arresting sequel, again produced by Tsui Hark but now directed by Ching Siu Tung, it’s a different beast all together. However, the theme of swordsmen retiring from the jianghu (martial world) and live a peaceful life is still the main focus. The film went on to win William Cheung Suk Ping and Yu Ka On the Best Costume and Makeup Design award at the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards in 1993.
on Amazon
After roaming the jianghu for about a year, our swordsman hero Ling Hu Chung (played by Jet Li this time), and Yue Ling Shan, “Kiddo” (Michelle Reis...
on Amazon
After roaming the jianghu for about a year, our swordsman hero Ling Hu Chung (played by Jet Li this time), and Yue Ling Shan, “Kiddo” (Michelle Reis...
- 12/21/2021
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
Image Source: Getty / Amy Sussman / WireImage
The first four episodes of Disney+'s new Marvel series, Hawkeye, have aired, and they already have fans asking questions. The show is chock-full of new Marvel characters who have yet to reveal their real identities. While the focus is on Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and the backstory of Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), the story wouldn't be complete without supporting characters.
Jack Duquesne has become an important part of this series, and fans have a suspicion that he could turn out to be one of Hawkeye's most popular villains. So what does this mean for Kate, who turns out to be his soon-to-be step-daughter? Here's what we know about the character.
Who Is Jack Duquesne in the Comics?
Duquesne was first introduced in the comics in 1965 in The Avengers Vol. 1 #19 as an enemy of Hawkeye and the Avengers. He starts out as a performer at various circuses and carnivals,...
The first four episodes of Disney+'s new Marvel series, Hawkeye, have aired, and they already have fans asking questions. The show is chock-full of new Marvel characters who have yet to reveal their real identities. While the focus is on Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and the backstory of Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), the story wouldn't be complete without supporting characters.
Jack Duquesne has become an important part of this series, and fans have a suspicion that he could turn out to be one of Hawkeye's most popular villains. So what does this mean for Kate, who turns out to be his soon-to-be step-daughter? Here's what we know about the character.
Who Is Jack Duquesne in the Comics?
Duquesne was first introduced in the comics in 1965 in The Avengers Vol. 1 #19 as an enemy of Hawkeye and the Avengers. He starts out as a performer at various circuses and carnivals,...
- 12/14/2021
- by Brittany Sims
- Popsugar.com
A project by producer Tsui Hark and director King Hu and a story taken from the wuxia novel “Xiao Ao Jiang Hu” which roughly translates as “Smiling Proudly in the Martial World” written by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). Anyhow, be it creative differences or sickness, Hu left the production and it was the ensemble of Ching Siu Tung, Raymond Lee, Tsui Hark himself and Ann Hui (uncredited) working together as acting directors to finish the job. However, as seen in the opening credits, Hu was the only one listed as the original director nonetheless.
on Amazon
Although “Swordsman” has a plot which involves masses of characters, basically it’s about a happy-go-lucky young swordsman Ling Hu Chung (Sam Hu) from the Wah Mountain Clan who gets caught up in the pursuit of retaining a Sacred Scroll, wanted by numerous clans including his own greedy Master, Yue Bu...
on Amazon
Although “Swordsman” has a plot which involves masses of characters, basically it’s about a happy-go-lucky young swordsman Ling Hu Chung (Sam Hu) from the Wah Mountain Clan who gets caught up in the pursuit of retaining a Sacred Scroll, wanted by numerous clans including his own greedy Master, Yue Bu...
- 11/18/2021
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
International and indie film distributor Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Korean film Escape From Mogadishu. It will open in theaters in the U.S. and Canada August 6 following a July 28 release in Korea.
The film is based on true events and chronicles the harrowing experience of bitterly opposed North and South Korean diplomats trapped in the city of Mogadishu at the advent of the Somalian civil war in 1991. The dramatic years-long conflict, which exploded following the rebel-led ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, was introduced to American audiences through blockbuster film Black Hawk Down, which picks up the narrative in war-torn Mogadishu in 1993.
“The film portrays this almost unfathomable event that throws the horrors of war into sharp relief,” said Well Go CEO Doris Pfardrescher. She noted the production team’s careful study of surviving embassy records and historical accounts to create the most realistic possible depiction.
The film is based on true events and chronicles the harrowing experience of bitterly opposed North and South Korean diplomats trapped in the city of Mogadishu at the advent of the Somalian civil war in 1991. The dramatic years-long conflict, which exploded following the rebel-led ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, was introduced to American audiences through blockbuster film Black Hawk Down, which picks up the narrative in war-torn Mogadishu in 1993.
“The film portrays this almost unfathomable event that throws the horrors of war into sharp relief,” said Well Go CEO Doris Pfardrescher. She noted the production team’s careful study of surviving embassy records and historical accounts to create the most realistic possible depiction.
- 7/13/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
This week’s biggest home title doesn’t show on any VOD chart: It’s Marvel’s “Black Widow,” of course, exclusively available on Disney+ for $29.99. About 2 million of the platform’s subscribers paid for it, generating $60 million.
Unlike theater grosses, “Black Widow” PVOD revenues represent a 100 percent return to the studio. Rival studios suggest that the domestic portion ranged between 67-80 percent. On that basis, Disney would have so far earned more from PVOD than in theaters. A single weekend’s performance is not the final word for movies, theaters, or even Disney, but it suggests major implications for all concerned.
Another indication that PVOD remains a lucrative alternative to theaters is the strategy for home availability of “A Quiet Place Part II” which drops Tuesday — as planned, 45 days after its very successful theatrical release — on Paramount+. What’s surprising here is “A Quiet Place Part II” will also...
Unlike theater grosses, “Black Widow” PVOD revenues represent a 100 percent return to the studio. Rival studios suggest that the domestic portion ranged between 67-80 percent. On that basis, Disney would have so far earned more from PVOD than in theaters. A single weekend’s performance is not the final word for movies, theaters, or even Disney, but it suggests major implications for all concerned.
Another indication that PVOD remains a lucrative alternative to theaters is the strategy for home availability of “A Quiet Place Part II” which drops Tuesday — as planned, 45 days after its very successful theatrical release — on Paramount+. What’s surprising here is “A Quiet Place Part II” will also...
- 7/13/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
An intricate tapestry of 17th-century political intrigue and family feuding is bolstered by fabulous costumes as Chinese invaders are dealt with
The Swordsman, a pacy, crisply choreographed South Korean action film set in the 17th century handicaps itself by opting for such a bland, generic title. It’s like naming a Hollywood action movie The Gunman or The Cop. Debutant writer-director Choi Jae-Hoon could have been a little more specific about the protagonist Tae-yul (played by boy-band-beautiful star and sometime rapper Jang Hyuk) by calling it The Blind Swordsman, given the character’s vision impairment. But then that title has already been used several times. Also, Tae-yul is not quite blind yet, although the threat to his vision and his need to access an expensive medicine hang over the plot throughout.
As it happens, the intricate tapestry of action, family drama, political intrigue and period spectacle is anything but generic.
The Swordsman, a pacy, crisply choreographed South Korean action film set in the 17th century handicaps itself by opting for such a bland, generic title. It’s like naming a Hollywood action movie The Gunman or The Cop. Debutant writer-director Choi Jae-Hoon could have been a little more specific about the protagonist Tae-yul (played by boy-band-beautiful star and sometime rapper Jang Hyuk) by calling it The Blind Swordsman, given the character’s vision impairment. But then that title has already been used several times. Also, Tae-yul is not quite blind yet, although the threat to his vision and his need to access an expensive medicine hang over the plot throughout.
As it happens, the intricate tapestry of action, family drama, political intrigue and period spectacle is anything but generic.
- 5/12/2021
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
From us: In the end, “The Swordsman” is a very entertaining and captivating period/martial arts feature. Apart from the impressive fight choreographies, its ensemble and the depiction of one of the most difficult phases in Asian history make Choi Jae-hoon’s feature very impressive, thus recommending its director for other projects within the genre. (Rouven Linnarz)
Synopsis:After being partially blinded in a coup against the king, legendary swordsman Tae-yul goes into hiding, living a quiet, peaceful life with his daughter. However, when political unrest leads to traffickers kidnapping his daughter, Tae-yul has no choice but to take up arms once more. In a race against time, losing his sight and with innocent lives hanging in the balance, he must also face a dangerous new nemesis.
A visually stunning martial arts epic with truly exhilarating action, The Swordsman is a must-see for genre fans everywhere.
From Trinity CineAsia:
Pre-order from Amazon: http://www.
Synopsis:After being partially blinded in a coup against the king, legendary swordsman Tae-yul goes into hiding, living a quiet, peaceful life with his daughter. However, when political unrest leads to traffickers kidnapping his daughter, Tae-yul has no choice but to take up arms once more. In a race against time, losing his sight and with innocent lives hanging in the balance, he must also face a dangerous new nemesis.
A visually stunning martial arts epic with truly exhilarating action, The Swordsman is a must-see for genre fans everywhere.
From Trinity CineAsia:
Pre-order from Amazon: http://www.
- 4/21/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Mortal Kombat’s Joe Taslim (aka Sub-Zero) is one of the hottest martial artists on screen right now. It’s been a decade since his breakout film The Raid took the world by storm, and Taslim has consistently delivered high-octane action with dashing panache ever since. As movie martial arts masters go, few others are on Taslim’s level. While most action stars have some martial arts training in their bag of tricks, Taslim is more invested than most.
Prior to The Raid, Taslim was a professional Judo athlete and a member of Indonesia’s National Judo team from 1997 to 2009. He won gold medals at the Southeast Asia Judo Championships and the Indonesian National Games. No other actor can boast a competitive record like this. What’s more, Taslim is also trained in Wushu and Taekwondo, and he picked up Pencak Silat for The Raid, so his combative range goes...
Prior to The Raid, Taslim was a professional Judo athlete and a member of Indonesia’s National Judo team from 1997 to 2009. He won gold medals at the Southeast Asia Judo Championships and the Indonesian National Games. No other actor can boast a competitive record like this. What’s more, Taslim is also trained in Wushu and Taekwondo, and he picked up Pencak Silat for The Raid, so his combative range goes...
- 4/21/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Johannes “Joe” Taslim is an Indonesian actor known for his roles in action films such as Gareth Evans’ “The Raid” or Timo Tjahjanto’s “The Night Comes for Us”. Apart from being a performer, he is also a model and has starred in many commercials in his home country, and was also part of the Judo national team from 1997 to 2009. During his career as an actor he has also been part of international productions, such as “Fast & Furious 6” and also “Star Trek Beyond”, and will be playing the role of Sub-Zero in the much anticipated “Mortal Kombat”. In the period drama/ martial arts film “The Swordsman” he plays the role of Gurutai, a slave merchant closely connected to the Qing-dynasty.
On the occasion of the movie being released on physical media and VOD through German publisher Capelight in May 2021, we talked with Taslim about his character in “The Swordsman...
On the occasion of the movie being released on physical media and VOD through German publisher Capelight in May 2021, we talked with Taslim about his character in “The Swordsman...
- 4/9/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The history of the transition from the Ming- to the Qing-dynasty stands for one of the most turbulent periods within China’s past, a period of many territorial and political conflicts which would define the future for the nation as well as its culture. Its events have shaped the country and still shows its traces today as its duration, from 1618 to 1683, caused the death of around 25 million people. Considering the significance of the period, it sounds quite challenging for a director to approach this time as the background for his or her project, but then South Korean filmmaker Choi Jae-hoon does not seem to shy away from a task such as this. In his feature debut “The Swordsman” he tells the story of the fall of the Gwanghaegun, the fifteenth king of the Joseon dynasty, and its repercussions. The feature, which premiered in September 2020 in the director’s home country,...
- 4/8/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
This week, it’s all about awards and animation. Wherever you look — VOD charts (“The Croods: A New Age”), Netflix (“Bigfoot Family”), theaters (“Tom & Jerry”), and HBO Max (“Tom & Jerry”), cartoons are king. This weekend, Disney ups the ante with “Raya and the Last Dragon” on Disney+ and in theaters. Meanwhile, “Minari” was strong in its Premium VOD debut and “I Care a Lot” is thriving at Netflix.
No need for industry status to get screeners: Nearly all contenders are available with either platform subscription or VOD rental. Hulu has “Nomadland” and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Amazon Prime owns “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” Netflix is the home of “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “The Life Ahead,” HBO Max has “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Disney+ has “Soul,” and as of March 2, “The Mauritanian” will be on PVOD March 2.
Showing success both on transactional and revenue charts,...
No need for industry status to get screeners: Nearly all contenders are available with either platform subscription or VOD rental. Hulu has “Nomadland” and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Amazon Prime owns “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” Netflix is the home of “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and “The Life Ahead,” HBO Max has “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Disney+ has “Soul,” and as of March 2, “The Mauritanian” will be on PVOD March 2.
Showing success both on transactional and revenue charts,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Two films dominated VOD rankings last week. “Monster Hunter,” Paul W.S. Anderson’s video-game adaptation with his muse and wife Milla Jovovich, debuted on Premium VOD and “Greenland” after breakout success as a PVOD exclusive (no theaters in the U.S.) over the last two months reduced its price to $5.99 and immediately rebounded to lead in some as well.
“Monster Hunter” spent nine weekends as a theatrical exclusive and grossed $13.4 million domestically, for about $25 million worldwide. The film took a hit when Chinese officials banned it for content offensive to local sensibilities. (It would have been Sony’s first post-covid release in China.) It leads FandangoNow’s chart (based on revenue earned) and spent five days as #1 on Apple TV. It’s now #2 at Apple TV and GooglePlay, which lists by rentals.
“Greenland” is now #1 at Apple TV and GooglePlay. Considering the word-of-mouth generated since its December 25 home-only release at...
“Monster Hunter” spent nine weekends as a theatrical exclusive and grossed $13.4 million domestically, for about $25 million worldwide. The film took a hit when Chinese officials banned it for content offensive to local sensibilities. (It would have been Sony’s first post-covid release in China.) It leads FandangoNow’s chart (based on revenue earned) and spent five days as #1 on Apple TV. It’s now #2 at Apple TV and GooglePlay, which lists by rentals.
“Greenland” is now #1 at Apple TV and GooglePlay. Considering the word-of-mouth generated since its December 25 home-only release at...
- 2/23/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
UK festival recently moved online-only due to virus crisis.
The Glasgow Film Festival (Gff) has revealed the programme for its 2021 edition (Feb 24-March 7), which includes several award-winning festival favourites and a focus on South Korea.
The 17th edition of Gff, which recently announced it would shift online-only due to the ongoing virus crisis, includes six world premieres, two European premieres and 49 UK premieres – around a third of the event’s usual programme of 180 titles.
However, Gff co-directors Allison Gardner and Allan Hunter said the reduced number of slots had forced them to raise the bar for selection and produce a stronger programme as a result.
The Glasgow Film Festival (Gff) has revealed the programme for its 2021 edition (Feb 24-March 7), which includes several award-winning festival favourites and a focus on South Korea.
The 17th edition of Gff, which recently announced it would shift online-only due to the ongoing virus crisis, includes six world premieres, two European premieres and 49 UK premieres – around a third of the event’s usual programme of 180 titles.
However, Gff co-directors Allison Gardner and Allan Hunter said the reduced number of slots had forced them to raise the bar for selection and produce a stronger programme as a result.
- 1/14/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Chinese streaming giant iQIYI reports that it has started production on “Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain,” a film adapted from the classic novel of the same name by Louis Cha (aka Jin Yong), a renowned Hong Kong novelist who was one of the most read Chinese-language authors of the 20th century.
Cha, who also co-founded the Ming Pao newspaper, and directed two films, is best known for his wuxia (chivalric martial arts) novels that with one exception stretch in time from the 11th to the 18th century. He died in October 2018 and received a celebrity memorial with Alibaba founder Jack Ma in attendance.
An estimated 90 films and TV series have been made as adaptations of Cha’s 15 wuxia novels, though iQIYI says that “Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain” is not one of them. Its “Fox Volant” film is pitched as a fantasy adventure that tells a tale of...
Cha, who also co-founded the Ming Pao newspaper, and directed two films, is best known for his wuxia (chivalric martial arts) novels that with one exception stretch in time from the 11th to the 18th century. He died in October 2018 and received a celebrity memorial with Alibaba founder Jack Ma in attendance.
An estimated 90 films and TV series have been made as adaptations of Cha’s 15 wuxia novels, though iQIYI says that “Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain” is not one of them. Its “Fox Volant” film is pitched as a fantasy adventure that tells a tale of...
- 1/13/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“[A] gritty action film filled with spectacular sword-wielding stunt work” ~ Geek Culture “… the right blend of exciting sword-wielding action, drama, and warrior’s code to satisfy the appetites of more die-hard genre fans.” ~ The Swordsman The Classic, Over-the-Top Historical Swordplay Action Film Debuts on Digital, Blu-ray™ & DVD February 16 Includes a New …
The post The Swordsman on Blu-ray & digital 2/16, + an All-new Trailer! appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post The Swordsman on Blu-ray & digital 2/16, + an All-new Trailer! appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 12/27/2020
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
"I've only tried to protect the nation from torment." Well Go USA has released an official US trailer for the Korean period action movie called The Swordsman, which already opened a few months back in South Korea. "Three different swordsmen meet each other for their own reasons." Tae Yul, a swordsman in his 30s goes out to find his only daughter after losing one of his eyes. Min Seung Ho, the Joseon Dynasty's best swordsman chooses an ordinary simple life after perceiving the transient nature of power. Gurutai, the best swordsman in Qing Dynasty aspires to become the best even in the Joseon Dynasty. After going into hiding, Tae-yul re-emerges to find and rescue his kidnapped daughter. "It's a film in which swordsmen fight one another for their own beliefs and creeds in the time of turmoil." Starring Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyeon-soo, Lee Na-kyung, and popular Indonesian actor, Joe Taslim.
- 12/16/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive Trailer: The Swordsman Slashes Your Home Screens February 16th On Blu/VOD From Well Go USA
Coming to Blu-ray and digital next year from comtemporary Asian cinema specialists, Well Go USA, is debutante director Choi Jae-Hoon's The Swordsman, starring Jang Hyuk. A veteran of the popular K-drama circuit, Jang Hyuk features here as the titular swordsman, an aging royal guard forced into retirement after a slip-up leads to the fall of a king. Driven into seclusion in the forest with his shame and failing eyesight, he's called back into action when the one thing he loves most, his young daughter, is captured by traffickers. We've been given your exclusive first look at the new trailer for this exciting action film that features Jang in the lead with a special appearance from Indonesian badass Joe Taslim (The Raid, The...
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[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 12/15/2020
- Screen Anarchy
With WandaVision on the way, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier nearly ready to drop, Marvel’s next Disney+ series, Hawkeye, has flown a bit under the radar since its announcement. That changed yesterday, with new set pictures and a massive casting drop. But who the heck are all these characters? And what might the cast tell us about the story? We have some guesses, and only a couple of them involve the Circus of Crime.
Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld)
Probably the biggest news is the finally official confirmation that Kate Bishop would be a co-star of the show. Hailee Steinfield plays this possibly future Young Avenger as she joins her namesake hero (Jeremy Renner) on a quest through New York City.
Bishop was created in the comics by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung as part of the 2005 Young Avengers team. She’s the daughter of obscenely wealthy and inattentive Manhattanites,...
Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld)
Probably the biggest news is the finally official confirmation that Kate Bishop would be a co-star of the show. Hailee Steinfield plays this possibly future Young Avenger as she joins her namesake hero (Jeremy Renner) on a quest through New York City.
Bishop was created in the comics by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung as part of the 2005 Young Avengers team. She’s the daughter of obscenely wealthy and inattentive Manhattanites,...
- 12/4/2020
- by Jim Dandy
- Den of Geek
When A Chinese Ghost Story premiered in 1987, it was already part of a unique category – the fusion of horror, comedy, and Kung Fu. Asian horror films are known as jiangshi, which is the name of a specific spooky hopping ghost found in Chinese folklore that proliferates these films.
Part zombie, part vampire, jiangshi are corpses that are usually reanimated by demons or Daoist sorcerers. They hop along mindlessly with their arms outstretched like sleepwalkers, and feed on the life essence – or qi – of the living. Often a jiangshi is blind but can smell breath. This makes for great comic hijinks as hapless characters struggle to hold their breath while gruesome jiangshi shove their rotting noses close to their mouths trying to pick up the scent.
Comedy is a common horror film device. It releases tension and leaves the audience unguarded for the next jump scare. The addition of Kung Fu...
Part zombie, part vampire, jiangshi are corpses that are usually reanimated by demons or Daoist sorcerers. They hop along mindlessly with their arms outstretched like sleepwalkers, and feed on the life essence – or qi – of the living. Often a jiangshi is blind but can smell breath. This makes for great comic hijinks as hapless characters struggle to hold their breath while gruesome jiangshi shove their rotting noses close to their mouths trying to pick up the scent.
Comedy is a common horror film device. It releases tension and leaves the audience unguarded for the next jump scare. The addition of Kung Fu...
- 10/25/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSLouis Cha, 1924 - 2018Louis Cha, widely regarded as the most influential Chinese martial arts novelist of the 20th century, has died at the age of 94. Notably, several of Cha's best-selling wuxia novels—written under the pen name Jin Yong—have been adapted into films, including King Hu's The Swordsman and Wong Kar-wai's Ashes of Time. Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's follow-up to Okja, has finished shooting ahead of its 2019 release. Bong has stated that "despite the title, the film does not include either parasites or alien creatures," though these stills certainly point to creeping tensions.Here is a first look at Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-sik & Park So-dam that wrapped last month!! #기생충 pic.twitter.com/C9jjkjoWhK— Jason Bechervaise (@Jasebechervaise) October 23, 2018 We're naturally saddened to hear...
- 10/31/2018
- MUBI
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