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The 18th Asian Film Awards ceremony will be held on Friday, March 16, 2025, at the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District. This year, The Awards are honoured to have the legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Sammo Hung as the Jury President. Known as a trailblazer in action cinema, Hung has spent over five decades creating countless iconic works for both Hong Kong and global cinema. Having received the Best Supporting Actor award for Ip Man 2 at the 5th Asian Film Awards and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 16th Asian Film Awards, Hung expressed his heartfelt gratitude for returning to the Afa stage, sharing his excitement to reconnect with filmmakers and audiences across Asia.

Hung began his artistic journey at the age of 10 under the supervision of Yu Jim-yuen, a renowned Peking opera master. Through intensive training, he honed his skills in Peking opera and martial arts, building...

Scott L. Schwartz, the wrestler-turned-actor best known for playing Bruiser in the Ocean‘s Eleven film franchise, has died. He was 65.

Schwartz died of congestive heart failure on Nov. 26 at his home in Covington, Louisiana, his wife Misty told The Hollywood Reporter.

Schwartz originated Bruiser in the first Ocean’s Eleven film in 2001; the character pretended to beat up George Clooney’s Dany Ocean behind closed doors. Schwartz reprised the role in 2004’s Ocean’s 12 and 2007’s Ocean’s 13.

“I’m sorry to hear that Scott is gone,” George Clooney said in a statement. “We did three films together and I’ve never been so gently punched. He was a gentle soul and he will be dearly missed.”

Schwartz’s television credits included Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Martial Law, Angel, Nash Bridges, Castle, The Mentalist, The Young and the Restless and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He also held roles in films Fun with Dick and Jane,...

Scott L. Schwartz, the actor-cum-professional wrestler best know for playing Bruiser in the Oceans franchise, died November 26 at his home in Covington, LA.

Schwartz made his Oceans debut in the first, 2011 installment by pretending to pommel George Clooney behind closed doors. He would go on to reprise his role in Oceans 12 and 13.

Born in Philadelphia, Pa, Schwartz started out as a pro wrestler under the ring names of The Israeli Commando and Giant David before trying out his moves in Hollywood as both a stunt man and a baddo for hire.

His TV credits include Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Martial Law, Angel, Nash Bridges, Castle, The Mentalist, The Young and the Restless and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Besides Oceans, he also appeared in the films Fun with Dick and Jane, Starsky & Hutch and The Scorpion King.

Schwartz was described by those close to him as a “jolly person,...

The end of Cobra Kai season 6, episode 6 came with a tribute to actor Chad McQueen, a The Karate Kid star who unfortunately passed away earlier in 2024. The Netflix series has consistently paid homage to the classic 1980s film series, with a variety of actors brought back to the screen to reprise their roles. McQueen was not among those who joined the cast of Cobra Kai, but the spinoff has never forgotten what this actor brought to The Karate Kid's Cobra Kai gang. Now, the mid-season premiere of season 6 has paid tribute to McQueen's life and career.

McQueen played Dutch in The Karate Kid (1984), a particularly nasty member of Johnny Lawrence's gang at Cobra Kai dojo. In addition to this, McQueen was known for his roles in action movies like Martial Law and Dead Line. His final acting role was in 2001's The Fall, at which point he shifted his focus to his racing career,...

Legendary Hong Kong martial arts star and filmmaker Sammo Hung gave a masterclass at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where at age 72 he demonstrated that while he now uses a cane, his charismatic abilities and innovative spirit remain. Hung held an engaging talk where he shared lessons from over 60 years in the industry developing martial arts cinema.

Born into a performing family, Hung’s journey began with training at Hong Kong’s prestigious Peking Opera school. “The training was very rigorous,” Hung recalled. “We learned fundamental movements so by graduation you could perform nearly any move.” This training laid the groundwork for his future success in martial arts films.

Hung’s film career started early, with his debut at age 9 in the 1960s. A pivotal moment came in 1973’s “Enter the Dragon” where Hung fought Bruce Lee in the opening scene. After Lee’s tragic death, Hung took on choreographing...

In a career that has spanned seven decades, Hong Kong action movie legend Sammo Hung has seen a lot, and moreover, his body has been through a lot. So it wasn’t a surprise to see the 72-year-old use a cane as he took the stage for a masterclass session at the Tokyo International Film Festival. But as he captivated an appreciative audience, the confidence and humor that have seen Hung through his illustrious career in martial arts movies shone bright.

Born into a showbiz family, Hung’s career began as a child actor while at the China Drama Academy, a Peking Opera school in Hong Kong. He made his film debut in the early 1960s, aged nine. A slightly grainy, black and white clip of the film showed a fresh-faced boy Hung, to coos from his assembled admirers. “Training at the school was very severe. We learned all the fundamental movements.

Chad McQueen, who followed his father, Steve McQueen, into acting and auto racing and portrayed the bully Dutch in the first two Karate Kid movies, has died. He was 63.

McQueen died Wednesday of organ failure at his ranch in Palm Desert, his friend of 40 years, Arthur Barens, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been injured in a fall in 2020 and never fully recovered.

In a statement on Instagram, his children Chase and Madison wrote:

“His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication. His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him.

“He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only his legacy but our grandfather’s as well.

Chad McQueen, best known for playing Dutch in The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II, has died at the age of 63. He’s also the son of Steve McQueen, the legendary actor who starred in The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, and more.

In a statement to Variety, Chad’s wife, Jeanie, and his children, Chase and Madison, said, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Chad McQueen. His remarkable journey as a loving father to us, along with his unwavering commitment to our mother, truly exemplified a life filled with love and dedication. His passion for racing not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also served as a way to honor his father’s legacy, a testament to the values instilled in him. He passed his passion, knowledge and dedication down to us, and we will continue not only...

The Hong Kong action flick Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In delivers mostly what one expects… in a good way. Though set in 1980, the parts of city in which the action occurs are ominous, labyrinthine and bleak as the future dystopias found in a Blade Runner or Judge Dredd setting. The criminals are running the show while the authorities look elsewhere, having abandoned hope of protecting and serving on their turf. Or surviving any attempt to do so.

Raymond Lam stars as Lok – a nice young man just arriving in the big city, only to be immediately cheated out of his savings by one of the gang bosses – Mr. Big (Sammo Hung! No kiddin’!). He flees from them, innocently charging into the eponymous enclave, run by Mr. Big’s rival, Cyclone (Louis Koo), from which there’s no exit. Like a roach motel in which the lucky ones get to work for the gang.

Martial arts B-movie stars like Matthias Hues, Loren Avedon, and Richard Norton have gained notoriety through their roles in low-budget films. These underground heavy hitters have appeared in iconic martial arts movies like The King of Kickboxers, Cage, and City Hunter. While some stars, like Billy Blanks and Jeff Speakman, have had success outside of the genre, their careers as B-movie stars still deliver exhilarating action.

There are many martial arts B-movie stars whose work should not go unnoticed by those action films. In the long history of martial arts movies, many of the biggest stars of the genre have become household names, including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. However, in the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, many other martial artists have also cultivated sizable followings without making it quite as big as the genre's most well-known stars.

Some...

Rediscover the hidden gems of martial arts TV shows that have slipped through the cracks of collective memory, showcasing thrilling choreography and captivating characters. Shows like Martial Law, Highlander: The Series, and Vanishing Son may have faded from the limelight, but they continue to pulsate with the heart of what made them extraordinary. From the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles to historical epochs and otherworldly conflicts, these series offer a nostalgic ride through the exhilarating world where martial arts transcend entertainment to become a way of life.

In the captivating realm of television, where trends and genres ebb and flow, there exists a trove of hidden gems that time seems to have brushed aside. While names like Bruce Lee and Jet Li have carved their names into the annals of martial arts history, the small screen boasts a plethora of martial arts mastery that once held audiences rapt but have...

The Singapore International Film Festival (Sgiff) reveals its list of eight selected documentaries and short films from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore to receive grants from the Sgiff Film Fund in recognition of their potential to contribute to the development of Southeast Asian cinema through their distinctive narratives and perspectives. The Sgiff Film Fund comprises the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation-sgiff Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (Sea-doc) and Sgiff Southeast Asian Short Film Grant (Sea-shorts) that aim to champion Southeast Asian works, supporting independent cinema and serve as a Kickstarter to propel independent filmmakers forward.

The Tan Ean Kiam Foundation-sgiff Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (Sea-doc)

Sea-Doc is part of the Sgiff Film Fund, which grants four mid-length or feature documentaries in various stages of production and post-production annually. This year, the selection committee has chosen three production projects that will each receive S$30,000 in cash. One post-production project will...

The 1990s were an exciting period for action films, with many of them getting released direct-to-video and showing up seemingly randomly at local video stores, requiring fans of the genre to have memberships at multiple locations to get to see everything. There was so much that if attention wasn’t paid, titles would be missed easily or rented twice under different titles at different video stores. Stars emerged within those ranks and gathered the love and adoration of fans. Here are the 10 of the best Dtv action stars of that era:

Dolph Lundgren

Let’s start with the obvious man on the list, the one that everyone saw films from at their local video stores. Lundgren had films that were released in theaters, on video, and direct to cable in some cases during the 1990s, but one thing is for sure, he was a mainstay of the action film aisle...

Famed comic book artist Joe Madureira has finally announced a continuation of his hit series Battle Chasers, with issue #10 set to release this June from Image Comics. While the creator is known for the long interim periods between books, the wait period will have been nearly 22 years from issue #9. With a hiatus like that, not even Saga's three-and-a-half year hiatus can hold a candle.

Battle Chasers first released in 1998 from WildStorm Productions, which was still under indie management in the period before it was bought by DC the following year. Centered around a band of quirky magical questers, including Gully, a young girl who has inherited a set of magic gauntlets, a polite and helpful war golem named Calibretto whose very existence is outlawed, and brooding loner Garrison, who desires to be left alone. Being pursued by wizards, werewolves and all manner of magical menaces, this seemingly quaint concept...

The Bruce Lee-led martial arts classic Enter the Dragon includes appearances by numerous future martial arts stars. Released in 1973, Enter the Dragon debuted not long after the untimely and unexpected passing of Bruce Lee. Enter the Dragon not only finally made Bruce Lee an international star, it also skyrocketed interest in martial arts in the West, with the film continuing to be revered as one of the best martial arts films of all time.

Bruce Lee's appearance in Enter the Dragon also put him alongside dozens of martial artists who were recruited for the movie's fight scenes. After the release of Enter the Dragon, a number of them would go on to become big stars in later years themselves. Here are the 10 major martial artists in Enter the Dragon would who go on to become big stars after the film's release.

Related: Every Fighting Style Practiced By Bruce Lee...

Rick Tuber, an Emmy-winning film editor who worked on shows including ER, Nash Bridges, The Unit and Chicago Fire, has died. He was 69.

Tuber died Saturday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles of a heart attack, a family spokesperson announced.

Tuber won his Emmy, as well as an Eddie Award (both shared with Randy Jon Morgan), for his work on a 1995 season-one episode of NBC’s ER. He also handled 23 episodes of CBS’ The Unit from 2006-09 and 13 installments of WGN America’s Salem from 2014-17.

His credits also included the series Crime Story, Wiseguy, Martial Law, Ravenswood and Bones.

Born on May 10, 1953, Tuber attended California State University, Northridge, and in 1985 he served as an assistant editor on Cagney & Lacey. He followed with film work on Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988), The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993).

Tuber wrote three...

Terrence O’Hara, a television director known for his work on shows like NCIS, Smallville and Angel, has died. He was 76.

In an Instagram post, O’Hara’s daughter Maddie confirmed the death of her father was Monday, December 5 due to cancer.

“I never thought I’d be writing those words— it’s surreal. I’ve always imagined him walking me down the aisle, watching his grandkids grow up, and getting old at the lake with my mom. But cancers a bitch, and his life was cut too short,” she shared. “He’s been quietly battling for the past 5 years, this whole time, directing, working, fighting, and smiling through it. He was famous for his infectious laugh, his noisy ass sneeze, his wild sailor mouth on set, his incredible, thoughtful, creative, and brilliant mind…I could go on.”

Related: Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

Maddie said that the loss...

Alex Winter (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) and Patton Oswalt (“Young Adult”) are set to appear in martial arts drama “Absolute Dominion” for Netflix.

“The Porter’s” Oluniké Adeliyi, “Better Call Saul’s” Julie Ann Emery and “Jerry Maguire’s” Reagan Gomez will also star in the project.

Helmed and written by stunt-woman turned director Lexi Alexander (“How to Get Away with Murder”), the high-octane sci-fi action film is co-produced by Blumhouse Television.

“It’s 2085 A.D. and the world has been destroyed by religious warfare,” reads the logline. “Desperate to save humanity, global governing forces host a gripping, no-holds-barred, martial arts tournament. Last fighter standing wins Absolute Dominion for one faith.”

Rounding out the cast are Alok Vaid-Menon, Andy Allo, Désiré Mia, Jennifer Jajeh, Juliana Joel, June Carryl, Junes Zahdi, Laith Ashley, Mario D’Leon, Nora Armani, Oluniké Adeliyi, and Shawn Mousavi.

Meanwhile martial arts expert Phil Tan has boarded...

Exclusive: Carlton Cuse is returning to Amazon Studios. The prolific, Emmy-winning writer-producer, who co-created and was showrunner for the first two seasons of the Prime Video Original Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, has signed a first-look deal with Amazon Studios. Under the multi-year pact, he will develop and produce projects to premiere on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“Carlton Cuse is a hitmaker whose track record and ability to imagine and create textured characters and worlds makes him a treasured talent,” said Vernon Sanders, head of global television, Amazon Studios. “The success of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is an obvious reason for us at Amazon Studios to continue and grow our relationship with Carlton, but his continued vigor for storytelling makes us fortunate to work with this incredibly creative powerhouse.”

Cuse is coming off an overall deal at ABC Signature. Under that, Cuse and Oscar...

Polish director delivers lecture to Iffr attendees.

Speaking at her masterclass at International Film Festival Rotterdam this weekend, Agnieszka Holland has expressed her dismay at what she calls the lack of “cultural identity” in contemporary mainstream cinema.

“Cinema became as boring as life,” Holland said of films being made in what she referred to as an era of “consumption and new technologies”, when the majority of filmmakers don’t have “a significant human or historical experience to discuss.”

The prolific Holland (whose latest feature Mr Jones premieres in competition at the Berlinale next month and who is also preparing an...

Hong Kong action cinema legend Sammo Hung has been named the Filmmaker in Focus of the 43rd Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff).

Best known to U.S. audiences for headlining CBS primetime show Martial Law in the late 1990s, Hung has a storied career spanning over half a century starring in, action choreographing, producing and directing more than 250 films. He is one of the screen icons representative of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s.

The Hkiff will host a retrospective during the upcoming edition showcasing 10 of Hung's most celebrated works, as well as ...

Hong Kong action cinema legend Sammo Hung has been named the Filmmaker in Focus of the 43rd Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff).

Best known to U.S. audiences for headlining CBS primetime show Martial Law in the late 1990s, Hung has a storied career spanning over half a century starring in, action choreographing, producing and directing more than 250 films. He is one of the screen icons representative of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s.

The Hkiff will host a retrospective during the upcoming edition showcasing 10 of Hung's most celebrated works, as well as ...

Welp, we’re sure you could use a milkshake from Pop’s after that lockdown shocker on the fall finale of “Riverdale” — but since we can’t order you up a frosty one of those, allow us to give you these treat: a preview of the next batch of themed episodes coming to The CW’s dark take on the Archie Comics and a status update on when you’ll (hopefully) get that crossover with Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.”

“One episode we’re doing is an episode called ‘Bizarrodale,’ which treats- instead of Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead being the Core Four, it treats Kevin, Cheryl, Reggie and Josie as the Core Four,” “Riverdale” showrunner and chief creative officer at Archie Comics, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, told TheWrap, when discussing Wednesday’s midseason closer and what’s to come when the show returns in January.

“And it’s a really fun episode.

(Warning: This post contains spoilers for “Outbreak,” the Season 3 fall finale of “Riverdale.”)

The “Riverdale” fall finale set up one giant problem for the town (a quarantine) and about a million smaller (but still pressing) problems for the town’s residents.

And among the many conflicts facing the likes of Jughead (Cole Sprouse), Archie (Kj Apa), Veronica (Camila Mendes), and Betty (Lili Reinhart) when The CW’s dark take on the Archie Comics characters returns in January, showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa tells TheWrap one is a threat to Bughead shippers: Gladys Jones.

Also Read: 'Riverdale' Boss on Fall Finale's 'Weird' Gargoyle King Reveal - And 'Martial Law' Coming to Town

Yes, Aguirre-Sacasa says Jug’s mother Gladys and his little sister Jellybean “are definitely coming to town” when the show returns at midseason.

And that isn’t a good thing for the Serpent King and his queen.

A new version of Bruce Lee's martial arts classic Enter the Dragon is on its way and a key creative talent may have just been landed. Read onward to learn all we know about this upcoming action drama. Who's the new prospective talent? David Leitch is in early talks to direct the film, according to Deadline. Leitch is very hot right now, coming off the huge worldwide success of Deadpool 2. A longtime stunt performer and actor, Leitch's early credits include TV's Martial Law, starring Sammo Hung, who appeared in Enter the Dragon. Leitch soon became a stunt coordinator and then a second unit director; his more recent credits in those capacities include Jurassic World and Captain America: Civil War. He also worked on John Wick...

That pesky little problem that has been looming over the season for quite some time was finally addressed on Designated Survivor Season 2 Episode 14.

You might be asking which one because let's face it, there are a few. I'm talking about the vice presidency, of course!

Kirkman has been ruling for quite some time, but the show and this fictional White House has been long overdue for a Vice President, and now there's someone in the running. 

Let's start by laughing at the fact that Kirkman, for some daft reason, didn't think he needed a vice president. Oh, dearest Kirkman, you most certainly do, especially when you've been making some dodgy choices as of late. 

Kudos to Mayor Darby for at one point suggesting that Kirkman was at the risk of coming across as a dictator. It was a valid point to make. Kirkman is our protagonist, and he generally has...

Carlton Cuse knows how to end a TV show. Before co-writing the last episode of Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s apocalyptic vampire story, “The Strain,” the showrunner and executive producer had already written four series finales. Four!

Read More:‘The Leftovers’ Creators Discuss Finale Reactions and Give a Few More Unexpected Answers

In 2000, Cuse penned “Final Conflict” Part 1 and Part 2 for the CBS action drama “Martial Law.” A year later, he wrote the ending to his breakthrough broadcast series, “Nash Bridges.” Then came the landmark finale of “Lost” in 2010 and, earlier this year, he dimmed the vacancy sign at the “Bates Motel” in a beautiful closing chapter.

Next up, as “The Strain” wraps up on Sunday, September 17, Cuse said he knew exactly how to end it.

“I think that to end a show, you have to really look at what your show is fundamentally about and then figure out your ending from that,...

Rebecca Clough Jan 13, 2017

Samuel L Jackson, Colin Farrell, Kirk Douglas, Denzel Washington and more, as we explore underrated political thrillers...

Ask someone for their favourite political thrillers and you’re likely to get a list of Oscar-winning classics, from JFK to The Day Of The Jackal, Blow Out to Argo. But what about those electrifying tales that have slipped under the radar, been largely forgotten or just didn’t get the love they deserved? Here are 25 political thrillers which are underappreciated but brilliant.

See related Star Wars: Episode IX lands Jurassic World director 25. The Amateur (1981)

Generally, the first hostage to get shot in a heist movie is considered insignificant; luckily this time the young woman killed by terrorists has a devoted boyfriend who vows to avenge her death. Charles Heller (John Savage) already works for the CIA, so he’s able to use secret information to blackmail his bosses into...

To celebrate Cine Asia’s grand return with Call Of Heroes – available from Monday 2nd January 2017 on DVD, Blu-Ray and VOD – we have a Blu-Ray copy to give away courtesy of Cine Asia.

Synopsis:

Blistering, epic-scale action from director Benny Chan (New Police Story, Shaolin), with action director Sammo Hung (Ip Man, Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame).

Call of Heroes thrills throughout in its tale of skilled martial artists, who take a stand to protect their village against a ruthless army. In 1914, after the collapse of China’s Qing dynasty, Yang Kenan (Sean Lau – Mad Detective) is appointed as guardian to defend the rural village of Pucheng. After Yang arrests the son of a sadistic warlord, Cao Shaolun (Louis Koo – Flash Point), the warlord’s army threatens to bring death and destruction. As the odds for peace lessen and the pressure mounts for Yang to release the murderous captive,...

The Turkish military has taken control of the country in a coup Friday night, according to Reuters - though reports conflicted about the nature and scope of the upheaval, or who was truly in power. The military said for it was for "democratic order" that it has "taken over," according to a statement. "All existing foreign relations will continue," the military said in its statement. It was not immediately clear if anyone had been injured or killed during the apparent military action. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said it was "illegally" undertaken "outside of the chain of command," according to the New York Times,...

One week out from release, Ubisoft has unleashed the official launch trailer for The Division, which picks up with the entire borough of Manhattan under lockdown.

Martial law is in effect, and today’s brooding snippet introduces some of the factions laying siege to the streets of the Big Apple. Forget the Five Families of New York, The Division takes place in a post-pandemic world where resources and survival in general are contested by the Cleaners, Last Man Battalion, Joint Task Force and Rioters. Upon stepping foot in Ubisoft’s ravaged world, you’ll play an agent of The Division, a special unit designed to restore some semblance of order to the city.

Following two overly successful beta tests – one of which is going down as the biggest of the current generation – Ubisoft’s Mmo-lite shooter is riding the crest of a wave of goodwill ahead of its debut early next week.

Sammo Hung is regarded as one of the greatest Kung Fu performers of his generation. His high tempo, hard htting fight sequences have captured audiences all over the world. Future generations will look back and watch in amazement, witnessing one of the very best in world cinema.

Peking Opera Days

The Peking Opera school was run from a small theatre by Master Yu Jim Yuen, this was where Sammo Hung would begin his journey. In them days, the stundents would normally enroll for around 10 years, each day performing gruelling tasks for up to 18 hours a day which included training in the Martial Arts, weapons training, acrobatics, acting and singing. The Peking opera of course brought together Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Corey Yuen, Yuen Tak and Yuen Mo, who would eventually be known as the 7 Little Fortunes. They took the first name “Yuen” in a sign of...

I'll trade you two RKOs for two Warners', an even swap! This quartet of movie-magic wonderments offer a full course on old-school film effects wizardry at its best. Willis O'Brien passes the baton to disciple Ray Harryhausen, who dazzles us with his own effects magic for the first '50s giant monster epic. And the best monster thriller of the decade is offered at its original widescreen aspect ratio. It's all special enough to merit a mid-week review. Special Effects Collection Blu-ray The Son of Kong, Mighty Joe Young, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Them! Warner Home Video 1933-1954 / B&W / 1:37 Academy - 1:85 widescreen / 335 min. / Street Date October 27, 2015 / 54.96 or 19.98 separately Starring Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack,, Frank Reicher, Victor Wong; Robert Armstrong, Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Frank McHugh; Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Donald Woods, Lee Van Cleef; James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness, Onslow Stevens,...

Since its heyday, kung fu seems to be giving way to other action genres, but could it be making a comeback?

There was a time when everyone was indeed kung fu fighting. Films belonging to the genre, made popular in the 1970s by the late Bruce Lee, helped to boost Hong Kong cinema, not to mention the careers of various Chinese actors such as Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Jet Li. However, in recent years, it seems that the kung fu film is losing the raw bad-assery that fans have grown up watching. As martial arts films are now evolving to feature more computer animation and culture rather than pure, unadulterated violence, has kung fu lost its touch?

The first kung fu film dates back to the late 1930s, when folk heroes and famed martial artists Fong Sai-Yuk and Wong Fei-Hung were immortalised for the first time (they would...

Exclusive: Svod service secures exclusive global distribution rights to epic Locarno winner.

Video-on-demand service Mubi has acquired the first exclusive global distribution rights to Lav Diaz’s five-and-a-half-hour epic From What Is Before.

Securing a 30 day rights window, this acquisition marks a significant deal for the Svod service and marks a continuation of its relationship with the award-winning indie Filipino film director.

The deal makes the 338-minute film available to audiences around the world and in France later this year.

Shot in black and white, the film revolves around the lives of poor villagers in one of the most remote regions of the Philippines before Martial Law was declared in 1972 by dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

According to Diaz, the film is loosely based on real events and characters, and examines “how an individual and collective psyche responds to extreme and mysterious changes in the social and physical environment”.

The film won the Golden Leopard at last year’s...

A City of Sadness (1989) is a landmark film in the Taiwanese New Wave as it was the first film made in Taiwan that dealt with the 2-28 Incident and the beginning of Martial Law in 1949 that didn’t end until 1987. Hou Hsiao-Hsien made this film after directing nine features in Taiwan and was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion at the 1989 Venice Film Festival. A City of Sadness was written by two key screenwriters from the Taiwanese New Wave: Chu Tien-wen and Wu Nien-Ju, both of whom worked with Hou and Edward Yang (the other great director from this film movement) before and after A City of Sadness. The first film of a trilogy by Hou that would deal with Taiwan’s tragic past (followed by The Puppetmaster (1993) and Good Men, Good Women (1995)), A City of Sadness does the seemingly impossible task of distilling an unrepresentable experience into the fate...

A movie is being made about President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's romance. As Deadline reports, Southside With You will tell the story of that fateful summer afternoon in 1989 when the future president meet his first lady. The two were working in a corporate law firm in the south side of Chicago when Michelle, then 25, was assigned to mentor a 27-year-old Barack Obama. The search is on for an actor to play a young Barack, but Tika Sumpter - who most recently appeared in Get on Up - has been cast to play a young Michelle. However, it made...

A movie is being made about President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's romance. As Deadline reports, Southside With You will tell the story of that fateful summer afternoon in 1989 when the future president meet his first lady. The two were working in a corporate law firm in the south side of Chicago when Michelle, then 25, was assigned to mentor a 27-year-old Barack Obama. The search is on for an actor to play a young Barack, but Tika Sumpter - who most recently appeared in Get on Up - has been cast to play a young Michelle. However, it made...

Locarno’s Golden Leopard has been awarded to Filipino director Lav Diaz’s five-and-a-half-hour epic From What Is Before.Scroll down for full list of winners

The film, which has the Filipino title Mula sa kung ano ang noon, also picked up the Fipresci International Critics Prize, the Environment is Quality of Life Prize, and the International Federation of Film Societies’ (Iffs) Don Quixote Prize.

On learning that he had won Locarno’s top honour, Diaz said that he wanted to dedicate the award to his father.

“He brought me cinema, he’s a cinema addict, and he started this passion in me,” said Diaz.

“For the Filipino people, it’s for them, for their struggle, and then I would like to dedicate it to all serious filmmakers in the world, to Pedro Costa, he’s my brother and I love his work, to Matias Pineiro, and to the makers of all the other films in the...

http://www.urbanactionshowcase.com

https://www.facebook.com/UrbanActionShowcase?fref=ts

Urban Action Showcase is an event to showcase action and martial arts to the world. The events are presented by Action Scene Combat (Asc) Productions, a production company which was founded in 2000 by Demetrius Angelo. Demetrius worked on movies and tv shows, not only as a fight choreographer, but also as an actor and director. Some of them include S.E.A.L.S Domestic Warfare (TV series), 3 X Harder: My Man’s and ‘Em and more. Demetrius also has a great background in Martial Arts, studying in styles such as Western Boxing, Chinese Boxing, Kobudo and many more.

Past events have brought many stars which include Michael jai White (Blood And Bone), Robert Samuels (Dont Give A Damn), Kelly Hu (Martial Law), Fred “The Hammer” Williamson, Ron Van Clief and many more great stars. Urban Action also brings you workshops to get involved with,...

Interview & article by Michael Lizaragga.

Before he ever went to hell, fought Freddy, froze through time, or launched into space, Jason Voorhees embarked on one of the scariest, weirdest and most craziest frontiers of them all: New York.

Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan stands as a classic amongst Jason Junkies, forever revered and remembered as the hockey mask’s first outing outside Crystal Lake (unless you count Part 2, in which Jason tracks down his mom’s decapitator and bumps her off during the first five), as well as Paramount’s final stab into the billion dollar franchise. And like its unstoppable poster boy who never dies, the 13th legacy will always remain—along with generations of fans requesting tales and testimonies from those who have taken part in the Jason saga.

One such participant, actor/producer/writer Vc “Julius” Dupree who starred in Jason Takes Manhattan, commemorates...

I'm not saying Halcyon International's Still Night Monster Movies have been slow to materialize but they're just now getting around to the second, third, and fourth films in the series and I'm fairly certain I first reported on these way back in 2010.

Dracula Reborn was the film that launched Halcyon International's attempt to recapture the old school magic of classic monsters movies with their "Still Night Monster Movies" label. Let's just say it came and went with little fanfare. Not entirely the fault of the film seeing as how Halcyon doesn't really do much to help promote their films.

I'm about to tell you about three new films they have coming out but I can't tell you who wrote, directed, or stars in (with one exception) any of them because the company doesn't bother with such matters on their website.

So the second film in the series is The Mummy Resurrected.

CGI has taken taken over monster movies in the States, but for one small group of students at the Osaka University of Arts, old school rubber suits and miniature buildings drive the production of their daikaiju eiga (giant monster film).

Get set for your first look at Zella: Monster Martial Law.

Practical effects, be they giant rubber suits or a gallon of karo syrup, are almost always preferred to CGI, and Zella,, directed by Shingo Maehata, seems to be a labor of love for someone who holds this tradition so dear. Clocking in at a mere 41 minutes and inspired by Godzilla, Gamera, and stop-motion guru Ray Harryhausen, production on the film was assisted by Hiromasa Mitsudome, who worked as special effects supervisor on the "Ultraman" TV series.

Check out the teaser below for a quick glimpse at the monstrous and demon-like kaiju Zella as he battles the cyborg Isoroku. When it’s complete,...

As much as I feel that the zombie apocalypse in gaming is becoming as putrescent and relentless as its source material, there are the occasional outposts of life and hope scattered like survivors across its decrepit landscape. Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead: The Video Game armed itself with a double-barreled shotgun of emotion and character that actually minimized the shambling ghouls to little more than meaty motivation for the survivors to escape the hell of Georgia. Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us actually manages to trump even Telltale’s beautifully scripted tale with meatier gameplay, more terrifying monsters, and wrenching pathos.

Within the first twenty minutes, The Last of Us had reduced me to a simpering mess. We get a brief, beautiful peek into the life of single father Joel and his teenage daughter Sarah, celebrating a late-night birthday before all hell breaks loose and his world is torn from his grasp.

A part of the CineFilipino festival, sibling director duo Sari Raissa Dalena and Kiri Dalena base their The Guerrilla Is A Poet on the story of revolutionary leader Jose Maria Siso, a central figure in the Communist Party Of The Philippines who was heavily involved in the revolutionary movement in the 1960s before being captured, imprisoned and re-emerging as a poet.The tale of an activist's journey during the turbulent years of Martial Law, until his capture in the mountains and the dark, nine years of imprisonment that followed, leading to his birth as a poet.The revolutionary movements within the Philippines are a total blank spot for me in terms of knowing the actual history and so I have no way of telling how accurate the...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

With Brad Pitt front and centre for the zombie blockbuster, there’s no way that I’m not seeing World War Z when it hits the cinema. The film promises to be a zombie movie quite unlike any we’ve seen before, going for the huge scope that’s relatively unknown to the typically lower-budgeted genre.

I’ve been hugely impressed by all that we’ve seen from the film so far, and its June release date can’t come fast enough in my books. And with that date fast approaching, Paramount have released two action-packed new TV spots, giving us another great look at some of the explosive sequences in the movie.

United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to decimate humanity itself.

Pitt is joined by an awesome cast,...

Dave Navarro is to appear on FX series Sons of Anarchy. The rock musician - who has played with Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers - will portray a gang member on the biker drama, TVLine reports. His character - part of Latino gang the Byz-Lats - is associated with Neron 'Nero' Padilla (Jimmy Smits). Though best known as a guitarist, 45-year-old Navarro has acted sporadically since the early 1990s, appearing in an episode of Martial Law, the 2003 film Uptown Girls with Brittany Murphy and NBC's Fcu: Fact Checkers Unit. Sons (more)...

We’re back with a new edition of the Indie Spotlight. Today’s feature covers the latest independent horror news sent our way, including a violent vampire tale, the birth of a new slasher, and much more:

The Ecstasy of Isabel Mann: “….the story of troubled teenager Isabel Mann (Ellen Mullen) who is seduced into an incredibly violent sect of day-walking vampires. Her class mates start to go missing and on the trail of the gruesome murders are two detectives; Witham (Neill Fleming) – who believes her to be the prime suspect and Barrett (Matthew Toman) – who has his doubts. Nothing is quite as it seems for those about her as the disturbed teenager runs amok killing at will in the woodlands by her home; aided by her vampire guides Mirjana (Mirjana Rendulic) and Alejo (Karim Elgendy) who are training her in the art of the kill – with horrifically bloody results for those closest to her.

• Riots in the streets! Martial law! And Captain America targeted for death by the very people he is sworn to protect! • Society begins to crumble as the Discordian assault continues and the Omega-Madbombs are unleashed. • Sharon Carter faces Baron Zemo. Alone. In space. Click on the preview pages below to view the full-size versions. Captain America #17 Written by Ed Brubaker, Cullen Bunn Pencils by Scot Eaton Cover by Steve Epting • Captain America and the Black Widow are on a deadly collision course! • Crosshairs are trained on Cap! • Kashmir Venemma dies! At least twice! • Guest-starring Hawkeye, Iron Man, and Dr. Doom (?) Click on the preview pages below to view the full-size versions. Captain America And Black Widow #636 Written by Cullen Bunn Pencils & Cover by Francesco Francavilla...

Selected Filmography:

1985:Yes,Madam

1986:Millionaire’s Express

1986:Righting Wrongs

1988:China O’Brien

1989:Martial Law

1994:Undefeatable

2012:Double Fury

http://www.cynthiarothrock.org/

As a writer for Asian Movie Pulse, i was very excited when Cynthia Rothrock had agreed to do a interview for the site as i have been a big fan of hers for many years. The first movie i ever seen her in was Righting Wrongs (Above The Law), opposite Yuen Biao. She impressed me so much i had to go out and get her other movies, her movement, speed and power made her brilliant to watch within Kung Fu cinema and it was no wonder people like Sammo hung wanted her in his movies.

Martial arts achievements

Rothrock is five-time World Karate Champion in forms and weapons between 1981 and 1985. These categories are not combat-oriented, being displays of fluidity of movement rather than fighting, and are therefore...