With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013
With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

SHAW BROTHERS’ KUNG FU MOVIE MARATHON to stream exclusively on TWITCH

GAMMARAY AND CELESTIAL PICTURES TO STREAM
SHAW BROTHERS’ KUNG FU MOVIE MARATHON
EXCLUSIVELY ON TWITCH

44 Full-Length Classic Kung Fu Features Make Their
Twitch Debut to Global Interactive Audience

GammaRay and Celestial Pictures have announced they will stream a Shaw Brothers movie marathon on Twitch (twitch.tv/gammaray_tv) from February 4th to February 8th, 2019. The marathon will include 44 full-length features from the Shaw Brothers’ extensive library of kung fu titles, including iconic films such as King Boxer, Crippled Avengers, and Five Deadly Venoms. This viewing event will be streamed globally and exclusively on Twitch, the leading service and community for multiplayer entertainment, and marks the first time Twitch has featured kung fu films.

After the marathon airs from February 4-8, there will be double feature movie nights on Thursdays and Fridays at 5:00 pm PT for four weeks. The marathon is also the first time GammaRay has hosted full-length features on Twitch.

“We’re excited to introduce cult classic movies from the 70s and 80s to our fans on Twitch for the first time,” said GammaRay COO Do Duong. “Kung fu has influenced filmmaking, hip hop music, and pop culture, so we’re thankful to Celestial Pictures for access to their Shaw Brothers action titles, and to Twitch for using their service to introduce a larger audience to the kung fu phenomenon.”

"The Twitch community has lots of interests, with martial arts and film-based marathons among them," said Jane Weedon, Director of Business Development at Twitch. "We've seen it in the games they play, their cosplay outfits, and the programming they watch, with the Shaw Brothers' kung fu films being the perfect pop culture combo of these fandoms. Thanks to GammaRay, we get to livestream over 40 of the Shaw Brothers' seminal movies with an interactive global audience."

Celestial Pictures is the owner of the Shaw Brothers library of over 760 digitally remastered classics. The custodian of the Shaw Brothers legacy, Celestial Pictures continues to keep the love for peak kung fu cinema alive by presenting it to loyal enthusiasts and new-found audiences across the globe.

“We’re thrilled to bring the quintessential Shaw Brothers films to a new generation of fans through this collaboration with GammaRay,” said Agnes Cheung, Executive Vice President of Celestial Pictures. “Interactive streaming will open up a new horizon for the passionate fandom of kung fu cinema. The marathon will allow the audience to be immersed without interruption in the everlasting Shaw Brothers magic.”

44 titles will be featured during the Twitch livestream including the following kung fu classics:

King Boxer (1972): A student (Lieh Lo) of kung fu meets resistance on his way to a major Chinese tournament.

Crippled Avengers (1978): After the death of his wife, warlord Dao Tian-du (Kuan Tai Chen) turns evil and holds a town in thrall to his reign of fear with the help of his sadistic son. Four of the villain's victims -- a blind man, an amputee, a deaf-mute, and an insane fighter -- seek the help of a wise kung fu master as they train to eliminate the tyrant for good.

Five Deadly Venoms (1978): A dying master sends his last student to check up on five former pupils, who each know a special style of kung fu.

Twitch streamers will also be able to co-stream the marathon. Co-streaming is a feature unique to Twitch which allows a streamer to share another channel’s video feed, but with their own commentary and community. The result is a more personalized, social experience.

For more information including the full marathon schedule and movie times, visit GammaRay’s Twitch channel page and follow them on Twitter.

Monday, January 28, 2019

ICEMAN: THE TIME TRAVELER debuts on February 19th, 2019

Well Go USA
Presents
Iceman: The Time Traveler / Bing feng: Yong heng zhi men
Directed by Raymond Yip
Hong Kong/China, 2018, 88 minutes

Iconic action star Donnie Yen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, IP Man franchise) gets defrosted for the sequel to the fantasy-adventure Iceman when Iceman: The Time Traveler debuts on digital, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD February 19 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Iceman: The Time Traveler tells the story of warriors from imperial China who after being buried alive and kept frozen in time for 400 years, are defrosted and must continue the battle they left behind. Directed by Raymond Yip (Bruce Lee My Brother) Iceman: The Time Traveler features a returning cast including Baoqiang Wang (Kung Fu Jungle), Shengyi Huang (Kung Fu Hustle), Kang Yu (Ip Man 3) and Simon Yam (Operation Red Sea) with the legendary Yasuaki Kurata (God of War) joining the sequel.

Synopsis:
During the Ming Dynasty, a palace guard, Ying (Donnie Yen), is buried and frozen in time by an avalanche during a fierce battle. Brought back to life in the present day, Ying embarks on a quest for the only thing that can correct the wrongs of history – The Golden Wheel of Time. Ying sets out on his dangerous journey, never knowing every step he takes is leading him closer to a deadly trap.

Friday, January 25, 2019

LEE Chang-dong's BURNING coming to digital on January 29th, Blu-ray Combo and DVD on March 5th

Well Go USA
Presents
Burning / Beoning
Directed by Lee Chang-dong
Starring Steven Yeun
South Korea, 2018, 148 minutes

One of the year’s most acclaimed films and South Korea’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2019 Academy Awards®, Burning debuts on digital January 29 and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD March 5 from Well Go USA Entertainment. (Burning was the first Korean film to make it to the Foreign Language Film shortlist, although it sadly did not make the final cut of five contenders.)

Based on the short story "Barn Burning" by Haruki Murakami, Burning is a psychological tale of all-consuming jealousy that tells the story of three individuals and a mystery that shows no one is truly as they seem. The film is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive score of 95% and an average score of 8.7 from over 100 outlets. A special bonus is the behind-the-scenes featurette “About the Characters” where viewers will take a deep dive into the characters in Burning and the actors who portray them.

The film stars Steven Yeun (Okja, “The Walking Dead”), Ah-in Yoo (“Six Flying Dragons”) and Jong-seo Jun, making her big screen debut.

Synopsis:
Burning is the searing examination of an alienated young man, Jongsu (Ah-in Yoo), a frustrated introvert whose already difficult life is complicated by the appearance of two people into his orbit: first, Haemi (newcomer Jong-seo Jun), a spirited woman who offers romantic possibilities, and Ben (Steven Yeun, “The Walking Dead,” Sorry To Bother You), a wealthy and sophisticated young man who returns with her from a recent trip. When Jongsu learns of Ben’s mysterious hobby and Haemi suddenly disappears, his confusion and obsessions begin to mount, culminating in a stunning finale.

Addendum, January 31, 2019 - Burning, like each of LEE's previous films, has received several award wins and nominations. It received the Best Foreign Language Film Award from the French Union of Film Critics earlier this month. Info here.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN, Taiwanese psychological crime thriller, available on January 31st as VOD, and at select theaters starting in February

Cheng Cheng Films
Presents
Who Killed Cock Robin / Mu ji zhe
Directed by Cheng Wei-hao
Taiwan, 2017, 118 minutes

Who Killed Cock Robin, a psychological crime thriller directed by award-winning Taiwanese filmmaker Cheng Wei-hao (The Tag-Along franchise) starring Taiwanese-American actor Mason Lee (Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, The Hangover II) will hit VOD on January 31th and open in select theaters in North America during the next few months.

Who Killed Cock Robin follows an ambitious journalist’s investigation into a hit-and-run he witnessed years ago. As he beats the clock to rescue the disappeared news source, layers of unimaginable dark truths about a corrupted system start peeling.

Known for The Tag-Along, a ghost folklore-inspired horror franchise that broke the genre’s box office record in Taiwan once held by Hollywood's The Conjuring, director Cheng Wei-Hao is currently among the most sought-after Taiwanese talents. A passion project he had been working on for six years, Who Killed Cock Robin continues Taiwan New Cinema's legacy of exploring human conditions and reinvigorates it with gripping suspense and dazzling gore.

The film has received nominations including Best Picture at Taipei International Film Festival, Best Director at Shanghai International Film Festival and Best Actor at Taiwan Golden Horse Film Awards, the Oscars of the Chinese-speaking world. It's rated on Chinese movie review site by viewers as one of the top Asian thrillers of all time.

The New York-based distributor specialized in Chinese language cinema Cheng Cheng Films is handling its release in North America. Viewers in US and Canada will be able to stream the film at VOD platforms below starting on 1/31/2019. Opening theaters will be updated at its official North American website: whokilledcockrobin.com.

Available on 1/31/2019 at these VOD platforms:
DISH, Verizon FiOS, DirecTV,
Spectrum/Time Warner, Cox, Optimum/CableV,
Comcast, Sling, iNDemand
Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Vimeo on Demand

Monday, January 21, 2019

EXTREME JOB, a South Korean Comedic Action Film, opens January 25th, goes wide on February 1st

CJ Entertainment
Presents
Extreme Job
Directed by LEE Byeong-heon
Starring RYU Seung-yong, LEE Hanee, JIN Sun-kyu,
LEE Dong-hwi, and Gong-myoung
South Korea, 2019, 111 minutes

South Korean director LEE Byeong-heon (“Twenty,” “What a Man Wants”) returns to the big screen with his newest comedic action film, Extreme Job. Director LEE tells the story of five narcotics cops who run a fried chicken restaurant by day and an undercover operation by night. This title releases at CGV Cinemas in Los Angeles and Buena Park on January 25th and in cities across the U.S. and Canada on February 1st. Theater information is available here.

The narcotics team works hard day and night, but their performance remains at an all-time low, leading them to become the ugly duckling of the police department and potentially face dismantlement. Captain KO (RYU Seung-yong) gets intel about an international drug deal and embarks on a risky undercover mission with his entire team. In order to establish around-the-clock and up-close-and-personal surveillance, the team takes over a rundown chicken joint across the street from the drug gang’s safe house.

But things take an unexpected turn when Detective MA’s (JIN Sun-kyu)yet unrevealed culinary talents begins to shine, turning the chicken restaurant famous overnight. Should we chase chickens or criminals? When customers begin to flock in, undercover work gets pushed to the back burner so the detectives can focus on frying chicken. As a result, the team misses the big drug deal, even though it happens right under their nose. Now, with nowhere to go, the detectives launch a desperate mop-up operation.

Wednesday, January 09, 2019

Romantic actioner ONE NIGHT ONLY coming to VOD on January 31st, 2019

Cheng Cheng Films
Presents
One Night Only / Tian liang zhi qian
Directed by Matt Wu
Starring: Aaron Kwok and Yang Zishan 
China, 90 minutes, 2016

Chinese romantic actioner One Night Only will be coming to VOD on 1/31/2019. It will be available at these platforms: Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, Vimeo on Demand Comcast, Sling, iNDemand Spectrum/Time Warner, Cox, Optimum/CableV DISH, Verizon FiOS, DirecTV

Synopsis:
Mixing high-octane actions with moving romance, One Night Only starring Hong Kong's legendary Aaron Kwok (Cold War, The Monkey King) follows a gambler and a hooker's suspenseful night together as they race through Bangkok's underground world trying to win their fortune and dignity back. With style and energy, Matt Wu's debut wins as an emotional rollercoaster that contemplates love and fate.

View the One Night Only trailer here.

One Night Only Official Webpage: 1nightonlymovie.com

All six LONE WOLF AND CUB films coming to Japan Society NY

Japan Society NY
Presents
The Complete Lone Wolf and Cub
When: January 25th and 26th, 2019
Where: Japan Society NY
333 East 47th Street, NYC
Map

When he is wrongly accused of treason and stripped of his position as the Shogun’s executioner, Itto Ogami (Tomisaburo Wakayama) becomes an itinerant sword for hire with his infant son Daigoro in tow. Pushing around a wooden cart equipped with an arsenal of hidden weapons, the iconic father-son duo embark on the revenge-driven road to Hell. Adapted from the mega popular manga series, the Lone Wolf and Cub films are Japanese genre filmmaking at its bloody best, each entry replete with bold visual style and brilliant action choreography. For this two-day marathon presentation, Japan Society screens recent restorations of all six original films in sequential order.

Tickets: $14/$11 seniors & students/$10 members
2-Film Pass: $2 off each ticket when you purchase tickets for two different series films in the same transaction!
All Access Pass: $36 for all six films!

For the Full Schedule and to Order Tickets, click here.

Special Offer: Ticketholders are invited to participate in an onsite raffle for a chance to win manga prizes courtesy of Dark Horse Comics. Two winners will receive copies of the Lone Wolf and Cub Omnibus Vol. 1, 2 & 3, and one winner will receive a copy of the newly published Lone Wolf and Cub Gallery Edition, which features illustrations reproduced at original size on heavy-stock art paper. Winners selected at random. Limit one raffle entry per customer. To order Dark Horse’s Lone Wolf and Cub titles visit DarkHorse.com.

Tuesday, January 08, 2019

THE SPY GONE NORTH now available for digital download or rental

CJ Entertainment
Presents
The Spy Gone North / Gongjak
Directed by YOON Jong-bin
South Korea, 2018, 137 minutes

The Spy Gone North, a South Korean espionage film inspired by a true story, releases on Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play today, January 8th, 2019. Director YOON Jong-bin (Kundo, Nameless Gangster) delivers a gripping, fact-based spy saga about a loyal South Korean agent caught in the political vortex plotted by the ruling classes of two Koreas.

In 1993 Korea, the only country where the Cold War continues, tensions surrounding the development of nuclear weapons escalate. Seok-young Park, an army major in the South Korea military intelligence with the code name 'Black Venus' is assigned a mission to infiltrate the North Korean nuclear facility. Seok-young disguises himself as a South Korean businessman working on a collaborative project with North Korea, and approaches Myung-woon Lee, a North Korean high official based in Beijing. After laying down groundwork for years, Seok-young finally manages to win the North Korean ruling class' trust and secure a contract for joint advertising. However, Seok-young soon discovers that both North and South Korea are making secret deals for their own interests in the 1998 South Korean presidential election.

The Spy Gone North stars HWANG Jung-min, LEE Sung-min, CHO Jin-woong, and JU Ji-hoon. It was featured in the Midnight section of the 71st Cannes Film Festival last year.

This film is distributed by CJ Entertainment. The cost is $15.99 to purchase High Definition (HD), $11.99 to purchase Standard Definition (SD), $4.99 to rent High Definition (HD), and $3.99 to rent Standard Definition (SD).

The official movie trailer can be seen here.