cityonfire.com | Movie News & Developments |
- The Mermaid (2016) Review
- Benny Chan’s all-star martial arts epic gets a new title!
- Xiao Zheng’s ‘Papa’ hits U.S. theaters on March 18!
- Deal on Fire! Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story | Blu-ray | Only $8.99 – Expires soon!
- Steele Justice | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber)
| Posted: 09 Mar 2016 01:04 AM PST  "The Mermaid" Chinese Theatrical Poster AKA: Mermaid By Ningen Liu Xuan is a rags-to-riches Tony Stark-type flirt who has everything he could ever need, with the exception of a conscience. After pulling his latest land-grab, he teams up with fellow rich asshole Ruolan to murder the local sea life with sonar. The purpose? Artificially boost the economic value of the area to potentially make it ripe for tourist and housing deals. But unbeknownst to him, he’s also contributed to the massacre of a school of mermaids who plot to retaliate by killing him. The method? Catfish (Sorry, couldn’t resist) him with a female mermaid by the name of Shan, who poses as a human to get close to him. As with Journey to the West, Stephen Chow once again chooses to be behind the camera for this picture. Though unlike Journey to the West, the production values are a lot higher and the story-line’s a little more focused and relatable. So I should appreciate it more, right? Well, the answer is yes and no. The Mermaid’s definitely a message movie that goes down a lot less annoyingly than, say, Avatar. But at the same time, it’s a lot more gruesome than the typical Stephen Chow movie. So, if you’re expecting it to contain his trademark slapstick humour with a little bit of over-the-top violence thrown in, then you might be disappointed. Chow does not hold back in his depiction of the fishes being slaughtered, and the film rightfully earns its R rating because of that. The comedy’s also more satiric in tone, with Liu Xuan’s skirt-chasing antics being scrutinized in particular. Personally, I don’t totally care for the lead character, even when he does change his colors a bit. He’s more akin to the wheeler-and-dealer you’d see in a Hollywood movie which places heavy emphasis on accounting, dropping stock, and trading and selling shares. I mean, he’s a little more noble than the soulless hunters with harpoons who work with him. But he still tries to resolve his problems with money in some form or another, and it makes The Mermaid come off more corporate than intended. But as usual for a Stephen Chow movie, the female characters are played by attractive, but assertive, actresses who steal the show from the male lead. In some ways, they’re the main reason to see the film, because the male performers are sidelined into roles with a caricatured bent. You almost wish they were given longer scenes with Li Xuan to expand his one-note persona. So, overall, The Mermaid is great, if you’re looking for the Chinese answer to a Hayao Miyazaki movie. But if you really just want a fun Stephen Chow movie, it might better to wait until he stars in one again. Ningen’s Rating: 7/10 |
| Benny Chan’s all-star martial arts epic gets a new title! Posted: 09 Mar 2016 01:00 AM PST  "The Deadly Reclaim" Chinese Teaser Poster The highly-anticpated martial arts film from Benny Chan (Shaolin), which will feature fight choreography by Sammo Hung (14 Blades), is now known as Call of Heroes (formerly The Deadly Reclaim), according to AFS. Call of Heroes is a period martial arts film that tells the story of a pack of villagers standing up to a young warlord. The film is set in 1914, following the collapse of the Qing dynasty. The film stars Lau Ching Wan (The Bullet Vanishes), Louis Koo (Flash Point), Eddie Peng (Rise of the Legend), Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior), Liu Kai Chi (The Viral Factor), Philip Keung (Unbeatable), Yuan Quan (Once Upon A Time In Shanghai), Jiang Shuying (So Young), Sammy Hung (Choy Lee Fut) and Berg Ng (The Grandmaster). Call of Heroes is slated to hit theaters later this year. Stay tuned for the trailer! |
| Xiao Zheng’s ‘Papa’ hits U.S. theaters on March 18! Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:59 AM PST  "Papa" Chinese Theatrical Poster On March 18, 2016, United Entertainment Partners (The Final Master) is releasing Xiao Zheng's Papa, a new Chinese film that was shot mostly in Los Angeles. The film is a remake of the 2012 Korean film of the same name. Papa stars Yu Xia, David Wu, Song Zuer, Yang Zi, Dennis Oh, as well as cameos from American talent, such as Macy Gray and Emily Kinney. Here’s what you can expect from the plot: A bumbling Chinese talent manager, Huang, travels to L.A. to retrieve his singer who fled to elope mid-tour. Instead of retrieving his singer, his futile attempts land him an arranged marriage, five adopted kids and an angry boss demanding his investment back. In his quest to reclaim fame and fortune, Huang learns an important lesson in what it means to be a family… Papa will be getting a North American limited release on March 18th, so check your local listings. Until then, be sure to catch the film’s new trailer. |
| Deal on Fire! Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story | Blu-ray | Only $8.99 – Expires soon! Posted: 09 Mar 2016 12:00 AM PST  Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story | Blu-ray (Universal) Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for 1993′s Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, directed by Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious). Jason Scott Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny) stars in this unforgettable glimpse into the life of the legendary Bruce Lee. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is presented in 1080p with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround. Features include: Commentary with Rob Cohen, Archival Introduction, The Making of Featurette, Behind-the-Scenes Reel, Jason Scott Lee Screen Test, Bruce Lee Interview/Photographs, Storyboards, Production Photographs and Theatrical Trailers. | Watch the trailer. Order Dragon from Amazon.com today! |
| Steele Justice | Blu-ray (Kino Lorber) Posted: 08 Mar 2016 12:00 AM PST  "Steele Justice" Japanese Theatrical Poster RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2016 Kino Lorber presents the Blu-ray for 1987′s Steele Justice starring Martin Kove (Karate Kid, Rambo) and Soon-Tek Oh (Missing in Action 2). Steele (Kove) is ex-cop and Vietnam vet who is determined to bring down Kwan (Oh), a rich and powerful drug lord. Robert Boris’ Steele also stars Sela Ward (Gone Girl), Ronny Cox (Robocop), Bernie Casey (Under Siege), Shannon Tweed (Electra) and Irene Tsu (Comrades: Almost a Love Story). | Trailer. Pre-order Steele Justice from Amazon.com today! |
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