Simon Lui Yue-Yeung, the Hong Kong actor, television host, writer and filmmaker best known for his work in the Troublesome Night horror series, has passed away at the age of 62, due to stomach cancer.

Born on July 8, 1964, Lui began his entertainment career after graduating from TVB’s artist training program in 1988. He initially appeared in television dramas and variety programs before making the move to the Hong Kong film industry, where he quickly became a familiar face to fans of the city’s horror and comedy movies.

Lui became particularly well known for his appearances in the long running Troublesome Night series, appearing in numerous installments throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. He also appeared in a wide range of Hong Kong films, including 97 Aces Go Places, Super Car Criminals, Vulgaria, Paris Holiday, and numerous other productions.

Beyond acting, Lui was also active behind the scenes as a writer, producer and director. He wrote the screenplay for Last Ghost Standing and directed Escape from Hong Kong Island, while also working on several other film projects throughout his career. He was also a familiar presence on Hong Kong television and radio, hosting programs including The Unbelievable, where his interest in supernatural stories became closely associated with his public persona.

Lui leaves behind a career that spanned more than three decades and included television, radio, film and filmmaking. He will be remembered by Hong Kong cinema fans particularly for his prolific work during the golden era of the territory’s horror and comedy productions.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones.

Watch Trailers and footage from some of Simon Lui’s most memorable performances:

The post Simon Lui, Hong Kong actor, writer and filmmaker known for ‘Troublesome Night’ and ‘Vulgaria’, passes away at 62 first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub” Poster

Byun Yo Han (Believer 2) and Roh Jae Won (Squid Game) are going all in with Tazza: Beelzebub’s Song, the upcoming fourth entry in South Korea’s popular “gambling” thriller franchise, following 2016’s Tazza: The High Rollers, 2014’s Tazza: The Hidden Card, and 2019’s Tazza: One Eyed Jack, not to mention the 2008 TV series.

Jang Tae-young, who believes he has everything after building a successful online casino business, loses it all to his former best friend and namesake, Park Tae-young. The two reunite on the international poker circuit for a high-stakes battle of revenge.

Tazza: Beelzebub’s Song is directed by Choi Kook Hee (Default) and also stars Japanese actress Ayaka Miyoshi (Kingdom 5).

Footnote: Unlike the previous films, Tazza: Beelzebub’s Song is a standalone story. While it is still based on Huh Young Man’s popular gambling manhwa (Korean comic books) and carries the Tazza name, it completely breaks away from the universe established by the first three movies.

Tazza: Beelzebub’s Song hits South Korean theaters on September 23, 2026. Well Go USA is giving the film a U.S. release later this year. Until then, check out the Trailer below:

The post Game of Debt! Watch the U.S. Trailer for ‘Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub’ starring Byun Yo-han and Roh Jae-won first appeared on cityonfire.com.

The film, an adaptation of Oliver Lowe’s spy novel, Kill Current: A Jon Hendricks Thriller, revolves around Jon Hendricks (Reeves), a burned out CIA officer who is pulled back into action to avenge the protégé he trained and lost. Rather than looking back at the Cold War, Kill Current will focus on the threats shaping today’s headlines, including technological and information warfare.

Reeves will also produce with Alexandra Grant via Two Dragonflies, with the project marking the first to emerge from his new, previously unannounced production banner. Molly Stern and her publisher Zando will exec produce. Already, The Arena has unveiled a teaser for the project, which you can view above (via Deadline).

Footnote: Could Kill Current be Keanu Reeves’ next big franchise? He’s already struck gold with The Matrix and John Wick, so if this one hits, there’s no reason it couldn’t kick off another successful series for Reeves.

We’ll keep you updated on this project as we learn more. Until then, watch a Teaser below:

The post Is Keanu Reeves going John Wick-sploitation? Keanu Reeves to star and produce an adaptation of ‘Kill Current’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

In November, 88 Films’ is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) collection for the Shaw Brothers Triple Feature, which includes 1970’s Vengeance, 1971’s The Deadly Duo, and 1983’s Holy Flame of the Martial World.

Vengeance is every bit as blood-soaked as you’d expect from master director Chang Cheh (Heroes Two), as superstar David Chiang (Shaolin Mantis) battles to take down the snakes who killed his brother.

Chiang returns as one of The Deadly Duo alongside the legendary Ti Lung (The Kung Fu Instructor); they’re patriotic rebels struggling to free their prince from the clutches of the evil invaders.

Finally, the eye-popping extravaganza of Holy Flame of the Martial Arts World sets good wizards against wicked sorcerers in a crazy epic battle – and no one did over-the-top movie magic better than Shaw Brothers.

Three films, three classics and three essential additions to any kung fu collection.

Limited Edition Features:

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Sam Green
• Three double-sided posters and sleeves, one for each film, showcasing newly commissioned artwork on one side and the original theatrical poster artwork on the reverse side

Vengeance Features:

• High Definition Blu-ray presentation in 2.35:1 aspect ratio
• Original Mandarin mono 2.0 audio track with newly translated optional English subtitles
• English Mono
• Audio commentary by East Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth
• The Angel of Death – An interview with lead actor David Chiang
• Tony Rayns on Vengeance!
• Original Trailer
• Image Gallery

The Deadly Duo Features: 

• High Definition Blu-ray presentation in 2.35:1 aspect ratio
• Original Mandarin mono 2.0 audio track with newly translated optional English subtitles
• English Mono
• Audio commentary by East Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth
• The Anonymous Hero – An interview with assistant director Godfrey Ho
• The Deadly Trio – James Mudge on The Deadly Duo
• Hong Kong Trailer
• German Trailer
• Image Gallery

Holy Flame of the Martial World Features:

• High Definition Blu-ray presentation in 2.35:1 aspect ratio
• Original Cantonese mono 2.0 audio track with newly translated optional English subtitles
• English Mono
• Audio Commentary by David West
• Audio commentary by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
• The Forgotten Shaw New Wave of Wuxia films: Actors Jason Pai Piao, Yeung Jing Jing and Candy Man discuss working with director Tony Liu
• Hong Kong Trailer
• Image Gallery

Pre-order this title at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!

Watch the Trailers below:

The post Shaw Ménage à trois? Blu-rays for ‘Holy Flame of the Martial World’, ‘Deadly Duo’ & ‘Vengeance’ arriving in November first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Hope” Poster

Ten years is a long time to wait for anything, but as a fan of director Na Hong-jin, that patience has finally paid off in 2026 with the release of Hope. Notwithstanding his 2023 short film Faith (made to promote the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) and foray into producing with the 2021 Korea-Thailand co-production The Medium, the last time Hong-jin sat in the director’s chair for a feature length production was the 2016 horror masterpiece The Wailing. Hope sees him reunite with the star of The Wailing in the form of Hwang Jung-min (I, The Executioner, 12.12: The Day), here playing the police chief of Hope Harbor, a small coastal village not far from the 38^th parallel.

It’s never implicitly stated, however Hope appears to be set at some point in the late 70’s or early 80’s, with billboards visible encouraging the public to report spies, and a surplus of heavy artillery likely leftover from the Korean War still readily accessible. In fact the way characters frequently turn up armed to the teeth with everything from assault rifles to rocket launchers becomes a running joke, as Jung-min’s somewhat naïve police chief constantly questions where the weapons have come from, seemingly clueless to what’s been under his nose the whole time. In case it wasn’t clear already, Hong-jin’s latest sees the director at his most playful, opting to forego the dark tone that defined his classics like The Chaser and The Yellow Sea in favour of a rollicking action flick.

This becomes apparent from the opening moments, where Jung-min arrives at the scene of a dead cow sprawled across a country road, its presence called in by his second cousin, played by Zo In-sung (Humint, Smugglers). Mauled by a much larger creature, In-sung and his hunting buddies weave a tale of a tiger that travels down from Siberia every year, through North Korea and into the South, however once Jung-min drives into the town itself, it becomes apparent it’s something much bigger than any tiger. Whatever it is has left a trail of destruction in its wake, and the result is one of the tensest action sequences committed to film, one that extends for well over an hour. Hong-jin proves the mastery of his craft through the fact that, for the longest time, we don’t even know what Jung-min is up against, instead we’re left to follow him weaving in and out of the devastation trying to catch up with the mysterious perpetrator.

Very much befitting of the phrase ‘hit the ground running’, the village set sequence aptly shows why Hope is the most expensive Korean production ever made, with literally a whole town laid to waste, and bodies (and body parts for that matter!) strewn everywhere. By the time the mysterious creature reveals itself, best described as a kind of ridiculously fast, completely uncoordinated distant relative of the titans from Japan’s live action Attack on Titan adaptations, it’s difficult not to smile at the bombast of it all. That’s even before a scene stealing Jung Ho-yeon (here making her feature length debut after appearing in Squid Game) makes her entrance, tearing down the street in a police car while pumping bullets from a semi-automatic out the window in pursuit of the creature, the whole time turning the air blue.

In fact the whole first half feels like Hong-jin is riffing on the kind of gritty 70’s Hollywood cops and robbers movies that defined the era, just swap out the robbers with a gangly limbed alien. Jung-min and Ho-yeon’s line delivery consists almost exclusively of expletives, delivered with such poker-faced sincerity that the narrative eschews any need to give a wink at the audience. By the time Hong-jin regular Hwang Seok-jeong (The Phone, Memoir of a Murderer) makes an appearance as a public health official, hilariously brandishing a chainsaw in order to perform an autopsy on one of the creatures, Hope’s sense of humor is apparent.

However Hong-jin’s latest is also a movie of 2 halves, with the latter half of the hefty 160-minute runtime focused on In-sung and his hunter buddies, who Jung-min sent off into the mountains to look for traces of the monster there. It’s during the back end of Hope that the adrenaline rush of the village set sequence wears off, and the broader story comes into focus. How much audiences will enjoy the remainder will largely depend on how much they buy into the extraterrestrial aspect of proceedings. Hong-jin has brought in some international firepower for his latest, with offscreen husband and wife Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, Haywire) and Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider, Jason Bourne) onboard as a pair of not entirely convincing CGI aliens (although in 2026, I feel like I’ve come to accept that CGI will never reach the levels of the early 1990’s again).

Beyond the not quite there CGI though, the biggest question I found myself asking was why do each of the aliens look like they’ve been designed by someone different? The titan like alien of the village scene looks nothing like Michael Fassbender’s alien, who looks nothing like Alicia Vakander’s alien (that should come with a warning if you squint, you may think you’re watching Avatar), and that’s without mentioning their offspring. It’s a strange design choice to have them look so different to each other, and one that I found more distracting than the occasional iffy CGI (which for long-time fans of Korean cinema, may occasionally bring to mind 2011’s Sector 7).

The move to the forest also offers up a second environment for the action beats to play out in, with the chase sequences from the village transposed onto horseback in the mountains. The issue though is that watching a four-legged alien chase people on horseback through a forest just doesn’t offer up the same excitement as the urban setting of the village, and the result is that a feeling of repetitiveness eventually creeps in. It’s particularly telling that, during a highway chase that sees the alien in pursuit of a horseback riding In-sung and cop car, the most exciting moments aren’t those when the alien almost catches up with them, but rather a stunt that sees In-sung attempting to jump onto the car roof from the horse he’s riding (courtesy of veteran action director and frequent Hong-jin collaborator Yoo Sang-seob).

Despite Hope only being the fourth movie Hong-jin has helmed in 18 years, one thing that’s become apparent is that he’s always known how to play with audience expectations, and this is on full display during the closing scenes. Moving the focus away from the human characters altogether, we finally spend some time with Fassbender and Vikander as they come to realise the extent of their situation. It’s a daring bait and switch which is there to essentially act as a setup for a sequel. Or could it just be that Hong-jin is sarcastically riffing on the Hollywood blockbuster trope to leave proceedings open for another round, and like much of the humor infused runtime, the idea of a sequel that would focus more on the alien’s side of the story is also there to be laughed at? Only time will tell, but my only ask would be that it doesn’t take another 10 years for the answer to arrive.

Despite its flaws, Hong-jin’s latest is rarely anything other than entertaining, even if the message of how violence stems from ignorance and a fear of the unknown gets a little muddled along the way. It contains possibly the most laugh out loud diarrhoea anecdote in cinematic history, Hwang Jung-min and Jung Ho-yeon deliver the cop character pairing the world didn’t know it needed, and for the first time in far too long, we have a Korean movie that demands to be seen on as bigger screen as possible. These might not be the reasons a fan of Na Hong-jin’s previous work would be expecting as to why Hope is a worthy addition to the auteur’s filmography, but they’re also the same ones that make him an auteur in the first place. I hope you’ll agree.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 7.5/10

The post Hope (2026) Review first appeared on cityonfire.com.

A one-armed martial arts master (Wang Yu) is being stalked by an Imperial assassin, the master of two fighters killed in the previous film (1971’s One-Armed Boxer). When the One-Armed Boxer is invited to attend a martial arts tournament, his efforts to lay low are unsuccessful, and the assassin soon tracks him down with the help of his three subordinates: a Thai boxer, a yoga master, and a kobojutsu user.

Master of the Flying Guillotine also stars Chin Kang (The Shaolin Plot), Doris Lung Chun-Erh (Evil Hits Evil), Sham Chin-Bo (The Lama Avenger), Lung Fei (Beach of the War Gods), Wang Yung-Sheng (The Old Master), Hsueh Han (Bravest Revenge) and Lau Kar-Wing (Dirty Kung Fu).

Chinese film insider Frank Djeng announced the release last year, hinting the following features (via Disc Connected):

• Newly restored in 4K, just in time for the film’s 50th Anniversary!
• Audio commentary by kung fu film insiders Michael Worth and Frank Djeng
• Jimmy Wang Yu’s Lifetime Achievement Award appearance at the New York Asian Film Festival, moderated by kung fu film expert Grady Hendrix

Footnote: Master of the Flying Guillotine helped pioneer the iconic cinematic “tournament arc,” throwing an international lineup of fighters into the same arena and inspiring countless movies and video games that followed, including Bloodsport and the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat video game franchises. As proof, the film features everything from a stretchy-armed Indian yogi master to a Thai kickboxer and, of course, the titular flying guillotine weapon itself.

Watch the film’s classic Trailer below (complete with its insanely gritty soundtrack):

The post HEAD’d your way! Jimmy Wang Yu’s ‘Master of the Flying Guillotine’ arriving on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Godzilla Minus Zero” Poster

Godzilla Minus Zero, the highly-anticipated follow-up to Toho’s 2023 mega hit Godzilla Minus One, hits theaters in November.

Returning to the director’s chair, Takashi Yamazaki (The Fighter Pilot, Godzilla Minus One) once again takes on writing duties and VFX work, just as he did with the first film.

Following the devastation of Godzilla’s initial rampage, Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) tries to rebuild a quiet life with Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and young Akiko, hoping to leave behind the trauma of war and monsters, but peace proves fleeting when Godzilla returns, fully regenerated, larger, and more ferocious, as a second ancient force awakens beneath Aokigahara near Mount Fuji. With Japan once again on the brink, Kōichi is forced out of retirement, reuniting with old comrades and joining U.S. and Japan alliance forces to face two kaiju threats at once, all while Noriko’s mysterious cellular link to Godzilla intensifies, drawing her ever closer to the creature’s destructive fury and raising the stakes of the battle to a deeply personal level.

This follow-up to Godzilla Minus One should come as no surprise, given Godzilla Minus One was this incredible success in late 2023 — earning $55M domestically and a worldwide total of just over $115M. The film was made on a paltry $15M budget with a combination of practical effects and CGI (via World of Reel).

Toho is releasing Godzilla Minus Zero in the United States on November 6 and in Japan on November 3.

Watch the Newest Trailer, followed by recent Featurettes/Trailers below:

The post GODZ-DAMN! Takashi Yamazaki’s ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ unleashes an absolutely MONSTROUS New Trailer first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Double Feature: Bloodfight and Ironheart | Blu-ray (MVD Rewind)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray Double Feature for 1989’s Bloodfight and 1992’s Ironheart, both starring martial arts cult legend Bolo Yeung (Soul of Chiba, The Big Boss 2, Enter the Dragon).

From Shuji Goto (Angel Target) comes Bloodfight (aka Final Fight), a Hong Kong-produced Bloodsport-type flick that also stars Simon Yam (The Mission), Yasuaki Kurata (The Empty Hands) and John Ladalski (The Chinese Stuntman).

Bloodfight takes you back to the ”arena of death”. Chang (Bolo) is the ruthless and unbeatable title holder of the World Free-Fighting Tournament. Kai (Yasuaki), an ex-champion believes different and trains a young student to capture the title. In the final match, Chang shows no sympathy for his young challenger and leaves him motionless in a pool of blood. Kai, outraged, challenges Chang to a one-on-one confrontation!

In Ironheart, an L.A. cop goes after a gang of murderous drug dealers. Joining Bolo is Richard Norton (Mission: Terminate) and Britton K. Lee. The film is directed by Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon, Game of Death).

• Theatrical Trailers (SD)
• Collectible Mini-Poster

Order Bloodfight/Ironheart from Amazon.com today! 

The post Deal on Fire! Bloodfight & Ironheart | Blu-ray | Only $8.91 – Expires soon! first appeared on cityonfire.com.

On December 8, 2026, Neon Eagle Video is releasing a Limited Edition Blu-ray (Region A) for Diamond Ninja Force (aka Demon’s Apartment), a 1986 production directed by Yao Feng Pan (All in the Dim Cold Night), later reworked in 1988 through additional directing and editing by IFD Films and Godfrey Ho (Manhattan Chase).

As with Neon’s previous release of Ninja Terminator, this will be a deluxe package featuring both Diamond Ninja Force and its source film, Demon’s Apartment. Both versions will be presented uncut and freshly restored from the original negatives.

Collectively, the movies star Richard Harrison (Challenge of the Tiger), Melvin Pitcher (Ninja Dragon), Andy Chworowsky (Ninja the Protector), Pierre Tremblay (A Better Tomorrow), Clifford Allen (Ninja the Protector), Maria Francesca (Operation Las Vegas), Yao Chi-chung (Demon’s Apartment) and Chuan Yuan (Vengeance!).

Disc 1 (Blu-ray) – Diamond Ninja Force: 

• Restored and reconstructed from a 4K scan of the negative and best remaining film elements / 1080p presentation
• English language audio
• Optional English SDH subtitles

Extras:

• Audio commentary by Samm Deighan
• Audio commentary by Arne Venema and Mike Leeder
• The Canadian Ninja: Talking IFD with Pierre Tremblay
• Ninja Terminator & Diamond Ninja Force Locations
• Archival trailer
• 2:39:1 / 90 minutes / 1988 / Director – Godfrey Ho / All Region

Disc 2 (Blu-ray) – Demon’s Apartment:

• Restored and reconstructed from a 4K scan of the negative and best remaining film elements / 1080p presentation
• Mandarin language
• Optional English subtitles

Extras:

• Commentary by Podcast on Fire
• History of Copy and Paste movies visual essay (produced by Somebody’s Favorite)
• Full color booklet with liner notes by Daniel Budnick and John Charles – limited edition only
• Rigid slipcase with artwork by Justin Coffee (front cover) and IIan Sheady (back cover)  – limited edition only
• 2:39:1 / 90 minutes / 1985 / Director – Feng-Pan Yao / All Region

Watch the Trailer below:

The post In Godfrey Ho We Trust! Neon Eagle brings ‘Diamond Ninja Force’ (aka ‘Demon’s Apartment’) to Blu-ray in December first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Hope” Poster

After a 10-year hiatus, critically acclaimed director Na Hong-Jin returns to the director’s chair with Hope, an upcoming sci-fi thriller heading to U.S. theaters on September 9th from Neon.

If you’re not familiar with Na Hong-Jin, maybe you’re familiar with his work. In 2008, the South Korean filmmaker shook the world with his debut feature film, The Chaser. In 2010, he showed us that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder with The Yellow Sea. Then in 2016 came The Wailing, where Na proved his cinematic prowess while tackling the occult subgenre.

The Wailing was the last full length feature we saw from the director, with only brief reminders of his work since. He later produced and co wrote the 2021 Thai horror film The Medium, and released the short film Faith, which also served as a showcase for the Galaxy S23 Ultra as a tool for professional filmmaking.

His new film, Hope, centers on Hope Harbor, a remote village near the Demilitarized Zone, where police chief Bum-seok receives alarming news from local youths that a tiger has appeared. As the village erupts into panic, Bum-seok is forced to confront a reality beyond belief (via Deadline).

Hope features an all-star, international cast that includes Hwang Jung-min (Deliver Us From Evil), Zo In-sung (Humint), Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave), Jung Ho-yeon (Squid Game), Taylor Russell (Escape Room) and Cameron Britton (Umbrella Academy). Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Parasite, Burning), who worked with Na on The Wailing, is also on board.

 Hot Take: The good news is that Na Hong Jin has a new film on the way. The bad news? Knowing him, it could be another three to ten years before we see the next one.

U.S. distributor Neon will release Hope on September 9th. Until then, don’t miss a New Clip (beware of spoilers), followed by recent Trailers/promotional videos below:

Cannes press conference, followed by the Trailers for Na’s previous work, including his short film Faith:

The post Runnin’ on HOPE won’t quite do! The latest from ‘The Chaser’ director Na Hong-jin hits U.S. theaters on September 9th first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“The Beast” Poster

Renny Harlin (Bodies at Rest), noted Hollywood film director known for his 90’s blockbusters Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, is getting ready to die harder with The Beast, an upcoming actioner starring Samuel L. Jackson (xXx: Return of Xander Cage) and Joel Kinnaman (Silent Night).

When a militia of unidentified hostiles coordinates a coup against the U.S., the president uncovers the extent of The Beast’s highly classified offensive capabilities in order to save his life and America.

Written by Umair Aleem (Kate), The Beast also stars Guy Burnet (Oppenheimer), Eoin Macken (Resident Evil: The Final Chapter) and Colin Morgan (Reflections).

Footnote: Back in the ’90s, Renny Harlin looked destined to become one of Hollywood’s great action directors. Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and The Long Kiss Goodnight cemented his reputation, but declining box office and the massive flop Cutthroat Island soon dried up the big-budget offers. By the 2000s, he was making films like 12 Rounds and The Legend of Hercules. His fortunes changed in 2016 when he directed Jackie Chan in Skiptrace. The Chinese production topped the Chinese box office and led to more offers from Chinese studios, including 2018’s Legend of the Ancient Sword and 2019’s Bodies at Rest. Since then, Harlin has been making his way back into Hollywood with entries in The Strangers series and the recent airplane-disaster-meets-shark thriller Deep Water. Could The Beast finally bring him back to Die Hard 2/The Long Kiss Goodnight territory?

The Beast hits theaters on October 9, 2026 from Aura Entertainment. Watch the Trailer below:

The post Renny Harlin DIES HARDER! Watch Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman go to war in the Trailer for ‘The Beast’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Now shipping is 88 Films’ Blu-ray (Region A) set for Wellson Chin Sing Wai’s The Inspector Wears Skirts Complete Collection (aka Top Squad Complete Collection), which will include 1988’s The Inspector Wears Skirts, 1989’s The Inspector Wears Skirts 2, 1990’s The Inspector Wears Skirts 3 and 1992’s The Inspector Wears Skirts 4.

The Inspector Wears Skirts Collection brings together the complete run of one of Hong Kong cinema’s most entertaining and influential action-comedy franchises, a series that helped redefine the role of women in late-’80s genre filmmaking. Blending high-impact martial arts, broad comedy, and ensemble-driven storytelling, these four films follow a squad of elite female police officers as they navigate intense training, internal rivalries, undercover operations, and increasingly dangerous confrontations with criminals and terrorists

Featuring an all-star lineup of Hong Kong action icons including Cynthia Rothrock (Yes Madam!), Kara Hui (Angel Terminators), Cynthia Khan (Eternal Fist), Sibelle Hu (Tai Chi Boxer), and Amy Yip (Miracles), the series combines the kinetic energy of classic Hong Kong stunt work with a distinctly comedic edge. What begins as a story of women proving themselves within a male-dominated police force evolves across the sequels into larger-scale missions involving espionage, organized crime, and explosive urban warfare–while maintaining the irreverent humor and camaraderie that define the franchise

Directed by Wellson Chin, the films reflect a pivotal era in Hong Kong cinema, where genre experimentation and star-driven ensemble casts flourished. The Inspector Wears Skirts series stands alongside contemporaries like Yes Madam! and In the Line of Duty as a key part of the “girls with guns” movement, delivering both groundbreaking representation and crowd-pleasing action that continues to resonate with fans of the genre

This 4-disc Blu-ray box set from 88 Films presents all four films in brand new 2K restorations in their original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, with original Cantonese audio tracks and newly translated subtitles, as well as English dubs for parts 1, 2, and 4. The set includes extensive bonus features, newly commissioned artwork by Sean Longmore, and a comprehensive presentation that celebrates the legacy of the series in definitive form

Critics have recognized the series’ significance and enduring appeal, with Elements of Madness noting its importance in showcasing women in action roles at a time when such opportunities were rare, while 10kBullets praised the collection’s strong audio-visual presentation and informative extras, recommending it as an essential release for fans of Hong Kong action cinema.

Collectively, the series features an all-star ensemble cast that includes Sandra Ng (Thunder Cops 2), Regina Kent (Legacy of Rage), Ellen Chan (Aces Go Places V: The Terracotta Hit), Billy Lau (Master Z : The Ip Man Legacy), Alex To (On The Run), Bill Tung (Police Story), Ann Bridgewater (Full Contact), Joanna Chan (The Last Duel), Angile Leung (Police Story 2), May Lo (The Last Blood), Stanley Fung (In the Line of Duty 3), Melvin Wong (The Blonde Fury), Ken Lo (Drunken Master 2), Mars (Bruce Li: The Invincible), Ricky Hui (The Pilferer’s Progress), Jeff Falcon (The Blonde Fury), Bruce Fontaine (She Shoots Straight), John Ladalski (City Ninja), Shing Fui On (Horrible High Heels), Peter Chan (The Big Boss), Moon Lee (Killer Angels), Sheila Chan Suk Lan (Outlaw Brothers) and James Tien (Fist of Fury).

Here’s what you can expect from the disc features:

The Inspector Wears Skirts:

• Brand New 2K Restoration in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio from the original negatives
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original Cantonese Mono with English Subtitles
• English Mono Dub Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng
• Shooting Her Shot – An Interview With Cynthia Rothrock
• The Director Wears Pants – An Interview With Director Wellson Chin
• ”Top Squad” English Opening and Closing Titles
• Hong Kong Trailer
• English Trailer
• Stills Gallery

The Inspector Wears Skirts 2:

• Brand New 2K Restoration From the Original Camera Negatives
• High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
• 2.0 DTS-HD MA Cantonese Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles
• 2.0 DTS-HD MA English Dub Soundtrack
• Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng
• Interview with Actor Anthony Carpio
• Leading the Top Squad – An Interview with Director Wellson Chin
• Hong Kong Trailer

The Inspector Wears Skirts 3:

• 2K Remaster from the Original Negatives presented in High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
• Original Cantonese Mono with English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng
• Deleted Scene
• Hong Kong Trailer

The Inspector Wears Skirts 4:

• 2K Remaster from the Original Negatives presented in High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
• Original Cantonese Mono with English Subtitles
• English Mono Dub
• Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng
• Hong Kong Trailer
• Stills Gallery

Order from The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!

Watch the Trailers below:

The post Ready for a full inspection? 88 Films’ Blu-ray for the complete ‘Inspector Wears Skirts’ collection is now shipping first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Holiday” Poster

Onscreen text during the final moments of Holiday states “This film is for the victims of the Preventative Custody Policy”. A policy which was only abolished in September 2005, just 4 months before Holiday hit the cinema in January 2006, it was used to unfairly extend prison sentences under the guise that it would prevent the prisoner in question from going back to a life of crime. In reality it was mainly used on prisoners who were already on the bottom rungs of society, and whose crimes may not have been any more than petty theft. Tensions came to the fore during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, when it was enforced to keep the less advantaged behind bars for longer (the idea being it was best to keep them out of sight from the global visitors), while more well-connected prisoners who’d done far worse walked free with shorter sentences.

Holiday tells the true story of a group of prisoners who, in October 1988, escaped while being transferred between prisons, enraged at the fact they were going to continue to be behind bars simply for being poor. It was a wise move by director Yang Yoon-ho, as nothing gets Koreans into the cinema like the story of the everyman suffering at the hands of the rich elite, and as a filmmaker he was coming off a post-2000 hot streak of helming 2000’s Libera Me and 2004’s Fighter in the Wind. It was perhaps his previous production which gave him a taste for adapting from real life events, with Fighter in the Wind chronicling the life of Kyokushin karate founder Masutatsu Oyama. Here he casts Lee Sung-jae (Carter, Daisy) as a resident of a slum village due to be demolished, the reason down to the fact it’s visible on the journey from the airport to the Olympic village, and the government are keen to portray a South Korea that’s prospering.

In the opening scene Sung-jae and his crippled friend from childhood become involved in a protest, triggered by representatives from the government turning up at the shanty town with bulldozers. True to what actually happened at the time (reflecting one of Korea’s darker historical periods), the authorities enlisted gangsters to round up the thugs who report up to them, their orders being to put the beatdown on anyone who resists, regardless of its men, women, or children. Overseen by an official played by Choi Min-soo (Seoul, Sword in the Moon), when Sung-jae’s friend takes one of the government representative’s hostage, Min-soo shoots him in the head, killing him on the spot. Enraged, Sung-jae finds himself carted off to prison where he loses all hope, however he finds a reason to live again when Min-soo is transferred into the role of warden for the same prison – making it his mission to seek revenge for his murdered friend.

Holiday opens with the caveat that “This film has been reconstructed with fictional elements based on actual characters and a true story”, and it’s just as well, as in reality I suspect Ji Kang-hun (who Sung-jae’s character is based on) didn’t spend his time in prison going up against a cartoon inspired villain. Quite what Min-soo is going for in his portrayal of the prison warden is difficult to pin down, with a gold rimmed tooth, early prototype of a man-bun, and an exaggerated accent that sees every line spoken through a scowl. There are at least 3 instances of him spouting villainous threats that are framed by him walking ever closer to the camera, which result in the scenes ending with his face completely filling the frame. It’s absurdly amusing, however I don’t think it’s supposed to be, since the entire narrative surrounding his performance is played straight.

The gritty prison setting allows us to get to know the group who we come to spend the 2^nd half with once they escape the prison walls. There’s the grizzled cell leader played by Lee Eol (The 8^th Night, Waikiki Brothers), the youthful Yeo Hyung-soon (To Sir, With Love, The Strangers), the loyal Kim Dong-hyeon (Deep Trap, The Silenced), the towering Jang Se-jin (Ghost in Love, My Wife is a Gangster), and dwarf Moon Young-dong (The Night of the Undead, The Truth Beneath). Pushed to their limits by the harsh conditions Min-soo inflicts on them, together they hatch a plan to escape, and once they successfully pull it off we spend the rest of Holiday watching the walls slowly close in on them as the authorities get ever closer.

The prison escape unfortunately also sees Holiday go completely off the rails, as director Yoon-ho can’t seem to keep a grasp on the histrionics meter, turning it up to 11 far too early and seemingly forgetting (or simply refusing to consider) that sometimes it’s best to tone it back down. Our six escapees spend most of the last hour swimming in a mix of their own blood, sweat, tears, saliva, and mucus while yelling about the injustices of the world, a surprising amount of which takes place in the homes they’ve invaded as a place to stay, their hostages quickly accepting that their fundamentally good guys. It’s also during one such scenario that Holiday takes a disastrous misstep, one that I personally found it difficult to recover from.

Inside Se-jin had a habit of making baby figurines in the glass blowing factory they work in, a reflection of his desire to become a father (although admittedly a somewhat creepy one) once he gets out and reunites with his girlfriend. Unfortunately when he turns up at her door, he discovers she’s found someone else, and not only that, has bore a child with her new man. Understandably devastated, he returns to the house they’ve shacked up in for the night. Less understandably, while everyone else is sleeping he sneaks into the actual residents of the house bedroom and attempts to rape her. Thankfully Sung-jae stops him before it goes too far, but the aftermath of the scene takes a bizarre turn when we’re asked to sympathise with Se-jin, who in one of many histrionic fuelled scenes confesses that he only wanted to rape “that bitch” so he could become a father. Quite what anyone was thinking is unfathomable, and it leaves a bad taste.

By the time the final four end up holed up in another house they’ve invaded (and of whom the residents of course quickly realise what an affable group of fellows they are – this time even cooking dinner for them!), a more fitting title would be Men Crying – The Movie. Perhaps that title would also spare us from the constant orchestral swelling of The Bee Gees Holiday that the movie takes its actual title from, a reference to how in reality Ji Kang-hun requested a cassette of the trios 1967 hit during their final stand. Ironically this is the 2^nd Korean production to use the song, with the first being the 1999 classic Nowhere to Hide, of which it plays over the iconic rain drenched opening scene.

Sung-jae does get to recreate the line Kang-hun became remembered for, when as the house was surrounded by police and news crews broadcast the siege live, he appeared at a window and yelled “You’re innocent if you have money! You’re guilty if you have no money!” Unfortunately by the time it’s delivered most will be suffering from over-emoting fatigue, robbing the scene of its impact, and exasperated by the way its shot in a shaky cam style that doesn’t do it any favours. It’s a shame, as there’s clearly a powerful movie in Holiday somewhere, one which feels like it would have had a better chance of being fully realised if a more measured approach was taken. As it is, Yoon-ho increasingly opts for “the more bodily fluids you can have streaming down your face the better” approach, and it ends up being to the detriment of the audience connecting to what’s onscreen.

Despite the overdone dramatics, Lee Sung-jae’s performance keeps Holiday from being a total write off, with director Yoon-ho seemingly on a mission to find as many opportunities as possible for him to be topless (when you see his six pack, you’ll understand why). There’s definitely a drinking game in there somewhere. As it is though, Holiday wants to be a gritty prison flick, a true-life retelling, and a rousing ode to the injustices of Korean society all at once, but instead ends up being a cautionary tale in what happens when the entire cast is forced to overact as if their lives depended on it.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 5/10

The post Holiday (2006) Review first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Martial arts stars Maria Tran (Last King of the Cross, Tiger Cop, Tracer) and Takashi Hara (Ayotti) are back with Five By Five and Echo 8 Beyond, the prequel and sequel, respectively, to their 2024 indie action thriller Echo 8.

Read the full press release below:

Phoenix Eye Films has released the official trailer and posters for Five By Five and Echo 8 Beyond, the prequel and sequel completing the independently produced Echo 8 action trilogy.

Directed by husband-and-wife filmmaking team Maria Tran (Last King of the Cross, Tiger Cop, Tracer) and Takashi Hara (Ayotti), the two features were filmed back-to-back across Western Sydney for approximately USD $18,000 each.

The films were financed through crowdfunding, with additional support from sponsors and in-kind community contributions. More than 200 individual cast members, crew and collaborators participated in the production.

Principal photography took place over 50 shooting days and wrapped in March 2025, followed by an 18-month post-production process led by Tran and Hara.

“Five By Five” Poster

Five By Five and Echo 8 Beyond expand the world established in the original Echo 8, a female-led action thriller made for just USD $6,500. The first film has since exceeded one million views and appeared on more than 20 streaming platforms, building an international audience for the franchise.

“We consider ourselves hobbyist filmmakers because filmmaking isn’t our primary employment—we both work in other fields,” said Tran. “But we approach it with professional discipline and an enormous amount of passion.”

“We love fast-and-furious filmmaking: moving quickly, solving problems and finding ways to put every available dollar on the screen.”

Rather than waiting for conventional financing, Tran and Hara turned to their audience and filmmaking community to create the next two installments.

“These films exist because people chose to back them, sponsor them and contribute their time, skills and resources,” Tran said. “The cash budgets were small, but the collective commitment behind them was huge.”

“More than 200 people came together to help us make two feature films across 50 shooting days. That community is the real engine behind the trilogy.”

The production brought together established practitioners, emerging talent and first-time participants, providing hands-on experience across acting, production and screen action.

The trilogy reflects the growing possibilities of microbudget filmmaking as lower-cost production technology, crowdfunding, digital distribution and direct audience access reduce traditional barriers to creating and releasing feature films.

“Echo 8 Beyond” Poster

For Tran and Hara, microbudget cinema is not simply conventional filmmaking with less money. It is a production model built around speed, creative control, resourcefulness and community participation.

“Microbudget filmmaking is becoming its own legitimate mode of production,” Tran said. “It doesn’t need to imitate a studio film or apologize for what it is.”

“The opportunity is to remain agile, take creative risks and build directly with an audience. We weren’t waiting for permission or for the perfect financing package. We started with what we had and invited people to become part of it.”

Tran also believes that the human experience of production remains essential as emerging technology makes it increasingly possible for individuals to create films independently.

“Technology may eventually allow one person to create an entire film alone, but we still believe deeply in bringing a cast, crew and community together,” Tran said. “The finished film matters, but so do the skills, relationships and shared experiences created along the way.”

Showtimes & Dates:

• Echo 8 Beyond will make its world premiere at the US Martial Arts Film Festival in Arizona on October 17, 2026
• Both Five By Five and Echo 8 Beyond have been officially selected for the 2026 Urban Action Showcase, where they will screen in New York on November 14, 2026
• Following their US festival appearances, both films will return to Western Sydney for a special cinema double feature at Event Cinemas Liverpool on December 10, 2026

The international rollout will take the community-made films from Arizona to New York before returning them to the place—and the people—that brought the trilogy to life.

Although Five By Five and Echo 8 Beyond complete the current trilogy, Tran is already developing a fourth installment titled One Black Night, set in Las Vegas.

The project will take the franchise into a new environment while adapting the community-powered production model established in Western Sydney for the Las Vegas filmmaking community.

“One Black Night will take the spirit of what we built in Western Sydney and explore what that model can become in Las Vegas,” Tran said. “The location and story may change, but the philosophy remains the same: start with the resources around us, bring people together and create something ambitious.”

Five By Five takes place before the events of Echo 8, exploring the covert world, divided loyalties and dangerous choices that set the original story in motion.

Echo 8 Beyond continues the story after Echo 8, introducing new alliances, escalating threats and further martial arts-driven action.

Together, Five By Five, Echo 8 and Echo 8 Beyond form a female-led action trilogy rooted in Western Sydney’s multicultural communities and built through grassroots collaboration.

Watch the Trailers below:

Phoenix Eye Films is an independent production company founded by Vietnamese-Australian actor, filmmaker and martial artist Maria Tran. The company develops culturally diverse, female-led genre stories through resourceful, community-powered production models.

The post Back-to-back action! Watch the Trailers for the microbudget martial arts thrillers ‘Five By Five’ and ‘Echo 8 Beyond’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Redeemer | Blu-ray & DVD (MPI Entertainment)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Redeemer (read our review), starring Chilean martial arts star Marko Zaror (Savage Dog, Machete Kills) and directed by Ernesto Díaz Espinoza (Kiltro).

In Redeemer, an ex-hitman (Zaror) seeks redemption for his sins by meting out violent justice to those who would prey on the innocent. Known on the streets as the Redeemer, Pardo is a vigilante desperate for redemption and earns it by offering criminals the chance to ask forgiveness for their crimes or pay the ultimate price.

When his bloody path crosses that of would-be drug lord Braddock (Noah Segan, Looper, Deadgirl), he must fight an entire underworld organization while keeping one step ahead of a vengeful assassin seeking to undo his virtuous work.

Order Redeemer from Amazon.com today!

The post Deal on Fire! Redeemer | Blu-ray | Only $12.75 – Expires soon! first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal may have had the action movie market cornered in the early ’90s, but true martial arts cinema fans know there was another guy worth watching: Jeff Speakman. A skilled Kenpo practitioner, Speakman was given the spotlight for only a couple of Hollywood theatrical ventures before moving into the straight-to-video world. His 1991 debut, The Perfect Weapon, remains his undisputed standout.

Now, after 20 years away from movies, Speakman is making his comeback with Lost Echoes, an upcoming thriller based on Joe R. Lansdale’s novel of the same name. The film will be directed by Chef Joe Gatto (yes, an actual chef), who is perhaps best known for his extreme scratch-cooking philosophy and his hit Pluto TV series From Scratch.

Lost Echoes follows Harry Wilkes, a young man who has a strange ability to see and hear crimes from the past. After struggling with alcohol, Harry meets Tad, a martial arts expert who helps him turn his life around and control his unusual gift. When an old friend asks Harry to look into her father’s mysterious death, he finds himself pulled into a dangerous mystery.

“After 20 years, I am returning to the motion picture world because of Lost Echoes. We go live on Kickstarter September 1st, so become a part of the solution and let’s make this happen,” Speakman said on his official Facebook account.

Footnote: Jeff Speakman had a fighting style that felt different from what Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal were doing at the time. Instead of flashy kicks or Seagal’s trademark aikido moves, Speakman relied on fast Kenpo combinations, hard hand strikes and quick, close-range movements. Looking back, the fight scenes in movies like The Perfect Weapon, Street Knight and The Expert were ahead of their time.

We’ll keep you updated on this project as we learn more. Until then, check out a personal message from Master Speakman regarding Lost Echoes (now on Kickstarter), followed by Trailers for some of his best-known movies below:

The post THE PERFECT WEAPON IS BACK! Martial arts star Jeff Speakman talks about his comeback film ‘Lost Echoes’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Image credit

Every city shows a different side of itself once the sun goes down. While daytime is all about work and errands, the night is for connecting, expressing ourselves, and letting loose. This after-hours change isn’t just because it’s dark; it’s shaped by the places we go to find our people. Cult entertainment venues, those unique, often niche spots with a dedicated following, truly build modern nightlife. They create scenes and subcultures that define a city’s spirit long after the offices have closed.

What Defines a “Cult” Entertainment Venue?

A cult venue is more than just a popular bar or club. It’s a place with a clear identity and a fiercely loyal clientele who feel like they own the space. Think of a dive bar with a legendary jukebox, an underground club known for a specific music genre, or a performance art space that constantly pushes boundaries. These places get their character from their atmosphere, which often comes together by chance through their history, decor, and the people who hang out there.

Their “cult” status comes from feeling like you’ve discovered something special. You don’t usually just stumble upon these places; a friend typically brings you, or you follow a tip from someone “in the know.” This creates a self-selected group of patrons who share similar tastes or views. This shared identity turns a simple business into a cultural landmark, where regulars are greeted by name and newcomers feel like they’ve found a home.

Beyond the Mainstream: The Allure of Niche Nightlife

With so many options available today, people are getting tired of one-size-fits-all experiences. While generic, chart-topping nightclubs have their place, many are looking for something more specific and personal. This is where niche venues shine. They cater to particular tastes, whether it’s a love for 80s synth-pop, a passion for craft cocktails, or an appreciation for burlesque. The more specific the theme, the more dedicated the following.

You can see this shift in how people search for a night out. They aren’t just looking for “bars”; they’re searching for “a retro arcade bar” or “a quiet speakeasy.” Someone looking for the best strip club near me isn’t just after any venue; they want a specific kind of atmosphere, performance, and experience that mainstream places might not offer. This desire for curated experiences leads people off the usual path and into the arms of cult venues that promise something unique and memorable.

More Than a Night Out: Building Community and Identity

The most successful cult venues do more than just serve drinks or play music; they build communities. They act as “third places,” environments outside of home and work where people can socialize, relax, and form meaningful connections. For many subcultures, from goths and punks to electronic music fans and LGBTQ+ communities, these venues have historically been safe havens and vital social hubs.

Here, shared interests become the basis for friendships and creative collaborations. A bar that hosts an open mic night becomes a starting point for local musicians. A club dedicated to a specific dance style trains the next generation of dancers. These spaces affirm identities and foster a sense of belonging, proving that nightlife’s essential role in urban culture is not just frivolous entertainment. They are like the living rooms of our cities, where the stories and relationships that define our social lives are created.

The Ripple Effect on Urban Culture

The influence of cult entertainment venues goes far beyond their walls. They are powerful economic and cultural drivers. Economically, they create jobs, support a network of suppliers, and often help revitalize neighborhoods, bringing people and investment to areas that might otherwise be overlooked. There are significant opportunities in the nightlife sector that cities can encourage to foster growth and vibrancy.

Culturally, these venues set trends. The music played in an underground club today could be on mainstream radio tomorrow. The fashion seen on its dance floor can influence designers and high-street brands. By giving a platform to emerging artists, musicians, and performers, these venues act as incubators for creativity, enriching the city’s cultural landscape and keeping it dynamic and innovative. They are living laboratories for what’s new and next.

Cult entertainment venues are at the heart of a city’s nightlife. They offer more than just a place to go after dark; they provide space for identity, community, and cultural creation. By celebrating what’s niche and championing what’s unique, these establishments make our cities more interesting, more vibrant, and ultimately, more human.

The post After-Hours Culture: How Cult Entertainment Venues Shape Modern Nightlife first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Street Fighter” Poster

Kitao Sakura, an up-and-coming filmmaker perhaps best known for 2021’s Bad Trip and several episodes of the 2023 Twisted Metal series, is currently putting the finishing touches on Legendary and Paramount Pictures’ live-action adaptation of Capcom’s classic video game Street Fighter, which is set to hit theaters on October 16, 2026.

Stars appearing in Street Fighter include Andrew Koji (Snake Eyes) as Ryu; Noah Centineo (The Recruit) as Ken; Roman Reigns aka Joe Anoa’i (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) as Akuma; Jason Momoa (Aquaman) as Blanka; and musician Orville Peck as Vega.

The film also stars Callina Liang (Presence) as Chun-Li; Comedian Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki; David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil) as M. Bison; Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson (Get Rich or Die Tryin’) as Balrog; WWE’s Cody Rhodes (Arrow) as Guile; Vidyut Jammwal (Sanak, Commando) as Dhalsim; professional wrestler Hirooki Goto (Headshot) as E. Honda; and Eric André (Ironheart), as ring announcer Don Sauvage (first appearing in Street Fighter V).

Anthony Rinna, a stunt performer on films including 2020’s Mulan and 2017’s Kung Fu Yoga, as well as the fight choreographer behind 2023’s Blue Beetle and this year’s The Wrecking Crew, is handling the film’s action.

Street Fighter hits theaters on October 16, 2026.

Footnote: The live action history of Street Fighter began with Steven E. de Souza’s 1994 film starring Jean Claude Van Damme, which became one of his highest grossing movies despite being savaged by critics and fans. Hong Kong got in on the action earlier, with Wong Jing parodying the game in Jackie Chan’s City Hunter (1992) and unofficially, in Future Cops (1993). These were followed by Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (2009), starring Kristin Kreuk and Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist (2014), starring Mike Moh, which later spawned a feature film edit and the 2015 follow up Street Fighter: Resurrection.

Watch the Newest Trailer, followed by recent clips/Trailers below:

The post PERFECT!!! Watch the NEW action packed Trailer for Kitao Sakura’s star-studded ‘Street Fighter’ live-action film first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“One Last Shot” Poster

Martial arts star Scott Adkins (Prisoner of War) and director James Nunn (Eliminators) are teaming up for a 5th time for One Last Shot, the follow up to 2024’s One More Shot and 2021’s One Shot.

Once again written by Jamie Russell (One Shot, One More Shot), One Last Shot will follow the new adventures of Navy SEAL Jake Harris (Adkins). This time around, he must stop a team of mercenaries, led by his disillusioned former comrade, from disabling the US missile defense network.

One Last Shot also stars Dolph Lundgren (Wanted Man), Steven Cree (Outlander), Jess Khan-Lee (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning), Kane Kosugi (Tekken 2: Kazuya’s Revenge) and Michel Curiel (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law).

The action is choreographed by one of the best choreographers working today, Tim Man, who has worked with Adkins on numerous titles, including Ninja: Shadow of a Tear, Eliminators and Boyka: Undisputed.

Footnote: As with One Shot and One More Shot, expect the “one continuous shot” gimmick to once again be put to good use. Hence, the titles of all three films. =)

One Last Shot arrives on DVD and Digital on Sept. 22 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Watch the film’s New Trailer below:

Previous Trailers from the series:

The post Scott Adkins vs. Kane Kosugi? Watch the explosive New Trailer for ‘One Last Shot’ also starring Dolph Lundgren first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Chen Kuan-tai, a martial artist, actor and director, has passed away at the age of 80. According to reports from Hong Kong, the legendary Shaw Brothers star reportedly died following a suspected brain hemorrhage.

Also known to many fans as “Brother Tai,” Chen leaves behind an extraordinary career spanning more than five decades. After establishing himself as a skilled martial artist and winning the light heavyweight championship at the Southeast Asian National Martial Arts Competition in 1969, he entered the film industry and went on to become one of Hong Kong cinema’s most recognizable kung fu stars.

Chen rose to international fame after starring in Chang Cheh’s The Boxer from Shantung in 1972, which established him as one of Shaw Brothers’ biggest action stars. He went on to appear in countless classics, including The Blood Brothers, Heroes Two, The Teahouse, The Flying Guillotine, Crippled Avengers, Executioners from Shaolin, and Killer Constable, while also working as a director and action filmmaker throughout his remarkable career.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and loved ones.

Watch Interviews, Trailers and footage from some of Chen Kuan-tai’s most memorable performances:

The post Chen Kuan-tai, martial artist and Shaw Brothers star of ‘Boxer from Shantung’ and ‘Flying Guillotine’, passes away at 80 first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Lau Siu Ming, the legendary Hong Kong actor, dancer and pioneer of the Hong Kong performing arts scene, has passed away at the age of 94. Details regarding his cause of death have not been publicly disclosed at this time.

Known affectionately to fans and colleagues as “Ming Sir,” Lau leaves behind an extraordinary career spanning decades, both on screen and on the stage. Before becoming one of Hong Kong cinema and television’s most recognizable character actors, Lau was an accomplished dancer who studied classical ballet in France and became one of the pioneers of Hong Kong’s modern dance movement.

Lau entered the film industry in 1979 when director Tsui Hark cast him in The Butterfly Murders. He would go on to establish himself as a familiar face in Hong Kong cinema, appearing in countless films and television productions throughout the following decades.

International audiences may best remember Lau for his unforgettable performances in Tsui Hark’s A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy, in which he played the sinister Tree Demon in the first and third films. His extensive filmography also includes Swordsman, The Butterfly Murders, Project A Part II, Police Story 2, Royal Warriors, Miracles, The Untold Story, Re-Cycle, and China Strike Force, while his television work made him a familiar presence to generations of Hong Kong audiences.

Beyond his work as an actor, Lau remained a respected and influential figure in the world of dance and performing arts, dedicating much of his life to promoting and supporting Hong Kong’s artistic community. His remarkable contributions to both dance and cinema ensured that “Ming Sir” would remain a beloved and enduring figure in Hong Kong entertainment.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.

Watch Interviews, Trailers and footage from some of Lau Siu Ming’s most memorable performances:

The post Lau Siu Ming, actor and performing artist of ‘Butterfly Murders’ and ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’, passes away at 94 first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel has just announced their New Releases for the month of September. If you want to give Hi-YAH! a go, visitors of this site can use the promo code “CITYONFIRE” for a FREE 30 Day trial!

Read on for the full list of New and Exclusive titles:

The Kung Fu Kid (Hi-YAH! Exclusive) | 9/4/26

The English-dubbed version of The Kung Fu Kid makes its Hi-YAH! debut as a Hi-YAH! Exclusive.

A Fistful of Stances | S01 E19 | 9/4/26

A Fistful of Stances is a 2010 Hong Kong TVB series produced and created by Lee Tim-shing (Happy Go Lucky).

Ku Yu Cheung (Kevin Cheng, Invincible Dragon) comes home after many years. His mother (Yuen Qiu, The Shadow’s Edge) is happy to see him, but things are not okay. His brother (Kenneth Ma, The Final Shot) is very sick, and his father has been killed by a cruel enemy, Wing Tak (Dominic Lam, Crocodile Tears).

Yu Cheung wants justice. He learns a strong new kung fu style and joins a big fighting contest. In the final match, he must face Wing Man Kwan (Jacky Heung, 100 Yards), the enemy’s son. When the truth comes out, the fight becomes bigger than ever. Now, Yu Cheung must win… or lose everything.

Operation Hadal | 9/11/26

Director Dante Lam (Beast Cops, The Rescue) has been reliably turning out hard-hitting films that have helped expand the scope of the action/thriller genre in Hong Kong and his newest film, Operation Hadal (aka Operation Leviathan) – the follow up to 2016’s Operation Mekong and 2018’s Operation Red Sea – will continue the tradition.

Operation Hadal stars Xuan Huang (Extraordinary Mission), Yosh Yu (Born to Fly), Zhang Hanyu (Manhunt), Karry Wang (The Great Wall), Luxia Jiang (Double World), Chen Li (Never Say Never), Cory Beeston (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Yihong Duan (Wind Blast) and Ivan Kostadinov (Boyka: Undisputed IV).

For Operation Hadal, you can obviously expect more of Lam’s knack for explosions, vehicular chaos, unlimited bullets and military hardware galore. | Read our review.

A Fistful of Stances | S01 E20 | 9/11/26

A continuing episode of A Fistful of Stances, a 2010 Hong Kong TVB series produced and created by Lee Tim-shing (Happy Go Lucky). It stars Kevin Cheng (Invincible Dragon), Yuen Qiu (The Shadow’s Edge), Kenneth Ma (The Final Shot), Dominic Lam (Crocodile Tears) and Jacky Heung (100 Yards).

Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend (Hi-YAH! Exclusive) | 9/18/26

Dennis To revisits the role of Ip Man, the real-life Wing Chun grandmaster made famous to the mainstream by Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen’s iconic Ip Man franchise.

The film is directed by Li Liming, best known for 2020’s Young Ip Man: Crisis Time (starring Zhao Wenhao as Ip Man) and  Ip Man: Kung Fu Master (2019) — the latter serving as the direct predecessor to Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend.

British merchants and Chinese triads have joined forces. This move draws fierce opposition from Ip Man, who is standing up for the workers. Framed for murder, he is sent to prison. Within the prison walls, the triads set multiple deadly traps. Can Ip Man overcome these trials, escape the danger and clear his name?

Also starring in Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend is Zhou Xiaofei (Ip Man 4: The Finale), Steven Dasz (Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac) and Zhang Tingfei (Coming Home). The film features martial arts choreography by Sun Fei, who is known for his work in 2003’s Warriors of Heaven and Earth and 2006’s The Banquet.

Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend marks Dennis To’s 4th time playing the titular character, following 2010’s Ip Man: The Legend is Born, 2018’s Kung Fu League and 2019’s Ip Man: Kung Fu Master. | Read our review.

A Fistful of Stances | S01 E21 | 9/18/26

A continuing episode of A Fistful of Stances, a 2010 Hong Kong TVB series produced and created by Lee Tim-shing (Happy Go Lucky). It stars Kevin Cheng (Invincible Dragon), Yuen Qiu (The Shadow’s Edge), Kenneth Ma (The Final Shot), Dominic Lam (Crocodile Tears) and Jacky Heung (100 Yards).

731 | 9/25/26

Directed by Linshan Zhao (The Assassins), 731 (aka Evil Unbound) revolves around a real-life facility that was responsible for large-scale biological and chemical warfare research, as well as lethal human experimentation.

731 will most definitely be compared to the similarly themed 1988’s Men Behind the Sun, as being one of the most controversial movies ever made.

731 is set against the backdrop of the bacterial experiments conducted by the Japanese Imperial Army’s Unit 731 in Northeast China, and reveals the crimes of Unit 731 through the turbulent fate of an ordinary individual.

The film stars Wu Jiang (A Touch of Sin), Zhiwen Wang (Battle of the Warriors), Naiwen Li (Mr. Right), Qian Sun (Wild Bloom), Wenjuan Feng (Operation Mekong), Irene Wan (All of a Sudden), Yu Li (Iron Mask), Guangyu Xu (Polar Rescue) and Changde Liu (The Rhapsody of A Summer Dream).

A Fistful of Stances | S01 E22 | 9/25/26

A continuing episode of A Fistful of Stances, a 2010 Hong Kong TVB series produced and created by Lee Tim-shing (Happy Go Lucky). It stars Kevin Cheng (Invincible Dragon), Yuen Qiu (The Shadow’s Edge), Kenneth Ma (The Final Shot), Dominic Lam (Crocodile Tears) and Jacky Heung (100 Yards).

The post Kung Fu Kids, Ip Man, Operation Hadal and Biological Warfare! Here’s what’s on Hi-YAH for the month of September first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Legend of the White Dragon | 4K Ultra HD (Well Go USA)

Debuting on Digital September 22, followed by a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD release on October 20, is Well Go USA’s Legend of the White Dragon.

Legend of the White Dragon marks the final performance of the late Jason David Frank, the martial arts actor best known to fans for his iconic role as Tommy Oliver in the beloved Power Rangers franchise.

This highly anticipated fantasy-action movie – something of an unofficial follow-up to the Power Rangers franchise – comes from filmmakers Aaron Schoenke and Sean Schoenke (Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe).

Legend of the White Dragon follows follows Erik Reed (Frank), a former hero forced into hiding after a devastating battle destroys part of his city and exposes his identity. Once celebrated as the White Dragon, Erik is now blamed for the destruction and cut off from the life and family he left behind. As corruption spreads through Virtuo City, Erik is drawn back into saving a world that no longer trusts him. He must confront his past and decide whether the White Dragon still belongs in a city that has already judged him, all while facing an enemy who wields the same mysterious energy that once defined him.  

In addition to co-directing, Aaron Schoenke stars alongside Frank with Mark Dacascos (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum), Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor (Black-ish), Michael Madsen (Diamond Cartel), David Ramsey (Arrow), Jason Faunt (Jekyll), Rachel Brooke Smith (Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar), Ciara Hanna (The Call), Kevin Porter (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story), Mayling Ng (Debt Collectors), Cerina Vincent (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy) and Frank’s daughter, Jenna Rae Frank.

DVD Bonus Features:

• Spanish Language Available​
• Q&A with Jenna Frank
• ​Thank You to the Backers
• Filmmaker Commentary
• Trailer

4K + Blu-ray Bonus Features:

• Spanish Language Available​
• Q&A with Jenna Frank  (Blu-ray only)
• Thank You to the Backers  (Blu-ray only)
• Filmmaker Commentary
• Trailer

Footnote: Power Rangers franchise regulars Johnny Yong Bosch (Hellfire) and Yoshi Sudarso (Buffalo Boys) were once attached to this project, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts (and other reasons that are unknown).

Watch the Trailer below:

The post Power Rangers-sploitation! ‘Legend of the White Dragon’ arrives on Digital in September then Physical in October first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Today’s Deal on Fire is the 4K Ultra HD for 1992’s Under Siege. Action icon Steven Seagal serves up his signature brand of bone-crunching justice in Under Siege, the ultimate 90s action spectacle from director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive), co-starring Tommy Lee Jones (Black Moon Rising) and Gary Busey (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) at their most unhinged.

When a gang of mercenaries hijack the USS Missouri during its farewell voyage, their plan is simple: steal the ship’s nuclear warheads and hold the world to ransom. But they’ve overlooked one tiny detail, the ship’s cook. Unfortunately for them, Casey Ryback (Seagal) isn’t just any cook… he’s a one-man army with a taste for mayhem.

Packed with explosions, knife fights, and more one-liners than you can count, Under Siege is a gloriously over-the-top blast of 1990s action, now available in a stunning new director-approved restoration that packs a hell of a punch!

Features:

• Brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director Andrew Davis
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original lossless stereo audio and a brand new Dolby Atmos mix
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary with director Andrew Davis and writer J.F. Lawton
• I’m on a Boat (With a Bomb), a newly filmed interview with director Andrew Davis
• One of the Guys, a newly filmed interview with actor Erika Eleniak
• A Tight Ship, a newly filmed interview with actor Damian Chapa
• The Introvision Files, a newly filmed interview with visual effects supervisor William Mesa
• Theatrical trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Vern and a serial fiction by Martyn Pedler

Order today from Goodie Emporium!

The post Deal on Fire! Under Siege | Blu-ray | Only $18.99 – Expires soon! first appeared on cityonfire.com.

On September 13, 2026, Arrow Video is releasing a Limited Edition 3-Disc Blu-ray (Region B) release for the Wicked Priest Collection, which includes Wicked Priest, Wicked Priest 2: Ballad of Murder, Wicked Priest 3: A Killer’s Pilgrimage, Wicked Priest 4: The Killer Priest Comes Back and Wicked Priest 5: Blood on the Commandments – all produced by in the years 1968 through 1971.

Most famous for his role as the stoic Ogami Itto in the legendary Lone Wolf and Cub series, Tomisaburo Wakayama shows a different side in the ebullient martial arts comedy series Wicked Priest, where a devout man of the cloth doesn’t let a little thing like his vows keep him away from women, booze and brawls!

Wakayama plays Shinkai, a Buddhist monk with a penchant for drinking and gambling, setting sinners straight with judo throws rather than sermons. In the first film, he’s placed on probation for fighting off a gang of thugs, but when he hears of rogue priests in his order consorting with yakuza, he returns to punch them towards enlightenment.

The first sequel sees Shinkai run afoul of local mobsters who then hire his nemesis, the Zatoichi-inspired fighting monk Ryotatsu (Bunta Sugawara, Battles Without Honor and Humanity), hellbent on revenge against Shinkai for blinding him.

In the third film, Shinkai joins the fight to defend a coastal village against pirate revolutionaries, whilst still finding the time for bawdy misadventures and fighting off the tenacious Ryotatsu.

Shinkai returns to his snowy hometown for his mother’s memorial in the fourth film and is shocked to discover his childhood friend has become a ruthless yakuza, and must encourage the local community to fight back against his gang.

Finally, Shinkai must face off against the vengeful Ryotatsu one last time in the series’ thrilling concluding installment.

Wakayama shines as the rascally Shinkai whose roguish ways attract the ire of his superiors before they’re won over by his righteousness and affinity for roundhouse-kicking ruffians. A thrilling blend of raunchy humor and explosive karate fights, the Wicked Priest series is the nirvana of Japanese 60s action comedy!

Limited Edition Features: 

• Brand new restorations of all five films in the series: Wicked Priest, Wicked Priest 2: Ballad of Murder, Wicked Priest 3: A Killer’s Pilgrimage, Wicked Priest 4: The Killer Priest Comes Back and Wicked Priest 5: Blood on the Commandments
• Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the films by Camille Zaurin

Features: 

• High-Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all five films
• Original lossless Japanese mono audio on all five films
• Optional English subtitles on all five films
• Composing the Gospel, a brand new video essay on Wicked Priest composer and electronic music pioneer Isao Tomita by music supervisor and Japanese cinema expert James Balmont
• Taisho Troubles, a brand new video essay on Wicked Priest’s depictions of historical Japan by Japanese cinema expert Jonathan Clements
• Offscreen Battles, a brand interview with Asian cinema expert James Mudge on the tumultuous landscape of 1960s Japanese cinema
• Martial Arts and Super Mario Brothers, a brand new interview with Japanese cinema experts Patrick Macias and Matt Alt on Wicked Priest star and Japanese screen icon Tomisaburo Wakayama
• Priest or Monk, a brand new primer on Buddhism and pop culture as depicted in the Wicked Priest films by Patrick Macias and Matt Alt
• Original theatrical trailers for all five films

This title is available for pre-order at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!

Watch the Trailers below:

The post ‘Lone Wolf and Cub’ star shines bright! Watch all 5 Trailers for the ‘Wicked Priest’ Blu-ray collection arriving in September first appeared on cityonfire.com.