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Wong Kar-wai returns to his 1994 classic to produce a definite version – but is it really any better…? (more…)

On release today at selected cinemas around the UK, Fumihiko Sori’s enteraining revamp of blind swordsman Zatoichi, Ichi, starring Haruka Ayase…

» Read our full review of Ichi here…

From Fumihiko Sori, the director of Vexille and Ping Pong, comes the period martial arts action saga, ICHI, a bold, gender-bending reimagining of the classic Zatoichi series of films and TV shows. Originally created by novelist Kan Shimozawa, the eponymous hero – a blind masseur and master swordsman – has traditionally been a male character (previously played by stars such as Shintaro Katsu, Takeshi Kitano and, in Blind Fury, by Rutger Hauer). In a refreshing break from tradition that adds an intriguing twist to the story, Sori’s ICHI stars actress Haruka Ayase (Hero) in the title role playing a young and beautiful blind musician who also happens to be an adept swordswoman.

Travelling the country in search of the blind swordsman who raised her as a child and passed on his fighting skills to her before mysteriously leaving her life, Ichi is constantly struggling to deal with those eager to take advantage of her disability. During her quest she encounters and is threatened by a brutal gang of bandits. Another passing wanderer, Toma (Takao Osawa), steps in to rescue Ichi but finds he is the one being saved when she reveals a samurai sword hidden inside her walking stick and effortlessly despatches their attackers. The slaying of the bandits brings the wrath of their leader, Banki (Shido Nakamura), down upon Ichi and Toma and they reluctantly become embroiled in a battle for control of a village between Banki’s gang and the local yakuza. However, Ichi’s initial feelings about her involvement changes when she discovers Banki may know the whereabouts of the man she is seeking.

Co-starring Shido Nakamura (Red Cliff; Letters From Iwo Jima), Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) and Takao Osawa (Sky High), and with fight choreography by Hiroshi Kuze (responsible for the amazing sword fights in many of Akira Kurosawa’s epics, including Ran) and a superb musical score by award winning composer Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator), ICHI is a sublime and welcome addition to the Zatoichi movie canon.

ICHI (cert. 15 tbc) is released by Manga Entertainment and opens at ICA London from 7 July, and selected UK cinemas on 10 July 2009.

With a cast including Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhao Wei, Zhang Fengyi and Chen Chang, Red Cliff looks like a real return to form for director John Woo, whose last Chinese movie was Hard Boiled. Originally released in China as two movies, the Western version has been edited down into a more concise, two and a half hour version that hopefully gets rid of the slow start to the original without losing integral plots or characterisation (here’s hoping!).

Red Cliff is released by Entertainment Films at the Vue West End and nationwide around the UK on 12 June 2009.

Here’s a clip from the new Fumihiko Sori (director of Ping Pong and Vexille) reimaging of the infamous Zatoichi character, this time as a female blind musician who also happens to be a master swordsman. Haruka Ayase (Hero) stars in the title role, with support from Shido Nakamura (Red Cliff; Letters From Iwo Jima), Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) and Takao Osawa (Sky High). Fight choreography is by Hiroshi Kuze, resonsible swords fights on many of Akira Kurosawa’s later films, including Ran, so expect some old school action.

Ichi will be released by Manga Entertainment and opens at ICA London from 7 July, and selected UK cinemas on 10th July 2009.

From Fumihiko Sori, the director of Vexille and Ping Pong, comes the period martial arts action saga, ICHI, a bold, gender-bending reimagining of the classic Zatoichi series of films and TV shows. Originally created by novelist Kan Shimozawa, the eponymous hero – a blind masseur and master swordsman – has traditionally been a male character (previously played by stars such as Shintaro Katsu, Takeshi Kitano and, in Blind Fury, by Rutger Hauer). In a refreshing break from tradition that adds an intriguing twist to the story, Sori’s ICHI stars actress Haruka Ayase (Hero) in the title role playing a young and beautiful blind musician who also happens to be an adept swordswoman.

Travelling the country in search of the blind swordsman who raised her as a child and passed on his fighting skills to her before mysteriously leaving her life, Ichi is constantly struggling to deal with those eager to take advantage of her disability. During her quest she encounters and is threatened by a brutal gang of bandits. Another passing wanderer, Toma (Takao Osawa), steps in to rescue Ichi but finds he is the one being saved when she reveals a samurai sword hidden inside her walking stick and effortlessly despatches their attackers. The slaying of the bandits brings the wrath of their leader, Banki (Shido Nakamura), down upon Ichi and Toma and they reluctantly become embroiled in a battle for control of a village between Banki’s gang and the local yakuza. However, Ichi’s initial feelings about her involvement changes when she discovers Banki may know the whereabouts of the man she is seeking.

Co-starring Shido Nakamura (Red Cliff; Letters From Iwo Jima), Yosuke Kubozuka (Ping Pong) and Takao Osawa (Sky High), and with fight choreography by Hiroshi Kuze (responsible for the amazing sword fights in many of Akira Kurosawa’s epics, including Ran) and a superb musical score by award winning composer Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator), ICHI is a sublime and welcome addition to the Zatoichi movie canon.

ICHI (cert. 15 tbc) is released on DVD by Manga Entertainment on 24 August 2009.

John Woo’s superb return to form Red Cliff, makes its way to UK DVD and Blu-ray on 5 October, released by Entertainment in Video.

Hot on the heels of John Woo’s Red Cliff comes Dragon Squad and Black Mask director Daniel Lee’s historical action epic Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon.

Based on the same source material as Red Cliff – Guanzhong Luo’s 700-year-old historical novel, Romance Of The Three Kingdoms (one of the most famous and important novel in Chinese literature) – and similarly capturing the spirit of such historical epics as Braveheart and The Last Samurai, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon features a powerhouse cast that includes Andy Lau, Sammo Hung and, returning to her Asian cinema career roots following star turns in Hollywood action blockbusters Die Hard 4.0 and Mission: Impossible III, Maggie Q.

The Battle Of Red Cliff (the climax of Woo’s film) was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty (208/9) between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan and the numerically superior forces of the northern warlord Cao Cao. The allied victory at Red Cliff ensured the survival of Liu Bei and Sun Quan, gave them control of the Yangtze and provided a line of defence that was the basis for the later creation of the two southern kingdoms of Shu Han and Eastern Wu.

Three Kingdoms takes up the story circa AD 220. With the Empire divided into three warring factions, the kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu are engaged in a fight for total control of the country. Within the Shu army emerges an unlikely warrior, Zhao Zilong (Andy Lau), a common man from the humblest of roots whose loyalty and bravery in battle quickly propel him to the rank of general. Following a daring solo mission in which he saves the life of his warlord’s son, Zhao is feted as a hero amongst his people and embarks on what results in a 20-year period during which he never loses a battle in which he fights. His unprecedented success on the battlefield becomes the stuff of legend and earns him the title, The Undefeated General.

However, as war rages on and the throne changes hands, age begins to take its toll on the seemingly invincible Zhao. Despite his advanced years, he perseveres in leading a final, bloody campaign aimed at overthrowing the Wei forces once and for all. But, hindered by treachery and betrayal from unexpected sources, Zhao is forced to question his motives for fighting a war that none seems able to win. Ultimately driven by his own righteousness and morality, the aged warrior plunges himself into a conflict that will crown his name in glory for all time.

A spectacular tale of undaunted heroism told on the grandest of scales, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon is a gritty and powerful historical war movie boasting impressive action direction and choreography by star Sammo Hung and a remarkable central performance by one of Asian cinema’s biggest stars, Andy Lau.

Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£17.99) and Blu-ray (£24.99) by Icon Home Entertainment on 13th July 2009. Special Features include: The Making of Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon; interviews with Maggie Q, Andy Lau, Sammo Hung and Daniel Lee; trailers.

Novelist Kan Shimozawa’s famous blind swordsman Zatoichi, recently brought to the screen by Beat Takeshi, gets a feminine makeover courtesy Fumihiko Sori, director of Ping Pong and the Anime Vexille… (more…)

Out in cinemas across the UK today, not one but two major releases for Asian film fans. Ong Bak: The Beginning, courtesy of Revolver Entertainment, and Thirst, courtesy of Metrodome/Palisades Tartan.

Here’s just a taster of that epic finale scene Ong Bak: The Beginning to keep you going…

John Woo’s new Chinese epic Red Cliff, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro, has been chosen to open the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival running from October 18 to 26.

Read more on the official Tokyo International Film Festival site »

Peter Chan’s take on the historical wuxia drama is far grittier and more grounded than we’re used to, with a fine performance by Jet Li that will surprise his critics – but do we really need another film like this? (more…)

Oh dear, Angelica Lee’s (The Eye, Re-cycle) seeing dead people again. Again. This time Tsui Hark’s at the helm in this rather convoluted psychological thriller… (more…)

Just time for a quick round-up of other notable releases to look out for in the UK in the next few months:

Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen’s latest collaboration – following S.P.L., Flashpoint and Dragon Tiger Gate –Ip Man, gets released in selected cinemas from 5 October. Celebrating the life of the Wing Chun master who taught a young Bruce Lee his first kun fu lessons, the impressive action choerography by Sammo Hung follows the close-range fighting particular to the style. Look out for a review and, hopefully, interviews soon…

John Woo’s fab return to form, Red Cliff, makes its way onto DVD and Blu-ray on 5 October courtesy of Entertainment In Video. Out the following week, 12 October, comes the DVD and Blu-ray release of the live-action version Blood: The Last Vampire.

Yukihiko Tsutsumi’s second film in his live-action adaption of 20th Century Boys, Chapter 2, also makes its way on to UK DVD, but be prepared for the wait – it’s not until 31 December 2009!

Ping Pong director Fumihiko Sori’s enjoyable, if a little long, take on the Zatoichi character get’s released on DVD and Blu-ray today by Manga Enertainment.

»You can read our full review here…

Easily the most palatable Chinese historical drama in ages, John Woo’s Red Cliff comes to UK DVD and Blu-ray today courtesy of Entertainment in Video. Oh, and it’s the best film he’s done in a long time too, so if you’ve yet to catch it, this is a must!

(Shame it’s not all four hours plus??)

Peter Chan’s The Warlords, starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kineshiro, is released in the UK on two-disc DVD and Blu-ray today by Metronome.

You can read our review here »

Tony Jaa’s back with one heck of a finale fight scene – but will this film finally put him back on the martial arts map? (more…)

Yet another historical drama, over blown, over acted and over long – but it’s still easily the best thing John Woo has done in a long time…! (more…)

Could this really be a return to form for John Woo? Well, we might have only seen the over inflated Asian two-part release, but here at easternKicks we reckon so. And Woo himself looked in good spirits promoting the film at the Sydney Film Festival on Tuesday. With deliberate old-school references to Hard Boiled and The Killer, this is a treat for fans and general cinema-goers alike – welcome home, Johnny boy!

Catch Red Cliff in UK cinemas from today…

Say what? Another two hours to find out how the Battle of Red Cliff actually goes? Is it worth it? Oh yes, all you John Woo fans out there, it really is… (more…)

…what do you think you’re doing? No, you are not Chow Yun-fat in John Woo’s classic action epic Hard Boiled, so what is this about…? (more…)

Peter Chan’s The Warlords, starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kineshiro, is on limited release in London and around the UK by Metrodome.

You can read our review here »

From the same novel that spawned John Woo’s Red Cliff comes Three Kingdoms, surrounding the legend of Zhao Zilong who became known as The Undefeated General. But do we need another hysterical – I mean historical – drama…? (more…)