9th May

'Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon' up for pre-order on English subtitled DVD

This definitely seems the week for news on big Chinese period epics arriving on DVD. Next to hit the shelves in June is Daniel Lee’s (Dragon Squad) ‘Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.’ Sporting a huge all star cast including Andy Lau (The warlords), Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible III) and Hong Kong veteran Sammo Hung, the film is based on the sprawling 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Synopsis: His country torn asunder by civil war, Zhao (Andy Lau), a commoner, heeds the call of duty. From the humblest of roots, he rises through the ranks on wings of courage to command an army charged with liberating the land from an evil warlord. Inspired by action, honour and a dream of unifying his divided nation, Zhao's heroism becomes a legend. But as the years pass and the throne changes hands, the war still rages on. When the newly enthroned king decides peace can only be achieved by defeating all the warlords once and for all, Zhao embarks on his last & greatest campaign - a road to adventure that will crown his name in glory for all time.

Three Kingdoms (Official site)

Pre-order the DVD

8th May

First trailer for Dante Lam's 'Sniper'

A first trailer is out for Dante Lam’s newest cop thriller 'Sniper' with a pleasing and somewhat unexpected bonus, of it being English subtitled! 'Sniper' assembles some of the top names from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan including: Richie Jen, Huang Xiaoming and Edison Chen. So far its all looking, well....rather good! Lam definitely knows what the paying public want - Gunplay and stunts galore.

Synopsis: Ming (Richie Jen) is renowned as the top shooter in the police force. However things get complicated after the release of his former teammate and superb marksman Ching (Huang Xiao Ming) from prison. With only vengeance on his mind, Ching wants to take on Ming and the police, believing that they are the ones who put him in jail. When a mysterious sniper sabotages a high-security prisoner transfer and a convict escapes, Ming and his team are despatched to profile the suspect. Believing that Ming had withheld key evidence that could free him, Ching decides to lure his target in by holding Ming’s daughter as hostage and re-enacting that fateful day. It is the ultimate showdown amongst three expert snipers in the Hong Kong cityscape…

Sniper (Official site)

8th May

Teaser poster for horror splatter fest 'Tokyo Gore Police'

Grady Hendrix at Kaijushakedown has gone & found himself a teaser poster for the fantastic looking - shock splatter horror, 'Tokyo Gore Police.' As well as the very cool poster, you can check out some blood drenched footage from the film, over on Youtube. Goretastic.

Tokyo Gore Police trailer

7th May

'Friend' DVD winners

Our contest to give away 4 copies of Korean gangster thriller 'Friend ' has come to an end, and the winners have been drawn. Congratulations are due too: Evrim Ersoy, D.J. Gaier, Danielle King and Candice Ruiz. Didn’t win this time around? Then why not try for our latest giveaway, with a chance to win a copy of Chilean martial arts action pic 'Kiltro.'

6th May

'An Empress and the Warriors' on DVD

Cantonese Pop icon Kelly Chen dons her armour to take the lead in Tony Ching Siu Tung's BIG budget epic 'An Empress and the Warriors.' Tung who previously handled the action for Zhang Yimou's Hero and House of Flying Daggers manages to create a lavish old school action (with a touch of romance) pic, that is a true feast for the eyes. Chen's co-stars include Leon Lai and action superstar Donnie Yen.

Yan Feier (Kelly Chen) is thrust into the role of empress when her father the King is viciously murdered by his own nephew, Wu Ba (Guo Xiao Dong). His treachery unknown to Feier, Wu Ba plots to gain control of the kingdom for himself. Meanwhile, Feier turns to legendary warrior Brother Hu (Donnie Yen) to instruct her in the ways of warfare. But Wu sends assassins after Feier, and she's poisoned by an assassin's dart before being lost in the woods. Her absence throws the kingdom into chaos, and Brother Hu must maintain morale, all the while carrying a hidden love for his missing empress. Meanwhile, Feier is found and nursed back to health by Duan Lanquan (Leon Lai), a doctor who lives in a secluded forest treehouse. Lanquan awakens the woman within the warrior's armor, and given the alternative of a peaceful life without war, Feier must eventually make a difficult choice. Should she choose love, and remain just a woman? Or should she choose her kingdom, and return to being an Empress?

An Empress and the Warriors (Official site)

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6th May

English subtitled trailer for 'Gegege no Kitaro 2'

Further to our story back on March 1st, we have now turned up an English subtitled version of the trailer for 'Gegege no Kitaro 2: The millennium Curse.’ Based on the hugely popular Manga by Shigeru Mizuki, the sequel sees much of the original cast back for more monster fun, and the pic is directed by returning helmer Katsuhide Motoki.

Synopsis: Half human, half Yokai (demon) hero Kitaro and his friends, investigate a series of mysterious disappearance and finds out that it is somehow related to the curse caused by "forbidden love," which occurred 1,000 years ago. Behind these incidents, was the conspiracy plotted by the evil Yokai and his followers. Kitaro and his friends must collect 5 treasures to stop the curse & fight the evil to bring the vicious cycle to and end.

Gegege no Kitaro 2 trailer

5th May

DVD Giveaway: Win a copy of Chilean hard core martial arts movie ‘KILTRO’!

No sooner does our last DVD giveaway end, we start another! Next up to win is ‘Kiltro.’ Chile’s first ever martial arts action movie is being released through Revolver films, and we have 3 copies to give away. The giveaway is open to all, but please be aware that these are region 2 discs. Not in R2? Why not enter anyway. If you win, it would be a great reason to buy that multi-region code free DVD player you've been promising yourself.

‘Kiltro’ stars legendary stuntman Marko Zaror, as Zamir, a two-fisted street fighter who is in love with the beautiful Kim (Caterina Jadresic), whom he once saved from a brutal assault. When Kim’s father, who runs a local Tae Kwon Do school, is confronted by a villain from his past, Zamir vows to protect his beloved and her father.

Hell yes. Ultra violent, fast-paced action from South America, laced with the spirit of Spaghetti Westerns. Doesn’t get much better than that. The comp runs until May 19th, after which 3 winners names will be picked at random. Want to win? Then send us an email to the address on our contact page, with your name and the title "KILTRO DVD" in the subject field.

Kiltro (Official site)

4th May

Theatrical trailer for Tatsuya Fujiwara’s 'Chameleon'

The official site for Tatsuya Fujiwara’s (Death Note) new thriller ‘Chameleon’ has just been updated with a the theatrical trailer for the film. We knew this was going to be a revenge pic, but Judging by the clip its apparent now this is going to be one hell of a mad and very bloody revenge pic.

Fujiwara plays a member of a group of young con artists who witness a kidnapping. As a mysterious organization starts killing members of the gang off, Fujiwara's character decides to take revenge into his own hands. Directed by Sakamoto Junji, the movie also stars Masato Hagiwara, Shun Shioya, Kei Tani and Kosuke Toyohara. ‘Chameleon’ opens in Japan, July 5th.

Chameleon (Official site)

3rd May

First still from 'The Coffin'

A first still has appeared online for upcoming Thai Horror 'The Coffin.' It’s not much, but its the first sign of anything new on a film that we have been itching to see more of it - since we first found a teaser poster well over a year ago.

Directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham (Beautiful Boxer), the film stars Karen Mok (So Close) and Ananda Everingham the male lead of the Thai international horror hit, ‘Shutter.’ Inspired by a true Thai ritual of lying in coffins to cheat death and get rid of bad luck, ‘The Coffin’ is a upernatural thriller about a man and woman who are confronted by a series of paranormal and terrifying incidents after going through the bizarre ritual. Currently in post-production, U.S distributor Arclight will apparently be screening the movie at this years Cannes film fest.

Synopsis: “Chris is an average Thai-Chinese guy living in Sydney. Following the Thai custom to cheat death and rid oneself of bad luck he agrees to a bizarre dare at a party, to lie in a coffin for a whole night. As the lid is nailed shut and claustrophobia strikes he soon feels short of breathe, But as the Coffin suddenly shakes violently he soon realizes that claustrophobia is the least of the terrors awaiting him.”

2nd May

24framespersecond wants YOU!

24framespersecond has been loitering around the internet for just over 2 years and we’re now at a stage where we feel its time to expand our small but merry band of contributors to our Asian, Horror and all things genre website. Be it to add regular content to our movie news or reviews sections, we are looking for like minded film fans to join the team.

The only qualifications you’ll need are a passion for movies and the ability to write about them well. The job doesn't really pay (although there may be free DVDs and movie screenings along the way), but this is a chance to get your film finds and thoughts out into the big wide world. So, if you feel you fit the bill and want to join in the fun, drop us a line via our contact page.

Del (Editor)
24fps

1st May

Trailer finally arrives for Wesley Snipes 'GallowWalker'

In limbo for months, a trailer for Wesley Snipes Supernatural Undead horror Western ‘Gallow Walker’ has suddenly appeared on the pics official site. It’s perhaps no surprise that this has happened now. The film has been ready for quite some time and considering Snipes has just been sentenced to 3 years in prison for Tax evasion, the studio may have decided there’s no point in hanging around any longer to start promoting the film. Alongside Snipes, the film stars, Riley Smith and Kevin Howarth.

Synopsis: Aman is a gun-fighter who knows too well the ways of vengeance. Fast and furious, he has killed every man who ever crossed him. But his gift with a gun comes with terrible a curse. All those who die by his hand will return to seek their revenge. [source]

Gallow Walker (Official site)

1st May

Last call on ‘Friend’ DVD giveaway

Last call is going out for entries to our latest DVD givaway. You could win one of four copies of Kyung-Taek Kwak’s hard hitting Korean Gangster thriller 'Friend.' To enter send us an email to the address on our contact page, with "Friend DVD" in the subject field. Entry closes May 3rd. These are R2 discs.

'Friends' follows four friends from their formative years in 1970s Korea tuntil adulthood. Though each of the four came from different family backgrounds, they stayed together through the tough economic times of those years. However, as they mature into adults, the boys' lifelong friendship is broken when two of the group turn to crime to make their living. Soon, this once close quartet has split into two rival factions, turning old friends into bitter enemies whose differences erupt into violence.

Friend trailer (Youtube)

30th April

English subtitled trailer for Japanese horror 'Shrill Cries Of Summer'

An English subtitled trailer for J-horror ‘Higurashi no Naku Koro ni’ aka 'Shrill Cries Of Summer' ('When They Cry') has turned up over at Japanese distributor Shochiku Films official site. Shochiku are repping the film at this years Cannes film festival and an English subtitled trailer is a very handy marketing tool, when your angling for some lucrative U.S. rights deals. The movie, a live action remake of the popular graphic novel is directed by Ataru Oikawa (Apartment 1303) stars Goki Maeda, Erena Ono, Airi Matsuyama and Rin Asuka. 'Shrill Cries Of Summer' opens in Japan in May.

The plot: "It's tough being the new guy in town, having just moved into the small rural village of Hinamizawa, but when Keiichi joins an after-school club and befriends four cute girls, life doesn't seem too bad. That is, until he learns about demonic cults and a failed Dam construction project, plus the grisly murders and disappearances that have occurred every year after the town festival. As shocking past events are unveiled through different viewpoints, Keiichi learns that things and even people aren't what they appear to be. How many of his club "friends" are involved and what are their plans for him?!

Thanks to Dan for the steer.

Shrill Cries Of Summer trailer

Shrill Cries Of Summer website

29th April

Chinese website for John Woo's 'Red Cliff' goes live

The official Chinese site for John Woo's mega budget historical action movie 'The Battle Of Red Cliff,' has just gone online. There isnt much content as yet, but there are menu buttons by the shed load that are due to go live soon. Definitely one to keep an eye on for updates. We sure will be! 'Battle of Red Cliff' opens in Hong Kong in July.

The plot: In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minster Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the west and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale, led by the Prime Minister, himself. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance. Numerous battles of strength and wit ensued, both on land and on water, eventually culminating in the battle of Red Cliff. During the battle, two thousand ships were burned, and the course of Chinese history was changed forever.

Red Cliff (Official Chinese site)

28th April

Upcoming Indonesian horror 'Karma'

A teaser poster has just been released for the upcoming movie 'Karma,' and we have to admit to being intrigued by the film, as so far its looking very untypical for a standard Indonesian horror production. For one thing it has none of the usual Teens (wallowing in huge amounts of melodrama) in love, being killed off by a long haired Demon. Instead we get this sophisticated poster and an intriguing plot:

"The Guan family is put under an eternal spell: every woman in the family is bound to suffer a tragic death. Still, this does not deter Sandra (Dominique Agisca Diyose) to marry Armand Guan (Joe Taslim), and pull out every possible effort to put the long-lasting bad karma to an end."

Another surprise is that the pic will boast visuals by Hollywood art director Martin Surya (The Hulk, Paycheck). With a blend of ancient Chinese/Indonesian traditions and Hollywood visuals, we could be in for quite a treat. Still in post production, 'Karma' opens in Indonesia, in July.

Karma official site (not yet fully active)

27th April

Umberto Lenzi's 'Nightmare City' on R1 DVD

Umberto Lenzi's 1980 take on the zombie sub-genre, (originally titled 'Incubo sulla città contaminata') 'Nightmare City' is getting an R1 DVD release through Blue Underground. Fast zombies were nothing new to Italian horror movie fans in the 80s. They're not only fast, these bad boys use knifes and guns.

Hugo Stiglitz, Mel Ferrer (Eaten Alive) and Francisco Rabal star in this wild splatterfest. Originally released in U.S as the heavily-edited City Of The Walking Dead, this new version of Nightmare City has apparently been transferred from original vault materials and is now presented completely uncut.

When a radioactive spill causes mass contamination, 1000s of infected citizens are transformed into bloodthirsty undead fiends. But these are not your standard stumbling gut-munchers; this is an all-out attack by fast-moving, flesh-ripping, ass-kicking maniacs that can only be stopped by a bullet to the brain. Get ready for an orgy of gunfire, gore and gratuitous aerobics where zombies run, chaos reigns and heads explode.

Nightmare City tailer

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26th April

New poster for 'The Mutant Chronicles' shows up in Russia

There was a flurry of news on Simon Hunter’s adaptation of the 'The Mutant Chronicles' when filming first started well over a year ago, then info on the production seemed to dry up and go down a black hole. Now out of the Blue a new poster for the pic has just turned up, in Russia of all places. So is it back on track for release? Well, in Russia at least, it seems so. West Video (who are repping the film there) have it listed for release in August. As for the rest of the world, we'll keep you posted.

Synopsis: Set in the distant future when the Earth is no longer inhabitable and the Megacorporations have banded together to control the remaining planets and their moons. When an alien force of undead Necromutants known as the Dark Legion prepares to attack the inhabited Mars, the Megacorporations assemble a band of warriors to destroy the warlord Alakhai. Together they return to Earth, infiltrate Alakhai's gothic Citadel, and attempt to reduce it to rubble.

Mutant Chronicles (Official Site)

25th April

Giant Robot alert! 2nd teaser poster for '20th Century Boys'

Just quick update further to our article on April 20th. A 2nd, very lush teaser poster for Yukihiko Tsutsumi's live action remake of '20th Century Boys,' has found its way over to us. Lets all just take a moment to bask in its giant killer Robot goodness.

20th Century Boys (Official site)

24th April

Release date for set 'The Good, The Bad and the Weird'

After budget overuns and production delays aplenty it looks like Korean filmmaker Kim Jee-woon’s (A Tale of Two Sisters) latest project, the Oriental Western ‘The Good, The Bad and the Weird’ has finally been given a release date. Starring Jung Woo-sung, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho GBW is set in Manchuria in 1930s and deals with three Korean men and their entanglement with the Japanese army, Chinese and Russian bandits.

According to the listing on CJ entertainments (films production company) website, the flick will now open in Korea on July 10th. Much anticipated around these parts, its fingers and everything else there is crossed, that the release date doesn’t slip again.

Synopsis: With the Korean Peninsula under Japanese rule in 1930s, many Koreans flock to Manchuria for refuge. Some become bandits, some train robbers and yet others bounty hunters. While the Weird, a notorious train robber, is stealing from a Japanese train crossing the Manchurian plains, he discovers a treasure map. But the map is also sought after by the Bad, a merciless gang leader. Coincidentally, the Good, a bounty hunter, is on the train, and he is after the Bad. The three engage in a spectacular chase with the Japanese Army, the Korean independence fighters, and the Chinese bandits all looking to get their hands on the prized map.

The Good, The Bad and the Weird footage (Youtube)

23rd April

'Dusk Watch' bites the dust?!

Well this news bites. Timur Bekmambetov, director of the superbly original Russian Day/Night Watch fantasy horror series has pretty much killed off any chance of there being 3rd and final film. During a Q&A session at the New York Comic Con this weekend to discuss ‘Wanted,’ his latest Hollywood film, Bekmambetov was quizzed on how the final film (to have been called Dusk Watch) was progressing. To which he commented: "Wanted is my Dusk Watch for now, because it's really the same, a different story, but the same genre. I don't know when Dusk Watch will happen. Let's say this is Dusk Watch."

The same genre!? Like hell it is. So that, it appears is that. If it's true that Dusk Watch will never happen, millions of fans may never forgive (us included) him.

[Source] IGN via QuietEarth

22nd April

'Jade Warrior' on R2 DVD!

A real treat for R2 martial arts fans. A.J.Annila’s ‘Jade Warrior’ hits R2 DVD next week. Warrior is Finland's first ever martial arts film, blending traditional Chinese swordplay with distict Wuxia overtones - mixed with elements from Finland's sprawling national epic, the Kalevala. Annila blends his genres, using both his own heritage and the conventions of Asian film making to tell the legend of The Sampo. This pic is visually stunning and was an unexpected but well deserved hit across Scandinavian/Asian box-offices. The movie stars Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu (Seven Swords, Rush hour) and Markku Peltola.

In modern day Finland, Kai a blacksmith charged with the task opening an ancient metallic cask found with the mummified remains of a four thousand year old man. The antique case is of craftsmanship well beyond anything that could possibly have been imagined in its era, a case that responds to Kai's touch, opening to release a powerful being within and triggering waves of visions that clearly link Kai to an ancient legend and to an all-powerful evil...

DVD Extras: 4 Behind-the-scenes documentaries; Director’s Commentary; Teaser & Trailers; Music Video; Photo Gallery.

Jade Warrior (Official site)

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21st April

First stills from Tinieblas González's Spanish horror 'Underground'

Some first still have surfaced for Tinieblas Gonzalez's Spanish horror 'Underground' aka (ASD: Alma Sin Dueno)' and its all looking very promising so far. His feature film debut, Gonzalez earlier works include a series of shorts & a gothic adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven Nevermore. Written by Gonzalez, Koldo Serra (Backwoods) and Txabier Alastruey, ‘Underground’ is set in a labyrinth of subway tunnels. Although a Spanish production, the movie is actually being shot in English and stars Brendan Coughlin, Francia Raisa, Doug Haley and Deance Wyatt. Still in post production the pic is due out later this year.

Synopsis: Nathan, Joe and Fu are three graffiti artists, experts in street paintings. Motivated by the possible media impact of an act of sabotage, they plan to ”decorate“ a new underground station on the day before it is opened. They are helped by Rat, who is capable of outwitting any security system. When they are unexpectedly interrupted by the violent Police Chief and his men in the station, the youngsters are forced to flee into the dark dangerous tunnels of the underground. The threat posed by their pursuers is nothing compared to that of the ”Unowned Soul,“ a creature which stalks them. The police & graffiti artists will fall like flies to his hands. They wanted to make headlines. Now they will.

Underground stills

21st April

'One Missed Call' contest

The remake of the classic Asian horror "One Missed Call" hits DVD this week. To mark the event, Warner Bros are running a contest to win Blu-Ray players. Want a chance to win a player and a copy of the film? Then head on over to the address below and enter! Contest is for U.S residence only on this one.

One Missed Call contest

One Missed Call official site

20th April

First teaser trailer for '20th Century Boys'

Following on from the slightly creepy TV-spot that appeared online a couple of months ago, a first teaser trailer has arrived on the official site for the live action version of '20th Century Boys.' Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi (Sword of Alexander) the film is based on the best selling Manga by Naoki Urasawa.

Here's the plotline taken from Wikipedia: "Growing older is rough and Kenji is finding out just how hard it can be as life starts wearing down on him. On top of trying to make ends meet running a convenience store he has to care for the niece that his missing sister left in his care. Memories of youth make it easier, until those memories come back to haunt him. Kenji and his old friends are slowly being drawn into a mysterious conspiracy that could threaten the world. Someone they know from the past is turning their childhood ideas of bio weapons, mass destruction, and a giant killer robots into reality. Who is the mysterious "Friend" and how does he tie into Kenji's youth? Why are there disappearances and deaths tied into Ochanomizu University? Their memories hold the keys to the puzzle, but time and age have clouded their minds.The strange occurrences and the reach of the "Friend" conspiracy grow by the day. It will all culminate on New Year's Eve 2000. Will Kenji and the others be able to put together the puzzle and save the world?"

The teaser doesn't give much away, but watch out for the last 5 seconds when we get one hell of a eye opening (if brief) money shot. So expansive is the plot of '20th Century Boys,' the story will apparently have to be split between two films, the first of which opens in Japan in August.

20th Century Boys (Official site)

19th April

Period J-Horror 'Kaidan' on English subtitled DVD

Nakata Hideo, the director of Ring and Dark Water, returns to the genre for the period horror Kaidan. Based on a 19th-century story by Sanyutei Encho, Kaidan evokes the classical horrors of the 1950s and 1960s. Kabuki star Onoe Kikunosuke takes the lead, with a strong line-up of actresses that includes Kuroki Hitomi (Tokyo Tower), Seto Asako (Death Note), Aso Kumiko (Nada Sou Sou), and Inoue Mao (Gegege no Kitaro).

Synopsis: Years ago, a debt collector was slain by a samurai. Before falling to his death, the debt collector placed a curse on the samurai who went on to kill his wife and himself. Years later, the samurai's son Shinkichi (Onoe Kikunosuke) is now a tobacco seller, and as cruel fate would have it, he falls in love with the debt collector's daughter Toyoshiga (Kuroki Hitomi) who is years his senior. Toyoshiga's jealous nature, however, drives a wedge in their relationship, and he accidentally injures her during a quarrel, inflicting a wound similar to that which killed her father. After she dies, Shinkichi runs off with one of her students (Inoue Mao), hoping to start anew, but Shinkichi can't seem to escape Toyoshiga's resentful spirit and all the women who cycle relentlessly in and out of his life.

Kaidan trailer (Youtube)

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18th April

International trailer for Indie British Zombie horror 'The Vanguard'

A new International trail is out for Matthew Hope's chilling post-apocalyptic survivors tale The Vanguard. Written and directed by Hope the film stars Ray Bullock Junior, Shiv Grewal & Jack Bailey.

The plot: "The world is in chaos - the last known oil fields are depleted, over-population has reached critical levels & mankind is about to become a thing of the past. From this apocalyptic nightmare, an entity known as the Corporation devised a course of action to cull the human race and start a mass depopulation program. But the drug they created to kill instead reduces humans to a primitive ape-like state, now known as Biosyns.

Their sight reduced to virtual blindness, the Biosyns rely on scent and sound to survive, running wild in the unpopulated countryside.But for Max -- a young man cast adrift into the wilderness to live as a hunter/gatherer-- the Biosyns are the enemy, and must be fought to preserve his very existence. Max has forged a life without human contact, and every day is a battle to stay alive. Soon the Biosyns begin to evolve - learning first to communicate, then banding together, their vision returning -- and now they're coming for Max."

On the whole the pic has very slick looks that belie its modest budget. Vanguard might very well be a must see for Zombie gore fans. Recently screened at several festivals and the European film market, Vanguard has enjoyed favorable reviews and word is that they have just secured a distribution deal for the film.

The Vanguard international trailer (Youtube)

The Vanguard Website

17th April

Mamoru Oshii’s ‘The Sky Crawlers‘ official website updated

The official site for Mamoru Oshii’s (Ghost in the Shell) new Anime ‘The Sky Crawlers,’ has had quite a revamp. The main new points of interest are a spiffy new character poster, plus several fliers with never before seen before concept art. All of which can be down-loaded.

'Sky Crawlers' is based on a popular five-part novel by a best-seller writer, Hiroshi Mori. The story unfolds in another 'possible' modern age. The main characters are youngsters called Kildren, who are destined to live eternally in adolescence. The Kildren are conscious that every day could be the last, they fight a "war as entertainment" organized and operated by adults. But as they embrace the reality they are faced with, they live their day-to-day lives to the full. ‘The Sky Crawlers’ opens in Japan, August 2nd.

Sky Crawlers (Official site)

16th April

Sammo Hung's FATAL MOVE on English friendly DVD

Director Dennis Law (Fatal Contact) assembles a top notch cast of stars, starting with Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, and Wu Jing, reteaming after the wildly popular Sha Po Lang. Joining them are Danny Lee, actress Tien Niu and genre regulars Lam Suet, Maggie Siu, Eddie Cheung, and Pinky Cheung also along for the ride. Fatal Move is an underworld saga rich with themes of brotherhood and betrayal, but director Law makes sure to give the audience what they really want. Fatal Move delivers visceral eye-opening action choreographed by Li Chung Chi, and earns its Category III (the highest rating there is in Hong Kong) rating due to exceptional violence. Those who enjoy their gangster sagas bloody, should be quite happy with what Law has cooked up here.

Fatal Move trailer (Youtube)

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16th April

Teaser poster for Thai Sci-fi horror ‘Deep in the Jungle’

A teaser poster if out for upcoming Thai Sci-fi horror ‘Deep in the Jungle’ and if like us your first thought on seeing it was WTF is that, then you’re pretty much where we are at on first impressions. But be it good, bad, or (sometimes the case) so bad it’s good, we like to bring you all the news on new Asian horror. The film is being repped through Phranakorn Film who have produced some pretty reasonable "B" horror pics of late and with a premise as far out as this one, we thought it worth a mention. Still in post production the films due out this Summer. Here’s the synopsis from the production companies site:

“Nawin, an army secret service agent decided to withdraw from a scientific investigation because of unlawful procedures that involved International forces. Although he had tried desperately to avoid the illegal acts of the armed forces, it seems the harder he tried the more involved he became. He was constantly under surveillance no matter where he went or what he did which made him realize there was more to the situation that meets the eye. Jin, a young woman who Nawin once saved from a brutal attack is undergoing a strange transformation within her body as her blood circulates through mutation. This transformation on Jin is what Nawin believes the International forces are after. The half breed mix between animal and human. Nawin decides to help Jin by taking her back to her birth place. As he leads her home, her illness seems to subside. They will soon grow close and fall in love. When it comes time for Nawin to choose between her and his life, he awakes to find that it has all been an image of his imagination…or was it?”

15th April

‘Friend’ DVD giveaway

Out on R2 DVD next week is Kyung-Taek Kwak’s hard hitting Korean Gangster thriller 'Friend.' To mark its release, the good folks at Third Window Films have given us 4 copies of the film to give away. The giveaway is open to all, but please be aware that these are region 2 discs.

'Friends' follows four friends from their formative years in 1970s Korea tuntil adulthood. Though each of the four came from different family backgrounds, they stayed together through the tough economic times of those years. However, as they mature into adults, the boys' lifelong friendship is broken when two of the group turn to crime to make their living. Soon, this once close quartet has split into two rival factions, turning old friends into bitter enemies whose differences erupt into violence.

The comp runs until May 3rd, after which 4 winners names will be picked at random. Want to win? Then simply send us an email to the address on our contact page, with your name and the title "Friend DVD" in the subject field. Good luck!

Friend trailer (Youtube)

14th April

'The Warlords' wins big at the Hong Kong film awards

The Warlords, Peter Chan's historical epic starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro has pretty much swept the board at the Hong Kong film awards, winning a total of 8 prizes. Accolades include: best film, best director for Chan, best Cinematography and the best actor gong went to martial arts star Li.

HK awards full results

The warlords (Official site)

13th April

Taiwan and Thailand join forces for horror pic 'The Fatality'

Thai and Taiwanese studios Right Beyond and SkyFilms have joined forces to produce the horror pic 'The fatality.' Directed by Thiwa Meyathaisong (The Sisters) the movie stars Kenji Wu & Pitchanart Sakhakorn.

Synopsis: An unsuccessful man in Taipei commits suicide, only to wake up in the body of a coma victim in Bangkok. His new life is almost perfect - he now has a stable job, a healthy body and a beautiful wife, but as the two souls fight for control of the body they start developing supernatural powers over life and death itself, leaving havoc in their wake.

No trailer for the film as yet, but we have turned up a few stills to be going on with. Also interesting, is how each country is portraying the movie with their posters. From the more in your face Thai version (pic left), to the very different and understated Taiwanese one sheet. 'The Fatality' opens in both countries, in June.

Fatality stills

12th April

Argento's ‘Mother of Tears’ arrives on R2 DVD

A heads for Italian horror fans in R2 land. ‘Mother of Tears,’ Dario Argento’s conclusion to the horror trilogy he began with ‘Suspira’ and ‘Inferno’ two decades before, hits the streets on DVD next week. Argento's daughter Asia (Land of the dead) joins the gory fun in the lead and the pic also stars Udo Kier (Blade), Daria Nicolodi, Adam James and Cristian Solimeno.

An ancient urn is unearthed and opened in Rome, mysterious and evil-looking women from all over the world begin to arrive in the city and violent crime increases dramatically. Leading this horrific army is the Mater Lacrimarum (Mother of Tears) – the third and last of three powerful witches whose demonic ways have terrorized innocents for centuries. All that stands in their way is an art student who seems to possess supernatural abilities of her own.

Mother of Tears trailer

Order the DVD

11th April

Sci-fi Horror 'Bane' to screen at London Independent Film Fest

The promising low budget Sci-fi Horror 'Bane' from Brit director James Eaves is to be shown at the London Independent Film Fest this month. The Festival is the premier event for micro-budget moviesin the UK and over 6 days LIFF will showcase the best of indie filmmaking from the UK and around the world. Recently finished in post-production, 'Bane' is a story of Alien invasion and bizarre/bloody human experimentation.

Synopsis: Katherine awakes in an underground cell with 3 other women; Jane, Natasha and Elaine. With complete amnesia Katherine and the other women have little time to wonder where they are before the arrival of the sadistic Dr Murdoch and the mysterious Handsome Man. The women soon discover they are part of a gruesome experiment with no obvious purpose.

That night, Jane stays awake long enough to witness the first visit to their cell by the terrifying figure of the blood splattered Surgeon. One by one the Surgeon cuts a number into each woman's skin, a four digit number, the exact time he will return to kill them. Each woman must piece together the dark secret behind Dr Murdoch's experiment and survive the Surgeon's nightly visitations of pain, torture and grisly murder. Is there any way to escape? What is the purpose of the experiment and who, or what, is screaming every time the lights go out?

To take a peek at some great looking trailers for the flick, you can visit the films Youtube page.

Bane Youtube page

Bane posters 1 2

Bane Sub site

10th April

MONGOL invades the U.S. in June

After beating around the proverbial bush for what seems an eternity, U.S. distributor Picturehouse have finally decided on a release (limited of course) date of June 6th for Sergei Bodrov's Russian historical epic on the life of Ghengis Khan, 'Mongol.'

With an impressive budget (for a Russian production) of $10 -$12 million the movie stars Asian-American actor Channing Tatum ("Coach Carter") as the young Genghis, while Tadanobu Asano ("Zatoichi") plays his brother. The film is the first part of a possible trilogy about the conqueror. Part one follows Khan through his early years, while the second will show the period of his conquests and the trilogy will close with a film about his old age.

The films looks absolutely stunning and is definitely one to be watched on the big screen. To catch a trailer in lovely crisp (though you will have to listen to "Mr Voiceover") Quicktime, head over to the official U.S site.

Mongol (Official site)

9th April

'L - Change the World' to open 'Udine Far east film Festival'

Hideo Nakata’s “L - Change the World” (spin of to the hugely popular Death Note movies) will be the opening film at Italy's Udine Festival of Far East Film. Nakata, director of the original version of 'The Ring,' will be also be attending the fest for the international premiere of “L.”

Now in its 10th year the Fest will feature a huge 62 pic lineup, including “Lost Indulgence,” “Curiosity Kills the Cat” and Pang Ho-cheung’s comedy “Trivial Matters.” Hong Kong legend Johnnie To will also be making an appearance, with his latest pic 'Sparrow.' For a rundown (and for those not attending, us included, to experience more than a small twinge of jealousy) on all the fests screenings, check out their official site here.

Source

8th April

Teaser poster for Paul Catling's 'TOMO'

A teaser poster is out for Paul Catling’s feature length version of his award winning short Sci-fi film ‘TOMO.’ The original won both the Short Film Award at Sundance Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Boston Independent Film Fest in 2004.

Set in the near future, a man is stranded on a barren ice-planet when his cargo ship crash-lands. John's only hope of rescue is through the help of an emergency survival robot or Tomo ("companion" in Japanese). At first John is cautious, but as they battle to survive, he drops his guard, finding friendship and humanity where he least expects it. Adapted from the award winning short, Tomo explores the relationship between humans and their machines, refusing to shy away from what could be a terrifying reality or the great new hope.

The new film (still in production) mixes live action with CGI and the CG character ‘TOMO,’ will apparently directly interact with the human character. If the story is as good as the effects, this could be brilliant. For a taster of what treat may be to come, you can take a look at a clip from the original short film here.