Author Archives: Justin

This week in cinemas: ‘Firestorm’ (3D, Hong Kong)

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Justin

Opening on 12 December (the same day as its release in China, and a week before its HK release!) in cinemas across Australia is hard-boiled, firepower-heavy Hong Kong police film Firestorm. It’s even being shown in 3D, though it sounds like it’s a post-production conversion rather than something they shot for from the get-go.

The film is the directorial debut for Alan Yuen from his own screenplay, and it stars HK megastar Andy Lau, along with Gordon Lam, Hu … (read more)

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‘The Raid 2: Berandal’ (Indonesia) teaser released

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Justin

For those who enjoyed director Gareth Evans’ impressive debut with Indonesian action film The Raid (2011), Madman have posted a treat to their YouTube channel. Here’s the teaser for the sequel, The Raid 2: Berandal:

The sequel picks up right where the original left off, with martial artist Iko Uwais reprising the lead role — and I suspect from the looks of this they’ve scaled up the mayhem considerably. No official release date yet for Oz, but it’ll be … (read more)

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Japanese Film Fest: Full Syd/Mel program

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Justin

Just a quick update: as noted on their Facebook page, the Japanese Film Festival has now released their full extended program for Sydney and Melbourne — that’s twenty extra films from all sorts of genres.

And they’ve programmed some free screenings of five black-and-white classics in all cities, from Misumi’s original Zatoichi film (full English title The Life and Times of Ichi the Masseur to Kawashima’s Elegant Beast (which has a wonderful still on the JFF website).

See the … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘The Act of Killing’

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Justin

There’s one more film opening this week that it would be remiss of me to leave out, and that’s this confronting, international documentary. The Act of Killing is a documentary centered on a collection of Indonesian paramilitary fighters that fought in death squads in the 1960s, participating in the torturing and murder of more than a million people — Communists, intellectuals and ethnic Chinese.

Since they’ve been treated as heroes of a sort and never punished for their deeds, they’re … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon’ (China)

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Justin

Also in cinemas this week is director Tsui Hark’s prequel to 2010’s fun Andy Lau-starring period detective film Detective Dee, which we here at HC rather enjoyed.

Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon turns the clock back to the start of Dee Renjie’s career and swaps Andy Lau (who probably couldn’t play the youngster, despite his enviable apparent immunity to aging!) for Taiwanese-Canadian actor Mark Chao in the lead. Also appearing in the film are Feng Shaofeng, … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Out of Inferno’ (Hong Kong, China)

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Justin

Opening this week in Oz cinemas is the newest film from Hong Kong directors Danny and Oxide Pang, one that looks like it will take full advantage of the specialisation in special effects and CGI they have developed over the years.

Out of Inferno is a disaster movie that pits a group of heroic firefighters against a building engulfed in flames, perhaps a little reminiscent of Hollywood’s Backdraft from 1991.

The film stars Louis Koo, Sean Lau, Lee Sinje, Cheung … (read more)

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International Chinese Film Festival 2013 (Sydney, Melbourne)

Posted on September 21, 2013 by Justin

It’s been a somewhat quiet launch as far as I’ve seen, but their Facebook page indicates that the International Chinese Film Festival for 2013 has now announced their dates for this year in Sydney and Melbourne, along with the line-up of films that will be screening in Sydney.… (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘My Lucky Star’ (China)

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Justin

Coming to cinemas this Thursday September 19 is Chinese comedy My Lucky Star, starring two actors who should need no introduction — Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, The Grandmaster, you know her well!) and Wang Leehom (Lust, Caution). Interestingly, it’s helmed by Hollywood director Dennie Gordon, who’s worked in American TV since the mid-90s, as well as directing New York Minute, What a Girl Wants and Joe Dirt.

Though it’s described in various … (read more)

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