Author Archives: Justin

This week in cinemas: “Brotherhood of Blades” (China)

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Justin

Yesterday a great-looking wuxia film from China arrived in Australian cinemas. Brotherhood of Blades (绣春刀) comes from Beijing-based director Lu Yang (his third film after My Spectacular Theatre, 2010 and A Motor Home Adventure, 2012) and it looks like they got an awful lot out of US$5M in budget and a 67-day shoot.

The film stars Taiwanese actor Chang Chen (who played The Razor in Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster) and Chinese actress Liu Shishi (TV drama … (read more)

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Already in cinemas: ‘Kung Fu Jungle’ (HK/China)

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Justin

I’m late on this one — many thanks to Jerome for picking it up and letting us know on our Facebook page!

In Australian cinemas from October 30 (last week) is brand-new Donnie Yen action film Kung Fu Jungle, directed by Hong Kong director Teddy Chen (Bodyguards and Assassins) and starring Donnie and Wang Baoqiang (who has been doing action flicks lately, such as Iceman and Unbeatable).

Donnie Yen plays Ha, an older martial arts … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘The Golden Era’ (China/HK)

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Justin

Distributor China Lion have announced on their Facebook page that Ann Hui’s new film The Golden Era will be arriving in Australian cinemas this week, on October 16. This drama from the prominent Hong Kong New Wave director closed the Venice Film Festival this year and it has been selected as HK’s entrant for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars as well.

The film follows the life of progressive Chinese writer Xiao Hong (played here by Tang Wei, from Lust, … (read more)

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This month in cinemas: The Tale of Studio Ghibli Showcase (Japan)

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Justin

If you’re a Studio Ghibli fan, or you follow Aussie distributor Madman’s news, you can’t have escaped the fact that they’re bringing some of Studio Ghibli’s best-loved and brand-new films to cinemas across Oz over the next couple of months.

But just in case… here’s Madman’s announcement of The Tale of Studio Ghibli Showcase — Celebrating the Genius of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata!

What it boils down to is four films, two from each director, and two documentaries:… (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Flirting in the Air’ (Hong Kong)

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Justin

Hong Kong low-brow comedy super-producer Wong Jing has a new film in Aussie cinemas on October 9.

Flirting in the Air, which stars Chapman To and Dada Chen (both from 2012’s popular, and Cat III-rated, Vulgaria). This time, however, To plays a womanizing pilot who is transported back to Ming Dynasty China, where he and his co-pilots can indulge in period-era womanizing. Like I said, a Wong Jing film — though he’s handed directorial duties over to Aman … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (South Korea)

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Justin


The Korean Cultural Office Australia have announced on their Facebook page that smash-hit period war film The Admiral: Roaring Currents will be screening in Sydney at Event Cinemas George Street from this Thursday, September 18. Details are a bit thin, but my guess is that this is Sydney only for the time being, and it’ll be a short run — so get in there before it disappears, Sydney Korean cinema fans!

(Update: Village Cinemas has picked it up … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘The Grandmaster’ (Hong Kong/China)

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Justin

Opening on September 4 in Australian cinemas is Wong Kar Wai’s take on the Ip Man story, The Grandmaster. It’s been a long time coming: the film’s Chinese release happened in January 2013, and it’s taken this long for it to wend its way through the mysterious process of international distribution.

The story is a very loose biopic of real-life martial artist Ip Man, famous for being Bruce Lee’s Wing Chun teacher and more recently the set of Hong … (read more)

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Korean Film Festival in Australia 2014

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Justin

In one short week’s time the Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) kicks off this year’s season of films in Sydney on August 13, to be followed by screenings in five other cities this year: Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide!

The important dates are:

  • Sydney: Aug 13 – Aug 21
  • Canberra: Aug 13 – Aug 14
  • Brisbane: Aug 27 – Sep 2
  • Perth: Sep 3 – Sep 6
  • Melbourne: Sep 9 – Sep 16
… (read more)
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