Well Go USA
Mild spoiler alert
No prior knowledge of the 2001 Chinese TV series A Step into the Past is required to enjoy Back to the Past (尋秦記). Those familiar with the series will spot how the film connects to its small-screen origins, though the transition isn’t seamless. The budget behind the more ambitious stunt work doesn’t always disguise the green screening, and a bit of suspension of disbelief is definitely required. Still, it’s manageable. My lingering question is how much of Ken’s troops and equipment were conveniently waiting to be teleported along with him. There is an answer, and I won’t spoil where the technology came from.
Although the film took many years to reach screens following the series finale in 2001, fans of the historical drama about Hong Siu-lung (Louis Koo), a modern man trying not to distort the past too much for fear of altering the future he knows, will feel right at home. Over the course of the series, he becomes part of a trusted inner circle and is eventually made Grand Tutor. Much of the story revolves around avoiding temporal paradoxes, and anything essential is neatly recapped in the film’s introduction.
Continue reading “Going ‘Back to the Past’ is No Stormy Ride In This Tribute”
For collectors, cinephiles, and nostalgic gift-givers, Shout! Studios continues to deliver premium releases that turn movie nights into an art form. In what makes this year special for this top Asian picks is the Chinese Ghost Story collection on this list. Not only is it a huge upgrade from prior releases, but it made number one in my gift giving guide.
This quintessential series that launched the “heroic bloodshed” genre in Hong Kong cinema is getting a massive 4K treatment, and there’s seven discs in total to make this film saga soar. It’s a John Woo and Tsui Hark produced film, and if that’s not enough to set the stage about two brothers trying to stay together—despite living in opposite worlds. One is a cop, and the other a Triad thug trying to go straight. This saga also made Chow Yun-Fat an international superstar. Different cuts are offered.
This newly remastered Hong Kong Cinema Classics collection revives one of the most beloved supernatural sagas ever filmed. Each entry has been 4K-scanned from the original negatives with new subtitles and restored colour. The box-set format turns this romantic fantasy trilogy into an essential collector’s centrepiece.
John Woo’s ballistic masterpiece explodes back onto shelves in a deluxe multi-disc edition. Featuring a brand-new 4K restoration and bonus features on the art of Hong Kong action, it’s a perfect showcase gift for anyone who still believes in practical stunts and cinematic bravado.
Among the icons of Hong Kong action cinema, few stars shine as brightly as Jet Li. Renowned for his graceful and fluid fighting style, Li’s illustrious filmography has established him as an international superstar.
This colossal animation library brings together Miyazaki and Takahata’s timeless works. The bundle’s unified design and sharp HD masters make it an ideal gift for families, collectors, or anyone seeking the warmth of hand-drawn magic through winter nights.
Available on home video and streaming (
One reason I love 
The 80s were a golden era for 
Well GO USA