Tag: Martial Arts

Donnie Yen is Raging Fire

Raging Fire Blu-Ray SleeveAvailable to purchase on Amazon USA

The difference between the cop-type characters Donnie Yen has played over the years lays with how gentle he is or just how much Raging Fire he has. This film made a proper debut in the summer of 2021 and it didn’t take long for it to make it over to North America. The home video release has a bonus which looks at the making of this exciting film!

Although we’re getting a direct to home video release, I’d go see this film on the big screen. Before the pandemic, the last film I saw of Yen’s was Enter the Fat Dragon, and it was worth every effort to visit the only cinema (in Vancouver) that screened it. This film takes advantage of that big screen presentation in the climax when we see him deal with his protege Ngo (Nicholas Tse), who turned bad, in true Batman-like fashion. Can he brutally hurt his nemesis or let him live to face justice?

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Raging Fire to Blaze into Home Video Nov 23rd!

Donnie Yen’s kicking his way into action with 怒火·重案 (Nou Fo) November 23rd! It’s sure to be a Raging Fire, the American title, indeed!

Raging FireWell GO Entertainment
Available to stream or preorder on Amazon USA

Release Date:
Nov 23, 2021

Donnie Yen is certainly not resting on his laurels after appearing in stand-out American produced films like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) and Mulan (2020). He’s been busy back home in Hong Kong, China too with Ip Man 4 and Enter the Fat Dragon. His versitility is a wonder to watch. He’s kicking his way into further action with 怒火·重案 (Nou Fo) coming to home video at the end of November! It’s sure to be a Raging Fire, the American title, indeed!

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When Ninjas Don’t Make Up Hydra in this Movie Review

Tak-san was once a member of the Tokyo Life Group, a secret organization dedicated to dealing with certain individuals not wanting to conform, but has since retired. He’s trying to lead a normal life but is in fact protecting one of his co-workers.

Hydra Blu-Ray Cover

Well GO USA
Release Date: July 20, 2021
Available on Hi-YAH! Streaming Service and DVD

Takashi is silent and deadly, everything a ninja must be. When compared to G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes, I wish Masanori Mimoto (better known for Yakuza Apocalypse) got to play this character instead of Golding. Here, this individual is subtle in his approach to safeguard the patrons to his bar. Part of the movie uses silence, the perfect way to introduce a former ninja. These days, he’s a chef.

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Snake-Eyes G.I. Joe: Origins From the Perspective of a Long Time Fan

At some point of this ronin’s journey, this warrior will become a mute and/or disfigured to make him decide to keep his signature armour on for the most part, and that’s when G.I. Joe will recruit him.

Snake-Eyes G.I. Joe Origins Movie Poster.jpgSpoiler Alert

Trying to rejuvenate interest in a more than a half century old toy line can be tough. Not even Snake-Eyes–the most popular character–can save the franchise. He’s not even a G.I. Joe in the self-titled Origins film. It may be the first in a series which redefines key characters, and giving them a history to make them edgier than the typical cartoon portrayal. 

Just where Snake-Eyes (Henry Golding) learned martial arts is still a mystery. This  movie shows him as a diamond in the rough and this actor certainly knows how to play that up. There’s a lot of emotional baggage he has to shed before he can be that Ultimate Ninja. He first has to learn the way of bushido, and perhaps his heritage too. The latter is quickly revealed, but I hoped for more. I find the story really odd since it barely scratches the surface in what this individual knows as honour.

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Undercover Punch & Gun Finds Its Way to Home Video June 8th

Anyone not knowing the history of this film (it was made in 2015) might have wondered why some gangsters were wearing face masks–it wasn’t to keep them safe from toxins, but it’s the norm in smoggy Hong Kong.

Blu-ray, DVD & Digital release: 'Undercover Punch and Gun' - Far East FilmsBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Well GO USA
Streaming now on Hi-YAH!, and available to pre-order on Amazon.com.

The hottest talents from Hong Kong are the highlight in Undercover Punch and Gun (潜行者), and the eye-candy this film offers is very pleasing, even for the martial arts enthusiast. This movie originally came out in 2019 as Undercover vs Undercover. I doubt the producers were intending to make a play on Mad Magazine’s Spy vs Spy even though the concept is almost similiar.

As for which title is better, I’m glad the rename is used. This bare bones release is appropriate. The standard trailers and English dub (I watched in Mandarin myself) make up this home video edition.

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Thoughts & Theories after Ninjago Seabound’s Finale & What’s Next?

Ninjago Seabound Promo PosterOn Teletoon Canada
Sundays 6:30am PST/ 9:30am EST

Spoiler Alert

The finale to Ninjago: Seabound is not at an end. It’s merely a huge part two and there are still threads to tie up. “Nyad” and “Turn of the Tide” make up the finale and it’s a tearjerker. Nya is fighting Kalmaar mono a mono, and elsewhere, Jay’s combat vehicle gets damaged. He may well drown if he’s not rescued soon. Sadly, by the time help arrives, he slips into a coma. Nya can’t bear to see him this way and realizes sacrifices must be made for some good to happen.

The Water Ninja learns how the tale of Nyad ends and she’s ready for change. She opens her katras up to accept another entity (or energy) to enter. She’s doing something similar to Jean Grey in Marvel’s X-Men (Uncanny, #101-108) comics by accepting the Phoenix Force. An interesting parallel must be made though. As she rises out of the water, the whirlwind is like Nadakahn’s (the villain from season six) dust tail. However, she is aware of who she is despite what Wu said, “Whatever you’re hearing, whatever you’re experiencing. Fight it, Nya. Remember who you are. Remember.”

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