Nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 80th Academy Awards, Mongol chronicles the early life of one of the greatest conquerors in history – Genghis Khan. This epic joint production from Russia, Germany, and Kazakhstan is directed by award-winning Russian filmmaker Sergei Bodrov, and stars acclaimed Japanese actor Asano Tadanobu in the role of Temugin, the man who would become Genghis Khan. Shot completely in the Mongol language amid Central Asia’s sweeping grasslands and endless deserts, Mongol offers a fascinating revisionist profile of a man that everyone knew, but few understood.
An action heroine is born in the explosive new blockbuster Chocolate from director Prachya Pinkaew and action director Panna Rittikrai, the tag team behind Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong. With only her first film, Jija Yanin Vismitananda already stands peerless as Asian Cinema’s next big female action star. Discovered five years ago by Prachya Pinkaew during casting sessions for Born to Fight, the 24-year-old actress makes a jaw-dropping debut with a full arsenal of Muay Thai moves that belie her petite frame. Originally trained in taekwondo, Jija Yanin Vismitananda underwent four years of training with Panna Rittikrai, plus personal tutelage from Tony Jaa, in preparation for her debut, and she certainly delivers the action in Chocolate. In an interesting international crossover, popular Japanese actor Abe Hiroshi (The Sword of Alexander) co-stars as Jija Yanin Vismitananda’s father.
Tensions are high as Thai gangsters and yakuza bump heads in Bangkok. Yakuza Masashi (Abe Hiroshi) further crosses the Thai underworld when his relationship with Zin (Ammara Siripong), an underling of Thai kingpin No. 8 (Pongpat Wachirabunjong), is revealed. Masashi is soon forced to return to Japan, leaving Zin and their unborn child behind in Thailand. Toughing it out as a single mother, Zin gives birth to an autistic daughter. Clearly a bit different from the rest of the kids, Zen (Jija Yanin Vismitananda) has unnaturally fast reflexes that she channels into learning Muay Thai. Though times are tough, Zen grows up healthy and happy until her mother is diagnosed with cancer. To pay for the medical care, Zen and portly buddy Moom (Taphon Phopwandee) decide to collect Zin’s old debts, speaking with fists when payment isn’t forthcoming – which is basically every time. Zin’s old cronies aren’t about to just sit around though while Zen blazes a path of damage through the underworld.
Very good muay-thai movie with a new face. Although the actress is not trained in muay-thai prior she did a very convincing take in this movie.
Collaborating with director Wilson Yip for the fourth time, action star Donnie Yen takes the leading role in a momentous biopic of martial arts legend Ip Man, the Wing Chun grandmaster whose many students included Bruce Lee. Set in 1930s and 40s China during the Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man follows in the spirit of blockbuster period actioners like Fearless and Once Upon a Time in China with a rousing bout of folk hero patriotism and a breathtaking display of martial arts. Endorsed by Ip Man’s son who served as a consultant for the film, Ip Man takes some liberties with history, but cuts no corners when it comes to the intense action scenes choreographed by Sammo Hung. Donnie Yen delivers perhaps the best acting performance of his career, along with his usual jaw-dropping martial arts machismo. Ip Man co-stars Simon Yam (Fatal Move), Gordon Lam (Sparrow), Wong Yau Nam (AV), martial artists Fan Siu Wong (The Moss) and Xing Yu (Kung Fu Hustle), and Japanese actor and judo black-belt holder Ikeuchi Hiroyuki (Karaoke Terror) as Yen’s main rival.
Ip Man opens in 1930s Foshan, a town steeped in kung fu heritage and lined with an abundance of martial arts schools. The undisputed toast of Foshan though is Ip Man (Donnie Yen), known not only for his superb martial arts, but also for his great humility and integrity. Content with his wealthy, low-key life with his wife (Lynn Xiong Dai Ling) and son, Ip Man refuses to take disciples, though he is at times forced to give sound beatings to rash challengers. Everything changes, however, when war hits. There’s no more time for martial arts as Ip Man works hard to support his family through this time of poverty and oppression. But he can stay silent no longer when a Japanese general (Ikeuchi Hiroyuki) begins challenging Chinese martial artists to fatal duels.
I have to say this is one fantastic martial arts movie.
Ratings: 4 out of 5
Local Foshan master challenges Ip Man.
A northern martial arts master challenges the various Foshan masters and easily defeated them. Ip Man saves the day.
After the Japanese forces occupied Foshan commerce collapsed and everyone is reduced to scrapping for food. The local Japanese commander organises martial arts fights for Chinese to win rice bags.
The local Foshan master enters the arena and takes on a Japanese fighter.
Local Foshan master takes on 3 Japanese exponents in the arena.
Ip Man fights the Japanese in the arena.
Ip Man fights to protect his family.
The northern master has turned bandit and harasses the Foshan automotive plant and Ip Man comes to their rescue.
Fearless is now available with English subtitles! This is the director’s cut which adds back more than 30 minutes deleted from the Hong Kong theatrical release, including the opening scene with Michelle Yeoh, a significant scene in which Jet Li fights against Thai boxers, plus some scenes that have never been released before. HD technology offers higher visual quality to this action-packed movie by Jet Li.Fearless is rumored to be superstar Jet Li’s last martial arts film. Even if it is not, the dynamic and breath-taking action sequences alone already provide a good reason to watch it. The movie also features famous Japanese actor Nakamura Shidou (Be With You), who will have some spectacular fighting scenes with Jet Li. Li also demonstrates top-notch martial arts when fighting with Thai Olympic boxing champion Somluck Kamsing and the 7′ tall Australian wrestler Nathan Jones (Tom Yum Goong). Director Ronny Yu (Freddy vs. Jason) and action choreographer Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix), who have both become hot properties in Hollywood in recent years, join forces to offer a film which will not disappoint action movie fans for sure.
Fearless follows the life of Huo Yuanjia (1867-1909), founder of the Jing Wu Sports Federation. Apart from the gripping plot, partly historical and partly fabricated, the film also demonstrates great creativity in its action scenes. Rarely does a movie show contests between Chinese Kung-fu and Japanese Judo or Thai boxing, but Fearless will show you all these, with every scene carefully choreographed, plus more! The film’s exploration into the spirit beneath Chinese martial arts, which is as significant as the stunning actions, distinguishes Fearless from ordinary Kung-fu movies. Jet Li will show fans the real meaning of Chinese martial arts, and why true heroes are Fearless.
Ratings:
4 out of 5
Supposedly Jet Li’s swan song on filming any more martial arts based movies, this version of Huo Yuen Jia is a splendid retelling of a great martial arts legendary figure.
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