News

The '90s saw the mainstream rise of martial artist actors like Jet Li and Jackie Chan, resulting in some of the best kung fu films to be released within the decade. The introduction of such stars and films brought an increased interest in the genre and influenced a variety of American films, including The Matrix. As fans of Hong Kong cinema themselves, The Wachowskis asked famous martial arts director Yuen Woo-Ping to help with their film's fight choreography.

Chan himself has been quite an influence on kung fu films. Starting in the late '70s, Chan was just one of the actors to lead kung fu comedies, which revived interest in the genre within the following decades. Chan and Li are just a few who started working in Hong Kong cinema before moving to American films after their breakthrough. As a result, the best kung fu films the decade...

Whenever you think about martial arts, whose name springs to mind? For me, it’s Jackie Chan, followed by the others.

Jackie Chan, a legend in the world of martial arts, created his patented style of fighting. This style involves executing audacious stunts and employing clever maneuvers.

He actively utilizes his surroundings and props. With this unique approach, he swiftly defeats his enemies. Jackie Chan consistently emerges victorious despite the number of adversaries he faces.

Related: 10 Best 80s Movies from Childhood, Ranked by Viewers

Growing up, I had an enjoyable time watching numerous Jackie Chan movies.

From “The Legend of Drunken Master” to “Rush Hour,” it was impossible to be bored with Jackie’s movies.

The sheer mastery exhibited by Jackie Chan has solidified his position as an iconic figure in the world of martial arts.

However, while Jackie excels at martial arts, I am particularly captivated by the comedic elements in his movies.

Any conversation about action cinema has to include the name Jackie Chan. It's a legal requirement. He's far from the only action star, but his accomplishments and influence on the genre are undeniable. While Chan's earliest films saw producers trying to make him into the next Bruce Lee, Chan found his own footing in the late '70s by blending creative choreography with humor. He's never looked back. From one of the best fight scenes of all time in "Wheels on Meals" (1984) to the epic stunts in "Armour of God II: Operation Condor" (1991) to blockbuster Hollywood efforts like "Rush Hour" (1998), Chan is the action star.

The post The 15 Best Jackie Chan Movies Ranked appeared first on /Film.

The enemy think they’re amateurs. Big mistake.

A slam-bang, all-out action spectacular from the martial arts master Jackie Chan, in an eye-popping suicide mission adventure, packed with mad stunts, stunning set pieces and plenty of belly laughs.

Railroad Tigers is laughs, lunacy and nonstop thrills as soon as it pulls out of the station. Out on Blu-ray, DVD and for download 8th May.

Enter now for your chance to win a copy on Blu-ray!

To win a copy of Railroad Tigers on Blu-ray, just answer the following question:

Which of the following is Not a sequel to Jackie Chan’s Armour of God? Is it:

a) Operation Condor

b) Chinese Zodiac

c) Shanghai Knights

Email your answer to NerdlyComps@gmail.com, making sure to include your name and address. You can also leave your answer on our Facebook page, just make sure to like us first or your entry will be invalid.

Once it gets rolling, the exceedingly silly Kung Fu Yoga made me very happy. Jackie Chan stars as an archaeology professor, and if that puts you in mind of Chan's role as a globe-trotting treasure hunter in Armor of God and Operation Condor, rest assured that's intentional. The early films were directly influenced by Raiders of the Lost Ark and spun tales revolving around bigger and improbably wild stunts. Unlike Cz 12 (aka Chinese Zodiac), Chan's 2012 attempt to resurrect his Armor of God character in a new adventure, this time around the directorial reins have been handed off to Stanley Tong. While it's true that Tong co-wrote and co-produced Cz 12, the change in approach is noticeable. For one thing, Tong is solely credited...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Time takes its toll on all of us … even Jackie

Jackie Chan is arguably one of the most important action /martial arts stars to ever grace our screens. As happens to us all … time takes it’s toll and sadly over the years the quality of his films has degraded.

But whilst the quality of his output my have decreased , it’s not difficult to spot moments of brilliance in even his most recent movies (i.e final fight scene in Chinese Zodiac ).

2016 is a very busy year for Jackie Chan

This year is going to be a very busy one of Jackie Chan, soon we will see the release of Skiptrace followed by another 3 confirmed releases (Railroad Tigers, The Foreigner, Kung Fu Yoga) and even more films which have either been announced or are currently in production (Rush Hour 4, The Karate Kid 2, Shanghai Noon Sequel).

Unfortunately none...

Global Star Productions

A Robert Samuels Film

Cast: Kenny Chin, Marco Da Answer Johnson, Vincent Lyn, John Canada Terrell, John DeBlasio, Dean Lee, Kimberly Bowden, Neko Gettling, Angela Hollis, Lloyd Webb

(Stronger, Faster, Feels No Pain)

“Beast” is the latest movie from a very talented team which aims to bring Action and excitement to fans around the world. Directed by Robert Samuels (Don’t Give A Damn/Gambling Ghost) and written and produced by Robert Jefferson, Beast is centered around “Marcus Walden“, who began developing a serum in 1999 to form the Ultimate soldier. A Soldier who feels no pain, a soldier who is faster, stronger and more deadly than anything human kind could dream about.

The trailer is everything you would expect from such a talented team, suspense, plenty of Action and Martial Arts and granted to make any fan of this genre weak at the knees and wanting more.

(1981-1989 – The Three Dragons)

After the early 1980’s, Golden Harvest started to branch out into the modern-day world leaving behind the Kung Fu cinema age and progressing into something massive. From 1981 onwards, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao (The Three Dragons) were about to embark on a sensational journey, progressing from there Kung Fu genre into modern-day Martial Arts and stunt work, something Shaw Brothers were left behind and Golden Harvest was to be the new global company.

Jackie Chan back then headed to the United states to try to break into the international market, but the movies he appeared in didn’t really take off and Jackie was also disappointed with the filming of The Big Brawl. Jackie felt he never had chance to show off his action choreography and wasn’t given the space to add his world of experience to the movie. Although it was Directed...

Chicago – The 31st edition of the Chicago Latino Film Festival Kicks Off on Thursday, April 9, 2015, with the Venezuelan/Spanish film “The Liberator” (“Libertador”). All films are at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago.

This year’s festival promises another huge array of films originating from Latino countries all over the world, and runs from April 9th through the 23rd. The kick-off film “The Liberator” will be followed by a reception at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Chicago. For details and to purchase tickets click here.

’The Liberator’ is the Opening Night Film at the 31st Chicago Latino Film Festival

Photo credit: Chicago Latino Film Festival

The Opening Night Capsule and the highlights of Week One are as follows…

Opening Night: “The Liberator”

Selected by Venezuela as their official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the recent Academy Awards, “The Liberator” is a biography film of Simon Bolivar, the...

Early predictions have emerged for most Academy Award categories. As the studios reveal their hopeful offers to be released in the final months of the year, the speculation increases. But despite all the information available on the centerpiece awards, other more obscure races remain a complete mystery at this point. Among these, the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar is almost certainly the most complex to prognosticate. The lengthy process that precedes the announcement of the final nominees makes for a competition that begins months in advance in nations around the globe.

Having the opportunity to submit only one film, each country must carry out its own selection process. Once these decisions have been made, their chosen works will compete to make it to the nine-film shortlist, and eventually into the final five slots. Although this procedure allows for a certain degree of democracy, it also excludes all those other films that were left behind in their homelands. This, in turn, gives us a narrow view of what is being produced abroad.

Therefore, after lots of research and arduous educated guessing to put it together, the list below offers a more insightful look at this race before the actual individual selections are announced. For the sake of time, the amount of films is limited to five per country, but in some cases the choices are scarcer and less films are listed. While trying to speculate is always an uncertain endeavor, the factors taken into account to determine which are some of this year’s most important films in each country and their prospects of being chosen as their representative at the Academy Awards, were varied. Festival exposure, release date, the country’s previous submissions, and even the thematic elements of a few of them were considered to create this piece.

Clearly nothing is definitive at this point, but at the very least, this compilation will provide a sense of what the film industries in these territories are putting out and sharing with the world.

It is important to note that several of the films mentioned below are being handled by Mundial, a joint venture between Im Gobal and Canana, including "Gueros," "A Wolf at the Door," and "The Liberator."

Here is the first list dedicated to the Americas

Argentina

With four films presented at Cannes and several others receiving praise in festivals around the world, Argentina has several interesting options this year. Unfortunately, Lisandro Alonso’s period piece “Jauja” will almost certainly be ineligible due to its November release date, unless a qualifying one-week run is scheduled. That scenario seems unlikely. Screening in the Directors’ Forthnight, Diego Lerman’s “Refugee” (Refugiado) will open on October 3rd, also a few days after the deadline. That leaves the Almodovar-produced “Wild Tales” as the undisputed favorite. Acclaimed films such as “Natural Sciences," “The Third Side of the River”, “El Ardor“ (staring Gael Garcia Bernal), and “La Paz” are longer shots but still viable choices.

1. "Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)

2. "Natural Sciences" (Ciencias Naturales)

3."The Ardor" (El Ardor)

4."The Third Side of the River" (La Tercera Orilla)

5."La Paz"

Bolivia

The last time the landlocked country submitted a film was back in 2009. However, this year offers several possibilities for the Bolivian film industry. Given its production value and historical theme, it is likely that - if they choose to send a film - it will be Mexican director Carlos Bolado’s “Forgotten” (Olvidados), which deals with the 70s Operation Condor. Another likely choice is “Yvy Maraey,” which highlights the mysticism of the country’s indigenous people and is the latest work by Juan Carlos Valdivia, whose films have represented Bolivia in 3 out of the 6 occasions they’ve participated. A long delayed road trip flick (“Once Upon a Time in Bolivia”) and a unique documentary (“Apricot”) round up the list of contenders.

1. "Forgotten" (Olvidados)

2. "Yvy Maraey: Land Without Evil" (Yvy Maraey: Tierra Sin Mal)

3. "Once Upon a Time in Bolivia" (Erase una vez en Bolivia)

4. "Apricot" (Durazno)

Brazil

Producing an impressive amount of films per year, the Brazilian film industry is seeing incredible progress recently. Particularly this year, the quality of works was exceptional across the board. Having such an overflow of great material could make it difficult to select just one. However, there are a few films that standout amongst the crowd. Fernando Coimbra’s debut feature “A Wolf at the Door” is undoubtedly the one to beat after receiving rave reviews and touring some of the most important international festivals. Its biggest competitors are the quiet character study “The Man of the Crowd” and the adorable coming-of-age tale “The Way He Looks.” Rounding up the top five are locally acclaimed “Runriver” and powerful Lgbt drama “Futuro Beach.”

1. "A Wolf at the Door" (O Lobo atrás da Porta)

2. "The Man of the Crowd" (O Homem das Multidões)

3. "The Way He Looks" (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)

4. "Riverrun" (Riocorrente)

5. "Futuro Beach" (Praia do Futuro)

Canada

This definitely seems like Xavier Dolan’s year. After sharing an award with New Wave patriarch Jean-Luc Godard in Cannes, the 25-year-old prodigy is almost a safe bet having two films that could represent his country. While “Mommy” is the clear favorite, it will have to go against “An Eye for Beauty, ” the latest film from Oscar-winner Denys Arcand. Both films will screen at Tiff in the upcoming weeks, just as time runs out for Canada to nominate a film by the end of September. Less probable but still great options are Dolan’s own “Tom at the Farm,” quirky black-and-white dramedy “Tu Dors Nicole,” and the well-received rural family drama “The Auction. ”

1. "Mommy"

2. "An Eye for Beauty" (Le Règne de la Beauté)

3. "Tom at the Farm" (Tom à la ferme)

4. "You's Sleeping Nicole" (Tu Dors Nicole)

5. "The Auction" (Le démantèlement)

Chile

Here is one of the few countries in the region with a very clear choice, but which sadly might decide to miss that opportunity. Alejandro Fernández Almendras ‘“To Kill a Man” won at Sundance, Rotterdam, Berlin, Cartagena amongst several other festivals and has received extremely positive reactions from critics and audiences. Yet, its opening date in its homeland (October 16th) might prevent it from being selected, which would be a regrettable mistake. A one-week run or an earlier release date would be a worthwhile investment. If they decide to leave it behind for next year, this great film would definitely miss its chance. If that is the case, the South American nation, which in recent years has garnered incredible success with films like “No” and “Gloria,” might decide to go with “The Dance of Reality,” the first film in over 20 years by veteran auteur Alejandro Jodorowsky. Other plausible candidates include “Illiterate” (starring Paulina Garcia), Marcela Said’s remarkable “The Summer of Flying Fish,” and historical biopic “Neruda.”

1. "To Kill a Man" (Matar a un Hombre)

2. "The Dance of Reality" (La Danza de la Realidad)

3. "Illiterate" (Las Analfabetas)

4. "The Summer of Flying Fish" (El Verano de los Peces Voladores)

5. "Neruda"

Colombia

Being forced to resort to mainstream cartel-themed fare in past occasions, this year has fortunately seen a fantastic reemergence of auteur-driven works in the country. Cartagena winner “Dust on the Tongue” is by far the most promising Colombian offer of the year with a thought-provoking premise. Next in line is “Mateo” about a young man struggling to pursue his passion for theater while living in a crime-ridden community. Other films include the touching “Catching Fireflies,” apocalyptic comedy “Chronicle of the End of the World,” and music-infused romance “Ciudad Delirio.” Franco Lolli’s award-winning “Gente de Bien” doesn’t have a release date yet, but will probably be in the running next year.

1. "Dust on the Tongue" (Tierra en la Lengua)

2. "Mateo"

3. "Chasing Fireflies" (Cazando Luciernagas)

4. "Chronicle of the End of the World" (Crónica del Fin del Mundo)

5. "Ciudad Delirio"

Costa Rica

Having three great films eligible for consideration, Costa Rica will likely enter the Oscar race for what would be only the third time in its history. Without a doubt, the country is spearheading Central America in terms of increased film production. Lauded throughout multiple festivals, “Red Princesses,” about a girl growing up in the Sandinista-era, is the most notable work. “Port Father,” a coming-of-age drama set in a coastal town and the comedy “All About the Feathers” are the other two that could be picked. Regardless of which one is selected, they all serve as an encouraging sign of growth for the Costa Rican industry.

1. "Red Princesses" (Princesas Rojas)

2. "Port Father" (Puerto Padre)

3. "All About the Feathers" (Por las Plumas)

Cuba

Hosting the Havana International Film Festival and its consistent investment in local talent make Cuba a unique place for film in the Caribbean. In spite of this, only a few national productions have reached cinemas this year. The three notable titles revolve around personal stories of survival and the struggles associated with living on the island. Winner of several international awards, “Behavior” is the clear favorite. “Melaza,” another local drama dealing with the economic challenges Cubans face and the gay love story “The Last Match,” complete the trio.

1. "Behavior" (Conducta)

2."Melaza"

3. "The Last Match" (La Partida)

Dominican Republic

For its size, this island nation has an impressive working industry that steadily produces films in diverse genres. The Dominican Republic will almost certainly participate again with one of the works by its homegrown talent. Screening in Toronto last year, crime romance “Cristo Rey” has the highest probability of being chosen. In second place is the documentary “The Mountain,” which centers on a unique expedition to Mount Everest by a Dominican team. Passionate road trip story “To the South of Innocence” and psychological thriller “Despertar ” conform the list of options.

1. "Cristo Rey"

2. "The Mountain"(La Montaña)

3. "To the South of Innocence" (Al Sur de la Inocencia)

4. "Despertar"

Ecuador

Seemingly dormant for many decades, the Ecuadorian film industry has recently exploded. Even though they have only submitted three times in the past, it appears they plan to make their presence more consistent moving forward. What is even more surprising, are the numerous alternatives they have to make their selection. At the top of the list is “Holiday,” which premiered in Berlin and has received considerable praise. Two other art house offers, “Silence in Dreamland” and “Saudade,” could be serious contenders. “Girl Without Fear,” a gritty crime film and “The Facilitator,” a politically charged work, have less chances but are still interesting offers.

1. "Holiday" (Feriado)

2. "Silence in Dreamland" (El Silencio en la Tierra de los Sueños)

3. "Saudade"

4. "Girl With No Fear" (Ciudad Sin Sombra)

5. "The Facilitator" (El Facilitador)

El Salvador

Sporadically producing feature length works due to the lack of initiatives that facilitate their funding, El Salvador has never entered the race. Nevertheless, there are three films that could potentially be submitted: Supernatural horror film "The Supreme Book," romantic comedy "The Re-Search," and the more viable choice, " The Four Cardinal Points," a documentary about the diverse lifestyles throughout the tiny country. The latter was exhibited commercially as part of Ambulante El Salvador for about a week, which could possibly make it eligible. But in all honesty, it is hard to think they’ll feel so inclined as to participate.

1. "El Salvador: The Four Cardinal Points" (El Salvador: Cuatro Puntos Cardinales)

2. "The Re-Search" (La ReBusqueda)

3. "The Supreme Book" (El Libro Supremo)

Guatemala

With only one submission under their belt back in 1994 and several missed opportunities in recent years, Guatemala might opt to remain out of the spotlight once again. If, however, they change their mind, there are three films that qualify to be entered. Focusing on the indigenous Maya‘s beliefs and legends, “Where the Sun is Born” is surely the most authentic and visually powerful of these films. Then there is “Pol,” a story about two teenage friends and their mishaps. Lastly, there is “12 Seconds,” a sort of slasher flick set in the countryside. It’s been 20 years since their last try, it wouldn’t hurt to see them make the effort once again.

1. "Where the Sun is Born" (Donde Nace el Sol)

2. "Pol"

3. "12 Seconds" (12 Segundos)

Honduras

Although they have never submitted an entry, the Central American country is showing signs of progress in terms of its film industry. With only two local, low budget films released this year, it is highly unlikely they will enter. Nevertheless, they do have an eligible film “11 Cipotes,” a sports comedy about a soccer team in a small town. The other film, “The Zwickys,” is surprisingly ineligible because it is mostly in English.

1. "11 Kids" (11 Cipotes)

Mexico

Now that the Mexican Academy has announced their shortlist - which strangely and inexplicably includes titles that have no scheduled release dates or that will be released after AMPAS' deadline (September 30th, 2014) - the landscape has dramatically changed. Three of the original selections mentioned here (“The Empty Hours,” “Potosi,” and “ Club Sandwich”) are not included among the finalists. It is important to note that films need to be submitted by the filmmakers in order to be considered by the Mexican Academy. One can assume that these films, though they qualify, decided not to participate. The 21 films listed include several documentaries such as “Purgatorio: A Journey Into the Heart of the Border,” “Disrupted” (Quebranto), “Eufrosina’s Revolution” (La Revolución de los Alcatraces), and “H2Omx" among others. But even if many of these are outstanding films, it is highly unlikely that the Academy will decide to go with a documentary over a narrative given their track record and the other options available. Comedic offers like the charming “Paraíso” by Mariana Chenillo, "Flying Low" (Volando Bajo), and "The Last Call" (Tercera Llamada) also made it in. Just like last year with “Instructions Not Included,” most people could assume that the film with the most commercial prospects would make for a good candidate for Oscar consideration, in this case that would be the biopic “Cantinflas," which was also listed. Fortunately, however, the selection committee often prefers to bet on films honored internationally regardless of their controversial content (“Heli,” “After Lucia,” “Silent Light,” “The Crime of Father Amaro”).

With the new additions, the possibilities have shifted. On the top spot is Alonso Ruiz Palacios’ black and white debut “Güeros,” which won in Berlin and Tribeca, and screened at Karlovy Vary. The festival pedigree will definitely help this unique road trip film set in Mexico City during the late 90s. The runner up is Luis Urquiza’s “Perfect Obedience,” though it did not have any festival exposure or a highly profitable theatrical run, the local critics praised the compelling portrayal of a depraved Catholic priest with satirical undertones. It would definitely make for a great contender if the Academy were willing to run the risk given its controversial subject matter. At number three we have Christian Diaz Pardo’s “Gonzalez,” an intriguing drama about a man looking to change his destiny by joining a for profit evangelical church. Dark comedy “ Workers,” by Salvadoran filmmaker Jose Luis Valle, comes in at number four. Lastly, there is Luis Estrada’s long awaited new film “The Perfect Dictatorship,” which made the cut despite having an October 16th release date. The film could definitely come into play; however, voters should consider the fact that its premise and humor might be too specific to the Mexican political idiosyncrasies to connect with foreign voters. Two other films that might be in the race next year are “Perpetual Sadness” (La Tirisia) and “ The Well” (Manto Acuifero)

1."Güeros"

2. "Perfect Obedience" (Obediencia Perfecta)

3. "Gonzalez"

4. "Workers"

5. "The Perfect Dictatorship" (La Dictadura Perfecta)

Nicaragua

With three submissions in over 30 years (1982, 1988, 2010), Nicaragua is the Central American nation with the most attempts at Oscar glory. More astonishing perhaps, is the fact that their first ever entry, “Alsino and the Condor,” earned them a nomination. These days production is almost non-existent. Still, the country’s most prolific filmmaker Florence Jaugey, responsible for their last submission “La Yuma,” made a small documentary titled “Class Days." It is just over 50 minutes long but actually had a theatrical run. Though eligible, it’s probable they’ll decide to skip this year. On the other hand, Jaugey has just finished a new narrative new feature, “The Naked Screen” (La Pantalla Desnuda), which will surely be part of the conversation next year.

1. "Class Days" (Dias de Clase)

Panama

An unprecedented amount of national productions were scheduled to premier in Panama during 2014. All of those four films - which by the country’s standards is an exceptional number - are documentaries. However, only two of them will be eligible given their set release dates. Out of those two, the top choice would certainly be Abner Benaim’s “Invasion” which uses reenactments in lieu of archive footage to revisit the American military intervention in the Central American country in 1989. The runner-up, “Majesty,” deals with the more lighthearted subject of carnival queens. In any case, should Panama decide to submit a film, this would be their first ever appearance.

1. "Invasion"

2. "Majesty" (Reinas)

Paraguay

Disappointed after missing the chance to submit last year's surprise hit “7 Boxes”due to the lack of a selection committee, Paraguayan authorities have stressed their wish to send a film to compete this time around. Unfortunately, it appears that their two best options might be scheduled to open theatrically past the Academy’s deadline. The documentary “Cloudy Times,” a Swiss co-production, has garnered positive reactions internationally and would be their best shot. A second choice could be the crime flick “Filthy Luck,” which sports a decent production value. But if neither of them manages to qualify, then the country’s only other option is yet another crime film “End of the Line.” In any case, hopefully they follow through with their intentions and participate for the first time.

1. "Cloudy Times" (El Tiempo Nublado)

2. "Filthy Luck" (Luna de Cigarras)

3. "End of the Line" (Fin de Linea)

Peru

The eclectic collection of Peruvian films released this year speaks of the great development the medium is experiencing in that country. The five films mentioned here represent the array of genres and stories coming out of Peru today. Given its incredible reception abroad, dark comedy “The Mute” by Daniel Vega Vidal & Diego Vega Vidal is undoubtedly the frontrunner. Behind it comes the intriguing thriller “Guard Dog” starring Peruvian star Carlos Alcántara, multi-narrative drama “The Gospel of the Flesh,” romantic tearjerker “Trip to Timbuktu,” and “Old Friends” about a group of elderly men on a mission. Definitely a though decision needs to be made.

1. "The Mute" (El Mudo)

2. "Guard Dog" (Perro Guardian)

3. "The Gospel of the Flesh" (El Evangelio de la Carne)

4. "Trip to Timbuktu" (Viaje a Tombuctu)

5. "Old Friends" (Viejos Amigos)

Uruguay

Last year the country decided to take a chance and submit the adorable animated film “Anina,” which despite not getting a nomination has become a great success. This time they have “The Militant,” a serious contender about a man retuning to his late father’s hometown. Empowered by a positive festival run, this seems to be their most ideal option. “23 Seconds,” a drama about an unlikely connection between two people and “Mr. Kaplan,” a buddy comedy by Álvaro Brechner - whose previous film “A Bad Day to Go Fishing” was selected a few years back - are the next best choices. The remaining film “At 60 km/h” is a documentary about a unique journey around the world.

1. "The Militant" (El Lugar del Hijo)

2. "23 Seconds" (23 Segundos)

3. "Mr. Kaplan"

4. "At 60 Km/h" (A 60 Km/h)

Venezuela

Dubbed as “the most expensive film ever made in Latin America” and focusing on the accomplishments of the country’s most important historical figure, selecting “The Liberator” is simply a no-brainer. Added to those qualities, the film is actually an elegantly achieved period piece that really showcases the sizable budget and director Alberto Arvelo’s talent. Two of his previous films have also represented his country in the past. On the other hand, this has been a monumental year for Venezuelan films. Festival darling “Bad Hair” would be the perfect choice if it weren’t going against the imposing major production. Other important films that could figure in the mix but have much less prospects are the emotional road-trip film “The Longest Distance,” the women-centered drama “Liz in September,” and the acclaimed thriller “Solo.”

1. "The Liberator" (El Libertador)

2. "Bad Hair" (Pelo Malo)

3. "The Longest Distance" (La Distnacia Mas Larga)

4. "Liz in September" (Liz en Septiembre)

5. "Solo"...

While promoting his new film Chinese Zodiac, Jackie Chan tells us about his sequel plans, including Shanghai Dawn and Expendables 4...

Jackie Chan may be in his early 60s, but he’s still one of the biggest action stars on the planet. His latest film, Chinese Zodiac, a semi-sequel to Armor Of God II: Operation Condor, broke records in China, and offers up a veritable banquet of goofy comedy, outlandish combat and unfeasibly dangerous stunts.

It was while on the promotional trail for that film, out on disc now in the UK, that we had the chance to sit down with Mr Chan and talk about his career and plans for the future. Although he’s recently stated that he’s retiring from “big action films” (with emphasis on the word big), his slate of forthcoming films is more crowded than ever - so much so that he rattles through them almost casually.

Universal Pictures International Entertainment has bought the international blockbuster Chinese Zodiac, also known as CZ12, and will distribute the film in North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom (among other locations) in the upcoming year. This is no doubt great news to Jackie Chan fans in these countries as he both directed and starred in this action film that has already earned $180 million in the Asian box-office. Some will note that this film has already had a limited release through AMC Theatres this last October, however this film will now reach an even greater number of eyes through Universal.

The plot of this films circles around the loss of twelve bronze figures of the Chinese zodiac, whose retrieval Jackie Chan’s character Jc has been tasked with completing. While fulfilling this mission Jc finds himself not only caught up in international intrigue dating as far back as the Second Opium War,...

The Jackie Chan we all knew and loved is back in this awesome, action-packed new trailer for his new film CZ12, a.k.a. Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac. I almost forgot what it was I liked about watching Chan until I saw this trailer and was reminded by his awesomeness. I was like, "Oh yeah! He used to do awesome stunts like that!" It's really cool to see him doing some fun and inventive martial arts work again. It's been awhile. The movie is a sequel to the 1991 film Operation Condor and features Chan reprising his role as Asian Hawk. Here's the synopsis:

Asian Hawk (Jackie Chan) leads a mercenary team to recover several lost artifacts from the Old Summer Palace, the bronze heads of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals which were looted by foreigners in the 1800s. Assisted by a Chinese student and a Parisian lady, Hawk...

Martial arts icon Jackie Chan returns to the silver screen later this year, writing, directing, producing and starring in the action-adventure CZ12. A new trailer has surfaced for this sequel to Operation Condor, where the multi-hyphenate reprises his role as Asian Hawk, who goes on a mission to recover the bronze heads of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals.

Asian Hawk (Jackie Chan) leads a mercenary team to recover several lost artifacts from the Old Summer Palace, the bronze heads of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals which were looted by foreigners in the 1800s. Assisted by a Chinese student and a Parisian lady, Hawk stops at nothing to accomplish the mission.

CZ12 comes to theaters October 18th, 2013 and stars Jackie Chan, Oliver Platt, Caitlin Dechelle, Laura Weissbecker, Steven Dasz, Kenny G, Sang-woo Kwone, Andrew Dasz. The film is directed by Jackie Chan.

The latest film from Jackie Chan, once called Chinese Zodiac, has been teased for over a year now, and the film is finally coming to theaters later this month. Chan writes, directs and stars in CZ12 which is actually a sequel to his 1991 film Operation Condor, one of the earlier films that got him noticed in the United States. Asian Hawk is back in action to recover several lost artifacts from the Old Summer Palace, the bronze heads of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals which were looted by foreigners in the 1800s. This first Us trailer looks like the old school action we've been missing in blockbusters, and it could be fun. Watch! Here's the first official Us trailer for CZ12 (formerly Chinese Zodiac), originally from Apple: Jackie Chan writes, directs and stars in CZ12 (aka Chinese Zodiac or Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac), a sequel to the 1991 film...

Jackie Chan is back on the big screen this year with CZ12 , an action adventure project that he's written, directed, produced and stars in. Check out the film's new trailer in the player below, courtesy of iTunes Movie Trailers . Also known as Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac , CZ12 is the sequel to the 1991 film Operation Condor and features Chan reprising his role as Asian Hawk. The movie follows Hawk as he attempts to bring back the bronze head statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, which were sacked by the French and British armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860. CZ12 hits theaters October 18.

Hard to believe it’s taken this long to see the light of day there in hi-def, but its good news for Jackie fans, because his 90s classic Operation Condor: Armour Of God II (aka Armour of God II: Operation Condor) is to be released on DVD and first time on Blu-ray in UK. Release date: 14 October. Directed by Jackie Chain himself, who performed all his own stunts, it was regarded as one of the most expensive films at the time. The third instalment of the Armour of God adventures, Chinese Zodiac CZ12 is due for UK release later in the year. Synopsis: Jackie Chan in Operation Condor:Armour Of God II (1991) Global adventurer Asian Hawk (Jackie Chan) comes to Europe in search of the ‘Armour of God’, a magical relic from the Crusades. He hopes he can use it to bargain for the freedom of his girlfriend from a deadly cult.

Mediumrare Entertainment continue their trend of releasing some of the weirdest cult films and TV shows with four films that are making their UK DVD debuts – and two are also getting the Blu-ray treatment too! Check out all the details below. I know I’ll be snapping these up, will you?

Operation Condor: Armour Of God II (1991)

Global adventurer Asian Hawk (Jackie Chan) comes to Europe in search of the ‘Armour of God’, a magical relic from the Crusades. He hopes he can use it to bargain for the freedom of his girlfriend from a deadly cult. With his trusty companion (Andy Tam) by his side, his quest takes him from one perilous adventure to another. Directed by Jackie Chain himself, who performed all his own stunts, it was regarded as one of the most expensive films at the time. The third instalment of the Armour of God adventures,...

Operation Condor was a United States–aided effort to crush communism in several South American countries during the 1970s and 1980s. It empowered rightwing military dictatorships that kidnapped, tortured, and killed citizens deemed political dissidents; somewhere between 15,000 and 30,000 such people died during Argentina's Dirty War alone. Young Argentine filmmaker Santiago Mitre's dynamically paced debut feature, The Student—an international festival hit in 2011 only now entering its U.S. theatrical premiere run—studies what can be learned from this period through the contemporary tale of Roque Espinosa (played by wide-eyed Esteban Lamothe), a pensive, aggressive young man attending the University of Buenos Aires. The son of a former leftwing activist faces i...

Sneak Peek "Chinese Zodiac", the new Hong Kong action film produced, written, directed by, and starring Jackie Chan, as a sequel to the 1991 feature "Armour of God II: Operation Condor":

"...treasure hunter 'Asian Hawk' tries to repatriate twelve bronze heads of the animals of the Chinese zodiac that were looted from the 'Old Summer Palace' during the 'Second Opium War'..."

Cast also includes Cary Woodworth, Vincent Sze, Pierre Bourdaud, Kenny G, Emmanuel Lanzi, Kwon Sang-woo, Liao Fan, Laura Weissbecker, Rosario Amadeo, Pierre-Benoist Varoclier, Ken Lo, Yao Xing Tong, Zhang Lan Xin, Oliver Platt, Caitlin Dechelle, Zheng Wei, Bo-Yee Poon, Christian Bachini and Steve Yoo Seung Jun.

Locations included  the 'Aerodium Latvia' vertical wind tunnel in Jelgava, Latvia, France, China and Taiwan , with Chan handling (as ususal) most of the stunts and fight scenes himself .

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Chinese Zodiac"...

For his 101st movie, Jackie Chan resurrects his maverick treasure hunter from the Armor of God series to go in search of Chinese relics, only to discover his edge has been replaced by a sickening line in self-aggrandising patriotism. 1986's Armor of God and its 1991 sequel Armor of God II: Operation Condor remain to this day two of Jackie Chan's most successful and action-packed films. The combination of Indiana Jones-style antiquities-based heroics with Chan's signature brand of slapstick comedy, coupled with a dizzying array of death-defying stunts, proved incredibly popular the world over. It is no surprise that Chan is keen to reprise the role, as his star has been on the wane for a number of years, but it appears he has...

Today we have 12 new posters for Jackie Chan‘s last action film Chinese Zodiac, part three in the Armour of God series, the second of which was released in the U.S. under the title Operation Condor.

The film stars Chan, Oliver Platt, Caitlin Dechelle. Kenny G, Steven Dasz, Andrew Dasz, Laura Weissbecker, Sang-woo Kwone, Christian Bachini, and Vincent Sze.

There’s no official U.S. release date for Chinese Zodiac, though it’s currently scheduled to open in Hong Kong on December 12th, 2012, which means if we’re lucky and/or someone thinks they can sell this to Americans, we could get it next Spring.

Here’s plot summary for the film

Another long-awaited project finally coming true! Introduced as an “Indiana Jones style action adventure”, this third installment in the Armour of God series stars Jackie Chan, playing as thief tries to steal the world for a set...

Armour of God III, or simply Chinese Zodiac is an upcoming Jackie Chan‘s action adventure movie which definitely deserves our full attention. Especially now, when we finally have the full trailer for the whole thing. Get ready for a little preview of the story which will show us that searching the world for a set of mystic artifacts is never an easy job. Not even for Jackie Chan!

What’s important thing for you to know is that Chinese Zodiac is produced, written and directed by Jackie Chan, who (as usual) stars as the lead in the whole thing as well.

The movie is actually a sequel to that 1991 film Armour of God II: Operation Condor film, which means that Chan is back as that Asian Hawk guy who has to bring back the bronze head statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, which were sacked by the French and...

A new international trailer, poster and featurette have been released for Chinese Zodiac (formerly known as CZ12). Jackie Chan directing, writing, choreographing and starring in this film which is part three in the Armour of God series, the second of which was released in the U.S. under the title Operation Condor.

The series is known for mixing Indiana Jones-style adventure with his usual martial arts action, but this time around it looks like he’s pulling out all the stops.

Chan has been preparing for the film for seven years and shooting it for over a year in over ten cities in five countries. The actor called the movie “one of the most important films” of his career.

The film follows the adventures of a renowned thief/treasure hunter who’s searching for a set of ancient Chinese sculptures crafted in the likeness of the zodiac animals.

Chinese Zodiac,...

Got a link? Send it our way!

Eddie Murphy is teaming up with Shawn Ryan (The Shield) for a Beverly Hills Cop TV series. [THR] Are Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy Shooting Before Sunrise/Before Sunset sequel Before Midnight in Greece right now? [indiewire] ABC orders S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot from Marvel; Joss Whedon will co-write and possibly direct. [deadline] Seth MacFarlane will host the Saturday Night Live season premiere (September 15), Joseph Gordon-Levitt returns on September 22 and Daniel Craig will host on October 6. First clip from animated feature Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 [YouTube] Watch the alternate opening to The Avengers. [yahoo] Global James Bond Day Announced for October 5. [comingsoon]

Jackie Chan goes full stunt suit in this trailer for Chinese Zodiac where Chan reprise his role as Asian Hawk (Armour of God, Operation Condor).

Its a fitting coincidence that the day before last I finally discovered a film that many consider to be one of the best in Jackie Chan‘s wild career: Jackie Chan’s Who Am I? Sunday morning I caught a bit of one of the extraordinary action sequence from the film while channel flipping which resulted in me recording the film in its entirety the next time it was on. Growing up in the late 80′s and into the 90′s, I had discovered Jackie Chan and his unique blend of martial arts and comedy in films like First Strike, Operation Condor, and Rumble in the Bronx. I was mesmerized by the stunts he was able to achieve and the speed and fluidity in which he performed his punches, kicks, and maneuvers. Of course though there are always films of his that flew under my radar. Discovering a gem like Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?...

Welcome back, Jackie Chan. Though it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a true, balls-to-the-wall Jackie Chan film, a new teaser for his latest, Chinese Zodiac (also known as CZ12 or Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac in some countries), has Chan back at his best and taking down the baddies in what might just be his most amazing stunt sequence ever. Check it out below.

In Chinese Zodiac, a treasure hunter named Asian Hawk searches the world for a set of mystic artifacts – 12 bronze heads of the animals from the Chinese zodiac. It’s the third film in Chan’s popular Armour of God series (think Hong Kong’s answer to Indiana Jones), following 1986′s Armour of God (which infamously left Chan with a plastic plug filling a permanent hole in his head and slight hearing loss in one ear) and 1991′s Armour of God II: Operation Condor.

Jackie Chan is set to return to the big screen later this year, both behind and in front of the camera, directing, writing, and starring in Chinese Zodiac.

The anticipated action/adventure film sees Chan reprising his role as Asian Hawk (Armour of God, Operation Condor), and now a new teaser trailer and international poster have made their way online.

The film sees Asian Hawk searching the world for a set of mystic artifacts – 12 bronze heads of the animals from the Chinese zodiac.

Starring alongside Chan will be Kwone Sang Woo, Laura Weissbecker, Yao Xing Tong, Liao Fan, Zhang Lan Xin, and Steve Yoo Seung Jun.

Chinese Zodiac is set for an IMAX release in China on 20th December, which looks to be an excellent way to see out the end of the year at the cinema. No word yet on when we can look forward to it in the UK or Us,...

Though his recent action-heavy output hasn’t really been blowing anybody’s hair back, Jackie Chan is undeniably a legend of action cinema, and there are quite a few reasons why his next release, Chinese Zodiac, should be greatly anticipated by fans of his classic work. Perhaps most importantly, this one should get your attention because Chan has spent the better part of the last decade putting the project – which he wrote, directed, and stars in – together, and he’s considering it his retirement from action movies. But, perhaps most obviously, Chinese Zodiac should be anticipated by adrenaline junkies because its the third and final time Chan is going to play his thief character, Asian Hawk, who he made famous in classic Chan joints Armour of God and Operation Condor. That’s not the end of this hard sell either. The latest trailer for the film reveals yet another reason action fans should put Chinese Zodiac on...

When you've been in the stunt/action movie game for as long as Jackie Chan has, you probably start to think that everything's been done.  And then one of your stunt guys suggests street luging in a fully articulated suit that's covered in roller blades.  The stunt sequence is only one action piece in Chan's upcoming Chinese Zodiac, a film that he claims will be his last major action role in order to focus on other acting pursuits (he wants to become the "Asian Robert De Niro").  If that plan holds true, it'll be a sad day for action fans, but what a way to go! Hit the jump to see Chan in action in the rollerblading suit in a new teaser for Chinese Zodiac, along with the film's trailer. Chinese Zodiac sees Chan reprise his role as Asian Hawk (Armour of God, Operation Condor).  In this newest installment, Hawk...

Earlier this year at Cannes, Jackie Chan announced that he would be retiring from action movies upon completion of his upcoming film Chinese Zodiac, and although it's hard to believe most actors when they say such things, in the case of Jackie Chan, it had to happen eventually. The man is almost 60, and he says that he still wants to prove himself as a dramatic actor after this. It's probably safe to assume that he will continue to direct as well, but in the meantime, it looks like he will be going out with a bang. Chinese Zodiac is part three in the Armour of God series, the second of which was released in the U.S. under the title Operation Condor. The series is known for mixing Indiana Jones-style adventure with his usual martial arts action, but this time around it looks like he's pulling out all the stops.

Cast: Jackie Chan, Kwon Sang Woo

Director : Jackie Chan

Producer : Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong Gwai Lai, Albert Yeung Sau Sing

Action Director : Jackie Chan, Sing Ga Ban

Writer : Jackie Chan

Chinese Zodiac (Chinese: 十二生肖), also known as Armour of God III: Chinese Zodiac is an upcoming Hong Kong action film produced, written, directed by and starring Jackie Chan. It is the sequel to the 1991 film Armour of God II: Operation Condor, in which Jackie will reprise his role as Asian Hawk. The movie tells about Asian Hawk bringing back the bronze head statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, which were sacked by the French and British armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860.

A major fight scene of the action movie cost 70 million yuan, or more than 10 million U.S. dollars.

There was lots of talk that this was going to be the final Jackie Chan movie,...

0:00 - Intro 3:45 - Review: The Dark Knight Rises 36:00 - Headlines: Jessica Biel to Play Viper in The Wolverine, Dwayne Johnson Confirms Lobo Casting Rumours, Anthony Mackie in Talks For Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Gary Ross to Direct Peter Pan Prequel, Hellboy 3 Might Happen, The Dark Knight Shooting, Fred Willard Masturbation Scandal, The Master Trailer, The Man of Steel Teaser Trailer 59:30 - Other Stuff We Watched: Harold and Maude, Wanderlust, The Devil's Double, Brave 3D, Hardware, Lord of War, Silent House, Operation Condor (Armour of God II), Shallow Grave, Cast Away, Death Becomes Her, 127 Hours 1:21:20 - Junk Mail: Dark Knight Shooting, Movies That are Enjoyable Because of the Plot, Kathy Griffin Talks During Magic Mike Screening, Actors Playing Multiple Roles Within a Movie/TV Series, What's Funnier: Die Hard or Lethal Weapon?, Remakes That Might Have Been Good if the Original Didn't Exist...

This week: Moe, Larry and Curly get reinvented for the 21st century in "The Three Stooges," an old-school slapstick comedy directed by the Farrelly brothers.

Also new this week is the sci-fi action thriller "Lockout" starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace, Mel Gibson in "Get the Gringo," Will Ferrell's Spanish-language comedy "Casa de mi Padre," the ensemble comedy "Friends with Kids," the quirky romantic dramedy "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and the Blu-ray debut of Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain" in celebration of the film's 60th anniversary.

'The Three Stooges'

Box Office: $44 million

Rotten Tomatoes: 50% Rotten

Storyline: Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), Larry (Sean Hayes) and Curly (Will Sasso) attempt to save their childhood orphanage and bumble their way into a murder plot as well as star on a reality TV show along the way. Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Hudson,...

5.Corey Yuen

Other names: 元奎

Yuan Kui

Yuan2 Kui1

Cory Yuen

Don Yuen

Yuen Fooi

Nationality: Hong Kong

Workplace: France, Hong Kong, USA

Cory Yuen as been choreographing movies since 1973, is first movie was Chinese Hercules, starring Bolo Yeung. He was a member of the Peking Opera Schools and one of the Seven Little Fortunes. In July 1981, Yuen made his Hong Kong directorial debut in 1982 film Ninja in the Dragon’s Den, along with Hiroyuki Sanada, Conan Lee and Hwang Jang Lee. In June 1985, Yuen made his American directorial debut in 1986 film No Retreat, No Surrender, which marked the film debut of Belgium martial artist actor Jean-Claude Van Damme.

n 1993, he began an alliance and good friendship with action star Jet Li. He directed several of Li’s films, beginning with Fong Sai-yuk and Fong Sai-yuk II, and continuing through The Bodyguard from Beijing, The New Legend of Shaolin and My Father Is a Hero,...

By now, hopefully you’ve seen the Chinese Zodiac trailer. I’ve seen it multiple times now, and I’ve noticed a few things that have gotten me both excited and curious about the film itself. I thought I’d point them out and see what everybody thought about them.

*Just as a warning, this is a trailer analysis and it may contain spoilers (if I’m even right about my deductions) so read this at your own risk!*

If you haven’t see the trailer yet, check it out here:

What The Trailer Shows Us

Here are some images and details that show us what to expect both in the plot of the film as well as the action that will take place.

The Date

The trailer for Chinese Zodiac starts off by giving us the date of 02/25/2009. I’ve looked into this, but I can’t seem to...

We at Asian Movie Pulse are proud to post the official trailer for Jackie Chan’s latest action adventure Chinese Zodiac.

The trailer was shown at The Cannes festival where Chan spoken about himself not getting any younger and he cant perform stunts and fight scenes like he used to do, but gives it is all in this movie.

it is the sequel to the 1991 film Armour of God II: Operation Condor, in which Jackie will reprise his role as Asian Hawk. The movie tells about Asian Hawk bringing back the bronze head statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, which were sacked by the French and British armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860.

A major fight scene of the action movie cost 70 million yuan, or more than 10 million U.S. dollars.

I have been waiting a long time to see this and i am not disappointed, this...

The arrival of a new Jackie Chan trailer hasn’t really been something worth noting for a while now as the past decade of his career has been heavy with (mostly) inferior Hollywood productions. His hometown productions fared better with films like New Police Story, Little Big Soldier and Shaolin offering up some solid action alongside stronger than usual stories. But now we’ve gotten a one-two punch of Chan-related news, and both parts are equally interesting… ven if only the second half is actually welcome. Chan has announced that he’s retiring from action films. Or at least, he won’t be taking lead roles in big action movies anymore. I’ve been fighting and doing action films all my life, you’ve got to find a point to stop. With this movie I’m the director, I’m the writer, I’m the producer. So okay, I think it’s a good time to announce...

Chinese Zodiac is the latest offering from the legend that is Jackie Chan. Here we have a few videos showing Jackie behind the scenes of the movie, we hope you enjoy them. There is also a video from someone’s phone catching Jackie greeting the fans.

It is the sequel to the 1991 film Armour of God II: Operation Condor, in which Jackie will reprise his role as Asian Hawk. The movie tells about Asian Hawk bringing back the bronze head statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, which were sacked by the French and British armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860.

A major fight scene of the action movie cost 70 million yuan, or more than 10 million U.S. dollars.

From April 18 to May 2, Jackie Chan has visited Jelgava, Latvia to make some acrobatic scenes for movie at the “Aerodium” vertical wind tunnel.Filming also took place in France,...

Fall of the Last Empire - 1911

Jackie Chan, Li Bing Bing, Joan Chen and Jaycee Chan Star in the War Epic,Debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD January 10.

Legendary action star Jackie Chan (Rush Hour trilogy, Drunken Master, Operation Condor) marks the milestone of his 100th film with 1911, debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD January 10 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

From the walls of the Forbidden City to the battlefields of China, with no expense spared in production and no detail ignored in its quest for historical accuracy, making 1911 a true epic in every sense of the word.

The film details a key moment in modern Chinese history—the fall of the Qing Dynasty—and the violent rebellion that brought it down. In addition to Chan (who also co-directed with cinematographer Zhang Li), the film also stars Li Bing Bing (Triple Tap), Winston Chao (The Wedding Banquet,...

Here we go, the first trailer for the upcoming Jackie Chan movie “Chinese Zodiac” as been released. This will be Jackie’s 101 movie and i have to say from what ive seen, there will be alot of action.

Many have said this will be a follow up to his earlier classics Armour Of God and Operation Condor, but without a character name yet to be released i guess time will tell. This as been hyped as Jackie’s final all out action/martial arts movie, even though im upset he will be leaving the kung fu/action films soon, im also happy about the look of this movie.

The production companies also announced that the movie will hit cinema screens on the same day next year, December 12, 2012, the same day they released the first look for the movie. The trailer also shows us car chases, fight scenes, explosions and Jackie...

Some of you guys might think I’m skeptical about every movie that comes out, and I can’t really disprove that. However, I am very excited for Chinese Zodiac. So much, in fact, that I’ve decided to make a wish list of what I would want for the film.

1. Old School Choreography

I’ve seen little glimpses of this over the past few films, but I want to see Jackie do his elaborate trademark choreography again. The type where he dances from opponent to opponent, utilizing the environment and random objects to obtain the upper hand. Jackie is the master of creativity, and the various locations that he will go to for Chinese Zodiac just beg to be his new playground. I want to see the long intricate cuts that Jackie used to do until he got right. Those were some of the best sequences that were captured on film.

Legendary Amazons is the latest movie brought to us by director Frankie Chan, Based on the legendary story of the widows and daughters of the Yang family who lived during the Song Dynasty.

Jackie Chan is the producer of the movie and at the premier of the movie he spoke about a certain part he actually wanted to play himself, “It’s a pity I’m a man,” he said, “I really wanted to portray a heroine of the family.”

At the attendance in Beijing, along with Jackie Chan and director Frankie Chan were Cecilia Cheung, Cheng Peipei, Liu Xiaoqing, Kathy Chow and Chen Zihan. Jackie and Frankie have worked on movies together in the past such as Operation Condor, Outlaw Brothers and also Drunken Master 2. You will recognize Frankie manly in the Wing Chun based movie The Prodigal Son.

The action choreographer for the movie is one of my...

Everyone is familiar with Jackie Chan’s mad martial arts skills, but fewer people are probably aware that he has directed himself many a time in the past - including in Police Story, Operation Condor, and The Legend of Drunken Master - and is doing it again this year, with the Chinese period war drama, 1911, Chan’s 100th film.

A trailer has been released for 1911, which Chan co-helmed with cinematographer Li Zhang (The Banquet, Red Cliff). The film looks to provide the acrobatic actor with another opportunity to show off his pure acting abilities - and not just impress people with his elaborate fighting choreography or incredible stunt performances.

Most U.S. moviegoers have only seen Chan continue to do his (often, comedic) martial arts action shtick recently, ...

Click to continue reading ’1911′ Trailer: Jackie Chan Goes To War In 20th Century China...

Since he first caught the world's attention in Volcano High international audiences have been waiting for South Korea's Kwon Sang Woo to really establish himself as an international action star. The physical skills and big screen charisma are very definitely present for Kwon to go down that road should he choose to do so, but given his fashion model looks it's been parts in romantic comedies and weepy melodramas that have really paid his bills at home.Though Kwon has a key role in Jackie Chan's upcoming third Operation Condor movie action parts at home have been few and far between. Enter director Kwak Kyung-taek who is taking the romance elements that has Kwon's fanbase swooning in Korea and fusing it with his more physical...

In last week's poll, Jackie Chan squared off against himself in a situation not unlike the Jackie Chan movie Twin Dragons. Although it was a hard fought battle, in the end The Legend of the Drunken Master (aka Drunken Master II) came out on top, just barely sneaking past Jackie Chan's first major hit in the U.S., Rumble in the Bronx, to claim the title of Best Jackie Chan Movie. The other movies in the top 5 were Rush Hour, Drunken Master and Police Story respectively, and while there were all fairly close, a noticeable gap separated them from the remaining choices. Pulling up the rear was Project A, an earlier Jackie Chan flick that hardcore fans seem to love, but I suspect that it hasn't been very widely seen. Are you happy with these results? 1. The Legend of the Drunken Master -- 19.1% 2. Rumble in the Bronx -- 18.4% 3. Rush Hour...

Even though it seems like Thor has barely had time to hammer in a nail, Hawkeye hardly a moment to go all a quiver (that’s an archery joke), Captain America nary thrown his first celluloid shield and Mark Ruffalo is yet to Hulk out after a couple of face-lifts, the Marvel machine is drumming up fervent fanboy excitement over the Joss Whedon helmed 2012 superhero team-up that is The Avengers. And, boy, do I find it hard to really get excited.

Sure, from an Ocean’s Eleven point of view it’ll be nice to see these actors sparring with one another, and despite my personal distaste for Whedon’s work he can at least write banter, and in the mouths of Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, et al, maybe they’ll lend it more sparkle than the likes of Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Boreanaz and Alyson Hannigan.

The third entry of Jackie Chan's Operation Condor series has become something of a holy grail among fans - a film that has been talked about for years, one that Chan has always maintained that he wanted to do, and one which has topped the wishlists of Chan fans for a long, long time now. And not only is the film finally happening but word is out that Chan has cast South Korean megastar Kwon Sang Woo in a key role.Kwon rose quickly to international attention with early appearances in martial arts themed efforts such as Volcano High and Once Upon A Time In High School, but while his martial arts skills impressed his looks meant that Kwon was quickly established not as an...

As his advancing years have robbed his body of some of its elasticity, Jackie Chan has necessarily put behind him the bonkers, stunt-infused, heroic pieces like Project A, Wheels on Meals, Operation Condor, Armour of God and the Police Story franchise that characterised his work in the 1980′s and early 90′s. Lately, he’s alternated kiddie-friendly fare such as The Medallion, The Spy Next Door and Kung Fu Panda with comedy outings like Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon and Around the World in 80 Days.

Now, Chan seems to be trying his hand at something different again, with the epic-looking 1911. It is hard to glean too much from this first teaser trailer, however Chan looks altogether serious and given that it looks to have all the trappings of a full-blown propaganda piece about the 1911 Chinese Revolution, that comes as no surprise. The release date is scheduled to coincide with the 100th...

Netflix has revolutionized the home movie experience for fans of film with its instant streaming technology. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about independent, classic and foreign films made available by Netflix for instant streaming.

Sorry, folks… there are simply too many great films streaming this week to post an image for them all, but that’s a good thing, eh? You’ve got your movie watching work cut out for you, due in great part to Miramax releasing damn near their entire catalog of films on one day!

B. Monkey (1999)

Streaming Available: 05/01/2011

Director: Michael Radford

Synopsis: Good-hearted schoolteacher Alan Furnace (Jared Harris) desperately wants some excitement in his life — and he may just get some. One lonely night at a London bar, Alan spies the raven-haired beauty Beatrice (Asia Argento) arguing with two friends, Paul (Rupert Everett) and Bruno (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Beatrice quickly befriends Alan and...