Probably my favorite find at last week’s Austin Record Convention: THE YOUNG MASTER vinyl soundtrack.

I know BLADES OF THE GUARDIANS is yesterday’s news but I see it’s coming out on Blu-ray and DVD in Hong Kong on June 10. I hope Well Go USA will follow suit and go one better with a 4K UHD too.

Xie Miao reuniting with his GOD OF GAMBLERS RETURNS co-stars Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung Ka-fai while promoting THE FURIOUS.

From the files of “oh sweet merciful fuck, I’m so old.”

Jet Li: Category III star? Wild to see Daniel Lee’s BLACK MASK got reclassified with that most restrictive film rating ahead of its screening hosted by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society.

Also: opening in mainland China on June 11, one day ahead of Hong Kong. I’m digging the artwork. #TheFurious

You’re damn right it’s Category III. #TheFurious

I’m impressed by the effort made by the TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS sequel to transform a block of TST East back to late 80s/early 90s Hong Kong with neon signage and period vehicles.

Soi Cheang’s PENG HU sails into Chinese cinemas on 07/25 and to Hong Kong and Macau 07/30. I could use some more epic sea battles since South Korea’s Admiral Yi trilogy wrapped up.

My postscript to the experience is that this movie wasn’t good enough for me to overlook getting slighted by Moore after the screening. Between this and the poorly managed Jet Li meet-and-greet in Austin on the same weekend, I think I’ll just avoid these types of events for now.

I sure took my sweet time but I finally tracked down Kenji Kawai’s score for DRAGON TIGER GATE and at a nice price too so I’m happy. I can’t believe the movie turns 20 this year.

Edko Films dropped a new trailer for THE FURIOUS.

The launch of Vanilla Coke back in May 2002 featured a series of ads with Chazz Palminteri (with Sven-Ole Thorsen) introducing the drink to various individuals (in this instance, Aaron Paul). In Hong Kong, the same role was played by Anthony Wong (with Kenny Kwan as the kid).

This meal is good but it’s like twice as expensive as it was Hong Kong and smaller portions too. I gotta get back.

Other COLD WAR 1994 notes: -Action by Nicky Li Chung-chi and Oh Sea-young are solid shootouts/vehicle chases, though a bit heavy on green screen/CGI - Most of the many special guest stars had little impact or screen time except maybe Yuen Biao which was cool (non-action role) -Sammo Hung Easter egg

I love that with each entry in the COLD WAR universe the scheming and the conspiracies just get more complex, with the ongoing police and political power struggles now including triads and Britain’s MI-6. I’m sure (or hope) it’ll all finally pay off with CW1995 but for now I’m enjoying the ride.

Dim sum and a movie. Now seated for COLD WAR 1994.

I spent the evening reacquainting myself with the COLD WAR saga before the prequel hits North American theaters this weekend.

I was supposed to use this vacation for international travel until certain global events intervened. So I’m using part of my off time to catch up on movies, starting with THE CHRISTOPHERS.

Almost time for ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE. A pity Rza canceled his appearance but at least Shameik Moore is still supposed to be here.

Well it was all over before it began but yes, technically, I met Jet Li.

Driving music.

Soon. (Assuming I don’t drown in a flash flood somewhere between Houston and Austin)

Chow Yun-fat’s selfie skills are on display for the COLD WAR 1994 press tour. Daniel Wu wearing a cap indoors (you’re not hiding anything, are you?) Andy Lau stands out in his denim jacket.

And now I have my Blu-ray of Shu Qi’s GIRL. I guess Deltamac had an eye on international collectors because the enclosed booklet with director’s statement, synopsis, and cast and crew bios is printed in both Chinese and English. Did I mention it’s a really good movie?

RIP Gerry Conway

In addition to seeing THE FURIOUS I also got to meet AUDITION star Eihi Shiina and director Ryuhei Kitamura. There’s more to report buy yeah, I had a productive weekend.

It happened and holy fuck, how am I supposed to fall asleep now?! Five stars.

It’s happening.

Advanced screenings of THE FURIOUS are coming to other venues too.

Showtime is now less than 24 hours away.

The vinyl release of the film score for TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN arrived from Japan today. As with Japanese pressings it’s a high quality presentation, featuring 9 tracks selected by composer Kenji Kawai plus bilingual liner notes and a print interview with action director Kenji Tanigaki.

Y’all have about two weeks to acquaint or reacquaint yourselves to the COLD WAR saga before the prequel hits theaters in Australia, New Zealand, North America, UK, and Ireland. Or not, I’m used to my entreaties falling on deaf ears. I’m sure y’all are sick of seeing Chow Yun-fat in new movies.

Hot on the heels of its eight wins (mostly in the technical categories) at the Hong Kong Film Awards, SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT is getting a physical media release on May 8th. Preorders are available from online retailers like buyoyo and yesasia.

Go time.

Shu Qi winning “Best New Director” for GIRL at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Listened to the Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross soundtrack during work today. I guess people my age will probably remember its American adaptation Robotech: The Masters, the unloved middle child of the Robotech Saga.

Now seated for a night of Asian cinema, starting with PANDA PLAN 2: THE MAGICAL TRIBE.

As anticipated, filming on TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: THE FINAL CHAPTER has begun. (📷: anguslcchan on IG)

Ready.

And so it’s April 16th once again and today we celebrate the 34th anniversary of John Woo’s HARD BOILED with a pair of 4K UHD releases to join the stack I’ve acquired over decades of collecting. God willing I’ll be alive to witness the arguments over which 8K remaster is better.

Wringing one last bit of merch from TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN with the 6-song vinyl EP. Features 3 Cantopop cuts from Sam Hui, Leslie Cheung, and Priscilla Chan, 2 versions of the movie’s theme 风的形状, and somewhat sadly the original version of “Walking In The Air” from THE SNOWMAN.

Free men of the planet Zeist, I have the HIGHLANDER II soundtrack on vinyl!

Like, for real this time? THE LEGEND HUNTERS allegedly had a release in Brazil last year but has otherwise been languishing unseen since the film wrapped in 2019. Directed by Simon West and starring Zhang Hanyu, Jiang Wu, and Celina Jade, it’ll finally be released online in China on 04/17.

Now (re)watching: BUSHIDO (碁盤斬り)

The new Korean horror film SALMOKJI: WHISPERING WATER is opening in select US and Canadian theaters this coming weekend.

BEAST was great but if you have room for another drama about an ex-con resurrecting their once promising fighting career then the 2025 HK film GOLDEN BOY is also playing in select US/CDN theaters. It has its shortcomings but I still enjoyed it as a decent family/boxing drama.

THE FURIOUS: Kenji Tanigaki's New Summer Actioner Delayed Until June filmcombatsyndicate.com/the-furious-...

Time to feed the BEAST.