Double feature night!

That’s what you get for not hailing to the chimp! Just watched: PRIMATE

I thought I already owned DOBERMAN COP, it turns out I was thinking of WOLF GUY. Well, now I have both. Problem solved!

As I understand it, THE NIGHT MANAGER was a success on Chinese streaming so it shouldn’t surprise me then they’ve remade it starring Eddie Peng, Sean Lau Ching-wan, Isabella Leong, and Carman Lee. Directed by Kelvin Chan Kin-long (HAND ROLLED CIGARETTE).

The next title from the Golden Princess Film Library is the A BETTER TOMORROW Trilogy! 💵 This SteelBook includes three 4K UHD discs, four Blu-ray discs featuring Special Features and alternate cuts, plus a Hardback Booklet, in a Hardbox. Pre-orders open 14 Jan with two more Imprint Asia titles.

Laserdiscs?! WTF Goodwill, I wanted to dig through dusty piles of records by Andy Williams and Jim Nabors! I’m kidding of course, there was some nice stuff to be found once I got past the seven copies of FORREST GUMP.

Happy 30th anniversary to the Hong Kong kickboxing drama SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME (浪漫風暴) starring Aaron Kwok, Carman Lee, and Sammo Hung. Produced by John Woo and directed by his longtime assistant director/2nd unit director Patrick Leung (BEYOND HYPOTHERMIA, WU DANG).

Trần Quang Đại is going make the bad guys an offer they can’t refuse in this trailer for BỐ GIÀ TRỞ LẠI (GODFATHER RETURNS), an upcoming Vietnamese action thriller where an old man with a particular set of skills sets out to rescue his family from a gang of criminals. US release? Hell if I know.

I like the way Soundtrack Magazine rolls: I place an order and two weeks later a discreet package arrives on my doorstep. The illicit goods? Beautifully designed soundtracks for CAUGHT BY THE TIDES, THE WILD GOOSE LAKE, and the I AM WHAT I AM movie series.

INFERN-AL AFFAIRS. (If I knew the Hong Kong Heritage Museum had a green screen that allows you to composite yourself into scenes from HK movies, I would’ve made a better attempt to dress like Andy Lau)

Ok JJ, don’t disappoint me like you did with that zombie movie. Now seated for FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER.

This doesn’t even begin to do it justice: the booklet is laid out with cast and set photos, liner notes by the composer, and even an interview with action director Kenji Tanigaki. Also, the cover art was designed by Shinji Higuchi.

Just received the TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN soundtrack by Kenji Kawai.

A quartet of Korean Blu-rays from Nova Media’s recent winter sale: THE LEGEND OF GINGKO OASIS FIGHTER IN THE WIND HANDSOME GUYS

New Isaac Florentine flick coming in!

Sammo Hung by Yuen Tai-Yung.

Still no signs of BACK TO THE PAST but according to my AMC app BUSTED WATER PIPES, a new crime comedy starring Eddie Peng, is opening in the US on January 30th!

apnews.com/article/sout... South Korean movie star Ahn Sung-ki, dubbed 'The Nation's Actor,' dies at 74

I think 252 is a perfectly reasonable number considering easily 80% of that was accomplished through actual theatrical attendance (which also accounts for how Chow Yun-Fat was my most-watched actor).

Ok fine, I’ve upgraded ROSA (1986) to high-def but the laserdisc stays!

The Vietnamese action comedy TRUY TÌM LONG DIÊN HƯƠNG is getting a theatrical release in the US and Canada on January 30 under the English title FISH, FISTS AND AMBERGRIS. Directed by Dương Minh Chiến of the Action C group. Looks fun, I’ll check it out.

Sammo Hung working with his three sons Timmy, Jimmy, and Sammy on the set of BACK TO THE PAST. The promotion of the movie has been all over my social media but still no North American release date has been announced. Maybe (or hopefully) it’s just being held back for Lunar New Year.

Time for my first movie of 2026: WE BURY THE DEAD.

It’s always nice to see Sammo Hung out and about as he was for the Hong Kong premiere of BACK TO THE PAST alongside his son Timmy and the movie’s co-directors Ng Yuen-fai and Jack Lai. Sammo was the film’s action director so I guess we have something to look forward to in 2026.

Remembering Anita Mui Yim-Fong, who died on this day in 2003. The wedding dress designed by Eddie Lau that she wore for her November 15, 2003 farewell concert is on display at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum as part of their “Hong Kong Pop 60+” exhibition.

Pat Ha is THE WOMAN OF WRATH. The restored 40th anniversary Blu-ray just arrived today. Looking forward to revisiting this (inasmuch as one can look forward to a film with this subject matter).

After ruling the HK box office with A GUILTY CONSCIENCE and THE LAST DANCE, Dayo Wong is looking to go 3 for 3 in this first teaser for NIGHT KING, reuniting with the director and cast of A GUILTY CONSCIENCE and joined by Sammi Cheng.

The Henley-style shirts worn by Bruce Lee in THE BIG BOSS were made by the Lee Kung Man Knitting Factory, which are still available and still made in Hong Kong. Just something to consider if you’re in HK and looking for a unique souvenir.

Now watching: SCARLET (果てしなきスカーレット) in IMAX.

Time for SHOLAY!

I’m obviously not using social media correctly because I didn’t know SHOLAY: THE FINAL CUT is in theaters RIGHT NOW. At least I have another reason to defer KILL BILL.

I had to try the SPY X FAMILY collab at Bun B’s Trill Burgers, which takes their signature smash burger and tops it with beef stew, sour cream, and a fried egg (IYKYK). It gets pretty messy but I liked it (napkins are free). It’s kind of like a refined version of Chef Nic’s burger at McDonald’s HK.

It’s nice to know that while Hong Kong has changed a lot in 40 years one of POLICE STORY’s most iconic film locations is still around and easily accessible: Wing On Plaza in TST East.

Now watching: DHURANDHAR.

Happy 40th anniversary to POLICE STORY.

Mind-boggling that they pulled off a concert movie shot with multiple IMAX film cameras across multiple venues and tour dates (Haskell Wexler was even on hand as a consultant and camera operator). The picture and sound quality on this 2025 remaster was impressive.

So that mercenary guy from FREEJACK is in a band? I hope they’re good.

Now seated for THE CURE: THE SHOW OF A LOST WORLD.

Louis Koo is finally going BACK TO THE PAST. The long awaited continuation of his 2001 TVB series A STEP INTO THE PAST wrapped production back in 2019 and is now heading to Hong Kong cinemas on 12/31. Action direction by Sammo Hung!

Actor Yoo Ah-In’s legal troubles kept him excluded from most of the promotional material for HI-FIVE so it’s interesting to see him finally “reinstated” at least on the cover of the Hong Kong Blu-ray.

And the soundtracks keep coming. Today’s finds: Poledouris, Horner, and Sugiyama.

Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle towards my hand? THE DAGGER OF KAMUI arrives on Blu-ray from Animeigo!

PCW FTW Very happy to be able to see this before the year’s end.

I’ll always have a soft spot to see “old-timers” like Aaron Kwok and Simon Yam on the big screen, even in mediocrities like Alan Mak’s UNDER CURRENT (it’s easily better than his last 2 anti-corruption thrillers). Francis Ng’s disheveled cop and German Cheung’s henchman do bring life to the film.

Beautiful.

Taking a quick look at some of the movie posters I just received today. Very cool stuff, I’m lucky to have these.

I miss that I can’t enjoy a box of fish shu mai with my Hong Kong movie. Otherwise, I liked FOUR TRAILS.

Now seated for FOUR TRAILS (香港四徑大步走)

Now watching: Hijacked (Tử Chiến Trên Không).

Don’t let the neon and the bold saturated colors of the advertising fool you, ROAD TO VENDETTA is less a JOHN WICK wannabe than a BABY ASSASSINS knock-off (Yugo Sakamoto is credited as a script consultant). As such it’s mainly a quirky low-key comedy bookended by decent action from Koichi Sakamoto.