One of China’s most famous directors, Zhang Yimou, has  been accused of breaking family planning laws in China by having more than one child.   The mind behind films such as Hero, The House of Flying Daggers, and the opening ceremony for Beijing 2008 Olympics – is under investigation in the city of Wuxi, located in China’s Jiangsu province,for allegedly fathering as many as seven children.  If proven guilty, he could be facing fines totalling 16o million Yuan (£17 million) .

China’s one-child policy bans urban couples from having more than one child (exemption being rural families in case their first child is a girl)  to limit its expanding population and fight poverty more efficiently.  Zhang is implicated of having more than one child with his two wives and two other women,  the whole situation has produced a debate about China’s treatment of wealthy citizens that break its family planning laws.   While some face double their annual income in State fines,  others escape altogether from them.   Jiangu’s provincial family planning commission confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that Zhang is being investigated,  stating that it “didn’t know yet how it will deal with it, if it turns out to be true”.

Wolf Children Ame and Yuki is proof that not all animated films are for kids. It’s a thought-provoking film that doesn’t shy away from any topic and manages to create a very real experience because of it. This film is about the struggle of both raising and being a wolf child. It brings up questions such as do you allow your children to take health exams in vaccines or even play outside with other kids if they might transform? Many of these issues are ones that have never been taken to this level of integration, and it’s unique because of it. The struggles of a single parent are not things that are glorified, and the plot keeps all aspects grounded in reality.

However, not everything it gritty and real with Ame and Yuki. There is a delicate balance that is struck with how the plot progresses. Some aspects are simply thrown out the window for the sake of story. For example, apparently werewolves can transform at will instead of just in a full moon. It’s a lazy tactic, but maybe one that is necessary so that the story doesn’t drag on too much and can focus on the children. For every gripping sequence that takes place, there is an equally adorable and uplifting one that follows so that nothing drags on for too long.

As the title suggests, the two main stars of the film are Ame and Yuki. They are the most developed and capture the “differences” between siblings very realistically. Yuki is a very rambunctious girl who is curious of the world around her while Ame is shy and asks some tough questions about being a wolf. The two become very different individuals, each embracing a different part of their nature. The mother, Hana, is a little more one-sided, but that’s mainly because she chooses to always keep smiling no matter what is going on around her. She endures several trials as a parent and manages to find the strength to pull through it all and manage on her own.

For all of the intense realism that can be found in this movie, there is also a grand sense of beauty. From the bright visuals to smooth animations, everything looks wonderful on the screen. From the music to the imagery, everything is used to further enhance the story and create that much more of an experience for the viewer.

In the end, Wolf Children Ame and Yuki is not a “feel good” movie but one that tackles real issues that real people  face. While it misses the beat a few times and becomes uncomfortable to watch at times, Wolf Children Ame and Yuki is a unique movie that is unflinching in its message and direction that some will appreciate more than others.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Last-Days-The-Saga/116059088486570

Philadelphia, pa. 2013. Northstar Visions, releases action drama, Last Days The Saga

Firstly, i would like to thank Kaloni Davis for personally sending me a sneak peak of his latest project “Last Days- The Saga”. Last Days is Directed/Written/Starring and Choreographed by Kaloni Davis and believe me, with what i have seen, you are in for one hell of a series.

Last Days also features Martial Arts star Robert Samuels, who always as great screen presence. Robert has featured in movies with the likes of Sammo Hung (Gambling Ghost/Dont Give A Damn). Dax Richardson, Dionne Stone and Jillian Santacroce also star and do excellent jobs.

Also on hand to help with the fight choreography is Robert Jefferson, you can tell Robert and Kaloni worked very well together putting the fight scenes together with some great hand to hand combat, putting the actors in some terrific scenes and pushing there skills to the max with some explosive sequences.

PLOT:
the film follows Michael, an assassin highly trained by an underground extremist group, who is assigned to eliminate prominent members of the Christian community. after a spiritual encounter with one of his targets, Michael is determined to bring down his
own organization.

First Look At Last Days
The director (Kaloni Davis) seems to have captured the characters emotions during Last Days, the camera angels he has chosen in certain scenes brings that grittiness to the series. We have people leaping over cars, shootouts, one on one fight scenes, we basically have everything we need to keep us very much entertained. Kaloni Davis is the Writer, Director, DP, Editor and Lead Choreographer of the film, bringing such talent to the table, i am sure he will go far.

The main character looks to go through a whole series of events, running from his enemies, being chased down by the police, you can feel the torment and pain and Kaloni certainly shows that with his acting ability. It is also great to see martial art star Robert Samuels back on the screen, as a fan of of his since the 90′s, i seen him take on legends such as Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. The fight between Robert and Kaloni delivers hard, fast paced action, with both guys throwing everything out there. Great hand to hand combat, some very nice kicks and that’s down to the two actors and also Robert Jefferson who was on hand with the camera at the time and also helped on the choreography.

Robert Jefferson is a filmmaker, actor, writer, and martial artist born and raised in Yeadon PA, a tiny suburb of Philadelphia. He attended New York University’s prestigious Tiisch School of Performing Arts film program. He is the former protege/kung fu student of Bobby Samuels H.K.S.A. and an up and coming action director in his own right. Robert is also the father of two boys and one girl.

The overall feel to me is everyone gives 100% in there roles, from the director, the actors, the script and action scenes. They also use strobe lighting in some of the action scenes which works very well, bringing in a new feel to the danger already on screen.

We have a good team of people working together on this project and i really hope it gets out there to a bigger audience so more people experience it.

NorthStar visions is a Philadelphia based indie company whos goal is to blend an expertise in film, music and inspirational messages to create eye catching, thought provoking, entertainment – and it certainly does just that.

Kaloni Davis Bio

Kaloni Davis’ acting career began in Philadelphia of the U.S were he first starred as Reuben in ‘Joe Tuners Come and Gone “ at the Bushfire theater Directed by Al Simpkins. He then went on to study theater at the Creative and Performing Arts High School under the coaching of well-respected director Mel Williams. Since then, Kaloni has acted in a number of off Broad Way productions from the Arts bank in Philadelphia to the Theater of a New Generation in New York.

While studying video production at CAPA, he developed a deep love for cinema and later went on to graduate from Temple University’s film school. Kaloni has accumulated a number of professional credits while freelancing as a cinematographer/editor. He began directing music videos, commercials for small companies and films in 2006. In 2010 he wrote and directed his first independent feature film titled “The Visit”. The film focuses on the main character Derrick, who is being haunted by spirits during a chronic case of sleep paralysis.

Kaloni’s most recent project is an action web-series titled “Last Days The Saga” which follows a highly trained assassin named Michael. During the series Michael makes the transition into a special connection with his targets. As a martial artist himself, Kaloni plays Michael in the film and choreographs the fights with the assistant Robert Jefferson (who plays Oros). Since the beginning of Kaloni’s career he has loved every bit of it and aspires to continue telling his stories to the world.

Final Thoughts
I am hoping for great things with Last Days and i hope to see all the actors involved go on to great things during there careers. So please check this movie out in the near future and enjoy one hell of a ride with pure action. HIT

7 Assassins is a new martial arts movie which is directed by Eric Tsang and Hung Yan Yan, and also delivers a great cast which see Shaw brothers legends Kara Hui and Ti Lung back on screen. From watching the trailer, i have to say it looks ok, you can see the wire work right away and i am not sure if the money is a big budget, even with such a great cast. But that aside, i shall be watching and hope to see a good movie.

Plot:
When social unrest plagues a Kingdom in ancient China, the Imperial Court collects stockpiles of gold from local governments to expand the royal army. However, the gold is robbed while in transport. In a desperate move to retrieve the stolen treasure, elite royal guards are sent on a mission to go after the gold but soon find out they are not the only ones in pursuit of it.

7 Assassins will be released on June 9th.

Source:fareastfilms

Jackie as basically broken nearly every bone in his body, hole in his head, broken nose countless times, ribs, pelvis, ankle, hands, you name it, he’s broken it. At the age of 59, Chan has admitted eventually he had to slow down and of course he should, with all his injuries age will certainly catch up with anyone.

I tried to find pictures of the stunts i am talking about, but some i could not find, so i just used any picture from the movie. I tried remembering his stunts from the top of my head, so i know i would have missed a few out.

10.Twin Dragons – Runs over moving car
In the final fight scene Jackie pulls of some great stunts and yes the run over a moving car was a great watch. It comes towards him at a good speed and here we see Jackie, jump and run on top of the car as it goes under neath him, in one shot. Great stunt,even if it did last a few seconds.

9.Police Story – Fall from 1st floor to ground
Here we see Jackie fall from the first floor up in a shopping mall and hit the ground in one take. In the out takes it shows Chan fall down, land on the floor with no padding or mats to land on, then he gets up and runs off, amazing.

8.Rush Hour – Final drop
This was Jackie’s big break in Hollywood and what a movie it was, great stunts, funny as hell and some great fights. But the stunt that caught everyone’s eye was the final drop where he fell from a few hundred feet in the air,landing on a nice smooth slope and then landed on Chris to cushion his fall. Ok, yep wires are used but its impossible to do that stunt without them, great stunt and one for Chan to be proud off.

7.Rumble In The Bronx – Jump from car park to building
When i first seen this stunt, i was like “WOW”. Chan running away from his enemies and jumping from the top of a car park and landing on the building on the other side. I really enjoyed this movie, filled with great stunts, top fight scenes, only part i didn’t enjoy was the final 2 minutes, the rest was a great watch.

6.Police Story – Electric Pole Slide
Jackie said this stunt burnt all the skin of both hands with them using real electric down the poles to make the stunt look more amazing and it worked. It took Jackie a while to perform it, looking down and scared for his life, then we hear a war cry, pause, jump, slide and crash through the store at the bottom all in one take. Amazing.

5.Police Story II – Bus Surfing
Here we see Jackie trying to figure out, how to get to one side of the street to the other without his enemies spotting him. So what better way to wait for a bus, but instead of just walking on to one, he decides to jump on the very top of a moving bus, then jump across to another passing by, then leaping over two hurdles before crashing through real glass. This stunt always impresses me each time i watch it.

4.Police Story III: Supercop – Hanging from Helicopter
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope it’s super Jackie hanging from a ladder on a helicopter being flown around Kuala Lumpur. Here he smashes through bill board signs, smashes against buildings and is being flown around at great speed. That was take some serious bottle, great stuff.

3.Who Am I? – Building Slide
Another amazing stunt from Jackie, standing hundreds of feet in the air, staring down the slide of a building with only the ground beneath him. Here he jumps, slides down, lands on the edge at the bottom, stands up and nearly falls off. How this guy performs these kind of stunts is madness, looking down the side of that building would make me run away and hide in-case i just fell over the edge.

2.Police Story – Hanging from a moving bus
When i first watched Police Story many years ago, i heard about all the great stunts in the movie. But this stunt was just excellent, chasing his enemy around town, Chan decides to snatch an umbrella, run after the bus and then leaps onto the back using the handle to keep grip. Here, Jackie gets swung about at great speed, just missing moving cars in single shots. When you watch the stunt again, it just gets better and better with each viewing, awesome.

1.Project A – Clock Tower Fall
This as been hailed many times before as Jackie’s best ever stunt and i have to agree. This took Jackie a good few days of just hanging on the clock tower as he couldn’t bring himself to let go and fall down. But Sammo one day turned up on set and said “You still hanging there, just do it” and so he did, not once, not twice, but three times. Falling through 2 obstacles before hitting the ground. The out-takes show him trying it 3 times and the injuries that came with trying it, amazing stunt from the ultimate action legend.

Fan Bingbing is in popular demand at the moment making her way to Hollywood with movies such as Iron Man 3 (Mainland chinese version) and also the upcoming X-Men movie. Skip Trace is an action comedy about a Hong Kong detective who will join forces with a gambler to take down a notorious criminal. The director is yet to be named but in the past Bret Ratner was spoke about and this movie was also going to star Chris Tucker if Rush Hour 4 didn’t happen.

“Skip trace” will be produced as a Sion-Foreign co-production by Exclusive Media and Talent International, which will also co-finance the film. Based on Chan’s original idea, “Skip trace” is written by Jay Longino and “The Sitter” team of Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka.

“After a career spanning 40 years, Jackie Chan is at the top of his game and we are delighted to be partnering with him and our friends at Cyrte on ‘Skiptrace’ – it’s a fun, action filled script and has the hallmark of a blockbuster hit,” said Exclusive’s co-chairman Nigel Sinclair and Guy East.

We will be sure to post more news about the movie once it emerges and be sure to look out for Police Story 2013, which is set for release this year.

Source:movies-yahoo.com

Twelve Deadly Coins is the latest tv series starring Kung Fu legend Yuen Biao in the first ever series from China shot in 3D. It is always great to see Yuen Biao back in a lead role and this series looks very promising with good fight scenes and story. I think it’s a similar plot to the old Shaw Brothers movie of the same name, but with a few with twists added to it.

This is China’s most expensive series to date, with over of thirty episodes, i am sure this will be action packed from start to finish. Director Yau Kwong had this to say about Yuen Biaos role:
“Yuen Biao played by Yu Jianping runs through the soul of the play, his scenes are quite heavy, the highlight of Aspect also very Aspect is not only reflected in the superb martial art on, but also reflects the way in his emotions”. _ think his direct quote got lost a bit in translation here lol.

Plot:
Twelve Deadly Coins centers around the young male protagonist, Yang Hua (Samuel Chan), who disguises himself as a safeguard in Tianjin’s An Ping Safeguard Agency to kill the agency’s master Yu Jianping (Yuen Biao), the man who destroyed his family. His plan of vengeance is to gain Yu’s trust so the sifu will teach him the twelve ways of the “Golden Coin” technique. Hua will then use the skill to kill him.

Hua’s plans almost back fire when he meets the master’s daughter, Yu Yanqing (Tao Xinren). She is deeply in love with Hua, and he too begins to develop feelings for her. However, to complete his revenge, he puts his feelings aside and decides to use Yanqing as a tool to get closer to Yu. After going through a life-changing mission with Yu, Hua discovers that his family’s death was not as simple as he originally thought. Hua eventually becomes one of Yu’s most powerful and respected pupils, and later takes command of Yu’s agency after his death.

Here is the trailer, which runs for over 8 minutes and i have to say, it looks good. The series is set to air in China in the next few months.

Source:newshome.us/news

Challenge Of The Masters (1976) – 6.5/10
Cast:Gordon Liu, Lau Kar Leung, Lau Kar Wing, Chen Kuan Tai

Gordon Liu stars as a young Wong Fei Hung in this Lau kar leung movie. It centers around a man on the run who is caught up by an old official, but is killed in the process. Gordon Liu is sent to an old teacher (Chen Kuan Tai) to learn kung fu and then heads off to take revenge.

The movie does have some good fight scenes (Lau Kar Wing vs Kar Leung and Gordon vs Kar Leung), but overall i didn’t think it was that great and was kind of disappointed with the final result. The fights are the best thing about this movie and i also aint a big fan of watching lots of Lion dancing in movies. Overall a decent watch, good fights but no classic.

Iron Bodyguard (1973) – 7/10
Cast:Chen Kuan Tai, Yueh Hua, Lily Li
Its always great to watch Chen Kuan Tai on screen, the guy always delivers and this time is no different. The movie is around the late 1800′s, Chen Kuan Tai meets a scholar (Yueh Hua) and both help each other in a fight and become good friends.

Throughout the movie we get to see some good fight scenes with hand to hand combat and some weapon work also. The camera does the typical thing back then, zooming in and out quiet a lot to show a characters expression close up. Good script, good directing from Chang Cheh and Pao Hsueh-Li and Lau kar leung is on hand to bring out the best in the actors. Not a classic, but worth a watch.

Two Champions Of Shaolin (1979) – 7/10
Cast:Lo Meng, Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Chin Siu Ho
Shaolin vs. Wutang here and what comes next is some excellent fight scenes, great cast and a very enjoyable movie. In this movie we get to see a younger Chin Siu Ho, who is torn between both sides and the venom mob on hand to dish out the beatings.

The characters are mainly the same you get in the venom movies, but who cares, the action is top notch with excellent choreography, fists, kicks and weapons all in the mix until the bloody end.

The Brave Archer 2 (1978) – 8/10
Cast:Fu Sheng, Niu Niu, Philip Kwok, Johnny Wang
This movie picks up right from the first, when Fu Sheng battling his way through the enemies who want to kill him. What i found in both the first two movies are that the plots hare very good with great action, but the second movie tops the first.

In this movie, we get to see even better fight scenes from all involved, Fu Sheng kicks butt as usual, Johnny Wang is still on his tail and as some great scenes also. There are a few in the Brave Archer series, but if they continue like these, then i urge you to grab them quickly, highly entertainable.

Crippled Avengers (1978) – 8/10
Cast:Chen Kuan Tai, Lu Feng, Philip Kwok, Johnny Wang
Chang Cheh does an awesome job with this movie, keeping the viewer engaged throughout with some interesting characters. Here he brings back the venom mob who all put in top performances.

Chen Kuan-Tai stars as the leader who is hell bent on revenge for having his family crippled by his enemies. The choreography is once again excellent by Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng and Robert Tai, with excellent acrobatic movements and the skill involved is quiet something. Not as good as a few other venom movies, but certainlya cracker.

Kid With The Golden Arm (1979)- 8.5/10
Cast:Wai Pak, Philip Kwok, Chiang Sheng, Johnny Wang

Top cast, top villain and once again the venom mob in fine fighting form. The movie is centered about gold being stolen by the evil golden arm villain, on his tail is Agent Hai To who is always drunk but as great skills to try and take down this villain. This is one of the better venom flicks with everyone putting in a great performance and once again they deliver big time in the fight sequences. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, go grab it, classic.

Invincible Shaolin (1978)- 9/10
Cast:Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Sun Chien, Philip Kwok, Kara Hui

Johnny Wang is on a mission to face the North and South shaolin fighters to face each other in a plot to kill both sides. He kills anyone who gets in his way and then blames the murders on the south shaolin fighters.

This is a brilliant movie from start to finish with great fight choreography from the venom mob and some excellent training sequences. The teachers who train the north fighters, really put them under hard training, but training worth while. Will the north and south fight to the death or will they group together and take down the evil villain? A must watch.

Born in Taiwan in 1951,Chiang had family problems from a young age. His parents could not look after him properly, so he was sent to the Fu Sheng Opera School in Taipei, Taiwan. During his time here, he had met friends which would become part of the Shaw Brothers studio with him, such as Robert Tai, Lu Feng and Kuo Chui. When studying at the school, Chiang trained in martial arts and acrobatics, something we would all witness to great lengths in his work later on at Shaw Brothers.

In the early 70′s, Director Chang Cheh started his own company and headed out to Taiwan to find the latest talent for future projects. It was on this trip where he met Chiang Sheng, impressed by his martial art and acrobatic abilities, Chang Chen invited him to go to China and do some work for him.

The Movie Business
In 1976, Chiang started work over in China, having already appeared in a few movies (but nothing major), he got a small part in the Sammo movie The Traitorous, before heading to Shaw Brothers to make an appearance in the movie Shaolin Temple. From 1976 – 178 he appeared in movies such as New Shaolin Boxers, Hand Of Death (Brief appearance), Magnificent Wanderers, The Brave Archer and the brilliant Invincible Shaolin. But 1978 was to be a great year, as he starred in the all time classic The Five Venoms, where he would forge a great working relationship with actors such as Sun Chien, Philip Kwok, Lo Meng and Lu Feng.

If you have seen these guys in action, all of them are superb at what they do, each bringing there own style to the movie and also the rest that they starred in together. Each film i have seen delivers great hand to hand combat, brilliant weapon work, lots of violence and comedy and you can tell they all sparkle with each other on screen.Regarding the Venom mob, movies i would recommend so far after viewing them would be The Five Venoms, Invincible Shaolin, Crippled Avengers, Magnificent Ruffians, Kid With The Golden Arm, 10 Tigers Of Kwangtung and 2 Champions Of Shaolin. There are a lot more movies which stars Chiang and his fellow Venom mob, so be sure to check them all out, you will not be disappointed.

Life after the venom’s
In 1981, Chiang and the rest of the venoms disbanded with three of them, including Chiang starting a new production company in Taiwan. The first movie he and his fellow team made was Ninja in the Deadly Trap, which Chaing acted and choreographed the action scenes, Chiang shortly after wanted to go back to China, but his wife convinced him to stay put in Taiwan.

Not long after staying in Taiwan with his wife, Chiang found it very difficult, not being able to find work anywhere which led to him divorcing his wife and became a heavy drinker. In August 1991, an old friend of Chiang Sheng, Ricky Cheng Tien Chi, came to see him, but found him dead. It is said that he was lying dead for three days before being found. He died from a heart attack. But Kuo Chui once said “it was more of a broken heart”.

It is so sad that his life went this way and led really to his death at such a young age of 40 years old. Chiang had so much talent and had so much more to give, in front and behind the camera. So if your already a fan of his work, go back and watch this very talent performer and keep his memory alive, but if you haven’t seen this guys work before then your in for a right good treat.

Source:Wikipedia

Each page delivers great posts each day, nice and friendly people to discuss your favorite movies with and great ways to find new information on old or new releases. If i have missed any or just forgot some others, please let me know. I hope you enjoy my list and continue to support Asian Movie Pulse.

1.Asian Movie Pulse:
https://www.facebook.com/AsianMoviePulse

2.King Of Kung Fu:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kingofkungfu-Articles-and-reviews-asianmoviepulsecom/245770475468371

3.Asian Action Cinema Association
https://www.facebook.com/groups/asianactioncinemaassociation/

4.KUNG FU MOVIE FANDOM PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/groups/558302290870286/

5.Shaw Brothers – Dedication page
https://www.facebook.com/ShawBrothersDedicationPage

6.Eastern Heroes Magazine
https://www.facebook.com/EasternHeroesMagazine?fref=ts

7.Heroic Sisterhood
https://www.facebook.com/HeroicSisterhood?fref=ts

8.Mr.Yuen Biao & anything of him
https://www.facebook.com/groups/380578711966147/?fref=ts

9.Lam Ching Ying – 林正英
https://www.facebook.com/LamChingYingactor

10.The Protector 2 [Tom Yum Goong 2]
https://www.facebook.com/TheProtector2?fref=ts

11.LEUNG KAR YAN ( A Kung Fu movie legend)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/leungkaryan/

12.Asian Cult Cinema
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Asian-Cult-Cinema/135950603135127?fref=ts

13.Martial Arts Action Cinema
https://www.facebook.com/MartialArtsActionCinema

I hope you enjoyed the list of page i mentioned there and hope to see you people over there at some point. Please feel free to check out my latest tribute video below. -KING OF KUNG FU