The Resurrection of Golden Wolf | Blu-ray (Umbrella)

On October 8, 2025, Australian label Umbrella Entertainment is releasing the Blu-ray (Region B) for 1979’s The Resurrection of Golden Wolf, a rare Japanese crime-thriller from a 4K restoration. The film features the iconic Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill Vol. 2) and Yusaku Matsuda (Black Rain).

Yusaka Matsuda stars as a seemingly run-of-the-mill corporate salary man who leads a double life as a vicious criminal by night. In a delicious scheme Continue reading

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Tong Gai, ‘Shaolin Prince’ and ‘Shaolin Intruders’ director, martial artist, choreographer and actor, passes away

Tong Gai

Tong Gai, a martial artist, filmmaker, choreographer and actor is known for directing 1983’s Shaolin Prince, 1983’s Shaolin Intruders and 1984’s Opium and the Kung-Fu Master. Some of his most memorable roles include 1967’s One Armed Swordsman and 1969’s Return of the One-Armed Swordsman.

Media outlets are reporting Continue reading

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Angel | aka Iron Angels (1987) Review

"Iron Angels" Japanese Poster

“Iron Angels” Japanese Poster

Director: Teresa Woo San
Cast: Saijo Hideki, Elaine Lui, Yukari Oshima, Alex Fong Chung Sun, David Chiang, Hwang Jang Lee, Peter Yang Kwan, Wang Hsieh, Lam Chung, Chiang Tao
Running Time: 93 min. 

By Z Ravas

I can’t say this period of history has many consolations for those of us living through it, but getting to experience obscure Hong Kong action films via terrific looking and sounding boutique Blu-ray releases is most assuredly one of them. The first time I saw Iron Angels, it was on a crappy Region 0 DVD that I ordered off of Ebay; I say ‘crappy’ mostly because the disc kept skipping during the final twenty minutes of the movie. (If you’ve seen Iron Angels, you know some of the film’s best action is crammed into the final twenty minutes. You don’t want to miss that part!). What a difference a few years make: now I have the privilege of watching Iron Angels with a pristine hi-definition transfer, courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome.

And if you’re unfamiliar with this series, it’s absolutely worth springing for Syndrome’s recent 3-film box set. The first film ranks up there alongside Royal Warriors and She Shoots Straight as one of the finest examples of that Hong Kong subgenre fondly remembered as Girls with Guns. The movie has the brilliant idea to ask, ‘What if Charlie’s Angels were co-ed and Charlie was played by Shaw Brothers legend David Chiang?’ The story opens with a sequence that could Continue reading

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Hi-Five (2025) Review

"Hi-Five" Theatrical Poster

“Hi-Five” Theatrical Poster

Director: Kang Hyeong-Cheol
Cast: Lee Jae-in, Ra Mi-ran, Oh Jung-se, Park Jin-young, Ahn Jae-hong, Kim Hee-won, Shin Gu, Yoo Ah-in, Choi Eun-kyeong, Na Jin-su, Jin Hee-kyung
Running Time: 119 min. 

By Paul Bramhall

Where audiences suffering more from superhero fatigue in 2025 than they were in 2022? It’s a question worth pondering, since the 3 years in-between is how long the Korean superhero comedy Hi-Five has sat on the shelf. Delayed from its original release after actor Yoo Ah-in was charged will illegal drug use in 2023, since his release from serving a five-month prison sentence in February 2025, it would appear the completion of his punishment has also served as the cue to release the past productions he was involved in. The Match hit screens in May 2025, a drama which cast Ah-in alongside Lee Byung-hun and had originally been set for release in 2023, and a month later Hi-Five also hit the screens, which had originally been planned for release even earlier in 2022.

Whatever your views are on Korea’s approach to celebrities who commit misdemeanours, its always a relief when a completed movie that was potentially going to have its release cancelled finally sees the light of day, particularly when the director at the helm is Kang Hyeong-cheol (Swing Kids, Sunny). Much like Choi Dong-hoon, Hyeong-cheol is one of Korea’s most Continue reading

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Furious Swords and Fantastic Warriors | Blu-ray (Eureka)

Furious Swords and Fantastic Warriors

On September 22, 2025, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) collection for Furious Swords and Fantastic Warriors, which will include 1974’s Men from the Monastery, 1974’s Shaolin Martial Arts, 1970’s King Eagle, 1973’s Iron Bodyguard, 1975’s Fantastic Magic Baby, 1983’s The Weird Man, 1967’s Trail of the Broken Blade, 1970’s Wandering Swordsman, 1972’s Trilogy of Swordsmanship and 1976’s New Shaolin Boxers.

Distinguished by his penchant for bloodshed and a thematic concentration on the bonds of brotherhood and masculine sacrifice, Chang Cheh is one of the most prolific and accomplished directors ever to emerge from the Hong Kong film industry. Often Continue reading

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Ai-YAH!? Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li Hong Kong classics to get reimagined remakes using AI technology

The China Film Foundation is partnering with various Chinese film studios to reimagine Kung Fu classics using AI technology. Some of the titles on the to-do list include Fist of Fury, The Big Boss, Once Upon a Time in China, and Drunken Master.

According to Deadline, the “AI reimagining” includes the goal of remastering 100 seminal kung fu films, using AI to enhance the overall production quality Continue reading

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Flaming Brothers | Blu-ray (Eureka)

On September 15,  2025, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Flaming Brothers, a 1987 Hong Kong actioner from director Joe Cheung (Pom Pom and Hot Hot).

A standout Hong Kong crime thriller released amidst the wave of heroic bloodshed films that followed in the wake of John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow and Ringo Lam’s City on FireFlaming Brothers features Alan Tang and Chow Yun-fat (who was quickly rising Continue reading

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Which AI Technique Is Commonly Used in Game Playing?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is experiencing rapid development and is now being applied to the world of gaming. It has greatly improved the way people play. Games become more intelligent, lively, and interactive with the help of AI. With the help of these algorithms, game playing teaches AI to make better decisions for various uses.

Among the many AI techniques, the Minimax algorithm is the most notable. This blog will detail how this AI method functions and discuss its impact on playing games.

Photo credit

What is the Minimax Algorithm?

The Minimax algorithm is the strongest method used in AI to help it decide its moves in competitive games. It is mostly found in games where two players play against each other. Examples of these games are chess, tic-tac-toe, and checkers.

It helps players understand what options are available and select the strongest one. Using this algorithm, AI players analyse moves and pick the one that helps them the most, as they consider how their opponent will react.

Key features: 

  • MOVEGEN: This is used to generate all possible moves. 
  • STATIC EVALUATION: It gives a score for each move based on how good or bad it is.

How it works:

  • The first player tries to maximise their chances of winning. 
  • The second player tries to reduce the chances.

The algorithm looks ahead, simulates moves, and chooses the one that leads to the best possible outcome.

How Minimax is used in playing games

Let’s take tic-tac-toe as an example:

  • A win scores +10.
  • A loss scores -10.
  • A draw scores 0.

With the Minimax algorithm, the AI comes up with the best move to make. Either a move that prevents your opponent from attacking or destroying them will be chosen by the program.

That’s how some gaming bots can act smart and choose options like a human.

Other AI Techniques in Game Playing

Minimax is powerful, but it’s not the only AI method in use. Here are a few others:

Rule-Based Systems

They use logic in which events are linked using conditionals. For instance, whenever a player visits a dangerous area, the game brings out an enemy. It may be simple, but it proves to be effective in various games.

Finite State Machines

They let NPCs (non-player characters) switch the things they do in the game. An instance of this is an enemy who moves about during patrol, attacks the player or flees as determined by events in the game.

Machine Learning (ML)

Machine learning helps Artificial Intelligence to learn from what the other opponents do. This will help players learn and grow smarter while playing. 

For example, Platforms like daman colour prediction apply machine learning models to analyse patterns and predict outcomes, seamlessly blending entertainment with engagement. 

Conclusion

AI has revolutionised the gaming industry. Game techniques like Minimax allow moves to be made intelligently by a game, while machine learning and procedural generation move games to a new level.

From guessing your next move in tic-tac-toe to changing stories and levels quickly, AI has become very important in games today.

Keep an eye on how AI continues to transform the way we play. The future of games is not just digital—it’s intelligent.

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Scott Adkins BREAKS the bad! The martial arts star is re-teaming with ‘Legacy of Lies’ director for ‘Breaking Cover’

Martial arts star Scott Adkins (John Wick 4, Ip Man 4, One More Shot) is re-teaming with director Adrian Bol for WestEnd Films’ Breaking Cover. The pair worked together in 2020’s Legacy of Lies.

The upcoming actioner follows an seemingly ordinary back-office worker (Adkins) whose father-daughter hunting trip turns into a relentless fight for survival, when Continue reading

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Well, it’s about time! Two Blu-rays from two different labels are releasing Johnnie To’s ‘A Hero Never Dies’

On June 20, 2025, Chinese label CN Entertainment is releasing a Blu-ray (Region A/B/C) for A Hero Never Dies, a 1998 Hong Kong actioner from director Johnnie To (Three, Office, Fulltime Killer). Australian label Chameleon Films is also set to release a Blu-ray for the film later this year.

Jack (Leon Lai) and Martin (Lau Ching-Wan) are top lieutenants of rival triads, but the two find they’re not so different when they meet at a bar. Both friends Continue reading

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Who’s right, who’s Wong? Wong Kar-Wai’s ‘Blossoms Shanghai’ is coming to Criterion with an improved color grade

"Blossoms Shanghai" Poster

“Blossoms Shanghai” Poster

Renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai (The Grandmaster) is bringing Blossoms Shanghai to the U.S. through The Criterion Channel.

For the upcoming release, Blossoms Shanghai is getting a different color grade. Cinematographer Peter Pau told a Chinese outlet that they were not happy with the first run of the series in China, which “didn’t capture the optimal visual tone” Wong and company aimed for. He believes the international version of the series will “have better color grading and correction” (via World of Reel).

Based on Jin Yucheng’s 2013 novel, Blossoms Shanghai follows three Shanghai residents from the early ’60s, at the end of China’s Cultural Revolution and through the ’90s, with a selection of scenes Continue reading

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Muay Thai vs zombies! Trailer for Kulp Kaljareuk’s horror actioner ‘Ziam’ arriving on Netflix next month

"Ziam" Netflix Poster

“Ziam” Netflix Poster

Thai Kwon DEAD! In the tradition of 1981’s Kung Fu Zombie, 2014’s Zombie Fight Club and 2022’s Day Zero comes Ziam, a 2025 Thai-produced action thriller from director Kulp Kaljareuk (The Up Rank).

Ziam stars Mark Prin Suparat (My Husband in Law), Nychaa Nuttanicha (Ghost Lab) and Vayla Wanvayla.

In a world gripped by food shortages, a tenacious Muay-Thai boxer must use skill, speed and grit to save his wife to battle a zombie outbreak inside a hospital to save his lover from the jaws of death.

Ziam will be streaming July 9, 2025 on Netflix. Watch Continue reading

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Murder was the case that they gave her! Final Trailer for Peter Chan’s ‘She’s Got No Name’ starring Zhang Ziyi

"She's Got No Name" Theatrical Poster

“She’s Got No Name” Theatrical Poster

Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Ho-sun Chan (Wu Xia) is back with She’s Got No Name (aka Murder of the Husband), an upcoming thriller starring Zhang Ziyi (The Grandmaster, Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

Inspired by a true story, She’s Got No Name is based on one of China’s most famous unsolved cases involving a housewife who is accused of the gruesome murder of her husband.

She’s Got No Name also stars Eric Wang (Hidden Blade), Jackson Yee (Pound of Flesh), Lei Jiayin (Article 20) and Zhao Liying (Monkey King 3).

The film hits domestically on June 21, 2025. Watch the Final Trailer Continue reading

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Deal on Fire! The Postman Strikes Back | Blu-ray | Only $18.99 – Expires soon!

Postman Strikes Back | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Postman Strikes Back | Blu-ray (88 Films)

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for The Postman Strikes Back, a 1982 Hong Kong film directed by Ronny Yu (The Occupant).

The film stars Leung Kar Yan (Exciting Dragon), Chow Yun Fat (The Head Hunter), Fan Mei Sheng (12 Gold Medallions), Cherie Chung (Walk on Fire), Eddie Ko (Warriors of Future) and Brandy Yuen (Dreadnaught).

The Postman Strikes Back is a unique entry in the Hong Kong action genre for a number of reasons. Set in 1913, it’s a movie which brings together elements of the old-school and the new-wave which can only be appreciated in retrospect. An early directorial effort from Ronny Yu, with the exception of his 1986 production with Brandon Lee, Legacy of Rage, it wouldn’t be until Continue reading

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The perfect crime! 88 Films’ 4K Ultra HD for Kirk Wong’s 1993 Hong Kong thriller ‘Crime Story’ arriving next week

On June 23, 2025, 88 Films is releasing a 4K Ultra HD for Crime Story, a 1993 Hong Kong thriller from director Kirk Wong (Taking Manhattan, The Big Hit).

Troubled Hong Kong CID inspector Eddie Chan (Jackie Chan) is assigned to oversee the safety of controversial businessman Wong Yat-Fei (Law Kar-Ying), who is then kidnapped. A major investigation is launched and leads to Taipei and back to Hong Continue reading

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