Kung Fu Kool Britannia!

UK martial arts fans are enjoying a bumper start to 2016. January sees theatrical releases for Jackie Chan’s epic blockbuster “Dragon Blade“, Donnie Yen‘s Asian Box Office number one “Ip Man 3“, and the winner of the Cannes Film Festival Best Director and the Golden Horse Best Film awards, “The Assassin”, starring Shu Qi.

The Assassin Trailer

Dragon Blade Trailer

Ip Man 3 Trailer

It doesn’t end there though. On 15th January, television channel Film4 begins a three month season showing classic Shaw Brothers movies. Featuring titles such as “Come Drink With Me”, “36th Chamber of Shaolin“, ” King Boxer (aka Five Fingers of Death)” and “One Armed Swordsman”, these genre-making classics will be presented restored, in widescreen and with their original soundtracks, many of them appearing for the first time on British television. Throughout March and April, Film4 will be showing further fan favourites such as “Eight Diagram Pole Fighter” and “Five Deadly Venoms”. You can find out more here.

February will see the release of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: Sword of Destiny” on Netflix and at limited IMAX screens. The sequel to the Oscar-winning worldwide smash sees Michelle Yeoh reprise her role as Yu Shu Lien with Donnie Yen and Jason Scott Lee joining the cast. The film is directed by legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2 Trailer

In the last year or so, London has enjoyed the premiere of Donnie Yen‘s “Kung Fu Killer” and the screening of Jackie Chan’s “Chinese Zodiac“, both with the stars in attendance. Korean smash hit “Veteran” and “SPL 2: A Time for Consequences” have been screened at the Odeon Leicester Square, one of the best screens in the country. Film4 aired for the first time the uncut “Police Story 3: Supercop“. The star of that movie, Jackie Chan, is filming his latest action feature “The Foreigner” in London. Donnie Yen has also enjoyed staying in London whilst making “Star Wars Rogue One” frequently sharing pictures of himself in Covent Garden on social media.

Kung Fu Killer Premiere Interview with Donnie Yen

Ricky Baker’s pioneering Eastern Heroes has had a resurgence bringing stars such as Hwang Jang Lee & Chang Shan to the UK as well as an ultra rare screening for the first time in colour of Bruce Lee‘s “The Orphan”.

Interview with Hwang Jang-lee

All of these great events require the support of you the fans. I would urge you all that have the opportunity to see the latest movies on the big screen or the classics on the small screen to grab it with both hands!