Kung Fu Fridays in June 2013

Tonight, City of Life and Death, a big pre-WWII historical epic straight out of China, but June is just around the corner. What flicks are expected to screen in my living room during that month?

The Man with the Iron Fists - We went to see the RZA's crazy tribute to the Shaw Bros. era pretty recently in theaters, but not everyone could make it, and besides, this is an uncensored director's cut. It was fun the first time - especially Russell Crowe's whacked-out character - I'm sure it'll be fun a second time!

The Deadly Breaking Sword - Speaking of Shaw Bros., this is the classic selection for the month, another film from the Legendary Heroes DVD set (mostly focused on movies about unusual weapons). I've read good reviews of this one, especially about Ti Lung, usually playing a fresh-faced hero, here as a real a-hole villain.

Kill 'Em All - What attracted me to what seems like a brain dead action flick by the director of Bangkok Adrenaline is the guest-starring role for an older Gordon Liu. And you know how much I love my Gordon Liu. Let's see how he does in the Killing Chamber, a high-tech bunker where captured international assassins duke it out, Battle Royale-style. Toldja it was brain dead.

Vengeance - Someone else I can't resist is director Johnnie To. Even in his lesser films, he's never short of interesting. Vengeance takes place in Hong Kong, sure, but the protagonist is played by French rock star Johnny Hallyday. That's so odd, it makes me want to see it even more. And now you know why bit part player/stand-up comedian Suet Lam in on this month's poster. He's pretty much in every To movie, including this one.

June is big on crazy, it looks like. Bring on the summer heat! (And as usual, if you can't come to my sweltering apartment on Friday nights, capsule reviews will follow on Sunday.)

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