Press

What would the end of a decade be without a look back on the movies which came out of it? We may no longer be in the golden era of fight flicks, but one only needs to spend a few moments thinking of the past 10 years, to realize there’s still plenty of talent with the enthusiasm and skill to create a great martial arts movie. From new blood like Iko Uwais and Max Zhang, to members of the old guard like Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan, the 10’s was a decade which gave everyone their moment to shine.

Cathedral City’s LGBT Days, scheduled for Easter Weekend, March 30 – April 1, will honor the LGBT community and celebrate the diversity of Cathedral City. The free weekend festival includes an opening night kickoff party, the 4th annual community LGBT Days bed race, live musical performances, outdoor dancing, food, beverages, and community booths.

JOSHUA TREE — This Saturday evening, the Charles J. Evered House—an artist residency program of the Hi-Desert Cultural Center for artists who have served in the military or in conflict zones—is producing a benefit fundraiser and dramatic play reading of ADOPT A SAILOR, an award-winning comedy written by the program’s founder, CHARLES B. EVERED.

Welcome to the magical month of December; where people are decking the halls, lighting the candles, packing the malls and not wearing sandals.

Kenji (Hayate) is on the hunt for his sister Mayumi (Mana Sakura), who has disappeared without a trace. He is a driven man however, so he is determined to find her and return her to safety, regardless of what that entails. His mastery of the martial arts won't hurt either, as he will face off with some nasty folks by the end.

Having previously reviewed Kurando Mitsutake’s absolutely batshit insane revenge film GUN WOMAN I was beyond delighted when the screener for his latest film KARATE KILL appeared in my mailbox.

After losing touch with his sister a young Japanese fella named Kenji (Hayate) is finally given the opportunity to search for her. But as she's gone missing on the other side of the world trying to make it under the bright lights of LA, where does he start? Fortunately for him a kick in the face translates into exactly the same thing all over the world.

I have learned a lot in my time on Earth but one thing that is possibly the important is that anything can be accomplished in life using one’s own mastery of karate. That is obviously something that director Kurando Mitsutake has known for some time as he’s continued to show love for the martial arts going back to Samurai Avenger: The Blind Wolf.

Karate Kill is yet another slice of cinematic madness from Mitsutake, one that harkens back to the days of Godfrey Ho’s choppily-edited ninja movies, the epics of Sonny Chiba and those grainy VHS-era relics of kung-fu cinema that inspired a generation of filmmakers (and rappers, cough, Wu-Tang Clan, cough). Only it’s also filled with the type of exploitation action that is typically reserved for horror films.