Ever since the days Pay-Per-View, I've always thought that art house films should be able to come through a streaming cable-service. I love art house theatres but they're so rare and have such a limited number of screens that it can be difficult to get true independent films (not small-budget films from an "indie" division of a major studio) in front of audiences.
But the day of indie films on-demand arrived and we are all the better for it. Magnolia/Magnet Pictutres has taken great advantage of this recent distribution channel to bring audiences movies that haven't hit DVD and may not even be in a theatre near you. The first Six Shooter Film Series brought home audiences films like "Let the Right One In" and "Timecrimes" and this year they're really bringing the thunder "Ong Bak 2", Nicolas Winding Refn's "Bronson", John Woo's "Red Cliff", "District 13: Ultimatum", and "The Warlords. The sixth bullet has yet to be chosen but Magnet is planning to work genre fans on making that choice. Make sure your digital cable is working and hit the jump for the full press release.
Magnet Announces SIX SHOOTER FILM SERIES V2
Second Volume of Series to include ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING, BRONSON, RED CLIFF, DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM and THE WARLORDS
New York - September 24, 2009 - The Wagner/Cuban Companies' Magnet Releasing announced today that it is kicking off a second volume of its popular SIX SHOOTER FILM SERIES with ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING, available this Friday on VOD systems nationwide.
Where the first SIX SHOOTER FILM SERIES took a broad look at smart international genre fare, serving as a launching pad for such critical favorites as Let The Right One In and Timecrimes, SIX SHOOTER V2 focuses specifically on action cinema, featuring some of the most exciting action films available today from around the globe. With the exception of BRONSON (SIX SHOOTER V2, #2), all of these films will be released as part of Magnolia/Magnet's Ultra VOD program, offering fans a chance to check out the film on VOD platforms a month prior to their release in theaters. More information on all films and their release pattern is available at www.sixshooterfilmseries.com.
"We'd been wanting to revisit the Six Shooter Film Series, and it was clear once we started assembling this incredible crop of top notch action films that the series should pay homage to some of the masters of modern action," said Magnet/Magnolia SVP Tom Quinn. "John Woo, Jet Li, Tony Jaa, parkour legends David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli, not to mention Nicolas Winding Refn and newcomer Tom Hardy-for an adrenalin junkie it doesn't get much better than that."
ONG BAK 2: THE BEGINNING, Tony Jaa's highly anticipated sequel to Ong Bak is #1, which opens theatrically in select markets on Friday, October 23rd, after debuting today on VOD platforms as part of Magnolia/Magnet's Ultra VOD program.
BRONSON, the Sundance favorite from director Nicolas Winding Refn (director of the PUSHER trilogy) is #2, is about to make an appearance at this year's Fantastic Fest prior to its opening in NY on Friday, October 9th and expansion through the month of October. Called A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century, BRONSON features what many are calling the performance of the year from Tom Hardy as notorious British inmate Charles Bronson. The film is being given the same kind of release in the same position in the series as last year's Let The Right One In, which proved to be one of the year's best foreign film success stories.
RED CLIFF is #3-a monumental epic and return to form for action maestro John Woo, reuniting him with international superstar Toney Leung for the first time since 1991's Hard Boiled. The most expensive and most successful Asian film of all time, RED CLIFF is a period war film depicting China's legendary Battle of Red Cliff from 208 AD. Available on VOD beginning October 22nd, the film will open in select theaters on Friday, November 20th.
DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM, another anticipated sequel is #4, and is making its North American Premiere in Austin at Fantastic Fest. Like its predecessor, District B13, which introduced the world to the jaw dropping martial art, parkour, ULTIMATUM is written by French action master Luc Besson, and stars parkour phenoms David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli. It will debut in January 2010 on VOD with a February theatrical release.
THE WARLORDS, starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro is #5. Another historical action epic, it was a huge critical and commercial hit in China much like RED CLIFF. THE WARLORDS will debut on VOD in February 2010, with a theatrical release in March.
SIX SHOOTER V2, #6 has yet to be announced. Magnet SVP Quinn adds, "Stay tuned... we have plans to announce an exciting initiative that involves working with genre fans to determine the sixth film in the series."
