For the longest time, the world of rap music and Kung Fu cinema were as separate as one would think they could be. A bridge was then formed by the popular group Wu-Tang Clan, and more specifically, The RZA.

Wu-Tang showed appreciation for all-things Kung Fu in their music, their wardrobe, and even their name, which derives from a fictional martial arts sect, known as the Wudang. They even produced a few Kung Fu-style music videos.

Later, The RZA teamed up with Quentin Tarantino to score his epic homage to Asian cinema in Kill Bill Vol. 1. That’s when RZA first got his taste of big-budget films. Since then, he has gone on to compose for other action films such as War, Smokin’ Aces and composing just about everything to do with Afro Samurai.

Now, RZA is stepping behind the camera, with two brand new projects. His first, entitled The Man with the Iron Fist, is said to be a brand new martial arts-action, starring RZA, and is set to shoot later this year. The other film, is an impressive looking send-up to classic Shaw Bros. films in Wu-Tang Vs. The Golden Phoenix.

There are some parts of the trailer that may come across as campy to the untrained eye, but rest assured that they are most definitely RZA’s way of paying homage to some classic Kung Fu films. Check out the trailer after the jump, and be sure to keep an eye out for Wu-Tang Vs. The Golden Phoenix, as it’s planning to be released later this year, as celebration for RZA’s 20th Anniversary in the music business.

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Did you know that there was a sequel in the works for 2006′s Smokin’ Aces, with practically none of the original cast? Neither did we, until this trailer came across The Flickcast desk. It would be an interesting take, if it had any of the same people involved as the original film.

While the film doesn’t look like it will do much justice to Joe Carnahan’s original, the trailer was quite clever. It starts off by making sure we see some of our favorite faces from the original, such as Jeremy Piven, and then it throws a record scratch in to tell us that we won’t see them anymore.

Instead of a well-rounded cast consisting of Piven, Ray Liotta, Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds, Alicia Keys, and tons others, we now treated to the all-star cast of Vinnie Jones, Ernie Hudson, Tom Berenger, and the guy who had no lines in the first Smokin’ Aces.

Director P.J. Pesce seems perfect for the job, as his previous titles include other DVD sequels like Lost Boys: The Tribe, and From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter. Joe Carnahan is listed as writing the story for the film, but so is his assistant, so there’s no real secret there.

Check out the first full trailer after the jump, and be sure to pick it up on DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download, and the bargain bin shortly thereafter on January 19th, 2010.

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