"Blood Stained Shoes" Promotional Picture

I’ve been following Todd Rigney’s coverage of the upcoming Chinese horror film Blood Stained Shoes over at Beyond Hollywood for a couple of reasons. One is that the Asian horror genre remains interesting, despite the countless Ringu knock-offs and American remakes it’s been forced to endure.

Two is that Blood Stained Shoes stars Kara Hui, the martial arts icon famous for appearing in Shaw Brothers films like My Young Auntie and Eight Diagram Pole Fighter. Even at 52 years old, Kara is still one of the loveliest actresses in the world.

I’ve been waiting patiently for a trailer to arrive before I posted about the movie and today my wish has been granted. And the trailer even has English subtitles! Check it out here.

There’s no official plot synopsis available yet so we’ll just have to piece together clues from the trailer. The film looks to take place in the not too distant past and feature some rather striking cinematography, with a classic ‘ghost story’ type vibe, perhaps not unlike the popular Japanese video game series Fatal Frame. The cast includes Ruby Lin, Monica Mok, Anna Kay, Michael Tong, Xing Minshan, Daniel Chan, Jing Gangshan, and Daichi Harashima. Blood Stained Shoes lands in Chinese theaters on March 8.

"Nunchucku" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Nunchuku is a new Mandarin-language martial arts film slated to hit Chinese theaters on March 2, 2012. It’s also a difficult film to bring you information on since not much has been written about it in English! From what Cityonfire.com has been able to gather, the picture is directed by and stars an actor named Chen Star.

The film explores themes of honor, family, and loyalty, but also features Chen Star kicking tons of ass with his deadly pair of nunchucks. Not surprisingly, Chen Star reportedly draws great inspiration from Bruce Lee. In the trailer for Nunchucku, it’s clear that Chen’s mannerisms, Chi-type noises, and nunchuck-wielding ways are meant to channel the great martial arts icon.

Although it’s been a challenge for us English speakers to find any information on this film, Nunchucku won the 5th Cologne award at the Cologne Film Festival in Germany last year. Hopefully some reviews of the film will pop up online after it hits Chinese theaters and we can find out if Chen Star successfully pays homage to Bruce Lee.

"Detention's" Cinderhella

From the director of Torque, the 2004 Fast ‘n Furious clone that blew audience’s virgin minds with its video game cutscene-like special effects and blatant Mountain Dew advertising, comes Detention, one of the most buzzed about flicks at last year’s South By Southwest. The film is a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek parody of horror films that AICN described as a cross between Scott Pilgrim and Scream. Not much was heard about the Joseph Kahn-helmed movie after SXSW, leaving many horror fans to wonder if they were ever going to get the chance to see it.

Fortunately, AICN reports that Samuel Goldwyn Films have granted Detention a April 13th release date. The cast features Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook, Spencer Locke, and Aaron Perilo. Check out the trailer here.

Michael Fassbender

Since No Country For Old Men author Cormac McCarthy sold his first spec script to Hollywood a few weeks ago, the project, titled The Counselor, has been on the fast track – and that’s putting it mildly.

It didn’t take long before Blade Runner and Alien filmmaker Ridley Scott signed on to direct and today AICN reports that acclaimed actor Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class, Shame) is attached to the lead.

The Counselor is about a lawyer who thinks he can dip his toe in the drug business without consequences and soon finds himself in way over his head. AICN also claims that Jeremy Renner, Brad Pitt, and Bradley Cooper are in talks to play the villain. Principal photography on the film starts May 1st.

"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" actresses Mavis Fan and Kwai Lun Mei

The 2012 Berlin Film Festival may have just wrapped a few days ago, with the Italian docudrama Caesar Must Die taking home the Golden Bear for Best Picture, but there’s no doubt that Chinese filmmakers made a strong impression at the international fest.

Acclaimed director Zhang Yimou was on hand with star Christian Bale for his new film The Flowers of War, about the Nanking Massacre in 1937. The film won rave reviews from critics. Danish journalist Martin Wolsgaard declared, “I think it’s almost safe to say it’s the best film I am going to see at this festival.”

Also at the Berlin Film Fest was Cityonfire.com favorite Tsui Hark with his new 3D wuxia film Flying Swords of Dragon Gate.

The film co-stars Jet Li and Zhou Xun and serves as an update on the 1966 film Dragon Gate Inn and Hark’s own 1992 venture New Dragon Gate Inn. With a budget of $35 million US dollars and 3D design from the visual effects supervisor of James Cameron’s Avatar, there’s no doubt that Hark’s movie is destined to impress American audiences when we finally get the chance to see it.

Lastly, the 1964 Chinese hand-drawn animated feature The Monkey King received a 3D update courtesy of Avatar and Harry Potter effects designers. The film screened out of competition to the delight of younger audiences at the Berlin Film Fest. The character of the Monkey King continues to fascinate Chinese audiences, with Donnie Yen set to star as the folk hero in an effects-heavy blockbuster this July.

Chinese audiences enjoying a 3D Film

For decades, China has allowed 20 “blockbuster” foreign films to be screened in its country year round. Last year, movies like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Transformers: Dark of the Moon ended up becoming breakout hits in the country, much to the chagrin of the Chinese government, who were hoping that historical pieces like Beginning of the Great Revival would garner higher ticket sales. Now it appears that the tide is turning.

Yesterday, it was announced that China would be increasing that foreign film quota to 34 blockbusters, which is quite the boost. There is a catch, though: these extra 14 films must be in either IMAX format or 3D. In addition, Hollywood studios will be allowed to keep 25% of the box office gross rather than the current 13%.

The new status quo is part of a last minute deal struck by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and American Vice President Joe Biden during Jinping’s visit to the country. How this new deal will affect China’s own film industry remains to be seen but one thing is for certain, now there will be even more big-budget movies competing for Chinese theater screens and ticket sales.

"POV ~Norowareta Film ~" Japanese Theatrical Poster

It had to happen sometime. The Japanese horror genre appears to have gone all Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield on us with a new film titled POV ~Norowareta Film~. The good news is POV actually looks like it could be a lot of fun. The film just hit Japanese theaters on February 18th and Far East Films has the trailer.

In the movie, two high school girls set out to capture physic phenomena on film and soon discover strange things afoot in their own school. The trailer trots out the usual J-horror tropes like creepy female ghosts but seems to deliver it in a fresh way thanks to the unique video camera-style cinematography. A more detailed synopsis of the plot is available at the link.

"New Dragon Inn'" Chinese Theatrical Poster

1992’s New Dragon Inn is remastered and back on mainland big screens this February 24 (in other words, none of us are seeing it). Directed by East is Red’s Raymond Lee, New Dragon Inn is a remake of King Hu’s 1966 classic, Dragon Gate Inn. It stars Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Donnie Yen.

New Dragon Inn is widely regarded as the peak of wuxia dramas and was a huge hit at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, which had audiences cheering. According to hkcinemamagic.com, both Ching Siu Tung and Tsui Hark (who also wrote and produced) are given credit as directors. Check out the HKL DVD trailer.

"War of the Arrows"American Blu-ray Cover

It’s slim pickings this week as far as Asian cinema goes but, hey, there’s plenty for fans of global cinema and classic Hollywood films to enjoy. So let’s get cracking. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 2/21/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

War of the Arrows (Blu-ray/DVD) – the biggest Korean box office sensation of 2011 comes to home formats courtesy of top Asian film distributor Well Go USA

Left Handed (DVD) – Vanguard Films releases this micro-budgeted 2008 Japanese-language film about a young boy who shuts himself in his room for two years

Alien vs. Ninja (Blu-ray+DVD combo) – this silly but fun 2010 Japanese splatterflick gets an update to a Blu-ray+DVD combo pack from Funimation

IMPORT ASIAN

Turning Point 2 (Blu-ray/DVD) – Michael Tse brings his popular character of Laughing Gor to life once again in this 2011 sequel to the blockbuster film. Also starring Francis Ng and Chapman To. On All Region Blu-Ray or Region 3 DVD from your friends at DDDHouse. Available February 23

Sector 7 (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2011 South Korean monster movie comes to 3D Region A Blu-ray and Region 3 DVD from DDDHouse. Available February 23

FOREIGN CINEMA

World on a Wire (Blu-Ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection presents Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s landmark, surreal 1973 science fiction film in hi-def

Maigret – Set 1 (DVD) – the crime fiction of Georges Simenon comes to life in this series of adapted French-language films, collected together on DVD

Octubre (DVD) – a 2010 Spanish language dark comedy that won accolades at Cannes, about a loan shark who is left with a baby

MAINSTREAM

J. Edgar (Blu-ray/DVD) – Clint Eastwood’s 2011 biopic starring Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover

Martha Marcy May Marlene (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2011 critically acclaimed film starring Elizabeth Olson as a runaway member of a cult

Tower Heist (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 film from “Rush Hour” director Brett Ratner features the duo of Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller

London Boulevard (Blu-Ray/DVD) – the directorial debut of the writer of “The Departed” brings together Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley for a 2011 London crime thriller

The Son of No  One (Blu-ray/DVD) – Channing Tatum stars alongside Ray Liotta in a 2011 cop drama from the director of “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints”

Retreat (DVD) – Cillian Murphy, Jamie Bell, and Thandie Newton co-star in this 2011 paranoid thriller

Track 29 (DVD) – Gary Oldman, Theresa Russell, and Christopher Lloyd star in this 1988 drama. Is Gary Oldman a troubled woman’s long lost son or just a figment of her imagination?

Blood Shed: Brother Revenge (DVD) – not much is known about this 2011 film but the cover art features a gun and promises “A Thrilling Jamaican Movie!”

CLASSICS

Anatomy of a Murder (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers this classic 1959 legal thriller starring Jimmy Stewart and Ben Gazzara

Fort Apache (Blu-ray/DVD) – John Ford directs John Wayne and Henry Fonda in this 1948 film

Conflict (DVD) – this 1945 classy crime thriller starring Humphrey Bogart will be available on February 23

Chain Lighting (DVD) – a 1949 Humphrey Bogart film of romance and heroics on DVD this February 23

In the Cool of the Day (DVD) – this 1963 film full of romantic intrigue and starring Peter Finch and Jane Fonda will be available on February 23 as well

The Stranger/Kansas City Confidential (Blu-ray) – two classic films on one Blu-ray. “Kansas City Confidential” came out in 1952. “The Stranger” stars Orson Welles and came out in 1946.

Sherlock Holmes and The Secret Weapon (DVD) – a 1943 film starring Basil Rathbone in the famous role

HORROR

Double Exposure (DVD) – Katrina’s Nightmare Theater presents a remastered widescreen version of this 1983 horror flick that has a cover reminiscent of Brian De Palma’s “Body Double”

Zaat (Blu-ray) – this 1971 creature feature is considered by many to be one of the worst movies of all time. And now it’s on Blu-ray

Big Foot (DVD) – a 1970 movie about big foot. What more could you ask for? The cover says “the greatest monster movie since King Kong”

Inkubus (DVD) – veteran character actors Robert Englund and William Forsythe star in this 2011 chiller involving a demon

Mark of Cain/Thrillkill (DVD) – Katrina’s Nightmare Theater offers two vintage 80’s horror flicks on one DVD

Whispers (DVD) – Katrina’s Nightmare Theater rolls out this 1990 adaptation of Dean R. Koontz’s novel

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