Monthly Archives: April 2011

Tetsuo: The Bullet Man DVD (IFC)

RELEASE DATE: June 28, 2011 Tetsuo the Bullet Man is a 2009 Japanese movie directed by Shinya Tsukamoto (Bullet Ballet). It is the third Tetsuo film Tsukamoto has done, but the first to star an American-born actor, Eric Bossick (Silent Hill 4: The Room). Read the cityonfire.com review. Check out the trailer here.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

From Dusk Till Dawn 1 & 2 Double Feature Blu-ray (Echo Bridge)

STREET DATE: May 15, 2011 Finally on Blu-ray! From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and Juliette Lewis. Back to back with the original is the straight to video sequel, From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money, starring the T-1000. Rather have From Dusk Till Dawn on its own?

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars | aka The Target (1985) Review

"Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Richard Ng, Stanley Fung, Eric Tsang, Michael Miu, John Sham, Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Rosamund Kwan, Sibelle Hu, Chung Fat, Yasuaki Kurata, Richard Norton, Philip Ko, Andy Lau, Lau Kar Wing, Dick Wei, Anthony Chan, Charlie Chin, Chin Kar Lok, Kara Hui, Chin Siu-Ho Running Time: 90 min. By Numskull More of the same, but a little better. I’m a little annoyed that I … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My Lucky Stars (1985) Review

"My Lucky Stars" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Producer: Leonard Ho Cast: Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Sibelle Hu, Jackie Chan, Richard Ng, Eric Tsang, Andy Lau, Michiko Nishikawa, Charlie Ching, Stanley Fung, Lam Ching-Ying, Bolo Yeung, James Tien, Yuen Wah, Fruit Chan Gor Running Time: 84/99 min. By Numskull How many people, like myself, saw the Arena Home Video release of this movie in the martial arts section at Media Play and shelled out eight … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, Ninja, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Superman Motion Picture Anthology Blu-ray (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2011 The 8-disc collection features all five Superman movies (Superman: The Movie, Superman II (also includes Richard Donner’s cut), Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (Christopher Reeve), and Superman Returns (Brandon Routh) with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound (Stereo for Superman IV). It’s also Packed with over 20 hours of bonus features. Includes: Deleted scenes, The Cinematic Saga of Superman, Look, Up in the … Continue reading

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Encounter of the Spooky Kind (1980) Review

"Encounter of the Spooky Kind" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Sammo Hung, Chung Fat, Peter Chan, Huang Ha, Lam Ching Ying, Wu Ma, Tai Bo, Billy Chan, Chin Lung, Cheung Ging Boh, Fung King Man, Fung Lee Running Time: 98 min. By JJ Hatfield The first time I saw this movie it was in the form of a very ancient and quite heavy dusty old VHS tape. The story was immensely confusing because … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, Reviews | Tagged , , |

War | aka Rogue Assassin (2007) Review

"War" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Rogue Director: Philip Atwell Writer: Lee Anthony Smith, Gregory J. Bradley Cast: Jet Li, Jason Statham, Terry Chen, John Lone, Devon Aoki, Sung Kang, Ryo Ishibashi Running Time: 103 min. By JJ Hatfield War, uhhh yeah, what is it good for absolutely nothin’… sorry. The song is good. This movie is not. What comes across is rather two dimensional. I felt at times the characters were made of cardboard. … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , |

Winners & Sinners | aka 5 Lucky Stars (1983) Review

"Winners & Sinners" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Richard Ng, Ching Shung Lin, John Sham, Stanley Fung, James Tien, Lam Ching-Ying, Cecilia Yip Tung, Fung Hak-On Running Time: 95/106 min. By Numskull This is generally considered to be the first Lucky Stars film. It isn’t. It’s a blueprint; a not-quite-ripe-yet predecessor. Director/star Sammo Hung would later use many elements and cast members from this movie in “My Lucky Stars” and “Twinkle … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Invincible Eight, The (1971) Review

Director: Lo Wei Writer: Ni Kuang Producer: Raymond Chow Cast: Nora Miao, Billy Chan, Paul Chang Chung, Han Ying Chieh, Sammo Hung, Lam Ching Ying, Lee Kwan, Bruce Leung Siu Lung, Angela Mao Ying, Pai Ying, Lydia Shum, Tang Ching, James Tien, Patrick Tse, Lee Ka Ting Running Time: 95 min. By Jeff Bona A group of eight warriors (Nora Miao, Lee Kwan, Angela Mao, Lydia Shum, James Tien, Tang … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Lolita Blu-ray (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2011 First time on Blu-ray and an Amazon exclusive. Lolita is a 1962 comedy-drama film by Stanley Kubrick based on the classic novel of the same title by Vladimir Nabokov. The film stars James Mason as Humbert Humbert, Sue Lyon as Dolores Haze (Lolita) and Shelley Winters as Charlotte Haze with Peter Sellers as Clare Quilty. Due to the MPAA’s restrictions at the time, the film … Continue reading

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

American: The Bill Hicks Story Blu-ray/DVD (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2011 American: The Bill Hicks Story is a documentary on the life of comedian Bill Hicks. It features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including Kevin Booth. The filmmakers used a cut-and-paste animation technique to add movement to a large collection of still pictures used to document events in Hicks’ life. Nominated for 2010 Grierson British Documentary Award for the “Most Entertaining Documentary” category. … Continue reading

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Barry Lyndon Blu-ray (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2011 First time on Blu-ray and an Amazon exclusive. Barry Lyndon is a 1975 period film directed by Stanley Kubrick based on the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray which recounts the exploits of an 18th century Irish adventurer. Ryan O’Neal stars as Barry Lyndon. This title will also be included in the upcoming Blu-ray/DVD set.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

King Kong (1933) Review

"King Kong" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Merian C. Cooper Co-director: Ernest B. Schoedsack Cast: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson Running Time: 105 min. Review by JJ Hatfield The one thing that makes the original version fantastic is the special effects. That may sound a bit absurd considering the state of the art and ever evolving fx we have today however that just adds relevance to my comment. Willis … Continue reading

Posted in Other Movies, Reviews |

Super (2010) Review

"Super" American Theatrical Poster

Director: James Gunn Cast: Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Ellen Page, Kevin Bacon, Nathan Fillion, Gregg Henry, Michael Rooker, Andre Royo, Sean Gunn, Stephen Blackehart, Don Mac Running Time: 96 min. By Ningen Rainn Wilson plays a perpetual loser named Frank whose wife Sarah (Liv Tyler) gets taken in by a drug-lord named Jacques(Kevin Bacon), causing him to don a superhero persona and costume to match. As The Crimson Bolt, he … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Related, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Skinny Tiger & Fatty Dragon (1991) Review

"Skinny Tiger & Fatty Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Nutty Kickbox Cops Director: Lau Kar Wing Cast: Sammo Hung, Karl Maka, Carrie Ng, Wanda Yung, Lau Kar Wing, Lung Ming Yan, Wu Fung, Cutie Mui Siu Wai, Ni Kuang, Mark Houghton, Brad Kerner Running Time: 105 min. By JJ Hatfield The running time for this movie is 105 minutes, and you will feel each and every one, when fighting is not on the screen. Yes, Sammo is in … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |