Yearly Archives: 2011

Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Love Me Deadly/The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse DVD (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2011 1973’s “Love Me Deadly” is a film about, well, why don’t we just say that judging from its trailer, it lives up to its title. 1977’s “Curious Case of the Campus Corpse” (aka “The Hazing”, “Here Come the Delts”) revolves around a college freshman who rushes a fraternity and witnesses another pledge’s death during a hazing ritual…

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

Carry On Pickpocket (1982) Review

"Carry On Pickpocket" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Sammo Hung, Frankie Chan, Lau Hak Suen, Deannie Yip Tak Han, Didi Pang Sau Ha, Peter Chan Lung, Richard Ng Yiu Hon, Dick Wei, James Tien Chun, Paul Wong Kwan, Liu Wai Hung, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Chan Chik Waai, Chan Dik Hak, Cheung Gwok Wa, Johnny Cheung Yiu Wah Running Time: 102 min. By HKFanatic As a Sammo Hung fan, there comes a time when … Continue reading

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

Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Scream/Barn of Naked Dead aka Nightmare Circus DVD (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2011 In 1974’s “Barn of the Naked Dead,” three showgirls on their way to Las Vegas have car trouble and are stuck all night out in the desert… what happens to them next isn’t a good thing. In 1981’s “Scream,” agroup of friends on a rafting trip are killed off one by one by a mysterious killer. Sorry, no trailers.

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

Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Mardi Gras Massacre DVD (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2011 Mardi Gras Massacre is a 1978 horror film written and directed by Jack Weis. It is a semi-remake of the 1963 film Blood Feast. The film was on the UK Government’s list of Video Nasties in the 1980s and has not been resubmitted to the BBFC for a certificate since. Check out the trailer here.

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

Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Haunted DVD (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: September 20, 2011 It began the day they installed that telephone booth in the Cemetery! They dared defy the curse of a hundred years! This 1977 flick will make you never want to use a pay phone again! Sorry, no trailer.

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

Warner Japan builds local niche

Variety reports that the Studio arm finds success in film production. In June, Warner Japan released its 10th local production to pass the ¥1 billion mark, “Paradise Kiss.” Based on a hit comic by Ai Yazawa about an exam-stressed high school girl who finds a new life and romance with a crowd of teen fashionistas, the pic is forecast to finish with $18.5 million. “Films in development have been rewritten … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Joe Lewis expected to have complete recovery following brain tumor

On July 18th Joe Lewis had an operation to remove a brain tumor from his left temporal lobe. He is expected to have a complete recovery but will go through a normal rehabilitation period. Joe Lewis gained fame for his karate matches in the 1960s and 1970s. He has twice been voted the greatest fighter in karate history, and has attained the titles of “United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion,” “World … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Knockabout (1979) Review

"Knockabout" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Yuen Biao, Lau Kar Wing, Sammo Hung, Leung Kar Yan, Lee Hoi San, Mars, Wong Kwong Yue, Karl Maka, Peter Chan, Ho Pak Kwong, Billy Chan, Johnny Cheung Running Time: 104 min. By HKFanatic 1979’s “Knockabout” represents the first starring role for one of the Three Dragons, Yuen Biao. The opening credits even state “Introducing Yuen Biao.” Behind the camera, Sammo Hung – one of Yuen’s … Continue reading

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

Straw Dogs Blu-ray (MGM)

RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2011 Before you see the remake, see the original classic on Blu-ray! An American mathematician, disturbed by the predominance of violence in American society, moves with his wife to an isolated Cornish village. He finds that primitive savagery exists beneath the most peaceful surface. After his wife is raped, Hoffman’s character seeks revenge. Directed by Sam Peckinpah (“Wild Bunch”) and starring Dustin Hoffman (“Straight Time”) and … Continue reading

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

Bodyguards & Assassins | aka Dark October (2009) Review

Bodyguards and Assassins DVD (Indomina)

Director: Teddy Chen Cast: Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Hu Jun, Edison Wang, Fan Bing Bing, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, Wang Xue Qi, Zhou Yun, Mengke Bateer, Che Kim Fai, Jacky Chung, Cung Le, Li Yu Chun, Gary Mak, Philip Ng, Michelle Reis, John Sham, Dennis To Running Time: 139 min. By HKFanatic Donnie Yen continues his quest to remind global audiences that Hong Kong … Continue reading

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

Robotech: The Complete Series Deluxe Collector’s Set/First War, Second War, Third War individual DVD sets (A&E)

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011 There’s two kinds of people in this world: those who like “Robotech” (The U.S. adaptation of “Macross”) and those who like “The Super Dimension Fortress Macross” (original Japanese language series) – I happen to love them both equally. I’ll take Hikaru Ichijyo or Rick Hunter, I don’t care. Both versions had an enormous impact on my childhood and my appreciation for this series still holds … Continue reading

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

Ring 2 | aka Ringu 2 (1998) Review

AKA: Ringu 2 Director: Hideo Nakata Writer: Hiroshi Takahashi, Koji Suzuki Cast: Daisuke Ban, Kyoko Fukada, Kenjiro Ishimaru, Nanako Matsushima, Katsumi Muramatsu, Miki Nakatani Running Time: 95 min. By Numskull STOP!!! Read this review ONLY if you have already seen Ring 2, if you have seen Ring and want to know more about the sequel before you see it (or decide whether or not to see it), OR if you … Continue reading

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Ring 0 | aka Ringu 0 (2000) Review

AKA: Ringu 0: Happy Birthday Director: Norio Tsuruta Writer: Koji Suzuki Cast: Yuki Nakama, Kumiko Aso, Daisuke Ban, Chinami Furuya, Masami Hashimoto, Kazue Kadokae Running Time: 99 min. By Numskull Here we have both the last and the first installment of the highly successful Ring sequence, rewritten for the screen by creator/novelist Koji Suzuki and directed by Norio Tsuruta, a newcomer to the series. Taking place three decades before the … Continue reading

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews |

Ring | aka Ringu (1998) Review

"The Ring" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Hideo Nakata Cast: Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rikiya Otaka, Miki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, Rie Ino, Masako, Yoichi Numata, Yutaka Matsushige Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull “Frolic in brine, goblins be thine.” Doesn’t make much sense sitting up there all by itself, does it? Well, it may not make much sense after watching the movie, either, but it’s still kinda catchy, I think. Certainly not the only … Continue reading

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

Ring, The (2002) Review

Director: Gore Verbinski Cast: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Frost, Amber Tamblyn, Rachael Bella, Daveigh Chase, Shannon Cochran Running Time: 115 min. By Numskull This is a remake. Hence, the source material should be taken into consideration before it is discussed. Go read my review for Ring in the Japanese section if you haven’t done so already. I’ll wait. Hmm hm hm hm hmmm… … Continue reading

Posted in All, Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged |