Yearly Archives: 2011

The Godfather Part I/Part II Blu-ray (Paramount)

RELEASE DATE: August 2, 2011 Contains both The Godfather (1972) and it’s sequel (1974). The Godfather story chronicles the fictional Italian American Corleone crime family. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Al Martino, Abe Vigoda and many more. Trailers: Part I | Part II | Part … Continue reading

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

Return to the 36th Chamber | aka Return of the Master Killer (1980) Review

AKA: Master Killer 2 Director: Lau Kar Leung Writer: Ni Kuang Producer: Run Run Shaw Cast: Gordon Liu Chia Hui, Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Hsiao Ho, Kong Do, Kwan Yung Moon, Ching Chu, Kara Hui Ying Hung, Bruce Lai, Yeung Jing Jing, Wong Ching Ho Running Time: 99 min. By JJ Hatfield After the astounding success of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin there were two sequels planned by the Shaw … Continue reading

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36th Chamber of Shaolin | aka Master Killer (1978) Review

"36th Chamber of Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lau Kar-Leung Writer: Ni Kuang Cast: Gordon Liu, Lo Lieh, Lau Kar Wing, Wilson Tong, Wong Yu, Lee Hoi San, Henry Yu, Hon Gwok Choi, Wai Wang, Austin Wai, Aai Dung Gwa, Billy Chan, Peter Chan, Chan Shen, Chan Si Gaai, Cheung Chok Chow Running Time: 115 min. By JJ Hatfield This film is far more than just another Shaolin monk tale. Several things combined to propel this movie … Continue reading

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The Last Godfather aka The Dumb Mafia DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 This Korean/American co-production was written, directed by and starring Korean comedian/celebrity Hyung-Rae Shim. Mob boss Don Carini (Harvey Keitel) is retiring from the Mafia business – but when he gathers the family to announce his heir, the Don surprises everyone by anointing his goofy adopted son Young-gu (Hyung-Rae Shim) as the next godfather. Check out the trailer here.

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

Cul-de-sac Blu-ray/DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2011 Roman Polanski orchestrates a mental ménage à trois in this slyly absurd tale of paranoia from the director’s golden 1960s period. Donald Pleasance and Françoise Dorléac star as a withdrawn couple whose isolated house is infiltrated by a rude, burly American gangster on the run, played by Lionel Stander. The three engage in a game of shifting identities and sexual and emotional humiliations. Cul-de-sac is … Continue reading

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

The Killing Blu-ray/DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2011 Stanley Kubrick’s account of an ambitious racetrack robbery is one of Hollywood’s tautest, twistiest noirs. Aided by a radically time-shuffling narrative, razor-sharp dialogue from pulp novelist Jim Thompson, and a phenomenal cast of character actors, including Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Timothy Carey, and Elisha Cook Jr., The Killing is both a jaunty thriller and a cold-blooded punch to the gut. And with its precise tracking … Continue reading

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

Secret Sunshine Blu-ray/DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011 A master of intensely emotional human dramas, director Lee Chang-dong (Oasis) is a leading light of contemporary Korean cinema. An effortless mix of light and uncompromising darkness, Secret Sunshine (Miryang) stars Cannes best actress winner Jeon Do-yeon as a widowed piano teacher who moves with her young son from Seoul to her late husband’s (Song Kang-ho) provincial hometown for a fresh start. Check out the … Continue reading

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

Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara: Intimidation, The Warped Ones, I Hate But Love, Black Sun, Thirst for Love DVD Set (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011 Over the course of his varied career, Koreyoshi Kurahara made exacting noirs, jazzy juvenile delinquency pictures, and even nature films. His free-form approach to moviemaking was perfectly suited to the spirit of the 1960s; he was one of the biggest hit makers working at the razzle-dazzle, youth-oriented Nikkatsu studio during the radical Japanese New Wave. The five films collected here hail from that era, and … Continue reading

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

Name of the Rose, The (1986) Review

"The Name of the Rose" American Theatrical Poster

AKA: Der Name der Rose Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud Cast: Sean Connery, Christian Slater, Michael Lonsdale, Ron Perlman, F. Murray Abraham Running Time: 126 min. By JJ Hatfield In 1327 The Franciscan Order representatives are gathering with Pope John to determine if the Church should take vows of poverty or profit. This is a most important meeting hosted by the Franciscan Benedictine Abbey in the north of Italy. The Franciscan Monks … Continue reading

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Mad Monkey Kung Fu DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 Directed by and starring Lau Kar-leung; Hsiao Hou, Lo Lieh, Wei Ying-Hung, Lin Hui-Huang, Cin Ke-Ming, Sheng Hsien, Wang Ching-Ho and Wang Wen. Read cityonfire.com’s review. Check out the trailer here.

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

Martial Arts of Shaolin aka Shaolin Temple 3 DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Jet Li. Internationally lauded as one of the greatest, this magnificent martial arts masterpiece marked the titanic, one-time only, teaming of renowned champion Jet Li with legendary director Lau Kar-leung. Read cityonfire.com’s review. Click here for the trailer/clip.

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

Executioner from Shaolin aka Executioners from Shaolin DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Chen Kuan Tai, Lo Lieh, Lily Li Li Li, Wong Yu, Kong Do, Cheng Hong Yip, John Cheung Ng Long, Shum Lo, Gordon Liu Chia Hui and Fung Hak On. Read cityonfire.com’s review. Check out the trailer here. (it’s the original trailer, so beware of spoilers)

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

Five Shaolin Masters aka 5 Shaolin Masters DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 Directed by Chang Cheh and starring David Chiang, Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun and Mang Fei (Meng Fei). Read cityonfire.com’s review. Check out the trailer here.

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

The Prisoner aka Island of Fire DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: August 2, 2011 Directed by Chu Yen Pin (Kung Fu Dunk) and starring Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Tony Leung Ka-Fai and Jimmy Wang Yu. This DVD is a re-release. Warning: DVD may be English dubbed and may not contain original Chinese lauguage tracks. In addition, it may be slightly cut from it’s original presentation. Read cityonfire.com’s review here. Check out the trailer here.

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

Andy Cheng and Ernie Reyes Jr. to make “Wuxia Knight”

The Hollywood Report reports: Napoleon Smith, the exec producer of Michael Bay’s $140 million Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot, has come aboard Wuxia Knight, a $25 million budgeted youth-oriented martial arts movie to be directed by Andy Cheng (Member of the Jackie Chan Stuntman Association) and former Ninja Turtle/The Last Dragon star Ernie Reyes. Wuxia Knight centers on a pair of high-flying detectives in a battle against a super-villain on … Continue reading

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