Yearly Archives: 2011

Protector, The (1985) Review

"The Protector" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: James Glickenhaus Cast: Jackie Chan, Danny Aiello, Roy Chiao Hung, Sally Yeh Tse Man, Moon Lee Choi Fong, Bill Wallace, Shum Wai, John Ladalski, Fung Hak On Running Time: 91 min. By JJ Hatfield This movie has two very different versions. The original version was made in the U.S. Jackie Chan made another attempt to break in to the movie market, even after “The Big Brawl” failed to find … Continue reading

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Bigger Than Life (1956) Review

Director: Nicholas Ray Writer: Berton Roueche, Cyril Hume, Richard Maibaum, James Mason, Nicholas Ray, Clifford Odets, Gavin Lambert Producer: James Mason Cast: James Mason, Barbara Rush, Walter Matthau, Robert F. Simon, Christopher Olsen, Roland Winter, Rusty Lane, Rachel Stephens, Kipp Hamilton Running Time: 95 min. By JJ Hatfield This film is a genuine masterpiece! It was created in 1956 and was turned into reality by Nicholas Ray, the director and … Continue reading

Posted in Other Movies, Reviews |

Twisted Desires: Three Pink Masterpieces DVD Set (Zeitgeist Films)

RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2011 Named ‘the King of Nikkatsu Roman Porno,’ and ‘the most important Japanese director to emerge during the 1970s,’ filmmaker Tatsumi Kumashiro (1927 – 1995) achieved unprecedented box office as well as critical success with his cinematically lavish and narratively extravagant tales of the Tokyo underworld. This three-disc box set includes remastered editions of Kumashiro’s 1970s Nikkatsu classics SAYURI ICHIJO: FOLLOWING DESIRE (1972), YAKUZA JUSTICE: EROTIC … Continue reading

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

Magnificent Butcher (1979) Review

"Magnificent Butcher" Hong Kong Theatrical Poster

Director: Yuen Woo-ping Cast: Sammo Hung, Kwan Tak-hing, Yuen Biao, Fung Hak On, Lam Ching-ying, Chung Fat, Wei Pei, Fan Mei Sheng, Lee Hoi San, Kwan Tak-hing, Yuen Mao, JoJo Chan Kei Kei, Chiang Kam, Tong Jing, Billy Chan Wui Ngai Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull Wong Jing penned this early Sammo Hung vehicle, but thankfully, someone else directed it. The fact that that someone else was Yuen Woo-Ping … Continue reading

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James Bond on Netflix: The Spy Who Streamed HD

When the HD James Bond Blu-rays were announced a few years ago, die-hard 007 fans went nuts. The pre-Daniel Craig classics (and a few not-so classics) starting hitting shelves one by one (and in sets): From Russia With Love, The World Is Not Enough, Goldfinger, Moonraker, Die Another Day, For Your Eyes Only, The Man With The Golden Gun, Dr. No, License To Kill, Thunderball and Live And Let Die … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Nowhere to Run Blu-ray (Image)

RELEASE DATE: July 19, 2011 Available for the first time on Blu-ray. Nowhere to Run is a 1993 American action film directed by Robert Harmon (The Hitcher). It stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rosanna Arquette (Pulp Fiction), Kieran Culkin (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Ted Levine (Shutter Island), and Joss Ackland (Lethal Weapon 2). Story by Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct).

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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