Author Archives: JJ Bona

Beyond the Black Rainbow Blu-ray & DVD (Magnolia Pictures)

RELEASE DATE: September 11, 2012 Magnolia presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Beyond the Black Rainbow. Set in the 80’s – a young woman, kept captive in a secluded compund by drugs and a mind control sadistic leader – tries to escape her confinement. It’s like a strange fever dream of THX-1138 and Nicolas Winding Refn’s films. Check out the trailer.

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

Return to a Better Tomorrow (1994) Review

"Return to a Better Tomorrow" French Theatrical Poster

Director: Wong Jing Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Ekin Cheng, Michael Wong, Chingmy Yau, Ben Lam Kwok Bun, James Wong Jim, Paul Chun Pui, Lee Siu-Kei, Lo Meng, Collin Chou, Ernest Mauser Running Time: 104 min. By Joseph Kuby Underrated Heroic Bloodshed Gem! Return To A Better Tomorrow is usually looked down upon just because it’s directed by Wong Jing (who receives some fairly biased reviews and is an extremely underrated director – … Continue reading

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

Freeze Me (2000) Review

AKA: Freezer Director: Takashi Ishii Producer: Takashi Ishii, Nobuaki Nagae, Taketo Niitsu Cast: Shingo Tsurumi, Shunsuke Matsuoka, Harumi Inoue, Kazuki Kitamura, Naoto Takenaka Running Time: 102 min. By Jesse Freeze Me tells the story of a woman who was gang raped by three thugs as a teenager and later starts a new life with a good job and a loving fiance. A few years later, one of the rapists shows … Continue reading

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Takashi Miike is back to the samurai genre with ‘Hara-Kiri’

Takashi Miike, the visionary director of 2010’s 13 Assassins, returns with a remake of the 1963 Masaki Kobayashi film Harakiri. In this harrowing samurai drama, a poverty-stricken young warrior seeks an honorable death through ritual suicide. Back in 2011 this was the first 3D film to be screened at Cannes. Updates: A clip from Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai can be seen here. A non-subbed trailer can be seen here. … Continue reading

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For the Love of Money DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2012 Lionsgate presents the DVD of For the Love of Money, starring Edward Furlong, James Caan and Paul Sorvino and Steven Bauer. Based on a true story. One man, Isaac, leaves his old, seedy, gangster-filled lifestyle to start over with his family. A Jewish Scarface? A GTA ripoff? You be the judge: Check out the trailer.

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

Running on Karma (2003) Review

"Running on Karma" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To Co-director: Wai Ka Fai Cast: Andy Lau Tak Wah, Cecilia Cheung, Cheung Siu Fai, Karen Tong Bo Yue, Chun Wong Running Time: 93 min. By Equinox21 Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai’s Running on Karma is one of the strangest yet ultimately fulfilling Hong Kong movies I’ve ever seen. It’s a difficult movie to explain as so much happens in a 90 minute package. The direction the … Continue reading

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Six Bullets DVD (Sony Pictures)

RELEASE DATE: September 11, 2012 Sony Pictures presents the DVD for Six Bullets (aka The Butcher), directed by Ernie Barbarash (Assassination Games) and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Also starring Joe Flanigan, Bianca Bree, Anna-Louise Plowman and Kristopher Van Varenberg. Check out the Trailer.

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

The latest on Van Damme’s ‘Six Bullets’ – DVD cover revealed!

THE MOVIE: In Six Bullets (aka The Butcher), Van Damme plays a martial artist who has to rescue a daughter of an ex-mercenary. This will be Van Damme’s second film with director Ernie Barbarash (Assassination Games). Also starring Joe Flanigan, Bianca Bree, Anna-Louise Plowman and Kristopher Van Varenberg. Updates: From Van Damme’s Facebook: “I haven’t forgotten the kicks, but… I have a new move that has not been seen before, I have been … Continue reading

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King of Comedy (1999) Review

"King of Comedy"Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Stephen Chow Cast: Stephen Chow, Cecilia Cheung, Ng Man Tat, Karen Mok, Jackie Chan, Bobby Yip, Bruce Law Running Time: 99 min. By Vic Nguyen Stephen Chow Sing-chi has long been considered the undisputed box office king of Hong Kong Cinema (not discounting Jackie Chan or Chow Yun-fat in their heydays), beginning with the remarkable success of the the Jeff Lau helmed All for the Winners. Ever since then, he … Continue reading

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Zu: Warriors from Magic Mountain (1983) Review

"Zu: Warriors From Magic Mountain" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Hark Producer: Leonard Ho Cast: Yuen Biao, Mang Hoi, Adam Cheng, Damian Lau, Sammo Hung, Moon Lee, Brigitte Lin, Norman Chu, Randy Man, Ha Kwong-Li, Tsui Hark Running Time: 98 min. By Numskull An unrestrained martial arts fantasy extravaganza with ample tongue-in-cheek humor delivered with a smug “ain’t I a genius?” attitude by overpraised director Tsui Hark. This sugar rush of a movie bombards the audience with one … Continue reading

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Exclusive: Interview with Jason Yee

Cityonfire.com is proud to present an interview with Jason Yee, the charismatic martial arts star of The Girl from the Naked Eye, which will be in theaters on June 15, 2012 and on DVD on July 24, 2012. Can you tell us about your martial arts and acting background? I started martial arts at 6 years old, influenced by my grandfather, Bruce Lee and Kung-fu movies. Growing up in the inner-city streets of … Continue reading

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Battleground Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012 Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Battleground. A bank heist goes wrong and six ruthless men escape into the forests of North Michigan with three million dollars, only to encounter a deranged Vietnam veteran who still lives for the kill. Check out the trailer.

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

Lady Ninja: Reflections of Darkness DVD (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012 Tokyo Shock presents the DVD for Lady Ninja: Reflections of Darkness. A sexy squad of female ninja assassins is hired by a ruthless magistrate to exterminate his former lovers, who threaten to ruin his reputation. Battles erupt with a hilarious mix of martial arts, magic and (partial) nudity, all in the line of duty. Check out the trailer.

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

Masters of the Universe: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray (Warner Brothers)

RELEASE DATE: October 2, 2012 Warner Brothers presents the Blu-ray for Masters of the Universe: 25th Anniversary Edition. Planet Eternia and the Castle of Greyskull are under threat from the evil Skeletor, who wants to take over the planet. It’s up to a group of freedom fighters, led by the heroic He-Man (Dolph Lundgren), to save the planet! Check out the trailer.

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

The latest on ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ – New ‘baller’ clip

THE MOVIE: 500 Days of Summer director Marc Webb presents the untold story of Spider-Man’s origin in Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man, featuring Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as the costumed web-slinger. Also starring Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field. In theaters July 3, 2012. THE TRAILER: Courtesy of Apple Quicktime. Updates: ComicBookMovie via Latino Review has an interview with Webb on Spider-Man. Oh, and some more pics, … Continue reading

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