Author Archives: JJ Bona

Michael Shannon is a cold-blooded killer in ‘The Iceman’

THE MOVIE: The Ice Man is the true story of Richard Kuklinski, loving husband, devoted father, ruthless killer. He is believed to have killed 100 people between 1964 and 1986. The Iceman is directed by Danika’s Ariel Vromen. It stars Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, James Franco, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, David Schwimmer, Stephen Dorff and Robert Davi. Updates: New teaser poster. The official trailer is here. BREAKING NEWS: Enjoy the newest trailer.

Posted in News |

Gate of Hell Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion Collection)

RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2013 Criterion Collection presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1953’s Gate of Hell, directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa. A winner of Academy Awards for best foreign-language film and best costume design, Gate of Hell is a visually sumptuous, psychologically penetrating work from Teinosuke Kinugasa. In the midst of epic, violent intrigue in twelfth-century Japan, an imperial warrior falls for a lady-in-waiting; even after he discovers she is … Continue reading

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

Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System DVD Set (Criterion Collection)

RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2013 Criterion Collection presents the DVD set for Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System, which includes The Thick-Walled Room, I Will Buy You, Black River and The Inheritance. One of the most important filmmakers to emerge from Japan’s cinematic golden age, Masaki Kobayashi is best remembered today for his 1959 epic The Human Condition, but that is just one of the blistering films he … Continue reading

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

Double Feature: When a Stranger Calls & Happy Birthday to Me Blu-ray (Mill Creek)

RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2013 Mill Creek Entertainment presents the Blu-ray for When a Stranger Calls & Happy Birthday to Me Double Feature. in 1979’s When a Stranger Calls (Trailer), a psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again. 1981’s Happy Birthday to Me (Trailer) is a cult classic among fans of the slasher genre, with its bizarre murder methods and twisted climactic revelation.

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

Drive-In Double Feature: Savage Water & Death By Invitation DVD (Vinegar Syndrome)

RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2013 Vinegar Syndrome presents Drive-In Collection: Savage Water & Death By Invitation on DVD. 1979’s Savage Water is regional horror filmmaking at its most bare-bones, Paul Kener’s Utah lensed proto-giallo is a schizoid blend of big budget home movie and ultra cheap sleaze. 1971’s Death By Invitation is one of producer Leonard Kirtman’s odd ventures into horror psychedelic filmmaking. Watch the trailers.

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

Cold Prey II DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2013 Shout! Factory presents the DVD for the Swedish horror flick Cold Prey II. The original Cold Prey is definitely a genre favorite. In the sequel, the survivor from the first film wakes up in the hospital. As she walks through the dark corridors, she thinks she is left alone. But the nightmare isn’t over yet. Watch the trailer.

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

An Assassin DVD (Asian Media Rights)

RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2013 Asian Media Rights presents the DVD for An Assassin (aka Assassin). An assassin named Ryo Hanaki leaves the criminal life behind, but things catch up with him after he helps an attractive high school girl named Rio. An Assassin is director Go Ohara’s (Geisha vs Ninjas) first venture into “The new school of Japanese Noir.” Starring Ryoma Baba, Yuki Kubota, Sayuri Iwata, Kohei Otomo and George Takahashi. Watch … Continue reading

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

Nightmare on Elm Street Blu-ray Collection (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2013 Warners presents the Blu-ray for the Nightmare on Elm Street Collection, which includes A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy’s Revenge, Dream Warriors, The Dream Master, The Dream Child, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. This 7 film/5 disc set features a DTS-HD Master Audio track and a number of special features on the 5th disc.

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

Fairy in a Cage Blu-ray & DVD (Impulse Pictures)

RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2013 Impulse Pictures is proud to present the Blu-ray & DVD for 1977’s Fairy in a Cage, directed by Koyu Ohara. Fairy in a Cage is one of the most controversial films of 1970’s Japanese cinema, in a brand-new high-definition transfer taken from the original 35mm camera negative.

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

Female Teacher: In Front of the Students DVD (Impulse Pictures)

RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2013 Impulse Pictures presents the DVD for 1982’s Female Teacher: In Front of the Students, directed by Yasurou Uegaki. With shocking scenes of torture and violence, including a shower assault that clocks in at almost four minutes, Female Teacher: In Front of the Students is one of the more unforgiving and jaw-dropping films in Impulse Pictures Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection.

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

Spielberg terminates ‘Robopocalypse’ (for now)

Thor’s Chris Hemsworth is being handpicked by Steven Spielberg to star in Robopocalypse, a sci-fi story set in the aftermath of a robot uprising, based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Daniel H. Wilson. The novel’s description is as follows: When the Robot War ignites, humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Jackie Chan Beginnings Double Feature: Killer Meteors & New Fist of Fury DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2013 Shout! Factory presents the DVD for the Jackie Chan Beginnings Double Feature, which contains 1976’s Killer Meteors & 1976’s New Fist of Fury. Please check back for updates regarding extra features and languages. Be sure and read our Jackie Chan reviews.

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

Shout! Factory brings home the collector’s edition of ‘The Vampire Lovers’ on April 30th!

Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray for the Hammer Film Productions’ of The Vampire Lovers on April 30th. A female vampire with lesbian tendencies ravages the young girls and townsfolk of a peaceful hamlet in eighteenth century Europe who, years earlier, killed off her fellow vampires. A rousing hunt for the vampiress ensues as a group of men follow her bloody trail of terror through the countryside. Adapted from J. Sheridan … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Jackie Chan Double Feature: Police Story & Police Story 2 Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2013 Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for the Jackie Chan Double Feature, which contains 1985’s Police Story & 1988’s Police Story II on Blu-ray & DVD. Please check back for updates regarding extra features and languages. Be sure and read our Jackie Chan reviews.

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

Magnet Releasing brings Ching Siu Tung’s ‘The Sorcerer and the White Snake’ to North America

The Ching Siu Tung (Duel to the Death) directed The Sorcerer and the White Snake will open on September 29th, 2011 in Hong Kong and the Mainland for the National Day slot. This martial arts fantasy stars Eva Huang and Charlene Choi as the White Snake and Green Snake, respectively – characters previously brought to life in Tsui Hark’s cult classic Green Snake. Ching Siu Tung’s film also stars Jet Li, … Continue reading

Posted in News |