Author Archives: JJ Bona

Sansho the Bailiff Blu-ray (Criterion Collection)

RELEASE DATE: February 26, 2012 Criterion presents the Blu-ray for Kenji Mizoguchi’s Sansho the Bailiff. When an idealistic governor disobeys the reigning feudal lord, he is cast into exile, his wife and children left to fend for themselves and eventually separated by vicious slave traders. This classic Japanese story became one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, a monumental, empathetic expression of human resilience in the face of evil. Watch the trailer.

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

The Ballad of Narayama Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: February 5th, 2013 Criterion presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Keisuke Kinoshita’s The Ballad of Narayama. This haunting, kabuki-inflected version of a Japanese folk legend is set in a remote mountain village, where food is scarce and tradition dictates that citizens who have reached their seventieth year must be carried to the summit of Mount Narayama and left there to die. Watch the trailer.

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

Hey Japanese! DVD (Vanguard Cinema)

RELEASE DATE: February 26, 2013 Vanguard Cinema presents the DVD for Ryotaro Muramatsu’s Hey Japanese! (aka Hey Japanese! Do You Believe Peace, Love and Understanding? 2008 or Heyjapa!). According to Nippon Cinema, this movie is a black comedy interweaving 6 concurrent stories occuring in a suburban area on the outskirts of Tokyo. Check out the trailer.

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

The Assassins Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: January 8, 2013 Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Zhao Linshan’s The Assassins. This action film stars Chow Yun Fat and is written by the screenwriter behind Zhang Yimou’s Hero. The story focuses on Cao Cao in his old age, exploring the areas of military tactics, love, and the relationship between father and son. Watch the trailer.

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

Bangkok Assassins DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: January 29, 2013 Lionsgate presents the DVD for Bangkok Assassins (aka Bangkok Kung Fu), featuring action choreography by Ong-bak’s Somchai Munma. Four young boys are kidnapped and forced to become beggars on the street they soon find refuge in a skillful Shaolin Kung Fu master who teaches them the art of his craft. Watch the trailer.

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

China Lion brings you ‘Back to 1942’ on November 30th

China Lion Film Distribution will release the Feng Xiaogang epic Back to 1942 on November 30th throughout the U.S. and Canada, day-and-date with its planned Chinese Mainland release. The film, based on the bestselling Chinese novel Remembering 1942 by Liu Zhengyun, revolves around the devastating famine that ravaged the Henan province while Nationalists and Japanese troops fought during World War II. The film stars a cast of well-known Chinese stars … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Joshua Tree aka Army of One Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: February 26, 2013 Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Vic Armstrong’s Joshua Tree (aka Army of One), starring Dolph Lundgren, George Segal and Kristian Alfonso. A framed prison escapee unknowingly kidnaps a female cop en-route to a rendezvous with the corrupt cop who put him behind bars. Shout!’s Joshua Tree will have both endings, audio commentary (with Vic and Andy Armstrong), and interviews (with Vic and Andy … Continue reading

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

Is Van Damme part of an all-star cast in ‘Swelter’?

According to sources – including The Film Catalogue and the folks at vandammefan.net – Jean-Claude Van Damme is set to star in an action movie titled Swelter, which will be directed by Keith Parmer (Mob Rules). The film will also star Dermot Mulroney, Lennie James, Alfred Molina, Josh Henderson and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Swelter centers on four violent escaped prisoners arriving in a dusty, small California town where the heat is … Continue reading

Posted in News |

The Resistance DVD (Xenon)

RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2013 Xenon presents the DVD for The Resistance, a new martial arts movie from director Li Zhang (Last Kung Fu Monk). The year is 1937. Japan begins their invasion of China by murdering over 300,000 people in the capital of Nanjing. At the same time, a masked killer decides to strike back and kill many Japanese soldiers. Watch the trailer.

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

My Sassy Girl: Director’s Cut DVD (Asian Media Rights)

RELEASE DATE: February 19, 2013 Asian Media Rights presents the DVD for My Sassy Girl: Director’s Cut. A chance meeting with a drunk girl (Ji-hyun Jun) on the train puts Gyun-woo (Tae-hyun Cha) in a masochistic relationship he never wanted. After all these years, this beloved Korean comedy is finally available (officially) in America. Watch the trailer. Read our reviews.

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

Red Tears DVD (Xenon)

RELEASE DATE: February 26, 2013 Xenon presents the DVD for Takanori Tsujimoto’s Japanese splatter flick Red Tears (aka Monster Killer). While investigating a bizarre serial murder case, Tetsuo meets a mysterious woman, Sayoko. They feel a powerful attraction, but… well, just check out the trailer.

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

Bullet Explosion DVD (Asian Media Rights)

RELEASE DATE: February 19, 2013 Asian Media Rights presents the DVD for Atsushi Yamamura’s Bullet Explosion. Get ready for some hard-hitting Yakuza action – at the mercy of their violent lifestyles, two brothers are determined to make a name for themselves in the Japanese gangster society. Starring Hitoshi Ozawa and Kazuyoshi Ozawa.

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

Chanbara Beauty: The Movie – Vortex DVD (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2013 Tokyo Shock presents the DVD for Chanbara Beauty: The Movie – Vortex, which is the sequel to Chanbara Beauty (aka Onechanbara). If you’re in the mood for another wave of zombies, swordplay action and a samurai babe wearing a sexy bikini, then this one’s for you. Check out the trailer.

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

China Heavyweight DVD (Zeitgeist Films)

RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2013 Zeitgeist Films presents the DVD for China Heavyweight. Award-winning filmmaker Yung Chang (Up the Yangtze) returns to China for another riveting documentary. In China Heavyweight, Chang follows the charismatic Qi Moxiang, a former boxing star and state coach who recruits young fighting talent from the impoverished farms and villages across Sichuan province. Watch the trailer.

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

Alex Proyas wants to release a director’s cut of ‘The Crow’

According to the latest issue of BLR, Alex Proyas was in the process of releasing a definitive director’s cut of The Crow, but due to studio politics, his plans fell through. This is what Proyas told BLR: “There’s a pretty good director’s cut of The Crow and I’d love to do it one day, but last time we tried to put something together, negotiations with the studio fell apart because they were … Continue reading

Posted in News |