Author Archives: JJ Bona

Champions | aka Duo Biao (2008) Review

"Champions" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Siu Ming Writer: Tsui Siu Ming Producer: Tom Cheung, Amy Lee, Tsui Siu Ming Cast: Dicky Cheung Wai Kin, Tse Miu, Debbie Ng Tin Yu, Priscilla Wong Cuiru, Chui Heung Tung, Wai Chi Ho, Yu Rong Guang, Maria Cordero, Lee Fai Running Time: 117 min. By HKFanatic If you thought “Ip Man 2” and “Jet Li’s Fearless” went a wee bit overboard with their jingoistic ‘ra ra China’ … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Killer’s Moon: Remastered Blu-ray & DVD (Redemption)

RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2012 Redemption presents Alan Birkinshaw’s 1978 cult classic Killer’s Moon! Four mental patients – who, due to unauthorized experiments, believe they’re living in a dream and have shed all moral imperatives – escape and find their way to the nearest bus-load of stranded schoolgirls. Check out the trailer!

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

Virgin Witch: Remastered Blu-ray & DVD (Redemption)

RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2012 British sirens Ann Michelle (House of Whipcord) and Vicki Michelle (‘Allo ‘Allo) star in this 1972 cult-classic! Christine gets her big chance at modelling when she applies at Sybil Waite’s agency. Together with Christine’s sister Betty, they go to a castle for the weekend for a photo shoot. Sybil has lured Christine to the castle for more than modelling: she’s recruiting a virgin for induction … Continue reading

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

Monster Brawl Blu-ray & DVD (Image)

RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2012 Eight classic monsters (Cyclops, Swamp Gut, Frankenstein, Lady Vampire, Werewolf, Mummy, Witch Bitch and Zombie Man) fight to the death in an explosive, bloody wrestling tournament set inside an abandoned and cursed graveyard. Starring Dave Foley (A Bug’s Life), Art Hindle, Robert Maillet (300), WWE’s Kevin Nash, Lance Henriksen (The Terminator), WWE’s Jimmy Hart, MMA star Herb Dean and many others! Check out the trailer.

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

Confucius Blu-ray & DVD (Funimation)

RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2012 Confucius is written, produced and directed by Hu Mei (On The Other Side Of The Bridge) and stars Chow Yun-fat (The Corruptor) as the titular Chinese philosopher. The film also stars Zhou Xun (True Legend), Chen Jianbin (Driverless), Ren Quan (Panda Express), Lu Yi (Stool Pigeon) and Yao Lu (Detective Dee). If you think this bio pic will be nothing but a bunch of philosophical … Continue reading

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

Thou Shalt Not Kill… Except aka Stryker’s War Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse)

RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2012 Synapse Films presents 1985’s Thou Shalt Not Kill… Except in a new 2K high-definition transfer. Directed by Josh Becker, this “must-see” (Detroit Free Press) cult classic features many of the people responsible for The Evil Dead, including co-writer Bruce Campbell, writer/producer Scott Spiegel and actor Ted Raimi. Vietnam. War is Hell. For Sergeant Jack Stryker, however, Hell is just the beginning. Trapped outside a Viet … Continue reading

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

Secret Pleasures: Four Asian Films about Love, Longing and Fishhooks DVD Set (First Run)

RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012 First Run Features presents Secret Pleasures: Four Asian Films about Love, Longing and Fishhooks. This DVD set contains the following films: Kim Ki-Duk’s The Isle: The erotic arthouse thriller that caused a sensation at the Sundance, Toronto, and Venice Film Festivals, The Isle tells the tale of a beautiful woman who lives on an eerie, remote lake selling food to fisherman by day, and her … Continue reading

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

Easy Money (1987) Review

"Easy Money" Theatrical Poster

Director: Stephen Shin Cast: George Lam Chi-Cheung, Michelle Yeoh, Kent Cheng Jak-Si, Ku Feng, Dennis Chan Kwok-San, Chan Ging, Blacky Ko Shou-Liang, Lo Hung Running Time: 92 min.  By Numskull Easy Money is a lot of things. It’s the 6th film in which Michelle Yeoh appeared, and the 4th in which she had the lead role. It’s the last film she made before marrying producer Dickson Poon (whom she divorced … Continue reading

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My Kingdom DVD (New Video Group)

RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2012 Directed by Gao Xiaosong, My Kingdom is a martial arts film that takes place in Shanghai in the 1920s. It stars actor-singer Wu Chun (14 Blades), tarlet Barbie Hsu (Reign of Assassins) and Chinese pop music sensation Han Geng in his film debut. Also stars Hong Kong heavies Yu Rong-Guang and Yuen Biao. The film is produced by Andre Morgan and the legendary Sammo Hung, … Continue reading

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

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within Blu-ray & DVD (New Video Group)

RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2012 “A must-seea cross between The Departed, The Wire and The Godfather” – Slashfilm From acclaimed director José Padilha (Bus 174) and the Academy Award®-nominated writer of City of God comes the highest-grossing film of all time in South America. The sprawling slum that surrounds Rio de Janeiro is one of the most dangerous places on earth, so as the head of Rio s Special Police … Continue reading

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

The Last Temptation of Christ Blu-ray (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2012 The Last Temptation of Christ, by Martin Scorsese, is a towering achievement. Though it initially engendered enormous controversy, the film can now be viewed as the remarkable, profoundly personal work of faith that it is. This fifteen-year labor of love, an adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis’s landmark novel that imagines an alternate fate for Jesus Christ, features outstanding performances by Willem Dafoe, Barbara Hershey, Harvey Keitel, … Continue reading

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

Crying Fist (2005) Review

"Crying Fist" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Choi Min-Sik, Ryu Seung-Beom, Im Won-Hee, Cheon Ho-Jin, Seo Hye-Rin, Byeon Hee-Bong, Na Mun-Hee, Gi Ju-Bong, Kim Su-Hyeon, Lee Jun-Gu Running Time: 134 min. By Equinox21 The problem with most, if not virtually all, sports movies is that you can tell who is going to win the big “game” at the end. Not so with Ryu Seung-wan’s latest movie, Crying Fist. This is a movie focusing … Continue reading

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Taxi Hunter (1993) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Anthony Wong, Yu Rong Guang, Fung Woo, Ng Man Tat, Athene Chu, Chan Fai Hung, Lam King Kong, Lam Chiu Wing, James Ha Chim Si Running Time: 88 min. By Numskull Cabbies beware! Stop rigging those meters! Curb those sloppy driving habits! Don’t snap at those passengers and then expect a generous tip! There’s a new force in town to be reckoned with, and he’s got … Continue reading

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

Reindeer Games Director’s Cut Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

RELASE DATE: March 6, 2012 Not sure why everyone knocks this film, but I personally love John Frankenheimer’s Reindeer Games! Upon release from prison, Rudy (Ben Affleck) poses as his old cell mate Nick in order to meet Nick’s sexy pen pal Ashley (Charlize Theron). But things heat up for Rudy when he’s forced into an armed robbery plot being hatched by Ashley’s evil brother (Sinise)! Check out the trailer.

Posted in News |

‘Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel’ in selected theaters December 16th

Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel is a tribute to Roger Corman, Hollywood’s most prolific writer-director producer, and seminal influencing force in modern moviemaking over the last 60 years. Featuring interviews with Hollywood icons and cinematic luminaries, some who launched their careers within Corman’s unforgettable world of filmmaking, including Paul W.S. Anderson, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert De Niro, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, Ron Howard, Eli Roth, Martin Scorsese, William Shatner … Continue reading

Posted in News |