Author Archives: JJ Bona

Robotech: The Complete Series Deluxe Collector’s Set/First War, Second War, Third War individual DVD sets (A&E)

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011 There’s two kinds of people in this world: those who like “Robotech” (The U.S. adaptation of “Macross”) and those who like “The Super Dimension Fortress Macross” (original Japanese language series) – I happen to love them both equally. I’ll take Hikaru Ichijyo or Rick Hunter, I don’t care. Both versions had an enormous impact on my childhood and my appreciation for this series still holds … Continue reading

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

Ring 2 | aka Ringu 2 (1998) Review

AKA: Ringu 2 Director: Hideo Nakata Writer: Hiroshi Takahashi, Koji Suzuki Cast: Daisuke Ban, Kyoko Fukada, Kenjiro Ishimaru, Nanako Matsushima, Katsumi Muramatsu, Miki Nakatani Running Time: 95 min. By Numskull STOP!!! Read this review ONLY if you have already seen Ring 2, if you have seen Ring and want to know more about the sequel before you see it (or decide whether or not to see it), OR if you … Continue reading

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Ring 0 | aka Ringu 0 (2000) Review

AKA: Ringu 0: Happy Birthday Director: Norio Tsuruta Writer: Koji Suzuki Cast: Yuki Nakama, Kumiko Aso, Daisuke Ban, Chinami Furuya, Masami Hashimoto, Kazue Kadokae Running Time: 99 min. By Numskull Here we have both the last and the first installment of the highly successful Ring sequence, rewritten for the screen by creator/novelist Koji Suzuki and directed by Norio Tsuruta, a newcomer to the series. Taking place three decades before the … Continue reading

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews |

Ring | aka Ringu (1998) Review

"The Ring" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Hideo Nakata Cast: Nanako Matsushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rikiya Otaka, Miki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, Rie Ino, Masako, Yoichi Numata, Yutaka Matsushige Running Time: 91 min. By Numskull “Frolic in brine, goblins be thine.” Doesn’t make much sense sitting up there all by itself, does it? Well, it may not make much sense after watching the movie, either, but it’s still kinda catchy, I think. Certainly not the only … Continue reading

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

Ring, The (2002) Review

Director: Gore Verbinski Cast: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian Cox, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Frost, Amber Tamblyn, Rachael Bella, Daveigh Chase, Shannon Cochran Running Time: 115 min. By Numskull This is a remake. Hence, the source material should be taken into consideration before it is discussed. Go read my review for Ring in the Japanese section if you haven’t done so already. I’ll wait. Hmm hm hm hm hmmm… … Continue reading

Posted in All, Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged |

City of Life and Death Blu-ray/DVD (Kino)

RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2011 Kino Video are preparing a Blu-ray release of Chinese director Lu Chuan’s powerful City of Life and Death. The film chronicles the notorious Nangking Massacre, during which approximately 300 000 soldiers and civilians were killed. In 2009, the film won Golden Seashell. Check out the trailer here.

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

Cape Fear Blu-ray (Universal)

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011 Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray release of Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear. The 1991 thriller (a remake of the 1962 version) stars Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange and Juliette Lewis. Check out the trailer here.

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

Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell Blu-ray (Shriek Show)

RELEASE DATE: July 26, 2011 This eerie 70s horror gem pits a suburban family against a demonically possessed German shepherd whose hunger for human souls far exceeds that of the normal household pet. Although not above resorting to the usual throat mauling, the satanic psycho-pup s preferred method of attack is to supernaturally cause the deaths of various friends and neighbors, in a style reminiscent of The Omen. Check out … Continue reading

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Amer Blu-ray/DVD (Olive Films)

RELEASE DATE: October 4, 2011 An eroticized homage to 1970s Italian giallo horror films… Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani’s pastiche tour-de-force plays out a delirious, enigmatic, almost wordless death-dance of fear and desire. Three key moments, all of them sensual, define Ana’s life. Her carnal search sways between reality and colored fantasies becoming more and more oppressive. A black laced hand prevents her from screaming. The wind lifts her dress … Continue reading

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

Freerunner Blu-ray/DVD (Image)

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011 From the producers of Bangkok Adrenaline! It’s parkour meets Running Man meets Battle Royale! With a ticking bomb locked to his neck, a young freerunner races against the clock and all types of baddies to get from one end of the city to the other to save himself and his girlfriend. Starring Sean Faris (Never Back Down), Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan. Check out the … Continue reading

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

Pulp Fiction Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: October 4, 2011 First time on Blu-ray! Writer/director Quentin Tarantino delivers an unforgettable cast of characters — including a pair of low-rent hit men (John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson), their boss’s sexy wife (Uma Thurman), and a desperate prizefighter (Bruce Willis) — in a wildly entertaining and exhilarating motion picture! Check out the trailer here. BLU-RAY DISC SPECIAL FEATURES: • Retrospective Cast Interviews (New) • Critics Corner: Then and … Continue reading

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Jackie Brown Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: 10/4/11 For the first time on Blu-ray: Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown! What do a sexy stewardess (Pam Grier), a street-tough gun runner (Samuel L. Jackson), a lonely bail bondsman (Robert Forster), a shifty ex-con (Robert DeNiro), an earnest federal agent (Michael Keaton), and a stoned-out beach bunny (Bridget Fonda) have in common? They’re six players on the trail of a half million dollars in cash! Check out the … Continue reading

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

The Presence DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: October 4, 2011 From a co-creator of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT comes a bone-chilling ghost story starring Academy Award® winner Mira Sorvino. In this darkly romantic ghost story, a woman travels to an isolated cabin where she is stalked by an apparition who inhabits her space as his own. Check out the trailer here. “The most innovative ghost story I’ve ever seen.” – HorrorNews.net

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

Sucker Punch DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: October 4, 2011 Expecting a different movie? An enigmatic bare-knuckle fighter teams up with a small-time con man who is a low-life fringe player in the seedy underworld, managing and betting on backstreet fighters in illegal fights. Directed by Malcolm Martin and starring Tom Hardy, Tamer Hassan and Antonio Fargas. Check out the trailer here.

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

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown DVD (Sony)

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2011 Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown hits Unrated DVD September 13th from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Starring America’s number one martial arts action star Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite, Blood and Bone) in his directorial debut! Read our review and check out the trailer.

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