Author Archives: JJ Bona

Aquarian Age – Live Action DVD (Eastern Star)

RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2011 The story focuses on several high school boys who discover that they inherited latent genetic traits — among other things, wings that sprout out of their backs. They soon find themselves caught in a millennia-old war, with each representing one of several different factions. Dori Sakurada (The Prince of Tennis musical’s Ryoma) and Tochihara play the two main leads, Kaname and Naoya. Based on the … Continue reading

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

The Housemaid DVD (MPI)

RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2011 IFC presents The Housemaid, a 2010 South Korean melodramatic thriller film directed by Im Sang-soo. The story focuses on Eun-yi, played by Jeon Do-yeon, who becomes involved in a destructive love triangle while working as a housemaid for an upper-class family. The film is a remake of Kim Ki-young’s 1960 film The Housemaid. It competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

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

El Topo Blu-ray/DVD (Anchor Bay)

RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011 For the first time on Blu-ray! El Topo is an experimantal tale in which master gunfighter and cosmic mystic El Topo must defeat his four sharp-shooting rivals while on an ever-increasingly bizarre path to allegorical self enlightenment and surreal resurrection.

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

Scent of Green Papaya, The Blu-ray/DVD (Kino)

RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011 In this Academy Award Nominated film (available for the first time on Blu-ray AND in its original theatrial aspect ratio), little things mean a lot in the world of 10-year-old Mui, a girl who’s trained to be a house servant in 1950s Vietnam. As Mui grows up in pre-war Saigon, she finds quiet love with a family friend. Dialogue seems almost tertiary in this film … Continue reading

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

Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection Blu-ray (Fox)

RELEASE STREET DATE: May 10, 2011 The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred as “the Alien”. Produced by 20th Century Fox, the series started with the 1979 film Alien, which led to three movie sequels: Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection. Related to the franchise are “Alien vs. … Continue reading

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

Johnny Mnemonic Blu-ray (Image)

RELEASE DATE: June 14, 2011 In a dystopian 2021, Johnny (Keanu Reeves) is a data trafficker who has an implant that allows him to securely store data too sensitive for regular computer networks. On one delivery run, he accepts a package that not only exceeds the implant’s safety limits – and will kill him if the data is not removed in time – but also contains information far more important … Continue reading

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

Spaghetti Western Double Feature Vol. 2: Last Gun & Four Dollars of Revenge Blu-ray (Mill Creek)

RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2011 Two classic, rare spaghetti western features with all-new high-definition film transfers! The Last Gun stars Euro-horror film favorite Cameron Mitchell as a mild-mannered shopkeeper with a secret past whose quiet town is about to explode in a cloud of gun-smoke in Sergio Bergonzelli’s salacious adventure yarn. Four Dollars of Revenge is an electrifying saga of power, betrayal and revenge set in the final days of … Continue reading

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

Spaghetti Western Double Feature Vol. 1: Django & Now They Call Him Blu-ray (Mill Creek)

RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2011 Two classic, rare spaghetti western features with all-new high-definition film transfers! Django stars Franco Nero as the mysterious antihero with enigmatic motives amidst rival gangs in a mud-caked ghost town. Saturated with extreme violence, black humor and bizarre characters, Django is a film that ranks among the most original and excessive of the Spaghetti Westerns. Now They Call Him Sacramento stars Michael Forest as the … Continue reading

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

Alien 2: On Earth Blu-ray (Midnight Legacy)

RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2011 This Uncut, English language, widescreen release of the 1980 Italian Horror/Sci-Fi film directed by Ciro Ippolito. It was made after the success of Ridley Scott’s 1979 hit ALIENl; it’s both an unofficial sequel and knock-off, but one thing’s for sure, it has developed a cult following and is available for the first time in this special edition.

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

Black Swan Blu-ray/DVD (Fox)

RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2011 The 2010 American psychological thriller film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, and Mila Kunis. Black Swan has received widespread acclaim from film critics. Natalie Portman has won many awards for her role as a ballet dancer with a dark side.

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

Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collection Blu-ray/DVD (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2011 Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collections are available on both Blu-ray or DVD sets. They contain the following: Spartacus, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut (1st time on Blu-ray for Spartacus, Lolita and Barry Lyndon). Of course, they’re loaded with extra features.

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

A Clockwork Orange: Anniversary Edition Blu-ray (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2011 Stanley Kubrick’s striking visual interpretation of Anthony Burgess’s famous novel is a masterpiece. Malcolm McDowell delivers a clever, tongue-in-cheek performance as Alex, the leader of a quartet of droogs, a vicious group of young hoodlums.

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

Accidental Spy, The (2001) Review

"The Accidental Spy" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Chan Cast: Jackie Chan, Vivian Hsu, Kim Min Jeong, Wu Hsing-kuo, Eric Tsang, Bradley James Allen, Cheung Tat-ming, Alfred Cheung, Ha Ping, Vincent Kuk, Scott Adkins, Murat Yilmaz, Anthony Rene Jones Running Time: 108 min. By Numskull To say that “this is not your father’s Jackie Chan movie” would be both far too vague and somewhat insulting. The Accidental Spy is a much more serious and intricately-structured effort than … Continue reading

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

Butterfly and Sword | aka Comet, Butterfly & Sword (1993) Review

"Butterfly and Sword" Chinese Theatrical Advertisement

Director: Michael Mak Tong Kit Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Michelle Yeoh, Joey Wong Tsu Hsien, Jimmy Lin Chi Ying, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Yip Chuen Chan, Elvis Tsui Kam Kong Runing Time: 87 min. By Numskull Maybe this is just a peculiarity of watching a movie at 1 A.M., but it seems to me that Butterfly & Sword was written, produced, and directed by mutant vegetable-people with one brain … Continue reading

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

Karate Robo Zaborgar teaser trailer

Shiny retro robots from Japan are much cooler than the Hollywood-ized Optimus Prime. This is what it’s all about. You won’t see Michael Bay’s circular gliding camera angle in this one; Nor will you see Shia Labeouf prancing around with a broken hand. Best part is its budget equals the Transformer set’s snack bill. From the director of ROBO-GEISHA and THE MACHINE GIRL comes this action-packed tale of a police … Continue reading

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