Author Archives: JJ Bona

JSA: Joint Security Area (2000) Review

"JSA: Joint Security Area" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: JSA Director: Park Chan-wook Cast: Lee Byung-Hun, Song Kang-Ho, Shin Ha-Kyun, Lee Young-Ae, Kim Tae-Woo, Gi Ju-Bong, Lee Han-Wi, Lee Dae-Yeon, Kim Myung-Soo, Kim Kwang-Il Running Time: 100 min. By Equinox21 J.S.A. has been my favorite Korean movie, my second favorite Asian movie (behind Chungking Express), and one of my top 5 favorite movies in general ever since I first saw it. Everything about it (save for one minor … Continue reading

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Five Element Ninjas | aka Chinese Super Ninjas (1982) Review

"Five Element Ninjas" Blu-ray Cover

AKA: Super Ninjas Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Ricky Cheng, Chan Wai Man, Chen Pei Hsi, Lo Meng, Wong Wai Tong, Lung Tien Hsiang, Wong Lik, Kwan Feng, Chui Tai Ping, Chu Ko, Chan Hung Running Time: 104 min. By Joe909 This isn’t a review, it’s a love letter. I first saw this movie on a local channel when I was a kid. It blew my mind and I knew I … Continue reading

Posted in Chinese, Ninja, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , , , |

Chawz DVD/Blu-ray (Magnolia)

RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011 Magnet will be releasing Jeong-won Shin’s Chaw, about a man-eating boar that goes on the rampage. It has been retitled to Chawz for its US release (as an ode to Jaws?).

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

Muay Thai Fighter DVD (Lions Gate)

RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2011 In battle, the human body is the ultimate weapon. Lionsgate takes mixed martial arts to a new level with the DVD, Digital Download and On Demand premiere of Muay Thai Fighter. The action-packed film has been honored with five of seven Thailand National Film Association Awards including Best Actor (Akara Amarttayakul, Saving Private Tootsie) and Best Supporting Actor (Sonthaya Chitmanee, upcoming Slice). An “…effective piece … Continue reading

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

Bruce Lee Ultimate DVD Trilogy (20th Century Fox)

RELEASE DATE: March 8, 2011 This new set, with newly designed box art, contains: The Big Boss, Way of the Dragon and Game of Death. Why they included Game of Death – and not Fist of Fury – to the “Ultimate Trilogy” is beyond me.

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

Tower of Death | aka Game of Death 2 (1981) Review

AKA: Game of Death II Director: Ng See Yuen Cast: Tai Chung Kim, Hwang Jang-lee, Roy Horan, Casanova Wong, Lee Chun Hwa, Lee Hoi San, Tiger Yeung, Roy Chiao, To Wai Wo, Bruce Lee (stock footage) Running Time: 90 min. By Joseph Kuby Game of Death 2 (or Tower of Death as it is otherwise known) is not only one of the most unique martial arts/Hong Kong films made from this … Continue reading

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Park Chan-wook makes movie on iPhone

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Acclaimed South Korean film director Park Chan-wook is wielding a new cinematic tool: the iPhone. Park, director of the internationally known “Old Boy,” ”Lady Vengeance” and “Thirst,” said Monday that his new fantasy-horror film “Paranmanjang” was shot entirely on Apple Inc.’s iconic smartphone. “The new technology creates strange effects because it is new and because it is a medium the audience is used to,” Park … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Joy Luck Club producer burns bright with Tiger Mother adaptation

Source: THR The most recent big screen adaptation of a book touching on themes of mother-daughter relationships among Chinese-Americans is 1989’s The Joy Luck Club ($33 million domestic gross). Two of the film’s producers interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter have expressed a strong interest in seeing Chua’s book brought to the screen. The national debate her memoir has sparked is one obvious reason for the entertainment industry interest. The extreme-parenting … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Last Godfather w/ Harvey Keitel and D-War Director gets U.S. release

Source: THR SEOUL — The Last Godfather, the latest comedy featuring Harvey Keitel from a comedian-turned-director Shim Hyung-rae (D-War), will be released on April 1 in 12 cities, including Los Angeles and Vancouver, across North America, the film’s distributor CJ Entertainment announced Wednesday. The number of screens is currently under negotiation with Roadside Attractions LLC, the film’s distributor in the North American region. The Last Godfather, about a New York … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Dragon Lives Again, The | aka Deadly Hands of Kung Fu (1976) Review

"The Dragon Lives Again" US Theatrical Poster

Director: Lo Ke Cast: Bruce Leong (aka Hsaio Liang or Siu-Lung Leung), Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Simon Yuen Siu Ting, Alexander Grand, Jenny, Sraina Sai, Chang Li Running Time: 90 min. By Mighty Peking Man “Dragon Lives Again” (not to be confused — or related to — the superior Bruce Li film, “The Dragon Lives”) is fantasy-comedy flick that takes place after Bruce Lee’s passing in 1973. The film starts … Continue reading

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

Last Train Home DVD (Zeitgeist)

RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2011 Every spring, China’s cities are plunged into chaos as an astonishing 130 million migrant workers journey to their home villages for the New Year’s holiday. This mass exodus is the largest human migration on the planet – an epic spectacle that reveals a country tragically caught between its rural past and industrial future. Working over several years in classic verité style Chinese-Canadian filmmaker Lixin Fan … Continue reading

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

Alien Vs Ninja DVD/Blu-ray (Funimation)

RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2011 The filmmakers behind Tokyo Gore Police and The Machine Girl join studio Sushi Typhoon to add this side-splitting horror-comedy to their line of entertaining cult cinema. In ancient Japan, the fiercest ninjas of the Iga clan face their toughest enemies – and they aren’t from this planet! A fiery mass crashes in the forest and soon horrifyingly savage creatures reduce the warriors to tasty snacks. … Continue reading

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

Return of the Tiger | aka Silent Killer from Eternity (1979) Review

Director: Jimmy Shaw Writer: Wang Cheong, Chang Shun Yee Producer: Jimmy Shaw, R.P. Shah Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Paul Smith, Chang Yi, Angela Mao, Lung Fei, Hsieh Hsing, Cheng Fu-Hsiung, Hsueh Han, Wu Chia-Hsiang, Wang Yung-Hseng, Wang Fei, Ko Shou-Liang, Cheng Tien Chi Running Time: 92 min. By Perkele This amusing film begins perfecly with a big kung fu brawl, which has Angela Mao challenging … Continue reading

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Fists of Bruce Lee | aka Interpol (1978) Review

"Fists of Bruce Lee" US Theatrical Poster

Director: Ho Chung Tao  Producer: Chang Yon Har Cast: Bruce Li (Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Chan Wai Lau, Lo Lieh, Wong Fei Lung, Wong Chi Sang, Paul Wei Ping Ao, Sham Chin-Bo, Chu Shao-Hwa, Robert Kerver Running Time: 94 min. By Joseph Kuby Semi Spy Spoof! The true title for this film is Interpol as the film has no real connection to Bruce Lee other than that the film’s star … Continue reading

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Gold Connection, The | aka The Iron Dragon Strikes Back (1979) Review

"The Iron Dragon Strikes Back" US Theatrical Poster

Director: Kuei Chih-Hung Producer: Alex Gouw Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Hon Gwok Choi, Lin Ke Ming, Philip Ko Fei, San Kuai, Wai Lit, Leung Gwing Wan, Lee Fat Yuen, Nick Lam Wai Kei, Shikamura Yasuyoshi, Chu Chi Ling, Li Chao, Sham Chin Bo Running Time: 87 min. By Joe909 Iron Dragon Strikes Back (aka The Gold Connection) kicks its way out of the typical tedium of … Continue reading

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