Author Archives: JJ Bona

Haywire DVD & Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2012 Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the Haywire Blu-ray & DVD introduces mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano as a black-ops agent for a government security contractor. After freeing a journalist held hostage, she is double-crossed – by someone in her own agency. Haywire also stars Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Bill Paxton, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas and Michael Douglas.

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

Throne of Blood | aka Spider’s Web Castle (1957) Review

"Throne of Blood" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Isuza Yamada, Takashi Shimura, Akira Kubo, Hiroshi Tachikawa, Minoru Chiaki, Takamaru Sasaki, Kokuten KodoUeda Kichijiro Running Time: 109 min. By Mairosu Guess what dear readers if there are any, it’s a fortification doubleheader! First, I saw Hidden Fortress today, the film which allegedly inspired George Lucas to make Star Wars (turns out it just inspired some moments of Star Wars rather than the whole … Continue reading

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Rampart Blu-ray & DVD (Millennium Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2012 Quiz: Out of all the “bad lieutenants,” who would win in a fight: Harvey Keitel, Nicolas Cage or Woody Harrelson? Millennium Entertainment presents Rampart, starring Woody Harrelson as a cop who is forced to face up to the consequences of his wayward career. Rampart is directed by The Messenger’s Oren Moverman and written by James Ellroy, who is mostly known for writing L.A. Confidential. Also … Continue reading

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

Alfredo Alfredo DVD (Mya Communication)

RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2012 Another hard-to-find treat from Mya Communication! After 1971’s Straw Dogs, Dustin Hoffman took a break from the ultra violence and starred in Alfredo, Alfredo, a 1972 Italian language comedy. Alfredo Alfredo is about a man who marries the woman of his dreams, only to discover that married life is not all it’s cracked up to be. Check out a clip from the film.

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

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol Blu-ray & DVD (Paramount)

RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2012 Blamed for the bombing of the Kremlin, agent Ethan Hunt is disavowed when the President initiates “Ghost Protocol”. Brad Bird, who gave us The Incredibles, re-juices the franchise with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, starring Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Vladimir Mashkov. Read cityonfire.com’s review. Watch the trailer.

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

1992’s ‘New Dragon Inn’ remastered and back on the big screen

1992’s New Dragon Inn is remastered and back on mainland big screens this February 24 (in other words, none of us are seeing it). Directed by East is Red’s Raymond Lee, New Dragon Inn is a remake of King Hu’s 1966 classic, Dragon Gate Inn. It stars Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Donnie Yen. New Dragon Inn is widely regarded as the peak of wuxia dramas and was … Continue reading

Posted in News |

The Shock Labyrinth Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

[RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2012 Get ready for The Shock Labyrinth (aka The Shock Labyrinth 3D), directed by Takashi Shimizu (Ju-on: The Grudge). The Shock Labyrinth is the story of a group of teenagers who are suddenly confronted with the return of a friend who was thought to be dead. The film takes place in an amusement park called Fuji-Q Highland, which features “The Haunted Hospital,” the largest haunted house in the … Continue reading

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

The Front Line Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2012 Well Go USA announces Jang Hun’s The Front Line which is Korea’s 2011 submission to the Academy Award category of Best Foreign Picture. The film tells the story of the fierce struggle to establish a border between North and South Korea at the end of the Korean War and is currently a box office smash in its native country. Check out the trailer.

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

Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie DVD (Phase 4 Films)

RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2012 From Enter the Dragon to Kung Fu Panda and everything in between, Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie features the genre’s greatest on-screen warriors, and reveals the legend, the lore, and the loony of the Kung Fu film genre like it has never been seen before. Based on Ric Meyers’ best-selling book, Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Book. Check out the … Continue reading

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

Lethal Weapon: The Complete Collection Blu-ray (Warner Bros.)

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012 Warner Bros. presents the Lethal Weapon: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray. Along with Die Hard, the first Lethal Weapon is one of the greatest action films of all time. The sequels that followed have nothing on the original, but as a whole, the franchise is solid entertainment. All films are directed by genius filmmaker, Richard Donner (“Superman”).

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

Life Without Principle DVD (Indomnia)

RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2012 Directed by Johnnie To, 2011’s Life Without Principle delves into Hong Kong’s money-obsessed culture through three characters whose destinies collide one fateful day when a loan shark gets assaulted after withdrawing $10 million from the bank. Starring Lau Ching Wan, Richie Ren and Denise Ho. Watch the trailer.

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

Gael Garcia Bernal to star in ‘Zorro Reborn’

THE MOVIE: There are now plans for a post-apocalyptic take on the classic swash-buckler last portrayed in movies by Antonio Banderas. X-Men special FX artist Rpin Suwannath is attached to direct Zorro Reborn. Plans are for the film to be darker than its predecessors. Although I have to say that someone already beat that company to the punch on the premise of a post-apocalyptic swordsman. Updates: This Zorro is not … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Hit! Blu-ray & DVD (Olive Films)

RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2012 Olive Films presents 1973’s Hit!, directed by Iron Eagle’s Sidney J. Furie. A federal agent (Billy Dee Williams), whose daughter dies of a heroin overdose, seeks out revenge on the drug ring held responsible. Also starring Richard Pryor, Paul Hampton and a funky soundtrack by Enter the Dragon’s Lalo Schifrin.

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

Low budget Korean film ‘Unbowed’ sweeps Box Office

The Chosun Ilbo reports that the low-budget Korean film Unbowed is causing a box office sensation. According to the Korean Film Council, film attracted a total accumulated number of 1.4 million viewers, surpassing the 1-million mark just eight days since its release. Unbowed is inspired by the true story of Kim Myung-ho (played by Ahn Seong-Gi), a professor who failed to get tenure by his university after he questioned the … Continue reading

Posted in News |

Mutant Girls Squad Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2012 Mutant Girls Squad (aka Fighting Girls: Legend of the Blood of the Iron Mask) is a Japanese film by Noboru Iguchi (“The Machine Girl”), Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police) and Tak Sakaguchi (“Yoroi: Samurai Zombie”). The film is about Rin, a sixteen-year-old mutant girl who meets a gang of rebel mutants who aim to take revenge on humans for persecuting their race. Check out there trailer.

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