Author Archives: JJ Bona

Quentin Tarantino: The Disciple of Hong Kong documentary

A new documentary about Quentin Tarantino and his Hong Kong influences will air on French TV in a couple of weeks. The documentary features interviews with Ringo Lam, Gordon Liu, Simon Yam and Mike Leeder. If you don’t have French TV and worried you’ll never see it, I’m sure it’ll end up on youtube. – Thanks to David Rees for the heads up. For more information and a trailer, click … Continue reading

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Godfather Squad/Bruce’s Last Battle DVD (Navarre)

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011 Navarre presents a kung fu cinema double feature! Ng See Yuen’s (director of “Tower of Death”) 1974 film “Godfather Squad” (aka Little Godfather) starring Bruce Leung Siu Lung and Yasuaki Kurata; as well as “Bruce’s Last Battle” — Shelved for years by 21st Century Distribution, madman Tom Ward has finally let it loose to make its home video debut!

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

Blade/Ring of Death aka Detective Belli DVD (Navarre)

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011 Navarre presents an exploitation cinema double feature! “Blade” stars John Marley (“The Godfather”) about a homicide detective goes after a woman-hating serial killer, who uses knives to murder his victims. Also included is Italian film “Ring of Death” (aka “Detective Belli”) starring Franco Nero (“Django”, “Enter the Ninja”) as a hard-boiled detective who does whatever it takes to solve a murder case.

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

The Big Lebowski: Limited Edition Digibook Blu-ray (Universal)

RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2011 The Big Lebowski is a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges stars as Jeff Lebowski, an unemployed Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler, who is referred to (and also refers to himself) as “The Dude”. After a case of mistaken identity, The Dude is introduced to a millionaire also named Jeffrey Lebowski. When the millionaire Lebowski’s trophy wife … Continue reading

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

Troll Hunter aka Trollhunter/Trolljegeren Blu-ray/DVD (Magnolia)

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011 The Troll Hunter is a 2010 Norwegian horror-thriller film, made in the form of a mockumentary. It is written and directed by André Øvredal, and features a mixed cast of relatively unknown actors and well-known Norwegian comedians, including Otto Jespersen. The Troll Hunter received positive reviews from Norwegian critics. Check out the trailer here.

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

The Stunt Man Blu-ray (Severin Films)

RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2011 The Stunt Man is a 1980 film directed by Richard Rush, starring Peter O’Toole, Steve Railsback, and Barbara Hershey. It tells the story of a young fugitive who hides as a stunt double on the set of an anti-war movie whose charismatic director will do seemingly anything for the sake of his art. Influential critic Pauline Kael considered it “a virtuoso piece of kinetic moviemaking” … Continue reading

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

The Godfather Part I/Part II Blu-ray (Paramount)

RELEASE DATE: August 2, 2011 Contains both The Godfather (1972) and it’s sequel (1974). The Godfather story chronicles the fictional Italian American Corleone crime family. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Al Martino, Abe Vigoda and many more. Trailers: Part I | Part II | Part … Continue reading

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

The Last Godfather aka The Dumb Mafia DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 This Korean/American co-production was written, directed by and starring Korean comedian/celebrity Hyung-Rae Shim. Mob boss Don Carini (Harvey Keitel) is retiring from the Mafia business – but when he gathers the family to announce his heir, the Don surprises everyone by anointing his goofy adopted son Young-gu (Hyung-Rae Shim) as the next godfather. Check out the trailer here.

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

Cul-de-sac Blu-ray/DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2011 Roman Polanski orchestrates a mental ménage à trois in this slyly absurd tale of paranoia from the director’s golden 1960s period. Donald Pleasance and Françoise Dorléac star as a withdrawn couple whose isolated house is infiltrated by a rude, burly American gangster on the run, played by Lionel Stander. The three engage in a game of shifting identities and sexual and emotional humiliations. Cul-de-sac is … Continue reading

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

The Killing Blu-ray/DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 16, 2011 Stanley Kubrick’s account of an ambitious racetrack robbery is one of Hollywood’s tautest, twistiest noirs. Aided by a radically time-shuffling narrative, razor-sharp dialogue from pulp novelist Jim Thompson, and a phenomenal cast of character actors, including Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Timothy Carey, and Elisha Cook Jr., The Killing is both a jaunty thriller and a cold-blooded punch to the gut. And with its precise tracking … Continue reading

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

Secret Sunshine Blu-ray/DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011 A master of intensely emotional human dramas, director Lee Chang-dong (Oasis) is a leading light of contemporary Korean cinema. An effortless mix of light and uncompromising darkness, Secret Sunshine (Miryang) stars Cannes best actress winner Jeon Do-yeon as a widowed piano teacher who moves with her young son from Seoul to her late husband’s (Song Kang-ho) provincial hometown for a fresh start. Check out the … Continue reading

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

Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara: Intimidation, The Warped Ones, I Hate But Love, Black Sun, Thirst for Love DVD Set (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2011 Over the course of his varied career, Koreyoshi Kurahara made exacting noirs, jazzy juvenile delinquency pictures, and even nature films. His free-form approach to moviemaking was perfectly suited to the spirit of the 1960s; he was one of the biggest hit makers working at the razzle-dazzle, youth-oriented Nikkatsu studio during the radical Japanese New Wave. The five films collected here hail from that era, and … Continue reading

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

Mad Monkey Kung Fu DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 Directed by and starring Lau Kar-leung; Hsiao Hou, Lo Lieh, Wei Ying-Hung, Lin Hui-Huang, Cin Ke-Ming, Sheng Hsien, Wang Ching-Ho and Wang Wen. Read cityonfire.com’s review. Check out the trailer here.

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

Martial Arts of Shaolin aka Shaolin Temple 3 DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Jet Li. Internationally lauded as one of the greatest, this magnificent martial arts masterpiece marked the titanic, one-time only, teaming of renowned champion Jet Li with legendary director Lau Kar-leung. Read cityonfire.com’s review. Click here for the trailer/clip.

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

Executioner from Shaolin aka Executioners from Shaolin DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2011 Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Chen Kuan Tai, Lo Lieh, Lily Li Li Li, Wong Yu, Kong Do, Cheng Hong Yip, John Cheung Ng Long, Shum Lo, Gordon Liu Chia Hui and Fung Hak On. Read cityonfire.com’s review. Check out the trailer here. (it’s the original trailer, so beware of spoilers)

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