Author Archives: JJ Bona

Colombiana Unrated Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)

RELEASE DATE: December 20, 2011 Directed by Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3), written by Luc Besson (Leon: The Professional), and starring Zoe Saldana (Star Trek, Avatar); Colombiana is the story of a young woman who has grown up to be an assassin after witnessing the murder of her parents as a child. Check out the trailer. The unrated cut of Colombiana runs 111 minutes, four minutes longer than the theatrical cut. … Continue reading

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

R.I.P. Kim Tai Chung

Korean martial arts movie star Kim Tai Chung, also known as Kim Tai-Jung or Tong Lung, has passed away. Kim Tai Chung was considered the only “mainstream” of the Bruce Lee copycats because of his work on Raymond Chow’s Golden Harvest classics “Game of Death” (1978) and “Tower of Death” (1981). He is also known for appearing in Corey Yuen’s 1986 U.S. film debut, “No Retreat, No Surrender” (1986) alongside … Continue reading

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Outrage: Way of the Yakuza Blu-ray & DVD (Magnolia)

RELEASE DATE: January 31, 2012 In a ruthless battle for power, several yakuza clans vie for the favor of their head family in the Japanese underworld. The rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks by scheming and making allegiances sworn over saké. Long-time yakuza Otomo has seen his kind go from elaborate body tattoos and severed fingertips to becoming important players on the stock market. Theirs is a never-ending … Continue reading

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

Hidden Fortress, The (1958) Review

"The Hidden Fortress" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Minoru Chiaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Misa Uehara, Susumu Fujita, Takashi Shimura, Misa Uehara, Eiko Miyoshi, Toshiko Higuchi Running Time: 139 min. By Numskull The titular location isn’t much of a “fortress”… more like a couple of shacks tucked away in a canyon… but the adventure that stops there along the way is highly entertaining. This Akira Kurosawa film takes its time getting where it’s going … Continue reading

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011 Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a revolution; an action-packed epic featuring stunning visual effects and creatures unlike anything ever seen before. At the story’s heart is Caesar (Andy Serkis), a chimpanzee who gains human-like intelligence and emotions from an experimental drug. Raised like a child by the drug’s creator (James Franco), Caesar ultimately finds himself taken from the humans he loves and … Continue reading

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

Godzilla | aka Gojira (1954) Review

"Godzilla" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Godzilla: King of the Monsters Director: Ishiro Honda Cast: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Takashi Shimura, Fuyuki Murakami, Sachio Sakai, Ren Yamamoto, Toyoaki Suzuki Running Time: 96 min. By Woody Ishiro Honda was a great director. As Akira Kurosawa’s assistant director and right hand man, Honda no doubt learned a lot from the man, and it shows, particularly in this 1954 effort. Gojira is a stark and uncompromising film, filled with nightmarish imagery, but, … Continue reading

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Mann to remake ‘Seven Samurai’

Variety reports that British helmer Scott Mann has signed on to direct a remake of Japanese pic “Seven Samurai,” which is being produced by the Weinstein Co. and Japan’s Kurosawa Prods. This is not the first remake of the film, as there was a Western take on it from the 60s called The Magnificent Seven, and a recent sci-fi anime take on it called Samurai 7. Mann, who most recently … Continue reading

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Action Double Feature: The Last Hard Men & Skyriders aka Sky Riders DVD (Shout!)

RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2012 Along with The Wild Bunch, The Last Hard Men is considered one of the most brutal westerns ever made. Starring Charlton Heston, James Coburn, Barbara Hershey, Jorge Rivero and Michael Parks. Also included is Skyriders, which is about a pack of fierce heroes who use hang gliders to rescue hostages from a revolutionary terrorist movement. Skyriders features the same location where the finale of the … Continue reading

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

Conan the Barbarian (2011) Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: November 22, 2011 If anything, this 2011 Conan remake serves as a reminder of just how awesome the 1982 original was and still is. Depending on your taste, Marcus Nispel’s version is either good, or just plain blasphemy. Either way, just spreading the word because it’s, well, Conan. Starring Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan and Ron Perlman. Check out the trailer.

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

Survive! DVD (VCI)

RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2011‏ The trailer states: “CAUTION: The recreation of the plane crash and the survival scenes may be too intense for young teenagers” (does this mean it’s suitable for kids 12 years old or younger?). This 1976 film (aka Supervivientes De Los Andes) was remade as “Alive” (1993) by director Frank Marshall. Here is the trailer to Survive!

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

The Expendables: Extended Director’s Cut Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011 The Expendables: Extended Director’s Cut brings 11 additional minutes of footage worked into the main feature. Here’s a list of new extras to expect: Newly recorded introduction to the film by Sylvester Stallone / Featurette on Stallone and his directing career / Inferno, a feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary / The Spike TV program, Action: The Expendables / Music video from Sully Erna of Godsmack

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

Double Feature: Def-Con 4 & Hell Comes to Frogtown (Image)

RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011 Two cult, post-apocalyptic movies at one low price! Def-Con 4 follows three astronauts who return to earth two months after a nuclear holocaust and must confront a new and terrifying reality. Hell Comes to Frogtown stars Roddy Piper as a muscle-bound warrior who is up against slimy, green overgrown amphibians who have taken over earth. Trailers: Def-Con 4 | Hell Comes to Frogtown

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

Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)

RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2011 In the vein of Hard Boiled, Infernal Affairs and Reservoir Dogs comes this hard-hitting action-thriller from rising director Dante Lam. Esteemed investigator Captain Manfred (Leon Lai, Bodyguards and Assassins) is at a crossroads in life when hes assigned to the case of a lethal car accident and the death of a prostitute. Check out the trailer here. UPDATE: Indomina posted a link to the English-subbed … Continue reading

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

Dead and the Deadly, The (1982) Review

"The Dead and the Deadly" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wu Ma Writer: Sammo Hung, Barry Wong Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Lam Ching-ying, Cherie Chung, Fat Chung, Ricky Lau, Wu Ma, Peter Chan Lung, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Kwan Yung Moon Running Time: 94 min. By Numskull Another supernatural comedy from Sammo Hung, star and director of Encounters of the Spooky Kind (God, how I hate that title) and its sequel (which is available neither on DVD nor VCD…bloody … Continue reading

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Intruder Director’s Cut Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse)

RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011 Intruder (also known as Night of the Intruder and Night Crew – The Final Checkout) is back! For the first time, this 1989 cult classic is available in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Special Edition Director’s Cut and it’s loaded with extra features. Directed by Scott Spiegel (co-writer of Evil Dead 2); produced by Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs) and starring Elizabeth Cox, Renee Estevez, David … Continue reading

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