Author Archives: JJ Bona

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

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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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Uninvited, The (2003) Review

Director: Lee So-Youn Cast: Jun Ji-Hyun (Chon Ji-Yeon, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Joon Ji-Hyun, Gianna Jun), Park Shin-Yang, Kim Yeo-Jin Park, Won-Sang Jeong Wuk, Lee Ju-Sil Running Time: 128 min. By Mighty Peking Man One day Jung-Won (Park Shin-Yang) falls asleep on a subway train. Once his stop point comes, he awakens and gets off. Just as he steps out, he turns around and notices two little girls, abandoned, sleeping peacefully on … Continue reading

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , |

La Belle (2000) Review

AKA: Mi In; Love Remembered By The Body Director: Yeo Kyun-Dong Writer: Lee Sang-woo, Yeo Kyun-Dong Producer: Yoo In-taek Cast: Lee Ji-hyun, Oh Ji-ho, Cho Kyeong-hwan, Cho Kyeong-uk Running Time: 91 min. By Alexander Get two models. Any two will do. Put them in a stylishly furnished loft with a gorgeous view. Lock the door. Encourage your “actors” to improvise their dialogue and fuck each other often. Refer occasionally to … Continue reading

Posted in Korean, Reviews |

Il Mare (2000) Review

"Il Mare" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Hyeon-Seung Producer: Cha Seung-Jae Cast: Lee Jeong-Jae, Jun Ji-Hyun (Chon Ji-Yeon, Jeon Ji-Hyeon, Joon Ji-Hyun, Gianna Jun) Running Time: 90 min. By Owlman Have you ever wondered what you would do if you discovered a device for time travel? Would you use it to discover what future lies ahead of you? Or would you use it to make changes in the past? Or better yet, would you use … Continue reading

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Sad Movie (2005) Review

"Sad Movie" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwon Jong-Gwan Cast: Jeong Woo-Sung (Jung Woo-Sung), Im Su-Jeong (Im Su-Jung), Cha Tae-Hyeon (Cha Tae-Hyun), Yeom Jung-A, Yeo Jin-Gu, Shin Min-A, Son Tae-Young Running Time: 108 min. By Mighty Peking Man Kwon Jong-Gwan’s Sad Movie is a damn near perfect piece of cinema. From start to finish, it keeps your attention. It’s a great looking movie that feels refreshing, vibrant and tight. There’s not a dull moment I can … Continue reading

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Asako in Ruby Shoes | aka Sunaebo (2000) Review

Director: E J-Yong Producer: Koo Bon-Han, Tsuchida Masaki, Iwata Hitoshi Cast: Lee Jeong-Jae, Misato Dachibana, Kim Gumija, Kim Min-Hee, Ren Osugi Running Time: 115 min. By Mlindber Asako in Ruby Shoes is another one of those great films from Korea in a genre you’d normally hate. You know the type. The movie is about a guy named U-in (Lee Jung-jae) from Korea, how much of a loser he is, and … Continue reading

Posted in Japanese, Korean, Reviews | Tagged |

Anarchists, The (2000) Review

"The Anarchists" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Yu Yeong-Sik Cast: Jang Dong-Geon, Kim Sang-Jung, Jeong Jun-Ho, Lee Beom-Su, Kim In-Gweon, Ye Ji-Won, Jeong Won-Jung, Lee Chan-Yeong, Seo Ji-Won Running Time: 108 min. By Equinox21 When I heard that this movie was written by Park Chan-wook (writer and director of J.S.A. and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), I got really excited about seeing it. However, I then noticed the low rating it had on the Internet Movie Database, … Continue reading

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