Author Archives: Z Ravas

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 5/29/12

A sparse selection for Asian cinema this week but you can’t really say it’s a bad time when we’ve got a Johnnie To film on deck. And if you’re into French erotic vampire films from the 70’s, you’re gonna love the Horror section. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 5/29/12: ASIAN CINEMA Life Without Principle (DVD) – Johnnie To directs this 2011 thriller about the … Continue reading

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Helpless (2011) Review

Director: Byun Young-Joo Cast: Lee Seon-Gyun, Kim Min-Hee, Jo Seong-Ha, Kim Byul, Choi Deok-Mun, Lee Hee-Jun, Kim Min-Jae, Kim Tae-In, Choi Il-Hwa, Bae Min-Hee, Park Sang-Woo Running Time: 117 min. By HKFanatic “Helpless” is the latest in a string of recent Korean films based on Japanese novels (see also: “Howling,” “White Night”). The source material here is a book by Miyabe Miyuki, who is known in Japan as the Queen … Continue reading

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Johnnie To never produces a good movie on ‘Accident’ – new trailer

Your friends at Shout! Factory are prepping to release the Johnnie To-produced Hong Kong thriller Accident on Blu-ray and DVD this June 12, 2012. In the meantime, they’ve released a new trailer for the movie. In Accident, Louis Koo digs deep to offer one of the most compelling performances of his career as an assassin who choreographs elaborate ‘accidents’ to off his assignments. After one of his plans goes horribly … Continue reading

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You’ll want to meet ‘Miss Conspirator’ – new character posters and trailer

The first trailer for Korean film Miss Conspirator has hit the web and if the film ends up halfway as entertaining as the trailer, then we’re in for something good. It’s difficult to nail down just what genre Miss Conspirator belongs to as the trailer promises a blend of suspense, comedy, romance, and action, but that will probably end up being part of the charm of this film. The cast … Continue reading

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Jackie Chan in hi-def in the ‘Project A Series’ Blu-ray Box Set

The Project A series remains one of Jackie Chan’s most beloved cinematic ventures, due in large part to the 1984 original that managed to perfect Chan’s Buster Keaton-esque physical comedy and play off of the chemistry of the Three Brothers – Jackie, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao. Jackie went solo for 1987’s Project A 2 but it still contains several memorable fight scenes and set pieces. Fans eager to see … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

‘Suicide Club’ director Sion Sono’s ‘Guilty of Romance’ comes to Import Blu-ray and DVD

From Sion Sono, the acclaimed director of Suicide Club and Love Exposure, comes a terrifying new vision of sexual depravity and murder. The Red Light District of Shibuya, Japan, is infamous for offering patrons a window into an underworld of desire. But when a woman is savagely murdered, her head and limbs replaced with a mannequin’s, it’s up to detective Kazuko (Miki Mizumo) to piece together the clues before the … Continue reading

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 5/22/12

May, we barely knew you and now you’re almost gone. This week is slim pickings as far as Asian cinema is concerned but hopefully we can all find something to enjoy. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 5/22/12: ASIAN CINEMA Mutant Girl Squad (Blu-ray/DVD) – the latest and greatest in Japanese splatterpunk from Sushi Typhoon. This 2010 film receives a belated North American release courtesy … Continue reading

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Put your dukes up for ‘Tekken: Rise of the Tournament’

The crazy movie news keeps rolling out of Cannes 2012. The Hollywood Reporter relays word that Crystal Skys CEO Steven Paul is planning a prequel to the 2010 live-action Tekken movie, based on the popular video game of the same name. This is despite the fact that the first Tekken movie become embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit. It gets even better. Steven Paul claims that Prachya Pinkaew of Ong Bak and … Continue reading

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The director of ‘Undisputed III’ is ready to strike with an ‘Assassin’s Bullet’

Ain’t It Cool News has the exclusive one-sheet poster for Assassin’s Bullet, the next big movie from Isaac Florentine, director of the Scott Adkins-starring films Special Forces and Undisputed II&III. The cast includes Christian Slater, Donald Sutherland, Elika Portnoy, and Timothy Spall. The film is being released in some territories under the title Sofia as it is set in Sofia, Bulgaria. Apparently Assassin’s Bullet is more of a psychological thriller … Continue reading

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Dragon Eyes (2012) Review

"Dragon Eyes" Japanese DVD Cover

Director: John Hyams Producer: Joel Silver Cast: Cung Le, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Peter Weller, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Luis Da Silva, Dan Henderson, Rich Clementi, Trevor Prangley Running Time: 91 min. By HKFanatic I don’t think it’s possible to overstate the impact “Universal Soldier: Regeneration” had on the action genre back in 2009. Here was a sequel that no one really asked for, to a franchise that had become mired in … Continue reading

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Meanwhile in France, Nicolas Cage teams up with the director of ‘Versus’

File this one under ‘cool things that will probably never happen but really should.’ Twitch Film reports on a piece of conceptual poster art at Cannes that envisions a movie directed by Ryuhei Kitamura of Versus and Azumi fame, and starring Nicolas Cage. The poster is ridiculous, with Cage’s head floating atop an ultra-chiseled torso, but at least the plot sounds promising if anyone actually decides to fund this movie … Continue reading

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Korean action blockbuster ‘Quick’ revs up on Blu-ray and DVD this August 21, 2012

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Shout! Factory: Quick, A Major Motion Picture from the filmmakers behind Tidal Wave, starring Lee Min-Ki, Kang Ye-Won and Kim In-Kwon. Packed with explosive visuals, full throttle action sequences, extensive bonus content, and more! Own it on Blu-ray and DVD. In stores nationwide on August 21, 2012 from Shout! Factory Disc Details: Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding action are taken to new heights on August 21, … Continue reading

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The director of ‘Nowhere to Hide’ offers his take on ‘True Lies’

Director Lee Myung-Se’s 1999 film Nowhere to Hide was a top-notch Korean action-thriller that turned heads even before that country became one of the hottest film industries in the world. Now Lee Myung-Se is back with his first film in five years, the action-packed Mister K. The story almost sounds like a riff on James Cameron’s True Lies since the main character is, unbeknownst to his wife, a globe-trotting spy. When … Continue reading

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Japanese supermodel goes ‘Helter Skelter’ – wild new trailer!

Now this does not look like your typical Japanese film. Helter Skelter is an adaptation of the popular manga by Kyoko Okazaki. It appears to be a bit of a ‘psychological horror’ story that follows a young actress/model who slowly goes insane thanks to the rigors and demands of the Japanese entertainment industry and her own addiction to plastic surgery. Far East Films has a teaser trailer which doesn’t show … Continue reading

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Choy Lee Fut | aka Fight the Fight (2011) Review

"Choy Lee Fut: The Speed of Light" (aka Fight the Fight) American DVD Cover

Director: Tommy Law Co-director: Sam Wong Cast: Sammo Hung, Sammy Hung, Kane Kosugi, Lau Kar Wing, Yuen Wah, Sam Wong Ming Sing, Sam Wong Ming Sing, Sam Wong Ming Sing, Ian Powers Running Time: 92 min. By HKFanatic As far as I can tell, “Choy Lee Fut” was produced for two reasons: 1.) to serve as the debut starring vehicle of Sammo Hung’s son, Sammy Hung and 2.) to introduce … Continue reading

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