Welcome to the new year! Finally, a week that’s got a decent variety of Asian films to choose from. Anyone picking up Jackie Chan’s 100th movie just cause it’s his 100th movie? Well, here are your Asian and genre movie blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 1/10/12:
ASIAN CINEMA
1911 (blu-ray/DVD) – Jackie Chan marks his 100th film with this tale of the Chinese public’s revolt against the Qing Dynasty in 1911
Night and Day (DVD) – this 2008 Korean language film from director Hong Sang-soo has won great critical acclaim. It tells the story of a middle-aged Korean painter who flees to Paris after being busted for smoking pot
Gurozuka (DVD) – Synapse Films delivers this blody 2008 Japanese horror film about a group of teenage girls rehearsing a play in an isolated house where residents have a habit of dying in a most gruesome fashion
Death Bell-Bloody Camp (DVD) – delayed from a few weeks ago, this 2010 Korean horror flick is a sequel to the surprise smash hit “Death Bell”
FOREIGN CINEMA
Film Socialisme (blu-ray/DVD) – cinematic iconoclast Jean-Luc Godard returns with this 2011 film co-starring Patti Smith, set on a cruise ship touring the Mediterranean
Aurora (DVD) – a 2011 Romanian-langauge film about a middle-aged divorcee who plots murder to bring order back to his life
Saving Private Perez (DVD) – a 2011 Spanish-language film about a Mexican drug dealer who rounds up a band of oddballs to rescue his brother from Iraq
The Man From London (DVD) – Bela Tarr’s 2007 black-and-white noir-ish tale stars Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton, though it is in Hungarian
MAINSTREAM
Killer Elite (blu-ray/DVD) – you’d think a movie that pitted Jason Statham against Clive Owen, while Robert De Niro watches from the wings, would be a knock-out, drag-out action movie for the ages. Instead, we got 2011’s “Killer Elite,” which didn’t so much as make a dent at the box office
Saints and Sinners (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2010 cops ‘n robbers action drama starring Johnny Strong and Tom Berenger looks extremely promising. It’s taken awhile to secure a blu-ray release and it’s built up a ton of internet buzz in the meantime. I can’t wait to check it out
There Be Dragons (DVD) – from the director of “The Killing Fields” and “The Mission” comes this 2011 film about Saint Josemaria Escriva
A Bronx Tale (DVD) – it looks like Focus Features is re-issuing this 1993 film, Robert De Niro’s directorial debut. The disc has been out of print for awhile and fans have been clamoring for it
The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption (blu-ray/DVD) – they made a “Scorpion King 3”? Words fail me. This 2011 direct-to-video offering stars Billy Zane and Ron Perlman
CLASSICS
Treasure of the Sierra Madre (blu-ray) – the 1948 classic starring Humphrey Bogart is now in dazzling hi-definition
North by Northwest (blu-ray) – Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1959 spy thriller is getting the one-disc blu-ray treatment this week, although there’s only about a $2 price difference between it and the 50th Anniversary Edition right now
DOCUMENTARY
The Hellstrom Chronicle (blu-ray/DVD) – this cult favorite 1977 psuedo-documentary details in completely eerie terms how the insect kingdom is fighting to take over the planet
HORROR
The Green Mile (blu-ray) – okay, this isn’t really horror but it is based on a story by Stephen King. The 1999 film starring Tom Hanks gets the one disc blu-ray treatment this week, which will save you a few pennies over the original release
The Summer of Massacre (blu-ray/DVD) – this micro-budget horror film from 2011 claims to have the highest body count of any slasher movie
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Oh Yeah I remember that guy Jackie Chan. He used to make cool action and kung fu movies, with great stunts. I didn’t realise this is the same Jackie Chan in hollywood. There is 2 Jackie Chans.
Jackie has paid his dues. Nothing but respect for the guy. =D
Yes, nothing but respect.