The Yellow Sea Blu-ray (Panorama Distributions)
It’s the end of one year and the beginning of another – you know what the means: time for Top Ten lists. But rather than pick our favorite movies of 2012, we thought we’d do something a little bit different.
So Cityonfire.com has compiled our list of favorite Asian films released on Blu-ray and DVD in 2012. That’s right: it doesn’t matter what year the movie was made, just that it saw a release on Blu-ray or DVD last year.
10. Outlaw Brothers (October/Dragon Dynasty) – kudos to Dragon Dynasty for keeping the dream of early 90’s Hong Kong action movies alive. This 1990 effort from director/star Frankie Chan may not be the best martial arts movie ever made, in fact it’s downright offensive at times, but the blistering fight choreography is sure to please fans of titles like Yes Madam and In the Line of Duty IV
9. The Unjust (December/Pathfinder Entertainment) – this 2010 Korean action/thriller was available via Netflix streaming more than a year ago, but those who’ve seen it can attest that The Unjust deserved a standard retail release. Playing out like a Korean take on Infernal Affairs, this brutal cops-and-crooks tale is another assured effort from director Ryu Seung-wan (City of Violence, No Blood No Tears)
8. Gantz II: Perfect Answer (January/New People Entertainment) – one of the biggest, most special FX-heavy action blockbusters released in 2012 wasn’t out of Hollywood. It was the second part of Shinsuke Sato’s live-action adaptation of the popular Gantz manga and anime. A jaw-dropping fight sequence on a speeding subway train remains one of the year’s best action setpieces, even though Perfect Answer hit Japanese theaters in 2011
7. Life Without Principle (May/Indomina) – the always dependable Johnnie To returns with a drama about the high-stakes world of Hong Kong finance, set shortly before the global economic crisis. Lau Ching Wan and Denise Ho deliver stellar performances, and the film serves as proof that Hong Kong cinema can be perfectly thrilling without any action sequences
6. Outrage (January/Magnet Releasing) – speaking of dependable: when Takeshi ‘Beat’ Kitano sets his mind to directing a Japanese gangster film, there’s almost no one who can top him. This 2010 feature finally arrived on North American shores last year and Magnet’s Blu-ray release endures as one of the most violent and satisfying Yakuza films in recent memory
5. Guilty of Romance (June/CN Entertainment Ltd) – this 2011 effort from Suicide Club director Sion Sono is likely too controversial and un-commercial for American distributors to touch at the moment, but Hong Kong-based distributor CN Entertainment Ltd. released a Region Blu-ray last year with a gorgeous transfer. Those who delight in the extreme side of Asian cinema will want to seek out this offbeat, transgressive film about a Japanese housewife who travels down the proverbial rabbit hole
4. Painted Skin: The Resurrection (November/Well Go USA) – the most successful Chinese film of all time might prove baffling to most Western audiences, but give yourself over to the visual delights of Painted Skin 2 and chances are you’ll find yourself swept up by this candy-colored fantasy of fox demons and the men who love them
3. The Raid: Redemption (August/Sony) – a film that needs no introduction to Cityonfire.com readers. Writer/director Gareth Evans and his leading man Iko Uwais set a new global standard for bone-crunching fight choreography and bloody gunplay with their landmark Indonesian action film. Make no mistake about it, 2012 was the year of The Raid
2. Motorway (August/Mega Star) – although Lionsgate is planning to release Hong Kong action/thriller Motorway on DVD this March, hardcore Asian film buffs might want to spring for Mega Star’s Region A Blu-ray. This visually stunning movie, which almost has more car chases than dialogue, deserves the hi-definition treatment. We may be a long ways from the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema but Motorway is a reminder that – when they want to, at least – the country can still do action better than anybody
1. The Yellow Sea (November/Panorama Distributions) – 20th Century Fox released their cut of The Yellow Sea on DVD back in February, but viewers complained it was trimmed for violence and other mature content. Fans who avoided this release and waited patiently were eventually rewarded by the Region A Hong Kong Blu-ray from Panorama Distributions, which features The Yellow Sea in all its uncut glory. This 2010 film from the writer/director of The Chaser has lost none of its bite in the intervening years: The Yellow Sea is as punishing and bloody as Korean revenge cinema gets
Here’s to a great 2013! Now what were your favorite Asian movies released on Blu-ray and DVD in 2012?
The non-Fox THE YELLOW SEA and THE RAID are definitely both must have’s. I’m surprised Anchor Bay’s BATTLE ROYALE (probably the collector’s set) isn’t on the list… but still a pretty tight list! =D Good job!
Yeah, I saw “The Yellow Sea” in it’s cut form and it was good. Been waiting to see the uncut one. Loved “The Chaser.”