The H-Man & Battle in Outer Space: Double Feature | Blu-ray (Mill Creek)
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2020
On June 9, 2020, Mill Creek Entertainment will release a 2-Disc Double Feature for 1958’s The H-Man and 1959’s Battle in Outer Space â this release marks the Blu-ray debut for both films.
Travel back to the days before CGI, when special effects were real and the results were spectacular! Director Ishiro Honda (Godzilla) and special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya ( Godzilla and Ultra Series) bring these wildly colorful kaiju eiga to life in this high-definition double feature presentation.
In The H-Man: Brought on by hydrogen bomb fallout, H-Man is a slimy green monster that dissolves human tissue and anything else in its path on contact. Scientist must figure out how to stop this creation. Contains both the American and Japanese edits for The H-Man; In Battle in Outer Space: The nations of the Earth unite in a common cause to fight off an invader from outer space.
There are a number of Netflix series that are set to leave while some are set to be concluded. Atypical is set to conclude while Chewing Gum, Marvelâs Avengers: Infinity War, The L word and Happy Valley are set to be excluded from the Netflix playlist.
Hence, you will now have plenty of time to focus on your https://www.toponlinecasinos.co.za/ games. Since there will not be that many distractions now.
Atypical
Netflix is set to air the fourth and final season of Atypical. The film which focuses on the Garner family and their tribulations was well received on Netflix.
Their most recent season was released in November last year. However, the date of release of the last season is still set to be announced.
Chewing Gum
The British comedy series which stars Michaela Coel is set to leave Netflix. The season which premiered 2015, is about a 24-year-old shop assistant named Tracy.
Freemantle, who are the owners of the seriesâ licence, still have a decision to make on whether or not the season streams next.
Happy Valley
Happy Valley is set to leave Netflix this month. The series is about a British police Sergeant who obtains information about a crime that would lead to an old case involving her late daughter.
Both season 1 and 2 are set to exit Netflix on March 16, 2020.Did you know that you can play a slot game that is related to happy Valley at new zealand online casinos and stand a chance to win big.
Marvelâs Avengers: Infinity War
Infinity war will leave Netflix in June 2020. It will be aired on its new home, Disney+.
The L Word
The series is set to leave Netflix on the 20th of this month. The L Word currently has six seasons and is about a group of lesbian friends. Among the group, there are lovers also. Netflixâs streaming licence of the show has come to an end.
Dadâs Army
Dadâs Army will be leaving Netflix this month. The series which has nine seasons is about an armed British citizen militia made up of two old and tow young men who fight in the front line of World War 2.
Father Brown
Father Brown is a crime drama about a Catholic priest who solves crimes. The series has nine seasons but only six are available on Netflix. The series will expire from Netflix in March 2020.
Movies are fun, entertaining and therapeutic just like online roulette game. There are different genres to watch depending on what you like. Talking of genres, horror movies are fun. They keep you glued to your screen, entertained and they keep you on the edge of your seat. There are some that are too scary that repeating or watching that movie again you would think twice. We are going to talk about horror movies that are too scary to watch again.
Lake Mungo
This 2008 movie is one of the movies that is difficult to watch again. It is about a family trying to put information together trying to find what led to the drowning and death of their daughter. The images that come up when they recover the phone are not something you can watch twice. They leave chills and unforgettable pictures in our heads. Which is one reason that this movie made it to this list.
The Orphanage
The Orphanage was released in 2007. It is still one of the scariest movies. From the concept, the scenes and the graphics they look and feel so real that you would imagine meeting the ghost in real life. This movie is about when Lauraâs son goes missing in her orphanage. There are spirits that she hears, are they there to help her find her son or not?
Whistle And I’ll Come To You
This ghost story was adapted from a story, Oh Whistle and Iâll Come to You, My Lad. After coming across a whistle as he was exploring, an introverted academicâs life changed as the whistle would unleash spirits that would terrorize whoever discovers it. Unlike the book the movie is horrifying. The graphics, the images of the ghosts and supernatural spirits are something you would not enjoy watching twice , just like best sports betting websites.
Black Christmas
This movie was released in 1974 but it still gives chills. Knowing that people are getting killed and going missing every day. You suspect a serial killer but you just have no idea how close he is and how far he can go in killing his victims. That is what this movie is about. The killing scenes, the brutality is so disturbing you would not watch again.
Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray set for the complete Ip Man Trilogy, which contains 2008’s Ip Man, 2010’s Ip Man 2 and 2015’s Ip Man 3.
One Great Man. One Inspiring Story. And now, one quintessential collection. This biographical martial arts film based on the life of Yip Man (played by Donnie Yen), the grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun and teacher of Bruce Lee.
On March 24, 2020, Sony Pictures is releasing The Grudge on Blu-ray & DVD. Directed by Nicolas Pesce (The Eyes of My Mother), the film is a reboot of Takashi Shimizu’s The Grudge (2004), which itself was a remake of Shimizu’s own Japanese horror film, Ju-on: The Grudge (2002).
After a young mother murders her family in her own house, a single mother and detective tries to investigate and solve the case. Later, she discovers the house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death.
2002’s Ju-on: The Grudge (there were two direct-to-video productions before it) revolved around a vengeful spirit that pursues anybody who dares enter the house in which it resides. The film spawned several sequels (including the recent “The Ring vs The Grudge” thriller, Sadako vs Kayako) and the aforementioned 2004 U.S. remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Special Features:
The Cast of the Cursed featurette: Take an inside look at the evil that lurks behind the doors at 44 Reyburn Dr., as key creatives and cast members explore The Grudge characters and discuss their experience working with Writer/Director Nicolas Pesce.
Designing Death featurette: From a slightly paler version of themselves to being completely mangled and rotted, to the incredible death scenes; like Faith Matheson’s (Lin Shaye) epic leap off of the staircase, explore the character make-up design process and the film’s visual look involved in creating the myriad of ghosts caught in the grips of the Grudge!
Easter Egg Haunt featurette: Join Writer/Director Nicolas Pesce as he brings to light the plethora of hidden Easter Eggs throughout the film which are homages to the previous works in the Ju-On franchise.
Extended Scenes & Alternative Ending: Experience the scenes too disturbing for theaters, like Peter Spencer’s terrifying encounter in the attic of 44 Reyburn Dr., or the uncovering of the gruesome truth behind the Landers’ family deaths.
Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles for the main feature
Some will fall. Some will rise. Blood will spill. A bloody war between the living and the dead that no one can escape! The fate of Joseon hangs in the balance…
Kingdom Season 2 is directed by Kim Seong-Hun (Tunnel) and written by Kim Eun-hee, who also wrote Land of the Gods, the webcomic series of which Kingdom is based off.
Kingdom Season 2 premiers this March 13 on Netflix. Check out the New Trailer below:
Director: Kwon Oh-Kwang Cast: Park Jung-Min, Ryoo Seung-Bum, Choi Yu-Hwa, Woo Hyeon, Yoon Je-Moon, Lee Kwang-Soo, Lim Ji-Yeon, Kwon Hae-Hyo, Choi Dong-Hoon, Kim Ye-Eun Running Time: 139 min.
By Paul Bramhall
Itâs probably a stretch to say that anyone was clamouring for a third entry into Koreaâs Tazza series. The original entry, 2006âs Tazza: The High Rollers, marked director Choi Dong-hoonâs sophomore feature, and its colourful energy combined with performances from the likes of Cho Seung-woo and Kim Yun-seok made it an instant classic. In many ways it was representative of where Korean cinema was in the latter half of the mid-00âs. With the Korean Wave that kicked off the millennium marking the film industry as one to watch, by 2006 there was an assured confidence reflected in much of the countryâs output.
A TV series followed in 2008, utilising some of the characters from the big screen version with different actors, but audiences would need to wait until 2014 for a sequel to hit the screens, which came in the form of Tazza: The Hidden Card. A standalone tale, the sequel was a disaster, beginning with the decision to cast K-pop group Big Bangâs T.O.P (whoâs at least billed by his real name of Choi Seung-hyeon) as the lead. Proving that musical charisma on stage doesnât always translate to acting presence onscreen, Seung-hyeon pouted his way through a cumbersome runtime, one which struggled to find the balance between being a breezy caper and a violent gangster flick. It seems more likely that the return of Kim Yun-seokâs iconic character from the original turning up for the last scene was a result of director Kang Hyeong-cheol calling in a favour, rather than a legitimate cameo.
So it came as a surprise when in 2019, it was announced weâd be getting a third big screen instalment of Tazza, this time titled Tazza: One Eyed Jack. I imagine my reaction to the announcement was reflective of many others, which was one of indifference, however there were a couple of names that were enough to pique my curiosity. First was the man whoâd be sitting in the directorâs chair, Kwon Oh-kwang, who had been on my radar since the release of his 2015 debut Collective Invention, a wry commentary on Korean society told through the framework of a man who finds himself tuning into a fish. You read that correctly. While far from perfect, Collective Invention marked Oh-kwang as a director to keep an eye on, and like Tazza: The High Rollers marked the sophomore feature for Choi Dong-hoon, so Tazza: One Eyed Jack marks the sophomore feature for Oh-kwang.
The other name that grabbed my attention was that of the title character, One Eyed Jack, who would be played by Ryoo Seung-beom. A name synonymous with many of the classics to come of out of the Korean Wave (his small but meaningful role in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance has always been a personal favorite), to featuring in almost all of his brother Ryoo Seung-wanâs movies (the restaurant fight in Arahan is still a classic of Korean action cinema), Seung-beom is instantly recognizable. Since returning to Korea after a sojourn to Paris, during which he spent a couple of years modelling, Seung-beom has mostly stuck to working with the controversial auteur Kim Ki-duk. Taking roles in both 2016âs The Net and 2017âs Human, Space, Time and Human, his role as One Eyed Jack will be the first time for him to feature in a mainstream production since 2015âs poorly received Intimate Enemies.
Tazza: One Eyed Jack is notable for being the first entry for the screen that hasnât been adapted from the original comic, which was published in 2000. Introducing a completely new set of characters also thanks to Oh-kwang, who writes as well as directs, Tazza: One Eyed Jack comes with the freedom (and the risk) of creating a story that feels thematically connected to its origins, while also establishing its own direction. Not an easy task when considering just how off-course Tazza: The Hidden Card set the series, which if nothing else succeeded in highlighting how tricky it can be to balance a narrative thatâs equally about card games as it is gangsters.
Despite the title, One Eyed Jack actually isnât the main character, although he is a pivotal one. Leading man honours go to Park Jung-min, who takes on the role thatâs an essential part to any Tazza tale â the young card sharp who thinks he knows it all, only to lose everything, and be taken under the wing of a mysterious master, where heâll learn the skills thatâll allow him to take on a ruthless enemy. In this case, the master is the One Eyed Jack the title alludes to. Jung-min makes for an effective lead, having last been seen in Svaha: The Sixth Finger. The fact that he doesnât fall into the pretty boy category that the sequel decided to opt for, neither with his looks nor his acting, being a big advantage. Instead, Sung-min exudes a kind of world weary charm, one which often emanates from behind a layer of cigarette smoke.
The plot for One Eyed Jack sees Jung-minâs encounter with a big time gambler, played by Yoon Je-moon (Missing You) leave him stripped of most of his winnings, which leads to a chance meeting with Ryoo Seung-beom. Offered an opportunity to win big, Jung-min becomes part of a team Seung-beom is putting together to swindle an elderly businessman (Woo Hyun, Exit) out of the money heâs going to make from a property deal. Joined by fellow swindlers Lee Kwang-soo (Collective Invention), Lim Ji-yeon (Luck.Key), and Kwon Hae-hyo (The Day After), together they put the wheels in motion on a high risk plan.
Connecting everything together is a mysterious lady known as Madonna, played by Choi Yu-hwa (The Truth Beneath), who was seen accompanying the big time gambler who defeated Jung-min, and also shows up again with Woo Hyun. Exactly who she is, and what all of this has to do with the death of Jung-minâs father, are questions Oh-kwang banks on the audience wanting the answers to. To a degree, Oh-kwangâs own gamble is successful. His plot has a lot going on, and its focus is constantly switching, however its strength is that it stays coherent throughout. The cost of that coherency is some of the characterisation. Many of the cast are painted with broad brushstrokes, which is ok for actors like Ryoo Seung-beom who can get by on charisma alone, but in the case of Yu-hwa, whatâs supposed to be a mysterious character ends up coming across as a plot device and nothing more.
For some then One Eyed Jack may well be perceived as an exercise in style over substance, and itâs a fair observation. However the style in question undoubtedly works. Korean productions have gotten increasingly glossy over the years, to the point that the grittiness which drew many of us to certain genres of Korean cinema in the first place has gotten lost under the sheen. One Eyed Jack feels like a movie which could also have come out in 2006, with Oh-kwang showing a keen understanding that high production values and grit can be exclusive of each other, and not everything needs to look so clean. The only other director Iâve seen who understands this in recent years is Kim Sung-soo, who delivered the goods with 2017âs Asura: City of Madness. Thereâs violence in One Eyed Jack, and some of it gets particularly bloody, but unlike in The Hidden Card here it doesnât feel forced, and plays an integral part of the plot.
Young Detective Dee is the captivating tale of Dee Renjieâs (Mark Chao) beginnings in the Imperial police force. His very first case, investigating reports of a sea monster terrorizing the town, reveals a sinister conspiracy of treachery and betrayal.
Young Detective Dee also stars Feng Shaofeng, Kenny Lin Geng Xin, Kim Bum, Angelababy, Deng Chao, Carina Lau Kar Ling.
5 Nutritional Facts About Coffee Every Movie Enthusiast Should Know
According to the National Coffee Association, 63% of Americans drink coffee on a daily basis. So chances are, you’re a java lover too.
But while you chug this hot drink every day, do you actually know what’s in your brew?
Here are 5 nutritional facts about coffee you should know.
1. It Has Vitamin Bs
Coffee beans are little things packed with many vitamins. For instance, they have vitamin B2, 3, and 5 (riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid).
You get a decent amount of them too. For your daily intake, just one cup has 11% of B2, 2% of B3, and 6% of B5.
2. The Caffeine Helps You Lose Weight
You obviously know there’s caffeine in coffee. But did you know in addition to helping you burn fat more efficiently? This is why most diet supplements have caffeine in them.
But you don’t have to use those supplements; you can reap the benefits of weight loss by just drinking coffee. Of course, leave out the sugar and creamer for maximum effect.
3. It Can Reduce Your Chance of Certain Cancers
Many studies show that by drinking coffee, you can reduce your chance of certain cancers. More specifically, colorectal and liver.
These studies show that people who drink 4-5 cups per day have a 15% lower risk of colorectal cancer. So you do have to drink quite a bit to reap the benefits of cancer prevention. But if you’re already drinking lots of java, then you’re probably already covered!
4. It’s Rich in Antioxidants
Antioxidants are what fight and eliminate free radicals in our bodies. These are harmful, as they damage cells. As a result, they can speed up the signs of aging and cause cancer.
Surprisingly, coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants for Americans. In fact, we get more antioxidants from coffee than we do from fruits and veggies!
So long as you keep the sugar and creamer to a minimum (or don’t use them at all), then coffee is a very healthy drink for you. Not only does it have antioxidants, but it also has caffeine and vitamins.
5. It’s Very Similar to Kratom
Kratom is a popular Southeast Asian plant that’s chewed for its energy-boosting properties. While it comes from a different part of the world, it actually comes from the same family of plants as coffee. They may look completely different, but again, they both are stimulants.
If you want to try an alternative to coffee to stay awake, you can always buy kratom powder online. This can be a wonderful way to switch up your source of energy, especially if you’ve been drinking coffee for a long time now.
Flex Your Knowledge When It Comes to Facts About Coffee
With these facts about coffee, you can now impress your friends the next time you get together for a cup of joe. So keep these in mind, and slip them into your conversations for a good time!
For more interesting facts, please check out our other blog articles.
“Braddock: Missing in Action III” Japanese Theatrical Poster
Looks like martial arts icon Chuck Norris (Slaughter in San Francisco) will no longer be missing in action. The Code of Silence star is heading back to the screen (in this case, the small screen) in Hawaii Five-0’s two-hour season finale, which airs Friday, April 3 at 9/8c on CBS.
According to TVLine (via Mike Leeder), Norris will guest-star during the CBS dramaâs two-hour series finale as Lee Phillips, a retired sergeant major who is helping his mentee, Lincoln Cole (to be played by MacGyver alum Lance Gross), hide from authorities in order to protect his anonymity.
The same source adds that Hawaii Five-0’s two-hour season finale also will bring back guest stars James Marsters (Angel), William Sadler (Die Hard 2) and Mark Dacascos (John Wick 3, Ultimate Justice).
Here’s your first look at Chuck Norris in Hawaii Five-0 (a TVLine exclusive, courtesy of CBS):
If youâre looking to learn, then you canât depend on the classroom alone to learn the lessons you need to learn in life. If you like to watch movies, then you have a wonderful opportunity to use them to learn some of the most important lessons in life. As it turns out, movies can teach us a whole lot if we watch them with an open mind. In fact, some movies are made so well and packed with so much wisdom that they can teach us a lot more than a classroom ever will. To make it even better, theyâre entertaining! Thatâs why movies make for such great sources of education!
We were particularly interested in the movies coming out of Asia and the USA that were especially educational on aspects of life in these places. These are the kinds of movies you should consider watching if youâre moving between these countries and want to understand the culture and psychology better. So, to help you on your journey, we made a list of the 10 best movies from the two regions, 5 from each, to help you understand what makes them tick better.
Top Movies of USA and Asia
All these movies are great, and you should work your way through them one by one. You may find that it consumes a lot of your time, and you may not have the time to get around to your assignments. Donât worry about it. Edubirdie located in Canada is a great service that can help with your assignments as you take your time to learn new things.Â
There are actually a lot of services that help with this. TopicsMill is yet another one that helps with theses and essays, helping you come up with interesting essays on a variety of topics.Â
Movies from the USA
1. Good Will Hunting
This iconic American movie stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Robin Williams. It features a 20-year old man who is immensely talented in chemistry and mathematics, but has to get through some serious psychological issues before they can truly tap their potential. Itâs a great film for those looking to learn how to reign in their pride and be open to learning new things.
2. Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump has long since become a permanent feature of American culture since it was screened for the first time in 1994. Not only did it launch Tom Hanks to stardom, but it also taught people that anything can be achieved with the power of will alone. In it, Forrest (Tom Hanks) is a low IQ man that nevertheless overcomes obstacles in his life to become a decorated soldier, a consummate sportsman, and a rich businessman.Â
3. The Theory of Everything
Stephen Hawking will forever be a celebrity icon of the world of science, having fought acute ALS. When he was first diagnosed with the condition in his college days, the doctors only gave him 2 years to live. He defied their predictions and went on to live for 76 years, formulating many groundbreaking physics theories, writing books and papers, and gaining recognition as a charming science commentator in the process. The movie is a view of his life, and Eddie Redmayne does a remarkable job of depicting the distinguished scientist.
4. The Social Network
Marc Zuckerberg is the archetypal college drop-out who went on to start a billion-dollar internet company. The Social Network looks at his journey from the Harvard dorm where he started Facebook to the media giant, he built that has since influenced the lives of billions. Whatever you think of Marc Zuckerberg as a person, itâs hard to deny the many lessons of this movie.
5. The Pursuit of Happyness
This movie is yet another example of the things one can achieve through the sheer force of an indomitable will. Will Smith stars as Chris Gardner, a homeless man that goes on to become a millionaire with his own stock brokerage, overcoming many obstacles along the way.
This movie takes a deep dive into the state of media in North Korea and its role in maintaining docility and conformity in the population. If youâve always been interested in how totalitarian states run propaganda machines through the media, then you will love this movie.
7. Ong Bak
Ong Bak is a movie about fighting against the odds to uphold your principles. IT follows Tony Jaa as he seeks to return the Buddha head stolen from his village and reinstate the dignity of his people. The Buddha head is really just a McGuffin, since it could really be anything else and the lessons would still stick. This movie also has great action sequences if youâre into that kind of stuff.
8. Myanmar
This film is really a documentary and seeks to pull back the curtain on the goings-on of a country that has largely succeeded in keeping its operations isolated from the rest of the world for decades. Yet another movie about totalitarian regimes and how they maintain their power, itâs a great study on the subject.
9. At the Height of Summer
This movie is all about women and how they go through everyday struggles that are uniquely female. The 3 sisters in the film juggle several responsibilities and face many challenges, but still manage to come out on top in the end.
10. Summer at Grandpaâs
This movie depicts the stark contrast between urban and rural life in Asia. It shows the challenges children from the two environments face when they are in alien places, and how they overcome those challenges.Â
Conclusion
All these movies make for a great time with lots of entertainment and education. By the time youâre done, you will have a much broader perspective of the world and how it works.Â
Author Bio
Nicholas Walker is a writer and editor with 5 years of experience. He primarily writes about travel, education, and entertainment. His favourite pastimes are meditation and hiking, and you can often find him on the local trails over the weekend.
What happens when a loser is suddenly infused with supernatural powers beyond his comprehension by a kung fu expert? He goes from being a loser to a hero in a flash! Protecting the innocent, our new hero becomes the person he always wanted to be, only to find that a connection in his past is the real reason he is unstoppable!
Loser Hero also stars Tiankai Cao, Yi Lin, Sin Lung, Guopeng Wan, Xia Yu Xin, Shu Yi and Jacky Wu Zongxian.
On May 5, 2020, Bayview Films is releasing the DVD for Mr. Six, an award-winning crime-drama from director Guan Hu (Dirt). The film stars Feng Xiaogang (Ash is Purest White), whose performance earned him Best Actor at the 52nd Golden Horse Awards.
Mr. Six is a story of family, camaraderie, and nostalgia – a tribute to the old values which we used to uphold – and how different generations can co-exist despite conflicting views and beliefs.
Director: Paul Leder Cast: Joanna Kerns, Rod Arrants, Alex Nicol, Lee Nak-hun, Yeon-jeong Woo, Jerry Harke, Larry Chandler, Walt Myers, J.J. Gould, Kwon Il-soo, Chiu Chun Running Time: 87 min.
By Paul Bramhall
When people think about Asian takes on King Kong, chances are the most likely answer theyâre going to give you will be the 1977 Shaw Brothers flick The Mighty Peking Man, which came a year after Hollywoodâs poorly received 1976 remake starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange. Ask people to name a famous Korean monster movie, and most would likely reply with Bong Joon-hoâs 2006 classic The Host (and if anyone says D-War, I suggest you cut all associations with them immediately). Whatâs the point of these questions (and this review for that matter)? Well, itâs to bring your attention to the long forgotten U.S.-Korea 1976 co-production A*P*E, a 3D extravaganza that puts Avatar to shame, and features a 36 foot tall ape rampaging through the streets of Seoul.
With such an enticing premise, you may ask how such a production could become relegated to the deepest depths of celluloid wasteland, the answer to which becomes almost immediately apparent. On a positive note though, the good news is that in the almost 45 years since its release, A*P*E has matured into one of the finest examples of so bad its good cinema that youâll ever have the joy of experiencing. Sure, movies like Samurai Cop and The Miami Connection may have matured to their cult status in half the time, but the fact is thereâs no time limit on entertainment value.
A*P*E (Attacking Primate monstEr, for those wondering) is directed by Paul Leder, a name which Iâm sure was synonymous with any given title in those $1 DVD racks youâd find in discount stores back in the 00âs (remember those?). If it doesnât exist already, a distributor needs to get onto securing the rights for a Frame Up and Frame Up 2: The Cover-Up double feature. Here he steps into the directorâs chair for the third time, and also takes on a small acting role as he would in many of his productions. Quite how he came to helm one of the first co-productions between the U.S. and Korea is anyoneâs guess, and frankly I value my time more than to spend too much of it Googling to try and give a definitive answer, however Iâm glad he did, because A*P*E is an absolute hoot.
The intentions are clear pretty much from the get go. Under the cover of night a pair of sailors are navigating a ship containing the 36 foot ape to Disneyland (yes you read that correctly). Through dialogue the pair exchange in an almost comatose manner (seriously, I think they were both high), we learn that the ape was recently captured in Harlem of all places, and is going to be put on display for the public in various cities. That is until the ape breaks free of its shackles, causing one of the sailors to react with an âoh, shitâ, spoken through what I assume was a morphine induced haze. The shot then cuts to a plastic boat floating in a bathtub against a black sheet, which then explodes.Â
Cue a man adorned in possibly the worst ape suit ever committed to film (the nipples rivals George Clooneyâs in Batman and Robin), emerging out of the water with a ripped seam to expose a white t-shirt underneath, who proceeds to then wrestle with an equally (I guess weâre supposed to believe) gigantic white shark in a fight to the death. What the chances are of a 36 foot ape encountering an equally large shark at the same time I donât know, however itâs an amusing confrontation, and is quite blatantly a long dead baby shark (still readily available from your nearest local fish market in Korea). Only a few steps later, and somehow the ape has strolled through the Pacific Ocean from his Harlem â Disneyland transfer, to stomp onto the shores of South Korea. Welcome to the first 5 minutes of A*P*E.
Once in Korea weâre introduced to a newly arrived American actress, played by Joanna Kerns (most famous for her role as the Mom from TVâs Growing Pains), whoâs there to shoot a movie on her âfirst visit to the Orient.â Sheâs surprised to be joined by her on-off journalist boyfriend, played by TV actor Rod Arrants, who wants nothing more than to profess his true love for Kerns. At its most awkward, Arrants joins a scene being shot for the movie Kerns is starring in, which involves her being raped by her co-star. When the co-star gets a little too rough, Arrants whisks her away for a smooch, before returning to set upon which time the director calmly tells her co-star, âNow remember Greg, rape her gently.â I felt terrible for laughing.
These scenes are undeniably padding towards the barely 85 minute runtime, however their inclusion only adds to the hilarity of everything rather than feeling like filler. Letâs talk about the ape. Itâs horrendous. The suit itself is awful, full of scraggy tufts of hair that look like 100 people have worn it before its big screen appearance, and comprised of a separate head piece of which no attempt has been made to disguise. Whoever is in the suit (the part is uncredited) has clearly been given no direction as to how an ape should act, so he awkwardly steps onto model houses to crush them, probably worried about getting a splinter, and his hunched over walk looks like someone whoâs had one too many rather than a primate. Weâre talking Shaolin Invincibles and Bruce Lee the Invincible level guy in an ape suit acting here, only itâs not just for one scene, but a whole movie.
Speaking of kung fu movies, apart from alerting me to the fact that ones with the word âinvincibleâ in the title have a high chance of featuring a guy in an ape suit, A*P*EÂ also features a scene where the moth ball ridden clutz stumbles upon a kung fu movie being filmed! For fans of old-school Korean kung fu movies (slowly raises hand), thereâs a certain joy in seeing familiar faces like Kwon Il-soo (The Postman Strikes Back) and Chiu Chun (The Deadly Kick) stopping their fight scene in the middle of filming, and turning their weapons towards a gigantic ape. Not something I ever expected to see in my lifetime, I have to admit. Most likely inspired from the previous yearâs Hong Kong and Australia co-production The Man from Hong Kong, we even get a giant ape versus a hang glider scene, featuring some of the most jaw dropping(ly bad) miniature work youâve ever seen.
Surprisingly, director Leder seems to have realised he had a clanger on his hands at some point during filming. Iâm not sure when that would have been, but I like to think it was when the ape encounters a snake in a tree. Again, the logic of physics means we have to assume the 36 foot ape has just stumbled across a 36 foot snake that none of the Korean population have noticed previously, but the narrative isnât concerned with such matters as coherency. In one of my favorite moments, the ape then grabs the snake from the tree, very much alive, and throws it towards the camera positioned underneath. Except, the snake actually hits the camera, knocking the shot out of focus. Hilarious. Any aim at seriousness slowly dissipates as the narrative continues, until eventually weâre left with scenes of the ape perving wide eyed into the window of a hotel, as an American gentlemen and a Korean prostitute attempt to get it on.
Speaking of Korea, the 2 main Korean roles of a general and his wife are played by Lee Nak-hun (Kim Soo-youngâs classic Mist) and Woo Yeon-jeong (John Wooâs The Dragon Tamers) respectively, who do an admirable job of speaking English, and not looking embarrassed. The rest of the Korean extras, who are mostly called upon to run towards the camera at various points, range from looking suitably terrified, to as if theyâre having the time of their lives. Iâm guessing Leder never imagined that his movie could one day be scrutinised on the Blu-ray format, but hey, for anyone thatâs ever watched the extras in the background of a Shaw Brothers movie fight scene, thereâs nothing unforgivable on display.
With an ape that at one point breaks the fourth wall and gives the middle finger directly to camera, rocks made of Styrofoam that disintegrate as they fall down a cliff, and awesomely era-appropriate lines such as âThis is Korea not Scotland, the Loch Ness Monster couldnât make it over the Berlin Wall!â, A*P*Eâ is gold. Best enjoyed with a few cold beverages and friends (unless youâre me, in which case, alone), just donât say I didnât warn you.
Today’s Deal on fire is the Blu-ray for Benny Chan’s (Shaolin) martial arts epic, Call of Heroes (formerly known as The Deadly Reclaim).
This period action film (read our review) â featuring fight choreography by the legendary Sammo Hung (14 Blades, The Bodyguard) â tells the story of a pack of villagers standing up to a young warlord in the year 1914.
Koo stars as Cao, the son of a powerful General who has grown into a vicious and depraved warlord. Although Cao is accused of murder, his father will destroy the town if his son is convicted and sentenced to death. But injustice cannot go unanswered, and the villagers prepare for the repercussions of punishing a guilty man.
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