The Master | DVD (Lionsgate)

Posted on December 15, 2014 by JJ Bona
The Master | DVD (Lionsgate)

The Master | DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: February 24, 2015

Lionsgate presents the DVD for 2011’s The Master (aka Choi Lei Fut or True Master), directed by Zhou Ke. It stars Hongbo Shi, Ni Cheng, Tianlong Shi and Jintong Mai

In 19th-century China, the population is suffering at the hands of greedy landlords, corrupt officials, and unwelcome invaders. Hoping to unite his people, master Chen Xiang opens a martial arts school. But after Chen refuses to join the armies of the Qing Prince, his mother and his students are seized. To save them, Chen has only one path: all-out war. Watch the trailer.

Pre-order The Master from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

Deal on Fire! Robin-B-Hood | Blu-ray | Only $6.59 – Expires soon!

Posted on December 14, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Robin-B-Hood" Blu-ray Cover

"Robin-B-Hood" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for Robin-B-Hood, directed by Benny Chan (Who Am I?).

Jackie Chan plays a gambler who turns to burglary to pay his debts. But when his buddies try to score a big payout by kidnapping a baby, he finds himself in an entirely new mess. Don’t let the baby on the cover full you. There’s some bone-crunching action in Robin-B-Hood ready to be discovered!

The film also stars Louis Koo, Michael Hui and a special appearance by Yuen Biao.

Order Robin-B-Hood from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982) Review

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Z Ravas
"1990: The Bronx Warriors" Theatrical Poster

“1990: The Bronx Warriors” Theatrical Poster

Director: Enzo G. Castellari
Cast: Mark Gregory, Fred Williamson, Vic Morrow, Christopher Connelly, “Betty” Elisabetta Dessy, Stefania Girolami, Enzo G. Castellari, Carla Brait
Running Time: 86 min.

By HKFanatic

By 1981, the Italian film industry was already showing signs that the bottom was about to fall out. Giallos, crime films, and spaghetti Westerns – once Italy’s filmic bread ‘n butter – had run their course with the public. Instead of innovating within their industry or looking to American companies to help finance their films, Italian producers decided to do what many foreign countries do when they’re desperate for a hit: rip off Hollywood.

Thus, the country that had once produced genre films that ran laps around their American counterparts (Suspiria, anyone?) gave way to a string of low-budget films that aped successful Hollywood trends. There were barbarian movies in the vein of Conan or The Beastmaster; cannibal-themed movies, always a sleazy favorite, were still easy to make a profit on so the decade saw a whole slew of them too.

And since movies like Mad Max and Escape From New York were popular with audiences, Italian directors began pilfering their iconography in a series of post-apocalyptic movies made during the early 80’s. Enzo G. Castellari, a director responsible for some of the best action movies of the 70’s (The Big Racket, The Heroin Busters) and the film that is considered the last great spaghetti Western (1976’s Keoma), made no one less than three post-apocalyptic films during the decade. First on his plate was 1990: The Bronx Warriors, filmed in 1981 and released a year later. The movie is a ridiculous mash-up of Escape From New York and The Warriors, arguably more influenced by the latter. Castellari was the kind of filmmaker who almost seemed to make great movies despite himself. With all the cheesy costumes, over-acting, and silly chopsocky fighting go on, Bronx Warriors should have been a disaster. In Castellari’s hands, somehow it’s just plain ‘ol good, dumb fun.

The film takes place in the year 1990 in an alternate reality where Nirvana didn’t make it big, and instead the US Government cordoned off the Bronx from the rest of the country, declaring it too crime-ridden to save. Now the Bronx is lorded over by various gang factions, the most powerful of which is the Riders – basically a few Italian actors on motorcycles with glowing Halloween decorations fitted on the handlebars, with some New York chapter Hell’s Angels as extras. But the true leader of the wasteland is Fred Williamson, the King of the Bronx, and his clan The Tigers. There’s an uneasy alliance among the gangs but all that changes when a rich young girl, heiress to the powerful arms manufacturer the Manhattan Corporation, runs away to the Bronx and falls in love with the leader of the Riders, named Trash. As the movie starts, the Bronx is set to explode.

Trash is played by Mark Gregory, who was only 17 years-old at the time. Enzo G. Castellari spotted Gregory at an Italian gym and offered to turn him into an actor. Gregory was a tall, long-haired bodybuilder with a babyface, who needed extensive coaching on how to walk without sashaying his hips. Even in the movie, his rooster strut looks quite silly. Gregory dubbed his own dialogue in English but had no idea what his character was saying so his line readings come across as flat and unemotional. I can’t disagree with anyone who finds Gregory’s screen presence or acting skills to be lacking, but I liked him in the movie. Somehow he just fits the whole post-apocalyptic setting. Gregory would go on to find further success with the Thunder Warrior series, Italy’s rip-off of Rambo with a Native American theme, and then disappear from acting altogether.

When Trash’s new beau is kidnapped, Trash decides to appeal to Fred Williamson’s character for help. Together they have to make it through rival gang territory in one piece. The gangs are all colorfully costumed and themed, whether it’s the Scavengers, who live in the sewers with mud-smeared faces; the Zombies, who prance around in hockeypads and roller-skates; or the other gang who was cut entirely from the original American release of the film since all they do is dance instead of fight. You can see how this flick takes liberal inspiration from The Warriors. But, hey, it’s fun to watch – and pretty damn violent at parts.

Of course, the President of the Manhattan Corporation isn’t going to stand by while his daughter runs off with some punks from the Bronx. He dispatches The Hammer, an ex-cop turned mercenary who was born and raised in the Bronx. The Hammer is played by Vic Morrow in what would be his final role before his tragic death on the set of The Twilight Zone: The Movie. Vic is outstanding in this movie, particularly the scene where he sneaks into the Riders’ headquarters dressed as a mailman and blows away two unsuspecting gangmembers with a shotgun stashed in a package. He’s almost like the Terminator. At the climax of the film, he dresses in his old police uniform and starts goose-stepping around like a Nazi, ranting maniacally while his men blast flamethrowers at Trash and his crew. The scenery must have tasted particularly delicious that day.

If I have one knock against this film, it’s the fact that it’s low-budget means you barely get a post-apocalyptic vibe from the film, if at all. Several exteriors were shot in New York while interiors were shot in Rome. During outdoor scenes when the Manhattan skyline is visible in the distance, you can clearly see that traffic is proceeding in the usual and orderly fashion. In Escape From New York, John Carpenter made use of matte paintings to create a striking vision of a ruined New York; there’s nothing in The Bronx Warriors that remotely compares. I mean, the filmmakers weren’t even allowed to close off traffic on one city block while they were shooting the film’s motorcycle chase scene. For a story that’s supposed to take place in the “far future” of 1990, when the Bronx has been cordoned off from the rest of society, the scenery looks way too…normal. Imagine Mad Max trying to sell you on the desolation of its world if you could still see working stiffs going about their day in the background of shots!

Track down Media Blaster’s DVD of 1990: The Bronx Warriors and you’ll be treated to a special feature that’s arguably better than the movie itself: a 45 minute interview with Fred “The Hammer” Williamson. Fred may be a little too into himself for his own good but the interview is full of valuable insight into the world of Italian cinema during the 70’s and 80’s. Williamson details why he loved making movies in Europe during this era; the rise and fall of Italy’s homegrown film market; and what it was like working with some of Italy’s biggest directors of the time, including the legendary Lucio Fulci (The Beyond, Zombie). Williamson doesn’t talk at great length about Castellari but seems to respect the man and how he was able to accomplish a great deal onscreen with such low-budgets.

1990: The Bronx Warriors is not a quality movie, or even one of Cestellari’s best, but it’s an entertaining post-apocalyptic flick from a time when Italian exploitation films were starting to run on fumes. It succeeds against all odds or perhaps because, unlike many low-budget hacks, Castellari intrinsically knew how to make a crowd-pleasing movie. His films may not always be spectacular but I have yet to see one from him that I didn’t enjoy on some level. In 1982, he would release another post-apocalyptic movie, The New Barbarians, also starring Fred Williamson. In 1983 came the Bronx Warriors sequel, Escape From the Bronx, which is increasingly difficult to find on DVD. For fans of trash cinema (no pun intended), they’re all probably worth tracking down.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 6.5/10

Posted in Italian, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Casper Van Dien and Mark Dacascos are ‘Relentless’

Posted on December 12, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Aces 'n Eights" Japanese DVD Cover

"Aces 'n Eights" Japanese DVD Cover

Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, Aces ‘n Eights) is making a return to action in an upcoming thriller titled Relentless, which will be directed by John Milton Branton (Dark Power). Martial arts star Mark Dacascos (Drive) is currently in talks to play a key role in the film. Production starts in early 2015.

Relentless involves a former US Army Ranger (Van Dien) who gets caught in the middle of a war between rival Russian and Thai Drug traffickers.

Mike Leeder (Pound of Flesh) is co-producing, along with Pamela Staton (Let It Bleed). Brahim Achabbakhe (Tekken: Kazuya’s Revenge) is handling fight choreography. Stay tuned as we hear more.  – Thanks to Big Mike Leeder!

Posted in News |

Pre-order Donnie Yen’s ‘Kung Fu Jungle’ at DDDhouse.com

Posted on December 12, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Kung Fu Jungle" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Kung Fu Jungle" Chinese Theatrical Poster

DDDHouse.com now has Donnie Yen’s Kung Fu Jungle on Blu-ray & DVD for a December 23rd pre-order. Keep in mind that the DVD version is Region 3 coded, so you will need a multi-region DVD player to view the movie. Fortunately, the Blu-ray version is coded for region A, so it’s good to go on your current North American Blu-ray hardware.

Directed by Teddy Chen, Kung Fu Jungle (read our review) follows a top-notch martial arts instructor (Yen) at the Hong Kong Police Academy who is imprisoned for accidentally killing a man. He may not be able to stay behind bars for long as shortly after his arrest, a deranged killer (Wang Baoqiang) begins targeting the best martial arts fighters in Hong Kong.

Why wait for Kung Fu Jungle’s North American release, when you can grab it now!

Posted in News |

Dokuro-Jo: Seven Souls in the Skull Castle | DVD (Ytinifni Pictures)

Posted on December 12, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Seven Souls in the Skull Castle" Japanese Poster

"Seven Souls in the Skull Castle" Japanese Poster

RELEASE DATE: March 24, 2015

Ytinifni Pictures presents the DVD for Hidenori Inoue’s Dokuro-Jo: Seven Souls in the Skull Castle, a martial arts thriller that was filmed Live, on Stage, in Tokyo.

Eight years after the fall of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi is attempting to unify Japan, but he is opposed by Tenmao, a mysterious masked resident of Skull Castle. Watch the trailer.

Dokuro-Jo: Seven Souls in the Skull Castle stars Shun Oguri (Azumi), Mirai Moriyama (Human Trust) and Taichi Saotome (Zatoichi).

Pre-order Dokuro-Jo: Seven Souls in the Skull Castle from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

2nd trailer for Michael Mann’s ‘Blackhat’ with Tang Wei and Chris Hemsworth

Posted on December 12, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Blackhat" Theatrical Poster

"Blackhat" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: Blackhat (aka Cyber), directed by Michael Mann, is an upcoming cyber-thriller starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Red Dawn), Tang Wei (Wu Xia), Leehom Wang (Lust, Caution), and Andy On (Black Mask 2).

In Blackhat, a furloughed convict and his American and Chinese partners hunt a high-level cybercrime network from Chicago to Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Jakarta. The film hits theaters on January 16, 2015.

Updates: THR reports that that Tang and Wang will play a brother-and-sister duo. Tang also will be Hemsworth’s love interest. | Based on JayneStar’s new article, actress Tang Wei is having difficulty with some of her English dialogue. This is supposedly causing frustration for her co-star Chris Hemsworth.

Hemsworth revealed the plot: “It’s based in the world of cyber terrorism. Basically, something similar to the Chicago Board of Trade is hacked into and it sets off a chain of events around the world, affecting the stock market. And the code that was used to hack into it, my character had written it years before and he happens to be in prison for cyber crime. He is pulled out and offered a deal if he works with a joint task force of the FBI and the Chinese goverment in trying to track this guy down. It starts off in Chicago and ends up in Kuala Lumpur, in Hong Kong and in Jakarta. It’s this sort of cat-and-mouse international heist-thriller.” | First trailer.

BREAKING NEWS: Watch the 2nd trailer, courtesy of yahoo.com.

Posted in News |

Deal on Fire! Spaghetti Western Double Feature: Grand Duel & Keoma | Blu-ray | Only $2.96 – Expires soon!

Posted on December 12, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Grand Duel & Keoma" Blu-ray Cover

"Grand Duel & Keoma" Blu-ray Cover

Today’s Deal on Fire is the Blu-ray for The Spaghetti Western Double Feature, featuring Lee Van Cleef in Giancarlo Santi’s The Grand Duel (aka The Big Showdown) and Franco Nero in Enzo G. Castellari’s Keoma.

In 1972’s The Grand Duel, a grizzled ex-sheriff helps a man framed for murder to confront the powerful trio of brothers who want him dead; In 1976’s Keoma, a half-breed gunfighter weary of killing as a way of life. But when he returns to his troubled childhood home, Keoma is caught in a savage battle between innocent settlers, sadistic bandits and his vengeful half-brothers.

Two classics for A Few Dollars… literally. Order from Amazon.com today!

Posted in Deals on Fire!, News |

Choke on this new trailer for Hitoshi Matsumoto’s ‘R100’

Posted on December 11, 2014 by JJ Bona
"R100" Theatrical Poster

"R100" Theatrical Poster

Hitoshi Matsumoto’s (Big Man Japan) R100 hits Drafthouse theaters and VOD on Friday, January 23rd. As Collider points out, the title of the film is a play on the Japanese rating system (R18 is equivalent to our NC-17), so “R100” should give you an idea of what to expect. Read on for the official plot synopsis…

In this audaciously kinky, meta-comedic thriller, a lonely father with a secret taste for S&M (Nao Ohmori, best known for his titular turn in Takashi Miike’s Ichi the Killer) hires a boutique dominatrix agency that specializes in guerilla acts of public degradation.

Although the rough treatment and humiliation Takafumi Katayama receives from these leather-clad women––in cafés and on the street––drives him to ecstatic pleasure, he soon finds himself over his head during a surprise house call by one of the mistresses. After a freak and fatal accident, Takafumi is forced into action with a slew of vengeful dominatrices chasing him down. With the help of his son, he’ll have to devise a plan to take on the relentless femmes fatales, who each possess a unique S&M talent by which to exact painful revenge.

Without further ado, here’s the trailer for R100. Enjoy!

Posted in News |

Mortal Kombat: Conquest | DVD (Warner)

Posted on December 11, 2014 by JJ Bona
Mortal Kombat: Conquest | DVD (Warner)

Mortal Kombat: Conquest | DVD (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2015

Warner presents the DVD set for Mortal Kombat: Conquest. This TV series is based on the Mortal Kombat fighting game, which aired in 1998-1999. The set will include all 22 episodes on 5 discs.

Mortal Kombat: Conquest stars Paolo Montalbán, Daniel Bernhardt (Bloodsport II), Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3), Tracy Douglas, Bruce Locke, Jeffrey Meek, John Reilly, Sung Hi Lee, Jaime Pressly and Eva Mendes. – Thanks to FCS for the DVD artwork.

Pre-order Mortal Kombat: Conquest from Amazon.com today!

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

Well Go USA’s ‘Defective Disc Replacement Program’ launches today for U.S. and Canadian customers! *Updated*

Posted on December 10, 2014 by JJ Bona
"Web of Death" Blu-ray Cover

"Web of Death" Blu-ray Cover

Last month, there was a recent discovery that a number of Blu-ray titles from Well Go USA have become defective, due to an error during the pressing of the actual discs. The defect consists of a bronze-like discoloration which forms on the play-side over time, and can potentially affect playback.

Today, Well Go USA contacted cityonfire.com regarding their “Defective Disc Replacement Program,” which has officially launched today for both their U.S. and Canadian customers.

Read on for a revised list of potentially affected Blu-ray titles and instructions on how to replace your defective discs:

Plano, TX (November 18, 2014) – Well Go USA has confirmed certain Blu-ray discs pressed at a replication facility used for a period between May 2010 – September 2011 may have a defective issue resulting in a bronze discoloration on the underside of the disc potentially leading to playback problems. We have confirmed this potential problem on 19 titles, though only small numbers of affected quantities.

Update: Well Go USA expects to have the new discs, without the defect, delivered to their offices around the second week of January. Once they receive them in, they’ll begin to fulfill and send out replacement discs, according to the order in which the discs were received.

The potentially affected Blu-ray titles are:

9TH COMPANY
ASSAULT GIRLS
BLOOD
BROTHERS FIVE
DELIGHTFUL FOREST, THE
DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, THE
FORK IN THE ROAD, A
HEROIC ONES, THE
IP MAN
IP MAN 2
KUNG FU DUNK
LEGEND OF THE FIST
MAN FROM NOWHERE, THE
SAMURAI PRINCESS
SHAOLIN
STOMP LIVE
STOOL PIGEON
WEB OF DEATH
WHITEWALL, THE

If you discover that your Blu-ray copy of one of the above titles has the bronze discoloration and will not play, please send the disc only (no packaging, please) to the following address for a replacement:

UNITED STATES:

Well Go USA Entertainment
ATTN: Defective Disc Replacement
1601 E. Plano Parkway
Suite 110
Plano, Texas 75074

CANADA:

Unidisc Music Inc.
ATTN: Defective Disc Replacement
57 b Hymus Blvd.
Pointe-Claire, QC
Canada, H9R 4T2

Please include only your disc — no packaging — along with the address to which you’d like us to mail your replacement. We will not be replacing or exchanging packaging. There is no need to email us in addition.

In the event any other titles are discovered with the same issue, they will be replaced accordingly. Thank you to our loyal fans and customers for your patience and understanding in this matter.

– Thanks to Well Go USA for their prompt reply and excellent customer service

Posted in News |

The possessed return in new trailer for ‘[REC] 4: Apocalypse’

Posted on December 9, 2014 by JJ Bona

“REC 4” Theatrical Poster

The 2007 Spanish-language horror film [REC] managed to set a bar for the genre, reinvigorating the zombie movie through the then-fresh ‘found footage’ approach. [REC] proved popular enough to inspire two sequels and now another is on the way. [REC]4: Apocalypse finds original director Jaume Balaguero returning to tell a new story ([REC]3 was actually something of a prequel. Confused yet?) about the sole survivor from the first film.

The trailer for the Apocalypse is online now and Balaguero appears to be dropping the found footage conceit to tell a visceral zombie tale, complete with a wet, grimy atmosphere a la Alien. The oil tanker setting may even remind some Asian film buffs of the 2011 Korean monster movie Sector 7, but it’s likely a mere coincidence.

Update: Enjoy the latest (and NSFW) trailer for the film!

Posted in News |

Why Don’t You Play in Hell? (2013) Review

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Kelly Warner
"Why Don't You Play In Hell?" Theatrical Poster

“Why Don’t You Play In Hell?” Theatrical Poster

Director: Sion Sono
Writer: Sion Sono
Cast: Jun Kunimura, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Fumi Nikaido, Hiroki Hasegawa, Gen Hoshino, Tomochika, Tak Sakaguchi, Itsuji Itao, Hiroyuki Onoue, Tetsu Watanabe, Tasuku Nagaoka, Akihiro Kitamura, Motoki Fukami
Running Time: 129 min.

By Kelly Warner

Sion Sono is my kind of madman. In recent years Sono has made some of the zaniest, most singularly inventive films in the world. Love Exposure was a strangely lovable four hour epic about religion, perverts, and evil cults. Himizu, while difficult to really enjoy, is perhaps one of the angriest works of art I’ve ever seen. Sono even made a bizarre horror movie about haunted hair extensions called Exte – and it didn’t suck. With Why Don’t You Play in Hell? Sono has made what is perhaps his most mainstream work in years, a blend of gangster dramas and showbiz comedies. It’s a crazy, bloody, hilarious film that seems to have been created for those of us who not only enjoy movies but also admire the art of filmmaking and the people who devote their lives to the craft. Why Don’t You Play in Hell? is a film for film lovers… and I loved it.

It begins with toothpaste. The daughter of yakuza boss Muto (Jun Kunimura) is gaining popularity as a child actress thanks to her catchy toothpaste commercial. When a rival family attacks the Muto household, they find the boss isn’t home and are greeted by Muto’s wife and a butcher knife instead. Muto’s wife kills the gangsters but goes to the extreme and lands herself a ten year stint in prison. What’s worse than the jail time is that her daughter’s commercial will be pulled off the air, derailing her promising acting career.

Fast forward a decade. Muto has promised his wife that he’ll do whatever he can to help their daughter become a star. Now he only has a little over a week to get his daughter (Fumi Nikaido) into a movie and have it finished by the time his wife gets released. Of course, there’s a problem: they’re yakuza, not filmmakers. So, in their desperation the Muto family turns to an underground film crew called the F— Bombers to help make their film a reality.

The storyline is fairly complex but it’s largely secondary to Sono’s crazy sense of humor, an ensemble of memorable characters played by enthusiastic actors, and a fantastic, action-packed finale.

By the end of the film, Muto figures that the best way to make his movie and crush his rivals is to basically film an actual raid on a rival’s headquarters. Yakuza battle it out with swords and machine guns while the camera crew run around filming it all and giving their bloody ‘actors’ instructions on how best to kill each other. It’s bloody mayhem played for laughs.

However, I suspect not everyone in the audience will be laughing. The gore and insanity may either offend or simply go over the heads of some people. For my part, the comedy connected with a high batting average, and I was either laughing my head off or staring with mouth agape for most the film’s runtime.

There is a short period in the middle of the movie where things get a bit too mean-spirited and the drama dirties things. The laughs stop coming, the violence isn’t funny, and the characters look uglier than before. I think it’s during this time that the F— Bombers fall to the background of the picture until the plot needs them again. Thankfully Sono comes back to them just in time. The film works best as a crazy piece of comedy and sometimes the gangster drama threatens to take over, making it into something it’s not. Also, while I found the bloody finale to be a complete blast, it did feature some lame CGI blood. At times it looked like a videogame. Still, it’s all in good fun, so realism wasn’t one of the primary concerns. If you can get past the CGI blood and the story’s brief identity crisis then Why Don’t You Play in Hell? makes for a wonderfully weird night at the movies.

Shinichi Tsutsumi (Unlucky Monkey) plays the rival yakuza boss Ikegami, who has become detached from reality. While I’ve seen Tsutsumi in some comedies before, nothing could’ve prepared me for his gonzo performance here. His gruff voice is reminiscent of Toshiro Mifune, but his rubber face rivals 90’s Jim Carrey. It’s a bold, shameless performance, and I kind of loved every minute he was on the screen. His biggest comic challenger comes from Hiroki Hasegawa, who plays Hirata, the leader of the F— Bombers. Hasegawa’s Hirata is a rambling, high-pitched maniac cinephile who prays to the movie gods that he may one day make a film worth remembering. When the yakuza come calling, he sees this as his destiny finally coming true. Whereas Shinichi Tsutsumi does most of his comedy with his face and eyes, Hasegawa chews the scenery with his breathless, overly enthusiastic dialogue. Both are brilliant.

Fan favorite Tak Sakaguchi has a supporting role as the F— Bombers’ wannabe Bruce Lee action star. Sakaguchi spends most the film in Bruce’s trademark yellow jumpsuit, swinging nunchucks at the bad guys and screaming at the top of his lungs. It’s not much of a part, but it is a lot of fun. In early 2013 Tak Sakaguchi revealed that he was retiring. Since then, he has come out of retirement for Yuji Shimomura’s upcoming action film Re:Born. I’m happy to hear it. While Why Don’t You Play in Hell? is a perfectly good film to end things on, perhaps it’s not a role that reminds Sakaguchi’s devotees why they became fans in the first place.

It’s impossible to think of how the film would’ve looked under a different director. Every scene is signature Sono… which might be enough to ward off some viewers, I realize. Sono is one of the most original talents in modern film but not everybody’s in love with his work. If you didn’t like Sono’s previous stuff, chances are you’re not going to find a whole lot to love here. However, if you’re a fan, you gotta check it out. Additionally, I would say that this might be one of the more accessible Sono films for viewers who are unfamiliar with his filmography. So, if you want to get an idea of what a Sion Sono film is like, you could start here and try out the nastier stuff afterwards.

With this review, I am intentionally leaving out some of my favorite parts of Why Don’t You Play in Hell? because I think they’re best experience firsthand. I’ll just finish this by saying that I think this is go-for-broke cinema at its finest. It’s a film you just have to watch.

Kelly Warner’s Rating: 8.5/10

Posted in Japanese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Spend Christmas with Brandon Lee, The Shaw Bros, Michael Dudikoff, Cheng Pei Pei and some Assassins ‘n Traffickers…

Posted on December 9, 2014 by JJ Bona
7 Assassins | DVD (Lionsgate)

7 Assassins | DVD (Lionsgate)

So here we are again, my favorite time of year, Christmas!

It’s a magical time of Santa, toys, trees, tinsel, elves, Rudolph, carols and turkey. “It was the night before Christmas” still sends thrills of delight to my heart as I think of my childhood waiting for Santa to come down the chimney.

But now I’m a wise adult and I realize that sh*t isn’t going to happen. So, I’m going to face reality by treating myself to some of my favorite films – rather than eating that re-gifted fruitcake that gets passed around – which brings us to this month’s Blu-ray & DVD release list, handpicked by cityonfire.com!

The month of December brings Brandon Lee, Live-action Anime, Shaw Brothers Classics, a Michael Dudikoff gem, old school Cheng Pei Pei flicks, a gritty South Korean crime thriller and a handful of great Hong Kong legends – all under one tree!

If you’re interested in purchasing any of the titles, we’re hoping you’ll click on our Amazon.com links to show your support towards cityonfire.com.

Cheng Pei Pei Double Feature: December 2, 2014

Shout! Factory presents the DVD for the Cheng Pei Pei Double Feature, which includes 1973’s Kung Fu Girl and 1974’s Whiplash. Directed by Lo Wei (Fists of Fury) and Ding Sin Saai (Furious Slaughter), respectively, these two Golden Harvest classics feature Cheng Pei Pei, who would gain mainstream recognition for her role as Jade Fox in 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Legacy of Rage: December 2, 2014

Shout! Factory presents the DVD for 1986’s Legacy of Rage, a Hong Kong revenge flick starring the late Brandon Lee (The Crow) and directed by Ronny Yu (The Bride with White Hair), who will be providing an informative audio commentary track. Legacy of Rage is more along the lines of a John Woo shoot ’em up, than a martial arts movie. Nonetheless, it was one heck of a debut for Brandon!

The film also stars Michael Wong (Knock-Off), Chan Wai-Man (Bruce Lee the Invincible), Regina Kent (A Better Tomorrow II), Bolo Yeung (Enter Three Dragons) and Mang Hoi (Heart of the Dragon).

Kite: December 2, 2014

Anchor Bay presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Kite. When her cop father is killed, a young woman tracks the murder with the apparent help of his ex-partner. Kite is said to have more “modern” approach to the material (based on the Anime by Yasuomi Umetsu), using our current economic problems as a backdrop for the story. Ralph Ziman’s (Gangster’s Paradise: Jerusalema) Kite stars India Eisley, Callan McAuliffe, Cleo Rinkwest, Samuel L. Jackson and Russel Savadier.

Hickey & Boggs: December 2, 2014

Is Bill Cosby innocent or guilty? Who cares! Kino Video presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1972’s Hickey & Boggs, written by Walter Hill (The Warriors). I Spy stars, Cosby and Robert Culp (who also directed), are united again in this modern film noir about two detectives investigating a kidnapping and running into a gang of vicious criminals responsible for a string of murders. The film also stars James Woods (The Onion Field), Michael Moriarty (Q), Vincent Gardenia (Death Wish), Bill Hickman (Bullitt) and Ed Lauter (Breakheart Pass).

The Shadow Boxing: December 9, 2014

Well Go USA presents the DVD for 1979’s The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer 2), not to be confused with 1974’s The Shadow Boxer, which was also released by Well Go USA in 2009. Now’s your chance to own this classic Shaw Brother’s gem! Directed by Lau Kar Leung (Drunken Master II), this kung fu “comedy” stars Wong Yu (Shaolin Executioner), Gordon Liu Chia Hui (Shaolin Mantis) and Lau Kar Wing (The Dragon Family).

Trail of the Broken Blade: December 9, 2014

Well Go USA presents the DVD for Trail of the Broken Blade, directed by Chang Cheng (Chinatown Kid, Five Element Ninjas), one of Shaw Brothers Studio’s best known and most prolific film directors! This 1967 classic stars Jimmy Wang Yu (Man Called Tiger), Chin Ping (Killer Darts), Lisa Chiao Chiao (Seven Warriors), Paul Wei Ping Ao (Way of the Dragon) and Wu Ma (White Vengeance).

Avenging Force: December 9, 2014

Kino Lorber presents the Blu-ray for 1986’s Avenging Force (aka Night Hunter), directed by Sam Firstenberg (Revenge of the Ninja) and starring Michael Dudikoff (American Ninja). Not many people are aware of this tidbit, but in this Cannon cult classic, Dudikoff portrays Matt Hunter, a character previously played by Chuck Norris in 1985’s Invasion U.S.A. So, Jack Ryan, eat your heart out! This newly remastered Blu-ray for Avenging Force will feature Audio commentary by Dudikoff and Firstenberg, plus interviews and the original theatrical trailer.

The Traffickers: December 23, 2014

Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Kim Hong-sun’s The Traffickers. This Award-winning South Korean crime thriller takes place in six hours on a passenger boat with an ongoing black-market organ-trafficking operation, and a desperate husband out to find his missing wife. The film stars Im Chang-jung, Choi Daniel, Oh Dal-su and Jo Yoon-hee. Watch the trailer.

7 Assassins: December 23, 2014

Lionsgate is set to release the DVD for Eric Tsang’s 7 Assassins on December 23rd. The Canadian-American entertainment company is marketing the 2013 Hong Kong production as “The story of brotherhood, loyalty, and the rise of the underdog intersect in this epic movie in the vein of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and 47 Ronin.”

Directed by both Tsang (who also stars) and Hung Yan Yan (action director), 7 Assassins features an all-star cast of old school action stars such as: Felix Wong, Ray Lui, Guo Tao, Kara Hu, Well Lee, Michael Wong, Fung Hak On, Waise Lee, Leung Kar Yan, Ken Lo, Mars, Jason Pai Piao, Ti Lung, Dick Wei, Simon Yam, Yu Rong Guang and many others!

Looking for new import releases?
If you’re looking for a new import release, please visit DDDhouse.com. The trusted retailer carries new and upcoming releases that are not yet available in North America.

Posted in News |

Cityonfire.com’s ‘The Traffickers’ Blu-ray Giveaway! – WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Posted on December 9, 2014 by JJ Bona
The Traffickers | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

The Traffickers | Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Cityonfire.com and Well Go USA are giving away 3 Blu-ray copies of the Award-winning South Korean crime thriller The Traffickers to three lucky Cityonfire visitors. If you’re not familiar with the film, you’ll want to watch the trailer!

To enter, simply add a comment to this post and describe, in your own words, what the main fighter (Loren Alvedon) is wearing in this clip from No Retreat, No Surrender II (yes, you read that right).

We will be selecting a winner at random. Be sure to include your email address in the appropriate field so we can contact you for your home address. Additionally, you must ‘Like Us‘ on cityonfire.com’s Facebook by clicking here.

The Blu-ray & DVD for The Traffickers will be officially released on December 23, 2014. We will announce the 3 winners on that day and ship out the prizes immediately.

CONTEST DISCLAIMER: You must enter by December 22, 2014 to qualify. U.S. residents only please. We sincerely apologize to our non-U.S. visitors. Winners must respond with their mailing address within 48 hours, otherwise you will automatically be disqualified. No exceptions. Contest is subject to change without notice.

WINNERS: Congratulations to David, Chris Lane and Sheila! You have all been notified via email!

Posted in News | Tagged |
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 280
  6. 281
  7. 282
  8. 283
  9. 284
  10. 285
  11. 286
  12. 287
  13. 288
  14. 289
  15. 290
  16. ...
  17. 491