"Taken" Korean Theatrical Poster

THL reports that Pierre Morel (Taken, District B13) is in negotiations to direct an action movie starring Sean Penn in The Prone Gunman, which will be based on the novel of the same by Jean-Patrick Manchette. The film is being produced by Silver Pictures’ Joel Silver (Die Hard) and Andrew Rona (Equilibrium). When deals on made final, production is set to begin this year.

According to Amazon, the book follows Martin Terrier, a hired killer who wants out of the game—so he can settle down and marry his childhood sweetheart. After all, that’s why he took up this profession! But the Organization won’t let him go: they have other plans. Once again, the gunman must assume the prone shooting position.

Bangkok Assassins DVD (Lionsgate)

The last week of January brings slim pickings for Asian film fans, but let’s soldier on anyway. If you’re interested in any of the following titles, you can support the site by ordering through our affiliate. We appreciate it!

Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 1/29/13:

ASIAN CINEMA

Bangkok Assassins (DVD) – Lionsgate presents this 2011 Thai action film about four young men who were trained in Shaolin kung fu as orphans. Also known as “Bangkok Kung Fu,” the movie features action choreography by “Ong-bak”’s Somchai Munma

MAINSTREAM

Die Hard: 25th Anniversary Collection (Blu-ray) – John McClane has always been the right man at the wrong place, wrong time. Score all four “Die Hard” films in stunning hi-def with this box set

Seven Psychopaths (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2012 quirky crime comedy from the director of “In Bruges,” starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Christopher Walken

The Cold Light of Day (Blu-ray/DVD) – from the director of “JCVD”! Bruce Willis and future Superman Henry Cavill co-star in this 2012 spy thriller that failed to catch fire at the box office

All Superheroes Must Die (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 superhero-themed indie thriller is billed as “Batman meets Saw”

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (Blu-ray/DVD) – an aging caped crusader swings into action in the second part of the animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel

Liability (DVD) – actor Tim Roth (“Reservoir Dogs”) headlines this 2012 arthouse-style crime thriller

NEW TO BLU-RAY

The Duelists (Blu-ray) – Shout! Factory presents the first hi-def release of this 1977 film – the first effort of a director you may have heard of, Ridley Scott

Flight of the Navigator (Blu-ray) – this spacefaring Disney family favorite arrives from 1986, now on Blu

The Obscure Object of Desire (Blu-ray) – the final film from the legendary Spanish filmmaker and surrealist Luis Buñuel, this 1977 movie plays a dark game of sexual politics

HORROR

White Zombie: Kino Classics’ Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – Kino presents a remastered edition of this 1932 horror favorite starring Bela Lugosi

Citadel (Blu-ray/DVD) – twisted feral children target a grieving father in this 2012 chiller that gained attention in the film festival circuit

Paranormal Activity 4 (Blu-ray/DVD) – demonic forces just won’t rest in this 2012 sequel to the popular horror franchise

The Awakening (Blu-ray/DVD) – actress Rebecca Hall (“The Town”) stars as a hoax exposer who comes up against a supernatural mystery she can’t simply explain away

Midnight Movies Vol 10: Killer Critters Double Feature (DVD) – Blue Underground presents a 2-film set including the movies “Rats: Night of Terror” and “Venom”

Midnight Movies Vol 9: Zombie Double Feature (DVD) – it’s two Italian horror flicks for the price of one, courtesy of Blue Underground. In this set you can acquire “Hell of the Living Dead” and “Nightmare City”

Midnight Movies Vol 8: Cannibal Double Feature (DVD) – develop a taste for flesh when Blue Underground presents “Cannibal Man” and “Cannibals” together on DVD

Pig/1334 (Blu-ray + DVD combo) – two highly experimental, industrial-style horror short films dating to around 1998, featuring work by Rozz Williams of Christian Death shortly before he took his own life

Cherry Tree Lane (DVD) – a young middle class couple are living the perfect life until a group of teenagers show up at their door wielding knives in this 2010 horror film

Interested in any of these movies? If so, we hope that you’ll consider ordering from our affiliate to help support this site. Thank you!

"Desperado" Japanese Theatrical Poster

During a 20th Anniversary screening of 1992’s El Mariachi at the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Rodriguez hinted that we’ll see another El Mariachi film in the future.

Here’s what Rodriguez told MTV: “We forgot about how much fun we’ve had together,” Rodriguez said. “We decided we have to do something. We want to do another El Mariachi movie at some point. We always said we would, but [we’d shoot it] much later when he’s older and rounder.”

Made in 1992 for about $7,000, El Mariachi put Rodriguez on the map as one of Hollywood’s most craftiest filmmakers. Along with Quentin Tarantino, Rodriguez helped usher in the independent movie boom of the early 1990s. El Mariachi spawned two sequels: 1995’s Desperado and 2003’s Once Upon A Time In Mexico, both starring Antonio Banderas, who took over the role of ‘El Mariachi’ for Carlos Gallardo.

While you’re waiting for the two to team up in El Mariachi 4, be sure and catch Antonio Banderas in Rodriguez’ Machete Kills, which opens September 13, 2013.

"The Complex" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Hideo Nakata is back! Sure, he never really went away, but the Ringu director’s career has taken slight a detour the past few years. Nakata made the jump to Hollywood by directing sequel to The Ring, which was not nearly as well received as the original American remake. In 2008, Nakata directed a spin-off of the live-action Death Note series titled Death Note L: Change the World.

2010 gave us Chatroom, a little seen cyber-thriller out of the UK starring Kick-Ass‘ Aaron Johnson. Now with the imminent arrival of 2013’s The Complex, it looks like Hideo Nakata is getting back to what he does best: filming movies in Japanese that also speak the universal language of fear.

You won’t want to miss the teaser trailer for The Complex, which boasts high production values and a stylish look.

Perhaps taking a page from Nakata’s own Dark Water, the film follows a young girl who moves into a large apartment complex and soon becomes witness to a series of horrifying events. The Complex hits Japanese theaters in May of 2013. Thanks to Far East Films for the scoop.