Skyfall Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)

Skyfall Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)

Skyfall Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)

RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2013

Sony Pictures presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Sam Mendes’ Skyfall. Bond’s (Daniel Craig) loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. Also starring Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Why deal with crowds? Amazon’s ‘Black Friday Deals Week’ going on right now!

The Matrix, The Dark Knight and Iron Man Blu-rays for only $3.96 each? DVD sets for Sons of Anarchy: Season Three for $9.96? These are just a few of the awesome deals you can get online during Amazon’s Black Friday Deals Event.

Amazon’s Black Friday Deals are not just limited to movies; excellent Black Friday prices on everything from books to video games and electronics will be discounted to the max.

Keep checking back on this Calendar so you don’t let any of the deals slip through the cracks. Deals come and go within hours, so be sure to check out the times and dates for current and upcoming offers!

Posted in News |

Croczilla | aka Million Dollar Crocodile | DVD (Screen Media Films)

Croczilla DVD aka Million Dollar Crocodile (Screen Media Films)

Croczilla DVD aka Million Dollar Crocodile (Screen Media Films)

RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2013

Screen Media Films presents the DVD for Li Sheng Lin’s Croczilla (aka Million Dollar Crocodile), starring Barbie Hse, Tao Guo and Lam Suet. A 36 foot crocodile goes on the rampage in Beijing after being moved from a peaceful Crocodile Farm and onto the menu of a local gangster. Watch the trailer.

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

Thieves, The (2012) Review

"The Thieves" Korean Theatrical Poster

“The Thieves” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Choi Dong-hun
Producer: Ahn Soo-hyun
Cast: Yun-seok Kim, Lee Jung-jae, Kim Hye-soo, Jun Ji-Hyun, Simon Yam, Angelica Lee, Derek Tsang
Running Time: 136 min.

By HKFanatic

The easy marketing spin for “The Thieves” was to label the film as Korea’s answer to “Ocean’s Eleven.” I suppose that means we can add the movie to the list of other Korean blockbusters, like “Quick” or “Sector 7,” that feel slightly derivative of Hollywood works but are perfectly serviceable pieces of pop entertainment in their own right. The good news is that “The Thieves” is actually superior to those aforementioned films. Filled with glamour and style to spare, the case could be made that “The Thieves” is much more than serviceable.

Directed by Dong-Hoon Choi (“Tazza: The High Rollers”), the film follows a group of highly talented thieves with pop culture-based nicknames like Popeye and Pepsi. While laying low from their most recent gig, a former associate emerges from hiding to offer them the heist of a lifetime. The team decides the gig is too good to pass up and they soon find themselves traveling all over Asia, from Seoul to Hong Kong and Macau, on the hunt for a precious diamond. Along the way they must try to get along with a group of Chinese thieves, including veteran Hong Kong actor Simon Yam, and avoid the wrath of the diamond’s owner – a vicious crime lord.

Populated by some of the biggest stars in South Korea, including Jung-Jae Lee (“The Housemaid”) and Yun-seok Kim (star of Cityonfire.com favorite “The Chaser“), the film is moved along at a brisk pace thanks to the actors’ charm and a globe-hopping screenplay. Consequently, “The Thieves” doesn’t feel nearly as long as its daunting 135 minute runtime.

Asian cinema buffs should get a thrill out of the Pan-Asian feel of the movie – it’s not often we get to see Korean actors performing alongside famous Cantonese-speaking stars like Simon Yam or Angelica Lee (“Re-Cycle”). The only real downside is that this means the movie requires subtitles for Korean-speaking audiences, besides the requisite subs for us English speakers. At times the action onscreen can become a bit obscured by all the white text.

Aside from a few “Ghost Protocol“-style aerial stunts during the middle of the movie, “The Thieves” is not exactly what one would call an action movie. That said, a large part of the film’s final act is devoted to an extended setpiece in a Korean apartment building. This action sequence feels like the tenement shootout from Tsui Hark’s “Time and Tide” crossed with the opening parkour chase from “Casino Royale” – derivative, yes, but completely exhilarating at the same time. That’s a statement that could be applied to the movie as a whole. “The Thieves” is an inconsequential but consummately crafted blockbuster. It’s not much of a gamble to suggest that fans of Korean cinema will enjoy the ride.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7.5/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , |

A Man Vanishes 4-Disc DVD Set (Icarus Films)

A Man Vanishes 4-Disc DVD Set (Icarus Films)

A Man Vanishes 4-Disc DVD Set (Icarus Films)

RELEASE DATE: December 11, 2012

Icarus Films presents the DVD for Shohei Imamura’s A Man Vanishes. This film follows the case of a businessman who has suddenly vanished. Radical in scope, technique and aesthetic, A Man Vanishes has a stunning sequence that explodes any stable sense of fiction and reality. Also includes 5 documentaries by Imamura. Watch the trailer.

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

Django Unleashed: Western Movie Collection Triple Feature DVD (Boot Hill)

Django Unleashed: Western Movie Collection Triple Feature DVD (Boot Hill)

Django Unleashed: Western Movie Collection Triple Feature DVD (Boot Hill)

RELEASE DATE: December 11, 2012

Boot Hill presents the DVD for the Django Unleashed: Western Movie Collection. This set – which was obviously produced to cash-in on Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained – contains Giuseppe Colizzi’s Boot Hill (trailer), Romolo Guerrieri’s Johnny Yuma and Mario Siciliano’s Sartana vs. Trinity.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Taken 2 Blu-ray & DVD (20th Century Fox)

Taken 2 Blu-ray & DVD (20th Century Fox)

Taken 2 Blu-ray & DVD (20th Century Fox)

RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2013

20th Century Fox presents Taken 2 on Blu-ray & DVD. When the father of one of the kidnappers from Taken swears revenge, it is Bryan (Liam Neeson) and his wife who find themselves “taken” hostage in Istanbul.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Dredd 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D & DVD (Lionsgate)

Dredd 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D & DVD (Lionsgate)

Dredd 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D & DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: January 8, 2013

Lionsgate presents the 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D & DVD for Dredd. The ultimate Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is tasked with ridding the city of its latest scourge -a dangerous drug and the sadistic prostitute turned drug pusher who is using it to take over the city.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 11/20/12

"Helpless" Korean Theatrical Poster

"Helpless" Korean Theatrical Poster

This Thanksgiving week, the turkeys may be stuffed but the Blu-ray and DVD releases are slim pickings. Still, there should be plenty for film buffs to enjoy, from “The Expendables 2” to the Korean mystery “Helpless.” If you’re interested in any of these 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 11/20/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Helpless (DVD) – this rain-soaked 2012 Korean mystery is based on a novel by the Japanese author known as the ‘Queen of Crime’

Eclipse Series 37: When Horror Came to Shochiku (The X from Outer Space; Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell; The Living Skeleton; Genocide) (DVD) – the Criterion Collection presents this 4-disc DVD set of late 60’s Japanese sci-fi oddities

Beijing Punk (DVD) – this 2010 documentary focuses on the burgeoning punk rock music scene in Communist China

Big Tits Zombie (DVD) – four exotic dancers unwittingly unleash an army of the dead in this 2010 Japanese splatterflick

My Heart Beats (DVD) – in this steamy 2009 Korean film, a repressed English professor dives deeper into the world of her private fantasies

MAINSTREAM

The Expendables 2 (Blu-ray/DVD) – Sly Stallone and his rowdy gang of mercenaries are back for a second helping of violence and mayhem in this 2012 action sequel from “Con Air” director Simon West

Heaven’s Gate (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers Michael Cimino’s controversial 1980 Western, which bankrupted United Artists but has since gone on to be viewed as an American classic

Tarantino XX 8-Film Collection (Blu-ray) – eight feature films either directed by Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction,” “Reservoir Dogs,” etc.) or penned by him (“True Romance”) are collected in this Blu-ray set

American Warships (Blu-ray/DVD) – in a first for Asylum Entertainment, many critics have been calling this “Battleship” knock-off superior to its Hollywood source material. Starring Mario Van Peebles and Carl Weathers, this week the film comes to 1-disc DVD and Blu-ray

Battle B-Boy (DVD) – this 2012 low-budget indie film is apparently about an underground competition that involves a mix of dancing and combat

Survival Games (DVD) – in this 2012 action/thriller, a group of campers are besieged by some angry mobsters who think something valuable has been stolen from them

ANIMATION

Grave of the Fireflies (Blu-ray) – this 1988 feature-length anime concerning the human suffering involved in World War II has been heralded as a classic of Japanese animation

CLASSICS

Ramrod (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1947 Hollywood Western starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake has been classified by many film scholars as a ‘Frontier film noir’

Black Magic (DVD) – Orson Welles stars as a legendary hypnotist in this lavish 1949 period piece

The Trap (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 1959 color film noir starring Richard Widmark and Lee J. Cobb

HORROR

The Pete Walker Collection (House of Whipcord, Die Screaming Marianne, The Comeback, Schizo) (Blu-ray) – Redemption Films presents this 4-disc Blu-ray set of horror films from English director Peter Walker, who frequently combined horror with sexploitation

Schizo: Remastered Edition (DVD) – Redemption Films offers Peter Walker’s 1976 atmospheric chiller “Schizo” as a stand-alone Remastered DVD

Puppet Master II (DVD) – the cult horror series continues with a direct-to-video 1991 sequel

Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge (Blu-ray) – the cult series continues with the Remastered version of this sequel, also released in 1991

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!

Posted in News |

This Jackie Chan Double Feature gives us a reason to Shout!

Jackie Chan Double Feature: Crime Story & The Protector Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Jackie Chan Double Feature: Crime Story & The Protector Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Brace yourself for twice the action and twice the adrenaline rush with an action-packed double feature starring world renowned martial arts sensation Jackie Chan! On January 15, 2013, Shout! Factory will release Crime Story/The Protector Double Feature deluxe Blu-ray™ and DVD. This highly anticipated home entertainment collection contains insightful bonus features including deleted scenes, filmmaker interviews, trailers, behind-the-scenes featurette and more!

The deluxe Blu-ray edition contains a special bonus of Jackie Chan’s cut of The Protector, with additional scenes directed by Chan (in Cantonese with English subtitles – standard definition). This home entertainment release is a must-have for fans, collectors and movie enthusiasts, own two of popular Jackie Chan cult hits on Blu-ray at an attractive price of $19.93 SRP. The double feature DVD has a suggested retail price of $12.99.

Special Features for the Blu-ray Edition: For Crime Story: Interview with director Kirk Wong, deleted scenes and theatrical trailers. For The Protector: From New York to Hong Kong – Interview with director James Glickenhaus, Behind-the-scenes featurette, theatrical trailers and the Jackie Chan Cut of The Protector with additional scenes directed by Chan (In Cantonese with English Subtitles – Standard Definition)

Special Features for the DVD Edition: For Crime Story: Deleted scenes and theatrical trailers. For The Protector: From New York to Hong Kong – Interview with director James Glickenhaus and theatrical trailers.

Posted in News |

Sansho the Bailiff Blu-ray (Criterion Collection)

Sansho the Bailiff Blu-ray (Criterion Collection)

Sansho the Bailiff Blu-ray (Criterion Collection)

RELEASE DATE: February 26, 2012

Criterion presents the Blu-ray for Kenji Mizoguchi’s Sansho the Bailiff. When an idealistic governor disobeys the reigning feudal lord, he is cast into exile, his wife and children left to fend for themselves and eventually separated by vicious slave traders. This classic Japanese story became one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, a monumental, empathetic expression of human resilience in the face of evil. Watch the trailer.

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

The Ballad of Narayama Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

The Ballad of Narayama Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

The Ballad of Narayama Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)

RELEASE DATE: February 5th, 2013

Criterion presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Keisuke Kinoshita’s The Ballad of Narayama. This haunting, kabuki-inflected version of a Japanese folk legend is set in a remote mountain village, where food is scarce and tradition dictates that citizens who have reached their seventieth year must be carried to the summit of Mount Narayama and left there to die. Watch the trailer.

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

Hey Japanese! DVD (Vanguard Cinema)

"Hey Japanese!" Japanese Poster

"Hey Japanese!" Japanese Poster

RELEASE DATE: February 26, 2013

Vanguard Cinema presents the DVD for Ryotaro Muramatsu’s Hey Japanese! (aka Hey Japanese! Do You Believe Peace, Love and Understanding? 2008 or Heyjapa!). According to Nippon Cinema, this movie is a black comedy interweaving 6 concurrent stories occuring in a suburban area on the outskirts of Tokyo. Check out the trailer.

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

The Assassins Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

The Assassins Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

The Assassins Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: January 8, 2013

Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Zhao Linshan’s The Assassins. This action film stars Chow Yun Fat and is written by the screenwriter behind Zhang Yimou’s Hero. The story focuses on Cao Cao in his old age, exploring the areas of military tactics, love, and the relationship between father and son. Watch the trailer.

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

Who can kill a child? Fujiwara Tatsuya in ‘Shield of Straw’

"Shield of Straw" Teaser Poster

Fresh off a turn in the dark cult drama I’m Flash, popular actor Fujiwara Tatsuya continues to tackle challenging roles. Although he’s most well known for his part in Battle Royale and Death Note, it appears that Tatsuya is looking to carve a name for himself as a serious thespian. His latest is titled Shield of Straw and arrives from none other than acclaimed director Takashi Miike.

The grim drama follows a confessed child killer as he is being transported by police across the country for a trial. The only trouble is, one of his victim’s grandfathers has put out a $12 million bounty on Tatsuya’s head – kinda like the scene in The Dark Knight where the Joker tells Gotham City to take out that Wayne Enterprises employee before he reveals Batman’s identity.

Shield of Straw hits Japanese theaters in Spring 2013. In the meantime, hop on over to Twitch Film for the teaser trailer and a clip.

Posted in News |