Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 10/30/12

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Z Ravas
Outlaw Brothers DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

Outlaw Brothers DVD (Dragon Dynasty)

Trick or treat? This week is short on releases but with half the country bracing for a hurricane that’s probably not a bad thing. 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 10/30/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Outlaw Brothers (DVD) – only one Asian movie this week but it’s well worth a look. This 1990 Hong Kong action film was directed by and stars Frankie Chan. Fans of classic HK action like “Righting Wrongs” and “She Shoots Straight” won’t want to miss this

FOREIGN CINEMA

Polisse (DVD) – this critically acclaimed 2011 French drama follows the police unit charged with protecting the children of Paris

Elena (DVD) – in this Russian-language 2011 update of vintage noir, a window will go to any lengths to ensure she receives her inheritance. Soundtrack by Phillip Glass

Taxi for Tobruk (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this 1960 French film, a group of French soldiers and their German prison unexpectedly discover the meaning of solidarity

Brain (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 1969 slapstick comedy out of France starring David Niven, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Eli Wallach

Greed in the Sun (Blu-ray/DVD) – French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo headlines this 1969 adventure about a stolen truck, in the vein of “Wages of Fear”

Americano (Blu-ray/DVD) – French director Matthew Demy directs and stars in this 2012 English-language drama about Frenchman who heads to Los Angeles to square away his mother’s estate

Raaz 3 (DVD) – “Black Swan” gets crossed with black magic in this 2012 Bollywood thriller

MAINSTREAM

Safety Not Guaranteed (Blu-ray/DVD) – the delightfully snarky Aubrey Plaza (TV’s Parks and Recreation) headlines this 2012 indie comedy about time travel – or the possibility of time travel

Ruby Sparks (Blu-ray/DVD) – writer Paul Dano finds out what happens when a character you create on the page comes to life in this 2012 indie romance

The Campaign (Blu-ray/DVD) – Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis square off as two political candidates in this 2012 election comedy

CLASSICS

Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection (Limited Edition) (Blu-ray) – this box set is a treasure trove for Hitchcock fans, 15 discs in all, including: “Rope,” “Rear Window,” “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” “Vertigo,” “The Birds,” and more

Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Blu-ray) – Katherine Hepburn stars in this 1962 film about an addicted, dysfunctional family

Max Fleischers Superman: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – a collection of fully restored 1930’s animated shorts from legendary animator Max Fleischer

HORROR

Rosemary’s Baby (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection presents the definitive release of Roman Polanski’s 1968 horror classic

House of Dark Shadows (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1970 film was made to serve as an introduction to the “Dark Shadows” television show

Night of Dark Shadows (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 1972 sequel to “House of Dark Shadows”

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 |

Bleak Night DVD (Bayview Entertainment)

Posted on October 27, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Bleak Night" DVD Cover

"Bleak Night" DVD Cover

RELEASE DATE: January 22, 2013

Bayview Entertainment presents the DVD for Bleak Night (aka Pasuggun). A grieving father (Cho Seong-ha, The Yellow Sea) seeks to understand the circumstances that led his teenage son, Ki-tae (Lee Je-hoon, The Front Line), to commit suicide. Watch the trailer.

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

‘Dangerous Liaisons’ remake starring Zhang Ziyi – coming to North America

Posted on October 26, 2012 by JJ Bona

"Dangerous Liaisons" North American Theatrical Poster

Shooting began on September 27th for Hur Jin-Ho’s Dangerous Liaisons, a Chinese/South Korean co-production based on the classic French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. It will be released in 2012 and stars Jang Dong-gun (The Warrior’s Way), Zhang Ziyi (Musa) and Cecilia Cheung (12 Nights).

Les Liaisons dangereuses has been made into feature films many times. One of the most popular takes is Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liaisons (1988), followed by the modern day retelling Cruel Intentions (1999). South Korea even had an adaptation called Untold Scandal (2003). – Thanks to AlbertV for the tip!

Update: A teaser poster was revealed at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. Dangerous Liaisons is slated for release in winter 2012. Thanks to our source.

Some brand new posters for the film, courtesy of Chinese Films. Director Hur Jin-ho promises that this is not just a remake of Untold Scandal, a previous Korean adaptation of Liaisons. He also claims this will be the “cleanest” adaptation of the book yet, so you may not want to expect too many steamy scenes.

You’ve heard of character posters, well get ready for a ‘character trailer‘ for Dangerous Liaisons. Cecilia Cheung actually looks quite good in this and it’s nice to see Zhang Ziyi playing against type. The studio released some new stills of Zhang Ziyi from the film. Cecilia Cheung plays the seductress in new stills released from the movie.

Hot off the heels of their acquisition of Korean caper flick The Thieves, Well Go USA has announced they’ve obtained the rights to distribute Dangerous Liaisons in North America.

BREAKING NEWS: Apple Quicktime has the exclusive North American trailer. Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly debuted the North American poster. Look for Dangerous Liaisons in limited release this November 9th, 2012.

Posted in News |

Return Engagement (1990) Review

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Return Engagement" Chinese DVD Cover

“Return Engagement” Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Joe Cheung
Cast: Alan Tang, Andy Lau, Simon Yam, May Lo, Elizabeth Lee, David Ng, Carrie Ng, Melvin Wong, Stephen Tung, Ku Feng, Chan Chi Fai, Dennis Chan, Stephen Chan, Chang Yi, Chen Jing, Dang Taai Woh
Running Time: 109 min.

By HKFanatic

Until his tragic passing in 2011, actor Alan Tang was a bonafied Hong Kong legend. Tang carried himself with all the swagger of a classic Hollywood movie idol; he’s one of the few actors around who could manage to steal the spotlight from Chow Yun Fat, as he did when they starred together in 1987’s “Flaming Brothers.” It was during this period that Tang began to rebrand himself as an action star, a role that suited him well. Behind the scenes, he formed his own production company and famously invested millions of his own dollars into Wong Kar-Wai’s benchmark film “Days of Being Wild.”

And before Wong Kar-Wai took flight as his own director, he regularly provided scripting services for Tang. Besides the aforementioned “Flaming Brothers,” Wong Kar-Wai helped to pen “Return Engagement,” a little-seen and oft-overlooked 1990 film that likely falls under the genre of ‘heroic bloodshed.’ On a surface level, the plot doesn’t bear much resemblance to Wong Kar-Wai’s other work but, upon closer inspection, this is a Triad picture that favors interpersonal relationships and family drama over nonstop bloodshed. Then again, if all you’re here to see is bullet casings hitting the ground, “Return Engagement” doesn’t disappoint in that regard either.

As our film opens, Alan Tang’s Triad boss is fighting the Italian mafia for control of Vancouver’s Chinatown. You read that right: this is one of the few Hong Kong action flicks that isn’t set in Hong Kong – at least for the opening 15 minutes. It’s quite a sight to witness Triad gangsters diving through the air and drawing their pistols in the middle of a quaint Canadian suburb. Shortly thereafter, Tang becomes separated from his family and placed in prison for over a decade while his newborn daughter is sequestered away to Hong Kong.

The movie jumps ahead to when Alan Tang, now looking older thanks to some grey dye in his hair, is released from prison. He soon boards a plane to Hong Kong to try and track down his missing daughter. Once there, he meets May Lo (“The Last Blood“), a streetwise teenager who might just know where Tang’s daughter is. In fact, she might even be his daughter. Tang’s patience is tested as Lo strings him along and drains his wallet, but both his character and the audience are left in suspense as to whether or not Lo is his missing daughter.

Along the way they must contend with an amoral Triad boss, portrayed by a young Simon Yam at his most maniacal. When things get bad enough, Alan Tang makes the phone call to summon a baby-faced Andy Lau from Vancouver. Andy Lau fans may be disappointed their hero is allotted a mere 10 minutes of screentime, but Lau makes the most of his brief appearance by serving a crucial (and acrobatic) role in the film’s climactic shootout.

The real heart of the film is Alan Tang’s budding paternal relationship with May Lo. Tang realizes that a mistreated orphan like May could use his guidance, whether he’s her real father or not. For her part, Lo slowly comes to understand that this ‘stiff old man’ has her best interests in mind. While the story has plenty of resonant themes, most of them are kept in the background. This is a fairly emotionally complex movie – but only upon reflection. Most of “Return Engagement’s” runtime is eaten up by May Lo looking and acting like a character from a John Hughes movie – hair gel’d to hell and back, new wave-style makeup – not to mention the numerous shootouts and beat downs that occur.

The finale in particular is worth mentioning. Director Joe Cheung doesn’t rely much on the slow motion or complex editing of someone like John Woo, but he makes “Return Engagement” stand out due the over-the-top and unique nature of the final action sequence. This guns-blazing shootout is staged on a wide public road in the middle of broad daylight, with our heroes desperately outnumbered and everyone packing Rambo-sized firepower.

While it may not be up there with “Dragon Family” or “Tragic Hero,” the massive gun battle that concludes “Return Engagement” certainly comes close. This is a ‘heroic bloodshed’ movie that deserves a wider look from fans, due to Wong Kar-Wai’s emotion-laden script as much as the film’s violent pyrotechnics.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

The latest on the Hong Kong cop thriller ‘Cold War’ – final trailer

Posted on October 24, 2012 by JJ Bona

"Cold War" Chinese Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: Cold War is directed by first-time directors, Longman Leung and Sunny Luk. Although the duo have no films to their credit, their riveting script for Cold War is what drew Hong Kong’s biggest stars in. The film stars Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, and Tony Leung Ka Fai, Aarif Lee, Gordon Lam, Andy On, Terence Yin, Charlie Yeung, Eddie Peng, Chin Ka-lok and Ma Yili.

Andy Lau said “Infernal Affairs was a classic gangster film ten years ago. It is my pleasure to play a part in Coldwar and hope it can become the new benchmark for Hong Kong gangster films for the next ten years.” Cold War hopes to be a blockbuster in Hong Kong gangster films.

Updates: Twitchfilm has confirmed that The Corruptor’s Byron Mann has joined the cast.

A teaser poster and synopsis have hit the web. Stars Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka Fai were on hand to promote the film in Beijing yesterday. Kwok said of his co-star Leung: “He is the best actor of all time. After reading the script, I immediately made up my mind to join the film.” Twitch has posted a promotional teaser trailer.

Don’t miss the explosive new trailer for the film! Chinese Films notes that this is the first time Aaron Kwok and Andy Lau have starred in a movie together since 1991’s Saviour of the Soul. Expect Cold War in Hong Kong theaters this October 18th, 2012.

A new promotional trailer for the movie, courtesy of Chinese Films. A new 70-second trailer designed for Mainland Chinese audiences. Finally, we’ve got a decent poster for Cold War, courtesy of Chinese Films. Here’s a  new behind the scenes video. No English subtitles but it’s still an interest looking at the making of the film.

The producers have been pretty shy about publicizing Andy Lau’s cameo in the film, as they reportedly don’t want to spoil his character’s role in the story. But today we’ve got some pics of the famous actor in the movie.

BREAKING NEWS: The final trailer is online at Chinese Films, although it requires a plug-in. We’ll provide a YouTube or similar link when available. Cold War releases in Chinese theaters on November 8th, 2012.

Posted in News |

Tai Chi Zero Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Posted on October 24, 2012 by JJ Bona
Tai Chi Zero Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Tai Chi Zero Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: January 22, 2013

Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Tai Chi Zero (aka Tai Chi 0) is directed by House of Fury’s Stephen Fung with Ip Man’s Sammo Hung serving as action director. The film stars Xiao-chao Yuan, William Feng, Eddie Peng, Shu Qi, Daniel Wu, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Angela Baby. Watch the trailer.

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

Chow Yun Fat is ‘The Last Tycoon’ – Sammo speaks!

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Z Ravas

"The Last Tycoon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Twitch Film has some jaw-dropping news: director Wong Jing (God of Gamblers, Jackie Chan’s City Hunter) and producer Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs, Storm Riders) are uniting Hong Kong legends Chow Yun Fat and Sammo Hung, two men who need no introduction to Cityonfire.com readers, for a new movie.

The film, titled The Last Tycoon, is based on the story of real life crime boss Du Yuesheng, who ruled the Shangai underworld with an iron fist during the 1920’s and 30’s. Twitch notes that Chow Yun Fat previously portrayed Du Yuesheng in The Bund, the television show that launched his career back in the 80’s. In addition, The Last Tycoon is expected to be screened in IMAX in China.

The film also stars veteran Hong Kong actor Francis Ng.

Update: The project is currently being filmed. To add confusion, Wong Jing has apparently decided to release a different movie under The Last Tycoon’s original title Once Upon a Time in Shanghai. Chow Yun Fat has been promoting the film at the Shanghai Film Fest and even posed in costume with the rest of the cast for a photo op.

The production crew of The Last Tycoon threw a wrap-up party recently in Shanghai. Chow Yun Fat stated this was the first time he’d worked with a Hong Kong crew in over 10 years and that the experience was a pleasure. Fat confirms that Sammo Hung is in the film.

A teaser trailer is now online, although be warned that it doesn’t show much of the movie at all. Actor Huang Xiaoming and Chow Yun Fat will play the same character, just in different stages of his life.

A new poster for the film straight out of the Toronto Film Festival. Perhaps even more exciting is this picture of Chow Yun Fat with guns blazing just like the good ‘ol days. While we wait for a full-length trailer for the film, check out some new stills here and here. Check out the new poster, as well as some pictures from the promotional tour.

BREAKING NEWS: Sammo Hung spoke briefly about what it was like to finally collaborate with his longtime box office rival, Chow Yun Fat. And don’t miss the latest trailer online.

Posted in News |

Deadly Blessing Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Posted on October 24, 2012 by JJ Bona
Deadly Blessing Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Deadly Blessing Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: January 22, 2013

Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Wes Craven’s Deadly Blessing. The film is set in an Amish Country, at a local farm, where a woman’s husband is mysteriously killed by his own tractor! Starring Ernest Borgnine, Maren Jensen, Susan Buckner and Sharon Stone. Watch the trailer.

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

The Nest Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Posted on October 24, 2012 by JJ Bona
The Nest Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

The Nest Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

RELEASE DATE: January 22, 2013

Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1988’s The Nest. A biological experiment goes haywire when meat-eating mutant roaches invade an island community, terrorizing a peaceful New England fishing village and hideously butchering its citizens. Directed by Terence H. Winkless (Bloodfist). Watch the trailer.

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

Michael Meyers is coming to your town…with a few hours to kill

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Z Ravas

"Halloween" Theatrical Re-Release Poster

Forgive me for mixing the Predator 2 tagline with Halloween. The good news is, John Carpenter’s 1978 horror movie classic Halloween – the movie that launched an entire franchise that continues to this day – is returning to the big screen. Michael Meyers will stalk theaters for one night only, October 25th, 2012, in a number of theaters across the country.

Check this space for theatrical listings. If the movie isn’t playing in your state as of right now, don’t fret: theaters will be added continuously until September 28th. Thanks to AICN for the story and thanks to Screen Vision to bringing this American horror classic back to the big screen where it belongs!

Posted in News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 10/23/12

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Z Ravas
Athena: Goddess of War Blu-ray & DVD (Funimation)

Athena: Goddess of War Blu-ray & DVD (Funimation)

As Halloween approaches, we look ahead to this Tuesday’s fresh batch of Asian and cult films on Blu-ray and DVD. 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 10/23/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Athena Goddess of War Movie (Blu-ray/DVD) – Funimation delivers this explosive 2012 espionage thriller from Korea, based on a popular TV show

Midnight F.M. (DVD) – a 2010 Korean thriller about a late night radio DJ who finds her family’s life at stake due to an insane caller

Troubleshooter (DVD) – in this 2010 Korean thriller, an ex-detective turned private eye is on the run after being framed for a murder at a love hotel

Slice (DVD) – a gruesome Thai horror movie from 2009. A notorious ex-hitman is on the trail of a brutal serial killer

Boogiepop and Others (DVD) – Bayview Entertainment offers a budget-priced reissue of this 2000 live-action Japanese film that serves as prequel to the popular “Boogiepop Phantom” anime

Tokyo Playboy Club (DVD) – a 2011 Japanese dark comedy set in the sparkling underbelly of Tokyo’s nightlife

Five Senses of Eros (DVD) – this 2009 Korean erotic anthology film from several directors looks at human sexuality from a variety of angles

Shaolin Deadly Kicks/Chase Step By Step (DVD) – 162 minutes of old-school 70’s kung fu. Just don’t expect an original language track or a gorgeous widescreen transfer

Tree With Deep Roots (DVD) – a popular Korean TV show delivered in a 7-disc DVD set. This period piece chronicles the rule of Korea’s most famous king

FOREIGN CINEMA

The Ambassador (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2012 Danish dark comedy-by-way-of-documentary that explores the exploitation of third world countries

The Slut (DVD) – controversial 2012 title in Hebrew that explores the sexual identity of a single mother living in a small village

Fatherless (DVD) – a 2011 German drama about a group of siblings who suddenly find themselves mulling over the details of their repressed childhoods

Cocktail (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2012 romantic-comedy from Bollywood, which means there’s plenty of song ‘n dance too

MAINSTREAM

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2012 historically-themed action flick arrives from Timur Bekmambetov, the director behind “Wanted” and the “Night Watch” pictures

Blade Runner (30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) (Blu-ray) – the latest, extra-special edition of Ridley Scott’s 1982 science-fiction classic. Available in a 4-disc Blu-ray and DVD box set

I, Robot (3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray) – Will Smith headlines this 2004 sci-fi/action adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s famous novel. From the director of “The Crow” and now on 3D Blu

Magic Mike (Blu-ray/DVD) – Channing Tatum strips down to his skivvies for director Steven Soderbergh in this 2012 breakout hit drama

Seeking a Friend For the End of the World (Blu-ray/DVD) – apparently Kiera Knightly would hook up with Steve Carrel if he was the last man on earth in this 2012 indie comedy

Freight (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2012 action feature promises Russian gangs raising hell in England, and features one of the voice actors from the popular Call of Duty video game series

I Am Bish (DVD) – in this 2009 psuedo-documentary from Australia, a film student is filming a project for class and inadvertently ends up capturing the end of the world on camera

CULT

Death Promise (DVD) – greedy landlords are the target in this 1977 vigilante picture in the “Death Wish” vein

Escape From Women’s Prison (DVD) – you’ll wish these feisty ladies had stayed behind bars in this 1978 ‘women in cages’ exploitation flick from Italy

Women Ordered to Love (DVD) – this 1961 German film was one of the first in the once popular genre of ‘Nazisploitation’

Black Cobra/The Big Fight (DVD) – two exploitation movies on one disc; in the 1987 flick “Black Cobra,” cult icon Fred Williamson takes out the trash

CLASSICS

The Penalty: Kino Classics Special Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – Kino Video treats horror fans to a restoration of this 1920 crime drama starring Lon Chaney sans makeup

Dracula (Blu-ray) – director Tod Browning’s 1931 horror classic starring Bela Lugosi in the title role – now in hi-def!

Frankenstein (Blu-ray) – the 1931 original, directed by James Whale, and now on Blu-ray

Bride of Frankenstein (Blu-ray) – considered by many to be the best Frankenstein film, this 1935 picture from director James Whale comes to Blu

The Mummy (Blu-ray) – this 1932 Universal monster movie is considered by many to be the best of its kind due to the direction from legendary cinematographer Karl Fruend (Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”)

The Invisible Man (Blu-ray) – H.G. Wells’ novel comes to life in this 1933 picture from “Frakenstein” director James Whale

Phantom of the Opera (Blu-ray) – there have been many filmed versions of this particular story, but this disc Universal’s 1945 picture in Technicolor and starring Claude Rains

The Wolf Man (Blu-ray) – Lon Chaney stars as the lupine creature in this 1941 Universal Monster Movie

HORROR

Wrong Turn 5 (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2012 entry in this surprisingly resilient horror series about a group of backwoods mutants from West Virginia

Octaman (40th Anniversary Edition) (DVD) – a sought after 1972 creature feature from Harry Essex, director of “Creature From the Black Lagoon”

247 F (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 horror/thriller about a group of students trapped in a slowly over-heating sauna reunites Scout Taylor-Compton and Tyler Mane of Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” remake

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 |

Friend | aka Chingoo (2001) Review

Posted on October 20, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Friend" Korean Theatrical Poster

“Friend” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kwak Kyung-Taek
Writer: Kwak Kyung-Taek
Cast: Yoo Oh-Sung, Chang Dong-Gun, Suh Tae-Hwa, Jung Woon-Taek, Kim Bo-Kyung
Running Time: 113 min

By Dragon Ma

I’ve always wondered about what it means to be a true friend, a brother even. In this film, the director paints a portrait of four friends who thought they would remain friends forever.

The plot is mainly the story of four young boys who grow up very differently. Song-Taek is the academic and the one most likely to succeed, Joong-so is the clown( strangely enough, he reminds me of Mike Myers), Joong-Suk, is the son of a gangster and Joong-Sun is the son of an undertaker. As these four kids grow up together and then grow into men, Joong-Suk and Joong-Sun drift towards crime and end up being gangsters while the other two pursue a less criminal lifestyle; but they still remain friends, that is, until events unfold that pit Joong-Suk and Joong-Sun against each other.

I’ll leave it there but suffice to say it’s a thoroughly emotional film, not in a John Woo melodramatic kind of way where there’s a lot of homosexual subtext, and I credit the actors for doing such a phenomenal job in this film. Yoo-Oh Sung, Jang Dong-Un, Seo Tae-Hwa and Joong Un-Taek all come across so strongly and it really hurts to see things go bad. Yoo-Oh Sung gives a truly great performance, although I thought Jang Don-Un eclipsed him only slightly. The look of this film is excellent and there are some truly beautiful shots – but it’s just part of a whole and by the end, you’re exhausted; you’ve watched these four guys grow up, make mistakes and in it’s conclusion, I wish they could have remain friends just like they originally intended.

Dragon Ma’s Rating: 10/10

By Alexander

This site once had the quote “So you wanna be a gangsta?” on the main page, emblazoned across a picture of Michael Wong and Sooky Chan, guns aloft, from the crime drama The Blood Rules. A more apt image for this quote, however, would be the box art from the compelling Korean coming-of-age tale Friend. The auburn tinted picture of the four brooding young men, all sullen and garbed in the black uniforms of their high school seems to actually invite the viewer to join their tight knit group, to infiltrate the bond of their lifelong friendship, a friendship ultimately turned upside down by the brutal realities of organized crime.

While Friend isn’t the best Korean film I’ve seen to date (JSA left me feeling more satisfied), it is one of the most compelling films to emerge from Asian cinema in the past few years (further evidence that Korea is producing the most exciting films on the continent). While not wholly original (Once Upon a Time in America and The Godfather covered much of the same territory years prior), Friend managed to completely reel me in with its stunning performances by Jang Dong-geon (Dong-su) and Yoo Oh-sung (Jun-seok). They portray the two tragic leads who succumb to the violent world of organized crime despite the pleas of their “straight” friends Jung-ho and Sang-taek. Yoo Oh-sung is tailor made for the role of gang boss Jun-seok. I was absolutely enthralled by his performance as the violent yet loyal hood with his gaunt face, near-constant snarl and the ever-present wisp of cigarette smoke.

Friend gets off to a promising start. The best visuals in the film occur within the first few minutes of the movie as it chronicles the disparate childhoods of four friends growing up in Korea in the ’70s. The children bicker, play Pong, watch lurid porn on the group’s sole VCR, and worship Bruce Lee. They flirt, pick fights with playground bullies and generally behave like all carefree teenagers do. Their future involvement in organized crime is only hinted at, but these subtle hints foreshadow the chaos that eventually erupts when two of the boys choose to embark on careers as gangsters.

My biggest complaint about Friend is the writer’s attempt to cram these four boy’s lives into a 113 minute film. It’s tough to genuinely care about any one of these young men when they are splitting screen time with three other characters. Years pass without any mention of their whereabouts, which are usually only vaguely hinted at when they return to the screen. Because Joon-suk gets the most screen time and brings the most intensity to his role, he’s by far the most memorable and compelling of the boys. Likewise, some plot points are underdeveloped and should have been fleshed out. Joon-suk’s girlfriend, for instance, has major relevance early in the film, but all but disappears until the final act. An additional twenty minutes would have resulted in a still bearable 133 minute running time and would have better allowed writer Kwak Kyung-taek to tell his story.

Regardless, Friend is highly recommended.

Alexander’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , |

God help him! Nicolas Cage has been ‘Left Behind’

Posted on October 20, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Knowing" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Knowing" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Move over Kirk Cameron. According to The Playlist (via Variety), Nicolas Cage is set to star in a reboot of the apocalyptic Christian-themed Left Behind. The $15 million picture will be based on the book of the same name by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. The original Left Behind movie starred Growing Pain’s Kirk Cameron and spawned two straight-to-DVD sequels.

If you think the Cage version will be a Hollywood-ized, Christian-free take, think again. The production company responsible for the first three Left Behind movies are financing the reboot. In addition, Paul Lalonde, the writer/producer of the first films will continue his duties. Veteran stuntman Vic Armstrong, who worked on films such as On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and I Am Legend, will be directing.

Nicolas Cage isn’t the only tough guy doing Christian-themed movies between his usual action flicks. Martial arts star Gary Daniels (The Expendables, The Expendables: Director’s Cut, City Hunter) recently wrapped up The Encounter and The Mark, which were both made with a touch of God.

Posted in News |

Mourning the loss of Japanese director Koji Wakamatsu

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Z Ravas

Koji Wakamatsu

Media outlets are reporting that Japanese filmmaker Koji Wakamatsu, aged 76, recently passed away after being struck by a Taxi.

Wakamatsu got his start in filmmaking with ‘pinku’ films, such as Go Go Second Time Virgin, in the 1960’s. These were softcore Japanese titles in which he could insert his subversive, anti-authoritarian themes without raising many eyebrows.

Later in Wakamatsu’s career, he obtained international acclaim thanks to works such as 2007’s United Red Army and 2010’s Caterpillar, both of which are currently streaming on Netflix Instant.

Although Wakamatsu’s films have not been widely available in the West, perhaps his untimely passing will spur Western distributors to take a chance on the considerable body of work he has left behind.

Posted in News |

Brad Pitt is ‘Killing Them Softly’ with his song – new international trailer!

Posted on October 18, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Killing Them Softly" Theatrical Poster

"Killing Them Softly" Theatrical Poster

From director Andrew Dominik, the stylish filmmaker behind The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, comes Killing Them Softly, starring Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta and Richard Jenkins.

Killing Them Softly is about Jackie Cogan (Pitt), a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game. The film is based on the 1974 novel Cogan’s Trade, by George V. Higgins, Also starring Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, James Gandolfini, Vincent Curatola, Trevor Long, Max Casella and Slaine.

Killing Them Softly opens November 30, 2012. Check out the trailer.

Updates: Indiewire has 6 new awesome posters for Killing Them Softly.

BREAKING NEWS: Check out the new international trailer.

Posted in News |
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  6. 359
  7. 360
  8. 361
  9. 362
  10. 363
  11. 364
  12. 365
  13. 366
  14. 367
  15. 368
  16. ...
  17. 489