Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 10/9/12

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Z Ravas
Bedevilled Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Bedevilled Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

This week we’re literally buried under a pile of budget-priced re-issues and triple packs, but don’t let that dissuade you from checking out movies like “A Chinese Odyssey” or “Prometheus.” Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 10/9/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Bedevilled (Blu-ray/DVD) – distributor Well Go USA brings this pitch-black 2010 Korean revenge tale to home formats. Look for our review tomorrow

A Chinese Odyssey 1 & 2 (DVD) – Stephen Chow’s 1994 two-film series is a blend of Chow’s patented humor with wuxia action and romance. On DVD from the Weinstein’s Dragon Dynasty label

Triad War (DVD) – this is Lionsgate’s release of the 2008 Hong Kong action flick “Fatal Move” starring heavy-hitters like Simon Yam, Sammo Hung, and Wu Jing

Tokyo Vengeance (DVD) – Tokyo Shock delivers three recent entires in the genre of extreme Japanese cinema: “The Machine Girl,” “Tokyo Gore Police,” and “Death Kappa”

FOREIGN CINEMA

The Seduction of Mimi: Kino Classics Edition (DVD) – in this 1972 dark Italian comedy, a laborer runs afoul of the Mafia

Four More Years (DVD) – TLA presents this 2010 film billed as a gay political farce from Sweden

Kino Classics Lina Wertmuller Collection (Blu-ray) – Kino offers three films on Blu-ray from director Lina Wertmuller, the first woman to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. Films include: “Love & Anarchy,” “The Seduction of Mimi,” “All Screwed Up”

Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2 (DVD) – the second installment of this 2012 vengeance-fueled Bollywood gangland saga

MAINSTREAM

Prometheus (Blu-ray/DVD) – director Ridley Scott’s 2012 prequel/re-imagining of “Alien” is either an underrated masterwork or a blasphemy against “Alien,” depending on who you ask. We quite like it

Rock of Ages (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2012 comedy musical featuring Tom Cruise as a Motley Crue-esque rock star

The Courier (Blu-ray/DVD) – Jeffrey Dean Morgan stars as a courier in over his head in this 2012 throwback to 70’s thrillers

NEW TO BLU-RAY

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane: 50th Anniversary (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 1962 horror classic featuring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, now in hi-def

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray + DVD) – Steven Spielberg’s 1982 ‘phone home’ family classic is now in hi-def

Strangers on a Train (Blu-ray) – Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 exercise in suspense, on Blu-ray for the first time

Red Dawn (Blu-ray) – just in time for the remake, the original 1984 ‘Russians attack’ movie is now in hi-def. Starring Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, and C. Thomas Howell

The Poseidon Adventure (Blu-ray) – Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine headline this 1972 film, hailed as a classic of the once-popular Hollywood disaster genre

Dial M For Murder (Blu-ray) – believe it or not, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 thriller was filmed and originally released in 3D. This new Blu-ray offers the chance to view the movie in 3D

Ice Station Zebra (Blu-ray) – the 1968 Cold War drama starring Rock Hudson and Ernest Borgnine

Little Shop of Horrors: Director’s Cut (Blu-ray) – the cult classic 1986 horror musical starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin

Dead Ringer (Blu-ray) – Bette Davis headlines this 1964 black-and-white thriller

Find Me Guilty (Blu-ray) – Vin Diesel plays against type in this 2006 legal drama directed by Sydney Lumet (“Dog Day Afternoon”)

ANIMATION

The Great Mouse Detective (Blu-ray) – one of Disney’s overlooked films is this 1986 animated take on Sherlock Holmes – as a mouse, of course

A Cat in Paris (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2010 hand-drawn animated film from France. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards

RE-ISSUES

Universal Soldier: The Return/Knock Off/Second In Command/The Hard Corps – 4-Pack (DVD) – a rather haphazard selection of Jean-Claude Van Damme films, although “Knock Off” is an underrated action flick from legendary Hong Kong director Tsui Hark

Attack Force/Into the Sun/The Russian Specialist/Conspiracy – 4-Pack (DVD) – Steven Seagal and Dolph Lundgren share this 4-pack of direct-to-video action movies

Doom/The Scorpion King/The Rundown Triple Feature (Blu-ray) – can you handle this much Dwyane Johnson AKA The Rock in one collection? We say “The Rundown” is too entertaining to be paired with these two stinkers

Jarhead/The Kingdom/Green Zone Triple Feature (Blu-ray) – three modern looks at conflict in the Middle East starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, and Matt Damon respectively

Flash Gordon/The Last Starfighter/Battlestar Galactica/Dune Four Feature Films (DVD) – a quadruple feature of 80’s sci-fi goodness

Cry-Baby/Public Enemies/Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Triple Feature (DVD) – Johnny Depp takes center stage for this 3-pack of films

Death Race/Death Race 2 Double Feature (Blu-ray/DVD) – Paul W.S. Anderson’s 2008 remake of “Death Race 2000” starring Jason Statham and its direct-to-video sequel not starring Jason Statham

Casino/Traffic/Miami Vice/Eastern Promises Four Feature Films (DVD) – you give “Doom” and “Scorpion King” a Blu-ray pack, but Martin Scorsese and David Cronenberg don’t deserve the hi-def treatment? Come on!

King Kong/The Mummy (1999)/The Scorpion King/Van Helsing Four Feature Films (DVD) – more modern monster movie mayhem – how’s that for alliteration? – with this quadruple feature

Hostel & Hostel II Blu-ray – Double Feature (Blu-ray) – Eli Roth’s two staples of the ‘torture porn’ genre are paired together

Casino/Carlito’s Way Double Feature (DVD) – Robert De Niro and Al Pacino star (separately) in these two 90’s crime movies

The Fast and the Furious / 2 Fast 2 Furious Double Feature (DVD) – the first two entires in the popular “Fast and the Furious” series

The Last House on the Left/The Strangers/A Perfect Getaway Triple Feature (Blu-ray) – three modern horror films on Blu-ray together

Dawn of the Dead/ George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead Double Feature (Blu-ray) – oddly enough, this pairs together Zack Snyder’s remake of “Dawn of the Dead” with Romero’s “Land of the Dead”

Dawn of the Dead/George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead/Halloween II/The People Under the Stairs Four Feature Films (DVD) – the remakes of “Dawn of the Dead” and “Halloween II” are included in this set

Deep Rising/The Puppet Master Double Feature (Blu-ray) – two seemingly mismatched horror flicks in one Blu-ray set

Bloody Disgusting Double Feature (Rammbock: Berlin Undead, YellowBrickRoad) (DVD) – two of Bloody Disgusting Selects’ recent offerings on DVD together

HORROR

The Raven (Blu-ray/DVD) – from the director of “V For Vendetta” and “Ninja Assassin” comes this 2012 tale of Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) hunting down a serial killer

Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (Blu-ray/DVD) – believe it or not, this 2012 film is a direct-to-video sequel to Universal’s failed big screen “Wolfman” movie starring Benicio Del Toro

The Barrens (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2012 thriller about a man (Stephen Moyer) who thinks his family is being haunted by the Jersey Devil

Basket Case 3: The Progeny (DVD) – the 1992 entry in the venerable horror series, on DVD from Synapse Films

Truth or Die (DVD) – Bloody Disgusting Selects presents this 2012 British horror film about a group of friends hunted by a man who wants revenge for the death of his brother

A Cadaver Christmas (DVD) – a 2011 Christmas-themed horror comedy

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 |

Dick Tracy Blu-ray (Touchstone Home Entertainment)

Posted on October 7, 2012 by JJ Bona
Dick Tracy Blu-ray (Touchstone)

Dick Tracy Blu-ray (Touchstone)

RELEASE DATE: December 11, 2012

Touchstone Home Entertainment presents Dick Tracy, on Blu-ray for the very first time. Directed by and starring Warren Beatty, Madonna, Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman. When gang lord Big Boy Caprice unites the town’s racketeers and gangsters, police detective Dick Tracy devotes his career to foiling the entire bunch of bad guys.

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

Anthony Wong leads ‘The Four’ onto Import Blu-ray and DVD

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Z Ravas

"The Four" Blu-ray

Gordon Chan, director of the 90’s martial arts classic Fist of Legend, is back with a special effects-infused Chinese wuxia. The Four stars Anthony Wong, Deng Chao, Ronald Cheng, Collin Chou, and Crystal Liu. A plot to overthrow the Chinese government begins with a surplus of counterfeit money. That’s when four constables with mystical powers are sent in to investigate. The crazy tale that follows involves forbidden love, double crosses, and an army of supernatural creatures. Check out an action-packed trailer or explore our past coverage of the film here.

Trusted retailer DDDHouse is carrying the film on All-Region Blu-ray for only $22.44. All-Region meaning it will play on any Blu-ray player you’ve got. Or there’s the All-Region DVD for only $14.74.

If you end up enjoying The Four, you’ll be pleased to hear that the film was a smashing success at the Chinese box office and a sequel is already underway, with both Anthony Wong and Collin Chou returning.

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Are you anti-Bigelow? Then say hello to ‘Code Name: Geronimo’ (the other ‘Hunt for Osama bin Laden’ flick)

Posted on October 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Code Name: Geronimo" Theatrical Poster

"Code Name: Geronimo" Theatrical Poster

The first trailer for John Stockwell’s Code Name: Geronimo (aka SEAL Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden) has arrived. Not to be confused with Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, Stockwell’s movie is about, well, you guessed it: a group of Navy SEALs who come to learn the identity of their target: Osama bin Laden.

Code Name: Geronimo stars Cam Gigandet, Anson Mount, Freddy Rodríguez, William Fichtner and Xzibit. Former 1980’s star-turned-filmmaker, John Stockwell (Dangerously Close), who is mostly known for directing Blue Crush, is currenty filming In The Blood, with Haywire’s Gina Carano.

Code Name: Geronimo will air on the National Geographic Channel on Sunday, November 4. Without further ado, here’s the trailer for Code Name: Geronimo.

Posted in News |

High Risk | aka Meltdown (1995) Review

Posted on October 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
"High Risk" Chinese DVD Cover

“High Risk” Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Wong Jing
Cast: Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, Chingmy Yau, Charlie Young, Kelvin Wong, Valerie Chow, Billy Chow, Ben Lam, Wu Ma, William Tuan, Lo Hung, Charlie Cho Cha-lee
Running Time: 101 min.

By Numskull

Wong Jing can’t direct worth sh*t. His frequent toy, oops I mean collaborator, Chingmy Yau, isn’t much of an actress. Jet “F*ck-Me-In-The-A$$-I-Wish-To-Hell-I-Hadn’t-Passed-On-Crouching-Tiger-Hidden-Dragon” Li has yet to impress me with any of his HK films. And Jacky Cheung, while doing a decent job in this movie, was probably only chosen for this role because of his name.

High Risk tries to be both a balls out action flick and a mean-spirited commentary on Jackie Chan. Despite a smattering of enjoyable moments, it fails on both counts.

A bunch of school kids get herded onto a bus by men with guns. The cops show up and find a time bomb that says 10 minutes. Jet takes a phone call from the bomber that lasts less than one minute. Then he goes back to the bus and it turns out that eight minutes or so have mysteriously vanished because the timer now reads less than 30 seconds. The cops botch the job and the bus and everyone inside it (Jet’s wife and son and a whole bunch of other kids) go boom. The world would be a better place if Hollywood filmmakers had the balls to show that.

Two years later, Jet is working as a bodyguard and stunt double for “Frankie”…an obvious caricature of Jackie Chan (they even included his longtime manager Willie…under a different name, of course). I guess Wong Jing had a rough time directing City Hunter and Jet Li was pissed off because Jackie’s movies are consistently better than his because this movie really rips “Frankie” a new asshole. Among the numerous jabs taken at him (and by “him” I mean Jackie Chan) are his tendency to work with good-looking women who can’t act, the lack of “straight” martial arts in most of his films, and the widespread rumor that he did not actually perform the rooftop jump in Rumble in the Bronx despite New Line Cinema’s “He does all his own stunts! He does all his own stunts!! He does all his own stunts!!!” marketing campaign.

Frankie goes to a VIP jewelry showcase event thingie after learning that there will be a lot of bimbos there. It’s being held on the 75th floor of a swanky hotel but apparently they don’t want anyone else on the other 74 floors because they put a sign out at ground level that says “CL0SED” (that’s a zero between the L and the S, not an O) to repel the little people. He shows up in jeans and a tuxedo jacket and wimps out when robbers show up and start shooting people. Naturally Jet has to save the day, and get some payback for his prematurely cremated wife and kid while he’s at it (the bomber is, of course, involved in the heist).

There’s also a pair of reporters (one man, one woman) trying to expose Frankie as a fraud, and they seem to think they can escape the notice of one of the thieves by sitting on the doorless crappers in a unisex bathroom with walls painted in a jungle motif. Too bad nobody told them their pink and black clothes wouldn’t blend in too well with all that green. The villain who went in there to take a leak pulls about a hundred snakes and a poisonous lizard out of a small warp in the space-time continuum and sets them loose in the bathroom. The female reporter gets bitten on the thigh (they had to have her show some leg to wake up the males in the audience) and Frankie gets bitten on the ass. Jet Li sucks poison out of the girl’s leg and then spits, although nothing actually comes out of his mouth. At some point Frankie loses his pants and says “don’t shoot below the waist” when someone points a camera at him even though Jackie Chan clearly has no qualms about showing his naked ass at the drop of a hat.

And, uh, so on.

Oh yeah, this is an action movie, right? Well, there is a shootout where Jet Li drives a car around in the hotel lobby, and two surprisingly good fight scenes liven things up nicely…Jet takes on snake man in the first, and in the second, Frankie explodes into action to save his dad from getting beaten to a pulp by Bond, a guy who wants to see if Frankie is as good a fighter as his movies would indicate. Frankie has to wear a Bruce Lee style (yellow with black stripe up the side) tracksuit (Hey Alvin George! Check it out! A tracksuit! Watch this movie with your eyes pressed right up against the screen!) and makes absurd Bruce Lee style noises.

Alas, Jet Li doesn’t get to beat seven shades of sh*t out of the guy who blew up the bus…he kills him, but in a rather unsatisfying way. He’s too busy disarming a bomb strapped onto that reporter (who says she’ll marry him if he succeeds…oh yay) to chase the guy. Where the hell are his priorities?

In conclusion, watch High Risk if you like movies with agonizingly long scenes of a helicopter crashing into a skyscraper (can’t have THAT these days, now can we?), thus consuming 90% of the budget, net-holding firemen placed so conveniently you’ll think you’ve accidentally switched to a cartoon show, and close ups of penises with urine streaming out of them (well, actually there’s only one, but that’s one too many…fifty bucks says it was removed from the dubbed US version, which I haven’t seen). Those two fights are good, but not enough to save the movie. Did I mention that Wong Jing can’t direct worth sh*t? He can’t. It shows. Skip it.

Numskull’s Rating: 4/10

By James H.

There is a scene about half of the way through “High Risk” where a burning car is driven out the window of a skyscraper. The burning car falls and crashes on top of a car parked on the street. The two cars explode on impact. Why does this happen? Because it can. This is the kind of movie that has something explode if it can.

“High Risk” opens with a hostage situation at a school. Jet Li is an army guy who arrives because his wife and a bunch of children are on a bus rigged with a bomb. The bus blows up, and Jet is very sad. Two years later, he no longer works for the army, but is a bodyguard for a movie star Frankie Lone (Jacky Cheung). Frankie, I guess is meant to parody Jackie Chan, but it fails on that account. One day, there is this big gala with lots of people in a hotel. The hotel is taken under siege by terrorists who, only seemed to have watched the fist half of “Die Hard”. Anyway, one thing leads to another and to another and Jet Li becomes involved with saving everyone.

Jet Li is the star of this film. Then why, I ask, is so much screen time given to everyone else? There are two particularly long stretches in the film where I asked, who’s the star again? For most of the movie, he takes a back seat to Jacky Cheung. On the plus side, Cheung demonstrates some decent martial arts abilities, but he’s no Jet Li.

Logic knows no bounds in this movie. Wait, let me re-phrase that. This movie knows no logic. There are so many things wrong here it is unbelievable. There’s a scene where Li’s character jumps out of the building with an explosion behind him. He is then arrested; the cops assume he is a terrorist. Why? Why would they assume that?

On a technical level, this film fails as well. Directors Jing Wong and Corey Yuen throw everything at us that we’ve seen before, adding nothing original to the mix. The editing is poor and sloppy. Fights are unfocused and poorly filmed. However, there are two fights that do salvage some entertainment value from this mess.

Everyone in the movie is dubbed into English, by what appears to be an American cast. Everyone except for one: Jet Li. The person who does his voice, is not Jet Li, but someone else, I assume someone who went to the same language school as Jean Claude Van Damme. The voice acting is terrible. It’s hard enough to put up with such inane broken English as “For once in two years I’ll be able to have a good night’s sleep”, but it’s another to have to endure some awful cartoon-like voices.

This movie is incompetent filmmaking at its best. The only risk involved with this movie is the risk of being bored to tears.

James H’s Rating: 2/10

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

All Superheroes Must Die Blu-ray & DVD (Image Entertainment)

Posted on October 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
All Superheroes Must Die Blu-ray & DVD (Image Entertainment)

All Superheroes Must Die Blu-ray & DVD (Image Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: January 29, 2013

Image Entertainment presents the Blu-ray & DVD for All Superheroes Must Die. Four superheroes awaken in a seemingly abandoned town, stripped of their powers and at the mercy of their sinister arch-nemesis who forces them into a series of brutal challenges — where the stakes include the lives of the innocent, as well as their own. Starring James Remar, Jason Trost and Lucas Till. Check out the teaser trailer.

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

Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011) Review

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" Theatrical Poster

“Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” Theatrical Poster

Director: Tsui Hark
Cast: Jet Li, Kwai Lun Mei, Chen Kun, Zhou Xun, Li Yu Chun, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen, Fan Siu Wong, Du Yiheng, Sun Jian Kui, Viann Zhang Xin Yu
Running Time: 125 min.

By HKFantic

It was Jean-Claude Van Damme of all people who dubbed Tsui Hark ‘the George Lucas of Asia.’ Most likely because his 1983 fantasy film “Zu Warriors From the Magic Mountain” helped launch the special FX industry in Hong Kong. The comparison has turned out to be apt in more ways than one, however, as both legendary directors have arguably seen their careers derailed by an over-reliance on computer effects. Back before the CG revolution of 2001’s “Legend of Zu,” there was a certain ludicrous charm to Tsui Hark’s films when the effects were practical, in-camera, and the performers were clearly skilled at martial arts even when assisted by wires.

Now that computer effects allow Hark to do anything, his imagination feels strangely limited. “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” is a movie full of incredible feats, whether it’s two people fighting inside of a swirling tornado or leaping from the top of a ship’s sails, but because it’s all rendered with CGI that looks less real than a video game, it’s hard for the viewer to connect with what’s happening onscreen – or care.

While Tsui Hark has a long history of classic Hong Kong movies to his credit, it’s 2011’s “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame” that seems to be the new litmus test for Hark’s work. In other words: if you enjoyed “Dee” and its computer-enhanced reinvention of the wuxia genre, then you’ll probably find similar enjoyment in “Flying Swords.” If you disliked “Dee,” then this latest effort will really put you off.

“Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” is posited as a spiritual sequel to the Tsui Hark-produced “New Dragon  Gate Inn,” but the story is all over the place and bears little resemblance to that 1992 effort. Several factions are competing for political power during Ming Dynasty era and they all happen to converge on the same lonely desert inn where a group of bandits are in search of a lost treasure. To Hark’s credit, he’s able to mine some considerable tension when our characters are constricted to the inn’s setting. It’s a dangerous place where your drink is likely poisoned and the meat on the spitroast may very well be human.

The film moves at a solid clip despite being two hours long, but after a late-film climactic battle in the middle of a sandstorm there’s still a solid twenty minutes left for our characters to explore a trap-ridden city buried underground. This is the point where viewers might be glancing at their watch, but so deep into Tsui Hark’s surreal vision – featuring CG swords that bend like rubber and an entire subplot hinging on two characters who randomly happen to look alike – you’re either completely immersed or you checked out a long time ago.

It’s difficult to criticize Tsui Hark when the man has produced and/or directed most of the films that we Hong Kong fans hold dear, but here’s hoping that his next endeavor is a bit less reliant on tossing computer-generated swords at the screen and more in line with the great storytelling of movies like “Peking Opera Blues” and “Time and Tide.”

HKFantic’s Rating: 6/10

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

Kill ‘Em All Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Posted on October 3, 2012 by JJ Bona
Kill 'Em All Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Kill 'Em All Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: December 11, 2012

Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Kill ‘Em All. Captured assassins are locked up inside the Killing Chamber. To break out, they must duel each other and battle against masked maniacs. If they survive, they will confront Snakehead: the lethal top dog! Starring Johnny Messner, Gordon Liu, Joe Lewis and Tim Man. Check out the trailer.

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

X-Game DVD (Danger After Dark)

Posted on October 3, 2012 by JJ Bona
X-Game DVD (Danger After Dark)

X-Game DVD (Danger After Dark)

RELEASE DATE: November 13, 2012

Danger After Dark presents the DVD for X-Game. Hideaki is kidnapped and when he awakens he finds himself in a recreation of his old school room, along with his recently reunited classmates. Trapped and held captive by mysterious hooded figures, each of them must now play a deadly game. Directed by Yohei Fukuda (Chanbara Beauty). Check out the trailer.

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

The Day Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Posted on October 3, 2012 by JJ Bona
The Day Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

The Day Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

RELEASE DATE: November 27, 2012

Anchor Bay presents the Blu-ray & DVD for The Day. Open war against humanity rages. 5 survivors; lost and on the run. The pursuit is relentless, the bullets are dwindling and the battle is everywhere. This is a 24hr look into their lives. Fight or die. Check out the trailer.

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

Double Feature: Black Cobra & The Big Fight DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Posted on October 1, 2012 by JJ Bona
Double Feature: Black Cobra & The Big Fight DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Double Feature: Black Cobra & The Big Fight DVD (Screen Magic Films)

RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2013

Screen Magic Films presents two “classics” in this Double Feature: In Black Cobra (watch trailer), Malone (Fred Williamson) must protect a beautiful photographer from a vicious motorcycle gang. This film is basically an Italian knock-off of Sylvester Stallone’s Cobra, which is identical in plot. In The Big Fight, a fighter accompanies a singer with equal kung fu abilities to an ultimate showdown.

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

Double Feature: Shaolin Deadly Kicks & Chase Step By Step DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Posted on October 1, 2012 by JJ Bona
Double Feature: Shaolin Deadly Kicks & Chase Step By Step DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Double Feature: Shaolin Deadly Kicks & Chase Step By Step DVD (Screen Magic Films)

RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2013

Screen Magic Films presents two “classics” in this martial arts Double Feature: In Shaolin Deadly Kicks, a group of bandits each have a part of a map for stolen treasure. They plan to come together to find it and get rich. However; the constable is out to stop them. In Chase Step By Step, two circus performers are tasked with escorting relief in the form of gold bullion to a region hit by drought. On the way they are beset by countless bandits.

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

Nicolas Cage will destroy those who abuse their power in ‘I Am Wrath’ and William Friedkin is close to helping him…

Posted on October 1, 2012 by JJ Bona
"The French Connection" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"The French Connection" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Deadline reports that Nicolas Cage is set to star in a revenge thriller called I Am Wrath. The film, which definitely has shades of 1974’s Death Wish, will center on a man who – following the murder of his wife – becomes a vigilante after he uncovers a plot of police corruption. His ultimate goal: “destroy those who abuse their power.”

William Friedkin, the gritty director behind The French Connection, The Exorcist and To Live and Die in L.A., is tied to the project. As for Cage, his stream of movies of the last few years have been a hit (Kick-Ass) or miss (Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance), but it’s still nice to see that he continues to pump out decent thrillers (Seeking Justice). Looking forward to seeing him in Expendables 3.

Updates: According to Deadline, it’s almost official: The French Connection’s William Friedkin is in negotiations to direct I Am Wrath.

Posted in News |

Double Feature: Shaolin Temple & Four Robbers DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Posted on October 1, 2012 by JJ Bona
Double Feature: Shaolin Temple & Four Robbers DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Double Feature: Shaolin Temple & Four Robbers DVD (Screen Magic Films)

RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2013

Screen Magic Films presents two “classics” in this martial arts Double Feature: In Shaolin Temple, an impressive group of heroes ruling Manchurian forces continue to undermine the stability of the shaolin temple. In Four Robbers, bandits run afoul from some major criminals while fencing the loot and end up not only with the money but also $10 Million in drugs.

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

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 10/2/12

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Z Ravas
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D & DVD (Indomina)

Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D & DVD (Indomina)

Welcome to October! Get ready for a 3D Tsui Hark movie and Wong Kar-Wai in hi-def. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 10/2/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (Blu-ray/DVD) – Jet Li headlines this 2011 special FX-infused wuxia from legendary director Tsui Hark. The film is also available in 3D on Blu if you have a 3D capable TV set

In the Mood For Love (Blu-ray) – Wong Kar-Wai’s 2000 film – arguably his finest work – stars Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Maggie Cheung. The Criterion Collection presents this tragic love story in hi-definition

Headshot (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 Thai-language film has won rave reviews from critics and been called ‘a bad-ass slice of neo-noir’

Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow (DVD) – this obscure 1982 Jackie Chan film is re-released on DVD by Sony Home Entertainment. The price tag isn’t cheap but the DVD reportedly has widescreen picture and the original Cantonese audio track with remastered subtitles

Retro Game Master: The Game Center CX Collection (DVD) – this popular TV series follows a Japanese comedian as he plays through some of the toughest old-school video games on camera. Highly recommended for gamers

FOREIGN CINEMA

Free Men (DVD) – in this 2012 French thriller set in Nazi-occupied Paris, a young Algerian man is arrested by the French police and forced to become a spy

Train of Life (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this 1998 French-language film, a Jewish community tries to build their own train to escape the incoming Nazi invasion

Funkytown (DVD) – a 2012 French and English-language film that takes a look at the booming disco scene of late 70’s Montreal

Milk of Sorrow (Blu-ray) – this 2009 Spanish-language film follows a young woman’s quest for re-awakening after the death of her mother

Under the Same Moon (DVD) – this 2007 Spanish-language drama takes a romanticized look at Mexican illegal immigrants working in the US

MAINSTREAM

Dark Shadows (Blu-ray/DVD) – director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp team back up to revisit the late 60’s gothic soap opera in this 2012 film

Iron Lady (Blu-ray/DVD) – Luc Besson steps behind the camera once again for this 2012 drama starring Michelle Yeoh and based on the life of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s number one voice for democracy

Iron Sky (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this 2012 farce, space Nazis travel from their secret moon base to launch an attack on earth

Red Lights (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this 2012 drama/thriller, Robert De Niro plays a famous psychic investigated by Cillian Murphey’s paranormal researcher

Flesh & Blood (DVD) – director Paul Verhoeven’s absolutely brutal 1985 look at medieval life, starring Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh, receives a DVD re-release

Public Enemies (Blu-ray) – Universal Studios offers a budget-priced 1-disc edition of Michael Mann’s 2009 crime movie masterpiece

NEW TO BLU-RAY

Masters of the Universe (25th Anniversary) (Blu-ray) – this 1987 sci-fi/action/comedy cult classic features a muscle-bound Dolph Lundgren bringing the He-Man character to life

Princess Bride: 25th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray) – the acclaimed 1987 comedic romance comes to Blu-ray

Double Impact (Blu-ray) – you get not one but two Jean-Claude Van Dammes as the Belgian thespian portrays ass-kicking twins in this 1991 action flick

Cyborg (Blu-ray) – one of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s more underrated films in this 1989 science-fiction movie from oft-reviled director Albert Pyun

Death Warrant (Blu-ray) – Jean-Claude Van Damme goes way, way undercover – in prison! – to catch an unstoppable killer named the Sandman in this 1990 action movie

Dark Star – Thermostellar Edition (Blu-ray) – John Carpenter’s wacky 1974 science-fiction film comes to Blu

Red River Range (Blu-ray) – the 1938 Western starring John Wayne is now on Blu-ray

ANIMATION

Cinderella (Blu-ray) – Disney’s 1950 animated classic receives the hi-def treatment

Superman/Batman (DVD) – in this Double Feature you receive two of DC’s recent animated films, “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies” and “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse”

Batman Triple Feature (DVD) – likewise, in this Triple Feature set you receive the DC animated movies “Batman: Gotham Knight,” “Batman: Under the Red Hood,” and “Batman: Year One”

HORROR

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this 8-disc film set, you’ll receive eight of Universal’s classic monster movies in deluxe Special Editions. Includes the 1931 “Dracula” and “Frankenstein”

The Satanic Rites of Dracula (DVD) – Hammer Horror’s final Dracula tale is this 1973 picture starring Christophe Lee, now re-released at a budget price and with an accompanying CD of goth music ‘inspired’ by the film

Pet Cemetery (Blu-ray) – the 1989 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel receives the hi-def treatment

The Hole (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2009 film from director Joe Dante (“Gremlins”) has been sitting on the shelf for quite awhile, but reviews have been generally positive

Sound of My Voice (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this 2011 psychological thriller, a filmmaker couple investigate a beautiful cult leader who claims to be from the future

Chained (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 20012 serial killer thriller starring Vincent D’Onofrio and directed by Jennifer Lynch, daughter of David Lynch

Hypothermia (DVD) – Michael Rooker (“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”) headlines this 2010 creature feature

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