Schwarzenegger says ‘Breacher’ will be very like a new ‘Predator’

Posted on September 24, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Predator" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Predator" Japanese Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: David Ayer, the director of End of Watch, will team up with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sam Worthington in Breacher. The plot will revolve around members of an elite DEA task force who find themselves being taken down one by one after they rob a drug cartel safe house. Breacher is currently in pre-production and will start filming on October 2012. Breacher also stars Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello, Olivia Williams, Josh Holloway and Terrence Howard.

Update: In an interview with Empire, Schwarzenegger says: “Breacher, especially, will be very like a new Predator,” he adds. “It’s a team around me and they get knocked off until there’s only me left. Except in this case there will be a different twist to the whole thing instead of some alien monster.”

Posted in News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 9/25/12

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Z Ravas
Lone Wolf & Cub Complete Blu-ray Set (Animeigo)

Lone Wolf & Cub Complete Blu-ray Set (Animeigo)

It’s the end of September and there are plenty of great new releases on Blu-ray and DVD to look forward to, from Lone Wolf and Cub to Bond, James Bond. So let’s get started.

Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 9/25/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Lone Wolf and Cub Complete (Blu-ray) – AnimEigo presents the entire 6-film “Lone Wolf and Cub” series, uncut and subtitled in hi-definition

Gamera the Brave (Blu-ray) – Tokyo Shock brings this 2006 family-friendly entry in the popular Gamera series to Blu

Wong Kar-Wai Double Feature: Fallen Angels + Happy Together (Blu-ray) – two 90’s Hong Kong classics from that master of cool, Wong Kar-Wai, courtesy of Kino Video

Man of Vendetta (DVD) – in this 2010 Korean thriller, a preacher must set aside his faith for some more secular-style revenge when his daughter is kidnapped

The Outlaw (DVD) – a detective turns bitter as he watches the worst of society get away with brutal crimes in this 2010 Korean thriller

Lady Ninja Kasumi Collection 1 (DVD) – Warning: Contains Adult Content! Tokyo Shock brings you 2006 female ninja’sploitation

Shaolin Deadly Kicks / Chase Step By Step (DVD) – Screenmagic Films delivers the low-budget 1974 kung-fu action

FOREIGN CINEMA

Sleepless Night (DVD) – this gritty 2011 French action flick has won praise from internet critics, who billed it as ‘Die Hard in a nightclub’

Ek tha Tiger (DVD) – a rip-roaring 2012 Bollywood action/romance starring Salman Khan of “Dabangg” and “Bodyguard” fame

Klown (Blu-ray/DVD) – a misguided man-child kidnaps his pregnant girlfriend’s nephew in order to show he has father potential in this raunchy 2010 Danish comedy

Delicacy (Blu-ray/DVD) – international cinema sweetheart Audrey Tautou (“Amelie”) stars as a widow trying to rebuild her life in this 2011 French drama

Goodbye First Love (DVD) – in this acclaimed 2011 French-language film, a 15 year-old girl tries to move on from her first true love as she grows older

The Man From Beijing (DVD) – despite the title, this is a 2011 German-language mystery/thriller based on a novel by the creator of Wallander

Snowman’s Land (DVD) – in this 2010 German thriller set in the Carpathian Mountains, what should be a routine job for a dogged hitman becomes a battle for survival

Shut Up! (Tais Toi) (DVD) – Jean Reno and Gerard Depardieu team up in this 2003 French film labeled as the ultimate buddy-caper comedy

Soul of Sand (Pairon Talle) (DVD) – this 2010 Indian drama shot on HD is a scathing satire on Indian politics and the caste system

Twisted Romance (DVD) – this 2008 Spanish-language film tells the story of an abusive romance between two men

The Light Thief (DVD) – a 2012 satire from Kyrgyzstan, detailing life in post-Soviet Central Asia

El Tinte De La Fama (the Color Of Fame) (DVD) – in this 2008 Spanish drama, a woman enters a ‘Marilyn Monroe Lookalike Contest’ at the behest of her husband and suffers an identity crisis as a result

MAINSTREAM

Marvel’s The Avengers (Blu-ray/DVD) – do I even need to introduce this movie? The biggest blockbuster of 2012, featuring Marvel comics’ colorful but dysfunctional heroes, is coming to home formats

Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection (Blu-ray/DVD) – every Bond film released to date, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, is collected in one box set

Resident Evil: Damnation (Blu-ray/DVD) – not to be confused with Paul W.S. Anderson’s live-action series, this 2012 original Computer-Generated film follows the video game “Resident Evil” series continuity

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD) – Frank Miller’s popular graphic novel from the Eighties is adapted into a two-part 2012 animated film

Soliders of Fortune (DVD) – Christian Slater, Sean Bean, and Ving Rhames get their own ‘Expendables’-style action flick with this 2012 movie

FDR: American Badass (DVD) – a 2012 action-packed Presidential spoof featuring Kevin Sorbo

The Samaritan (Blu-ray/DVD) – Samuel L. Jackson stars as a grifter trying to get back on the straight and narrow after a stint in prison in this 2012 thriller

CULT

Eating Raoul (Blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection offers this 1982 out there black comedy from director Paul Bartel in hi-def

Damsels in Distress (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2012 comedy starring Greta Gerwig is the latest sharp-witted satire from writer/director Whit Stillman (“Last Days of Disco”)

CLASSICS

Mark of Zorro (DVD) – Douglas Fairbanks stars in a budget release of this 1920 swashbuckler that many consider to be the best Zorro film ever

HORROR

The Tall Man (Blu-ray/DVD) – Jessica Biel stars in the 2012 English-language debut of Pascal Laugier, the director of “Martyrs”

Night of the Devils (Blu-ray/DVD) – RaroVideo USA delivers this 1972 obscure Italian horror film to hi-def

Zombie (Blu-ray) – Blue Underground re-issues Lucio Fulci’s classic 1979 Italian horror classic as a single-disc, budget-priced Blu-ray

Maniac (Blu-ray) – the grimy 1980 slasher movie cult classic arrives on a one-disc Blu-ray from Blue Underground

388 Arletta Avenue (DVD) – Nick Stahl and Mia Kirshner star in this 2011 ‘found footage’ horror film

Dracula vs. Frankenstein (Blu-ray) – the 1972 monster mash-up in hi-definition

Demonic Toys (DVD) – the 1992 low-budget horror film from Full Moon Pictures

Dollman vs. Demonic Toys (DVD) – Full Moon Pictures delivers a crossover between the Dollman and Demonic Toys franchise with this 1993 horror flick

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 |

6 Bullets | aka The Butcher (2012) Review

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Z Ravas
"6 Bullets" Japanese DVD Cover

“6 Bullets” Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Ernie Barbarash
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Joe Flanigan, Anna-Louise Plowman, Bianca Bree, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Terese Cilluffo, Charlotte Beaumont, Andrei Runcanu
Running Time: 115 min.

By HKFanatic

2011’s “Assassination Games” was anticipated as the beginning of a possible comeback for Jean-Claude Van Damme: it paired the aging action star with hot newcomer Scott Adkins and managed to secure decent theatrical distribution in the United States, a first for Van Damme since 1999’s “Universal Soldier: The Return.” Fans were doubly disappointed, then, when “Assassination Games” turned out to be a lukewarm effort. Most viewers cited the lack of action as a major flaw of the film, which Scott Adkins would later explain was the result of the filmmakers being pressed for time.

Thus, expectations weren’t exactly high when it was announced Jean-Claude Van Damme would reteam with the director of “Assassination Games,” Ernie Barbarash, for his next film “The Butcher” – even though Van Damme promised he’d been hitting the gym for the role and that fans would notice a ‘physical difference’ in him. Now Sony has unceremoniously delivered the movie to DVD under the new title “6 Bullets.” The physical difference Van Damme spoke of seems to be the many scenes of him without a shirt on (and he’s still looking buff). Although the generic title doesn’t help its case, “6 Bullets” is actually a step above “Assassination Games” and many of Van Damme’s other recent direct-to-video outings such as “Second in Command” and “The Hard Corps.”

The setting remains the same – a drab Eastern European country – and Barbarash maintains the same dour, color-drained look as “Assassination Games,” but this time around there’s a good deal more action and Van Damme seems invested in his role. Van Damme’s son, Kristopher Van Varenberg, returns as well – although he’s been criticized for delivering stiff, unnatural performances in movies like “Universal Soldier: Regeneration” and “Dragon Eyes,” Kristopher actually acquits himself rather well here. It likely helps that Kristopher is playing the role he was born to play: Van Damme’s character’s son! But the duo have a warm familial bond that shows onscreen and adds some much needed humanity to what is otherwise a very dark film.

The story of “6 Bullets” offers a twist to the familiar plot of “Taken.” An MMA fighter (Joe Flanigan) and his wife are in Moldova for a big match when their 14 year-old daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers. Desperate to find their daughter in a country where they don’t speak the language or know the local customs, they turn to Van Damme’s Samson Gaul. Van Damme plays a tortured mercenary with the soul of a poet – the kind of role he practically invented. His character is haunted by past mistakes but is the best at locating and extracting missing children.

The real issue with “6 Bullets” is that the film’s dreary look and depressing human trafficking plot mean that there’s not much of the usual escapism or, well, entertainment value that you’d expect from a Van Damme action movie. As good as Van Damme is at playing the melancholy ass-kicker, scenes of underage children being held in captivity and bodies burned by acid baths almost make one nostalgic for JCVD’s wise-cracking “Time Cop” days. Regardless, “6 Bullets” is one of the better direct-to-video movies of recent years and still miles ahead of Steven Seagal’s regular offerings. The 115 minute runtime could have easily been trimmed to a much tighter 90 minutes, but if all you want is to see Van Damme filet a few bad guys with a kitchen knife and shoot a rocket launcher at a jeep, you’ll go home happy.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 6/10

Posted in Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Doomsday Book Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Posted on September 19, 2012 by JJ Bona
Doomsday Book Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Doomsday Book Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

RELEASE DATE: December 11, 2012

Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Doomsday Book. Top Korean directors Kim Jee-Woon (I Saw the Devil) and Yim Pil-Sung (Hansel & Gretel) collaborate on this science-fiction anthology film. The movie will weave together three high concept stories that deal with topics like robots, zombies, and the end of the world. Check out the trailer.

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

V/H/S Blu-ray & DVD (Magnolia)

Posted on September 19, 2012 by JJ Bona
"V/H/S" Theatrical Poster

"V/H/S" Theatrical Poster

RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2012

Magnolia presents the Blu-ray & DVD for V/H/S, a found footage thriller about a group of misfits who are hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape. They discover more found footage than they bargained for. Check out the trailer.

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

My Heart Beats DVD (Asian Media Rights)

Posted on September 19, 2012 by JJ Bona
My Heart Beats DVD (Asian Media Rights)

My Heart Beats DVD (Asian Media Rights)

RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2012

Asian Media Rights presents the DVD for My Heart Beats. 37-year-old Yoo Jo-Ri is an english professor. She also likes to watch pornography. It seems the only way she can escape from her boring life is by watching those videos. One day, she watches an odd erotic video and feels herself wanting to experience similar emotions. Check out the trailer.

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

Slave Ship DVD (Switchblade Pictures)

Posted on September 18, 2012 by JJ Bona
Slave Ship DVD (Switchblade Pictures)

Slave Ship DVD (Switchblade Pictures)

RELEASE DATE: November 13, 2012

Switchblade Pictures presents the DVD for Slave Ship. Onimata Kan is famous for two things: a successful career writing S&M erotica, and hosting the erotic gatherings aboard what has come to be known as the Slave Ship, where the main attraction is the auctioning of sexual partners willing to fulfill any desire. You’ll have to determine the truth for yourself, once you’ve booked passage aboard the Slave Ship!

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

Lionsgate takes ‘Motorway’ to the finish line

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Z Ravas

"Motorway" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Cheang Pou-soi is a filmmaker who seems to try on a new genre with each movie he makes, from the nihilistic underground fighting of Dog Bite Dog to the romantic drama-meets crime story Love Battlefield. His latest effort, produced by Johnnie To, is an action-packed look at the Hong Kong police’s Invisible Squad – an elite vehicular unit tasked with stopping illegal street racers and other dangerous drivers.

Sean Yue (Infernal Affairs II) co-stars alongside Hong Kong veteran Anthony Wong in a film that is equal parts Fast and Furious flick and sleek Michael Mann crime picture. With a premise this action-packed, it’s no surprise that a Western company has jumped at the chance to distribute Motorway.

Hot off the heels of the film’s premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, Lionsgate has acquired exclusive distribution rights to Motorway in North America.

Of course, if you’re eager to see the movie right away – and why wouldn’t you be? – you can head on over to DDDHouse to snag it on Region A Blu-ray or Region 3 DVD. Expect our review later this week!

Posted in News |

Tarantino XX 8-film Blu-ray Collection (Lionsgate)

Posted on September 18, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection" Blu-ray Set

"Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection" Blu-ray Set

RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2012

Lionsgate presents the Tarantino XX 8-film Blu-ray Collection. The set includes Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Death Proof, Inglourious Basterds and two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, News |

Kiyoshi Kurosawa to direct Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in ‘1905’

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Z Ravas

"Kairo" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Kiyoshi Kurosawa made a name for himself on the international scene with skin-crawling thrillers like Cure and Kairo (AKA Pulse). As of late, the director has branched out from the horror genre with the domestic drama Tokyo Sonata and the TV mini-series Penance.

Now word arrives that Kurosawa is looking to team up with acclaimed Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (In the Mood For Love, The Grandmasters) for an international project titled 1905.

In the film, Tony Leung will play a Chinese loan shark sent to Japan during 1905 to collect the debt of some anti-Manchu revolutionaries. While there, he interacts with the locals, which will include Japanese actresses Shota Matsuda and Atsuko Maeda.

Interestingly enough, the setting of Yokohama, Japan circia 1905 will be recreated in Taiwan, with about 90% of the film’s dialogue recorded in Chinese, which should pose an interesting challenge for Kurosawa.

Thanks to Twitch Film for the story. However, there is some rumor that Tony Leung’s involvement in the project has been put on hold due to rising tensions between Japan and China over the island dispute.

Posted in News |

‘Oldboy’ director Chan-wook Park to direct a bloody Mafia tale

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Oldboy" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Oldboy" Japanese Theatrical Poster

News has hit the web that Korean director Chan-wook Park (Oldboy, Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance) is circling his next English-language project now that his Western debut Stoker is set for release in March of 2013. Park has set his sights on Corsica ’72, a screenplay with a strong pedigree.

The script arrives from Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who have penned most of the Bond films of the past 12 years. The story even found itself on the 2009 Black List – Hollywood’s official list for the best unproduced scripts.

Corsica ’72 tells a tragic tale of two childhood friends growing up on the island of Corsica in the early 70’s. One of them falls in with the Mafia, the other settles down with his true love – but eventually fate puts them on course for a violent confrontation.

The film will be brought to the big screen by the same production company that delivered The Grey, this year’s survivalist thriller starring Liam Neeson.

Posted in News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 9/18/12

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Z Ravas
Daimajin Triple Feature Blu-ray: Daimajin, Wrath of Daimajin, Return of Daimajin (Mill Creek Entertainment)

Daimajin Triple Feature Blu-ray: Daimajin, Wrath of Daimajin, Return of Daimajin (Mill Creek Entertainment)

Giant monsters attack! Indiana Jones on Blu-ray! No matter your filmic interests, there’s plenty to get excited about this week. So let’s get started, shall we? Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 9/18/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Daimajin – Triple Feature Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray) – starting in 1966, the Daiei Motion Picture Co. released a series of films that combined elements of the giant monster movie with the period drama. This set offers three of those films: “Daimajin,” “Return of Daimajin,” “Daimajin Strikes Again”

Love Exposure (Blu-ray) – “Suicide Club” director Sion Sono’s ground-breaking 2008 magnum opus about love, religion, and upskirt photography is released in hi-def

Silenced (DVD) – this heartbreaking 2011 drama based on the true story of abuse at a school for the deaf was a success at the South Korean box office

Tazza: The High Rollers (DVD) – this 2006 Korean film follows a group of grifters involved in a high-stakes card game

FOREIGN CINEMA

The Devil, Probably (DVD) – director Robert Bresson’s landmark 1977 French film about disaffected youth living in modern Paris

Children of Paradise (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1945 tragic French-language romance is brought to hi-def courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Chico & Rita (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Academy Award-nominated 2010 Spanish-language animated film about a pair of Cuban musicians seeking fame and fortune in the late 1940’s

Les visiteurs du soir (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers this 1942 fantasy film set in Medieval times from the French director of “Children of Paris”

Oslo, August 31st (DVD) – a recovering drug addict heads to Oslo for a job interview and tries to figure out where his life went wrong in this 2011 Norwegian drama

The Salt of Life (DVD) – a 2012 bittersweet Italian-language comedy about a middle-aged retiree seeking an extracurricular love affair

Police (DVD) – Gerard Depardieu stars as a burnt-out cop who might take his job a little too seriously in this 1985 French film

MAINSTREAM

Bait 3D (Blu-ray/DVD) – from executive producer Russel Mulcahy (director of “Highlander”) comes this 2012 Australian horror flick about a group of people trapped in a super market with a killer shark after a tsunami

Savage Streets (DVD) – Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”) has a ‘death wish’ against her friend’s attackers in this gritty 1984 exploitation flick

Detachment (DVD) – Adrian Brody stars as a beleaguered teacher in this 2011 drama from the director of “American History X”)

Encounter: Paradise Lost (Blu-ray/DVD) – martial arts icon Gary Daniels (“City Hunter,” “Bloodmoon”) co-stars in this faith-based family film about a drug dealer’s encounter with a man claiming to be Jesus Chris himself

Brawler (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this 2011 fight flick set in the world of underground combat, it’s brother against brother – to the death

NEW TO BLU-RAY

Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures (Blu-ray) – at last, Indiana Jones comes to Blu-ray as all four Indy films are packed together in one set. Advanced reviews suggest the picture transfers are nothing short of revelatory

The Game (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection brings director David Fincher’s underrated “Twilight Zone”-esque 1997 thriller starring Michael Douglas to hi-def

Ed Wood (Blu-ray) – Tim Burton and Johnny Depp paired up for this acclaimed 1994 film about the dogged B-movie filmmaker

Judge Dredd (Blu-ray) – just in time for the upcoming 3D reboot, the 1995 iteration starring Sylvester Stallone arrives in hi-def

The Devil’s Advocate (Blu-ray) – Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves match wits (huh?) in this 1997 Satanic-themed thriller

Queen of the Damned (Blu-ray) – the 2002 vampire film that serves as a loose sequel to “Interview With the Vampire,” starring the late r&B singer Aliyah (“Romeo Must Die”)

Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge (Blu-ray) – the 1991 entry in the cult horror series is remastered for Blu-ray

Night of the Demons (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2009 remake of the Eighties cult classic, starring Edward Furlong (“Terminator 2”) and Shannon Elizabeth (“American Pie”)

CLASSICS

Macbeth (Blu-ray/DVD) – director/star Orson Welles brings Shakespeare’s play to life in this 1945 film

A Double Life (Blu-ray) – this Academy Award-winning 1947 film starring Ronald Colman is vintage Hollywood noir

The Most Dangerous Game (DVD) – a 1932 adaptation of the classic short story

HORROR

Cabin in the Woods (Blu-ray/DVD) – co-writer Joss Whedon delivers this 2012 clever send-up of the horror genre

The Victim (Blu-ray/DVD) – Michael Biehn (“The Terminator,” “Aliens”) directs and stars in this 2011 horror/thriller

Revenant (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2009 horror-comedy that is said to mix “Kick-Ass” with “Night of the Living Dead”

Halloween II (Collector’s Edition) (Blu-ray/DVD) – Scream Factory, a new division of Shout! Factory, delivers the 1981 sequel to John Carpenter’s horror classic

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Collector’s Edition) (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1982 sequel is the only entry in the series to not feature Michael Meyers, which may explain why it’s developed a cult following

Black Sunday: Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – director Mario Bava’s landmark 1960 Gothic horror film is presented in hi-definition, courtesy of Kino Films

Lisa and The Devil / The House of Exorcism: Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 1973 chiller from director Mario Bavo, starring Telly Savalas (“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”)

Hatchet For the Honeymoon: Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1970 Italian horror film is an unapologetic slasher from legendary director Mario Bava

Dracula Blows His Cool (DVD) – in this 1979 horror flick, a young man inherits Dracula’s castle and decides to turn it into a discotheque – but unbeknownst to him, Dracula is still living in the basement

Puppet Master (DVD) – the 1989 film that launched an entire horror series about killer puppets

Puppet Master II (DVD) – the vicious puppets are back in this 1991 direct-to-video sequel to “Puppet Master”

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 |

R2B: Return to Base (2012) Review

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Z Ravas
"R2B: Return to Base" Korean Theatrical Poster

"R2B: Return to Base" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: Back Eagle
Director: Kim Dong-Won
Writer: Ahn Sang-Hun, Kim Dong-Won
Producer: Jang Tae-Gon, Kim Dong-Won
Cast: Rain, Yu Jun-Sang, Shin Se-Kyung, Kim Sung-Soo, Lee Ha-Na, Lee Jong-Seok, Jeong Kyung-Ho, Baek Bong-Gi
Running Time: 113 min.

By HKFanatic

Western audiences will most likely recognize actor Rain from Hollywood movies like “Speed Racer” and “Ninja Assassin.” But in his native South Korea, Rain is a bonafied superstar thanks to his pop music and acting career. 2012’s “R2B: Return to Base” holds the distinction of being the last project Rain selected before beginning his mandatory 21 month military service. Fitting enough, “R2B” is a fist-pumping, patriotic action film designed to make South Korea’s military look as cool as humanly possible. Thanks to its big emotions and top-notch special effects, the movie should be an easy sell in foreign territories as well.

Like other recent Korean blockbusters such as “Tidal Wave” and “Sector 7,” this film spends its opening hour establishing characters and creating melodrama – with nary an action set-piece in sight. Some of these scenes feel like they only exist to pad the screentime, especially since a few of our supporting characters – like the bumbling mechanic duo – have absolutely no bearing on the third act of the movie. The story itself is essentially a Korean riff on “Top Gun” with Rain starring as a hotshot pilot whose, well, maverick tendencies see him kicked out of an air show unit and land in the Korean military.

Rain plays the kind of protagonist who’s so damn cocky and convinced of his skill that the screenwriters seem to have forgotten they needed to make him likable too. In fact, many of our peripheral characters – like a fresh-faced rookie who bonds with the Search & Rescue team, or the single dad who’s trying to be a good father as well as an air force pilot – are much more engaging and could have served as better main characters for “R2B.” Rain is certainly an actor with screen presence but his character, as written, is not very sympathetic.

But, of course, Rain’s rebellious pilot is skilled in the skies – and those skills will come in handy when a military coup late in the film leads to a rogue North Korean military jet firing its weapons in downtown Seoul. What follows is some of the most impressive aerial dog fights ever seen in a movie, with special effects that easily hold their own among Hollywood’s best. These are the moments of immense property damage and daring aerial maneuvers that were used to sell “R2B” in the film’s trailer – and they do not disappoint.

Sure, “Return to Base” isn’t the most original film around, as the screenplay feels populated by stock characters and sculpted from the Tom Cruise Eighties playbook. But the plot hits the right notes, the actors are charismatic, and the third act packs in enough action and collateral damage for several other movies. “R2B” is for fans of Rain – of course – but also for anyone who enjoys the slick, commercial side of Korean filmmaking.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , |

The Definitive Document of the Dead: Limited Edition Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse Films)

Posted on September 16, 2012 by JJ Bona
The Definitive Document of the Dead: Limited Edition Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse Films)

The Definitive Document of the Dead: Limited Edition Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse Films)

RELEASE DATE: November 13, 2012

Synapse Films presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Roy Frumkes’ The Definitive Document of the Dead: Limited Edition, an in-depth documentary about George A. Romero’s films, with a behind scenes look at Dawn of the Dead. The documentary features interviews George A. Romero, Tom Savini, Roy Frumkes, Richard Rubinstein and many more.

This release will be limited to 1500 units and sold exclusively via the label’s web site. Check out its original Japanese promotional video.

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

So Close (2002) Review

Posted on September 16, 2012 by JJ Bona
"So Close" Theatrical Poster

“So Close” Theatrical Poster

Director: Corey Yuen
Cast: Shu Qi, Vicky Zhao Wei, Karen Mok, Song Seung Heon, Ben Lam, Yasuaki Kurata, Deric Wan, Sek Sau, Jude Poyer, Ricardo Mamood, Michael Wei, Henry Fong, Gam Hing Yin, Wong So Bik, May Gwong Man Chun
Running Time: 111 min

By Reefer

During the preposterous opening of Cory Yuen’s action thriller, So Close, I thought I was going to be treated to a half-assed rehashing of the Charlie’s Angels movie from a few years back. After all, watching Shu Qui, dressed in a white designer outfit, sashay into a skyscraper, armed with only her wits, a pair of high heels, and some sunglasses, only to bust some Matrix-influenced moves and smirk confidently at the resulting chaos, instantly leads one to draw those parallels. Moreover, scattered throughout are enough bra and panty scenes, bath tub settings, and skimpy outfits to satisfy a legion of stalkers. Obviously, Corey did not want to ignore the most devout demographic.

But I am happy to report that So Close is better than that. Even though, it often sticks too closely to the ‘Hitman movie’ cookbook. You know, a regretful killer, a die hard cop. Two sides of the same coin stuff. Much of what unfolds could easily be misconstrued as a feminine version of John Woo’s The Killer. But those comparisons end when the film concentrates on Zhou Wen’s sister role. Her impressive portrayal as the impetuous, computer savvy sister serves as a counterpoint to Shu Qui’s relentless killer. Karen Mok is equally enthralling as the very butch forensics cop hot on their trail.

Unlike many other male-dominated action pics, all three female leads are well fleshed out characters. Cory Yuen seemed comfortable letting the women open up. Maybe that is the advantage of leading an estrogen-fueled production. There are many scenes that are clearly meant to be emotional. Some of those scenes work but some unfortunately do not. Most importantly, So Close seems to care as much about what’s going on in the characters’ lives and their motivations as it is in the employment of stunt doubles, setting up car chases, and unleashing fire power.

Hey, lets talk about the fire power, while we are at it. After establishing the level of reality that the film will fearlessly take on with the rather fanciful opening sequence, the film settles into a nice sustained level of mayhem. There are about three or four very large scale action set pieces, before the finale, that are quite thrilling, warranting several taps on the rewind/reverse button. The only thing not working for the action scenes is Shu Qui herself. As graceful as she appears, she fails to convince me of her character’s skills. When she throws a kick, she looks like a ballerina not Bruce Lee. When she points a gun, it might as well be a hair dryer because there doesn’t seem to be enough intensity behind it. These criticisms might be a little harsh, mind you, but she will ultimately be compared to some of the best actresses of the ‘Girls With Guns’ genre. Unfortunately, in those comparisons, she will come up pretty weak because of this. The other two actresses fair much better in this respect.

The grand finale is really something special. Featuring the blade work of none other than Yasuaki Kurata, this is a future fight classic, employing the best choreography I have seen in a long time. Makes me want to check out more of Kurata’s work. Ferocious, acrobatic, and intense, do not miss the end fight to this film. That is really all I can say about it without spoiling the fun.

Though The Transporter doesn’t support this theory, I think Corey Yuen has become more of a complete filmmaker, less prone to the excess of his cinematic past. Soon, he will no longer be known as the guy who choreographs Jet Li’s American films. Part of me would like to see him try something more psychological than physical next. Nonetheless, I am excited to see the next phase of his career.

Reefer’s Rating: 8/10

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