Tokyo Playboy Club DVD (Asian Media Rights)
RELEASE DATE: October 23, 2012
Asian Media Rights presents the DVD for Tokyo Playboy Club. When Katsutoshi finds trouble at work and hides out at his friend’s titular nightclub, lives intersect. Starring Ichi the Killer’s Nao Omori. Beyond Hollywood says it “strongly resembles something cult legend Takashi Miike would have crafted during his hungrier days”. Check out the trailer.
"Soar Into the Sun" Korean Theatrical Poster
Cityonfire.com has received the following press release courtesy of CJ Entertainment:
CJ Entertainment America brings the aerial action thriller R2B: Return to Base to North American theatres on August 24, 2012. Inspired by the 1963 South Korean film, Red Scarf by legendary director Shin Sang-ok, R2B: Return to Base is set in modern-day Seoul and features top stars RAIN (Ninja Assassin), SHIN Se-kyung, and YU Jun-sang.
They have 7 minutes to pull off the most critical airborne mission in history.
South Korean elite Air Force pilot Tae-hun is kicked out of his flying team and demoted into a combat unit after a cocky and dangerous air show demonstration.
On the first day of his transfer to F15K, he has a run-in with Cheol-hui, the unit’s leader. Tae-hun’s rebellious swagger and Cheol-hui’s buttoned down discipline come into conflict almost immediately. Meanwhile, Tae-hun becomes fast friends with the rest of his new squad, including Se-yeong, whom he immediately falls for. One cloudless day, a routine reconnaissance mission for the squad suddenly ends in the untimely death of a team member and the disappearance of another. Just as quickly an unidentified combat plane is found heading into Seoul’s airspace and Tae-hun and Cheol-hui must find a way to pull off an impossible mission to stop a war!
An unidentified combat plane appears in the middle of modern-day Seoul!
“What if a tsunami swept up the city of Haeundae, Busan?” (Tidal Wave)
“What if a mutated monster emerged from the Han River?” (The Host)
Two of Korea’s most popular films such as Tidal Wave and The Host have been launched from “what if?” stories that portrayed shocking events set in modern-day South Korea. Technically still at war for over 60 years across the most dangerous border in the world, R2B: Return to Baseuses the very real premise of tensions between North and South Korea to ask, “What if a North Korean jet suddenly attacked modern-day Seoul?”
Featuring South Korean megastar RAIN (Ninja Assassin, Speed Racer)—who is currently serving in the Korean military—as the charismatic Tae-hun, R2B: Return to Base showcases exhilarating air scenes that were shot at heights ranging from 7.5 km to 13,000 km in the air.
R2B: Return to Base is scheduled to release in select cities across North America. For more information and a full list of theatres, please visit www.r2b2012.com.
The Raid: Redemption Blu-ray & DVD (Sony Pictures)
Any week that gives more people a chance to see “The Raid: Redemption” is a good week. So if you haven’t seen this sucker yet – hey, put some money down on the Blu-ray! It’s just that good. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 8/14/12:
ASIAN CINEMA
The Raid: Redemption (Blu-ray/DVD) – writer/director Gareth Evans and star Iko Uwais delivered the most talked about action movie of 2012. This Indonesian martial arts flick has earned universal acclaim across the web for its bone-crunching fight scenes
Godzilla vs. Megalon (DVD) – Tokyo Shock releases this 1973 Godzilla film featuring the size-shifting robot Jet Jaguar
Sword Identity (DVD) – from the writer of Wong Kar-Wai’s upcoming film “The Grandmasters” comes this 2011 sword-wielding Chinese epic
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (DVD) – this collection from distributor Pop Flix promises 5 monster flicks on 2-discs, including “Gamera the Invincible” and “War of the Monsters”
Sultry Assassin: Ninja Brainwash (DVD) – a 2012 Japanese live-action film that promises ‘erotic ninja action’
FOREIGN CINEMA
Juan of the Dead (DVD) – this internet-acclaimed 2011 Cuban horror flick promises nonstop zombie splatter AND socio-political commentary
Les Vampires: 2-Disc Kino Classics Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – Kino brings the legendary 7-hour French silent film crime story to hi-def
La promesse (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers this 1996 French-language film about a 15 year-old boy’s struggle with domestic and immigration issues
Rosetta (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1999 French-Belgian production follows a teenage girl’s struggle to escape from the dreariness of her life. In hi-def from the Criterion Collection
Korczak: Kino Classics Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1990 Polish film follows a doctor’s struggle to protect local children during the Holocaust
MAINSTREAM
The Hunger Games (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2012 blockbuster based on the best-selling young adult series comes to home formats
Assassin’s Bullet (Blu-ray/DVD) – from the director of “Undisputed III” comes this European-set 2012 action-thriller, starring Christian Slater and Donald Sutherland
Iron Sky (Blu-ray/DVD) – Space Nazis attack from their hidden moon base in this internet-hyped 2011 feature
Hick (DVD) – Hit Girl Chloe Moretz strikes out on her own in this controversial 2012 indie drama
NEW TO BLU-RAY
Jaws (Blu-ray + DVD) – at last, Steven Spielberg’s riveting 1975 classic about a giant shark comes to hi-def
Romeo Must Die (Blu-ray) – Jet Li and the late singer Aaliyah star in this 2000 qausi-update of the “Romeo & Juliet” story, crossed with martial arts and hip-hop
Cradle 2 the Grave (Blu-ray) – by all rights this 2003 action flick starring Jet Li and DMX should have been a classic due to its final bout between Jet Li and Mark Dacascos (“Drive”), but it somehow managed to underwhelm
Death Wish II (Blu-ray) – Charles Bronson once again cleans up the streets in this 1982 sequel
Death Wish III (Blu-ray) – far removed from the gritty vigilanteism of the first film, this 1985 Charles Bronson-starring sequel maintains a cult following due to its over-the-top, Cannon Group violence
Death Wish IV (Blu-ray) – AKA “Death Wish 4: The Crackdown,” Charles Bronson is out to end the drug war once and for all in this 1987 action film
The Royal Tenenbaums (Blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection offers Wes Anderson’s acclaimed 2001 indie drama on Blu
Fallen (Blu-ray) – this 1996 supernatural thriller stars Denzel Washington as the cop on the trail of a body-hopping killer
New Jack City (Blu-ray) – Wesley Snipes headlines this 1991 drug-dealin’ crime saga
Shaft (Blu-ray) – we’re just talkin’ about the 1971 blaxploitation classic starring Richard Roundtree in the title role
A Man Apart (Blu-ray) – fresh off his “Fast and Furious” success, Vin Diesel starred in this 2003 action/revenge movie
RE-ISSUES
Stallone Collection (Blu-ray/DVD) – an odd assortment of Sylvester Stallone films populate this collection: “First Blood,” “Cop Land,” and “Lock Up.” Hey, at least the first two films allowed Sly to stretch his acting chops
Schwarzenegger: 3-Film Collection (Blu-ray/DVD) – Arnold also gets his due with this 3-film set including “Terminator 2,” “Red Heat,” and “Total Recall”
HORROR
Kill List (Blu-ray/DVD) – the acclaimed 2011 indie horror-thriller, about a hitman taking on a supposedly easy assignment, arrives on home formats
The Life and Death of a Porno Gang (Blu-ray/DVD) – the ‘other’ Serbian film comes to America with this gruesome 2009 feature about a troop of adult actors performing murders on camera for extra cash
The Snowtown Murders (DVD) – based on a horrific series of crimes that plagued Australia in the late 90’s, in this 2011 film a serial killer becomes a mentor to a young teen
Father’s Day 4 Disc Limited Edition (Blu-ray + DVD) – Troma’s 2011 video nasty in a 4 disc Limited Edition
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!
"Lethal Hostage" Chinese Theatrical Poster
Lethal Hostage is a new Chinese kidnapping thriller set on the China-Burma border. The film stars Wang Luodan, Sun Honglei, Ni Dahong, and Zhang Mo, and opens in China on August 17th, 2012. Unfortunately, that’s about all we know about the film.
Judging by the trailer, Lethal Hostage should be a pretty vicious and violent flick. Sure, it might not be in that full-on ‘heroic bloodshed’ mode, but it still appears to offer a bit more grit and blood than other recent Chinese action movies.
Update: Chinese Films states that the film will explore the psychological effect known as Stockholm Syndrome. The plot follows a drug dealer (Sun) who falls in love with his hostage (Wang Luodan) and decides to quit the business – after just one deal.
BREAKING NEWS: The final trailer for the film has been released. A cast member states they have hopes the movie will gross as at least US$12.5 million at the Chinese box office, while the producer praises Lethal Hostage as being full of “elegant masculinity.”
“The Departed” Theatrical Poster
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Corrigan
Running Time: 151 min.
By Ningen
A remake of the Andrew Lau crime drama, Infernal Affairs, featuring Hong Kong acting god, Tony Leung, as well as Andy Lau, The Departed shifts the setting to Boston and decides to cram all three movies from the series into one story. Both films are essentially cat-and-mouse stories about a cop dealing with a traitor in his ranks who’s working with the mob the precint is trying to take down.
I have yet to see the last two sequels in the trilogy, partly because I feel the original IA works fine as a self-contained narrative, and partly because I’m lazy. So I am judging The Departed solely by how it matches up with Infernal Affairs, and not the rest of the series. With that in mind, I have to note that for me, the director of The Departed, Martin Scorsese, is hit-and-miss. I know there are a lot of COF’ers who love the guy, and as I slowly work my way through his filmography, I feel there are works of his that are brilliant (The Last Temptation of Christ and Goodfellas), works of his which could be better, if they didn’t cop out, and become generic Charles Bronson-esque vigilante films (Taxi Driver) – and works which just leave me cold in their slow pacing and lack of underlying themes. (Raging Bull and Hugo)
Unfortunately, The Departed suffers the worst tendencies of the latter category of Scorsese’s oeuvre, even though it clearly aspires to be as electrifying as his prior classics. The reason Infernal Affairs succeeds is because it tells a simple story which incorporates elements of suspense, tension, and shock to great effect. You literally do not know what will happen to either the protagonist or antagonist until the very end. The Departed, on the other, hand, spells out every damned surprise ahead of time-and in such a way, that it becomes predictable. I know that Marty is the gold standard for a number of Asian filmmakers, including John Woo, and I appreciate that he gave credit to the original picture and director at the Oscars, unlike certain nameless individuals who worked on Black Swan. And I hope that Marty gets his adaptation of Silence off the ground, because its premise seems compelling. But, with that said, he really gets too much leeway on his projects, and frankly, needs someone to help him reign in his excesses-because he does a horrible job of it on his own.
I’m fine with “Yo Mama” jokes. I can accept racial epithets used within context of the story, and not promoting actual intolerance. And I can deal with intricately planned crimes and scenarios which take a while to get off the ground, and whatever gains or losses ensue thereafter. But when a whole film is more about people chewing each other out and explaining every little unnecessary detail about the crimes, the settings, and the blowback, instead of getting on with the action, it’s bound to get tedious. I do not need to know about Leo’s character’s complications with certain anti-depressants any more than I need to know about the office politics of the Boston cops. And Jack, you’re my still favorite actor among the cast, but they did you wrong by sidelining your screentime in favor of Alec Baldwin, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg, and having you relegated to the role of small-time gangster. I remember Eric Tsang being a lot more imposing and brutal in the original film as the head of the triad group. Nicholson, on the other hand, is wasted as a poor man’s Tony Soprano who’s generally just there for throwaway quips. He’s the one selling the movie in the trailer, and yet, he is barely there in the actual film. I know Billy Connolly is not in the same league as any of these stars, but even he got more action in Boondock Saints than Jack in The Departed.
Furthermore, I know the original IA also focused on the the cops’ private lives, but only in a way which served the motivations of the characters. The details of their relationships do not come off as an aside of unnecessary information, as they do in The Departed. So while I cared about the characters in Infernal Affairs, The Departed’s approach only served to make me care less about them. And by the time we do get to any actual pay-offs in The Departed, in terms of shoot-outs or double-crosses, they come off anticlimactic. While I can respect and handle most violent content in films, I am not a fan of gunshot wound porn. The camera should only linger as long as it takes to leave an impression to the viewer, of what the character is dealing with, not more than that. Otherwise, again, you do stop caring about the victim in question. And while IA is violent, too, it only uses violence in a way which delivers impact. I do not feel as if the moment of death is being exploited as I do in The Departed.
So overall, The Departed is an ok adaptation which could, like The Dark Knight, be 30 minutes shorter. I don’t hate it, but at the same time, I don’t feel it lived up to the hype of its predecessor, which is tighter, and more well-defined. The Departed, on the other hand, is juvenile, scatter-brained, and boring.
Ningen’s Rating: 9/10 for the talent; 6.5 for the action; 3/10 for the pacing; 6/10 for the “story”; and 6.5/10 overall
Savage Streets: Two-Disc Remastered Edition (Scorpion Entertainment)
RELEASE DATES: September 18, 2012
Scorpion Entertainment presents the DVD for 1984’s Savage Streets: Two-Disc Remastered Edition. A teenage vigilante (The Exorcist’s Linda Blair) seeks revenge on a group of violent thugs who raped her handicapped sister and killed her best friend. Check out the trailer.
Tokyo Vengeance Three-Disc DVD Set (Tokyo Shock)
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Tokyo Shock presents the Tokyo Vengeance Three-Disc DVD set. This value-priced collection contains 2007’s Machine Girl, 2009’s Tokyo Gore Police and 2010’s Death Kappa. You get over 4-hours of femme-fatales, monsters and bloody mayhem!
Legendary Amazons Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)
RELEASE DATE: October 16, 2012
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Frankie Chan’s Legendary Amazons. This 2011 film stars Cecilia Cheung, Richie Ren, Liu Xiaoqing, Cheng Pei-pei, Kathy Chow, Chen Zihan and Jin Qiaoqiao. This martial arts epic takes place in the early 11th century China during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. Check out the trailer.
Bedevilled Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)
RELEASE DATE: October 9, 2012
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Jang Cheol-Soo’s Bedevilled (aka Be Devil). When her pleas for help are ignored and cause her daughter’s death, a woman seeks revenge on the person she blames. Check out the trailer to this critically-acclaimed movie from South Korea!
They Live Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)
RELEASE DATE: November 6, 2012
Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for John Carpenter’s They Live: Special Edtion, a politically-charged science fiction thriller. You’ve been listening to their speeches and watching them on TV. They influence our decisions without us knowing it. Starring Roddy Piper, Keith David and Meg Foster. Check out the trailer.
Wong Kar-Wai Double Feature Blu-ray Set: Fallen Angels & Happy Together (Kino)
RELEASE DATE: September 25, 2012
Kino presents the Wong Kar-Wai Double Feature Blu-ray set, which includes Fallen Angels and Happy Together. Both feature some of the biggest names in Asian cinema, including Leon Lai Ming, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung. Enjoy the visually unique, highly stylised, emotionally resonant work of Wong Kar-Wai.
“Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” Theatrical Poster
Director: Wei Te-Sheng
Cast: Umin Boya, Masanobu Ando, Landy Wen, Irene Luo, Vivian Hsu, Chi-Wei Cheng, Lin Ching-Tai, Da-Ching
Running Time: 144 min. (Part 1)
Running Time: 132 min. (Part 2)
Running Time: 150 min. (single version)
By HKFanatic
“Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” arrives from director Te Sheng-Wei and producer John Woo. The film is officially the most expensive Taiwanese production of all time and has been released overseas in both an International Cut that runs 4 and 1/2 hours long, and an abridged version that clocks in at 154 minutes.
For the purposes of our review, Cityonfire.com was provided with the abridged cut but distributor Well Go USA is making the International Cut available to US audiences on both Blu-ray and DVD. Due to its edited nature, the shortened cut can at times feel chaotic, which is not helped by the film’s choppy editing and general lack of establishing shots. Die-hard film buffs will likely want to hold out for the International Cut in order to get the full story.
“Seediq Bale” dramatizes the events of the Wushe Incident of 1930, which was the last major uprising against Japanese colonial forces in Taiwan. The film follows several aborigines tribes living in the mountains of central Taiwan during the time the Japanese invaded and took over. The Seediqs aren’t exactly presented as a peaceful, nature-loving people – in fact, they view the beheading of one’s enemies as a means to ensure passage into the afterlife – but, after initial skirmishes, they manage to co-exist with the Japanese colonists for about 25 years.
After this time, the continued Japanese occupation threatens to destroy the Seediq’s hunting grounds and their way of life via rampant deforestation. Thus, the various Seediq clans prepare for a bold attack against their oppressors. The viewer gets the impression that this last ditch assault is also meant to ensure the honor of the younger Seediq members since they have not yet been tested in battle.
The Japanese have spent the last decade being demonized in many Asian films due to their war-mongering past, and “Warriors of the Rainbow” continues the trend of portraying the Japanese as cartoon-like bad guys (with only a few exceptions). That said, it will likely be difficult for most viewers to identify with the Seediq tribe since they engage in the wanton slaughter of women and children as well.
There are no black and white heroes here, with carnage and slaughter on both sides of the conflict. The film ultimately makes humanity seem like a futile effort. While many viewers may find the moral murkiness a refreshing change of pace – and true to history – I must admit the violence became somewhat numbing after 150 minutes of almost nonstop beheadings and mass suicides.
The filmmakers earn points for being historically accurate on several accounts, such as the Japanese’s controversial decision to use gas bombs (breaking a then-current Treaty). But while it trades in many of the same stylistic motifs as movies like “Last of the Mohicans” and “Apocalyptico” – copious slow motion for moments of bloodshed and high drama – it fails to give viewers a character to identify with. Altogether, “Seediq Bale” is a handsomely mounted but depressing affair, confirming all over again that the 20th Century’s legacy was written in blood.
HKFanatic’s Rating: 6/10
"Dark Blue" Theatrical Poster
Cinema Blend reports that Fast Five’s Justin Lin has been tapped by Universal to direct L.A. Riots, which Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are producing through their Imagine Entertainment. Originally Spike Lee was attached to the project, possibly due to his memorable riot sequence in 1989’s Do The Right Thing.
The movie will be based on the events of 1992 were a series of riots and looting occurred over six days in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in California. The riots started after the acquittal of four Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the videotaped-beating of motorist Rodney King.
The last time the subject of the L.A. Riots were put into film was in Ron Shelton’s 2002 film, Dark Blue, which starred Kurt Russell. There was also a 1997 made-for-cable movie called Riot, which starred Luke Perry, Dante Basco and Mako.
Ninja the Mission Force: First Season DVD (Dark Maze Studios)
RELEASE DATE: August 7, 2012
Dark Maze Studios presents the DVD for Ninja the Mission Force: The Complete First Season. This new series pays homage to the wacky ninja films of director Godfrey Ho.
Bonus features include: Christmas Special Episode, 2 commentary tracks for all 10 episodes (creators Ed Glaser and Meagan Rachelle; actors Ed Glaser and Brad Jones), Telly Award Special, First Look: Ninja the Mission Force, Trailer, Interview with Andy Chworowsky (former Godfrey Ho actor).
Check out the hilarious, must-see trailer and order a copy today through Dark Maze Studios.
Triad Wars aka Fatal Move DVD (Lionsgate)
RELEASE DATE: October 9, 2012
Lionsgate presents the DVD for Dennis Law’s Triad Wars (aka Fatal Move or Duo Shuai). In the midst of a violent gang war one powerful triad leader is faced with losing a grip on his power. Fatal Move (see our review) stars Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, Danny Lee and Wu Jing. Check out the trailer.
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