In the Mood for Love Blu-ray (Criterion)
RELEASE DATE: October 2, 2012
Criterion presents the Blu-ray for Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love. With its aching musical soundtrack and its exquisitely abstract cinematography by Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping-bin, this film has been a major stylistic influence on the past decade of cinema, as well as a milestone in Wong’s redoubtable career. Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai Maggie Cheung Man-yuk. Check out the trailer.
Rosemary’s Baby Blu-ray & DVD (Criterion)
RELEASE DATE: October 30, 2012
Criterion presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby. Mia Farrow stars as a young mother-to-be who grows suspicious that her elderly neighbors and self-involved husband (John Cassavetes) are hatching a satanic plot against her and her baby. In the decades of occult cinema Polanski’s ungodly masterpiece has spawned, it’s never been outdone for sheer psychological terror. Check out the trailer.
Blade Runner: 30th Anniversary 4-Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray & DVD Set (Warner)
RELEASE DATE: October 23, 2012
Warner presents the Blu-ray/DVD/UV Blade Runner 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition set (a standalone 3-Disc Blu-ray Digibook version will also be available – see artwork here).
The gift set version features an all new concept spinner car for your collection, action Lenticular and a 72-page art production book with never-before-seen Ridley sketches, poster art and photos from the set.
Additional Features: Over 10 hours of bonus content; Final Cut feature, Three additional feature versions on one disc, seamlessly branched; All new bonus content featuring the existing EC from the UCE plus; Photo Gallery with 1,000+ new images; Dangerous Days documentary; The Work Print feature version; and over 6 featurettes.
Daimajin Triple Feature Blu-ray: Daimajin, Wrath of Daimajin, Return of Daimajin (Mill Creek Entertainment)
RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2012
Mill Creek Entertainment presents the Blu-ray for the Daimajin (aka Majin) Triple Feature. In 1966, the respected Daiei Motion Picture Co. released a series of films that combined elements of the daikaiju (giant monster) and jidaigeki (period drama) genres. Acclaimed for their serious tone and special effects, the Daimajin series present a unique take on a monster who is both savior and devil.
Curse M DVD (Switchblade Pictures)
RELEASE DATE: September 11, 2012
Switchblade Pictures presents the DVD for Curse M. She’s tantalizing and irresistible. And yet photographer Uemura fights his attraction for the beautiful Mari with all his might. However, Uemura soon finds that Uemura is pure evil. From the novels of the late legendary SM Master Oniroku Dan, comes a twisted tale of ties that bind until only death can part them.
The Ring Blu-ray (Paramount)
RELEASE DATE: September 11, 2012
Paramount presents – for the first time – the Blu-ray for Gore Verbinski’s The Ring. When four teenagers all die exactly one week after watching a VHS tape, investigative reporter (Naomi Watts) tracks down the tape. This flawless remake of Hideo Nakata’s 1998 Japanese horror Ringu will make you never want to pop in a video cassette ever again! Check out the trailer.
"The Punisher" Theatrical Poster
First there was the 1988’s The Punisher, directed by Mark Goldblatt (Dead Heat) and starring Dolph Lundgren; Then came 2004’s The Punisher, directed by Jonathan Hensleigh (Kill the Irishman) and starring Thomas Jane; And finally there was 2008’s Punisher: War Zone, directed by Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans) and starring Ray Stevenson.
And now we have 2012’s Dirty Laundry, a short film in which Thomas Jane reprises the role – unofficially – as The Punisher. The short film (watch it now on youtube), which was presented at the San Diego Comic-Con this past Saturday, was put together by Jane and comic book artist Tim Bradstreet (who also worked on both the 2004 and 2008 Punisher movie posters). The short also stars Hellboy’s Ron Perlman.
The youtube description has a few words from Jane: “I wanted to make a fan film for a character I’ve always loved and believed in – a love letter to Frank Castle and his fans. It was an incredible experience with everyone on the project throwing in their time just for the fun of it. It’s been a blast to be a part of from start to finish – we hope the friends of Frank enjoy watching it as much as we did making it.”
The Night of the Devils Blu-ray & DVD (Raro Video USA)
RELEASE DATE: September 25th, 2012
Raro Video USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1972’s The Night of the Devils. Gianni Garko plays an insane man admitted to a psychiatric institution that no one can identify. While in ward, he starts having flashbacks of what brought him there. He starts to remember how his car broke down and when he went looking for help he came upon a strange man burying his dead son
Battleship Blu-ray & DVD (Universal)
RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012
Universal presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Battleship. The battle for Earth begins at sea in this epic action-adventure starring Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch, Rihanna, Alexander Skarsg†rd and Brooklyn Decker. An international naval coalition becomes the world’s last hope for survival as they engage a hostile alien force of unimaginable strength. Check out the trailer.
"Enter the Dragon" Chinese Theatrical Poster
Hong Kong film expert Bey Logan recently posted a video (for the now defunct UK TV channel, CNX) which features a ‘location guide’ to accompany a screening of Enter the Dragon, as well as a mini Bruce Lee documentary with lots of interesting information. Logan also gives his take on Lee’s passing (conjecture as you may, as he states). Watch it now on youtube.com.
While you’re at it, please be sure and visit Bey Logan’s own reeleast.com. Not only does his website have cool articles, but it also has an online store where you can get genuine promotional items from classic Hong Kong films, including movies, books, flyers, posters, lobby cards, T-shirts and much more.
"Finding Mr. Destiny" (5 Points Pictures)
It’s a light week for Asian cinema but any Tuesday that sees the release of vintage Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal movies in hi-def can’t be all bad, right? So let’s get cracking. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 7/17/12:
ASIAN CINEMA
Finding Mr. Destiny (DVD) – 5 Points Pictures presents this winsome 2010 Korean romantic comedy about one woman’s quest to reunite with her first love
Jackie Chan’s Project A (Blu-ray) – Echo Bridge offers the Miramax cut and dubbed version of Jackie Chan’s 1983 action classic, co-starring Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao
Operation Condor (Blu-ray) – you can also snag the Miramax cut/dubbed version of Jackie Chan’s 1991 sequel to “Armour of God”
Protect the Boss (DVD) – the 2011 Korean TV drama following quirky office romance comes to North America with a 6-disc DVD set
FOREIGN CINEMA
Extraterrestrial (DVD) – a man wakes up in a beautiful woman’s bed – just as aliens are invading the earth in this quirky 2011 Spanish-language sci-fi comedy
The Turin Horse (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2012 Hungarian-language film from master filmmaker Bela Tarr examines the philosophy of Nietzsche through the life of a peasant farmer
The Fairy (Blu-ray/DVD) – this charming 2010 French comedy follows a hotel clerk who falls in love with a wish-granting fairy
MAINSTREAM
Lockout (Blu-ray/DVD) – produced by Luc Besson, this 2012 sci-fi action movie starring Guy Pearce as a Han Solo-esque tough guy arrives on home formats
Get the Gringo (Blu-ray/DVD) – Mel Gibson finds trouble South of the Border in this gritty 2012 action flick
Intruders (Blu-ray/DVD) – Clive Owen stars in this disturbing 2012 horror film from the director of “28 Weeks Later”
4:44 Last Days on Earth (Blu-ray/DVD) – controversial filmmaker Abel Ferarra (“Bad Lieutenant”) directors Willem Dafoe in this apocalyptic tale of Earth’s last days
Here (DVD) – Ben Forster stars in this 2012 independent film about a brief but intense romance set against the backdrop of Armenia
Down by Law (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers iconoclast director Jim Jarmusch’s 1986 black-and-white indie film co-starring Tom Waits
Deserters (Blu-ray/DVD) – Tom Hardy co-stars as a member of the French Foreign Legion in a new director’s cut of this 2011 thriller
Assassination (DVD) – action icon Charles Bronson stars as a Secret Service agent out to protect First Lady Jill Ireland in this 1987 flick
NEW TO BLU-RAY
Mean Streets (Blu-ray) – starring Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese’s classic 1973 picture comes to hi-def
Hard to Kill (Blu-ray) – fresh out of a coma and out for revenge, Steven Seagal takes no prisoners in this fan favorite 1990 action movie, now in hi-def
Lone Wolf Mcquade (Blu-ray) – arguably Norris’ finest hour, Chuck Norris and David Carradine square off in this 1983 action movie classic – on Blu-ray for the first time
Code of Silence (Blu-ray) – Chuck Norris and his robotic police pal take out the trash on the streets of Chicago in this 1985 action movie from the director of “The Fugitive” and “Under Siege”
Cellular (Blu-ray) – before he became Captain America, Chris Evans starred in this fun 2004 genre flick from the director of “Final Destination 2.” Also featuring Jason Statham as the bad guy
Next of Kin (Blu-ray) – Patrick Swayze and Liam Neeson raise hell as backwoods brothers out to protect their own in this overlooked 1989 action movie
The Butterfly Effect Director’s & Theatrical Cut (Blu-ray) – this mind-bending, time-traveling 2004 sci-fi movie starring Ashton Kutcher has maintained a cult following over the years
A Perfect Murder (Blu-ray) – before he was Aragorn, Viggo Mortenson stole Michael Douglas’ wife in this 1998 thriller
Just Cause (Blu-ray) – Sean Connery and Laurence Fishburne headline this 1995 legal thriller
Murder in the First (Blu-ray) – Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, and Gary Oldman star in this 1995 film about a young attorney defending a petty criminal accused of murder in the first degree
RE-ISSUES
Spider-Man Trilogy (IMPORT Blu-ray) – Amazon is offering Sam Raimi’s 00’s “Spider-Man” films together in a UK Blu-ray set for $44.99. Be advised these discs are Region B and will not play on standard American Blu-ray players
CLASSICS
Singin’ in the Rain 60th Anniversary (Blu-ray) – the classic 1952 musical starring Gene Kelly receives a 60th Anniversary Blu-ray release
Camelot (Blu-ray) – Richard Harris stars as King Arthur in the 1967 film adaptation of the medieval musical
First a Girl (DVD) – the 1935 black and white musical, on DVD from VCI Entertainment
The Way Ahead (DVD) – actor David Niven headlines this 1944 World War II classic
HORROR
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Blu-ray) – director Don Siegel’s (“Dirty Harry”) 1956 paranoid sci-fi classic is now in hi-definition
The Blood Beast Terror (Remastered Edition) (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 1968 Hammer horror film starring Peter Cushing comes to Blu-ray. Cushing investigates a blood-sucking giant moth that can take the form of a beautiful woman!
Burke & Hare (Remastered Edition) (Blu-ray/DVD) – history’s most infamous body-snatching duo are brought to life in this 1972 Hammer horror film
Hellraiser VI: Hellseeker (Blu-ray) – those nasty Cenobites just won’t stop in this 2002 direct-to-video entry in Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” series
Darkness (Blu-ray) – Anne Paquin stars in this 2002 horror film from Spanish director Jaume Balagueró (the “REC” series)
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!
After Dark Action at Walmart for $7.98
After Dark Films’ new action film franchise are getting a Walmart exclusive release. The new label, entitled After Dark Action, combines the talents of Joel Silver, Dark Castle Home Entertainment and Courtney Solomon’s After Dark Films for a series of high quality, high-octane action pictures featuring top international stars.
All five After Dark Action films (Dragon Eyes, Philly Kid, Transit, El Gringo and Stash House) have been available on Amazon Instant Video and On Demand, but now you can get DVD copies at Walmart.com starting July 24th for $7.98 a pop.
Lone Wolf & Cub Complete Blu-ray Set (Animeigo)
RELEASE DATE: September 25, 2012
Animeigo present the Blu-ray edition of the complete Lone Wolf and Cub Saga – unedited, uncut, and remastered on HD from new prints, in its original Japanese language with English subtitles. The Set includes: Sword of Vengeance, Baby Cart at the River Styx, Baby Cart to Hades, Baby Cart in Peril, Baby Cart in the Land of Demons and White Heaven in Hell.
“Election 2” French Theatrical Poster
Director: Johnnie To
Cast: Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Nick Cheung, Gordon Lam, Lam Suet, Wong Tin Lam, Yau Yung, Eddie Cheung, Mark Cheng, Andy On, Cheung Wing Cheung
Running Time: 92 min.
By HKFanatic
As much as I’ve disparaged Louis Koo’s acting in movies like “Triple Tap” and “Accident,” no one can take his performance in “Election 2” away from him. With this film, Koo found the role he was born to play – the well-dressed Triad playboy turned legitimate businessman, who is consistently in over his head in the dog-eat-dog worlds of organized crime and capitalism (and the movie will make you wonder which one is worse).
Picking up where the first “Election” left off, it is now the end of Simon Yam’s two year reign as Chairman of his Triad. Although Yam’s tenure brought success to many, it seems that Simon’s own earnings were eclipsed by Louis Koo’s bootleg DVD business. In a world where money is the ultimate sign of power and respect, this ensures that most of the Triad brothers want Louis to be the next Chairman. There’s just one problem – well, two problems: Louis doesn’t want to run for the position and Simon Yam will kill anyone that gets in the way of his second term. As much as he aspires to be a respectable businessman, Koo soon realizes that ‘every time he thinks he’s out, they pull him back in.’
From there, the story dovetails into “The Godfather”-esque levels of criminal scheming and machinations. There’s great pleasure to be had in watching several factions of the same Triad gang competing against each other, their plans intersecting and backfiring as Louis Koo manages to stay one step ahead of the competition. The centerpiece of the film is a daring rescue attempt staged in the broad daylight by Koo and his men, featuring a coffin on wheels and a bunch of giant knives. And yes, the “Election” films are more than a little reminiscent of “The Godfather” saga in many respects, but here each installment comes in under 100 minutes and director Johnnie To provides a distinctly Eastern take on the material.
In the hands of a gifted filmmaker like Johnnie To, who has spent more than a decade examining the lives of men in and around organized crime, the material is shaped into masterpiece. It’s difficult to imagine a better visual image to convey Louis Koo’s psychological state than the aerial shot To gives us about midway through the film: the camera looking down at the bloody dog pens and the long shadow cast by Koo. As good as the first “Election” was, the sequel improves upon it in every way. Both films are best viewed close together since “Election 2” truly builds on the relationships of the first installment.
With the sequel, Johnnie To delivers more action, more intrigue, and Louis Koo steps up to the plate to deliver the best performance of his career. It’s true that the Hong Kong film industry has frequently struggled to find its identity post-1997, but “Election 1 & 2” stand out as two of the best movies produced in HK during the past 12 years. To anyone developing a list of required viewing for Asian cinema, the “Election” saga surely deserves a place on it.
HKFanatic’s Rating: 8.5/10
"Cosmopolis" Theatrical Poster
THE MOVIE: Last month, the first glimpse of David Cronenberg’s film Cosmopolis hit the web. Everything about the teaser – the music, the logo font, and the flashes of grotesque violence – bring to mind vintage Cronenberg, i.e. transgressive films like Videodrome and ExistenZ. This time around, though, the director is finding his inspiration in the work of acclaimed author Don DeLillo (White Noise, Underworld) and he’s bringing along Twilight ‘It’ boy Robert Pattinson.
Upon hearing that Cronenberg was working with Robert Pattinson, film fans really didn’t know what to expect. However, it’s likely that this teaser will put fears to rest. It looks like Cronenberg is taking us on a wild ride into the unknown once more. Cosmopolis does not yet have a US release date but it arrives in France this May.
Updates: There is now a clip on youtube. Also, if you haven’t checked out the trailer, what are you waiting for?
BREAKING NEWS: Check out the newest U.S. trailer.
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