Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 6/12/12

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Z Ravas
Accident Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Accident Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

6/12/12, that’s gotta mean something, right? Actually, probably not. But at least we have a decent selection of Asian films to choose from this week. So let’s get cracking. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD new releases for the week of 6/12/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Accident (Blu-ray/DVD) – Louis Koo stars in this 2009 Hong Kong thriller produced by Johnnie To

Devilman (DVD) – the 2004 live-action “Devilman” movie, based on the hit manga, is re-released as a Tokyo Shock Classic

Sultry Assassin: Aphrodisiac Kill (DVD) – Japanese female nina exploitation at its finest. From the director of “Zombie Hunter Rika”

Paradise (DVD) – Pathfinder Entertainment releases this 2009 Korean drama about a woman who is released from prison and travels to an island called Paradise

My Tutor Friend 2 (DVD) – Pathfinder Entertainment releases this 2007 cultural comedy about a Japanese exchange student who heads to South Korea

FOREIGN CINEMA

In Darkness (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2011 Polish-language film about a Slavic community who hid underground to escape the violence WWII

The Assault (DVD) – an intense airplane hijack is defused by the French assault team in this 2010 thriller based on a true story. Unfortunately, Amazon lists the DVD as being an English-only language track

Countess Perverse (DVD) – the original director cut of legendary sleaze auteur Jess Franco’s 1974 film about humans who hunt other humans

Miss Minoes (DVD) – a 2001 Spanish-language fantasy/comedy about a cat who can take the form of a young woman

Tezz (DVD) – a high-stakes Bollywood thriller about the hijacking of a bullet-train. Co-starring Anil Kapoor (TV’s “24,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”)

Zero Bridge (DVD) – a 2008 slice-of-life story about a young pickpocket, set in Kashmir

MAINSTREAM

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Blu-ray/DVD) – the 2011 sequel starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law makes its way to home formats

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (Blu-ray/DVD) – Nicolas Cage rides on as the titular flaming skull in this 2012 sequel

Spider-Man 1, 2, 3 (Blu-ray) – Sam Raimi’s 00’s “Spider-Man” trilogy gets re-issues on individual Blu-ray discs for $11.99 each

Monster Brawl (Blu-ray/DVD) – classic movie monsters meet wrestling stars in this 2011 direct-to-video guilty pleasure

Meatballs (Blu-ray) – the 1979 Bill Murray comedy set at camp comes to Blu-ray

ANIMATED

Superman vs. The Elite (Blu-ray/DVD) – a new animated feature from Warner Animation/DC Comics featuring Superman against a violent and immoral super-team

CULT

Red Scorpion (Blu-ray+DVD combo) – the kind folks at Synapse Films are proud to present this “Rambo”-esque 1988 Dolph Lundgren action vehicle in hi-def

The Dark Crystal / Labyrinth (The Brian Froud Art Edition) (Blu-ray) – two classic Jim Henson’s Workshop films from the 80’s are re-released on Blu-ray together

Harold and Maude (Blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection re-releases director Hal Ashby’s 1971 dark comedy classic on Blu-ray

The Gold Rush (Blu-ray) – Charlie Chaplin’s 1941 silent comedy finds a home on Blu-ray courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Shallow Grave (Blu-ray/DVD) – Danny Boyle’s first feature film, this 1994 thriller starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston, arrives in hi-def from the Criterion Collection

Dogs in Space (DVD) – a 1986 Australian film set in the small band scene of the time, featuring Michael Hutchence of INXS fame

HORROR

Don’t Go in the Woods (DVD) – actor Vincent D’Onofrio tries his hand at directing with this 2010 horror musical

Posted in News |

Sector 7 (2011) Review

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Sector 7" Korean Theatrical Poster

“Sector 7” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji-Hun
Cast: Ha Ji-Won, Ahn Seong-Gi, Oh Ji-Ho, Lee Han-Wi, Park Cheol-Min, Song Sae-Byuk, Cha Ye-Ryeon, Park Jeong-Hak, Park Young-Soo
Running Time: 112 min.

By HKFanatic

“Sector 7” is the latest film penned by Yun Je-Gyun, the screenwriter behind 2009’s “Tidal Wave,” and if you’ve seen that Korean disaster epic you can probably predict the biggest problem with “Sector 7”: the pacing. “Tidal Wave” spent over an hour building up its character dynamics and teary-eyed melodrama before hitting the audience with an unrelenting deluge of CG spectacle. “Sector 7” works the much the same way; although it’s a true blue monster movie, the creature doesn’t make an appearance until over an hour into things. Most of the film is devoted to the rivalries and antics of a crew of oil riggers out in the middle of the Pacific.

This wouldn’t be an issue except that our characters are little more than thinly-drawn stereotypes: there’s the tough but cute heroine nicknamed “Hard-Ass”; the sniveling, accident-prone nerd; the stern and withdrawn female scientist; the unseasoned rookie who has yet to prove himself to the others; and so on and so on. The way these relationships play out feels entirely predictable – we’ve seen it all before – and once the monster does show up, “Sector 7” turns into little more than an endless series of chase sequences and false climaxes, as the sharp-toothed beastie from below proves to be harder to kill than the Terminator.

This is not a good film but (and this might be a big “but”) you’ll probably find something to enjoy if, like me, you’re a huge fan of foreign monster movies. Whether we’re talking about a slice of pop art like “The Host” or special effects-driven schlock like this, I’m always entertained by the way other countries assemble a creature feature. On the plus side, the production values on “Sector 7” are sky high, with a crisp color palette and smooth camerawork. And the picture quality on Shout! Factory’s Blu-ray release is literally stunning at times.

It’s just a shame that so much money and effort was expended on a ho-hum script that doesn’t do anything new with the monster movie template. There’s nothing here that’s as intense or knee-shaking as the raptors-in-the-kitchen sequence from “Jurassic Park” and that was almost 20 years ago. Even the gorehounds will go home unhappy since there’s very little red stuff on display here.

Although he doesn’t have many films to his name, director Kim Ji-Hun is clearly talented when it comes to handling expensive and effects-laden blockbusters. His next film is a 3D Korean riff on “The Towering Inferno” called “The Tower.” I’m sure he’s going to bring the visual spectacle to the project, I’m just hoping he delivers more thrills than in “Sector 7.”

HKFanatic’s Rating: 6/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews |

Wake of Death (2004) Review

Posted on June 8, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Wake of Death" Japanese DVD Cover

“Wake of Death” Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Philippe Martinez
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Simon Yam, Valerie Tan, Philip Tan, Tony Schiena, Claude Hernandez
Running Time: 91 min.

By Mighty Peking Man

Archer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is an ex-mobster who has discovered that his wife has been brutally murdered by a psychotic triad leader named Sun Quan (played by Hong Kong star Simon Yam). With the help of his old school gangster connections, Archer sets out for Sun Quan and kills anybody that stops him from getting revenge.

A year ago was the first time I heard about Wake of Death. At that time, it was still being directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Ringo Lam (City on Fire). I’m not sure what happened, but Philippe Martinez, a filmmaker who knows how to make a low budget movie look extravagant, took Lam’s place. Of course, you can still tell it’s low budget, but the tight effort behind the film’s production is quite evident (if you watch the extras on the DVD, you’ll realize just how ambitious Martinez is about the project).

Wake of Death’s strongest point is how it portrays emotion to the audience. When Van Damme’s character is grieving over his murdered wife, you can feel it. Using mood techniques, sombre music, and Van Damme’s exceptional performance, Martinez shows the audience that melancholy can exist in an ultra-violent Van Damme B-flick.

However, Martinez really needs to settle down with the stylized filming. He has a good eye for it, but none of it is original. It’s been done a million times in a load of other movies. I’m not a big fan of this so-called “MTV Editing,” which lingers throughout the whole film, so I’m obligated to rant a little; or do all filmmakers strive to be Jerry Bruchkeimer wannabes? If I want to see quick cuts, slow-mo shots, contrasting colors, and other overdone “stylish” sh*t, I’ll watch music videos. The overuse of style is definitely the film’s weakest point.

The action in Wake of Death is a mixed bag: car chases, shoot outs, explosions, brutal torture scenes, and some kicks and punches here and there. Although it has a nice share of well done action, I was hoping for more hand-to-hand fight sequences (I mean, it IS a Van Damme flick, right?). Hell, we don’t even get to see Van Damme and Simon Yam go at it (not that Simon Yam can fight, but then again, neither can Van Damme).

Wake of Death isn’t Van Damme’s best film, but it’s better than anything in this straight-to-video line-up (and remember, Ringo Lam’s Replicant and In Hell were pretty decent flicks). It has a hip soundtrack (pseudo-Massive Attack type stuff, but it’s catchy), paces well, and should please anyone looking for some Van Dammage (hehe, I haven’t heard that one in years…). One thing’s for sure; Van Damme is getting better in the acting department.

Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 7.5/10

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Will Mark Wahlberg travel to Japan to reclaim ‘The Sword’?

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Z Ravas
"The Shooter" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"The Shooter" Japanese Theatrical Poster

You may or may not have caught the Mark Wahlberg action-vehicle The Shooter when it landed in theaters back in 2007. The movie came across as something like a Southern-fried spin on The Bourne Identity but it was actually an adaptation of a novel by author Stephen Hunter, who has a whole slew of books about the gun-toting hillbilly named Bobby Lee Swagger.

Now the Hollywood Reporter gives word that New Regency has tapped frequent Luc Besson collaborator Robert Kamen (co-scriptor on The Transporter and Taken) to pen a sequel to The Shooter titled The Sword.

This time around, the story – based on the Stephen Hunter novel titled The 47th Samurai – sees Bobby Lee Swagger traveling to Japan to return a katana his father received during World War II.

A stranger in a strange land, Swagger finds himself besieged by the Yakuza underworld and other shadowy forces when he realizes the katana is actually a priceless relic.

Movies about Westerners fighting the Yakuza seem to be quite popular these days. While Robert Kamen seems like a natural fit for this kind of material, it remains to be seen whether the project will be developed as a true sequel to The Shooter. If Mark Wahlberg chooses not to return to the role of Bobby Lee Swagger, we imagine it won’t be too difficult for the studio to alter the script to fit a new character. After all, how many movies have there been about tough ex-marines who find themselves in over their heads? And John Cena can’t be too busy these days…

Posted in News |

Freelancers Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Posted on June 7, 2012 by JJ Bona
Freelancers Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Freelancers Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: August 21, 2012

Lionsgate presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Freelancers, starring Robert De Niro, Forest Whitaker and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The son of a slain officer joins the force, where he falls in with his father’s former partner. His new boss, Sarcone, will see if he has what it takes. When the truth about his father’s death is revealed, revenge takes over him. Check out the trailer.

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

‘Moss’ weaves a web of intrigue on DVD this August 21, 2012

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Z Ravas
Moss: Special Edition 2-Disc Set (Bayview Entertainment)

Moss: Special Edition 2-Disc Set (Bayview Entertainment)

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from 5 Points Pictures for their August 21st, 2012 release of the Korean film Moss on a  2-Disc DVD set.

Film distributor 5 Points Pictures is pleased to announce the special-edition 2-Disc DVD release of Moss will be available on August 21, 2012.

Based on the award-winning web comic by Yoon Tae-ho (2007 Korea Cartoon Awards, 2008 Bucheon Cartoon Awards)!

Also known as Iggi, this critically acclaimed, box-office smash features direction by Kang Woo-suk (Public Enemy, Silmido), plus an all-star cast including Jung Jae-young (The Divine Weapon), Park Hae-il (War of the Arrows), Yoo Hae-jin (Public Enemy), and YOO Sun (Black House).

SYNOPSIS: A mystery-thriller from KANG Woo-suk, the director of the PUBLIC ENEMY films! Hae-guk (PARK Hae-il) receives word that his estranged father has passed away, so he travels to the remote village where the older man lived to attend the funeral. However, when Hae-guk starts asking questions about his father’s life – and unexplained death – the residents and their charismatic Chief (JUNG Jae-young) exchange mysterious looks and seem anxious to rush him out of their village. Something isn’t right, and Hae-guk is determined to uncover the truth… at any cost!

BONUS FEATURES: “The Making of Moss,” “The Beginning of the Story – The Comic Behind the Story,” art and set design documentary (“The Birth of the Village”), make-up and effects featurette (“Come Out to the Real World”), poster shoot video, original South Korean teaser and trailer, cast and director bios, and 5 Points Pictures trailers.

SPECIFICATIONS: Includes the feature film – plus almost 90 minutes of video extras – all with on/off English subtitles! Format: DVD (Region 1), Street Date: 8/21/2012, Feature Runtime: 163 minutes, Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Drama, Suggested Rating: 17+

TRAILER: Check out the new English-subbed trailer from 5 Points Pictures!

Posted in News |

It’s ‘High Kick Girl’ vs. ‘Dead Sushi’ in new Japanese splatterflick

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Z Ravas

"Dead Sushi" Japanese Theatrical Poster

I love sushi. Chances are, you do too. But how does our sushi feel about us? If the new film from director Noboru Iguchi (The Machine Girl, Robogeisha) is any indication, they’re pissed off and tired of being eaten.

Yes, the premise of Iguchi’s new ultra low-budget splatterflick Dead Sushi appears to be that the sushi of Japan has become sentient – and now they’re out for revenge.

Fortunately, on humanity’s side we have martial arts expert Rina Takeda of High Kick Girl fame. Anyhow, I doubt all my rambling is going to do Dead Sushi justice so just check out the wild ‘n crazy trailer over at Beyond Hollywood.

Update: It looks like we’ve got a brand new trailer, courtesy of Far East Films.

BREAKING NEWS: A whole slew of crazy new images. At least Rina Takeda is still super cute.

Posted in News |

Just Heroes | aka Tragic Heroes (1987) Review

Posted on June 5, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Just Heroes" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Just Heroes” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo
Co-director: Ng Ma
Cast: David Chiang, Danny Lee, Chen Kuan Tai, Stephen Chow, Lo Lieh, Cally Kwong, Wu Ma, Shing Fui On, Zhao Lei, Tien Niu, Alan Chan, Fung Hak On, Philip Ko Fei
Running Time: 97 min.

By Numskull

This is the John Woo “gun fu” movie that nobody has seen. It’s listed on the filmographies, but nothing much is ever said about it. It simply gets nestled between A Better Tomorrow 2 and The Killer.

So I watched it hoping I’d be able to write a rave review of it, saying how criminally unfair it is that it doesn’t get more attention and how it deserves to be ranked right up there with Woo’s best.

Sorry, folks. No can do.

Just Heroes is just so-so. John Woo turned out a chain of seven films during his HK golden era: A Better Tomorrow, A Better Tomorrow 2, Just Heroes, The Killer, Bullet in the Head, Once A Thief, and Hard Boiled. This, friends, is the weak link.

One might say that the absence of Chow Yun-fat (who appeared in five of the seven films listed above) harms this movie and keeps it from attaining the brilliance of A Better Tomorrow or The Killer. And one would be wrong, because there’s no shortage of talent among the cast here, and not even an actor as good as Chow Yun-fat can single-handedly save a movie from totally sucking (Replacement Killers, anyone?). I’m not saying that Just Heroes sucks, but it doesn’t mesmerize you like other Woo flicks do.

The story concerns the murder of a mob leader by an unidentified assassin and the subsequent chaos among his underlings as his chosen successor has doubts about his ability to fill his boss’s shoes and the search for the killer indicates an inside job. The gang splits into factions. Some guys are honorable, others are pricks. Violence ensues.

Don’t expect a thrill a minute. Just Heroes is no more story driven than any other John Woo film since the mid 1980s, but it’s definitely less adrenaline-charged. After the initial shootout, the better part of an hour passes before we see anything that resembles an action sequence again. What’s there is good, but more would have been nice since the plot and characters aren’t exceptionally interesting.

Ng Ma is credited as co-director and I’m given cause to wonder if he directed more of this movie than “they” would have us believe. At times it really does seem more like a John Woo imitation than a John Woo film. There’s one character who repeatedly makes references to A Better Tommorrow, reciting Chow Yun-fat’s urine-drinking speech and planting handguns in potted plants (get it? PLANTING handguns? Potted PLANTS? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… ha… heh… um… never mind).

Seriously… Just Heroes is worth watching once, but it’s hardly touched by greatness. If you’re a Woo completist, it is, of course, required viewing; if not, don’t beat yourself up for skipping over it. To my knowledge it is not available on DVD. Tai Seng has released full-frame and (barely) letterboxed videos. Both have blurry white subs burned onto the print; in the full-frame version, which sould be avoided at all costs, the text constantly runs off the edges of the screen and gets chopped off at the bottom. Nothing new there. Watch it letterboxed or not at all.

Oh yeah, and the ending is very abrupt.

Numskull’s Rating: 5/10

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

Asian horror fans, get ready to experience ‘Any Other Side’ on Import DVD

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Z Ravas

"Any Other Side" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Mainland China has seen a sudden surge of gruesome horror movies within the last year or so, a renaissance of new fright flicks with high production values and attractive casts. 2012’s Any Other Side continues this trend with an anthology-style film about five friends who meet at a bar on Halloween and decide to see who can tell the most terrifying story.

Right now you can snag Any Other Side on Region 3 DVD from trusted retailer DDDHouse for the low price of $14.10. The disc has English subtitles but be advised that you will need an Import or All-Region DVD player in order to run a Region 3 DVD.

The spooky tales of Any Other Side include mysterious killers, time travel, abandoned hospitals, zombies, and more. The trailer for the film doesn’t appear to be online but we’ll link it as soon as possible.

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

‘God Bless America’ parades onto Blu-ray and DVD July 3rd

Posted on June 5, 2012 by JJ Bona
"God Bless America" Theatrical Poster

"God Bless America" Theatrical Poster

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Bender/Helper Impact on June 5th: Experience the takedown of American culture gone awry this Independence Day when God Bless America parades onto Blu-ray and DVD July 3 from Magnolia Home Entertainment Under the Magnet Label.

Infamous black comedy director Bobcat Goldthwait (World’s Greatest Dad, Sleeping Dogs Lie) is bringing “something special” (eFilmCritic) to the picnic table this Independence Day. Starring Joel Murray (The Artist, Mad Men), Tara Lynne Barr (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody) and Mackenzie Brooke Smith (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), “the energetic fantasy that favors capital punishment for all of society’s vulgarities” (MovieWeb.com), God Bless America, will be available on July 3 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet Label.

“God Bless America is a violent movie about kindness and Bobcat Goldthwait is an American hero.”
– Film School Rejects

“Bobcat’s road odyssey of violence is one of the funniest films of the year.”
-JoBlo.com

“Full of punchy energy and a sense of catharsis about getting away from all the stupid places pop culture can take us.”
– Cinema Blend

Divorced, recently fired and possibly terminally ill, Frank (Murray) has had enough of the downward spiral of American culture. He sees America as overrun with cruelty, stupidity and intolerance. Finding himself with nothing to live for, he decides not to take his own life, but instead buys a gun to take out his frustration on the cruelest, stupidest, most intolerant people he can imagine—reality television stars. On his journey, he finds an unusual accomplice in a high-school student named Roxy (Barr), who shares his sense of rage and disenfranchisement. Together they embark on a nation-wide assault on our country’s dumbest, most irritating celebrities.

Posted in News |

‘Wind Blast’ explodes on Blu-ray and DVD July 3rd

Posted on June 5, 2012 by JJ Bona
Wind Blast Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Wind Blast Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Well Go USA on June 5th: Director Gao Qunshu follows up his breakout hit The Message with the action-packed martial arts western Wind Blast, debuting on Blu-ray & DVD July 3rd from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Starring national wushu fighting champion Wu Jing (Kill Zone, Legendary Assassin), newcomer Zhang Li, Yihong Duan (The Message), and Francis Ng (Exiled, Infernal Affairs II), this fast paced, shoot-em up western follows a group of elite policemen on the trail of a hitman and his pregnant girlfriend as they try to elude two hired killers sent by his former employer to silence them. Bonus features include a making of featurette, behind the scenes footage and trailers.

Wind Blast has a runtime of approximately 118 minutes and is not rated.

“Wind Blast to stand as probably the best modern action film to come from Mainland China to date, delivering a non-stop onslaught of action scenes.”
–  James Mudge, Beyond Hollywood

Synopsis: Cold blooded killer Zhang Ning sneaks back into China to blend in. He is quickly pursued by two fierce and brutal bounty hunters. A grisly battle ensues between the killer, bounty hunters and cops. After a flurry of gunfights, martial arts combats, car chases, equestrian acrobatics, and pyrotechnic extravaganza, many a life will be lost and much honor and glory won in this grimly exciting Chinese Martial Arts Western that should not be missed.

Posted in News |

‘Butterfly Swords’ slices onto DVD July 10th‏

Posted on June 5, 2012 by JJ Bona
Butterfly Swords DVD (Well Go USA)

Butterfly Swords DVD (Well Go USA)

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Well Go USA on June 5th: Hong Kong’s number one action star Donnie Yen (Ip Man) headlines an all-star cast in Butterfly Swords, on DVD July 10th from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Tony Leung (Infernal Affairs) combine amazing martial arts with high flying wire work as members of an elite group of assassins loyal to the king. When a group of Rebels threaten to take down the empire, they must infiltrate the organization in order to stop them. The bonus features includes brand new English subtitles.

Butterfly Swords has a runtime of approximately 87 minutes and is not rated.

Synopsis: Siblings who are also assassins infiltrate a group of rebels to prevent them from overthrowing the king’s empire. Utilizing amazing martial arts fighting and sword play, can they save the empire?

“An adrenaline-charged swordplay fantasy that starts out over the top and blasts its way through the roof”
– Joey O’Bryan, The Austin Chronicle

“Butterfly Swords was everything I expected and, at times, a real jaw dropper.”
– J. Doyle Wallis, DVDTalk.com

Posted in News |

Lost Bladesman, The (2011) Review

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Z Ravas
"The Lost Bladesman" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“The Lost Bladesman” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Felix Chong
Co-director: Alan Mak
Cast: Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Chin Siu Ho, Andy On Chi Kit, Betty Sun Li, Dong Yong, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Calvin Li Zong Han, Shao Bing, Wang Bo Chieh, Nie Yuan
Running Time: 107 min.

By HKFanatic

Hong Kong’s biggest superstar Donnie Yen teams up with the filmmaking duo behind the “Infernal Affairs” sequels, Felix Chong and Alan Mak, for this Three Kingdoms-era action romp. While “The Lost Bladesman” lacks the epic scope and ‘cast of thousands’-style appeal of John Woo’s “Red Cliff” films, it more than makes it for it with Donnie Yen’s top-notch action choreography and a compelling performance from Jiang Wen (“Let the Bullets Fly“) as the brilliant military strategist and real life historical figure, Cao Cao.

Donnie Yen himself steps into the role of the fearsome God General Guan Yu. Some Chinese audiences criticized Yen’s casting since Guan Yu has always been thought of as a giant of a man, but such quibbles seem silly when you consider that, no matter his real size, Donnie has always dominated the big screen. He’s perfectly adept at bringing Guan Yu to life, even if you might grow weary of just how ridiculously stoic and righteous the character is. Yes, this is another role where Donnie plays a character who has no discernible flaws whatsoever. It’s almost like one of those old 80’s Chuck Norris movies – Donnie is so invincible here that the bad guys are constantly trying to drug or poison him just to level the playing field.

If Guan Yu comes across as frustratingly one-note, then that’s exactly why Jiang Wen is in the film. The qualified character actor brings Coa Cao to life in a multi-faceted performance. Cao Cao knows how to work the room with snake-like charm, and at the same time you can never truly tell if what he’s doing is for his own personal interest or for the greater good. Without Jiang Wen’s presence, “The Lost Bladesman” would have likely been a simple fist-pumping action movie, but his role gives the film much needed dimension and intrigue. There is a complexity to his character that is rarely explored in these Chinese historical pictures.

Of course, if you just want to tune out and enjoy the action, then “The Lost Bladesman” delivers in spades. I’d complain about two particular sequences – one bathed in darkness, the other set behind closed doors – where the fighting is obscured, except that the rest of the flick is so stuffed to the gills with action that I didn’t even mind. Donnie Yen is listed as Action Choreographer and the fights here bear his imprint all over them. Impossibly wide camera angles cover every inch of the action, no matter how constrained the environment becomes. A scene late in the film features Donnie literally dodging arrows as they’re fired and recalls the World War I battle that opened “Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen.” But the real highlight here is the fight between Donnie and Andy On (“Black Mask 2: City of Masks,” “King of Triads“). Their showdown is destined to go down as one of the finest bouts of either man’s career.

When it comes to “The Lost Bladesman,” it’s likely that the presence of Donnie Yen and the promise of spear-slicing action are what will get most people to park themselves in front of the TV. However, I’d wager that Jiang Wen’s superb acting and Felix Chong and Alan Mak’s multi-colored cinematography will prove equally as memorable for viewers by the time the credits have rolled. Donnie Yen has been enjoying a career renaissance as of late, there’s no doubt about that, but “The Lost Bladesman” stands out as one of his finer efforts. Even if you think you’ve seen every Chinese historical epic under the sun, Donnie’s unrivaled flair for action direction ensures that “The Lost Bladesman” has plenty of impact.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8/10

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

Blood Money Blu-ray & DVD (Anderson Merchandise)

Posted on June 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
Blood Money Blu-ray & DVD (Anderson Merchandise)

Blood Money Blu-ray & DVD (Anderson Merchandise)

RELEASE DATE: August 28, 2012

Anderson Merchandise presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Blood Money, which is also available in a special 2-Disc Blu-ray Set .

Here’s an interesting one: An American-made martial arts movie starring Shaolin Warrior’s Zheng Liu, recording artist Pitbull and 36 Chamber of Shaolin’s Gordon Liu. It doesn’t look bad (doesn’t look great either). Check out the trailer.

Plot Description: A powerful warrior from the Shaolin Dynasty in China turns to crime after his parents are killed and his sister kidnapped, the drug cartels of America, Australia, and Hong Kong are about to feel the sting of the world’s most dangerous hit man!

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

In ‘Hindsight,’ CJ Entertainment has ‘No Mercy’ for American audiences

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Hindsight" Korean Theatrical Poster

"Hindsight" Korean Theatrical Poster

Over at Beyond Hollywood, Todd Rigney reports that CJ Entertainment America, the US branch of Korea’s biggest movie studio, is planning to release a couple of its films in North America. No Mercy and Hindsight will both hit DVD in North America on July 31st, 2012. A Blu-ray release for both titles is expected to follow shortly thereafter.

Traditionally, Asian movie studios have licensed out their films to American distributors. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come: soon enough, Asian studios with enough money behind them could bypass the middle man and put their movies directly in North American consumers’ hands.

If you’re can’t wait another month to see No Mercy, the medical-themed Korean thriller is already streaming in HD on Netflix. We’ve previously discussed Hindsight over here.

Posted in News |
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