Mutant Girls Squad Blu-ray/DVD Combo (Well Go USA)

May, we barely knew you and now you’re almost gone. This week is slim pickings as far as Asian cinema is concerned but hopefully we can all find something to enjoy. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 5/22/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Mutant Girl Squad (Blu-ray/DVD) – the latest and greatest in Japanese splatterpunk from Sushi Typhoon. This 2010 film receives a belated North American release courtesy of your friends at Well Go USA

Whisper of the Heart (Blu-ray + DVD combo) – Disney releases in hi-def this cherished 1995 Japanese animated film from Studio Ghibli

The Secret World of Arrietty (Blu-ray + DVD) – this 2012 anime is a Japanese take on “The Borrowers,” penned by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki

Castle in the Sky (Blu-ray + DVD combo) – Disney inundates anime fans with another Studio Ghibli Blu-ray. Originally released in 1986, this was Hayao Miyazaki’s third film

PlanZet (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2010 short, computer-generated film from Japan that deals with giant mechs in a post-apocalyptic landscape

FOREIGN CINEMA

Certified Copy (Blu-ray/DVD) – Criterion Collection presents this 2010 film starring Juliet Binoche. This beguiling story from Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami will make viewers question if what they’re seeing is real

Plot of Fear (DVD) – RaroVideo USA presents this 1976 Italian murder mystery about a decadent sex party that goes horrifically wrong when several guests end up dead

SuperBitch (DVD) – a 1973 Italian crime exploitation flick. Hard violence, fast cars, and even faster women. No mention on Amazon if this will have an original Italian language track or not

First Beautiful Thing (Blu-ray/DVD) – Palisades Tartan releases this 2010 Italian film about a single mother raising two children and trying to appreciate the simple things in life

All Inclusive (Todo Incluido) (DVD) – a 2008 Spanish-language film about a dysfunctional family whose tropical vacation brings out the best and worst in them

ACTION

Lethal Weapon: The Complete Collection (Blu-ray) – all four “Lethal Weapon” films on Blu-ray. For action buffs, doesn’t get much better than this. Which one is your favorite? I’m going to go against the grain and say Part 2

Black Cobra (DVD) – Lionsgate releases this 2012 martial arts film starring T.J. Storm (“Punisher: War Zone”) as a man on a mission. Could T.J. become our next action icon?

Red Tails (Blu-ray/DVD) – George Lucas produced this 2012 film about the first African-American combat unit to serve in World War II

This Means War (Blu-ray/DVD) – Tom Hardy and Chris Pine headline this 2012 romantic action-comedy (no, they’re not in love with each other, they’re fighting over Reese Witherspoon) that failed to light up the box office

Beyond (Blu-ray/DVD) – Jon Voight plays a grizzled detective in this 2011 direct-to-video feature that marries the police procedural with a supernatural thriller

American Warships (Blu-ray/DVD) – finally, someone had the stones to unite Carl Weathers and Mario Van Peebles for this Asylum Entertainment “Battleship” knockoff

The Kane Files (DVD) – a low budget direct-to-video feature from 2010 that seems to have some positive reviews on Amazon. Co-starring William Devane (“Rolling Thunder”)

DRAMA

Perfect Sense (Blu-ray/DVD) – a global epidemic causes people around to the world to lose their senses right as Eva Green and Ewan McGregor fall in love in this 2011 drama

Uncle Kent (DVD) – the king of mumblecore, director Joe Swanberg, is back with this 2011 indie drama about a cartoonist trying to make the moves on his houseguest

CULT

A Bullet for the General (Blu-ray) – Blue Underground releases this 1967 spaghetti Western in hi-def. Starring Klaus Kinski

HORROR

The Woman in Black (Blu-ray/DVD) – Hammer Horror returns with this 2012 ghost story starring Daniel Radcliffe of “Harry Potter” fame

A Serbian Film UNCUT (DVD) – the sickest and most depraved movie of our generation? Time for you to decide as 2010’s “A Serbian Film” is finally released in uncut form

Ilsa, the Wicked Warden (DVD) – Ilsa, the She-Wolf of the SS, is back in this 1977 exploitation flick where the Nazi mistress runs a mental asylum for women

Footsteps (DVD) – before Gareth Evans became one of the top action directors in the world with “The Raid,” he made this 2006 Welsh film about a man on a violent downward spiral

Game Over (DVD) – this 2010 horror film is directed by Timo Rose, who the DVD cover art claims is “Germany’s undisputed godfather of gore.” Who am I to argue with that?

Hack Job (DVD) – a 2011 horror anthology that claims to be derived from a script by the Devil himself, featuring Lloyd Kaufman of Troma fame and GWAR’s Oderus Urangus

Deadly Detour: The Goat Man Murders (DVD) – the title probably speaks for itself but this 2011 film is intended as a throwback to 80’s slasher movies

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!

"Double Trouble" Theatrical Poster

The Hong Kong Film & International TV Market is going on this week and one of the films being shopped at the event is a new action comedy called Double Trouble, starring none other than Jackie Chan’s son, Jaycee Chan.

In the film, Jaycee plays a security guard from Beijing who must team up with a female security guard from Taipei, Taiwan, in order to track down a stolen painting. No doubt a culture clash ensues but it’s humorous to note that Andy Lau’s upcoming film, Switch, has a similar premise, missing painting and all.

Double Trouble arrives courtesy of first time director David Chang and co-stars members of Taiwan’s girl pop group, Hey Girls, namely Jessica C and Shoko.

The good news is that action choreography is being handled by Nicky Li, who has built an impressive resume with films like Fatal Move and King of Triads. Read more about the film and its sales event at Film Business Asia.

Update: The first trailer for Double Trouble is now online but if you’re expecting Jackie’s son to follow in his footsteps with a hard-hitting Police Story-esque action movie, you may be disappointed. It looks like Double Trouble is emphasizing broad comedy and computer effects-driven action scenes.

BREAKING NEWS: A new trailer is more aimed at English audiences since the film is receiving a limited theatrical release in the States on June 8th.

"Tekken" Italian Theatrical Poster

The crazy movie news keeps rolling out of Cannes 2012. The Hollywood Reporter relays word that Crystal Skys CEO Steven Paul is planning a prequel to the 2010 live-action Tekken movie, based on the popular video game of the same name. This is despite the fact that the first Tekken movie become embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit.

It gets even better. Steven Paul claims that Prachya Pinkaew of Ong Bak and The Kick will direct the prequel, titled Tekken: Rise of the Tournament. Paul is also hopeful for an American theatrical release this time around (the first Tekken went straight to video). No stars have signed on yet but Paul wants actors who look like their video game counterparts. What say you: does the world really need another Tekken movie? In the meantime, check out our review of the first flick.

"Sofia" Theatrical Poster

Ain’t It Cool News has the exclusive one-sheet poster for Assassin’s Bullet, the next big movie from Isaac Florentine, director of the Scott Adkins-starring films Special Forces and Undisputed II&III. The cast includes Christian Slater, Donald Sutherland, Elika Portnoy, and Timothy Spall. The film is being released in some territories under the title Sofia as it is set in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Apparently Assassin’s Bullet is more of a psychological thriller than an action movie but the material is delivered with Isaac Florentine’s typically kinetic direction. The plot follows Elika Portnoy’s character (she co-wrote the screenplay) and her many alter egos: school teacher, seductress, and deadly assassin. Assassin’s Bullet arrives in what I assume will be a limited theatrical release this August 3, 2012. Here’s the trailer.

"Marble City" Cannes Conceptual Poster

File this one under ‘cool things that will probably never happen but really should.’ Twitch Film reports on a piece of conceptual poster art at Cannes that envisions a movie directed by Ryuhei Kitamura of Versus and Azumi fame, and starring Nicolas Cage. The poster is ridiculous, with Cage’s head floating atop an ultra-chiseled torso, but at least the plot sounds promising if anyone actually decides to fund this movie and make it happen.

The film, titled Marble City, would theoretically co-star Mickey Rourke, Melissa George, Tom Waits, and Bill Pullman. The story concerns Nicolas Cage as an eye-patch wearing (just don’t look for one on the poster) anti-hero, fresh out of prison and looking for revenge against those who wronged him. Somebody give Kitamura money to make this happen, please?

The Girl from the Naked Eye DVD (First Look Pictures)

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Archstone Entertainment: The Girl from the Naked Eye will be in theaters on June 15, 2012 – and on DVD on July 24, 2012 – in the top 10 markets through Archstone Entertainment.

The Girl from the Naked Eye is directed by David Ren (Shanghai Kiss), the film stars Jason Yee (Kung-Fu Magazine Hall of Fame member), Ron Yuan (Exit Strategy, Red Dawn), Dominique Swain (Face/Off) and Sasha Grey (Entourage).

When a high-class escort is murdered, her protector, Jake (Yee) stops at nothing to find her killer. Leaving a bloody trail in his path, Jake risks everything to uncover the truth and avenge the death of the woman he loved. The Girl from the Naked Eye takes audiences through a thrilling action-packed ride in the underground world of sex and drugs where nothing is what it seems and everything is deadly.

The film is stylized and action-packed, paying tribute to Park Chan-Wook’s Old Boy. Jason Yee is a former super-middle weight, kickboxing and kung-fu champion and a 2 time U.S. Team member. His experience and skill elevated the The Girl from the Naked Eye, bringing authenticity to the action thriller.

– “….a rare combination of modern nocturanal LA Noir mixed with a martial art format…[Jason Yee] is the next big action star in a breakout performance.” – Indiewire, Peter Belsito

Please check out the Trailer, Making-of and Action featurettes for consideration.

Updates: Cityonfire.com now has an interview with Jason Yee, the charismatic martial arts star of The Girl from the Naked Eye.

Quick Blu-ray & DVD (Shout! Factory)

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from Shout! Factory: Quick, A Major Motion Picture from the filmmakers behind Tidal Wave, starring Lee Min-Ki, Kang Ye-Won and Kim In-Kwon. Packed with explosive visuals, full throttle action sequences, extensive bonus content, and more! Own it on Blu-ray and DVD. In stores nationwide on August 21, 2012 from Shout! Factory

Disc Details: Spectacular street chases and pulse-pounding action are taken to new heights on August 21, 2012 when Shout! Factory, in collaboration with CJ E&M, fulfills viewers need for speed with Korea’s highly popular, action-packed motion picture Quick on Blu-ray™ and DVD, as well as being made available on digital entertainment platforms. Both Blu-ray and DVD editions boast English and Korean audio tracks, English subtitles and extensive bonus content. The Blu-ray contains exclusive bonus features. A must have home entertainment addition for action fans, collectors and world cinema enthusiasts, Quick Blu-ray is priced to own at $ 26.97 SRP; the DVD has a suggested retail price of $19.93. Pre-order now on Amazon.com.

Synopsis: Starring international film stars Lee Min-Ki, Kang Ye-Won and Kim In-Kwon and directed by Jo Bum-Gu, Quick delivers the high-octane action adventure, the thrills and grand scale explosions that will blast the summer heat away. While driving a female pop star to a live broadcast appearance, motorcycle-riding messenger Gi-su receives a mysterious call that there’s a bomb wired to the pop star’s helmet and will blow up if he fails to make a series of deliveries within a fixed time limit. Caught up in a terrorist attack on the grandest scale smack in a heavily populated city along with the police hot on his trail, he and his passenger must embark on a high-speed race against time that their very lives depend on.

Quick Blu-ray Special Features:

– The Making of Quick featurette
– Theatrical trailer
– CGI featurette
– Stunt featurette
– A look at the creation of the movie poster

Street Date: August 21, 2012
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1080p 1.85:1
Audio: Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English
2011/Color/111 minutes/Not Rated

"Mister K" Promotional Photo

Director Lee Myung-Se’s 1999 film Nowhere to Hide was a top-notch Korean action-thriller that turned heads even before that country became one of the hottest film industries in the world. Now Lee Myung-Se is back with his first film in five years, the action-packed Mister K.

The story almost sounds like a riff on James Cameron’s True Lies since the main character is, unbeknownst to his wife, a globe-trotting spy. When he heads to Thailand on a mission, it isn’t long before she uncovers the truth.

Production on Mister K starts on March 12 in Bangkok, Thailand. In the meantime, Beyond Hollywood has two pictures of the case and Film Business Asia offers more production details.

Update: Unfortunately, it looks like Lee Myung-se has left the project due to commercial and artistic reasons. He has been replaced by Lee Seung-jun, who was assistant director on the Korean action blockbuster Quick. A spokesperson for CJ Entertainment, Korea’s largest movie conglomerate and the company behind Mr. K, said that they expect the film to remain on schedule. It is rumored that Lee Myung-se was deviating from Mr. K‘s intended comedic action-adventure tone during the early days of filming and that he repeatedly clashed with producers.

"Helter Skelter" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Now this does not look like your typical Japanese film. Helter Skelter is an adaptation of the popular manga by Kyoko Okazaki. It appears to be a bit of a ‘psychological horror’ story that follows a young actress/model who slowly goes insane thanks to the rigors and demands of the Japanese entertainment industry and her own addiction to plastic surgery.

Far East Films has a teaser trailer which doesn’t show much footage but definitely teases that Helter Skelter could be quite an interesting film. Erika Sawajiri (Ghost Train) is in the lead role, co-starring alongside Nao Omori, Shinobu Terajima, Gou Ayano, Kiko Mizuhara, and Hirofumi Arai. The film opens in Japan on July 14th so expect a full-length trailer before then.

Update: A new full-length trailer courtesy of Twitch Film.