The Front Line Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

This week sees the release of two high profile Asian films and not much else, unless you’re a fan of the “Underworld” series. But hey, let’s get cracking. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 5/8/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

The Front Line (Blu-ray/DVD) – Well Go USA brings this 2011 critically acclaimed Korean War-era drama to North America

Shock Labyrinth 3D (Blu-ray/DVD) – “Grudge” director Takashi Shimizu takes a detour into 3D with this 2009 tale of terror

FOREIGN CINEMA

Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (Blu-ray) – RaroVideo USA offers this 1981 giallo in hi-definition

La Haine (Blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection offers this 1995 film about life on the fringe in Paris, starring Vincent Cassel

Reykjavik to Rotterdam (DVD) – the 2008 Icelandic crime thriller that became the basis for the Mark Wahlberg flick “Contraband”

Naughty Teen (DVD) – a voyeuristic love triangle develops in this vintage Italian sex comedy

Amador (DVD) – a 2010 Spanish black comedy about a young caretaker who finds a way to keep working even after her client dies

Cry of the Heart (Le cir du coeur) (DVD) – a 1974 slice-of-life drama from France about a single mother in search of love

MAINSTREAM

Underworld: Awakening (Blu-ray/DVD) – Kate Beckinsale dons skintight black leather one last(?) time in the 2011 installment of the vampire vs. werewolf franchise

CULT

42nd Street Forever (Blu-ray) – Synapse Films presents three hours of trailers for the wildest and most out there grindhouse and exploitation movies

CLASSICS

Tora! Tora! Tora! (Blu-ray) – the 1970 film about the events leading up to Pearl Harbor, starring Joseph Cotten

HORROR

Ganja & Hess: Kino Classics Remastered Edition (Blu-ray/DVD) – a landmark 1973 “blaxploitation” film that deals with vampirism in a smart and allegorical way

Mother’s Day (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2010 remake of the obscure 80’s Troma horror film, starring Rebecca De Mornay

Playback (Blu-ray/DVD) – Christian Slater co-stars in this 2012 horror flick about a group of high school students who uncover a dark secret via video tape

The Shrine (DVD) – a 2010 horror movie about cults and demonic possession that has garnered praise online

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"Put Up Your Dux" Theatrical Poster

Put Up Your Dux is a documentary about Frank W. Dux (pronounced “dukes”), an American martial artist who was the inspiration for the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme film, Bloodsport.

Put Up Your Dux explores Dux’ controversial martial arts career (many believe he is nothing but a fraud), his undercover government agency rumors (he supposedly trained Navy Seals), and his legal battle with Van Damme (Dux demanded profits from 1996’s The Quest, claiming it was similar to a manuscript he co-wrote called Enter the New Dragon).

Be sure and check out the trailer and an interview with the filmmakers. Still no word on a North American Blu-ray or DVD release.

Update: Put Up Your Dux will be showing at The 5th Annual X Fest on Sunday, May 13th. Unless you live in South Africa, forget about attending. Oddly enough, a German Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and DVD have been available for sometime — yet, it’s currently screening at a festival in South Africa? This world makes no sense at all. And then they wonder why torrents and youtube uploads are so popular.

"The Raid" Theatrical Poster

Gareth Evans’ The Raid: Redemption is already a cult classic and has received nothing but rave reviews from just about everyone who’s seen it. It ranks 7th place on imdb’s “most popular action feature films” chart and has raised the bar the same way films like Die Hard and Ong-bak did. Evans is currently in the process of making its highly anticipated sequel; and Hollywood producers are prepping up an English-language remake of the original.

So after The Raid 2 (aka Berandal), what’s the next possible project for the Welsh filmmaker? Empire reports that Gareth is currently in negotiations to direct a heist flick for Universal called Breaking the Bank, which will be based on the true story of how a UFC brawler named “Lightning” Lee Murray put together the biggest cash robbery in England back in 2006.

On an interesting note, The Wrestler’s Darren Aronofsky was originally attached to Breaking the Bank, but chose to do Noah instead.

Considering Evans expertise is obviously martial arts/action films (if you haven’t seen 2009’s Merantau, it’s also a must-see), it’ll be interesting to see how he handles a straight-up heist flick; but then again, Breaking the Bank’s story does involve a UFC brawler, so maybe there’s enough room for some hard-hitting action Evans is known for. In the meantime, check out our review for The Raid: Redemption, so you can read what the fuss is all about.

Gamera the Brave Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

Just what is going on over at Media Blasters? The distributor known for releasing anime and live-action Asian films in North America has been facing some tough times lately. Back in January of this year, they laid off 60% of their staff. A few days ago, trusted website Anime News Network reported a story that Media Blasters had been dissolved by the state of New York due to failing to file their taxes.

Today Media Blasters hit back at such claims on their Facebook page. Media Blasters says: “MB is not out of business or closing down its operation.” MB also alleges that Anime News Network didn’t bother to contact them before reporting the story – something that ANN denies.

Regardless, Media Blasters has delayed the release of several of their high profile discs in recent months. For instance, Gamera the Brave on Blu-ray and the Lady Ninja Kasumi DVD collection now won’t hit retail until September 25th, 2012. Stay tuned for more on the story as it develops.

"Wild Bunch" Japanese Theatrical Poster

The Collider reports that Jody Hill – the writer/director of The Foot Fist Way, Eastbound & Down and Observe and Report – has been tapped by Warner to remake/reboot a movie version of the classic TV show, The Dukes of Hazzard. The TV show itself was inspired by 1975’s Moonrunners (see trailer), a film about moonshine-running bootleggers who outran federal agents with fast cars.

According to Cinema Blend, Jody Hill’s version of The Dukes of Hazzard, which will take place during the 1970s in the South, will be more like a violent Sam Peckinpah-style shoot ’em up, a la The Wild Bunch.

In 2005, The Dukes of Hazzard was remade into comedy film by Super Troopers’ Jay Chandrasekhar. It starred Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott and Jessica Simpson. Chandrasekhar’s film was panned by most critics and fans alike. Richard Roeper named it the worst film of 2005.

As a big fan of Jody Hill’s work, I’m sure he can do some justice to the franchise, while putting his own spin to it. I personally don’t care if it’s related to The Dukes of Hazzard or not, but if the title makes it easier to get the picture green-lit, then I’m all for it. Just think: A Sam Peckinpah take on “The Duke Boys” directed by Jody Hill? I’m there.

"Mysterious Fobber" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Not much is known about the forthcoming Chinese film Moonlight Savage but it sure looks intriguing, judging by the teaser poster over at 24 Frames Per Second. There are also a host of stills available from the film, which showcase a bunch of sober-faced and blood-stained actors holding guns.

Our best guess is that this is a period action movie of some kind. Stay tuned to Cityonfire.com for the trailer when it becomes available.

Updates: The title of the film has apparently been changed to Mysterious Fobber. We’re assuming it’s meant as ‘Mysterious Robber.’ A cryptic new trailer at 24 Frames Per Second makes the project look like an Asian horror movie. Just what the heck is Moonlight Savage/Mysterious Fobber about?

Chinese Films has the final poster. The website bills the film as a “suspense action movie,” however there are no new details on the plot. In fact, “none of the lead [actors] divulged any information regarding the identity of the mysterious man in the poster when questioned at the event by the press.” Guess we may have to wait until Mysterious Fobber premieres on May 4 to learn the secrets of the film.

BREAKING NEWS: A new trailer is online and sheds a bit more light on the film’s general plot and tone. Kind of. Sort of. But the film definitely looks cool.

Jessica Alba's "Machete" Character Poster

Chosun.com reports that Sin City’s Jessica Alba, who was recently on vacation in South Korea, told a cable channel that she’s interested in making a Korean movie one day, particularly with Park Chan-wook, the director of Oldboy and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. She also stated that Park’s characters came to her “like music” and mentioned that she would probably faint if she met Park in person.

Maybe someone should introduce Alba to the films of I Saw The Devil’s Kim Ji-woon and Chaser’s Na Hong-jin. Park Chan-wook is definitely a filmmaking genius, but there’s a lot more where he came from.

"Wild 7" Japanese DVD

Over at Far East Films, they’ve got the details on the release of Wild 7 on Japanese Blu-ray and DVD. This action-packed movie is based on the seminal manga by Mochizuki Mikiya, and follows a group of ass-kicking secret police who take to fighting the terrorists and criminals of Japan on motorcycles. Check out the stylish trailer.

If you’re anything like us, that trailer made you want to see the movie yesterday. The DVD will be Region 2 while the Blu-ray will be Region A (the latter playable on American Blu-ray players), but both will have English subtitles. Wild 7 hits the streets on May 23rd, 2012.