"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.

"Norwegian Wood" International Theatrical Poster

We’re already well into the month of May and, for better or worse, the studios are using it to put out their double and triple (and quadruple) film sets. So hopefully you don’t mind those. Well, let’s get started. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 5/15/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Norwegian Wood (DVD) – New Video Group releases this 2010 adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s novel of the same name. A melancholy love story set in 1960’s Tokyo

The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake (Blu-ray/DVD) – director Herman Yau (“The Legend is Born – Ip Man”) tells the story of real-life Chinese revolutionary Qui Jin and adds a liberal dose of kung fu in this 2011 biopic

FOREIGN CINEMA

1900 (Blu-ray/DVD) – acclaimed filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci aims to tell no less than the sweeping history of 20th century Italy in this 1977 film starring Robert De Niro and Gerard Depardieu. Languages include English, French, and Italian

Michael (DVD) – this chilling 2011 German-language film has been compared to the work of Michael Haneke (“Funny Games”) and tells the story of an accountant who appears normal on the outside but who is secretly holding a 10 year-old boy captive

Agent Vinod (DVD) – this 2012 Bollywood film was meant to be a comeback vehicle for troubled star Saif Ali Khan (“Race,” “Tashan”). It received lukewarm reviews from critics but the trailer sure made it look like an action-packed spy-thriller

My Piece of the Pie (DVD) – a 2011 French comedy about a recently unemployed woman who finds the perfect opportunity to get back at the man who closed down her factory

Paraiso (DVD) – according to the tagline for this 2009 Spanish-language film, “Freedom is Murder.” But unfortunately that’s about all that’s known about the movie at this time

Blood Money (DVD) – a 2012 Hindi-language film about a young couple who run away to a resort town and find themselves slowly pulled into the underworld

MAINSTREAM

The Grey (Blu-ray/DVD) – despite the misleading trailers, this 2012 survivalist film is not about Liam Neeson punching wolves. It is about men confronting death in the wild, though

Chronicle (Blu-ray/DVD) – the acclaimed 2012 ‘found footage’ teen-superhero film comes to home formats

The Order (Blu-ray) – in this 2001 direct-to-video action flick, Jean Claude Van Damme (“Bloodsport”) finds himself trying to avert a crisis in the Holy Land. Featuring an appearance by Charlton Heston!

Rampart (Blu-ray/DVD) – in this critically acclaimed 2012 film, actor Woody Harrelson plays the kind of cop we all pray we never get pulled over by

White Squall (Blu-ray) – one of Ridley Scott’s lesser known features. In this 1996 film, Jeff Bridges is up against the perfect storm

Terminal Velocity (Blu-ray) – before Charlie Sheen’s celebrity persona went off the rails, he actually made a go at being an action/thriller star. In this 1994 starring vehicle, he plays a “maverick skydiving instructor”

American Battleship (DVD) – somebody finally had the stones to unite Mario Van Peebles and Carl Weathers (“Rocky 4”) for a movie. Only problem is that it’s a cheap knock-off of “Battleship” from Asylum Entertainment

CULT

Walking Tall: The Trilogy (Blu-ray/DVD) – speak softly and carry a big stick in this cult series starring Joe Don Baker and Bo Svenson. Based on the real life of Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser who cleaned out his small town of criminal element

Eagle’s Wing (DVD) – Martin Sheen and Harvey Keitel headline this 1979 psychedelic Western that’s been compared to “2001: A Space Odyssey” for its experimental nature

CLASSICS

Caravan (DVD) – VCI Entertainment releases this 1946 love story starring Stewart Granger and Jean Kent

Yankee Clipper (DVD) – a 1925 Cecil B. DeMille silent film production, courtesy of Alpha Home Entertainment

HORROR

The Devil Inside (Blu-ray/DVD) – how many people do you know that complained about the ending of this 2012 ‘found footage’ demon possession film?

Mortuary (DVD) – a 1981 horror film co-starring Bill Paxton, about nightmares and mortuaries

Immortality (DVD) – Echo Bridge re-releases this little seen but acclaimed sensual 1998 vampire film starring Jude Law

Fever Night AKA Band of Satanic Outsiders (DVD) – three teen friends find themselves on the run from a Satanic manifestation in this 2009 horror movie

Descendents(DVD) – a 2008 post-apocalyptic zombie tale from Latin America. And yes, the title is spelled that way

DOUBLE AND TRIPLE PACKS

Kill Bill: 1 & 2 Double Feature (Blu-ray/DVD) – this is not the extended, seamless cut of “Kill Bill” we’ve long been promised, but if you don’t own either of this early 00’s Quentin Tarantino films then this is a fairly good deal at $24.99

Romancing the Stone/Jewel of the Nile (Blu-ray) – the two audience-loved 80’s action-comedies starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in one Blu-ray set

Fantastic Four/Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Blu-ray) – if you ask me, these are two of the worst superhero movies of the 00’s but here they are, together in hi-def

Kevin Smith Triple Feature: Clerks/Chasing Amy/Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (Blu-ray/DVD) – me thinks they should have just included “Mallrats” instead of “Jay & Silent Bob.” Regardless, Kevin Smith fans can enjoy three of his films on Blu-ray for only $19.99

Predator/Predator 2 (Blu-ray) – if it bleeds, we can kill it. What else can I say about these two classic movies? Okay, “Predator 2” is less of a classic but it still has its moments. Together on Blu for $17.78

The Transporter/The Transporter 2 (Blu-ray) – I still dig the first two “Transporter” movies – especially the first one. So sue me! They helped cement Jason Statham’s tough guy persona. $22.49 gets you both in hi-def

Independence Day/The Day the Earth Stood Still (Blu-ray) – $13.38 is a decent price for these two films but unfortunately Amazon doesn’t tell us if this is the “Day the Earth…” with Keanu Reeves or without

Quentin Tarantino 3Pk (DVD) – in this 3-film DVD set, you receive the Tarantino films “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “Jackie Brown.” Finally, three films that make sense together. For only $14.97

Jean Claude Van Damme Double Feature (DVD) – get ready for twice the Van Dammage with 2001’s “The Order” and 1993’s “Nowhere to Run” on DVD

The Keeper/Double Impact/Delta Force (DVD) – hot damn. Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, and Chuck Norris unite at least in spirit for this 3-film DVD set

Mercenary For Justice/Death Warrant/Missing in Action (DVD) – a direct-to-video Steven Seagal cheapie alongside a decent 80’s Van Damme movie and a classic Chuck Norris action vehicle

12 Rounds/The Marine (DVD) – it’s twice the John Cena for your buck with these two modern action films starring the famous wrestler. “The Marine” is still one of my guilty pleasure movies

Behind Enemy Lands/The Thin Red Line/Tigerland (DVD) – proving that just because movies are about war-torn countries, they don’t necessarily belong together. Someone decided to package an Owen Wilson ‘action flick’ with a Terrence Malick film!

Kiss of the Dragon/Ong Bak (DVD) – hey, it’s one of my favorite English-language Jet Li movies alongside the movie that made Tony Jaa an international star. Only $13.48

In the Name of the King/Kingdom of Heaven (DVD) – you wonder if Jason Statham regrets he ever made a film with Uwe Boll? Now it sits alongside Ridley Scott’s Crusades epic for $13.48

The Day After Tomorrow/Jumper (DVD) – two special FX-infused blockbusters on DVD for $13.48

Dillinger/The Newton Boys/Robin Hood/The Thomas Crown Affair (DVD) – these films explore the criminal element and rogue-ish characters so I suppose they fit together. For $17.98

Max Payne/Hitman (DVD) – two less-than-well-received video game adaptations together on DVD for $13.48

Marked For Death/Navy Seals/Siege (DVD) – Steven Seagal! Charlie Sheen! Denzel Washington! They may not star together in any movies but they share this three-pack

Chain Reaction/Entrapment/Phone Booth (DVD) – okay, now these studios are just throwing any old movies together. Price is $17.98

Road House/Bandidas/Big Trouble in Little China (DVD) – here’s a good question: who had more awesome 80’s hair, Patrick Swayze or Kurt Russell? The answer will cost you $17.98

Live Free or Die Hard/Man on Fire (DVD) – Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington star in two action-packed movies for $13.48

Patton/The Longest Day/The Sand Pebbles/Tora! Tora! Tora! (Blu-ray) – not one but four World War II-era movies together on Blu-ray

Clint Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years at Warner Brothers (DVD) – collecting every title that Clint Eastwood did at Warner Brothers, from 1968’s “Where Eagles Dare” to 2008’s “Gran Torino.” Price tag is $125.87

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!

"The Bride with White Hair" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Here at Cityonfire.com, we previously reported that Tsui Hark plans to helm a 3D gun-slinging wuxia called Tracks in the Snow Forest for the Bona Film Group. Today, Twitch offers word that Jacob Cheung, director of the Andy Lau-starring Battle of Wits AKA Battle of the Warriors, is also helming a 3D film for Bona.

Cheung will be putting together a new take on the same wuxia novel that inspired Ronny Yu’s 1993 Hong Kong film The Bride With White Hair. This time around it’ll be called White Hair Witch.

The Bride With White Hair has always been one of those classic early 90’s Hong Kong films that newcomers to the genre would soon seek out and be dazzled by. The film offered seminal roles for both Brigitte Lin and Leslie Cheung, and cemented the style of cinematographer Peter Pau, who would go on to serve as director of photography on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

My question is: how can a modern remake ever expect to top the original Bride With White Hair? Sure, technology has advanced a great deal in the intervening twenty years but Bride is one of those films that captures the limitless creativity and visual spectacle of 80’s and 90’s Hong Kong cinema – the film literally creates a world unto itself. That seemingly effortless magic is something filmmakers in the region have been struggling to recapture ever since.

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Cityonfire.com has received the following press release from MGM and Park Circus film distributors: Park Circus and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios are pleased to announce a special celebration at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival to mark the 50th Anniversary on the big screen of Ian Fleming’s James Bond.

Five James Bond films will screen in new digital versions as part of the Cinema de la Plage screenings.

The celebration will kick off with a 50th anniversary screening of Dr. No directed by Terence Young and starring Sean Connery and Ursula Andress. First released on 5th October 1962 Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli’s production of Dr. No marked the first big screen appearance for Ian Fleming’s James Bond character.

DR NO will be followed by screenings of From Russia with Love, Diamonds Are Forever, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Casino Royale.

This is the first time a James Bond film has screened during the festival. The screenings in Cannes mark a year long celebration including a return to theatres worldwide of some of the classic Bond films. The celebration continues on the small screen with Bond 50, a collectible box-set featuring all 22 James Bond films on Blu-ray disc for the first time including the debut of nine James Bond films previously unavailable in high definition Blu-ray. Fans around the world can pre-order from Amazon.com.

"Dragon Eyes" Teaser Poster

I think we can agree we all could use a little more puncking and kicking in our lives. Thankfully, After Dark has us covered. They’re known for their yearly selection of horror films but for 2012 After Dark is launching their very first ActionFest – and it starts today!

At select theaters across the country and On Demand right now, you can check out a stellar line-up of new action flicks featuring fan favorite stars like Scott Adkins, Jean Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, and Cung Le. Don’t believe me? Just check out the lineup of films:

Dragon Eyes – the new film from director John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Regeneration) features MMA champ Cung Le and martial arts icon Jean Claude Van Damme in a rip-roaring action yarn: Watch now at Amazon.

El Gringo – Scott Adkins of Undisputed III fame finds trouble South of the Border in a movie co-starring Christian Slater and a whole lot of empty bullet cartridges: Watch now at Amazon.

Stash House – for the first time in years, Dolph Lundgren is back to playing a bonafied Bad Guy with a capital “B” as he terrorizes a young couple who accidentally move into his prized drug den: Watch now at Amazon.

Transit – Jim Caviezel (yes, Jesus himself from The Passion of the Christ) learns how far he’ll go to save his family in this tense thriller that sees the action spill on and off the road: Watch now at Amazon.

Philly Kid – a MMA flick about one young fighter’s Rocky-esque climb to fame. Featuring an appearance by Michael Jai White!: Watch now at Amazon.