Check out the trailer for ‘A Muse’… just like the old man in that book by Nabakov!

"A Muse" Korean Theatrical Poster

"A Muse" Korean Theatrical Poster

Be sure and check out the trailer for the new South Korean film A Muse. According to The Chonsunilbo, A Muse is an adaptation of celebrated author Park Bum-shin’s sensational novel Eun-gyo. It follows a 70-year-old poet (Park Hae-il) who has an affair with a high school student (Kim Go-eun) and is inspired to write a book about her. But his star student (Kim Mu-yeol), who is jealous of the relationship, steals his literary work.

A Muse is directed by Jung Ji-woo, who is mostly known for screenwriting work. The film stars Memories of Murder’s Park Hae-il, War of the Arrows’ Kim Mu-yeol and newcomer Kim Go-eun, who met director Jung Ji-woo through a circle of friends and was not even aware that auditions for the film were being held.

It’s hard to watch the trailer and not think of the 1962 Stanley Kubrick movie, Adrian Lyne’s 1997 remake or Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel for Lolita. I have to admit, I’m totally looking forward to this flick (I swear I’m not an old pervert!).

Posted in News |

Devilman DVD (Tokyo Shock)

Devilman DVD (Tokyo Shock)

Devilman DVD (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Tokyo Shock presents the DVD for Devilman, which is based on the popular manga by Go Nagai. Best friends Akira and Ryo (played by real-life twins Hisato & Yusuke Izaki) are just your average high school students until they receive word that Ryo’s father has accidentally unleashed a horde of demons while conducting experiments in Antarctica. Check out the trailer.

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

My Tutor Friend 2 DVD (Pathfinder Home Entertainment)

My Tutor Friend 2 DVD (Pathfinder Home Entertainment)

My Tutor Friend 2 DVD (Pathfinder Home Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Pathfinder Home Entertainment presents the DVD for My Tutor Friend 2. Japanese-Korean girl Junko travels to Seoul as an exchange student in hopes of seeing a Korean student whom she had fallen in love with in Japan. Instead, fate leads her to a guy named Jong Man. Starring The Good, the Bad, and the Weird’s Lee Chung-ah and War of the Arrows’ Park Ki-woong.

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

Barbarella Blu-ray (Paramount)

Barbarella Blu-ray (Paramount)

Barbarella Blu-ray (Paramount)

RELEASE DATE: July 3, 2012

Barbarella is finally making its way on Blu-ray! In the far future, a highly sexual woman is tasked with finding and stopping the evil Durand-Durand. Along the way she encounters various unusual people. Based on Jean-Claude Forrest’s French Barbarella comics, this 1968 classic is bound to satisfy you in more ways than one. Check out the trailer (you won’t be sorry!).

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

The IMAX format finds success in Mainland China

Chinese audiences enjoying a 3D Film

The 3D release of James Camerons’ Titanic didn’t exactly make waves in the United States, but over in China it earned a whopping $58 million US dollars its first weekend back in theaters. The IMAX 3D re-release of the Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet-starring movie underscores just how well the IMAX format is doing in China. Although only 12 films were released in Chinese IMAX theaters this year, it is swiftly becoming the ideal way to see a film for many movie-goers.

Website Chinese Films quotes Brian Didier, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, who echoes the sentiments of many with his statement: “The regular theatre is okay if they have a good sound system, but the IMAX, you know, you just have that peripheral vision that is also putting you into the screen.

Right now the only detriment to seeing more IMAX theaters in China is the cost – the cost of building such expansive theaters and the price of real estate. However, there is a strong feeling that costs will be driven down soon enough by rising technology. The end result is that IMAX is here to stay, in America and abroad.

Posted in News |

Paradise DVD (Pathfinder Home Entertainment)

Paradise DVD (Pathfinder Home Entertainment)

Paradise DVD (Pathfinder Home Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Pathfinder Home Entertainment presents the DVD for Paradise, directed by Stairway to Heaven’s Lee Jang Soo and written by Bambino’s Okada Yoshikazu. A woman (Kim Ha Neul) recently released from prison gets on a boat to an island called Paradise. She meets a kind-hearted teacher (Ji Jin Hee), who accepts her for who she is despite knowing her past.

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

Danny Pang’s ‘Fairy Tale Killer’ starring Lau Ching Wan – final trailer now online!

"Fairy Tale Killer" Chinese Theatrical Poster

At a recent press conference in Beijing, Forest of Death’s Danny Pang (of the “Pang Brothers”) discussed details about his upcoming film Fairy Tale Killer, which releases in May.

This crime/thriller – reminiscent of David Fincher’s Seven and Yoon-Hyun Chang Tell Me Something – stars Full Alert’s Lau Ching Wan and A World Without Thieves’ Wang Baoqiang. The screenplay is written by Szeto Kam Yuen, who is best-known for penning some of the most memorable Milkyway Image productions, such as Too Many Ways To Be Number One, The Longest Nite and A Hero Never Dies.

Check out the trailer for Fairy Tale Killer, courtesy of Twitch.

Update: Chinese Films has some creepy new pictures from the film. The final posters for the film at Chinese Films.

BREAKING NEWS: The final trailer is now online. The film premiers on the Mainland on May 11.

Posted in News |

Punished (2011) Review

"Punished" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Punished” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Law Wing Cheong
Cast: Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Janice Man Wing San, Maggie Cheung Ho Yee, Richie Ren Yin Chi, Candy Lo Hau Yam, Charlie Cho Cha Lei, Wong Yat-Yat
Running Time: 94 min.

By HKFanatic

Revenge has become a de facto theme for Asian films over the last decade, perhaps ever since 2003’s “Oldboy.” Johnnie To, the producer on “Punished,” even helmed a movie called “Vengeance” just a few years back. Sadly, despite its strong Milkway Image pedigree, “Punished” is not one of the better revenge movies I’ve seen lately. The film fails to live up to the promise of its initial set-up or the talents of principal actors like Anthony Wong and Richie Ren.

Anthony Wong plays a wealthy, cutthroat businessman whose drug-addicted daughter is kidnapped and held for ransom. Things go south, an outcome that is revealed during the first five minutes of the movie, and soon Wong’s right-hand man (Richie Ren) is dispatched to bring the perpetrators to justice. As Richie Ren does the dirty work, Anthony Wong struggles to decide if he really wants all that blood on his hands.

Somewhat like a Quentin Tarantino movie, “Punished” unfolds in a non-linear fashion. In this case, the fractured storytelling style doesn’t really add anything to the experience – but it thankfully doesn’t make the plot any harder to follow either. If anything, the non-chronological order feels like like it’s meant to distract from the fact that, visually, the film is rather drab and workman-like. Behind the camera, “Punished” filmmaker Law Wing-Cheong opts for a ‘point and shoot’ style, with absolutely zero directorial flourishes. Too bad when this is the kind of gritty revenge story that could have benefited from some interesting cinematography. Instead I spent more time distracted by Anthony Wong’s bad haircut.

The characters in “Punished” are blatantly unlikable, which I suppose is one risk the filmmakers took. Anthony Wong’s daughter may be a messed up druggie but Wong treats her and pretty much everyone else in his life like dirt. Wong’s younger wife seems to have her own agenda, as do most of his employees. Richie Ren’s is the one exception as the stoic and tightlipped bodyguard, but even his character is stained by a criminal record and seems to have no qualms about torturing people with a sledgehammer.

If you go into this movie expecting the choreographed action or extreme bloodletting of something like “Oldboy” or “I Saw the Devil,” you’re bound to be disappointed. “Punished” is light on hard-hitting violence and, even though an Action Director is listed in the credits, the one fight scene here feels perfunctory and uninspired. Besides the flat lighting, even the set design on the movie comes across as cheap; Anthony Wong is supposed to be a wealthy Hong Kong businessman but his living space looks like a cheesier version of the hotel at the end of “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

A half-hearted Buddhist subplot sees Wong trying to let go of the physical realm and find peace after his daughter’s death, but this spiritual side-quest doesn’t achieve any actual changes in Anthony Wong’s character. Buddhist prayer beads aside, he’s still basically the same jerk at the end of the movie. I’ll give “Punished” credit for attempting to be a meditative reflection on the theme of revenge instead of just another ‘stab and shoot’ genre movie, but in the end the audience is the one who’s punished.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 5/10


By DiP

Johnnie To returns to home field after the past two years spent on making romance-oriented movies. Here, he’s the producer and let one of his long-time students and frequent ADs (Law Wing-Cheong) take the task of helming the movie. And this time, they took the opportunity to subject the themes of kidnapping and ransom to envision familiarity in new angles.

First things first, I must say that this is possibly the most powerful movie to have been made from Milkyway Image to date. It’s clear to me that To wanted to make big changes with his new output, for which he has successfully accomplished. To and co attempted something new and daring here in that they hit the stride big-time in terms of reaching viewers emotionally through a story and its’ characters. It’s very seldom you get to sympathize with characters of this scale in Milkyway movies, due to To and co usually being in high favor of visualized and stylized storytelling. Punished changes that and marks a new era which may probably be made into a tradition from here on.

The movie is strictly story/character-driven without any need to excess the narrative. Apart from the main antagonist (whoever the actor is), whose intention behind the kidnapping and ransom he got and his decision to take someone’s life remained unclear and left his characterization less fleshed out, every other central character is well-written and given enough screen-time to clear their emotional states and further motivate their actions. There’s even hints of character development in other characters that are aren’t crucial to the story, such as the tycoon’s manager (Charlie Cho, most famous for portraying the annoying lawyer in Police Story 1 and 2) and the tycoon’s son (played by Anthony Wong’s real-life son, Wong Yat-Yat). But most importantly is the underlying message of everything which is impulsiveness and determination in people: it asks you what these can cause, how you can prevent things from happening, and whether or not it’s a good or bad thing. As we follow the currents of the tycoon (Anthony Wong), the bodyguard (Richie Ren), the tycoon’s daughter (Janice Man) and wife (Maggie Cheung Hoh-Yee), the bodyguard’s shady assistant (Candy Lo), and the kidnapper’s accomplices, you will see how all this is told and resolved. Overall, these instances show a significant makeover in choices being made to produce a Milkyway movie that I hope will continue in the future.

Two things stood out the most to me though and what makes Punished totally worth seeing. The first is the acting. Props to everyone that got casted in the movie but my attention was turned to Anthony Wong and Richie Ren. Ren is someone I came to admire in Breaking News and he has since grown into a fine actor in his own right. But I think it wasn’t until Accident that he started to show major improvements and here he keeps that up playing Wong’s loyal bodyguard who will do anything to get things done fast while keeping up with his own private life outside the job. But the icing of the cake is none other than Wong himself. I haven’t really been a fan of his roles in recent movies because I feel he always plays the same cool, calm character with very little variety of acting. But he seemed to really give insanely more effort in this movie than any other ones I’ve ever seen from him – here portraying a hot-headed character who goes through alot to decide what to do and what he will gain out of the messy situation – which shows in every single scene he appears in. Big bravura for both!

The second is the soundtrack. Punished marks a step further when it comes to the music composing (done by Guy Zerafa, Dave Klotz and Chung Chi-Wing) in Milkyway movies as well. Usually in Milkyway movies, the soundtracks consist of various instruments that wholeheartedly reflects the quirkiness/peculiars of To’s personal storytelling (the reason why I love the music in his work) but as far as conjugating the music within the emotional context of the story/characters it’s mostly non-existent because it was always about the beauty of the narrative. For Punished, To made sure that story/characters were main priority so he decided to use different instruments for more intensified and gripping effect. The music ends up somewhat conventional compared to other soundtracks but it’s highly serviceable and pays off having a new sound to it still and fitting perfectly in the movie’s dramatic scenes.

After seeing alot of changes and evolution with To and co in not just film styling but also them growing big balls of their favorite actors (first Lau Ching-Wan in Mad Detective, Simon Yam in Sparrow, now Anthony Wong in Punished), it’s really incredible to see that Hong Kong still got talented people who can produce great movies and keep the HK style of film-making away from declining.

DiP’s Rating: 10/10

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

The giallo lives again with ‘La Memoria Del Muerto’

The phantasmagoria of "La Memoria Del Muerto"

Long for the days when Dario Argento was unleashing his atmospherically-colored Italian terrors like Suspiria and Inferno onto the world? Well, you’re not alone, but Argentinean director Javier Diment may have us covered.

Twitch Film has the full-length trailer for his new film La Memoria Del Muerto and it looks like a promising throwback to the glory days of the giallo.

Unfortunately, not much is known about the plot or when the film will be released, but if you know Spanish feel free to hop over to the film’s Facebook page and translate for us!

Update: Our commenters very graciously offer some more details for those who are curious about this unique horror film. Nataniel Costard describes the plot:

Five friends meet at a house to mourn and celebrate the life and death of one of their best friends. But the widow has another idea… one that has to do with occultism, facing your worst nightmares and surviving a whole night surrounded by death itself!

Alejandro offers a review: “The movie is simply amazing, and real effective too. It reminds a lot of Dario Argento, Sam Raimi and even a taste of Wes Craven. It’s very rare to find Argentinian horror movies well done. This is an unique exception, and it must reach international borders. Excellent acting, brilliant direction, a solid story, clever twists and for a low-budget movie, really cool and credible FXs. It’s an A+, totally recommended.”

Posted in News |

Iris: The Movie DVD (Cinema Asia Releasing)

Iris: The Movie DVD (Cinema Asia Releasing)

Iris: The Movie DVD (Cinema Asia Releasing)

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2012

Cinema Asia Releasing presents Iris: The Movie on DVD. This feature is derived from the action-packed Korean TV series. Additional scenes were shot that expanded upon the original storyline, including an all-new extended ending. Iris: The Movie stars I Saw The Devil’s Byung-hun Lee and The Restless’ Kim Tae-hee. Check out the trailer.

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

Heartbeat DVD (Cinema Asia Releasing)

Heartbeat DVD (Cinema Asia Releasing) Yun-jin Kim

Heartbeat DVD (Cinema Asia Releasing) Yun-jin Kim

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2012

Cinema Asia Releasing presents the DVD for Yoon Jae-Keun’s thriller, Heartbeat. A woman finally has a heart donor lined up for her young daughter; however, the good news doesn’t exactly go as planned. Heartbeat stars Shiri and Lost star Yun-jin Kim and War of Arrows’ Hae-il Park. Check out the trailer.

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

Double Feature: Ninja Champion & Weapons of Death DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Double Feature: Ninja Champion & Weapons Of Death DVD (Screen Magic Films)

Double Feature: Ninja Champion & Weapons Of Death DVD (Screen Magic Films)

RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2012

Screen Magic Films presents two “classics” in this martial arts Double Feature: The first is Ninja Champion, a Godfrey Ho cut ‘n paste flick that stars Richard Harrison, Bruce Baron and Pierre Tremblay. The second is Paul Kyriazi’s English language kung fu flick Weapons of Death, which stars Eric Lee and Gerald Okamura. Check out the trailers for Ninja Champion and Weapons of Death.

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

Let the Bullets Fly (2010) Review

"Let the Bullets Fly" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Let the Bullets Fly” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Jiang Wen
Cast: Jiang Wen, Chow Yun Fat, Ge You, Carina Lau Kar Ling, Hu Jun, Chen Kun, Liao Fan, Zhou Yun, Feng Xiaogang, Shao Bing, Bai Bing, Du Yiheng, Hu Ming, Jiang Wu, Ma Ke, Miao Pu, Wei Xiao, Yang Qiyu, Yao Lu
Running Time: 132 min.

By HKFanatic

“Let the Bullets Fly” became a breakout hit at the Chinese box office in 2010 and, just a week ago, earned Jiang Wen a Best Director trophy at the Hong Kong Film Critic’s Society Awards. While the film has clearly resounded with Chinese audiences, I have to wonder just how well this particular story travels overseas. This is a movie all about clever wordplay and subtle deceptions – a Western viewer is not only at the mercy of an English translation but how quickly they can process the subtitles whipping by at the bottom of the screen.

As a filmmaker, Jiang Wen isn’t afraid to juxtapose extreme violence with screwball comedy. The acting in “Let the Bullets Fly” is consistently dialed way, way over the top. Chow Yun Fat is given free reign to chew the scenery like a mid-90’s Al Pacino. The film’s visual style is extreme to match; the cinematography has that high contrast look that’s popular right now, with a color palette that often makes skin appear orange and hair resemble teal. Dialogue is shouted, facial expressions are manic. In this movie, bloody gunplay collides with a presentation of reality that is, well, hyper-real – and blatantly absurd. This is not a film for everyone.

In some ways, “Let the Bullets Fly” is a Chinese approximation of a spaghetti Western – we begin with the familiar motif of a train robbery and lead into the ‘mysterious stranger rides into a corrupt, flea-bit town.’ But unlike, say, “The Good, The Bad and the Weird,” this film favors comedic dialogue and visual humor over intensely choreographed action sequences. If you’re expecting this film to live up to its title with “A Better Tomorrow“-style setpieces, you’ll probably go home disappointed. Keep an open mind and you may find this to be one of the most original and vibrant Chinese-language films in years, depending on your taste.

Speaking of which, the film does suffer from questionable taste at times, particularly when the rape of a married woman is played for laughs in the following scene. And “Let the Bullets Fly” is arguably too long for its own good – twenty minutes could have been shaved off without losing anything, except a few scenes where the characters seem overly impressed with how clever they are.

Jiang Wen’s film has already proven a massive success overseas so its reception in other countries is perhaps besides the point. I’m not entirely sure if the story’s meaning has made the transition to North America intact, but fans of Chow Yun Fat and movies that trade in comedic ultra-violence should be mostly entertained. Hours after watching “Let the Bullets Fly,” I still wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Low-budget computer effects and harsh lighting aside, I was admittedly impressed by the filmmaking technique behind this movie. No matter what, I’m glad we live in an age when a movie like this not only makes it past the Chinese censors, but proves to be a massive hit with audiences and earns a Western release.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10

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

‘Speed Angels’ have a ticket to ride on Import Blu-ray and DVD

"Speed Angels" Chinese Teaser Poster

"Speed Angels" Chinese Teaser Poster

Speed Angels may not have been the best reviewed Chinese-language film of 2011, but when when you’ve got good-lookin’ ladies and fast cars who really needs critical acclaim? Certainly not commercial filmmaker Jingle Ma (Tokyo Raiders, Hot War), who wrote and directed the slick racer.

Straight-up cutie Tang Wei (Lust, Caution) is in the driver’s seat for this movie that’s all about the drama on and off the road for a bevy of female race car drivers. You can snag Speed Angels on Region A Blu-ray for only $21.15 or Region 3 DVD for $14.74, courtesy of trusted retailer DDDHouse. Tell them Cityonfire.com sent ya!

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Father’s Day Blu-ray & DVD (Troma Entertainment)

Father's Day Blu-ray & DVD (Troma Entertainment)

Father's Day Blu-ray & DVD (Troma Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Troma Entertainment presents Father’s Day on Blu-ray/DVD Combo. This “new” grindhouse flick revolves around the urban legend known as The Father’s Day Killer. Fangoria says it’s “Destined to become a midnight movie classic.” We’ll see. Check out the trailer.

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