‘Let the Bullets Fly’ cleans up at the China Film Directors’ Guild Awards

Let the Bullets Fly Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Let the Bullets Fly Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Website Chinese Films reports that the China Film Directors’ Guild Awards recently took place on April 8th in Beijing. The action-comedy Let the Bullets Fly ended up making a big impression at the star-studded event. The 2011 film, starring Chow Yun Fat, earned director Jiang Wen a Best Director award. Chow Yun Fat’s co-star, Ge You, took home the Best Actor trophy.

Director Jiang Wen said, “I treasure this award very much. Other awards can be received by my hands, but this one I received with my heart and soul.” He also announced that his next project is underway and that Chow Yun Fat and Ge You will likely be involved. Don’t forget that Let the Bullets Fly is still slated for a April 24, 2012 release on Blu-ray and DVD from distributor Well Go USA.

Starlet Zhang Ziyi was on hand at the event and went home with the Best Actress award for her role in the HIV-themed drama Love For Life. The Directors’ Guild Award also selected the most anticipated Chinese films for the rest of 2012 and among them were several titles we’ve spotlighted here at Cityonfire.com, including: Guns N’ Roses, The Last Supper, Design of Death, and An Inaccurate Memoir.

Posted in News |

Raid, The (2011) Review

"The Raid" International Theatrical Poster

“The Raid” International Theatrical Poster

Director: Gareth Evans
Cast: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian, Pierre Gruno, Tegar Setrya, Ray Sahetapy, Eka “Piranha” Rahmadia, Verdi Solaiman, Iang Darmawan
Running Time: 101 min.

By HKFanatic

Like most martial arts buffs, I was a fan of writer/director Gareth Evans’ and star Iko Uwais’ first collaboration, 2009’s “Merauntau.” But as good as that movie was – and it certainly had its bone-breaking highlights – there was little in it to suggest that the duo were capable of something like “The Raid.”

This film arrives with what feels like a year’s worth of Internet buzz, ever since it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011. Sony has finally begun to trickle “The Raid” out into theaters nationwide, now with a soundtrack from Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda, and I’m pleased to report that “The Raid” lives up to the fever of hype surrounding it. This is the movie that we action fans didn’t even know we were craving.

Gareth Evans and company have managed to combine the relentless bloodsplatter of a vintage John Woo film like “Bullet to the Head” with the kind of intensely choreographed, exhausting-just-to-watch fight choreography we would expect after “Merantau.” But there is also a level of brutality here that is rarely found in a martial arts film, linking it with the likes of “Oldboy” and other Korean revenge pictures (I would not be surprised if the early appearance of a hammer is meant as an homage to Chan-wook Park’s film). Wrap all this around a simple but fun premise reminiscent of classic siege flicks like John Carpenter’s “Assault on Precinct 13” and you have a guaranteed fan favorite that we’ll still be talking about years from now. “The Raid” is perhaps the first fight flick to truly impress since Tony Jaa’s “Tom-Yum-Goong” back in 2005; in other words, the bar as been raised.

I’m not without a few nitpicks. Surprisingly, it’s easy to lose focus on Iko Uwais during the film’s first 30 minutes or so, as his character blurs into the background with the rest of his SWAT team. Several of his teammates could have stood for more characterization as well. Sure, most of them are cannon fodder – but what about the guy who holds his own and fights alongside Iko through the narcotics lab? He could have at least been granted a line of dialogue. Some part of me also longs for the days when blood and knife wounds were brought to life via make-up effects rather than computer trickery, but if digital effects allow Gareth Evans to make a film like this for only a million bucks then CG blood is a small price to pay. Regardless, picking apart “The Raid” is like criticizing the color of your parachute while sky-diving. You’re just plain missing the point.

At its heart, “The Raid” is a film that seeks to restore the communal aspect of theater going. See this movie with even a minimal amount of people at your screening and I guarantee no one will be texting or talking during it. Instead, they’ll be hollering, applauding, or gasping at least once every five minutes – and you’ll be right there with them. This film is a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart of any true martial arts or action junkie. Unlike other recent fight movies like “Bangkok Knockout,” “The Raid” comes across as more than just a glorified stunt reel thanks to the immersive cinematography that not only creates an atmosphere thick with mood but manages to capture kinetic action, like two opponents running at each other across a table, in a way that feels new and exciting. The bottom line: Hollywood has some catching up to do. “The Raid” is so adamant about entertaining its audience that it makes most other genre movies look like they’re not even trying.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 10/10

Posted in Indonesian, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 4/10/12

Female Convict Scorpion Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

Female Convict Scorpion Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

Hopefully you have a taste for Japanese exploitation/grindhouse-style flicks as that’s mostly what’s on the agenda for this week. Without further adieu, here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 4/10/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Female Convict Scorpion (Blu-ray) – Tokyo Shock brings this 2008 Japanese exploitation flick to hi-def

True Story of a Women in Jail: Sex Hell (DVD) – well, that title kind of says it all, doesn’t it? Unrated Japanese eroticism for your viewing pleasure

Debauchery (DVD) – more Japanese pinku fun from Impulse Pictures. Talk about Tokyo decadence!

FOREIGN CINEMA

Don 2 (DVD) – the King is back! Shah Rukh Khan stars in the 2011 sequel to the Indian film “Don,” a globe-trotting action thriller. Shame that there’s no Blu-ray release for us Westerners, though

Conversation Piece / Gruppo Di Famiglia In Un Interno (Blu-ray) – RaroVideo USA brings this 1974 Italian film starring Burt Lancaster to Blu-ray

One Night Stand (Alibis) (DVD) – this 1977 British film about about an English man searching for meaning after his wife’s suicide was shot entirely in Hong Kong

King of Devil’s Island (DVD) – a 2011 film about a Norwegian boy’s correctional facility, starring Stellan Skarsgard

ANIMATION

Justice League: Doom (Blu-ray/DVD) – find out what happens when Batman’s own contingency plans for his Justice League teammates are used against them in this 2012 animated feature

MAINSTREAM

The Iron Lady (Blu-ray/DVD) – actress Meryl Streep stars as the famous British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in this 2011 biopic

The Darkest Hour (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 American film about an alien invasion in Russia failed to make waves at the box office but perhaps it will find an audience on home video

Terrorists (Blu-ray/DVD) – Sean Connery stars as a hostage negotiator in this little known, tense 1975 thriller

Don Juan (Blu-ray) – Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando star in this 1995 quirky romantic comedy, with Depp as a man who thinks he’s the legendary lover Don Juan

The Veteran (DVD) – a young soldier returns to America from the conflict in Afghanistan and finds himself suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder in this bleak ‘n gritty 2011 film

CULT/INDEPENDENT

Thou Shalt Not Kill…Except (Blu-Ray) – the 1985 cult classic is on Blu-ray from Synapse Films. Director Sam Raimi stars as an evil, Charles Manson-like cult leader!

Sleeping Beauty (DVD) – Emily Browning of “Sucker Punch” fame stars as an unconventional sex worker in this controversial 2011 feature

Into the Abyss (Blu-ray/DVD) – Werner Herzog’s 2011 documentary examines life on death row

CLASSICS

A Trip to the Moon (Blu-ray) – it doesn’t get much more ‘classic’ than George Melies’ 1902 silent science-fiction film, now in hi-definition

A Streetcar Named Desire (Blu-ray) – Marlon Brando ignites the screen in this classic 1951 film, now on Blu-ray

Last of the Mohicans (DVD) – a 1936 retelling of James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novel

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!

Posted in News |

‘Sleepless Night’ promises ‘Die Hard in a nightclub’

"Sleepless Night" American Theatrical Poster

The 2011 French action-thriller Sleepless Night has garnered rave reviews online, with some critics even dubbing it ‘Die Hard in a nightclub.’ The film follows a disgraced police detective out to save his young son’s life by returning some stolen drugs to a mob boss. The drug deal is set to take place in the boss’ swank club but everything that can go wrong, does go wrong and it ends up becoming a, well, sleepless night for all parties involved.

Written and directed by Frederic Jardin, the film’s action sequences have already drawn comparisons to the Bourne movies and 24. You can check out the trailer courtesy of Apple Quicktime. Sleepless Night will be available on iTunes and other On Demand services starting April 17th, with a limited theatrical release set to follow on May 11th.

Posted in News |

Chinese box office is no sleeping dragon

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" Chinese Theatrical Poster

The first three months of 2012 set a new record for box office earnings in China, according to the website Chinese Films. Domestic titles like Tony Leung’s The Magician and the romantic comedy LOVE earned high grosses, however no Chinese films managed to reach 200 million yuan in sales.

In comparison, the Hollywood blockbuster Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol has bagged a whopping 647 million yaun – and is still being screened in China.  In fact, 46% of the box office in China this year belongs to American films, which are proving to be stiff competition for homegrown features. Read more at the link.

Posted in News |

New UK trailer for Cecilia Cheung’s ‘Legendary Amazons’

"Legendary Amazons" Teaser Poster

"Legendary Amazons" Teaser Poster

The poster for the upcoming action-drama Legendary Amazons has been revealed. Director Frankie Chan Fun Kei (who is famous for his endless line of Hong Kong film scores) says that he added the romance involving Mu Guiying (Cecilia Cheung) and Yang Zongbao (Richie Jen), so that the movie had more to offer than just the brutality of war. He also pointed out that even Big Brother Jackie Chan was touched after seeing a rough cut of the film.

To read full story, please visit the source.

Updates: Asian Cult Cinema has your first look at the trailer for the film. TheGoldenRock of LoveHKFilm reports via Twitter that Legendary Amazons has made only HK$210k from 20 screens over 4 days. It’s not likely the film will even achieve HK$1 million. This has fueled some speculation that Cecilia Cheung has become box office poison.

BREAKING NEWS: Legendary Amazons may be old news at the Chinese box office but it’s only about to be released in the UK on May 14, 2012. You can scope out a new UK trailer at Beyond Hollywood. Meanwhile, your friends at online retailer DDDHouse offer Legendary Amazons on All-Region DVD.

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Rolling Thunder (1977) Review

"Rolling Thunder" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Rolling Thunder” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: John Flynn
Cast: William Devane, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Haynes, James Best, Dabney Coleman, Luke Askew
Running Time: 95 min.

By Jeff Bona

Being the film nut that I am, I feel like I should have seen this movie years ago. Even its title explodes with coolness. When I think of Rolling Thunder, two things come to mind: The first is an unrelated 1986 video game called Rolling Thunder, a side-scrolling classic by Namco. Not to get into geek mode, but this quarter-eater is a childhood favorite of mine. The second is Rolling Thunder Pictures, Quentin Tarantino’s now-defunct film label that specialized in independent, cult and foreign films like Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express, Takeshi Kitano’s Sonatine and the grindhouse flick, Switchblade Sisters.

It should come by no surprise that Tarantino named the film label after 1977’s Rolling Thunder, which obviously means it’s one of his all-time favorite movies.

Directed by John Flynn (Lock Up) and written by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver), Rolling Thunder is about a traumatized war veteran named Major Charles Rane (William Devane), who has just returned to his Texas hometown and reunited with his family. To celebrate his heroic duty, the state of Texas presents him with a new Cadillac and a suitcase full of silver dollars. Little does Rane know that a band of outlaws are secretly plotting to take the silver dollars away from him, using whatever force necessary.

If you read between the lines, you can figure out that Rolling Thunder gets ugly (notice the film’s Japanese poster which clearly shows that William Devane’s character has a ‘hook’ for a hand). The first half is a painful melodrama that’s difficult to watch. The second half shifts more towards a traditional action movie, showcasing the kind of ultra-violence that would make Sam Peckinpah proud. The film’s finale is reminiscent of John Woo’s The Killer (1989) and John Flynn’s own, Out for Justice (1991), which makes Rolling Thunder way ahead of its time.

Due to its obscurity, Rolling Thunder rarely gets the credit it deserves. The movie has been out-of-print for years, making it difficult to find, unless you were able to snag an original VHS copy or fortunate enough to catch it on cable TV.

You don’t have to be the world’s biggest William Devane fan to appreciate Rolling Thunder. Other than his memorable appearance in 1999’s Payback, I don’t think I’ve seen him in anything else. He’s actually full of charisma and charm. I should also mention that Tommy Lee Jones co-stars; even back then, the guy lit up the screen. It’s not surprising that he would become the respected actor he is today.

If you’re a fan of gritty 1970s cinema – particularly violent titles like Taxi Driver, Straw Dogs and Death Wish – then Rolling Thunder is an absolute must see.

Jeff Bona‘s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Red Scorpion Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse Films)

Red Scorpion Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse Films)

Red Scorpion Blu-ray & DVD (Synapse Films)

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Synapse Films presents the Blu-ray for 1989’s Red Scorpion, directed by Invasion U.S.A.’s Joseph Zito and starring the one and only Dolph Lundgren. The plot centers around a Russian KGB agent is sent to Africa to kill an anti-Communist black revolutionary, but his plans come to halt when he finds out what the real dealio is. Let the Expendables 2 cash-in begin! Check out the trailer.

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

The latest on ‘Dragon Eyes’ starring Cung Le and Van Damme – see it on May 11, 2012

"Dragon Eyes" UK Blu-ray Cover

"Dragon Eyes" UK Blu-ray Cover

THE MOVIE: In New Orleans, a mysterious man looks to unite two warring gangs against the lawmen who have been using them to advance their corrupt agenda. Directed by Universal Soldier: Regeneration’s John Hyams and starring Cung Le, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Peter Weller.

Updates: Check out an interview with Cung Le here. In addition to horror, After Dark is now producing action films in collaboration with Joel Silver’s Dark Castle Entertainment. One of the titles announced will be Dragon Eyes, which is scheduled to be released later this year. Cung Le uploaded a documentary to YouTube which is mostly about him training for his UFC fights but if you fast forward to about 21:58, you can see some new footage from Dragon Eyes. Teaser poster, courtesy of impawards. To me, it sorta looks like a fan made poster. Whatever the case, it will do for now.

The UK Blu-ray/DVD is coming April 09, 2012. UK trailer is now available. It looks like May 11, 2012 will be American audiences’ first chance to see Dragon Eyes via Video On Demand or in select theaters. The film will be part of After Dark’s new Action fest, the details of which you can read over at Beyond Hollywood. Other films to look forward to include Scott Adkins in El Gringo and a Dolph Lundgren thriller called Stash House.

BREAKING NEWS: New extended trailer.

Posted in News |

Spider-Man Trilogy (New Editions) Blu-ray (Sony)

Spider-Man Trilogy (New Editions) Blu-ray (Sony)

Spider-Man Trilogy (New Editions) Blu-ray (Sony)

RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Sony and Marvel Comics have announced that new Blu-ray editions for all three of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films will be available — and they’re arriving just in time for the July 3rd release date for Marc Webb’s upcoming reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man.

The new Blu-ray editions of the three Spider-Man films, which were made in 2002, 2004 and 2007, will not only have new packaging, but also have an endless load of special features – both old and new.

For a full list of special features and Blu-ray specifications, please visit Marvel’s website.

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

Hong Kong action thriller ‘Nightfall’ becomes breakout hit, Nick Cheung visits fans

"Nightfall" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Nightfall" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Nightfall is a 2012 Hong Kong murder mystery from director Roy Chow (2009’s Aaron Kwok thriller Murderer). The film features a host of familiar faces including Nick Cheung (The Stool Pigeon), Simon Yam (Full Contact), and Michael Wong (Knock Off), as well as Shawn Dou, Janice Man, and Kay Tse. The story is about a hardened detective investigating the death of a Hong Kong celebrity. As he digs deeper, he discovers a conspiracy that challenges everything he thinks he knows about the case.

Nightfall arrives in Chinese theaters later this year. In the meantime, Beyond Hollywood has the trailer and a more detailed synopsis. Nick Cheung and Simon Yam are no slouches in the acting department so this should end up being a Hong Kong thriller to keep an eye on.

Updates: According to sources, this Nightfall promotional poster, which features Nick Cheung in a mugshot pose, led people to believe the star was arrested in real life. In preparation for the film, Nick Cheung spent half a year on physical training. Our source has posted bloody photos of Nick fighting Ken Lo.

Twitch has a new, full-length trailer. Beyond Hollywood has posters, images, and a brand new trailer for the film.

HKtopten reports that Michael Wong, who plays a deranged father, wants to prohibit his kids from watching the movie. Apparently he was “too in character” and is worried about his own image as a father.

BREAKING NEWS: Despite competition from the likes of Hollywood’s John Carter and Andy Lau’s arthouse film A Simple Life, action-thriller Nightfall has become a breakout success across China. The movie has already garnered 40 million yuan at the Mainland box office, with an additional 14 million yuan in Hong Kong. Nick Cheung, who spent 7 months getting in shape for the role, even made two surprise appearances at movie theaters in Guagzhou to thank fans for their support.

Posted in News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 4/3/12

"Chinatown" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Chinatown" Japanese Theatrical Poster

There are literally no live-action Asian movies releasing this week, and that ain’t no April Fool’s joke. Disappointing, but I guess we’ve just got to move on and hop that next week is more promising. Regardless, we get “Chinatown” on Blu-ray for the first time so that’s something to celebrate. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 4/3/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Howl’s Moving Castle (Blu-ray) – we usually don’t include anime here but this is the only Asian disc being released this week! Too bad this 2004 Mayazaki animated film is only available as an Import so the pricetag is a whopping $59.99. At least it has English subs!

FOREIGN CINEMA

Miracle of Marcelino: Restored 1955 Version (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 1955 Spanish-language film was a Grand Prize Award winner at the International Cannes Film Festival and tells the heart-warming story of a young boy who creates miracles

Four Flies on Grey Velvet (Blu-ray) – Dario Argento’s 1971 giallo is available from Amazon on Import Blu-ray for $39.99

The Double Hour (DVD) – this 2011 Italian film is billed as a suspenseful, psychological update on the giallo genre

Question Mark (DVD) – not much info is available on this flick but it appears to be a Hindi-language ‘found footage’ film about some college students who disappeared in the woods, I’m guessing from around 2010

INDEPENDENT

Angels Crest (DVD) – when a young father’s child dies in a tragic accident, he finds his entire small town turning against him in this 2011 indie film

The Odds (DVD) – ever wonder about the underground world of high school sports gambling? This 2011 indie flick might clue you in

Truth About Kerry (DVD) – a young woman travels to a remote village to unravel the truth about her friend’s death, but discovers a shocking conspiracy in the process in this 2010 film

MAINSTREAM

War Horse (Blu-ray/DVD) – Steven Spielberg’s 2011 inspirational World War I-era horse tale is on home formats this week

Alien Opponent (DVD) – at last, the team-up you’ve been waiting to see: Jeremy London (“Mallrats”) and ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper (“They Live”) join forces to fight an alien menace in this low-budget 2010 sci-fi/action movie

Miramax Double Feature: Equilibrium/Renaissance (Blu-ray) – Christian Bale – in his most ass-kicking role – teams up with the voice of Daniel Craig in this Miramax Double Feature offering the 2002 Orwellian sci-fi/action flick “Equilibrium” and the futuristic, black-and-white 2006 French CG cartoon “Renaissance” 

CLASSICS

Chinatown (Blu-ray) – forget it, Jake, it’s – well, now it’s on Blu-ray! Roman Polanski’s classic 1974 neo-noir starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway

The Corsican Brothers (DVD) – Douglas Fairbanks Jr. stars in this 1941 black-and-white swashbuckler

HORROR

Hellacious Acres: The Case of John Glass (DVD) – Bloody Disgusting Selects offers this 2011 film that promises not to be your typical post-apocalyptic tale

Demons 2 (Blu-ray) – I love Lamberto Bava’s 1986 Italian shlockfest “Demons 2” with all my heart but even I have to admit that $44.99 is pretty ridiculous to pay for this Import Blu-ray

Enter Nowhere (DVD) – bet you never thought a movie starring the son of Clint Eastwood and the daughter of Bill Paxton would go straight to DVD, but that’s just what happened with this 2011 ‘cabin in the woods’-style horror flick

The Afflicted (DVD) – a 2010 horror flick starring Kane Hodder, who played the part of Jason Vorhees in many of the “Friday the 13th” movies

The Midnight Disease (DVD) – a 2010 horror thriller about what happens when an uninspired writer uncorks a jar and discovers his muse in the form of a beautiful but possibly deadly woman

The Prophecy Collection (Blu-ray) – 344 minutes of “The Prophecy” movie franchise have been compressed onto one Blu-ray, which doesn’t offer much hope for the picture quality but at least you get to see Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, and Viggo Mortensen hamming it up in this Biblical horror series

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!

Posted in News |

Down for the Count aka Aukmen DVD (Lionsgate)

Down for the Count aka Aukmen DVD (Lionsgate)

Down for the Count aka Aukmen DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2012

Lionsgate presents the DVD for 2009’s Down for the Count. This questionable movie (look at the terrible UFC-inspired DVD artwork), also known as Aukmen, is about a man (Ahmad Al-sulaiti) who enters the unfamiliar country of Thailand with hopes of becoming a professional Muay Thai boxing fighter. Also starring David Ismalone (Ong-Bak), Kaoklai Kannorasing and Somruk Kumsing (Born to Fight). Check out the trailer.

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

Project X (1968) Blu-ray & DVD (Olive Films)

Project X (1968) Blu-ray & DVD (Olive Films)

Project X (1968) Blu-ray & DVD (Olive Films)

RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2012

Olive Films presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1968’s Project X, a sci fi flick that revolves around futuristic espionage. The film is known for its prophetic themes of overpopulation, genetic engineering, biological warfare and fear of Asian dominance. Project X is directed by cult legend William Castle and stars Enter the Ninja’s Christopher George.

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

Assassins, Cobra & The Specialist: 3-Disc Blu-ray Set (Warner Bros.)

Sylvester Stallone 3-Disc Blu-ray Set: Assassins, Cobra & Specialist (Warner Bros.)

Sylvester Stallone 3-Disc Blu-ray Set: Assassins, Cobra & Specialist (Warner Bros.)

RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2012

While you’re waiting for Expendables 2, get yourself a triple dose of Italian Stallion action with this 3-Disc Blu-ray collection. The set contains Richard Donner’s Assassins, George P. Cosmatos’ Cobra and Luis Llosa The Specialist.

Trailers: Assassins | Cobra | The Specialist

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