"Guns N' Roses"

Guns N’Roses is a curious title for a movie, no doubt about that, but when the action looks this fierce we can give the filmmakers a break. The alternate title for director Ning Hao’s upcoming Chinese heist movie is A Big Gold Robbery.

The film is set in the 1930’s, when the Japanese army had set up a puppet state in Manchukuo, and follows a ragtag group who plans to steal from a supposedly impregnable Japanese bank.

Sure, it’s getting a little old for the Japanese army to serve as the villains in every Chinese historical picture but, judging from the trailer at Far East Films, Guns N’Roses should be a wild and entertaining ride. It opens in Chinese theaters this Summer 2012. The Global Times has more details here.

Update: Hop on over to Chinese Films for a new trailer. Of the movie, director Ning Hao says: “I want to talk about how people make their choices when stuck between desire of power and humanity.“

"Black Cobra" Ameican DVD Cover

If your day needs a little pick me up, hop on over to Beyond Hollywood for the (NSFW) trailer to Lionsgate’s forthcoming direct-to-DVD action flick Black Cobra. The film stars three time “Martial Arts Hall of Fame” inductee T.J. Storm (Punisher: War Zone) as a man out to raise enough cash to get his father out of prison before the old man is murdered by gangs. In the process T.J. ends up having to deal with all sorts of criminal element, including Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Mortal Kombat, Showdown in Little Tokyo).

The trailer promises plenty of martial arts ass-kicking and self-aware quips. The film itself lands in retail on May 22, 2012. Who knows: as long as Black Cobra has some halfway decent fight choreography, T.J. Storm could end up becoming one of our next action icons.

"Liberator" Teaser Poster

THE MOVIE: Directed by Dark Reel’s Aaron Pope, Liberator is a dark, superhero action presentation shooting in Los Angeles, CA, June 2011. Festival screenings will begin in early 2012. Liberator marks Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson’s first project in 5 years. The film also stars Jessica Andres (Out of the Darkness) and Darwin Harris (Men, Interrupted).

Updates: The film is currently in post-production. Check out the teaser trailer.

BREAKING NEWS: Here’s the latest trailer.

Confucius Blu-ray & DVD (Funimation)

It’s a bit of a light week but there are plenty of highlights, whether it’s Van Damme on Blu-ray, Chow Yun Fat stepping into the shoes of Confucius, or a slick action flick all the way from France. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 3/27/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Confucius (Blu-ray/DVD) – Chow Yun Fat stars as the famous philosopher in a more action-packed kind of biopic, on home formats from Funimation

Crows Zero (Blu-ray) – Takashi Miike’s kick-ass 2007 film about Japanese high school delinquents and their fighting ways comes to Blu-ray

Dragon Dynasty Collection – Volume 2 (DVD) – in this set, you get the classic Shaw Brothers titles: “The Avenging Eagle,” “Blood Brothers,” “Golden Swallow,” and “Killer Clans”

FOREIGN CINEMA

The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (DVD) – a 2008 Bond-ian action blockbuster…from France, of all places!

Delta (DVD) – a Hungarian thriller described as that country’s answer to “Deliverance”

MAINSTREAM

The Quest (Blu-ray) – this 1996 film represents Jean Claude Van Damme’s directorial debut and it arguably remains one of his finer efforts, even if it’s basically a glorified remake of “Bloodsport”

A Dangerous Method (Blu-ray/DVD) – the latest film from David Cronenberg takes a look back at the early days of psychoanalysis. Starring master actors Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender

Dragonheart (Blu-ray) – anyone else remember when this 1996 film starring Dennis Quad and the voice of Sean Connery was considered the pinnacle of cutting edge special effects? Well, now it’s on blu-ray

Corman’s World (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2011 documentary that takes an inside look at the long and influential career of producer/director Roger Corman

CLASSICS

Casablanca (70th Anniversary Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (Blu-ray + DVD combo) – wow, I don’t think there’s anything I could say about this edition of the 1942 film that isn’t already explained in the title

A Night to Remember (Blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection releases this 1958 British film about the tragic disaster of the Titanic

Assault on a Queen (Blu-ray) – this 1966 film co-written by “Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling is billed as ‘Ocean’s 11 at sea’

Something to Live For (DVD) – Joan Fontaine and Ray Milland star in this 1952 bittersweet romance from director George Stevens (“Giant”)

Who’s Got the Action (Blu-ray) – Dean Martin and Lana Turner star in this 1962 comedy, now in hi-def

HORROR

The Girl in Room 2A (DVD) – Mondo Macabro presents this 1971 Italian giallo/horror flick. Dubbed in English and labeled PG-13. A PG-13 giallo?!

Magdalena: The Devil Inside the Female (DVD) – a 1974 exorcism-exploitaiton flick. So grimy, you might need a shower afterwards

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"The Raid" Theatrical Poster

THE MOVIE: The Raid is the follow-up to writer/director Garth Evans and star Iko Uwais’ breakout Indonesian martial arts film Merantau. There’s no denying that The Raid is one of the most anticipated films of 2012 for action buffs worldwide. Sony Pictures Classic is releasing the movie as The Raid: Redemption in North American theaters on March 23, 2012.

THE TRAILER: AICN has posted an awesome U.S. trailer!

UPDATES: Theatrical Poster and characters Iko | Ray | Yayan | Joe | Donnie | Pierre Check out the trailer. THR notes that Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda is changing the score. Q&A with director Gareth Evans and stars Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim. Watch Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 – THR confirms the remake is official. 2nd trailer now available. Check out this gruesome clip. Here’s a 2nd clip called “Four-On-One.” Twitch reports that Sony has pre-bought the US rights to the sequel to The Raid, titled Berandal. AICN reports that The Raid sequel will receive the localized name The Raid: Retaliation when it eventually arrives here in the States. Twitch has the final American poster for the film. Apparently, the subtitle Redemption is to help prepare US audiences for The Raid series to become an eventual trilogy. In addition to the quality Apple Quicktime trailer, we also get a featurette.

Five new bone-crunching clips in celebration of the film playing at SXSW this year. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter offersword of a sequel with a much bigger budget, a 100 day shoot, and possible plans for a sequel. The Raid: Redemption soundtrack is now available for purchase. AICN has posted a very cool interview with director Gareth Evans; and composers Mike Shinoda and Joe Trapanes.

BREAKING NEWS: The Blu-ray and DVD are now available for pre-order!