Blade of Kings aka The Twins Effect 2 Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Hello, dear readers. There’s not much in the way of Asian cinema this week but no doubt there are some interesting releases, whether it’s a ’96 Chuck Norris environmental action movie or Danny Trejo and Steve Austin teaming up for some direct-to-video goodness. So here are your Blu-ray and DVD new releases for the week of 3/6/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Blade of Kings (Blu-ray/DVD) – your friends at Well Go USA release this 2004 Hong Kong action/fantasy film starring Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung, Jaycee Chan, and featuring appearances by Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen. Also known as “Twin Effects II”

Jackie Chan 8 Movie Pack (DVD) – those crazy folks at Echo Bridge Entertainment are at it again. In this set you get: “Operation Condor,” “Operation Condor 2: Armour of God,” “Dragon Lord,” “Twin Dragons,” “Project A,” “Project A 2,” “Supercop,” and “The Accidental Spy.” Be advised that most of these are going to be the Miramax dubbed and cut versions, except maybe “Dragon Lord”

FOREIGN CINEMA

The Skin I Live In (Blu-ray/DVD) – director Pedro Almodovar presents this 2011 skin-crawling thriller starring Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya

Before Your Eyes (DVD) – a 2011 film set in Kurdistan, about a young orphan on a mission of revenge against the man who murdered her parents

ANIMATION

Grave of the Fireflies (DVD) – a remastered version of the 1988 classic anti-war Japanese animated movie

MAINSTREAM

Immortals (Blu-ray/DVD) – from the director of “The Cell” and “The Fall” comes this 2011 Greek mythology flick

Forest Warrior (Blu-ray) – in this 1996 environmental action flick, Chuck Norris is a forest guardian who helps some kids battle evil land developers. $#%& yeah

Recoil (Blu-ray/DVD) – two titans of direct-to-video, Danny Trejo (“Machete”) and Steve Austin (“The Expendables”), collide in this 2011 action movie

Like Crazy (Blu-ray/DVD) – Anton Yelchin of “Star Trek” ’09 and “Terminator: Salvation” stars in this 2011 exploration of long distance relationships

Reindeer’s Games (Director’s Cut) (Blu-ray) – director John Frakenheimer gets his own cut of the 2000 action flick starring Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, and Gary Sinese

The Town (Ultimate Collector’s Edition) (Blu-ray+DVD combo) – I guess this is a good week to be a Ben Affleck fan as his 2010 bank robber movie gets an Ultimate Collector’s Edition. This features an extended cut with an alternate ending

Kevin Smith Triple Feature (Blu-ray) – “Chasing Amy,” “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back,” and “Clerks” all together in one Blu-ray set, leaving many to wonder why they didn’t just put “Mallrats” on here instead of “Strike Back”

9 and 1/2 Weeks (Blu-ray) – Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger get hot ‘n heavy in the original uncut version of Adrian Lyne’s 1986 film

CLASSICS

The Deer Hunter (Blu-ray + DVD combo) – at last, Michael Cimino’s 1978 Vietnam War classic starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep is in hi-def

To Catch a Thief (Blu-ray) – Cary Grant and Grace Kelly star in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 romantic suspense film, now on Blu-ray

Plan 9 From Outer Space (Blu-ray) – Ed Wood’s 1959 magnum opus needs no introduction and now it’s on Blu-ray, although it looks like it’s been colorized

The Little Shop of Horrors (Blu-ray) – this is Roger Corman’s 1960 production of the musical, featuring Jack Nicholson

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Blu-ray) – director Terry Gilliam’s classic 1975 comedy now in hi-def

The Blues Brothers (Blu-ray + DVD combo) – the 1980 comedy starring Dan Akroyd and John Belushi

Sullivan’s Travels (Blu-ray) – the 1941 screwball comedy starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake, now in hi-def

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 Package" Blu-ray Cover

Jesse V. Johnson, director of straight-to-video favorites Pit Fighter, The Last Sentinel and Green Street Hooligans 2, is currently filming The Package, which stars Steve Austin and Dolph Lundgren. According to imdb.com, the film centers around a gangster-employed courier (Steve Austin) who must deliver a mysterious package while being chased by a horde of unusual gangsters.

The Package also stars Ip Man 2’s Darren Shahlavi, The King of the Kickboxers’ Jerry Trimble, Flight of the Living Dead’s Kristen Kerr and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters’ Monique Ganderton. The Package is currently filming and will most-likely be released late 2012/early 2013.

Updates: The Blu-ray & DVD are now up for pre-order. Also, check out the trailer.

Yang Jung-ho's "Mirage"

Writer/director Yang Jung-ho (assistant director on 2007’s Hellcats) is ready to unleash a dark vision into Korean theaters on March 8th. That’s when Mirage makes its debut and, from the looks of the trailer over at Beyond Hollywood, it’s going to be a wild and Lynch-ian ride. The film follows a writer who wakes up drunk during the subway ride to his hometown to accept a literary award. Back on his old stomping grounds, he’s forced to confront the buried secrets of his past.

Mirage is being released by CJ Entertainment but looks a fair bit more grim and cerebral than their usual blockbuster fare. The film stars Mun Jeong-ung, Kim Chang-hwan, Sin Jae-seung, Kim Tae-yoon-I, and Kim Min-kyeong-II.

"Game of Death" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Bey Logan, respected expert on Hong Kong action cinema, has just uploaded some obscure promotional footage for Bruce Lee’s Game of Death. The purpose of the 1976-produced footage was to show buyers and film producers that there was one more Bruce Lee movie that was waiting to be completed.

If originally released in 1976, the promo would mark the 2nd time (after the 1973 documentary Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend) the public would lay their eyes on Bruce Lee’s Game of Death footage, which would eventually be sliced, diced and pasted onto Robert Clouse’s Game of Death ’78.

Also on his channel are some rare fight dailies for Game of Death ’78, China O’Brien and a series of rough pilots for HK Movie Magic.

While you’re at it, please be sure and visit Bey Logan’s own reeleast.com. Not only does his website have cool articles, but it also has an online store where you can get genuine promotional items from classic Hong Kong films, including movies, books, flyers, posters, lobby cards, T-shirts and much more.

The Yellow Sea DVD (Fox)

Finally, the wait is almost over! Fox’s World Cinema label presents The Yellow Sea on DVD, Na Hong-jin’s ultra-violent follow up to his critically acclaimed 2008 film, The Chaser. Sadly, there is no word of a Blu-ray release at this time. Check out the trailer and be sure to read our review.

"A Flower in Hell" Korean Promotional Poster

Here’s some unexpected but welcome Asian cinema news. The Korean Film Archive has announced a partnership with Google that will see several classic Korean films streaming on Youtube with English subtitles in May.

The selection on Youtube will include a range of Korean movies released from the years 1958 to around 1996, including “A Flower in Hell” (1958), “Woman of Fire” (1971), “The Day a Pig Fell in the Well” (1996), and more. The address will be www.youtube.com/koreanfilm. You can read more over at Asian Movie Pulse, who helped break the story.

King of Triads DVD aka Bad Blood, Mie Men, Mit Moon (Lionsgate)

We’re a day late but never a buck short here at City on Fire with your new releases list. There’s some great stuff for Asian film fans this week, whether it’s finally being able to see “The Yellow Sea” with subtitles or Andy On and Luxia Jang kicking ass in “King of Triads.” So, let’s get cracking. Here are your Blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 2/27/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

The Yellow Sea (DVD) – here’s the great news: the 2010 Korean thriller from the director of “The Chaser” is finally coming out in the US. Here’s the bad news: it’s only on DVD. No Blu-ray. Boo!

King of Triads (DVD) – Lionsgate releases this 2010 Hong Kong action flick starring Simon Yam, Carina Lau, Andy On, and Luxia Jiang. Fortunately for you, we reviewed the Import Blu-ray about 6 months ago. You can read our review here.

Boys on the Run (DVD) – a 2010 Japanese movie about an awkward and virginal 29 year-old vendor machine refiller, courtesy of Asian Crush

Daesapo Naughty Girls (DVD) – Asian Crush delivers a 2006 South Korean high school sex comedy. Oo, naughty!

FOREIGN CINEMA

Mandrill (Blu-ray/DVD) – Magnet Releasing offers this kick-ass 2011 Spanish-language martial arts film starring Marko Zaror of “Undisputed III” fame

Rabies (DVD) – this 2010 film was billed as Israel’s first horror movie and it’s garnered rave reviews lately. A brother and sister on the run fall into a trap set by a psychotic killer living in a nature preserve

Automobile/L’Automobile (DVD) – your friends at RaroVideo USA present this 1971 Italian drama featuring a score by legendary composer Ennio Morricone

The Sky Turns (DVD) – New Yorker Films offer this 2012 Spanish film in the ‘magical realism’ genre, about a village on its last legs

Baby Angelo (DVD) – a 2008 Filipino drama courtesy of Pathfinder Pictures, set in a Manila apartment complex

ANIMATED

Justice League: Doom (Blu-ray/DVD) – this 2012 animated movie is based on the DC Comics story-arc “Tower of Babel” by Mark Waid and Howard Porter, and features fan favorites Tim Daly as the voice of Superman and Kevin Conroy as Batman

INDIE

Vanya on 42nd Street (Blu-ray/DVD) – Criterion Collection releases this 1994 film from French director Louis Malle, featuring actors like Julianne Moore reading Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya”

I Melt With You (Blu-ray/DVD) – a 2011 film about a group of male friends’ deadly mid-life crisis, starring Thomas Jane and Jeremy Piven

The Myth of the American Sleepover (DVD) – a 2010 independent film set in the suburbs of Detroit, featuring a cast of talented newcomers

Catechism Cataclysm (DVD) – the 2011 Sundance audience favorite comedy, about a disgraced young priest lost on a canoe trip with an old high school pal

MAINSTREAM

Hugo (Blu-ray/DVD) – Martin Scorsese’s Academy Award-winning 3-D children’s film from last year arrives on home formats

Johnny English Reborn (Blu-ray/DVD) – British comedian Rowan Atikson is back with the sequel to his first spy spoof. This 2011 film was a hit in the UK

Johnny English (Blu-ray) – on that note, the 2003 original is out now in hi-def

Bounty Hunters (DVD) – WWE diva (I think that’s what they’re called) Trish Stratus stars in her own 2012 direct-to-video action flick

Tomorrow When the War Began (DVD) – this 2010 film is set in Australia and based on a best-selling book series. Written/directed by Stuart Beattie, who served as co-writer on the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie

CLASSICS

The Buccaneer (Blu-ray) – it’s Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner in a Cecil B. Demille movie! This time there’s no ten commandments, just pirates on the high seas in this 1958 film

The Mountain (Blu-ray) – Spencer Tracy and Robert Wagner star in this 1956 film about mountain-climbing

Scarlet Street: Kino Classics Edition (Blu-ray) – a 1945 noir starring Edward G. Robinson from legendary director Fritz Lang (“Metropolis”), now on Blu-ray

Where Love Has Gone (Blu-ray) – the 1964 movie, ripped from trashy tabloid headlines, is now on Blu-ray, starring Susan Hayward and Bette Davis

HORROR

Baba Yaga (Blu-ray) – Blue Underground presents this cult classic 1973 Italian horror movie based on a popular comic strip

Beneath the Darkness (Blu-ray/DVD) – Dennis Quaid goes direct-to-video with this 2011 “teen horror” movie

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!