From the director of ‘Fist of Legend’ – Chinese fantasy film ‘Mural’ now on Import DVD

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Mural" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Mural" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Twitch has your first look at the trailer for Fist of Legend director Gordan Chan’s next film, the stylish fantasy-action-romance Mural. The project began as a proposed sequel to 2008’s Painted Skin but soon became its own entity. The story concerns two bandits who are swept into an alternate world populated by beautiful women and creepy foes.

Somehow this gives way to plenty of special FX-assisted battles and a cameo by that mechanical owl from Clash of the Titans. Despite, or perhaps because of, all this craziness, the film has become a big hit in Mainland China. Martial arts fans will be pleased to know that Mural stars two heavy hitters in Collin Chou (Flash Point) and Andy On (Black Mask 2). Check it out the trailer here!

Update: This Chinese box office sensation is now available on Region 3 DVD from DDDHouse.

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Ninja in the Deadly Trap | aka Hero Defeating Japs (1981) Review

Posted on February 7, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Ninja in the Deadly Trap" DVD Cover

“Ninja in the Deadly Trap” DVD Cover

AKA: Ninja Kung Fu
Director: Philip Kwok
Cast: Ti Lung, Lu Feng, Philip Kwok, Yasuaki Kurata, Chiang Sheng, Cheung Paang, Wong Yeuk Ping, July Chu Lai, Han Yu, Ma Chin Ku, Cheung Chung Kwai, Cho Boon Feng, Mau Ging Shun, Ma Chin-Ku, Han Yu
Running Time: 92 min.

By Numskull

Philip Kwok (aka Guo Juei, aka Kuo Choi) pulls triple duty as director, actor, and martial arts choreographer in this better-than-average chop socky produced by “Venoms” daddy Chang Cheh. General Chi (Ti Lung) and his troops are making life difficult for the Japanese bandits terrorizing the countryside, so their boss (Yasuaki Kurata) tries to have him assassinated. And who better to assassinate someone constantly surrounded by armed guards than a stealthy, sneaky team of ninjas clad in garishly colored costumes? Green, blue, yellow…when these ninjas are clustered together, they look like a handful of Lucky Charms marshmallows.

General Chi’s son goes off to find an old hermit who has spent time in Japan and knows some of the ninjas’ tricks. After receiving the young man he reveals to him that he taught three different styles of fighting to three different disciples who never met one another…an element lifted from “Five Deadly Venoms”, presumably with Chang Cheh’s blessing. The first possesses extraordinary jumping and climbing abilities, the second is a master blacksmith and sword fighter, and the third specializes in unarmed combat and sleight of hand.

Young Master Chi sets out to recruit these men and arranges jobs for them in his father’s home so they can expose and foil any assassination attempts made. And that they do; the movie eventually becomes a series of battles against the evil ninjas until they and their leader are put down for good. Oh, there’s plot development here and there, but Kwok doesn’t allow the film to coast in first gear for very long.

The narrative is a little bit disjointed at times, and there’s a very thin subplot about a female would-be assassin that seems to have been added merely to increase the film’s length. But what the hell, at least we got an OK fight scene out of it. Most of the others are better, though. The talent for choreography that has served Kwok in good stead for quite a few years is displayed well here. Ninja in the Deadly Trap is his one and only directorial effort; a pity, but at least he can say he never directed a bad movie.

Numskull’s Rating: 7/10

Posted in All, Chinese, News, Ninja, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Ninja: The Final Duel (1986) Review

Posted on February 7, 2012 by JJ Bona
"Ninja: The Final Duel" Theatrical Poster

“Ninja: The Final Duel” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ninja’s Final Duel
Director: Robert Tai
Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Alice Tseng, Lee I Min, Alan Lee Hoi Hing, Richard Tseng, Wong Chi Sang, William Yen, Wong Hap, Eugene Thomas, Ahmed Najja
Running Time: 89 min.

By Sergio Martorelli

NAKED KUNG FU BABES! Got your attention? Good. Now let’s get down to business.

Ninja: The Final Duel is a colorful, ultra-kinetic, gore-drenched and delightfully zany Taiwanese production that’s been shrouded in mystery and a lot of confusion. Until now! Complete sequences were reused in Shaolin Vs. Ninja and 1999’s Shaolin Dolemite (yes, Rudy Ray Moore did Kung Pow! three years earlier!), and legend says the original cut is 8-hour long. Well. sorry, but that’s not accurate. Let me dispel those rumours once and for all, okay? This little epic had three sequels, ALL named Ninja: The Final Duel by overseas distributors on dope. It’s hard to keep track of ’em all (the IMDb is never reliable when it comes to oriental stuff), and bootleggers used to put all three on one single tape and call it simply Ninja: The Final Duel, giving rise to the 8-hour production assumption. Versions on TV and home video have bits and pieces of each film mixed in, but this DVD release by Crash Cinemais actually the second volume of the Ninja series in its entirety.

For the ones who didn’t see part one, a quick recap tells how the Japanese ninja clan tried to take over China, only to have their asses handed to them by the Shaolin monks. In shame over the defeat, the Ninja Leader commits sepukku (sissy!). That pissed off this brother, also a ninja boss (I don’t know how to spell his name, so I’ll call him “Master Pantless”; look at his outfit in the last sequence and you’ll know why), who vowed to destroy the entire Shaolin clan. Meanwhile, we find out that the Shaolin Abbott (Richard Tseng) isn’t much thrilled with the victory over the ninjas. Being a peace-loving guy, he closes the temple for visitors and refuses to accept challenges. But the vengeful ninjas break in and wreck havok, leaving a lot of beheaded corpses behind. So the Abbott, aided by Japanese envoy Wong Chi Chow (Alexander Lo in full Bruce Lee copycat mode, nose gesture and all) and his comic-relief aide Chian Tin (Charliema Tsu), gathers his forces and goes out to kick Master Pantless ass once again. Oh well. Just another of those reverent and meaningful revenge plots that are the basis of kung fu movies, correct? Wrong. Ah, but that’s SO wrong you have no idea!

Ninja: The Final Duel not only gives the Power Rangers a run for their money when it comes to extremely absurd fight scenes and characters, but will have you laughing so hard that is better not watch it with a full stomach! The fun starts right in the first scenes, where we see ninjas using their elemental skills (spelled “ELEMET” on the subtitles), while an informative voice over narrates what we’re seein’ onscreen. Ninjas not only fly thru the air and disappear at will; they also burrow through sand like Bugs Bunny, ride giant flying aquatic spiders(don’t-f*cking-ask!) and break large ice blocks. That last part surprised the most because there were no iceboxes in Medieval China. But then I was introduced to two gay hare-krishna fighters from California (Silvio Azzolini and Ahmed Najja) and a jive-talkin’ Black Monk from Harlem (Eugene Thomas, credited as Eugene T. Trammell), so I just sat back and let it slide. This is a Robert Tai movie, folks! The same guy who made Death Cage and Ninja Death! What I was expecting? Historical accuracy? The soundtrack steals entire cues from Rambo and Ghostbusters, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see ninjas using AKs or ghost-catching weapons.

When it comes to action, Ninja: The Final Duel is a blast. A BLAST, man! The Swastika Trap choreography must be seen to be believed, and of course there’s the famous scene with Alice Tseng, full-frontally naked, facing an army of ninjas. Some sequences are sped up to ridiculous extremes and the wirework is awful, but even that adds to the fun. The fight scene between Master Pantless and the Black Monk at the beach is so over-the-top that you just have to LOVE it.

Moving on to the DVD technical issues, well. We all know that the small ocidental companies have a lot of difficulties finding good prints of those films. Heck, even the original Drunken Master was deteriorating in some Hong Kong vault, and we’re talking Jackie Chan! But Ninja: The Final Duel doesn’t suck. The image is soft and lacking in detail, there are speckles and dropouts here and there, and the colors are not vivid neither faded; but in toto, it’s as watchable as a good VHS dupe. The only problem is a couple of night scenes, so dark and muddy that what’s happening there is anybody’s guess. Extras include an amusing trailer, and fans of bad dubbing will have a field day listening to shaoling monks saying things like “they’ll get the shit beaten ouf of them” or the famous Black Monk quote: “You’re a mean dude. But she’s ash, so don’t give me this trash.”

Sergio Martorelli’s Rating:

Posted in All, Chinese, Ninja, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Yellow Sea, The (2010) Review

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Jeff Bona
"The Yellow Sea" Korean Theatrical Poster

“The Yellow Sea” Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Murderer
Director: Na Hong-jin
Cast: Ha Jung-Woo, Kim Yun-Seok, Chul-Min Lee, Seong-Ha Cho, Jae-hwa Kim, Kwak Do-Won
Running Time: 140 min.

By Jeff Bona

The director of 2008’s The Chaser returns with The Yellow Sea, a down and dirty thriller that doesn’t exactly have the most catchiest title – personally, I would have titled it The Chaser Part II: Even More F*cked Up, which is pretty much the gist of the entire movie.

Gu-nam (Ha Jung-woo) is a depressed cab driver who lives in Yanji City, a region between North Korea, China and Russia. It’s been six months since his wife left Yanji City to take a job in South Korea to make more money. Sadly, Gu-nam hasn’t heard back from her ever since. Where is she? Why hasn’t she come back? Did she take off with another guy? Unable to support himself and his daughter with his low paying salary, Gu-nam turns to gambling, where he makes matters worse by running up a serious debt with thugs who operate the local gambling den.

Aware of Gu-nam’s financial problems, a gangster (Yun-seok Kim) offers him a one-time gig, which involves crossing the Yellow Sea to assassinate a man living in Seoul. In return, the gangster promises to pay off Gu-nam’s debt upon delivered proof of the deceased man’s finger. Gu-nam accepts the job; after all, not only will his debts be paid off, but it will be the perfect opportunity for him to track down his missing wife.

If you’ve seen I Saw the Devil and The Man from Nowhere, and you’re begging for more carnage, then The Yellow Sea is right up your alley; just keep in mind that it’s not as polished as the other two, which isn’t a bad thing. With The Yellow Sea, you won’t find any clean-cut Korean guys prancing around in tailored suits; nor is there any elongated knife fights or martial arts scenes edited with grace and pizazz. What you will find is pure grit, brutal violence and agonizing situations. In short, the The Yellow Sea is like a uncontrollable pit bull that’s just been let out of its cage.

If The Chaser proved that Na Hong-jin was a director to watch out for, then The Yellow Sea proves he’s one of the best filmmakers in the game. With just two movies under his belt, I already consider him to be up there with Park Chan-wook (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) and Kim Ji-woon (A Bittersweet Life). Come to think of it, I actually prefer Na Hong-jin over the latter two in a heartbeat. Na Hong-jin has a more raw approach to filmmaking. He doesn’t rely on style or novelty to reinforce his craft, yet he still delivers an edgy intensity that very few filmmakers are able to capture. Mind you, this is only his second film, but hopefully he’ll remain consistent.

Na Hong-jin reunites himself with both Yun-seok Kim and Jung-woo Ha, the two leading men from The Chaser. If you’re a straight guy, Yun-seok Kim’s performance will having you questioning your sexuality. If you’re a woman, you’ll be fantasizing about him doing inappropriate things to you. I’m not talking about his physical appearance either; I’m talking about the badassness of his character, his ability as an actor and his overall execution. I’ve only seen him in two movies, but he’s already made it on my top 10 list of favorite actors of all time.

Jung-woo Ha doesn’t get to have as much fun as Yun-seok Kim, but he’s just as important to what makes The Yellow Sea so great. Not only is his character bleak to begin with, but he’s also a troubled soul looking for a way out of his harsh position. Once again, the chemistry between him and Yun-seok Kim’s contrasting personalities work, just as it did with The Chaser. Because of Jung-woo’s shaved head, he looks like a completely different person than he did in The Chaser. It wasn’t until 80 minutes into The Yellow Sea, that I realized he was the same actor.

My only complaint I have about The Yellow Sea is there are a few minor things, within its simple plot, that went over my head. These confusing elements were responsible for making the film’s duration a whopping 140 minutes (even The Godfather was only 35 minutes longer!). In a perfect world, I think some of it could have been simplified or cut out completely; hence, having a shorter, tighter film.

Even so, The Yellow Sea is still a must see. What really breaks my heart is I have to wait another few years for Na Hong-jin’s next film. What a drag.

Jeff Bona‘s Rating: 9/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Triad Trilogy: Election, Triad Election, Triad Underworld Blu-ray & DVD (Palisades Tartan)

Posted on February 6, 2012 by JJ Bona
Triad Trilogy: Election, Triad Election, Triad Underworld Blu-ray & DVD (Palisades Tartan)

Triad Trilogy: Election, Triad Election, Triad Underworld Blu-ray & DVD (Palisades Tartan)

RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2012

The Palisades Tartan Asian Extreme series presents The Triad Trilogy, featuring Johnnie To’s Election, Triad Election, and Ching-Po Wong’s Triad Underworld aka Blood Brothers on both Blu-ray & DVD format.

Trailers: Election | Triad Election | Triad Underworld

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

‘The Sword Identity’ slices into Chinese theaters on February 24th

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Z Ravas

'The Sword Identity' Chinese Theatrical Poster

Wong Kar-Wai is notorious for taking his own sweet time in delivering a completed movie to theaters. Case in point: apparently the screenwriter for Kar-Wai’s next film, The Grandmasters, has gone and made his own film while we’re still waiting for The Grandmasters to reach completion. Xu Haofeng’s 2011 period actioner The Sword Identity made the rounds at several high profile festivals last year but only now does it have a theatrical release date.

Writer/director Xu Haofeng’s movie is a throwback to the old-school Chinese swordsman flicks and looks ready to impress with its tale of intrigue and invincible weaponry. The Sword Identity arrives in Chinese theaters on February 24th and should appear in Hong Kong a little less than a month after that. You can view the trailer here. Meanwhile, 24 Frames Per Second has the full plot synopsis and some posters here.

Thanks to 24 Frames Per Second for the scoop

Posted in News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 2/7/12

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Z Ravas
Yakuza Weapon Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Yakuza Weapon Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

I’ll be honest, it’s a bit of a slow week this week but, hey, that gives our wallets a breather. Or maybe you’ll want to snatch up one of the many triple features and Dolph Lundgren double-packs available this week. Either way, here are your Asian and genre movie releases on blu-ray and DVD for the week of 2/7/12:

ASIAN CINEMA

Yakuza Weapon (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2010 film starring Tak Sakaguchi (“Versus”) represents the latest brand of insanity from Japanese production house Sushi Typhoon (“Machine Gun Girl,” “Tokyo Gore Police”)

Miramax Jackie Chan Series V.2 (DVD) – this collection offers the dubbed and edited Miramax cuts of four Jackie Chan films. Unfortunately, even after diligent research we have not been able to figure out what films these are yet! We will update you when we know

Time Traveler: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (DVD) – delayed from 1/24, this 2010 Japanese film is based on the popular anime of the same name

End Call (DVD) – another delay from 1/24 by distributor Asian Crush, this 2008 Japanese horror movie shows what happens when you call the devil’s cellphone number

Lust in Hell (DVD) – delayed from 1/24, this 2009 Japanese horror film is about a woman who can speak with the dead

FOREIGN CINEMA

La Jetee/Sans Soleil (blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection presents two films directed by Chris Marker. “La Jetee” was the source material for Terry Gilliam’s “12 Monkeys”

3 (DVD) – from the director of “Run Lola Run,” this 2010 German-language film offers the story of a marriage on the rocks and the dashing young man who might unite them

The Story of a Love Affair (DVD) – Lorber Films offers a 2-disc special edition of Italian director Michelangelo Antonio’s 1950 film

Karen Cries on the Bus (DVD) – a 2011 Spanish-language film about a woman who one day walks away from everything in her life in search of happiness

Vasermil (DVD) – a 2007 Hebrew language film about young teens and the tension boiling just below the surface of modern day Israel

MAINSTREAM

Anonymous (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 film that questions the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays is the latest effort from the king of modern disaster movies, Roland Emmerich

The Sunset Limited (DVD) – this 2011 film is based on a play by “No Country For Old Men” author Cormac McCarthy and features two acting heavyweights in Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson

Dangerous Liasons (blu-ray) – Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Michelle Pfeiffer star in the 1988 adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’s novel, now on blu-ray

Action Triple Feature Volume 1 (blu-ray) – what a weird combination. You get the Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff direct-to-video flick “XIII: The Conspiracy,” Jean Claude Van Damme’s existential masterpiece “JCVD,” and the well-regarded fraternity thriller “The Brotherhood,” all in one set

Action Triple Feature Volume 2 (blu-ray) – every Triple Feature deserves another. Here you receive WWII flick “Spoils of War,” Uwe Boll’s “Bloodrayne: The Third Reich,” and Jean Reno in “Ultimate Heist.” Just don’t ask me how they pick these movies

Miramax Explosive Action Series (DVD) – it’s Dolph Lundgren and Michael Dudikoff together and it’s not even an “Expendables” movie! In this DVD 4-pack you get Dolph in “Hidden Assassin” and “Men of War,” and Dudikoff in “Bounty Hunters” and “Bounty Hunters: Hardball”

INDEPENDENT

Reunion (DVD) – John Cena enters the direct-to-video realm with this 2011 action comedy co-starring Ethan Embry and Amy Smart. The reviews on Amazon are actually rather favorable

Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury (DVD) – a 2011 low-budget indie action comedy featuring “Hercules” Kevin Sorbo and “Machete” Danny Trejo

ANIMATION

Lady and the Tramp (blu-ray) – the classic 1955 Disney animated feature arrives on blu-ray for the first time

CLASSICS

It’s a Mad Mad Mad World (blu-ray) – the classic 1963 comedy arrives in hi-def for the first time

Casino Royale (blu-ray) – the 1967 James Bond spoof featuring Woody Allen and Orson Welles is now on blu-ray

The Count of Monte Cristo (DVD) – Alexander Dumas’ classic novel is brought to life in this 1934 black-and-white film with a new digital transfer courtesy of Henstooth Video

Ben Hur: 50th Anniversary Edition (blu-ray) – this appears to be the slim case, standard edition blu-ray release of “Ben Hur” as opposed to the massive box set that came out back in September

HORROR

Day of the Dead 3D (blu-ray) – a 3-D reissue of the 2008 remake of George Romero’s film, starring Ving Rhames, Mena Suvari, and Nick Cannon

Deadly Spawn: Millennium Edition (blu-ray) – the beloved 1983 sci-fi/horror B-movie in hi-def from Elite Entertainment

Stormhouse (DVD) – Lionsgate offers this low-budget 2011 horror movie about a supernatural entity that has been captured and imprisoned at a top-secret government facility

Return to Horror High/Return of the Killer Tomatoes (DVD) – how can you pass up on two 80’s horror flicks, both starring George Clooney no less, together on DVD?

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 |

Female Convict Scorpion Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

Posted on February 5, 2012 by JJ Bona
Female Convict Scorpion Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

Female Convict Scorpion Blu-ray (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2012

Tokyo Shock presents Female Convict Scorpion in glorious Blu-ray! In the wake of a shocking crime, an ordinary worman is transformed into a fighting machine in this action-drama straight from Japan. Based on the Toei-produced Female Prisoner #701 vengeance flicks of the 1970s. If you can’t wait for the Blu-ray disc, a DVD version is currently available.

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

Drive (2011) Review

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Z Ravas
"Drive" International Theatrical Poster

“Drive” International Theatrical Poster

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writer: Hossein Amini, James Sallis
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac, Albert Brooks, Kaden Leos, Jeff Wolfe, James Biberi
Running Time: 100 min.

By HKFanatic

When a director has good taste in music, or at least makes the right selections on the soundtrack, it can change the viewer’s entire perception of a film. Nicolas Winding Refn added an unexpected sense of melancholy and poignancy to the tale of Great Britain’s burliest and most violent prisoner, “Bronson,” by adding 80’s synth-poppers New Order, doomed 60’s pop crooner Scott Walker, and contemporary electronic music to the soundtrack. Similarly, the song selection for “Drive” is just as important as the lighting and camera angles in granting the film its particular vibe and aesthetic. “Drive” is cool, not because it tries to be but because it invents its own notion of cool and then remains expressly devoted to that notion for 95 minutes: pink neon fonts, icy electro-pop, Ryan Gosling in a Scorpion jacket, lowlifes dispatched in increasingly gruesome ways.

“Drive” features Ryan Gosling in yet another breakout performance from an actor who has seemed routinely on the verge of superstardom ever since 2004’s “The Notebook.” From the outside looking in, this could be an easy movie to poke fun at: the dialogue is rather unremarkable, the actors appear to have been instructed to let awkward silence grow before giving their lines, and Gosling remains stoically unemotional for most of the runtime.

What the film does deliver is a neon-lit love letter to Los Angeles; every backroad, freeway overpass, and skyscraper lovingly rendered with helicopter-shot views. Like Michael Mann and David Lynch before him, director Nicolas Refn creates an evocative portrait of LA; a glitzy wonderland surrounded by desert, its fringes populated by low-level criminals making deals in strip mall pizza joints. The film industry is its carefully perpetuated illusion – the real city only shows its face at night.

“Drive” is at its best when it delivers its tone poem mediation on the City of Angels and the Driver’s (Gosling) uncertain place in it. It’s rather remarkable to think that Refn knew nothing of the city before Gosling, the actor, showed him around; but clearly Refn has absorbed the work of the filmmakers who have come before him, particularly Michael Mann and Martin Scorsese. Refn’s particular talent is stripping the crime films of his predecessors’ down to their spiritual essence and adding contemporary, melodic electro-pop to the soundtrack, which makes the genre somehow feel new again. Casual movie-goers and die-hard genre buffs alike have embraced “Drive” because Refn speaks our cinematic language. He intrinsically knows what the audience wants to see; at any given moment that might be Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan staring longingly into each other’s eyes from across a restaurant table or Gosling smashing a thug’s hand to bits with a hammer.

Where the film breaks down is the third act. The growing relationship between Gosling and Mulligan and her son, this new surrogate family blooming amid the wasteland of LA, is more or less forgotten. The most interesting aspect of the film is arguably this love story and the growing tension it creates between Gosling and Mulligan’s fresh out of jail husband, wonderfully performed by Oscar Isaac. This plot line culminates in the pawn shop heist, the peak of viewer interest and excitement that the film never really recovers from. After this, the emotional thread of the first hour is replaced by your typical “kill by numbers” sequence that could be out of any slasher flick or gangster movie. “Drive” constantly surprises you in the moment but it’s terrible at paying off set-ups: the stunt mask, for one thing. The criminal characters, played well by Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman, come across as small-time paper tigers, not much of a challenge for our hero.

Regardless of whether or not “Drive” is a case of style over substance, it is a movie that people will watch again and again for its style. And on that level, it is immensely rewarding and remains one of 2011’s cinematic highlights. Nicolas Winding Refn reminds us that sometimes the greatest pleasure of the movies is simply inhabiting the world of a film. And for 95 minutes, “Drive” makes you feel like there’s no place more exciting to be than the passenger seat of Ryan Gosling’s car.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 9/10

Posted in Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , |

The Order Blu-ray (Image)

Posted on February 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
The Order Blu-ray (Image)

The Order Blu-ray (Image)

RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2012

For the first time on Blu-ray! 2001’s The Order is an action-adventure set in exotic locations. It’s practically Jean-Claude Van Damme’s answer to Armor of God and Indiana Jones. The film also stars Charlton Heston (“Planet of the Apes”) and Ben Cross (“Chariots of Fire”); and is directed by Sheldon Lettich (“Double Impact”). Check out the trailer.

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

High Road To China Blu-ray & DVD (Hen’s Tooth Video)

Posted on February 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
High Road To China Blu-ray & DVD (Henstooth)

High Road To China Blu-ray & DVD (Henstooth)

RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2012

Following the footsteps of oddities like The Cannonball Run and Megaforce, 1983’s High Road To China is another U.S.-made film that Golden Harvest produced in the 1980’s. This action-adventure-comedy (soundtrack by John Barry) revolves around a society heiress (Bess Armstrong) who hires a hard-drinking biplane pilot (Tom Selleck) to find her missing father (Wilford Brimley). Check out the trailer.

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

The Terrorists aka Ransom Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Posted on February 4, 2012 by JJ Bona
The Terrorists aka Ransom Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

The Terrorists aka Ransom Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2012

A ruthless military police chief (Sean Connery) has two serious problems: A British plane carrying innocent passengers has just been hijacked; and the British Ambassador’s residence has been seized by a second group of terrorists. I’ve never seen this 1974 film, but I know two things: Sean Connery is in and it has an awesome movie poster! Also, Jerry Goldsmith (Rambo) does the film score! Check out the TV spot here.

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

‘Yakuza Weapon’ to leave a trail of bodies in its wake on February 7th

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Z Ravas
Yakuza Weapon Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Yakuza Weapon Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

“Yakuza Weapon is literally a blast” – Fangoria

“Slapstick comedy with tightly choreographed action and outrageous special effects, Yakuza Weapon is a riotously entertaining ride” – Twitch

The Team Who Brought You VERSUS Have Returned with Another Hard-Edged Battle Royale Featuring Tough Gangsters, Deadly Women and Cybernetic Penis Implants!

YAKUZA WEAPON

The Latest Blood-Soaked Gore Fest

From Japanese Production House Sushi Typhoon

Debuts on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack February 7th

Bonus Materials Include a Making-Of Featurette
and the Spinoff Film Takuzo Weapon

From the director of Mutant Girl Squad (Tak Sakaguchi), and Meatball Machine (Yûdai Yamaguchi) comes the “bloody awesome”* Yakuza Weapon, debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD February 7th from Well Go USA Entertainment.  Another warped film from the prolific Japanese production company Sushi Typhoon, Yakuza Weapon is based on the cult manga by Ken Ishikawa and stars stuntman-turned-director Tak Sakaguchi as a one-man, butt-kicking army out to avenge the death of his father with built-in firepower.

The extensive bonus features include the behind-the-scenes featurette “The Making of Yakuza Weapon,” a discussion with Director Tak Sakaguchi and the spinoff short film Takuzo Weapon.   Yakuza Weapon will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on standard DVD for $24.98 SRP.

Synopsis:

Stuntman-turned-director, Tak Sakaguchi, directs himself as a hard-hitting maverick who returns to Tokyo, only to discover his Yakuza father murdered, his family headquarters turned into a shady loan shop, and a powerful gang leader attempting to overthrow the entire criminal underworld! With rival gangs jacked up on “hyperdrug,” he must becomes a one-man, butt-kicking army – and things only get wilder when he loses an arm and a leg, only to have them replaced with more firepower than the entire Japanese military possesses.

Bonus Features Include:
–  “The Making of Yakuza Weapon” Featurette
–  Director’s Discussion
–  Tokyo Stage Greeting
–  Spinoff Film: Takuzo Weapon
–  Trailers

Yakuza Weapon has a runtime of approximately 106 minutes and is unrated. It is available at amazon.com.

Posted in News |

Dante Lam’s ‘The Sniper’ reloads onto UK DVD

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Z Ravas
"The Sniper" UK DVD Cover

"The Sniper" UK DVD Cover

Thanks to hit action-thrillers like Fire of Conscience and The Viral Factor, Dante Lam is arguably the biggest director in Hong Kong cinema right now. That might lead you to believe that all of his recent films would be readily available on Region 1 DVD, but sadly that’s not the case. His 2009 film The Sniper, starring Richie Ren and Edison Chen, has still not seen a release in the West.

Now the film is now slated for an official UK DVD release (Region 2) from Chelsea Films on March 12. If you’re in the UK, you might want to show your support for Hong Kong cinema by picking up a copy. Meanwhile, the rest of us can pick up the All-Region blu-ray or the Region 1 & 3 DVD available from online retailer DDDHouse. Check out a trailer of the film here.

Thanks to 24 Frames Per Second for the scoop

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Enlist in ‘SIU’ on Korean DVD

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Z Ravas

"SIU" Korean DVD Cover

"SIU" Korean DVD Cover

SIU is a high-octane police thriller from the booming Korean film industry. The plot concerns two cops with differing methods who are tasked with investigating a drug-related murder. It doesn’t take long for the trail of corruption to lead to their own department. The film’s trailer promises pulse-pounding suspense, slick cinematography, and plenty of chase scenes.

SIU will arrive on Korean DVD on February 14th. It was directed by Hwang Byung Guk (Wedding Campaign) and stars Uhm Tae Woong (Cyrano Agency) and Joo Won (Don’t Click). The DVD is Region 3 so make sure you have an import player.

Thanks to Far East Films for the scoop

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |
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