Ransom Baby DVD (Mya Communication)
RELEASE: March 13, 2012
Not much is known about Ransom Baby, a 1975 Greek flick by writer/director Pavlos Filippou. The only information I was able to find about it was at imdb.com: (“Sea, Thrill, Sex and Action: The Usual Elements of Greek 70’s Cinema… The shock thriller of the year…”). No trailer on youtube, but there is this. It looks like it’s an obscure crime/thriller from the 70’s. That’s good enough for me.
“Outrage: Way of the Yakuza” American DVD Cover
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Writer: Takeshi Kitano
Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Kippei Shiina, Ryo Kase, Tomokazu Miura, Jun Kunimura, Tetta Sugimoto, Takashi Tsukamoto, Hideo Nakano, Renji Ishibashi, Fumiyo Kohinata
Running Time: 109 min.
By HKFanatic
“Outrage” is Takeshi ‘Beat’ Kitano’s first Yakuza film in ten years (since 2000’s “Brother“). Kitano himself admitted he designed the film from the ground up to be a commercial crowd-pleaser, a goal that seems well within his reach as writer, director, editor, and supporting actor. While “Outrage” may not be commercial in the Hollywood sense, it is easily one of the most swiftly-paced and violent movies of Kitano’s career. Whereas his previous gangster pictures saw him using violence as a way to punctuate scenes of poetic silence, in “Outrage” it feels like somebody is brutally beaten or murdered at least once every ten minutes. This is a merciless film. It’s also one of the most purely entertaining gangster pictures to come down the pike in quite some time.
Takeshi Kitano doesn’t exactly break new ground in the Yakuza genre with “Outrage” but that doesn’t seem to be the point. Its tale of a quiet war between two Yakuza families is well-told and thoroughly engaging. The story presents the Yakuza as the ultimate cut-throat corporation; you’re just as likely to be slated for an execution as you are a promotion. There is a “Godfather”-like level of scheming and manipulation going on behind the scenes. The message I took away from the film was something like: in a world where your sworn brothers can betray you at any moment, it’s better to go out in a blaze of glory than wait to be hunted down like an animal.
I dare say “Outrage” is close to being a perfect Yakuza movie, but for a lengthy subplot in the middle of the film concerning the Gbannan ambassador. Not only does this sequence feature some awkwardly voiced English dialogue, but it trades in the kind of casual racism that Japanese society has long been in the shadow of. Although one could argue that this subplot is crucial since it shows how the Yakuza are able to use diplomatic immunity to cover their crimes, I imagine most viewers will find these scenes to be poorly acted and in bad taste. The African ambassador is portrayed as a clueless stooge of the Yakuza, engaging in illegal gambling and drug trafficking, and is at least once the butt of a racist joke. If you could excise this entire subplot, the film would be close to flawless – unfortunately, it causes the film to sag around the halfway mark, right when the plot should be gaining momentum.
I would be amiss to reveal much more about “Outrage” because part of the pleasure in watching it is that you have no idea who’s going to live or die, or who’s manipulating who. The sudden and graphic bursts of violence are even more gruesome than your average horror movie – I pride myself on having an iron stomach when it comes to gore but a scene at the dentist’s office managed to leave me rattled. At the same time, I found myself frequently laughing out loud during parts of “Outrage.” There’s a certain absurd quality to the sight of a bunch of well-dressed Japanese men sitting in barely-furnished office rooms, delivering guttural yells and ordering each other to cut off their pinky fingers. Takeshi Kitano ‘gets’ it – he embraces the limitations and dark humor of this genre he knows so well.
The blu-ray from Magnet features an immaculate visual transfer that helps highlight the gorgeous cinematography – this has some of the best lighting I’ve seen in a film all year. I can whole-heartedly recommend a purchase for anyone curious about this film. Long-time fans of Kitano may be disappointed that “Outrage” lacks the outwardly poetic and meditative quality of films like “Sonatine” or “Violent Cop,” but much like Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” this film represents a master of his craft operating at the height of his powers in a commercial mode. See it sooner rather than later.
HKFanatic’s Rating: 8.5/10
Recoil Blu-ray & DVD (Nasser)
RELEASE DATE: March 6, 2012
Directed by Terry Miles (A Night for Dying Tigers), Recoil is about a cop (Steve Austin ) who turns vigilante after his family is murdered, exacting vengeance on the killers – and then on all criminals who have slipped through the system. The trailer is now online.
JCVD Blu-ray (Peace Arch Trinity)
Jean-Claude Van Damme fans have a lot to look forward to this year. In addition to Six Bullets, he’ll be starring along side Cung Le in Dragon Eyes; re-teaming up with Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins in Universal Soldier: A New Dimension; and is part of the ensemble action flick The Expendables 2 – his true, big budget, major theatrical comeback. On top of all of this, you can pick up JCVD, one of his most critically acclaimed flicks, for $7.99.
Double Feature: Avenging Eagle & Blood Brothers DVD (Dragon Dynasty)
RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2012
ARC Entertainment’s Dragon Dynasty label is back, this time with previously released titles, but paired up in a nicely priced double feature: Sun Chung’s Avenging Eagle, starring Ti Lung and Alexander Fu Sheng; Also included is Chang Cheh’s Blood Brothers, starring David Chiang, Ti Lung, Chen Kuan Tai, Ching Li and Wang Lung Wei!
Double Feature: Golden Swallow & Killer Clans DVD (Dragon Dynasty)
RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2012
ARC Entertainment’s Dragon Dynasty label is back, this time with previously released titles, but paired up in a nicely priced double feature: Change Cheh’s Golden Swallow, starring Starring Jimmy Wang Yu, Cheng Pei Pei and Lo Lieh; Also included is Killer Clans, starring Chung Wa, Chan Ping, Yueh Hua, Lo Lieh and Wong Chung.
"Furyou Shounen: 3000-nin no Atama" Japanese Theatrical Poster
If you enjoyed Japanese high school delinquent films like Takashi Miike’s Crows: Episode Zero and the Funimation released Drop, you might want to keep an eye on the upcoming film Furyou Shounen: 3000-nin no Atama. The movie, which lands in Japanese theaters in March, is based on an autobiographical novel by Endo Natsuki and stars Saito Takumi (Takashi Miike’s upcoming Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney flick) as a youth who sets out to be, what else, but the toughest kid in his school.
The teaser trailer features about what you’d expect: Japanese youth in traditional school uniforms and slicked out pompadour haircuts, beating the crap out of each other.
We’ll be back with a full-length trailer when it becomes available. Thanks to Far East Films for the scoop
Outrage: Way of the Yakuza Blu-ray & DVD (Magnolia)
This week is notable for bringing us Ryan Gosling in Drive on blu-ray and Takeshi Kitano’s Outrage, as well as some Italian exploitation flicks on blu-ray. All in all, not too shabby. So here are your Asian and genre movie releases for the week of 1/31/12:
ASIAN CINEMA
Outrage (blu-ray/DVD) – Magnet Releasing presents Takeshi ‘Beat’ Kitano’s 2010 bloody Yakuza epic. A must-see for fans of gangster flicks and extreme Asian cinema
Adrift (DVD) – this Vietnamese film co-stars Johnny Tri Nguyen of “The Rebel” and “Clash” fame but don’t any expect any fisticuffs. This is a 2009 erotic drama about desire and sexual angst in modern Hanoi
Another Take on Catherine (blu-ray/DVD) – how to possibly explain this? It’s 70 minutes of Japanese AV idol CoCo in various states of undress, pretending to be a character from the sort-of popular Atlus video game “Catherine
Passions of a Private Secretary (DVD) – this 2008 Japanese film is about a secretary who falls into the world of S&M. Not for the faint-hearted, I suppose
Secrets of a Desperate Housewife (DVD) – this 2008 Japanese film arrives from Tokyo Erotique, the same distributor as the previous film on the list. Apparently, this is the week for Japanese pinku on DVD
FOREIGN CINEMA
Fernando Di Leo crime collection (blu-ray) – now this I have been waiting for. RaroVideo USA takes four of Fernando Di Leo’s Italian crime films, previously released as single disc DVDs, and puts them together in a hi-def set. The titles included are: Caliber 9, The Italian Connection, The Boss, and Rulers of the City (released from 1972-1976)
Ubaldo Terzani Horror Show (DVD) – RaroVideo USA releases this 2010 film that attempts to revitalize the fading Italian horror genre and is supposedly quite good at it
Das Boot (Director’s Cut) (blu-ray) – the 1997 German-language film that put director Wolfgang Petersen on the map is now on blu-ray in its restored 209-minute cut
Behind the Glass (DVD) – a 2008 Croatian-language film from Zrinko Orgresta, the director of “Here” and “Red Dust”
My Tehran For Sale (DVD) – a 2009 Iranian/Australian co-production that seeks to explore the repressesions of middle-class and literate Iranian citizens
Steam – the Turkish Bath (DVD) – RaroVideo USA releases this 1997 Italian-language film about an Italian man who inherits a traditional Turkish steam bath
MAINSTREAM
Drive (blu-ray/DVD) – at last, director Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 ultra-stylish thriller arrives on home formats. Starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan
In Time (blu-ray/DVD) – the director of “Gattaca” presents this 2011 sci-fi tale starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried
The Double (blu-ray/DVD) – Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Martin Sheen, and Stephen Moyer headline this direct-to-video action flick about a retired CIA agent trying to track down a Soviet assassin
Texas Killing Fields (blu/ray-DVD) – the daughter of director Michael Mann, Ami Mann, helms this based-on-true-events serial killer thriller with a cast that includes Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Chloe Moretz
Adaptation (blu-ray) – Nicolas Cage brings screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s story to life in this 2002 film, now on blu-ray
The English Patient (blu-ray) – the 1996 Academy Award-winning film starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Ralph Fiennes, now in hi-def
Cold Mountain (blu-ray) – the acclaimed 2003 Civil War-set drama starring Jude Law and Nicole Kidman, now on blu-ray
Malcom X (blu-ray) – Spike Lee’s landmark 1992 biopic starring Denzel Washington is on blu-ray this week
The Piano (blu-ray) – the Academy Award-winning 1993 drama starring Harvey Keitel, Holly Hunter, and Sam Neil
Monkeybone (blu-ray) – the obscure 2001 film from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” director Henry Selick, starring Brenden Fraser, Bridget Fonda, and Chris Kattan, has made its way to blu-ray
INDIE
Hunted by Night (DVD) – a 2010 indie action flick about three friends who intercept a drug dealer’s product on a hunting trip. It looks to feature impressive fight sequences despite a low-budget
CLASSICS
To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Edition (blu-ray) – the classic 1962 film starring Gregory Peck, now on blu-ray
The Apartment (blu-ray) – Billy Wilder’s 1960 film stars Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray, now in hi-def
HORROR
The Thing (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 would-be prequel/remake of John Carpenter’s film failed to connect with audiences but you can discover it on home formats this week
Night Train Murders (blu-ray/DVD) – Blue Underground presents this 1975 Italian horror flick in hi-def. Director Aldo Lado’s film is said to owe more than a little to Wes Craven’s “Last House on the Left”
Dream Home (blu-ray/DVD) – the 2011 haunted house chiller starring Daniel Craig, Noami Watts, and Rachel Weisz. This positively bombed at the box office but maybe it will find an audience on home formats
Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf (DVD) – this is a low-budget 1972 Spanish horror film dubbed in English and rereleased by Apprehensive Films, who say they’ve pressed only 500 units of the DVD
Spiderhole (DVD) – IFC releases this 2010 atmospheric haunted house thriller under their Midnight label
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!
Zombie 4: After Death Blu-ray (Shriek Show)
RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2012
Underrated 1989 original release in the popular Italian zombie series. A woman returns to the tropical island where her parents, two research scientists, were murdered while working on a cure for cancer. With the aid of mercenary soldiers, she uncovers a diabolical voodoo priest who raises the dead for an all-out war against the living! Loaded with extras, including an interview with director Claudio Fragasso (Guardian of Hell). Check out the trailer!
"Magic to Win'" Chinese Theatrical Poster
Hong Kong director Wilson Yip may be best known in the West for his martial arts collaborations with Donnie Yen, like Ip Man and Flash Point, but he’s no stranger to special effects-laden blockbusters either. In 2006, he brought a Chinese manga to life with Dragon Tiger Gate, starring Donnie Yen and Nicolas Tse. That effort only won him mixed reception but now Yip is back with another film full of Hong Kong superstars and computer generated imgery, 2011’s Magic to Win.
The trailer makes the movie look for all the world like Harry Potter swapped with Hong Kong actors but, who knows, it could be entertaining. Todd Rigney over at Beyond Hollywood says “…Magic to Win captivated me, casting a cheesy little spell over my better judgment.” The film stars Louis Koo, Chun Wu, Ni Yan, Bak-Ming Wong, Jacky Wu, and Karena Ng.
Louis Koo and Jacky Wu are two of the most recognizable faces in Hong Kong action cinema today, while Bak-Ming Wong is probably more well known to US audiences as Raymond Wong, the super-producer who helped make several Hong Kong classics like A Better Tomorrow and Aces Go Places.
Magic to Win is now available to order on blu-ray or DVD from online retailer DDDHouse. The good news is both discs are All-Region, meaning they can be played on any DVD or blu-player in the world. Need a little magic in your life? You might want to give Wilson Yip a chance to dazzle you.
Thanks to Far East Films for the scoop.
"Let's Go" Theatrical Poster
Once I saw the trailer for this film, I just had to post about it. From acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Ching Po (Jiang Hu AKA Triad Underworld, Revenge: A Love Story) comes Let’s Go, an over-the-top action yarn about a group of everyday individuals who band together with a common goal: to kick evil in the ass.
This slick, stylized, and commercial flick is inspired by Japanese superheros and 80’s anime shows like Space Emperor God Sigma. You can check out the trailer here. Expect epic martial arts beatdowns, automatic gunfire, regular old fire, and motorcycles.
Let’s Go is now available to order on Hong Kong blu-ray and Region 3 DVD from online retailer DDDHouse. The blu-ray isn’t too expensive and it’s Region A, which means it can be watched on North American players. If you need some ridiculous, 80’s-styled Hong Kong action in your life, this might be the way to go.
Thanks to Far East Films for the scoop.
Yakuza Hunters: Duel in Hell aka Yakuza Busting Girls: Duel in Hell DVD
RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2012
Tokyo Shock presents Yakuza Hunters: Duel in Hell, which, I believe is the sequel to Yakuza Hunters: Final Death Ride Battle. Asami returns, exhausted, after three years of intense training to become a yakuza hunter. She decides to visit her old master, but finds her place in ruins by the local yakuza! Check out the trailer.
Blade of Kings aka The Twins Effect 2 Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)
“Donnie Yen and Jackie Chan Blow Up the Screen in an Epic Battle.” – RedCarpetCrash.com
BLADE OF KINGS
Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan and Bing Bing Fan Star in an Epic Tale
Combining Romance, Fantasy, Comedy and Cutting Edge Hong Kong Style Martial Arts
on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD March 6th
Bonus Materials Include a Making-Of Featurette and a Music Video
Donnie Yen (IP Man), Jackie Chan (Shaolin, 1911) and Bing Bing Fan (Shaolin, My Way) star in the epic action adventure Blade of Kings, debuting on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD March 6th from Well Go USA Entertainment. The all-star cast also includes Charlene Choi (Triple Tap, The Jade and the Pearl), Gillian Chung (Vampire Effect), and Hong Kong Film Award nominee for Best Newcomer Jaycee Chan (1911) in the tale of a humble boy born to rule an empire who must first undertake his journey to claim his throne in the mythical land of Huadu.
Nominated for four Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Visual Effects, the film was directed by Patrick Leung and Cory Yuen. Bonus features include the behind-the-scenes featurette “The Making of Blade of Kings” and a music video. Blade of Kings will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on standard DVD for $24.98 SRP.
Synopsis:
In the mythical land of Huadu, Charcoal Head, a humble boy born to rule an empire must undertake his journey to claim his throne.
Bonus Features Include:
– “The Making of Blade of Kings” Featurette
– Music Video
– English-language Dub
Blade of Kings has a runtime of approximately 105 minutes and is unrated.
Links
Hong Kong trailer
"Swordsman and Enchantress" Chinese Theatrical Poster
On Facebook, Well Go USA posted: “Be on the lookout for Duel of Fists and also Swordsman and Enchantress – both coming on DVD in April.”
In the meantime, Well Go USA is keeping their Asian catalogue fresh with upcoming releases like Jackie Chan’s 1911 (Jan), Donnie Yen’s Flash Point (Jan), Jet Li’s Ocean Heaven (Feb), the Korean box office hit War of the Arrows (Feb), Tak Sakaguchi in Yakuza Weapon (Feb) and Blade of Kings aka The Twins Effect 2 (March), which features an appearance by Donnie Yen and Jackie Chan.
Update: You can now pre-order Duel of Fists and Swordsman and Enchantress.
Private Eye DVD (Pathfinder)
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
Is Park Dae-min’s Private Eye Korea’s answer to Sherlock Holmes? Maybe. 1900s, Seoul, Korean Empire. A Hong Jin-ho (Hwang Jung-min) is a down and out detective. Makes most of his catching cheating spouses. Until a corpse is discovered in the woods… Check out the trailer.
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