United Red Army DVD (Lorber)

United Red Army, the 2007 Japanese-language film that Sight & Sound magazine called “one of the best films of the decade” is now streaming on Netflix Instant in HD. Director Koji Wakamatsu’s (Caterpillar) epic docudrama explores the political unrest of 1960′s Japan, when mass student uprisings coincided with the beginnings of the far-left United Red Army group, which tortured and murdered its ”deviant” members during a 1972 training session.

An uncompromising piece of filmmaking from one of Japan’s most controversial filmmakers, United Red Army also features a score by former Sonic Youth member Jim O’Rourke. Check out the trailer!

Gantz 2: Perfect Answer Blu-ray/DVD (Warner)

This week leaves us with plenty to talk about so I’ll cut my speech short and get started. Here are your Asian and genre movie blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 1/17/12:

Gantz II: Perfect Answer (blu-ray/DVD) – Viz Media presents the final installment in the live-action Gantz series! This 2011 film is based off the popular – and very dark and violent – anime

The Coast Guard (blu-ray/DVD) – Tartan Palisades re-releases Korean iconoclast director Kim Ki-duk’s 2002 film on blu-ray

United Red Army (DVD) – Director Koji Wakamatsu presents a stirring docudrama that explores political unrest in 1960’s Japan. Released in Japan in 2007, Sight & Sound magazine has called it “one of the best films of the decade”

Caterpillar (DVD) – Lorber Films is releasing another film from Japanese director Koji Wakamatsu, this 2010 film about a soldier who returns from war horribly disfigured

Rikidozan: A Hero Extraordinaire (DVD) – Pathfinder Home Entertainment presents this 2004 Korean biopic about the half-Korean, half-Japanese sumo wrestler who faced prejudice all his life

Parallel Life (DVD) – Pathfinder Pictures also releases this 2010 Korean film about a lawyer who discovers he may be repeating the same mistakes and tragedies of another lawyer who lived decades ago

Soh Daiko: Taiko in New York (DVD) – this 2012 English language documentary is all about the Japanese art of taiko drumming and how this piece of Asian culture has been transported to modern day NYC

FOREIGN CINEMA

Bella de Jour (blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection presents this 1967 film from director Luis Bunuel, starring the lovely Catherine Deneuve

Mysteries of Lisbon (blu-ray/DVD) – a 2011 Portuguese-language film based on the sprawling 19th century novel

The Overcoat (IL Cappotto) (DVD) – RaroVideo presents this 1952 black-and-white Italian film based on a Russian short story. When a nobody becomes a somebody thanks to his fancy new overcoat, he wonders if the clothes truly make the man…until one day the overcoat is stolen

Cop in Drag (DVD) – Mya Video sure loves their obscure Italian flicks. They’re putting out this 1984 number starring Thomas Milian as a cop looking to solve the murders of several drag queens

Special Treatment (DVD) – Isabelle Huppert stars in this 2010 French language film about a high-class prostitute who becomes intrigued by a psychoanalyst and his analytical world

Cold Sweat (DVD) – a 2010 Spanish language horror movie about a night of terror and torture in one remote house

ANIMATION

Redline (blu-ray/DVD) – it would be no exaggeration to say that “Redline” has become the most hyped and talked about anime of the last year. Finally you can find out what all the fuss is about as it races onto home formats

First Squad (blu-ray/DVD) – here’s something you don’t see everyday: a Russian-made animated film using the Japanese anime style. The plot concerns the Russians developing teams of psychically-powered young girls to fight the Nazis in WWII

MAINSTREAM

The Ides of March (blu-ray/DVD) – an all-star cast including Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Marisa Tomei headline this 2011 political thriller, also directed by Clooney

Abduction (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 movie tried to be ‘Taken for tweens’ and failed miserably at the box office, most likely ensuring that Taylor Lautner won’t get too many roles outside the “Twilight” franchise

Dead Poet’s Society (blu-ray) – this beloved 1989 school-set drama starring Robin Williams gets a hi-def upgrade

Good Morning Vietnam (blu-ray) – it’s the 25th anniversary edition of this 1987 Robin Williams film

Traffic (blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection releases their own edition of Steven Soderbergh’s breakout 2000 film

Project X (blu-ray) – how can you go wrong with Matthew Broderick and a monkey in this 1987 film, now getting the upgrade to blu-ray

The Color Purple (blu-ray) – Steven Spielberg’s 1985 film makes the leap to blu-ray

The Tuskegee Airmen (blu-ray) – Morgan Freeman stars in this 1995 film, based on the true story of the black airmen who broke color barriers during WWII

Age of Heroes (blu-ray/DVD) – 006 himself, Sean Bean, stars in this 2011 film based on Ian Fleming’s actual squad in WWII, who helped lay the foundation for the birth of the British SAS

CULT

The Boys in Company C (blu-ray) – one of the first films to openly discuss the Vietnam War in 1978 finds its way to blu-ray

Action Double Feature: The Last Hard Men/Sky Riders (DVD) – two 70’s action flicks for the price of one, starring tough guys James Coburn and Charlton Heston

HORROR

Donner Pass (DVD) – the story of the Donner Party is mined for screams once again in this modern update, shot in just 18 days

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!

Donnie Yen

“Fine, I’ll be an action star,” says Donnie Yen. During an AsianOneNews interview, Donnie also states that he will be taking a break from period films, focusing instead on contemporary action films, a genre he personally prefers. Donnie is currently promoting his new film, Wu Xia. To read the full story, please click here.

Update: News has surfaced that Donnie might star in a heist/action movie produced by and co-starring Jackie which will start production in November. – Thanks to DiP for the heads up!

Update 2: Donnie Yen recently talked to CNN and discussed the possibility of Ip Man 3.

Update 3: When asked if he would make another Ip Man, Donnie answered: “I wouldn’t make another one after someone else’s is released (referring to Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmasters). Actually I am still brewing, when the time arrives I would make it again.”

District 13: Ultimatium" Japanese Theatrical poster

Looking to add a little excitement to your life? Well, you know that producer extraordinaire Luc Besson always has you covered in that regard. As of today, his 2010 film “District 13: Ultimatum” has been added to the Netflix Instant catalog and is available in HD.

Like it’s predecessor it’s another mix of high-octane martial arts and death-defying parkour, set in a near-future Paris that’s not unlike the world of John Carpenter’s “Escape From New York.” It may not exactly be Academy Award-worthy material but it’s still a good time for fight fans.

And if you think the original B13 is still better than the sequel, well hey, they’re both on streaming now so the choice is yours.

Outrage: Way of the Yakuza Blu-ray & DVD (Magnolia)

“A beautifully staged marvel that confidently reasserts Kitano’s considerable cinematic gifts.”

– Variety

“Kitano’s pristine direction and smooth camera movement always juxtapose the unsettling action with a beautifully crisp formalism that makes the film increasingly disturbing.”

– Slant

“A must see for Japanese cinephiles.”

– Movie Buzzers

“Takeshi Kitano returns to his roots.”

– Los Angeles Daily News

“The king of yakuza epics” (Variety), visionary director Takeshi Kitano (Battle Royale, Brother) is back with “arguably his best film in a decade” (Hollywood Reporter), Outrage: Way of the Yakuza, arrives on Blu-ray Disc and DVD January 31 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet Label. Called the “Scorsese of Japan when it comes to well crafted organized crime flicks” (Movie Buzzers), Kitano wrote, directed and stars in the action-packed gangster film, nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

From the producers of Brother and Fireworks, “the truly iconic international crime film” (Twitch), Outrage: Way of the Yakuza begins when a boss of the notorious Japanese crime syndicate, the “yakuza,” issues an order to his associates to keep a rival gang in line. The task falls on Otomo (Kitano), who soon instigates a play for power that creates an all-out gang war, illustrating the brutal fate that befalls anyone who dares to violate the structured ways of the yakuza.
In the film that bursts “with direct cinematic power” (Hollywood Reporter), Outrage: Way of the Yakuza also stars Ryo Kase (Letters from Iwo Jima). The Blu-ray Disc and DVD is exploding with special features including cast interviews, a behind the scenes documentary, the red carpet premiere at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, premiere screening Q&A and more. The Outrage: Way of the Yakuza Blu-ray and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 and $26.98, respectively.

Synopsis:

In a ruthless battle for power, several yakuza clans vie for the favor of their head family in the Japanese underworld. The rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks by scheming and making allegiances sworn over saké. Long-time yakuza Otomo has seen his kind go from elaborate body tattoos and severed fingertips to becoming important players on the stock market. Theirs is a never-ending struggle to end up on top, or at least survive, in a corrupt world where there are no heroes but constant betrayal and vengeance.

Bonus Features:

Cast Interview: Making Outrage: Way of the Yakuza
Outrage: Way of the Yakuza – Inside Out: Behind The Scenes Documentary
Cast Panel Interview
Premiere Q&A
Cannes “Red Carpet” Premiere With Takeshi Kitano
U.S. Trailer
International Trailer

The Coast Guard Blu-ray & DVD (Palisades Tartan)

“Emotionally intense. Jang Dong-gun is superb.”

– Derek Elley, Daily Variety

“Ki-duk riffs on Full Metal Jacket and Hamlet, while keeping his kinetic style intact.”

– Neal Dhand, Sound on Sight

Palisades Tartan is proud to announce the new Special Edition Blu-Ray & DVD Combo Pack of The Coast Guard available January 17th for an SRP of $29.98. Arriving for the first time on Blu-Ray and featuring over 30 minutes of new bonus materialsThe Coast Guard won acclaimed “bad boy” director Kim Ki-Duk (3-Iron, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring) a FIPRESCI Prize for its “strong and innovative depiction of the illusion of power which destroys humanity on both sides of the fence” and stars Jang Dong-gun of The Warrior’s Way.

Plot:

Private Kang (Jang Dong-gun) monitors a stretch of the South Korean coast lined with barbed-wire fencing. Driven by the belief that killing a spy is the highest honor, Kang eagerly awaits a chance to prove his worth as a soldier.

One night, he mistakes a promiscuous couple for North Korean spies and shoots without hesitation. Despite receiving honors, he slowly begins to unravel under the grief of his actions. As he loses his grip on reality, tensions and paranoia escalate and further tragedy becomes unavoidable.

Acclaim:
Regarded as the “bad boy” of Korean cinema, Kim Ki-duk’s prolific career has spanned nearly two decades and earned the director a host of accolades and awards (Ki-Duk’s most recent film, ARIRANG, won the top prize in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the prestigious 2011 Cannes Film Festival). A former factory worker, soldier, priest-in-training and Parisian street artist, the multi-talented and self-taught filmmaker was also honored a few years ago at NYC’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) when they held a retrospective featuring a collection of his cinematic works.

Bonus Features:

– Director Interview
– Director Commentary
– Introduction by the Director
– Original Theatrical Promos
– Music Video
– Photo Gallery
– Upcoming Release Trailers
– Previously Unreleased “Making Of” Featurette
– Over 30 Minutes of New Bonus Materials!

DVD/Blu-ray Specs:

Genre: Action / Adventure Rating: Not Rated
Language: Korean (English & Spanish Subtitles)
Run Time: Approx. 94 Minutes (Plus Special Features)
Retail Price: $29.98 Catalog Number: PTT-BD-0083 UPC: 842498000830
Pre-Order Date: 12/20/2011 Street Date: 1/17/2012
Blu-Ray Feature: 1080p High-Definition Wide Screen 1.85:1 Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
DVD Feature: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Audio: DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
Production Year: 2002