Donnie Yen talks ‘Ip Man 3’

Donnie Yen

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.”

Posted in News |

The Quest Blu-ray (Universal)

The Quest Blu-ray (Universal)

The Quest Blu-ray (Universal)

RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2012

With the upcoming release of The Expendables 2, the studios are ready to cash-in on the “The Muscles from Brussels” like it’s the 90’s! Directed by and starring Van Damme, The Quest is about a pickpocket (Van Damme) who heads to the Far East in order to escape police trouble. While there, he gets mixed up in a deadly martial arts competition. Also starring Roger Moore. Check out the trailer.

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

‘District 13: Ultimatum’ leaps onto Netflix Instant

District 13: Ultimatium" Japanese Theatrical poster

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.

Posted in News |

Mad Detective (2007) Review

"Mad Detective" Theatrical Poster

“Mad Detective” Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To
Co-director: Wai Ka-Fai
Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Andy On Chi-Kit, Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Kelly Lin Hsi-Lei, Lee Kwok-Lun, Karen Lee, Flora Chan Wai-Shan, Eddy Ko Hung, Lam Suet
Running Time: 91 min.

By Mighty Peking Man

Johnny To is usually a hit or miss with me, but I respect the guy. After all, he makes a shit load of movies (usually 2 a year, not counting ones he produces) and is open to just about any genre (with the exception of porn). It’s definitely quantity over quality with To, but when he’s good, he’s GOOD.

When I heard he was going to be directing Lau Ching Wan again, I got all giddy. Then I heard this new project was going to be a crime-thriller and I nearly busted a nut.

This brings us to Mad Detective… a film about a man (Lau Ching Wan) with the special ability to see people’s personalities (literally!), which makes him a phenomenal detective. On the other side of the coin, he’s an eccentric madman (hence, the title). Self mutilation, starting fights with people for no good reason, and imagining things around him that are not really there. His way of solving crimes is outrageous: in one scene he tells his partner to stuff him in a suitcase and kick him down the stairs; in another scene, he buries himself 6 feet into he ground – all this just to get his thought process going.

Mad Detective is nothing fantastic, but it’s entertaining. I dig the creativity brought to us by Johnny To, Ka-Fai Wai and Kin Yee Au (writers of the film). As always Lau Ching Wan’s performance is excellent. I still would rather see Johnny To/Lau Ching Wan and company do a little something not so far out. Maybe another gangster movie like A Hero Never Dies or Fulltime Killer.

There’s some half-groundbreaking stuff happening here. Maybe in a world without an M. Night Shyamalan, Mad Detective would have been great.

Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 7/10 

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

Magnolia releases Takeshi Kitano’s ‘Outrage’ on home video on January 31

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

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

Posted in News |

Kim Ki-Duk’s ‘The Coast Guard’ services you on January 17th

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

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

Posted in News |

Daniel Lee wraps up ‘White Vengeance’

"White Vengeance" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"White Vengeance" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director Daniel Lee (14 Blades) has wrapped up White Vengeance (aka Hong Men Yan), a Chinese historical film that centers on the Feast at Hong Gate/Hongmen Banquet, one of the important events in the Chu–Han Contention. The film stars Leon Lai (A Hero Never Dies), Jordan Chan (Men Suddenly in Black), Anthony Wong (Beast Cops), Andy On (Black Mask 2), Crystal Liu (The Forbidden Kingdom), and Zhang Hanyu (Bodyguards and Assassins).

“White Vengeance” will hit screens in November. Click here for a casting preview. – Thanks to AlbertV for the tip!

UPDATE: A trailer has emerged online. – Thanks to LoveHKFilm for the tip

Update 2: Far East Films details the January 18th release of White Vengeance on Hong Kong blu-ray and DVD. That’s blu-ray Region A and DVD Region 3 so make sure you have an all-region player before committing to a purchase.

Update 3: Your friends at DDDHouse have the Region 3 DVD for a low price and the blu-ray on pre-order.

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Fong Sai-yuk II | aka Legend of Fong Sai-yuk 2 (1993) Review

"Fong Sai-yuk II" DVD Cover

“Fong Sai-yuk II” DVD Cover

Director: Corey Yuen 
Cast: Jet Li, Josephine Siao, Michelle Reis, Adam Cheng, Corey Yuen, Peter Chan Lung
Running Time: 96 min. 

By Numskull

Not many wire fu movies deliver the goods as well as Fong Sai Yuk does, and not many sequels match up to the original as well as Fong Sai Yuk 2. Jet Li, Michelle Reis, and Josephine Siao all return as the title character, his puppy-dog eyed fiancee Ting Ting, and his ass-kicking mom, respectively. More high-jumping, hard-hitting chaos ensues as Fong tries to prove his worth to his godfather, the chief of the Red Flower Society, and contends with a real bastard called Mr. Yu who is masterminding a conspiracy to assassinate the chief and claim the position for himself (I guess that’s sort of a spoiler, but c’mon, who ELSE could it be?).

The movie is dragged down a bit by a lame subplot where Fong must court some rich daddy’s girl to get his hands on a sacred box with a valuable secret inside. Now, would anyone here care to guess if this causes Ting Ting to jump to conclusions and cause all sorts of difficulty for Fong as he tries to placate both women AND fulfill his duties? A show of hands, please? Hmmm…all of you? Yup, I expected as much…

Well, never mind the bimbos. The fighting is where it’s at. Jet’s battle with a gang of spearmen and the bamboo raft sequence are plenty cool, and the scene where he straps about a dozen swords to his body, blindfolds himself, and slashes his way through a gauntlet of friends turned enemies is spiffy as well. But the best is saved for last; the final battle has Fong fighting for his life as well as that of his mother, who hangs by the neck atop an elaborate stack of wooden benches, which the combatants constantly eliminate, replace, and shuffle around as they fight, with her life depending on the size and shape of the stack. Implausible as hell, but it deserves all the credit in the world for being one of the most creative and painstakingly arranged action scenes I’ve watched in a long time. It has a definite Iron Monkey (Yuen Wo Ping) vibe to it.

The Dimension release of this movie, “The Legend 2”, has been butchered and is to be spurned by people of intelligence and/or virtue. The Universe DVD is immeasurably preferable.

Numskull’s Rating: 7/10

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

Fong Sai-yuk | The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk (1993) Review

"Fong Sai-yuk" DVD Cover

“Fong Sai-yuk” DVD Cover

Director: Corey Yuen 
Cast: Jet Li, Josephine Siao, Michelle Reis, Sibelle Hu, Peter Chan Lung, Paul Chu Kong 
Running Time: 100 min. 

By Numskull

Ah, the days when duels to the death (or at least to the severe bruising) were fought in public at the drop of a hat and ripe, buxom young women were offered as prizes to the most skilled combatants. Fling all the synonyms for “barbaric” you want, but at least they made for some cool martial arts movies.

Corey Yuen Kwai ventures into the love-it-or-hate-it realm of wire fu without penetrating too deep; the characters in this movie don’t BREAK the laws of physics, they just bend them…well, okay, they make pretzels out of them, actually, but they don’t have any other ridiculous super powers, so it’s fine with me.

After a surprisingly gory scene where a guy gets his forearm snapped right off and another one’s face gets torn off of his skull (brings new meaning to the Chinese term “giving face”, does it not?), we are introduced to the roguish Fong Sai Yuk…definitely one of Jet Li’s more likable heroes…and his future sweetie Ting Ting (Michelle Reis). Fong is something of a mama’s boy, but that’s okay, because his mom (Josephine Siao) is something of a rogue herself (think Anita Mui from Drunken Master 2) and loves a good fight as much as her son does. And good fights there are; few in number but big on fun. Early on, Fong and Ting Ting’s mother duke it out while keeping their feet off the ground at all times, using a structure dedicated to the competition and the heads of spectators for support. This is followed by a (believe it or not) less plausible scene in which Fong’s mom poses as his brother. Always with the cross-dressing in these movies…cripes…

The first serious (as in, hostile) fight scene of note takes place about an hour into the film, but it’s not some unbearably silly clown fu flick in the Fearless Hyena vein, and the in-between parts are at least watchable, even when they’re not that funny. The climax is a good one, with Fong shooting a whole bunch of arrows at a whole bunch of guys. His aim for multiple targets all at once is, of course, impeccable.

Dimension has released this film in typically banal Dimension fashion as “The Legend”. The Universe DVD is the only way to go; it has a good transfer and above average HK subtitles (and, if you like to keep an eye out for double meanings resulting from translingual imperfections, the line “The meat you love is coming!” is priceless).

Numskull’s Rating: 7/10

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

‘War of the Arrows’ ready to rain down on blu-ray and DVD on February 21st

"War of the Arrows"American Blu-ray Cover

"War of the Arrows"American Blu-ray Cover

“… one helluva chase movie.” – Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

“… nonstop action and excitement.” – Richard Kuipers, Variety

Character development in writer-director Kim Han-Min’s thrilling War of the Arrows … is economic, precise and efficient, grounding whirlwind action sequences in an emotional connection to the characters. “ – Ernest Hardy, LA Weekly

A Hero is Born.

The Legend Begins.

WAR OF THE ARROWS

The $40MM International Box Office Smash
Hits the Bulls-eye on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD February 21st
Bonus Materials Include a Making-Of Featurette and Deleted Scenes

Award-winning writer/director Kim Han-Min (Handphone, Paradise Murdered) unsheathes the lavish historical action epic War of the Arrows on Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and DVD February 21st from Well Go USA Entertainment. The international box office success stars Hae-il Park (The Host) as the best archer in Korea who is forced to go up against the Qing Dynasty in order to save his younger sister (Moon Chae-Won) from Mongolian invaders.

The film was honored four times at the 2011 Daejong Awards, including Best Actor (Park Hae-il) and Best New Actress (Moon Chae-won), and picked up five trophies at the 2011 Blue Dragon Film Awards, including Best Actor (Park Hae-Il), Best Supporting Actor (Ryoo Seung-Ryong), Best New Actress (Moon Chae-Won) and the Audience Choice Award for Most Popular Movie.

Bonus features include the behind-the-scenes featurette “The Making of War of the Arrows,” interviews with the actors and director Kim Han-Min and deleted scenes.   War of the Arrows will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on standard DVD for $24.98 SRP.

Synopsis:

Set in 1636, the second Manchurian invasion of Korea rages chaos, as villages are attacked by overpowering Manchurian soldiers. The Manchurians kidnap childhood sweethearts, Ja-in and Seo-Goon on their wedding day. In an effort to save his sister, Ja-in’s brother Nam-Yi sets out to defeat the enemy and save his sister and other Korean victims with only 1 bow.

Bonus Features Include:

–  Actor and Director Interviews
–  “The Making of War of the Arrows” Featurette
–  Deleted Scenes
–  Theatrical Trailers

Update: AICN has a clip.

War of the Arrows has a runtime of approximately 122 minutes and is rated R.

Links:

Amazon preorder
480p movie trailer

Posted in News |

Battle Royale & Battle Royale II: The Complete 4-Disc Collection Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Battle Royale & Battle Royale II: The Complete 4-Disc Collection Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Battle Royale & Battle Royale II: The Complete 4-Disc Collection Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012

In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary “Battle Royale” act. 42 Students, Three Days, One Survivor, No Rules. Clever, creepy and ultra-violent, Battle Royale, one of the most controversial cult films ever made, is available in North America for the first time!

This 4-disc collection includes Battle Royale Director’s and Theatrical Cuts with both Japanese and English language tracks & subtitles. Plus, Battle Royale II with both Japanese and English language tracks & subtitles and over 2 hours of bonus content!

Anchor Bay is also offering just the first Battle Royale on Blu-ray & DVD for those who don’t care for the sequel or the extras. The standalone will most likely still have the Director’s and Theatrical Cuts, as well as the Japanese and English language tracks. Click here to see the cover for the standalone version.

Battle Royale is directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Tora! Tora! Tora!) and starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto, Masanobu Ando, Takeshi Kitano, Kou Shibasaki and Chiaki Kuriyama. Read cityonfire.com’s reviews for Battle Royale and Battle Royale II.

Trailers: Battle Royale | Battle Royale II

Update: AICN uploaded the U.S. trailer. Why have a trailer for a movie you’re only releasing DTV? Hell if I know…

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

South Korea gets faster and furiouser with ‘Quick’

"Quick" Korean DVD cover

"Quick" Korean DVD cover

Early on, Quick was billed as South Korea’s answer to the Fast and the Furious franchise: a slick, big-budget action thriller with enough vehicular destruction to make Michael Bay stand up and applaud. The 2011 film, about an ace motorcycle driver who must transport explosives all over Seoul in order to rescue his ex-girlfriend, earned over $10 million at the Korean box office.

Now Quick completes its victory lap onto Korean DVD (that’s Region 3). Beyond Hollywood has the trailer and DVD specs to further entice you into making a purchase!

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Mission: Impossible II | aka M:I-2 (2000) Review

"Mission: Impossible II" American Theatrical Poster

“Mission: Impossible II” American Theatrical Poster

Director: John Woo
Cast: Tom Cruise, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames, William R. Mapother, Brendan Gleeson, Anthony Hopkins, John Polson, Dominic Purcell
Running Time: 123 min.

By HKFanatic

“Mission: Impossible II” is one of those films that debuted to big money at the box office (it’s still the most successful film in the franchise, although “Ghost Protocol” is getting there), only to later be regarded with great critical and fan derision. The notion is that M:I2 is little more than a vanity piece for its star, Tom Cruise; that even though the television show was about the Impossible Missions Force working as a team, Cruise had to turn it into a solo affair where he is the toughest, fastest, and coolest guy in every frame of the movie. I remember that my own opinion of the film soured after repeated viewings so when I recently sat down to revisit the film on blu-ray, I wasn’t expecting much despite my love for all things John Woo.

Against the odds, I find that “Mission: Impossible II” has aged remarkably well. Let’s face it, nobody makes action movies like this anymore: with our distinctly feminine hero gazing into the camera like a lover’s eyes, his hair tousled by the wind as the scenery whirls around him in slow motion ecstasy. Meanwhile: some poor bastard henchmen are about to be crushed by a semi-truck. Say what you want but Cruise has charisma; I’ll take him over a dozen Sam Worthingtons any day.

The “Mission: Impossible” franchise has endured because of its malleability, each film reflecting the sensibilities of its particular auteur. Part II, then, is defined entirely by John Woo. Tom Cruise brought Woo on board while the Hong Kong filmmaker, post-“Face/Off“, was arguably one of the most in-demand action directors in Hollywood. One senses that Woo was hired to do exactly what he does best and as a result M:I2 is truly ‘Woo unleashed.’ Why do two characters need to exchange dialogue in order to fall in love? Tom Cruise and Thandie Newton stare at each other from across the room for an eternity thanks to Woo’s breakdown of time and space, a flamenco dancer’s dress fluttering between them in slow motion. Later on, Cruise and Newton manage to have a love scene with their sports cars as the vehicles spin wildly out of control on the edge of a cliff. It’s an utterly ridiculous moment that’s elevated to high art thanks to Woo’s unflinching technique.

In truth, Tom Cruise ended up being the perfect foil for Woo, perhaps even better than Jean Claude Van Damme. Both actors are men who, in their heyday, had big egos and wanted to look as cool as possible onscreen; and Woo obliged them in every way he could. Cruise dives through the air, dual pistols drawn; scales a sheer rockface without climbing equipment; plays chicken with a motorcycle; and obviously does as many of his own stunts as the insurance companies would allow. Sure, he’s no Chow Yun Fat – and the impact of the violence is lessened somewhat by a PG-13 rating – but Cruise performs ably and M:I2 seems designed from the ground up to be the Platonic ideal of the Big Dumb Action movie, and it succeeds spectacularly at it.

For Woo fans, it’s interesting to note how much M:I2 mirrors his earlier American effort “Hard Target.” Once again we find our steely-eyed hero up against a Big Bad (Lance Henriksen then, Dougray Scott now) and his right hand man, the Heavy (Arnold Vosloo vs. Richard Roxburgh). The movies are even similar on a structural level, devoting an hour or more to setting up the story and romantic subplot before ending in a solid 40 minutes of chase and action sequences. It may be hard to believe but the same guy who wrote “Chinatown,” Richard Towne, wrote “M:I2.” The plot is fairly ridiculous and the characters routinely assume the audience is dumb by spelling out the story in explicit detail, but there are a few good exchanges here and there, and the movie does benefit from having an actual love plot. While the crucial love scene in DePalma’s “Mission: Impossible” was actually edited out, robbing the ending of some of its impact, the romance between Cruise and Thandie Newton is central to most of M:I2. Many will disagree but I found Cruise and Newton to have decent chemistry and Lord knows John Woo filmed Newton as flatteringly as possible; she has never looked better than she does here.

One would hope that M:I2, being a handsomely produced and relatively recent film, would make an easy transition to blu-ray. Unfortunately, Paramount’s blu-ray edition of the film is a solid if unremarkable catalog title. Close-ups reveal a good deal of detail but, overall, the image appears a bit too dark and lacking in dimensionality. It’s less grainy than the blu-ray for 1996’s “Mission: Impossible” but the film still looked older than it actually is to my eyes. I get the impression that Paramount is holding out on better editions of these films. Perhaps now that “Ghost Protocol” is a runaway success, they’ll go back and give the series the transfers it deserves. I’d recommend that casual buyers hold off on a purchase except that the entire series can be had for such a steal: they routinely go for $20 on Amazon. Just don’t be surprised if Paramount asks fans to double-dip with a superior disc somewhere down the road.

I know for some movie fans, defending M:I2 is tantamount to defending “Batman & Robin.” But in reality, this is not a film that needs defending: it appeals to exactly who it was meant to appeal to. The film critics, the Woo purists who feel he should have stayed in Hong Kong – M:I2 was never gonna win them over. But if you have an appreciation for Woo’s American films, and the way he managed to transfer many of his patented themes to the West alongside the bigger pyrotechnics that Hollywood budgets afforded him, then M:I2 is a damn fun time at the movies. Revisiting this film made me realize that the “Mission: Impossible” series has never really missed a beat. Each movie is shaped by the vision of its particular director and Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is a character just surface-level enough that he can be molded to fit whatever genre or style the director calls for. Part II forgoes the shadowy intrigue and espionage of DePalma’s entry, but what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for with Woo’s carefully constructed maelstrom of action and slow-motion bad-assery.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8/10


By Joe909

John Woo’s power as a filmmaker is not only so great that I consider him the best action director ever, but also that, just because of his association with it, I actually watched the sequel to what I considered one of the worst movies of the 1990s: the first Mission: Impossible. That movie, with it’s “let’s just confuse everyone instead of telling an actual story; the kids’ll love it” attitude, pissed me off to no end. So much so that when I saw the trailer for M:I-2 a few years later, I had no intention of seeing it, regardless of Woo’s presence. Plus there was also the fact that I hadn’t liked any of Woo’s US films. I figured that, like the first one, Mission: Impossible 2 would be nothing more than a vanity vehicle for Tom Cruise.

Well, I recently watched this movie, and discovered that I was half right. This is certainly a vanity project for Cruise: he does his own stunts (seemingly), we watch him climb a mountain barehanded, and in each and every scene he’s dressed in the most expensive clothes possible. And, just to let us know how cool he is, he even takes the time to slip on a pair of shades during the climactic gun battle.

But still, this movie isn’t bad at all. It’s probably the best movie Woo’s done in Hollywood, as all of his trademarks show up intact: slow-motion, guys holding a pistol in each hand, doves, everything. Even though it’s his best movie, it’s not my favorite Hollywood Woo film; that honor, believe it or not, still goes to “Hard Target.” A movie hated by many, true, but one day I’ll do a review and go into why I actually think it’s the best Woo’s done over here. Well, actually, I can sum it up right now, in one word: Action.

Action is something “Hard Target” had in spades, that is noticeably lacking from M:I-2, at least until the second half of the movie. Mission: Impossible 2 is more cloak-and-dagger suspense than James Bond action. There are a few, brief bits of action in the first half of the film, but they’re more of the car chase/run and hide variety. It isn’t until an hour and fifteen minutes into the movie until the first gun is fired. From then on, though, it’s classic John Woo action, with bullets flying everywhere. The violence has obviously been toned down, though. There’s hardly any blood in the movie at all. I’m guessing this isn’t Woo’s doing, though. You can tell by the way scenes play out that the violence was filmed, but was later trimmed for a PG-13 rating. The most obvious example of this is the opening scene on an airplane, when a poor sap gets his neck broken.

The cast is good, though Ving Rhames is wasted entirely. He literally sits in front of a computer throughout the movie. Dougray Scott, who looks like Ewan McGregor’s older brother, is good as the villain, if a little non-menacing. Thandie Newton is exceptionally attractive, though her “globe-trotting, beautiful thief” character has been done to death in these sort of movies. And Tom Cruise actually is believable in his role as the death-defying spy: he looks right at home, running around with a gun in each hand. He looks a hell of a lot better doing it than John Travolta did, that’s for sure.

Overall, I’d recommend the film. Other than a few plot holes and some implausibility factors (such as the magical masks that appear out of nowhere, exactly when needed), I’d say it’s a positive sign that Woo still has the touch.

Joe909’s Rating: 7.5/10


By James H.

After viewing the film in question, I am certain John Woo is the only director that can make Tom Cruise look like an action hero. Gone are the boyish looks Cruise had in the first film. Here he showcases a tougher, darker edge.

The plot of M:I-2 has Ethan Hunt returning to recover a stolen virus known as Chimera. The man that has stolen it is ever so recently disavowed IMF agent Sean Ambrose (devilishly played by Dougray Scott). He plans to sell it and make millions. To do this successfully, Hunt recruits the help of Luther Stickell (Rhames), some other second-hand agent and Ambrose’s ex-lover Nyah (Thandie Newton).

Some may say, “Hey, that sounds like a second-rate Bond movie plot.” That may be so, however, it should be known that the original “Mission: Impossible” was created in the wake of the Bond-mania in the 60s. And really, isn’t every spy-like movie a Bond knock-off in some way?

The performances are good considering the material. As I said, Scott is great as the villain; he’s very slick. Cruise is also good, but his character isn’t developed as much as I hoped (not that he was well developed in the first one either). Everyone looks like they were having a fun time, with the exception of Anthony Hopkins in his little cameo.

The biggest difference from the first movie is the amount of action. Woo fans will definitely not be disappointed. Cruise gracefully runs around with a gun in each hand. Jumping and diving from explosions in slow-mo. The chase at the end is intense and exciting. The final fight is also great. Cruise and Scott show off some nice moves.

When it’s all over, you’ll want to see it again. “Mission: Impossible 2” is a visually stunning movie, and will solidify Woo’s good name in Hollywood.

James H’s Rating: 8.5/10

Posted in Asian Related, Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Media Blasters lays off 60% of staff

Media Blasters website

It’s a sad sign of the times: Anime News Network posted the exclusive report that Media Blasters has laid off 60% of their full-time staff. This means they’re down from fifteen to 5 or 6 full-time employees. Some of the fired staff will be asked to work for the company on a freelance basis, if they are so inclined. CEO John Sirabella says: “All of the small publishers are going through this sort of thing right now. Not just anime. Everyone’s transitioning from full-time staff to freelancers.”

Media Blasters is a New York-based distributor, perhaps best known for their regular anime releases. However, they also have other divisions to handle live-action content, including Tokyo Shock (live-action Asian movies and television) and Shriek Show (horror and exploitation movies). Some of their recent releases include Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky on DVD (blu-ray TBD). Media Blasters says that the staff lay-offs will not affect their upcoming slate of releases, so you can still look forward to Five Element Ninjas on blu-ray in March. Our thoughts are with the terminated Media Blasters staff and their families.

Update: Ningen’s recommendations include Ichi the Killer, Eko Eko Azarak, Zebraman, Golden Boy, and Zeiram. Oh, and Destroy All Monsters. Plus, they got the last Zatoichi movie with Shintaro Katsu, and episodes of the TV show. Forgot to add they got a boatload of Ryuhei Kitamura stuff, including Versus, Aragami, Sky High, Alive, and Death Trance.

Update 2: Forgot to add that they got the original Rurouni Kenshin and Berserk shows, as well as the Miike Yakuza movie based off the video games.

Posted in News |

The Nurses DVD Collection: Candy Stripe Nurses, Private Duty Nurses, Night Call Nurses, Young Nurses (Shout!)

The Nurses DVD Collection: Candy Stripe Nurses, Private Duty Nurses, Night Call Nurses, Young Nurses (Shout!)

The Nurses DVD Collection: Candy Stripe Nurses, Private Duty Nurses, Night Call Nurses, Young Nurses (Shout!)

RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2012.

Shout! presents another chapter in their Roger Corman’s Cult Classics Collection. This time it’s a 2-disc set called The Nurses DVD Collection, which contains Candy Stripe Nurses, Private Duty Nurses, Night Call Nurses and Young Nurses. Getting sick has never been a good thing, until now!

Trailers/Clips: Candy Stripe Nurses | Night Call Nurses | Young Nurses (Warning – trailers may contain nudity!)

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