Fists meet face in ‘Furyou Shounen: 3000-nin no Atama’

"Furyou Shounen: 3000-nin no Atama" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"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

Posted in News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 1/31/12

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

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!

Posted in News |

Zombie 4: After Death Blu-ray (Shriek Show)

Zombie 4: After Death Blu-ray (Shriek Show)

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!

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

Wilson Yip brings a little ‘Magic’ into your life on Hong Kong Blu-ray and DVD

"Magic to Win'" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"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.

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

‘Let’s Go’ kick some ass on Hong Kong Blu-ray

"Let's Go" Theatrical Poster

"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.

Posted in Asian Import Titles, News |

Yakuza Hunters: Duel in Hell aka Yakuza Busting Girls: Duel in Hell DVD (Tokyo Shock)

Yakuza Hunters: Duel in Hell aka Yakuza Busting Girls: Duel in Hell DVD

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.

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

Well Go USA unsheaths the ‘Blade of Kings’ on March 6th

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

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

Posted in News |

Well Go USA announces two Shaw Brothers classics coming in April: ‘Duel of Fists’ and ‘Swordsman and Enchantress’

"Swordsman and Enchantress" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"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.

Posted in News |

Private Eye DVD (Pathfinder)

Private Eye DVD (Pathfinder)

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.

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

Mainland China embraces the horror genre

"Harpoon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Harpoon" Chinese Theatrical Poster

We’re not even a month into 2012 and already two gruesome, blood-splattered horror films are slated for release in…Mainland China?! Sure, Hong Kong has always be known for their goofy horror comedies and supernatural-tinged romances, but I for one never expected to see full-on “this is comparable to Saw“-style horror flicks coming out of the Mainland.

Over at Beyond Hollywood, you can check out the two posters and the Not Safe For Work trailer for the horror movie Harpoon, which promises to have as much sex and murder as any Friday the 13th flick and is already in Chinese theaters.

Meanwhile, 24 Frames Per Second has the poster and trailer for the humorously titled Nightclub School Hospital, slated to hit Chinese theaters in February. This film looks to have surprisingly slick production values and a supernatural-tinged plot. At a glance, I detected a slight influence from Silent Hill and Inception.

Considering that the Chinese censors have always abhorred supernatural elements and plots were the bad guys triumph, it’ll be interesting to see how Mainland filmmakers manage to explore the horror genre. Or perhaps films like this indicate a change in censorship policies?

Posted in News |

Lost on the Island aka Mapado 2: Back to the Island DVD (Pathfinder)

Lost on the Island aka Mapado 2: Back to the Island (Pathfinder)

Lost on the Island aka Mapado 2: Back to the Island (Pathfinder)

RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012

Former detective Chung-su takes a secret mission from an aged millionaire who wants to see his first love again before he dies. He ventures out to a strange island where only a bunch of old grandmothers live. Directed by Lee Sang-hoon, Mapado 2: Back to the Island, is the sequel to the hot comedy Mapado. Check out the trailer.

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

A Bullet for the General Blu-ray (Blue Underground)

A Bullet for the General Blu-ray	 (Blue Underground)

A Bullet for the General Blu-ray (Blue Underground)

RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2012

Blue Underground presents A Bullet for the General, coming soon to Blu-ray! At the height of the Mexican revolution, a mysterious young American (Lou Castel) joins a gang of marauders led by El Chucho (Gian Maria Volonte) on a series of savage raids to steal guns for a powerful rebel general. But when the Gringo brings his own cold-blooded ideals to the bandits, El Chucho discovers that the real weapons of war belong to no army. In a land ravaged by poverty and violence, can true freedom be bought with a single bullet?

Klaus Kinski and Martine Beswick co-star in this legendary western directed by Damiano Damiani from a powerful screenplay co-written by Oscar-nominee Franco Solinas. Also know as QUIEN SABE?, this thrilling epic features some of the most surprising performances, radical politics and shocking violence of any ‘Spaghetti Western’ ever made. As with all of Blue Underground’s releases, expect a definitive presentation created from original Italian negative materials with all of its infamous scenes fully restored. There is currently a DVD version out right now. Check out the trailer.

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

Django, Kill… If You Live, Shoot! Blu-ray (Blue Underground)

Django, Kill... If You Live, Shoot! Blu-ray (Blue Underground)

Django, Kill... If You Live, Shoot! Blu-ray (Blue Underground)

RELEASE DATE: June 19, 2012

Blue Underground presents Django, Kill… If You Live, Shoot!, coming soon to Blu-ray! Tomas Milian stars as a half-breed bandit double-crossed and left for dead who rises from the grave to seek his revenge. But when his quest leads to a bizarre town called The Unhappy Place, he is plunged into an odyssey of gruesome torture, graphic violence and relentless sexual depravity. This is the landmark movie that fans and critics still consider to be the strangest and most controversial Spaghetti Western ever made. This is Django, Kill!

Director Giulio Questi (Death Laid an Egg) and co-writer/editor Franco Arcalli (co-writer of Once Upon A Time In America) shocked the world with this hallucinatory tale of greed, corruption, perversion and beyond. As with all of Blue Underground’s releases, expect a definitive presentation created from original Italian negative materials with all of its infamous scenes of savagery and slaughter now fully restored for the first time ever in America. There is currently a DVD version out right now.

Check out the original trailer and German trailer.

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

Redbelt (2008) Review

"Redbelt" American Theatrical Poster

“Redbelt” American Theatrical Poster

Director: David Mamet
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Alice Braga, Rodrigo Santoro, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Randy Couture, Caroline de Souza Correa, Mike Goldberg, Damon Herriman, Dan Inosanto, Enson Inoue, Ricky Jay, John Machado, Ray Mancini, Joe Mantegna, Max Martini, Emily Mortimer, David Paymer
Running Time: 100 min.

By JJ Hatfield

Red Belt is truly an exceptional martial arts movie. It achieves this distinction by focusing on one quiet unassuming man and in doing so beautifully enlightens the viewer to the true art of Jiu-jitsu. However the lesson served up is not so much about mixed martial arts as it is regarding integrity, righteousness and most of all honor. This is not a film packed with bone crunching wall-to-wall brutal blood spattered beatings. If that is your only interest in martial arts then don’t bother watching Red Belt – the meaning will elude you.

Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is the owner of a Jiu-jitsu school on the not wealthy side of Los Angeles. It is here he trains his students not only in the martial arts and self-defense but also imparts the principles of the Samurai code. Mike is a unique individual who embodies the teachings of the art he has dedicated his life to learning and passing on to others. He is also a man who exemplifies virtue and decency.

The movie opens with three marbles being placed into an army issue cup. There are two white and one black. In a fight if you draw the black marble that means you are given a handicap. A black marble means you might be limited to using only one arm, no arms or be blindfolded. That sounds like an unfair advantage with the fighter who picks the black marble most likely to lose. However as Mike is quick to remind the two men who stand before him there is no situation you cannot turn to your advantage. As the fight continues Mike coaches – control your emotions; when you control yourself you control your opponent; a man distracted is a man defeated. It is abundantly clear these are not mere platitudes. Nor do they apply to only a physical battle. These and other teachings of Jiu-jitsu form the cornerstones of Mike Terry’s existence.

The Jiu-jitsu academy reflects the teacher, both are unpretentious. The students are quite loyal to Mike and believe in the Samurai code. However the school isn’t making much money so Mike’s wife Sondra (Alice Braga) is supporting them and the school with her fashion design business. After an encounter between a lawyer, Laura Black (Emily Mortimer) and a cop, Joe Collins (Max Martini) events inexorably become increasingly byzantine. When Mike becomes concerned about Joe he goes to a bar where he was employed. A fight breaks out and Mike comes to the defense of an over the hill action movie star named Chet Frank (Tim Allen). In gratitude Frank invites Mike and Sondra to his home for dinner. While Sondra and Frank’s wife Zena (Rebecca Pidgeon) discuss fashion and a potential business venture Frank queries Mike about Jiu-jitsu and more specifically regarding competitive fighting in the ring. Mike elaborates on the tenets of martial arts in general and in more detail Jiu-jitsu. He tells Frank that competition for money weakens the fighter and that he does not feel it is in harmony with the Samurai code. Before long Frank wants Mike to be co-producer of the war movie he is currently shooting. Life is good however soon complications arise. In order to keep up the good life Mike may have to compromise his principles and way of life by stepping into the fighting ring.

Red Belt is a multifaceted movie. It requires the viewer to pay attention to how the story unfolds. Seemingly simple conversations and actions have crucial significance. Even the way Mike Terry moves and speaks conveys much more than what is in the script. When someone asks Mike what is the best weapon in the world he responds – a flashlight so you can look deep into the other guy’s eyes. Perhaps not the most poetic turn of phrase however it speaks volumes about Mike’s character. He is a gentle spirit but doesn’t hesitate to step in when he sees an injustice. A noble warrior he personifies all that is good and virtuous. His ideals crash hard against the current day prevailing greed that threatens to completely overwhelm the art of mixed martial arts.

The origin of Jiu-jitsu is from the days of the Japanese Samurai. The actual creator of the martial art is unknown. One theory holds that it was designed for an unarmed individual who had to fight an armed opponent. It is highly likely that more than a few teachers added their own techniques and made changes along the way. A form that combined various aspects of Judo, Karate, and other martial arts Jiu-jitsu became popular in the Western world when it became all the rage in Brazil. The writer and director of Red Belt, David Mamet (The Postman Always Rings Twice, Glengarry Glenn Ross, Hannibal, Wag the Dog – screenplays) is not only highly skilled at writing and directing he is also a devote of Jiu-jitsu having studied it for five years. Mamet sought to bring the heart and soul of Jiu-jitsu to the screen and he triumphed! Red Belt is a success for several distinct reasons. Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things, American Gangster, Salt) who was nominated for Best Actor by Black Reel for his role as Mike Terry brought absolute perfection to the character. Not for a second was there any doubt that he embodied the physical grace and the spiritual attainment of a Master. Combined with Mamet’s dedication and his spot-on decision to use real fighters a truly special piece of film was achieved. The story builds deceptively slowly so that by the third act the intensity is almost overwhelming.

Red Belt is a fine film that will satisfy both martial artists and those desiring an excellent movie experience. And what of the Red Belt of the title? For the answer to that you must see this film, and you won’t be disappointed.

JJ Hatfield’s Rating: 9.5/10

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

Roadracers Blu-ray (Echo Bridge)

"Roadracers" Promo Poster

"Roadracers" Promo Poster

RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2012

After his 1992 debut, El Mariachi, Robert Rodriguez (Machete) made a Showtime movie called Roadracers. The film revolves around a rebel (David Arquette) who dreams of leaving his dead end small town and becoming a rockabilly star but gets caught up in a nasty feud with the town’s local sheriff. Salma Hayek co-stars. Check out the trailer.

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