"Armour of God" Japanese Theatrical Poster
RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2012
Echo Bridge is re-releasing Operation Condor 2: The Armourof God (aka Armour of God), this time as a standalone Blu-ray. With that said, not sure why someone would want to buy this instead of this. In any case, please be advised that this is the cut and and English dubbed version of the film. Check out the original Golden Harvest trailer.
Ocean Heaven Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA) Jet Li
RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2012
Well GO USA presents Ocean Heaven, starring Jet Li as you’ve never seen him before. Ocean Heaven is about how a terminally ill father attempts to teach his autistic son the necessary life skills to survive on his own before he passes away. Also starring Kwai Lun-mei (The Stool Pigeon).
Check out the trailer.
Update: Oh, and the U.S. trailer.
On January 3rd, the publisher of Bandai Entertainment is announcing that it will cease to release new DVD and Blu-ray releases in North America, effectively ending its 13-year run in the market. The majority of the division’s contractors and three of their five full-time staff members will be laid off, and all releases scheduled after the end of January have been cancelled. For more information, visit www.animenewsnetwork.com.
Update: Off the top of my head, the titles I can recommend worth checking out are Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 and Freedom Project. Though you might also be interested in the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Plus, they also still have leftover copies of the Hideaki Anno Cutey Honey, which hopefully someone will unearth from COF vault hell.
Update: I forgot to add other recs. Lessee…It wasn’t one of my favorites, but if you want a decent samurai epic, check out Sword of the Stranger. Plus, they got the novel-based anime, Girl Who Leapt Through Time, which is not to be confused with the live-action film based on the same source material. Also, if you’re a fan of Cowboy Bebop, good luck on finding reasonably priced copies, but the team also worked on Wolf’s Rain. Anyone wanna name-drop any other favorites to check out, be sure to add to the comments section.
Update 1.5: How could I forget? They also have Akira on Blu-Ray!
Punished aka Abduction, Retribution DVD (Vivendi)
Can you believe that January is almost over? Well, there are plenty of great titles to choose from this week, whether you want to see Donnie Yen kick ass in Flash Point or witness Johnnie To’s next crime movie masterpiece with Punished. So let’s get started. Here are your blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 1/24/12:
ASIAN CINEMA
Punished (DVD) – this 2011 Hong Kong thriller about a kidnapping gone wrong was produced by Johnnie To and features a stellar cast including Anthony Wong, Richie Ren, and Maggie Cheung
Flash Point (blu-ray/DVD) – your friends at Well Go USA present this 2007 Donnie Yen film on blu-ray for the first time. If you love Hong Kong-style action, you won’t want to miss the final fight scene between Donnie Yen and Collin Chou (“The Matrix Reloaded”)
Godzilla (blu-ray/DVD) – this is it! The 1954 monster movie classic is remastered in high definition by the fine folks at the Criterion Collection
Time Traveler: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (DVD) – this 2010 live-action Japanese film is based on the popular anime “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”
The Beginning of the Great Revival (DVD) – a 2011 Chinese language-film about the rise of the Communist Party. Features an all-star cast, including Chow Yun Fat and Andy Lau, in ‘blink and you’ll miss them’ cameos
End Call (DVD) – Asian Crush presents this 2008 Japanese horror film on DVD. It turns out that the Devil has a phone number and if you call him at midnight, he will grant your wish…at a cost
Lust in Hell (DVD) – Asian Crush also releases this 2009 Japanese horror film about a woman who can speak with the dead and falls for a man who recently lost his lover in a car crash
FOREIGN CINEMA
Fascination (blu-ray/DVD) – the master of Euro lesbian vampire sleaze, Jean Rollin, sees his 1979 film land on blu-ray from Redemption Films
The Iron Rose (blu-ray/DVD) – more Jean Rollin on blu-ray with this 1973 film about two lovers locked in a cemetery overnight as their sanity deteriorates
Shiver of the Vampires (blu-ray/DVD) – Redemption Films keeps the Jean Rollin horror coming with this 1971 erotic vampire tale
The Nude Vampire (blu-ray/DVD) – judging by the title, would you believe that this is a 1970 Jean Rollin erotic horror film?
Lips of Blood (blu-ray/DVD) – lastly, we have this 1975 Jean Rollin film about a family’s long-kept vampiric secret
The Moment of Truth (blu-ray/DVD) – Criterion releases this 1964 film which is about Spanish bull-fighting but happens to be in Italian with English subtitles
MAINSTREAM
Real Steel (blu-ray/DVD) – the 2011 crowd-pleasing family film about robotic boxers arrives on home formats. Starring Hugh Jackman of “X-Men” fame
Annie Hall (blu-ray) – Woody Allen’s seminal 1977 film is now in hi-def
Manhattan (blu-ray) – this 1979 film is perhaps Woody Allen’s most beloved work and now it’s on blu-ray
Stripes (Extended Cut) (blu-ray) – the beloved 1981 comedy starring Bill Murray comes to blu-ray with an extended cut
The Confession (DVD) – Kiefer Sutherland and John Hurt star in this 2010 web series that’s now been packaged as a feature film on DVD
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (blu-ray) – the popular 1989 comedy starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder is now on blu-ray
Stir Crazy (blu-ray) – more fun with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder in their 1980 comedy
The Adventures of Milo and Otis (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (blu-ray + DVD combo) – the beloved 1989 family adventure film featuring a pug and a cat on ridiculously dangerous adventures
INDIE
Restless (blu-ray/DVD) – Gus Van Sant’s latest picture is a 2011 tragic romance starring Henry Hopper (son of Dennis) and Mia Wasikowska
Essential Killing (DVD) – everybody’s favorite sleazy indie auteur, Vincent Gallo, stars in this 2010 arthouse action movie
Few Options (DVD) – this 2010 prison-set indie drama has a bunch of glowing reviews on Amazon and co-stars Brad Dourif, Michael Sheen, and Rainn Wilson
Dirty Little Trick (DVD) – Michael Madsen is back in this 2011 Tarantino-esque thriller co-starring Dean Cain
CULT
Roger Corman’s Cult Classic’s Lethal Ladies Collection, Vol. 2 (The Arena, Cover Girl Models, Fly Me) (DVD) – Shout! Factory presents more Roger Corman cult classics on DVD. The one review on Amazon gives this set 5 stars so you might want to check it out
Tales of the Ancient Empire (DVD) – director Albert Pyun is simultaneously one of the most respected and reviled b-movie autuers. Now he’s back with a sequel to his 1982 cult hit “The Sword and the Sorcerer.” This 2010 film stars Kevin Sorbo and Michael Pare
CLASSICS
Notorious (blu-ray) – more Alfred Hitchcock on blu-ray! It’s about time, wouldn’t ya say? This 1946 espionage thriller stars Cary Grant and Ingrid Gergman, and was pretty much the basis for “Mission: Impossible 2’s” plot
Rebecca (blu-ray) – the Hitchcock love continues with this 1940 tale of Gothic suspense
Spellbound (blu-ray) – Hitchcock’s 1945 film about amnesia starring Gregory Peck
Wings (blu-ray) – a 1927 silent film starring “It” girl Clara Bow. This is a “war in the air” movie set during World War I, now restored on blu-ray
HORROR
The Woman (blu-ray/DVD) – the massively controversial horror film from “May” director Lucky McKee arrives on blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Bloody Disgusting Selects
Paranormal Activity 3 (blu-ray/DVD) – another year, another entry in this found footage series about demonic possession
House on Sorority Row (Remastered Special 2-Disc Edition) (DVD) – just as the title says, this 1982 cult slasher film arrives remastered on DVD for your viewing pleasure
The Devil’s Men/Terror (DVD) – Katrina’s Nightmare Theater presents these two horror films, the first starring Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasance, uncut on DVD
Revenge (DVD) – Katrina’s Nightmare Theater offers this 1971 horror film starring Joan Collins
The Summer of Massacre (blu-ray/DVD) – delayed from last week, this 2011 films purports to be the slasher movie with the highest body count of all time
Head Case (DVD) – is this 2011 horror flick, edited to look like the home videos of a serial killer couple, truly “the most disturbing film in a decade” as the cover proclaims? I’ll let you be the judge!
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!
"Last Man Standing" Danish Theatrical Poster
Director: Walter Hill
Writer: Ryuzo Kikushima, Akira Kurosawa, Walter Hill
Producer: Walter Hill, Arthur M. Sarkissian
Cast: Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Alexandra Powers, David Patrick Kelly, Karina Lombard, Bruce Dern
Running Time: 101 min.
By HKFanatic
With a $67 million price tag, the box office failure of “Last Man Standing” in 1996 put a momentary end to Bruce Willis’ Hollywood clout and effectively derailed director Walter Hill’s career. It’s not too difficult to see why this film failed to connect with audiences: we’ve seen this story many times before. “Last Man Standing” is yet another variation on the Dashiel Hammett novel “Red Harvest,” previously brought to the screen by Akira Kurosawa in “Yojimbo” and Sergio Leone in “A Fistful of Dollars” – two stone cold classics.
In comparison, “Last Man Standing” doesn’t bring much new to the table other than Bruce Willis’ star power. Although the script credits Akira Kurosawa, the film is basically a direct remake of “A Fistful of Dollars,” only this time transporting the setting to 1930’s Texas. That said, I can’t help but hold “Last Man Standing” with fondness in my heart. If you’re a fan of Walter Hill’s particular brand of big-screen machismo (“The Warriors,” “Southern Comfort,” and more), then you’ll probably find something to enjoy about this flick too.
The screenplay, penned by Hill himself, posits Bruce Willis as a nameless, gun-slinging drifter who happens upon the town of Jericho, Texas on his way South of the border. Willis doesn’t expect to stay long in this ramshackle town but when he discovers a feud between petty factions of the Irish and Italian mafia, he figures he can make a quick buck by playing the two sides against each other. This should all sound exceedingly familiar but where “Last Man Standing” differentiates itself from its forebears is through Walter Hill’s kinetic action sequences.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this film features some of the most well-choreographed and bloody gun battles outside of a John Woo movie. In fact, I’d wager that “Last Man Standing” is the closest Hollywood has ever come to approximating the squib-bustin’, sweat-inducing, action movie nirvana of John Woo’s masterpieces like “The Killer” and “Hard Boiled.” Sure, the shoot-outs in this movie aren’t nearly as lengthy but they sure are memorable, with Bruce Willis emptying a seemingly infinite supply of bullets into bad guys who are then yanked backwards through the air by invisible wires, such is the sheer power of Willis’ smoking handguns. It is beautiful, man.
As director, Walter Hill brings an almost comic book-like sensibility to this film, combining the unconventional camera placement of someone like Sam Raimi (characters aim the barrel of a gun right at the lens) with Woo-inspired ultra-violence. The wind-swept desert terrain and superb production design place you in the period of the story, while Ry Cooder’s bottom end-heavy, discordant soundtrack propels the movie forward.
The real issue with “Last Man Standing” is the screenplay. Bruce Willis’ “John Smith” character is such an archetype that there’s no room for him to grow. We realize there’s nothing we’re going to learn about his character at the end of the film that we don’t already know during the opening credits. If we look to the supporting cast to fill in the drama, we’ll be disappointed by a roundtable of stereotypical gangsters.
Sure, the heavies are filled out by capable actors like Christopher Walken and David Patrick Kelly (“The Warriors,” TV’s “Twin Peaks), who do as much as they can with the material they’re given, but this is a story we’ve seen before and this particular version offers little surprises. As far as a love interest goes, well, Walter Hill explicitly makes men’s action pictures so the female characters don’t have much of a presence in the film, even when the men are waging war over them.
The pleasure of “Last Man Standing” is derived solely from the over the top action sequences and Bruce Willis’ beloved tough guy persona. A well-structured story or anything resembling character development, you won’t find here. More often than not, it defies belief that Bruce’s character doesn’t end up in a coffin before the second act is over, considering how brazenly he changes loyalty from gang to gang throughout the movie.
Just taking a glance at the budget, it’s clear that “Last Man Standing” was a troubled production. Back in 1996, you really shouldn’t have needed $67 million to tell the story of a massive gun battle in a rundown Texas town. It’s also purported online that the ending of the film – disappointing by any stretch of the imagination – is not the original ending planned. Another finale, which was actually filmed, had Bruce Willis’ character making a more decisive role in the villain’s fate and would have proved infinitely more satisfying than what we got. Unfortunately, it was probably one of those situations where Walter Hill, Willis, and studio executives all had an opinion on how the film should end. The result is decidedly muddled and unfulfilling.
Regardless of its limp conclusion, I have to admit “Last Man Standing” is a personal favorite of mine, at least as far as 90’s action movies go. Sure, it may not stand shoulder to shoulder with Walter Hill’s greatest films – but considering that he has “The Warriors” and “48 Hours” in his filmography, that’s not exactly an insult. For action buffs and Bruce Willis fans, “Last Man Standing” should qualify as a thoroughly entertaining 101 minutes. Sometimes it’s worth going around the wheel one more time with a well-worn story such as “Red Harvest,” particularly when someone like Walter Hill is behind the camera, adding his particular touch for tough guy machismo and breath-taking action sequences. Hill remains a master of this genre and it’s clear that in the dusty, blood-soaked world of “Last Man Standing,” he is in his element.
HKFanatic’s Rating: 8.5/10
True Story of a Woman In Jail: Sex Hell DVD (Impulse Pictures)
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2012
In True Story of a Woman In Jail: Sex Hell, a group of young women is thrown into a horrible juvenile hall, due to their illegal acts. They soon wish they were back on the outside, as a gang of inmates subjects this fresh meat to the horrors of being locked up. This movie is a sleazy, sexually graphic and surprisingly violent entry in the women in prison genre. Bonus Features: Liner Notes From Jasper Sharp.
Debauchery DVD (Impulse Pictures)
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2012
In Debauchery, Ryoko Watanabe stars as Ami, a jaded housewife who pitches herself, body and soul, into the Tokyo decadence of the decade in an attempt to pep up her marriage. She secretly joins the elite Madame Machiko Society Club to experiment with discrete sex games and the thrill of making love to anonymous men. Bonus Features: Original Trailer and Liner Notes from Jasper Sharp.
Killer Nun Blu-ray (Blue Underground)
RELEASE DATE: April 24, 2012
Branded as obscene around the world and banned outright in Britain, Killer Nun has been newly remastered from the original negative and is now presented with all its blasphemous sex and violence fully restored in sleazy High Definition! Check out the trailer.
This Is Not a Movie Blu-ray & DVD (Lorber)
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
With the end of the world imminent, Pete Nelson (Edward Furlong) locks himself inside a Las Vegas hotel. There, he tries to understand his confused reality influenced by film, TV, pop culture, disinformation, drugs and propaganda. This Is Not a Movie features an original soundtrack score by Guns N Roses guitar legend, Slash. Check out the trippy trailer.
Alastair MacLean's Puppet On A Chain DVD (Scorpion)
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
Move over James Bond! Directed by Geoffrey Reeve, 1971’s Puppet on a Chain is a British thriller based on the Alastair MacLean novel of the same name. It’s about an American agent (Sven-Bertil Taube) who goes to Amsterdam to break up lethal gangs who run the city. There’s a gritty boat chase in this movie that pre-dates the famous one in Live and Let Die (1973). Check out the trailer.
Double Feature: Heat & Good Fellas 2-DVD Set (Warner)
RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2012
I could care less for these budget, double feature DVD sets; but when you got two great movies like Michael Mann’s Heat and Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, a release like this is hard to ignore. Besides, I’m sure there’s someone out there who hasn’t seen these classics. Could that be you?
Trailers: Heat | Goodfellas
Late Spring aka Banshun Blu-ray (Criterion)
RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2012
One of the most powerful of the family portraits by Yasujiro Ozu, Late Spring tells the story of a widowed father who feels compelled to marry off his beloved only daughter. Eminent Ozu players Chishu Ryu and Setsuko Hara command this poignant tale of love and loss in postwar Japan, which remains as potent today as ever—and as strong a justification for its maker’s inclusion in the pantheon of cinema’s greatest directors.
Features: High-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition / Audio commentary by Richard Peña, program director of New York’s Film Society of Lincoln Center / Tokyo-ga (1985), filmmaker Wim Wenders’s ninety-two-minute documentary about director Yasujiro Ozu / PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by critic Michael Atkinson and Japanese-film historian Donald Richie
Satan's Slave: Uncut DVD (Scorpion)
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
Ready for some satanic action? A young girl moves in with her Uncle Alexander after her parents’ car mysteriously explodes. After being taken in by her cousins, she soon begins suffering strange visions. But what she doesn’t know is that her planned role in the house is more sinister than she could have expected. Check out this clip.
The Veteran DVD (Inception Media Group)
A soldier returns home from Afghanistan unable to fit back into society. Living on a violent council estate and finding work in undercover surveillance, he becomes obsessed with taking down a group of local gangsters. Starring Toby Kebbell (RocknRolla), Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity) and Ashley Thomas (Shank). Children of Men meets Taxi Driver? That’s a bold statement. Check out the trailer.
Blade of Kings aka The Twins Effect 2 Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)
RELEASE DATE: March 6, 2012
Well Go USA is proud to announce 2004’s Blade of Kings aka The Twins Effect 2 (The first film got released by Sony as The Vampire Effect, and is streaming on Crackle.) The film features two directors – Drunken Master’s Corey Yuen and Beyond Hypothermia’s Patrick Leung – and an all star cast that includes Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung, Jaycee Chan, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Wilson Chen Bo Lin, Fan Bing Bing, Qu Ying, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu. Check out the trailer.
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