Dragon Dynasty’s Ultimate 4 Pack DVD Vol 2: Avenging Eagle, Blood Brothers, Golden Swallow and Killer Clan (Dragon Dynasty)

Dragon Dynasty’s Ultimate 4 Pack DVD Vol 2: Avenging Eagle, Blood Brothers, Golden Swallow and Killer Clan (Dragon Dynasty)

Dragon Dynasty’s Ultimate 4 Pack DVD Vol 2: Avenging Eagle, Blood Brothers, Golden Swallow and Killer Clan (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2012

Official product description: Dragon Dynasty, the world s greatest collection of martial arts and Asian action films, brings to you an ALL NEW VOLUME 2 collectible box set! These four legendary Shaw Brothers Kung Fu films will provide countless hours of kung-fu and swordplay filled action.

Titles included: Avenging Eagle, Blood Brothers, Golden Swallow and Killer Clan. The box set is presented in a beautifully designed slip sleeve and contains the 4 DVDs packaged in slim pack sleeves.

These titles are also available individually: Avenging Eagle | Blood Brothers | Golden Swallow | Killer Clan | Dragon Dynasty’s Ultimate 4 Pack DVD Vol 1

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

Catch the 2010 Korean “A Better Tomorrow” remake on Netflix Instant

A Better Tomorrow (Korean remake) Blu-ray/DVD (Well Go USA)

A Better Tomorrow (Korean remake) Blu-ray/DVD (Well Go USA)

In 2010, Korean director Hae-sung Song remade John Woo’s heroic bloodshed classic “A Better Tomorrow” – with Woo’s blessing – as a slick Korean melodrama. Released on blu-ray and DVD just a few weeks ago from distributor Well Go USA, the film is now streaming on Netflix Instant in HD. Watch the film and see how you compare it to the original. In the meantime, check out our reviews.

Posted in News |

Dasepo Naughty Girls DVD (Asian Crush)

Dasepo Naughty Girls DVD (Asian Crush)

Dasepo Naughty Girls DVD (Asian Crush)

RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2012

Based on the dark, controversial Internet comic strip, Multi-Cell Girl (a.k.a Dasepo Sonyo), Daesepo Naughty Girls follows the sexual adventures in one seriously bizarre high school. Directed by Je-yong Lee (“Untold Scandal”) and starring Kim Ok-bin, Park Jin-woo, Lee Kyeon, Eun-seong, Kim Byeol and Lee Won-jong. Check out the trailer.

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

Mission, The (1999) Review

"The Mission" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“The Mission” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To
Writer: Nai-Hoi Yau
Cast: Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Jackie Lui Chung-yin, Roy Cheung, Suet Lam, Simon Yam, Tin Lam Wong, Eddy Ko-Hung
Running Time: 88 min.

By Woody

“The Mission” concerns a rich businessman hiring a diverse group of men, including Anthony Wong, Lam Suet, and Francis Ng, to protect him from killers trying to take him out. After they have successfully completed their mission, one of the guys is accused of sleeping with the boss’s wife. A contract is put out of his life. Will his buddies betray him or the boss?

Much like his “A Hero Never Dies” was a homage to the films of John Woo, this is Johnny To’s homage to the films of both Takeshi Kitano and Akira Kurosawa. Like Kitano, To emphasizes a lot of small moments, the most notable being what is probably the most memorable scene in the film, an impromptu game of futbol among the bodyguards. Like Kurosawa, To’s action scenes are intelligent and well thought out, and there is a surprising amount of humanity present throughout the film.

This is a thinking man’s action film. The few action scenes here are all used to either illustrate a point or propel the plot, and all of them are played out like chess games; they are very deliberate and well thought out. The end of the film and everything that leads up to it is also really well thought out.

The acting, writing, and direction of this film are great. The ensemble cast is perfect, which each character being easy to distinguish from the other. My personal favorite performances were those of Anthony Wong, Lam Suet, and Francis Ng. Wong plays a cold, calculated hairdresser (only in Hong Kong…) to perfection, Lam plays a dude who wants no one to get hurt and is constantly chomping on pistachios, and Ng is great as a young triad punk who owns a club and worries for his buddy who slept with the boss’s wife. To’s direction here is just as great as the acting. Much like Kitano and Kurosawa, there is no rapid fire editing or bizarre camera angles…this is a film that depends on it’s script and it’s actors, not flashiness and excess. The cinematography is also well done, and uses a lot of blues and reds to good effect.

The only thing I am unsure about with this movie is the music. It honestly sounds like someone playing around on a Casio keyboard, but I can’t help from liking it, and the main theme will forever be stuck in my head.

So, there you have it. This is a thinking man’s action film from Hong Kong, of all places. One of my favorite To movies. Excellent characterizations, scriptwriting, directing, and action…one of the best HK movies I’ve seen in quite a long while. Worth buying.

Woody’s Rating: 9/10


By Alexander

I REALLY wanted to like this movie.

I’ve heard plenty of great things about THE MISSION on this site and others and the DVD spent a VERY long time in my rental qeue at Netflix before ever becoming available, testament to its popularity. The cast includes some of Hong Kong’s best actors including Anthony Wong (BEAST COPS), Simon Yam (FULLTIME KILLER, BULLET IN THE HEAD) and Francis Ng (FULL ALERT) and is directed by the popular Johnnie To. The faces are recognizable and handsome, they wear great suits, they tote a potent arsenal and the dialogue is better than the usual Hong Kong fare. It’s occassionally funny and features a couple of wonderfully inventive scenes, including two near dialogue-less ones involving a crumpled piece of paper as improvised soccer ball and another set in a desolate mall. Both are examples of To’s deft direction and the inherent charisma of the film’s major players.

BUT, it isn’t until the 44th minute of the film that anything actually happens and even then it’s definitely a case of style over substance. The mall scene LOOKS great, as do most of the scenes in the film, but there isn’t a whole lot happenin’ here. None of the more inventive scenes compensate for the run-of-the-mill story. It’s a fairly straight forward tale of a cobbled together group of body guards with very different personalities and agendas. The pacing is rather slow, but as a fan of Wong Kar Wai, this isn’t what turned me off of the film. It was the fact that such a wonderful collection of stars had so very little to do but simply look cool as hell. Sure doesn’t make a film interesting.

The score is quirky, for lack of a better word. My wife walked in the door near the end of the film and said, “That’s some funky music.” Agreed. The film would have been slightly better with an improved soundtrack, one lacking what sounded at times like an 8-year old experimenting with a Casio keyboard.

A disappointment, but nonetheless a mildly enjoyable 88 minutes. Fans of any of the aforementioned actors probably should not miss this, nor should fans of Johnnie To. Here’s hoping, though, that my second To film is better than the first.

Alexander’s Rating: 6/10


By Joe909

The movie for which Johnnie To was awarded Best Director in 1999, The Mission is up there with the best of Milkyway. The film is different in that there isn’t one main character, or even two: there are five main characters, each of them as important to the plot as the other. This multiple lead character syndrome could be an audience’s nightmare, but To et al deftly handle the challenge, so that we learn just enough about each character’s background, and to know what sets them apart from the rest.

The concept behind the movie is pretty neat, and reminds me of the plot of several old kung-fu movies: five bodyguards are hired to protect a triad chief. Just like in the chop-sockeys of yore, these guys are the foot soldiers, obeying their boss’s every whim and pledged to protect his life at all costs. But whereas an old kung-fu movie with this plot would have a fight about every ten minutes or so, The Mission is slightly more static: what few gunfights it features are filmed in a none-too-exciting fashion.

For instance, the battle in the deserted shopping mall. An excellent setting for gun-toting mayhem; John Woo could’ve filmed a ten-minute scene in such a location, easily, complete with guys getting blasted through toy-store windows in slow-motion, etc. However, To isn’t going down the John Woo road, and, like Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus,” most of the action takes place off-screen. All we hear are the guards shooting at rival gangsters; very rarely do we see who they are shooting at, or anyone getting shot. This sounds boring, but To is a directing genius, and I don’t think he could film a boring scene if his career depended on it. Though I must admit that I did get a bit tired of watching our gang fire off into the dark at invisible assailants, then see the muzzle flashes of their sniper foes in the distance, then our heroes shooting back again, and etc. The last gunfight especially goes on for too long, with the guards under fire from a group of snipers, who lurk above them in an abandoned warehouse. It’s cool and mysterious, but I’d rather see guys fighting face-to-face.

However, the sniper shootout leads to a scene that contains probably one of the most powerful yet subtle moments I’ve seen in a movie. The guards manage to live through the fight and take out all of their attackers, save one. Two of the guards, Roy (Francis Ng) and Shin (Jackie Liu) sneak into the building and approach the final sniper from behind, guns drawn. The sniper continues to fire down at the other guards until he runs out of bullets. He turns to Francis Ng, who has his gun on him, and smiles. Ng smiles back. It’s a small scene, but it really struck me: with absolutely no expositionary dialog we see right into the characters’ heads; they’re all in the same boat, each of them just doing their job, regardless of which side they’re on.

There isn’t very much of a story: the guys protect a boss (whom we learn almost nothing about and who seems to be friendly as hell ? though of course he orders the deaths of several people), then eventually must confront one another when they discover that one of them had an affair with the boss’s wife. But beyond that, it’s still an engrossing movie, mostly for the small moments, such as a scene of the guys bonding through an impromptu game of kickball in an office.

As usual, there isn’t a strong female presence in this movie, which isn’t surprising. I wonder if movies like this even have a female audience in Hong Kong. Probably not. They’re too busy watching the latest tearjerker with Leon Lai and Maggie Cheung, no doubt.

Joe909’s Rating: 8/10

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

Chaser, The (2008) Review

Chaser Movie Poster

“The Chaser” Japanese Movie Poster

AKA: Chugyeogja
Director: Na Hong-jin
Cast: Kim Yun-Seok, Ha Jung-Woo, Seo Yeong-Hee, Park Hyo-Joo, Jung In-Gi, Jo Duk-Je
Running Time: 123 min.

By HKFanatic

It took me a second viewing to realize it but “The Chaser” is probably one of the best films I’ve ever seen. It’s also an extremely frustrating experience. “The Chaser” is a thriller that refuses to behave like one as writer/director Na Hong-jin embraces the sad and pathetic nature of existence. The screenplay takes its inspiration from the real life case of South Korea’s worst serial killer. As the police narrow in on the murderer, they continually bungle the operation due to their own incompetence or bureaucracy tying their hands. Viewers can’t be blamed for posing the question: are these plot contrivances meant to express how absurd the universe can be or merely a way to increase the film’s runtime? Ultimately, I’ve decided “The Chaser” is a dark, dark film that delivers popcorn thrills at the same time Na Hong-jin acknowledges that life is often without hope.

The main character of the film is an ex-cop turned pimp, played by Kim Yun-seok. When several of his prostitutes go missing, he suspects they’re being kidnapped and sold off. That is, until he puts the pieces together and realizes they’ve all recently seen the customer. When Kim Yun-seok tracks the client (Ha Jung-woo) down, the two begin a cat-and-mouse game that sends their night spiraling out of control. Meanwhile, across town, an angry protestor tosses feces at the mayor of Seoul. Yes, these two plot points do converge!

What “The Chaser” excels at is atmosphere. It is a film shot entirely at night and yet the image never looks too grainy or dark to see. It completely immerses the viewer in that vibe of being behind the wheel of a black Jaguar as it cruises down the bustling streets of Seoul at night. The sense of ‘life after dark’ is unparalleled here.

To back up the crisp cinematography and directing are two excellent performances from Yun-seok and Jung-woo. To say that these two men carry the film would be an understatement. Yun-seok begins the story as someone not exactly deserving of the audience’s sympathy, being a money-grubbing pimp and all, but he undergoes a transformation into a protagonist the audience feels vindicated in rooting for. Jung-woo brings to life his worthy adversary, possibly one of the creepiest killers to ever grace the screen – a make who looks and acts normal on the surface but below is completely deranged.

Much like Ryoo Seung-wan’s 2010 film “The Unjust,” “The Chaser” portrays Korean society as entirely shot through with corruption and strife. Bumbling detectives make every kind of mistake in trying to catch the killer; the top brass only care about their image in the media; and the only person we have to root for is a low-budget pimp.

But that’s exactly what makes “The Chaser” work – the film doesn’t play fair. Much like “I Saw the Devil” or “Memories of Murder,” it’s a thriller that seems to get off on denying viewers the catharsis that is expected of the revenge genre. The fact that it became the #3 highest grossing film of all time in Korea despite its bleak subject matter is a testament to Na Hong-jin’s talent as a filmmaker. He’s got us right in the palm of his hand during the film’s entire 125 minute runtime – and we love him for it. “The Chaser” is a film that fits comfortably alongside other modern Korean classics and it’s one that cinema buffs will be talking about for quite some time.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8.5/10


By Mighty Peking Man

What a sigh of relief. A Korean thriller that’s not trying to be some Hollywood bullshit with big explosions, insane action scenes and cg-effects. Come to think of it, I don’t think there’s one gunshot in the whole movie. But then again, I’m talking out of my ass since The Chaser isn’t exactly that type of flick. It’s more of a thriller-drama but with enough sloppy beat-ups and gruesome visuals to keep the action-addict happy.

The Chaser is about an ex-cop turned pimp (yes, you read that right) who realizes his “bitches” are sporadically disappearing one by one. He backtracks through his paperwork and figures out that the latest missing girl was sent to the same guy the previous missing victim was sent to…

That’s basically all I’m going to tell you about the plot. Telling you any more would be too much typing for my lazy ass; more importantly, I’ll probably give too much away in the process.

The Chaser is director Na Hong-jin’s first full-length feature film (prior to this, he received some buzz for some short film he made). I like his directing style and his approach to story-telling. He’s a director with balls and not some lame filmmaker who has to reference the feel of Hollywood movies to please the mass audience. I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye out for his work.

Both the lead actors (Kim Yun-Seok and Ha Jung-Woo,) put on amazing performances. I could tell you right now that Yun-seok Kim is special. He’s got that certain something about him. He’s one of those cool Asian cats that you just love seeing on screen. You know, another Chow Yun Fat, Song Kang-Ho, Lau Ching Wan or Tony Leung… get my drift? I really should get off my ass and seek out more of his films.

The Chaser is entertaining as hell. Paced just right. It’s brutal, dark, funny, bloody and beautiful. The best flick I’ve seen this year. Period.

Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 10/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

On January 24, get ‘Punished’ by Johnnie To

Punished aka Abduction, Retribution DVD (Vivendi)

Punished aka Abduction, Retribution DVD (Vivendi)

Get Ready For Action Packed Excitement

PUNISHED

Available on DVD, Digital and Movies on Demand on January 24, 2012

Indomina Releasing is adding another action-packed drama to its release titles, PUNISHED, produced by critically acclaimed Johnnie To and directed by Law Wing Cheong, starring Anthony Wong (Infernal Affairs, Exiled), Richie Jen (Life Without Principle, Fire of Conscience), Janice Man (Basic Love) and Maggie Cheung (Clean, Song of Exile).

Punished will street on January 24, 2012 via DVD, Digital and Movies on Demand.  Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment and Indomina Releasing, Punished will be priced to own at $19.97 SRP (DVD).

SYNOPSIS:

Punished centers around real estate tycoon Wong Ho-Chiu (Anthony Wong).  While sheltered in the luxurious trappings afforded by his wealth and power, he suffers an unbearable loss when his daughter Daisy (Janice Man) is kidnapped and killed: a victim of her decadent lifestyle and cocaine addiction.  Wong Ho-Chiu turns to his trusted bodyguard Chor (Richie Jen) to seek out the perpetrators and exact revenge. Chor does his employers bidding with an unflinching determination and scarcely contained rage thinly hidden beneath the surface.  Wong Ho-Chiu goes one step further and orders Chor to videotape each of their executions, an order to which he complies, revealing the depths of depravity to which he will sink to match hand with his former underworld brethren in his quest for revenge.

Once Chor tracks down the final perpetrator Wong Ho-Chiu decides to kill that person himself. When Wong Ho-Chiu learns about the perpetrator’s past, he has second thoughts…

CAST:
Anthony Wong: Wong Ho-Chiu
Richie Jen: Chor
Janice Man: Daisy
Maggie Cheung: Mrs. Wong

CREDITS:
Director: Law Wing Cheong
Producer: Johnnie To

RUNTIME:
94 minutes

LANGUAGE:
Cantonese with English Subtitles and English Dub

DVD BONUS MATERIAL:

– Two behind-the-scenes featurettes
– Photo Gallery
– International Trailer
– Exclusive QR Code for Additional Bonus Material

LINKS
Youtube trailer
Indomina’s Punished website
Amazon pre-order

Posted in News |

2LDK (2002) Review

"2LDK" Theatrical Poster

“2LDK” Theatrical Poster

Director: Yukihiko Tsutumi
Cast: Maho Nonami, Koike Eiko
Running Time: 70 min.

By Alexander

I think we’ve all had a Worst Roommate Ever, a roommate we secretly  wished would plummet to their death from the bumper sticker-covered windows of our 4th floor college dorm rooms. A roommate whose laundry “hamper” was the floor, the backs of our chairs and the bottom of the shared closet. The roommate whose idea of organization was stacking Milwaukee’s Best beer cans in precarious columns on the window sill, who ocassionally “borrowed” our tooth brushes and deoderant and the last remaining Gatorade from the fridge.

We nicknamed my roommate my junior year “The Red Rocket.” Chris had a penchant for leaving our door wide open at night and falling asleep in the nude atop his blanket. In the mornings, door agape, students on their way to class would get a glimpse of his morning wood, or the “rocket.” A friend of mine once walked in on Chris masturbating to a porno… at 6:00 a.m. He had bromohydrosis, which means his feet smelled like a thousand foul-smelling feet. His lacrosse gear littered our floor–graphite, nylon and rubber booby traps for the feet. He also smoked out. A lot. Fortunately, I convinced the resident advisor to move me to a new room only a couple of weeks into the semester. But those two weeks spent in that stinky third floor hell nearly led me to murder. I seriously considered stuffing one of his soiled pillow cases with still-damp-from-lacross-practice socks and smothering him to death with the smell of his own toes.

2LDK (personal ad shorthand for “two bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen”) is basically about two roommate actresses and how their utter disdain for one another spurs Battle Royale-inspired violence. To compound the already existing tension (one is near-obsessive in her cleanliness, the other less so), both women are competing for the same acting gig.

It’s important to note that 2LDK was essentially made as result of a bet between directors Ukihiko Tsutsumi (Chinese Dinner) and Ryukei Kitamura (Azumi, Versus). Kitamura challenged Tsutsumi to a duel of sorts, to craft a film using only one location, two characters and one survivor, with similar budgets. I mention this because it explains the rushed look of the film, the static setting, and tiny cast (Maho Nonami, Eiko Koike and a parrot).

I’m not sure how big (or small, rather) their budget was, but I’m guessing most of Tsutsumi’s money was blown on whores, sake and sushi after a long day of filming, because this film looks as low-budget as they come. Don’t get me wrong–it’s not like they filmed it on Super-8–but the fight scenes (not as bloody as the packaging suggests) are hastily choreographed; the actresses’s make-up looks like it was self-applied (the dozens upon dozens of super close-ups reveal many a dirty pore and an ocassional grey tooth); the entire film takes place in what’s obviously a soundstage as there’s not an open window in the entire joint; and special effects are non-existant, save for a few thousand computer generated feathers.

It’s an interesting premise, two roomates battling to the death because they simply can’t stand each other. In the hands of a better director, editor and pair of actresses (the parrot is superb), 2LDK could have been much, much better. Now, I haven’t seen Ryukei Kitamura’s end of the bet, Aragami, but having endured the poorly filmed and acted 2LDK, the dude HAD to have won.

Alexander’s Rating: 5/10

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

Double Feature: True Romance & Natural Born Killers Blu-ray (Warner)

True Romance & Natural Born Killers Blu-ray (Warner)

True Romance & Natural Born Killers Blu-ray (Warner)

March 13, 2012

In True Romance, Tony Scott (“Revenge”) takes a script by Quentin Tarantino and makes one of the most entertaining action films of the 90’s! In Natural Born Killers, Oliver Stone (“Platoon”) takes a script by Quentin Tarantino and makes one of the craziest films of the 90’s!

Trailers: True Romance | Natural Born Killers

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

Real Steel Blu-ray & DVD (Disney)

Real Steel Blu-ray & DVD (Disney)

Real Steel Blu-ray & DVD (Disney)

RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2012

What’s not to love about giant robots f@#king each other up in the ring? Enter the not-so-distant future where boxing has gone high-tech — 2000-pound, 8-foot tall steel robots have taken over the ring. Starring Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter turned small-time promoter, Real Steel is a riveting, white-knuckle action ride that will leave you cheering. Check out the trailer.

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

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City (2010) Review

"Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City" Japanese Teaser Poster

"Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City" Japanese Teaser Poster

Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Kankuro Kudo
Cast: Show Aikawa, Riisa Naka, Tsuyoshi Abe, Masahiro Inoue, Naoki Tanaka, Guadalcanal Taka
Running Time: 106 min.

By HKFanatic

No matter what, you can always count on Takashi Miike to do the last thing you expect of him. Just a few months before “13 Assassins” hit theaters in Japan, becoming yet another benchmark in the director’s storied career, Miike directed a sequel to his (relatively) obscure 2004 superhero parody “Zebraman.” Now, nearly two years later, the film arrives on blu-ray and DVD in the States from Funimation, just as US audiences are riding high on a post-“13 Assassins” Miike buzz. The good news is that “Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City” is more than a worthy sequel to the first and should definitely please the Miike faithful looking for their next dose of extreme Japanese cinema.

“Zebraman 2” follows the familiar sequel adage of “bigger is better.” The film employs a much larger budget than the original and as a result moves at a faster pace, with numerous special effects shots, more fight scenes, and city-wide destruction. Escalation of this order is often a superhero sequel’s downfall as filmmakers toss in everything but the kitchen sink to the detriment of the story – “Spider-Man 3,” anyone? – but “Attack on Zebra City” is kept on track thanks to a solid script and Miike’s skilled directing.

The only downside to the plot is that it’s quite dependent on viewers having seen the original “Zebraman.” Although you could theoretically start fresh with the sequel, your understanding of the plot will greatly increase with a viewing of the first film. “Zebraman 2” starts just a few days after the events of its predecessor, though it doesn’t take long before we’re whisked to the future – the year 2025, to be exact, where Tokyo and its surroundings districts have been merged into an area known as Zebra City.

Here in Zebra City, the government provides two five-minute periods each day known as “Zebra Time” when the police are allowed to shoot anyone on sight and people in power (doctors, lawyers, politicians, etc.) can commit any crime without fear of being prosecuted. The new Governor and his daughter, the Zebra Queen, believe that merely ruling by justice is not enough; only by providing an outlet for humanity’s innate evil via Zebra Time will they achieve societal peace. Into this dysotopic vision of Tokyo’s future, the original Zebraman is tossed – older, beaten down, and stripped of his memory. Will he recall his heroic origins in time to suit up and save Zebra City from its diabolical rulers?

This film runs the risk that many of the Batman films do, in that the stoic main hero is very nearly upstaged by his more outlandish villain. Sho Aikawa is great once again in the role of Zebraman but this time he’s out of his element in a totally new world and can’t remember a single thing about his past. He gets minimal dialogue and usually just physically reacts to what’s going on around him. In contrast, the Zebra Queen is like any great Batman villain: colorful, over the top, and impossible to take your eyes off of. And much like Catwoman, she’s sexy as hell. There are a few instances in “Zebraman 2” where the story almost comes to a grinding halt and the film segues into a music video – a tactic that Miike has employed before in movies like “Andromedia.”

The Zebra Queen sings and dances while dressed in elaborate costumes, very much like a J-Pop version of Lady Gaga. In fact, if I had to describe the film as a whole, I’d be tempted to say, ‘Imagine if Lady Gaga directed ‘The Dark Knight,’ with a dash of ‘Blade Runner.'” Fortunately, Riisa Naka is a natural scene stealer in the role of the Zebra Queen. The film is more or less constructed around her gleeful and twisted take on the character. If her demented pop star shtick is not your thing, the movie will probably be that much tougher to sit through. Give in to Miike’s futuristic spectacle and you’re in for a wild ride.

If there’s one area that the sequel undoubtedly proves on, it’s pacing. The first film was the story of a karmic-ly crapped on school teacher discovering he was a superhero just in time to stop an alien invasion. The emphasis was on quaint humor and poking fun at Japanese “Super Sentai”-style TV shows (“Power Rangers” for us American audiences), which lent itself to a more leisurely paced film. The sequel jettisons most of those elements in favor of a much darker and more epic story, although the humor is certainly still there.

Somehow Takashi Miike is able to tease at the extreme violence and sexuality of his earlier work while still navigating a PG-13 territory. Several times Miike goes right up to the edge and then scales back, toying with the audience. The fight scenes are certainly amped up, with Zebraman dishing out “The Dark Knight”-style beatdowns to several armed Zebra Police. With a faster pace and more action and special effects, “Attack on Zebra City” might just be the movie that some folks were hoping to see when they watched the original “Zebraman.” Of course, there are those who may wish for the more laid back charm of the first movie.

The film arrives on blu-ray from Funimation and the transfer on this disc is stunning. Detail levels are extremely high – I dare say this is the nicest looking blu-ray of a Japanese film that I’ve encountered. It probably helps that the film was shot on HD video but I still found “Zebraman 2” to have a very cinematic look. The Zebra Queen’s outlandish costumes and make-up really pop out of the screen.

If you’re a fan of Takashi Miike, gonzo Japanese movies, or large-scale superhero flicks, you really can’t go wrong with “Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City.” Once again, Miike proves he isn’t content to merely repeat himself, by delivering a sequel that is an entirely different animal than the first “Zebraman.” This flick is loud, outrageous, sexy, and just plain fun. Overall, it entertained me more than the first. The focus on special effects and the Zebra Queen’s preening might mean that there’s less of a spotlight for Sho Aikawa’s quirky acting, but I can still highly recommend this film for fans of Miike and the first installment.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 12/6/11

Triple Tap Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Triple Tap Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

The holidays are getting closer with each week. Have you finished shopping for gifts – or not even started yet? Here are the Asian and genre movie blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 12/6/11:

ASIAN CINEMA

Triple Tap (blu-ray/DVD) – Well Go USA offers this 2010 Hong Kong thriller set in the world of competitive shooting, starring Louis Koo and Daniel Wu

Lady Ninja Kaede Complete Collection (DVD) – who doesn’t love a little ninja’sploitation? The two “Lady Ninja Kaede” film offer sexy ninja ladies doing presumably sexy things, courtesy of Tokyo Shock

Sexy Rangers (2010) – speaking of sexy, Image Epoch offers this parody of the Super Sentai (or Power Rangers in the US), about five Japanese high school girls who fight evil in costume and can summon a giant robot

FOREIGN CINEMA

Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition (blu-ray/DVD) – just before the impending release of David Fincher’s English language remake of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” you can dive into the full-length versions of the popular Swedish films starring Noomi Rapace

Point Blank (blu-ray/DVD) – a thriller about a man who is forced to do what a madman says if he wants to see his pregnant wife again. This 2011 film is billed as France’s answer to “Die Hard”

Murder Obsession (DVD) – delayed from a few weeks back, RaroVideo USA offers this 1981 Italian horror film

Body Puzzle (DVD) – RaroVideo USA delivers this gruesome 1992 Italian horror film from Lamberto Bava, son of Mario Bava, the father of Italian horror

Medea (blu-ray/DVD) – a rare 1968 film from “Salo” director Pier Paolo Pasolini

Rapt (blu-ray/DVD) – a riveting 2011 French thriller based off the 1978 kidnapping of French industrialist Edouard-Jean Empain. Nominated for four 4 Cesar awards

A Matter of Size (DVD) – a 2009 Hebrew comedy about four overweight Israeli friends who give sumo wrestling a try

Astral City: A Spiritual Journey (DVD) – a 2011 Portuguese-language film about a doctor who wakes up in the afterlife and embarks on an amazing, special effects-laden journey through a place called Astral City. Based on the book by a real spirit medium

Venga a Prendere Un Caffe Da Noi (Come Have Coffee With Us) (blu-ray/DVD) – a 1970 Italian sex comedy, distributed by RaroVideo USA

TELEVISION

City Hunter (DVD) – this Korean television series based off the same manga that inspired Jackie Chan’s film is full of action, intrigue, and romance

MAINSTREAM

Cowboys & Aliens (blu-ray/DVD) – the 2011 summer blockbuster from “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau, starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, now on home formats

The Debt (blu-ray/DVD) – Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington star in this 2011 espionage thriller about ex-Mossad agents

Mission: Impossible Giftset Collection (blu-ray/DVD) – you can procure all three Tom Cruise-starring “Mission: Impossible” films in one blu-ray set for $30. Hey, one of them was even directed by John Woo, remember? Oh wait, we’re trying to forget about that one, sorry

CLASSICS

The Lady Vanishes (blu-ray) – the Criterion Classic offers this 1938 classic from Alfred Hitchcock, now on blu-ray. We need more Hitchcock on blu!

Design For Living (blu-ray/DVD) – a daring 1933 pre-Code comedy starring Gary Cooper, now on blu-ray from the Criterion Collection

Tora Tora Tora (blu-ray) – the classic 1970 film starring Joseph Cotton about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Now in hi-def

HORROR

Don’t Open ‘Til Christmas (DVD) – this 1984 holiday-themed slasher movie is resurrected on DVD by Mondo Macabro

The Incubus (DVD) – a 2010 micro-budget horror movie for the Goth kids out there

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 |

Yakuza Hunters: Final Death Ride Battle aka Yakuza Busting Girls DVD (Tokyo Shock)

Yakuza Hunters: Final Death Ride Battle DVD (Tokyo Shock)

Yakuza Hunters: Final Death Ride Battle DVD (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2012

From Yoshihiro Nishimura, director of Tokyo Gore Police!, comes Yakuza Hunters: Final Death Ride Battle, featuring a host of B-movie cult favorites including Yoshihiro Nishimura (“The Machine Girl”) and Tsuyoshi Kazuno (“Robo Geisha”). Furious with Junko, who massacred her old friends called the Yakuza hunters, Asami enters into a final battle with four old friends. Check out the trailer.

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

The Bruce Lee Chronicles: Volume 1 eBook available for iPad/Kindle

"The Bruce Lee Chronicles: Volume 1" eBook

"The Bruce Lee Chronicles: Volume 1" eBook

The ultimate ebook for all Bruce Lee fans! There’s no better reason to want an iPad/Kindle for Christmas this year!

To millions of fans around the world, Bruce Lee was the greatest martial arts icon who ever lived. Join Bruce on one of his greatest real-life adventures and discover the true story behind the making of his most personal movie, Way of the Dragon.

Officially endorsed by The Bruce Lee Foundation and packed with rare and collectable photographs, many from the Lee Family Archive, this extraordinary first volume features a foreward from Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee and takes an in-depth look at every pre-production milestone, preparations at the legendary Golden Harvest studios and much more!

The Bruce Lee Chronicles: Volume 1 is available to buy on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Kindle (rrp from: £5.99); Available to pre-order on Apple platforms here.
Kindle link to go live on 5th December 2011.

Posted in News |

The Summer of Massacre Blu-ray & DVD (Vicious Circle)

The Summer of Massacre Blu-ray & DVD (Vicious Circle)

The Summer of Massacre Blu-ray & DVD (Vicious Circle)

RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2012

Three legendary serial killers terrorize downtown Los Angeles by murdering countless innocent souls and the killer plan is to go out with a real bang. The Summer of Massacre is a 100 mph slasher ride that never slows down and is packed with enough gore and insanity to send you looking for your barf bag. This film holds the Record™ for “Highest Body Count in a Slasher Film” of 155 bodies. Enjoy the trailer!

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

The Thing 2011 Prequel Blu-ray & DVD (Universal)

The Thing Blu-ray & DVD (Universal)

The Thing Blu-ray & DVD (Universal)

RELEASE DATE: January 31, 2012

At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson. Matthijs van Heijningen directs this prequel – with respect, skill, class and a cute leading lady – to John Carpenter’s 1982 classic. Check out the trailer.

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