Zen DVD (Festival Media)

Zen DVD (Festival Media)

Zen DVD (Festival Media)

RELEASE DATE: November 29, 2011

Zen is a biopic of Dogen Zenji, a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher and the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan after travelling to China. Directed by Banmei Takahashi and starring Kantarou Nakamura, Yuki Uchida, Ryushin Tei, Jun Murakami and Tatsuya Fujiwara. Check out the trailer here.

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

Want to rent a hot new release from Netflix? Great, now wait 60 days

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has issued an apology for the handling of a recent price hike that had Netflix subscribers in a lather and led to a number of subscriber cancellations and a drop in stock price. And he’s also announced that Netflix will split into two companies: Netflix for streaming and “Qwikster” for DVDs by mail. To read the full story and watch Hastings’ video statement, please click here.

UPDATE 1: In a shocking development, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced today that, well, there will be no Qwikster. Netflix will remain one service from which you can rent DVDs and stream movies, with only one charge to your credit card. Surely this kind of flip-flopping isn’t typically seen outside the political realm?

UPDATE 2: A company rep told the New York Times that it is still  “to be determined” if Netflix will move forward with a plan to rent out video games, a move that would provide serious competition for the games-by-mail service GameFly.

UPDATE 3: The Hollywood Reporter notes that several Hollywood studios are debating an extension on the 28-day delay that some new movie releases face before arriving Netflix and Redbox. This could mean that Netflix and Redbox users would have to wait up to 60 days after street date in order to rent new movies. All of this is an attempt from the major studios to increase flagging sales on retail DVDs.

Posted in News |

Dante Lam’s ‘The Stool Pigeon’ – now streaming on Netflix Instant

The Stool Pigeon Blu-ray/DVD (Well Go USA)

The Stool Pigeon Blu-ray/DVD (Well Go USA)

The Stool Pigeon is 2010 Hong Kong police thriller directed by Dante Lam (The Beast Stalker, Fire of Conscience) and starring Nicholas Tse, Nick Cheung and Kwai Lun-mei. The film explores the dangerous world of police informants and the lengths they must go to in order to maintain their cover. The Stool Pigeon is now streaming on Netflix Instant in HD. Watch it, then check out our review!

Posted in News |

Horror Express Blu-ray (MPI)

Horror Express Blu-ray (MPI)

Horror Express Blu-ray (MPI)

RELEASE DATE: November 29, 2011

First time on Blu-ray! An English anthropologist has discovered a frozen monster in the frozen wastes of Manchuria which he believes may be the Missing Link. He brings the creature back to Europe aboard a trans-Siberian express, but during the trip the monster thaws out and starts to butcher the passengers one by one.

This 1973 cult classic stars: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Telly Savalas.

Check out the trailer here.

Features:

– Introduction by Fangoria editor Chris Alexander
– Murder On The Trans-Siberian Express interview with director Eugenio Martín
– Notes From The Blacklist feature with producer Bernard Gordon discussing the McCarthy Era
– 1973 audio interview with Peter Cushing
– Telly And Me interview with composer John Cacavas
– Theatrical trailer

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

In the Name of the King 2: Two Worlds Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

In the Name of the King 2: Two Worlds Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

In the Name of the King 2: Two Worlds Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

RELEASE DATE: December 27, 2011

Who wants more Uwe Boll? In the Name of the King 2 is an fantasy-action film sequel to In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, which starred Jason Statham. This film has Dolph Lundgren taking over the lead, along with Natassia Malthe and Lochlyn Munro. Check out the trailer. And don’t totally hate on Uwe Boll; afterall he did a film called Rampage, which was actually pretty rad.

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

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City aka Vengeful Zebra City Blu-ray/DVD (Funimation)

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City aka Vengeful Zebra City Blu-ray/DVD (Funimation)

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City aka Vengeful Zebra City Blu-ray/DVD (Funimation)

RELEASE DATE: November 29, 2011

Takashi Miike’s (“13 Assassins“) 2010 sequel to his 2004 flick about a superhero named “Zebraman” (Sho Aikawa). Also also stars Riisa Naka and Masahiro Inoue. This film was controversial due to the film’s theme of a religious war with the antagonists as analogies of the Happy Science movement in Japan. Check out the trailer here.

Update: The FUNimation trailer can be found here.

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

Fire of Conscience | aka Fire Dragon (2010) Review

Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)

“Fire of Conscience” American Theatrical Poster

Director: Dante Lam Chiu Yin
Cast: Leon Lai, Richie Ren, Liu Kai Chi, Wang Bao Qiang, Michelle Yip Suen, Pinky Cheung, Vivian Hsu, Wilfred Lau Ho Lung, Chen Kuan Tai, Vanessa Yeung Jung, Adam Chan Chung Tai, Chan Hung, Ringo Chan Ka Leung
Running Time: 106 min.

By HKFanatic

“If you don’t have faith, you’re not alive.” So says Leon Lai’s beleaguered detective in Dante Lam’s 2010 film “Fire of Conscience.” Leon plays a burnt out cop who keeps the faith after the death of his wife by diving headfirst into his work, stopping at nothing to bring perps to justice. Along the way he must contend with some incredibly dangerous Southeast Asian arms dealers and a possible mole within his own team. Does the plot trade in cop movie cliches? Sure, but Dante Lam delivers them in an exciting fashion and doesn’t belabor the fact that we may have seen this kind of story before. Moving a mile a minute despite a nearly two hour runtime and loaded with pulse-pounding shoot-outs and chase sequences, “Fire of Conscience” should please just about anyone yearning for a good Hong Kong thriller.

A few years ago, director Dante Lam was more well known for making pop star fluff like “Twins Effect” and “Undercover Hidden Dragon.” Since 2008’s “The Beast Stalker,” he’s managed to reinvent himself as something like the Hong Kong analog to Paul Greengrass (“The Bourne Supremacy”) or Michael Mann (“Heat”). He films his cops and robbers thrillers with a man-on-the-street style, utilizing dizzying handheld camera work to make the viewer feel like they’re really there, rushing through a crowded Hong Kong market to escape pursuers.

That said, there’s something that separates “Fire of Conscience” from Lam’s other films like “The Stool Pigeon.” It could be the relentless pace, the hardcore violence, or the fact that there’s less of an emphasis on teary-eyed melodrama. I had a feeling “Fire of Conscience” was going to be pretty damn good from an early scene featuring Leon Lai and Richie Ren after their characters have just met. The two of them share a ride to a crime scene, their car gliding through the night past prostitutes and street thugs, and reflect on who the real scum is: the criminals out their window or the top brass back at the police station, who only care about finding a suspect and nabbing positive headlines. It’s this kind of tough guy male bonding that Hong Kong films are so good at.

Leon Lai and Dante Lam prove to be a potent match. Leon is more of an understated actor – you’re never going to see the man break down and sob on camera, it’s just not gonna happen. Leon prefers to sit there with his thousand yard stare while a single tear rolls down his cheek. The presence of Lai seems to temper Dante Lam’s usual melodramatic tendencies, which were in full effect during “The Beast Stalker” and “The Stool Pigeon.” I understand that Lam is eager to have an emotional core to his films, something that will pull the audience into the story, but nobody wants to see an action flick where hardened criminals break down and cry like they’re on a daytime talk show.

“Fire of Conscience” certainly has its heart-tugging moments but for the most part it’s all about the action and Dante Lam serves it up in liberal doses. A highlight comes when Leon Lai and his police crew engage in a violent shoot-out in the middle of a teahouse. Rather than go for the ultra-stylized John Woo approach, Dante Lam favors the carefully controlled chaos of someone like Michael Mann, where claustrophobic camera angles and keen sound editing make you feel like you can hear the shell casings hitting the carpet at your feet. Although this sequence is rapidly edited, it still wonderfully communicates the geography of the restaurant so you know where everyone is and what their escape route might be even when the bullets are flying.

There are plenty more exciting moments where that came from, especially when grenades are introduced into the equation. In fact, Dante Lam seems to have a love affair with grenades in this film – hey, as an action fan, I’m not complaining. Overall, Lam portrays Hong Kong as a barely stable environment where violence could erupt at any moment. One minute you’re sitting in a traffic jam, the next minute Leon Lai is running past your car holding an assault rifle. Restaurant patrons sitting and enjoying a meal scramble as the glass window next to them shatters and a fight between cops and crooks spills into their midst.

Besides Leon Lai, the rest of the cast is excellent, including veteran character actor Liu Kai-Chi (“Sha Po Lang,” “Infernal Affairs II”), who is actually given a meaty side role. Special mention must be made of Michelle Ye (“Overheard 2,” “The Sniper”), an actress who plays down her natural glamour in this film by cutting her hair and wearing functional cop clothes. Ye is sexy without trying; she merely plays a loyal cop who is good at her job, and can hold her own during shoot-outs and intense interrogations. This is exactly the kind of female role I like to see in an action movie – where an actress’ character is just as empowered as the men but the filmmakers see no need to draw attention to the fact. Richie Ren is also superb in his role but to talk about his character at all would reveal some of the plot and “Fire of Conscience” is a movie that deserves to be seen unspoiled.

“Fire of Conscience” is the movie I wanted “The Beast Stalker” and “The Stool Pigeon” to be. Watching the film reminded me why I fell in love with Hong Kong movies in the first place and why it’s still one of the best destinations for action cinema. Dante Lam’s filmmaking style may not be unique in the world but he’s certainly one of a kind in Hong Kong; and from quotes I’ve read from the director, he seems committed to furthering the cinematic dialogue in his home country. A Dante Lam movie won’t necessarily feature the artful shot compositions or character development of a Milkyway Production, but you know you’re in for a gritty, well-told story and a chase sequence or two that will make your adrenaline spike. “Fire of Conscience” makes good on the promise of Dante Lam’s earlier work and delivers what is without a doubt one of the best Hong Kong thrillers I’ve seen since 2002’s “Infernal Affairs.”

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , |

Texas Killing Fields aka The Fields Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Texas Killing Fields aka The Fields Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Texas Killing Fields aka The Fields Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

RELEASE DATE: January 31, 2012

Texas Killing Fields is loosely based on true events about the murder of women picked up along I-45 and dumped in an old oil field in League City Texas. The film is based on the novel The Texas Killing Fields. Texas Killing Fields is directed by Ami Canaan Mann (daughter of director Michael Mann) and stars Sam Worthington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jessica Chastain and Chloe Grace Moretz. Check out the trailer.

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

The Greatest Love aka Best Love DVD Set (MBC)

The Greatest Love DVD Set (MBC)

The Greatest Love DVD Set (MBC)

RELEASE DATE: November 8, 2011

The Greatest Love is a 2011 Korean romantic comedy series broadcasted by MBC. In this sometimes wacky, sometimes heartfelt romantic comedy, a has-been pop star (Gong Hyojin) struggles to make the jump from beleaguered to beloved, all while finding a heart-thumping love (Cha Seungwon) along the way. Check out the trailer.

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

End Call DVD (Asian Crush)

End Call DVD (Asian Crush)

End Call DVD (Asian Crush)

RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2012

A group of high school girls struggling with exams and lecherous teachers are ready to sell their souls if it would bring them luck. When they hear about a secret telephone number that will make a caller’s dreams come true, they figure they have nothing to lose. But little do they know that the Devil has granted their wishes, and will now own their souls! Adapted from the popular horror novel Ju-on by Kei Oishi. Check out the trailer.

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

Lust in Hell DVD (Asian Crush)

Lust in Hell DVD (Asian Crush)

Lust in Hell DVD (Asian Crush)

RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2012

After losing her parents in a traffic accident, Koto discovers the ability to communicate with the souls of the dead. She meets Shinji, who lost his lover in the same accident, and they begin a torrid and tempestuous affair. Directed by Tadashi Shimizu and starring Ryo Ishii and Mari Sakurai (Big Tits Zombie).

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

Time Traveller: Girl Who Leapt Throught Time DVD (Asian Crush)

Time Traveller: Girl Who Leapt Throught Time DVD (Asian Crush)

Time Traveller: Girl Who Leapt Throught Time DVD (Asian Crush)

RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2012

Time Traveller marks the newest adaptation of the original 1967 novel by Tsutsui Yasutaka, and the classic 1983 live-action movie. Starring Riisa Naka, voice of Makoto in the anime adaptation. Akari is the daughter of the time-traveling teen from the anime classic The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. In order to help her mother, she travels from the present to the 1970s, where she must contend with a world without instant communication AND meet her father, who she never knew! Check out the trailer.

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

Dante Lam delivers another explosive thriller with ‘Fire of Conscience’

Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)

Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)

“What turns out to be an unexpected delight in Dante Lam’s latest – Fire of Conscience – is how he blends his trademark riveting action sequences with equally gripping character-driven drama into quite possibly one of the most exciting action thrillers we will see this year.”-Gabriel Chong, Moviexcluive.com

“It scorches the screen, and you cling onto your seat…”-Japancinema.com

Get ready for a hard-hitting rush of adrenaline as the action-packed crime drama Fire of Conscience debuts on DVD on October 25, 2011

From Indomina Releasing and Hong Kong’s premiere action-adventure director, Dante Lam (The Beast Stalker, Beast Cops), comes the non-stop thrill ride Fire Of Conscience.  Making its world premiere at the 2011 Hong Kong film festival, the film has been widely praised by critics and fans alike for its elaborate and heart-racing action sequences, distinct character development and stunning visual imagery.  The DVD, distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, will be available on October 25, 2011, at an SRP of $19.97

Synopsis

In the tradition of Hard Boiled, Infernal Affairs and Reservoir Dogs comes this hard-hitting action-thriller from director Dante Lam.  Esteemed investigator Captain Manfred (Leon Lai, Bodyguards and Assassins) is at a crossroads in life when he’s assigned to the case of a lethal car accident and the death of a prostitute.  Working with him is aggressive Inspector Kee, who is determined to rise in the fast-paced world of Hong Kong law enforcement.  Opposites in every way, Manfred finds himself in the unexpected position of defending his partner when he’s linked to the crimes, and he’s soon swept up into a shadowy world of dirty politics, graphic murders and dangerous secrets.  Co-starring Vivian Hsu and Michelle Ye, it’s a daring and explosive entry into the “Asia noirs” genre with a no-holds-barred fight to the finish that will take your breath away.

DVD Special Features

*      Five Original Featurettes

*      International Trailer

*      Aspect ratio: 16×9 2.35 Widescreen Version

*      Sound: Cantonese 5.1 Dolby Digital

*      Subtitles: English

Street Date: October 25, 2011

Pricing: $19.97

Feature Running Time: 107 minutes

MPAA Rating: R for strong, bloody violence

Posted in News |

Hero of Tomorrow (1988) Review

"Hero of Tomorrow" Chinese DVD Cover

“Hero of Tomorrow” Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Poon Man Kit
Writer: Clarence Yip Wai Chung
Cast: Michael Miu, Max Mok, William Ho, Cheung Wing Jing, Gam Siu Mooi, Joan Tong, Lung Ming Yan, Fong Ming Git, Ku Feng, Chan Chung Yung, Mak Wai Cheung, Jackson Ng, Sham Chin Bo, Sin Ho Ying, Wang Yao, Philip Chan, Chen Jing, Ho Pak Kwong, Blacky Ko, Philip Kwok, Lam Chung, James Tien, Tommy Wong
Running Time: 86 min.

By HKFanatic

When a genre proved to be successful during the Hong Kong New Wave, producers moved fast to turn into a cottage industry. Hence the surplus of ‘heroic bloodshed’ films that arrived around the 1986 success of John Woo’s “A Better Tomorrow” – nicknamed ‘heroic bloodshed’ since most of these films ended with the protagonist riddled with bullets and barely standing, clothes soaked through with blood.

“Hero of Tomorrow” is one such movie and it’s not a title that any casual HK cinema fan is likely to stumble upon unless, like me, you’re slowly making your way through the ‘heroic bloodshed’ genre itself. Director Poon Man Kit would later score a hit with 1991’s “To Be Number One” but has since faded into obscurity, his last film arriving in 2004. Although the few reviews I managed to find online were incredibly lukewarm on this film, I can say that “Hero of Tomorrow” is definitely worth a watch for action fans if only for its bravado ending sequence, which features a lengthy and beautifully choreographed shoot-out on the streets of Hong Kong.

“Hero of Tomorrow” is the story of two men. Michael Miu plays a hardened Triad assassin who’s fresh out of prison. Upon his release, he wastes no time in tracking down the men responsible for his imprisonment and planting a hatchet in their neck. Soon afterwards, he flees to Taiwan to lay low with the blessing of his Triad boss. It’s there that he hooks up with a local gangster, played by the always slimy William Ho (“The Dragon Family“). Only trouble is, after a lifetime of killing, Michael Miu wants out of the game. Miu longs for the peaceful life of a fisherman but fate continues to conspire against him in the form of Max Mok.

Mok plays the same wide-eyed, happy-go-lucky kid that he always played in these late 80’s revenge movies. He’s a young pup who works a street vendor outside William Ho’s place, ever eager to find a way to get in Ho’s good graces and become a player in the Triads. His chance comes when leaps to the rescue during an attack on Ho’s life, even going so far as to take the police rap for the guy. As a result, Mok quickly works his way up the ranks in Ho’s gang with Michael Miu serving as his big bro. However, the duo learn too late that William Ho is not worthy of their trust. Even as Miu falls in love with Mok’s sister, it’s clear there won’t be a happy ending for anyone involved. This is, after all, a heroic bloodshed flick!

My only real previous exposure to Michael Miu was in the “Lucky Stars” films, where he always played a youthful womanizer, so “Hero of Tomorrow” came as something of a shock. In this film Miu wears close-cropped hair and is given the Chow Yun Fat role: the world-weary bad-ass in a long coat who’s good with dual pistols. Although the part doesn’t require much acting of him beyond looking cool, Miu dives into the role with gusto and comes across as an able action star. Too bad the script borders on the schizophrenic and is seemingly unable to decide who the main character is. Expect the film to divvy up screentime to Miu and Max Mok in uneven doses.

Mok’s character is equally as rote for the Triad genre; he’s the innocent kid who you just know is going to get tramped on as he makes his descent into the criminal underworld. Mok is best in supporting roles like in “Dragon Family”; he’s not necessarily an actor you can revolve an entire movie around. Every scene he has with Michael Miu just reminds you of how much more bad-ass Miu is.

The lack of a clear protagonist definitely hurts the script, as does the amount of time devoted to Mok and his girlfriend pining for a better life. And it doesn’t help that the female characters in this movie exist solely as pretty-faced cannon fodder to motivate the heroes for revenge. Although the actress who plays Mok’s sister, Gam Siu, has striking features, she is given precious little to do. The subtitles actually translate Mok’s girlfriend’s name as “Naive,” which should tell you everything right there. There were plenty of Hong Kong movies during the 80’s and 90’s that featured women characters who were just as empowered and ass-kicking as the men; this is not one of them. The threat of rape is constantly hovered the head of Joan Tong’s character during the last thirty minutes of the movie. I could have done without that, as well as the scene featuring a realistic-looking dog fight. Animal lovers will cringe during this sequence in which it is very difficult to tell if the pitbulls were hurt or not. Hong Kong cinema didn’t exactly have the best track record for animal safety during the 80’s.

During the final act, Max Mok commits a face-palm inducing mistake that sets things up for one hell of a finale. The ending of “Hero of Tomorrow” features a classic Hong Kong-style shootout, expertly choreographed by by action directors Wong Shu Tong and Mak Wai Cheung (the latter an action director on Donnie Yen’s “Ballistic Kiss” and “Legend of the Wolf“). The shootout unfolds on the crowded streets of Hong Kong with some fantastic action beats, great camera angles, fluid editing, and incredibly loud gunshot effects. No joke, I had to rewind and rewatch this sequence at least three times. I agree that there are far too many mediocre Triad movies saved by a clincher of an ending but “Hero of Tomorrow” really cements itself as a must-see for ‘heroic bloodshed’ fans during the last ten minutes. If you’ve explored the depths of John Woo’s or Ringo Lam’s filmographies and you’re looking for where to arrive next, “Dragon Family” and this film are two great options.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , |

Redline Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Redline Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

Redline Blu-ray & DVD (Anchor Bay)

RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2012

Tim Maughan of Anime News Network describes the film as “something very special, very different, and insanely exhilarating.” Redline is a racing film created by studio Madhouse (Paprika). Redline is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including JP, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car – all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends. Check out the trailer.

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