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.
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).
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.
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
“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
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.
Night and Day DVD (Zeitgeist Films) Korean
RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2012
Seong-nam, a married man in his early forties, is an award-winning painter who, after getting busted for smoking pot with an American exchange student in Seoul, impulsively flees to Paris. Crashing in a dingy hostel run by a fellow Korean and unable to speak a lick of French, he finds himself wandering aimlessly around Paris, trapped in both his art and life. Night and Day is an internationally acclaimed film by director Hong Sang-soo (Tale of Cinema). Check out the trailer here.
Candy Snatchers DVD (Shriek Show)
RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011
Another 1973 exploitation crime film from Shriek Show! Rich girl Candy (Susan Sennett) is abducted and buried alive by three inept criminals: Jessie (Playboy pinup and B-movie queen Tiffany Bolling), her psychotic brother Alan (Brad David), and their pal Eddie (Vince Martorano) in exchange for ransom. But soon, things go horribly awry and a mute child witness only adds to the extreme tension and intrigue! Check out the trailer.
Shaolin Blu-ray/DVD (Well Go USA)
“Brilliant action sequences boasting martial arts on par with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”– FilmInk
“A big-budget action film packed full of stars and showcasing Shaolin kungfu and philosophy …”– Heroic Cinema
SHAOLIN
Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse and Jackie Chan Star in the Epic Martial Arts Masterpiece Debuting on Blu-ray™ and DVD October 25
Collector’s Edition Includes More Than Two Hours of Bonus Materials, Including a Behind-the-Scenes Featurette and Deleted Scenes
Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers, Future X-Cops), Nicolas Tse (The Stool Pigeon, Storm Warriors), and international superstar Jackie Chan (The Karate Kid, Rush Hour trilogy) star in the martial arts drama Shaolin, debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack, DVD and Collector’s Editions DVD and Blu-ray™ October 25 from Well Go USA. In this remake of Jet Li’s Shaolin Temple (1982), acclaimed director Benny Chan (City Under Siege) tells an epic tale of sadistic warlords squaring off against noble monks in “a tale of monstrous evil, spiritual transformation and ultimate self-sacrifice” (Mark Jenkins, NPR). The Collector’s Edition features extensive bonus materials including deleted scenes and a “Making of” featurette. Shaolin will be available for $24.98 SRP (DVD), $29.98 SRP (Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack, DVD Collector’s Edition), and $32.98 (Blu-ray Collector’s Edition).
Synopsis:
In the early years of the Republic, China has been plunged into chaos as feuding warlords battle to expand their power and their lands. Young army leader Hou Chieh (Andy Lau) and his sworn brother Tsao Man (Nicholas Tse) find themselves on opposing sides as the war escalates. The ultimate battle ensues when the army is set to besiege the peaceful Shaolin Temple and the peace-loving monks are forced to take up arms to protect their people and beloved temple.
Bonus Features Include:
§ Behind the scenes interviews (including interview with Shaolin Abbot)
§ Making of
§ Deleted Scenes
Shaolin has a runtime of approximately 131 minutes for DVD and Combo Pack and 250 minutes for Collector’s Editions and is rated R.
Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)
There’s plenty to get excited about this week, especially if you’re a fan of giant monsters and dinosaurs. So without further adieu, let’s take a look at some Asian and genre-related blu-ray and DVD releases for 10/25/11:
ASIAN CINEMA
Shaolin (blu-ray/DVD) – Benny Chan’s 2011 ode to the Shaolin Temple features an all-star cast including Andy Lau, Nicolas Tse, Fan Bingbing, and Jackie Chan
Fire of Conscience (DVD) – Dante Lam’s riveting 2010 Hong Kong cop thriller stars Leon Lai and Richie Ren
Destroy All Monsters (blu-ray) – man in suit! Man in suit! This 1968 kaiju epic features Godzilla and a whole host of other monsters throwing down over Tokyo, now in glorious hi-definition courtesy of Tokyo Shock
City of Life and Death (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 Chinese film takes a haunting look at the 1937 massacre now known as the Rape of Nanking
FOREIGN CINEMA
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (blu-ray/DVD) – this cult favorite 2010 dark Christmas fable arrives from the country of Finland. Despite the presence of St. Nick, this ain’t for the little ones!
Attack the Block (blu-ray/DVD) – this much buzzed about 2011 UK sci-fi flick features inner city kids up against interstellar aliens
Identification of a Woman (blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection offers this 1982 film from acclaimed Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni
MAINSTREAM
Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy (blu-ray) – finally! Steven Spielberg’s beloved series about an amusement park full of man-hungry dinos arrives on blu-ray in this box set containing all three films from 1993, 97, and 2001 respectively
Captain America: The First Avenger (blu-ray/DVD) – Marvel Comics’ star-spangled avenger leaps onto the big screen in this 2011 feature film starring Chris Evans
The Conversation (blu-ray) – Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 thriller starring Gene Hackman arrives on blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate
The Three Musketeers (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 modern day action movie comes courtesy of the notorious shlockmeisters at Asylum Entertainment, but judging from the trailer it is not without its b-movie pleasures
HORROR
Zombie (blu-ray/DVD) – Blue Underground gives the hi-def treatment to Lucio Fulci’s 1979 grisly masterpiece
House By the Cemetery (blu-ray/DVD) – Blue Underground is also releasing this 1984 film directed by Lucio Fulci, which happens to be my personal favorite movie by the horror auteur
Island of Lost Souls (blu-ray/DVD) – the Criterion Collection releases this 1932 pre-Code adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” co-starring Bela Lugosi
A Serbian Film (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2010 horror film from Serbia has earned a reputation for its sexual violence and utter depravity
Faces in the Crowd (blu-ray/DVD) – Millennium Entertainment offers this direct-to-video thriller starring Milla Jovovich and “Nip/Tuck’s” Julian McMahon
The Countess (DVD) – French actress Julie Deply writes, directs, produces, scores, and stars in this 2009 horror movie based off the legend of Elisabeth Bathory, who was said to bathe in the blood of virgins. Also starring William Hurt
Atrocious (DVD) – Bloody Disgusting Selects offers this 2010 Spanish language “found footage” horror film about a brother and sister who discover a terrible secret hidden in the area around their family’s cottage
Unhappy Birthday (DVD) – this 2011 British indie horror film is said to be inspired by classic Brit horror movies like “The Wicker Man.” I wonder if the title is an homage to the Smiths song?
Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 release proves no horror series ever truly dies, they just turn into direct-to-video franchises
Vodoo Dolls/Madonna (DVD) – Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem offers two 1990 made-for-Canadian-video horror movies
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!
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky aka Ricky Oh Blu-ray/DVD (Tokyo Shock)
RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2012 (Blu-ray) | September 27, 2011 (DVD)
First time on Blu-ray! The story is set in the year of 2001 in a prison owned by a major company. A new prisoner sees his friends being harassed and killed by the guards and seeks his revenge. Starring Fan Siu Wong, Fan Mei Sheng, William Ho Ka Kui, Yukari Oshima, Tetsuro Tamba, Gloria Yip Wan Yi, Philip Kwok Chung Fung and Lam Suet. Check out the trailer here. Read the cityonfire.com review here.
Lady Ninja Kaede Complete DVD Collection (Tokyo Shock)
RELEASE DATE: December 6, 2011
This new, specially priced set from Tokyo Shock contains Lady Ninja Kaede Vol. 1 and Lady Ninja Kaede Vol. 2, which were both previously released individually. These films aren’t exactly Akira Kurosawa-material, but if you’re in it AV idols, nudity, sex, and violence, your search ends here. Here is the trailer for Vol. 1 to give you an idea of what to expect.
Colombiana Unrated Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)
RELEASE DATE: December 20, 2011
Directed by Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3), written by Luc Besson (Leon: The Professional), and starring Zoe Saldana (Star Trek, Avatar); Colombiana is the story of a young woman who has grown up to be an assassin after witnessing the murder of her parents as a child.
Check out the trailer.
The unrated cut of Colombiana runs 111 minutes, four minutes longer than the theatrical cut. The Blu-ray edition will be presented in 1080 video and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, include UltraViolet for streaming the film from the cloud, as well as these bonus features: Colombiana: The Making of, Cateleya’s Journey, BD Exclusive: Assassins, BD Exclusive: Training a Killer and BD Exclusive: Take the Ride.
Kim Tai Chung
Korean martial arts movie star Kim Tai Chung, also known as Kim Tai-Jung or Tong Lung, has passed away. Kim Tai Chung was considered the only “mainstream” of the Bruce Lee copycats because of his work on Raymond Chow’s Golden Harvest classics “Game of Death” (1978) and “Tower of Death” (1981). He is also known for appearing in Corey Yuen’s 1986 U.S. film debut, “No Retreat, No Surrender” (1986) alongside Kurt McKinney and Jean-Claude Van Damme. There are currently no details on his passing, but there’s speculation that he died of internal stomach bleeding. He was 68.
Update: Since Kim Tai Chung’s death, a youtube dedication video (featuring stills and photos from his memorial service, including Wang Jang Lee and Casanova Wong) and a pack of website links featuring more photos have surfaced.
– Thanks to MG Lerox, Bengs, WalkOn and Shapes for the heads up
Outrage: Way of the Yakuza Blu-ray & DVD (Magnolia)
RELEASE DATE: January 31, 2012
In a ruthless battle for power, several yakuza clans vie for the favor of their head family in the Japanese underworld. The rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks by scheming and making allegiances sworn over saké. Long-time yakuza Otomo has seen his kind go from elaborate body tattoos and severed fingertips to becoming important players on the stock market. Theirs is a never-ending struggle to end up on top, or at least survive, in a corrupt world where there are no heroes but constant betrayal and vengeance.
Directed and starring Takeshi Kitano (Brother) with Kippei Shiina, Ryo Kase and Tomokazu Miura. Check out the trailer.
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