Netflix Instant Asian Horror Spooktacular

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Z Ravas
"Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Looking for a bloody good time? In the spirit of the Halloween season, we spotlight a few Asian horror movies now streaming on Netflix Instant:

Thirst (2009) – the director of “Oldboy,” Chan Wook-Park, presents his unconventional take on the vampire myth

Retribution (2006) – arguably the master of Asian horror, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, weaves a bleak ghost story with apocalyptic ramifications

Infection (2005) – a fan-praised Japanese horror film set in a hospital where something is not quite right

Meatball Machine (2005) – a gruesome Japanese splatterpunk film in the tradition of “Tetsuo: The Iron Man” and “Versus”; a must-see for those who like their horror movies with a healthy heaping of gore

Noriko’s Dinner Table (2005) – acclaimed Japanese director Sion Sono presents this nearly three hour long prequel to his own “Suicide Club”

Three…Extremes (2005) – an Asian horror anthology featuring three distinct tales from Hong Kong director Fruit Chan, “Oldboy” filmmaker Chan Wook-Park, and the legendary Takashi Miike

Dumplings (2004) – Fruit Chan expands his “Three…Extremes” piece into a macabre full-length film

Tokyo Zombie (2005) – a zany zombie comedy based off the manga and starring Tadanobu Asano of “Ichi the Killer” fame

Ab-Normal Beauty (2004) – one half of the Pang Brothers directs this creepy Hong Kong horror movie starring Ekin Cheng

Spider Forest (2004) – this unsettling Korean horror film deals with the notion of a fractured mind a la “Fight Club” or “Memento”

Doppleganger (2003) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa directs this decidedly offbeat tale of a man who meets his evil double

Ju-On 2 (2003) – internationally acclaimed director Takashi Shimizu continues the “Ju-On” saga that made him famous

Visible Secret (2001) – Hong Kong critical darling Ann Hiu directs this rare horror outing, starring Eason Chan, Shu Qi, Anthony Wong, and Sam Lee

Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) – a pitch black Korean comedy from Joon Ho Bong, the world-renown director of “The Host” and “Mother”

Demon Warriors (2007) – this dark Thai thriller is more of an action movie than a horror flick but it features plenty of blood ‘n gore. Imagine Clive Barker directing an X-Men movie and you’re halfway there

Hellavator: The Bottled Fools (2005) – an ultra low-budget sci-fi horror movie made by Japanese film students. What’s not to love?

Epitaph (2007) – a Korean horror anthology centered around a haunted, war-time hospital

Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl (2009) – from the director of “Tokyo Gore Police” comes this Japanese splatterfest that probably explains itself from the title [dubbed]

Goth (2008) – based on a popular manga, this Japanese horror movie follows two death-obsessed high school girls trying to track down a serial killer

The Machine Girl (2008) – the movie that started it all for the “Tokyo Gore Police” team and arguably still their best, it follows a teenage girl with a machine gun attachment looking to get revenge on the Yakuza [dubbed]

Robogeisha (2009) – another ultra-violent Japanese treat from the makers of “Tokyo Gore Police” [dubbed]

Tokyo Gore Police (2008) – a blood-splattered Japanese film set in a near future where mutants and other societal outcasts have run amok [dubbed]

Posted in News |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 11/1/11

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Z Ravas
Machete Maidens Unleashed DVD (MPI)

Machete Maidens Unleashed DVD (MPI)

Not a whole lot for Asian film buffs to choose from this week but martial arts fans will probably want to check out “Bunraku” and perhaps there’s an older catalog title you’d like to upgrade to blu-ray on. Alright, let’s get cracking!

ASIAN CINEMA

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (blu-ray/DVD) – from Wayne Wang, the director of “Joy Luck Club,” comes this tale of lifelong friendship starring Li Bingbing, Gianna Jun, Vivian Wu, and Russell Wong

FOREIGN CINEMA

Going Places (blu-ray/DVD) – this 1974 French comedy features plenty of wanton sexuality and amoral living, and made an overnight star of actor Gerard Depardiu

CULT

Bunraku (blu-ray/DVD) – director Guy Moshe presents a dizzying blend of influences in this 2009 genre mash-up starring Josh Hartnett and Japanese rock god Gackt. Fans of martial arts movies and weird cult flicks should find plenty to enjoy here but, chances are, the average viewer will be left scratching their head

The Adventures of Prince Achmed (DVD) – this movie from 1926 is considered the oldest remaining animated film, made by Lotte Reiniger using her innovative silhouette technique

Survive! (DVD) – Amazon has this 1976 survivalist film arriving on DVD this week, delayed from several weeks ago

Machete Maidens Unleashed (DVD) – this documentary examines the crazy world of Filipino genre cinema in the 70’s and 80’s. Also streaming on Netflix Instant!

Darkening Sky (DVD) – an extremely low-budget alien abduction film starring Rider Strong of “Boy Meets World” and “Cabin Fever” fame

MAINSTREAM

Hook (blu-ray) – if you grew up with this 1991 Steven Spielberg film like I did, you probably love it. Anyone who saw this when they were older seems to hate it. Either way, it’s now on blu-ray!

Cop Land (blu-ray) – before he reinvented himself as a post-millennial action god, Sly Stallone stretched his acting chops for one last time in this 1997 dark cop drama. Now in hi-def!

Scrooged (blu-ray) – everybody loves Bill Muarry, so why not upgrade to the blu-ray version of his 1988 take on “A Christmas Carol”?

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (blu-ray) – before “Moon” made him a household name, Sam Rockwell starred in this dark drama loosely based on a true story. Now on blu-ray

Trespass (blu-ray/DVD) – there are some who will tell you this 2011 Joel Schumacher film received a limited theatrical release but I still say this is Nicole Kidman’s first true direct-to-video flick. Hey, it happens to everyone. Nicolas Cage is also here for the paycheck

The Philadelphia Experiment (DVD) – this 1984 sci-fi adventure film starring Michael Pare (“Streets of Fire”) and Nancy Allen (“Dressed to Kill”) gets a DVD re-release, which is probably a good thing since the transfer on the previous DVD was supposedly terrible

Black Moon Rising (DVD) – a DVD re-release for this 1986 science fiction film, written by John Carpenter and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Linda Hamilton

HORROR

Phantom of the Opera (blu-ray) – the classic 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney, still full of terror and awe, arrives on blu-ray for the first time

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 |

The Hellstrom Chronicle Blu-ray & DVD

Posted on October 29, 2011 by JJ Bona
The Hellstrom Chronicle Blu-ray & DVD

The Hellstrom Chronicle Blu-ray & DVD

RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2012

This 1971 movie combines elements of documentary and science fiction to present a gripping depiction of the Darwinian struggle for survival between humans and insects. Several cinematographers photographed this film using stop-motion photography with microscopic and telescopic lenses. The Hellstrom Chronicle’s trailer resembled an announcement for a science fiction movie.

The Hellstrom Chronicle took home an Academy Award (Best Documentary Feature), a Cannes Film Festival Grand Prize (Technical) and the BAFTA Award (Best Documentary feature).

If you’re not intrigued after watching this clip, then you’re not human and the insects will win!

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

Zen DVD (Festival Media)

Posted on October 29, 2011 by JJ Bona
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

Posted on October 29, 2011 by JJ Bona

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

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Z Ravas

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)

Posted on October 28, 2011 by JJ Bona
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)

Posted on October 27, 2011 by JJ Bona
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)

Posted on October 27, 2011 by JJ Bona
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

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Z Ravas
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)

Posted on October 26, 2011 by JJ Bona
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)

Posted on October 26, 2011 by JJ Bona
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)

Posted on October 26, 2011 by JJ Bona
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)

Posted on October 25, 2011 by JJ Bona
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)

Posted on October 25, 2011 by JJ Bona
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 |
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