My Father is a Hero | aka The Enforcer (1994) Review

Posted on October 4, 2011 by JJ Bona
"My Father is a Hero" Theatrical Poster

“My Father is a Hero” Theatrical Poster

AKA: Letter to Daddy
Director: Corey Yuen
Writer: Wong Jing
Cast: Jet Li, Anita Mui, Tse Miu, Blacky Ko, Bonnie Fu Yuk Jing, Yu Rong Guang, Ken Lo, Damian Lau, Thorsten Nickel, Paul Rapovski, Henry Fong Ping, Corey Yuen
Running Time: 100/105 min.

By Numskull

You know, for someone whose fame is based on his martial arts skills, I’m not seeing a whole lot of martial arts in Jet Li’s movies. I don’t deny that he has legitimate talent, but the Jet Li films I’ve seen have averaged one solid fight scene each. Maybe I’m just watching all the wrong ones. I hope so.

My Father Is A Hero is one of the more polished Hong Kong action films I’ve seen, and it’s also a bit longer than most (they usually run between 85 and 100 minutes, in case you hadn’t noticed). Unfortunately, the extra handful of minutes here doesn’t mean more carnage or better character development… it just means slower pacing (something which Corey Yuen’s films definitely do NOT need). The story flows smoothly enough and is not without its moments, but for the most part, it just makes you itch for the next action sequence (they’re few and far between, but not as sparse as in certain other flicks from the same director).

Jet Li plays an undercover cop (unbeknownst to his family) who is intentionally imprisoned, then must escape with his cellmate. The actual getting out of the cell part is ridiculously easy, but he then has to deal with vicious dogs, trigger-happy guards with live ammo, and an electrified barbed wire fence (after his superior simply tells him: “I’ll let you escape.”). Then, for a large chunk of the movie, his character takes a back seat to his dying wife, his confused son, and Anita Mui’s take-charge police woman. It’s safe to assume that body doubles are used in Anita’s action scenes (I’m not a person who scrutinizes every frame looking for this stuff), but there are some shots where it is indeed her doing the beating and dodging and so forth. I don’t recall having seen her in such a physically active role before. For some reason, it doesn’t really seem to suit her. Yu Rong-Guang makes a very unconvincing villain (take those fucking shades off!!!) who does little to add to our desire to see Jet beat the hell out of him.

In typical Corey Yuen fashion, the lion’s share of the action is saved for the end of the movie, where Jet Li and his kid take on the baddies and the kid gets used as a human yo-yo. One would think that this would cause more harm to the kid than to the people he’s fighting, but at this point, the fact that people are actually DOING stuff is reason enough to just enjoy it.

My Father Is A Hero receives higher marks for effort than most Jet Li movies I’ve seen, but I fear that’s not saying a whole lot. At least, for once, a movie featured a child character who DIDN’T annoy the living sh*t out of me.

Numskull’s Rating: 5/10

By James H.

This Jet Li film has been re-released on video in North America as “Jet Li’s The Enforcer”. It is a good thing that this movie went straight to video, because if it went to the theatres, it would not have made any money. I don’t even think it is a good choice to have it released on video here.

Jet Li stars as an undercover cop with a family. His son is a martial arts champion of some sort too. One day Jet is assigned to go undercover in prison, bust out a gang member and infiltrate his gang (a la “Supercop”). The leader of this gang is this big, pseudo-threatening guy who looks like Wesley Snipes in “Blade”. But don’t be fooled by his pseudo-threatening looks, he is a bad ass, y’know, the kind that always wears sun glasses, even at night.

Things get complicated when another cop (Anita Mui) starts following Li’s character around, not knowing he is an undercover cop.

To be honest, the story did not grab my attention at all. It was uninteresting, and the characters aren’t very good or well developed, or even smart for that matter. Example: A gang of criminals is going to sell some passports to Li, no one brings a gun, but one of them has the good sense to bring a hatchet. A hatchet?!?!

Cory Yeun’s directing is nothing special here, and the fight scenes are about average. They seem pretty standard and uneventful, even for a Jet Li movie, with the exception of the final fight between Li, his kid and the baddie. Li ends up using his kid as some sort of human yo-yo, an idea that may have looked go on paper, but ends up looking ridiculous.

James H’s Rating: 4/10

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

Project S | aka Supercop 2 (1993) Review

Posted on October 4, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Project S" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Project S” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Stanley Tong
Producer: Barbie Tung
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Yu Rong Guang, Emil Chau, Fan Siu Wong, Dick Wei, Athena Chu, Bill Tung Biu, Bowie Lam, Alain Guernier, Ailen Sit Chun Wai, Chan Man Ching, Joe Cheung, Mars, Yukari Oshima, Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang
Running Time: 98 min.

By Numskull

It seems that “they”… whoever they are… really don’t want us North American types to see this movie. The DVD and VCD from Hong Kong are both inexplicably devoid of English subtitles, and the Dimension release is… well, it’s a Dimension release. Dub only, false title, stuff missing, you know the routine. It also has a quote on the package from some peabrained critic calling Michelle Yeoh “the female Jackie Chan.” Good God, how demeaning. That just leaves the Region 2/PAL DVD from the Hong Kong Classics label, which is complete with good English subtitles but will set you back a pretty penny. Is it worth it? I think not. After all, Stanley Tong directed it.

Despite what the Dimension dickheads would like you to think, this is not a true sequel to Police Story 3 (“Supercop”). It takes place in the same universe, and Michelle Yeoh once again plays mainland Chinese cop Yang Chien Hua (NOT “Jessica Yang”), and Uncle Bill is here, and Jackie Chan makes a cameo appearance as Chia Chu in a scene that barely has anything to do with the story where he has a fake pair of laughing tits, and Eric Tsang is in that scene too, and there’s a girl named May who is not the same May (Maggie Cheung) from the Police Story movies, and…what was I talking about? Oh yeah…this isn’t a “true” sequel. Whatever that means.

Yang Chien Hua’s boyfriend (doesn’t really seem like the type to have one, does she?) is played by Yu Rong Guang, not Michael Wong as the UK DVD package states. He relocates to Hong Kong to make his fortune doing all sorts of illegal shit, and she gets teamed up with two marginally competent cops named Lung and Ming (Fan Siu Wong and Emil Chow, respectively) to stop him…only she doesn’t know it’s him at first. The eye-rolling melodrama can be seen miles away.

There’s one bad guy who goes by the name of Mr. Explosive. His specialty is…damn, what was it? Narcotics? Firearms? Forged documents? Pirate versions of Street Fighter video games where Chun Li fights naked? No, wait a minute…wait…oh yeah, right, it was explosives. What I want to know is, how does one conduct day-to-day business with a name like Mr. Explosive? And, for that matter, what about pleasure? I can see it now. He’s sitting in a nightclub, and some scantily clad woman takes the stool (I mean the thing you sit on, not fecal matter) next to his, and he says: “Hey there, gorgeous. My name’s Mr. Explosive. What’s yours?” Would she think he was joking? Would she think he was on drugs? Would she immediately make her excuses and remove herself from the premises? Would she assume that his moniker was an indication of his sexual prowess and that, should she decide to play “hide the salami” with him, she would end up with a fist-sized hole in her back due to some ungodly degree of ejaculatory pressure the likes of which has never been seen before? This is the kind of thing you’ll think about during the film’s boring parts, and, sorry to say, there are quite a few of them.

One of the film’s saving graces, however, is that Lung and Ming aren’t complete boobs, as one might expect. When they are first paired up with Hua, an unwritten formula pops into your mind, indicating that she’s going to have to bail these two f*ckwits out of trouble time and again, but…while she’s clearly more seasoned than they are…they actually manage to do something right once in a while. The film’s other saving grace is the ending, which teaches us (“us” meaning those who aren’t smart enough to figure it out for themselves) that love is a crock, so don’t even bother.

Action scenes are few in number and somewhat lacking in intensity. The best ones are the hostage rescue scenario at the very beginning, which constantly gets interrupted for film credits on an otherwise blank screen (bra-fucking-vo), and Michelle’s fight with a white guy who looks to be about a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier than her. Apart from that, it’s mostly Police Story 3-style shooting and stunts, which is not to say it’ll put you to sleep, but c’mon, Michelle’s real talents lie in KICKING ass, not blowing it away.

I recommend Project S to anyone looking for an action movie that fails to leave any lasting impression on the viewer, with the possible exception of Michelle Yeoh performing the splits while wearing a knee-length skirt. It doesn’t suck, but it’s not great either.

Numskull’s Rating: 5/10

By James H.

“Supercop 2″ is not so much a sequel, but a spin-off. It stars Michelle Yeoh of Police Story III: Supercop” fame. Supposedly, she plays the same character as in “Police Story III”, but I’m not too sure of that. Her character doesn’t seem to exhibit the same characteristics as in “Police Story III”. Anyway, the plot of “Supercop 2” concerns Inspector Jessica Yang (Yeoh) travelling to Hong Kong to aid a pair of rather inept police officers crack a case. To make things worse, Jessica’s boyfriend, David, is somehow involved as well.

Stanley Tong’s direction shines in this film. It has some very nice action set pieces, and some decent fights. These are definitely the highlights of the film. There is a very nice car chase, and the flooding of the tunnel was pretty damn cool too.

The film is marred mainly from the acting and the lack of characterization. Yeoh’s screen time is cut short because she has to share the screen with the two aforementioned inept cops. Also, the writers could have developed the relationship between Jessica and David more and the issues that followed.

Basically a good movie. Could have been better, could have been worse. It ends up as being a standard action flick. Oh yeah, lest we forget Jackie Chan’s cameo. It has no relation to the story at all, and looks like a scene cut from one of the “Police Story” movies. However, it is worth it to see Jackie in drag.

James H’s Rating: 5.5/10

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

PTU | aka Police Tactical Unit (2003) Review

Posted on October 4, 2011 by JJ Bona
"PTU" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“PTU” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Johnnie To
Cast: Simon Yam Tat Wah, Lam Suet, Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Eddie Ko Hung, Wong Wa Wo, Lo Hoi Pang
Running Time: 88 min.

By Alexander

PTU certainly isn’t one of Johnnie To’s best efforts, but it does manage to offer up a few surprises, and another excellent performance by Simon Yam (Bullet in the Head). The film meanders a lot during the first hour and it’s easy to lose patience with what amounts to little more than a police tactical unit walking through the dimly lit streets of Hong Kong. The plot advances here and there, primarily in the bits involving Lam Suet’s bumbling anti-crime sergeant as he searches for his missing gun, but PTU doesn’t really kick into gear (albeit a low one, like…second) until the last half hour. The snail-paced advancement of the plot is somewhat redeemed when the various threads begin to converge, but even this enjoyment was tempered by a deluge of coincidences and what-the-f*ck moments.

While PTU is one of the better Hong Kong films of the past few years (the creative use of lighting and the atmospheric score alone set it apart), I couldn’t shake the feeling that this movie would have been great (and on par with other fantastic crime dramas like The Blood Rules and the To-produced The Longest Nite) had it aimed to be a short film instead. At sixty minutes, this would have been a classic.

Alexander’s Rating: 7.5/10

By Equinox21

I can’t begin to tell you what a relief it is to see Johnny To back doing a cops vs. gangsters movie. It’s been two years since his brilliant Fulltime Killer came out, and I’ve been anxiously waiting for PTU since the day I heard about it. If one were to make a movie like his terrific 1999 piece, The Mission, but instead focus it on members of the Hong Kong Police Tactical Unit and not the bodyguards of a gang boss, you’d get 2003’s PTU.

The movie’s events all take place over one night. It begins when Sergeant Lo Sa (Lam Suet [The Mission, Running Out of Time 2, and tons of other Johnny To films]), head of the Anti-Crime Division, is ambushed by a bunch of punks under the leadership of Ponytail and left beaten and bloody in an alley. When the PTU arrives to help him, his friend Sergeant Mike Ho (Simon Yam [Fulltime Killer, oh… you know who he is!]) alerts him to the fact that his gun is missing. Thinking the punks must have taken it, Sergeant Lo asks Mike to help him track down the missing gun and not to report it to the superintendent until the morning, if they can’t find it by then. Mike agrees and they split up and begin to search. At the same time that Sergeant Lo is being beaten in the alley by Ponytail’s men, Ponytail himself is stabbed and dies. Enter CID investigator Leigh Cheng (Ruby Wong [Expect the Unexpected]), who is trying to figure out who killed Ponytail. All the threads of the movie come together at the end, in a terrifically satisfying way. Great acting all around!

While I don’t know how realistic this movie is, it really blew me away in the same way The Mission did. While The Mission had more action through the entire movie, there isn’t a shot fired through most of PTU. But it felt more real, in the sense that the firing of guns was not taken lightly in this movie. It wasn’t a situation where there’s a shoot-out every few minutes between cops and gangsters, it’s a much more realistic. Human life is not simply thrown away at the pull of a trigger as it is in so many other Hong Kong films.

The mood of PTU is established through the excellent lighting and the amazing music. Since the entire movie takes place at night, all the lighting comes from street lights, lighted signs and, on occasion, overhead lighting when people are inside. This makes it feel more tense, as you can’t see what’s around the next dark corner and neither can the police. The movie moved very slowly, but not in a bad way. It more sauntered through than rushed head long. This was really felt through the slow walking of the groups of PTU officers on patrol, overlaid with terrific music. The score, done by Chung Chi Wing (composer from The Mission), was absolutely perfect for this movie. Johnny To has a habit of using really great music in his movies, and he sure knows how to pick his composers to get the biggest bang for the buck. This all set a really unique feel for a cop movie.

PTU is a perfect compliment to The Mission. Both are similar in a way, but take opposite looks at the criminal/law enforcement world. I’d heard many good things about PTU before it came out, and they were all warranted. Don’t expect a big action movie, but another Johnny To piece that you simply have to feel to enjoy.

Equinox21’s Raiting: 9/10

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Sexy Rangers DVD (Cinema Epoch)

Posted on October 3, 2011 by JJ Bona
Sexy Rangers DVD (Cinema Epoch)

Sexy Rangers DVD (Cinema Epoch)

RELEASE DATE: December 6, 2011

Evil has met its match! Five ordinary high school girls turn into fighter rangers when a gigantic monster shows up to terrorize their town. Giant robots and cute Japanese chicks? I’m there. Directed by Shinji Nishikawa and starring Marie Sukegawa and Yuzuki Aikawa. Check out clip 1 and clip 2.

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

Love Exposure DVD (Olive Films)

Posted on October 3, 2011 by JJ Bona
Love Exposure DVD (Olive Films)

Love Exposure DVD (Olive Films)

RELEASE DATE: December 20, 2011

Four hours of love, family, lust, religion and the art of upskirt photography. Love Exposure is written and directed by Sion Sono (Cold Fish) and stars Takahiro Nishijima, Hikari Mitsushima and Sakura Ando. The film took home the Caligari Film Award and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. Check out the NSFW trailer.

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

Kill A Dragon DVD (MGM)

Posted on October 3, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Kill a Dragon" American Theatrical Poster

"Kill a Dragon" American Theatrical Poster

RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2011

When a dangerous load of TNT lands on a beach near Hong Kong, the islanders claim it as their own. The owner wants it back and threatens to blow up the island. To the rescue: Jack Palance and a group of martial arts experts! 1967’s Kill a Dragon stars Jack Palance, Fernando Lamas and Aldo Ray. Check out the trailer.

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

Blu-Ray and DVD Releases for 10/4/11

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Z Ravas

Once upon a time, Jet Li kicked ass in China and America

And we’re back! Check out our handy list of Blu-ray and DVD releases for the coming week of 10/4/11. Be advised that a few of the titles on this list are Imports but we have labeled what Region they are whenever possible. Most of you guys have All-Region players anyway, right?

ASIAN CINEMA

Once Upon a Time in China & America (blu-ray) – a hi-def release for Sammo Hung’s 1997 martial arts movie starring Jet Li, which drew the ire of Jackie Chan when he felt Sammo had stolen his idea for “Shanghai Noon.” The disc is listed as an IMPORT but it’s Region A/1 and with English subtitles

Harakiri (blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection presents a hi-definition transfer of this 1962 Japanese samurai film, which won a Special Jury Prize at the ’63 Cannes Film Festival

Higanjima: Escape From Vampire Island (blu-ray + DVD Combo) – Funimation releases this 2009 Japanese action-horror film from the Korean director of “Volcano High,” about an island overrun by vampires

I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (DVD) – the director of “Oldboy” presents this 2006 quirky love story set in a mental institution, finally on DVD from Pathfinder Pictures

Deep Gold (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 deep sea action-thriller from the Philippines was released in 3D over there

Space Battleship Yamato (blu-ray) – Amazon will have an IMPORT (Region currently unlisted) available of this 2010 Japanese science-fiction movie, with a hefty price tag of $47.49

FOREIGN

Phase 7 (DVD) – this 2011 Spanish language chiller set in a quarantined building won rave reviews in the festival circuit

Amer (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2009 French film is presented as an homage to 1970’s Italian horror movies from directors like Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Released by Olive Pictures

Salo (blu-ray) – impress your friends with a hi-definition release of Pier Pasolini’s 1975 most shocking and disturbing film of all time, courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Cinema Paradiso (blu-ray) – this 1988 nostalgic classic of Italian cinema from director Giuseppe Tornatore arrives on blu-ray for the first time

Julia’s Eyes (blu-ray) – Amazon will have a Region B/2 IMPORT of this 2010 Spanish language horror film, presented by “Pan’s Labyrinth” director Guillermo Del Toro

MAINSTREAM

Fast Five (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2011 box office smash features one of the best onscreen tussles since Godzilla vs. King Kong when Vin Diesel and The Rock throwdown

Pulp Fiction (blu-ray) – Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 modern crime movie masterpiece gets the hi-def treatment. You can bet John Travolta will be picking up a copy

Jackie Brown (blu-ray) – Tarantino’s lesser regarded but still great 1997 crime flick will also see a blu-ray release this week

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (blu-ray) –  Tim Burton first made a name for himself with this 1985 zany comedy, now on blu-ray

The Lion King (blu-ray + DVD Combo) – Disney’s massively popular 1994 feature animated film arrives on blu-ray for the first time

Being John Malkovich (blu-ray) – Amazon will be selling the All-Region IMPORT blu-ray of this 1999 cult film from director Spike Jonze

Johnny English (blu-ray) – if you must have your Rowan Atikson fix on blu-ray, Amazon will be selling this 2003 film as a Region 2/B IMPORT

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (blu-ray) – perhaps even more disturbing than “Salo” is Tim Burton’s 2005 blasphemy against a children’s classic

ANIMATION

Daft Punk: Interstella 555 (blu-ray) – Daft Punk dance their way onto blu-ray with this hi-def release of their anime musical

Legend of the Millennium Dragon (blu-ray + DVD Combo) – Sony releases this 2011 anime feature film, which won praise for its beautiful animation

HORROR

Scream 4 (blu-ray/DVD) – Wes Craven’s 2011 entry in the arguably tired “Scream” franchise is released on multiple formats

Dead Alive (blu-ray) – Peter Jackson’s beloved 1992 zombie splatterfast makes it way to blu-ray this week

Friday the 13th: The Ultimate Collection (DVD) – you can procure “Friday the 13th” Parts I-VIII in this box set, just don’t go expecting any new-fangled blu-ray technology

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 |

Flaming Brothers, The | aka Dragon and Tiger Fight (1987) Review

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Z Ravas
"The Flaming Brothers" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“The Flaming Brothers” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Joe Cheung
Writer: Wong Kar Wai
Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Alan Tang, Pat Ha Man Jing, Jenny Tseng Yan Lei, Patrick Tse, Philip Chan, James Yi Lui, Norman Chu, Fong Yau, Cheung Chok Chow, Chan Laap Ban
Running Time: 101 min.

By HKFanatic

Chow Yun Fat made this heroic bloodshed film in 1987, smackdab in the middle of “A Better Tomorrow” and “A Better Tomorrow II.” That fact alone will most likely set viewers’ expectations too high. Fans hoping for an action film as good as Chow Yun Fat’s collaborations with John Woo will end up sorely disappointed. While it’s not without its moments, “The Flaming Brothers” lacks the polish and character depth one associates with Woo’s entries in the genre.

Things start off well enough: the first 30 minutes are actually pretty damn good as Chow Yun Fat and Alan Tang play two Triad brothers who grew up together penniless and on the streets. As the film starts, they’re pretty low-level gangster just looking to start a nightclub. Unfortunately, Norman Chu (“The Dragon Family“) comes calling and whenever Chu shows up in a gangster movie you know some bad shit is about to go down. Turns out that Chu works for Mr. Kao (Patrick Tse, father of Nicholas), a top dog in the Triads who wants to use Chow and Alan’s nightclub as a front for his drug operation. Alan Tang turns him down since, much like Don Corleone in “The Godfather,” drugs are the one area of business he wants no part in. The duo’s snubbing of Mr. Kao sets into motion a series of events that will turn everybody’s lives into a living hell.

“The Flaming Brothers” is excellent when it sticks to depicting the glamor and danger of the Triad lifestyle. But during the second half of the story, the two brothers split up and engage in romantic subplots and the film flounders as a result. At first I thought Alan Tang was going to steal this movie from Chow Yun Fat – a seemingly impossible task but Tang is smooth, cocky, and fearless as a Triad gangster and he looks like he was born to wear a tailored suit. Unfortunately, once Tang makes a detour to Thailand and has an embarrassing incident with two Thai prostitutes (“Oh, you Superman!” says one of them in bad English), his character lost his edge and never recovered it for me. Tang spends the rest of the movie being an ass to his love interest (Jenny Tseng), even going so far as to lock her in a closet for no reason.

Once Tang no longer possesses the audience’s sympathy, it’s up to Chow Yun Fat to carry the film. However, he’s saddled with a syrupy love story and doesn’t get to wield a gun until the very end of the movie. It just so happens that one day Fat runs into an old childhood friend (Pat Ha), who now teaches at a Catholic school in Macao when she’s not working at a 7-11 back home in Hong Kong (what?!). The two strike up a relationship, mostly the result of a baby-faced Chow doing his best to make Pat Ha fall for him despite her knowledge that he’s a gangster. These scenes aren’t terrible but they sure are predictable, and all the 80’s fluff (like Chow Yun Fat dressed as Boy George and miming some Cantopop for an old folk’s home) clashes with what is supposed to be a hardcore Triad flick. Just when you think everyone is going to ride off happily into the sunset, Mr. Kuo rears his head. People die, oaths of revenge are sworn, and you know Someone Must Pay.

“Flaming Brothers” really is ‘just another Chow Yun Fat gangster movie’ but it is notable for the fact that it was an early script from future auteur Wong Kar-Wai (“Chunking Express“), who incorporates a surprising amount of Catholic religion into the story. However, there’s little in the script that suggests how great a storyteller Wong Kar-Wai would become. The plot and the way it unfolds are completely routine except for a few lively bits of action, and it all concludes on a note of nihilism for the sake of nihilism. Instead of earning its tragic ending like “The Killer,” this movie just left me feeling unfulfilled after the story’s denouement.

If you’re watching “Flaming Brothers” solely for the shootouts, you’re more likely to get some entertainment value out of it. There’s a sequence in Thailand that features more squibs and bullet-holes than a Paul Verhoeven movie, and the climax is a terrifically violent ‘heroic bloodshed’ finale with the bonus of taking place in the novel location of a horse stable. Director Tung Cho ‘Joe’ Cheung (“Pom Pom & Hot Hot”) makes judicious use of slow motion, letting us know he’s a John Woo disciple. “Flaming Brothers” is not the best Triad flick out there but it offers enough visceral thrills that fans of old-fashioned Hong Kong shoot-outs will want to sit down and watch it at some point. Just make sure you’ve seen Chow Yun Fat’s work with John Woo first…though on second thought, that might make “Flaming Brothers” even more underwhelming.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 6.5/10

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

Trailer for the South Korean action film ‘Countdown’

Posted on September 29, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Countdown" Korean Theatrical Poster

"Countdown" Korean Theatrical Poster

A debt collector finds out he has liver cancer. In order to live, he must get a liver transplant in the next 10 days from an ex-convict woman, who apparently has a matching organ. The woman agrees to donate part of her liver only if the debt collector tracks down the one responsible for putting her in prison.

Countdown is directed by Heo Jong-ho and stars Jeon Do-Youn (The Housemaid) and Jung Jae-Young (Public Enemy Returns).

Check out the trailer.

Posted in News |

Prachya Pinkaew’s ‘The Kick’ Trailer

Posted on September 29, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Kick" Korean Theatrical Poster

"The Kick" Korean Theatrical Poster

The Kick is a Thailand/South Korean co-production directed by Prachya Pinkaew (Tom Yum Goong). The film is about Korean family of Taekwondo experts who immigrate to Thailand. The film stars Cho Jae-hyun (Bad Guy), Yea Ji-won (Hanji), Yanin Vismistananda (Chocolate) and Petchtai Wongkamlao (Ong Bak 3). The Kick marks the first movie ever to be produced between Thailand and South Korea.

Check out the trailers here. – Thanks to The Amazing Psycho Per for the tip!

Posted in News |

Dragon Family, The (1988) Review

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Z Ravas
"The Dragon Family" Chinese DVD Cover

“The Dragon Family” Chinese DVD Cover

Director: Lau Kar Wing
Cast: Alan Tam, Andy Lau, Max Mok Siu Chung, Ken Tong Chun Yip, Norman Chu, Michael Miu Kiu Wai, William Ho Ka Kui, Lisa Chiao Chiao, Stanley Fung, Kent Cheng, Ku Feng, Lau Kar Wing, Shing Fui On, Philip Ko Fei, Wayne Archer, Charlie Cho, Kara Hui Ying Hung, Blacky Ko
Running Time: 88 min.

By HKFanatic

Andy Lau and Alan Tam must have had a good offscreen friendship during the late 80’s or 90’s, or maybe the same agent, since they managed to star in at least three movies together in that period. Thankfully, the two actors made for quite the dynamic duo, especially in action films. Much like in their ’91 collaboration “The Last Blood,” Andy and Alan are two of the only ones left standing for the heroic bloodshed-style finale at the end of “The Dragon Family.”

And what an ending it is: “Dragon Family” features what has to be the one of the earliest instances of gun fu as Alan Tam, Andy Lau, and Max Mok take on a warehouse of evil Triad scum with guns blazing, martial arts fighting, and even some fencing, all choreographed by Lau Kar-leung (“36th Chamber of Shaolin,” “Mad Monkey Kung Fu“). Kar-leung has a small supporting role and the film itself was directed by his younger brother, Lau Kar-wing. Although “Dragon Family” isn’t exactly heralded as a classic, the climax is one of the best Hong Kong shootouts I’ve seen outside of a John Woo movie.

By its release in 1988, “Dragon Family” was probably the 100th retelling of Coppola’s “The Godfather” in a Triad setting but, you know what, it works. The script takes its time setting up the story which means the film moves at a slower pace, but it also means we get to know the characters well enough that we actually care about them when the shit does hit the fan. Ko Chun Hsiung plays the head of the Dragon Family, a true Don Corleone figure if there ever was one. Hsiung is a the most kind and fair Triad leader you could possibly imagine – he even forgives his accountant for losing track of $4 million HK dollars. He’s also a loving father, despite being immersed in the underworld.

Hsiung has only one rule: if you’re part of his Triad family, you can’t deal in drugs. Anyone caught dealing in drugs will be executed, no questions asked. Early in the film we see Alan Tam, one of Hsiung’s surrogate sons and and enforcers, march into a crowded office complex and murder a man in cold blood with the emotional detachment of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the first “Terminator.” Turns out the portly fellow, now deceased, had been dealing drugs. Shortly after the killing, Alan Tam is shuttled off to Taiwan to lay low; he’ll be absent for most of the film but come back in a big way during the ending.

Unfortunately, Hsiung’s harsh stance against drugs will be his downfall. The execution of ‘Golden Teeth Shing’ upsets one of the other four leading Brothers in the Dragon Family, played by Ku Feng. Ku Feng teams up with the Family’s accountant (William Ho), a spineless worm of a man, to plot Hsiung’s demise. Once their associate played by Norman Chu returns from the Phillipines, having spent two years there negotiating heroin traffic into Hong Kong, the three men set in motion a dark plan that will lead to the downfall of Hsiung and his sons. Soon the stage is set for a bloody tale of revenge, including a shocking moment at a funeral that has to be seen to be believed.

If there’s a downside to “Dragon Family” besides its slow pace, it’s the fact that the Region 1 DVD’s subtitles are horrendous. I can deal with a faded, scratchy image as long as the aspect ratio is correct; however, half the subtitles don’t make any sense and read like they were translated backwards. You really have to pay attention to be able to follow the story at all. I believe the disc was put out by Tai Seng in 2004; this has to be one of their worst efforts. Hardcore fans might be better off springing for the Hong Kong all-region DVD, just to see if the subtitles on that version are remotely readable.

Performance-wise, “Dragon Family” is excellent. Ko Chun Hsiung is a natural as the honorable patriarch of the Family. Alan Tam may be more popular as a singer than a movie star but he was one of the most charismatic Hong Kong actors of his era. His unconventional good looks are at home in front of the camera and he clearly took to Lau Kar-leung’s action choreography as well, from the scenes of him rolling backwards off crates and diving onto the floor, pistols blazing. Andy Lau was still early in his career here but he manages to give a more subdued and natural performance unlike in “The Last Blood.” During the final battle there’s a shot of him leaning back on the floor, firing away with a pistol in his bandaged hand, that has to be the most bad-ass Andy has ever looked.

At first glance, there’s not much to differentiate “Dragon Family” from the dozens of other Triad flicks from the 80’s. But much like “Tiger on Beat,” also choreographed by Lau Kar-leung, it has a showstopper of an ending that’s worth waiting for. There might not be an ideal way to view “Dragon Family” for English speakers, but for my money it’s worth putting up with gibberish subtitles just to get to the finale. It’s cliche but true: ‘They don’t make ’em like this anymore.’ If you have any passion for heroic bloodshed or ‘bullet ballet’ films, then “Dragon Family” is a must see.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7.5/10

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

Netflix Instant Asian Film Archive

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Z Ravas

Have sword, will travel

Here’s a look at select Asian titles streaming on Netflix Instant. Be advised that a few of these films are only available on streaming [dubbed] in English and that earlier movies on this list may have expired:

11/4/12

White Vengeance (2011) – a Chinese historical epic from the director of “Black Mask,” Daniel Lee. Streaming in HD

The Viral Factor (2012) – Dante Lam directs this explosive Hong Kong action flick starring Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou. Streaming in HD

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011) – John Woo produced this Taiwanese epic about the aborigines’ battle against the Japanese Imperial army. Streaming in HD

My Way (2011) – one of the most successful Korean films of all time, this tells the story of two friends – one Korean, one Japanese – as they are separated and reunited during the war. Streaming in HD

Fireball (2009) – this Thai action movie combines basketball with the brutal martial art of Muay Thai. Streaming in HD

Wind Blast (2010) – a modern Chinese action picture with a Western spin, co-starring Francis Ng. Streaming in HD

Butterfly Sword (1993) – a high-flying wuxia from the director of “A Chinese Ghost Story,” starring Michelle Yeoh, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, and Donnie Yen. Streaming in HD

Dragon Lord (1982) – Jackie Chan directs and stars in this vintage martial arts picture. Streaming in HD but [dubbed]

Riki-Oh: Story of Ricky (1991) – the outrageously violent Hong Kong cult classic. Streaming in HD

Gothic & Lolita Psycho (2010) – also known as “Psycho Gothic Lolita,” this Japanese splatter/action flick comes in the vein of “The Machine Girl.” Streaming in HD

Hana & Alice (2003) – a drama about two teenage friends divided by their mutual attraction for a boy. From the acclaimed director of “All About Lily Chou-Chou,” Shunji Iwai

Hansel & Gretel (2007) – this Korean horror film unfolds as a dark fairy tale for adults. Highly recommended. Streaming in HD

Headshot (2011) – in this acclaimed Thai thriller, a hitman recovers from a bullet to the head and discovers he now sees everything upside down. Streaming in HD

Kagemusha (1980) – a drama set in Medieval Japan from internationally renown director Akira Kurosawa. Streaming in HD

Mutant Girls Squad (2010) – the latest shocking Japanese splatterflick from Sushi Typhoon. Streaming in HD

Salvage Mice (2011) – an obscure martial arts beat-em-up from Japan, featuring a cast of female fighters. Streaming in HD

Jan Dara (2001) – this controversial Thai drama co-stars Hong Kong starlet Christy Cheung in a tale of sexual obsession

Blood Brothers (2007) – a glossy remake of John Woo’s “Bullet in the Head” set in 1930’s Shanghai, starring Daniel Wu and Shu Qi

I Wish (2011) – a heartfelt Japanese drama about two young brothers separated by their parents’ divorce. Streaming in HD

7/16/12

The Chaser (2008) – this grim ‘n gritty film is a must see for fans of Korean revenge flicks. Streaming in HD

Dark Forest of Death (2006) – four campers become stranded in this Korean horror movie. Streaming in HD

Finding Mr. Destiny (2010) – a woman tries to reunite with her first love in this winsome Korean romantic comedy. Streaming in HD

Glove (2001) – a Korean baseball drama. Streaming in HD

Open City (2008) – a Korean drama about pick-pockets. Streaming in HD

Parallel Life (2010) – a newly appointed judge discovers the tragic events of his life mirror those of a judge who lived 30 years ago in this Korean drama. Streaming in HD

Private Eye (2012) – a private detective is on the case of a mysterious murder in this Korean period thriller. Streaming in HD

Punch (2011) – based on a popular young adult novel, this Korean coming of age tale follows a poor kid living in the slums and the cranky teacher who inspires him. Streaming in HD

See You After School (2006) – in this Korean film, a geeky kid picks a fight with the school bully before he realizes what he’s done. Streaming in HD

Silenced (2011) – based on a true story, this haunting Korean drama follows a teacher as he tries to uncover abuse at a school for the hearing impaired. Streaming in HD

Sunny (2011) – a Korean film about a group of seven female friends preparing for a dance festival. Streaming in HD

The Story of Mr. Sorry (2009) – a bizarre and surreal Korean animated film about a shy man who suddenly shrinks down to the size of a spider. Streaming in HD

The Shock Labyrinth (2009) – set in a haunted amusement park, this new experience in terror arrives from “The Grudge” director Takashi Shimizu. Streaming in HD

Norwegian Wood (2010) – a melancholy Japanese love story based on the novel by internationally acclaimed author Haruki Murakami. Streaming in HD

Blood: The Last Vampire (2009) – a live-action adaptation of the popular anime from the French director of “Kiss of the Dragon.” Streaming in HD on your TV

In the Mood For Love (2001) – Wong Kar-Wai’s modern romantic classic starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Maggie Cheung

Sector 7 (2011) – a group of oil riggers are besieged by a deadly sea monster in this special FX-infused Korean movie. Streaming in HD

6/24/12

Battle Royale (2000) – it’s ‘Lord of the Flies’…with machine guns! Streaming in HD

Battle Royale II (2003) – the sequel was not as well received, though. Streaming in HD

Let the Bullets Fly (2010) – Chow Yun Fat plays the bad guy in a blood-splattered Chinese homage to the spaghetti Western. Streaming in HD

6/18/12

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010) – Tsui Hark’s visually stunning wuxia-detective story, featuring Andy Lau in the title role. Streaming in HD

The Twins Effect 2 AKA Blade of Kings (2004) – a martial arts fantasy from Hong Kong, featuring appearances by Donnie Yen and Jackie Chan

Attack the Gas Station Part 2 (2010) – a sequel to the popular Tarantino-esque Korean film. Streaming in HD

Blood Rain (2006) – a murder mystery set in early 19th century Korea. Streaming in HD

The Curse of February 29th (2006) – a grisly Korean horror flick revolving around Feb 29th. Streaming in HD

Ghost (2010) – believe it or not, this is a Korean remake of the famous Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore movie. Streaming in HD

Lump of Sugar (2006) – a Korean film about the bond between a young girl and her horse, named Thunder. Streaming in HD

My Scary Girl (2006) – a college lecturer finds out his new love may not be as sane as she appears in this Korean romantic comedy. Streaming in HD

Over the Border (2006) – a South Korean family flee to the North when they lose everything in this drama. Streaming in HD

Project Makeover (2007) – a fashion assistant tries to become a designer in this Korean comedy. Streaming in HD

The Recipe (2010) – an inspiration Korean drama revolving around a death row inmate’s one of a kind recipe. Streaming in HD

Sex is Zero II (2007) – Korean college kids are up to all sorts of hijinks in this sex comedy. Streaming in HD

White (2011) – an all-girl pop group gets more than they bargained for when they record a haunted song in this Korean horror film. Streaming in HD

Hwang Jin Yi (2007) – in 16th century Korea, a well-to-do woman purposefully chooses the life of a commoner. Streaming in HD

5/25/12

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006) – Nicholas Tse and Donnie Yen headline this martial arts fantasy in the “Storm Riders” vein [dubbed]

Full Contact (1992) – a classic early 90′s Hong Kong action film from director Ringo Lam that features plenty ‘o testosterone, spent bullets, and Chow Yun Fat [dubbed]

House of Fury (2005) – actor Stephen Fung steps behind the camera to direct this action/comedy about a family of super spy martial artists [dubbed]

Initial D: Special Edition (2005) – Jay Chou is in the driver’s seat for this Hong Kong film based on the popular Japanese anime about racing [dubbed]

Kung Fu Fighter (2007) – considered by many to be a rip-off of “Kung Fu Hustle.” You may want to pass on this one since it’s [dubbed]

4/20/12

Fire of Conscience (2010) – one of Dante Lam’s best films is a gritty cop tale starring Leon Lai and Richie Ren. Streaming in HD

Punished (2011) – a dark Hong Kong revenge film, produced by Johnnie To and starring Anthony Wong and Richie Ren. Streaming in HD

War of the Arrows (2011) – this bloody Robin Hood-esque tale was a smash hit at the Korean box office. Streaming in HD

Ocean Heaven (2010) – Jet Li stretches his acting chops in this heart-warming father/son story. Streaming in HD

Yakuza Weapon (2011) – more gory madness from Japanese production house Sushi Typhoon, starring Tak Sakaguchi of “Versus” fame. Streaming in HD

4/2/12

Flash Point (2007) – Donnie Yen headlines one of the best modern Hong Kong action flicks of the past ten years. Streaming in HD

A Tale of Two Sisters (2004) – the terrifying Korean horror tale that launched the career of director Kim Ji-woon (“I Saw the Devil”)

Triad Election (2006) – the sequel to “Election” is Johnnie To’s electrifying tale of Triad deception and manipulation

A World Without Thieves (2004) – Andy Lau headlines this big-budget Chinese film about international thieves

Romeo Must Die (2000) – Jet Li’s urban take on “Romeo & Juliet” proved to be one of his more successful American ventures. Streaming in HD

Samaritan Girl (2004) – Korean bad boy director Kim Ki-duk offers this tale of a teenage prostitute

Shutter (2004) – this Thai tale of a camera that captures ghosts is exactly the kind of Asian horror flick you’d expect

Oldboy (2003) – this Korean revenge tale most likely needs no introduction to Cityonfire.com readers

Phone (2004) – you may want to think twice before answering the phone in this Korean horror flick

The Quest (1996) – Jean Claude Van Damme made his directorial debut with this glorified remake of “Bloodsport” that is actually pretty damn good. Streaming in HD

R-Point (2004) – this South Korean military horror flick is set during the Vietnam War and quite effective in its chills

The Heroic Duo (2003) – Hong Kong actors Ekin Cheng and Leon Lai team up for action maestro Benny Chan film that somehow feels less than the sum of its parts

The Maid (2005) – an Asian horror film courtesy of the Philippines, which actually ended up breaking box office records there

Enter the Dragon (1973) – okay, yeah, not much I can add here. This Bruce Lee film is an institution. Streaming in HD

Face (2004) – this Korean horror film involves a conspiracy around organ theft

Ghost of Mae Nak (2005) – more creepy Asian horror, this time courtesy of a British director and a Thai cast

The Ghost (2004) – a college girl suffers from amnesia as her friends are killed off by various water-related incidents in this Korean horror flick

Carved: The Slit Mouthed Woman (2007) – a Japanese horror film about the mysterious slit mouthed woman, who is presumably up to no good

Cinderella (2006) – an art school student fears her plastic surgeon mother is up to no good in this Korean horror movie

Divergence (2005) – director Benny Chan delivers a cast of Hong Kong regulars including Daniel Wu, Aaron Kwok, and Ekin Cheng in this action flick

Dorm (2006) – a Thai horror film set in, where else, but a dormroom

Bloody Reunion (2006) – a high school reunion ends up bloody in this Korean horror film

Ab-Normal Beauty (2004) – a young photographer discovers a disturbing fascination with death in this horror film from one half of the Pang Brothers

Broken Arrow (1996) – one of John Woo’s more successful American ventures, starring John Travolta and Christian Slater. Streaming in HD on your TV

Mandril (2009) – the bad guy from “Undisputed III,” Marko Zaror, breaks out in his own spy-action movie. Streaming in HD

The Assailant (2009) – the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira gets its own spotlight at last with this film based on a true story. Streaming in HD

1911 (2011) – Jackie Chan goes all political for his 100th film, this Chinese historical piece. Streaming in HD

My Kingdom (2011) – a Chinese historical romance with the occasional flair for action, featuring Yuen Biao and Rongguang Yu in supporting roles. Streaming in HD

3/1/2012

Outrage (2010) – Takeski Kitano’s outrageously violent Yakuza thriller comes to Netflix. Streaming in HD

Dororo (2008) – a Japanese action/fantasy film based on the popular manga by the creator of Astro Boy. Streaming in HD

Wushu (2008) – a Mandarin-language martial arts film aimed at younger audiences and produced by Jackie Chan. Streaming in HD

Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011) – the Cityonfire.com favorite Mixed Martial Arts flick directed by and starring Michael Jai White. Streaming in HD on TV

Midnight Eagle (2007) – a suspenseful Japanese action-adventure film based on a popular novel. Streaming in HD

Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965) – it’s Godzilla vs. Monster Zero AKA the three-headed menace Ghidorah

Ran (1985) – legendary Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa retells Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear as a samurai epic. Streaming in HD

1/27/12

Beginning of the Great Revival (2011) – a history of the rise of the Communist Party, featuring Hong Kong heavies like Andy Lau and Daniel Wu in “blink and you’ll miss them” cameos. Streaming in HD

Dynamite Warrior (2006) – a mystical Thai martial arts movie starring Dan Chupong, co-star of Muay Thai Stunt Team flicks like “Born to Fight,” “Ong Bak 3,” and “Muay Thai Giant”

Exiled (2007) – a gritty gangster picture about loyalty and brotherhood from the master of the genre, Johnnie To. Starring top actors Anthony Wong and Francis Ng. Streaming in HD

Audition (1999) – Takashi Miike’s landmark horror film shocked audiences around the world and helped put his name on the map. Wanna know why Miike himself has a cameo in “Hostel”? This is it

Caterpillar (2010) – acclaimed Japanese director Kôji Wakamatsu tells the story of a soldier who returns gravely injured from the Second Sino-Japanese War

United Red Army (2007) – Kôji Wakamatsu’s critically acclaimed docudrama details the political unrest in Japan during the early 1970’s. Streaming in HD

Kiltro (2006) – Chilean stuntman and martial artist Marko Zaror of “Undisputed III” fame stars in this kung fu film by way of Latin America. Streaming in HD

Oliver Stone Presents: Bang Rajan (2007) – set in 18th century Thailand as 11 villagers stand their ground against an invasion of the Burmese Army. At only 71 minutes, there is word this film heavily cut for its Western release

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003) – the original “Ong Bak” and most would still say the best. This bone-crunching martial arts flick announced Tony Jaa as an international talent to watch. Streaming in HD

Tears of the Black Tiger (2002) – a hallucinatory spaghetti Western-style film from Thailand. Unfortunately, the version available on streaming is the Miramax edit as opposed to Magnolia’s DVD release so it’s cut by 30 minutes. Streaming in HD

The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman (2010) – Doug Liman of “Go” and “Bourne Identity” fame presents this Chinese action-comedy told from multiple perspectives. Streaming in HD

Mirageman (2007) – Mark Zaror of “Kiltro” and “Undisputed III” returns with a comedic martial arts take on the superhero genre. Streaming in HD

Triple Tap (2010) – Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Yee (“Shinjuku Incident”) directs Louis Koo and Daniel Wu against each other in this action-thriller. Streaming in HD

1/1/12

A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) – the supernatural kung fu love story that would become a Hong Kong new-wave classic, starring the late great Leslie Cheung. Streaming in HD

A Chinese Ghost Story 2 (1990) – director Ching Siu-Tung (“Swordsman” series) returns for the sequel to his landmark film. Streaming in HD

A Chinese Ghost Story 3 (1991) – a loosely related sequel, produced by Tsui Hark and once again directed by Ching Siu-Tung. Streaming in HD

City on Fire (1987) – this is it, the movie that started it all! Chow Yun Fat stars in a gritty crime film directed by Ringo Lam, which would go on to inspire Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs.” Streaming in HD

Swordsman (1990) – Ching Siu-Tung of “A Chinese Ghost Story” fame directs the first entry in this popular wuxia series, starring Jacky Cheung. Streaming in HD

Bunraku (2010) – what do you get when you cross the Western with film noir and classic martial arts flicks? Somethign like “Bunraku,” which stars Josh Hartnett, Japanese rock god Gackt, Woody Harrelson, and Ron Perlman. Streaming in HD

Helldriver (2010) – the latest and greatest in blood-soaked Japanese splatterpunk from your friends at Sushi Typhoon, the creators of “Machine Gun Girl” and “Tokyo Gore Police.” Streaming in HD

Cold Fish (2010) – a chilling exercise in real world horror from Sion Sono, the director of “Suicide Club.” Highly recommended for fans of extreme Asian cinema. Streaming in HD

Secret Sunshine (2007) – a powerful and moving Korean language drama, which won a Best Actress award at Cannes for lead actress Jeon Do-yeon

12/14/11

Shaolin (2011) – Benny Chan’s ode to the Shaolin Temple stars Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Fan Bingbing, Wu Jing, and Jackie Chan. Streaming in HD

A Better Tomorrow (2010) – John Woo’s classic heroic bloodshed film is re-imagined as a slick Korean melodrama in this remake. Streaming in HD

Avalon (2001) – from the director of “Ghost in the Shell” comes this Polish language science-fiction film, praised by James Cameron for its stylish and artistic filmmaking. Streaming in HD

A Beautiful Life (2011) – a romantic drama from top Hong Kong director Andrew Lau (“Infernal Affairs”) and starring Shu Qi (“The Transporter,” “So Close”). Streaming in HD

If You Are the One: Love and Marriage (2010) – get a double dose of Shu Qi and romance as she stars in this 2010 romantic comedy. Streaming in HD

11/23/11

The Warring States (2010) – a Chinese historical epic co-starring Francis Ng that combines romance, comedy, and action

Ultraman: Towards the Future (1990) – feeling nostalgic? The early 90’s American version of the Japanese superhero TV show Ultraman is now on streaming

11/19/11

The Haunted Drum (2007) – a Thai horror movie about a musician who has a cursed placed on him

Wu Ho: Undercover Operation (2006) – a Hong Kong Triad movie cashing in on “Infernal Affair’s” success, starring Eric Tsang, Francis Ng, and Jordan Chan

Saviour of the Soul (1993) – Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau, Anita Mui, and Aaron Kwok take center stage in this wire-fu fantasy epic from director Cory Yuen

11/17/11

Zen of Sword (1992) – two lovely and talented ladies, Kara Hui and Cynthia Khan, star in this Hong Kong wire fu spectacle

Heavenly Mission (2006) – Ekin Cheng and Stephen Fung headline this gritty Triad drama

11/16/11

Swordsman 2 (1991) – the classic Jet Li picture is presented on streaming with subtitles so can finally say good-bye to your crappy Miramax dub!

Jet Li’s Fearless (2006) – Jet Li teamed up with “Bride With White Hair” director Ronny Yu for what may end up being Jet’s last truly great martial arts epic

Tai Chi Fist AKA Tai Chi II (1996) – Jacky Wu and Billy Chow star in Yuen Woo-Ping’s ode to Tai Chi, the film that gave Darren Shahlavi of “Ip Man 2″ fame his first big break

The Three Swordsman (1994) – Brigitte Lin and Andy Lau headline this early 90′s wire fu period action flick

Doctor Mack (1995) – Tony Leung Chiu Wai headlines this drama about a doctor who works in the red light district, viewed as an angel to the poor and dispossessed but as an outcast by mainstream society

Cup Unbowed (2004) – Alex Fong plays a cop looking to escape his troubled line of work in this action-packed crime thriller

Dating a Vampire (2006) – in this Hong Kong thriller, two med students become smitten with their beautiful vampire. Only problem is, she’s a vampire

Ghost Mother (2007) – a Thai horror movie about a mommy who returns from the afterlife to protect her kids from vicious drug lords

Slim Till Dead (2005) – Anthony Wong stars in a thriller about the then-popular Hong Kong trend of crash dieting. Directed by Wong Jing so you have been warned

11/15/11

49 Days (2006) – a Hong Kong horror flick starring Stephen Fung and Gillian Chung

C’est La Vie, Mon Cherie (1994) – a Hong Kong romance about love and rock ‘n roll, starring Anita Yuen

Dr. Lamb (1992) – notorious Category III nastiness about a taxi driver who murders for a thrill, starring Simon Yam and Donnie Yen

Eternal Evil of Asia (1995) – another notorious Category III flick, featuring black magic and lots of skin on display

Eye in the Sky (2007) – a Milkyway Production about crime and police surveilance starring Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka Fai

Green Snake (1993) – Tsui Hark’s early 90’s fantasy romance starring Maggie Cheung is a dreamy, sensual masterpiece

Kung Fu Mahjong (2005) – Yuen Wah stars in this slapstick cash-in on the popularity of “Kung Fu Hustle”

Isabella (2006) – from the director of “Dream Home” comes this drama about a fired cop who tries to seduce a young woman, only to discover that she is his long lost daughter

New Legend of Shaolin AKA Legend of the Red Dragon (1994) – Jet Li stars in this off-the-wall martial arts flick co-directed by Wong Jing and Cory Yuen

Perhaps Love (2005) – Takeshi Kaneshiro stars in this romantic musical from “Wuxia” director Peter Chan

Red Trousers (2004) – “Mortal Kombat” actor Robin Shou headlines this half-documentary, half-action flick about Hong Kong stuntment

Rich and Famous (1987) – Chow Yun Fat and Andy Lau headline the first part of this vintage Triad film

Tragic Hero (1987) – the sequel to “Rich and Famous,” featuring one of the most gloriously violent ‘heroic bloodshed’ endings of all time. A must see for Chow Yun Fat fans!

Shamo (2007) – from the director of “Dog Bite Dog” comes this violent adaptation of a manga, co-starring Francis Ng

Treasure Hunt (1994) – action, comedy, romance, and CIA intrigue with Chow Yun Fat

What Women Want (2011) – superstars Andy Lau and Gong Li headline this remake of the American romantic comedy of the same name. Streaming in HD

Yesterday Once More (2004) – Johnnie To directs onscreen super couple Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng in this caper romantic comedy

11/3/11

Shinjuku Incident (2009) – Jackie Chan stretches his acting chops in this gritty drama with violence that will surprise you

The Sky Crawlers (2008) – the director of “Ghost in the Shell,” Mamoru Oshii, helms this meditative and gorgeous-looking anime

Triads: The Inside Story (1989) – this film received a Category III rating in Hong Kong due to its detailed look at Triad initiation rituals. Chow Yun Fat stars in a supporting role

The Stool Pigeon (2010) – Dante Lam’s explosive Hong Kong thriller set in the world of cops and criminal informants stars Nicholas Tse and Nick Cheung

Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010) – a rousing documentary about Filipino exploitation cinema from the 70’s and 80’s, chock full of plenty of clips from the wildest drive-in movies you can imagine

The Warrior’s Way (2009) – one of the biggest stars in Asia, Dong-gun Jang, stars in this green-screened action movie that combines Eastern sword-slaying with a Western setting

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) – not an Asian movie but it does features Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon Lee, in one of his precious few starring roles. Alongside him is that lumbering hunk of a man, Dolph Lundgren, in this action-packed buddy flick

10/15/11

The Wall (2002) – a Hong Kong crime thriller starring Jordan Chan, from director Marco Mak

The Unseeable (2006) – Thai horror film about a small town woman whose lover may be more than human

Tokyo Gore School (2009) – Japanese horror film about students pitted against each other by an mysterious website

Tiramisu (2002) – Dante Lam directs this ghostly Hong Kong love story starring Nicolas Tse

To Catch a Virgin Ghost (2004) – this Korean horror-comedy has gangsters stuck in a haunted town

Siamese Outlaws (2004) – Thai action/crime flick about crooks who end up at each other’s throats when it comes time to split the money

Shiver (2003) – Francis Ng stars in this Chinese language horror film about a marriage on the rocks after the wife is injured in a robbery

The Show Must Go On (2007) – Korean drama starring Song Kang-ho (“The Host”) as a family man who also happens to be a criminal kingpin

Short Time (2005) – Korean film about a corrupt cop who learns he has a brain tumor

Screen at Kamchanod (2007) – Thai horror movie concerning a rumor that film projectionists screened a movie for an audience of ghosts

Searching for the Elephant (2009) – Korean drama about a gorup of childhood friends who each suffer from a social disorder

Running on Empty (2010) – Japanese film about a fed-up girlfriend who stages a kidnapping in order to get back the money her ex-boyfriend owes her

The Righteous Thief (2009) – Korean film about a descendent of Robin Hood who fights corrupt businessmen

On the Edge (2006) – Hong Kong crime drama about an undercover cop played by Nick Cheung who has difficulty recovering from his time spent in the underworld

Once Upon a Time in Corea (2008) – Comedy-adventure film from Korea about the Japanese government trying to transport a priceless diamond from Korea to Japan

Once Upon a Time in Seoul (2008) – Korean film about two brothers who find themselves pitted against local gangsters after the Korean War

One Night: Choice of Evil (2010) – Japanese movie about four people whose paths cross on one fateful night

Persona (2008) – Japanese fantasy drama about a grieving widow who follows a mysterious girl into the park

The Pit and the Pendulum (2009) – Korean film about classmates who reunite for a funeral and each have a different version of their friend’s death

Possessed (2002) – a college student may be possessed in this Chinese language horror film

The Pot (2009) – hit Korean horror movie about a family who moves to the countryside and becomes embroiled in an ancient ritual

Psychedelic Cop (2002) – Danny Lee stars as, what else, a cop in this Hong Kong crime thriller

The Replacement Suspect (2001) – Hong Kong crime thriller in the “Infernal Affairs” mold from director Marco Mak

Rainbow Eyes (2007) – in this Korean thriller, two cops investigate a murder case tied to their past on a military base

The Loner (2008) – Korean horror film about a girl who begins to talking to people who aren’t there after the death of her best friend

M (2006) – in this Japanese film, a disturbed young man tries to save his housewife neighbor from a life of prostitution

Missing Person (2009) – dark and disturbing Korean movie about a real estate agent immersed in a dog-eat-dog world

Meatball Machine (2002) – a Japanese splatterhorror flick in the vein of “Tokyo Gore Police”

Monopoly (2006) – Korean crime thriller about a scheme to steal millions from Korean banks

Mr. Tadano’s Secret Mission (2008) – Japanese film about a businessman who is an undercover agent by night

Muoi: The Legend of the Portrait (2007) – a novelist searches Vietnam to solve the local legend of a haunted painting in this Korean horror film

Nightmare Detective II (2008) – Shinya Tsukamoto directs the follow-up to his film about a man who can enter dreams

No Doubt (2010) – Korean drama about a father out to solve the mystery of his daughter’s death

Hissatsu: Sure Death (1984) – Japanese samurai movie about a band of merchants who are really mercenaries

Hellevator: The Bottled Fools (2005) – Japanese horror film set in a future where elevators are a main mode of transportation

Heat Team (2004) – Dante Lam directs this Hong Kong action-comedy starring Aaron Kwok and Eason Chan

Hit Team (2001) – Dante Lam also directs this more serious Hong Kong action flick starring Daniel Wu

Holiday (2006) – Korean film about protestors who are jailed after rallying against the government’s destruction of poor neighborhoods before the 1988 Olympics

Insadong Scandal (2009) – Korean movie about a recently discovered painting and the disgraced artist hired to restore it

Leave Me Alone (2004) – Danny Pang of the Pang Brothers directs this Hong Kong thriller about a fashion designer forced to assume his twin brother’s identity, starring Kenny Bee, Ekin Cheng, and Charlene Choi

The Last Days of the World (2010) – Japanese film about a student who is taken on a surreal journey after he learns the world will soon be destroyed

Dream (2008) – a dark and surreal fantasy from acclaimed Korean director Kim Ki-duk

Elevator Trap (2009) – in this Korean movie, four people find themselves trapped in an elevator for reasons they must unravel

Epitaph (2007) – a Korean horror anthology, centered around a Korean hospital

The Evil Twin (2008) – Korean horror film about a girl who awakes from a coma and finds her village plagued by a terrible family secret

The Executioner (2009) – the first scheduled execution in 12 years creates tension among prison guards in this Korean drama

Fly High (2006) – Korean drama about a young man whose life is sent upside down when the girl he loved returns after a two year disappearance

For Bad Boys Only (2000) – a young Ekin Cheng and Louis Koo tear it up as two bad boys with an eye for trouble and the ladies in this Hong Kong action-comedy

Ghost Photos (2006) – Japanese horror film about a girl who receives a text from her brother, foretelling of death

Green Chair (2005) – this Korean drama about the real life affair between a housewife and an underage boy won a Sundance Jury Prize

Handphone (2009) – in this Korean thriller, a movie agent will go to any means to protect his actress client from a looming sex scandal

Bloody Innocent (2010) – a Korean drama about two students whose friendship is torn apart after the girl they love is found murdered

The Boat (2009) – a Korean/Japanese co-production about two smugglers who are hired to kidnap the daughter of a Korean businessman

Boys on the Run (2010) – Japanese film about a socially awkward virgin nearing 30  who tries to win the heart of his co-worker

Crazy ‘n the City (2005) – an underrated ‘slice of life’ cop comedy/drama from Hong Kong starring Francis Ng and Eason Chan

The Death Curse (2003) – a Hong Kong horror comedy starring the Twins of “Twins Effect” fame

Dachimawa Lee (2008) – a box office smash in Korea that spoofs the James Bond movies

Antarctic Journal (2005) – a Korean film about a journey across the Antarctic which may prove fatal

Ashura (2005) – a surreal Japanese film which arrives on streaming just as the DVD from AnimEigo goes out of print

Bestseller (2010) – Korean thriller about a plagiarism scandal

The Big Swindle (2004) – Korean crime thriller about a group of thieves trying to find the whereabouts of their missing loot

10/1/11

Arahan (2004) – this action-packed, special-effects laden superhero flick was a blockbuster hit in Korea. Streaming in HD

I’m a Cyborg, But That’s Okay (2006) – from the director of “Oldboy” comes this quirky love story set in a mental institution

The Unjust (2010) – this gritty Korean crime film from the director of “No Blood, No Tears” and “City of Violence” follows a battered detective trying to solve a string of child murders

Silmido (2004) – this hit Korean film is based on the true story of a group of North Korean soldiers trained to infiltrate the South and attempt to assassinate the President in 1968

Supercop (1992) – the Miramax edit and dub of “Police Story 3” with Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh is now on streaming. There is an upside: Streaming in HD.

Castaway on the Moon (2009) – this hit Korean romantic-adventure follows a man stranded on a tiny island and the woman who observes him from her window

Moss (2010) – in this Korean thriller a man returns to his father’s remote village for a funeral, only to discover that the town may have terrible secrets. Streaming in HD

No Mercy (2010) – in this Korean thriller, a forensic pathologist must race against time to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Streaming in HD

Rikidozan (2010) – this Korean biopic tells the real story of sumo wrestler Rikidozan, who was held back in his career solely because of his half Korean heritage

Secret (2010) – after the death of his son, a detective discovers his estranged wife may have links to a murder case in this Korean crime movie. Streaming in HD

Murder, Take One (2005) – this Korean crime movie shows what happens when a murder investigation becomes the subject of a reality television show

Going By the Book (2007) – this Korean crime comedy involves a group of police officers who attempt to stage a bank robbery for the benefit of the public. Streaming in HD

Sophie’s Revenge (2008) – this Chinese romantic comedy stars Fan Bingbing and Zhang Ziyi. Can you handle that much cute? Streaming in HD

The King and the Clown (2005) – this Korean period piece concerns two clowns who stage a play mocking the king

Love In Between (2010) – a Korean thriller about a jilted wife who secretly attempts to befriend her husband’s mistress

Killer Bride’s Perfect Crime (2009) – this Korean road trip comedy follows a young bride with a corpse on her hands

Sayonara, Itsuka (2010) – this Japanese film is a romantic drama about two people who reunite after 25 years and realize they’re still in love

Good Morning President (2009) – this Korean comedy mixes complex national politics with personal drama

The Servant (2010) – this Korean movie is labeled as a comedy period piece about a servant who falls in love with a girl her Master also desires

9/30/11

BKO: Bangkok Knockout (2010) – this Thai stunt-filled spectacular from the director of “Born to Fight” and “Ong Bak 2” is a must see for action fans. Streaming in HD

9/23/11

Tiger Cage II (1990) – this Hong Kong action flick was directed by Yuen Woo-Ping and stars “Ip man” Donnie Yen. In other words: watch it! [dubbed]

Rumble in the Bronx (1995) – the dubbed, Miramax cut of Jackie’s classic 90’s movie is available courtesy of Starz Play, which usually means poor visual quality on streaming [dubbed]

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) – this anime from the revered Studio Ghibli is also streaming courtesy of Starz Play [dubbed]

Dream Lovers (1986) – this 80’s romance starring Chow Yun Fat and Brigitte Lin (“The Bride With White Hair”) is billed as Hong Kong’s answer to “Somewhere in Time” with a dreamy, synth-pop soundtrack. Streaming in HD

The King of Masks (1999) – this arthouse drama from Mainland China is about an aging street performer looking to pass his tradition on

9/22/11

Little Big Soldier (2010) – Jackie Chan’s latest action-comedy, this time set during the Warring States period, makes it way to streaming. Streaming in HD

Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985) – this Hong Kong action comedy, the third in the Lucky Stars series, stars Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao with Jackie Chan in a supporting role. Also look for Andy Lau and Michelle Yeoh, the latter making her big screen debut. Streaming in HD

Dr. Wai in the Scripture With No Words (1996) – martial arts icon Jet Li stars with Takeshi Kaneshiro (“House of Flying Daggers”) in this global action adventure that has an Indiana Jones vibe. Directed by Ching Siu-tung of “A Chinese Ghost Story” fame. Streaming in HD [dubbed]

Sun Valley (1996) – this ‘Chinese Western’ was a Chinese-Hong Kong co-production from the director of “Warriors of Heaven and Earth.” Streaming in HD

9/21/11

Dragons Forever (1988) – this vintage Hong Kong action film was the last to star Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao together as the Three Dragons, and is considered by many to be their best. Streaming in HD

Wheels on Meals (1984) – another classic starring Jackie, Sammo, and Yuen! This film was shot on location in Spain and features a legendary fight scene between Jackie and Benny “the Jet” Urquidez. Streaming in HD

Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain (2001) – in a confusing twist, this film is falsely labeled on Netflix as 1983’s “Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain” but it’s actually the uncut, subtitled version of 2001’s “The Legend of Zu,” which is also available on streaming in its cut and dubbed version. Streaming in HD

Yes, Madam (1985) – this classic girls-with-guns film from director Cory Yuen teamed up Michelle Yeoh with Cynthia Rothrock. Streaming in HD

Tiger Cage (1988) – a vintage Hong Kong action flick directed by Yuen Woo-Wing and starring Donnie Yen, Jacky Cheung, and Simon Yam. Streaming in HD

Executioners (1988) – Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, and Anita Miu return in Johnnie To’s sequel to the popular “The Heroic Trio.” Streaming in HD

Flaming Brothers (1987) – this 80’s Hong Kong gangster film stars Chow Yun Fat and Alan Tang. Streaming in HD

Iron Monkey II (1977) – Netflix says “not to be confused with the sequel to 1977’s smash hit ‘Iron Monkey.'” I’m as confused as you are! Streaming in HD [dubbed]

9/20/11

The Housemaid (2010) – this Korean thriller about an affair that develops between the man of a household and their new maid was an Official Selection of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. Streaming in HD

9/14/11

King of Beggars (1992) – this hit martial arts comedy stars Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle), was directed by Gordon Chan (Fist of Legend), and features a cameo from legendary choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping! Streaming in HD

Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (2007) – billed as an “atmospheric Japanese drama,” this crazy-looking flick follows a hapless high school student who falls for the girl of his dreams – a skilled martial artist gal who must do battle with the Chainsaw Man!

Goth (2008) – this film is a live-action adaptation of a popular Japanese manga about two death-obsessed high school students who try to track down a serial killer, mostly so they can get an up close look at his victims. Streaming in HD

YOGA: The Movie (2009) – silly title aside, this Korean horror film follows a TV reporter who enrolls in a yoga school, only to find that the students are mysteriously disappearing

Geisha Assassin AKA Geisha vs. Ninja (2008) – at a glance, this looks to be low-budget, direct-to-video Japanese action at its finest

City Hunter (2011) – this 20-episode Korean TV series is based off the popular manga that was once adapted into a feature film by Jackie Chan. The show’s been available on streaming for at least a month but it has enough fans that we figure it deserves a mention on this list!

9/1/11

Clash (2009) – high octane Vietnamese action film from the makers of “The Rebel“; starring Johnny Nguyen of “The Protector” fame. Streaming in HD

Kingdom of War: Parts 1 and 2 (2006) – historical action epic from Thaland. Could this be Thailand’s answer to “Red Cliff”? Streaming in HD

8/28/11

The Expendables (2010) – Sly Stallone’s all-star action flick is now streaming in HD. The film features at least two highly trained martial artists, namely Jet Li and Gary Daniels (“Bloodmoon”); and Jason Statham, who underwent some rigorous training from Hong Kong director Cory Yuen before filming “The Transporter.” Streaming in HD

King of Fighters (2010) – live action adaptation of the popular and long-running Japanese video game series, directed by “Fist of Legend” director Gordon Chan and starring the always lovely Maggie Q (“Naked Weapon”). Streaming in HD

Assault Girls (2009) – a surreal and meditative science-fiction film about online gaming in the future, from “Ghost in the Shell” director Mamoru Oshii. Streaming in HD

Bodyguards & Assassins (2009) – this historical action drama from Hong Kong starring Donnie Yen comes highly recommended. Streaming in HD

Drop (2009) – a coming-of-age tale about teenage Japanese delinquents. A mix of humor and brutal fight scenes. Highly recommended. Streaming in HD [dubbed]

Dream Home (2010) – a Hong Kong slasher movie with elements of comedy and drama from acclaimed filmmaker Pang Ho-Cheung. Starring the lovely Josie Ho. Streaming in HD

8/5/11

13 Assassins (2010) – Takashi Miike’s samurai epic is a must see for fans of Asian cinema. Streaming in HD

Sukiyaki Western Django (2007) – an update on the Django tale from “13 Assassins” director Takashi Miike, featuring a cameo by Quentin Tarantino. Streaming in HD

Project A (1983) – one of Jackie Chan’s most beloved films that saw him reuniting with his old friends Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. Streaming in HD [dubbed]

Iron Monkey (1993) – Quentin Tarantino cut and subbed this Donnie Yen martial arts film for Western consumption and had his buddies at Miramax release it. Streaming in HD

Zu Warriors (2001) – Tsui Hark’s special FX-laden blockbuster was to Hong Kong what the Star Wars prequels were to American audiences. Streaming in HD [dubbed]

Dragon Lord (1982) – the opening sequence of this little-known Jackie Chan film served as an inspiration for the tree-climbing scene at the beginning of “Ong Bak.” Streaming in HD [dubbed]

The Game of Death (1978) – the classic Bruce Lee film that the actor was tragically never able to complete. Streaming in HD

Easy Money (1987) – Michelle Yeoh stars in a feminized Hong Kong take on “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Streaming in HD

Project A 2 (1987) – Jackie Chan returns for more action in the sequel to the popular “Project A.” Streaming in HD [dubbed]

Three…Extremes II (2002) – an Asian horror anthology from directors Ji-woon Kim, Nonzee Nimibutr, and Peter Chan

Revenge (1964) – a samurai film from director Tadashi Imai

The Secret of the Urn (1966) – a samurai film from director Hideo Gosha

8/1/11

The Man From Nowhere (2010) – a supremely violent and well done revenge movie from Korea. If you thought “Taken” was bad-ass, you have to see this. Streaming in HD

I Saw the Devil (2010) – from acclaimed director Ji-woon Kim and the star of “Oldboy” comes this relentlessly grim revenge thriller. Streaming in HD

Mother (2009) – the director of “The Host,” Joon-ho Bong, weaves this dark murder mystery, co-starring Won Bin from “The Man From Nowhere.” Streaming in HD

Wing Chun (1994) – this Hong Kong martial arts film stars Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen, and was directed by master Yuen Woo-Ping. Streaming in HD

The Heroic Trio (1993) – Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, and Anita Mui team up as three superheroines to fight crime in a futuristic Hong Kong. Directed by Johnny To! Streaming in HD [dubbed]

Operation Condor 2: Armour of God (1987) – as you can probably tell from the title, this is an edited and dubbed version of “Armour of God” that was released in America as a sequel to “Operation Condor,” even though that film is actually “Armour of God II.” Confused yet? Streaming in HD [dubbed]

Sonatine (1994) – Takeshi Kitano’s critically acclaimed Yakuza thriller. Streaming in HD

Kung Fu Dunk (2008) – this Hong Kong crowd pleaser features Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou, who played Kato in the most “Green Hornet” movie, and Eric Tsang. Streaming in HD

Mighty Peking Man (1997) – this Shaw Brothers’ take on the King Kong story stars Danny Lee. Streaming in HD

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) – this thought-provoking film from Thailand won the prized Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. Streaming in HD

Posted in News |

49 Days DVD Set (Ya Entertainment)

Posted on September 27, 2011 by JJ Bona
49 Days DVD Set (Ya Entertainment)

49 Days DVD Set (Ya Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011

Korean TV drama series 49 Days follows a young woman’s (Nam Gyu-Ri) amazing journey between life and death with some help from a motorcycle-riding Grim Reaper (Jung Il-Woo). Check out the trailer. Come on guys, you know you want it!

PERFECT … The most satisfying ending I’ve seen in a long time. – Dramabeans

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

Blu-Ray and DVD Releases for 9/27/11

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Z Ravas
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky aka Ricky Oh Blu-ray/DVD (Tokyo Shock)

You will believe that a man's stomach can be punched open

Each week, City on Fire does our best to spotlight the Asian and genre-related blu-ray and DVD releases that we suspect our readers might be interested in. Here’s the handy list of releases for 9/27/11:

ASIAN CINEMA

The Stool Pigeon (blu-ray/DVD) – Dante Lam’s 2010 crime thriller arrives on blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Well Go USA. The film stars Nicolas Tse and Nick Cheung. Read CoF’s review here

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (DVD) – this notoriously ultra-violent Hong Kong action movie gets a rerelease courtesy of Tokyo Shock [Blu-ray release on 10/11/12]

The Butcher, The Chef, and the Swordsman (DVD) – this 2010 Chinese/Hong Kong/American co-production is presented by “Bourne Identity” director Doug Liman. Also available to rent on Amazon Instant Video

Gamera: Triple Feature Collector’s Edition (blu-ray) – Mill Creek Entertainment unleashes this collection of three 90’s Gamera films on blu-ray, including Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995), Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996), and Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999)

Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (blu-ray) – what many to be consider the best of the 90’s Gamera trilogy, 1999’s “Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris,” is available as a standalone blu-ray disc from Mill Creek Entertainment

ANIME

Trigun: Badlands Rumble (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2010 standalone film is first piece of new Trigun animation in over ten years, on blu-ray and DVD from Funimation

MAINSTREAM

Ben Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition (blu-ray) – Charleston Heston stars in this 1959 classic, on blu-ray for the first time

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (blu-ray/DVD) – Michael Bay’s latest cacophony of sight and sound, now in the comfort of your own living room

The Matrix Reloaded/The Matrix Revolutions 2-Pack (blu-ray) – if you’re one of ‘those people’ who enjoyed the 2003 “The Matrix” sequels, you can now get both of them on one handy blu-ray disc

Heathers (blu-ray) – this 1989 classic starring Winona Ryder (swoon!) and Christian Slater receives a blu-ray release from Image Entertainment

Benny & Joon (blu-ray) – this 1993 crowd-pleasing romantic drama stars Johnny Depp, now on blu-ray

HORROR

Torso (blu-ray/DVD) – Blue Underground releases this 1973 giallo/slasher film from director Sergio Martino (“The Case of the Scorpion’s Tale”) on blu-ray with two cuts of the film including the Italian Director’s Cut, or on DVD with the Uncensored English Cut

Mimic: Director’s Cut (blu-ray) – from visionary director Guillermo Del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), this 1997 creature feature is finally being released uncut

A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 & 3 (blu-ray) – arguably the last two decent sequels in this horror franchise, 1985’s “Freddy’s Revenge” and 1987’s “Dream Warriors,” now available together on one blu-ray disc

Basket Case (blu-ray) – Something Weird Video presents this 1982 cult horror flick on blu-ray. From the director of “Frankenhooker”!

C.H.U.D. (DVD) – Image Entertainment’s Midnight Madness Series continues with a DVD rerelease of this 1984 cult classic

Mardi Gras Massacre (DVD) – Code Red’s imprint, Maria’s B Movie Mayhem, continues with a DVD release of this 1978 slasher movie

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 |

Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (2008) Review

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Z Ravas
"Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Takuji Kitamura
Writer: Tatsuhiko Takimoto, Hirotoshi Kobayashi
Cast: Megumi Seki, Hayato Ichihara, Yosuke Asari, Itsuji Itao, Haruma Miura, Maho Nonami, Hiromi Shinjo, Aya Kiguchi
Running Time: 109 min.

By HKFanatic

Don’t let the title fool you: “Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge” is not a film that would fit in with the Sushi Typhoon catalog. There’s no blood, no gore, no strangely appendaged women. The second coming of “Machine Gun Girl” this is not. At its heart, “Negative Happy” is a coming-of-age drama/comedy, with a few special effects-laden battles sprinkled in. There’s action for those who are seeking it, but the emphasis is firmly on the characters and their budding relationships.

The plot of “Chainsaw Edge” almost feels like two films grafted into one; if I have a serious knock against the movie, it’s that the two disparate plots never quite gel. On one hand, there’s the story of high school student Yosuke as he faces the pressures of growing up. He feels his life is pretty unremarkable and envies a friend who recently died in a motorcycle crash. Yosuke figures that if he could just go out in a blaze of glory like that, then his life might mean something. Yosuke finds his cause late one night when he runs into a girl his age, Eri, who routinely engages in battle with a giant chainsaw-wielding maniac. Even though he’s a self-described wuss, Yosuke decides to do what he can to protect Eri and if he dies in the process then, well, so much the better.

The scenes of Eri fighting a “Friday the 13th”-style villain often feel like they come from a different movie entirely and not the one you’re currently watching, with its detailed focus on Yosuke’s teen angst and his burgeoning affection for Eri herself. More often than not, the fights are abbreviated and director Tajuki Kitamura prefers to cut to their aftermath. Fortunately, the film is bolstered by some great performances that help one overlook the uneven tone. Hayato Ichihara stars as Yosuke. He played the lead in “All About Lily Chou-Chou,” one of my favorite films of all time, but a good seven years passed between the two movies so he’s virtually unrecognizable from “Chou-Chou.” His role in “Chainsaw” is the opposite of the tortured soul he played in that film: loud and expressive but still a slacker at heart.

Most of the humor in this film is generated from the relationship between Yosuke and his roommate, Watanabe. Watanabe is a slacker too; he can’t seem to commit to a single passion or hobby. He initially wanted to be a musician but his bandmate and friend, Noto, died in that bike accident. Next he tries his hand at photography and painting. Watanabe spends most of the film attempting to piece together a song that their late friend wrote. Since their friend is played by a real life pop star (Haruma Miura), the actor recorded vocals for the track and performs it during an extended music video sequence.

“Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge” is based on the novel by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, a popular young writer in Japan. Takimoto has admitted he is a recovering “hikikomori,” a Japanese term for people who are reclusive or shut-ins. That feeling of vague discontent, the sense that the life one is leading is mediocre at best, hovers over the story. Even the Chainsaw Man that Eri fights is merely a stand-in for the monster of grief. Eri is a normal girl who must become a strong warrior in order to face the tragedy of her past until she realizes she can’t go it alone.

For a low-budget Japanese film, “Negative Happy” has excellent special effects, with CG work that is better than some mainstream Hollywood pictures I’ve seen. The film has moments of great visual beauty, mostly during action sequences: the Chainsaw Man seems to plummet to earth from the moon above and Eri performs impossible, anime-esque leaps. A scene set in a large indoor pool is a sight to behold even if it doesn’t last very long. However, there are times during the many dialogue-driven scenes that the film, shot on hi-definition camera, looks unappealingly fuzzy.

“Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge” is quite unlike any Japanese movie I’ve seen. It has a style similar to Ryuhei Kitamura’s “Versus” but without the violent action that will please gorehounds. The story is bloodless but endearing; this movie, like its characters, tends to wear its heart on its sleeve. If you enjoyed character-driven but quirky Japanese flicks like “Drop” or “X-Cross,” you should give “Negative Happy” a watch. “Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge” is now streaming on Netflix Instant.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7.5/10

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |
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