Rise of the Planet of the Apes Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

Posted on October 19, 2011 by JJ Bona
Rise of the Planet of the Apes Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a revolution; an action-packed epic featuring stunning visual effects and creatures unlike anything ever seen before. At the story’s heart is Caesar (Andy Serkis), a chimpanzee who gains human-like intelligence and emotions from an experimental drug. Raised like a child by the drug’s creator (James Franco), Caesar ultimately finds himself taken from the humans he loves and imprisoned. Seeking justice, Caesar assembles a simian army and escapes — putting man and primate on a collision course that could change the planet forever. Check out the trailer.

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

Unjust, The | aka Bad Deal (2010) Review

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Z Ravas
"The Unjust" Korean Theatrical Poster

“The Unjust” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Ryoo Seung-wan
Writer: Park Hun-Jeong
Cast: Hwang Jeong-Min, Ryu Seung-Beom, Yu Hae-Jin, Cheon Ho-Jin, Ma Dong-Seok, Jo Young-Jin
Running Time: 119 min.

By HKFanatic

When I sit down to watch a slick, commercial thriller, this is exactly what I want it to be. The director of “No Blood, No Tears” and “City of Violence” weaves an im-morality tale of police corruption, political maneuvering, and gangland-style justice with no discernible “hero” to root for. The viewer is plunged into the thick of things within the first twenty minutes and forced to gain their bearings in the plot. It’s fairly complex stuff, what with all the backstabbing and murky character motivation going on, especially when you’re trying to follow subtitles at the same time. “The Unjust” is not a movie for people who want to turn off their brain and veg out in front of the TV.

Hwang Jung-min is a top cop in the Seoul police department, despite the fact that he’s from a lower social status and therefore lacks an Academy background – Academy graduation meaning you’re a member of the “in” club and on the short list for promotion. Hwang Jun-min is a little rough around the edges but he knows how to get the job done, which is why the Police Commissioner comes to him with a tricky proposition. The department’s reputation has been marred by their inability to catch a serial killer who is murdering schoolgirls. Hwang Jung-min is tasked with a simple mission: deliver a suspect to justice, one that can be prosecuted and put behind bars whether he’s truly guilty or not. Eager to ascend the ranks and make good with the Commissioner, Hwang Jung-min agrees and drags his team of detectives down with him.

Meanwhile, the police department and the prosecutor’s office are divided over a recent development contract. Hwang Jun-min makes buddy-buddy with a former gangster turned developer played by Hae-jin Yu, while the chief prosecutor (the director’s brother, Seung-beom Ryu) sides with Yu’s more respected rival. All these underhanded dealings will come to a head when supercop Hwang Jung-min is forced to materialize a suspect in the murder case. Once the pieces are in position on the board, it’s only a matter of time before they’re all knocked down.

Seung-wan Ryoo directs with his signature flashy style, which is evident from the moment a suspect is shot in the head during the opening credits and his blood splatter helps swipe to the film’s title. Fortunately, the camera work is always in service of telling the story and the film moves at a lightning pace even with a two hour runtime. The plot and the way it plays out bear more than a passing resemblance to “Infernal Affairs” or even its American remake “The Departed,” only this time there’s no Tony Leung/Leonardo Dicaprio for the audience to relate to. Everyone is out for their own self-interest but even these loathsome characters remain immensely watchable thanks to the charismatic cast, particularly prosecutor Seung-beom Ryu (“Arahan,” “No Mercy”). Korean society as a whole is portrayed as rife with corruption: police corroborate with gangsters, prosecutors are in bed with business interests, and public officials’ only real concern is advancing their career or making good headlines. Taking inspiration from real life scandals in the region, “The Unjust” is cynical to its core.

Action junkies may well recall that director Seung-wan Ryoo’s previous films were loaded to the gills with choreographed violence. “The Unjust” isn’t quite so action-packed but there should be enough scuffles, including several full body Judo-style takedowns, to satisfy the average viewer’s brutality quotient. Mostly, the emphasis is on the screenplay’s countless twists and turns and brilliant performances from actors like Yoo Hae-jin, who seems to relish the chance to play an over-the-top, rubber-faced gangster turned businessman. If you’d be interested in an unpredictable thriller involving cops, crooks, and suits, with just enough humor and bloodshed to keep things interesting, then “The Unjust” is a great night’s entertainment. Last year “The Unjust” became the biggest box office success yet for director Seung-wan Ryoo, and it serves as further proof that Korean cinema is currently enjoying a commercial and creative peak.

The film is now streaming on Netflix Instant. While the picture is not HD, it still looks decent and the subtitles are well-translated and easy to read. Highly recommended.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8.5/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 10/18/11

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Z Ravas
The Crow: Deluxe Edition Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

The Crow: Deluxe Edition Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

There’s some interesting releases this week, whether you’re a fan of foreign films, Japanese animation, or straight-up horror. So let’s get down to it! Here are some Asian and genre-related releases for 10/18/11:

ASIAN CINEMA

Kuroneka (blu-ray/DVD) – Criterion Collection releases this 1968 black-and-white Japanese horror fable

Harimaya Bridge (blu-ray + DVD combo) – Funimation offers this moving drama, produced and starring Danny Glover and featuring a host of Japanese talent

Dragon’s Dynasty Ultimate Kung Fu 4Pk Box Set (DVD) – this DVD box set features the latest batch of Shaw Brothers films released by Dragon Dynasty, including: Executioner From Shaolin, Martial Arts of Shaolin, Mad Monkey Kung Fu, and Five Shaolin Masters

Aftershock (DVD) – this disquieting Mandarin language drama from 2010 tells the story of those affected by a 1976 earthquake that hit Tangshan, China

49 Days (DVD) – a 2011 Korean TV drama about a young woman’s journey between life and death

FOREIGN CINEMA

The Last Circus (blu-ray/DVD) – catch this rave-reviewed 2011 Spanish language film about circus clowns gone bad

In a Glass Cage (blu-ray/DVD) – this notorious 1987 Spanish language shocker about a paralytic Nazi war criminal arrives in hi definition for the first time

The Robber (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2010 German language film tells the true story of a professional athlete who robbed banks in his spare time

Clowns (blu-ray) – RaroVideo USA releases this Federico Fellini 1970 made-for-television movie in hi-definition

Baaria (blu-ray/DVD) – this 2009 Italian film arrives from the acclaimed director of “Cinema Paradiso”

Sodium Babies (DVD) – this 2009 French language film offers a new spin on vampires as protagonist Dead Dog seeks to escape servitude to the Prince of Vampires

Murder Obsession (DVD) – RaroVideo USA releases this obscure 1981 Italian horror film

Death Will Have Your Eyes (DVD) – Mya Video releases this obscure 1974 Italian horror film. Unfortunately, Mya are notorious for releasing sub-VHS quality prints of their movies on DVD so buyer beware

R (DVD) – this 2010 Danish prison drama arrives from Olive Films

ANIMATION

Batman: Year One (blu-ray + DVD combo/DVD) – Frank Miller’s classic graphic novel is adapted into a 2011 animated feature from DC Animation

Demon City Shinjuku (DVD) – this classic 1988 anime, long since out of print, arrives on DVD once again to the delight of fans. Would you believe that Tsui Hark also made a live-action adaptation of this anime?

Robotech: The Complete Original Series (DVD) – A&E is putting out a box set that contains the entire “Robotech” series, which was actually three entirely separate Japanese anime recut and dubbed for American audiences

Dragonball Z Kai: Season One (blu-ray/DVD) – Funimation releases 625 minutes worth of “Dragonball Z Kai” action

MAINSTREAM

The Crow (blu-ray) – Lionsgate releases this cult classic, comic book-based 1994 film starring Brandon Lee on blu-ray

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (blu-ray/DVD) – the latest 2011 Pirates film starring Johnny Depp may have received mixed reviews in the US but overseas it was another box office smash for golden boy Depp

The Guns of Navarone (blu-ray) – the classic 1961 film starring Gregory Peck and David Niven arrives in hi-definition for the first time

The Goonies (blu-ray) – the classic children’s adventure film from 1985, now on blu-ray

Cape Fear (blu-ray) – Martin Scorsese’s underrated 1991 remake, starring Robert Deniro and Nick Nolte, is on blu-ray for the first time

Red State (blu-ray/DVD) – Kevin Smith’s controversial 2011 horror film is now available for viewing in the privacy of your own home

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (DVD) – this is the 40th anniversary edition release of the classic 1971 children’s film

Captain America/Captain America II: Death Too Soon (DVD) – catch this pair of late 70’s TV movies starring Reb Brown as the Star-Spangled Avenger

Freerunner (blu-ray/DVD) – a low-budget 2011 action flick starring “Never Back Down’s” Sean Faris

Sucker Punch (DVD) – this 2008 low-budget flick from the UK is not to be confused with Zack Synder’s 2011 blockbuster starring all those really cute girls

HORROR

Zombie (blu-ray/DVD) – rejoice, Lucio Fulci’s grisly 1979 masterpiece is now in hi-definition thanks to Blue Underground

The House by the Cemetery (blu-ray/DVD) – my personal favorite Fulci film, released in 1981, arrives on blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground

Grave Encounters (DVD) – this 2011 film played at the Tribeca Film Festival and pokes fun at those ‘ghost-hunting’ reality shows

Nothing But the Night (DVD) – this 1972 horror movie stars genre legends Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing

Zombie Apocalypse: Redemption (DVD) – this 2011 micro-budget zombie flick was shot in Michigan and features Fred “The Hammer” Williamson

Hellraiser: Revelations (blu-ray/DVD) – can Pinhead survive another dud with this 2011 direct-to-video sequel?

The Pyx (DVD) – a 1973 horror film starring Karen Black and Christopher Plummer

Subspecies: The Complete Collection (DVD) – five low-budget, direct-to-video vampire movies in one DVD set. What could go wrong?

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 |

Speed Racer (2008) Review

Posted on October 15, 2011 by ningen31
"Speed Racer" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Speed Racer” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: The Wachowskis
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Roger Allam, Benno Fürmann, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rain, Richard Roundtree
Running Time: 135 min. 

By Ningen

Emile Hirsch plays a one-dimensional guy named Speed Racer who teams up with a random Korean guy played by Rain and a myterious racer named X played by Matthew Fox to take down The Man (aka Royalton) through competitive car racing. Royalton likes rigging the results of said races in his favor through the use of brutal violence and insider trading or something; I lost track of the plot about 20 minutes into the film when the script spent more time discussing stock options than showing me driving. And you know how the six of you who saw “House of the Dead” hated the way Boll would interrupt each gun-fight scene with screen-shots from the game? Well, I guess it goes to show that, if you have a big budget, you can fool people into thinking that kind of visual mess is “innovative” and “ahead of its time”.You see, instead of pretty pictures of CG cars zooming, we get people’s reaction shots, and even floating frames of their faces. If you got a kick out of getting ten minutes or less of actual fighting per (hundredth) episode in DBZ, then you’ll love Speed Racer.

The rest of us, however, want to be entertained. We get it, already, Larry and Andy: You love anime. But you don’t seem to get that when the Japanese juxtapose certain contrasting images together, it’s generally meant to create a mood and set a tone for the rest of the picture, not to get in the way of the action. Speaking of action, it’s clear that without Yuen Wo Ping, the brothers’ fight scenes don’t mean a thing, as we’re stuck sitting through Adam West-style combat moments which are too long and too pointless.

But the real problem is there’s too much focus on characterization, and not enough on the races. I don’t care what makes Speed and his family tick! Nor do I care about the history of any of the car manufacturers. If you’re gonna make a kiddie flick, you keep it simple-not turn it into a soap opera! (I guess one adaptation wasn’t enough for the brothers to ruin….)

The car races themselves are disappointing for the reasons that there are too many of them at once, and the models of the vehicles and the drivers all start to look the same after a while. Plus, the emphasis on fast-forwarding the physics makes whatever money was spent on backgrounds and detail work pointless. Basically, sitting through each race is the equivalent a Hollywood action film which shoots its fights scenes too close: You can’t tell what’s going on, and you start to not care anymore. You just get a bunch of colored lights meshed together after a while. In conclusion, see Speed Racer with a Ritalin prescription you love.

Ningen’s Rating: 5/10

Posted in All, Asian Related, News, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , |

Godzilla | aka Gojira (1954) Review

Posted on October 14, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Godzilla" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Godzilla” Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Director: Ishiro Honda
Cast: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Takashi Shimura, Fuyuki Murakami, Sachio Sakai, Ren Yamamoto, Toyoaki Suzuki
Running Time: 96 min.

By Woody

Ishiro Honda was a great director. As Akira Kurosawa’s assistant director and right hand man, Honda no doubt learned a lot from the man, and it shows, particularly in this 1954 effort. Gojira is a stark and uncompromising film, filled with nightmarish imagery, but, much like Kurosawa, Honda infuses the film with a hopefulness and humanity that saves it from being too difficult a viewing experience.

It’s a shame American studios had to buy and re-edit this film, because Gojira itself is one of the great Japanese films. Gojira, the giant nuclear powered dinosaur, IS the atomic bomb. This is one of the best films that conveys what the Japanese went through during the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The images of destruction in this film are harrowing. Tokyo on fire, buildings leveled, trains smashed, innocents running and cowering in fear, all filmed in a harsh, newsreel-ish black and white.

The hero of the film, in both versions, is Hirata’s Dr. Serizawa, who, reminiscent of the kamikaze pilots and traditional samurai, perishes in order to set things right. Serizawa also makes a gesture no doubt meant as criticism towards the US. When Serizawa decides to destroy Gojira with his antimatter device, he burns the blueprints. “These shall not fall into the wrong hands.” Look at the world today. Nearly every country on the face of the Earth is armed to the teeth. More than a few have fallen into the “wrong hands.” We have the capability to destroy this planet a thousand times over. And they say we humans are the smartest of all the Earth’s animals. But I digress.

The great Takashi Shimura, star of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai among others, has a substantial role in this film.

The American re-edit is about 20 minutes shorter and has a bunch of inserts making Raymond Burr a substantial part of the action. “Godzilla vs. Perry Mason”…it’s worth seeing for the kitsch factor alone! But really, even in it’s chopped up American version, Gojira is a must-see. Both feature the Serizawa story and the horrific footage of Tokyo’s destruction.

Hate all those lame Godzilla movies with giant moths and aliens and little singing chicks you can hold in the palm of your hand? I don’t, but no need to worry, this is nothing like the sequels. Whereas the proceeding films were campy and aimed at children, the original is surprisingly adult and though provoking, and a true classic of Japanese cinema.

Skip the American remake. A better remake is Godzilla 1984, which was also chopped up it’s source and spliced footage in featuring Perry Mason for the American release.

Good theme music, too.

All in all, required viewing. A surprisingly classy and intelligent film. The effects are much better than one would ever imagine, as well. There is even some stop-motion animation. The acting is strong, the script is great, and the visuals nightmarish.

After you watch this, be sure to check out Honda’s 1963 effort Matango, which tackles drug use and is equally frightening.

Woody’s Rating: 10/10 (for either version)

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

Mann to remake ‘Seven Samurai’

Posted on October 14, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Seven Samurai" Japanese Theatrical Poster

"Seven Samurai" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Variety reports that British helmer Scott Mann has signed on to direct a remake of Japanese pic “Seven Samurai,” which is being produced by the Weinstein Co. and Japan’s Kurosawa Prods.

This is not the first remake of the film, as there was a Western take on it from the 60s called The Magnificent Seven, and a recent sci-fi anime take on it called Samurai 7.

Mann, who most recently helmed Robert Carlyle and Ving Rhames starrer “The Tournament” — which gained cult status on both sides of the pond — will help TWC develop the screenplay, which they hope to shoot later this year.

More details here. – Thanks to Sawred for the heads up.

Update: While I’m not sure if this is the same remake, or a different one, AICN notes an Afghanistan-based version of the film with Navy SEALS. Way of the Gun’s Christopher McQuarrie would be attached to the project. Thanks to @aicnanime for the tip.

Posted in News |

cityonfire x Dress-Lace Glamorous Sunprint Maxi Lace Dress

Posted on October 14, 2011 by oneleaf

This cityonfire x http://www.dress-lace.com/ one is a maxi lace dress which you can get a lot of use out of. It is made of a lightweight fabric which features a delightful sunprint in a pastel color palette. This woven fabric is light and flows delicately as you walk while wearing it. This 100% polyester fabric has a semi sheer finish which almost shimmers in the sunlight. It is easy to care for and is machine washable. This dress is cut with a high square neckline which is very contemporary design. The racer cut back is another contemporary design which makes this dress fun. It is sleeveless and has a slim fit cut which offers a close to the body feel. You can easily pair this lace dress with a pair of strappy sandals to create a fun warm weather look. Carry a small handbag or a trendy hobo bag with this fun and flirty long maxi dress.

Posted in News |

Action Double Feature: The Last Hard Men & Skyriders aka Sky Riders DVD (Shout!)

Posted on October 13, 2011 by JJ Bona
Action Double Feature: The Last Hard Men & Skyriders aka Sky Riders DVD (Shout!)

Action Double Feature: The Last Hard Men & Skyriders aka Sky Riders DVD (Shout!)

RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2012

Along with The Wild Bunch, The Last Hard Men is considered one of the most brutal westerns ever made. Starring Charlton Heston, James Coburn, Barbara Hershey, Jorge Rivero and Michael Parks. Also included is Skyriders, which is about a pack of fierce heroes who use hang gliders to rescue hostages from a revolutionary terrorist movement. Skyriders features the same location where the finale of the James Bond flick For Your Eyes Only was filmed. Also starring James Coburn with Susannah York and Robert Culp.

Trailers/Clips: The Last Hard Men | Skyriders

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

Conan the Barbarian (2011) Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Posted on October 13, 2011 by JJ Bona
Conan the Barbarian (2011) Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Conan the Barbarian (2011) Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: November 22, 2011

If anything, this 2011 Conan remake serves as a reminder of just how awesome the 1982 original was and still is. Depending on your taste, Marcus Nispel’s version is either good, or just plain blasphemy.

Either way, just spreading the word because it’s, well, Conan. Starring Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Rose McGowan and Ron Perlman. Check out the trailer.

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

Survive! DVD (VCI)

Posted on October 13, 2011 by JJ Bona
Survive! DVD (VCI)

Survive! DVD (VCI)

RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2011‏

The trailer states: “CAUTION: The recreation of the plane crash and the survival scenes may be too intense for young teenagers” (does this mean it’s suitable for kids 12 years old or younger?). This 1976 film (aka Supervivientes De Los Andes) was remade as “Alive” (1993) by director Frank Marshall. Here is the trailer to Survive!

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

Wu Xia | aka Dragon (2011) Review

Posted on October 13, 2011 by DiP
"Wu Xia" Chinese DVD Cover

“Wu Xia” Chinese DVD Cover

AKA: Dragon, Swordsmen
Director: Peter Chan
Writer: Aubrey Lam
Cast: Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Kaneshiro Takeshi, Jimmy Wang Yu, Tang Wei, Kara Hui, Yin Zhusheng
Running Time: 115 min.

By DiP

Donnie Yen is back with another film! Ever since his big breakthrough playing wing chun master Yip Man in Ip Man back in 2008, we have experienced a streak of movies that he starred in. These films were as followed: Bodyguards & Assassins, 14 Blades, Ip Man 2, Legend of the Fist, All’s Well Ends Well 2011, The Lost Bladesman and a couple of small roles in both All’s Well Ends Well 2009, and The Founding of a Republic. That should tell you how valuable Donnie is to the industry in the current, with offers placed to the table and with Donnie pondering over what to work on. But has his recent input really been doing justice to films before them? We all have our own opinions but in my mind, it has shifted to being of different qualities and satisfactions. But I’m glad to announce that Wu Xia is the icing of the cake out of all these post-Ip Man movies. It’s also the most ambitious effort from Peter Chan thus far.

Donnie Yen plays peaceful familyman and papermaker Liu Jin-xi who travels between his shack in the middle of a forest to a small village on the Yunnan/Sichuan border everyday to work and support his wife Ayu (Tang Wei) and two kids. During a workday at a store, Liu comes across two out-of-towners with the intention to rob the place. But to the owners’ luck, Liu intervenes and manages to overcome the two and even have one of them killed. This results in a big investigation conducted by Constaple Xu Baijiu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who during the inspection of the corpses as well as questioning locals about the people involved realizes that the one Liu accidentally had killed was actually a notorious criminal belonging in a Top 10 List of wanted criminals and that Liu might not be the man he appears to be. Xu then raises his suspicion on Liu and is prompted to try digging up secrets concerning Liu’s true identity, which from there leads to all sorts of things, including the arrival of a gang of outlaws called The 72 Demons (lead by Jimmy Wang Yu, in his first onscreen appearance in 18 years), which I won’t spoil any further.

The story takes cues to traits found in the wu xia (literally referring to martial arts and legendary warriors in mythical or ancient times) genre and if you’re a fan of these films, you won’t be a stranger to what to expect. However, don’t expect anything too familiar because the film is not an ordinary wu xia film. Wu Xia plays out with obvious western influence (the TV show CSI and David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence reportedly being the most evident ones). But one can also see that Peter Chan has injected different elements, film techniques and visuals for enhancement giving the film a different look and whole new twists to the genre the film represents. The storytelling involves the power of martial arts, human anatomy, crime investigation, suspension, depth, emotion, visual attraction; all pulled off through explanatory dialogue and illustrations. It’s like watching kung fu, crime, mystery/thriller, drama, and neo-noir altogether making the film style here unique.

The other strong aspect of the movie is the acting. Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tang Wei are really showing their efforts whenever they appear onscreen and for once never overacted or acted out of proportion but absorbed themselves into their characters and giving them the attitude and mood in the right moment. Takeshi, in particular, is phenomenal in that he portrays a character he’s not known for and trying to be and maintaining the characteristics and mindset of his character. But I have to give this one to Donnie and Jimmy Wang Yu because I feel their roles were both heavily profounded. Donnie has come a long way with lots of downs in the acting department. But since An Empress & The Warriors he has constantly kept trying out different roles to improve his acting skills and the outcome is paying off and shows in everything he has been doing more and less. Wu Xia is one few testaments of how good his acting skills have become and how further he can take it. Jimmy Wang Yu, on the other hand, is pure dopeness in his vicious role as a tangut leader. In a total screen time of just 10-15 min, you’ll see an actor gather so much menace and depth simultaneously that it gives those words a new meaning. Watch his two key scenes and learn.

For martial arts film fans, the action here designed by Donnie himself are very satisfying and quite refreshing but don’t expect an action-packed film because the emphasis here is mostly on the story and characters. There’s not a whole lot in the first half but once the second half kicks in you’ll be offered to some very good moments of martial arts choreography. Since SPL came out, Donnie’s way of choreographing action scenes have seen alot of hype, praise and comparisons to other action stars and kept the momentum up in other films such as Flash Point (which is still his most talked-about work to date). Donnie has done pretty well in recent years as well with Legend of the Fist and proved himself to be as successful choreographing action in period action films as he does in contemporary action films with The Lost Bladesman. In this film, he shows us what he can do with martial arts choreography in correlation to the strength and visuals of storytelling, for which something new with the action has been accomplished. If there’s one choreographer that has complexity, variety and overall creativity of another level today and keeps evolving his craft, it’s Donnie.

Overall, Wu Xia is one of the best Hong Kong/Chinese films this year, the best film from both Donnie and Peter Chan, and a film that will be damn hard to surpass. If there’s any form of competition that is happening or is going to happen to outbeat it, it will be a hard task for these people.

DiP’s Rating: 10/10

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

The Expendables: Extended Director’s Cut Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

Posted on October 12, 2011 by JJ Bona
The Expendables: Extended Director's Cut Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

The Expendables: Extended Director's Cut Blu-ray & DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011

The Expendables: Extended Director’s Cut brings 11 additional minutes of footage worked into the main feature.

Here’s a list of new extras to expect: Newly recorded introduction to the film by Sylvester Stallone / Featurette on Stallone and his directing career / Inferno, a feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary / The Spike TV program, Action: The Expendables / Music video from Sully Erna of Godsmack

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

Double Feature: Def-Con 4 & Hell Comes to Frogtown (Image)

Posted on October 12, 2011 by JJ Bona
Double Feature: Def-Con 4 & Hell Comes to Frogtown (Image)

Double Feature: Def-Con 4 & Hell Comes to Frogtown (Image)

RELEASE DATE: December 13, 2011

Two cult, post-apocalyptic movies at one low price! Def-Con 4 follows three astronauts who return to earth two months after a nuclear holocaust and must confront a new and terrifying reality. Hell Comes to Frogtown stars Roddy Piper as a muscle-bound warrior who is up against slimy, green overgrown amphibians who have taken over earth.

Trailers: Def-Con 4 | Hell Comes to Frogtown

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

Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)

Posted on October 10, 2011 by JJ Bona
Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)

Fire of Conscience DVD (Vivendi)

RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2011

In the vein of Hard Boiled, Infernal Affairs and Reservoir Dogs comes this hard-hitting action-thriller from rising director Dante Lam. Esteemed investigator Captain Manfred (Leon Lai, Bodyguards and Assassins) is at a crossroads in life when hes assigned to the case of a lethal car accident and the death of a prostitute. Check out the trailer here.

UPDATE: Indomina posted a link to the English-subbed trailer for their upcoming DVD release of “Fire of Conscience,” hosted by Hulu.

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

Dead and the Deadly, The (1982) Review

Posted on October 10, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Dead and the Deadly" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“The Dead and the Deadly” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Wu Ma
Writer: Sammo Hung, Barry Wong
Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Lam Ching-ying, Cherie Chung, Fat Chung, Ricky Lau, Wu Ma, Peter Chan Lung, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Kwan Yung Moon
Running Time: 94 min.

By Numskull

Another supernatural comedy from Sammo Hung, star and director of Encounters of the Spooky Kind (God, how I hate that title) and its sequel (which is available neither on DVD nor VCD…bloody hell) as well as producer of the Mr. Vampire films. This time, he’s an average joe whose uncle (Lam Ching-ying, R.I.P.) is a Taoist priest with two assistants who have the ugliest hair styles you’ve ever seen. It takes place in 1885…better than the present day, but still a little too recently, in my opinion, to invoke the good sense of mystique it requires to make up for its shortcomings. Sammo’s character has the unflattering and even more unimaginative nickname of “Fatboy.”

The storyline, in all its dubious glory: Fatboy’s friend Lucho (Wu Ma, who is supposed to be 34 but looks MUCH older) dies an inexplicable death. Even more inexplicable: though Lucho was impotent, his widow Jade is 8 months pregnant. She returns to Lucho’s and Fatboy’s home town with his body and her brother for the funeral, to be conducted by Fatboy’s uncle. However, it is revealed to us (early on, so this isn’t much of a spoiler) that Lucho is neither dead nor married to Jade. The man posing as her brother is her real husband, and also a greedy sorcerer. For what nefarious purpose is Lucho faking his own death? I could tell you, but you wouldn’t thank me. It’s pretty lame anyway.

Although Wu Ma directed this film, much of it has Sammo’s fingerprints all over it, mostly in the form of marginally funny jokes that get hammered so far into the ground they pop out on the other side of the world. Fatboy stuck inside a brothel with an overdose of some aphrodisiac or other coursing through his…uh, system, trying NOT to get aroused is good for a laugh or two, but other situations, like him arguing with a ghost that only he can see for about a half hour while passersby look at him like he’s insane…well, they ain’t.

Sammo’s oddball pacing is evident here, too. There are a couple of fight scenes, both fairly short, in the middle of the film (why these required FOUR choreographers…Sammo, Lam Ching-ying, Billy Chan, and Yuen Biao, credited as “Bill Yuen”…is a mystery), and the primary conflict is resolved (in rather incomplete fashion) much too soon. From there, the movie goes into a whole new subplot about Yuen, Fatboy’s arranged bride-to-be, trying to save his soul from ghost guards who look like fish-men out of an H.P. Lovecraft story. This creates a false climax way too early and makes the last 15 or 20 minutes feel almost like a completely different movie. Bad move, people.

Try as it might, The Dead and the Deadly just can’t compete with the more well-known films in the genre. If fun factor were used as a measure of fighting ability and these supernatural comedies duked it out, then Encounters of the Spooky Kind would win hands down, and, quite frankly, the almighty Mr. Vampire would make this movie its bitch in a matter of seconds. A disappointing film in spite of the considerable talent involved.

Numskull’s Rating: 4/10

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