Zombie Triple Feature DVD Collection (Section 23)

Zombie Triple Feature DVD Collection (Section 23)

Zombie Triple Feature DVD Collection (Section 23)

RELEASE DATE: November 8, 2011

The Ninja Triple Feature includes Koji Kawano’s Attack Girls’ Swim Team vs. The Undead, Ken’ichi Fujiwara’s Zombie Self-Defense Force! and Naoyuki Tomomatsus’ Zombie Hunter Rika. Japanese school girls and bloody zombie action – they may not be George Romero quality, but they might be just as entertaining! These films are currently available individually, but will be released for the first time together, at an amazing price.

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

Ninja Triple Feature DVD Collection (Section 23)

Ninja Triple Feature DVD Collection (Section 23)

Ninja Triple Feature DVD Collection (Section 23)

RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2011

The Ninja Triple Feature includes: Ninja She-Devil, I Was a Teenage Ninja! and Ninjaken: The Naked Sword. All highly exploitive and extremely sexy. Nudity, martial arts… what else can you ask for? Directed by Pink Film (Japanese softcore pornographic theatrical film) master Yoshikazu Kato. These films are currently available individually, but will be released for the first time together, at an amazing price.

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

The Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection Blu-ray (Raro Video USA)

The Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection Blu-ray (Raro Video)

The Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection Blu-ray (Raro Video)

RELEASE DATE: December 6, 2011

First time on Blu-ray! Raro Video presents The Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection, which includes films: Caliber 9 (1972), The Italian Connection (1972), The Boss a.k.a Wipeout (1973), and Rulers of the City a.k.a Mr. Scarface (1976). Currently available on DVD!

Trailers/Clips: (Warning: May contain spoilers) Caliber 9The Italian Connection | The Boss a.k.a Wipeout | Rulers of the City a.k.a Mr. Scarface

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

The Teacher DVD (Cheezy)

The Teacher DVD (Cheezy)

The Teacher DVD (Cheezy)

RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2011

Cameron Diaz, move over! In this 1974 flick, a beautiful and seductive small-town high school teacher (Angel Tompkins) seduces her star pupil (Jay North). Deranged desire leads to murder and mayhem when their careless, uncontrolled passion provokes the raging jealousy of a town misfit who has just been released from the mental hospital. Check out the trailer here.

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

Clash | aka Bay Rong (2009) Review

"Clash" International Theatrical Poster

“Clash” International Theatrical Poster

Director: Le Thanh Son
Cast: Johnny Tri Nguyen, Veronica Ngo, Hieu Hien, Hoang Phuc Nguyen, Lam Minh Thang
Running Time: 100 min.

By HKFanatic

Hot on the heels of their 2007 martial arts hit “The Rebel,” still the highest grossing Vietnamese film of all time, the creative team behind that movie reunite for another high-octane action film, “Clash.” This time the plot is set in modern day Saigon rather than the colonial era. Actor Johnny Nguyen, who gave Tony Jaa a run for his money at the top of the exotic animal restaurant in “The Protector,” returns as actor, producer, and screenwriter.

To say that Nguyen is talented is an understatement. Johnny’s bread ‘n butter is doing stunt work for high profile Hollywood films like “Spider-Man 2” and “X-Men: First Class,” but I think I speak for most action lovers when I say we’re happiest when Johnny is in front of the camera in a starring role. Even though the story of “Clash” doesn’t resonate as deeply as “The Rebel,” this film is loaded with jaw-dropping martial arts sequences that guarantee a must-watch for fight fans.

The script for “Clash” features plenty of twists and turns that I won’t spoil here. The gist is that Veronica Ngo’s daughter is being held captive by a dangerous Vietnamese gangster known only as Black Dragon. If she ever wants to see her daughter alive again, she’s got to do Dragon’s dirty work. As the film begins Veronica is assembling a team of hired guns for her last mission, which involves retrieving a laptop from some French criminals. In her group is Johnny Nguyen’s chain-smoking bad-ass and the volatile Cang (played by Lam Minh Thang), who may or may not be worthy of her trust. If the characters think snatching a laptop from some Frenchies is gonna be a walk in the park, they soon find they’re wrong as the situation grows out of control and loyalties are tested.

It’s a good set-up for an action movie but the way the story unfolds often left me scratching my head; I have to wonder if part of the blame isn’t on the subtitles. Black Dragon is one of those well-dressed criminals who always seems to talk in philosophical conundrums, like he just got finished reading “The Art of War.” Very little of his dialogue made sense to me, nor did the opening scene where a whole bunch of people are killed in the middle of the road for no discernible reason. The Dragon is set up to be this Zen-like gangster but by the end of the movie he’s just cackling insane and blindly firing a gun like any baddie from a John Woo flick.

Fortunately, the real focus of “Clash” is on Veronica Ngo and her quest to get her daughter back, as well as her budding relationship with Johnny Nguyen. Since Ngo and Johnny are a real-life couple they have chemistry to spare on the screen. Although Veronica is more well known in Asia for her pop star career and dramatic roles, I’m convinced that she needs to keep making action movies for the sake of the genre. Simply put, she is the one of the toughest, most ass-kicking female since Michelle Yeoh left the scene. The only one in her league is Jeeja Yanin (“Chocolate”) but whereas Jeeja is petite and unassuming, in “Clash” Veronica is a leggy 5’8″ and smoldering with rage.

Veronica and Johnny perform many of those full-body takedowns that you might have seen Donnie Yen do in “Flashpoint” – wrapping their legs around their opponent’s neck and then bringing them down to the ground for a submission hold. The martial arts in this film are an incredible blend of traditional fighting like Tae Kwon Do with Muay Thai (lots of elbows to the skull) and MMA-style takedown and submission techniques.

As an action fan, it’s been interesting to witness the dialogue occurring among action filmmakers as they’ve begun to incorporate submissions into their fight scenes. I mean, for over 40 years we’ve had nothing but martial arts movies where the fights always began and ended with the opponents on their feet. It feels like Donnie Yen changed the game with movies like 2005’s “SPL: Sha Po Lang” and the aforementioned “Flashpoint”; MMA-style moves have been smoothly integrated into traditional martial arts movies to the delight of fans. A standout scene for this kind of technique in “Clash” is the part where Johnny and Veronica take on three musclebound French skinheads in a living room.

“Clash” is the first film for director Le Thanh Son. It’s definitely a strong debut. I’m sure the film was made on a low budget but it oozes with style, no doubt helped by all the shots of the characters looking too-cool-to-care while they breathe cigarette smoke out their mouths. Son knows how to film action and his use of wide angle shots and conservative editing means that you get to see every kick and punch in detail. Although I’d like to see Johnny reteam with the director of “The Rebel,” Truc ‘Charlie’ Nguyen, there’s no doubt that Le Thanh Son has a bright future ahead of him in the action scene if he so chooses.

Thanks to “The Rebel” and now “Clash,” I’ve become a lifelong fan of Johnny Nguyen and Veronica Ngo. They’ve got the martial arts skills, there’s no doubt about that, but they also have great screen presence. While I can’t help but feel that some of the film’s story was lost in translation, giving the plot a muddled feeling at times, I can still heartily recommend “Clash” to fans of well-choreographed martial arts films. It looks lovely streaming in HD on Netflix Instant so there’s no reason for action fans not to check it out.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Reviews, Vietnamese | Tagged , , |

Oasis (2002) Review

"Oasis" Korean Theatrical Poster

“Oasis” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Chang-Dong
Cast: Sol Kyung-Gu, Moon So-Ri, Ahn Nae-Sang, Ryoo Seung-Wan, Chu Kwi-Jung, Son Byung-Ho, Yoon Ga-Hyun, Park Myung-Shin, Park Kyung-Geun
Running Time: 132 Min.

By Raging Gaijin

“Oasis” is a difficult film to watch, let alone review. The story is deceptively simple, as the plot synopsis above describes, but from it grows one of the most unlikely and captivating relationships in cinema history. Writer/director Lee Chang-Dong has crafted a unique and disturbing “love story” that shatters the viewer’s preconceived notions of just what constitutes a romantic relationship, while breaking a few taboos along the way for good measure. To put it simply, there’s no way you can watch this film and walk away unaffected.

As a director, Lee Chang-Dong obviously favors realism. The camera is almost always kept at a distance, does long takes, and rarely moves; all to be as unobtrusive as possible. Naturally, this can make the film move rather slowly. Lee Chang-Dong isn’t looking to rush things by editing out inconsequential scenes of people walking down the street or waiting for the bus. This is all seemingly in the effort to make the movie feel as real as possible. Of course, it’s up to each viewer to decide if this draws them further into the film or just bores them. The more impatient among us may find themselves reaching for the fast forward button. But if you stick with the film, if you become involved in “Oasis”, it will reward you.

There aren’t enough superlatives out there for me to do justice to Mun So-Ri, who plays the character afflicted with cerebral palsy. In real life she doesn’t have this disease but except for a few fantasy sequences, you wouldn’t know it watching “Oasis”. Her work here is beyond words and is something that just has to be witnessed. In a day and age when Hollywood fawns over starlets like Katie Holmes who do more acting on magazine covers than in movies… a performance like Mun So-Ri’s is nothing short of a revelation. I have the utmost respect and admiration for her, and she is undoubtedly a talent to watch. Seol Gyeong-Gu is also noteworthy in the role of Jong-du. Their characters make for a mismatched pair but in reality I can’t think of any other two people who could have played these roles as perfectly as them.

About 38 minutes in, the movie takes a dark (and I mean dark) turn. It’s truly one of the most uncomfortable scenes I’ve ever watched in a film. It’s not easy to sit through and it challenges you as a viewer because, given what happens after, it forces you to rethink your idea of what love is or what it can be. I don’t want to divulge any more because it shouldn’t be spoiled. It is very rare that a film chooses to spotlight individuals like these two. They’re truly the outcasts of society, nearly invisible to the rest of the world, and the film points a critical eye at the way South Korean deals with disabled people. Lee Chang-Dong should be applauded for his unconventional and honest portrayal of these social misfits.

This is not to say that “Oasis”is without faults. It probably moves a little too slow for its own good. 120 minutes would have been more than enough to tell the story and it could have removed some of the more unnecessary scenes. In addition, almost the entire third act is based on a misunderstanding that could have been easily cleared up but, for some reason, Jong-du never tries to explain himself. This is quite puzzling as it ends up getting him in trouble with the law once again. Of course, it’s also an extreme coincidence that even created the misunderstanding in the first place; one of those “of all the times you could have decided to walk in the door” moments. During these last twenty minutes or so, the film breaks free from reality and comes across as illogical for the sake of drama. It’s kind of a disappointment but it doesn’t ruin the movie.

Minor quibbles aside, “Oasis” is a stellar achievement in Korean cinema. Outside of Wong Kar-Wai’s films and a select few Japanese movies, I can’t think of an Asian film that has stirred as much emotion (whether positive or negative) inside me. This is not a film you necessarily enjoy watching but you have no choice but to recognize the artistry and talent of those involved. “Oasis” will unsettle you, it’ll provoke you, but you just might thank it in return. This most unlikely of love stories is one that demands your attention.

Raging Gaijin’s Rating: 8.5/10

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

Five Shaolin Masters | aka 5 Masters of Death (1974) Review

"Five Shaolin Masters" Hong Kong Theatrical Poster

“Five Shaolin Masters” Hong Kong Theatrical Poster

Director: Chang Cheh
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: David Chiang, Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Meng Fei, Leung Kar Yan, Fung Hak On, Kong Do, Choi Wang, Johnny Wang, Chan Dik Hak, Chan Sam Lam, Chen Chin, Cheung Yee Kwai, Chik Ngai Hung, Chui Chung, Chui Fat, Dang Tak Cheung
Running Time: 105 min.

By HKFanatic

Most action films, even martial arts ones, are scenes of dialogue interrupted by the occasional fight. “Five Shaolin Masters” is a series of fight scenes interrupted by occasional dialogue. This is not only one of the best martial arts movies I’ve seen – this is one of the best movies I’ve seen, period. Director Chang Cheh outdid himself with his tale of the last remaining survivors of the Shaolin Temple massacre. Although I still have lots of love for Cheh’s “Five Element Ninjas” and its goofy, super-powered antics, “Five Shaolin Masters” might be my new favorite Shaw Brothers classic.

Several things I love about this movie: for one, it doesn’t mess around. There’s no ill-advised attempts at humor, no romantic subplot. In fact, there isn’t a single female character in the whole movie. The cast is uniformly excellent but three of the Masters stand out more than the others. David Chiang is the closest thing the film has to a main character; he might not have the flashiest moves of the Five Masters but he sold me on his commitment to righteousness and stopping those damn Manchus.

Ti Lung – Ti Lung is great in this and I think this was the first time I’d seen him as a young man. He was a handsome dude back in the day! He also gets the toughest opponent out of all the Masters, the guy with the swinging axe. Then there’s Alexander Fu Sheng, who many felt could have been as big as Bruce Lee if not for his untimely death at the age of 29. He plays the youngest of the Masters and he’s the most rambunctious of the bunch. He jokes around a lot and the other guys don’t always take him seriously, but deep down he has a heart of gold. There’s a scene where he is ordered to give up Shaolin secrets under threat of torture and you just know there’s no way in hell he’s saying anything.

In “Five Shaolin Masters” the bad guys are just as memorable as the heroes, a hard feat to pull off in any movie. But you’ve got the bad-ass guy who fights with an axe on a rope; two identical twins who guard the Magistrate, who himself can kill you with his ponytail; Bryan Leung AKA “Beardy,” Sammo Hung’s buddy and an always formidable foe; and don’t forget the entire army of black-shirted enemies that’s in nearly every scene.

The soundtrack is excellent. The main theme is this creepy motif that’s repeated often and almost sounds like it could be used in a giallo. The ominous music lets the viewer know that the stakes are high. The Shaolin Temple has been destroyed, the heroes are on the run. Their only hope is to unite with their patriot bothers in Central China, perhaps win the favor of the outlaw bandit known as “Iron Face” and his men, and strike back at the evil Qing Dynasty.

“Five Shaolin Masters” has the big, important feeling of an 80’s comic book cross-over: all your favorite heroes are coming together to face an almost un-defeatable foe. Even though the film runs for nearly two hours, there’s no filler; no pointless scenes that you wish had been left on the editing room floor. Just pure, ass-kicking nirvana the whole way through. And the editing itself is a work of art: even though Chang Cheh has no less than five different battles going on at the end of the movie, the transition from fight to fight is seamless.

In a rare move for a martial arts film, the heroes acknowledge their own weaknesses and admit that they might not be able to defeat the villains. I’m not sure if this was just a plot device to keep the audience in suspense for the final battle – “Oh my God, will our heroes actually be able to beat that invincible dude with the swinging axe?” – but, hey, nice display of humility, guys! Of course, what would a Shaw Brothers movie be without a lengthy training sequence? For once there’s no wise old master to reach our protagonists; presumably their Master perished in the destruction of the temple. So instead David Chiang and company train on their own, in the midst of nature, for 6 months straight. After that you better believe there’s hell to pay.

In contrast to other Shaw Brothers movies, “Five Shaolin Masters” takes place mostly outdoors. I liked it. The Shaw Brothers’ sets are great but they always look like just that, sets. The natural scenery in this movie sold me on the reality of the plot. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Chang Cheh movie without plenty of blood ‘n guts and “Five Shaolin Masters” doesn’t disappoint in that department. People get their scalps cut off, their abs ribbed open. It’s a mess! And there’s always your patented Chang Cheh themes of brotherhood and honor. It’s no surprise that Cheh would go on to be a mentor to John Woo. Woo made the same kind of films, only with guns instead of swords.

You can probably tell that I loved this movie. I haven’t seen as many Shaw Brothers flicks as some of cityonfire.com’s readers and staff and I look forward to exploring more of the catalog, but I get the feeling that “Five Shaolin Masters” will always be one of my favorites. If you have a single bone in your body that appreciates kung fu movies, then you owe it to yourself to see “Five Shaolin Masters.”

HKFanatic’s Rating: 10/10


By Joe909

I first came across Five Shaolin Masters in a run-down department store in the early 1990s; they had the US video release for maybe three dollars or so. Since I was young, I was stupid and broke, and so I didn’t have even the few dollar bills to buy it. Flash forward ten or so years, and I’ve finally gotten a chance to see this film. It’s so good, I regret not buying it back in the day.

A few online reviews (particularly on the Hong Kong Movie Database) had me expecting a low-budget, slow-moving film with bland martial arts choreography. I honestly don’t know what movie those reviewers saw. Five Shaolin Masters is action-packed from beginning to end, features the occasional artsy dash, livens up the narrative by splitting up into different storylines, and features great choreography, all of which was overseen by Liu Chia-Liang himself. The only thing I’ll agree with those reviewers on is that the movie does at times seem low-budget, but this is only because instead of shooting on the typical, grand Shaw studios, this movie is mostly shot outdoors, in nondescript, bland forests and hills.

Five Shaolin Masters is part of a cycle of Shaolin-centered films Chang Cheh directed in the mid-1970s, all of which starred Fu Sheng and Chi Kuan-Chun, and which featured Liu Chia-Liang as choreographer (save for 1976’s Shaolin Temple, which Liu apparently declined to take part in). These movies were more traditional kung-fu than earlier and later Chang Cheh productions, and in some ways seem like a combination of his own films and Liu Chia-Liang’s later movies (i.e., 36th Chamber of Shaolin). As I said in my Shaolin Temple review, these movies offer a different view of the directing/screenwriting powerhouse of Chang Cheh/I Kuan, and should be entertaining for all kung-fu nuts.

Shaolin Temple, released in 1976, starred Fu Sheng (as Fong Sai-Yuk), Chi Kuan-Chun (as Hung Sze-Kwan), David Chiang (as Hu De-Di), and Ti Lung (as Cai Dezhong). The movie ended with the destruction of the Temple by Manchu dogs, with these four heroes and a few surviving compatriots rushing off to join the anti-Ching movement. Five Shaolin Masters picks up directly after this, and features the same actors as that film, though only David Chiang and Ti Lung reprise their roles; Fu Sheng and Chi Kuan-Chun appear as different characters, and Fong Sai-Yuk and Hung Sze-Kwan are only mentioned in passing. Wang Lung-Wei also appears in both films as the same villainous character, which is strange, as he was killed at the end of Shaolin Temple. So all of this implies that Shaolin Temple was a prequel to Five Shaolin Masters, which of course was released two years prior. I’d advise those new to both of these movies to check out Shaolin Temple first, then move on to Five Shaolin Masters. Both films perfectly compliment one another.

The film opens with the five titular heroes meeting after escaping Shaolin. They all make an oath to destroy the Manchu, and split up to rally the cause. This opening sequence offers several action scenes, with each hero battling the Manchu as they get away from the burning Temple. Chang goes for an epic touch as each character is introduced in action, then the shot freezes and we get an on-screen legend of the character’s name and the actor’s name. Here we also meet the five principal villains, who also receive a freeze-frame introduction. To improve the fun factor all the more, the heroes and villains get their own recurring themes. In fact, you’ll find yourself humming the heroes’ theme long after watching the movie.

Chang breaks up the narrative by showing what happens to each of the five heroes after splitting up. This makes the film seem more fast-paced, and also increases the action quotient. The five heroes meet fellow rebels and run into the principal villains again, setting up the feud that propels the film. The interesting fact is, in each section the hero gets his ass handed to him. The Fu Sheng section is especially memorable, as he runs into Wang Lung-Wei and eventually realizes that Wang is the traitor who aided in the destruction of the Temple. (Which itself is another interesting tidbit, as the traitorous nature of Wang’s character was already discovered, at the end of Shaolin Temple).

The heroes get back together and realize they’re no match for their opponents. So they decide to spend however long it takes to train themselves into better fighters. Realizing the Manchu will search everywhere for them, they head back to the ruins of the Temple, which they figure is the last place their pursuers will look. Their hunch is correct, as the villains spend the next year searching for them in vain. At the same time as this, the heroes keep in touch with a group of anti-Manchu rebels, who await the return of the five so they can finally get vengeance. How the five heroes manage to survive in the wilderness (no mention of money or where they’ll get food) is never addressed.

A unique aspect of these training sequences is that, instead of being taught by some decrepit old master, the heroes train themselves. I’m not sure how successful this would be in the real world, but it works out for them. The training doesn’t take up a large portion of the running time; instead, we get a few well-shot scenes of Ti Lung training with a fighting staff, Fu Sheng and Chi Kuan-Chun sparring, David Chiang impaling trees with his iron chain, and Meng Fei working on his technique. Finally the heroes decide they’re as ready as they’ll ever be, but to increase the unique aspect of this film even more, they STILL doubt their ability to defeat the villains! Self-doubt is something you don’t normally see in a kung-fu film, especially before the climactic confrontation.

The heroes arrange it so that they can take on the five villains (and their two henchmen) along a riverbank in a secluded section of the forest. Knowing that the villains will want to kill them so they can take the credit, the heroes capitalize on the villains’ bloodlust, making them come after them without the Manchu army by their side. The five masters split up and take on their respective enemies.

Since this film is more traditional than your average Chang Cheh movie, these fights don’t feature any outrageous styles or weapons. Instead, everyone fights with solid, real-life techniques; again proving the presence of Liu Chia-Liang. About the closest we get to bizarre styles is one villain, who fights with an axe head that’s attached to a rope. This doesn’t seem to me the most accurate or reliable weapon, but it works well enough for him. Another of the villains uses his ponytail to ensnare his victims and snap their necks, so that’s pretty outrageous, but nothing like the crazy stuff you’d see in later Chang Cheh movies.

Chang flawlessly cuts between these five fight scenes, each of which are greatly done. Every actor, even David Chiang, looks impressive, and I found myself totally caught up in the spectacle. The fighting, acting, and direction take it all far beyond the inferior, low-budget kung-fu flicks of the period. The final fifteen or so minutes of film are comprised of this running battle, and some of the fights have an outcome you might not expect. The movie ends on a successful note of vengeance gained, and I’m not ashamed to admit I was totally psyched by the whole experience.

Getting into the more technical details, Chang Cheh’s direction throughout is perfect. I mentioned in my Shaolin Temple review that the finale to that film was overwhelming, jumping back and forth between so many fights. Chang does the same here, but he handles it much better. Some of the transitions between fight sequences are so well done that I found myself muttering “that’s cool” out loud. As I said above, Chang also gets a bit artsy, mixing up film stocks. Several flashbacks are filmed in black and white, and this combination of black and white and color looks phenomenal on the Celestial remaster.

Like I mentioned, the bizarre weaponry is toned down, but Liu Chia-Liang’s choreography more than makes up for that. The violence is limited to blood spurting out of mouths and wounds, and isn’t near the level of several Chang Cheh films. A few guys get impaled by finger thrusts, and one of the main villains gets the top of his head lopped off in a fantastic scene, but other than that the bloodshed is minimal. I suspect there was a crackdown on film violence in Hong Kong in the mid-1970s, as Chang toned down the bloodshed in his other Shaolin films. In some cases (i.e. Men from the Monastery), he used colored lens gels to obscure the violence. Five Shaolin Masters features a bit of this, as some of the black and white scenes are pretty bloody. That being said, this movie does feature a guy getting his eyeballs kicked out.

Acting is great throughout, though characterization isn’t all it could be. We don’t really get to know our heroes and their enemies; instead, all we need to know is that one side is good and the other is evil. Therefore it’s up to each actor to make his character memorable, and they all accomplish this with ease. This actually gives the movie more of an epic vibe; just like in the Sergio Leone Westerns, we don’t learn very much about our heroes’ backgrounds, instead getting to know them through their cool demeanor and recurring theme songs. This gives the proceedings a mythic feel.

I was really impressed by this film, and I think all readers should ignore those reviews that claim it’s talky and boring. I can’t imagine the old school fan who wouldn’t enjoy it, and the flawless Celestial remaster is the perfect presentation.

Joe909’s Rating: 10/10

Posted in Chinese, Reviews, Shaw Brothers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Bellflower Blu-ray & DVD (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

Bellflower Blu-ray & DVD (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

Bellflower Blu-ray & DVD (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2011

Best friends Woodrow and Aiden spend all of their free time building MAD MAX-inspired flamethrowers and muscle cars in preparation for a global apocalypse. But when Woodrow meets a charismatic young woman named Milly and falls hard in love, he and Aiden quickly join a new group of friends, setting off on a journey of love and hate, betrayal, infidelity, and extreme violence more devastating and fiery than any of their apocalyptic fantasies.

Directed and starring Evan Glodell, Bellflower was one of the most talked about films of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Check out the trailer here.

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

The Brave Archer Part 2 DVD (Tokyo Shock)

The Brave Archer Part 2 DVD (Tokyo Shock)

The Brave Archer Part 2 DVD (Tokyo Shock)

RELEASE DATE: November 22, 2011

Directed by Chang Cheh (The Delinquent), this 1978 flick, starring Alexander Fu Sheng (8 Diagram Pole Fighter), is based on Louis Cha’s novel “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”. Also stars Philip Kwok (Five Deadly Venoms), Kara Hui (My Young Auntie), Lo Mang (Crippled Avengers) and Danny Lee (The Killer) and many more. Also known as Kung Fu Warlords 2.

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

Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray (Fox)

RELEASE DATE: September 16, 2011

First time on Blu-ray with three different sets to choose from: Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI), Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I – III) and Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (Episodes IV – VI).

Update: A Comic-Con teaser with deleted scenes can be seen here.

Update 2: The latest trailer for the set can be seen here.

Update 3: A clip of the new TPM Yoda, courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes and Movieline.

Update 4: Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

Update 5: If it makes you feel better, Funny or Die has got you covered. Thanks to Digital Bits for the link.

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

BKO: Bangkok Knockout (2010) Review

"BKO: Bangkok Knockout" International Theatrical Poster

“BKO: Bangkok Knockout” International Theatrical Poster

Director: Panna Rittikrai
Cast: Gitabak Agohjit, Speedy Arnold, Supakson Chaimongkol, Sorapong Chatree, Virat Kemgrad
Running Time: 105 min.

By HKFanatic

Director and fight choreographer Panna Rittikrai has stated his goal in cinema is to push the human body to its limit. “BKO: Bangkok Knockout,” then, is his magnum opus. Panna builds on style of his 2004 free-for-all stunt spectacular “Born to Fight” and unleashes a film that either pays tribute to Thai stuntmen or delivers their bone-crushing punishment – I’m still not sure which. If you’re looking for great performances, a complex plot, or character development…keep walking. “BKO” is not for you. This is a film for those who get off on the jaw-dropping, “Holy shit, I can’t believe they just did that” thrill of watching an action movie from Thailand, where brave stuntmen put their lives on the line and pay no heed to Hollywood insurance policies.

The premise of “BKO” is fairly bare bones, with a team of martial artist friends waking up after a night out on the town and realizing they’ve been drugged and brought to an unfinished housing project. There they are forced under penalty of death to fight against skilled opponents, all for the amusement and financial gain of some wealthy criminals who are betting on the action from a remote location. As per usual with these Thai movies, the few English-speaking actors deliver ridiculous performances. The man in charge of the gambling action is played by an actor named Speedy Arnold and the math he gives his associates makes absolutely no sense. “Bet $300,000 on this next fight,” he says with a smile and a Southern-fried accent, “and you stand to make $100,000.” What? I’m no business major but I can’t see why anyone would invest more than they stand to make. This happens about four times during the movie and by the final instance I was just dying of laughter.

If you could cut out the English-speaking actors (some of whom can just barely speak the language) and sped up the talky first 40 minutes, “BKO” would be close to perfect. As it stands those are the elements you have to endure to get to the good stuff. But it’s worth the sacrifice: once “BKO” gets rolling, the action rarely lets up. The cast features a bunch of young and talented martial artists from all over Asia. Stick around for the credits and they detail which style the actors specialize in: from Tai Chi to Tae Kwon Do, from free-running to Commando Krav Maga, even gymnastics.

The film is designed from the ground up to allow these gifted performers to show their stuff. If anything, “BKO” tips its hat a little too early: the first real fight scene set in a caged room is arguably the most amazing fight in the entire film, as the opponents cling to and fly off of a caged fence in acrobatic fashion. At the same time I can’t overlook the fight scene where the Thai Chi practitioner wields a giant metal rod, reminding me of Jet Li in his heyday; or the fight between lead hero Pod and the character the credits list as a “ninja samurai.” Director Panna Rittikrai himself gets in on the action at one point, starring as a bad guy who plays for keeps. He’s the kind of fighter who immediately goes for your weaknesses, seeking pressure points on the body or gouging out your eyes if he has to.

There’s also fight scenes involving a hulking, unstoppable killer with a Slipknot-type mask – it’s like seeing what would happen if a bunch of martial artists went up against Jason in a “Friday the 13th” movie. And then there’s a Death Race-style car that drives into crowds of people and smashes through concrete walls in spectacular fashion. This is not even mentioning the final act, which features plenty of stunts with a moving semi-truck and a bunch of dirtbikes.

The fact that there are so many characters is this film’s blessing and its curse: everybody gets to show off their moves but nobody really gets to make a lasting impression or deliver a memorable performance. There are so many actors I wish you could pluck from this film and give their own starring vehicle to see what they could do with the spotlight solely on them from 90 minutes. Tony Jaa continues to be the most popular Thai star abroad because he has charisma to burn. The cast in “Bangkok Knockout” doesn’t really get the chance to win the audience over besides leaving us in awe of their physical abilities. I also would have liked a woman martial artist in the film – the female characters mostly serve as damsels-in-distress to drive the story forward, though they do get a few kicks in. The presence of Jeeja Yanin (“Chocolate”) is sorely missed here.

Truly, “BKO: Bangkok Knockout” is a nonstop showreel of blistering, intense fight choreography and stunts so brutal you can’t believe people actually walked away from them. I’d say that the film sets the bar for action and stunts so high that it won’t be topped for quite some time except that I’m certain that Panna Rittikrai is dreaming up ways to outdo himself as I type. Panna is the mad scientist of martial arts cinema and “Bangkok Knockout” is his Frankenstein monster. Action fans the world over, get ready to rejoice.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 9/10

Posted in Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , |

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Blu-ray & DVD (Fox)

RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2011

Fox Entertainment has announced that it will release on Blu-ray critically acclaimed director Wayne Wang’s (Chinese Box) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011), starring Li Bingbing (Detective Dee), Russell Wong (The Sanctuary), Gianna Jun aka Jun Ji-Hyun (My Sassy Girl), and Vivian Wu (The Last Emperor). Check out the trailer here.

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

Death Weapons of the East & Ancient Secret Agents DVD (A&E)

Death Weapons of the East & Ancient Secret Agents DVD (A&E)

Death Weapons of the East & Ancient Secret Agents DVD (A&E)

RELEASE DATE: September 20, 2011

The oldest known weapon is the staff. Watch with surprising results a comparison test between a staff and a shotgun. Learn about the ermei–a deadly Chinese underwater attack weapon. Which is more powerful, a meteor hammer or a punch? Can Chi Warriors really kill a man with a single touch? Investigate the ability of eastern warriors to withstand pain such as smashing concrete on live human heads. Finally, ancient Chinese crossbows are examined, including one small enough to fit up your sleeve.

Investigate the systems by which ancient intelligence services transmitted messages over thousands of miles–the fire beacon, the horse and the pigeon. This episode sets up a great race between these three systems to see which communicates the swiftest. Learn how ancient spies sent secret messages using invisible ink made of human sperm and how they wrote on the inside of a raw egg. Discover how Japan’s covert assassins, the ninja, used more than darts and poisons–they were pretty good with explosives as well. Find out how a Roman James Bond used a suit made of cork to support him in full armor during a covert operation across a river.

This is the perfect opportunity to learn about all those cool weapons and warriors we’re used to seeing in martial arts movies. It’s good to educate ourselves. Besides, you’ll never know when you might come across these guys.

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

The Piano in a Factory DVD (Film Movement)

The Piano in a Factory DVD (Film Movement)

The Piano in a Factory DVD (Film Movement)

RELEASE DATE: December 6, 2011

To fight for custody of his daughter who loves playing the piano, a steel factory worker decides to forge a piano from scratch. A delightful Chinese film that artfully blends music, romance, comedy and just a little social comment a thoroughly enjoyable movie experience! – Mark Adams, Screen Daily Check out the trailer here.

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

BKO: Bangkok Knockout Blu-ray/DVD (Magnolia)

BKO: Bangkok Knockout Blu-ray/DVD (Magnolia)

BKO: Bangkok Knockout Blu-ray/DVD (Magnolia)

RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2011

Bangkok Knockout is a 2010 Thai martial arts film, directed by Panna Rittikrai (Ong-Bak 2). It revolves around a group of martial arts students who are enjoying a reunion party when a bomb goes off in the building. When they wake up, some of their friends have been kidnapped and they soon find a group of assassins coming after them. Check out the trailer and also be sure to read our review.

Update: A clip from the film can be seen here.

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