Tekken (2010) Review

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Z Ravas
"Tekken" International DVD Cover

“Tekken” International DVD Cover

Director: Dwight H. Little
Cast: Jon Foo, Kelly Overton, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Ian Anthony Dale, Tamlyn Tomita, Candice Hillebrand, Luke Goss, Gary Daniels, Mircea Monroe, Cung Le, Marian Zapico, Darrin Dewitt Henson
Running Time: 92 min.

By HKFanatic

Video game to movie adaptations have something of a dirty reputation. I mean, I’ve lost count of how many times director Paul W. Anderson has suckered audiences (myself included) into spending money on his tepid “Resident Evil” franchise. The live-action version of “Tekken” doesn’t exactly buck the trend but at least it’s not as offensive as some of the genre’s biggest stinkers – “Double Dragon,” anyone?

“Tekken” should feel familiar to game movie fans since it combines the post-apocalyptic future city setting of the “Super Mario Brothers” movie with the flashy costumes and cheesy hairstyles of the live-action “Street Fighter” flick. It also manages to waste the not inconsiderable talents of of folks like former MMA champion Cung Le (“Bodyguards & Assassins); legendary b-movie actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (“Mortal Kombat”); karate-trained actor Luke Goss (“Blade II,” “Hellboy II”); direct-to-video king Gary Daniels (“The Expendables”); and the bald bad-ass from the “B13” movies, Cyril Raffaelli, who choreographed the fight scenes. If you’re watching “Tekken” to see any of these guys show off their moves or maybe just to witness your favorite game characters in the flesh, this movie delivers just enough for its audience to go home content and nothing more.

In the lead role is Jon Foo, a young actor and martial artist who’s already had the honor of fighting Tony Jaa; he was the sword-wielding Wushu master who attacked Jaa in the burning church scene of “The Protector.” At 5’8″ and baby-faced, John Foo is still a bit too diminutive to come across as “Tekken”‘s Jin Kazama or even as someone who could defeat Gary Daniels. But I’ll give Foo credit as he obviously knows some moves and he’s building an impressive resume which includes the Hong Kong action movie “House of Fury” and a small role in “Universal Soldier: Regeneration.”

Even as a casual fan of the video game, I can tell you that the “Tekken” series has become home to an increasingly complex set of fiction. I mean, they’re on their fifth sequel at this point; and it seems like every game ends with someone being thrown into a volcano only to crawl back out at the start of the next game and announce the Iron Fist tournament is back on. To its credit, the “Tekken” movie seeks to keep things simple: it’s about a dysotopic future where an angry young man with great power must learn the identity of his evil father and crush his tyrannical empire once and for all. Yup, it’s basically “Star Wars” with a fighting tournament.

Though the film is stuffed to its seams with fight scenes and actors who look like they stepped right out of the video game, nearly everything about “Tekken” underwhelms. This is due in large part to a cornball script and shoddy editing. We get plenty of fight scenes and most of our actors clearly know martial arts, but the camera rarely stays still long enough to truly capture the action and the editor is constantly cutting to people who are viewing the fights on television. Do we really need to keep seeing the same chubby bartender, who has one thirty second scene at the beginning of the movie, throughout the entire film? All these fools keep cheering “Jin, Jin, Jin” when all we want is to be able to see the matches going on. As such, it’s nearly impossible for me to comment on Cyril Raffaelli’s fight choreography. The movie doesn’t even showcase it enough to make a judgment call.

This film is also unbelievably sexist, which might have worked if this was “Dead or Alive” but it’s “Tekken.” In the game, the character of Christie Monteiro is a Brazilian woman who practices the Brazilian martial arts Capoeria. In the movie, she’s whitewashed into a Hollywood actress who, uh, kinda knows how to fight (?) but mostly just shows off her asscrack. It seems the men in this movie were cast based on their martial arts ability while the women were cast based on their willingness to wear skimpy outfits. If you’re a fan of Nina Williams (one of “Tekken”‘s most popular characters and someone who had her own spin-off game), prepare to be outraged by this movie.

When it comes to video game movies, fans rarely win. The first “Mortal Kombat” movie remains a solid guilty pleasure while I’d say “Silent Hill” is the closest the genre has to come to creating an honest-to-God decent movie, but even that film faltered faltered after its halfway point. The rest of these video game movies either suck so bad they threaten to bore a hole through your head or they merely suck. “Tekken” falls somewhere in the middle: certainly it’s a cheesecake festival with fight scenes that don’t reach their full potential, but at the same time it’s a fairly faithful visual approximation of the game. If all you want is to see some of your favorite characters come to life – in the right costumes even if they’re not the right ethnicity – without having to put any quarters into an arcade cabinet (unless you’re using Red Box, I guess), then “Tekken” is perhaps worth a rental.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 5.5/10

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

In a Glass Cage aka Tras el cristal Blu-ray (Cult Epics)

Posted on August 3, 2011 by JJ Bona
In a Glass Cage aka Tras el cristal Blu-ray (Cult Epics)

In a Glass Cage aka Tras el cristal Blu-ray (Cult Epics)

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2011

First time on Blu-ray! Tras el cristal (English: In a Glass Cage) is a 1987 Spanish art house horror film written and directed by Agustí Villaronga and starring Günter Meisner, Marisa Paredes and David Sust. The film was inspired by the history of Gilles de Rais. With its theme mixing Nazism, pedophilia, torture and homosexuality, the film was highly controversial. Check out the trailer here.

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

Black Water (2007) Review

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Z Ravas
"Black Water" American Theatrical Poster

"Black Water" American Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrew Traucki, David Nerlich
Writer: Andrew Traucki, David Nerlich
Producer: Michael Robertson
Cast: Diana Glenn, Maeve Dermody, Andy Rodoreda, Ben Oxenbould, Fiona Press
Running Time: 88 min.

By HKFanatic

“Black Water” opens with an ominous message. To paraphrase: “The Saltwater Crocodile population of Northern Australia is increasing.” Pause. “So is the human population.” Even with the knowledge that the film received funding from the Australian Film Commission, you probably know what you’re in for: some hapless humans are gonna wander into croc territory and become lunch. Did I mention it’s based on actual events?

“Black Water” is a low-budget Australian indie film from 2007. It was co-directed by David Nerlich and Andrew Taucki. Taucki went on to direct the 2010 killer shark movie “The Reef” to rave reviews. He’s stated he’s planning a trilogy of films about Australian creatures, though funding is not yet in place for the final movie. Here’s hoping that Taucki’s vision for a trilogy comes true as he’s revealed himself to be a promising filmmaker.

Considering its low-budget origins, I found “Black Water” to be a taut and effective thriller. It’s a movie about people being threatened by killer crocs, sure, but it’s no “Lake Placid” – don’t expect a computer-generated croc to launch out of the water to rip anyone’s arm off in a gory display. For the most part, real live crocodiles were used in the filming of this movie and then spliced into scenes with the actors through careful editing. On one hand, it means that you don’t get to glimpse the beast as much as you might in your typical Hollywood monster movie; on the other hand, what you can’t see is often more terrifying than what you can and “Black Water” mines this sense of dread to pitch-perfect effect. And in this day of CG overkill, I love any movie that uses real animals.

The script is smartly written. Does that mean the characters don’t do the stupid things that people always do in horror movies? I wish I could say “no,” but again, “Black Water” is based on a true story and it’s about people reacting to an extreme situation. It’s easy to second guess what you would do if threatened by a crocodile while you’re reclining in a La-Z-Boy, know what I mean? A lot of screentime is taken up by our characters sitting in a tree, trying to figure out if they should make a move for their upturned boat or wait for a potential rescue team. It’s admittedly not that visually interesting to watch a trio of people bickering in a mangrove swamp but it helps build tension for the climax of the film.

I still stand by the script because the dialogue doesn’t insult your intelligence and each character is given their chance to shine. Despite the potentially dangerous setting, I have to imagine that “Black Water” was an actor’s dream movie; it unfolds almost like a stage play, with a constant focus on the cast. I found the performances, scripting, and editing to be way ahead of similar films like 2010’s “Frozen,” which featured three poor bastards stuck on a ski lift.

“Black Water” is recommended to audiences who are willing to give a chance to low-budget indie filmmaking from the other side of the world and who can appreciate a horror film that isn’t a thrill-a-minute, no-brainer slasher movie from Platinum Dunes. The use of real crocodiles and some expert editing, as well as a tasteful restraint when it comes to onscreen violence, mean “Black Water” is more of a measured, intelligent thriller. We could debate all day about whether or not we would do what these characters did if we were stuck in croc-infested waters – but, hey, at least that means the movie got you talking.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10

Posted in Other Movies, Reviews | Tagged , |

Radley Metzger’s Erotica Psychedelica Blu-ray Set: Camille 2000, The Lickerish Quartet, Score (Cult Epics)

Posted on August 2, 2011 by JJ Bona
Radley Metzger's Erotica Psychedelica Blu-ray Set: Camille 2000, The Lickerish Quartet, Score (Cult Epics)

Radley Metzger's Erotica Psychedelica Blu-ray Set: Camille 2000, The Lickerish Quartet, Score (Cult Epics)

RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2011

Plunge into the world of Erotica Psychedelica, the ’70s cinematic sexual revolution! This box set features restored HD transfers made from the original 35mm negatives of the original theatrical versions of CAMILLE 2000 (1969) , THE LICKERISH QUARTET (1970) and SCORE (1972), along with many new Bonus Features, including never before seen On the Set footage and an exclusive Soundtrack CD. Limited numbered edition of 3,500 copies with collectible lenticular artwork!

Trailers: Camille 2000 | The Lickerish Quartet | Score

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

Grudge, The (2004) Review

Posted on August 2, 2011 by ningen31
"The Grudge" Theatrical Poster

“The Grudge” Theatrical Poster

Director: Takashi Shimizu
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, William Mapother, Clea DuVall, KaDee Strickland, Grace Zabriskie, Bill Pullman, Rosa Blasi, Ted Raimi, Ryo Ishibashi
Running Time: 92 min.

By Ningen

So stop me if you’ve heard this before. Sarah Michelle Gellar walks into a Japanese haunted house, and almost gets attacked by demons. She’s a nurse who happens to be working abroad and living with a whacky family. Unlike The Ring remake, which at least tried to add some characterization which was missing from the Japanese version, this film is just the exact same idea, but with a gaijin as the lead. (Foreigner for those not in the know.) What was once a movie focusing on the trials and travails of a harried social services worker now becomes a travelogue in which the lead tries to show her tolerance, but gives in to her inner xenophobe, and thinks, “Dem Japs are weird!” (While this method of interaction was popular in the overrated Lost in Translation, it’s annoying to people like myself who actually want to see movies about Japan featuring Japanese doing Japanese things. Not movies where the Japanese are eyed under the microscope like Mondo Cane.)

So how’s the actual horror? Well imagine if you just popped Ju On in your dvd player and hit the fast forward button, and you have The Grudge. But one would think that with MTV-style editing, it’d actually be much more enjoyable, since even the arthouse fans hate sitting through slow Japanese flicks. Unfortunately, it’s actually slower than the original, since the original compensated with excellent suspense and sympathetic characters (i.e. “hotter chicks”). This one feels like a drag, because the dark cloudy stuff in the original takes the foreground in this version, rather than the background as in the original; so instead of the ectoplasm creeping behind the leads (and you the viewer), it’s in-your-face and trying to impress you with its knowledge of performance art.

Since most of the flicks Gellar has starred in have been absolute crap, and since I don’t watch Xena the Vampire Slayer, I only have The Grudge to evaluate her, and frankly, I think her performance is mediocre. She’s just going through the motions, and gives a weaker emotional performance than Gillian Anderson. So I guess you can call The Grudge a case of selling-out, since it seems like Shimizu is just basically phoning in his scenes. Or perhaps like most Asian filmmakers, his work got screwed over by an American committee in post. I don’t know, and I don’t care. All I do know is that it’s given me a grudge against crappy remakes.

Ningen’s Rating: 5/10

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

Ju-On 2 (2003) Review

Posted on August 2, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Ju-On 2" Promotional Poster

“Ju-On 2” Promotional Poster

Director: Takashi Shimizu
Cast: Shin’ya Egawa, Takashige Ichise, Kunio Kawakami, Yoshinori Kumazawa, Hiroki Numata
Running Time: 95 min.

By Mighty Peking Man

They should have called this movie Ju-On II: Overkill – not only would this title sound cool, but it’s one hell of a double-pun. Like most people, I never expect sequels to be as good as their originals, but Ju-On 2 is too much of the same sh*t, only weaker. Much weaker.

Like the first movie, we get some ( or should I say less) of those startling, jump-out-of-your-seat moments; but this time, they’re tiresome, uninventive and just plain stupid (unless you think “crawling hair” is first-class horror). If the two Ju-On TV-movies (released between the first film and this one) were crud, then Ju-On 2 isn’t far behind.

If you’re a completest, give it a shot. If anything, it’s a good popcorn movie that’ll scare children for sure, but if you’re expecting a solid sequel, then you’ll probably be very disappointed.

Go back to school, Toshio. You’re not scary anymore.

Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 5/10

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Ju-On (2002) Review

Posted on August 2, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Ju-On" Japanese DVD Cover

“Ju-On” Japanese DVD Cover

AKA: Ju-On: The Grudge
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Cast: Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa, Tomomi Kobayashi, Takashi Matsuyama
Running Time: 92 min.

By Mighty Peking Man

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and the first thing you see standing over your bed is Linda Blair’s character from The Exorcist staring right at you and coming closer and closer – that’s how creepy this damn film is. In fact, I don’t remember the last time a film spooked the living sh*t out of me the way this one did.

Conducted in a series of connected segments, with mixed and related characters, Ju On is the story of a haunted house that makes The Amityville Horror residence look like The Brady Bunch’s dream home. The curses that reside within were summoned after a horrible crime was committed (involving a man who brutally murdered his own family, then shortly thereafter, killed himself….). Now, the victims’ wicked ghosts are back and they’re out to possess and kill anyone who comes across their path. At the jump-out-of-your-seat level this film achieves, dismiss all points of reason.

For the people that do care about the reason, tough luck, you won’t get one. At the end of the Ju-On, nothing is really met as far as a satisfying conclusion or closure. People die, ghosts do their ghostly things and the audience gets freaked out. If you want more than this, you’ll be disappointed.

Ju-On (aka Ju-On: The Grudge) is passionately directed by Shimizu Takashi, and written by Hiroshi Takahashi (screen writer of The Ring 2). Don’t recognize any of the cast members, but all their performances are passable.

Overall, Ju On is creepier than The Ring, but unlike the latter, it lacks the presence of a plot. By the way, if you want the full effect, watch it loud.

Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in All, Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Trailer: Johnnie To/Lau Ching Wan in “Life Without Principle”

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
Lau Ching Wan rides his bicycle in "Life Without Principle"

Lau Ching Wan rides his bicycle in "Life Without Principle"

The plot involves three ordinary people, a loan shark and $10 million bucks. Directed by Johnnie To and starring Lau Ching Wan (“Running Out of Time”), Richie Jen (“Accident”), and Denise Ho (“Merry-Go-Round”). The film is also known as “Death of a Hostage”.

Check it out the trailer here.

Update: Looks like shooting has finally wrapped. – Thanks to DiP for the heads up!

Posted in News |

Manhunter Blu-ray (MGM)

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
Manhunter Blu-ray (MGM)

Manhunter Blu-ray (MGM)

RELEASE DATE September 13, 2011

Michael Mann’s 1986 thriller Manhunter is nearly as good as The Silence of the Lambs, and in some respects it’s arguably even better. Based on Thomas Harris’s novel Red Dragon, which introduced the world to the nefarious killer Hannibal “the Cannibal” Lecter. ment to track down a serial killer who has thwarted the authorities at every turn. Starring William Petersen (“To Live and Die in L.A.”).

Check out the trailer here.

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

The People vs. George Lucas DVD (Lionsgate)

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
The People vs. George Lucas DVD (Lionsgate)

The People vs. George Lucas DVD (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2011

They gave him their love, their money and their online parodies. He gave them… the prequels. The passion the original STAR WARS trilogy inspires in its fans is unparalleled; but when it comes to George Lucas himself, many have found their ardor has cooled into a complicated love-hate relationship. This hilarious, heartfelt documentary delves deep into Lucas’s cultural legacy. Check out the trailer here.

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

The Conversation Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
The Conversation Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

The Conversation Blu-ray (Lionsgate)

RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2011

First time on Blu-ray! Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 provoking mystery-thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, an expert surveillance man. A routine wiretapping job turns into a nightmare when Harry hears something disturbing in his recording of a young couple in a park. His investigation of the tape and how it might be used sends Harry spiraling into a web of secrecy, murder and paranoia. Check out the trailer here.

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

Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Love Me Deadly/The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse DVD (Code Red)

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
Maria's B-Movie Mayhem: Love Me Deadly/The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse DVD (Code Red)

Maria's B-Movie Mayhem: Love Me Deadly/The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse DVD (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2011

1973’s “Love Me Deadly” is a film about, well, why don’t we just say that judging from its trailer, it lives up to its title. 1977’s “Curious Case of the Campus Corpse” (aka “The Hazing”, “Here Come the Delts”) revolves around a college freshman who rushes a fraternity and witnesses another pledge’s death during a hazing ritual…

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

Carry On Pickpocket (1982) Review

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Z Ravas
"Carry On Pickpocket" Chinese Theatrical Poster

“Carry On Pickpocket” Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Sammo Hung
Cast: Sammo Hung, Frankie Chan, Lau Hak Suen, Deannie Yip Tak Han, Didi Pang Sau Ha, Peter Chan Lung, Richard Ng Yiu Hon, Dick Wei, James Tien Chun, Paul Wong Kwan, Liu Wai Hung, Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Chan Chik Waai, Chan Dik Hak, Cheung Gwok Wa, Johnny Cheung Yiu Wah
Running Time: 102 min.

By HKFanatic

As a Sammo Hung fan, there comes a time when you’ve seen most of his US DVD catalog so you start looking for what’s left over. The little movies that you don’t hear much about, the ones that slip through the cracks. “Carry On Pickpocket” is one such flick. Sammo directed and starred in it but I doubt you’ll hear anybody claim it’s their favorite Sammo movie. Far from being bad, it’s just your run-of-the-mill 80’s Hong Kong comedy with a few action scenes sprinkled in.

Sammo Hung and Frankie Chan play two thieves who spend the entire film making pickpocketing look incredibly easy. They prowl Hong Kong’s streets and mall courts with Frankie’s girlfriend and her dad, swiping wallets and purses from unsuspecting victims. They consider it a matter of personal pride that they only steal cash – no ID cards or credits cards – but they always dump the wallet in a trashcan after fleeing the scene, so how in the hell are these people supposed to recover their belongings anyway? Someone else may very well take it once Sammo walks away!

Although Sammo tries to mine these scenes for laughs, most of the humor of “Carry On Pickpocket” comes from guest star Richard Ng, who plays a bumbling cop. He’s pretty damn terrible at his job and gave me a few chuckles, especially an early scene where he tries to drive his beat-up car to work in one piece. He really doesn’t add much to the story at all but it’s always nice to have a comedic talent like Richard Ng around, mugging it up for the camera when a scene calls for it.

“Carry On Pickpocket” is way more of a comedy than an action film, but there is action to be had. Fight scenes are brief but Sammo’s moves are fast and brutal, decimating opponents in a manner of seconds. There’s also a scene where Sammo gets down on the disco floor while wearing a ridiculous sweater with a giant Mickey Mouse face on it. Hey, it made me laugh – and Sammo can dance too!

As you can probably predict, the plot follows the typical bi-polar Hong Kong pattern of suddenly growing very dark during the last 15 minutes. Out of nowhere people are killed via bloody hatchet attacks and blown apart by shotguns. One poor bastard even gets stabbed through the penis, killing him instantly. Sammo has a fight with the always-intense Dick Wei, who gives Sammo a run for his money. It’s a good brawl but not the knock-down, drag-out kind of fight you probably want to see; certainly not as epic as Yuen Biao’s fight against Dick Wei in the underseen “Rosa.”

There’s not much to recommend about “Carry On Pickpocket” other than a few easy laughs and some good fights. Sammo followed this movie with “Project A” and it was proceeded by films like “Encounters of the Spooky Kind,” both of which have way more fans. Still, I’m sure there will come a time for your average kung fu enthusiast when they’ve seen every Sammo movie under the sun except this one. And at that point, “Carry On Pickpocket” should make for breezy entertainment on a Saturday afternoon.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10

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

Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Scream/Barn of Naked Dead aka Nightmare Circus DVD (Code Red)

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
Maria's B-Movie Mayhem: Scream/Barn of Naked Dead DVD (Code Red)

Maria's B-Movie Mayhem: Scream/Barn of Naked Dead DVD (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2011

In 1974’s “Barn of the Naked Dead,” three showgirls on their way to Las Vegas have car trouble and are stuck all night out in the desert… what happens to them next isn’t a good thing. In 1981’s “Scream,” agroup of friends on a rafting trip are killed off one by one by a mysterious killer. Sorry, no trailers.

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

Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem: Mardi Gras Massacre DVD (Code Red)

Posted on August 1, 2011 by JJ Bona
Maria's B-Movie Mayhem: Mardi Gras Massacre DVD (Code Red)

Maria's B-Movie Mayhem: Mardi Gras Massacre DVD (Code Red)

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2011

Mardi Gras Massacre is a 1978 horror film written and directed by Jack Weis. It is a semi-remake of the 1963 film Blood Feast. The film was on the UK Government’s list of Video Nasties in the 1980s and has not been resubmitted to the BBFC for a certificate since. Check out the trailer here.

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