Dragon Fight | aka Dragon Kickboxer (1988) Review

Posted on March 22, 2011 by JJ Hatfield
"Dragon Fight" Korean DVD Cover

“Dragon Fight” Korean DVD Cover

AKA: The Defector
Director: Billy Tang
Cast: Jet Li, Dick Wei, Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Nina Li Chi, Steven Ho, Mark Williams
Running Time: 98 min.

By JJ Hatfield

Viewed as a film, “Dragon Fight” is not very good. However, all is not lost if you are a Jet Li fan, or fond of martial arts films. This is a kind of blending of Jet the Chinese excellent citizen and Jet’s desire to gain a following in the U.S. This movie is unique because it has little to no wire fu and thera-tubing. All action, and the action is good enough to carry the movie.

Jet plays “Jimmy” and is one of the members of a martial arts company performing in the U.S., San Francisco to be exact. I swear, every outdoor shot had a large backdrop of “the bridge” – over and over and over. Enough, we know where you are supposed to be, okay? When it’s time to leave for home, Tiger (Dick Wei) decides it’s time to head for greener financial pastures but manages to screw up his defection and Jimmy ends up on the run because he is a murder suspect. In trying to find safety in the U.S., he runs into Andy (Stephen Chow). He helps Jimmy get around in SF while Jimmy helps him deliver groceries for the shop Andy’s father owns. Chow is very young here and has not yet established himself as a comedian or an actor. He does not exhibit the confidence he carries now. It shows you though why he has gone so far in the industry. Meantime, Tiger has managed to establish himself high in the local gang world of SF (The bridge! The bridge!) in approximately 68 hours. We are just supposed to believe his ability to inflict major painful injuries to human bodies allows him to advance quickly in the SF gang organizations.

Things are not going too bad until Jimmy knows he is going to have to face his old friend Tiger in a fight in order to be cleared of charges. Let me amend that. Face Tiger his old friend AND about 30 other guys. The end fight is definitely the best and is worth waiting for and still no gravity defying amazing beyond human footage. That’s worth three points by itself! Things happen so Jet has to fight. Some events are just silly but it works because of Jet’s appearing to understand the game even if the audience is a tad confused. But Jet comes through and makes this a movie to have. It reminded me of the incredible martial artists who used to do it all by themselves.

Jet is young here and a Master in numerous forms, especially Wushu, agile and full of confidence, at least about his amazing abilities. The plot is barely there but it’s enough to make sure Jet shows his stuff and it looks damned good! This movie tends to come and go in availability so get it while you can.

JJ Hatfield’s Rating: 6/10

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

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Editions Blu-ray (New Line)

Posted on March 21, 2011 by JJ Bona
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Editions Blu-ray (New Line)

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Extended Editions Blu-ray (New Line)

RELEASE DATE: June 28, 2011

This Blu-ray release includes the following titles: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Blu-ray Extended Edition; The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Blu-ray Extended Edition; and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Blu-ray Extended Edition.

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

Raymond Chow receives Lifetime Achievement award

Posted on March 21, 2011 by JJ Bona
Veteran Hong Kong producer Raymond Chow poses with the trophy after winning the Lifetime Achievement award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong

Veteran Hong Kong producer Raymond Chow poses with the trophy after winning the Lifetime Achievement award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong

According to kungfucinema.com, movie mogul Raymond Chow will be given a Lifetime Achievement award.

Raymond Chow is one of the prime movers of Golden Harvest Studios, which he founded in 1970 with Leonard Ho. Some of the biggest names of Hong Kong cinema were launched (and still are) associated with the studio: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, John Woo and Jet Li – just to name a few.

The fifth annual Asian Film Awards will take place in Hong Kong tomorrow night (Monday March 21). For details and results, please visit: www.asianfilmawards.asia

Posted in News |

The Best of Global Lens: China DVD Set (First Run)

Posted on March 21, 2011 by JJ Bona
The Best of Global Lens: China DVD Set (First Run)

The Best of Global Lens: China DVD Set (First Run)

RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2011

Dam Street — by Li Yu

During a time of rigid moral code in China, a sixteen year old girl living in a small riverside town discovers she is pregnant. The community is stunned, her family loses face and she and her boyfriend are expelled from their school; in the aftermath, her boyfriend leaves her, and she is forced to put her child up for adoption. Ten years later, she is reduced to working as a singer in a local song and dance troupe, her only friend a young boy who protects her from the critical eyes of the community… until a marriage proposal probes the limits of their friendship and the depth of her unresolved past.

WINNER! Grand Prize – Best Film, Deauville Asian Film Festival
WINNER! Best Director, Ghent Int’l Film Festival
WINNER! Jury Prize, Venice Film Festival
“CHINESE FILMMAKING AT ITS BEST: Picturesque, emotive and haunting. This lyrical, quietly powerful study of a proud young woman trapped in a man’s world boasts rich, burnished cinematography, arresting imagery, and a stunning central performance from the beautiful Liu Yi.”- Edinburgh International Film Festival

Luxury Car
A Film by Wang Chao

In this award-winning drama, an old schoolteacher travels from his small village to the city of Wuhan in search of his missing son, who his dying wife wants to see one last time. But instead of finding their son, he discovers his daughter working as a karaoke bar escort, and her mobster boyfriend might be linked to his son’s disappearance. Fast-paced and suspenseful, with a beautiful performance by Chinese star Tian Yuan, Luxury Car illustrates the painful reality of parents who have lost contact with their children through rural exodus and political upheaval in China.

WINNER! Prix Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival
“The performances are subtle and smart. Chinese pop star Tian Yuan is both tender and seductive.”- The Hollywood Reporter

Stolen Life — A Film by Li Shaohong

A young girl, Yanni (Xun Zhou), is taken to live with her aunt and grandmother in Beijing. As an adolescent, Yanni becomes withdrawn and reclusive, believing that she has been abandoned by her parents, and that she has no control over either her life or her fate. Surprising everyone, Yanni is accepted to college. But as she prepares to begin her new life, an encounter with a delivery man triggers a series of unexpected events.

WINNER! Best Film – Tiburon International Film Festival
WINNER! Best Narrative Feature – Tribeca Film Festival
“Riveting. A polished feminist eye-opener!”- Variety

Uniform — A Film by Diao Yinan

Wang, a young tailor struggling to pay his father’s medical bills and simultaneously gain the attention of a pretty girl, discovers a solution for both problems: a policeman’s uniform, left in the family shop. He begins to impersonate a police officer, extorting money and impressing the attractive Zheng, who also leads a double life – as an escort. A humorous but realistic portrait of the clashing values of modern-day China.

WINNER! Dragons And Tigers Award For Young Cinema, Vancouver International Film Festival
SPECIAL MENTION, Rotterdam International Film Festival
“Uniform is beautifully observed…great performances.”- London Film Festival

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

Prachya Pinkaew’s Elephant White Blu-ray/DVD (Millennium)

Posted on March 21, 2011 by JJ Bona
Prachya Pinkaew's Elephant White Blu-ray/DVD (Millennium)

Prachya Pinkaew's Elephant White Blu-ray/DVD (Millennium)

RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2011

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew (Ong Bak, Tom Yum Goong), Elephant White revolves around an assassin who is hired by a businessman to avenge the murder of his daughter by white slave traders in Thailand.

It stars Kevin Bacon (Death Sentence), Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) and Jirantanin Pitakporntrakul. This is Prachya Pinkaew’s first U.S. produced film; it’s supposedly action packed, though who knows how much of it is martial arts? If there isn’t any thai action, don’t be tagging the poster “From the Director of Ong Bak,” because I sure as hell don’t know any memorable quotes from Ong Bak.

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

Princess Blade 2-Disc DVD (Eastern Star)

Posted on March 20, 2011 by JJ Bona
Princess Blade 2-Disc DVD (Eastern Star)

Princess Blade 2-Disc DVD (Eastern Star)

RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2011

Princess Blade 2-Disc DVD (Eastern Star) is a re-release. Raised by assassins, Yuki is the last of the Takemikazuchi royal bloodline. A deadly weapon in her own right, she learns the gruesome truth about the death of her beloved mother. Turning her back on the assassins that betrayed her, she joins forces with a mysterious rebel leader and discovers compassion; still, she is driven only by revenge.

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

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho DVD (Ya Entertainment)

Posted on March 20, 2011 by JJ Bona
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho DVD (Ya Entertainment)

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho DVD (Ya Entertainment)

RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011

YA Entertainment presents My Girlfriend is a Gumiho! Wannabe movie star Dae-woong (Lee Seung-Gi, Brilliant Legacy) learns that a gumiho isn t so evil after all when he accidentally frees 500-year-old Mi-ho (Shin Min-Ah) into the human world. Naïve, inquisitive, and beautiful, Mi-ho just wants to hang out with Dae-woong and eat beef every day, bringing barrels of unexpected troubles into his life. Mi-ho learns of a way to become human from a mysterious hunter named Dong-joo (Noh Min-Woo). But what Mi-ho doesn’t know is that her dream of becoming human could end up killing Dae-woong.

A modern love story steeped in ancient folklore, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho is the latest must-see Korean TV drama from the creators of You’re Beautiful and My Girl. DVD set comes with high quality English subtitles. Special Features include cast interviews and behind-the-scenes footage (25 min, English Subtitles).

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

Aquarian Age – Live Action DVD (Eastern Star)

Posted on March 20, 2011 by JJ Bona
Aquarian Age DVD (Eastern Star)

Aquarian Age DVD (Eastern Star)

RELEASE DATE: April 19, 2011

The story focuses on several high school boys who discover that they inherited latent genetic traits — among other things, wings that sprout out of their backs. They soon find themselves caught in a millennia-old war, with each representing one of several different factions. Dori Sakurada (The Prince of Tennis musical’s Ryoma) and Tochihara play the two main leads, Kaname and Naoya. Based on the Anime of the same name.

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

Disciples of Shaolin | aka Invincible One (1975) Review

Posted on March 20, 2011 by JJ Hatfield
"Disciples of Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

"Disciples of Shaolin" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Hung Boxing Kid, Royal Monks
Director: Chang Cheh
Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Kong Do, Lo Dik, Stephen Yip Tin Hang, Chen Ming Li, Fung Hak On, Hon Kong, Lam Fai Wong, Jamie Luk Kim Ming
Running Time: 102 min.

By JJ Hatfield

There are a lot of older movies especially from the Shaw Brothers studio that used the word “Shaolin” in the title or the action. Some of the Shaolin movies were relevant to one another such as the so called “Chamber” movies. “Disciples of Shaolin” is one film that can and does stand on it’s own.

Some actors that have been in other Shaolin-themed films also appear here but they are completely different characters with different names. This was originally titled “Hung Boxing” or “Hung Boxing Kid”. However, Chang Cheh was the director and this was during his “Shaolin” phase It is important to have the accurate film name because every serious collector or fan of Shaw Brothers should have this in their library. And I’ll tell you why.

There were a number of elements that came together at the right time to raise this movie far above average old school romps. Chang Cheh was the director and in excellent form. He is not the best director in the Shaw Brothers films, but damn good. He managed to balance the acting and fighting, focusing on the reasons behind the fight as much as the fight scenes themselves. Lau Kar Leung was in great mode when choreographing and action directing. There are not wall-to-wall fight scenes, as the film is not really about actual specific blows or punches. However, Lau does a fantastic job with the fights that take place in various locations with different numbers of opponents.

At this point in time Fu Sheng’s martial arts were beginning to look not too bad. Once again, however, the viewer is drawn back to the story which is punctuated by brief but steadily growing more intense fights as the story continues to unfold.

Alexander Fu Sheng is a young man that leaves poverty and goes in search of his future. He is both naive and arrogant. He is also barefoot and destitute. But he is a good man who would never intentionally harm anyone who didn’t deserve it. He finds work at a textile mill and learns of another mill right in the same town who are competitors. When trouble stirs he of course decides to “fix things”. The situation escalates and before long pride and ambition lead Fung Yi down a path he could have never imagined.

One of three “kid” films this one belongs to no one but Fu Sheng. This was really the first time the viewer sees Fu Sheng really putting forth effort to inject some realism into the character and definitely his finest film to the date. Of utmost importance is his believability as the character to be so incredibly naive, and single minded to be coerced and manipulated to such an extreme degree. To Fu Sheng’s great credit he does manage to make his behavior seem understandable but not always admirable. Chang Cheh makes certain the choices made have consequences and not even Fu Sheng can escape.

This film was truly ground-breaking territory, not only for Fu Sheng, but for martial arts movies into the future. With the success of this film Fu Sheng proved he could both fight and act. “Disciples of Shaolin” “Hong quan xiao zi” is an excellent film I highly recommend.

JJ Hatfield’s Rating: 9/10

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

Lament | aka Elegy of the Earth (1997) Review

Posted on March 20, 2011 by JJ Hatfield
"Lament" Korean DVD Cover

“Lament” Korean DVD Cover

AKA: Jisangmanga
Director: Kim Hee-Cheol
Cast: Shin Hyun-Joon, Lee Byung-Hun, Jeong Seon-Kyung, Choi Hak-Rak, Yeo-kyeong Kim
Running Time: 87 min.

BY JJ Hatfield

When we first meet Lee Kwang Su (Shin Hyun Jun) he is in very bad shape. His entire life he has tried to forget and escape from a nightmare of a childhood. His only family is an older brother who is half insane. Kwang Su does his very best to keep his brother from getting into trouble but as years go by he only becomes more mentally ill and much more difficult to keep from possibly hurting someone or even himself. The unthinkable happens and Kwang Su dives deep into drink to try and help numb the crushing pain.

In an alcohol haze he literally bumps into Park Jong-man (Lee Byung-hun), a waiter in a local bar when he is not filming himself or faxing Hollywood to break into American movies. Everything is an opportunity to him and he tries to copy Kwang Su’s falling down drunk movements. As Kwang Su stumbles through the streets he sees a music shop and is drawn to it. The young woman who works there is alarmed but he begins to play one of the pianos and the music is so moving she is drawn to him. And then he is gone.

As luck would have it Kwang Su wanders in the bar where Jong-man works. Jong-man tries to convince him to stop drinking but suddenly the police arrive to arrest Kwang Su for a crime he can’t remember but he manages to escape. In the process however Kwang Su’s pack is left at the bar. Jong-man takes the bag home with him and discovers a diary, family photos and sheet music. He goes through the items and finds them very interesting. Kwang Su shows up at Jong-mans to get his bag back. On an impulse Jong-man tells him he should stay with him. At the time Jong-man’s intent is more selfish than sanctuary. He sees Kwang Su as a potential asset to him and does not want to let him wander off. Through it all Jong-man continues to makes tapes of himself and faxing movie companies. He also seems to have a few moments now and then when he actually thinks about another human, Kwang Su in this case. Without even realizing it he is beginning to change the way he lives and “acts”.

A bond develops between the two very different men to the extent that Jong-man goes on the run with Kwang Su when the police raid the apartment. They end up in an isolated old house out of town. Jong-man believes Kwang Su is good luck despite his problems and that he could go far with his musical talent. Through it all Jong-man is upbeat, optimistic and bubbling with energy, always propping up Kwang Su. However there does reach a point where the extremely overly positive energy just doesn’t work anymore. However during this time Kwang Su makes visits to the music shop and spends more time with Se Hee.

There are some annoying scenes that take away from the human drama aspect. Kwang Su mainly cries and rolls his ankles while really intoxicated yet he can run away pretty damned well. Don’t get me wrong he has justifiable reason to be distraught, but it seems like it goes on too long. However the viewer has to let go of that impression as the story within a story unfolds. Would someone really just invite a stranger to stay in their home? In the story and at that point in Jong-mans career pursuits it doesn’t seem that unreasonable.

Jong-man films everything he does with the exception of using the bathroom and having sex. He eats, sleeps, chats, talks to very different people and shows his various acting styles, always filming. Most of it is Lee Byung Hun hamming it up big time however occasionally the viewer sees a glimpse of the ‘real’ Jong-man. Se Hee and her relationship with an unknown musician who has…er, issues seems like a real stretch.

Kim Hee-Cheol, the director seems to have taken the approach of letting if not encouraging the two leads to be as over the top as possible. This works fairly well with Jong-man but goes on too long. Kwang Su makes you feel as if you have been walking the streets, sick, mentally anguished for days and days, but it does improve if the viewer will have some patience. The ending provides a twist the viewer never sees coming.

“Lament” is not a great film but it’s good. Unfortunately overlooked by many seeking action it didn’t deliver the punch. This isn’t a martial arts, kick ass action movie. That does not mean it cannot still be a good watch.

*SPOILER* There is something I noticed I have never heard anyone reference. Perhaps I am the only one who would care about such things. In the bathroom scene with Kwang Su he takes a box from his bag. It certainly looks to me to be a cremation box traditional in south Korea. When he opens the box it appears the crematorium gave him an empty box. *END SPOILER*

JJ Hatfield’s Rating: 7/10

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , |

The Housemaid DVD (MPI)

Posted on March 19, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Housemaid" Korean Theatrical Poster

"The Housemaid" Korean Theatrical Poster

RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2011

IFC presents The Housemaid, a 2010 South Korean melodramatic thriller film directed by Im Sang-soo. The story focuses on Eun-yi, played by Jeon Do-yeon, who becomes involved in a destructive love triangle while working as a housemaid for an upper-class family. The film is a remake of Kim Ki-young’s 1960 film The Housemaid. It competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

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

El Topo Blu-ray/DVD (Anchor Bay)

Posted on March 19, 2011 by JJ Bona

RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011

For the first time on Blu-ray! El Topo is an experimantal tale in which master gunfighter and cosmic mystic El Topo must defeat his four sharp-shooting rivals while on an ever-increasingly bizarre path to allegorical self enlightenment and surreal resurrection.

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

Scent of Green Papaya, The Blu-ray/DVD (Kino)

Posted on March 19, 2011 by JJ Bona
Scent of Green Papaya, The Blu-ray/DVD (Kino)

Scent of Green Papaya, The Blu-ray/DVD (Kino)

RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011

In this Academy Award Nominated film (available for the first time on Blu-ray AND in its original theatrial aspect ratio), little things mean a lot in the world of 10-year-old Mui, a girl who’s trained to be a house servant in 1950s Vietnam. As Mui grows up in pre-war Saigon, she finds quiet love with a family friend. Dialogue seems almost tertiary in this film that celebrates the senses, as the young girl discovers the world around her and marvels at every new sight, sound and scent she experiences while going about her workday life.

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

Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection Blu-ray (Fox)

Posted on March 19, 2011 by JJ Bona

Alien Saga

RELEASE STREET DATE: May 10, 2011

The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred as “the Alien”. Produced by 20th Century Fox, the series started with the 1979 film Alien, which led to three movie sequels: Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection. Related to the franchise are “Alien vs. Predator” films (Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem). And let’s not forget about the Italian knock-off/unofficial sequel “Alien 2: On Earth” (made after Alien, but before Aliens).

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

Johnny Mnemonic Blu-ray (Image)

Posted on March 19, 2011 by JJ Bona
Johnny Mnemonic Blu-ray (Image)

Johnny Mnemonic Blu-ray (Image)

RELEASE DATE: June 14, 2011

In a dystopian 2021, Johnny (Keanu Reeves) is a data trafficker who has an implant that allows him to securely store data too sensitive for regular computer networks. On one delivery run, he accepts a package that not only exceeds the implant’s safety limits – and will kill him if the data is not removed in time – but also contains information far more important and valuable than he had ever imagined. On a race against time, he must avoid the assassins sent to kill him and remove the data before it, too, ends his life. Also starring: Dina Meyer, Takeshi Kitano, Ice-T, Dolph Lundgren and Henry Rollins.

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