Blu-ray and DVD Releases for 11/8/11

November 9, 2011 Z Ravas
A Better Tomorrow (Korean remake) Blu-ray/DVD (Well Go USA)

A Better Tomorrow (Korean remake) Blu-ray/DVD (Well Go USA)

This is a pretty jam-packed so let’s get right into it. From masters like Terry Gilliam and David Lynch on blu-ray to a Korean remake of one of John Woo’s best loved flicks, there is plenty to discuss. Here are your Asian and genre-related blu-ray and DVD releases for the week of 11/8/11:

ASIAN CINEMA

A Better Tomorrow (blu-ray/DVD) – a stylish, 2010 Korean language remake of John Woo’s classic 1986 heroic bloodshed film “A Better Tomorrow.” Produced by Woo himself!

Destroy All Monsters (blu-ray/DVD) – can you handle this much kaiju action? This classic 1968 Godzilla flick pits every monster under the sun against each other for your viewing enjoyment. Now on blu-ray from Tokyo Shock!

The Greatest Love (DVD) – this 2011 Korean TV is a romantic comedy about a fledgling pop star looking to revive her career and what happens when she finds love along the way

Zombie Triple-Feature (DVD) – three Japanese zombie flicks in one DVD collection! For your money you get: Zombie Self-Defense Force, Attack Girls’ Swimteam vs. the Undead, and Zombie Hunter Rika

FOREIGN CINEMA

Fanny and Alexander (blu-ray) – the Criterion Collection releases this seminal 1983 film from legendary director Ingmar Bergman in hi-def

In a Glass Cage (blu-ray) – delayed from last week, this 1987 Spanish language shocker arrives on blu-ray

The Sleeping Beauty (DVD) – from Catherine Breillat, the acclaimed director of “Fat Girl,” comes this 2011 dark and erotic French-language take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale

CULT

Blue Velvet (blu-ray) – David Lynch’s modern 1986 classic arrives on blu-ray for the first time. To say that I’m excited to watch this disc would be an understatement

Fisher King (blu-ray) – Terry Gilliam’s 1991 urban fantasy features two of Jeff Bridges’ and Robin Williams’ best performances. Now on blu-ray

Boy Wonder (DVD) – this 2011 dark superhero film has built solid buzz due to its uncompromisingly gritty vision of a vigilante in the real world

ANIMATION

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva (DVD) – the 2009 animated adaptation of the popular puzzle-solving Nintendo DS series finally arrives on Western shores

MAINSTREAM

Mortal Kombat: Legacy (blu-ray/DVD) – the popular 2011 web series based on the video game, starring martial artist extraordinaire Michael Jai White, Darren Shahlavi, and Matt Mullins, now arrives on home formats

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Part 2 (blu-ray/DVD) – the final, 2011 installment of the Harry Potter saga can now be viewed from the comfort of your own home

13 (blu-ray/DVD) – the original director of “13 Tzameti” also directs this 2010 remake starring Mickey Rourke, Ray Winstone, 50 Cent, and Jason Statham

Executive Decision (blu-ray) – this lukewarm 1996 terrorist thriller starring Kurt Russell is probably most remembered for killing off Steven Seagal within the first twenty minutes. Now on blu-ray

To Die For (blu-ray) – Gus Van Sant’s 1995 dark comedy won Nicole Kidman a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Now on blu-ray

Cannonball Run (blu-ray) – this 1981 goofy American comedy managed to combine the considerable talents of Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, and Jackie Chan

Atlus Shrugged Part 1 (blu-ray/DVD) – considering how “Part 1” performed at the box office, I wouldn’t expect a Part 2 to this 2011 adaptation of Ayn Rand’s novel

CLASSICS

Mutiny on the Bounty (blu-ray) – this classic 1962 film stars Marlon Brando in his prime, now on blu-ray

One-Eyed Jacks (blu-ray) – the 1961 film starring Marlon Brando, now on blu-ray

Little Big Man (blu-ray) – the 1970 film starring Dustin Hoffman from director Arthur Penn of “Bonnie and Clyde” fame. Now in hi-def

The Collector (blu-ray) – this 1964 film is in the vein of “Psycho” and stars Terence Stamp of “Superman II” fame

Absence of Malice (blu-ray) – the 1981 film about journalistic integrity stars Paul Newman and Sally Field, now on blu-ray

HORROR

Frankenhooker (blu-ray) – this 1990 horror cult classic from the director of “Basket Case” is now uncut and in hi-def, courtesy of Synapse Films

Zombie 4: After Death (blu-ray) – the fourth installment in the Italian language horror series is now on blu-ray from Shriek Show

Satan’s Blood (DVD) – the Katrina’s Nightmare Show imprint presents this 1978 Spanish shocker about sex and Satanic rituals

The Carpenter (DVD) – Katrina’s Nightmare Show presents Wings Hauser in the uncut version of this 1987 horror flick

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 |

R.I.P. Ricky Hui

November 8, 2011 JJ Bona
Ricky Hui

Ricky Hui

Ricky Hui Koon-Ying died of a heart attack on November 8, 2011 at the age of 65. Ricky Hui often acted with his brothers Michael and Sam (the trio were dubbed “The Hui Brothers”). He and his brothers made several comedy blockbusters in the 1970s and 1980s, their most famous title being 1976’s Private Eyes.

Posted in News |

Punished aka Abduction, Retribution DVD (Vivendi)

November 8, 2011 JJ Bona
Punished aka Abduction, Retribution DVD (Vivendi)

Punished aka Abduction, Retribution DVD (Vivendi)

RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2012

When a tycoon’s daughter is found dead of a cocaine overdose after being rescued from abduction, he will stop at nothing to avenge her death! Another quality Milkyway Image film from producer Johnnie To (Fulltime Killer). Punished stars Anthony Wong and Richie Ren. Check out the trailer. Also, be sure and check out DiP’s review.

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

Straw Dogs 2011 Remake Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)

November 7, 2011 JJ Bona
Straw Dogs 2011 Remake Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)

Straw Dogs 2011 Remake Blu-ray & DVD (Sony)

RELEASE DATE: December 20, 2011

A Hollywood screenwriter (James Marsden) and his actress wife (Kate Bosworth), return to her small hometown in the deep South to prepare the family home for sale after her father’s death. Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, including Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie (Alexander Skarsgard), leading to a violent confrontation. Straw Dogs is a remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 ultra-violent classic of the same name. Check out the trailer.

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

Caterpillar DVD (Lorber)

November 7, 2011 JJ Bona
Caterpillar DVD (Lorber)

Caterpillar DVD (Lorber)

RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2012

A masterpiece. — The Hollywood Reporter — Set during the time of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Caterpillar tells the story of a Japanese soldier who returns home horrifically mutilated. Liutenant Kurokawa is literally nothing but a human torso: he has lost both his arms and legs, and with burns covering half his face, he is also unable to speak. From acclaimed director Koji Wakamatsu (United Red Army).

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

United Red Army DVD (Lorber)

November 7, 2011 JJ Bona
United Red Army DVD (Lorber)

United Red Army DVD (Lorber)

RELEASE DATE: January 17, 2012

One of the best films of the decade! – Sight & Sound – Koji Wakamatsu’s (Caterpillar) epic docudrama United Red Army explores the political unrest of 1960’s Japan, when mass student uprisings coincided with the beginnings of the far-left United Red Army group, which tortured and murdered its ”deviant” members during a 1972 training session. An uncompromising piece of filmmaking from one of Japan’s most controversial filmmakers, with a score by former Sonic Youth member Jim O’Rourke. Check out the trailer.

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

Killer Bride’s Perfect Crime DVD (Pathfinder)

November 7, 2011 JJ Bona
Killer Bride's Perfect Crime DVD (Pathfinder)

Killer Bride's Perfect Crime DVD (Pathfinder)

RELEASE DATE: December 27, 2011

Goro Kishitani’s Killer Bride’s Perfect Crime is a killer comedy about very bad things. Hiroko spent 25 years failing at everything, but for the first time, luck is on her side. She’s about to marry the man of her dreams: the rich, handsome and charming Kenichi. However, on the day before her wedding, she ends up accidentally killing her landlord. Determined to go through with her wedding as planned, she resorts to the unthinkable. Check out the trailer.

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

Nude Nuns with Big Guns Blu-ray & DVD (Image)

November 7, 2011 JJ Bona
Nude Nuns with Big Guns Blu-ray & DVD (Image)

Nude Nuns with Big Guns Blu-ray & DVD (Image)

RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2012

Who says nunsploitation is dead? After deciding to take her vows at a convent, Sister Sarah becomes enslaved and victimized by the drug-pushing predators within the church walls and, on the verge of death, receives a divine message – to seek revenge! Packed with sex, violence, and wall-to-wall mayhem, this outrageous modern cult favorite in the tradition of the greatest drive-in action classics proves that hell hath no fury like a nude nun scorned! Check out the trailer.

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

Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005) Review

November 7, 2011 JJ Bona
"Azumi 2: Death or Love" Theatrical Poster

“Azumi 2: Death or Love” Theatrical Poster

Director: Shusuke Kaneko
Cast: Aya Ueto, Yuma Ishigaki, Chiaki Kuriyama, Shun Oguri, Kenichi Endo, Kai Shishido, Eugene Nomura, Tak Sakaguchi, Shoichiro Masumoto
Running Time: 102 min.

By Equinox21

While Azumi 2 wasn’t as good as its predecessor, it was still enjoyable. It certainly didn’t add anything new or interesting to the samurai-era film genre, and it almost seemed like a simple play off the original’s success. The strangest parts were those involving the actors whose characters died in the first film.

Azumi 2 picks up a little while after the end of Azumi, with Azumi and Nagara on the hunt of the last of their targets. They need to kill just one more of the men responsible for the previous war and then their mission will be finished. There are a lot of things that stand in their way, however. There’s a group of ninjas that belong to no ninja school, there’s a bodyguard looking for revenge (for the killing of Lord Kato at the end of Azumi 1), a spy, some doppelgangers, and just all around large hoards of baddies.

The problems I had with Azumi 2 related to some of the plot points they were trying to implement. There were some characters introduced that were played by actors whose characters were killed off in Azumi 1. For example, there’s a Robin Hood-like bandit who looks exactly like Nachi, Azumi’s friend that she had to kill in the first film. Everything that revolved around his character lead to Azumi simply looking confused most of the time, instead of yielding emotional situations for her. Her confused looks translated more to boring acting. Boring acting leads to a less quality movie. A less quality movie leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

There were a few other situations that the characters were thrown into that were painfully predictable. This didn’t make them bad, but they weren’t surprising and didn’t have the impact they should have. The one unpredictable thing about most of the film was the numerous fights and how they’d end. There was one big bad ninja dude who carried a large two bladed sword that he’d throw like a boomerang, exactly like the large stone ninja guy in the anime Ninja Scroll. Because the character was almost exactly like the one from the anime, I half-expected him to die the same way. Thankfully, he didn’t. Neither did the other characters that had big fights. That was nice, but it wasn’t enough.

If you see Azumi, you’ll probably want to see Azumi 2. I only hope they don’t make an Azumi 3, as one mediocre sequel would be enough for such a great original film. After all, her mission is completed (what, did you REALLY expect her to lose?).

Equinox21’s Rating: 6/10

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

Former John Woo collaborator brings home ‘Cold Steel’ for the Holidays

November 6, 2011 JJ Bona
Tony Leung Ka-Fai in "Cold Steel"

Tony Leung Ka-Fai in "Cold Steel"

A new action drama directed by former John Woo collaborator David Wu and starring Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Peter Ho, Song Jia, Angeles Woo (John Woo’s daughter) and Yu Rong-Guang.

The film is going to utilize lots of sniper rifles and other firearms in the action scenes, which will make this one of the most action-packed Chinese films this year. Release date is set to December 2.

David Wu is a prolific director, editor, producer, actor, writer and musician, who first established his name in his native Hong Kong before bringing his impressive talents to the North American film and television industry. Wu directed and co-wrote the fantasy romance, The Bride with White Hair II. His collaborations with John Woo include The Killer, Bullet in the Head, Hard Boiled and Once A Thief (TV series); as well as doing the music for A Better Tomorrow and its sequel.

For more photos, please visit the source. – Thanks to DiP for the heads up!

Update: Twitch Film has your first look at the teaser trailer.

Posted in News |

Gurozuka DVD (Synapse)

November 4, 2011 JJ Bona
Gurozuka DVD (Synapse)

Gurozuka DVD (Synapse)

RELEASE DATE: January 10, 2012

Synapse Films is proud to present Yoichi Nishiyama’s Gurozuka! A fun getaway turns into a journey to Hell for some teenage girls visiting an isolated house to rehearse and perform a play for their private movie club. Taking the trip with an adult chaperone, the girls learn that a previous club member supposedly went missing in the house, and another went insane! Shortly after they arrive, a mysterious videotape is found with footage of a violent killer wearing a Japanese deigan mask.

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

The Town: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray & DVD (Warner)

November 4, 2011 JJ Bona
The Town: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray & DVD (Warner)

The Town: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray & DVD (Warner)

RELEASE DATE: February 7, 2012

The Town: Ultimate Collector’s Edition is a 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Digital Copy combo pack. It contains all three versions of the film – the theatrical cut, the extended cut, and an additional extended cut with a never-before-seen alternate ending.

Special features include: The Town: A Director’s Journey documentary; Commentary with Ben Affleck on the theatrical version, extended cut, and extended cut with alternate ending; Six behind-the-scenes featurettes; Theatrical trailer

In addition, Warner has encased the Ultimate Collector’s Edition inside new packaging alongside accompanying collectible memorabilia: Personal letter from Ben Affleck; 48-page photo book with behind the scenes photos, filmmaking and script notes; Poster-size map of Charlestown with details on crime scenes from the film; Four film prop reproductions: Rub-on tattoo sheet with Jem’s neck tattoo, Desmond Elden’s Vericom employee file that the FBI obtained after the first robbery, Four FBI office mug shot cards and Special Agent Adam Frawley’s 15-page FBI report.

Click here for additional photo of the set.

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

Asian DVD retailer SensAsian.com closes its doors

November 4, 2011 JJ Bona
From SensAsian.com's website.

From SensAsian.com's website.

SensAsian.com, a Malaysia-based online retailer that specialized in Asian movies is closing its doors after 10 years of business. This marks the second time a well-known online “Asian” DVD retailer has shut down operations. Earlier this year, HKFlix.com also closed their doors.

From SensAsian.com’s website:

Dear Valued Customers, We inform you, with great regret that SensAsian.com will be ceasing operations. It has been a great decade or so and we thank you for being on board for the ride. However, the current economic situation, coupled with the decline of the Asian film industry and the prominence of file sharing and online downloads have been trying to say the very least.

We will continue to fulfill all orders currently placed with us, to our best abilities but will cease accepting new orders from 2 November 2011 onwards. Once again, we thank you for your support over the years and hope that you will continue to enjoy Asian movies, TV and music.

– SensAsian.com

Posted in News |

Well Go USA’s release of ‘Flash Point’ to feature new subtitles

November 4, 2011 Z Ravas
Flash Point Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Flash Point Blu-ray & DVD (Well Go USA)

Relatively minor news here but it should be of interest to martial arts fans: Well Go USA revealed via their Facebook page that they will be completely re-doing the subtitles on “Flash Point” for their upcoming blu-ray and DVD release of the film on January 24, 2012. So if you already own the 2007 Donnie Yen film via the Dragon Dynasty DVD, here’s another reason to upgrade besides the obvious step up to hi-definition! In addition, take a look at the updated cover art for Well Go USA’s release.

Posted in News |

Duel, The (2000) Review

November 4, 2011 JJ Bona
"The Duel" Theatrical Poster

“The Duel” Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrew Lau
Cast: Ekin Cheng, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Andy Lau, Norman Chu, Jerry Lamb, Kristy Yeung, Wu Tine Hsin, Zao Wei, Patrick Tam, Wong Yat Fei, Lau Wai
Running Time: 105 min.

By Alexander

The Duel is a pleasant diversion featuring an interesting blend of swordplay, martial arts, humor, drama, mystery and a pairing of Hong Kong pop superstars Andy Lau and Ekin Cheng as master swordsmen. The story revolves around Nick Cheung’s character, Imperial Secret Agent 9, and his attempts to locate the killer before a highly anticipated duel. There are a few twists and turns along the way, but few surprises, and for a story billed as a rousing Stormriders-esque action-adventure, most of the film focuses on the comedic romances between the three male leads and their lovers.

The true star of the film is Nick Cheung. He’s an endearing, goofy character ala Leslie Nielson in the Naked Gun series and gets loads more screen time than Ekin and Andy combined. Cheung plays the agent as slightly bufoonish, easily aroused, perpetually crude and demonstrates a nifty repertoire of kung fu moves while sporting an oddly appropriate mass of dreadlocks. All of the male characters, particularly Andy Lau, seem to channel the spirit of that famed Iron Chef host renowned for his over-emoting and fur lined coats. (Many animals were killed, it appears, to keep our stars warm.) Ekin’s performance amounts to a series of close-ups on his bangs, in profile, and despite his prominent picture on the DVD cover, only appears on-screen for a few minutes. Kristy Yang is adequate, although she never quite manages to convince us she’s upset after her “master” and brothers are slaughtered by the mysterious assassin.

Obviously, there are plenty of attempts at humor in The Duel. It’s quite hit-or-miss, ranging from a hilarious bit involving Agent 9’s mastery at “rolling” dice to groan-inducing lines like “We’ll grab the eunuchs and burn their asses with candles. Now that’s fun.” Har har.

Included on the DVD is a cool “making of” documentary which provides quite a bit of insight into the filmmaking process, Hong Kong style. There’s also a lot of behind the scenes footage and quite a few instances of Ekin and Andy unwinding during lulls in shooting.

Worth a rent.

Alexander’s Rating: 7/10

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