Once Upon a Time in Vietnam | DVD (Lionsgate)
Summer is officially in full force! After a scorching long day in the sun, there’s no better way to cool off than to lounge on your sofa, switch on the A/C, and catch up on some new movies! For those of you looking to add a number of exciting Blu-ray & DVD titles to your collection, get ready for our latest list of new releases handpicked by cityonfire.com!
The month of July is one of the HOTTEST months ever for Asian action, Martial Arts, Kkaiju and other cult gems/classics that are just waiting to be discovered!
Titles include The Raid 2, Protector 2 aka Tom Yum Goong 2, The Suspect, Rigor Mortis, Destroy All Monsters, Deadly Eyes, Southern Comfort and many more! These titles are just the tip of the iceberg, so be sure to scroll down so you don’t miss anything!
If you’re interested in purchasing any of the titles, we’re hoping you’ll click on our Amazon.com links to show your support towards cityonfire.com.
Once Upon a Time in Vietnam: July 1, 2014
Lionsgate presents the DVD for Once Upon a Time in Vietnam (aka Lua Phat), directed, written by and starring Dustin Nguyen (The Rebel). On a mission to retrieve fugitives from the Emperor in Vietnam, Dao, a commander in the Emperor’s army, is assigned to protect a peaceful small town from being taken over by a crime boss. Soon, Dao’s past catches up with him, threatening to destroy the town and the woman he has come to love. This vietnamese martial arts film also stars Thanh Van Ngo (Clash) and Roger Yuan (The Perfect Weapon).
Escape to Athena: July 1, 2014
Henstooth Video presents the DVD for 1979’s Escape to Athena, directed by George P. Cosmatos (Rambo: First Blood Part II). Roger Moore took a break from the James Bond franchise (between 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me and 1979’s Moonraker) to film this action gem about a group of World War II POWs who plan to escape from their Nazi captors and retrieve valuable stolen art at the same time. Escape to Athena also stars Telly Savalas, Stefanie Powers, Claudia Cardinale, Richard Roundtree, Sonny Bono and Elliott Gould. Still not sold? Then watch the trailer!
Southern Comfort: July 8, 2014
Shout! Facory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1981’s Southern Comfort, directed by Walter Hill (The Warriors). When nine National Guardsmen enter the Louisiana swamp for routine training, they come across some angry Cajuns who know the territory like the backs of their hands. Armed with a precious few bullets, and confused by the dimly lit, moss-covered maze into which they ve stumbled, the innocent guardsmen know they’ll be picked off one-by-one. Starring Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe and Peter Coyote.
Rigor Mortis: July 8, 2014
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Rigor Mortis, directed by Juno Mak (Dream Home). This atmospheric horror film from Hong Kong revolves around a public housing tenement that’s plunged into a dark storm of supernatural chaos. Rigor Mortis is a nod to the Mr. Vampire series. In fact, it features many actors from that classic title: Chin Siu-ho, Anthony Chan, Billy Lau and Richard Ng. The film also stars Chin Siu-ho, Anthony Chan, Kara Hui, Lo Hoi-pang and Paw Hee-ching.
The Raid 2: July 8, 2014
Sony Pictures presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Gareth Evans’ The Raid 2 (read our review). This action-packed martial arts epic will include the following bonus features: “Gang War” Deleted Scene, Ready for a Fight: On Location; Violent Ballet: Behind the Choreography; English dub and original language version of the film, director commentary with Gareth Huw Evans; The Next Chapter: Shooting a Sequel; Cinefamily Foundation Q&A with Gareth Huw Evans, Iko Uwais and Joe Trapanese.
Deadly Eyes: July 15, 2014
Shout! Factory presents the Blu-ray & DVD for 1982’s Deadly Eyes (aka The Rats), directed by Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon). Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest studios teams up with Warner Bros. to produce this cult thriller about a scientist who genetically alters a colony of super rats. As they breed and multiply, they must seek ever increasing amounts of food. They soon find a new source of nourishment – human flesh. Deadly Eyes features a memorable scene where the deadly rats attack a movie theater while a Bruce Lee film is being shown.
Action Adventure Movie Marathon: July 15, 2014
Shout! Factory presents the Action Adventure Movie Marathon. These sets bring back the good ol’ memories of going to a video rental store; only now you can see these obscure titles without adjusting your tracking. The Blu-ray version includes 1973’s I Escaped from Devil’s Island and 1982’s The Final Option (aka Who Dares Wins); in addition to the films just mentioned, the DVD version also includes 1959’s Shake Hands with the Devil and 1983’s Treasure of the Four Crowns. As the trailer states, it’s more groundbreaking than Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Arc combined.
James Clavell’s Shogun: July 22, 2014
Paramount Pictures presents the Blu-ray for James Clavell’s Shogun. This 1980 mini-series (on 6 Blu-ray discs) focuses on John Blackthorne (Richard Chamberlain), an English ship pilot, whose vessel wrecked upon the Japanese coast in the early 17th century. He is thrown in the midst of a war between Toranaga (Toshiro Mifune) and Ishido (Nobuo Kaneko), who struggle for the title of Shogun which will give ultimate power to the one who possesses it. By no means is Shogun a martial arts adventure, but it does have snippets of chanbara bloodshed within its beautiful plot structure!
Destroy All Monsters: July 22, 2014
Tokyo Shock presents the Blu-ray for 1968’s Destroy All Monsters (aka Charge of the Monsters), the 9th in Toho Studios’ Godzilla series. Directed by Ishirō Honda with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa (supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya). The plot involves aliens who take control of Earth’s monsters and begin using them to destroy the human race.
Godzilla vs. Megalon: July 22, 2014
Tokyo Shock presents the Blu-ray for 1973’s Godzilla vs. Megalon, directed by Jun Fukuda (Godzilla vs. Gigan). Godzilla vs. Megalon is the first and only Godzilla film to feature Megalon and Jet Jaguar, star of the Godzilla video games. Considered the most elusive and sought-after Godzilla film. Features never-before-seen extras including trailer and gallery.
The Suspect: July 22, 2014
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for The Suspect. Directed by Won Shin-yun (Seven Days, A Bloody Aria), this high-octane Korean film follows a North Korean secret agent who is betrayed by his government. On a mission of revenge, he heads to the South and cuts a warpath through deadly assassins and rival agents, all the while trying to unravel the conspiracy he’s found himself in the middle of. The film stars Gong Yoo and Park Hee-soon.
Destroy All Monsters: July 22, 2014
Tokyo Shock presents the Blu-ray for 1968’s Destroy All Monsters (aka Charge of the Monsters), the 9th in Toho Studios’ Godzilla series. Directed by Ishirō Honda with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa (supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya). The plot involves aliens who take control of Earth’s monsters and begin using them to destroy the human race.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance: Ultimate Revenge Edition: July 22, 2014
Palisades Tartan presents the Blu-ray for Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance: Ultimate Revenge Edition. Directed by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy), Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is not an easy film to watch, but it’s well-crafted masterpiece! The film follows a recently laid off factory worker (Shin Ha-kyun) who kidnaps his former boss’ daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister’s kidney transplant. His plan goes haywire and unleashes a series of savage events. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance also stars Song Kang-ho (Snowpiercer) and Bae Doona (Cloud Atlas).
Ong-Bak Trilogy: July 29, 2014
Magnolia presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Tony Jaa’s Ong-Bak Trilogy. This collection includes 2003’s Ong-Bak, 2008’s Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning and 2010’s Ong-Bak 3. The original Ong-Bak broke new ground when it was released in 2003. According to filmmaker Garath Evans (The Raid 2): “Tony Jaa is a phenomenal talent. Ong Bak was a major announcement to the industry and to audiences that the martial arts genre was back.” Magnolia is also re-releasing the original Ong-Bak as a standalone Blu-ray or DVD.
Dragonwolf: July 29, 2014
Well Go USA presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Dragonwolf, directed by Raimund Huber (Bangkok Adrenaline). The Devil’s Cauldron, a city where violence has forged a society in which only the lethal and can survive, two young men who possess the intellect and ferocity to flourish, carve a name for themselves as unstoppable hit men. But when a woman mysteriously enters their lives, she turns them against each other, resulting in a battle that threatens to bring the city to the brink of destruction. The film stars Kazu Patrick Tang, Johan Kirsten and Macha Polivka.
Protector 2 | aka Tom Yum Goong 2: July 29, 2014
Magnolia presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Prachya Pinkaew’s Protector 2 (aka Tom Yum Goong 2). Once again, Kham’s pet elephant (Tony Jaa) has been abducted and he must fight anyone in his way to find him. Protector 2 features amazing choreography by Panna Rittikrai (Ong Bak). Also starring is RZA (Man with the Iron Fists), Mum Jokmok (Ong Bak), Yanin Vismitananda (Chocolate), Petchtai Wongkamlao (The Protector), Marrese Crump (G.I. Joe: Battle for the Serpent Stone).
Legendary: Tomb of the Dragon: July 29, 2014
Lionsgate presents the DVD for Legendary (aka Legendary: Tomb of the Dragon). Travis Preston (Scott Adkins) assembles his team for an expedition to a remote region in China’s hinterland, where a wild animal that the locals believe to be a primeval monster they call the “Shocate” is said to roam free. Travis’s nemesis Jim Harker (Dolph Lundgren), a merciless trophy hunter, has already set up camp. A race against time ensues, and Travis and his team will have to pool all their resources if they want to capture this legendary creature alive. Note: Even though Adkins stars, be aware that this is not a martial arts movie.
