|
Check
out our pick
of the latest new DVD releases.
July
08
‘Tai
Chi Master’ R1 DVD
 Jet
Li teams up with Michelle Yeoh in ‘Tai Chi Master’
(aka Twin Warriors), a period martial-arts tale of revenge
and retribution filmed in 1993. Directed by Yuen Woo Ping
(who also directed Jackie Chan's popular Drunken Master and
Yeoh's Wing Chun), it matches over-the-top melodrama with
fantastical fight scenes. Li and Chin Sui Hou play Junbao
and Tienbao, two misfit monks who get into trouble at their
Shaolin temple since childhood.
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the DVD
‘Carved
2’ (aka Kuchisake-Onna 2) R2 DVD
Posted
by: Daniel
 Earlier
this year, 24fps readers were given a taste of Carved 2 (Kuchisake-Onna
2) with an official site/trailer. Carved 2, although directed
by Kôtarô Terauchi, and not Kôji Shiraishi
(who directed the film's predecessor), is a follow-up featuring
the infamous, slit-mouthed woman of Japanese urban legend
- setting its focus more on the events that led to her becoming
a killer, rather than the terrifying aftermath and effect
on society.
Good
news – It’s just been released on Japanese R2
DVD. Bad news - Sadly, the release comes without English subtitles.
So unless you speak Japanese, this is for die hard ‘Slit
Mouthed Woman’ fans.
Order
the DVD
‘Vengeance’
R1 DVD
 Directed
by Preaw Sirisuwan, Mono Films, Thai (B-movie) horror adventure
pic ‘Vengeance,’ comes to R1 DVD. A team of police
officers must track down a group of ruthless criminals who
have entered a mysterious forest that is said to be cursed.
Once
inside the forest the police and the criminals discover a
bizarre world where mythical creatures exist and the curse
of ancient treasure hidden within the forest is in fact real.
As they make their way through the forest they must fight
against the creatures within and each other - in hopes of
escaping alive.
Vengeance
(Official
site)
Order
the DVD
‘Dark
City’ (Director's Cut) R1 DVD
 The
critically-acclaimed triumph from visionary director Alex
Proyas (I Robot, The Crow) is back with a brand new directors
cut featuring enhanced picture and sound never-before-seen
footage and three commentary tracks that take you deeper than
ever before into the world of one of sci-fi’s most exciting
and revered tales. When John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes
with no memory at the scene of a grisly murder he soon finds
himself hunted by the police a woman claiming to be his wife
and a mysterious group of pale men who seem to control everything
and everyone in the city. Starring Rufus Sewell, Jennifer
Connelly, William Hurt and Kiefer Sutherland.
Order
the DVD
'Doomsday'
(Unrated Widescreen Edition) R1 DVD
 Loud,
violent, and proudly derivative, the post-apocalyptic action-thriller
Doomsday is the latest from UK cult director Neil Marshall,
who impressed horror fans with his previous efforts, Dog Soldiers
and The Descent. Both pictures established Marshall as a director
with a knack for reinventing well-worn genre pictures, but
here, he seems more interested in stitching together favorite
scenes and elements from established horror and science-fiction
films. Escape from New York is the main source for Doomsday,
though there are plenty of nods to The Road Warrior and its
multitude of Italian-made carbon copies, as well as the zombie/plague
subgenre; the lovely but impassive Rhona Mitra is the Snake
Plissken-esque loner sent by police (represented by Bob Hoskins)
to infiltrate Scotland, which has descended into anarchy following
a viral outbreak.
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the DVD
'Psycho
Beach Party' R2 DVD
 Psycho
Beach Party comes from screenwriter and dragtress extraordinaire
Charles Busch. It's an audaciously funny whodunit and psycho
thriller parody set on the sun-drenched beaches of ‘60s
Malibu. When pouty-lipped misfit Chicklet, (Lauren Ambrose,
Six Feet Under) finally makes her way into the cool crowd,
she begins having insanely bizarre blackouts. At precisely
the same time, all of her beefcake surfer pals mysteriously
drop like flies and she quickly becomes the chief suspect.
A madcap romp with shirtless hunks, a wannabe surf babe with
a split personality, oh, and a few severed body parts.
Order
the DVD
'The
Tiger Blade' Blu-ray
 When
the police are challenged with a highly volatile and dangerous
case a young maverick cop with mystical powers is put on the
job. Yosthana teams up with the seductive Duang Dao to hunt
down and capture the deadly Five Bullets Bandit and the brutal
female warrior G.I. Jenjira.The fearsome gang is led by the
lethal Mahesak who like Yosthana is skilled in the art of
sorcery and magic. Mahesak can only be defeated with The Tiger
Blade an ancient sword that holds the powers of nature and
the forces of good. Yosthana must find The Tiger Blade and
bring Mahesak to justice. The stage is set for a gruesome
battle between the two archenemies.
The
Tiger Blade (Official
site)
Order
the disc
'Madame O' R1 DVD
 Madame
O: Director - Seiichi Fukuda
R1 DVD: Review by - Pete Higgins
“Madame
O” is not your average female-revenge flick. For one
thing, its sedate pace (it was made in 1967) takes some getting
used to. For another, its languid, poised, quietly beautiful
heroine is hardly the stuff of modern J-horror. And, for yet
another, the unrelenting gaze with which it observes some
pretty disturbing goings-on is brutally effective.
The
plot, for what it’s worth, is your average female revenge-flick:
Madame O, a successful gynaecologist, was gang-raped on the
beach that summer, and now she picks up guys in bars, sleeps
with them, and kills them. Pretty standard stuff, right? Not
this time. Prepare yourself for a film that packs a real emotional
punch.
The star, Michiko Sakyô, is in practically every scene,
and she brings a truly mesmerising quality to her role, going
about her business with a steely determination that’s
never less than compelling. Whether she’s injecting
her sleeping lover with some unnamed substance, or just driving
home from work, you can’t take your eyes off her for
a second. As the film progresses and things get really far
out, you might want to stop looking, but resistance, as they
say, is futile.
Switching, seemingly at random, between colour and black-and-white,
“Madame O” is quite unlike any other film I’ve
ever seen. Perhaps it’s just that I haven’t seen
many Japanese films from the sixties. Anyway, even in its
dubbed version, this is a film worth tracking down, because
no amount of dubbing can detract from the superb cinematography
and the film’s stately but hypnotic progress. And then
there’s the surprising subtlety of the sex scenes, which,
like those in “Lust, Caution” actually advance
the plot and teach you something about the people involved,
rather than just spicing things up. Yes, whatever it takes
to make a cult classic, “Madame O” has got it.
Madame
O Trailer
Order
the DVD
'Grindhouse
Trailer Classics Vol. 2' up for pre-order on DVD
 Hot
on the heels of the successful - and critically acclaimed
- Grindhouse Trailer Classics vol 1, Nucleus Films have been
busy polluting their minds watching a mind-twisting plethora
of movie trailer trash in preparation for this much requested
follow up volume of Grindhouse trailers, which promises to
be just as audacious as the first volume – and then
some!
Be prepared
to venture on a second two-hour trip into the demented minds
of the folks at Nucleus Films, and have your brain knocked
out of gear by this stunning assault on the senses of demented
and deranged movie previews, the likes of which you never
dreamed of!
Grindhouse
Trailer Classics vol 2 brings you a hand-picked collection
of mind-blowing trailers for the 1960s and 1970s cult movies
that have inspired and informed the works of a whole generation
of contemporary directors including the likes of Quentin Tarantino
(Death Proof), Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror), Eli Roth
(Hostel) and Rob Zombie (The Devil’s Rejects) –
films such as THE BLACK GESTAPO, TEN VIOLENT WOMEN, THE BODYGUARD,
THE DEPRAVED, BLOODY PIT OF HORROR, THE PINK ANGELS, FOXY
BROWN and many more.
To see
a couple of clips (not safe for work) from Grindhouse Trailer
Classics vol.1, go here
and here.
Pre-order
the DVD
'A
Tale of Legendary Libido' on DVD
 Korea's
answer to Austin Powers? A Tale of Legendary Libido stars
comedy sensation Bong Tae Gyu (The Two Faces of My Girlfriend)
as a timid loner suddenly bestowed with an incredible mojo
that allows him to have super strength erection. In this latest
raunchy sex comedy loosely based on the ancient Korean folklore
song Byeon Kang Swe Tale about a macho sex icon named Byeon
Kang Swe, director Shin Han Sol (The Art of Fighting) offers
a modern day interpretation of machismo and male sexuality
that clearly sets his film apart from previous adaptations
like Garujigi (1988).
In a small mountainous village during the Joseon era, there
lived a young timid rice cake seller named Kang Swe (Bong
Tae Gyu), who suffered from impotency due to a freak accident
some years ago. The target of the town's mockery, he hides
himself in the mountains, but his stay is cut short after
running into a monk who passes on the ancient secret of never-ending
erection. Now in full gear, Kang Swe returns to the village
and finds out that all healthy men have been sent out to war.
With sex-hungry, lusty women fighting to get a piece of the
action, Kang Swe certainly has some work cut out for himself.
Tale
of Legendary Libido Trailer
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the DVD
Korean
horror 'Wide Awake' on R1 DVD
 Director
Lee Kyu Man horror thriller 'Wdie Awake (aka The Return) is
up for pre-order on R1 DVD. A hair-raising, whodunnit mystery
incorporates a medical enigma for extra suspense. The pic
stars a great ensemble cast including Kim Myung Min (Into
The Mirror), Kim Tae Woo (Epitaph), Jung Yoo Suk (You Are
My Sunshine), and Kim Yoo Mi (The Doll Master).
Synopsis:
Surgeon Ryu Jaeu gains recognition from his colleagues for
carrying out Korea’s first ever operation using hypnotic
anaesthesia, together with psychiatrist O Chihun. Jaeu ignores
opposition from his surgical partner, anaesthetist Jang Seokho.
But with the return of childhood friend Gang Ukhwan, strange
events start to unfold in the lives of Jaeu and his wife.
One day, Jaeu’s wife collapses with an inexplicable
fever. Jaeu himself
takes charge of the operation, but is unable to save her.
Plunged into despair, Jaeu makes an unexpected discovery about
his wife’s death and sets out to find out the truth.
The truth gradually emerges As Jaeu digs deeper, he realizes
there is a shocking secret behind not only his wife’s
death, but the whole chain of events surrounding him.
Wide
Awake Trailer
Order
the DVD here
'A
Tale of Two Sisters' on Blu-ray Disc
 A
big 24fps welcome to another new contributor the site Luis
Muniz, with news of a Korean horror classic arriving on Blu-ray.
Posted
by: Luis Muniz
For
those who are in demand to see some excellent picture &
sound quality from an instant classic, Janghwa, Hongryeon
a.k.a A tale of two sisters goes Blu-ray on July 28th 2008.
Although there is no mention of any new material added that
could possibly surpass what was applied to the Tartan Asia
Extreme DVD, a Blu-ray experience of a beautiful horror film
is worth the watch.
Synopsis:
Bae Soo-yeon (Geun-yeong Mun) and Bae Soo-mi (Su-jeong Lim)
are sent to a mental hospital after the intimate death of
their mother. When released, they are welcomed by their wicked
stepmother Eun-joo (Jung-ah Yum) only to find themselves wondering
in a house full of tension amongst their father and an eerie
paranormal that lurks about.
A
tale of two sisters trailer
Order
the Disc here
'The
Shadowless Sword' finally gets an R1 and R2 DVD release
 Young-Jun
Kim's (Bichunmoo) action-packed Korean martial
arts fantasy adventure 'The Shadowless Sword, has finally
made its way to R1 & R2 DVD. Set during the Balhae Dynasty
in the 10th century, the film is full of danger, political
intrigue and great FX.
After
the fall of the Korean capital in the year A.D. 926, the kingdom
is plunging into chaos. The only remaining heir, Prince Jung-Hyun
(Lee Seo Jin) is living in exile. Still loyal to the dynasty,
the beautiful and deadly warrior So-Ha (Yoon Soy) sets out
to find Jung-Hyun and guide him to ascend the throne of Balhae
and restore order to the kingdom. But with the Army's greatest
assassins and the criminal underworld hunting them, So-Ha
and Jung-Hyun are swept into an explosive, non stop battle
of swords and bloodshed as they fight to reclaim the fallen
throne from the 'Killing Blade' army. In this epic struggle
of good and evil, the fate of a nation hangs in balance.
Shadowless
Sword Trailer
Order
the
R1 DVD
Order
the R2
DVD
June
08
Korean
Zombie horror 'Guard Post 506' on English subtitled DVD
Great
news, Korean Zombie horror GP506 is up for order on English
subtitled DVD. One of the few local frighteners to come out
of the country this year the film is Writer/director Kong
Su Chang's 2nd feature following his acclaimed horror R-Point,
the highest-grossing Korean horror film of 2004. His new military
horror revolves around the mysterious mass killing of an entire
squad of soldiers stationed at Guard Post 506 inside the demilitarized
zone.
The
Plot: Sergeant major Noh Seong Gyu (Cheon Ho Jin) gets the
most disturbing call of his life. An entire squad of 21 soldiers
from Guard Point 506 has been massacred except for one who
is in a state of deep coma. 21 military investigators including
sergeant Noh are sent to the crime scene where they discover
dead bodies mutilated beyond recognition with no signs of
outside attack. With the torrential rain blocking all paths
to the base, the team find themselves trapped inside the bloodbath.
Noh's task is to solve the case in just ten hours and bring
back the body of first lieutenant Yoo Jeong Woo (Cho Hyun
Jae), the son of the army chief. First believed to be one
of the dead, they soon discover that lieutenant Yoo is missing
in action, which brings the total number of corpses down to
19. When the search team find their visibly perturbed missing
man, fingers point to him as the prime suspect. But Noh is
convinced there's more to this case than meets the eye. What
he doesn't know yet is that something horrific is heading
their way.
Guard
Post 506 Trailers
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the DVD
Voice
(‘Whispering Corridors 4') on R1 DVD
 The
somewhat misrepresentative and over the top cover art to one
side - Korean horror ‘Voice’ (aka Ghost Voice’)
is to get a R1 DVD release through Genius products. The fourth
(and very possibly the silliest) in the series that began
with 1998 classic ‘Whispering Corridor,’ is directed
by Choi Ik-hwan, who worked as assistant director on the first
film.
Synopsis:
Young Eon (Kim Ok Bin), a timid high school student dies mysteriously
while singing in the school's music room. But even in death,
Young Eon's voice continues to be heard by her best friend,
Sun Min (Seo Ji Hye). Although startled by this supernatural
development, Sun Min adapts rather quickly to the situation
and tries to uncover the reasons for her friend's untimely
demise. But Sun Min's absolute faith in her dearly departed
friend is soon shaken when a plague of mysterious deaths start
to occur on campus! Are these murders Young Eun's doing? Or
could the culprit be someone far more sinister?
Special
Features: Behind The Scenes - Trailers
Voice
Trailer
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the DVD
Franck
Vestiel's 'Eden Log' up for pre-order on R2 DVD
 Franck
Vestiel's dark sci-fi horror ‘Eden Log' is finally to
arrive on
English subtitled
DVD - with an R2 release via Momentum
Pictures, in July. The films stars Clovis Cornillac &
Vimala Pon. Those in the U.S. and Canada eager to see the
movie may be in for quite a wait. Magnet releasing the genre
arm of Magnolia Pictures have acquired the North American
rights, but as
yet no release date has been announced.
Synopsis:
Tolbiac (Cornillac) wakes up naked, disorientated and lost
in a dark cave deep below ground. He's cold, hurt, and has
no idea what brought him there, or what happened to the dead
man lying next to him. Surrounded by the ruins of an underground
world and with only the faintest light source to guide him,
Tolbiac attempts to recover his lost memory as he struggles
to reach the surface. His journey takes him through a labyrinthine
network of tunnels and abandoned laboratories, where he discovers
he is not the only one trapped in this tomb-like underworld.
Pursued by ravenous mutants and evil phantoms, he eventually
meets a woman who may provide the clue to his identity, while
all along the way he is confronted by evidence of a mysterious
organisation known as Eden Log.
Eden
Log Website
Eden
Log English language teaser trail
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the DVD
'L
- Change the World ' on English subtitled DVD
 L
returns to the big screen in the blockbuster Death Note spin-off
L change the WorLd! Matsuyama Kenichi reprises his fan-favorite
role as the quirky genius detective with a sweet tooth. Directed
by Nakata Hideo of Ring and Dark Water fame, L change the
WorLd revolves around the last 23 days of L's life, shedding
new light into the inner world of the awkward and endearing
prodigy as he embarks on his final adventure.
With only 23 days left to live, L burns the remaining Death
Note and proceeds to work day and night solving as many cases
and consuming as many sweets as possible. One final case is
sent his way in the form of a Thai boy who alone survived
a deadly virus outbreak in his village. L gets another guest
when 12-year-old girl Maki (Fukuda Mayuko, Little DJ) shows
up on the doorstep. Both children are connected to an Ebola-influenza
virus developed by Maki's father which has been stolen by
terrorists. With the terrorists hunting for Maki and threatening
to unleash the virus, L is forced to leave his chair and venture
out into the real world, both children in stow. The days tick
down as L rushes to develop an antidote and catch the terrorists
before time runs out.
L
- Change the World trailer
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the DVD
'The
Wig' on DVD
Won Shin-yeon's
K-Horror classic 'The Wig' is
to finally get a R1 DVD release this month. The movie
is chock full of subtle creepy chills and suspense galore,
with moments of unexpected
and sometimes explosive violence. An
absolute Asian horror classic.
Synopsis:
A young woman is discharged from hospital after being treated
for a cancer is seems unlikely she will survive. Having endured
the devastating effects of her treatment, the woman is left
without hair and her sister buyers her a wig, as way of clinging
on to the little dignity she has left. However, it's not long
before her sister begins to suspect that the wig has a sinister
power that is rapidly taking control of her ailing sibling.
The
Wig trailer
Order
the DVD here
Sumptuous
eye candy alert - 'The Restless' arrives on R1 DVD
 Well
we werent expecting this. Korean director CHO Dong-oh's visual
feast of a martial arts fantasy blockbuster 'The Restless,'
is being released on R1 DVD. Inspired by the Chinese ghost
tale about ‘a warrior that wandered into a haunted village,’
CHO a self-proclaimed ‘fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror film
buff,’ also wrote the script. The pic starring Heo Jun-ho,
Jung Woo-sung & Kim Tae-hee features stunning set pieces,
cinematography and effects. It's like dipping your eyes in
(well sort of) Honey. 'The Restless' goes on sale June 17th.
Synopsis:
It is between the 9th ~ 10th century, when turmoil racks the
once great United Shilla Empire, now at the brink of its demise.
Lee Kwak, born with the powers to see spirits, joins the royal
demon hunting squad, ‘Chuh- yongdae’ after losing
his fiancée, Yeon-hwa to evil demons. Lee Kwak excels
as the most talented warrior of Chuhyongdae and the royal
squad seems to gain momentum as powerful fighters against
the forces of darkness. This only aggravates opposition from
the aristocrats who find the supernatural abilities of the
royal squad intimidating not to mention threatening. As such
antagonism reaches its boiling point, the Chuhyongdae decide
to carry out a coup, but when their plot fails, it is not
only their reputation but also their heads they end up losing.
Robbed of his love and now his comrades, sole survivor, LEE
Kwak has no choice but to wander the world as a lonely demon
hunter.
The
Restless trailer
Order
the DVD
'The
Forbidden Kingdom' on DVD
 Want
to see Jackie Chan fight Jet Li? The Hong Kong edition of
The Forbidden Kingdom the martial arts adventure starring
these two action legends has just been announced for June
13th - meaning you could now pick up a copy at least a month
earlier than the U.S. release! Nice.
The
Forbidden Kingdom
(Official
site)
Order
the DVD here
‘The
Machine Girl’ arrives in a hail of bullets on R1 DVD
 Posted
by: Daniel
While this post may seem outdated, the splat-happy, revenge
film ‘The Machine Girl’ has not yet appeared on
the shores of 24fps.
From
director Noboru Iguchi (whose directing career consists mainly
of porn flicks), the Machine Girl is the story of Ami, an
independent schoolgirl who, after her younger brother is murdered
before her eyes, seeks revenge on the Yakuza gang involved.
Following the loss of her arm during the quarrel, Ami has
an 8-barrel machine gun fitted to the now healed remains,
vowing to annihilate all responsible. And thus begins the
tale of The Machine Girl.
Just from the trailer, you can tell that this movie is in
the same league as Tokyo Gore Police, with such highlights
as a man being forced to eat his own fingers, the infamous
"Drill-Bra", and what looks like a someone having
their skin blown off (for those playing at home, see 1:16
in the trailer). Currently, there isn't a great deal of information
available on The Machine Girl opening in many places theatrically,
but it has already been screened at several film festivals
around the world. The Machine Girl hits the shelves in the
U.S today on R1 DVD - Two whole months before its theatrical
debut in Japan.
Machine
Girl trailer
Order
the DVD
May
08
Hong
Kong action fest ‘Invisible Target’ on R1 DVD
 Happy
days. Director Benny Chan’s fantastic Cop action pic
‘Invisible Target,’ is finally getting an R1 DVD
release through the Dragon Dynasty label. The movie stars
Nicholas Tse, Jaycee Chan, Shawn Yue, Andy On & Wu Jing.
Synopsis:
“Loose cannon cop Chan Chun is perpetually on the edge,
having lost his fiancée when she was killed during
an armored car heist. Six months later, Chan finally gets
a lead on the perps, a gang of vicious Mainland thieves. The
thieves are looking for the mysterious person (or the "invisible
target") who masterminded the original heist, and then
took the money and betrayed their gang - and they're willing
to take down as many cops as they need to gain their revenge.
Chan
wants them caught, but he's not the only one out for justice;
the tough and smartly-dressed Inspector Fong Yik Wei (Shawn
Yue) also wants a piece of the action, and rookie cop Wai
King Ho (Jaycee Chan) suspects that the thieves may have something
to do with his brother, a missing undercover cop. Individually,
the three cops can't stop these guys, but through teamwork,
righteous determination, and plenty of head-busting, flying-fists
action, they just might stand a chance.”
Invisible
Target trailer
Order
the DVD here
Korean
big budget actioner 'Typhoon' arrives on R1 DVD
 A
full year after its theatrical release in the U.S, Kwak Kyung-taek's
'Taepung’ aka 'Typhoon' is finally available to order
on R1 DVD. Starring Jang Dong-kun, Jung-Jae Lee, Mi-yeon Lee,
the film in its time was one of the most expensive made in
Korea.
Synopsis:”
A vessel is attacked by pirates 220 km northeast of Ji Long
Port, Taiwan. The National Intelligence Service dispatches
a secret agent after obtaining information that the vessel
was carrying nuclear missile guidance kits stolen by a man
named Sin. Sin has lived his entire life with one goal --
to destroy the Korean peninsula. With the missile guidance
kits in his possession, he attempts to execute his plan. Twenty
years ago, his family tried to defect to South Korea, only
to be sent back to the North as the South Korean government
turned its back on his family.
In the
process of being handed over to the North Korean military,
Sin witnesses the execution of his family followed by the
separation from his only sister, Choi Myung-ju. As a result,
Sin fosters deep-rooted hatred and fury. Meanwhile Naval Lieutenant
Kang Se-jong is sent on a secret mission to find Sin, finally
catching up with him in Russia and learns of the family's
troubled history. Kang Se-jong meets Sin's elder sister Choi
Myung-ju, now a prostitute in Russia and learns of the family's
troubled history. During his pursuit, Kang Se-jong begins
to feel compassion for Sin, but this does not hinder upon
his mission to apprehend him”
The movie
did pretty good business on its theatrical release in the
U.S. and it will be interesting to see how it fairs on DVD.
'Typhoon' hits the shelves next week.
Typhoon
Trailer
Order
the DVD here
Noriko's
Dinner Table on R1 DVD: Review
 Another
welcome is due to new contributor Daniel, who joins us from
the land of Oz - with his review of Sion Sono's 'Noriko's
Dinner Table,' on R1 DVD.
Noriko's
Dinner Table, the sequel to cult classic Suicide Circle, is
to be officially released on DVD in America, two whole years
after it's Japanese theatrical release. If you like movies
that make you think, then this one is for you.
Noriko's
Dinner Table is the story of a 17 year old girl, Noriko, who
runs away from home seeking a new life with her recently made
internet friends at haikyo.com, a forum dedicated to the connection
of people, and the discussion of life's tribulations. Feeling
neglected by her own family, she seeks refuge with her online
peers, and soon ventures to Tokyo, determined to track down
the forum's owner, a user by the name of Ueno54. After an
arranged meeting with Ueno54, or Kumiko, Noriko realises that
Kumikos family is just what she had been looking for; the
family she never had. But as in the original, Suicide Circle,
not everything is as it seems (yay, my first clichéd
line ), and as Noriko soon discovers, neither is Kumiko's
family.
If you're
after a gore-flick like the original, then I suggest that
you stop reading now. Noriko's Dinner Table is much more drama
than horror, a strange spin for director Sion Sono to take,
but one that ultimately works well and leaves the viewer thinking
long after the movie has finished. It's one of those movies
that you'll feel like watching again, just to confirm that
your understanding of what just happened is correct; for a
movie, there is a lot to take in, and a lot for the viewer
to interpret.
Fans
of the original may be disappointed with Noriko's Dinner Table,
but as a man of many genres, I found it engaging and almost
controversially questioning as to what is acceptable in life
and what is not. Noriko's Dinner Table will be released on
DVD in the U.S May 27th.
Noriko's
Dinner Table (Official
site)
Order
the DVD here
Cub
Chien's omnibus horror 'Scare 2 Die' on English subbed DVD
Cub Chien's omnibus
horror movie 'Scare 2 Die' is
out on English subtitled DVD this week. Chien began his film
career as an assistant director under the wing of the Kings
of Hong Kong horror, the Pang brothers and Scare is his first
feature in the big chair. Danny Pang also helped on the movie
by (very handy for your first horror project as director)
producing and the pic stars Sam Lee, Elanne Kwong, Tommy Yuen.
Down-on-his-luck gambler Kan Au (Sam Lee) owes a big sum of
money, and needs to go on a winning streak soon or the loan
sharks will take the interest from his hide. Luckily, Kan
finds a blessed coin that allows him to draws the unbeatable
"13 Unique Wonders" hand of mahjong on 13 consecutive
nights, which should be enough for him to pay his debts. The
problem: every time he uses the coin to win, somebody dies
a gruesome, gory death. Meanwhile, fetching Luk Wing (Elanne
Kwong) wakes up one morning to discover her family being eaten!
Everyone around her has become a zombie, and Wing has to pick
up an axe and fight back, or her heart will be come lunch
for the living dead. Finally, slacker Chan (Tommy Yuen) signs
up for "Scare 2 Die" a reality game show with a
prize purse of $130,000. He's supposed to survive a haunted
house, but for some reason, the game show's manufactured scares
are following him everywhere - even to his apartment! Is "Scare
2 Die" trying to surprise Chan, or are real ghosts trying
to take him out of the game early?
Scare
2 Die trailer
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the DVD
‘Girls
Rebel Force Of Competitive Swimmers’ on English subtitled
DVD
 The
title alone makes this worthy of a mention. Kôji Kawano's
‘The Girls Rebel Force of Competitive Swimmers’
(aka Undead Pool) is up for release on English subtitled DVD.
This total orgy of J-horror fun stars AV idol Handa Sasa as
a high school swimmer preparing for an upcoming competition.
She
convinces her friends to join the team as well, but their
trophy dreams are rudely interrupted by a virus that is quickly
spreading through the school and a causing a series of mysterious
events. Thrown into grave danger as the sinister truth is
slowly revealed, the girls of the swim team decide to fight
back with everything they've got......And Chainsaws.
Order
the DVD
'Three
Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon' up for pre-order on
English subtitled DVD
 This
definitely seems the week for news on big Chinese period epics
arriving on DVD. Next to hit the shelves in June is Daniel
Lee’s (Dragon Squad) ‘Three Kingdoms: Resurrection
of the Dragon.’ Sporting a huge all star cast including
Andy Lau (The warlords), Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible III)
and Hong Kong veteran Sammo Hung, the film is based on the
sprawling 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Synopsis:
His country torn asunder by civil war, Zhao (Andy Lau), a
commoner, heeds the call of duty. From the humblest of roots,
he rises through the ranks on wings of courage to command
an army charged with liberating the land from an evil warlord.
Inspired by action, honour and a dream of unifying his divided
nation, Zhao's heroism becomes a legend. But as the years
pass and the throne changes hands, the war still rages on.
When the newly enthroned king decides peace can only be achieved
by defeating all the warlords once and for all, Zhao embarks
on his last & greatest campaign - a road to adventure
that will crown his name in glory for all time.
Three
Kingdoms (Official
site)
Pre-order
the DVD
'An
Empress and the Warriors' on DVD
Cantonese Pop icon Kelly Chen dons her armour to take the
lead in Tony
Ching Siu Tung's BIG
budget epic 'An Empress and the Warriors.'
Tung who previously handled the action for Zhang Yimou's Hero
and House of Flying Daggers manages to create a lavish
old school action (with a touch of romance)
pic, that is a true feast for the eyes. Chen's co-stars include
Leon Lai and action superstar Donnie Yen.
Yan Feier (Kelly Chen) is thrust into the role of empress
when her father the King is viciously murdered by his own
nephew, Wu Ba (Guo Xiao Dong). His treachery unknown to Feier,
Wu Ba plots to gain control of the kingdom for himself. Meanwhile,
Feier turns to legendary warrior Brother Hu (Donnie Yen) to
instruct her in the ways of warfare. But Wu sends assassins
after Feier, and she's poisoned by an assassin's dart before
being lost in the woods. Her absence throws the kingdom into
chaos, and Brother Hu must maintain morale, all the while
carrying a hidden love for his missing empress. Meanwhile,
Feier is found and nursed back to health by Duan Lanquan (Leon
Lai), a doctor who lives in a secluded forest treehouse. Lanquan
awakens the woman within the warrior's armor, and given the
alternative of a peaceful life without war, Feier must eventually
make a difficult choice. Should she choose love, and remain
just a woman? Or should she choose her kingdom, and return
to being an Empress?
An
Empress and the Warriors (Official
site)
Order
the DVD
April
08
Umberto
Lenzi's 'Nightmare City' on R1 DVD
 Umberto
Lenzi's 1980 take on the zombie sub-genre, (originally titled
'Incubo sulla città contaminata') 'Nightmare City'
is getting an R1 DVD release through Blue Underground. Fast
zombies were nothing new to Italian horror movie fans in the
80s. They're not only fast, these bad boys use knifes and
guns.
Hugo
Stiglitz, Mel Ferrer (Eaten Alive) and Francisco Rabal star
in this wild splatterfest. Originally released in U.S as the
heavily-edited City Of The Walking Dead, this new version
of Nightmare City has apparently been transferred from original
vault materials and is now presented completely uncut.
When
a radioactive spill causes mass contamination, 1000s of infected
citizens are transformed into bloodthirsty undead fiends.
But these are not your standard stumbling gut-munchers; this
is an all-out attack by fast-moving, flesh-ripping, ass-kicking
maniacs that can only be stopped by a bullet to the brain.
Get ready for an orgy of gunfire, gore and gratuitous aerobics
where zombies run, chaos reigns and heads explode.
Nightmare
City tailer
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the DVD
'Jade
Warrior' on R2 DVD!
 A
real treat for R2 martial arts fans. A.J.Annila’s ‘Jade
Warrior’ hits R2 DVD next week. Warrior is Finland's
first ever martial arts film, blending traditional Chinese
swordplay with distict Wuxia overtones - mixed with elements
from Finland's sprawling national epic, the Kalevala. Annila
blends his genres, using both his own heritage and the conventions
of Asian film making to tell the legend of The Sampo. This
pic is visually stunning and was an unexpected but well deserved
hit across Scandinavian/Asian box-offices. The movie stars
Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu (Seven Swords, Rush hour) and
Markku Peltola.
In modern
day Finland, Kai a blacksmith charged with the task opening
an ancient metallic cask found with the mummified remains
of a four thousand year old man. The antique case is of craftsmanship
well beyond anything that could possibly have been imagined
in its era, a case that responds to Kai's touch, opening to
release a powerful being within and triggering waves of visions
that clearly link Kai to an ancient legend and to an all-powerful
evil...
DVD
Extras: 4 Behind-the-scenes documentaries; Director’s
Commentary; Teaser & Trailers; Music Video; Photo Gallery.
Jade
Warrior (Official
site)
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the DVD
Period
J-Horror 'Kaidan' on English subtitled DVD
 Nakata
Hideo, the director of Ring and Dark Water, returns to the
genre for the period horror Kaidan. Based on a 19th-century
story by Sanyutei Encho, Kaidan evokes the classical horrors
of the 1950s and 1960s. Kabuki star Onoe Kikunosuke takes
the lead, with a strong line-up of actresses that includes
Kuroki Hitomi (Tokyo Tower), Seto Asako (Death Note), Aso
Kumiko (Nada Sou Sou), and Inoue Mao (Gegege no Kitaro).
Synopsis:
Years ago, a debt collector was slain by a samurai. Before
falling to his death, the debt collector placed a curse on
the samurai who went on to kill his wife and himself. Years
later, the samurai's son Shinkichi (Onoe Kikunosuke) is now
a tobacco seller, and as cruel fate would have it, he falls
in love with the debt collector's daughter Toyoshiga (Kuroki
Hitomi) who is years his senior. Toyoshiga's jealous nature,
however, drives a wedge in their relationship, and he accidentally
injures her during a quarrel, inflicting a wound similar to
that which killed her father. After she dies, Shinkichi runs
off with one of her students (Inoue Mao), hoping to start
anew, but Shinkichi can't seem to escape Toyoshiga's resentful
spirit and all the women who cycle relentlessly in and out
of his life.
Kaidan
trailer (Youtube)
Order
the DVD
Sammo
Hung's FATAL MOVE on English friendly DVD
Director Dennis Law (Fatal Contact) assembles a top notch
cast of stars, starting with Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, and Wu
Jing, reteaming after the wildly popular Sha Po Lang. Joining
them are Danny Lee, actress Tien Niu and genre regulars Lam
Suet, Maggie Siu, Eddie Cheung, and Pinky Cheung also along
for the ride. Fatal Move is an underworld saga rich with themes
of brotherhood and betrayal, but director Law makes sure to
give the audience what they really want. Fatal Move delivers
visceral eye-opening action choreographed by Li Chung Chi,
and earns its Category III (the highest rating there is in
Hong Kong) rating due to exceptional violence. Those who enjoy
their gangster sagas bloody, should be quite happy with what
Law has cooked up here.
Fatal
Move trailer (Youtube)
Order
the DVD
Argento's
‘Mother of Tears’ arrives on R2 DVD
 A
heads for Italian horror fans in R2 land. ‘Mother of
Tears,’ Dario Argento’s conclusion to the horror
trilogy he began with ‘Suspira’ and ‘Inferno’
two decades before, hits the streets on DVD next week. Argento's
daughter Asia (Land of the dead) joins the gory fun in the
lead and the pic also stars Udo Kier (Blade), Daria Nicolodi,
Adam James and Cristian Solimeno.
An
ancient urn is unearthed and opened in Rome, mysterious and
evil-looking women from all over the world begin to arrive
in the city and violent crime increases dramatically. Leading
this horrific army is the Mater Lacrimarum (Mother of Tears)
– the third and last of three powerful witches whose
demonic ways have terrorized innocents for centuries. All
that stands in their way is an art student who seems to possess
supernatural abilities of her own.
Mother
of Tears trailer
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the DVD
Kiyoshi
Kurosawa's
J-Horror 'Retribution (aka Sakebi)' on R1 DVD
 My
my, we are almost being spoilt this month with swathe of great
Asian horror turning up for release on R1 DVD. Latest to show
up on the Radar is the horror pic by acclaimed director Kiyoshi
Kurosawa (Pulse, Cure), ‘Retribution.’ A film
festival favorite, named the "Official Selection"
of the New York Asian Film Festival, FantAsia Film Festival
and the Fantastic Fest. ‘Retribution’ is a slow
burning creepy crime thriller with a hint of the supernatural,
that shows Kurosawa back on top form after his so-so and rather
messy horror flick ‘Loft,’ released back in 2005.
Detective Yoshioka is investigating the drowning death of
a young woman in a red dress. Lying face down in a muddy puddle,
her stomach is found to be full of sea water. As the investigation
progresses, clues begin to appear that point to him being
the murderer - as his fingerprints are found on the body and
some of his personal items are found at the murder scene.
As more bodies turn up, killed in the same way, even the detective
begins to wonder whether he may be the very murderer that
he is pursuing.
Retribution
(Official Japanese site)
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the DVD
Korean
horror 'Black House' on R1 DVD
 Korean
director Shin Tae-ra’s (Brainstorm) critically acclaimed
film adaptation of the modern gothic Japanese horror novel
‘Black House,’ is due for an R1 DVD release through
Genius Products. 'Black House' details the struggle between
a smart, upright insurance company rep Juno and a cruel and
possibly murderous psychopath.
When
insurance investigator Juno (Hwang Jung Min) arrives at the
scene of his latest case, a run-down house in the middle of
nowhere, he is greeted with the sight of a little boy hanging
from the ceiling. The child's father, Park Chung Bae, is jumpy,
shifty, and eager for insurance compensation, while frail
and grieving mother Shin Yi Hwa bears signs of physical abuse
on her body. The police close the case as suicide, but Juno
suspects Park of foul play and fears that his wife may well
be the next target. Projecting his own troubled past into
the case, Juno wants to help Shin escape from danger, but
he soon discovers the shocking repercussions of digging too
deeply into other people affairs.
Black
House trailer
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the DVD
Korean
serial killer thriller 'Our Town' on English subtitled DVD
 Director
Jung Gil Young's latest film Our Town is about two serial
killers living in one town and when it comes to serial killiers,
two is a crowd. One is the original killer and the
other, a copycat. Starring Oh Man Seok (The Man in the Vineyard),
Ryu Deok Hwan (My Son, Like A Virgin), and Lee Seon Gyun (A
Cruel Attendancer), Our Town delves deeply into the twisted
world of copycat murders. As the mystery unravels, the plot
reveals a shocking revelation about the relationship between
the two killers.
Homicide detective Jae Shin is called in to investigate five
accounts of murder that occurred within the same town. Based
on the nature of the killing methods, the detective concludes
the case as a serial murder. However, despite his efforts,
the killer still remains at large. Concerned over his friend's
frustration, Jae Shin's longtime friend Kyung Joo, a mystery
novelist lends a helping hand - perhaps his sharp wit can
shed some light into the matter. But Kyung Joo is shocked
when he discovers that the killer has been fashioning the
murders exactly as they appear on his novel. The truth is,
Kyung Joo himself committed a murder ten years ago, but has
been successful in repressing his killing urge for some time.
Now, with his past secret on the verge of discovery, Kyung
Joo knows time is running out.
Our
Town trailer
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the DVD
March
08
'The
Mist' on R1 DVD
 The
screen version of Stephen King's 'The Mist' is out on R1 DVD
this week. Reasons to be excited: It's King. Frank (no-one
does King better) Darabont (The Shawshank, Green Mile) directed
the movie and wrote the Screenplay. Best of all, it's a rare
beast these days, an R rated horror film.
Following
a violent storm, artist David Drayton and a small town community
come under vicious attack from creatures prowling in a thick
and unnatural mist. Local rumors point to an experiment called
the 'The Arrowhead Project' conducted at a nearby top-secret
military base, but questions as to the origins of the deadly
vapor are secondary to the group's overall chances for survival.
Retreating to a local supermarket, Drayton and the survivors
must face-off against each other before taking a stand against
an enemy they cant even see.
The
Mist (trailer)
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the DVD
Japanese
horror 'Kabe Otoko' (The Wall Man) on English Subtitled DVD
 Based
on Morohoshi Daijiro's eponymous manga, The Wall Man (a.k.a.
Kabe Otoko) is a moody and mysterious horror from writer/director
Hayakawa Wataru. Hayakawa previously directed 7/25 nana-ni-go,
which screened at the Cannes Festival International Critics'
Week in 1999 and picked up awards at the Vancouver, Torino,
and Belfort Film Festivals. Returning with his second film
eight years later, he shows no sign of rust, effectively drawing
viewers into the sinister and spellbinding secrets that lie
beyond the walls. Starring Sakai Masato (Sukiyaki Western)
and Ono Mayumi (Premonition).
Acting
on an anonymous suggestion, television reporter Kyoko (Sakai
Masato) decides to do a feature on the "Wall Man",
a mysterious creature, neither human nor demon, that lives
in walls and observes the world. Her report is a big success,
inspiring lots of audience interest in the myth. What started
out as interest, however, turns into obsession as the people
around Kyoko become increasingly fixated with the topic and
start to exhibit strange behavior. Kyoko's own boyfriend,
cameraman Nishina (Ono Mayumi), can't seem take his eyes or
lens away from the walls, endlessly snapping pictures. What
does he see in the blank walls?
The
Wall Man (Official site)
Order
the DVD
Stephen
Chow's CJ7 up for pre-order on DVD
 Four
years in the making, CJ7 - Chow's first film since 2004's
Kung Fu Hustle is now available to pre-order on English friendly
DVD. Chow's last two films, Hustle and 2001 'Shaolin Soccer,’
are ranked one and two on the all-time list of highest-grossing
Hong Kong films, and CJ7 is quickly making its way up to the
top of the list. CJ7 sees Hong Kong's favorite leading man
and director enter a new stage in his career as he tackles
sci-fi for the first time. The disc is released in April 3rd.
Synopsis:
Construction worker Ti (Chow) lives in a ramshackle shanty
and salvages everything from shoes to toys from the trash
dump. Despite his state of abject poverty, the earnest, lesson-spouting
Ti is determined to send his son Dicky (Xu Jiao) to a posh
private elementary school. Dicky, however, is a lot more interested
in playing than studying, and he'd like nothing more than
a CJ1 robot dog to show up his bullying classmate. Unable
to afford a CJ1, Ti brings home "CJ7", a curious
rubbery green ball he found at the dump. His son isn't impressed
- until the ball shows its true alien form, morphing into
a little green dog whose penchant for mischief gives Dicky
a run for his money.
CJ7
(Official site)
Pre-order
the DVD
Hong
Kong horror 'Yes, I can see dead people' now on DVD
 Hong
Kong horror ‘Yes, I Can See Dead People’ is up
to order on English subbed DVD. Directed by David Lee, as
the title might suggest 'I See' has moments of comedy to lighten
its otherwise creepy premise, but it still features tense
atmosphere and plenty of scares. Steven Cheung departs from
his usual sidekick roles to play the lead and is joined by
Mandy Chiang (Whispers and Moans) Kris Gu (The Eye 10) and
Kathy Yuen.
Synopsis:
Nam is a slacker who has the power to see dead people - and
he seems to be pretty okay with it. From departed friends
to ghostly children, the undead populate the corridors of
Nam's housing estate, and he's used to their presence, disturbing
though it should be. Things change when his brother Tung (Kris
Gu) begins acting distant, and Nam thinks that there may be
more going on than just his brother's lack of self control.
Estate security guard Fok (Lau Kong) clues Nam in: there are
dangerous ghosts too, and one of them is starting to mount
his own terror campaign by possessing Nam's neighbors and
family. Fok also teaches Nam that those who possess ghost-seeing
powers must bear the responsibility to use them properly.
But can Nam learn the tricks of the ghost-busting trade before
the evil spirits take his brother, for good.
I
Can See Dead People trailer (Youtube)
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the DVD
Makoto
Tanaka's 'The Vanished' on English subtitled DVD
 Japanese
horror The Vanished (aka Ame no Machi) is getting an English
friendly DVD release. Based on a short story by Kikuchi Hideyuki,
the writer of Vampire Hunter D, Demon City Shinjuku, and Wicked
City, the pic is directed by Tanaka Makoto, whose credits
include producer of Casshern, artwork for Devil May Cry, and
animator on My Neighbor Totoro. ‘The Vanished’
stars Wada Toshihiro (Battle Royale II), Maki Yoko (Sway),
and Riko Narumi (Shindo).
Thirty-five years ago, a group of young school children disappeared
in the Japanese woods. In present day Japan, a lazy young
reporter is tasked to write a story on a child who is found
dead with gory injuries and inexplicable missing organs. Suddenly,
the child rises from the dead, and takes the journalist on
a journey into the woods to unravel a decades-old mystery
of what happened to these missing children. With the help
of a beautiful young city office clerk, he soon discovers
that the children are undead, and have not aged in the 35
years since their disappearance, haunting their families who
are intent on ending this cycle of violence.
The
Vanished trailer
Order
the DVD
New
Zealand horror 'The Ferryman' arrives on R2 DVD
 As
you know we do like to bring you news of films from far flung
places, so how about a horror pic from New Zealand? Kiwi Indy
horror the ‘The Ferryman’ lands on R2 DVD next
week. Directed by Chris Graham and starring John Rhys-Davies
(Lord of the Rings), Kerry Fox (Shallow Grave) and Tamer Hassan
(Eastern Promises).
The
film is slow to get going, but once the pace picks up (and
of course people start dying) 'The Ferryman' turns into a
good little horror flick. The disc also comes with a pretty
robust selection of extras & outtakes, listed below. 'The
Ferryman' streets on March 17th.
‘The
Ferryman’ follows a group of twenty something couples
as they charter a boat for the trip of a lifetime into the
South Pacific. Things take a turn for the worse when the group
responds to a distress signal of what first appears to be
a deserted boat. As
the mystery unfolds, they begin to realise that the boat,
and its mysterious crew, are inflicted with a terrible curse.
Stranded in the middle of the ocean, with no one within hundreds
of miles, they discover that The Ferryman is coming…and
payment is due!
•
Special Features
• Deleted & Alternate Scenes
• Intro to the film with director Chris Graham
• The Ferryman and the Dionysus featurette
• Improvisation with John Rhys-Davies
• Bloopers & Out-takes
• Behind the Scenes of The Ferryman
• Theatrical Trailer
The
Ferryman (Official site)
A
gameshow with a dark twist: '13: Game of Death' arrives on
R1 DVD
 It's
becoming clear that the buyers at Dimension Extreme know their
stuff when it comes to great horror. Next out on DVD from
the label is the superb Thai horror '13: Game of Death' aka
'13 Beloved.' Universally praised by critics, '13' was crowned
best of show at last years Puchon Intl. Fantastic Film Festival
(PiFan)
and won best Asian Film award, from the European Fantastic
Film Festival Federation.
'13'
tells the story of Pusit who is having the worst day of his
life. He just lost his job and is in serious debt. But that's
all about to change when he receives a mysterious call with
a tempting offer, to become a contestant in a challenging
game show. Those playing the game can agree to accept tasks
the show offers, but once accepted they must be completed.
Completing the task means big rewards, the more you finish
the harder the tasks get, but the rewards are far far greater.
The harder they get, the darker and more sinister they become.
To
see some stills and a trailer, you can check out the still
active Thai official site.
13
Game of Death (Official Thai site)
Order
the DVD
'Kung
Fu Dunk' on English subtitled DVD!
Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou's latest offering, the glossy
basketball youth film Kung Fu Dunk hits English subbed DVD
this month. Released to hefty box office receipts, the film
is loosely based on the popular manga Slam Dunk, but with
an added kick of kung fu fun choreographed by award-winning
action director Ching Siu Tung (Hero, The Warlords). Hong
Kong veteran Eric Tsang co-stars as a sinewy agent, along
with Wilson Chen (Blue Gate Crossing) and Twins' Charlene
Choi (Simply Actors), looking good as Chou's romantic interest.
Abandoned as an infant, Fang Shi Jie (Jay Chou) grew up in
a martial arts school and has acquired himself some impressive
fighting skills. He can also throw with amazing accuracy,
a talent that grabs the attentions of con man Zhen Li (Eric
Tsang). Unwittingly pulled into Zhen's hustling plans, Fang
crosses the wrong people and gets kicked out of his martial
arts school. Zhen then enrolls Fang into First University
in hopes of turning him into a basketball star. After some
quick training, Fang and team are tearing through the league
to the championships, but some foes from Fang and Zhen's past
have money staked on the game, and they're more than willing
to play dirty to get their way.
Kung
Fu Dunk trailer
Order
the DVD here
February
08
Indy
Zombie horror 'Automaton Transfusion' hits R1 DVD
 It
has to be said we aren't liking many of the covers Dimension
are putting out on their 'Extreme' label DVD's. We are however
loving what films they are releasing. Next out on the label
is Steven C. Millers low budget, but great looking, Zombie
gore fest 'Automaton Transfusion.'
Synopsis:
In the early 1970s when everyone in America was worrying about
what was going on in Vietnam, the United States Army was secretly
developing a way to reanimate the dead. The hope was to have
the dead fight instead of the living, but the experiments
were shut down when the reanimated corpses were unable to
control their hunger for human flesh. Thirty years later the
army has decided to reopen the project. Grover City, because
of its remote location, would be the home of their main testing
facilities. Without warning the experiments go horribly wrong
in Grover City and the DEAD are now on the rampage, eating
everyone in sight. With the town overtaken by Zombies, a group
of High School seniors take it upon themselves to fight back
and find a cure for this deadly disease. The four friends
battle their way through swamps, forests, blood, and ZOMBIES
to survive!
Voted
7th in Fango's top 10 horror pics of 2006, Automatons slick
looks belie its small budget origins. 'Automaton Transfusion'
is released on March 4th.
Automaton
Transfusion trailer
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the DVD
'The
Backwoods' (aka Bosque De Sombras) finally reaches DVD
Great news. Spanish horror thriller 'The Backwoods' (Bosque
De Sombras) starring Gary Oldman, is finally making its way
to R1 DVD.
Set in the Summer of 1978 'The Backwoods' tells the story
of an English couple Lucy (Virginie Ledoyen) and Norman (Paddy
Considine) who are going through a difficult patch in their
relationship. They decide to spend some time at the house
that their friends Paul (Gary Oldman) and his wife Isabel
(Aitana Sanchez-Gijón) have bought in the north of
Spain. Hidden away in the middle of a forest, and very much
off the beaten track, the house seems ideal for some peaceful
holidays. Their tranquil summer turns to horror when they
discover a girl with horribly mutilated hands in a house in
the forest. The locals aren't happy with the outsiders interference
and for taking the girl from the house, and soon cultural
differences start a whirlpool of violence between them.
'The
Backwoods' has received mixed reviews, but we'd say it should
be worth a watch, even just to see Oldman (who rarely disappoints
with a performance) in action.
The
Backwoods site
Pre-order
the DVD
Katsuhiro
Otomo’s live-action fantasy 'Mushishi ' on R2 DVD
Katsuhiro Otomo’s (‘Akira’ 'Steamboy') latest
foray into film making, the beautifully crafted live action
fantasy ‘Mushishi,’ is getting an R2 DVD release
through Revolver Entertainment. Adapted from a hugely successful
Manga novel, ‘Mushishi’ is visually mesmerizing,
dark and at times a little bit disturbing. The DVD is released
February 25th.
Synopsis:
Ginko is a mushishi (bug master) a gifted healer who expertly
manipulates the mushi, small, supernatural bugs, in touch
with the essence of life and death. Whilst travelling through
pre-modern Japan he meets the beautiful Tanyu, a crippled
bugmaster who records the history of the mushi by locking
them into scrolls. When the mushi escape Tanyu’s scrolls
and attack her, Ginko must save Tanyu and at the same time
rescue the traces of a vanishing age.
Mushishi
trailer
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the DVD
'Legend
of the Black Scorpion' aka 'The Banquet' on R1 DVD
Dragon Dynasty are to release Feng Xiaogang’s stunningly
beautiful wuxia epic ‘The Banquet,’ on R1 DVD.
Quite why they have decided to re-name the movie with the
title 'Legend of the Black Scorpion' eludes us, but the fact
that its actually being released is reason enough for celebration.
Loosely
based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, the story is set in ancient
China during the period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
Against the backdrop of internal turmoil and external threat
poised by the neighboring Khitan Empires, lives Empress Wan
(Zhang Ziyi ). As beautiful as she is deadly, she harbors
forbidden desires for her stepson Crown Prince Wu Luan (Daniel
Wu). When the Emperor dies of reasons undetermined and his
younger brother Li takes the throne, Wan marries Li to protect
Wu Luan and seal her own position in the ruling body. But
Li is not a fool and dispatches assassins that ultimately
fail to kill Wu Luan. When Emperor Li proclaims a big banquet,
Wu Luan and Wan realize it is time to strike.
‘The
Banquet’ isn't an all out martial arts action packed
| 