1 2 >
Takeshi Kitano’s OUTRAGE: U.S DVD review

Director: Takeshi Kitano. Review: Chris Sawin.

Two yakuza families that were once able to co-exist thanks to a pact made by their bosses while the two were in prison soon find themselves at each other's throats after there are a few hiccups in the drug trafficking side of the business. The Ikemoto family and the Murase family are in the middle of a war as the chairman the two crime syndicates answer to continues to pull the strings. Sekuichi (Kitamura Soichiro), the boss of the Sannokai, tells his right-hand man Ikemuto (Kunimura Jun) to put the Murase family in line. Since Ikemuto and Murase (Renji Ishibashi) are still under their pact at this point, Ikemuto passes the assignment onto his subordinate Otomo (Takeshi Kitano), who takes matters into his own hands with his own gang.

I probably have a fairly limited amount of knowledge when it comes to Takeshi Kitano's films since I've only seen a handful and have yet to see his most prestigious films. With that said, I've seen enough to know who the guy is, admire his work, and at least look forward to his upcoming projects. When it came to Outrage, it seemed like an undiscovered gem right from the start. Another yakuza film made and starring Beat Takeshi? It sounds like the type of movie you'd willingly pay whatever price for without blinking an eye. That isn't really the case though, as Outrage fails to really leave a lasting impression...Continue review here.  

 Watch the original Japanese trailer

 Outrage official site 

Wilson Yip’s MAGIC TO WIN on UK DVD?!

*Update* Turns out Metrodome got their wires crossed but its even better news. The UK December release is a theatrical one. Add to that we've just learnt the movie is also set for a limited opening in US cinemas (Dec 9th) as well....So its smiles all round. Link to see the the US theatrical poster and trailer, added below.

Well here’s a thing. It’s not even due to open in Hong Kong until early next month, but director Wilson Yips (‘Ip-man 1 & 2’) latest flick - the action comedy - Magic to Win already has a DVD on sale date set for December in the UK?! Now that is a quick turnaround on an overseas release, and if it means we get to see a movie by one of our fave directors more quickly, we’re all for it. Magic to Win goes on sale, via Metrodome Distribution on Dec 16.

Synopsis: The world is constituted of five elements: gold, wood, water, fire and earth. In the wizard world of Magic to Win, the story revolves around the “Five Element Wizardry”, portraying a story that surpasses our imagination. Hong Sum-Kwai, a university professor, is also the wizard of water. Although he casts magic spells in his daily life, his abilities power remains a secret. Then by accident, his power is transmitted to his student, Macy, bringing an enchanting and meaningful adventure to this ordinary girl. The magical world has been peaceful until Bue Yeh-Mo, wizard of fire, finds the key to time travel in a bid of rewriting an important incident in his past - gathering the magical power of the five elements. When he asks Ling Fung, his newly met friend as well as the wizard of earth, to give him a hand, Ling disagrees because changing the past can cause huge sacrifice. The two friends fall out. In attempt to stop Bue, Ling informs the other wizards about his dangerous plan. However, he is attacked by But and launches a magic battle in the library. Seriously injured, Ling becomes an invisible “particle man” without memory.

Magic to Win US trailer

Tickets now on sale for Sundance London 2012!

It waaaaay was back in March that we dropped the news that The Sundance Film Festival will be coming to London, and now is the time for all you UK based fans of indy Cinema to get a slice of the action, as tickets for the event have just gone on sale.

Sundance London takes place 26 – 29 April, 2012, and will feature the UK premieres of films fresh from the 2012 Sundance Film Festival which takes place January 19-29, 2012 in Park City, Utah. Daily live music performances, discussions, panels and other public events will round out the four-day festival.

Ticket packages for both the film and music components of Sundance London can be snaffled right now, and all the info on prices and programming for the event can be found at the fest official site here.

Johnny To and Wai Ka-Fai to have a DRUG WAR

Always good day when Mr Johnny To announces a new movie and it’s a two for one on the Hong Kong heavy-hitting-helmers count with his work, as fellow veteran writer/director, Wai Ka-Fai is in on the fun as they are teaming up again for a new project based in mainland, titled "Drug War" (Du Zhan).

Cast members have yet to be announced, but with a name like To in the big chair, you can bet a line of high end celebs will be lining up around the block to be involved. Add to that it’s been given a 100 million yuan (approx $16 million - that’s massive for a Chinese production) budget, and its all starting to sound pretty awesome so far. Drug War is set for release late 2012. More when we get it.

 

 

Via Cri English

Tsui Hark talks to Time Out HK

The quality and success of his films has been, varied, shall we say, but there’s no denying Tsui Hark is an icon of Hong Kong cinema responsible for some of Asia’s biggest box office smashes. That said we always like to keep tabs on what he’s up too and hes done just that with a new interview with Time Out HK. Where he talks about all things...Jet Li...3D...and about his latest upcoming action blockbuster (and my my, it looks good!) Flying Swords of Dragon Gate...

Jet Li has starred in some of the most famous films that you’ve either directed or produced, such as the first three Once Upon a Time in China movies in the 1990s. So what’s taken you so long to work together again on your new 3D wuxia epic Flying Swords of Dragon Gate?

You know, actors sign contracts. Jet Li signed with another company, and if the company didn’t make a Once Upon a Time in China movie, there wouldn’t be any, right? Another reason is that the company [Li signed with] had no relation to you, so they wouldn’t invite you to do their film anyway. Yet another reason is that he’s gone on to star in international productions; unless you find the necessary investment, you won’t be able to work with him again. These are all part of the reasons.....Continue the interview here.  

FLYING GUILLOTINE 1 & 2 coming to U.S DVD

Arc Entertainment & Dragon Dynasty have just about to released two more classic Shaw Brothers films that represent the absolute cream of the crop of Kung Fu cinema! FLYING GUILLOTINE and FLYING GUILLOTINE II hit retail stores November 29th. Both films have been beautifully re-mastered and include both Chinese (yay!) and English (dubbed urgh!) audio tracks. These are the last two of 10 Shaw Brothers classics released by Arc/Dragon Dynasty this year, which also included AVENGING EAGLE, BLOOD BROTHERS, EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN, FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS, GOLDEN SWALLOW, KILLER CLAN, MAD MONKEY KUNG FU and MARTIAL ARTS OF SHAOLIN.

Flying Guillontine

Hong Kong kung fu cinema is filled with all types of inventive weaponry, but few are as original, iconic or over-the-top as THE FLYING GUILLOTINE, and this was the first film to use it. The corrupt Emperor wants to dispatch of subordinates who dare disagree with his evil rule. Unable to publicly execute popular and decent officials, he commissions a new deadly weapon to clandestinely carry out these killings. Enter the Flying Guillotine and the elite squad trained to use the new, seemingly invincible weapon. When top squad member Ma Teng (Chen Kuan Tai, EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN) can no longer stomach these immoral killings, he goes on the run, pursued by his former comrades. Now our hero must protect his family and create a counter-weapon that can defeat THE FLYING GUILLOTINE!

Flying Guillontine 2

A sequel worthy of its predecessor” –Kung Fu Cinema Few sequels match the original, especially one that brought us a weapon as iconic as THE FLYING GUILLOTINE, but FLYING GUILLOTINE 2 ramps up the action to a new level. The heroic Ma Teng (Ti Lung, AVENGING EAGLE) has developed a counter to the Flying Guillotines attack, but when word reaches The Emperor, who is more bloodthirsty than ever, he creates a new deadlier version and trains a squad of female assassins to use it! Now Ma must help the gang of rebels trying to overthrow the evil tyrant and create a new counter-weapon to defeat the improved Guillotine. With frantic martial arts action and weapons that “…would be the envy of James Bond for their ingenuity” (KungFuCinema.com) FLYING GUILLOTINE 2 is bloody good fun for kung fu fans!

Japan Flix and Well Go USA team up for a Helldrive

Beginning - well right about now really - the drama-filled, action-packed, blood-soaked titles of Well Go USA with be streaming on Japan Flix . Over the coming months and the best of Well Go USA's extensive catalog of Japanese movies will be available to stream online! Titles such as Yoshihiro Nishimura's bloody and chaotic 'Helldriver,' and Tokyo International Film Festival selection 'Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge' will be among the first available.

For those not in the know -Japan Flix is a digital distribution venture that makes Japanese films available for rent or purchase in the United States and Canada. Site Members can rent and stream content for 1 day or 5 days. Membership is free and it only takes a couple of minutes to join. Asian movie and splatter fans can stay up-to-date on Japan Flix news through their website here. Easy!

Helldriver official US site

Second teaser for Norwegian horror DUNDERLAND

Have to say the latest looks even better than the first - A new international (English subtitled) teaser trailer is out for Norwegian fright flick Dunderland. Dunderland hits Norway on Jan 6th 2012 and heres hoping we all get to see it soon after. Theres some back story on the movie if you want it here, then onto the link, for some beautifully shot and atmopheric...chills.

Synopsis: 1695. A young maiden by the name Johanne Nilsdotter is accused of witchcraft. Her persecutors end her life in the bottomless pits of the Djupkista waters in the Dunderland valley. In the years to follow, numerous horrendous events and tragedies strike the valley. 2011. The young, aspiring theatre director Laura arrives in the Dunderland valley. Together with an ensamble of Norway’s premier actors, she will put on a play at an old, abandoned Boy Scout camp. They are soon made aware of the Dunderland valleys dark and bloody history. Then the star actor disappears...

 

Dunderland 2nd teaser

Trailer for Indonesian horror ARWAH KUNTILANAK DUYUNG

Well this goes to show that Japan doesn’t have the monopoly on weirdness after all. Latest oddity to arrive at our doorstep is the Indonesian horror comedy Arwah Kuntilanak Duyung aka Demon Mermaid Spirit?! Suffice to say it was probably made on a budget that most Hollywood productions spend just on the Donuts, and the “plot” is all over the (doesn’t help that Indonesian really freaks out online translators, but you can get the gist) place too, but what the hay, sometimes that’s half the fun. Trailer below.

Synopsis: Linda, and Ardo met and fell in love on a beach. Ardo was so happy to have Linda, so building a beach villa for his beloved wife. The loving couples were then staying at Villa Linda, along with two servants who are equally silly and funny, Olga and Ayu. However, a foolish act soon brings terror to their door. Sule, a motorcycle is naive and silly throw away the blood and the placenta wife who just gave birth on the beach. And a Demon Mermaidd emerged from the sea. Ardo and all occupants of the house are plagued by the onset of strange events and terrorized by the Mermaid.

Demon Mermaid trailer

New poster and official website for Spanish horror XP-3D

Once upon a time, Spain’s first ever horror movie in 3D, started life full of promise with a nifty title of 'Scars' (aka 'Cicatrices') and some pretty un run-of-the-mill teaser art…Then Sony got their hands on it.

Soon after, the name took a tumble becoming ‘Paranormal Xperience 3D’ (that sounds strangely familiar?) but that was only until the official site went live, when it was shortened once again (because it’s cool to do that right?) to XP-3D.

Finally, along came the newly released...big...bad...by the numbers theatrical poster - with the cast airbrushed to within an inch of their lives - and the whole thing ended up looking like a very sad ‘Twilight’ clone. What a shame, because the movie itself actually looks like quite a sound little slash horror.

‘Scars,’ aka ‘Cicatrices,’ aka ‘Paranormal Xperience 3D,’ aka ‘XP-3D,’ opens on Spain next month.  

Synopsis: A group of university students set up camp in an abandoned town to investigate possible paranormal occurrences. Events take a turn with the appearance of a spectre that harasses them incessantly, a spectre only Angela´s sister, Diana, is able to perceive.

Xp-3d official site

Thai horror LADDALAND on English subbed DVD

From the studio that produced the Phobia series, and directed by 'Coming Soon' director and 'Shutter' screenwriter Sophon Sakdaphisit, the 2011 Thai horror film - based on a Chiang Mai urban legend about a haunted housing estate - Ladda Land, is up to buy on English subbed DVD from next week. Who knew gated communities could be so bad for your health! Ladda Land goes on sale Nov 14.

Synopsis: Jumping at the chance for a higher-paying job, Thi moves to northern Thailand with his wife and kids, and finally gets that dream home he's been striving for. The happy family of four move into a housing estate called Ladda Land, and all is well until a neighbor's domestic helper is brutally murdered. Soon strange things begin to happen at Ladda Land...

Pre-order your copy here

MIFFF 2012 - Call for entries

Attention current, budding or veteran, genre film makers, the MIFFF (Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival) has officially opened the submission season for the 2012 Festival. The premier genre film festival in the Pacific Northwest, MIFFF was created to offer exposure to films that traditionally are overlooked by the festival circuit from genres including action, animation, fantasy, horror, and science fiction; and your film could be just what they're looking for. For additional information, or to submit your short or feature-length production for consideration, you can visit the MIFFF website here.

Important festival dates: Early Bird Submission Deadline is April 30th, 2012. Regular Submission Deadline is May 21st, 2012. Final Submission Deadline is June 11th, 2012

GRINDHOUSE TRAILER CLASSICS 3: DVD review

Director: Various. Review: Adam Wing.

Looking for something a little bit different to sink your teeth into? Following on from the critically-acclaimed release of Grindhouse Trailer Classics 1 & 2, Nucleus Films are set to take you on another two hour trip back to the “gory days” of cult and exploitation cinema, with their latest unseen compilation of audacious theatrical trailers from the sleazy cinematic sub-genre known as “grindhouse”. Over 50 trailers are included, not to mention a short interview with movie encyclopaedia Kim Newman, who takes us on a trip down memory lane with his tales of growing up around grindhouse.

Talk about covering all bases. Volume 3 crams in the usual assortment of horror movies, revenge thrillers, exploitation pics and action chicks, it’s enough to make your head spin. A female Tarzan, Pam Grier in chains and canine bank robbers, yours for the taking on this twisted trip back to the glory days of the sleazy 60s and 70s. There are 55 trailers in all, including the likes of Black Mama, White Mama, starring Tarantino favourite and Blaxploitation superwoman Pam Grier. Special praise goes to The Doberman Gang, a hilarious high concept robbery flick with a twist in the ta(il) that borders on insanity. Then there’s Nazi Love Camp 27, which is probably a really disappointing movie in its entirety, but the trailer is a work of unrivalled genius, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that these guys know how to sell movies...Continue review here.

New trailer for Brit cannibal horror ELFIE HOPKINS

Modern Britain isn’t exactly well known for tales of cannibalism but it looks like someone forgot to tell writer/director Ryan Andrews, as his latest horror film - Elfie Hopkins and the Gammons - peels back the veneer on English village life, to reveal the severed heads beneath. The first teaser trailer was good....this is better...and a damn site bloodier.

Synopsis: Set in a sleepy hunting village, Elfie Hopkins is the story of twenty-two year old slacker and “wanna-be” detective. Elfie is a stoner and an animal lover in a village populated with hunters. Haunted by the death of her mother and surrounded by her broken father and alcoholic step-mother, Elfie seeks solace and inspiration from the old school detectives in The Maltese Falcon and Chinatown. She entertains herself, along with her geeky best friend, Dylan, by investigating the villagers and upsetting everyone with their imaginative allegations. Elfie’s mundane existence is thrown for a spin with the arrival of a family of trendy city dwellers, the Gammons.

The Gammons weave tales of adventure and entice the villagers with offers of exotic hunting holidays around the world. It’s not long before the villagers are flying off to the four corners of the world. Elfie, despite her best efforts, is not immune to the Gammons charms, but soon smells a rat. Elfie and Dylan snap into detective mode and investigate the Gammons life. Blood soon starts to spill in the village and it’s no longer just the blood of animals. Elfie discovers the villagers are not making those flights and when she finally uncovers the truth, its darker then she could have ever imagined. The Gammons are a family of cannibals!

Elfie Hopkins new trailer

Korean film PUNCH heading for the US

If you’re Stateside, and perhaps just in the mood for something other than gore and things that go bump in the night (you know, those odd occasions) then news that the popular Korean comedy movie Punch, will be punching its way to a U.S theatre near you....may appeal. CJ entertainment is set to drop it into a nationwide release from Dec 2nd and all the release dates/locations are on the flicks official site.

Synopsis: An adaptation of the one of the best-selling novels "Wandeukyi" in Korea, having sold over 700,000 copies since its publication - the story follows the life of a troubled and underprivileged youth who has the unfortunate luck of living next to his high school homeroom teacher who always finds a way to make his life miserable both at school and at home. This coming of age movie follows the relationship of the two characters, Wandeuk and his teacher Do-Jun, as they develop their love-hate student-teacher relationship into one that is much more meaningful and fulfilling.

 

Punch official US site

Criterion breaks THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI out in February

Back in September, we told you that there was a pretty good chance that Criterion would be releasing some classic Hideo Gosha samurai films in the near future and their recent February release scheduled proved that out. On February 14th, Gosha's debut feature Three Outlaw Samurai will hit shelves on DVD and Blu-ray. Though uncharacteristically sparse on special features, with only a trailer and an essay in a booklet, the movie alone is well worth the price of admission, which itself is somewhat discounted thanks to the lack of special features. What better way to tell someone you love them on Valentine's Day than the gift of this fantastic chanbara film? We can think of none.

Synopsis: This first film by the legendary Hideo Gosha is among the most canonized chambara (sword-fighting) films. An origin-story offshoot of a Japanese television series phenomenon of the same name, Three Outlaw Samurai is a classic in its own right. In it, a wandering, seen-it-all ronin (Tetsuro Tamba) becomes entangled in the dangerous business of two other samurai (Isamu Nagato and Mikijiro Hira), hired to execute a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of a corrupt magistrate. With remarkable storytelling economy and thrilling action scenes, this is an expertly mounted tale of revenge and loyalty.

Check out Criterion.com for details and more info.

 

German horror asks us what’s in ‘205: ROOM OF FEAR’

We’ve just scared up some new teaser art for veteran German director Rainer Matsutani’s latest horror 205: Room of Fear (aka ‘205 - Zimmer der Angst’) and so far - from watching the trailer - we have to say its shaping up to look like being quite and effective little (with some splatter thrown in for good measure) chiller. Poster, trailers and other assorted goodies below.

Synopsis: What happened in Room 205? Why has no one lived there for over a year? Katrin could care less: the 19-year-old student has landed a room in the dorm, and that means freedom! Freedom from home and her over-protective father. The semester is just beginning, and it’s time to make new friends, go to parties, have sex, and, of course, go to classes. When strange things happen in her room, and she begins to understand why no one wanted to move into Room 205 before her...One night, she makes a horrifying discovery in the cellar: Christian, a young man she had slept with, is dead. And it’s only the first in a series of grisly “accidents” in which Katrin is involved. When she finds the video diary of her predecessor, Annika, she becomes convinced that Annika was murdered by a clique of students who are now accusing her of killing Christian. Katrin feels increasingly terrorized ... Annika’s video messages seem to be the desperate cries of a tormented young woman. But are they really? Fearful of going mad and suffering the same fate as her predecessor, Katrin wants to clear up the mystery – even if it means confronting herself with terrifying truths about her fellow students, herself, and the former occupant of Room 205 ...

205 poster, trailer and stills

Official site for Japanese comedy AFRO TANAKA

Thank you Japan for never failing to surprise and delight us, with your constant parade of oddness. Only in Japan would they create a Manga about the adventures of a Japanese guy with HUGE Afro, and only in Japan would they turn it into a movie? Aka Afro Tanaka.

The story of “Afro Tanaka” revolves around Tanaka Hiroshi (Matsuda Shota), a twenty-four year old high school drop-out who works as a tunnel digger in Tokyo. His trademark, a BIG fluffy afro. One day, a beautiful woman named Kato (Sasaki) moves into the apartment next door and he falls madly in love with her. Afro Tanaka is slated for a release on February 18th, 2012 and the official site is now live with a trailer (which is a bit tiny for our liking) to see. Or check it out over on Youtube.

Afro Tanaka official site

Via: Tokyohive

UNDERWATER LOVE: DVD review

Director: Shinji Imaoka. Review: Adam Wing.

Just when you thought the Japanese film industry had run out of ideas, along comes Shinji Imaoka’s Underwater Love, a soft porn symphony complete with jaunty tunes, naked flesh and whimsical flights of fancy. If that’s not strange enough, what do you say to a quirky account of love between a woman and a sea creature? Directed by the pink-film veteran behind tasty treats like Lunch Box and Frog Song, shot by famed cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Hero, In the Mood for Love), with original music by German duo Stereo Total, Underwater Love is a musical stampede of the likes you have never seen before. With added fleshy bits.

Asuka (Sawa Masaki) works in a lakeside fish factory and life seems to be going swimmingly. In fact, she’s just about to marry her doting boss (Mutsuo Yoshioka). One day, she encounters a Kappa, a water creature that lives in the nearby lake. In Japanese folklore the Kappa is a mischievous creature known for playful pranks, though they’re not averse to drowning animals, kidnapping children and raping women too. Thankfully though, this isn’t the latest head f*ck from Takashi Miike; it’s a light-hearted romance with bouncy show tunes and dance routines. Imaoka’s Kappa is less likely to kill you, and more likely to challenge you to a wrestling match...Continue review here.

Underwater Love trailer

English subbed trailer for Takashi Miike’s ACE ATTORNEY

It seems one of fave directors Takashi Miiki has left all things 'Samurai' behind him and returned another of his pet obsessions - pop culture. No not Manga, this time it’s a movie based on a video game, more specifically the first in Capcom's Ace Attorney series aka Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. 

To be honest we’re not overly sold on the choice of source material (lets face it, there are very few good movies based on video games) but if anyone can do something decent with it, it’s Miike. He has a knack of making the oddest things just....work, and if nothing else the visual style looks fantastic. So..hell, it has to be worth a watch?! Time will tell.

Ace Attorney opens in Japan next Feb, and whaddaya know we have an English subtitled trail to take a look at, via the link.

 

Ace Attorney trailer

Ace Attorney official site

Recent Entries