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On DVD and Blu-Ray today: Kill Zone

Andrew Heskins — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:30:50 +0000

Finally out in the UK on DVD and Blu-Ray, S.P.L.: Kill Zone, starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yen. Here’s the UK promo to give you a taster…

Read our full review here »

DVD: Rain Fall

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:11:07 +0000

GARY OLDMAN STARS IN THE ACTION-PACKED CRIME-THRILLER BASED ON THE BESTSELLING NOVEL BY BARRY EISLER.

Based on the first book in the series of bestselling ‘John Rain’ novels by acclaimed author and former CIA operative Barry Eisler, the action-packed crime-thriller, Rain Fall, brings Eisler’s half-Japanese, half-American anti-hero to the screen for the first time in the form of award winning Japanese star, Keppei Shiina (The Last Princess; Sakuran).

Adapted for the screen and directed by Max Mannix (Dance Of The Dragon), this slickly mounted, tense thriller co-stars Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight; Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix), veteran Japanese actor Akira Emoto (Ichi; Memories Of Matsuko; Sinking Of Japan), Kyoko Hasegawa (Nanayo), Misa Shimizu (The Unbroken; The Harimaya Bridge) and Dirk Hunter (Undead).

Former US Special Force soldier turned contract killer John Rain is an assassin who specializes in making his ‘hits’ look like deaths from natural causes. Following his own, strict, self-imposed code of conduct, Rain only targets key figures and never accepts a job if it involves killing a woman or a child. But complications arise during Rain’s latest assignment when he becomes attracted to a young woman named Midori, the beautiful daughter of his most recent victim.

It soon becomes apparent that the killing of Midori’s father and its repercussions are just one small part of a much wider conspiracy involving both the CIA and Tokyo’s gangland crimelords. Now, both Rain and Midori have become targets themselves and Rain is forced to compromise his beliefs and to risk everything to protect the girl he loves before she is eliminated as collateral damage for being an innocent witness to a vast CIA cover up operation.

A hard boiled action thriller that will appeal to fans of the ‘Bourne’ movies, Rain Fall marks star Keppei Shiina as an action star in the making and features and typically powerful performance from Gary Oldman as Rain’s nemesis, the Chief Officer of the CIA’s Tokyo Bureau.

Rain Fall (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£15.99) by Momentum Pictures on 29th March 2010.

DVD: Breathless

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:57:52 +0000

“ONE OF THE YEAR’S BOLDEST AND MOST THRILLING DEBUT FEATURES.” – EYE WEEKLY.COM

Following its critically acclaimed UK theatrical release in January, Yang Ik-june’s award winning Breathless comes to DVD in March 2010 as a two-disc Special Collector’s Edition featuring a host of exclusive extras including interviews with the director and cast members, specially filmed festival footage and Q&As, plus a collector’s booklet featuring sleeve notes personally written by Yang Ik-june and co-star Kim Kkobbi.

The winner of numerous international film awards in 2009, including the Tiger Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, the Jury Prize for Best Film and Best Male Performance at Montreal’s Fant-Asia Film Festival and the Best Film award and Critics’ Prize at the Deauville Asian Film Festival, the debut feature from South Korean writer-director and star Yang Ik-june, Breathless is a brutal, uncompromising and profanity-filled look at the cause and effect of domestic violence.

Giving a stunning performance in the film’s lead role, Yang Ik-june stars as Sang-hoon, a deeply troubled man prone to violent outbursts, who freelances as a hired thug at his friend’s debt collecting firm. His private life revolves around his extremely strained relationship with his ex-convict father, who was directly responsible for the tragic breakdown of their family, and a slightly more subdued, but still difficult, connection with his stepsister and her young son.

Seemingly possessed by the pent-up rage caused by the domestic events from his past, Sang-hoon finds an opportunity for salvation when he encounters a similarly emotionally damaged schoolgirl ((Kot-bi Kim), who is as foul-mouthed, headstrong and fearless as he is. The two begin an offbeat and touching friendship, not realising that their lives are already connected in ways that will have a profound effect on both their fates.

As moving as it is shocking in its portrayal of people struggling to live in a world of routine violence and abuse, Breathless was hailed by ReelAsian.com as “one of the most powerful films of the year” and by Screen International as a film that marks director Yang Ik-june as a name to watch.

Breathless (cert. 18) will be released on DVD (£14.99) by Terracotta Distribution on 22nd March 2010.

Special Features include: interview with director Yang Ik-june (20 minutes); interview with actress Kim Kkobbi (10 minutes); behind the scenes at the Rotterdam Film Festival (20 minutes); special Korean Film Industry Preview Screening footage (10 minutes); London Korean Film Festival Q&A at the Barbican Centre; London Press Junket footage; trailers (Korean theatrical, Korean teaser, three UK trailers, French trailer); stills gallery.

DVD: Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:41:53 +0000

From the man (Yoshihiro Nishimura) behind the outrageousness of Tokyo Gore Police and The Machine Girl comes this crazed response to both Twilight and Let the Right One In, a film that consistently overwhelms the viewer in its sheer dementia……

High school student Mizushima receives Valentines Day chocolates from the new student, Monami. Little did she know that the chocolates contained traces of Monami’s vampire blood. He gets infected from eating them and Monami confesses that she wants to live with him forever as vampires. Meanwhile, Mizushima decides that he wants to fully become a vampire with Monami’s help. Keiko, Mizushima’s girl friend, sees the two on the school rooftop kissing and in a state of hysteria, attempts to throw Monami off the roof but falls off herself instead.

Keiko dies but her father, Kenji Furano, the mad scientist, resurrects her as Franken girl. Thus begins a deadly combat between Franken Keiko and Vampire Monami in the name of love. As we all know, this kind of Vampire vs. Frankenstein conflict can only be solved by fighting, beating, stabbing, chewing, clawing and a showdown high atop Tokyo Tower!

Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl (cert. 18) will be released on DVD (15.99) by 4Digital Media on 15TH March 2010.

DVD: The Sinking Of Japan

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:34:36 +0000

“ONE HECK OF A VISUAL TREAT.” – BEYONDHOLLYWOOD.COM

‘2012’ meets ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ in Sinking Of Japan, an edge-of-your-seat, blockbuster of a thrill-ride laden with breathtaking specials effects and jaw-dropping scenes of destruction as the Land of the Rising Sun faces the ultimate catastrophe!

When an underwater earthquake strikes deep beneath Suruga Bay it proves to be just the first in a series of devastating natural disasters to hit Japan in quick succession. Soon the entire nation and its people are under assault from further earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions caused by massive tectonic shifting in the area.

Geological research into the events reveals the government’s worst fears – Japan has less than a year before Mount Fuji itself erupts and the entire country sinks into the sea disappearing from the face of the earth forever! As cities are reduced to rubble by quakes and tidal waves, the government begins immediate evacuation plans, but it quickly becomes obvious that only a fraction of the population is likely to survive. With nothing left to lose, devise a desperate plan to avert the final disaster by planting and detonating huge explosives deep in the earth’s crust.

Caught up in the ongoing chaos are three individuals united by their calamitous circumstances: research submarine pilot, Toshio Onoder; rescue worker, Reiko Abe; and a young orphan girl, Misaki Kuraki. Together, they struggle to survive as the fate of the nation hangs precariously in the balance. But what they are yet to learn is that one of them will be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in an act of bravery that could save people and the country they love.

Starring Kou Shibasaki (Dororo; Memories Of Matsuko; One Missed Call; Battle Royale), Mayuko Fukudo (Death Note: L Change The World; Kamikaze Girls) and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (Monkey Magic), Sinking Of Japan is a thrilling disaster movie on a par with the best of Hollywood’s recent crop of ‘end of the world’ scenario blockbusters.

Sinking Of Japan (cert. 12) will be released on DVD (£15.99) by MVM on 8th March 2010.

Accident

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:01 +0000

It’s no accident this has been causing such a stir! Intelligent with a fantastic premise, surely this one of the finest Hong Kong films of the last decade…

Ho Kwok-fai aka The Brain (Louis Koo, Election, Flash Point, Protégé) is a genius assassin who, together with his small inconspicuous team, can make any hit look like an fluke accident. His team are so proficient that they’ve gone completely unnoticed for years, but that doesn’t stop their troubled leader being somewhat paranoid about getting discovered.

When a hit goes disastrously wrong and a member of the team is killed, Brain becomes obsessed that it was no accident, and someone is targeting him. He believes that insurance inspector Chan Fong-chow Richie Ren, Seoul Raiders, Exiled, Breaking News) is orchestrating it all. But in a world where there’s no such thing as coincidence, can accidents really happen?

Honed from the finest pedigree in Hong Kong film Accident has arrived to incredible acclaim at every festival it’s played at, including nominations for Best film at the Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival and Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The credits could hardly read better: production by Johnnie To; written by Szeto Kam-Yuen (whose credits include easternKicks fave The Longest Nite, S.P.L.: Kill Zone, Exiled, Flash Point) and Tang Lik-Kei (Flash Point); and directed by Soi Cheang (Dog Bite Dog).

And does it live up to that? Ooooooooh yes! Cheang’s direction is tight, letting his characters develop on screen, but keeping the running time to an unusually concise (by today’s standards) 90 minutes. There’s a terrific build of tension as Ho Kwok-fai falls deeper into his paranoia, reminiscent of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation.

Beautifully acted by an ensemble cast including Fung Shui-Fan (My Lucky Stars, Mr. Vampire II, Winners and Sinners), Michelle Ye (Sniper), Alexander Chan (Infernal Affairs 2, One Nite In Mongkok) and Lam Suet (Yep, again!), this is flawless.

Surely the only criticism is that, like many classic HK films (particularly those with such a great premise), the film leaves you wanting more. But heck, that’s one of the reasons it’s so good!

Probably the best Hong Kong film since Infernal Affairs, and yes, a remake has already been mooted. Let’s hope the original gets the proper release it deserves in the US and UK long before any American imposter. (Please!)

Damn fine! My advice: find this, watch this… by any means necessary!

Thirst Korean 3-disc DVD to include extended Director’s Cut

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:00:09 +0000

It seemed rather odd that the one place Park Chan-wook’s revisionist vampire flick hadn’t been released was in his home Korea, but maybe that makes sense now with the announcement of the limited edition 3-disc DVD, which includes not only the original version but the extended director’s cut (which premiered at the London Korean Festival late last year).

This version adds some 10 minutes of new scenes to the film. The DVD itself also includes audio commentary, plus a Bonus Disc containing making of, previews, featurettes on art direction and music, the Director’s Choice animated short film “Dust Kid” directed by Jung Yu Mi, and other special features – though how much of that will have English subtitles is questionable.

The DVD is expected to be released 17 March, and currently available from YesAsia.com. No word of a Blu-Ray release yet, though.

And in case you thought I’d missed it, Ong Bak 3…

Andrew Heskins — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:00:17 +0000

After the rather dark and overly serious Ong Bak 2 (sorry, Ong Bak: The Beginning for UK readers), the proper sequel is on the horizon – slated for release in Asia in April 2010.

As previously mentioned, Ong Bak: The Beginning is now available on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK.

A brief guide to Takeshi Kitano

Andrew Heskins — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:04 +0000

With Takeshis’ finally on a limited release in the UK (we originally reviewed it back at the 2005 London Film Festival!) Guardian writer David Thompson recently posted a brief guide to the man himself, Takeshi Kitano. (But it may leave you wanting to know much more!)…

Of course, we rather slammed Takeshis’ on it’s original release as self-indulgent (though it had as much to do with that films immaturity). But was that fair? Kitano is hardly the first or last filmmaker to take their own fame or profession and exploit it as the subject of a movie. Take Pedro Almodovar’s recent Broken Embraces. (The difference being Pedro had Penelope Cruz to distract us!)

So what do you think about some of Kitano’s more recent work? Has he lost the plot completely, or is it okay for a director’s output to become self-indulgent, even when arguably it isn’t appealing to anyone else?

Drop us a line using the comment box below…

Read David Thompson’s Takeshi Kitano Guide on the Guardian online »

On DVD and Blu-ray today: Ong Bak: The Beginning

Andrew Heskins — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:00:25 +0000

Martial art supremo Tony Jaa’s Ong Bak: The Beginning (aka Ong Bak 2) comes to DVD and Blu-ray today. This troubled production is much darker in tone to Jaa’s previous efforts, and despite some standout fight scenes its inconclusive ending now makes it seem like of a prologue to the upcoming release of Ong Bak 3 (to be called Ong Bak what???? in the UK?)…

…there are some great fight scenes though, particularly in the 20 minute-odd end sequence!

easternkicks.com » News

On DVD and Blu-Ray today: Kill Zone

Related Posts:

DVD: Rain Fall

Rain Fall (cert. 15) will be released on DVD (£15.99) by Momentum Pictures on 29th March 2010.

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DVD: Breathless

“ONE OF THE YEAR’S BOLDEST AND MOST THRILLING DEBUT FEATURES.” – EYE WEEKLY.COM

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DVD: Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl

Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl (cert. 18) will be released on DVD (15.99) by 4Digital Media on 15TH March 2010.

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DVD: The Sinking Of Japan

“ONE HECK OF A VISUAL TREAT.” – BEYONDHOLLYWOOD.COM

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Accident

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Thirst Korean 3-disc DVD to include extended Director’s Cut

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And in case you thought I’d missed it, Ong Bak 3…

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A brief guide to Takeshi Kitano

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On DVD and Blu-ray today: Ong Bak: The Beginning

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