The VCinema Show: December 2012 podcast episode is now available.
With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013
With Dada Chen at NYAFF 2013
Monday, January 07, 2013
ACF 1759: Happy Birthday wishes to the multi-talented Sammo Hung!
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| Sammo and me at NYAFF 2010 |
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| Sammo squares off against Bruce Lee at the beginning of Enter the Dragon (1973) |
Some of my fondest memories are of his work as the title character of the Martial Law TV series (44 episodes, 1998-2000), which also featured Kelly Hu. The first episodes were fantastic, featuring sub-titles (on prime time American network television!) and outtakes during the end credits.
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| Sammo and his sifu enjoy a rare light momentin Close Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980) |
My recollection is that, not satisfied with a surprise success, the suits at the network (CBS) and/or the producers decided to make it a smash hit by tinkering with the cast. Apparently thinking that what worked for Jackie Chan in Rush Hour would do the same for Sammo, they introduced a black man to be the star's sidekick. Unfortunately they picked Arsenio Hall (!?) and the show promptly started to go into the toilet.
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| Sammo and Donnie Yen square off in S.P.L., a.k.a. Kill Zone (2005) |
The second season (1999-2000) found only Sammo, Kelly and Arsenio returning and the thrill was gone. If Sammo was as bitter as I recall reading that he was, he certainly had a right to be. Something wonderful was ruined 'cause some fools couldn't leave well enough alone.
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| Donnie and Sammo again, this time in Ip Man 2 (2010) |
Still we have lots of Sammo on DVD to be thankful for and hopefully many more years of being amazed, entertained, and blown-away by him. Happy Birthday, big guy!!!!!
Saturday, January 05, 2013
ACF 1758: Maiden Japan licenses TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0
Maiden Japan has announced its acquisition of the compelling animated drama Tokyo Magnitude 8.0. Based on extensive research into the potential effects of a massive earthquake, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 is an 11 episode study into human courage and the will to survive which originally debured in Fuji TV’s powerhouse anime block “noitaminA”. Direction is by Masaki Tachibana (.hack//Quantum) with series composition by Natsuko Takahashi (07-Ghost), character designs by Atsuko Nozaki (The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky), sound direction by Kazuya Tanaka (High School of the Dead) and music by Ko Otani (Hakuoki).
Maiden Japan will be distributing Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 in conjunction with home video distributor Section 23 (Clannad, High School of the Dead, Appleseed,) with the entire series to be released in bilingual English DVD, BD and digital formats on April 2nd 2013.
Synopsis: The devastation is unleashed in the span of seconds. Yielding to centuries of unrelenting pressure, an ancient rift in the Earth gives way and a force equivalent to over a thousand atomic bombs erupts beneath the feet of the citizens of the world’s largest mega-cities! For the people of the greater Tokyo area, the results are catastrophic as even “earthquake-proof” buildings sway like weeds in the wind, gas mains rip open in gouts of flame and huge sections of the city’s vital infrastructure are torn into shreds.
For sister and brother Mirai and Yuki who were caught in the earthquake while in Odaiba during summer holiday, it’s the start of a desperate journey back to their parent’s home in Setagaya. For motorcycle courier Mari, it means an equally frantic battle towards Sangenjaya and her own daughter and mother.
Joining together in an epic odyssey through the mangled streets, these three must brave impossible obstacles and endure unspeakable hardships and heartbreak, with no way of knowing if their loved ones are even still alive. But they’ve no other choice! In the aftermath of nature’s fury, only the strongest of will and most courageous of heart can hope to survive in TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0.
Thursday, January 03, 2013
ACF 1757: THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE now available on iTunes and on demand
The Sorcerer and the White Snake is out today on iTunes and on demand. It'll be in theaters on February 8th, 2013. The film is the latest retelling of a traditional Chinese legend, a variation of the story that Tsui Hark made as Green Snake, which starred Maggie Cheung and Joey Wong. Jon, Josh and I discussed that film on The VCinema Show Episode 44 podcast.
Here are some links for The Sorcerer and the White Snake:
- iTunes info: http://bit.ly/10Utkd7
- Amazon info: http://amzn.to/VEV3Ic
- On Demand info: http://on.fb.me/Rv5Kjh
For general info about the film, check out it's webpage at Magnet Releasing by clicking here.
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
ACF 1756: Section23 Films announces February 2013 slate
KAMISAMA DOLLS Available on February 19th
Home video distributor Section23 Films has announced its February slate of releases, including the supernatural thriller KAMISAMA DOLLS, which will be available on both DVD and Blue-Ray.
Product details follow, in order of release.
Title: LISTEN TO ME, GIRLS. I AM YOUR FATHER! COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/5/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS:
Whoever said little girls grow up in the most delightful ways wasn't
Yuta Segawa! But since his sister Yuri raised Yuta by herself after
their own parents' deaths, what kind of brother would Yuta be if he
didn't take in her THREE children when Yuri and her husband disappear?
Of course, the fact that Yuta's a nineteen year old college student,
living in a tiny apartment, with three GIRLS, two of whom aren't related
by blood, is bound to cause some issues. Especially when the eldest
girl, Sora, is harboring a secret crush on him and would be quite happy
if Yuta's social life revolved around the 'family,' while middle sister
Miu is starting to make noises about 'older men' as well. Did we
mention that it's a really, REALLY small apartment? Add Raika, the girl
Yuta actually likes, as a smoldering fuse and the question isn't IF
Yuta's home sweet home is a powderkeg, but rather one of when it's going
to explode and how often! Some family ties bind, others may need
restraining orders in LISTEN TO ME, GIRLS. I AM YOUR FATHER!
Title: NEW FIST OF THE NORTH STAR COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: ADV Films
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 175 min.
Street Date: 2/12/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $14.98
SYNOPSIS: A
twist on the classic favorite that begins in the aftermath of the great
apocalypse. Across a barren Earth, chaos is the rule and order, the
exception with bandits and enterprising overlords terrorizing the
survivors of the holocaust. Will a hero rise from the ashes and cut a
swath of justice across the Earth’s ruined landscape?!
Title: WAITING IN THE SUMMER COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 2/12/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS:
When a group of friends decide to make a movie over a long summer
holiday, they end up learning a little about filmmaking and a lot more
about each other and themselves. What begins as a simple way to avoid
the summer doldrums quickly turns into something much more complex,
intimate and downright revealing. As the summer heats up, so do the
maturing relationships between the young cast members, taking some new,
and sometimes unexpected, turns. Get ready for a whole new look at
summer romance as hidden emotions get captured and secrets meant to be
kept hidden inside young hearts instead spill off of the screen for your
viewing pleasure in WAITING IN THE SUMMER!
Title KAMISAMA DOLLS COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/19/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS:
When Kyohei Kuga moves to Tokyo to escape the strictures of life in a
small town, he thinks he's left his old life behind. But when he
discovers a bloody corpse, he also discovers that the past isn't so
easily left behind. Especially when the past is as unusual as
Kyohei's. You see, back in his home town, Kyohei was a "seki" - an
individual able to control "kakashi," ancient wooden "gods" capable of
incredible feats, with his mind. And now it seems that there's a
kakashi loose in Tokyo, and it just may be up to Kyohei to stop it AND
its seki.
Title: KAMISAMA DOLLS COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/19/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS:
When Kyohei Kuga moves to Tokyo to escape the strictures of life in a
small town, he thinks he's left his old life behind. But when he
discovers a bloody corpse, he also discovers that the past isn't so
easily left behind. Especially when the past is as unusual as
Kyohei's. You see, back in his home town, Kyohei was a "seki" - an
individual able to control "kakashi," ancient wooden "gods" capable of
incredible feats, with his mind. And now it seems that there's a
kakashi loose in Tokyo, and it just may be up to Kyohei to stop it AND
its seki.
Title: LETTER BEE COLLECTION 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 2/19/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS:
Now that he has Niche and her pet Steak to watch his back against
attacks by the giant insects known as Gaichuu, Lag Seeing's job as a
Letter Bee should be getting easier. But something's clearly not right
in the land of perpetual twilight, and instead every new delivery they
undertake seems to involve new complications and introduce even greater
dangers to Lag's already lethal profession. Meanwhile, Lag's search for
his mentor Gauche seems to be going in circles, but when a sinister
researcher known as the Corpse Doctor kidnaps Steak with the intent of
dissecting him, a new series of revelations sends Lag and Niche in an
entirely new direction. Saving Steak from the butcher's knife, stamping
the ambitions of a rival organization of letter carriers and escalating
waves of Gaichuu attacks are only the beginning of the action as
everything goes postal in LETTER BEE - COLLECTION 2!
Title: BATTLE GIRLS: TIME PARADOX COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/26/2013
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS:
Yoshino Hide (nickname Hideyoshi) is your average, everyday teenager -
interested only in fashion, snacks and her afterschool free time. And
destined to fail her next history test without some sort of miraculous
intervention. So, she stops by the local shrine to offer up a prayer or
two to any deity that might be listening. But her prayers are
interrupted by a mysterious blue light that engulfs her and leaves
Hideyoshi stranded in a strange new world that appears to be feudal
Japan. Only, all the inhabitants of this world, including feudal
warlord Oda Nobunaga, are women! Now Hideyoshi finds herself on a quest
to gather the pieces of the Crimson Armor and help Nobunaga conquer the
land!
Title: BATTLE GIRLS: TIME PARADOX COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 325 min.
Street Date: 2/26/2013
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS:
Yoshino Hide (nickname Hideyoshi) is your average, everyday teenager -
interested only in fashion, snacks and her afterschool free time. And
destined to fail her next history test without some sort of miraculous
intervention. So, she stops by the local shrine to offer up a prayer or
two to any deity that might be listening. But her prayers are
interrupted by a mysterious blue light that engulfs her and leaves
Hideyoshi stranded in a strange new world that appears to be feudal
Japan. Only, all the inhabitants of this world, including feudal
warlord Oda Nobunaga, are women! Now Hideyoshi finds herself on a quest
to gather the pieces of the Crimson Armor and help Nobunaga conquer the
land!
Title: QWASER OF STIGMATA COLLECTION 2
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 2/26/2013
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS:
The relationship between a Qwaser and his Maria, the woman who provides
him with the sustaining soma that he needs to fuel his elemental
powers, is already a strange and twisted one, but as the battle for the
High Circuit escalates to a insane crescendo, a completely unexpected
question arises: Can exposure to beings with superpowers actually be
contagious? The answer could prove deadly as Miyuri goes through a most
unexpected transformation! Meanwhile, Mafuyu finds herself even more
conflicted over her relationship with Sasha as he slowly recovers from
his strange amnesia, while Elizabeth fears having to choose between
Shin'ichiro and her friends. As new waves of adepts attack, the milk of
human kindness alone won't be enough to nip tragedy in the bud, and the
survival of each pairing may ultimately depend upon the courage within
each maiden's breast! Disaster looms as the seal is breeched and the
lightning of the gods escapes the bottle at last in QWASER OF STIGMATA-
COLLECTION 2!
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