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FILM CLASSIC

2013-07-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

A Bittersweet Life

A tale of love,loyalty,betrayal and revenge. A Bittersweet Life offers a critically acclaimed and award-winning insight into South Korea's underworld.Kim Sun-woo is an enforcer and manager for a hotel owned by Kang, a cold and calculating crime boss to whom he is unquestionably loyal. Read on

2013-07-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Naruto returns
Naruto returns to his home, the Village of the Hidden Leaf.
Read on

2013-07-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

CHECK OUT THE NEW TRAILER OF HEART BREAKER....

LATEST DVD REVIEWS

2013-07-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

End Of Love

2013-07-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

2013-07-26T07:28:00.001-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

2013-07-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

2013-07-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

2013-07-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

LATEST DVD NEWS

2010-07-30T07:26:00.001-07:00

Frontier Blues

2010-07-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

2010-07-30T07:24:00.001-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

2010-07-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

2010-07-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti Westerns

The Treasure Hunter

2010-07-24T02:39:00.000-07:00

Film: The Treasure Hunter

Release date: 12th July 2010

Certificate: 15

Running time: 102 mins

Director: Yen-ping Chu

Starring: Chiling Lin, Jay Chou, Eric Tsang, Daoming Chen

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance

Studio: E1

Format: DVD

Country: Taiwan

Starring Jay Chou (Curse Of The Golden Flower and the upcoming The Green Hornet) and Chilling Lin (Red Cliff) Treasure Hunter “is the action adventure epic of the year - an extraordinary blend of The Mummy meets Indiana Jones.”

“Filled with breathtaking scenery and unbelievable stunts,” Treasure Hunter is a wild ride through ancient tombs and lost worlds in the relenting quest for hidden treasures and untold fortunes.

LATEST NEWS

2010-07-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

A Bittersweet Life

A tale of love,loyalty,betrayal and revenge. A Bittersweet Life offers a critically acclaimed and award-winning insight into South Korea's underworld.

Plot
Kim Sun-woo is an enforcer and manager for a hotel owned by Kang, a cold and calculating crime boss to whom he is unquestionably loyal.

Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1

2010-07-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Film: Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1

Release date: 14th June 2010

Certificate: 12

Running time: 325 mins

Director: Masashi Kishimoto

Starring: Junko Takeuchi , Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue

Genre: Animation

Studio: Manga

Format: DVD

Country: Japan

The continued popular adventures of the young ninja Naruto Uzumaki, and his quest to reach the highest ranks of his village using his fighting skills and powers.

The first 13 episodes of Naruto Shippuden, continuing the original long-running Naruto series.

Naruto returns to his home, the Village of the Hidden Leaf, having spent two-and-a-half years training with the legendary ninja Jiraiya. He may be older and in possession of new powers and skills, but he’s still cocky and impatient to prove himself. His old classmates have all been promoted to higher ranks of ninja, and the respect he was hoping to have earnt will need to be won through more training and taking on assignments – even those he might think are too lowly for him!

But then an unexpected opportunity comes along for Naruto and his team (containing former classmate Sakura and the formidable Kakashi Sensei) to show what they are capable of. The neighbouring Village of the Hidden Sand is under attack from the criminal Akatsuki clan, who are determined to capture Gaara, the protector of the village. Gaara and Naruto have a hidden secret - they both have a fox spirit sealed inside them, which the Akatsuki wish to possess for their own evil ends. The Akatsuki gang is formed of criminals from various villages, each of whom possesses fearsome mystical powers.

Can the combined wisdom of the ninjas of the Leaf and Sand villages save Gaara from this threat, and will Naruto manage to evade capture himself, in going to the aid of Gaara?

Like Naruto, the anime varies between taking itself very seriously, and not taking itself seriously at all. The ninjas use various supernatural techniques, or jutsu, to fight their opponents – Naruto favours the Shadow Clone Jutsu, which he can use to replicate any number of Narutos to confuse the enemy. Other ninjas use sand, water, air, or the power of their gaze to defeat their enemies. The path of the ninja is a spiritual one but they are also sometimes made to look ridiculous – one venerable ninja is known as the Pervy Sage; and the favourite joke of a very elderly character is to play at being dead or senile, which her brother says is too convincing. Naruto’s impatience and bigheadedness means his former classmate Sakura is keen to put him in his place with a slapstick fight when necessary. Where the scenes involve battle and conflict, muted colours are used, while the more light-hearted domestic scenes use brighter, primary colours for a more upbeat feeling.

Each episode ends with a short spoof, maybe a weather forecast (beware of the chance of sudden falls of Detonation Clay), an interview with a prominent character (hobbies? fishing; talent? playing dead), or an infomercial from the Leaf Village Tourist Board (welcome to the 44th training ground, known as the Forest of Death). These give the creators a chance to have some fun with the format and take a break from the dramatic tension of the main story.

Even though the anime has a large number of characters, the characterisation is strong, so that the storyline isn’t confusing, and it’s as much about character development as adventure. Although the methods of fighting are nicely varied, the fight scenes can get repetitive, so those which include a stronger psychological element rather than just continual bashing with explosive clay are more gripping. The underlying message that friendship and love is what really matters is likely to appeal to its younger target audience, rather than dwelling on any form of Mystic-Lite philosophy.

Sure to be a hit with Naruto’s many fans, the series continues its winning formula of strong characterisation, slapstick and spoof humour, cliffhanging finales and dramatic battle scenes.

Soul Eater: Part One

2010-07-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Film: Soul Eater: Part One

Release date: 28th June 2010

Certificate: 15

Running time: 325 mins

Director: Takuya Igarashi

Starring: Chiaki Omigawa, Kouki Uchiyama, Akeno Watanabe, Emiri Katou, Houko Kuwashima

Genre: Anime

Studio: Manga

Format: DVD

Country: Japan

Based on the manga written and illustrated by Atsushi Okubo, Soul Eater was first released as three separate one-shots serialised in two Gangan Powered special editions and one Gangan Wing issue way back in 2003. The anime first appeared on TV Tokyo in 2008. Finally available on DVD, part one brings together the first 13 episodes.

At the Death Weapon Meister Academy (DWMA), Maka and her partner, human-weapon Soul, have collected the spirits of 99 evil mortals, needing just one from a witch to transform Soul into a death scythe - a weapon of great power that will retain order and balance to Death City. Failing, the gifted youngsters have to start all over again, but they’re not alone.

The cocky but gifted Black Star and his weapon partner Tsubaki struggle to form a workable relationship whilst new student Death the Kid must overcome his aversion to asymmetry if he and his partners Liz and Patty are to succeed in bringing down the destructive enemies threatening to collect non-evil human souls to transform one of their own into a Kishin - an evil demon God that would plunge the world into madness…

Soul Eater, like its main antagonist Medusa, is a beautiful but flawed creature. Packed with salacious humour, lengthy action sequences and stylish imagery it demands attention. Its influences can be traced all the way to genres as disparate as British Hammer Horror (with its mad scientists and mummies) and Poliziotteschi films (episode seven takes place in a crime-riddled Italy), though neither can compete with the brashness of old-school Shounen Manga.

Its audaciousness irritates just as much as it fascinates, especially in the opening episodes when we are introduced to the three main protagonists. Excluding Maka and her human-weapon Soul, the other two, Black Star especially, are just plain annoying. Whilst Death Kid’s struggle to cope with anything not evenly shaped brings levels of playground humour, Black Star’s cockiness brings nothing but maddening frustration - episode two is a real struggle until its ‘Shadow Star’ finale finally hits the right notes. In fairness, as the story progresses, the two characters become less of a headache, but it’s very hard to root for something that rattles your cage so much.

Bursting with invention and a slew of impressive weapons certain to delight all, Soul Eater’s pace is fast and furious with a delirious score of rock and hip-hop to keep things wild and rowdy right from the polished opening credits. Sadly, the interest in its lengthy opening sequence wanes after a few episodes, and the lure of the skip chapter function on the remote control is too difficult to resist. Even some of the episodes suffer from being more filler than killer - the main plot lost in the sheer effort to make even the most banal show ludicrously entertaining.

This isn’t a massive problem - the fight scenes ripped straight from the best beat-em-ups are for the most part a joy to behold; and its humour, although aimed at teenage boys mostly, is often titillating and right on the money. Episode nine, introducing the legend that is Excalibur, is a complete riot thanks to its clever twisting of a classic tale. Director Takuya Igarashi is in no rush to reveal the main plot, which is just as well seeing as there are 51 episodes in total, but it’s his use of lingering shots and moments of complete silence that pack an unexpected emotional punch.

Soul Eater’s universe is a joy to behold - even the sun and the moon have personalities, inspired by Okubo’s favourite manga Dr. Slump. It’s this attention to detail that really satisfies - the concept of arrows pointing out the obvious, or simply to show us where we should be looking is innovative and amusing, whilst the inclusion of madcap characters ripped from other genres setting it apart from the crowd. Takuya is well aware of his target audience’s expectations, and he truly delivers the goods. But he’s also savvy enough to incorporate emotion and depth to his characters, and the world that encompasses them, which could, if given the chance, appeal to more than just horny teenage boys (the female characters are clearly the strongest, the males stupid for the most part).

Not only is Soul Eater a feast for the eyes, sticking faithfully to Atsushi Okubo’s original work, it’s also packed with boisterous witticisms, be it verbal or visual, and brilliantly realised personas (even the most deranged antagonists are somehow endearing). In short, Soul Eater is a riot from start to finish. Whether it can sustain as much interest over another 38 episodes remains to be seen (it does seem like a ridiculously long ride), but for now, part two can’t come quick enough.

Regardless of its deficiencies, annoying protagonists and moments of banality, movie fans will find plenty in the inventive Soul Eater to keep them entertained. From mind-boggling action to bawdy humour, from astounding imagery to a pumping soundtrack, this first-rate anime has it all. DW

Samurai Zombie

2010-07-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Film: Samurai Zombie

Release date: 19th July 2010

Certificate: 18

Running time: 86 mins

Director: Tak Sakaguchi

Starring: Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Issei Ishida, Tak Sakaguchi, Airi Nakajima, Shintarô Matsubara

Genre: Horror/Action/Comedy/Martial Arts/Fantasy

Studio: MVM

Format: DVD

Country: Japan

From screenwriter Ryuhei Kitamura (director of The Midnight Meat Train and writer-director of Versus) and director Tak Sakaguchi (the star of Versus and fight choreographer for Tokyo Gore Police and Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl) comes Samurai Zombie, “a splatter-filled, genre blending, horror-comedy that delivers precisely what its title promises.”

A vacationing family’s drive through the tranquil woods surrounding Eight Spears Village takes an unfortunate turn when their car hits a gun-toting man standing in the middle of the road. Suddenly, a young man and woman emerge from the woods and, after shooting the accident victim, proceed to car-jack the family, taking them hostage in the process.

The situation immediately goes from bad to worse when the car suffers a blowout and dad is sent off in search of a spare tyre or an alternative means of transport while his wife and two kids remain in the hands to the two apparent psychopaths.

Unfortunately, any sign of deliverance for dad, his family or their captors is a long way off. Before he can find help, a mysterious encounter with a rather large blade leaves the head of the family headless, precipitating a bloody rainfall and the resurrection of a long-dead samurai warrior with a mean streak and a score to settle.

Meanwhile, back at the car, a derelict old hag appears before the stranded group with a dire but frighteningly convincing warning: “You’re all going to die!” Confirmation of this stark proclamation soon comes in the form of the undead warrior looking to add to his newly-begun collection of severed heads.

“A highly recommended addition to the recent wave of Japanese extreme splatter movies, Samurai Zombie sees director Sakaguchi and writer Kitamura playing for laughs and shocks in equal measure with a joyously demented zombie flick that includes scenes of explosive geyser-spouting decapitations, hilariously graphic dismemberment, wince-inducing oral castration and the introduction of a pair of bumbling cops with an amusing case of serious gun envy. Size, it appears, is everything.”

The Unpolished

2010-07-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Film: The Unpolished

Release date: 12th July 2010

Certificate: 18

Running time: 94 mins

Director: Pia Marais

Starring: Ceci Schmitz-Chuh, Birol Ünel, Pascale Schiller

Genre: Drama

Studio: Second Run

Format: DVD

Country: Germany

“Pia Marais' remarkable film is one of the most assured and startling feature debuts of recent years.”

An unflinching study of a young girl caught up in a complicated adult world, The Unpolished explores the consequences of a counterculture gone bad.

Stevie (Céci Chuh), a wild but fiercely intelligent teenage girl, must cope with the instabilities of her drop-out parents (Birol Ünel & Pascale Schiller). Whilst they spend their days getting high, hooking up deals and escaping their responsibilities, Stevie takes control of her own life, making the journey towards maturity and independence that her parents ought to have made years ago.

With music by Einstürzende Neubauten’s Jochen Arbeit, and cinematography by Diego Martínez Vignatti (Battle in Heaven, Jápon), “The Unpolished is humanist filmmaking of the highest order.”

Award recognition included the Tiger Award from the Rotterdam International Film Festival, and Best First Feature Film from the Durban International Film Festival.

This DVD release, packaged with a booklet featuring a new essay by author and critic Brad Stevens, is presented in a newly restored digital transfer, approved by the director. Other features include anamorphic 16:9 enhanced for widescreen televisions; new and improved English subtitle translation; and optimal quality dual-layer disc.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

2010-07-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Film: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Release date: 19th July 2010

Certificate: 18

Running time: 147 mins

Director: Niels Arden Oplev

Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre, Peter Haber, Sven-Bertil Taube

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Studio: Momentum

Format: DVD & Blu-ray

Country: Sweden/Denmark/Germany/Norway

“Based on the bestselling literary phenomenon from Stieg Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is a gripping edge-of-your-seat thriller.”

Currently all three books of Larsson’s Millennium trilogy dominate the UK best seller charts with the paperback edition of The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest holding the number one slot. More than 2.8 million copies of the books have been sold in the UK contributing to more than 31 million worldwide.

Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist), a disgraced journalist and enigmatic computer hacker, and anti-heroine Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) form an alliance to solve a historical case of a missing girl. The case brings them into contact with some of Sweden’s most powerful, secretive and corrupt criminals.

As they unravel a dark and appalling family history, the unlikely duo discover how close they are to the truth of corruption and crime. Daring to defy the law, Lisbeth, the dangerous security specialist and Mikael, the stubborn, charming yet fiercely obsessive detective find that they too could become targets.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a thrilling mix of detection, mystery and emotional drama, and explores the dangerous world of corruption and violence in modern day society.”

Both DVD and blu-ray released formats will include both the original Swedish and English-language audio versions of the film, and a host of special features, including an exclusive sneak peak of the second film in the trilogy The Girl Who Played With Fire (released in cinemas on 27th August 2010).

Sherlock Hound

2010-07-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

Series: Sherlock Hound

Release date: 12th July 2010

Certificate: U

Running time: 654 mins

Director: Hayao Miyazaki & Kyosuke Mikuriya

Starring: Taichirō Hirokawa, Kousei Tomita, Yôko Asagami, Chikao Ohtsuka, Hiroshi Masuoka

Genre: Anime

Studio: Manga

Format: DVD

Country: Japan

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s super sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, gets a unique animated makeover courtesy of acclaimed writer-directors Hayao Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle; Spirited Away) and Kyosuke Mikuriya (Ulysses 31).

“Brilliantly and wittily depicting all the characters as anthropomorphic dogs, Miyazaki and Mikuriya’s version presents a light-hearted and imaginative series of canine capers” featuring the famous dog detective and his loyal companion Dr. Watson as they set out to solve a myriad of mysteries and take on Holmes’s arch-nemesis, the evil genius Professor Moriarty.

All 26 episodes of this cult 1980s cartoon series have been collected together into one deluxe, five-disc DVD box set. Representing the early work of master animator Hayao Miyazaki prior to the establishment of Studio Ghibli and his subsequent international fame, “Sherlock Hound: The Complete Series is a must-have addition to every anime fan’s collection.”

Rozen Maiden:Traumend -Volume 1

2010-07-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

Series: Rozen Maiden: Traumend - Volume 1

Release date: 12th July 2010

Certificate: PG

Running time: 150 mins

Director: Kou Matsuo

Starring: Asami Sanada, Miyuki Sawashiro, Masayo Kurata, Natsuko Kuwatani, Noriko Rikimaru

Genre: Anime

Studio: MVM

Format: DVD

Country: Japan

Jun is back in school and life couldn't be any better. Yet despite the happy days everyone spends with each other, something seems to be bothering Shinku. Could it be the arrival of two new adversaries?

When all the dolls have assembled, the peaceful life everyone has been living up to this point will end, and the battle for life or death will begin, as the Alice Game takes full effect. Shinku has already turned one doll to junk. Will she able to do that to the rest of her sisters?

This release features episodes 1-6.

Lourdes

2010-07-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Film: Lourdes

Release date: 12th July 2010

Certificate: PG

Running time: 99 mins

Director: Jessica Hausner

Starring: Sylvie Testud, Léa Seydoux, Bruno Todeschini, Elina Löwensohn, Gerhard Liebmann

Genre: Drama

Studio: Artificial Eye

Format: DVD

Country: Austria/France/Germany

Jessica Hausner's (Lovely Rita, Hotel) third feature tells the story of a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Among the pilgrims are sufferers of various illnesses as well as others in good health. They undertake the journey in hope of finding spiritual comfort or bodily cure.

Sylvie Testud (La Vie en Rose) takes the central role of Christine, a multiple sclerosis sufferer and religious sceptic, who travels more for companionship than in hope of a miracle. But as the trip develops, her lack of faith is tested with the hope of a new life, whilst, around her, the affectations and jealousies of the assorted entourage of religious officials and fellow sufferers are being exposed.