We all know how much man love Swarez has for Fred Dekker and his film Night of the Creeps but I think this little contest that Amazon is putting on to choose the cover for the upcoming DVD release might be enough to put him over the edge and send him on a drunken rampage throughout Iceland, drunk on whatever the Icelandic people get toasted on. And given that Swarez has himself designed some really good posters and DVD covers himself I don’t think the nation of Iceland will sleep well tonight. You’re going to have to see for yourselves.
Here’s the deal. Go to the link below and choose one of the three options at the bottom of the page. The cover with the most votes will be the winner and you’ll know what to look for when you go to buy this DVD when it hits store shelves. I think all three are ugly as sin but it looks like it is a matter of choosing the lesser of three evils. Option # 1, the one I think is the least hideous is the one on the left.
And you will buy it because it is an awesome cult film and you don’t want a drunken Swarez showing up at your door in the middle of the night. Do you? DO YOU!?!
Apparently Richard Stanley’s cult classic and debut feature Hardware came out on DVD and Blu Ray from Momentum in the UK over a week ago and nobody bothered to tell us. What the F people?
For those region free challenged in the US you will have to wait a little longer as the good folks at Severin will release the Uncut 2 Disc Special Edition, or U2DSE for short, on September 29th.
For those who don’t know, Hardware is a kick ass cyber punk horror flick where a young Dylan McDermott unwittingly gives his artist girlfriend a busted up self repairing military robot which comes to life and starts havoc in her apartment, leaving behind a trail of blood and guts. People have been asking about this title for years and news have regularly appeared in the past about this coming out and then nothing has happened. Finally its here and it completely passed us by.
Right now it seems that there are some differences in special features between the releases (the UK version from is single disc) so completists will most likely grumble and dig in to their pockets.
Here are the specs for the UK release:
UK exclusive commentary with the director and producer
Voices of the Moon - documentary by Richard Stanley
Two of Richard Stanley’s super 8 shorts
Never before seen deleted, extended and behind the scenes clips
Promotional featurette - Original market promo
Trailer
Set of original concept art cards
Booklet containing liner notes written by Kim Newman and Shok! Reprinted with permission of 2000AD
And here are the US specs:
NTSC All Region
Uncut Uncensored Version!
DD 5.1 Audio
Anamorphic Widescreen
2 DVD SE
Audio Commentary with Richard Stanley
Sea of Perdition - Short Film
Making of Documentary
Early Super 8 Version of Hardware
Both releases are stellar and something that a proper Sci-Fi fan needs to own in their collection. You can order the UK release right now but the US version is not up for preorder on Amazon yet but Diabolik DVD have started to take down orders if you are really anxious.
Thanks to Dread Central for the heads up.
Any fans of American animator Bill Plympton out there? Because have I got a DVD for you. Or, rather, Plympton does. The man was in town for the Worldwide Short Film Festival a couple weeks ago and while here he passed me a copy of his brand new DVD Dog Days - signed it, too, and gave me an original drawing on a postcard, the man knows how to work a room – a complete collection of his work from between the years of 2004 and 2008. If he made it in those five years, it’s here. The Dog Trilogy? Santa, The Fascist Years? The Fan and the Flower? All here. And it’s not just the shorts. Nope. His commissioned work – music videos, festival trailers, etc – are all included as well along with a generous assortment of bonus materials, including audio commentary on each and every one of the shorts. And everything is featured in the correct aspect ratios with tip-top transfers. Call this one absolutely essential for any fan of animation in general or Plympton in particular.
Nicholas Winding Refn’s much debated biopic of Britain’s most notorious inmate is making its UK DVD and Blu-ray debut on the 6th July. In Bronson the director of the matchless Pusher trilogy has created a stylistically flamboyant interpretation of 34 violent years in prison, 30 of which spent in solitary confinement. Inevitably compared to A Clockwork Orange, when released theatrically in the UK it benefitted from a canny PR stunt of having a pre-recorded message from the real Charles Bronson played at the premiere (included on the DVD). Needless to say certain people questioned how appropriate it was to have a convicted criminal promote his own biopic, particularly amidst claims of glorified violence. The Prison Officer’s Association weren’t happy but the marketers rubbed their hands together…
You can watch the DVD trailer below the break.
DVD extras will be:
Exclusive Monologues From the Real Charles Bronson : Words From Inside Prison
Making Bronson: The Making of the Film
Tom Hardy’s Workout
Stills Gallery
Director’s Commentary
Trailer / Teasers / TV Spots
Valhalla Rising Promo
Continue Reading "BRONSON barrels onto UK DVD"...
The wondrous Marc Walkow of Outcast Cinema has officially dropped the news that the mystery Takashi Miike film release he has been working on his indeed Audition. This year will celebrate the 10th year since the groundbreaking horror film was unleashed to the masses.
Shout! Factory will handle the release which is set for both DVD and Blu-ray format with the following extras in tow:
• Feature-length audio commentary with Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan, who is also scripting Miike’s upcoming remake of the chanbara classic 13 ASSASSINS. Film writer and Eiga Hi-Ho contributor Masato Kobayashi moderates the Japanese-language (and English-subtitled) commentary track.
• Video introduction by Miike
• New video interview featurettes with the film’s main cast
- From Audition to Vampire Girl: Eihi Shiina
- Tokyo—Hollywood: Ryo Ishibashi
- Miike’s Toy: Renji Ishibashi
- The Man in the Bag Speaks: Ren Osugi
• Film trailer, plus liner notes by Agitator author and Midnight Eye founder Tom Mes
That’s right, you can soon set up those ebay auctions for your less than six month old copy of Criterion Collection’s Pierrot le Fou to make way for its high def counterpart. On September 22nd, the acclaimed company will release the sure to be pristine copy of Godard’s classic Pierrot le Fou on Blu-ray. While the original press release for their first wave of Blu discs mentioned the Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt as their first foray into high definition, I can’t really complain much with this news. As far I know, this will be the first film from the famed French director to hit the format.
I’ve been on a serious Troma kick lately because of Back Catalogue, my column for Fangorias site. But when I heard about this release I was more than happy to get on the bandwagon. Troma not only has the rights to their own stuff but the rights to many, many worthwhile exploitation and grindhouse horrors. Not the least of which is Combat Shock which is finally getting released in a deluxe two disc edition. Super raw, full of unnerving energy the film tells the story of a Vietnam vet who comes home to find that the horrors of war are just the beginning. I’ve pasted the press release below for those who want to be informed. As you can see the films director and Combat Shock itself have got some major love from critics and peers.
Continue Reading "TROMA TO GET SHOCKING?"...
For those who like their cinema like I like my coffee, strong and dark, look no further than Cinéma Abattoir. This independent company from Quebec has a new DVD release ready that looks to be their strongest yet. Limited to 500 copies and wrapped in chicken wire!!
Continue Reading "Cinéma Abattoir - À rebours"...
BIG ASS WARNING As per Ard’s subtle suggestion we should warn you that while lofty in price and loaded with nummy bits this version DOES NOT have English subtitles. This aritcle was presented as such solely because we have heard good things about the film, there are some of you out there who speak Japanese, and we hope, more than likely, that the HK discs will have English subtitles. This BIG ASS WARNING has been presented to you by Twitchfilm.net.
Takeshi Kaneshiro stars as an accidental caped crusader in the delightful fantasy action-adventure K-20! Based on a Kitamura So novel which is itself based on characters created by legendary writer Edogawa Rampo, K-20: Legend of the Mask gives a fanciful spin on the storied rivalry between master detective Akechi Kogoro and phantom thief “The Fiend with 20 Faces”, or K-20. Co-starring Nakamura Toru (Shaolin Girl) as Detective Akechi plus top actress Matsu Takako (Hero) and rising star Hongo Kanata (The Blue Bird), K-20 offers a fun time at the movies full of quirky characters, rooftop escapades, mind-twisting mysteries, and good old swashbuckling action.
Directed by Sato Shimako (Wizard of Darkness), K-20: Legend of the Mask is set in an alternate 1949 Japan still under imperial rule, and rife with class conflict. In these chaotic times, K-20, a masked thief who steals from the rich, is both villain and hero, and a perpetual thorn in the side for crime-busting detective Akechi (Nakamura Toru) and his assistant Kobayashi (Hongo Kanata). With the city of Teitu buzzing over Akechi’s engagement with duchess Yoko (Matsu Takako), poor circus acrobat Heikichi (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is hired to take photos at their engagement, but he gets mistaken for K-20 and arrested. Realizing he’s been set up, Heikichi manages to escape, but there’s only one way to clear his name: to capture the real K-20. YesAsia
I thought for sure someone here had seen and reviewed this film. Maybe I remember Todd had seen it at HKFilmart and recall that he liked what he saw. But Yikes. At a whopping $68.49 US for this Japanese Deluxe Edition I don’t imagine we’re going to be hearing the Velcro ripping on everyone’s old school transformers wallets. But it comes with a 64-page thief training booklet [64 pages!!], a bookmark [for books!!], and a Fiend of 20 Faces replica warning letter [which you can photocopy over and over and give to friends to which they’ll reply WTF?], plus making of, trailer, and other extras.
Jackie Chan leads an all-star Asian cast in the 2009 gangster blockbuster Shinjuku Incident. The hard-hitting crime thriller from One Nite in Mongkok and Protege director Derek Yee follows the brutal conflicts of illegal Chinese immigrants fighting to survive in the gritty underbelly of Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. Chan takes on a rare dramatic role as a Chinese laborer who gets mixed up with the Japanese mob, entering a violent life of no return. Hong Kong star Daniel Wu (Protege), Japanese actors Takenaka Naoto (Shall We Dance?) and Kato Masaya (Brother), and Chinese actresses Xu Jinglei (The Warlords) and Fan Bingbing (A Battle of Wits) join Chan in this unforgiving gray world of turf wars, ethnic tensions, and back-stabbing power struggles. YesAsia
Contributing reviewer James Marsh was sort of ‘meh’ about it but if you like then by all means don’t let us stop you. The Blu-ray version is all region whereas the DVDs are only R3. Go Figure. But all editions of this release will have the uncut version of the film that was never screened in Hong Kong cinemas.
Good news here for fans of Studio Ghibli and legendary animators Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The pair worked together on a number of projects before launching their now-iconic animation studio together and one of them - Panda Go Panda - has just received a fresh DVD release in the UK.
Cheerful Mimiko has a very strange family for a little girl - a Panda for her Papa, and his son, Panny, calls her Mom! Join this happy family and their many adventures!
When Panny follows Mimiko to school, he must pretend to be a teddy bear so Mimiko won’t get into trouble, but everyone wants a cute Panda! Despite his efforts to behave, Panny causes trouble in the school kitchen, and now the whole school is after Panny!
Then, Panny makes a new friend, Tiny, a baby tiger who’s wandered off from the circus. Getting Tiny back to his mom becomes the first adventure, but after a hard rain, the whole town is flooded and Mimiko, Papa Panda and Panny must rescue Tiny and other animals from the trapped circus train!
Conceived and written by Miyazaki with Takahata handling directorial duties, Panda Go Panda clearly didn’t have the resources behind it that Studio Ghibli offerings have been blessed with but the same charm and style that makes the two men’s work so distinctive today is already fully in evidence here. Check the trailer below the break for proof! Earlier English friendly DVD releases of this one have been out of print for a few years now, so here’s a chance for collectors and fans to add an overlooked title to their collection!
Continue Reading "Early Miyazaki / Takahata Collaboration PANDA GO PANDA On DVD!"...
Last saturday in Austin Texas was an event that I wished I could have attended but being located half a world away that was not possible. The cast and crew of the cult classic Night Of the Creeps celebrated the upcoming DVD release of the film by screening a brand new print of the director’s cut at the Alamo Drafthouse. After the show the cast and director Fred Dekker talked about the film and some of the special features that Red Shirt producer Michael Felsher is putting on the disc.
Aint It Cool News´ Quint was lucky enough to host the event and a couple of days ago he published the list of features that we can expect when the disc hits this fall.
The list of features after the break and please check out Quint’s post where Dekker talks about a possible sequel. Hotdiggidy!
Oh and I now have a man crush on Rodney Perkins for hooking me up with a signed poster from Dekker.
Continue Reading "Night Of The Creeps DVD details."...
We first wrote about director Chee Keong Cheung’s independently produced martial arts thriller Bodyguard: A New Beginning way back in September, much taken by the trailer which showed off the cast and style of the thing to great effect. And now those waiting for their chance to see the film have got it: the film hits DVD in the UK tomorrow.
Bodyguard: A New Beginning tells the story of Leung (Vincent Sze), the bodyguard of a Hong Kong Triad boss, Wong (Richard Ng), who is sent to the UK to protect a woman (Stephanie Langton) whose identity is known only by his boss. Even the boss’ own errant son, Yuen (Carl Ng), is kept in the dark. The efforts of a rival boss, Kai (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) to take over Wong’s territory leads Yuen to a betrayal that threatens to destroy all that his father has worked hard to protect.
Check the trailer below the break!
Continue Reading "Chee Keong Cheung’s BODYGUARD: A NEW BEGINNING Hitting DVD"...
[I’m bouncing this back to the top of the page purely because my set just arrived and it is gorgeous.]
A beautiful-looking boxset put out by the Jeonju International Film Festival showcases the work of filmmakers from Asia, Africa and Europe, and includes both the long-awaited English-subtitled version of Song Il-gon’s Magicians as well as Shinya Tsukamoto’s Haze and Bong Joon-ho’s Influenza. This from Tom Giammarco’s Seen in Jeonju:
Every year since the first Jeonju International Film Festival back in 2000, JIFF selects three filmmakers who are given 50 million KRW to create a thirty-minute digital movie. No restrictions are given to the topic or type of film to be made and many of the results have been outstanding. Now, gathered together for the first time, these 27 films from 2000-2008 have been made available in a 915 minutes, 9-disk set.
The DVD will be sold at the JIFF website beginning June 15.
Oh goody. Evokative Films is about to release their 3rd DVD, the Korean fantasy film Hansel & Gretel. It has been on our radar for a very long time and it is great that here in Canada we can get our hands on a domestic release of this fine film. By and by, will some of you larger retailers get off your asses and carry these films in your stores please.
When Eun-soo crashes his car on a country road, he meets a young girl who leads him to her beautiful house in the middle of the forest, where he is welcomed by her parents and two young siblings, who appear to be the picture of the perfect family. The morning after, when he tries to get back to his car, the forest seems never-ending and inevitably leads back to the house. Soon Eun-soo realizes hes trapped in the kids gloomy fairy-tale alternate reality, a world no other adult has managed to escape alive before him.
Here’s what you get with your copy…
In accordance with the innovative vocation of Evokative, the DVD packaging is an environmentally-friendly and elegant digipack made of 100% recycled materials and wrapped in a 100% biodegradable cellophane.
The DVD features English and French subtitles, a Making-of, Interviews with the Director and Cast, a Behind the scenes featurette, a look at the set design, Recommendations from other Korean Directors, the Original Korean Trailer and TV Spots and Two shorts from YIM Phil-sung: BRUSHING and BABY.
The packaging includes a booklet including an Exclusive Director’s Note and a Foreword by Calum Wadell, Contributing Writer at Fangoria and SFX Magazine.
Complete press release after the break!
Continue Reading "Korean dark fantasy film ‘Hansel & Gretel’ up for pre-order from Evokative Films!"...
