[Multimedia Monday] April 3, 2023

 

I went out Saturday, in search of Blu-Rays... or anything interesting that I would like. Being broke, as I often am, the price would have to be very low for me to actually buy anything. Luckily, I went to Dollar Tree, and luckily again, they had some Blu-Rays there for a dollar each. It turned out that the Blu-Rays I bought were actually fifty cents each, so I really lucked out! I've heard of both of these movies, so I took a chance on them! Read on for a synopsis of each film...

Athena: Goddess Of War (2010) is a spinoff of the Iris Korean drama that came out in 2009. Here is the synopsis: 

Award-winning actress Soo Ae (The Sword with No Name) captivates and conspires in Athena: Goddess of War, an exhilarating new spy thriller loaded with international intrigue and dangerous desire. Beautiful double-agent Yoon Hye-in is caught in the middle of a game of nuclear espionage – and torn between two very different men. One heroically fights beside her on the anti-terror taskforce known as NTS. The other ruthlessly controls Athena, the extremist organization NTS is trying to stop. As Yoon Hye-in struggles to choose between them, growing suspicions from all sides put her life on the line. Can she keep her double-life hidden? How long can she play both sides of the law – and two powerful men – before her cover is violently compromised? The countdown to an explosive stand-off begins now!

I'll be reviewing this movie as soon as I get a new Blu-Ray player!

Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons (2013) is a movie based on the classic 16th century Chinese novel Journey To The West (written by Wu Cheng'en), and was co-written and co-directed by Stephen Chow. Here is the synopsis:

In a world plagued by demons who cause great human suffering, young demon hunter Xuan Zang risks his all to conquer a water demon, a pig demon and the demon of all demons, Sun Wukong. Adhering to his firm belief in giving of one’s self for the greater cause, he embraces the demons as his disciples. However, in order to atone for their own sins and save the common people, the four of them must embark on a journey to the West that’s full of challenges.

I'll be reviewing this one as soon as I get a new Blu-Ray player, so watch out for that!

In Our Prime 이상한 나라의 수학자 (2022) - Movie Trailer

 Here is the trailer for In Our Prime, starring Choi Min-Sik and Kim Dong-Hwi. The movie is described as:

Ji-Woo is a high school student struggling with math who ends up asking for help with it from a school security guard, Hak-Sung. Reluctantly, Hak-Sung (who has a secret past) helps Ji-Woo, and a bond is formed. Ji-Woo's math proficiency expands, but trouble mounts at his high school...

Being terrible at math myself, I am actually pretty intrigued by this movie. I am also a big fan of Choi Min-Sik, so I have to see this! It comes out  March 9, 2022 in South Korea. Hopefully it will get an international release as well!

 

The Game Of Life (2021) - Movie Trailer

 Here is the trailer for the South Korean movie, The Game Of Life. It is being released in December 2021! This movie looks pretty interesting to me. I really like the music in this trailer as well. I hope this turns out good! We shall see...

Chungking Express vs. Fallen Angels || Comparing Wong Kar Wai's Mid-90s Companion Piece Classic - Hong Kong Cinema Apreciation Society Video

 Here is a video by Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society's Will comparing Wong Kar Wai's Chungking Express and Fallen Angels! A very interesting video, especially if you have already seen these movies. I have only seen Chungking Express so far (it is one of my all-time favorite movies), but I really want to see Fallen Angels! I really need to get that Wong Kar Wai Criterion box set! I am so behind in everything I need to watch (and in effect, buy). Enjoy! If you like his videos, make sure you give it a 'like' and subscribe to his channel!

(I had nothing to do with the creation of this video!)

Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society YouTube channel

The Policeman's Lineage - Movie Trailer

 Here is the trailer for The Policeman's Lineage, being released on January 5th, 2022.

Everything Everywhere All At Once - Official Movie Trailer

 Check out the trailer for Everything Everywhere All At Once, starring Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis, with action choreography by the Martial Club crew! This looks very intriguing! Kind of reminds me of the Jet Li movie, The One. Not sure if this is a straight up action movie, but it stars Michelle Yeoh, so I have to see it!

 

Legend Of The White Dragon - Movie Teaser Trailer

 Here is the teaser trailer for Legend Of The White Dragon, starring Jason David Frank (the original Green and White Ranger), Jason Faunt (Red Timeforce Ranger) Mark Dacascos (martial arts legend), David Ramsey (Diggle on Arrow), Michael Madsen, and more! This looks like it could really be good, action-wise! I cannot wait to see this one!

 

UHF - My Thoughts

 

After close to ten years, I was finally able to watch UHF again! I used to watch it when I was a kid when it came on cable (either HBO or Showtime, I can't remember; never came on basic cable or OTA TV). Let me tell you, I LOVED this movie! It also helps that I am a big Weird Al fan! I also always wanted to run a TV channel. I used to pretend I had a TV channel back then, and whatever I watched or played (either action figures or video games) was what was airing on my channel. I was able to watch it on YouTube, free with ads!

In UHF, George Newman (played by Weird Al) is put in charge of a bankrupt UHF TV station. George is an imaginative person and has many ideas, but he tries to 'play by the book' at first in trying to make the TV station successful. When that doesn't work (and after he finds out the station is days away from being flat broke), he gives his janitor Stanley Spadowski (played by Michael Richards) a shot at hosting his live kids show. The show becomes a hit! This inspires George to put on more weird TV shows, all of which become hits! A rival network TV station boss, R.J. Fletcher (played by Kevin McCarthy) decides to buy his competition after the UHF station becomes number one in the ratings. From there, George has to come up with $75,000 in two days to keep the station on the air!

This movie is full of parodies and wacky humor. The film starts with an Indiana Jones parody! The part I loved the most was the Rambo scene. I always laughed maniacally at that. Of course, I loved the Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies* music video. I always hoped to catch that video on MTV, but I was not disappointed when the original Money For Nothing video aired. Both videos rocked!

The TV shows were a wild mix! Conan The Librarian was a favorite of mine. Ghandi II is just crazy! The animal show with the enthusiastic Latino host is great! Never noticed until this past viewing how crazy that guy is! Fran Drescher plays the station newscaster. Perhaps this is where my crush on her began...

Michael Richards (known to Seinfeld fans as Kramer) plays Stanley Spadowski in such an energetic, pure-hearted manner. You can't help but love the guy. It is great how such a good, pure person becomes beloved in their city. How lucky is he to have such a hit show immediately, without even trying! 

This movie is pretty safe for the whole family... to a certain extent. There is no sexual humor, but there is some cartoonish, yet extremely violent scenes. The extremely violent scenes are played for laughs, so hopefully kids will not be scarred for life by watching them! (Do not get me started on Robocop!)

So yeah, I love this movie. Humor is subjective, so I know not everyone will like it or even get it. Also, this movie was made in the late 1980s, so some of the references are dated. I think you should at least give it a chance. If you know what Weird Al is about, then you'll get an idea for what you're in for. If not, I hope you enjoy it just the same!

Reviewed by David Williams

Short Bus: Ready, Action! (2021) Movie Trailer

 Here is the trailer for Short Bus: Ready, Action! Looks really interesting! Keeping this on my radar for sure!

Joint Security Area (JSA) Arrow Blu-Ray Review by Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society

 Here is Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society's review of the JSA Blu-Ray release by Arrow. JSA is directed by one of my favorite directors, Park Chan-wook. Even though I am a fan of Park Chan-wook, I have never seen JSA. I remember always looking for this on DVD back in the day, but I could never find it. Luckily for me, JSA is streaming on Tubi for free! I will still get this Blu-Ray, though!

(I had nothing to do with the creation of this video!)

 

 

Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society YouTube 

Belle - English Dub Trailer

 Belle is coming to theaters in January 2022 in the United States! It will be released subtitled and dubbed, so you have no excuse! This looks very interesting to me! I'll be watching the subtitled version, naturally. Check out the trailer for the English dub!

 

 

The Commando Trailer, Starring Michael Jai White & Mickey Rourke

 Here is the trailer for The Commando, starring Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke! Michael Jai White is the man, and it will be very interesting to see Mickey Rourke in this type of role. Can't wait to see this!

The Matrix Resurrections - Official Trailer 2

 I NEED TO SEE THIS MOVIE!

China O'Brien Revisited: An Action Movie Review By JoBlo . com

 Here is a video review covering China O'Brien, a classic American martial arts movie starring the legendary Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, and Keith Cooke Hayabusa. I remember not liking this movie that much when I first watched it back in the day. After seeing Cynthia Rothrock and Richard Norton really showing their skills in Hong Kong movies, the fight choreography in China O'Brien was underwhelming to me. Still, it is an American movie that portrayed a woman as a tough, smart, hero in the main character role. I need to watch this movie again, it's been decades since I last saw it. Hopefully it's on Blu-ray...

 

 

JoBlo's YouTube channel 

 

Ninja (2009) - A Review

The awesome movie poster

 Ninja is an American martial arts movie released in 2009 directed by Isaac Florentine and starring Scott Adkins, Mika Hijii, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Togo Igawa, and Todd Jensen.

Casey Bowman (played by Adkins) is an American martial artist who lives in and studies martial arts at his sensei's (played by Igawa) dojo. Living there since being placed there as an orphan, Casey has grown close to his sensei and  his daughter, fellow martial artist Namiko Takeda (played by Hijii). The top student there, Masazuka  (played by Ihara) is jealous of the budding relationship between Casey and Namiko and loses control during a sparring match. Their sensei expels Masazuka, who goes on to become a high-tech ninja for hire by Temple Industries (which runs an underground cult called The Ring). Masazuka goes back to the dojo to claim the title of 'soke' (the headmaster at a Japanese martial arts school), but is denied by his sensei. The sensei sends Casey and Namiko to New York to hide the 'Yoroi Bitsu' (a chest with the apparel and arsenal of an ancient ninja fighter), which he feels Masazuka will go after. From there, things get crazy, violent, and bloody!

This movie is pretty awesome. The plot is pretty simple, but that is forgivable when the action rocks like it does in this movie. The movie is about honor, living up to your responsibilities, and martial arts tradition. Casey (the 'accepted foreigner' who is highly skilled) is the honorable martial artist, Masazuka (the native, top student) is the dishonorable one. They are destined to clash, and clash they do!

I do like how Masazuka is portrayed as a traditional ninja: a covert mercenary. Like the ninjas of the past, he has no honor. He fights in the shadows, he kills mercilessly, and he won't stop until he accomplishes his mission. Masazuka is a formidable fighter, further enhanced by his high-tech ninja suit. He has night vision goggles in his mask! He has the advantage when he fights everyone he comes into contact with, including Casey!

Casey is the more traditional, honorable fighter. He does not kill unless he has to. He fights fair, and he is an incredible fighter. The kicks he can do are amazing! The fight scene in The Ring's hideout is top-notch. Scott Adkins really gets to strut his stuff in that scene. In the end fight, Casey must use traditional tactics to defeat Masazuka's neo-ninja.

As previously mentioned, The Ring hideout fight scene is the stand out. There are also fun fight scenes that take place in a subway car (with one crazy death in it) and on the roof of a building. The final fight scene is great as well. With Isaac Florentine directing, you know you'll be getting well-filmed and edited fight scenes. Akihiro "Yuji" Noguchi is the fight choreographer, and he put together some fantastic fights. If you like fast paced, sometimes gorily violent fight scenes, you'll love this one!

I like this movie a lot! Some may not like it because of the simplistic plot, or that it has a direct to video feel to it, or whatever. If you like ninjas, if you like martial arts movies with awesome fight scenes, and if you like seeing an honorable good guy do the right thing, then Ninja is the movie for you!

Cover of the Blu-Ray I watched.

Back cover of the Blu-Ray I watched.

The Blu-Ray disc I watched. This movie is available to stream for free on Tubi, as well!

 

Reviewed by David Williams

 

'Special Cargo' South Korean Movie Trailer

 Here is the trailer for Special Cargo, a South Korean action movie coming out in January 2022! Not going to lie, this movie looks awesome! I've gotta catch it when it releases on Blu-Ray or streaming!

Odd Couple Trailer for the Eureka! Blu-Ray release!

 Eureka! will be releasing Odd Couple remastered on Blu-Ray in March 2022! Lau Kar-wing directs and stars in this movie, along with Sammo Hung! I have never been able to watch this movie, so it's very exciting that it is getting released on Blu-Ray! As far as I know, it may be a Region B disc, so if you have a multi-region player you are in luck! Here is the trailer Eureka! put out for their release:

Ebola Syndrome 4K UHD Blu-Ray (and other new Blu-Ray releases) By Vinegar Syndrome - Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society Video

Ebola Syndrome has been released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray by Vinegar Syndrome! This is a rather infamous Category III horror film from Hong Kong. I am not a horror film fan, but I have to get this release! I want to watch it at least once, and I think it would be a nice Blu-Ray to have in my collection.

Other Blu-Rays recently released by Vinegar Syndrome is the Tiger Claws series, starring Cynthia Rothrock & Bolo Yeung! I am a huge Cynthia Rothrock fan, so I have to get those as well!

Here is a video by Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society with all the details! 

(I had nothing to do with the creation of this video)

 

 

Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society 

The Old Master Trailer, starring Jackie Chan's Real Life Master

 Here is the trailer for The Old Master, a film recently released as part of the Eureka's Cinematic Vengeance Blu-Ray box set! This film is notable for being the only movie Yu Jim-yuen starred in. Yu Jim-yuen was the Head Master at China Drama Academy, the Peking Opera School where Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Corey Yuen, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, etc. trained at! I have been in search of this movie for years, and it's great it's finally getting a Blu-Ray release! Some way, some how, I have to get this movie.

It is so cool to see Yu Jim-yuen in action in this trailer!

Chinese Boxer - 88 Films Blu-Ray Review By Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society

 Here is a review for the new Chinese Boxer Blu-Ray release by 88 Films. This is a Region A and B release, so those in North America without multi-region players will be able to watch it on their player with no problems! This is definitely on my list of Blu-Rays to buy! (I also have never seen this movie before, so I really need to get this!)

(I had nothing to do with the creation of this video!)

 

 

 Hong Kong Cinema Appreciation Society