The Asian DVD Guide

Friday, 2/16/2007

Edko February 13 Releases

Curse Of The Golden Flower (2006) Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li Synopsis China, Later Tang Dynasty, 10th Century. At the eve of the Chong Yang Festival, golden flowers fill up the Imperial Palace. The EMPEROR returns unexpectedly with his second son, PRINCE JAI. His pretext is to celebrate the holiday with his family, but given the chilled relations between the Emperor and the ailing EMPRESS, this seems disingenuous. For many years, the Empress and CROWN PRINCE WAN, her stepson, have had an illicit liaison. Feeling trapped, Prince Wan dreams of escaping the palace with his secret love CHAN, the Imperial Doctor's daughter. Meanwhile, Prince Jai, the faithful son, grows worried over the Empress's health and her obsession with golden chrysanthemums. Could she be headed down an ominous path? Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Mandarin (DTS-ES), Mandarin (Dolby Digital Surround EX), Cantonese (Dolby Digital Surround EX) Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles Extras: Making of, theatrical trailer and cast/crew filmographies. Region 3

Joy Sales February 15 Releases

Heavenly Mission (2006) [2 Disc Edition] Director: James Yuen (Yuen Sai Sheng) Cast: Ekin Chang, Stephen Fung, Alex Fong, Eric Kot, Ti Lung Synopsis Superintendent of Police Sung Kwok Ming (Alex Fong) just returned to Hong Kong from his training course in USA. His new mission is to set up a "Special Project Group", to carry out a series of actions and investigations… The main target of Sung is Yip Chow (Ekin Cheng) - the legendary triad leader, and Gwai Jai (Fung Tak Lun) - the newly emerge influential figure in the triads…. Yip was just released form his 8 years' imprisonment in Thailand. After returning to Hong Kong, Yip is determined to thoroughly reform himself from his past. However, Sung firmly believes that Yip intends to use his business empire as a camouflage for his illegal activities, and Yip will eventually show traces of criminal evidence… On the other hand, Gwai Jai is worried that the building up of Yip's power will eventually threaten his benefits. Hence Gwai Jai is incessantly scheming to challenge Yip Chow!...Sung noticed that both Yip Chow and Gwai Jai are planning for actions, he then placed both victims under close surveillance with a hope to obtain their criminal evidence and arrest them… Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Audio Cantonese (DTS 768 Kbps) Cantonese (DD 5.1 448 Kbps) Mandarin (DD 5.1) Subtitles Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Simplified) English Extras Making Of Audio Commentary Sneak Peeks Trailers Photo Galleries

Joy Sales February 15 Fortune Star Digitally Remastered Releases

Eighth Happiness (1988) Director: Johnnie To Kei-Fung Cast: Chow Yun-Fat, Raymond Wong Bak Ming, Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau, Carol "Do Do" Cheng Yu-Ling, Cherie Chung Cho-Hung, Fung Bo-Bo, Michael Chow Man-Kin, Fennie Yuen Kit-Ying, Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui, Karl Maka, John Sham Kin Fun Synopsis A minor phone mishap sealed the fates of three brothers and the women of their dreams. Raymond Wong plays the oldest sibling Fang Jian-hui who's the host of a daytime cooking show and falls for a Cantonese opera singer only to find out his brother has been making crank calls to her at all hours of the night. Chow Yun-fat in a never-seen-before role as the effeminate womanizing second sibling Fang Jian-lang, is torn between steady girlfriend (Do Do Cheng) and a sexy siren played by Cherie Chung. Jacky Cheung rounds up the star-studded cast as the youngest brother Fang Jian-sheng, a shy cartoonist who has a crush on a girl he met in the park. Digitally Remastered Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Audio Cantonese (DTS 768 Kbps) Cantonese (DD 5.1 448 Kbps) Cantonese (DD 2.0) Mandarin (DD 5.1 448 Kbps) Subtitles Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Simplified) English Extras An Interview With Raymond Wong (The Producer) Region All

Wheels On Meals (1984) Director: Sammo Hung Cast: Jackie Chang, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Lola Forner, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez Synopsis Thomas (Jackie Chan) and David (Yuen Biao) are two quick-witted vendors hawking Chinese fast food from their truck in the busy squares of Barcelona. Their acquaintance with beautiful pickpocket, Sylvia, brings them in contact with novice detective Moby (Sammo Hung), who is trying to track her whereabouts. Sylvia is actually a wealthy heiress kidnapped by the evil count, who is trying to siphon off her inheritance. The trio puts a spanner in the count's plans, and rescue Sylvia. Digitally Remastered Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Audio Cantonese (DTS 768 Kbps) Cantonese (DD 5.1 448 Kbps) Cantonese (DD 2.0) Subtitles Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Simplified) English Extras An Interview With Sammo Hung An Interview With Yuen Biao Region 3

Young Master (1980) Director: Jackie Chan Cast: Jackie Chan, Shih Kien, Yuen Biao Synopsis Ching Loong (Jackie Chan), a young student suddenly thrown into the limelight when his Red School elder, Cheng Keung (Wei Pei), drops out of the annual Lion Dance competition in Guangzhou. As Ching stuggles against the representative of the rival Blue School, he discovers that it is the debt-laden Cheng. Ching tries to make Cheng turn over a new leaf but his mission to clear Cheng's name lands him in hot soup when he is framed for a crime. Now the young master not only has the reputation of Cheng and the school on his shoulders, he has to prove his own innocence as well. Digitally Remastered Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Audio Cantonese (DTS 768 Kbps) Cantonese (DD 5.1 448 Kbps) Cantonese (DD 2.0) Mandarin (DD 5.1 448 Kbps) Subtitles Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Simplified) English Extras An Interview With Jackie Chan Outtakes Region 3

Joy Sales February 2 Fortune Star Non-Digitally Remastered Releases
Dances With Dragon (1991) Director: Wong Jing Cast: Andy Lau, Chang Man, Deanie Ip, Ng Man Tat, Alfred Cheung, May Lo, Yvonne Yung Synopsis Aaron is a young successful business tycoon and the president of "Dragon Enterprises". However, Aaron doesn't regard that Bob strives to overcome him at every step. Aaron during a practice scuba diving run, drifts onto an island and is mistaken for an illegal immigrant. He runs and eventually finds refuge in Tvonne's grocery store. Karen, the mother, decides to make use of this "illegal" and hires Aaron to work for cheap wages. Aaron finds this new type of life quite interesting, and decides to play along. Later on, Karen is trapped by gangsters. Aaron saves her, and discovers the ambitions and business of both Martin and Bob. Aaron decides to straighten out his affairs. On Yvoone's birthday, Aaron invites her to his home where a special party is being held, he reveals Marin's plot and then fires him. Following this, Aaron then announces that he will dance with the most important woman in his life... Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Cantonese (DD 2.0), Mandarin (DD 2.0) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles DVD-5
Erotic Ghost Story (1987) Director: Simon Lam Cast: Amy Yip, Man So, Hitomi Kudo, Sin Lap Man Synopsis Once upon a time, there're three sisters who happen to be vixens. So So, Fi Fi and Fa Fa have been doing everything good and assumed the shapes of girls. They're to become immortal deities if they keep on doing the right thing. Unfortunately, they fall in love with a young handsome scholar one by one. But they finally find out that he is notorious devil of lust Wutung. Sex keeps Wutung young, at the expense of his hed partners, though. So the three girls discover fox hair has come back to their bodies. Luckily, a demigod comes to help them out. The vixens are told to behave. They still have a claim to immortality. Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Cantonese (DD 2.0) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles DVD-5
When Fortune Smiles (1990) Director: Anthony Chan Cast: Stephen Chow, Sandra Ng, Anthony Chan Synopsis A dying man is leaving behind him a no good son Chow, a very good daughter, a younger scheming brother Dai Sor, a vast fortune and a will which bequeaths everything to the daughter when she comes back for her marriage. Dai Sor caught Wong and Tricky Star in a casino and forced them to steal the will. The other side, the son Chow finds Phoenix, a garbage collector, to pose as the absent daughter who looks the same as Phoenix. Phoenix and Tricky Star soon confide in each other. Even so, they still have to carry on the charade in order to get married and abscond with the money. Chow exposes Phoenix the day she gets married. He rips off the will and wants to burn them all in a warehouse. Tricky Star has to help everyone to escape to survive... Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Cantonese (DD 2.0), Mandarin (DD 2.0) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles DVD-5
Coming Soon
Joy Sales/Fortune Star Release Schedule

Universe February 13 Releases
Nobita's Three Visionary Swordsmen (1994) Cantonese Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3

Universe February 9 Releases
Aegis (2005) Director: Junji Sakamoto Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Koichi Sato, Kiichi Nakai, Akira Terao Japanese, Cantonese Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3

Panorama February 13 Releases

After This Our Exile (2006) Director: Patrick Tam Cast: Aaron Kwok, Charlie Young Synopsis This film portrays the relationship between Dad and Boy, an eternal tale of Father and Son. Addicted to gambling, Dad eventually loses Mom who runs away for a new life, leaving Boy behind. Dad sinks further into gambling debts and drags Boy in. Upset by Dad's new romance, Boy tries to turn to Mom but only to find Mom remarried and expecting a child. Deeply hurt, Boy goes back to stay with Dad. Without means to repay the gambling debts, they can only steal their way out. Boy ends up in custody in an orphanage. Dad comes to visit him months later and tries to beg for Boy's forgiveness. As if a sign of reconciliation, Boy asks Dad to come closer to him and all of a sudden he sinks his teeth in Dad's ear. Dad tries to tear away. The two struggle in pain and hysteria. Years later, Boy, now a young man, tries to look for Dad. He sees an old man at a distance one day, who could be Dad... Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Cantonese (DD 5.1) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3 Running Time: 120 minutes

Panorama January 19 Releases

Mr 3 Minutes (2006) Director: Gordon Chan Cast: Ronald Cheng,Cherrie Ying Synopsis The 30-year-old Scott (Ronald Cheng) is the son of a wealthy businessman, Mr. Chung, who runs a modern bridal salon. Scott is a sluggish and hedonistic man and a lot of women are willing to surrender themselves to him. He is the most sought after bachelor in town. He hates to be restrained by either family or marriage. His life is all about efficiency and he is good at making decisions and accomplishing tasks within 3 minutes. In Scott's list of "the most disgusting things on earth", children are the all time Number 1. During the rehearsal of a wedding gown show, Scott has mistakenly taken a six-year-old child, Wayne, as a thief, but the child suddenly calls him "Dad"! Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Running Time: 93 minutes

Deltamac February 1 Releases

Battle Of Wits (2006) Director: Jacob Cheung Cast: Andy Lau, Fan Bingbing Synopsis A BATTLE OF WITS is based on a popular Manga series, BOKKO (Mak Gong), about China's harrowing warlord period. An epic film with lavish scenery and great action. In 370 B.C., China was separated as seven nations and several other small tribes, one of these being the city state of Liang. The nation of Zhao is led by the terrifying prime commander Xiang Yangzhong who orders his troops to launch an attack on Liang in a bid to conquer the small city. Leaping to the defence of the cowed people of Liang is a warrior who goes by the name of 'Ge Li' from the Mo-Tsu tribe (Mozi Family/School of Mozi), renowned for its defensive skills. He is their last hope as the terrors of Yangzhong's troops are unleashed. The future of Liang now hangs in the balance, with all their hopes pinned on the mysterious Mo-Tsu warrior Ge Li... Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Mandarin (DTS ES), Mandarin (Dolby Digital 6.1 EX), Cantonese (Dolby Digital 6.1 EX) Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles Extras: Theatrical Trailer, A Production Of Wits, Art Collection, and The Gala Of Many Cities.

Deltamac January 25 Releases
Silk (2006) Director: Su Chao Pin Cast: Yosuke Eguchi, Chang Chen, Lam Kar Yan, Barbie Hsu Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Mandarin (DTS), Mandarin (DD 5.1) Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles Extras: Making of, deleted scenes, outtakes, trailers, and photo gallery. Region 3

Deltamac January 12 Releases
Shuttle Of Hearts aka Substitute Teacher Director: Ling Yiyun Cast: Peng Xinyi, Sun Yiming Mandarin (DD 2.0) Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles

Friday, 2/9/2007

Asia Video February 9 Releases
Metrosexual (2006) Director: Yongyoot Thongkongtoon Cast: Thienchai Jayasvati, Pimonwan Suphayang, Patcharasri Benjamas, Meesuke Jangmeesuke, Kulnudda Pachimsawat, Ornpreeya Hoonsart Synopsis "Just how many men notice when their girlfriend is sad, can go shopping with her without getting bored, and enjoys cooking for her?" With this list of reasons, Pang has announced to all her gals that she's getting married to a guy she has been seeing for less than 6 months! "This kind of perfection - he cannot be for real!" Pang's four friends come together in their sisterly concern and natural nosiness. They embark upon a mission to prove that the groom is exactly who is claiming to be - "just metrosexual," and not a closeted gay man trying to fool the world by getting married to their friend. The wedding date looms closer and closer, and the girls still suspect something pink about their Pang's new partner. Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Thai (DD 5.1), Cantonese (DTS), Cantonese (DD 5.1) Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles Region 3 DVD-9 Running Time: 117 minutes
Ultraman Nexus - Volume 1 (Episodes 1-4) Japanese, Cantonese Chinese (Traditional) subtitles Region 3

Asia Video February 2 Releases
Scary Scary Homo: Three-Letter Opera [Stage Play] Cast: Cedric Chan Full Screen Cantonese (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional) subtitles DVD-5 Running Time: 104 minutes

Shaw Brothers Photo Galleries
February 13 Black Lizard, The (1981) Brothers Five (1970) Disciples Of Shaolin (1975) Five Superfighters (1979) Full Moon Scimitar (1979) Opium And The Kung-Fu Master (1984) Sweet And Wild (1966) February 8 Justice, My Foot! (1992) February 1 Four Riders (1972) Jade Raksha, The (1968) Return Of The Phoenix (1962) Swift Knight, The (1971) Whatever You Want (1994)
The galleries will be deleted after two weeks.

Monday, 2/5/2007

Mega Star February 14 Releases

Confession Of Pain (2006) Director: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Shu Qi, Xu Jinglei, Chapman To Synopsis In a city of love and prosperity, a city of lost hope and premature death, veteran detective Hei feels it all: the hurt, the helplessness, the horror. When his father-in-law, the billionaire benefactor Kim, is gruesomely murdered in his palatial mansion, he enlists the assistance of his former partner turned private detective, Bong. On the surface, the murder smacks of a vendetta that has taken a lifetime to fulfill. But no sooner has Bong agreed to crack the case with Hei than he realizes nothing is what it appears to be. Undoubtedly, they are after a monster in a perfect crime: every detail was meticulously orchestrated, every motive conveniently justifiable, and every culprit and potential witness mysteriously eliminated. But Bong has his own demon to fight. Ever since the suicide of his pregnant girlfriend, he has lost his joie de vivre, even though he still retains the finest instincts of a man hunter. As he digs deeper and deeper into the case, all evidence seems to point to Kim’s daughter and Hei’s hysterical wife, Susan. But then the killer ups the ante by murdering Susan as well. Bong starts grappling with the suspicion that the man they hunt is someone very close to them, someone on the verge of a total breakdown. Like lost souls in a city of fallen angels, the cop, the private detective, and the killer are doing what they must. Every step of their journey takes them closer and closer to one another, until a shocking denouement in which no stone is left unturned and no one can escape unscathed. Specs Disc 1 - Film (DVD-9) Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Audio Cantonese (DTS 6.1 ES) Cantonese (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX) Mandarin (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX) Subtitles Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese English Region 3 Disc 2 - Extras (DVD-9) Making Of (15 minutes) AV Blog (1-38) Behind The Scenes Press Conference Trailers (1-3) TV Spots (15 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds) Photo Gallery (20 photos) The Special Edition comes with both discs listed above plus a postcard book (24 pages):

Mega Star February 13 Releases

The Departed (2006) Director: Martin Scorsese Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg Synopsis Rookie cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) grew up in crime. That makes him the perfect mole, the man on the inside of the mob run by boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). It's his job to win Costello's trust and help his detective handlers (Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen) bring Costello down. Meanwhile, SIU officer Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) has everyone's trust. No one suspects he's Costello's mole. How these covert lives cross, double-cross and collide is at the ferocious core of the widely acclaimed The Departed. Martin Scorsese directs, guiding a cast for the ages in a visceral tale of crime and consequences. This is a searing, can't-look-away filmmaking: like staring into the eyes of a con - or a cop - with a gun. Specs Disc 1 - The Film (DVD-9) The Departed (Part I: Chapters 1-20) Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Audio English (DTS 6.1 ES) English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX) Subtitles Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese English Region 3 Disc 2 - The Film and Extras (DVD-9) The Departed (Part II: Chapters 21-32) Extras TV Specials (13 and 23 minutes) Interviews Matt Damon Leonardo Dicaprio Mark Wahlberg Play All B-Rolls (30 minutes of behind the scenes footage) Trailers (1-3) TV Spots (1-3)

Mega Star ATV Releases

Poetic Journey Full Screen Cantonese Chinese (Traditional) subtitles Region 3 DVD-9 PAL Release Schedule Box Set Episodes Release Date #1 #1 - #5 January 25 #2 #6 - #10 January 25 #3 #11 - #15 February 1 #4 #16 - #20 February 1 #5 #21 - #26 February 1 #6 #27 - #32 February 1 #7 #33 - #36 February 8 #8 #37 - #40 February 8 #9 #41 - #42 #43 - #45 February 8 #10 #46 - #48 #49 - #50 February 8

Joy Sales February 9 Releases
The Knot (2006) Director: Yin Li Cast: Chen Kun, Vivian Hsu, Li Bing Bing, Isabella Leung Synopsis They fell in love. Chen Qiushui was 20. Wang Biyun was 18. When Qiushui fled Taiwan after the 228 Massacre, Blyun gave him a gold engagement ring and they promised to meet again. Quishui served as an army doctor during the Korean War, where he met Wan Jindi, a nurse from Shanghai who fell in love with him instantly. Years had gone by, Jindi followed Qiushui to Tibet and was killed in an avalanche. While in Taiwan, Blyun buried Qiushul's mother and continued to pray for his return. And now…Biyun is living in Los Angeles. Her adopted daughter has traveled to Tibet to retrace Qiushui's footsteps. Through the pictures she sends back via Internet, Blyun can see Qiushul's final resting place... Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Mandarin (DTS), Mandarin (DD 5.1) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Extras: Trailers Region 3 DVD-9