The Asian DVD Guide  

  Saturday, 5/27/2006

IVL May 25 Releases
Shoe Fairy, The (2005)
Director: Robin Lee
Cast: Vivian Hsu, Duncan Chow, Nana Tang

Synopsis
A lighthearted love story with a charming dose of fairy tale, the delightful Vivian Hsu plays a girl who is completely enamoured with shoes. One day, she meets her "Smiling Dentist" prince charming and they seem destined for a happily ever after journey... but do they? "The Shoe Fairy", winner of Best Art Direction at the 42nd Golden Horse Awards and one of the movie from the Focus First Cuts series, will take you on a journey through the colourful land of fairytales, in search of true love and happiness.

Specs:
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Extras
    • Making of The Shoe Fairy
    • Focus First Cut Show Reel
    • Focus First Cut Trailers
    • Photo Gallery


IVL May 25 Shaw Brothers Releases

DVD/VCD
Female Prince, The (1963)
 Director: Chow Sze-loke
Cast: Ivy Ling Po, Fang Yin, Chin Feng, Chin Han, Li Ching
Genre: Huangmei Opera

Synopsis
The husband-and-wife team of Ivy Ling Po and Chin Han returned to another Huangmei Opera classic after Lady General Hua Mu-Lan. Helmed by Chow Sze-loke and written by Chang Cheh, the story revolved around two intellectual siblings, Ching Feng-sheng (Chin Feng) and Ching Feng-hsiao (Ivy Ling Po), who were constantly abused by their stepmother Hsia (Kao Pao-shu). Feng-hsiao was engaged to Li Ru-lung (Chin Han) since birth, but the greedy Hsia forced him to forfeit the marriage. When Ru-lung refused, Hsia framed him for thievery and put him behind bars. To rescue her lover, Feng-hsiao dressed as a young man and went to the capital. She then used Ru-lung's name to enter the national exam and was ranked first place. Impressed by Feng-hsiao, the Emperor decided to let her wed the Princess (Fang Ying). On the wedding night, Feng-hsiao revealed the truth to the Princess...
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Region 3
  • Extras:
    • Trailers, picture gallery, poster art, biographies/filmographies, and production notes.
Godfather Of Canton (1982)
 Director: Kuei Chih-hung
Cast: Liu Chia-hui, Linda Chu, Wang Jung
Genre: Action

Synopsis
Although director Kuei Chih-hung is noted for horror flicks that best many of Hollywood's "slashers," he began with martial arts films under legendary Chang Cheh. In Godfather From Canton, Kuei returns to his roots starring the Yul Brynner of Shaolin movies Gordon Liu Chia-hui as policeman on the take who ends up becoming a powerful mob boss.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Mandarin (Mono), Cantonese (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Region 3
  • Extras:
    • Trailers, picture gallery, poster art, biographies/filmographies, and production notes.
Song Of Orchid Island (1965)
 Director: Pan Lei
Cast: Paul Chang-chung, Cheng Pei-pei
Genre: Drama

Synopsis
"Queen Of Swords" Cheng Pei-pei exchanges her martial arts weaponry for a syringe in this exotic contemporary drama by Pan Lei. Paul Chang Chung plays Dr. Ho, who decides to move to a backward island off the coast of Taiwan to look for his missing father. He meets nurse Ya Lan (Cheng Pei-pei) who falls in love with him. But dastardly doings are afoot as Dr. Ho's enemies plot against him. It is a joy to see Cheng flex her dramatic muscle against the more fragile Lily Ho.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Region 3
  • Extras:
    • Trailers, picture gallery, poster art, biographies/filmographies, and production notes.
Tropicana Interlude (1969)
 Director: Shih Ma-shan
Cast: Lily Ho, Jimmy Lin Chong, Essie Lin Chia, Lily Li
Genre: Musical

Synopsis
Take a vacation with sexy Lily Ho and Jimmy Lin Chong. They operate a travel agency specializing in Southeast Asian holidays, and many a school mistress and her charges have been charmed during their Tropicana Interludes. Lin Chong wears his trademark Nehru suits, tours the scenic sights of Malaysia and Singapore, and warbles a half-dozen hit tunes, making this one of Shaw Brothers most lively 1960's musical romances.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Region 3
  • Extras:
    • Trailers, picture gallery, poster art, biographies/filmographies, and production notes.
2006 Shaw Brothers Schedule


IVL Photo Galleries
 
The galleries will be deleted after one week.


Panorama May 25 Releases

Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san (1982)
 Director: Yoji Yamada
Cast: Kiyoshi Atsumi, Chieko Baisho, Ayumi Ishida, Nizaemon Kataoka

Synopsis
The 29th instalment in the Tora-san series. In Kyoto, Tora-san meets a famous old pottery maker, Kano, and falls for his beautiful maid, Kagari (famed kabuki actor Ishida Ayumi), who works at his shop. Tora-san is being attracted to her because of her graceful elegance, but soon he finds out that she has led a miserable life. She was abandoned by her parents when she was little, and now she is a widow with a son. Kagari was engaged with the apprentice of Kano, but he finally abandons her for a wealthy young girl. Kagari is depressed and decides to return home to Tango to be with her son, and Tora-san follows her there to accompany her for a short period. After that, Tora-san returns home and becomes ill. One day, Kagari comes to visit him suddenly...
  • Japanese
  • Chinese and English subtitles



Panorama May 18 Releases

Little Brother (2005)
 Director: LIM TaeHyung
Cast: PARK JiBin, SEO DaeHan, CHOI Woohyuk, BAE JongOk, PARK WonSang, OH JiHao

Synopsis
Nine-year-old Hani (PARK JiBin) is a troublemaker who isn't afraid of anything. A precocious punk, his school friends are all his underlings, and even his family members are under his control. He especially considers brother, HanByul, who often complains of being sick, as his greatest target. Until one fateful day, HanByul collapses at home and is rushed to the emergency room and the worst nightmare for any parent becomes a reality -- he is diagnosed with leukemia.

As treatments progresses, HanByul soon bonds with other young patients in the children's ward and soon becomes good friends with a young boy from the countryside. Hani immediately dislikes him, calling him a bumpkin, fearing that he may become emotionally isolated from his big brother. Meanwhile, the brother's parents' cope in their own ways -- mother sifting through rising hospital bills, while going through crying fits; father is positive, always smiling and cheering up his young sons, a front that his wife cannot fathom, because there is just too much heartbreak in the risk of losing a child. Hani, an observer of his family's various reactions, is determined to keep the family together, even if it means searching for a mystical potion deep in the mountains.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Korean (DD 5.1), Korean (Stereo), Cantonese (Stereo)
  • Chinese and English subtitles
  • Extras
    • The Making Of "Little Brother"
    • Interviews With The Actors
    • Music Video
    • Trailer


Super Rookie (2005) [TV Series]
Synopsis
Super Rookie is a story of a man who gets a job in a big company because of a computer error. The drama reveals his work, love and passions in life in a very interesting way. Our hero Kang Ho doesn't have a family background that makes him stand out among the crowd, but he has plenty of friends who will stand up for him. He never gets discouraged despite all of life's difficulties. Kang Ho's high spirits and Mi-ok's efforts to improve her life give today's younger generation a chance to look at their own lives and ponder what's truly valuable.
  • Korean, Cantonese
  • Chinese and English subtitles



Deltamac May 11 Releases
Peacock (2005)
 Director: Gu Chang Wei
Cast: Zhang Jing Chu, Feng Li, Lu Yu Lai

Synopsis
The story is set in the 1970s in a small town in China. A middle aged couple has three children. The eldest son is obese and mentally challenged, therefore he is teased and outcasted by others. The second child is an outgoing and energetic daughter, who is not afraid of doing anything to pursue her dreams or to survive. The youngest child is a shy and quiet boy who is ashamed by his older brother and tries to break away from the misery in his family. Breaking into three sections focusing on each of these siblings, the film allows us to look into the lives of ordinary Chinese people the 70s.
  • Mandarin (DD 2.0)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
Letter From An Unknown Woman (2004)
 Director: Xu Jing Lei
Cast: Xu Jing Lei, Jiang Wen

Synopsis
Beijing, 1948. A bleak winter night. A man rides through the war-ridden city and returns home. He finds a letter awaits him. Its a letter written by a woman before her death. In the letter she tells him the story of her love for him, a life-long passion that has not diminshed over time, but one that he has never known.

The woman's story spans eighteen years from the moment, she a thirteen-years old girl lets her eyes on her cashing new neighbor. She tells their brief but passionate love in her youth, the hardship she goes through raising their child alone, and their final encounter after the war, during which the man fails to recognize her and one which leaves her in despair.

Now having lost her son, her only tie with the man she loves, she no longer has the courage to live on. Only in a letter she is in capable of telling him everything, for the first and last time.

Shaken by the letter, the man searches his memory for the nameless woman......
  • Mandarin (DD 2.0)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles


  Monday, 5/22/2006

Kam & Ronson May Releases
To thank the support of the Wong Kar-wai fans, Jet Tone company newly produced the Happy Together 10th Anniversary 1997-2006 DVD/CD Box Set Limited Edition which will be released in May. This box set is limited to 2046 pieces worldwide. It's a sensational collection.....do watch out for the release date.

Contents:
  1. Special Collectible Box, a break-through design, separately serial numbered, no further edition
    • The box design combines the movie sensation and collectible concept together, specially designed to store the existing and future re-issue series of Wong Kar Wai's film DVD, CD and special collectible items. The design of the box has made room for such expansion change. Each box has separate serial number with certificates enclosed. Only with this box, you may have a complete collection of the Wong Kar Wai Collection Series.....will be a regret if you miss it.


    Box Opened


    Box Closed




  2. Digitally Remastered International version "Happy Together" DVD
    • HD re-master, colour graded, DTS 5.1 / Dolby Digital 5.1 re-mix soundtrack, first release worldwide
    • Specially include international trailer




  3. B.A. Zero Degree - Making of "Happy Together" DVD
    • First release in HK "Happy Together" unseen footages




  4. 10th Anniversary Special Edition "Happy Together" 24-bit newly re-mix Hottest Soundtrack
    • Track List:
      1. Waterfall (Cucurrucucu Paloma)
      2. Bar Sur I (LIVE Recording 18/9/96)
      3. Chunga's Revenge
      4. Bar Sur II (LIVE Recording 18/9/96)
      5. Prologue (Tango Apasionado)
      6. 3 Amigos III (LIVE recording 18/9/96)
      7. Milonga For Three
      8. I Have Been In You
      9. Finale (Tango Apasionado) WING'S dialogue
      10. Happy Together
      11. Live recording (18/9/96)
    • Newly re-mastered HDCD, fully new re-mix, exclusive addition of dialogue of "Lai Yiu Fai" and "Ho Po Wing" into music, first release
    • Exclusive booklet with unseen stills, first release




  5. "Happy Together" Re-union twin posters
    • Original 1997 Cannes version
    • 10th Anniversary 1997-2006 version, first release worldwide






  6. "B.A. Zero Degree" Postcards
    • 8 cards in one set with unseen stills




  7. "Loving" Boxers (underwear)




  8. Original "Iguazu" waterfall lamp





Official Website for the box set:
http://www.jettone.net/happytogether


Mega Star May 30 Releases
     
Isabella (2006)
Director: Pang Ho-cheung
Cast: Chapman To, Isabella Leong

Synopsis
On the eve of Macau's handover to China, police officer SHING (Chapman To) is having the worst time of his life. Suspended for suspected corruption, he tries to find solace with an elfin creature by the name of YAN (Isabella Leong) whom he just picks up. As he tries to smooth-talk her to bed, she suddenly snaps back with the biggest turn-off imaginable: that she is the daughter he never knew existed!

While Shing desperately tries to hold himself together, his bachelor life inevitably falls apart as Yan insists on living under his roof. Together the two of them start roaming through exotic Macau, tracking down Yan's missing puppy and striving to acquaint with each other. No sooner has Shing grown into his new role as a father than he finds his hands full: when Yan is not fighting with his girlfriend, she is being bothered by her dorky classmate.

Will the newfound father and daughter, who have given up hope along the way, be able to find the true vocation of their lives at last?

Specs
  • Disc 1 - Film
    • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
    • Audio
      • Cantonese (DTS 96/24)
      • Cantonese (DD 5.1)
      • Mandarin (DD 5.1)
    • Subtitles
      • Traditional Chinese
      • Simplified Chinese
      • English
    • Extras
      • Audio Commentary
        1. Audio Commentary by Actor and Producer Chapman To and Actress Isabella Leong
        2. Audio Commentary by Director Pang Ho-cheung and Music Composer Peter Kam
        3. Audio Commentary by Director of Photography Charlie Lam and Screenwriter Derek Tsang, Jimmy Wan and Kearen Pang

  • Disc 2 - More Extras
    • Making Of (14 mins)
    • Deleted Scenes
    • Berlin Tour (4 mins)
    • Isabella Leong Interview (13 mins)
    • Music Video
    • Trailers
      • Trailer #1
      • Trailer #2
    • TV Spots
      • 15 seconds
      • 30 seconds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Poster and Promotion Materials
    • Cast and Filmmaker Profiles
Special Edition
The special edition includes all of the above plus:
  • 16 Postcards
  • Movie Script



Mei Ah May 26 Releases
Marriage With A Fool (2006)
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Cantonese, Mandarin (DTS + Dolby Digital)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • DVD-9


Universe May 26 Releases


     

Synesthesia (2005) aka Gimmy Heaven
 Director: Toru Matsuura
Cast: Yosuke Eguchi, Masanobu Ando, Aoi Miyazaki, Yuriko Ishida

  • Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Region 3
 


  Friday, 5/12/2006

Universe May 12 Releases



Bet To Basic (2006)
 Director: Paul Chung
Cast: Jordon Chan, Rain Li, Yuen Wah, Eric Kot, Chin Ka Lok

Synopsis
Inferior gangster Flying Dragon (Chin Ka Lok) has a bad habit of gambling, he thus offends the three great gamble deceivers. Luckily his younger cousin, Roy (Jordon Chan), who comes back from America is extraordinarily lucky, he can win every round of the game and saves Flying Dragon. Flying Dragon hence brings Roy to Mahjong casino to earn money for him. Roy observes the rivalry between two Mahjong geniuses Hua San Yuan (Yuen Wah) and Ge He Qing (Eric Kot) by chance, he witnesses the fate of them - one turns to be insane and one becomes bankrupt, and decides not to snatch the reputation of "The King of Mahjong". Though Roy has no desire to seize the fame, his good luck elicits the worry of aggressive Mie Luo (Pang Jin Chi) who then plans to harm Roy.

Hua San Yuan realizes that Roy is gifted with luck, so he pleads him to be his disciple. Mie Luo knows it and sends people to beat Roy up, but later they mistakenly hurt Flying Dragon. This motivates Roy to learn the professional Mahjong techniques from Hua San Yuan, he gradually develops an intricate relationship with Hua San Yuan's disciple Pei Er (Rain Li).

In fact, Pei Er and Mie Luo are lovers. Pei Er determines to find out the source of luck of Roy and help transfer the luck to Mie Luo. When Roy is in deep desperation, Ge He Qing suddenly recovers and co-operates with Hua San Yuan to train up Roy's skill of playing Mahjong techniques. They decide to foster the new generation of "The King of Mahjong"...
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • DVD-5
 

Universe May 4 Releases



Tomie: Beginning (2005)
 Director: Ataru Oikawa
Cast: Rio Matsumoto, Asami Imajuku

Synopsis
With beauty that sets hearts on fire and a chilly stare that can freeze people in an instant, Tomie captivates and wields her supernatural power. The students become possessed and soon realize that behind this beauty is a powerful evil. They cut off her right ear but it regenerates. Driven to insanity, several of the boys attempt to execute her and push her off a cliff. To be certain that she cannot return, they dismember her body and dump pieces in different locations.

But Tomie, the beautiful monster, can regenerate from a single drop of blood, and returns the next morning, laughing ready to lure her next victims into lunacy.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (Stereo)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Region 3
  • DVD-5
 

Universe April 13 Releases
     

Connie Chan Po Chu & HKCO (2 DVD)
  • Full Screen
  • Vocal (DTS 5.1), Vocal (DD 5.1), Karaoke (Stereo)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • DVD-9 (x2)
  • Song List
 

Universe March 31 Releases



Tomie: Revenge (2005)
 Director: Ataru Oikawa
Cast: Hisako Shirata, MINAMI

Synopsis
While driving down a mountain road at night, Kazue accidentally runs over a naked girl. The girl gets up as if nothing had happened, and runs in to the woods, leading Kazue to an abandoned mansion. Inside Kazue comes across a different girl named Yukiko, wrapped in a sleeping bag and near death. She takes her back to the clinic.

One year later, a Federal Investigator visits Kazue and inquiries about the naked girl in the woods. He explains the "Tomie Incidents" to him. He finds that there is a murder whenever Tomie appears. There are no autopsy records because her corpse doesn't exist. Tomie's cells take over other people's cells and she inhabits their bodies to regenerate herself. After that, she starts her ritual revenge plan.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (Stereo)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Region 3
  • DVD-5
 


ERA April 12 Releases
Regular Edition
 
Limited Edition


My Girl & I (2005)
 Director: Jeon Yun-su
Cast: Cha Tae-hyun, Song Hye-gyo

  • Korean (DTS)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Extras: Making of and trailer.
 


Edko May 12 Releases
Sad Movie (2005)
 Director: Kwon Jong-kwan
Cast: Jung Woo-sung, Im Soo-jung, Cha Tae-hyun

Synopsis
Sad Movie... A story of all the world's separations

Ha-seok has been unemployed for three years and his girlfriend wants to break up. To win her heart back, Ha-seok sets up a "Separation Agency". Can he save his own relationship by delivering breakup messages for people?

Busy mother Ju-young is worried that her son is turning into a problem child. One day, she learns that she does not have much time left. It's time for her and the troublesome son to begin a late but beautiful reconciliation.

Su-eun falls in love with an artist at the amusement park. Being unable to speak, nor face the artist, how can she show him her feeling?

The hot-blooded fireman Jin-woo tries to prepare an impressive wedding proposal, but he keeps missing the chances. This day, he decides to tell her, via videotape…

A foretold separation, resulting in a more beautiful love
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Korean (DTS ES), Korean (DD Surround EX), Cantonese (Stereo)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Extras: Theatrical trailer, TV spot, photo gallery, and cast/crew filmographies.
  • Region 3


Panorama May 11 Releases

Blood And Bones (2004) (1 Disc Version)
 Director: Yoichi Sai
Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Kyoka Suzuki

Synopsis
In 1923, KIM Shun-pei left Cheju, an isolated island in the far South of Korea for Osaka, Japan, dreaming of making his fortune in a new land.

Contrary to his hopes, what was waiting for Shun-pei in Japan was a brutal life of discrimination and hard labour. With his remarkable physical strength, cunning and ruthlessness he overcomes the odds stacked against him and opens a kamaboko (steamed fish cake) factory, which before long is a success, bringing him the fortune he coveted for so long. However, with no limit to his obsession for money, Shun-pei gradually transforms himself into a ruthless loan shark.

BLOOD AND BONES paints an unflinching portrait of a man's deeply bound to his ego and obsessions and the web of turmoil his wife, mistress, children, relatives and all those around him are drawn into as a result of his choices and brutal, violent nature. Based on a true story by YAN Sogiru, Beat Takeshi portrays the epic rise and fall of a first generation Korean man in a defining role.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (DTS-ES,), Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese and English subtitles



  Tuesday, 5/9/2006

Panorama May 4 Releases
Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (2005) [2 DVD Special Edition]
 Director: Park Chan Wook
Cast: Lee Young Ae, Choi Min Shik

Synopsis
All she wanted was a peaceful life... Geum-ja.

Geum-ja (Lee Young-ae), a beautiful girl who cannot help but draw attention of all the men around her, was first introduced to the public as the one responsible for the abduction and murder of a little boy at the age of twenty. Being so young and pretty, her horrific crime drew national media attention.

But now, 13 years have passed and in that time, Geum-ja has been the most hardworking and model prisoner, earning the nickname "sweet" Geum-ja.

"Sweet" Geum-ja, however, has not been idle during her time in prison. For 13 years, she plotted revenge against her former teacher, Mr. Baek (Choi Min-sik). Her kindness while in "the joint" has paid off and has now gained many friends and allies. Now that Geum-ja is getting out of jail, she is ready to put her carefully conceived plan into action.

What happened between Geum-ja and her teacher 13 years ago? Why does she want revenge? And how will her quest for vengeance end? These are the mysteries of SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Korean, Cantonese (DTS ES + DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Extras
    • Making of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
    • Characters for Lady Vengeance
      • LEE Young-ae
      • CHOI Min-sik
      • The Prisoner
      • The Bereaved Family
    • Commentary : Director PARK Chan-wook, LEE Young-ae
    • Commentary : Director PARK Chan-wook, CHUNG Jung-hoon (Director of Photography), CHO Hwa-sung (Art Director)
    • Commentary : KIM Young-jin (Film Columnist)
    • Sympathy for Lady Vengeance in Venezia
    • Promotion
    • Introduction by Director PARK Chan-wook
    • Style of Lady Vengeance: Interviews w/ a director & staff
    • Alternate Scenes: Deleted & Long-take Scenes (Commentary by director and actors)


Nana (2005) [2 DVD Special Edition]
 Director: Kentaro Otani
Cast: Mika Nakashima, Aoi Miyazaki, Ryuhei Matsuda

Synopsis
On a train to Tokyo, Komatsu (Aoi Miyazaki) sits next to NANA (Mika Nakashima), a budding vocalist of rock band, BLACK STONES. They part at Tokyo Station, but they cross paths again as they compete for the same apartment. They decide to move in together and despite their differences, introspective NANA and outgoing nana become firm friends.

The recently lovelorn nana wins a pair of tickets to see her favorite band, TRAPNEST, in concert and invites NANA along. NANA has reservations about seeing the band play live due to her unresolved feelings towards TRAPNEST's guitarist, Ren, her ex-boyfriend and ex-BLACK STONES bassist. The concert begins and Ren steps onto the stage. NANA sits below in the front row and her eyes are filled with tears as memories come flooding back. Will NANA and Ren be reunited...?
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (DTS-ES), Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese and English subtitles
  • Extras
    • Audio Commentary by director Kentaro Otani, Actresses Mika Nakashima & Aoi Miyazaki
    • Making-of "NANA"
    • Premiere Screening in Japan
    • Stage Appearance in Japan
    • Asia Premiere in Hong Kong
    • Trailers
    • TV Spots



Joy Sales Fortune Star Releases
Joy Sales has released a list of the Fortune Star titles that will be digitally remastered:

All About Ah-long
All The Wrong Clues
All The Wrong Spies
Banana Cop
Battle Creek Brawl
Big Boss, The
Cannon Ball Run
Champions, The
Chocolate Inspector
City Hunter
Crime Story
Diary Of A Big Man
Dragon Fist
Dragon Lord
Dragons Forever
Dreadnaught
Duel To The Death
Eastern Condors
Eighth Happiness
Enter The Dragon
Esprit D'Amour
Fate Of Lee Khan, The
Final Victory
Fist Of Fury
Flaming Brothers
Game Of Death
Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu
Hand Of Death, The
Hapkido
Happy Din Don
Heart Of Dragon
Heroes Shed No Tears
Hong Kong 1941
Iceman Cometh
In The Line Of Duty III
Inspector Wear Skirts, The
Inspector Wear Skirt II, The
Iron Fisted Monk, The
Killer Meteors, The
Last Hurrah For Chivalry
Long Arm Of The Law
Long Arm Of The Law - Saga II
Magnificant Warriors
Magnificent Bodyguards
Man From Hong Kong, The
Master, The
Millionaires' Express
Miracle Fighters, The
Mr Canton And Lady Rose
Mr Vampire II
Mr Vampire III
My Lucky Stars
New Fist Of Fury
On The Run
One-Armed Boxer
Operation Scorpio
Peacock King
Peking Opera Blues
Postman Fights Back, The
Prodigal Son
Protector, The
Righting Wrongs
Royal Tramp
Royal Tramp II
Royal Warriors
Saga Of The Phoenix
Sex And Zen
Shanghai Shanghai
Shaolin Plot, The
Shaolin Wooden Men
She Shoots Straight
Snake & Crane Arts Of Shaolin
Spiritual Kung Fu
Story Of Ricky, The
Sword, The
Teppanyaki
Tiger Cage
Tiger Cage II
Tiger Cage III
To Kill With Intrigue
Tower Of Death
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
Warriors Two
Way Of The Dragon, The
Wheels On Meals
Winners And Sinners
Witch From Nepal
Yes, Madam!
Young Master, The
Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain


A complete list of the non-digitally remastered and digitally remastered DVDs that Joy Sales will be releasing can now be downloaded at Joy Sales' website:
http://www.joysales.com.hk/DVD_list.xls (Excel spreadsheet)


  Friday, 5/5/2006

IVL May 9 Releases
I'll Call You (2006)
Director: Lam Tze Chung
Cast: Alex Fong, Viann Leung, Gordon Lam, Danny Chan Kwok Kwan

Synopsis
For the first launch of Focus First Cut and proudly entered the competition in Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, "I'll Call You" examines love in our postmodern society by this hilarious and romantic comedy. Man works as a clerk and his life is truly dull until he meets the beautiful but highly arrogant Karen. By day, Karen is a two-bit host of a home-shopping network. When the sun is down, she frequents clubs and discos to fill her time and search for company. Man's affection towards Karen is obvious, but she thinks of him as nothing more than a friend.

Specs:
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (Stereo)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Extras
    • Making Of I'll Call You
    • I'll Call You Trailer Competition's Awarded Trailers
    • Focus First Cut Show Reel
    • Focus First Cut Trailers
    • Photo Gallery


IVL May 4 Shaw Brothers Releases

DVD/VCD
Thunderbolt Fist, The (1972)
 Director: Chang Yi-hu
Cast: Shih Szu, Chuan Yuan
Genre: Martial Arts

Synopsis
The time: just after the Chinese Revolution. The place: Northeast China, as Japanese invaders start to infiltrate. The situation: a vicious judo expert sets out to prove that Chinese are the "sick people of Asia" by killing all their best martial artists in corrupt, dangerous tournaments. To save his son, the head of the Ping Pai Boxing Institute sends to the mountain hideout of the master fighter Red Butterfly. There's only one thing which will set things right: the powerful title kung-fu technique!
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Region 3
  • Extras:
    • Trailers, picture gallery, poster art, biographies/filmographies, and production notes.
Young Avenger, The (1972)
 Director: Yueh Fung
Cast: Shih Szu, Yueh Hua, Tung Lin
Genre: Martial Arts

Synopsis
After a career spanning more than forty years and dozens of films as director or writer, Yueh Feng used everything he learned on a final few martial arts epics, of which this is one of the most memorable. It's not easy to forget a hunchbacked, one-armed protagonist, nor the "Poisonous Dragon Sword" style, nor the luminous and lethal Shih Szu as the title swordswoman, who is out to avenge her father's death at the mid-autumn festival.
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
  • Region 3
  • Extras:
    • Trailers, picture gallery, poster art, biographies/filmographies, and production notes.
VCD Only
Boxer's Omen, The (1983)
 Director: Kuei Chih-hung
Cast: Kao Fei, Lin Hsiao-yen, Wei Chia-wen, Wang Lung-wei
Genre: Horror

Synopsis
Having cut his teeth on such excellent thrillers such as Hex, Hex After Hex and Corpse Mania, director Kuei Chih-hung pulls out all stops in the vastly under-rated The Boxer's Omen which was ambitiously shot in three countries: Hong Kong, Thailand and Nepal. The horror of Thai black magic mixes with the theme of vengeance in this story of Chen Hsiung (Kao Fei) whose desire to avenge his brother's defeat at the hands of boxer Pa Po (Yang Shih) leads him to a brush with the supernatural.
  • Mandarin (Mono), Cantonese (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
Foxy Ladies, The (1978)
 Director: Lu Chi
Cast: Frankie Wei, Ai Ti, Ho Yin, Ling Tai
Genre: Erotic

Synopsis
Ai Ti, Ling Tai (Stars of Starlets For Sale fame), and Ho Yin are Siu Lai, Julie, and Marry - three operatives of the Chow Sze-wei Private Detective Bureau - who are investigating the mysterious death of a millionaire's heir. If American television viewers think this sound remarkably like an Asian variation on Charlie's Angels, remember these foxy ladies could do far more in the sex and violence department than their censored U.S. counterparts!
  • Cantonese (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and English subtitles
2006 Shaw Brothers Schedule


Shaw Brothers Photo Galleries
 
The galleries will be deleted after one week.


Panorama Recent Releases

Nana (2005)
 Director: Kentaro Otani
Cast: Mika Nakashima, Aoi Miyazaki, Ryuhei Matsuda

Synopsis
On a train to Tokyo, Komatsu (Aoi Miyazaki) sits next to NANA (Mika Nakashima), a budding vocalist of rock band, BLACK STONES. They part at Tokyo Station, but they cross paths again as they compete for the same apartment. They decide to move in together and despite their differences, introspective NANA and outgoing nana become firm friends.

The recently lovelorn nana wins a pair of tickets to see her favorite band, TRAPNEST, in concert and invites NANA along. NANA has reservations about seeing the band play live due to her unresolved feelings towards TRAPNEST's guitarist, Ren, her ex-boyfriend and ex-BLACK STONES bassist. The concert begins and Ren steps onto the stage. NANA sits below in the front row and her eyes are filled with tears as memories come flooding back. Will NANA and Ren be reunited...?
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese and English subtitles


Japanese Horror Anthology 3
Regeneration
Director: Takayuki Sato
Cast: Tohru Kazama, Tsugumi

Synopsis
A university professor, Ujo (Kazama Tohru) meets a very beautiful girl, Yui (Tsugumi), at a hospital where he is receiving treatment for alcohol dependency as an outpatient. Although the difference in their ages is more than 20 years, Yui takes a very strong liking to Ujo. Ujo falls madly in love with her and finally asks her to marry him. However, Yui confesses to him that she has a cursed body that regenerates parts of itself whenever a part is cut off or destroyed in some way and little by little they get carried into her ominous past...
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese and English subtitles

The Whisper Tree
Director: Katsuhiko Takahashi
Cast: Ryuji Harada, Kimi Mizuhashi, Eisuke Tsunoda

Synopsis
Takuya (Harada Ryuji) is a writer for the broadcasting world and is requested by a program director to investigate a strange tree that is located in the area where he was brought up and is known by the name of "Whispers". According to the rumours, it is a big tree with a cave under its roots. It is said that if one enters the cave, one can hear strange whispers about one's own private secrets and the voice of one's heart. Takuya returns to his home area convinced that this is just another local myth, but strange things start to occur around him. And all of these things turn out to be related to a girl that Takuya broke up with when he was a student...
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese and English subtitles

World Of Infinity
Director: Seiichi Morimura
Cast: Ikkei Watanabe, Yumi Aso, Eisuke Tsunoda

Synopsis
Takei (Watanabe Ikkei) has worked for his company for 20 years. After he loses his job, he does not search for a new job and, finding the encouragements and consideration of his wife (Aso Yumi) disagreeable, Takei spends hours of idle time in coffee shops. Then, one day, he meets a person that looks exactly like his wife. He begins to fall in love with this woman who has a very dark personality that is exactly the opposite of his wife's sunny disposition. Finally, Takei, having been trysts one after the other with this woman, falls into a dreamlike state where he is no longer able to discern the boundary between reality and his evil dream...
  • Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced
  • Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese and English subtitles


Tora-san's Promise (1981)
 Director: Yoji Yamada
Cast: Kiyoshi Atsumi, Chieko Baisho, Mikiko Otonashi, Kayoko Kishimoto

Synopsis
The 28th instalment in the Tora-san series. In Kyushu, Tora-san meets a runaway girl (Kishimoto Kayoko) who wants to become a partner in Tora-san's peddling business because she admires the free-spirited lifestyle of Tora-san. Later, Tora-san meets the wife of an old friend, who was also his former colleague. Tora-san is informed that his former colleague is now terminally ill. This man, who used to be a vendor selling fried octopus, asks Tora-san to marry his wife (Otonashi Mikiko) once he dies, because he is afraid that his wife might fool around with other men. Tora-san has no choice but to agree to his friend's deathwish. Now, he is determined to marry his friend's wife. So, Tora-san tries to find a job and stay in his family in order to marry her. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, the runaway goes to work at the family candy shop until her brother (Takeo Chii) shows up to claim her.
  • Japanese
  • Chinese and English subtitles


Rehearsal (1995)
 Director: Kang Jeong-su
Cast: Bang Eun-hee, Park Yeong-seon

Synopsis
Min-su meets beautiful actress Seung-hae when he goes on a job to take care of a financial matter with the local theater. Min-su seduces her and they make passionate love. But their physical relationship begins to take a toll on them. Seung-hae decides that Min-su is a distraction to her budding career. She tries to end things with him so that she can concentrate on her performance in "Hiroshima Mon Amour" . But Min-su is not so easy to get rid of.
  • Full Screen
  • Korean
  • Chinese and English subtitles