The Ultimate Force of Four Blu-ray Box set (Hero, Iron Monkey, The Legend of Drunken Master, Zatoichi) Review

When the Ultimate Force of Four Blu-ray set arrived at my door, I was already familiar with two of the films – Zhang Yimou’s gorgeous 2002 opus, Hero and Jackie Chan’s astounding The Legend of Drunken Master, originally released in China as Drunken Master II in 1994, edited and released in North America in 2000. I wasn’t expecting much from Iron Monkey and wasn’t sure what Zatoichi would be like. I can happily say, after spending hours with the set over the last few days, that all four of these films are gems. What an amazing surprise! I just wish I had been half as enamoured with their presentation on Blu-ray disc. …Continued…

[VIDEO] This ad for PS3 exclusive Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will make you shake your head

I can’t decide if this is the most amazing or the most objectionable thing I’ve ever seen in a mainstream videogame. The “unique” control scheme featured in the amazing advertisement above is exclusive to the PS3 version of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (authored on Blu-ray disc, of course!) If nothing else, I think the decision to add this to the game is going to get it a lot of press! …Continued…

LOL: Excited Japanese Fangirl Gives Best Harry Potter Interviews Ever

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Ponyo and Studio Ghibli films on Blu-ray

My favourite movie on the planet, I mean the absolute best film ever made, in my eyes is Tonari No Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki. Damn near cinematic perfection. And Miyazaki’s best work, by far. Even compared to his most recent, Ponyo, which has just been released on DVD in Japan.

How can you get Ponyo or Totoro on Blu-ray? Well, you can’t. Not yet anyway. …Continued…

Blood: The Last Vampire (2009 – Live Action) Coming to Blu-ray in October

Can’t say I was a huge fan of the 2000 animated version of Blood: The Last Vampire. I mean, I really wanted to like it. I tried. But it just came up short for me. And I’m not referring to the 48 minute runtime here. The film just left me wanting. I loved Production I.G.’s animation. Blood looked great. It just didn’t feel like a great vampire story to me.

That being said, I am kind of excited to check out the Blood: The Last Vampire live action film when it opens in theatres here, in Canada (perhaps it’ll be playing at the Fantasia Film Fest in the next couple of weeks?) Despite the film only just making it’s cinematic debut overseas, the Japanese Blu-ray release has already been announced. The Asian Blu-ray Guide got the scoop today: …Continued…

Blu-ray Picks for the Week of June 30 – Tokyo!

This is another one of those weeks where I’m recommending a film that I haven’t yet seen, but am kind of excited to get my hands on. I had forgotten that Tokyo! was hitting the shops this week. It’s a trio of short films directed by a trio of talented guys: Michel Gondry (Be Kind Rewind), Leos Carax (The Lovers on the Bridge), and Bong Joon-ho (The Host).

I’m a huge fan of Gondry’s work and appreciate what Joon-ho accompished with The Host but I’d be lying if I said I was at all familiar with Leos Carax. In fact, I’d be lying if I said I was excited about this film by anything more than Gondry’s involvement. …Continued…

Miike's Audition Special-Edition Blu-ray Disc in October

Back in 2003, I introduced this film to my friends. They’ve never forgiven me. Takashi Miike’s Audition is terrifying. It’s the story of a widower (Ryo Ishibashi) who holds “auditions” for a new girlfriend and winds up hooking up with a beautiful psychopath (Eihi Shiina). The last few scenes will scar you for life. Don’t say I didn’t warn you… …Continued…

Marantz Releases High-end BD/SACD Player in Japan

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Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen To Get Shifting Aspect Ratios and Longer Cut on Blu-ray?

I’m not trying to stir up shit here. This just seems like common sense to me. Though it’s not even in cinemas yet, all signs are pointing to the eventual Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Blu-ray release getting The Dark Knight treatment: aspect ratios that shift between 1.78:1 and 2.4:1 to approximate the theatrical experience of watching the film in IMAX. Michael Bay, outspoken Blu-ray enthusiast, shot four scenes with an IMAX camera and rendered the CGI robots in 4K resolution – a first for this style of special effect – to take advantage of the stupidly large 53ft tall screen. According to the director, those high-res scenes play longer in the IMAX cut of the film, shafting those poor souls who only experience the 35mm version out of a further few minutes of manic robot action. It only stands to reason that this cut will be the director’s preferred version to appear on Blu-ray as well, shifting IMAX ratios intact, no doubt shafting DVD purchasers out of the extended cut as well.

Michael Bay posted this statement on his official forum Sunday night: …Continued…

Live-action Dragonball Evolution Prepares to Assault Your Senses on Blu-ray

I remember a time, years ago, when I considered checking out the animated Dragonball series. A lot of my friends were going on about how amazing it was and how, if I was any kind of real anime fan I would sit my ass down and watch all the episodes from the beginning. Luckily for me, I didn’t end up becoming a fan (read: too lazy to get through it all) and therefore harbour no ill-will toward Fox’s much-maligned live-action adaptation, Dragonball Evolution, outside of the criminally poor-use of Chow Yun Fat in yet another of Hollywood’s mass-market martial-arts film (I guess I should really take that up with his agent or manager – ARE YOU LISTENING GUYS? HARD BOILED? THE KILLER? A BETTER TOMORROW? BRING THE REAL CHOW BACK!!)