Asian Cinema Thread

The first film confirmed for the second Toshiaki Toyoda Blu-ray box set from Third Window Films is his 2005 film Hanging Garden (Kūchū Teien).

To recap, the first box set contained Pornostar (1998), Unchain (2000), and 9 Souls (2003), while Blue Spring (2001) was released on its own in recent years.
 
Two more films were announced for the Toshiaki Toyoda second box set - Monsters Club (モンスターズクラブ), released in 2012, and The Day of Destruction (破壊の日), released in 2020.

The distributor has also mentioned there's two more films to be announced, so it looks like we have a 5 film box set for a change. Given the distributor's niche catalogue, I expect this one to be pretty expensive (for comparison the first box set has 3 films for £29.99 SRP).
 
Artwork has been revealed for the next batch of Shaw Brothers films coming from 88 Films; The Chinese Boxer, Disciples of Shaolin, and The Flag of Iron.

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For those who were looking to start a collection dedicated to this group, sadly a number of the films are now out of print (though it would not surprise me if they make a return with the upcoming Arrow release next year).
  1. Hex [OOP]
  2. Black Magic [OOP]
  3. Five Element Ninjas [OOP]
  4. House of Traps [OOP]
  5. Seeding of a Ghost [OOP]
  6. The Mighty Peking Man [OOP]
  7. Killer Constable [OOP]
  8. Masked Avengers [OOP]
  9. The Only Maniac
  10. The Flying Guillotine [OOP]
  11. The Bride From Hell [Almost OOP]
  12. Bewitched [Almost OOP]
  13. The Brave Archer [OOP]
  14. Casino Tycoon [Almost OOP]
  15. One-Armed Swordsman [OOP]
  16. The Dragon Missile [OOP]
  17. The Enchanting Ghost [Almost OOP]
  18. The Ghost Lovers [Almost OOP]
  19. The Super Inframan [OOP]
  20. Black Magic 2
  21. The Spiritual Boxer
  22. The Human Goddess
  23. The Vengeful Beauty
  24. Come Drink With Me
  25. The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter
  26. Clan of the White Lotus
Official specs have also been revealed for June titles Forbidden City Cop and Category III title Erotic Ghost Story.

EROTIC GHOST STORY LIMITED EDITION:
  • Rigid slipcase with brand new artwork by R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien
  • Double-Sided Foldout Poster featuring new artwork and original HK poster
  • 40-page perfect bound book “From an ancient past to an unknown future - A brief introduction to Category III cinema and Erotic Ghost Story” by Dylan Cheung
  • Stunning new and exclusive HD restoration in 1:85:1 aspect ratio
  • English LPCM Mono 2.0
  • Cantonese LPCM Mono 2.0
  • Newly translated English Subtitles
  • Audio Commentary with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
  • Audio Commentary with Film Critic and Author Samm Deighan
  • [Archive] Episode of Celebrity Talk Show [今夜不設防] James Wong, Ni Kuang and Chua Lam visit the set of Erotic Ghost Story and talk to the stars [45 minutes]
  • Hong Kong Trailer
  • Tai Seng Trailer
  • Reversible sleeve with original Hong Kong poster artwork
FORBIDDEN CITY COP:
  • Slipcase and A3 fold-out poster [First print run ONLY]
  • 4 collectable original lobby card reproductions [First print run ONLY]
  • New HD remaster presented in Original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Cantonese DTS-HD MA Mono and Stereo audio options
  • Newly Remastered English Subtitles
  • [new] Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
  • [new] Audio Commentary by Hong Kong cinema aficionados Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
  • [archive] Behind-the-Scenes Featurette with newly translated English subtitles
  • Original Hong Kong Trailer
  • Reversible sleeve with original Hong Kong poster artwork and brand-new artwork from R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien
 
The fifth and final film has finally been announced for the second Toshiaki Toyoda collection (no clue on its official title since it's not yet been finalised). I'm Flash (アイム・フラッシュ！), released in 2012. The collection is scheduled for release later in 2021.

During an interview with OTAQUEST, they have also acquired the rights to release Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes.
 
Arrow's Asian Cinema release for August 2021 is revealed.

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Blind Beast (Blu-ray)
Release Date: 23rd August 2021​

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
  • Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio
  • Optional English subtitles
  • Brand new audio commentary by Asian cinema scholar Earl Jackson
  • Newly filmed introduction by Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
  • Blind Beast: Masumura the Supersensualist, a brand new visual essay by Japanese literature and visual studies scholar Seth Jacobowitz
  • Original Trailer
  • Image Gallery
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Virginie Sélavy.
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A Tale of Two Sisters (Blu-ray)
Release Date: 16th August 2021
​
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
  • Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 and uncompressed stereo audio
  • Optional English subtitles
  • Brand-new Audio commentary by Korean Cinema historian Pierce Conran & critic James Marsh
  • Audio commentary by writer/director Kim Jee-woon, lighting cameraman Oh Seung-chul and cinematographer Lee Mo-gae
  • Audio commentary by writer/director Kim Jee-woon and cast members Im Soo-jung and Moon Geun-young
  • Always on the Move: The Dynamic Camera and Spaces of Master Stylist Kim Jee-woon, a brand-new visual essay by Korean Cinema historian Pierce Conran
  • Spirits of the Peninsula: Folklore in Korean Cinema, a brand-new visual essay by cultural historian Shawn Morrisey
  • Imaginary Beasts: Memory, Trauma & the Uncanny in A Tale of Two Sisters, a brand-new visual essay by genre historian and critic Kat Ellinger
  • Behind the Scenes, an archival featurette shot during filming
  • Outtakes, archival footage from set
  • Production Design, archival featurette about the intricate look of the sets
  • Music Score, archival featurette
  • CGI, an archival featurette
  • Creating the Poster, an archival featurette about the iconic original poster
  • Cast Interviews, archival interviews with Kim Kab-su (Father), Yeom Jung-a (Stepmother), Im Soo-jung (Su-mi), and Moon Geun-young (Su-yeon)
  • Deleted scenes with director’s commentary
  • Director’s analysis, an archival featurette in which Kim Jee-woon discusses the complexity and ambiguities contained within the film and why they were important to him
  • Director’s thoughts on horror, an archival featurette in which Kim Jee-woon discusses his feelings about the horror genre
  • Psychiatrist's Perspective, an archival featurette exploring the psychological reality behind the story of the film
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Stills galleries
  • Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde
  • FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by critics Stacie Ponder and Anya Stanley, plus a new translation of the original Korean folktale that inspired the film.
A Tale of Two Sisters is another film rescued from Tartan Video (with I'm a Cyborg, Infernal Affairs Trilogy and Thirst being the remaining Blu-ray released titles from Tartan left to be rescued I recall).
 
Two terrific announcements from Arrow. I dug into their release of Masumura's Giants and Toys the other night so I'm particularly looking forward to Blind Beast. It's a shame that A Tale of Two Sisters will (seemingly) be the same old transfer that's been used on previous Blu-Ray releases, but c'est la vie.
 
Something I'm slightly surprised at and will be tempted heavily by the OCD to complete my collection! but the standard edition of The Young Master is coming with a slipcover!
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IncendiaryLemon said:
I haven't seen many Asian cinema films and my collection is non existant but I guess I'll throw my hat in the rimg. Out of the handful I've seen my favourite has to be I Saw The Devil. Its a brutal Korean revenge thriller and its absolutely fantastic. It has some excellent direction/cinematography and its genuinely tense in places. I'd definitely recommend it.

I've also seen Takashi Miike's Audition and was disappointed. From what I read I was prepared for this ultra violent, disturbing film but the internet really over sold it. Sure, those elements are in there but you have to sit through an hour and a half of a fairly boring romance film to get there.
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I agree there - Audition is imo overrated and not one of Miike’s nest
 
88 films replied to a tweet about Armour of God and said it would be a 'super duper edition' don't think they've mentioned this before but I expect something similar to The Young Master deluxe edition.
 
Looks like Robotrix has been delayed until September 27th according to Amazon.

Edit: Story of Ricky as well.

Edit (pt 2): looks like 88 films entire slate had been pushed back a month...
 
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Jon O Fun said:
Looks like Robotrix has been delayed until September 27th according to Amazon.

Edit: Story of Ricky as well.

Edit (pt 2): looks like 88 films entire slate had been pushed back a month...
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On the plus side, I can use the money in July & August for other stuff.
 
Jon O Fun said:
Looks like Robotrix has been delayed until September 27th according to Amazon.

Edit: Story of Ricky as well.

Edit (pt 2): looks like 88 films entire slate had been pushed back a month...
Click to expand...
I saw Robotrix years ago on R1 dvd and uncut - the UK dvd was cut - don’t know about the re release...
 
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