In a Stateside hotel during the height of World War II young Danny Coogan dreams of joining the war effort. Following the murder of hotel guest Mr. Toulon by Nazi assassins Danny finds the old man's crate of mysterious puppets and is suddenly thrust into a battle all his own. He discovers that Nazis Max and Klaus along with beautiful Japanese saboteur Ozu plan to attack a secret American manufacturing plant. After his family is attacked and his girlfriend Beth is kidnapped it is up to Danny and the living deadly Puppets to stop this Axis of Evil.
From acclaimed director Feng Xiaogang (Aftershock, Assembly) comes this breathtaking war epic which revisits one of the most catastrophic periods of twentieth century Chinese history: the famine in Henan Province during the 1942 Sino-Japanese War, which claimed three million lives. Zhang Guoli stars as Master Fan, a wealthy landlord who loses everything when he and his family flee their famine-stricken hometown. Academy Award winner Adrian Brody (The Pianist) co-stars as a courageous American journalist who encounters the horrors of the famine first-hand and endeavours to enlist relief-aid from the Chinese government and expose the plight of the Henan refugees. Extras: Original trailers Promo reel Making Back to 1942 (18 mins) The Characters of 1942 (8mins) Optional 5.1 surround sound
Director Zhang Yimou brings the sumptuous visual style of his previous films (Raise the Red Lantern, Shanghai Triad) to the high-kicking kung fu genre. A nameless warrior (Jet Li, Romeo Must Die, Once Upon a Time in China) arrives at an emperor's palace with three weapons, each belonging to a famous assassin who had sworn to kill the emperor. As the nameless man spins out his story--and the emperor presents his own interpretation of what might really have happened--each episode is drenched in red, blue, white or another dominant color. Hero combines sweeping cinematography and superb performances from the cream of the Hong Kong cinema (Maggie Cheung, Irma Vep, Comrades: Almost a Love Story; Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, In the Mood for Love, Hard Boiled; and Zhang Ziyi, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The result is stunning, a dazzling action movie with an emotional richness that deepens with every step. --Bret Fetzer
Unleashed: Serve no master. Written and produced by Luc Besson and directed by Louis Leterrier Unleashed features a fantastic performance from martial arts superstar Jet Li. On and beneath the mean streets of Glasgow fiery gangster Bart (Hoskins) is merciless with debtors would-be rivals and anyone else he takes a passing dislike to. Bart maintains his stranglehold through his unwitting enforcer Danny (Jet Li) who he has 'raised' since boyhood. Danny has been kept as a near-prisoner: trained to attack and if necessary kill. Danny knows little of life except the brutal existence that Bart has so cruelly fashioned for him. However when Danny has a chance encounter with the sightless piano tuner Sam (Morgan Freeman) he senses true kindness and compassion for the first time and experiences the transforming power of music. When a sudden gangland coup separates Danny from Bart and the gang Danny escapes the underworld. Taking refuge with Sam and his stepdaughter Victoria (Kerry Condon) Danny finds a family of sorts and a future... However the mob will not give up their prize asset so easily and Danny must soon call upon his skills once more to protect his family and bury his past. (Dir. Louis Leterrier 2005) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Amazing martial arts fighting sequences (choreographed by Yuen wo Ping - The Matrix) stunning special effects action adventure and romance have made Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon the most talked about movie of the year. Martial arts masters Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) battle against evil forces to recover their stolen sword the legendary Green Destiny. (Dir. Ang Lee 2000) Kung Fu Hustle: From walking disaster to Kung Fu master: it's a new comedy unlike anything you have seen before! In the 1940's Chinese province of Guangdong petty thief Sing (Stephen Chow) aspires to become a member of the notorious Axe gang the fiercest cruel and most widespread crime syndicate in the city. However Sing is just a street rascal (trying to ignore the fact that his heart is actually in the right place) and so he ventures into the run-down Pig Sty Alley to prove his worth. However in attempting to extort money from the hairdresser Sing unwittingly exposes the plump landlady her hen-pecked husband the camp tailor and rugged coolie as martial arts masters in hiding. Coming to the attention of the Axe gang who want to clear out the apartments Sing's actions have set off a relentless chain of events that brings the clans together in an explosive battle! Stephen Chow continues his unique comedy style that first came to the attention of the West in Shaolin Soccer mixing slapstick in the finest tradition of Buster Keaton; to marvellous martial arts choreographed by none other than Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix Kill Bill); to dance sequences with tuxedoed gangsters; to moments of genuine pathos concerning Sing's mysterious history involving a beautiful mute lollipop vendor... (Dir. Stephen Chow 2004)
CJ7 is a comedy about a poor laborer father played by Stephen Chow and his young son. When a fascinating and strange new pet enters their lives they learn a poignant lesson about the true nature of family and the things money can't buy.
A Kung-Fu Monk comes to the States to take care of his deceased brother's son. While setting up a school and learning about life in the US he becomes embroiled in an underground fighting club in order to save the lives of his friends.
Xanda is the latest film to be produced by Tsui Hark famous for his collaborations with John Woo and his attempts to reinvent various Chinese legends in films such as 'Once Upon A Time In China'. Qiang learns that Lung has been training in Xanda under his father Tieh a former Xanda fighter himself who has since retired from the sport and become a coach. When Qiang helps Lung with his training Qiang is able to use his Kung Fu to good use. Along the way he meets Ning a young woman whose feelings for Qiang and his culture soon turn to love. Lung is ready to compete against Wei in the Xanda competition in hopes that he will earn his father's respect by winning the championship. However Lung is viciously mauled by Wei and ends up in the hospital. Qiang offers to take on Wei combining Xanda with his form of Kung Fu. After months of training the time has come for Qiang to step up to the plate and take on Wei in the ultimate Xanda showdown...
Marco Polo
A superb four disc digipack package with more than 14 hours of entertainment! The Warrior Box Set features two of Asia's most successful films - Bichunmoo and The Warrior. Together they make The Warrior Box Set a stunning mix of evocative action sweeping epic sequences and unforgettable dramatic content. Bichunmoo At the end of the Yuan Dynasty when Mongolia was ruling all of the Chinese continent the Mongolians the Hans and the Koryo (ancient Korean) migrants were going
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (Dir. Ang Lee 2000): Amazing martial arts fighting sequences (choreographed by Yuen wo Ping - The Matrix) stunning special effects action adventure and romance have made Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon the most talked about movie of the year. Martial arts masters Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat) and Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) battle against evil forces to recover their stolen sword the legendary Green Destiny. Warriors Of Heaven & Earth (Dir. Ping Lee 2003): China 700AD: the Tang Dynasty assumes far-reaching political influence culminating in battle against the Turks. Wen Zhu (Zhao Wei) the daughter of a top Chinese general spearheading the forces massed against the Turkish enemy is entrusted to the care of Lai Xi (Kiichi Nakai) the Japanese emissary and feared imperial bounty hunter who hunts down rebels in the Western Frontier who is ordered take her back to the capital city of Changan. Lai Xi longs for a return to his beloved Japanese homeland but his assignment is hijacked by the command to hunt down rebel Li (Jiang Wen) a lieutenant condemned to death for disobeying a direct order to murder innocent women and children in the name of war. However as dedicated to carrying out his duty as Lai Xi is when he tracks down Li he is surprised to find his foe transporting a sacred Buddhist relic across the Gobi desert to its rightful resting place. As Turkish forces mass to attack in an effort to steal the relic Lai Xi must question his loyalty to his superiors and his Buddhist faith... Likened to the multi-Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Zhang Yimou's No.1 U.S. box office hit Hero China's official entry for the Best Foreign language Academy award Warriors Of Heaven And Earth is epic entertainment! Legend Of The Red Dragon (Dir. Wong Jing 2001): The epic story of a man who challenged the limits of courage and fought for the heart of a nation. When his wife and entire village are brutally murdered by evil Manchu soldiers the master warrior Kwun (Jet Li) sets out on a mission of vengeance with the only survivor of the massacre - his son Ting. For seven years the two journey across ancient China on their quest for revenge always staying one step ahead of the deadly army. But Kwun is forced to face the past when they come across a wealthy benefactor with five young Shaolin masters in his charge who unbeknownst to Kwun have the detailed map to a priceless treasure trove tattooed on their backs. It is not long before Manchu officials find out about the maps and deadly soldiers came after the masters. Now in an ancient battle that will pit Kwun against one of the very soldiers who helped to kill his family he and Ting will unite with the young masters of Shaolin for a fight to the death. Get ready for an ancient martial arts battle with the world's most masterful warriors!
Former Scissor Gang leader Eun-jin (Shin Eun-kyung) who now suffers from amnesia defends Jae-cheol (Jun Gyu Park) a restaurateur who employs her from a gangster who wants his business.
House of Flying Daggers The film is set in 859 AD. The once great Tang Dynasty is now in decline. Numerous rebel groups have formed the largest of which is the House of Flying Daggers based in Feng Tian county. The Flying Daggers steal from the rich and give to the poor gaining the support of the locals. The local deputies have managed to kill the leader of the Flying Daggers but the rebel group only becomes stronger due to a mysterious new leader. Jin and Leo two police captains are ordered to kill the new leader within ten days. In order to accomplish this they arrest Mei a blind dancer who is suspected of being the daughter of the old leader. While Mei is incarcerated Jin and Leo decide to play a trick on her; Jin will pretend to be a lone warrior called Wind and break her out of prison. This will gain her trust and hopefully Jin will be lead to the headquarters of Flying Daggers. The plan works but Mei and Jin begin to fall in love on the way. We eventually find out that Mei was only pretending to be blind and has known who Jin was all along and that Leo was working for the House of Flying Daggers as an undercover agent. He had hopes of winning Mei's affection by helping to destroy the government from within. Leo is upset that his many years of working undercover have not succeeded in winning Mei's heart but Jin's three days have. The emotions of the three spill into battle leading to tragedy Bulletproof Monk The film begins in the 1940s as a Tibetan Buddhist monk charged with protecting an ancient scroll passes on his legacy to his pupil. As the student receives the power to safeguard the scroll his aging process is halted and he gives up his name only to be known as the Monk (Chow Yun-Fat). Suddenly the monastery is raided by Nazis led by the ruthless Strucker (Karl Roden). As they attempt to seize the relic the Monk is shot and falls off a cliff taking the scroll with him... However six decades later the Monk appears in America and crosses paths with Kar (Seann William Scott) a tough city kid with a talent for picking pockets. Together the unlikely duo must contend with the forces of the now-elderly Strucker still determined to possess the mystical scroll. As Strucker's granddaughter Nina (Victoria Smurfit) leads his thugs to track down Kar and the Monk the two heroes receive help from the mysterious Jade (Jaime King)...
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is so many things: an historical epic on a grand scale, an Asian martial-arts flick with both great effects and fantastic fighting (choreographed by The Matrix's guru Yuen Wo Ping), a story of magic, revenge and power played with a posse of star-crossed lovers thrown in for good measure. Set during the Qing dynasty (the late 19th century), the film follows the fortunes of righteous warriors Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien (Asian superstars Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh, respectively) whose love for one another has lain too long unspoken. When Li Mu Bai's legendary sword Green Destiny is stolen by wilful aristocrat's daughter Jen (exquisite newcomer Zhang Ziyi), who has been trained in the way of the gangster by Li Mu Bai's arch-rival Jade Fox, the warriors must fight to recover the mystical blade. The plot takes us all across China, from dens of iniquity and sumptuous palaces to the stark plains of the Western desert. Characters chase each other up walls and across roof and treetops to breathtaking effect, and Tan Dun's haunting, Oscar-winning East-West inflected score. Directed by Taiwanese-born Ang Lee and co-written by his longtime collaborator American James Schamus, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon joins the ranks of the team's slate of high-quality, genre-spanning literary adaptations. Although it superficially seems like a return to Ang's Asian roots, there's a clear throughline connecting this with their earlier, Western films given the thematic focus on propriety and family honour (Sense and Sensibility), repressed emotions (The Ice Storm) and divided loyalties in a time of war (Ride with the Devil). Nonetheless, a film this good needs no prior acquaintance with the director's oeuvre; it stands on its own. The only people who might be dismissive of it are jaded chop-socky fans who will probably feel bored with all the romance. Everyone else will love it. --Leslie Felperin On the DVD: As might be expected this superb anamorphic widescreen version of the original 2.35:1 theatrical ratio presents Peter Pau's spellbinding cinematography in its full glory; the same goes for the Dolby 5.1 audio track that showcases Tan Dun's haunting score. Annoyingly, however, the default language option is the dubbed English soundtrack, which means you have to select the original Mandarin version before playing. The extra features are good but not exceptional, with an obligatory "making-of" documentary and commentary from Ang Lee and James Schamus being the best options: the director and producer/cowriter chat amiably and in some detail about their martial arts version of Sense and Sensibility. But it's the breathtaking delight of the seeing the movie in such quality that really counts, and this disc does not disappoint. --Mark Walker
Moving The Mountain is a documentary based on the demonstrations of students in Peking 1989. Beijing May 1989. The world watched as a hundred students became a thousand a thousand became ten thousand as thousands became a million - and a nation starved of freedom cried out for a taste of democracy. In this compelling film director Michael Apted (Nell Gorillas in the Mist) captures the power and passion of the Tiananmen Square uprising through a unique combination of newsreel footage dramatic re-enactments and extensive input form the actual student leaders. Exploring their personal histories reflections and thoughts on the future. Moving The Mountain paints a portrait of courage conviction and commitment that the New York Post calls A soaring - and sobering - tribute to the human spirit.
Presented by 'the original boxing tree of traditional shaolin kung fu' with demonstrations and explanations provided by Zhang Lihui - 5th Dan in Chinese Wushu.
OA 1010; OPUS ARTE - BBC - Inghilterra; Classica contemporanea operistica
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