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Hong Kong Action DVDs

Far North

Sales Rank:16265
List Price: $27.98
Lowest New Price: $11.99
Lowest Used Price: $11.48
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)

Format:

AC-3
Color
Dolby
DVD-Video
NTSC
Subtitled
Widescreen

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Sean Bean
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Krusiec

Far North is an eerie, somewhat dystopian fantasy starring Michelle Yeoh as Saiva, a determined survivor who has been on the run in a glacier-ridden, polar region of the Earth for years. Constantly staying a step ahead of a mysterious, conquering army ever since they destroyed her family and village, Saiva has raised a child, Anja (Michelle Krusiec), in a constant state of fear. Keeping apart from other human company, Anja, now a young woman, becomes interested in living a fuller life when a stranger, Loki (Sean Bean), turns up. A fugitive from those same, roaming men with guns, Loki initially seems interested in a flattered Saiva, but quickly turns his romantic attention to the emotionally-starved Anja, creating an unusual and uncomfortable tension in their cocoon-like world. A visually dazzling movie shot in a starkly beautiful corner of the planet, Far North uses the lonely exotica of its backdrop as a huge metaphor for the absence of human relationships and the madness such isolation engenders. The small cast is terrific, with Yeoh typically expressing volumes of passion behind the greatest restraint. Directed by Asif Kapadia, Far North looks and feels like a dream that might awake one in a cold sweat. --Tom Keogh

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Memoirs of a Geisha (Single Disc Version)

Sales Rank:22853
List Price: $14.94
Lowest New Price: $2.99
Lowest Used Price: $0.99
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Format:

AC-3
Closed-captioned
Color
Dolby
Dubbed
DVD-Video
Subtitled
Widescreen
NTSC

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Ziyi Zhang
Suzuka Ohgo
Ken Watanabe
Kôji Yakusho
Youki Kudoh

Chicago director Rob Marshall's pretty but empty (or pretty empty) film has all the elements of an Oscar® contender: solid adaptation (from Arthur Golden's bestseller), beautiful locale, good acting, lush cinematography. But there's something missing at the heart, which leaves the viewer sucked in, then left completely detached from what's going on.

It's hard to find fault with the fascinating story, which traces a young girl's determination to free herself from the imprisonment of scullery maid to geisha, then from the imprisonment of geisha to a woman allowed to love. Chiyo (Suzuka Ohgo), a young girl with curious blue eyes, is sold to a geisha house and doomed to pay off her debt as a cleaning girl until a stranger named The Chairman (Ken Watanabe) shows her kindness. She is inspired to work hard and become a geisha in order to be near the Chairman, with whom she has fallen in love. An experienced geisha (Michelle Yeoh) chooses to adopt her as an apprentice and to use as a pawn against her rival, the wicked, legendary Hatsumomo (Gong Li). Chiyo (played as an older woman by Ziyi Zhang), now renamed Sayuri, becomes the talk of the town, but as her path crosses again and again with the Chairman's, she finds the closer she gets to him the further away he seems. Her newfound "freedom" turns out to be trapping, as men are allowed to bid on everything from her time to her virginity.

Some controversy swirled around casting Chinese actresses in the three main Japanese roles, but Zhang, Yeoh and Gong in particular ably prove they're the best for the part. It's admirable that all the actors attempted to speak Japanese-accented English, but some of the dialogue will still prove difficult to understand; perhaps it contributes to some of the emotion feeling stilted. Geisha has all the ingredients of a sweeping, heartbreaking epic and follows the recipe to a T, but in the end it's all dressed up with no place to go.--Ellen A. Kim

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Fist of Legend

Sales Rank:17573
List Price: $9.99
Lowest New Price: $15.75
Lowest Used Price: $6.27
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)

Format:

Color
Dubbed
DVD-Video
Letterboxed
Widescreen
NTSC

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Jet Li
Shinobu Nakayama
Siu-hou Chin
Billy Chow
Yasuaki Kurata

Like compatriot Jackie Chan, martial arts champion Jet Li has long been revered in his native country and enjoys a cult following in the States among aficionados of Hong Kong cinema. After two decades, it took his villainous turn in Lethal Weapon 4 to put him on the Hollywood map, paving the way for the release of his earlier films. Fist of Legend is a 1994 production and a remake of The Chinese Connection (also known as Fists of Fury, which starred the greatest martial arts legend of them all, Bruce Lee). This film is set in 1937, when Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese and racial tensions were high. Li stars as Chen Zhen, who returns to Shanghai to avenge the death of his master, whom he learns was poisoned. His popular freestyle fighting technique and Japanese girlfriend do not endear him to his former friend, now his master's successor at the martial arts school. If Jackie Chan is inspired by Buster Keaton, Li seems to be channeling Steve McQueen. He speaks softly and carries a big kick. And like Steven Seagal, even when he is under siege by a horde of attackers, no one can lay a finger on this guy. The dialogue and dubbing are atrocious, but the fight sequences are incredible (they were choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping, who lent his expertise to The Matrix). Perhaps most memorable is a bout between Chen and his girlfriend's uncle during which the combatants wear blindfolds. This is essential viewing for martial arts buffs and Li's growing legion of fans. --Donald Liebenson

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Jackie Chan's First Strike

Sales Rank:22774
List Price: $9.98
Lowest New Price: $2.18
Lowest Used Price: $0.71
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Format:

Anamorphic
Closed-captioned
Color
Dolby
DVD-Video
Full Screen
Widescreen
NTSC

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Jackie Chan
Jackson Liu
Annie Wu
Bill Tung
Yuri Petrov

Action-god Jackie Chan does his best James Bond impression with this ecstatic sequel to the classic Supercop. The bare-bones plot has Chan in pursuit of international terrorists, but the narrative quickly gives way to an unceasing barrage of insane stunt work (including a nitro-fueled ski chase and a grandiose fight scene set inside a functioning shark tank). As with most of the aging star's recent films, there is more of an emphasis placed on big, impersonal (albeit impressive) stunts rather than the close-up combat that made him famous; but the end result is still a must-see rush for longtime fans, and a great introduction for newcomers eager to see what all the well-deserved fuss is about. The scene where Jackie takes on multiple goons while armed only with a ladder is one of his most jaw-dropping set pieces ever--and that's saying quite a lot. Be sure to stick around for the closing credits of gags gone awry, which graphically prove that Chan is truly the hardest working man in show business. --Andrew Wright

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Infernal Affairs (Wu jian dao)

Sales Rank:17404
List Price: $14.99
Lowest New Price: $1.99
Lowest Used Price: $1.49
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)

Format:

Closed-captioned
Color
Dubbed
DVD-Video
NTSC

Director(s):

Siu Fai Mak
Wai-keung Lau

Actor(s):

Andy Lau
Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
Eric Tsang
Kelly Chen

With Infernal Affairs, Hong Kong filmmakers Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak have successfully taken a smart script and a great cast, added some stylistic cinematography, and dual-fistedly given a new twist to a formulaic genre. Lau Kin Ming (Andy Lau), a young, loyal gangster, is ordered by his Triad boss Sam (Eric Tsang) to join the police force. While on the inside the young mole can keep a close eye on police activity, ensuring the gang's activities will not be interrupted. Police Superintendent Wong (Anthony Wong Chau-Sang) has a similar plan. He takes a bright, ambitious police cadet Yan (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and makes him an undercover cop with plans to get him inside the Triads. Years pass and both are now deep into their assigned roles. Undercover cop Yan, more or less living the life of a gangster, is now a member of Boss Sam's group, and "Officer" Lau has all the appearance of a good cop trying to bust up the Triads' drug ring. During a bust that could finally bring down Boss Sam, the moles inadvertently become aware of each other's existence, and each is left wondering who is on the inside. What follows is a unique and exciting twist on the classic cat and mouse chase in which each man is not fighting for his life, but for his anonymity. In addition to its plot twists, what lifts Infernal Affairs above the standard cop story is its subtle exploration of the relative nature of good and evil. Part action, part psychological examination, Infernal Affairs is a sharp and fresh take on the classic crime story, and the inspiration for a 2006 Martin Scorsese remake (The Departed). Not to be missed. --Rob Bracco

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Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Director´s Cut)

Sales Rank:19554
List Price: $19.98
Lowest New Price: $10.99
Lowest Used Price: $8.35
MPAA Rating: Unrated

Format:

AC-3
Color
Director's Cut
Dolby
DVD-Video
Subtitled
Widescreen
NTSC

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Anthony de Longis
Jet Li
Masato Harada
Betty Sun
Dong Yong

International superstar Jet Li (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) delivers ultimate action as never before in the all-new Director’s Cut of his final martial arts epic with over 35 minutes of additional footage! Inspired by the true story of a real-life hero, Jet Li stars as a renowned martial arts champion who must come face-to-face with the most ferocious fighters in the world as part of a difficult path to redemption. Featuring 3 versions of the film (Director’s Cut, Unrated Version and Theatrical Version), Jet Li’s Fearless is an edge-of-your-seat masterpiece of pride, vengeance, and self discovery!

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Flash Point

Sales Rank:23606
List Price: $24.95
Lowest New Price: $12.29
Lowest Used Price: $11.68
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)

Format:

Closed-captioned
Color
Dubbed
DVD-Video
NTSC
Subtitled
Widescreen

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Koo
Yen
Chou

Kung fu legend Donnie Yen (Hero, Seven Swords) returns as the police force's most dangerous detective, building a case against a vicious trio of drug smuggling brothers. When evidence is destroyed and witnesses are murdered, he takes the fight directly to his enemies - no holds barred.

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Formula 51

Sales Rank:20365
List Price: $14.94
Lowest New Price: $6.24
Lowest Used Price: $1.10
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)

Format:

Anamorphic
Closed-captioned
Color
Dolby
DVD-Video
Full Screen
Subtitled
Widescreen
NTSC

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Samuel L. Jackson
Robert Carlyle
Emily Mortimer
Nigel Whitmey
Robert Jezek

Wildly entertaining but riddled with as many plot holes as bullets, Formula 51 (a.k.a. The 51st State) is a love-it-or-hate-it action comedy that plays like Tarantino on the Thames. It's a raucous hash, highlighted by the sheer pleasure of Samuel L. Jackson--in a kilt, no less--strutting his stuff among denizens of the British underworld. As freelance chemist Elmo McElroy (whose tartan attire remains glibly unexplained), Jackson is perfectly teamed with The Full Monty's Robert Carlyle in a scam involving Elmo's latest pharmaceutical concoction, which promises to yield a fortune on the rave scene. This attracts a loopy British kingpin (the outrageous Rhys Ifans), Elmo's vengeful ex-boss (Meat Loaf), a corrupt cop (Sean Pertwee), and a lovely assassin (Emily Mortimer) with a soft spot for Carlyle. They're all given generous helpings of Stel Pavlou's profanely zesty dialogue, and director Ronny Yu strikes a breezy balance between rampant hilarity and blood-splattering violence. If that's your cup of tea, Formula 51 guarantees a satisfying buzz. --Jeff Shannon

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Lara Croft Two Pack (Tomb Raider/The Cradle of Life) - Widescreen

Sales Rank:19205
List Price: $19.98
Lowest New Price: $9.49
Lowest Used Price: $9.57
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Format:

Closed-captioned
Color
DVD-Video
Widescreen
NTSC

Director(s):

Jan de Bont
Simon West

Actor(s):

Angelina Jolie
Gerard Butler
Chris Barrie
Jon Voight
Iain Glen

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Like the video game series it's based on, Tomb Raider is best enjoyed for its physical strategies, since even casual scrutiny of story details will induce a headache. It's more concerned with puzzles than plot, populated with characters that don't have personalities so much as attitudes. It's silly and somber at the same time, but as a franchise vehicle for Angelina Jolie in the title role of relic hunter Lara Croft, this is packaged entertainment at its most agreeable, ambitious in scope and scale, and filled with the kind of globetrotting adventure that could make Jolie the best thing that's happened to action movies since Indiana Jones. Could being the operative word here, because Tomb Raider can't match any of Steven Spielberg's celebrated joyrides, but the ingredients are there for an exquisitely cinematic meal. Perhaps to distance himself from Lara Croft's video game origins, director Simon West takes things a bit too seriously; Tomb Raider handles its plot (involving a planetary alignment, the nefarious Illuminati, and coveted relics that hold the key to controlling the flow of time) with all the gravity of a championship chess match... minus the tension. If the movie had lightened up and been truly suspenseful (instead of being suffused with been-there, done-that familiarity), it would have been an instant popcorn classic. As it is, however, this is an elegantly mounted adventure featuring exotic locations (in Cambodia and Iceland) and an exotic star born for her role. Even without her padded bra, Jolie would be the living embodiment of Lara Croft, and that's enough to bode well for inevitable sequels.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
This sequel is certainly better than its 2001 predecessor, but its appeal is mostly aimed at fans of the video games that inspired both movies. That pretty much leaves you with some fun but familiar action sequences, and the ever-alluring sight of Angelina Jolie (reprising her title role) as she swims, swings, kicks, shoots, flies, jet-skis, motorcycles, and free-falls her way toward saving the world, this time by making sure that a grimacing villain (Ciaran Hinds) doesn't open Pandora's Box (yes, the actual mythological object) and unleash a deadly plague that will "weed out" the global population. Exotic locations add to Jolie's own coolly erotic appeal, but we're left wondering if this franchise has anywhere else to go. --Jeff Shannon

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Above the Law

Sales Rank:25524
List Price: $14.95
Lowest New Price: $1.73
Lowest Used Price: $4.64
MPAA Rating: Unrated

Format:

Closed-captioned
Color
DVD-Video
Widescreen
NTSC

Director(s):

Actor(s):

Yuen Biao
Roy Chiao Hung
Cynthia Rothrock
Wu Ma
Melvin Wong

(Martial Arts/Action) A tough-as-nails police inspector (Rothrock) tracks a vigilante killer and discovers a massive, deadly conspiracy.

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