Demon Warriors Region 1 English Sub DVD

"Demon Warriors" a.k.a "Opapatika" when it was released at theaters across Thailand two years ago, is supernatural action thriller that based on Thailand myth. Magnolia Home Entertainment via Amazon will finally release the Region 1 DVD for the film with of course the friendly English subtitle on this August 4, 2009. Written and directed by Thanakorn Pongsuwan, the story shares a similarity with Thanakorn's enigmatic 2003 drama, "Fake", in that all the characters are drawn to a mysterious and ethereal. The story also channels the likes of "Night Watch", "Blade" and "Underworld", especially with the themes of immortality and a secret parallel world of supernatural beings. However, the high-concept story of "Demon Warrior" is quite compelling, plus a strong ensemble cast of young and veteran leading men makes it watchable.

Plot:
A man learns a powerful lesson about the price of immortality in this thriller from Thailand. The Opapatikas are a special breed of people who have died only to be resurrected and given special powers; they are invincible in combat, cannot be killed, and gain unique super-human skills.
According to Buddhist belief the evolution of birth can be divided into three forms:
* Sangsethaca: To be born amongst rot and decay, as a worm or maggot.
* Anthaca: To be born from an egg, in the various forms of birds.
* Chalaphucha: To be conceived in the womb as a human or other mammal.
Then there is a fourth form, Opapatika, which goes against Buddhist beliefs because it involves suicide: a class of supernatural beings who are born out of suicide. However, the powers that they gain also have a negative effect.

Thuwachit (Pongpat Wachirabanjong), the loyal mortal henchman for the elderly Sadok (Nirut Sirichanya), is an Opapatika who is quickly decaying and needs to feast on the flesh of other Opapatikas in order to sustain himself. Sadok sends him out to capture others. The four Opapatikas remain in Sadok's hunt are Paisol (Chakrit Yaemnam), a ruthless assassin who must bear all the scars and wounds of his victims, Jiras (Somchai Khemklad), an immortal Opapatika, and the most powerful of them all who considers his immortality a curse, Aruth (Ray MacDonald), an invincible fighter by night, but weak in the daylight, and Ramil (Athip Nana), an adrenaline-fueled daredevil who can project a monstrous, ghostly creature to do his bidding.

There is also Detective Techit (Putthipong Sriwat), a police investigator who has learned the secrets of the Opapatikas, and wants to join their underground fraternity; he approaches Opapatika master Mr. Sadok (Nirut Sirichanya) in hopes of turning this dream into reality. Sadok allows Techit to become a Opapatika after the detective takes his own life, but as Techit gains the ability to see into the future, he begins to gradually lose his mortal senses as he does ritual battle with others. Techit is teamed up with Thuwachit, who leads a vast paramilitary army against the four Opapatika. The four immortals are also mysteriously drawn to a woman, Pran (Khemupsorn Sirisukha).

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K-20: Legend of the Mask Deluxe Edition DVD

"K-20: Legend of the mask" is considered a Japanese superhero movie although K-20 is not a superhero, he is more of Japanese robin hood but only more evil. The 2 billion yen movie has the realistic special effects that you rarely see in Japanese movies and its action scenes are breath-taking especially the acrobatic stunts and famous Takeshi Kaneshiro with good music.

Produced by Nippon Television Network (NTV), Robot Communications, and Toho, and stars Asian superstar Takeshi Kaneshiro (SWEET RAIN, RED CLIFF, RED CLIFF 2) as a circus acrobat who is framed by a mysterious Batman/Shadow-like villain. Toho is opening K-20 in theaters across Japan at December last year. Now, the film is already available in home entertainment packages. But still in Japan version, in YesAsia, I've found The Normal Edition DVD, The Deluxe Edition and also the Japan version Blu-ray.

The central figure in this thrilling story, Heikichi Endo, based on the novel by Soh Kitamura. Taking on the role is Takeshi Kaneshiro, an internationally recognized actor consistently cast in the biggest films produced in Asia. Playing heroine Duchess Yoko Hashiba is Takako Matsu, one of Japan’s most sophisticated and respected actresses. In the role of the cool antagonist is Toru Nakamura, an actor who commands audience attention. They are surrounded by a sterling cast of consummate performers, including Jun Kunimura, Reiko Takashima, Kanata Hongo, Yuki Imai, Toru Masuoka and Takeshi Kaga. "K-20: Legend of the mask" directed by the acclaimed writer-director Shimako Sato of who previous works include the UK/Japan co-production "TALE OF A VAMPIRE" (1992) which won the Avoriaz Prize at the Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival.

The story set in the fictional Japanese capital of Teito, in 1949. World War II has been avoided. The system of “nobility” established in the Meiji Era (mid-late 19th century) continues, creating an extreme divide between the upper and lower classes. 90% of the country’s wealth is controlled by the upper members of society.
Teito has been gripped by the emergence of a phantom thief who steals priceless objects from the rich. He is known as “The Fiend (Kaijin) With Twenty Faces” or simply “K-20″.
There is Heikichi Endo, a circus acrobat who is deceived by K-20 and set up to take the fall for the phantom thief. Using his incredible physical dexterity, Heikichi wages war against K-20 to prove his innocence. He fights alongside K-20’s next wealthy target, Duchess Yoko Hashiba, and her husband-to-be, brilliant detective Kogoro Akechi. But what is the ultimate decision Heikichi has to make?
And so, Heikichi’s breathless pursuit begins, unfolding into an epic battle. Will falsely charged Heikichi finally be able to clear his name? You’re in for the most unpredictable shock at the end of the movie!

ORDER THE FILM AT YESASIA IN THE AVAILABLE VERSIONS BELOW:
- "K-20: Legend of the Mask (DVD) (Deluxe Edition) (Japan Version)"
- "K-20: Legend of the Mask (Blu-ray) (Japan Version)"
- "K-20: Legend of the Mask (DVD) (Normal Edition) (Japan Version)"

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A Frozen Flower 2-Disc Uncut Director's Edition DVD

Although they said it was based on a true story from Goryeo Dynasty Korea (918-1392), viewers should bear in mind that the story is purely fictional. "A Frozen Flower" the film which directed by Yoo Ha (A Dirty Carnival, Once Upon A Time In High School) has also taken its title from a song of that era which described the sexual relationships between men and women. But in a resemblance to Ang Lee’s acclaimed drama, “Brokeback Mountain,” this film is a melodrama that following a secreted homosexual love, which take place between King of Goryeo and his bodyguard. As Yoo Ha explained that the film was "a love story between men," the director wanted to make a change from his previous works by doing a historical film with this fifth feature film of his career, he said, "I always felt uncomfortable with the genre but I felt I should try to overcome those feelings. It is also a new challenge for me to focus on a melodrama". Previously, director Yoo Ha has been widely acclaimed by moviegoers and critics alike for bringing out violence and collectivity from deep within the human soul, as well as for his provocative view on conventional ideas.

When the movie was released on 30th Dec, 2008 in South Korea, it was sold 310,000 tickets in just one day and easily topped the box office chart. "A Frozen Flower" also took in over 1 million admissions in its first four days, setting an all time record for an adult-rated film. It seems Erotic movies, often with scenes of nudity, are now hugely popular in Korea. Ignited by "Lust, Caution", which drew 3 million viewers in 2007, the fervor continued throughout last year with "Portrait of a Beauty" attracting 2.5 million and this "A Frozen Flower" with 4 million viewers. For you who haven't seen how erotic is the film, now it available at YESASIA DVD shelf in its special 2 disc uncut directors edition package.

Synopsis: In the end of Goryeo era politically manipulated by the Yuan Dynasty, the ambitious King of the Goryeo Dynasty organizes Kunryongwe. Hong Lim, the commander of Kunryongwe, captivates the King of Goryeo, and the Queen keeps her eyes on the relationship between Hong Lim and the King with a reluctant view. Meanwhile, the bilateral relation between Goryeo and the Yuan gets worse as Yuan demands to install the cousin of the King in the Crown Prince of Goryeo with ascribing it to no son the King has. The King refuses it resolutely, so the high-ranking officials of Goryeo, who are in submission to Yuan, are discontented with the king. One day, the King gives Hong Lim a covert yet unobjectionable order to sleep with the Queen instead of himself to protect the independence of Goryeo from the Yuan by making a son, the successor to Goryeo throne.

Although sexuality and nudity are no longer a hush-hush issue in this traditionally Confucian country, the South Korean movie "Ssanghwajeom (A Frozen Flower)" made headlines long before it was released here on Dec. 30 for its blunt depictions of homo- and bi-sexuality. The sex scenes in this historical drama, the fifth film by South Korea's only poet-turned-director Yoo Ha, certainly live up to their reputation. But these scenes are not simply meant to titillate. They are critical in showing how the boy in the palace slowly turns into a man and fights to come to terms with his sexual identity. And growing up is far harsher and more brutal for him, as it is the queen to whom he is inexorably drawn.
"The essence is still all there," the soft-spoken director said in a recent interview with a local movie magazine. "But this movie was a new and a frightening challenge for me because I was to talk about two very difficult things: historical drama and sexuality." The two factors that agonized Yoo so much appear to be mere tools used to complete the director's long-struggling persona. Unlike the two male characters in Yoo's past works, Hong Lim musters up "enough guts" to put up a real fight with the king, who was the creator of his first world, a benevolent father and a protective lover all in one.

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