"71-Into the Fire" 2-Disc Korea Version DVD

South Korean war film "71-Into the Fire" has been a great hit among critics and fans in South Korea upon it’s initial release. Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War this year, the film had garnered much hype among the media even ahead of going into production due to its 4 A-list actors and the huge investment put to produce this high quality production (11 Billion Won). The movie is based on a true story where Kwon Sang-Woo (权相宇), Choi Seung-Hyun (a.k.a T.O.P, power rapper of Korea’s group BIG BANG) and others play 71 student soldiers who are outnumbered but fight valiantly to defend a strategic point against the advancing North Korean army led by Cha Seung-Won. Kim Seung Woo plays a middle ranking South Korean officer. "71-Into the Fire" is highly reviewed and referred to the “Saving Private Ryan” and “Letters of Iwo Jima” of the year. The movie attracted 114,131 people on its opening day, and has accumulated over 3.3 million admissions to date, making it the fastest movie this year to breach the one million mark. The film will be one of the title representing Korea to contend for Best Foreign Film in the Oscars next year.

In June 1950, a war between North and South Korea broke out, and it quickly engulfed the entire peninsula. A South Korean soldier (Kim Seung Woo) is ordered to take his troops to assist a group of young soldiers defend an area near the Nakdong River. The ragtag group of inexperienced soldiers, which includes criminal bad boy Gap Su (Kwon Sang Woo), is led by Jang Beom (T.O.P), the only one in the group with battle experience. After providing minimal training to the youth squadron, the expert soldiers go off to the Nakdong River to fight the North Koreans. However, the enemy battalion, led by General Park (Cha Seung Won), decided to take an alternate path in the direction of Jang Beom's squad.

Two-disc DVD Edition comes with audio commentary with screenwriter, director, and T.O.P., behind the scenes footage, interviews, press conference, and trailers. It also comes with four postcards.

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"Blades of Blood" 2-Disc Korea Version DVD

After the groundbreaking hits "King and The Clown", director Lee Joon Ik once again captures the Joseon era with the riveting period actioner "Blades of Blood". Based on a comic by Park Heung Yong, the film matches up two of Korea's most acclaimed and charismatic actors, Cha Seung Won (Secret) and Hwang Jung Min (A Man Who Was Superman), in a duel to the death. The DVD edition of this film includes audio commentary, pre-production, making of, character analysis, action featurette, dialogue with audience, music video, trailer, and other special features.

On the verge of the 16th-century Japanese invasion, the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) is thrown into political and social chaos. The film throws up a lot of the laughs by featuring an irritable, and rather vapid, King Seonjo, and two opposing bicameral parties that are more concerned with gaining his favor than finding solutions: ``The Japanese are coming, please round up the army,’’ beseeches one group to the king, while the other group says nay just for the sake of disagreeing ``Are they really not coming?’’ asks one official, to which another responds, ``How should I know? Since they said the Japanese are coming, we should just say they aren’t.’’
Those dreaming of building a better world try to fight the foreign forces by forming their own political party, Daedonggye, but are forced to disband after being framed for treason.
Lee Mong-hak (Cha Seung-won), a descendent of the royal family, assumes leadership of the group and organizes a large-scale coup. Fueled by his ambition to claim the crown, he does not hesitate to ruthlessly kill friends and colleagues that get in his way.
As a sword-swinging rebellion grips the nation, Lee’s old friend, an uncanny blind swordsman named Hwang Jeong-hak (Hwang Jung-min), sets out to stop the bloody ordeal. Meanwhile, Gyeon-ja, a vengeful young man who lost his family to Lee’s coup (Baek Seong-hyeon), and Baek-ji, a beautiful ``gisaeng’’ whose heart was broken by Lee (Han Ji-hye plays the role of the concubine entertainer), join Jeong-hak to track down the notorious rebel.

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"True Legend" Hong Kong Version DVD

"True Legend" is regarded by critics as one of the most stunning flicks Yuen Woo-Ping has ever directed. Many of its scenes were shot in breathtakingly dangerous places, like the Hukou Waterfall at the Yellow River in North China's Shanxi Province. This latest film from the famous martial arts choreographer and director is about 19th-century hero Su Qi-Er whose stories were passed down as folk tales. He was originally a wealthy kung-fu amateur in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), but after losing his fortune because of a conspiracy against him, he devoted himself to martial arts and eventually became a renowned master. One of the most memorable characters in martial arts film history, having been played by Simon Yuen Siu-Tin (Woo-Ping’s father) in DRUNKEN MASTER (1978) and in a comedic light, Stephen Chow in KING OF BEGGARS (1992). In this martial arts epic that sees Woo-Ping return to the director's chair he has vacated for 14 years, has mainland action star Vincent Zhao (Once Upon a Time in China series) as the legendary figure Beggar Su. Now you can check for yourself how rich are the martial arts scenes in this film by purchasing the special DVD edition via YESASIA.

Synopsis:
"True Legend" is the extraordinary journey of a man - a martial arts hero - whose greatest dream is to create a unique school of martial arts for the world to follow.

All his life, Su Can has been pursuing the summit in martial arts. There are two things he holds dearest to his heart – the dream of creating a unique kind of martial arts that will pass on to generations; and his beloved wife. Su has a happy family and his wife is the joy of his life. But owing to a turn of fate and his own stubbornness, Su falls helplessly into a quagmire and his family is destroyed.

After losing his wife, Su cannot live with himself and collapses totally. He is drunk all the time and becomes a crazy beggar in everyone’s eyes. Everyday, his young son ties him with a piece of rope and leads him through the streets, greeted by people’s curious and disdainful gazes.

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The Battle of the Warriors U.S. DVD

It has announced that Dragon Dynasty will be releasing Jacob’s Cheung’s 2006 period war epic "A Battle Of Wits" on DVD September 8th under the name "Battle Of The Warriors." The film is a Hong Kong historical action drama film based upon a Japanese historical novel of the same name which was in turn inspired by Warring States history in China. The epic starring Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs, House Of Flying Daggers, Warlords), Fan Bingbing (Forbidden Kingdom, Shinjuku Incident), Ahn Sung-ki (The Divine Weapon), Wang Zhiwen, Nicky Wu, and newcomer Choi Siwon. Also based on the sensational Japanese manga series called "Bokko," "Battle of the Warriors" features a gritty, realistic style, with an incredible level of historical detail that highlights each of its unparalleled, ferocious battles.

Plot: The film is set in the Warring States Period of China. The state of Zhao invades the (fictional) city-state of Liang. Ge Li (Andy Lau), a Mohist, comes to Liang to help protect the city. He warns of the dangers of surrendering to an invading Zhao army that intends to conquer Liang. The king of Liang (Wang Zhiwen) worries about Ge Li inciting war amongst the public, but decides to allow him to temporarily aid in defending Liang.

Ge Li's creates a bulwark and various traps to slow down the invading army. The Prince (Choi Siwon) and Generals of Liang question his leadership and skills as a tactician, but time after time, his tactics proved successful. The Prince of Liang eventually develops a high level of respect for Ge Li's wisdom and experience. After Ge Li successfully defends the kingdom from superior numbers, he becomes highly revered by the local populace.

Feeling threatened by Ge Li's popularity, the king of Liang plots to have him be deposed of rank and executed on false charges. Ge Li returns from a scouting mission and is charged with starting a war under false pretenses. The Prince of Liang fakes a fight against Ge Li so that he can use himself as a hostage to help free Ge Li. The improved arrows that Ge Li used to help defend Liang were then ironically used against him. The Prince of Liang is killed in the incident. Ge Li's sympathizers are falsely accused of being part of a rebellion against Liang, and they are tortured and executed.

The King of Liang foolishly believes the Zhao army has already left, but the Zhao army raids the city in a surprise attack. Ge Li returns with a surviving group of the Liang army to restore power to the people of Liang. After the conflict, Ge Li leaves with some orphans of Liang to promote peace among kingdoms. The King of Liang would be killed five years later, and eventually the Qin army would unite China and became the Qin Dynasty.

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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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Ong Bak 2 Hong Kong Version DVD

After topped the local box office last December, fifteenth century Thai martial arts action film "Ong Bak 2" from actor-director Tony Jaa, now is ready to entertain you once again with its wider range of martial arts and perilous stunts in DVD version. “Ong Bak” is the film that launched Jaa glamorous career, where he’d demonstrated the amazing Thai-boxing with all of the stunning moves and acrobatics, and there’s all performed very naturally, there are no wires, no CGI, just perfectly skilled performers executing intentionally ferocious, graphic moves. Now, the Muay Thai fighter is back to the arena with the successor, “Ong Bak 2,” which actually not a direct sequel to the hugely popular first film. But in “Ong Bak 2,” Jaa was not only served as the leading actor here but also as the director for the first time of his career. "Ong-Bak 2" is the gigantic project features Tony Jaa as the captain who has developed his own screenplay, it also has become the most expensive Thai film ever made with the total budget 300 million baht, which is about three times what the studio Sahamongkol Film International wanted to spend.

In the film, Ting is a boy who aspires to grow up to be like his father, Lord Sihadecho (Santisuk Promsiri), a gallant and loyal warrior. The treacherous and power-craving Lord Rajasena (Saranyoo Wongkrajang) plots to seize total control of the country. He sends out vicious assassins do murder Lord Sihadecho's family and his loyal soldiers. The only survivor from this massacre is Ting, who manages to escape with deep vengeance in his heart. Ting is then captured and almost killed by slave traders before being saved by Chernang (Sorapong Chatree), leader of the renowned “Garuda's Wing” guerilla band, who takes Ting in as his adoptive son and raises him up as a bandit. Ting grows up excelling in all kinds of martial arts and war strategies including man-to-man fighting, boxing, incantation, and skills of such war weapons as sword, saber, club, and explosive.With all forms of martial arts instilled, Ting (Tony Jaa) eagers to vanquish the vengeance in his heart by killing Lord Rajasena with his own hands. But he must first get pass Rajasena's highly-skilled and vicious killers.The battle leads to the origin of the scar of vengeance that comes at a price of one's blood, flesh and soul. Only unwavering faith can save Ting’s life.

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ALSO AVAILABLE: THAI VERSION DVD

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