Home Vision Entertainment

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Lino · #176 Post by **Lino** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:00 am

Please report back ASAP! I really want to know how the films fare so any comments are more than welcome!

(just edited my above message about the posters for these films - strange thing happened because I went back to the site where I got them, but they were no longer there...

)

Tribe · #177 Post by **Tribe** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:27 am

Regarding Hanzo the Razor:

Please report back ASAP! I really want to know how the films fare so any comments are more than welcome!

I just watched the first one in the series last night....what a hoot! Despite the over-the-top exploitation elements, it takes itself seriously (the first one at least) and it works. Hanzo is one bad mo' fo...the scenes where he is "training" his member just crack me up. The sex scenes all have typical USA porn music....but like I said, it's all doen without any tongue in cheek. Very, very nice transfer...good enough, imho, that it doesn't look dated. I'm looking forward to the rest...although notwithstanding my enthusiasm for the first one, I'm not sure how much I can take of this. Nevertheless, great fun.

Tribe

Lino · #178 Post by **Lino** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:36 am

Thanks for posting this! Actually, I'm both glad and unsurprised that you said that overall the film takes itself seriously - I felt the same way when I first watched another japanese exploitation title available from HVe, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter starring Meiko Kaji.

It's funny how there is literally a world of difference between the films made in that genre in Japan and the ones that were done in the US and Europe. The main one being that they do not feel gratuitous (or overly, anyway).

Be sure to post what you think about the other two when you watch them, OK?

Lino · #179 Post by **Lino** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:23 am

Here's the very first review of the set (that I am aware of):

http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/

Looks fantastic!

The Invunche · #180 Post by **The Invunche** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:40 am

http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/Reviews/E-H/hanzo.html

oldsheperd · #181 Post by **oldsheperd** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:45 pm

Here's the review for Hanzo by dvdtalk

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=15288

I wasnt going to get this but now I might. Hey Annie Mall, is this stuff like the Female Convict Scorpion stuff or is it in a league of its own?

Lino · #182 Post by **Lino** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:35 am

I haven't yet seen a single film of the Hanzo series but I reckon that these stand in a league of their own. Firstly, the story is placed in old Japan as opposed to the Female Convict Scorpion series which are set in contemporary times. Then, we have a male actor as lead in the former and a female lead in the latter.

I guess you can point out even more differences between the two (Hanzo mistreats women and FCS is a woman who has a deadly vengeance on mostly men) but in the end, you can put them both in the exploitation genre. So, if that's your kick I don't think you will be disapointed with the Hanzo boxset at all.

Ashirg · #183 Post by **Ashirg** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:16 am

June 7
The Inheritance (Per Fly)
Under The Flag of the Rising Sun (Kinji Fukasaku)
Ronin Gai (Kazuo Kuroki)

June 21
Kick n' Rush (Aage Rais)

July 5
Good Father (Mike Newell)

July 19
Slim Susie (Ulf Malmros)
Secret Garden (BBC)

July 26
Hukkle (Gyorgi Palfi)

August 9
Three Men and a Cradle (French original)
Bottom of the Sea (Damian Szifron)

August 23
The Boat Is Full (Markus Imhoof)
Home of the Brave (Paola di Florio)

September 6
Fear & Trembling (Alain Corneau)

September 20
Grimm (Alex Van Warmerdam)
In the Year of the Pig (Emile de Antonio)

October 4
The Tunnel (Roland Suso Richter)

October 18
Black and White (Craig Lahiff)
Five Children and It (BBC)
The Return of It (BBC)

November 1
Battleground (Stephen Marshall, Iraq documentary)
Little Lord Fauntleroy (BBC)
Codename: Icarus (BBC)

December 6
Face (Junji Sakamoto)
She's One of Us (Siegrid Alnoy)

January 3
Chameleon Street (Wendell B. Harris, Jr.)
Exiles (Tony Gatlif)

All dates are subject to change...

Nihonophile · #184 Post by **Nihonophile** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:27 am

Will these be their only releases for the rest of the year? I hope this is a partial list because the abundance of BBC series and lack of old japanese movies is appalling.

BrightEyes23 · #185 Post by **BrightEyes23** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:49 am

I sure hope so too. I've been hoping to get some of the lesser Ozu's from HVE released this year while Criterion takes their time on a boxed set or whatever. 3-4 titles a month seems pretty much what they've been doing so far though isn't it? If so, it's unfortunate.

As far as whats listed, anyone have any recommendations? Are any of these worth getting excited about?

cafeman · #186 Post by **cafeman** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:02 am

Ashirg wrote:July 26
Hukkle (Gyorgi Palfi)

Holy Jesus on a shingle! This skyrocketed to the very top of the DVD news for me. This flick is a little Hungarian semi-experimental masterpiece. Saw it by accident at a film festival, and it topped my 2002 list, tied with Punch-Drunk Love. Visually stunning, entertaining as hell, completely without dialogue, and even with a devilish, but concealed, plot.

I`ll go out on a limb and recommend a blind buy across the board for this one.

g30 · #187 Post by **g30** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:48 am

I looked up a lot of the titles on the list as many were unfamiliar to me. Hukkle was a film that I was supposed to see at the Toronto Film Festival (I was very disappointed when I missed it) a few years ago. I heard very good things about it and will definitely be picking it up. Does anyone know anything about Grimm?

Thanks,
g30

#188 Post by **Matt** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:54 am

I'm totally shocked that the Emile de Antonio film was not picked up by Criterion. I'm pleased that it's coming out, but I hope HVE give it a respectful release.

Gregory · #189 Post by **Gregory** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:46 pm

I agree. Maybe the rights holders wanted to make a single deal to release his complete works on one label. Criterion was probably too busy to take on all those films, though it would have been great if they could have released some of them. Every "d" film I've seen has been worthy of Criterion (though I have my doubts about Rush to Judgment). On the other hand, I'm very glad that In the Year of the Pig will be available, and probably at a lower price than if it had been a Criterion.

I'm also surprised at how few titles are on that list. I thought that Painters Painting and a couple more of his films would appear this year. Maybe it is only a partial list.

Buttery Jeb · #190 Post by **Buttery Jeb** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 12:53 pm

The only additions to this list that I foresee happening are a couple of Merchant-Ivory releases scattered throughout every couple of months. Other than that, it feels like your usual monthly HVE slates, with a couple of older titles and an increasing number of new ones peppered amongst them.

I'd have to know a little more about the newer films before I can answer anything about them. I saw part of "Grimm" at a festival, and wasn't all that impressed. Amongst the older films, I'm most interested in "In the Year of the Pig," but I'll probably give the Newell film a go as well.

-BJ

Keaton · #191 Post by **Keaton** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 2:26 pm

Hi,

I'm very happy about Year of the Pig, The Boat is Full and Hukkle.
Can anybody comment on Exiles? I heard only good things about it, bit not enough to buy this movie blind.

Regards,

Dennis

Brian Oblivious · #192 Post by **Brian Oblivious** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:31 pm

I saw Hukkle and Grimm at the local film festival. Grimm begins really well as an updated fairy tale that could please arthouse and grindhouse fans alike. But I felt it lost focus in the second half and ended up becoming something rather routine. I suspect the last day of a film festival was not the best time to view Hukkle, as I was probably fatigued enough that I wasn't paying close enough attention to the details of the film, rather letting the picture and sound wash over me. As a consequence, it ended up feeling pretty slight, though others have since convinced me that there was probably more to the film than I absorbed.

Nihonophile · #193 Post by **Nihonophile** » Fri May 13, 2005 12:36 am

I saw Hukkle tonight although it was poorly projected at my local art house theatre. I love this movie a lot! I don't think it was a perfect movie but I really enjoyed it. The photography was rather breathtaking and the sound design spot on. Anyway, I think I'll be getting this one from Hve on its release date. Best of all, Hve actually put special features on this disc, sweet delight.

AZAI · #194 Post by **AZAI** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:47 pm

Although I haven't seen Grimm yet (I know....), I am very excited about the HvE release (http://www.homevision.com/users/folder. ... &id=GRI030)! I'm a great Alex van Warmerdam fan, who I consider one of the few true auteurs of cinema in the Netherlands. The thing is that this american release has some very interesting extra's that are not even available here in the Netherlands. Especially the selected scene commentary and the interview are very worthwhile because van Warmerdam is notoriously sparse with comments on his film, but when he does they are extremely worthwhile (a post-screening interview I attended here in Utrecht was a perfect example.)

Since Warmerdam is also a graphic designer (he designs all the posters for his own films) so the gallery actually is very interesting and to top it all off, the included trailers suggest more Warmerdam releases in the USA. While his best work (ABel and the Northeners) aren't included in the line-up, it is nice to see overseas recognition for one of the most colourfull persons of Dutch cinema and theatre!

The Invunche · #195 Post by **The Invunche** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:09 pm

I believe the large breasted girl is from a dream sequence in Kick 'n Rush.

kieslowski_67 · #196 Post by **kieslowski_67** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:00 pm

HVE is bought up by Image. Pretty bad news and not sure how it will affect Criterion down the road.

dx23 · #197 Post by **dx23** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 3:40 pm

From thedigitalbits.com:

Home Vision has announced a few new releases including Face (Kao), The Tunnel (both 10/4), Black and White and a box set containing Five Children and It and The Return of It (both 10/18).

Ashirg · #198 Post by **Ashirg** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 2:36 am

At least the remaining December title is coming (Face is being released in September) -
http://www.image-entertainment.com/deta ... ctID=41912

dx23 · #199 Post by **dx23** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 12:14 am

Surprisingly, they are still sending their e-mail newsletters. I just recieved the September edition. I t must have been one of the five employees they haven't fired.

This looks promising:

http://www.homevision.com/users/folder. ... 0&month=10

I don't think we'll be needing this thread much longer.

So sad that a great label is apparently biting the dust. Damn corporate mergers!

Buttery Jeb · #200 Post by **Buttery Jeb** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 2:44 am

"Saints and Sinners" - A documentary by Abigail Honor

http://www.image-entertainment.com/deta ... ctID=41906

"The Dress" - Directed by Alex van Warmerdam

http://www.image-entertainment.com/deta ... ctID=41908

"Little Tony" - Directed by Alex van Warmerdam

http://www.image-entertainment.com/deta ... ctID=41910

"Exiles" - Directed by Tony Gatlif

http://www.image-entertainment.com/deta ... ctID=41914

"Last Victory" - No idea, really...

http://www.image-entertainment.com/deta ... ctID=41916

No specs yet, just titles and release dates.

-BJ