Yu, Ronny

Freddy vs. Jason (New Line Platinum Series)

Hell is raised on earth when freddy krueger and jason voorhees are resurrected Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007 Starring: Robert Englund Monica Keena Run time: 98 minutes Rating: R Director: Ronny Yu

After 11 years in development hell and screenplay drafts by 13 different writers, the long-awaited smackdown of Freddy vs. Jason finally arrives. After making their respective debuts in Friday the 13th (1980) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), the hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees (Ken Kirzinger, replacing long-time Jason performer Kane Hodder) and razor-gloved Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) square off in a slasher-franchise combo-deal that only their most devoted fans will appreciate; turns out this is a lightweight match in which nobody wins. It's an average entry in the histories of these horror icons, comparable to half of their previous sequels, and Bride of Chucky director Ronny Yu satisfies purists with plenty of gushing blood and mayhem when Freddy recruits Jason to slice 'n' dice the ill-fated teens who've forgotten Freddy's once-formidable reign of terror. While it logically connects the gruesome legacies of Nightmare's Elm Street and Friday's Camp Crystal Lake, this horror hybrid is shockingly uninspired. It briefly peaks when Freddy gives the unconscious Jason a dream-world pummeling, but their ultimate showdown's a draw. In the immortal words of Peggy Lee, is that all there is? --Jeff Shannon

Chucky - The Killer DVD Collection

The most unlikely horror-movie icon this side of Leprechaun, the homicidal doll Chucky has blossomed into one of the most recognizable faces of fright fare over the last two decades, and this double-disc set chronicles four of his most monstrous misadventures. The original--and still quite creepy--Child's Play feature (from 1988) is not included in the set (that title is owned by MGM, and this set is a Universal release), so the Killer DVD Collection kicks off with the more formulaic Child's Play 2 (1990) and 3 ('91, directed by Lost producer/director Jack Bender), both of which are saved only by veteran character actor Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky. The series received a much-needed shot in the arm in 1998 with Bride of Chucky, an over-the-top revamp that dispensed with the tired horror-movie mechanics and dove headfirst into a gleeful mix of camp and gore; much of the credit for that film's success must go to Hong Kong director Ronny Yu (Bride with White Hair), who imparts much visual flair to the proceedings and Jennifer Tilly as an amoral moll whose attempt to free the killer that possesses Chucky results in another monster doll on the loose. The fifth (and to date, final) Child's Play/Chucky feature, Seed of Chucky, rounds out the set; it strives for the humor-horror quotient of Yu's film, and yields mixed results.

No extras are featured on the first two sequels, but both Bride and Seed offer up commentaries and featurettes for the devoted Chucky fans. Bride gets two commentaries--one with Yu, and the other with Dourif, Tilly, and scriptwriter Don Mancini, while Seed's commentary has Mancini (who was promoted to director) and Tilly. Making-of featurettes for both features are also included, as well as a clip of Tilly on The Tonight Show. None of these supplements will be new to the longtime Child's Play collector--all have been released on previous single and multi-disc sets--and buyers should know that they will find the R-rated versions of Bride and Seed here, and not the unrated versions (which have also been previously released). So it's fans looking to fill in the Chucky gap in their DVD libraries that will benefit the most from the Killer DVD Collection. --Paul Gaita

Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 11/27/2007 Rating: R

Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

A moving and inspiring story of redemption and personal triumph in the face of great odds, Jet Li's Fearless is the based-on-facts story of Chinese folk hero Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li). The son of a martial-arts master whose greatest strength was his restraint, Huo grows into an unbeatable fighter whose pride and thoughtlessness lead to a chain of tragic losses. After a classic wanderer-in-the-wilderness penance, Huo reinvents himself as a mature instructor of Wushu, a martial arts system that embraces all forms of fighting without preference or pre-judgement. He also becomes a populist symbol, at the dawn of the 20th century, of China's refusal to entirely capitulate to the boot of Western colonialists. Taking on whatever European, American, or Japanese fighter the outsiders bring in to demoralize the natives, Huo becomes a legend that, in real life, is still revered. Thrillingly directed by Ronny Yu (Warriors of Virtue), Jet Li's Fearless is a dazzling action movie that transcends its breathless fight sequences with Huo's sportsmanship virtues, i.e., knowing when you've won by example, rather than by the fist. Jet Li is superb in the role. --Tom Keogh

This tells the story of chinese martial arts master huo yuanjia (1969-1910). Huo yuanjia was the founder & spiritual guru of the jin wu sports federation. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/01/2007 Starring: Jet Li Brandon Rhea Run time: 99 minutes Rating: Ur Director: Yimou Zhang

Bride of Chucky

Brace yourself: this is a clever, consistently entertaining, and even inspired continuation of the mean-spirited slasher series. For those not in the know, Chucky is a mop-top kid's doll come to life with the soul of a serial killer and the voice of Brad Dourif (doing his best Jack Nicholson). Revived by his former paramour Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly, looking every inch a life-size Barbie in stiletto heels and skintight black leather), Chucky proceeds to turn his human sweetie into a pint-sized Talking Tina doll with attitude, and together they hit the road for a magic amulet and young new bodies to inhabit. They hitch a ride with sweet young runaways Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile and leave a trail of corpses bloodied, burned, and cut to ribbons. The kids are cute, but the real heat is generated by the latex lovers who use murder as foreplay and consummate their renewed romance in a night of passionate sex ("Shouldn't you wear a rubber?" "I'm all rubber!"). Hong Kong director Ronny Yu (The Bride with White Hair) directs with a light touch and against all odds transforms walking dolls Chucky and Tiffany into funny, energetic, full-blooded characters: l'amour fou has never been more crazy. John Ritter costars as Heigl's overprotective uncle (another obstacle on the road to dolly freedom) and Alexis Arquette is hilarious as a lanky goth nerd. The wild conclusion leaves room for another high-concept sequel. The DVD features two commentary tracks, a behind-the-scenes documentary, and "Jennifer Tilly's Diary." --Sean Axmaker

After chuckys old flame resuces his battered body from a police impound he turns her into his newest playmate and partner in crime. Together the demonic duo embark on a homicidal honeymoon in search of two perfect sould to steal. Chuckys back. Special features: talent bios web links dvd rom application and more. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/02/2003 Starring: Jennifer Tilly Katherine Heigl Run time: 89 minutes Rating: R Director: Ronny Yu

Warriors of Virtue

Summon your courage, unleash your imagination and prepare for an adventure beyond your wildest dreams. Featuring incredible special effects, thrilling martial-arts action and nonstop adventure, Warriors of Virtue is a dazzling film and "excellent family entertainment" (Paul Wunder, WBAI)! The journey begins when young Ryan (Mario Yedidia), a typical teen, is swept into very unusual circumstances. After an innocent dare goes wrong, Ryan is magically transported to Tao, a beautiful fantasy land whose sole lifespring is defended by the brave, kangaroo-like, kung fu-fighting Warriors of Virtue. But the Warriors may have met their match in an evil warlord named Komodo (Angus MacFadyen) who wants Tao's lifespring for his very own. Can the Warriors stop him before Tao is lost forever? Only if Ryan can find the power within himself to put an end to all the evil.

Formula 51

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

This is the story of elmo mcelroy a streetwise american master chemist who heads to england to set up his last big deal - to introduce a new designer drug to the eurpoean market. Mcelroy soon becomes embroiled in a war of double-dealing as hes escorted around liverpools underworld. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 11/15/2005 Starring: Samuel L. Jackson Emily Mortimer Run time: 93 minutes Rating: R Director: Ronny Yu

The Bride With White Hair

Ronny Yu (The Bride of Chucky, The Phantom Lover, Warriors Of Virtue) directs this highly operatic fable based on a well-known martial arts novel with LESLIE CHEUNG (Temptress Moon, Farewell, My Concubine) and BRIGITTE LIN (Dragon Inn, Deadful Melody) as doomed lovers caught in the crossfire of warring clans. With beautiful cinematography by PETER PAU (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and over-the-top action sequences, THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR is one of the best swordplay fantasy film ever made.

Fearless (Unrated Full Screen Edition)

This tells the story of chinese martial arts master huo yuanjia (1969-1910). Huo yuanjia was the founder & spiritual guru of the jin wu sports federation. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 05/01/2007 Starring: Jet Li Brandon Rhea Run time: 99 minutes Rating: Ur Director: Yimou Xhsnh

A moving and inspiring story of redemption and personal triumph in the face of great odds, Jet Li's Fearless is the based-on-facts story of Chinese folk hero Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li). The son of a martial-arts master whose greatest strength was his restraint, Huo grows into an unbeatable fighter whose pride and thoughtlessness lead to a chain of tragic losses. After a classic wanderer-in-the-wilderness penance, Huo reinvents himself as a mature instructor of Wushu, a martial arts system that embraces all forms of fighting without preference or pre-judgement. He also becomes a populist symbol, at the dawn of the 20th century, of China's refusal to entirely capitulate to the boot of Western colonialists. Taking on whatever European, American, or Japanese fighter the outsiders bring in to demoralize the natives, Huo becomes a legend that, in real life, is still revered. Thrillingly directed by Ronny Yu (Warriors of Virtue), Jet Li's Fearless is a dazzling action movie that transcends its breathless fight sequences with Huo's sportsmanship virtues, i.e., knowing when you've won by example, rather than by the fist. Jet Li is superb in the role. --Tom Keogh

Legacy of Rage

The Chucky Collection (Child's Play 2/Child's Play 3/Bride Of Chucky)

This set contains: childs play 2 childs play 3 the bride of chucky this collection does not include childs play 1! (mgm d907504d) Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 10/31/2006 Rating: R