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OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH

Title: MAHOGANY
Year Released: 1975
Running Time: 109
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Berry Gordy, Tony Richardson and Jack Wormser
Director of Photography: David Watkin
Screenwriter: John Byrum and Toni Amber
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

REVIEW: DIANA ROSS AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS DAZZLE IN "MAHOGANY"

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to?
Do you know? Do you get what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open doors. What are you hoping for? Do you know? "Theme from Mahogany...

NEW ON DVD

BANGKOK DOG Title: BANGKOK DOG
Year Released: 2024
Running Time: 89
Production Company: Well Go USA
Director: Chaya Supannarat
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

"BANGKOK DOG"

The hits just keep on coming. Well Go USA Entertainment, the Oscar-nominated distributor of independent and specialty genre films, has been on a roll lately.

Their latest releases include the wildly entertaining action films "Bangkok Dog" and "The Tai Chi Master" Both are available on Digital Nov. 12.

"Bangkok Dog," directed by Thai filmmaker Chaya Supannarat ("Shadow Master"), earns major marks for its stellar cast and jaw-dropping stunts and fight sequences.

"Bangkok Dog" opens with undercover agents Andrew Kang (D.Y. Sao, "Everything Everywhere All at Once") and the impressive newcomer Jenny Philomena Van Der Sluijs on a mission in Long Beach, California, to bust a drug deal at a container yard.

The operation quickly escalates into something far more dangerous when they face off against a smooth criminal (a terrific Brian Le, "Bullet Train" and "Everything Everywhere All at Once") who is just as skilled in martial arts as Agent Kang.

After being captured, the criminal reluctantly reveals that the drugs are coming from Thailand, but also notes that he's never met the suppliers. Consequently, Agent Kang is tasked with going undercover in Bangkok, pretending to be the criminal to infiltrate the drug ring.

This is where the film truly takes off. In Bangkok, Kang meets Charn Chai (Byron Bishop, "Cracked"), a worn-out contact who warns him that once you're in the game, there's no way out.

As Kang becomes more immersed in the operation, his boss grows concerned that he's getting too deep, prompting the arrival of Van Der Sluijs to shadow him. While Kang can hold his own in a fight, he’s grateful for his partner's timely interventions.

With fast as lightning kung-fu fighting, and a few unexpected twists, "Bangkok Dog" turns into a high-energy old school, martial arts thriller.
(Highly Recommended).

"Bangkok Dog" is available on Digital platforms Nov. 12.

Check Out This Trailer For "BANGKOK DOG."

THE TAI CHI MASTER Title: THE TAI CHI MASTER
Year Released: 2024
Running Time: 90
Production Company: Well Go USA
Director: Siyu Cheng and Zhenzhao Lin
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

"THE TAI CHI MASTER"

"The Tai Chi Master" delivers everything martial arts and movie lovers could ask for. It's a visually stunning fantasy action-adventure that at times feels like an epic historical drama—and, above all, it's an absolute blast.

It bears some similarities to choreographer/filmmaker Yuen Woo-Ping's 1993 classic movie of the same name, which starred Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. But this reimagined version of "The Tai Chi Master," directed by Siyu Cheng ("Desperado" / "Fists of Fury: Soul") and Zhenzhao Liu ("Restart the Earth"), with a screenplay by Mengmeng Huang ("Desperado") and Haun Niu ("Kai Guan"), has a deeper and more meaningful story. It will sweep you away with its grandeur and breathtaking, gravity-defying action.

At its heart, “The Tai Chi Master” is a gripping tale of loyalty, family, love, and revenge, set against the backdrop of the tumultuous end of the Southern Song Dynasty. The story follows Zhang Junbao/Zhang San Feng (Yue Wu, Ip Man 4: Finale), a skilled disciple of the Wuji faction, who reluctantly teams up with Song Dynasty general Wei Linchuan (Kai Zhang) to defend the border against invading forces.

What begins as a mission to track down dangerous foes soon spirals into a larger battle for the fate of the dynasty. As Junbao faces increasingly dangerous enemies, he is forced to take a stand—despite his desire to remain on the sidelines. His choice to act is the only way to prevent the destruction of the Song Dynasty.

One of the standout elements of "The Tai Chi Master" is its colorful cast of characters, each adding their own unique flavor to the action-packed story. A standout villain is the mysterious Yin Yang Judge, a hulking mountain man with a rotating mask, whose strength makes him a force to be reckoned with.

The film also introduces an unusual, menacing creature: a fast moving and spitting silkworm that resembles something straight out of "Tremors" and becomes a crucial part of the plot's twists and turns.

Some of the stand out performances are from Yan Liu ("My Dear Liar") and the charmingly skilled kung-fu child star Zhang Ming Can ("Restart the Earth").

The choreography is exceptional too, blending wirework, acrobatics, and traditional martial arts with fluidity and precision. The film's lavish production design and majestic landscapes heighten the epic scale of the story, while the vibrant costumes and intricate fight scenes keep the action exhilarating from start to finish.
(Highly Recommended).

"The Tai Chi Master" is available on Digital platforms Nov. 12.

Check Out This Trailer For "THE TAI CHI MASTER."

THE EXORCISM OF SAINT PATRICK Title: THE EXORCISM OF SAINT PATRICK
Year Released: 2024
Running Time: 90
Production Company: Cranked Up
Director: Quinn Armstrong
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

"THE EXORCISM OF SAINT PATRICK"

"The Exorcism of Saint Patrick" from director/screenwriter Quinn Armstrong ("Survival Skills"), may not be the most terrifying film you'll see this year, but it certainly offers some ominous moments. It's also the first of the three parts "Fresh Hell" horror series that also includes upcoming On Demand releases such as "Wolves Against The World" (Sept. 3) and "Dead Teenagers" (Sept. 10) and it sets a grim scene of what's to come.

The story centers on Trick (Michael J. Cline), a quirky and troubled teen caught in a turbulent family dynamic. His parents, Kai (Jim Azelvandre, "Obstacle Corpse") and Deb (Lisa Coffy, "Shelby Oaks"), are fervently religious and struggle with the realization that Trick might be gay. Seeing that they can't pray the gayness away, they seek help from Pastor Patrick (Steve Pinder, "Jane Austen's Period Drama"), a controversial figure known for his extreme methods of conversion therapy.

As the exorcism unfolds, Trick is plunged into a harrowing nightmare that transcends traditional spiritual intervention. Some scenes are particularly hard to endure, especially as Pastor Patrick's bullying escalates. The film skillfully intertwines psychological tension with supernatural elements, crafting an unsettling exploration of faith, family, and personal identity.

Despite its occasional pacing issues, "The Exorcism of Saint Patrick" is still a pretty effective low budget thriller that captures an atmosphere of dread, despair and eerieness.
(Recommended).

Editor's Note: "The Exorcism of Saint Patrick" is available On Demand and in select theaters Aug. 27.

THE OTHER LAURENS Title: THE OTHER LAURENS
Year Released: 2024
Running Time: 117
Production Company: Yellow Veil Pictures
Director: Claude Schmitz
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

"THE OTHER LAURENS"

Belgian writer/director Claude Schmitz ("Carwash") "The Other Laurens" offers a mildly engaging crime drama with his latest film, "The Other Laurens."

Starring Olivier Rabourdin ("Taken 2" and "Fox Hunt") as private detective Gabriel Laurens (Olivier Rabourdin, "Taken 2" and "Fox Hunt") in a dual role as private detective Gabriel Laurens and his identical twin brother François.

The film dives into Gabriel's tumultuous life. As a specialist in investigating extramarital affairs, Gabriel's personal world is already in disarray with his mother gravely ill and his own emotional turmoil over François's recent death. Adding to his burden is his niece Jade, played with remarkable depth by (a terrific debut by Louise Leroy), who is grappling with the loss of her father.

When Jade requests Gabriel to probe into François's suspicious car accident, he travels to Perpignan, (South of France, near the Spanish border) where François had been living a lavish lifestyle with his beautiful wife Shelby (Kate Moran, "This Is the End"), who is also Jade's stepmother.

Gabriel's arrival in this seemingly idyllic setting quickly unravels a web of intrigue, complicating his investigation and deepening the mystery.

While audiences may not be on the edge of their seats waiting for the next twist in "The Other Laurens," they certainly won’t find themselves dozing off either. The movie brims with a boatload of interesting characters from drug dealers, thugs and biker gangs and other lowlifes that has Gabriel wondering just what his brother was into.

While the array of characters adds intrigue to the story, the plot itself often feels mired in inertia and never quite achieves the level of intensity it aims for, thus making "The Other Laurens" a decent, but just another average crime thriller.
(Recommended).

Editor's Note: "The Other Laurens" is currently available through Video On Demand.