2021 was one of the best years in recent memory for Asian films on physical media, with a number of boutique, established and newer labels realising the market for it and trying to capitalise on it, giving us consumers and collectors plenty to spend our money on and lots of Asian cinemas to watch. And if it seemed hard to top, most labels one-upped themselves by giving us even more releases, giving fan favourites, classics as well as hidden gems on stacked blu-ray and 4K UHD releases.
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2022, in no particular order.
1. PTU (Spectrum Films)
French Spectrum has been investing heavily in the “Golden Era” of Hong Kong cinema with a number of titles, but the Johnnie To's “PTU” is definitely one of the releases that truly stand out. The six (!) discs of the collection are filled with extras including a number of interviews with To and the cast, but what makes this collection truly special is the inclusion of both the original and the uncut version (Panos Kotzathanasis)
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2. The Infernal Affairs Trilogy (Criterion Collection)
Criterion's renewed interest in Hong Kong cine continued this year and one of the special release from the boutique American publisher was a long-awaited restored version of Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's landmark “Infernal Affairs” trilogy. Featuring new remasters (that have had both its fans and naysayers since) and a plethora of special features, this one was certainly one of their best releases this year. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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3. Ebola Syndrome (Spectrum Films)
Herman Yau's notorious CAT III film “Ebola Syndrome” came to region-B bluray this year, with French label Spectrum Films giving it a release. Featuring brand new artwork and strong audio/video qualities, this one is a must-watch for fans of Hong Kong cinema or those with a curiosity for CAT III titles. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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4. Nobuhiko Obayashi: 80s Kadokawa Years (Third Window Films)
Third Window Films released Obayashi's Anti-War Trilogy late last year and they didn't stop there. This year, they gave us some of the Japanese director's most loved films from the 80s not yet released in high-definition, namely “School in the Crosshairs”, “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”, “The Island Closest to Heaven” and “His Motorbike, Her Island” in yet another stellar release with new HD masters of all four films alongside a decent selection of special features and a booklet. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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5. The Sonny Chiba Collection (Shout Select)
A monumental release for Toei Studios fans, Shout Factory's The Sonny Chiba Collection is a must-have set for viewers with an interest in 70s and 80s Japanese genre cinema as well as in the man, the legend that was Sonny Chiba. This set includes films, split up in 4 discs, never before released on English-friendly bluray (even one with no English-friendly release ever), titles that showcase not just what Chiba was capable of not just as an actor (seen in films here both as a protagonist and a rare antagonist, in dramatic as well as action roles) but, with “Shogun's Shadow”, also as an action choreographer. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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6. Burning Paradise (Vinegar Syndrome)
Ringo Lam's 1994 action film has had an English-friendly release in Hong Kong and another French-only version in France, but American genre label Vinegar Syndrome's release late this year is the definitive edition to own of this must-have action classic, which includes both new and archival special features. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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7. Shawscope Vol 2 (Arrow Video)
How do you to Arrow Video's release of Shawscope Vol 1, a staggering release featuring 12 beloved films from the legendary Hong Kong studio? Well, if you are Arrow Video, you do so by putting our Vol 2, which includes 14 (!) films from the studio, including fan favourites like “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” trilogy, “The Kid with the Golden Arm” and “My Young Auntie” alongside must-watch titles like “Mercenaries from Hong Kong” and “The Boxer's Omen”. As always, the set comes with a soundtrack CD, inexhaustible special features and chunky, informative booklet. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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8. Yes Madam (Eureka Entertainment)
Eureka Entertainment have, for the past couple years, been doing an incredible job with Hong Kong film releases and that continued into this year as well, with one of their best releases coming late in the year in the form of the long-awaited release of “Yes Madam”, starring Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock. The release boasts of a lovely-looking cleaned up transfer of the film, with both the original and international cuts of the film and the English dub for the original cut. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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9. The Sadness (Capelight)
Capelight Pictures have been making their ways into the hearts and also the walltes of physical media collectors worldwide with their restorations of older titles and mediabook releases of newer ones such as Rob Jabbaz' dynamic horror flick “The Sadness”, which can be purchased as a UHD mediabook or steelbook. Both are filled with extras, taking a closer look behind the scenes and, most importantly, the use of special effects. (Rouven Lin)
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10. KFC (Dekanalog)
Dekanalog are slowly but surely solidifying their foothold as a major publisher of Asian titles and one of the releases that did so quite strongly was that of Vietnamese director Le Binh Giang's “KFC”, a film of many extremes, shocks and uncomfortable pleasures. As the logline for the film reads, “Pure evil exists.” and Dekanalog has managed to capture it in all its glory in this lovely edition, which comes with a cool slipcase. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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