AsiaStar Fantasy

It’s with a sad heart that I write this review. I have been and still am a huge fan of Asian Cinema. Asian Cinema… particularly Hong Kong… has really seen better days and AsiaStar Fantasy is kind of a metaphor for the whole industry. I used to go to Chinatown a lot to pick up a lot of movies. One by one all those stores have pretty much closed down, save for 1 or 2 which have moved away from selling movies… piracy, bittorent, lack of compelling content, apathy… take your pick of reasons why. AsiaStar Fantasy was one of the few non-​Chinatown shops I visited. After visiting for the first time in at least 5 years (I moved to LA in the interim), the shop is really a shell of its former self. The shelves and shelves of DVDs have been scaled back severely and not in the best organization and maintenance. The amount of new releases have dwindled and it seems like they are really just trying to clear out their remaining stock. Half the store is now full of random Asian trinkets and goods.
Even through all this, AsiaStar Fantasy may have the most selection of mostly Hong Kong movies you are gonna find in the city so I still plan to swing by once in a while when I’m in town.

This store drew my girlfriend and I because of the giant plush Rilakkuma in the window. There’s more of that to be had in the store, with a random assortment of other stuff. One thing that stood out: the giant XXX dvd section in the back: x

I originally bought my all region DVD player (or multiple formats since they also play vcds — yes i still have these and I’m not giving them up) with an HDMi connection at the Grant store (darn those new fancy tvs that only allow you to plug in one machine via component connection). However after a couple of days watching DVDs and finding out that this machine also left a big ass scratch all along the surface of my discs, I came here to see if I can do an exchange.
Apparently I made it on the nick of time to qualify for that exchange (14 day policy). Unfortunately they were offering the same brand here. I asked for another one and the lady said they only had a floor model of another brand. However they did have my defective DVD player in black. The lady swore that the black ones were more dependable than the silver ones (my original model). She’s right and I’m still using it today. Best of all, that machine only costs $ 60. Yes they sell DVDs but you should also check out their machines!

I used to love this place a lot. It was the only place in Sunset and Richmond where I’d find popular Japanese and Korean music CDs and DVDs. Kinokuniya in Japan Town is too out of the way when I just want to run into a music store while my mom did her grocery shopping (but Kinokuniya is, without a doubt, my favorite Japanese bookstore).
When I last visited this place, it looks like their selection has decreased significantly. Most of the Japanese stuff I saw were from Hamasaki Ayumi. She’s not exactly my favorite artist, and I didn’t see any Korean music CDs. Furthermore, where was the latest m-​flo album? I was surprised they didn’t have it as the album only came out two months ago. They didn’t even carry new Chinese/​Taiwanese releases.
Now the store carries most of the stuff that I used to find at Belonging Gifts (which has now closed) a few blocks away. It was very disappointing. Please, I DO NOT want more cutesy gift stores. Just give me the music /​video store back.

I used to like this location as much as the Clement St one. This was until they reduced their space and two other businesses (originally across the street) moved in and shared the storefront. (One of the other businesses also deals with vcd’s and dvd’s.) Also the merchandise (especially the cd’s) are disorganized. Still I like coming in sometimes, especially to look for HK movie bargains. Also at least the store girl I often see in the late afternoons when I go (the one with glasses) usually smiles and says hi nicely.

Lots of new and old Chinese VCDs for 7 bucks after discounts. They also carry some newer DVDs (music and movies.) There are also collections of Korean and other languages soaps that will satisfy your home sick needs if you are from those countries.

Besides standard Chinese DVDs, if you’re looking for cartoons in Cantonese try this place. The lady behind the counter was very helpful.
They’re very fair with their returns.
Great place to go if you’re trying to habla more Guangdong wa.

I feel bad for these guys.
They’ve only been open around 2 years. The main store is on Grant in Chinatown, close to Columbus side.
And now this Irving location is starting to phase out their inventory to go out of business according to the signage.
Misc karaōke gear, 20 to 30% off.
Current inventory of VCDs, DVD movies, Canto/​Mando pop music all 20 to 30% off (except brand new releases).
Excuse me… VCDs? Who buys VCDs these days… most Chinatown sidewalk sales couldn’t even give them away at 6 VCD movies for $ 3, whether pirated or not!
The problem is very few people are buying. Importing entertainment media from Hong Kong and/​or Taiwan is no longer a profitable business. Piracy, counterfeiting, and internet bittorrents have pretty much destroyed any life of this.
A very small number of you might remember Man’s Trading Company on Clay street (across from Portsmouth Square garage). They had a retail storefront on the ground level, and a wholesale operation in the basement. That wholesale operation supposedly supplied all of SF Bay Area. And now they’ve been out of business for a few years.
Not sure how the Chinatown store is doing but probably better. Then again the Grant street location has a ahem… discreet basement level where all the pervs fresh off the boat hang out in the naughty adult section. It is not a good place to be.
Still the only game in town outside of Chinatown for your Hong Kong import DVD movie needs. Not as popular older titles are now in the single digit range, a bit cheaper now with the sale going on. You may find the occasional Hong Kong pressing of a Korean or Japanese movie (subtitled) that could be priced lower than an actual Korean or Japanese import.
Hurry before this place becomes another Virgin Megastore…
Update: Wilhelm Y said «The Grant Street location no longer has the downstairs area open to shoppers. They’ve downsized also and half their store now sells Asian snack foods.»
Well in that case Grant Street may turn into a Virgin as well.
Isn’t it a oxymoron, Virgin Megastore used to sell porn.
Asia Star Fantasy had a porn den basement (shared with Korean /​Japanese and some HK movie DVD overflow section) on Grant Street (now that is gone)
Asia Star Fantasy Irving never had a porn section (even though some cheesy HK Category 3 flick DVDs and VCDs seem to be in the inventory), and now they’re becoming a Virgin (Megastore that is).
Either way, not good. Times sure are a changin

Its pretty convienent that I dont need to go to Chinatown for a quick VCD pick up but the prices here seem somewhat higher then they should be.
Anyhow though, they do have a wide selection of movies to choose from with the usual list of music cds.
Im not a big fan of the lady that works here since she didnt really answer me when I asked about a movie that just came out… twice.
anyhow though, its the usual and its actually a pretty smart move for them to place one on Irving Street since there was really only Tams Laser across the street.

Lately, these guys have become my main source for purchasing Asian VCDs. I buy a lot of Chinese and Korean movies and Japanese animé in VCD format because I don’t really care about sound or picture quality (although sound quality on the most recent titles have improved quite a bit), and this format is quite inexpensive and still convenient enough to be viewed on my laptop, my home PC or in my DVD player. I also find it neat that I can watch the movies in Cantonese or Mandarin simply by choosing which side’s ear bud to stick in my ear.
This store on Irving Street is perfect for me because I often find myself in the neighborhood on weekends doing the bulk of my vegetable shopping. The store itself is well maintained, and stock is much better organized than the Chinatown location. Specific titles are easier to find, and if help is needed the staff is quite knowledgeable.
The only funny quirk is when searching for titles based on the actors or actresses. The names of the male actors are displayed in the English language, but for some reason the names of the female actresses are hand written in Chinese characters only.
As another reviewer has already stated they have a large selection of multi-​region DVD players for sale here also.

I love this place. I am sooo happy about it. Now I don’t have to trek all the way to Chinatown, rip my hair out and cuss people out in Chinese looking for parking!!!
I’ve got all the Chinese moives and Korean soap operas I could ever want just at a 10 minute drive away.
The only bad thing is the parking situation. =\
At least the employees here are nice. The dudes in Chinatown are sometimes mean to me just because I am an ABC and I don’t follow HK cinema very closely. Yeesh, I don’t know the release dates of all the films in Asia!