Post Red Cliff

After finally viewing Red Cliff, I quickly realized that I still have nearly 90 films I own and have yet to watch. Sheesh, talk about a back log. So, my basking in the glory of Red Cliff is over, and my watching or more films is here in the form of Hong Kong noir-ish Rave Fever, Hong Kong horror flick Troublesome Night 3, and Taiwanese adolescent love confusion film Eternal Summer. Since none of these films really struck a cord with me, I'm going to give each a one sentence description.

Rave Fever
Directed by Alan Mak (A War Named Desire, Infernal Affairs, Confession of Pain) and starring Mark Lui, Sam Lee (Made in Hong Kong, Bio-Zombie, The Longest Summer, Metade Fumaca), Jaymee Ong (Gen-X Cops), Terence Yin (Gen-X Cops, The Heavenly Kings), and Yoyo Mung (Expect the Unexpected, A Hero Never Dies, Running Out of Time).

An entertaining little noir-ish thrill-ride that unfolds in non-linear fashion.

Troublesome Night 3
Directed by Herman Yau (Nightmares in Precinct 7, Killing End, Whispers and Moans) and starring Louis Koo (Bullets Over Summer, Election, Flash Point, Triangle), Fennie Yuen (Bullet in the Head, Royal Tramp, Nightmares in Precinct 7), and Simon Lui (24 hrs. Ghost Story, Ballistic Kiss, Nightmares in Precinct 7, Killing End).

While it isn't exceptionally noteworthy in any way, Troublesome Night 3 is an enjoyable Hong Kong horror flick with a bit of comedy thrown in.

Eternal Summer
Directed by Leste Chen, starring Joseph Chang (Keeping Watch), Bryant Chang (Summer's Tail), and Kate Yeung (Demi-Haunted).

Earlier, I lied. Eternal Summer did stike a cord with me. Why? Because, it is an endearing film about young love and the complications that result from telling one's best friend you love them with excellent acting from Joseph Chang and Bryant Chang, whose on-screen chemistry as best friends is superb, as well as Kate Yeung's performance as the woman that comes between them, sort of.

The coming-of-age film is a genre that has been done to death time and again, however, Eternal Summer manages to feel fresh and digs right into the emotion of the characters. While everything the characters' feel is evident from the very beginning, watching them slowly realize what they want of themselves and each other is truly engrossing, and the ending wholly apropos.

If you've seen and liked Garden State, The Graduate, Y Tu Mama Tambien, The 400 Blows, or any of the billion other coming-of-age films made over the years, check out Eternal Summer, as it is an incredible film, and better than most of it's genre.

Next Time: Two thrillers starring Karena Lam, a drama revolving around workers in Hong Kong's sex industry, and an HK neo-noir.