C-c-c-cool

This time: Hong Kong horror flick Yes, I Can See Dead People, South Korean drama A Man Who Was Superman, the craptacular film The Secret, HK neo-noir A Mob Story, and one of the greatest films made in Hong Kong of anywhere, In the Mood For Love.

Yes, I Can See Dead People
Starring Steven Cheung and Mandy Chiang.

Yes, I Can See Dead People is a fun horror flick that isn't super scary, genre-defining, genre-busting, or all that special in any way. However, I still liked it quite a bit.

Steven Cheung made for a pretty likeable lead character, as a slacker/ghost buster or sorts, Mandy Chiang was also fairly good, and the rest of the cast wasn't bad. You could watch better, but you could also watch much, much worse.

Films of Note:
Steven Cheung - Isabella
Mandy Chiang - A Mob Story, Whispers and Moans


A Man Who Was Superman
Starring Hwang Jung-Min and Jeon Ji-Hyun.

A Man Who Was Superman is the story of a man who claims to be a de-powered Superman, and a burned-out documentarian that finds hope in his claim.

The film starts out with Jeon's documentarian character who is so tired of the inanity of her work and the lack of humanity in the people she sees that she is ready to give up on just about everything. Then, she meets "Superman". Quickly sensing a story, she begins to follow the man in hopes of getting some recognition, and a decent payday.

Once the story she wants to tell is complete, she tries to rid herself of her Superman, but finds that this man is more than just a cheap exploit. Though she doesn't believe that he is, in fact, Superman, she slowly begins to believe that he is something special. She realizes that it isn't important whether he is Superman or not, because either way, to her, he's a shining beacon of hope.

Like a great many Korean dramas, A Man Who Was A Superman's main flaw is that unnecessary melodrama slows the otherwise great film down. And, as far as I am concerned, that is it's only real flaw. The first half of the film is terrifically funny, and the second half, though somewhat slowed, has plenty of emotion. It may not be for everyone, but A Man Who Was A Superman is a worthy effort.

Films of Note:
Jeon Ji-hyun - My Sassy Girl, Il Mare, Daisy


The Secret
Starring David Duchovny, Olivia Thirby and Lili Taylor.

Derivative and underwhelming.


A Mob Story
Directed by Herman Yau, starring Julian Cheung, Cheung Tat-Ming, Yin Shin, Mandy Chiang and Raymond Wong.

A Mob Story is a worthy effort by Herman Yau, but ultimately falls short of being a truly good film. While it isn't a stand-out film in the neo-noir genre, A Mob Story is enjoyable, with likeable actors and decent direction.

Films of Note:
Herman Yau - Nightmares in Precinct 7, Killing End, On the Edge, Whispers and Moans
Julian Cheung - Kidnap
Cheung Tat-Ming - Big Bullet, Too Many Ways to be No. 1; You Shoot, I Shoot
Mandy Chiang - Whispers and Moans; Yes, I Can See Dead People
Raymond Wong - Expect the Unexpected, PTU, Colour of the Truth


In the Mood For Love
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai, starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung.

I've watched it before, but everytime I see In the Mood For Love, it's like I'm watching it for the first time. Brilliant. There isn't anything I can say about this film to do it justice. It is directed by who I considered to be the best director, and it stars two of the finest actors in the history of actordom.

Films of Note:
Wong Kar-Wai - As Tears Go By, Days of Being Wild, Chungking Express, Ashes of Time, Fallen Angels, Happy Together, 2046, My Blueberry Nights
Tony Leung - People's Hero, Chungking Express, Happy Together, The Longest Nite, Hero, Infernal Affairs; Lust, Caution; Red Cliff
Maggie Cheung - Police Story, As Tears Go By, Days of Being Wild, Alan & Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye, Heroic Trio, Green Snake, Comrades: Almost a Love Story, Hero, 2046

Next time: My Blueberry Nights, Lifeline, First Shot, and whatever else I watch.