Robots and Love

This time: Korean drama Milky Way Liberation Front, China-Japan co-produced drama The Longest Night in Shanghai, and HK comedy Dry Wood Fierce Fire.

Milky Way Liberation Front

A young filmmaker takes his latest short film, and his crew, to a film festival in hopes of attracting investors and a known star for a feature film project they have in the works. Unfortunatley, he develops aphasia (wikipedia it) on the day he is scheduled to meet the investors and a Japanese star, both of which seem interested in his project. As if that weren't enough, he is also trying to deal with his out-of-whack emotions following a break-up with his girlfriend.

Milky Way Libertion Front is a fun film with feeling. The characters are intelligently written within the postmodern world of the young filmmaker's daydreams, memories, hopes and neuroses. A slightly more than cursory knowledge of, or interest in, film and filmmaking may cause one to better understand Milky Way Liberation Front, however, even without that knowledge and interest, Milk Way Liberation Front is charming. It also has one of the most appropriate endings I've seen in a film.

The Longest Night in Shanghai
Directed by Zhang Yibai, starring Vicki Zhao Wei, and Masahiro Motoki.

Mizushima Naoki (Masahiro Motoki) is an internationally renowned Japanese make-up artist that has been flown to China, along with his team (which includes his discontented girlfriend) for a music awards show. Following the show's completion, Naoki takes to the streets of Shanghai in hopes of gaining some perspective and avoiding the mess of his relationship. While enjoying the freedom on anonymity in a new city, Naoki crosses paths with a stressed-out local taxi driver named Lin, whose unrequited and unuttered love for her friend has her ready to breakdown emotionally. As Naoki meets Lin, his girlfriend and handlers are worried he is lost, which he is, and they begin to search for him while focusing on their own problems. Throughout the night, Naoki and Lin help each other find what they have been missing, in spite of the fact that neither speaks the other's language.

With The Longest Night in Shanghai, Zhang Yibai weaves a wonderfully entertaining piece of commercial cinema that affects and grabs one from the start and keeps on holding until the very last frame. Masahiro Motoki and Zhao Wei's onscreen chemistry, and considerable acting ability, make one care what happens to their characters. The supporting cast is equally impressive. For a commercial romantic-comedy-drama, this is as good as it gets. Yibai and the cast balance the differing genere elements with an assured direction and style, creating an incredibly enjoyable film.

Films of note:
Zhang Yibai - Spring Subway
Zhao Wei - Shaolin Soccer, Chinese Odyssey 2002, The Postmodern Life of My Aunt, Red Cliff

Dry Wood Fierce Fire
Directed by Wilson Yip, starring Miriam Yeung, Louis Koo, and Flora Chan.

Alice (Yeung) comes from a long line of Chinese medical doctors, with expert knowledge of medicine and kung fu. When the women's magazine she works for merges with a men's magazine, she lets down her rough exterior, and she and her new co-worker Ryan (Koo) develop a friendship. As their friendship grows, Alice's feelings grow for Ryan, while he begins to court Michelle (Chan), the company's owner.

Wilson Yip's direction takes a backseat to Miriam Yeung's wacky antics in this fun, if slight, romantic comedy. Yeung is cute and hilariously funny as the lovestruck lead, and Koo and Chan bring pretty faces and charisma to their characters. Though the direction may be understated, and the story more than a little uneven, Yip and company have made a fun, enjoyable flick. For throwaway commercial cinema, Dry Wood Fierce Fire will do just fine.

Films of note:
Wilson Yip - Bio Zombie, Bullets Over Summer, Juliet in Love, The White Dragon, SPL, Flashpoint
Miriam Yeung - Feel 100% II, Love Undercover, Frugal Game, Dumplings, Hooked On You
Louis Koo - Troublesome Night, Bullets Over Summer, La Brassiere, Throw Down, Election, Flashpoint
Flora Chan - Mad Detective


Next time: Painted Skin