The End of '09

As 2009 comes to a close, I don't really have anything worth mentioning. 2009 wasn't that great film-wise, or otherwise. However, before 2009 ends, here are the last five films I watched this year:


Vengeance
Directed by Johnnie To, written by Wai Ka-fai, starring Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Lam Suet, Gordon Lam Ka-tung, and Sylvie Testud; also starring Michelle Ye, Berg Ng, Eddie Cheung, Felix Wong, Law Wing-cheong, Maggie Siu, Stanley Fung, Jo Koo, Elena Kong, and Vincent Sze.
After watching Vengeance for the second time, I still liked it. (If you want my lengthier thoughts on Johnnie To's latest film, check out the previous blog post.)


Split Second Murders
Directed by Herman Yau, starring a lot of Hong Kong actors, co-starring even more Hong Kong actors, with guest stars and special guest stars.

Simply put, Herman Yau's latest film has a large cast. It's also an entertaining film from one of Hong Kong's best directors.


Dracula 3000
One of the worst films ever made. It's such an awful film that I'm surprised it was made. That being said, it's pretty funny after a healthy amount of alcohol.


Blood: The Last Vampire
Having seen the live action adaptation recently, I decided to re-watch the anime original. I'm not going to slam the new film's shortcomings, but the original is better. However, the live action version stars Jun Ji-hyun.


Sisters On the Road
Directed by Boo Ji-young, starring Kong Hyo-jin, and Shin Min-a.

Following the death of their mother, half-sisters Myeong-ju (Kong) and Myeong-eun (Shin) travel together to find Myeong-eun's long-lost father. Throughout the journey, the two must face unresolved feelings of anger toward one-another, as well as their own personal issues.

Like so many other great stories, it's more the journey than the end that really matters. The chemistry between Kong and Shin proves excellent, and their portrayals of disheartened sisters is touching. This was a blind purchase for me, and a pleasant one. Sisters On the Road is one of the better (if not best) films of the year, and a wonderful cinematic experience that I heartily recommend.


Though 2009 provided plenty in film to be disappointed about, I'd like to end things on a positive note. So, thanks to everyone that recommended a film to me, thanks to everyone that joined me in discussing film, and thanks to everyone that listened to me ramble on about films I loved and hated; I sincerely hope that I will be fortunate enough to experience the same in '010.

Once In A While

Vengeance
Directed by Johnnie To, written by Wai Ka-fai, starring Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Lam Suet, Gordon Lam Ka-tung, and Sylvie Testud; also starring Michelle Ye, Berg Ng, Eddie Cheung, Felix Wong, Law Wing-cheong, Maggie Siu, Stanley Fung, Jo Koo, Elena Kong, and Vincent Sze.

Following the brutal murder of his daughter's family, aging French chef François Costello (Hallyday) travels to a hospital in Macau to visit his daughter (Testud). Once there, he promises to avenge her and her deceased family.

Little more than the description provided above is needed for Johnnie To's latest film. Anyone that has seen a To film knows what to expect from the Hong Kong director. Those unfamiliar with his work should know that he is perhaps the greatest crime genre director in the history of cinema.

Read any review from any To crime film and you'll be able to understand what to expect from Vengeance. Loyalty plays a central role, gun-violence is stylish and second-to-none, and the cast (with the exception of Hallyday) is filled with regulars of To and Wai Ka-fai's Milkyway Image production company. What really sets Vengeance apart from To and Milkyway's œuvre is Wai Ka-fai's script.

Prior to Vengeance, To worked almost exclusively without a finished script. Due to the financing deals made for this film, To was required to have a finished script prior to filming. I think this requirement restricted To's creative efforts, resulting in a film that feels almost too familiar. However, the familiarity coupled with Hallyday's character worked.

While many say that Vengeance is a watered-down, "American-ized" version of a true Johnnie To film, I disagree. Vengeance is obviously a more commercialized Johnnie To film, but it does a fine job of blending hints of La Nouvelle Vague with elements of early Akira Kurosawa films (i.e. One Wonderful Sunday, Drunken Angel, Stray Dog) with the aforementioned familiarity of To's previous works.

The final product may not be as indulgent as To's Kurosawa homage, Throw Down, or as tight a film as PTU, but I think it is a fine piece of work from a superb director. That, along with a great cast of Hong Kong mainstays lead by French superstar Hallyday, make Vengeance a good crime film, and a film worth seeing.

Walking Too Slow

I've been busy lately. That's the reason I'm giving for not having posted anything on the last 50+ films I've seen. In reality, I've just been too lazy to give any information about the following films. That is, until now.

The Films:

Wings
The Ascent
The Cranes Are Flying
Closely Watched Trains
Swordsman III: The East Is Red
24 Hrs Ghost Story
Mr. Vampire
Mr. Vampire II
Turning Point
On His Majesty's Secret Service
Visible Secret
Victim
The Detective
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Stage Fright
The Bride With White Hair
The Bride With White Hair II
Suzhou River
Peacock
Raise the Red Lantern
Eat Drink Man Woman
Claustrophobia
Triangle
Exodus
Memories of Murder
Sympathy For Lady Vengeance
Mother
Thirst
Chaw
Christmas In August
One Fine Spring Day
April Snow
Happiness
Five Senses of Eros
Mismatched Couples
The Seventh Curse
Blood: The Last Vampire
My Dear Enemy
Happy Naked Christmas
My Sassy Girl
Twelve Nights
Mary From Beijing
Walk In
The Tai Chi Master
Accident
Night & Fog
No Boys, No Cry
Handphone
The Chaser
Running Turtle
The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
The Philadelphia Story
No Regrets For Our Youth
One Wonderful Sunday


Yes, I watched The Santa Clause 2 and 3. I have nieces. Check back soon for my thoughts on a pre-Christmas gift from me, to me; Johnnie To's Vengeance.

Something to Look Forward to: Part Two

Last year I posted a list of films I was excited about. The films were:

Ip Man
Thirst
Red Cliff (Part II)
The Hurt Locker
Shinjuku Incident
Blood: A Butcher's Tale
The River Why
Claustrophobia
Lady Cop & Papa Crook
Painted Skin
Rule #1
Lost, Indulgeance

I have watched all of the films in the list that have been released (Blood: A Butcher's Tale, and The River Why have yet to be released). Of those films viewed, only Shinjuku Incident and Lady Copy & Papa Crook proved to be disappointing. The rest of the films were either good (Claustrophobia, Painted Skin; Lost, Indulgeance; Rule #1), or exceptional (Ip Man, Thirst, Red Cliff Part II, The Hurt Locker).

I would like to encourage people to see all of the films (excluding Lady Cop & Papa Crook, which was an absolute mess of a film), as I think they all have something to offer.

Following up on the aforementioned 2008 post of things I was looking forward to seeing, here are some more films that I'm looking forward to watching.

The Films:

Vengeance
Directed by Johnnie To, written by Wai Ka-fai, starring Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Lam Suet, Gordon Lam Ka-tung, Simon Yam, Sylvie Testud, Vincent Sze, Eddie Cheung, Berg Ng, Felix Wong, Maggie Siu, Michelle Ye, Law Wing-cheong, Stanley Fung, Elena Kong, and Jo Koo.

What it is:
The latest film from Hong Kong Director, and crime genre maestro, Johnnie To.

Why I'm excited:
A film about vengeance directed by To, with a script by long-time collaborator Writer/Director (and Milkyway Image Production co-founder, along with To) Wai Ka-fai, is enough to get my nerd levels on the rise. Throw in French Actor Johnny Hallyday, with a supporting cast of Milkyway regulars Anthony Wong, Lam Suet, Gordon Lam Ka-tung, Simon Yam, Eddie Cheung, Berg Ng, Maggie Siu, Law Wing-cheong, and HK actors Michelle Ye, Stanley Fung, and Jo Koo; and I can hardly contain my excitement.

When two men such as Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai work together on a crime film after making films like Too Many Ways To Be No. 1, The Longest Nite, Expect the Unexpected, Running Out of Time, The Mission, Fulltime Killer, PTU, Election, and several others; it's hard to imagine the product could be anything but spectacular. To say that I'm just excited about Vengeance would be an understatement.


A Good Rain Knows
(a.k.a.: Season of Good Rain)
Directed by Hur Jin-ho, starring Jung Woo-sung and Gao Yuanyuan.

What it is:
The latest feature film from South Korean Director Hur Jin-ho.

Why I'm excited:
Hur Jin-ho is known for his ability to craft excellent romantic drama. His previous films (Christmas In August, One Fine Spring Day, April Snow, Happiness) are perfect examples of how romance and drama in film should be done. Other than Wong Kar-wai, there isn't a director out there that can capture romance on film as well as Hur Jin-ho.

With his latest film, Hur cast South Korean Actor Jung Woo-sung and Chinese Actress Gao Yuanyuan. Fans of South Korean Cinema may recognize Jung from his works in the films Musa: The Warrior (co-starring Chinese Actress Zhang Ziyi), Mutt Boy, Daisy (directed by Hong Kong Filmmaker Andrew Lau), and The Good, the Bad, and the Weird. Coupled with the terrifically talented Gao Yuanyuan (who has starred in many great Chinese films, including: Beijing Bicycle, Spring Subway, and City of Life and Death), Jung Woo-sung's performance should prove a good one. With these talented leads, A Good Rain Knows could be another great romantic drama from Hur Jin-ho.


The Grandmaster
Directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

What it is:
Wong Kar-wai's film about the exploits of Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man.

Why I'm excited:
After the success of Director Wilson Yip and Actor Donnie Yen's take on Bruce Lee's master, Ip Man, and the fact that a sequel is already in production, one would assume Wong's The Grandmaster would be a sure bet. Assuming the film will be completed, Wong's long-time collaborator Tony Leung Chiu-wai is slated to star as Ip Man.

In addition to Tony Leung Chiu-wai, it's rumored that either Actress Gong Li (long-time collaborator with Chinese Director Zhang Yimou), or retired HK Actress Brigitte Lin, will join the cast of Wong's Ip Man film. It is also possible that both may join the production. Leung, Li, and Lin have all worked with Wong before (Leung in Days of Being Wild, Chungking Express, Ashes of Time, Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, 2046, and Ashes of Time: Redux; Li in 2046, and the Eros short The Hand; and Lin in Chungking Express, Ashes of Time, and Ashes of Time: Redux).

Following Wong's poorly received English-language debut, My Blueberry Nights, a return to Hong Kong Cinema with one of it's biggest stars seems like a no-brainer for the reknowned auteur. Regardless of the cast or the subject, a new film directed by Wong Kar-wai is something to get excited about. A new film directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as the Legendary Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man; that's something to eagerly anticipate.


The Murderer
Directed by Na Hong-jin.

What it is:
The sophomore feature film from South Korean Director Na Hong-jin.

Why I'm excited:
Na Hong-jin's first feature was the incredible thriller The Chaser. After watching The Chaser back in February, I posted: "The Chaser is one of the best South Korean films of the year (2008), and one of the best films of 2008 in general. I don't know what Na Hong-jin's next film will be, but I can't wait to see it, and I'll be watching The Chaser again soon."

I did watch The Chaser again about a month later, and still found it to be an incredibly intense horror-thriller. While the title of Na Hong-jin's next feature is now known, I don't know anything else about it. And, to get excited about the film, I don't need to know anything else. Na's direction of The Chaser was so impressive that I'll watch just about anything he comes out with next.

Time Is Good

This time, 2 is the magic number, as I share my thoughts on two films. The films: Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell, and Alan Mak & Felix Chong's HK-China Co-production Overheard.

Drag Me to Hell
Directed by Sam Raimi, starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, and Dileep Rao.

Having already seen Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell twice in the theater, I was fairly familiar with the material. For my third viewing of the film I watched the Unrated Version. With the length of the theatrical release and the unrated version being the same, the differences are minor enough to almost be unworthy of mentioning, however, the theatrical version is better. Like the films in Raimi's Evil Dead Series, Drag Me to Hell is a joy to re-watch.


Overheard
Directed by Alan Mak & Felix Chong, starring Lau Ching-wan, Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Zhang Jing-chu, Alex Fong Chung-sun, Waise Lee, and Michael Wong.

A huge step up from Mak & Chong's previous film, Lady Cop & Papa Crook, Overheard manages to engage and affect despite lacking character depth and focus. Leads Lau, Koo, and Wu give predictably good performances, offsetting the somewhat hollow script. My main complaint would be the lack of focus. Had Mak & Chong tightened up the story and focused more on characters' motives, Overheard could have been one of the top films of the year. Instead, we get a mediocre crime film that provides a decent viewing experience.



Next time, a list of films I'm looking forward to seeing.

Dreaming

This time, my (relatively) concise thoughts on Hong Kong flicks: Written by, ICAC, The Shootout, My Life As McDull, Koma, and Eye In the Sky.


Written by
Directed by Wai Ka-fai, starring Lau Ching-wan, Kelly Lin, Mia Yam, and Jo Koo.

The latest from Wai Ka-fai, which stars the always great Lau Ching-wan, is an excellent film with an ethereal feel. One of the best films of 2009.


ICAC
aka I Corrupt All Cops
Directed by Wong Jing, starring Eason Chan, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Anthony Wong, Alex Fong, Bowie Lam, Wong Jing, Liu Yang, Natalie Meng, and Kate Tsui.

Wong Jing manages a decent film due to an engaging, if underdeveloped, story of the formation of Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption. Chan and Leung lead a top-notch cast of HK actors and actresses, including the woefully underused Kate Tsui.


The Shootout
Directed by Michael Mak, starring Aaron Kwok, Lau Ching-wan, Leung Ka-yan, Fennie Yeun, Ngai Suet, Tsui Kam-Kong.

More comedy than the title would imply, Mak's The Shootout features a wacky story that entertains, mostly thanks to stars Kwok and Lau. An enjoyable time-waster.


My Life As McDull
Directed by Toe Yeun, voiced by Jan Lam, Sandra Ng, and Anthony Wong.

A delightful animated film from Hong Kong about a dim piglet named McDull, and his pushy yet hopeful mother. A thoughtful, fun flick, for kids and adults.


Koma
Directed by Bruce Law, starring Karena Lam, Angelica Lee, Andy Hui, Liu Kai-chi, Annie Mann, and Raymond Wong.

A gripping, intense thriller from dependable HK Director Bruce Law. Lead Actress Lam provides a perfect performance. The quality of the direction and acting highlight an intelligent script.


Eye In the Sky
Directed by Yau Nai-hoi, starring Tony Leung Ka-fai, Simon Yam, Kate Tsui, Maggie Siu, Lam Suet, Eddie Cheung, Ng Ting-yip, and Lai Yiu-cheung.

Hong Kong's Milky Way Image production company is known the world over for its stellar crime flicks. Eye In the Sky is no exception. Yau's film about an HK Police SU (Surveillance Unit) tracking a group of deadly robbers is tense and engaging. With an exciting plot and terrific acting from HK veterans Leung and Yam, as well as (then) newcomer Tsui, Eye In the Sky is a great addition to the HK Crime Genre.


Next time, Drag Me to Hell, and Overheard.

Daily Dealings

This time, Russia and South Korea take center stage, with Grigori Chukhrai's Ballad of a Soldier, and Park Dae-min's Private Eye.


Ballad of a Soldier
Directed by Grigori Chukhrai, starring Vladimir Ivashov, Zhanna Prokhorenko, Antonina Maksimova, and Yevgeni Urbansky.

After single-handedly defeating two tanks, young Russian soldier Alyosha (Ivashov) is given leave to visit his mother (Maksimova) and help fix his family's roof. On his long train trip home, he encounters battle hardened soldier Vasya (Urbansky), himself returning home; and falls in love with beautiful stowaway Shura (Prokhorenko). Both encounters show Alyosha the damage of war, and the hope of a better future.

Ballad of a Soldier is an exceptional film. With a simple story and unexperienced lead actors in Ivashov and Prokhorenko, Churkhrai's World War II film has an honest feel. Though very little warfare occurs onscreen, the horrors of war are felt through the characters situations and outlook on life. More than a love story or just another film about World War II, Ballad of a Soldier is a great example of Soviet Cinema, and one of the finest films I've seen.


Private Eye
Directed by Park Dae-min, starring Hwang Jung-min, Ryu Deok-hwan, and Um Ji-won.

Detective Hong Jin-ho (Hwang) is widely known as a top-notch P.I. When medical student Kwang Su (Ryu) accidentally becomes involved in a murder investigation, he hires Hong to help him find the murderer. With help from his scientist friend Soon-deok (Um), Hong uncovers a series of grisly murders related to a ring of governmental corruption.

Private Eye is a period film, set in 1920, in Seoul, South Korea. The story has a nice build-up of suspense and intrigue, followed by a shocking finale. In addition to good plotting, Park's period-noir has a good supporting cast built around the superbly cast Hwang Jung-min. Hwang's portrayal of Hong as an everyman detective, as well as the peroid setting, helps to set the film apart from contemporary neo-noir. With action, thrills, and a healthy dose of humor, Private Eye is an engaging detective film, and one of the better films of 2009.

Next time, Written by, ICAC, The Shootout, My Life As McDull, Koma, and Eye In the Sky.

Down On the Earth

This time, it's a trio of Danish films, with Just Another Love Story, Häxan, and Vampyr.


Just Another Love Story
Directed by Ole Bornedal, starring Anders W. Berthelsen, Rebecka Hemse, Dejan Cukic, Charlotte Fich, and Nikolaj Lie Kaas.

Jonas (Berthelsen) is an average family man. He has a wife, Mette (Fich); two kids (one boy, one girl), and is bored with his very existence. However, his boredom is left behind when a car accident he witnesses offers him a way out.

Following the accident, Jonas decides to visit the driver, Julia (Hemse) in the hospital. Since he is not a relative, the hospital admissions staff turns him away. An undeterred Jonas goes to the floor Julia's room is on, and pretends to be her boyfriend, Sebastian (Kaas). Jonas/Sebastion is quickly accepted as such by the hospital's staff, Julia's family, and Julia herself, who has gone temporarily blind and suffered memory loss.

Julia and her family soon welcome Jonas/Sebastion into their fold, providing Jonas a reprieve from, and possibly a way out of, his tedious life. Unfortunately, things turn unpleasant, as his detective friend Frank (Cukic) tries to persuade Jonas to stop the affair, and Mette begins to suspect the infidelity. Things become further complicated when Frank tells Jonas that the real Sebastion was reportedly shot dead prior to Julia's accident. Jonas must choose whether he wants to risk it all to be with the mysterious Julia.

Just Another Love Story is an excellent neo-noir. The acting and direction highlight the story of the morally conflicted Jonas and his struggle to keep his footing in a world that is spiraling out of his control. Directed Bornedal has crafted a fine thriller, that stands out as more than just another noir.


Häxan
Directed by Benjamin Christensen.

Häxan chronicles the history of witchcraft. Through a series of vignettes, it demonstrates the attempts of the misinformed and uneducated in their quests to eradicate what was perceived as witchcraft. Christensen's film is part documentary, part horror, and part morality play. While fictional, the film is presented as fact, which allows Christensen himself to narrate the film in documentary style.

Though Häxan is a work of fiction, Christensen's use of psychology to explain away the thought of witchcraft as an affliction is, for a non-academic film on the subject of witchcraft, intriguing. Häxan is an interesting film that manages to be entertaining and thought provoking; while also possessing darkly intelligent humor.

Vampyr
Directed by Carl Th. Dryer, starring Julian West (Nicolas de Gunzburg), Rena Mandel, Jan Hieronimko, Albert Bras, Sybille Schmitz, Henriette Gerard, and Maurice Schutz.

If you've read Bram Stoker's Dracula, seen Nosferatu, or seen one of the hundreds of adaptations of either, then you know the basic story of Carl Th. Dryer's Vampyr. What sets Vampyr apart from those other films is not the well-known story, but Dryer's direction.

With editing techniques and camera tricks, Dryer's vampyric tale rises above the horror norm. Instead of relying on the overused staples of the horror genre, Dryer created a film whose terror comes from a muddled, dream-like state. The result is a film stylistically more akin to the works of Welles or the La Nouvelle Vague, than the horror films of the time.


Next time, Grigori Chukhrai's Ballad of a Soldier, and Park Dae-min's Private Eye.

Climbing Up to the Moon

In the previous post, I briefly mentioned having seen Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon in a theater. Watching it on the big screen began a five film (and growing) streak of excellent films without any crappy films getting in the way. Said films are: The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Stray Dog, The Battleship Potemkin, and Drunken Angel.

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Fritz Lang's follow-up to M (one of the greatest films ever made...ever), is the story of a mad doctor who finds a way to circumnavigate his imprisonment. Like in Lang's previous film, the director utilizes the, then new, medium of sound film to its fullest. An exciting film of crime and passion, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse is a fine piece of cinema, and an engaging film noir.

Stray Dog
Akira Kurowsawa's film noir follows the misfortune of a young detective named Murakami in search of his stolen pistol. Kurosawa masterfully presents an intriguing film with top notch performances by Toshirō Mifune as the unfortunate detective, and Takashi Shimura as a sage detective that guides Mifune's "Murakami".

The Battleship Potemkin
Sergei Eisenstein's Russian silent film about the revolution against the Tsarist regime. There is something incredible about being able to sit and watch a film from what was most certainly a different time. With their world embroiled in the aftermath of revolution and civil war, I can't begin to imagine what the souls who watched The Battleship Potemkin during its intial theatrical release in Soviet Union felt upon seeing it. However, after watching it, I can understand how The Battleship Potemkin became such an influential film in cinema and life.

Drunken Angel
Before Stray Dog, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and many other excellent film collaborations, Akira Kurosawa teamed up with Takashi Shimura and Toshirō Mifune in Drunken Angel. Kurosawa's tale of the seedy world of the Yakuza is an exciting film that showcases wonderful performances from the cast, including Shimura and Mifune, whose chemistry carries great dramatic weight. To see the beginning of one of the most influential of film collaborations is rewarding, and its a good film, too.

Next time, Danish film Just Another Love Story, Czech film Closely Watched Trains, and Russian films Ballad of A Soldier, The Cranes Are Flying, Wings, and The Ascent.

Take A Bite

In between watching the third season of Dexter on dvd, the first three seasons of Psych on dvd, and watching the US Open, I've tried to watch films. However, in a little less than a month, I've only managed to watch seven. Those seven films include a viewing of Into Great Silence on dvd, re-watching PTU on dvd, watching Clean on dvd, watching Inglourious Basterds, The Hurt Locker, 500 Days of Summer, & Rashomon on the big screen. For descriptions/summaries/reviews of any of these films, look somewhere else. For tiny-length thoughts from me on these films, keep reading.

Into Great Silence
A great documentary that is as interesting as it is long.

PTU
Excellent Johnnie To directed neo-noir.

Clean
Olivier Assayas directs Maggie Cheung in a superb film.

Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino's latest is a bloated film with unnecessary violence and cartoonish cinematography. The depiction of the characters' inhumanity in the film was disgusting and insulting. The film lacked originality, and a good plot. One of the worst films I've ever seen. Tarantino's affinity for Eli Roth and his pseudo-snuff films, has made his own work intolerable. Maybe one day Tarantino will create a good film that isn't an unauthorized remake or mashup of his favorite scenes. Probably not.

The Hurt Locker
Director Kathryn Bigelow returns to the big screen with what is quite possibly the best film of 2009.

500 Days of Summer
Like a feature-length episode of Scrubs. Unfortunately, I don't mean that in a good way. The fractured narrative of 500 Days is a little too similar to the "Bed, Banter & Beyond" episode of Scrubs; except neither Joseph Gordon-Levitt nor Zooey Deschanel are as good as Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke in handling the dramatic-comedic mix. 500 Days of Summer is a lazy, derivative flick that feels forced and flat throughout. If you feel a compulsory need to see this type of story, check out the aformentioned episode of Scrubs instead.

Rashomon
Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon is one of the greatest films ever made. Sure, I've watched it a few dozen times on dvd, but seeing it on the big screen was incredible.

Next time: Longer descriptions/reviews of films?

Comfort Films, Good Films & Bad Films

Post Yau & Yee Fest, I was a bit in the dumps, due to Yee's underwhelming Shinjuku Incident. In order to lift my filmic spirits, I re-watched some of my favorite Hong Kong films:

Love Undercover
Feel 100% II
Crazy N' the City
Bullets Over Summer
Juliet In Love
Love Battlefield

Spirits were lifted.

Then I watched/re-watched a mix of good and awful films.

Amelie Unfortunately awful
Visible Secret II (re-watch) Good
Bled One of the worst films ever made
Amusement Good
Rashomon (re-watch) One of the greatest films ever made
The Haunted Cop Shop (re-watch) Awfully funny
Gran Torino (re-watch) Good
Little Miss Sunshine (re-watch) Good
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (re-watch) Good, duh
Super Troopers (re-watch) Okay

Yikes! It's sad that I've watched so few films lately. I should go watch some.

Yau & Yee Fest

In preparation for the dvd releases of Derek Yee's Shinjuku Incident and Herman Yau's The First 7th Night (which were on the same day), I decided to have a film festival for one, featuring some of my favorite films by the two directors. The films are as follows:

The Untold Story
Directed by Herman Yau

Troublesome Night 3
Directed by Herman Yau

Troublesome Night 5
Directed by Herman Yau

People's Hero
Directed by Derek Yee

C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri
Directed by Derek Yee

Lost In Time
Directed by Derek Yee

Nightmares in Precinct 7
Directed by Herman Yau

On the Edge
Directed by Herman Yau

I had planned to watch Yau's A Mob Story, Whispers and Moans, and True Women for Sale; and Yee's One Nite In Mongkok, Drink-Drank-Drunk, and Protégé, but Shinjuku Incident and The First 7th Night arrived at my door earlier than I had anticipated, and I couldn't wait to watch them.

Shinjuku Incident
Directed by Derek Yee, starring Jackie Chan, Naoto Takenaka, Daniel Wu, Chin Kar-lok, Lam Suet, Masaya Kato, Fan Bing-bing, and Xu Jing-lei.

Back in October of last year, I wrote a post about upcoming films I was excited about. One of those films was Shinjuku Incident. I wrote:

"I live and breathe cinema created by Yee. Like most of my favorite directors, I have all of his films, and love them all. On top of that, Shinjuku Incident stars Jackie Chan, who, while hardly known for his acting ability, just might pull off an engaging performance thanks to Derek Yee. As if a thriller directed by Yee weren't enough, it co-stars Daniel Wu who worked with Yee on the incredible One Nite in Mongkok, and it stars another of my favorite actor/directors, Xu Jinglei.

Being a film from Derek Yee, this is bound to be a good, if not great film. With all the talent involved, this could be Yee's greatest film yet. I haven't been this excited about a film since Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I can only hope Shinjuku Incident will be better than that. Much better."

While my level of disappointment with Shinuku Incident wasn't as great as with Episode I, it was close. However, the blame shouldn't be placed with Derek Yee. Though I have some minor quibbles script-wise, Shinjuku Incident was an intriguing film with one of the best supporting casts I've seen. The film fails due to the limited acting ability of Jackie Chan.

The direction, cinematography, costumes, set designs, locations, score, and supporting cast are excellent. Had another actor (a real actor) been cast in the lead role, I think Shinjuku Incident could have been Yee's best film, and one of the best films of 2009. Unfortunately, Jackie Chan was cast in the lead role, and for that Shinuku Incident suffers greatly.


The First 7th Night
Directed by Herman Yau, starring Gordon Lam Ka-tung, Michelle Ye, Julian Cheung, Eddie Cheung, Fung Hark-on, and Tony Ho.

Unlike Yee's Shinjuku Incident, Yau's The First 7th Night is good. I'm both too lazy and too in-awe of the film to describe it's plot, but it is a great blend of genres. For those that don't know, 7th night refers to the belief that on the 7th night after a person's death, they return to visit their family/exact revenge.

I liked so many things about the film, but I especially enjoyed Gordon Lam's performance, and the story upon it's conclusion.I hope that this is just the first in a series of 7th Night films, as the title suggests. Yau's directed is superb, and the film turned out to be far more thoughtful and interesting than I expected.

My Timing Is Off

It has been a month since my last post because I've been digging the new eels album, "Hombre Lobo", I've been sleeping, and I've been watching the fifth season of Stargate Atlantis on dvd. I've also watched the following films. Enjoy my thoughts on them.

My Name Is Bruce
Bruce Campbell's latest self-directed feature is more crap than camp.

Such A Gorgeous Kid Like Me
The lead character in Francois Truffaut's film is so unlikeable that the film is depressing, and ultimately a lesser film than it could have been, had the "gorgeous kid" had any redeeming qualities.

Miao Miao
Miao Maio possesses some good performances but is far from memorable.

Ming Ming
Odd, engaging, but odd.

Fearless
For a film entitled "Fearless", I found it to be quite reserved.

August 15th
An excellent short film.

Gran Torino
The third time around, Gran Torino is still damn good.

Tactical Unit - Partners
A decent entry in the PTU telefilm series.

City of Life and Death
An emotive filmic take on the Nanjing (a.k.a. Nanking) Massacre.

Claustrophobia
Screenwriter Ivy Ho's directorial debut is pretty good, but it isn't as good as I had hoped it would be.

Exiled
After watching Johnnie To's Exiled for the second time, I liked it better than my first viewing, but I still consider it a lesser work of his.

My Mother Is A Belly Dancer
An surprisingly entertaining film.

Butterfly
Kinda bland story-wise, but well acted.

Drag Me To Hell
Sam Raimi knows campy-horror.

The Last Metro
The Last Metro is an excellent film that shows both the great ability of an experienced auteur such as Francois Truffaut, and the great tragedy that is war.

Paprika
A fucked up Japanese Anime film about an experimental dream device that falls into the wrong hands.

Expect the Unexpected
One of my favorite films, so, it's good.

Yes, I Can See Dead People
An entertaining HK horror-comedy.

Throw Down
One of my favorite Johnnie To films.

Rise: Blood Hunter
Rise: Blood Hunter is such an incredibly shitty mess that it doesn't even deserve to be called a film.

Ivan's Childhood
One of the finest films I've seen.

M
One of the finest films I've seen, and I've seen it many times.

M le maudit
Director Claude Chabrol's poor adaptation/homage to Fritz Lang's M.

The Vampire Who Admires Me
Silly HK horror-comedy with attractive women in skimpy clothing.

Moonlight In Tokyo
An engaging HK dramedy about a mentally handicapped gigolo.

Jiang Hu - "The Triad Zone"
A top notch HK triad dramedy.

The Killer
Birds, bullets, and blindness abound in John Woo's heroic bloodshed classic.

The Uninvited
Jun Ji-hyun co-stars in a decent South Korean horror film with an unfulfilling finale.

War of the Underworld
Herman Yau's take on the Young and Dangerous.

White Valentine
A disappointing South Korean rom-com.

Destry Rides Again
James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich in the Old West, 'nuff said.

Radio Dayz
A South Korean dramedy with an engaging cast of characters that fails due to a poorly executed plot.

The President's Barber
A good South Korean political satire that feels like it could have been better if the story took a bolder stand on the issues it presents.

Swordsman II
A bold film that touches on politics, sexuality, and loyalty through swordplay and kungfu.


Check back next week for my thoughts on several films, including Derek Yee's Shinjuku Incident, and Herman Yau's The First 7th Night.

Happiness

This time, the 200TH film I watched in 2009. You read that correctly, the 200TH film I've watched in 2009.

Happiness
Directed by Hur Jin-ho, starring Hwang Jung-Min and Im Soo-Jung.

Happiness is a lovely film about two terminally ill people that meet in a sanatorium, and their struggle to live and love. While the description may sound sappy, the film isn't. With Hur's direction and Hwang and Im's acting, Happiness is one of the finest films I've seen. The mixture of humor, romance, and drama is top notch, and leaves one clamoring for more.

I didn't realize until well after watching Happiness that it would be the 200TH film I'd watched in 2009. Looking back, I can't think of many films that would have been a better choice.

Fresh Feeling

Great films, good films, and crap make up the following list of films I recently viewed.

Confidentially Yours - Great
Shoot the Pianist - Great
Detective - Godard made Crap
Lost Highway - Crap
The Golem: How He Came Into the World - Good
Out Of the Dark - Good
High Noon - So good it just might be Great
No Blood, No Tears - Crap
X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Surprise, surprise, Crap
Blood Simple - Good
American Psycho - I had heard it was good, it is Crap
Night At the Museum: Battle For the Smithsonian - Crap
Sundown: The Vampire In Retreat - Crap
Touch of Evil - Great
The Banquet - Good
Star Trek - Good, for a Star Trek film
Drag Me To Hell - Quite Good
The Woman Next Door - Great

Be sure to check back later this week for a special post about the 200TH film I watched in 2009.

In Itself

My pics for The Best Films of 2008

Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino

Lee Yoon-ki's My Dear Enemy

Jon Favreau's Iron Man

Johnnie To's Sparrow

Na Hong-jin's The Chaser

John Woo's Red Cliff

Kim Ki-duk's Dream

Lawrence Lau's Besieged City

Bryan Singer's Valkyrie

Tomas Alfredson's Let the Right One In

Gordon Chan's Painted Skin

Into Madness

The following is a list of the films I've watched since the previous blog post.

Tactical Unit - No Way Out
Mighty Baby
Hansel & Gretel
The Duelist
Heavenly Mission
My Friend & His Wife
Ip Man
Madagascar Escape 2 Africa
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
She's On Duty
Another Public Enemy
Public Enemy Returns
Riot in a Gibang in 1724
Last Present
Typhoon
Police Story 3
Be Kind Rewind
Buddha's Palm
The Sorcerers
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
God Man Dog
Legendary Assassain
Look for a Star
The Legend of Zu
Time
Mutt Boy
Tactical Unit - Human Nature
Red Cliff
Red Cliff II
Real Fiction
the isle
Rough Cut
Royal Tramp
Royal Tramp II
Birdcage Inn
The Bow
Dogma #7 Interview
About Love
Hollywood Hong Kong
Haunted Office
Shiver
Wild Strawberries
What A Wonderful World
Runaway Blues
Young and Dangerous
Young and Dangerous 2
Young and Dangerous 3
Young and Dangerous 4
Portland Street Blues
Young and Dangerous 5
Young and Dangerous: The Prequel
Born to be King
The Legendary Tai Fei
Those Were the Days
Parking
A Bittersweet Life
Kung Fu Panda
Boogeyman 2
Waitress
The Chaser
Sopyonje
Serenity
Arang
Snow Angels
Spring In A Small Town
Bad Guy
Citizen Kane
Chungking Express
Let the Right One In
A Light Sleep
Tactical Unit - Comrades In Arms
Caprica
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Jules and Jim
Satyricon
Prison On Fire II
Zebraman
A Man Who Was Superman
Failan
The Equation of Love & Death
Dream
Swordsman
All About Ah Long
Summer Palace

What have you (yes, you) been watching? Also, check back soon for more film blog shenanigans, because Very and Absolutely and Extremely is back. What can one expect from the return of this blog? Posts less than a month apart, adult language, and whatever else gets thrown in. Enjoy.

It's A Motherfucker

I could provide full reviews of the following films, but I'm feeling overwhelmingly apathetic. (it is possible)


Lady Cop & Papa Crook
Both the theatrical and director's cut versions sucked.

Besieged City
Excellent

Mighty Baby
The dvd was flawed, but what I watched before it screwed up was funny.

Tactical Unit - The Code
Pretty good.

Driving With My Wife's Lover
Existential goodness that reminded me of Toto Le Heros.

Hero
Not the Zhang Yimou epic, the Takeshi Kaneshiro - Yuen Biao action flick. It was pretty good.

Crush & Blush
Strangely enjoyable.

Mismatched Couples
Donnie Yen dances. A lot.

Taxi Blues
Documentary about driving a taxi in Seoul, South Korea. Insightful.

Asako In Ruby Shoes
Funny, and heartwrenchingly wonderful.

The Last Witness
28-year-old crime drama from South Korea. I liked it.

The Way We Are
Not as good as I expected, but still really, really good.

A Good Lawyer's Wife
Lacked focus, but held my attention.


There just might be reviews of films on this blog again at some point. There might not.

Looking Out the Window

Today, the remastered released of Wong Kar-Wai's Ashes of Time. Wong is my favorite director in all of directordom, so, yeah, I'm going to gush.

Ashes of Time Redux
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai, starring Leslie Cheung, Brigette Lin, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Carina Lau, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Charlie Young, Jacky Cheung, and Maggie Cheung.

Through the memories of a lonely swordsmen, the stories of the lives and loves of others unfold. As with most memories, they become contingent upon one another with time. This interconnectedness of memory, much like that of life, is impermanent. In the swordsman's recollection of his own life, and in the retelling of others, the ephemeral becomes immortal, and whispers destined to evanesce, become legend.

Wong Kar-Wai's direction is wonderfully emotive. Though, that is hardly surprising from the master of cinematic emotion. Likewise the locations reflect the loneliness of the characters, and of course, the cinematographie works in concert with that feeling to create an evocative onscreen depiction. The acting, from Leslie Cheung's lonely swordsman, to Maggie Cheung's listless beauty, is superb.

Wong originally made Ashes of Time in the early-to-mid 90's. The production was delayed due to financing, and it is during that time, in an effort to make money for Ashes of Time, that Wong made Chungking Express. Following the production break, Wong, along with the cast and crew, returned to work on the wuxia epic.

When finally complete, Ashes of Time was poorly received by critics and audiences. Wong went on to make five more features, but, much like George Lucas with the original Star Wars Trilogy, he wished to make Ashes of Time the way he had invisioned it. Hence, Ashes of Time Redux.

Ashes of Time Redux is like the change to memory that comes with new experiences and age. It isn't terribly different from the original, and yet, obviously, feels different. The new score and digital remastering bring the illusion of a fresh clarity, as though one were reliving an old memory. For those that already own Ashes of Time, Ashes of Time Redux should be a welcomed as a coequal. While both versions have their own unique aspects, they are both fine pieces of cinema from a master.


Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on the theatrical and director's cut releases of Lady Cop & Papa Crook.

Walking and Knocking

Today, South Korean crime drama Eye For An Eye.

Eye For An Eye
I refuse to offer a wealth of information on this film due to it's awfulness. How awful? So awful that I almost couldn't finish watching it. If you're looking for a good film, Eye For An Eye isn't it.


Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on Ashes of Time Redux, which is a good film.

Stare At the Ceiling

Iron Monkey
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, starring Yu Rong-guang, Donnie Yen, and Jean Wang.

Iron Monkey is one of the finest pieces of martial arts cinema. I'd offer my thoughts on it, but that'd be like commenting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. For those that haven't seen or heard of Iron Monkey, get it on dvd and watch it already.


Check back tomorrow for my negative thoughts on South Korean crime drama Eye For An Eye. Why negative? Because it sucks, harder than a Hoover.

The Other Shoe

Today, we mourn the passing of the Five Days of Hwang Jung-min Films with the director's cut of Painted Skin.

I've watched both the theatrical release and the director's cut, and I didn't notice any great disparity between them. Since there wasn't anything drastically different between the two versions, I'm re-posting my thoughts on the theatrical version of the film. Enjoy.

Painted Skin: Director's Cut
Directed by Gordon Chan, starring Donnie Yen, Vicki Zhao Wei, Zhou Xun, Aloys Chen, and Betty Sun.

While out protecting the innocent and being all around swell guys, General Wang and his troops save a beautiful young woman from a group of bandits. Wang (Chen) promises young Xiao Wei (Zhou) that he will be her protector from now on. Upon their return home, Xiao Wei goes to live with Wang and his wife Peirong (Zhao). While Wang professes his undying loyalty to a suspicious Peirong, Xiao Wei beings stealing the hearts of all the other men in the village. Literally. Wang and his men didn't realize it when the "rescued" her, but Xiao Wei is a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing, or, in her case, a demon in human skin.

Not long after the village receives it's inhuman visitor, it recieve's another visitor in the form of the former general, Pang (Yen). Before forcing himself into a life of exile, Pang was general, with Wang his subordinate and closest friend. Unfortunately, the two had a dispute on the field of battle, leading to a rift in their brotherly bond. Being a super badass former general and kung fu expert, Pang is asked to discover the source of evil that has taken the town hostage, and to destroy it.

Armed with disbelief, Pang sets out to stop the foul being only at the behest of the lovely Peirong. This causes the rift between Pang and Wang to deepen, and furthers the distrust between Wang and Peirong, as she believes Xiao Wei to be a demon that has designs on her husband, and Wang is unwilling to admit or believe anything. Even though he is pretty much the best thing ever, former general Pang is aided by evesdropping, self-proclaimed "Demon Buster" Xia Bing (Sun), as he and Peirong risk everything they have to stop the demon before it's too late.

Based on several stories from Pu Songling's Strange Tales From a Chinese Studio, Painted Skin is pretty much awesome. Gordan Chan throws together an odd mix of technique, music and action to make a sloppily fun horror-fantasy-romance-comedy-drama. The acting is superb, and even Yen manages to do more than preen for the camera, giving an engaging and fun performance. Painted Skin is definitely not fine cimena by any means, but it is a terribly entertaining film. In fact, if one were to look for a contemporary film that is more fun than Painted Skin, they'd be hard pressed to find it.


Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on another film I've seen multiple times, Iron Monkey.

Swept Away

On the fifth day of the Five Days of Hwang Jung-min films I give to thee, a flick that'll make one weepie. Today, the Five Days of Hwang Jung-min Films reaches the inevitable conclusion, with the film You Are My Sunshine.

You Are My Sunshine
Directed by Park Jin-pyo, starring Jeon Do-yean and Hwang Jung-min.

A story about love.

I suppose I could be a bit more descriptive about the film, but I won't. The performances are impeccable, the direction assured, the emotion charged. You Are My Sunshine is a fantastic film that delves into the depths of human emotion. So, yeah, it's good.


Tomorrow, we shall mourn the passing of the Five Days of Hwang Jung-min with the director's cut of Painted Skin.

Lies, Lies, Lies

On the fourth day of Hwang Jung-min films I'll confess two lies to thee, oh how honest of me. Today's flick, Shiri.

Lie # 1
That I'm going to provide a review-like description of Shiri. I'm lazy, so all you're getting is this: Shiri was good, and I liked it.

Lie # 2
That this movie stars Hwang Jung-min. It does not. He only has a very small cameo at the end of the film.


Check back tomorrow for the final day in the Five Days of Hwang Jung-min films. There will be more words, and more honesty. Promise.

Happy Nap Day

Today is National Nap Day! I'm too tired and lazy to provide a regular post, so I'm going to take a personal day. The Five Days of Hwang Jung-min will resume tomorrow, with day four.

Until the End

On the third day of Hwang Jung-min films I give to thee, a super duper scary movie. Today, South Korean horror flick Black House, and Watchmen.

Black House
Directed by Shin Tae-ra, starring Hwang Jung-min, (and, since I'm too lazy to look) other actors.

Black House is super creepy. Hwang plays a newbie insurance agent that gets in over his head. While on a house call to go over a man's insurance policy, Hwang's character finds the body of the man's step-son hanging from a light fixture. From that point on, Hwang's character is terrorized for looking into the death, as he is sure the father is a murderer.

Unlike so many contemporary horror films, Black House is straight up horror. Instead of going the post-Scream route, deconstructing the genre for scares, Black House utilizes standard horror film conventions, and they work. For horror fans that like their films with genuine thrills like the old days of horror (Halloween, Evil Dead, etc.) Black House is a treat, and a must see.

Watchmen
Directed by Zach Snyder, starring Patrick Wilson, Malin Åkerman, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Carla Gugino.

Watchmen is a good comic book adaptation, but a flawed film. It's obvious from watching Watchmen (pun intended) that Synder and Co. took great care in creating the cinematic version of Alan Moore's acclaimed comic, but it still falls short of cinematic greatness.

My thoughts: Patrick Wilson and Malin Åkerman, were great. Jackie Earle Haley was incredible. Jeffrey Dean Morgan (an actor I do in fact like) was over-the-top and lacked believability. Robert Wisden's Richard Nixon was terrible. His performance was all over the place, and the makeup f/x used to recreate Nixon's face were awful to the point of being distracting. The rest of the cast was just okay.

The special f/x were fine. Snyder's direction was questionable at best, and at times he tried to be cleverer than he is capable of being, which was annoying and distracting. I'm not a huge fan of the comic, so I was never worried about how faithful it was stay to the source material, but I think in that regard, Watchmen is a success. Though it is faithful and at times enjoyable, it's not a very good film. Without Patrick Wilson, Malin Åkerman, and Jackie Earle Haley, Watchmen would have been damn near interminable.


Check back tomorrow for the fourth day of Hwang Jung-min films.

Lonely Eyes

On the second day of Hwang Jung-min films I give to thee, my thoughts on Road Movie.

Road Movie
Directed by Kim In-sik, starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Chan, and Seo Lin.

Dae-shik (Hwang) is a lonely man. He pushes his lovers away when they want more than sex, and he is the de facto leader of a group of homeless people, but hardly a member of it. After losing big in the stock market, Suk-won's (Jung) life is turned upside down. His wife leaves him, and he winds up wandering the streets. It is there, on the streets, that Suk-won meets Dae-shik, and their friendship begins.

The two men become the best of friends, realizing that neither really needs a conventional life to tie them down. Throughout their travels, they find work where they can, and meet the lovely, yet emotionally unstable, Il-joo (Seo). Il-joo is immediately smitten with Dae-shik, and decides to invite herself to their wandering world.

Things begin to fall apart when Suk-won learns that Dae-shik is gay, and he soon starts to distrust and question Dae-shik's every move. The trio deals with several forms of separation from each other, but Dae-shik and Suk-won are brought back together when Suk-won is in need, and no one other than Dae-shik is willing to help. Then, the biggest problem facing the friends, is whether Suk-won can accept Dae-shik's friendship in light of his unrequited love, and whether Dae-shik is willing to accept Suk-won's insecurities and selfishness.

Road Movie is a great character drama. The direction and story are engaging, and the latter of the two features a few interesting plot twists that forego revelation for believability. Road Movie also touches on cultural issues like homelessness and homosexuality, but never in a heavy-handed or preachy manner, as the drama is first and foremost in the film from start to finish.

I could gush on and on about Hwang Jung-min's terrifically emotive performance, but I won't. Instead, I'll just say that it is a fine performance, from one of the best actors working today. The rest of the performances are really great, but it's Hwang Jung-min's portrayal of a loner-by-choice that talks of love as a disease, and yet, still can't help but feel and care, is what really makes the film. Simply put, Road Movie is a damn good drama.


Check back tomorrow for the third day in the five days of Hwang Jung-min films, and my thoughts on a little movie called Watchmen.

Hidden In the Chaos

On the first day of Hwang Jung-min films I give to thee, my thoughts on a film I watched on dvd. (try singing the preceeding sentence to the tune of the "12 Days of Christmas", I did, and it was fun).

Bloody Tie
Directed by Choi Ho, starring (suprise!) Hwang Jung-min, and Ryu Seung-beom.

Lt. Do (Hwang) is a sad, sad excuse of a cop. He spends most of his time engaging in either criminal activites, or avoiding work. In an effort to show up the new D.A., who is cracking down the illegal drug world, Do partners up with low-level drug dealer Sang-do (Ryu) to take down a drug kingpin. Initially, the two make an effort to bring the bad guys in, but Sang-do soon creates a drug empire of his own.

Hwang Jung-min's Lt. Do is badass. Take equal parts Dirty Harry, Shaft, and Insp. Tequila, mix them all together, and you'll end up with Lt. Do. The story in Bloody Tie isn't anything all the great, but Hwang's Do makes up for any failings the film might have.

While Hwang's performance is nothing short of incredible, Ryu's portrayal of sleezy drug dealer Sang-do is terrifically entertaining in it's own right. Portraying a slimy criminal, who is at times pathetic and at others smooth, is no small task. Thankfully, Ryu performs quite well.

The scenes between the two leads are one of the highlights of Bloody Tie. Ryu plays the perfect foil to Hwang's cop, and when the two begin their investigation the comedic bits are hilarious. For a cop/revenge/crime drama, Bloody Tie is pretty good, and for the performances, it's outstanding.


Check back tomorrow for the second day in the five days of Hwang Jung-min films.

Brick by Brick

Today, a change in plans. Instead of two films, it's just the one, South Korean fantasy-epic The Restless.

The Restless
Directed by Jo Dong-oh, starring Jung Woo-sung, Kim Tae-hee, Hur Jun-ho, Kim Kwang-il, Park Jung-hak, Park Sang-wook, and Yu Ha-jun.

It's a special f/x extravaganza. Not much more needs to be said. I could ramble on and on about the "story" of The Restless, but there isn't any point. It's a likeable film, that borrows liberally from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, hell, it'd be easier to find a prominent sci-fi fantasy film The Restless doesn't borrow from in one way or another.

That being said, the special f/x in The Resltess are top notch, on par with any other film out there. In addition to pretty f/x, the actors are all attractive, and sport pretty costumes as well. What it lacks in plot and orginality, it definitely makes up for in the looks department.

No one is going to mistake The Restless as a piece of cinematic greatness, but it's an incredibly fun film. Easy on the eyes, easy on the mind, and easy to enjoy. That may not seem like much, but it's quite a bit better than a large amount of films out there. While watching The Restless, lives won't be changed, civilization won't be saved, and the economy won't be fixed, but you'll have a damn good time.


Check back tomorrow for the first of five days of movies featuring Actor Hwang Jung-min.

Many Happy Returns

Today is Actress Kim Jung-eun's birthday. Happy Birthday to Ms. Kim! Since I find it highly unlikely that she reads this blog, on with the films, or, in today's case, the film.

Forever the Moment
Directed by Lim Soon-rye, starring Kim Jung-eun, and Moon So-ri.

Following the completion of the regular season of Women's Handball in South Korea, a group of veteran players are forced to evalute their lives. Though they won the league championship, their team has been disbanded, and there are hard feelings amongst the women, as some have been selected to play for the national team in the Summer Games, while most have not. And, for some, handball must take a back seat to the trials and tribulations of life.

Once those selected arrive at training camp, they have to deal with a seemingly unkind and uncaring coach. Having played with her players on previous national teams, the coach is seen as unworthy, and is treated as such. However, she soon wins the players over with her kindness and strength, only to be replaced as coach by another former player, who is also her ex-fiance.

With the encouragement of her former players, she joins the team as a playe herself, and they all help each other sort out personal affairs in preparation for the Summer Games. Unfortunately, being mentally ready and in good physical shape may not be enough, as the new coach has a chip on his shoulder, and a strong distaste for the veteran players. Facing the start of the Summer Games, the players and the coach must come to believe in themselves, and each other, in order to compete for gold.

Based on true events, Forever the Moment tells the filmic tale of the South Korean Women's Handball Team's preparation for, and participation in, the 2004 Summer Games. There's drama, determination, sweat, and, you guessed it, handball. While cinematic depictions of sports teams overcoming adversity are hardly a rarity, Forever the Moment does manage to go beyond standard fare, eschewing over-the-top high-impact action-oriented scenes for touches of drama and, dare I say, humanity. Suffice it to say, Forever the Moment is very good.

Check back tomorrow for my take on the South Korean films The Restless and Bloody Tie.

Crossing the Styx

Today, two films by South Korean Director Kim Jeong-kwon, with Ba-Bo and Heartbreak Library.

Ba-Bo
Directed by Kim Jeong-kwon, starring Cha Tae-hyun, and Ha Ji-won.

Once a respected pianist, Ji-ho (Ha) looses her self-confidence and returns to her hometown. Upon her return, she regains her friendship with childhood friend Seung-ryong (Cha), who is mentally challenged, and charged with taking care of his unkind teenage sister after their mother's death. Soon, Ji-ho and Seung-ryong unwittingly help each other find what is missing from their lives.

Based on a popular webcomic, Ba-Bo is a touching film that tugs at the old heart strings, while still managing a bit of humor to balance things out. Cha's performance feels genuine and respectful, while Ha's feels charming and honest. With honest performances and Kim's solid direction, Ba-Bo is an enteraining and thoughtful little film.

Heartbreak Library
Directed by Kim Jeong-kwon, starring Eugene, and Lee Dong-wook.

Fiesty and adorable Librarian Eun Soo (Eugene) flies off the handle when she happens upon a man tearing pages out of a generous amount of books that are OOP (out-of-print). Once the dust settles, Eun Soo finds that the man, Jun Oh (Lee), has been tearing out the same numbered page from all of the books. When Eun Soo sees him again, he tells her the reason behind his vandalism, he was searching for the truth behind his ex-girlfriend's feelings, which she had told him he could find in a book on page 198.

Touched by his story, Eun Soo takes charge of his search, and the two soon develop a friendship. Before long, Eun Soo and Jun Oh's friendship becomes something stronger, and they must dig deep within themselves to discover who they are, and find what they're really hoping to find.

Kim Jeong-kwon's second film of 2008, Heartbreak Library, spins a familiar yarn about beautiful young people lost within the world and themselves. However, the conventions don't weight down the proceedings, as Kim's assured direction highlights the actor's talents, bringing forth a fine film. Heartbreak Library isn't great cinema, but it should be given credit for managing to be an engaging film that slipped under the radar. I'm not a fan of surprises, but Kim's Heartbreak Library is a nice one.

Check back tomorrow for the fifth consecutive day of posts, with the film Forever the Moment, and, *gasp* a surprise.

As the Oceans Are Deep

Today, Kim Ki-duk's Address Unknown and Breath. Enjoy.

Address Unknown
An earlier Kim Ki-duk film, Address Unknown is also one of his less accomplished films. The film features good direction, an interesting story, and good performances, but meanders a bit too much. The different elements of the film might have resulted in a better, more watchable film had the characters been a little less idosyncratic, and their lives a bit less bizzare. While Address Unknown isn't a horrible film, it's definitely something had to digest, and would probably play better with hardcore Kim Ki-duk fans.

Breath
Directed by Kim Ki-duk, starring Chang Chen, Zia, and Ha Jeong-woo.

Zia plays an artistic housewife whose husband (Ha) has strayed. Spurred by her loveless and repetitious life, she takes to being crazy, and begins visiting a suicidal death-row inmate (Chen). Her extramarital activites are questioned by her husband, who tries to reconcil, only to find she is unwilling to communicate with him. The love-triangle reveals things all those involved were unaware of, while simultaneously pushing them apart, and pulling them together.

Many of Kim Ki-duk's signature themes are present in Breath. Some characters are mute, or nearly so, the changing of the seasons holds a high level of importance to psychological development, and the lightness and darkness within people are in the spotlight. Though the first two themes aren't as fully realized as in 3 Iron and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring, the direction and performances in Breath make them work. Breath is one of Kim's most accessible films, and it's also one of his most enjoyable.

Check back tomorrow for my thoughts on Director Kim Jeong-kwon's Ba-Bo and Heartbreak Library.

Away Into the Dark

It's blog time. Regular-length posts are back, and will continue every single day until the end of the month. This time, South Korean horror-thrillers The Chaser and Public Enemy.

The Chaser
Directed by Na Hong-jin, starring Kim Yeon-seok, Ha Jeong-woo, and Seo Yeong-hie.

Jung-ho (Kim) is a pimp with a heart of gold. When a few of his new recruits go missing, he assumes they took advantage of his kindness and took-off with their signing bonuses for greener pastures. Being a former detective, Jung-ho soon finds a correlation between the missing girls, they all went to a customer with the same number prior to their disappearances. Jung-ho's investigation gets kicked into high gear when he learns that another one of his girls, Mi-jin (Seo), is on her way to meet the mystery man.

Thinking the women had been kidnapped and sold, Jung-ho sets about saving Mi-jin, and, with her help, stopping whoever is responsible. Jung-ho's plan quickly goes awry, and he must use everything he's got to find Mi-jin, while dealing with inept and uncaring police, and a viscious killer.

I'd like to be more descriptive about the film, but if I were to state anything more than I have, it would ruin the plot. Na Hong-jin's directorial debut is a dark, distrubring thriller, the likes of which I've not seen in quite some time. Unlike the current trend of Tortue Porn horror-thriller flicks, The Chaser manages it's frights without objectifying women. Lead actors Kim Yeon-seok and Ha Jeong-woo are incredible, and Seo Yeong-hie's performance is gut-wrenching.

With great starring performances in The Chaser, My Dear Enemy and Beastie Boys, Ha Jeong-woo is quickly becoming my favorite actor of this past year. Besides being an exceptional horror film, The Chaser is one of the best South Korean films of the year (2008), and one of the best films of 2008 in general. I don't know what Na Hong-jin's next film will be, but I can't wait to see it, and I'll be watching The Chaser again soon.

Public Enemy
Directed by Kang Woo-suk, starring Sul Kyun-kul, and Lee Sung-jae.

Detective Kang isn't a very good cop. He's basically a criminal with a badge, but, when he happens upon a series of murders, something stirs his inner gumshoe. With his newfound determination, Det. Kang sets about doing some actual detective work. His investigation begins to yield results, convincing Kang that squeaky-clean businessman Chul Gyu-Hwan is the killer. The dirty cop then relentlessly pursues Chul, placing his job and life at risk to stop a merciless killer.

Public Enemy simply kicks ass. Sul's Det. Kang is as badass as characters get, and Lee's turn as a bastard of a killer is chilling. While the uncompromising anti-hero and the unredemable killer are hardly strangers to cinema, Kang Woo-suk's film is anything but formulaic. Public Enemy is a stylish, engaging film that's more energetic than a child after two pieces of birthday cake.


Tomorrow: Director Kim Ki-duk's Address Unknown and Breath.

You Should Have Gotten a Snack

After a not-so-brief hiatus, the posts are back. This time, just a list of films that I won't be reviewing because I'm too lazy, and it has been too long for me to remember specifics about the films. However, I liked them all. Anyway, the films are:

The Beast Stalker
True Women for Sale
All About Women
The Good, the Bad, the Weird
Winds of September
Troublesome Night 7
Troublesome Night
Beastie Boys
The Letter
Cape No.7
till death do us part

In the coming days, check out regular-size posts for:
The Chaser
Public Enemy
Address Unknown
Breath
Ba-Bo
Heartbreak Library
Forever the Moment
The Restless
Bloody Tie
Road Movie
Black House
Shiri
You Are My Sunshine

Sitting on the Shelf

This time: My laziness and apathy take over, almost completely. Instead of giving semi-intelligent comments on the following 13 films, I'm going to give super-short comments. Thusly, this entry will be short, easy to read, and kinda lame. Anywho, on with the films:

Assembly
A great film.

Samaritan Girl
Pretty good, mostly weird.

Up the Yangtze
The best documentary I've seen in a long time.

9413
Good.

49 Days
Stupid, but an okay way to kill time.

The Twins Effect
Another stupid, but okay way to kill time.

First Name: Carmen
Jean-Luc Godard decided he'd made enough good films, so he tried his hand at making crap. He succeeded.

Jade Goddess of Mercy
A pretty good drama, with a great performance from Vicki Zhao Wei.

Ad Lib Night
A great, affecting drama from Lee Yoon-ki.

Comeuppance
An okay black comedy - drama from Milkway Image.

Public Toilet
Fruit Chan's entertainingly self-indulgent film about...something.

Super Troopers
Super funny.

Iron Man
For a film, Iron Man is pretty good. For a comic book flick, Iron Man is amazing. And yes, it's better than The Dark Knight.


Next time, assuming someone doesn't kill me for dissing the latest Batman film, things will return to normal with longer posts that feature a wealth of information, whether it's useful or not.

Not Too Late

This time, it's all Korean films, with Director Lee Yoon-ki's latest My Dear Enemy, Kim Ki-duk's Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring, and melodrama Lost in Love. Unlike last time, these are shorter descriptions.

My Dear Enemy
Directed by Lee Yoon-ki, starring Jeon Do-yeon, and Ha Jung-woo.

A woman finds her ex-boyfriend and demands that he return money he borrowed from her a year before. She then follows him around as he borrows from various people he has met. Along the way, she finds out things she didn't know about him, and maybe a bit about herself.

An incredibly emotive film that is never boring throughout it's two-hour running time. Jeon Do-yeon is incredible, in a role that requires her to behave in an unlikeable manner, and yet still evoke sympathy and understanding. Walking the fine line of idosyncracy and realism, Lee's latest film is his best yet, and one of the best films of 2008.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Directed by Kim Ki-duk, starring Oh Yeong-su, Kim Ki-duk, Kim Young-min, Seo Jae-kyeong, Ha Yeo-jin, and Kim Jong-ho.

The circle of life wonderfully unfolds through the lessons learned and taught by a monk living in a remote area. The actors put for great performances, as does Kim in both his acting and directing capacities, bringing about an engrossing experience.

Lost in Love
Directed by Choo Chang-min, starring Song Yoon-ah, and Sol Kyung-gu.

A somewhat muddled melodrama about falling in love at the wrong time. The acting and direction in Lost in Love are both fine, but feel a bit manufactured, causing the film to wear thin over it's two hours. For a weepy about failed opportunties, Lost in Love is enjoyable, and at the very least, serviceable.

Coming up this week, I'll do my best to get caught up on the films I watched in January, by rambling on about:
Assembly
Samaritan Girl
Up the Yangtze
9413
49 Days
The Twins Effect
First Name: Carmen
Jade Goddess of Mercy
Ad Lib Night
Comeuppance
Public Toilet

Turnabout

As promised, way back when, things are finally returning to form. This time, it's a film from The French New Wave with Bande à part, and a taste of Hong Kong horror in the form of Troublesome Night 6. As I mentioned, things are back to normalishness (it's a word, now) with lengthier descriptions of the films. Enjoy.

Bande à part
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, starring Anna Karina, Sami Frey, and Claude Brasseur.

Odile (Karina), a bored and beautiful young woman, discovers that a guest in her aunt's house has a large amount of money stored in his room. She lets slip to Franz (Claude Brasseur), a classmate in her English class, that the large sum is often left unattended. In turn, Franz tells his friend Arthur (Frey). Soon, Franz and Arthur hatch a plot to steal the cash, with Odile's help. As they plot with one another to steal the money, Arthur plots against Franz to steal Odile's heart.

"All you need for a movie is a girl and a gun." - Jean-Luc Godard

Staying true to the mantra he first followed with his feature film debut À bout de souffle, Godard creates yet another masterpiece. The deceptive simplicity of the film allows one to become immersed in the fictional world, perpetuating the familiarity of the rebellious nature of The French New Wave, of which Godard was a founder. For an example of The French New Wave, for an immersive fimic experience, or just for a good time, pick up a copy of Bande à part.

Troublesome Night 6
Directed by Herman Yau, starring Louis Koo, Simon Liu, Gigi Lai, Amanda Lee, Wayne Lai, Nadia Chan, Ng Chi-Kwan.

Koo and the gang star as cops in the sixth installment of the Troublesome Night series. For the outing, the story revolves around a group of tabloid reporters who are being killed off by the ghost of a former celebrity. In the previous year, the reporters had hounded the ghost when she was still corporeal, leading her to take a swan dive off the roof of a club.

Having been a celebrity fills the ghost with an exorbitant amount of ectoplasmic ego, leading to her self-righteous retribution. The only thing standing in the way of the murderous spirit and the completion of her quest are Koo & Co. The Tanned-One and his fellow detectives must find a way to stop the angry apparition to save the reporters, save the police deparment's image, and save one of their own.

As with Troublesome Night 1-5, Yau, Koo, and everyone else involved have created an enjoyable, if unnecessary, film. Though it lacks the silliness of some of the previous Troublesome Night films, Troublesome Night 6 is a fairly good flick, with a creepy feel to it. With the silliness gone, and a group of seasoned actors, Troublesome Night 6 proves to be a decent HK horror-flick.

Next time:
My Dear Enemy
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring

Running

This time, a slew of films of varying quality. Coincidentally enough, the same description can be used for my commments on the films, which are all fairly short again. Anywho, on with the films:

Overnight
A documentary about the rise and fall of Troy Duffy, director of The Boondock Saints. If you haven't heard the tale of Duffy's dream-like rise to hollywood fame, and his even more famous fall from the limelight, you should check Overnight out. Though there are some minor issues, such as the quality of the equipment used, Overnight is a decent documentary. However, Troy Duffy is pretty much a horrible person.

Driving Miss Wealthy
Directed by James Yuen, starring Lau Ching-Wan, and Gigi Leung.

Somewhat entertaining crap.

Playboys Cops
Directed by Jingle Ma, starring Shawn Yue, Aloys Chen, Shaun Tam, and Linda Chung.

Rich kid-cops investigate a murder. Playboy Cops is over-the-top, but it's still a decent cop drama.

Mr. Cinema
Directed by Samson Chiu, starring Anthony Wong, Ronald Cheng, Karen Mok, and Teresa Mo.

Chiu and Co. have crafted a fine film about family and differing perspectives.

Curiosity Kills the Cat
Directed by Zhang Yibai, starring Carina Lau, Hu Jun, Lin Yuan, Liao Fan, and Song Jia.

A good, though somewhat muddled thriller from one of China's best directors.

Red Sorghum
Directed by Zhang Yimou, starring Gong Li, Jiang Wen, and Ten Rujun.

An excellent film. Just watch it.

Hélas pour moi
(aka Oh, Woe Is Me) Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, starring Gérard Depardieu, Laurence Masliah, and Bernard Verley.

A intelligent film about belief. What the belief is (or isn't) in depends on the viewer.

Troublesome Night 4
Directed by Herman Yau, starring Louis Koo, Pauline Suen, Cheung Tat-Ming, Lai Yiu-Cheung, Simon Liu, Timmy Hung, Emily Kwan, Marianne Chan Miu-Ying, Karen Tong Bo-Yu, and Aya Meder.

Mediocre Hong Kong horror flick starring the Tanned One, Louis Koo, before he became a household name in select households in some parts of the world.

Troublesome Night 5
Directed by Herman Yau, starring Louis Koo, Amanda Lee, Lai Yiu-Cheung, Simon Liu, other people from the Troublsome Night series of films, and some other actors.

Another mediocre Hong Kong horror flick from Yau.


Next time things should be back on track with longer posts that offer insightful commentary, or something like that.

Stirrings of Memory

Yet another shorter post, because I'm still lazy and apathetic. Which begs the question, "If you're so lazy and apathetic, why bother with this blog?" Good question.

Anywho, on with the films. This time, American adolescent horror with The Monster Squad, China's current big hit Ip Man, Korean existential drama Welcome to Dongmakgol, Hong Kong horror near it's worst in Here Comes a Vampire, HK (remake of Hollywood's Cellular) actioner Connected, and Chinese drama Lost, Indulgence.

The Monster Squad
Directed by someone, starring some adults, mostly kids.

The Monster Squad is The Goonies, except with monsters instead of thieves. If you haven't seen it, you aren't missing much.

Ip Man
Directed by Wilson Yip, starring Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, and Gordon Lam.

"Wing Chun, Ip Man." If you don't get all kinds of excited at the thought of Donnie Yen saying the preceeding phrase, I don't like you. Also, you probably won't like Ip Man. Loosely based on Ip Man (aka Yip Man), and his life during Japanese occupation of China. Ip Man is fast and exciting, with plenty of kung fu action, and a bit of drama too.

Donnie Yen stars as the man-who-would-be Bruce Lee's Wing Chun instructor, and puts forth a fine performance, with minimal preening. The rest of the cast is good, and the film itself is a solid flick, that provides action, drama, comedy, and a fun way to spend one's time. Say what you will about Donnie Yen's acting ability, he has an incredible presence onscreen. I'm looking forward to the already green-lit sequel.

Welcome to Dongmakgol
Directed by Park Kwang-hyun, starring Shin Ha-kyun, Jeong Jae-yeong, Seo Jae-kyeong, Lim Ha-ryong, Ryu Deok-hwan, Steve Taschler, and Kang Hye-jeong.

Three North Korean soldiers, two South Korean soldiers, and one shot-down American. During the Korean War, all six men end up high in the hills of Korea, in the unknown village of Dongmakgol. While there, they come to realize that no matter which side they fight for, they're still people.

Welcome to Dongmakgol is, at times, a bit silly, but still an incredibly watchable drama. The actors are all superb, and the direction is slick and assured. For a war-based film about humanity, that's engaging, and even a bit hopeful, Welcome to Dongmakgol is definitely worth a look.

Here Comes a Vampire
Crap with a captial "C". Other than unintentional humor and seeing Andy Hui and Sandra Ng in ridiculous roles, Here Come a Vampire is a waste of time. However, if, like me, you haven't the slightest idea of what to do with your free time, except watch films of varying degrees of quality, buy a copy of Here Comes a Vampire today! It's better than staring at a wall. I think.

Connected
Directed by and co-written by Benny Chan, starring Louis Koo, Barbie Hsu, Nick Cheung, Liu Ye, and Eddie Cheung.

With as many plot holes and contrived circumstances as a Hollywood actioner (of which it is a remake) Connected is about what you'd expect. Just about everyone overacts, and there's as much implausibility onscreen as there is product placement. That being said, Connected is still a pretty solid commercial flick, and is filled with unintentionally funny incidents, and more than enough drama. Plus, it stars Louis Koo. Who doesn't like Louis Koo? For a brainlessly good time, Connected is a great.

Lost, Indulgence
Directed by and co-written by Zhang Yibai, starring Karen Mok, Jiang Wenli, Tan Jianci, Eason Chan, Eric Tsang, Ma Sichun, and Duan Bowen.

Art-house cinema and commercial cinema collide in the latest from Chinese Director Zhang Yibai is really good. The direction and acting are top notch, and the story, though a bit too vague at the end, is intriguing. As confusing and engaging as is life, Lost, Indulgence is great, and well worth watching. I really, really liked it.

Next time: My laziness and apathy will have been overcome by my patience and positive outlook. Or, there will be another shorter post. I'd bet on another shorter post.

Terrific

I've been feeling apathetic and lazy as of late, so this will be another short post, with very little description of my opinions. Maybe that's a good thing.

Gran Torino
Directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, and Avney Her.

One of the best films I've seen in years. Really, really good.

Le Mepris
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, starring Bridget Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, Giorgia Moll, and Fritz Lang.

Aka Contempt, Godard's film features a fine cast and an engaging story.

Let the Right One In
Directed by Tomas Alfredson, starring Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, and Peter Carlberg.

A slow begining sets up the characters for a tense and gripping film.

Prison On Fire
Directed by Ringo Lam, starring Chow Yun-Fat, and Tony Leung Ka Fai (aka Big Tony).

Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung play two prisoners that become friends as they fight off gangs and the loneliness of confinement.

City On Fire
Directed by Ringo Lam, starring Chow Yun-Fat, Danny Lee, Sun Yueh, Carrie Ng, and Roy Cheung.

Chow Yun-Fat plays an undercover cop that wants off the force, but is forced to risk his life to stop a band of robbers that may be (inspite of their criminal actions) better people than some of the police trying to capture them. This is the film Tarantino copied/borrowed from/stole from/pays homage to with Reservoir Dogs.

Police Confidential
Directed by Raymond Lee, starring Simon Yam, Linda Wong, Fengyi Zhang, and Carrie Ng.

A good cop thriller, complete with corruption, frame-ups and murder. Simon Yam is excellent as usual.

3-iron
Directed by Kim Ki-Duk, starring Hee Jae, and Lee Seung-yeon.

An incredible film from Korean art-house Director Kim Ki-duk. Hee Jae stars as a man that breaks into people's houses when they aren't home. He spends the night and fixes things, before leaving to find another temporary home. One day, he comes across a home he believes empty, only to find a battered woman. The two then help each other find what has been missing from their respective lives. Better than one might think, and far better than my description. I liked it quite a bit.

Next time:
Monster Squad
Ip Man
and some other films

Short and Sweet

This time: Short and sweet comments (well, short anyway) on the films Peony Pavilion, Run Papa Run, Wo Hu, The Moss, Bangkok Dangerous, Spacked Out, The Contract Lover, and Gran Torino.

Peony Pavilion
Though it co-stars the always great Rene Liu, Peony Pavilion has a meandering plot that never really engages the viewer enough to make one care what is happening onscreen. An okay ghost story with decent acting.

Run Papa Run
Another film co-starring Rene Liu. Run Papa Run stars Louis Koo as a triad that spends as much time being a crime boss as he does trying to conceal that fact from his daughter. Good acting, casting, directing and a decent story make Run Papa Run worth recommending.

Wo Hu
If you like undercover cop dramas from Hong Kong, you'll like Wo Hu.

The Moss
If you like undercover cop drams from Hong Kong, there is a pretty good chance that you won't like The Moss. Derek Kwok's second film falls short of expectations, and it isn't half as good as his debut flick The Pye-Dog. I wouldn't suggest viewing The Moss to the average viewer, however, The Pye-Dog is really good. Hopefull Kwok's next film will be as good as his first.

Bangkok Dangerous
Not the Hollywood remake starring Nic Cage. That was a horrible piece of trash that should never be seen by anyone. Ever. The original Bangkok Dangerous is pretty good. It isn't the genre defining film that many claim it to be, but it is an interesting film that is far better than the remake.

Spacked Out
An intriguing look at a group of young girls in Hong Kong that live adult lives without the experience of age.

The Contract Lover
Cah-wrap. An absolutely awful film that is a complete waste of time.

Gran Torino
One of the best films I've ever seen. Go see it.

I may be less lazy with my thoughts on films next time. Probably not.

Coming up later this week:
Gran Torino (yes, it is so good that I've seen it twice already, and may see it again this week)
Le Mepris (aka Contempt)
Let the Right One In
Prison On Fire
City On Fire
Police Confidential (not on fire)
3-iron (also not on fire)
The Monster Squad (if I manage to finish watching it)
-and (probably)-
Lost, Indulgence
Connected
Driving Miss Wealthy

It is Written

It's 2009, in case you hadn't noticed, and I've started the new year with a slew of films (13 so far). The films: Slumdog Millionaire, City of God, Turning Gate, Dreams may come, and Valkyrie.

Slumdog Millionaire
Directed by Danny Boyle, starring Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, and Irrfan Khan.

Jamal (Patel), has gotten to the final questions on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". Being a poorly educated young man who works as an assistant at a telemarketing company, Jamal is thought to be cheating, and is wisked away by the police. What follows is a police questioning interspersed with flashbacks to Jamal's life, showing how he came to know the answers, and how he came to be himself.

Slumdog Millionaire is a great film. Director Danny Boyle brings style and energy to the proceedings that gel with the story. Dev Patel is excellent as Jamal, and the rest of the cast put forth good performances. With a good story, good direction, good acting, and a really great soundtrack, Slumdog Millionaire is definitely a film worth watching.

City of God
Directed by Fernando Meirelles, starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Matheus Nachtergaele, and Seu Jorge.

Based on a true story, City of God chronicles the lives of a group of people living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, as told through the eyes of one of their own.

Excellent direction, acting, music, locations, and story. I feel remiss that I hadn't seen City of God years earlier, but I am glad that I finally saw it. To say that City of God is a great film is wholly appropriate. I would go as far as to say that I think City of God is one of the finest films ever made.

Turning Gate
Directed by Hong Sang-soo, starring Kim Sang-Kyung, Chu Sang-Mi, Ye Ji-Won, and Kim Hak-Sun.

A man, Kim Kyung-Soo, takes time to look back at his life.

Turning Gate is a great film about self relfection, with strong performances, and assured direction. Most definitely worth seeing.

Dreams may come
Directed by Xu Jinglei, starring Xu Jinglei and Han Tongsheng.

Director, Writer, Actress, Xu Jinglei's third film, Dreams may come is an existentialist piece of cinema. All but a few seconds play out between just two characters, a director (Han) and an actress (Xu), who trade comments about each other, the film industry, and life as they infuriate and inspire one another through their friendship and loneliness. With an intimate and honest feel to it, Dreams may come is an excellent film from an excellent director.

Valkyrie
Directed by Brian Singer, starring Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp and Eddie Izzard.

Based on the true story of a German resistance to Hitler's regime. Singer's latest since Superman Returns, Valkyrie features a sleek look, and a good plot, both of which one would expect from the talented director, as well suprisingly good acting from Tom Cruise. The other actors all perform well, but Cruise really steals the show as Col. Stauffenberg.

The only comlpaint I have is the variety of accents among the German military and government, as most of the actors seem to speak exactly as they would in real life. However, it is merely an annoyance, and one that hardly detracts from the film. Valykrie is a good, solid thriller, and one of the best American films I've seen in a very long time.

Coming up this week:
Peony Pavilion
Run Papa Run
Wo Hu
The Moss
Bangkok Dangerous
Spacked Out
The Contract Lover
Gran Torino