What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Film Reviews and Release Comparisons
Post Reply
User avatar
Heka
Jade Tiger
Posts: 169
Joined: 07 Jul 2011, 21:46
Location: Vietnam

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Heka »

Oldboy (South-Korea, 2003) – 4,5/5
Guess the Koreans can make movies too. Oldboy is an interesting story based on a Japanese manga. I won’t bore you by trying to explain the premise since it can be found anywhere in the world wide web. I’ll just explain why I liked the movie. The film looks sounds and most importantly is cool. Choi Min-sik is terrific as the lead. His character is a bit like a dramatized version of Chev Chelios from the Crank series. The 0,5 points is lost because of the long bad guy speech in the end, in other places the movie is perfect.

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972) – 3/5
Call me a deviant but I prefer my pink movies with more tits and less plot. Of course these things aren’t mutually exclusive but in the case of this movie I wasn’t that excited about the long artsy shots in the middle of the movie. Plus the girls in the movie are clearly older and not as attractive as in the first one. At least the Fumio Watanabe is deliciously evil as the warden and the ending is as good as or maybe even better than in the first one.
User avatar
bradavon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 24430
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by bradavon »

Can you believe Hollywood are attempting an Oldboy remake!
User avatar
APPINESS
Little White Dragon
Posts: 64
Joined: 30 Jan 2009, 07:04

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by APPINESS »

gasteropod wrote:The Eye 2 (2004) - 1/5

95 minutes of Shu Qi whining and the Pang brothers failing at making a horror film.
I remember being quite disappointed with this film but 1 is a bit harsh. It's a lot better than part 3.

I thought the idea that the souls of the dead follow pregnant women around to inhabit their newborns was quite interesting and unsettling.
Nowhere near as good as the first one but I'd still give it 2/5.

Haven't seen the remake yet.
gasteropod
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 6868
Joined: 03 Nov 2004, 18:16

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by gasteropod »

Yeah I decided that since it was a chore to sit through, failed as a horror film, and was irritating, it wouldn't really make sense to rate it higher than 1 haha. Sure there are worse films, but my personal experience was 1/5 :D

I also think the first one is overrated, I have quite a particular taste in horror, check out my J-horror top 10 if you like, you may notice a pattern: http://mubi.com/lists/j-horror-top-10. It was initially an Asian horror top 10 but then I realised the only non-Japanese film that made it was A Tale of Two Sisters so decided to change it hah. :lol:
User avatar
Heka
Jade Tiger
Posts: 169
Joined: 07 Jul 2011, 21:46
Location: Vietnam

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Heka »

Love Letter (Japan, 1995) – 5/5
I think this move is as good as Shunji Iwai’s Swallowtail Butterfly he made the following year. It’s about two girls who look very similar who both knew a guy that’s dead now. Neither of these two girls has ever met but they start writing to each other after some fascinating incidents. The movie is mostly shot in the town of Otaru which is a real treat since I will be studying there next year if everything goes according to plan. The wintery scenery is very beautiful. Shunji Iwai really likes to tell his stories with a disjointed narrative, in this movie it works out really well and you can feel/see all the different story elements coming together in the last scene of the movie. Miho Nakayama deserves a medal for her amazing work as the two main characters (she plays both of the girls). Also Katsuyuki Shinohara did a nice job as the ojiisan. A lovely movie.
User avatar
Heka
Jade Tiger
Posts: 169
Joined: 07 Jul 2011, 21:46
Location: Vietnam

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Heka »

bradavon wrote:Can you believe Hollywood are attempting an Oldboy remake!
Yes, I don't have any difficulties believing that Hollywood is trying to remake Oldboy. What I have huge difficulties believing is that the remake will be any good :D .
User avatar
Keung
King of Beggars
Posts: 886
Joined: 23 Jan 2005, 01:18
Location: England
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Keung »

Young Bruce Lee - 4/5

Really enjoyed it.
Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by HungFist »

Love Letter (Japan, 1995) – 4/5
Iwai’s break through is a thoroughly pleasing if unexceptional movie set in the snowy Hokkaido. The 80’s idol Miho Nakayama (Rebellion League of Girls in Sailor Uniform) proves her acting talent by portraying two characters – a young widow, and another girl, who both knew the same man. The film, although not on par with Iwai’s later masterpieces, comes with the expected quality, partly thanks to Iwai’s regular cinematographer (Noboru Shinoda) and composter (Remedios), but also the beautiful northern landscapes. Set in the small town of Otaru, the film also scores personal nostalgia points – I have lived in the same town for one year.

Milocrorze – A Love Story (Japan, 2011) – 3/5
The latest offering in the J-kitsch cannon, helmed by Vermilion Pleasure Night creator Yoshimasa Ishibashi and starring heartthrob Takayuki Yamada in three different roles. The love story collection opens with a pastel colored flashback sequence merely fishing laughs with its main character’s name, Ovreneli Vreneligare. The follow-up, an insane 70’s disco parade with Yamada portraying an overly aggressive relationship counselor Besson Kumagai, makes the film. The third episode takes a turn to melodrama and action, with Yamada returning as a vengeful samurai. The pic finally closes with adult Vreneligare (Yamada one more time) seeking for his lost childhood love. Strangely uneven with its mixture of striking musical bits, comedy, and slow paced story pieces, the film does eventually come out better than many of its competitors (Survive Style 5+, Memories of Matsuko, etc.). For manga aesthetics appreciation it has a lot to offer, from careful color design to dull slow motion fight scene posing as a one shot wonder.

Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by HungFist »

Abnormal: Ingyaku (Japan, 1988) – 2/5
Pink devil Hisayasu Sato delivers yet another ambitious, albeit heavily flawed pinku-horror. The film follows an AV-shop employee who discovers all too realistic violent pink tapes and begins suspecting the kills are real. Sato’s psycho tale comes with strong audio-visual touch, but drows itself in constant sex scenes. The screenplay also comes short in the long run. No challenger for his ultra-stylish feminist thriller Lolita Vibrator Torture (1987).

The Unjust (South-Korea, 2010) – 1/5
The strangely popular director Ryoo Seung-wan, whose previous woks include the over-rated boxing drama Crying Fist, the poor martial arts comedy Arahan, and the awful MTV-product City of Violence, hits the rock bottom with his new police corruption film The Unjust. The childish CSI-generation product fills its two hour running time with constant shouting and trendy filmmaking to the point of becoming laughable. Only towards the end it comes close to achieving something – something that is later effectively undone by silly moralizing. Some strong acting bits and interesting premise are all lost in the midst of the (unintentionally) comical mayhem.
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22071
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by grim_tales »

I thought City of Violence was really good - bah :D
Yi-Long
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 8616
Joined: 26 Oct 2004, 13:46
Location: Alkmaar, Holland

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Yi-Long »

City of Violence was OK. Could have been much better though. Nice little time-waster.

I really enjoyed Arahan, and the fight in the little diner about halfway through the movie is fantastic. Would have liked it more without the special effects filled end-fight.

I liked Crying Fist (DC), although I've only watched it once.
Image
I was there, the big BNB blackout of november, 2008. We lost many that day...
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by HungFist »

The only cool City of Violence is the one by Sollima / Bronson / Morricone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebm8B1gKUo4#t=71
User avatar
APPINESS
Little White Dragon
Posts: 64
Joined: 30 Jan 2009, 07:04

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by APPINESS »

RAN (Japan, 1985) - 4/5
Surprisingly bloody battle sequences with great direction from the Master. The performances are also great from all concerned.

Negotiator: Mashita Masayoshi (Japan, 2005) - 2.5/5
Standard modern Japanese flick with an interesting premise, which seemed a bit wasted. A great performance from Susumu Terajima as the badass cop steals the show.

A Moment of Romance 2 (Hong Kong, 1992) - 1.5/5
Really badly directed and sped up bike races and Aaron Kwok getting beat up by an old man in an even worse choreographed fight. The acting and story are passable at best although the characters were surprisingly likable.

Magnificent Bodyguards (Hong Kong, 1978) - 2/5
Standard Lo Wei film with some interesting fight scenes. Memorable for some out-of-place Star Wars music and things being thrown at the screen 3D-style which does seem a bit weird in 2D. Has anyone seen this in 3D? And if so what were the effects like?
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22071
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by grim_tales »

HungFist wrote:The only cool City of Violence is the one by Sollima / Bronson / Morricone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebm8B1gKUo4#t=71
That is some cool music :cool:
User avatar
Heka
Jade Tiger
Posts: 169
Joined: 07 Jul 2011, 21:46
Location: Vietnam

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Heka »

Sorry for the long silence. School and BJJ/MMA practice are keeping me busy.

Roaring Fire (Japan, 1982) - 3/5
Campy action, Sonny Chiba as an magician and many topless girls. These 80s action flicks seem to be a bit more lighthearted than the 70s gore fests. In the case of this movie it may have something to do the director Noribumi Suzuki. The beginning of the movie is great with its broken Engrish and an awesome swimming pool scene. I almost fell asleep in the middle of the movie, it's not all the movies fault since I was quite tired from school and gym practice on that day. Hiroyuki Sanada (lead) ain't Chiba but he's still worth checking out. So is this movie.

Female Yakuza Tale (Japan, 1973) - 3/5
I don't know if I should review the movie or the boobs. The screen time of these two is spilt pretty much 50/50. These 70s pink films are some very strange beasts. They're not porn but neither are they "normal" movies. I was equally tired when I watched this movie but I had no trouble staying awake. The plot is the normal yakuza drug smuggling one with a small pinku twist. This movie is worth seeing just for the last scene. I would have been so pleased with myself if I was the one who choreographed it.
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by HungFist »

Roaring Fire (Japan, 1981) - 4/5
"The Golden Age of Japanese Cinema is back!". Norifumi Suzuki's mentally insane turbo-entertainer mixes lowbrow comedy, great stunts, HK style martial arts choreography, nazi bitches, boobs, and all star cast. Hiroyuki Sanada stars as a Japanese-American cowboy (!) who travels to Japan with his monkey Peter (!) to kick some neo-nazi (!) ass. The film is entertaining beyond belief but has little depth - the few times the action stops the interest curve also does crash landing. Top supporting cast compensates: Sonny Chiba, Etsuko Shihomi, Mikio Narita, Tatsuo Endo, Abdullah the Butcher, and Masashi Ishibashi in perhaps the only good guy role in his career. Jackie Chan took notes from this film!

Female Yakuza Tale (Japan, 1973) - 4/5
Reiko Ike reprises her role as a female gambler in the unrelated sequel to Sex & Fury, this time courtesy of madman Teruo Ishii. The bad boy director fills the film with enormous amounts or boresome T&A - and an escape scene that goes on forever - but also staggerinly outrageous storyline and an epic action finale that has to be seen to be believed. In typical mid-70's Toei style the film is colorful as a nuclear radiating rainbow - although not as classy as its predecessor.
User avatar
thelostdragon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 7059
Joined: 29 Oct 2004, 23:36
Location: Basin City
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by thelostdragon »

Bruce Lee, My Brother (Young Bruce Lee) - 2.5/5
I didn't expect a martial arts film at all. Even as a pure drama this doesn't hold up to what 'Dragon - The Bruce Lee Story' was. Knowing fully well that neither film is 100% accurate to Bruce Lee's real life, 'Dragon' does the better job of being an intersting film.
2.5 for Tony Leung Ka Fai, some nice cinematography and that final stunt.
Image
Yi-Long
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 8616
Joined: 26 Oct 2004, 13:46
Location: Alkmaar, Holland

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Yi-Long »

thelostdragon wrote:Bruce Lee, My Brother (Young Bruce Lee) - 2.5/5
I didn't expect a martial arts film at all. Even as a pure drama this doesn't hold up to what 'Dragon - The Bruce Lee Story' was. Knowing fully well that neither film is 100% accurate to Bruce Lee's real life, 'Dragon' does the better job of being an intersting film.
2.5 for Tony Leung Ka Fai, some nice cinematography and that final stunt.
Which version did you watch? rumour has it that the UK version is cut, although no-one seems to quite know WHAT exactly was cut. just that the running-times don't match up between the UK and the HK version.
Image
I was there, the big BNB blackout of november, 2008. We lost many that day...
User avatar
thelostdragon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 7059
Joined: 29 Oct 2004, 23:36
Location: Basin City
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by thelostdragon »

I watched the UK version.
Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by HungFist »

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (Hong Kong, 2010) – 1/5
Tsui Hark’s “comeback” features talking deer, poorly executed wire-fu action, and terrible budget-CGI that covers most of the backgrounds, buildings, ships, towers, and even animals. Andy Lau’s performance and some tasty bits of humor aside the film is, frankly speaking, God-awful. Long gone are the days of good Tsui Har films.

Endhiran (Robot) (India, 2010) – 3/5
India’s most expensive film to date became an instant YouTube hit thanks to its insane CGI orgy of an action finale, billed by some as the “greatest action scene ever made”. Ironically, it’s this dull, good-for-nothing ending that is the film’s major flaw. The rest of is quite entertaining with comedy, romance, musical scenes, sci-fi, action (Yuen Woo Ping designed the choreography), and most importantly, Superstar Rajni who owns every scene he’s in (especially when wearing sunglasses). Only the computer mayhem towards the end threatens to drown his infinite coolness.

Image
Rajni is big in India. Fans sacrifice milk!
- http://blog.endhiran.net/rajini-fans-ce ... m-release/

(sidenote: big screen, sold out screening, with a bunch of very loud Indian's in the audience, cheering for Rajni every time he makes first appearance (playing three roles)... the ideal way to enjoy Endhiran!)
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22071
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by grim_tales »

I've some of that on YT, it was like The Terminator meets The Matrix :D
Killer Meteor
Hail the Judge!
Posts: 2350
Joined: 16 Mar 2005, 23:05

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Killer Meteor »

SHINJUKU INCIDIENT (2009)

A well made but cold and uninvolving film, with Jackie Chan trying so hard to be taken seriously, he fades into the background. Not to mention the fact, he seems to have aged 10 years since THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM but his childhood sweetheart in this film must be 30 years younger than him!

I do enjoy seeing Jackie doing more intense violent films (I love DRAGON FIST, ISLAND OF FIRE, CRIME STORY...heck, even TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE!) but him being glum for two hours isn't my idea of gripping, its just depressing.

6/10


LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS (1977)

Two years after Toho wound down their Godzilla franchise, Toei suddenly made a kaiju flick. This probably had something to do with the later aborted big bucks Hammer/Toho film NESSIE (there are constant references to that monster) as well as the success of JAWS (numerous underwater attacks, some jokers causing a panic with a fake fin).

As a film, this probably shouldn't work. None of the acting is remarkable, the "hero" looks downright sinister, and the monsters...oh dear, the monsters. Neither are technically a dinosaur. We get one Plesiosarus and a flying Pterosaur, the latter one only appearing in the last 15min. They seem to be played by large marionettes, and have a bizzare exaggerated look that is quite funny - not to mention the Plesiosaurus having the most exceptionally long, floppy and useless neck since REPTILICUS.

But all of this is quite good fun, especially when one hears the films soundtrack. The dinosaur attacks are accompanied by eerily calm, soothing woodwinds, trippy guitar rifts and - I kid you not! - romantic songs (!), none of which seem to have anything to do with the on-screen action, but are quite nice to listen to!

Bad, but very enjoyable just the same!

7/10



FLAG OF IRON (1980)

Yet another Chang Cheh film I dismissed on first viewing, but now enjoy a great deal. Adapted from Chang's earlier film THE DUEL, this features the awesome Iron Flag gang (awesome because of their cool Dracula capes!), so much backstabbing its a wonder anyone expresses surprise at anything*, and a very goofy looking character called The Spearman, who dresses in a bizzare Elvis/Jesus Christ Superstar outfit, but is rendered cool by his being accompanied by stock music cues that also turned up in DAWN OF THE DEAD. The English dubbing is truly awful here so thank god for the Mandarin track! The best part of the film is a long section where Phillip Kwok** had to defeat a wacky team of wacky assassins - and rather ickily, he dumps their bodies in the well of the teahouse!

* In the Mandarin version, this is accompanied by characters going "NEE!" ("You") at each other. They do it so many times in this film, I started getting a Monty Python vibe from everyone!

** OT but, was I the only one who dug out TOMORROW NEVER DIES, years after last watching it, solely to see Phillip Kwok in it, only to find that all he does is walk past the camera ONCE?

7/10


FIVE ELEMENTS NINJAS (1982)

Chang Cheh's last great movie, this is nothing more then an endless catalogue of gory killings, all of which happen so frequently and so comically, that it becomes like a video game. I reckon 50 people buy the farm in this, and not once do I feel the slightest bit of impact from it. Well, the guy tripping over his own intestine was extremely hilarious.

Aside from Lo Meng, none of the other Venoms are in this. Instead, we get some newish faces, none of whom have much in the way of charisma or charm - and those silly white outfits don't help. There is a Japanese ninja woman who falls for the hero, and this being a Chang Cheh film, she gets very short shrift. The best performance is from Chan Wei Man as the Ninja leader (with Triad tattoos), but even he is undermined by a very bored sounding Mandarin dubber (and trust me, the English dubbing here is dreadful!)

Yet, this is a triumph of style over substance, and with such awesome action, stylish gore, lovely photography and a wacky sense of humour, I can't help but really enjoy this last gasp of greatness from a great, if very flawed, director.

Boy, that review was full of contradictions!

7/10
bradavon wrote:
but I guess you're more intelligence than me.
Killer Meteor
Hail the Judge!
Posts: 2350
Joined: 16 Mar 2005, 23:05

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Killer Meteor »

THE ANGRY GUEST (1972)

A sequel to DUEL OF FISTS, with David Chiang and Ti Lung taking on the Yakuza. Mainly notable for featuring the HK debut of the legendary Yasuaki Kurata, who gets to enjoy a rather explicit sex scene (maybe that was a concillation for him having to lose to David Chiang).
Be prepared for a shock, as the Yakuza boss is played by none other than...Chang Cheh, who has shocking bad teeth. And of course, Chang gets to indulge his particular fetish, by having several scenes of topless men slowwwwwly slitting their stomachs open in hara-kiri fashion.
Speaking of fetishes, Ching Li is back, doing absolutley nothing but looking fabulously gorgeous, and there's an exceptionally cute "Japanese" chick played by Fong Yan-ji.
My fave HK villian, Chen Sing, is largely wasted in this, his last film for Shaws before he became an indie star. Still, you have to admire his character's dedication, constantly joining in fights despite having a broken leg.
And Bolo looks like the freakish love child of Chang Cheh and Kenneth Anger here - all bare chest and biker threads!

Oh, was it any good? Yeah, it was ok - points for the Jackie Chanesque construction site finale, two hot ladies, cool cast, and some funky fashion. But Mr Chang, please, a dental plan perhaps?

7/10 (this is getting monotonous)
bradavon wrote:
but I guess you're more intelligence than me.
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by HungFist »

I didn't even know Chang had done acting roles...

From the late 70's / early 80's Chang / Venoms films Masked Avengers is my favorite, followed by Five Element Ninja and The Flag or Iron. The Kid with the Golden Arm is ok too, although I enjoyed it much more when I first saw it dubbed and with a yellowish bootleg transfer...

The Rebel Intruders, The Daredevils, and The Magnificent Ruffians were more boresome (severely over-long, including the fight scenes) than exciting, though. Quite disappointed with Crippled Avengers, too... that's one film I thought would've been much better had it been a mid 70's Japanese film...

These films might indeed be better with English dub... the Mandaring voice acting (and much of the storytelling in these films in general) is so monotonic and boring that a good old school dub might make it better...
Killer Meteor
Hail the Judge!
Posts: 2350
Joined: 16 Mar 2005, 23:05

Re: What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of

Post by Killer Meteor »

I LOVE CRIPPLED AVENGERS!

And yes, the Mandarin dubbing for the Shaw films seemed to get worse and worse - very slow and wooden. I'm watching INVINCIBLE SHAOLIN at the moment, and the Venoms all sound like they are 50.

The English dubs can be great fun, but not the ones for FLAG OF IRON and FIVE ELEMENT NINJA.

Kudos for KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM too. That one's a lot of fun.
bradavon wrote:
but I guess you're more intelligence than me.
Post Reply