What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5
- grim_tales
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Opium and the Kung Fu Master: 4.25/5
Very good film (can't decide if it's a 4.5/5), genuinely moving and effecting in places and the fights are great The reason I can't decide if its a 4.5/5 is despite the "Opium is evil" theme throughout the film, showing how it destroys lives, families etc, it has a standard ending where Ti Lung avenges 2 people's deaths. I guess if he had lost twice it would have been too tragic
Very good film (can't decide if it's a 4.5/5), genuinely moving and effecting in places and the fights are great The reason I can't decide if its a 4.5/5 is despite the "Opium is evil" theme throughout the film, showing how it destroys lives, families etc, it has a standard ending where Ti Lung avenges 2 people's deaths. I guess if he had lost twice it would have been too tragic
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Intentions of Murder (Japan, 1964) – 2,5/5
Shohei Imamura’s intelligent and provocative drama tries to analyze the difference between love, obsession and abuse. The film is interesting but ultimately too long (150 min). Some of the flashbacks and symbolic images don’t convince either. The lead actress Masumi Harukawa gives a very good performance, though.
Like a Dragon (Japan, 2007) – 3,5/5
While not one of Takashi Miike’s very best movies, Ryu ga gotoku (aka Like a Dragon) is still better than all the previous video game adaptations put together. If you haven’t played the game, the film should work as an entertaining diet Miike. However, if you are familiar with the game, then it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed. The film is a faithful adaptation, but also makes enough changes to prevent you from ever getting bored. The cast is throughly well chosen, and the visual look is superb. Soundtrack works nicely as well. The film was rated pg-12 in Japan, so this isn’t your old school Miike splatter, but it’s still surprisingly violent. There isn’t much blood, but the amount of baseball bat headshots is on world record level.
Shohei Imamura’s intelligent and provocative drama tries to analyze the difference between love, obsession and abuse. The film is interesting but ultimately too long (150 min). Some of the flashbacks and symbolic images don’t convince either. The lead actress Masumi Harukawa gives a very good performance, though.
Like a Dragon (Japan, 2007) – 3,5/5
While not one of Takashi Miike’s very best movies, Ryu ga gotoku (aka Like a Dragon) is still better than all the previous video game adaptations put together. If you haven’t played the game, the film should work as an entertaining diet Miike. However, if you are familiar with the game, then it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed. The film is a faithful adaptation, but also makes enough changes to prevent you from ever getting bored. The cast is throughly well chosen, and the visual look is superb. Soundtrack works nicely as well. The film was rated pg-12 in Japan, so this isn’t your old school Miike splatter, but it’s still surprisingly violent. There isn’t much blood, but the amount of baseball bat headshots is on world record level.
- grim_tales
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- grim_tales
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- HungFist
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- grim_tales
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Fist Of Fury 3 2/5
Average Bruce Li vehicle,a definite step down from the decent pt 2. He spends most of the movie as a peripheral figure and gets framed for murder,however after the easiest jailbreak in prison history (old guy and daughter amble into a deserted cop shop and bust him out),he lets loose for the final 20 minutes,meeting the villainous Ku Feng.pity the superior pt 2 seems impossible to find in scope,a much better film.
Average Bruce Li vehicle,a definite step down from the decent pt 2. He spends most of the movie as a peripheral figure and gets framed for murder,however after the easiest jailbreak in prison history (old guy and daughter amble into a deserted cop shop and bust him out),he lets loose for the final 20 minutes,meeting the villainous Ku Feng.pity the superior pt 2 seems impossible to find in scope,a much better film.
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- Royal Tramp
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Whisper of the Heart - 4/5
By far the best animated Ghibli film with background art by Naohisa Inoue (Iblard Jikan) and so much attention to detail both in foreground and background. But it is not a fantastical adventure ala Miyazaki and it's not the perfect school romance like Ocean Waves, it's rather inbetween and not altogether there.
Live Free or Die Hard - 2/5
The whole concept of this film and its overall plot, characters, presentation etc are all ten years out of date. We have a bald and too old for action films Bruce Willis getting involved in some really unconvining and stupid - even by Hollywood standards - action-CGI set-pieces as he fights a hacker and that's about it.
Gattaca - 3/5
I like Gattaca but it's still a B-Movie with a cast, costumes and sets that don't tell you otherwise.
Scent of a Woman - 3/5
Bit of fun but average and there's nothing more to say on that point. I'm sure some people think it's a poignant masterpiece, I do not.
By far the best animated Ghibli film with background art by Naohisa Inoue (Iblard Jikan) and so much attention to detail both in foreground and background. But it is not a fantastical adventure ala Miyazaki and it's not the perfect school romance like Ocean Waves, it's rather inbetween and not altogether there.
Live Free or Die Hard - 2/5
The whole concept of this film and its overall plot, characters, presentation etc are all ten years out of date. We have a bald and too old for action films Bruce Willis getting involved in some really unconvining and stupid - even by Hollywood standards - action-CGI set-pieces as he fights a hacker and that's about it.
Gattaca - 3/5
I like Gattaca but it's still a B-Movie with a cast, costumes and sets that don't tell you otherwise.
Scent of a Woman - 3/5
Bit of fun but average and there's nothing more to say on that point. I'm sure some people think it's a poignant masterpiece, I do not.
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- Markgway
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No, you're stating opinion. And a pretty ignorant one at that. So what if he's bald? He wore a wig in the first three parts. He hardly looks any different than he did ten years ago so you can forget the haggard shit. The man is only in his early 50s for fuck's sake. Sean Connery was awesome in The Rock and he was 66 - yes, you read that right - at the time. So all it is is ageist bullshit. Diamonds Are Forever being shit had nothing to do with Connery's age (he was only 41 - about the same age as Daniel Craig) or hairline(!) If you don't like the movie that's fine... just don't insult us by giving a stupid reason.Lourdes wrote:Ageism? He's old, bald and haggard but still trying to play a fit and tought action hero - I'm just stating facts. Receeding hairline = no lead action role, remember Diamonds are Forever?
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@Lourdes:
If you think Bruce Willis was too old for Die Hard 4.0, then how do you feel about Harrison in Indy 4?
Although I have to agree with you on this:
I don't believe that a bald 52 year-old man could jump from a falling truck onto an out-of-control airplane and then slide for a hundred metres on pavement without hurting himself.
This particular scene is ridiculous (as is the whole film).
If you think Bruce Willis was too old for Die Hard 4.0, then how do you feel about Harrison in Indy 4?
Although I have to agree with you on this:
I don't believe that a bald 52 year-old man could jump from a falling truck onto an out-of-control airplane and then slide for a hundred metres on pavement without hurting himself.
This particular scene is ridiculous (as is the whole film).
I used to be "the man who loves the movies you hate".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
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- Royal Tramp
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Are you old and/or losing hair perchance?Markgway wrote:No, you're stating opinion. And a pretty ignorant one at that. So what if he's bald? He wore a wig in the first three parts. He hardly looks any different than he did ten years ago so you can forget the haggard shit. The man is only in his early 50s for fuck's sake. Sean Connery was awesome in The Rock and he was 66 - yes, you read that right - at the time. So all it is is ageist bullshit. Diamonds Are Forever being shit had nothing to do with Connery's age (he was only 41 - about the same age as Daniel Craig) or hairline(!) If you don't like the movie that's fine... just don't insult us by giving a stupid reason.
Old:
http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ndvd001bo9.png
Not old:
http://www.imagebam.com/image/2a3c114026271
Where is that hair?
http://www.casinos.net/diamondsareforever.jpg
No longer relevant:
http://www.v7design.com/sean/sean-connery-good.jpg
Decrepid old artefact chasing after decrepid old artefacts, perfect! He just needs a set of sticks or a zimmerframe and a divorce from his wife so I can steal her.tom2681 wrote:@Lourdes:
If you think Bruce Willis was too old for Die Hard 4.0, then how do you feel about Harrison in Indy 4?
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Callista Flockhart?! Anorexia = ewwww.Lourdes wrote:Decrepid old artefact chasing after decrepid old artefacts, perfect! He just needs a set of sticks or a zimmerframe and a divorce from his wife so I can steal her.tom2681 wrote:@Lourdes:
If you think Bruce Willis was too old for Die Hard 4.0, then how do you feel about Harrison in Indy 4?
- HungFist
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The Blue Jean Monster (Hong Kong, 1991) – 2,5/5
I’m not sure whether madness or insanity describes Blue Jean Monster better. What we’ve got here is action, fantasy, z-grade humour and an undead police officer (Shing Fui-On) as the lead character. None of it makes any sense, and some of the jokes make you want to hang yourself, but you won’t get bored, only amazed. Amy Yip’s bunny girl fits the easter timing.
- dvd / Joy Sales
Sword of the Beast (Japan, 1965) - 3,5/5
Mikijiro Hira plays the memorable lead role in Hideo Gosha’s second movie. Although the storyline is not the most original, the characters and cinematography are very good. The director keeps the film moving swiftly. An enjoyble and rather dark samurai film but not one of the best examples of the director’s talent. Gosha was one of the most important Japanese directors, however this and the stylish chambara adventure Tange Sazen: The Secret of the Urn are his weakest from the 60’s.
I’m not sure whether madness or insanity describes Blue Jean Monster better. What we’ve got here is action, fantasy, z-grade humour and an undead police officer (Shing Fui-On) as the lead character. None of it makes any sense, and some of the jokes make you want to hang yourself, but you won’t get bored, only amazed. Amy Yip’s bunny girl fits the easter timing.
- dvd / Joy Sales
Sword of the Beast (Japan, 1965) - 3,5/5
Mikijiro Hira plays the memorable lead role in Hideo Gosha’s second movie. Although the storyline is not the most original, the characters and cinematography are very good. The director keeps the film moving swiftly. An enjoyble and rather dark samurai film but not one of the best examples of the director’s talent. Gosha was one of the most important Japanese directors, however this and the stylish chambara adventure Tange Sazen: The Secret of the Urn are his weakest from the 60’s.
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- Royal Tramp
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The Thing - 3/5
I was expecting more from this and whilst it started out strong I later found myself disappointed and later bored.
The Lives of Others - 3/5
Fine example of the problem with continental cinema. Every European film involves romantic artists living in apartments and having parties, even in East Berlin under the Stasi. Here the Stasi are depicted as civil servants with moustaches who hide behind trees, talk to you sternly and perv on your lovemaking with surveillance equipment. Far cry from the reality of the oppression that persisted at that time.
The Tailor of Panama - 2/5
Can't say I've read the book (le Carré - no thanks) but I get the distinct impression that this film failed because it tried to too closely emulate the novel it was based upon, rather like Catch-22. Too ludcicrous for live action.
I was expecting more from this and whilst it started out strong I later found myself disappointed and later bored.
The Lives of Others - 3/5
Fine example of the problem with continental cinema. Every European film involves romantic artists living in apartments and having parties, even in East Berlin under the Stasi. Here the Stasi are depicted as civil servants with moustaches who hide behind trees, talk to you sternly and perv on your lovemaking with surveillance equipment. Far cry from the reality of the oppression that persisted at that time.
The Tailor of Panama - 2/5
Can't say I've read the book (le Carré - no thanks) but I get the distinct impression that this film failed because it tried to too closely emulate the novel it was based upon, rather like Catch-22. Too ludcicrous for live action.
- HungFist
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History of Postwar Japan as Told by a Bar Hostess (Japan, 1970) – 3/5
The title says it all (and what a great title it is). Imamura’s documentary depicts the postwar history of Japan through the experiences of a bar hostess. Those experieces don’t always come together with official history writing. The film is raw but endlessly interesting. News clips are used to great extent. The only distraction is the obvious question; how much of this is real? All? Most? Hard to say. Some of the footage is obviously staged but was that only to re-create the happenings that Imamura failed to capture on celluloid in the first place? To make the grainy 100 min interview piece slightly more cinematic? Or to intentionally distort the reality? Fascinating stuff, nevertheless.
The title says it all (and what a great title it is). Imamura’s documentary depicts the postwar history of Japan through the experiences of a bar hostess. Those experieces don’t always come together with official history writing. The film is raw but endlessly interesting. News clips are used to great extent. The only distraction is the obvious question; how much of this is real? All? Most? Hard to say. Some of the footage is obviously staged but was that only to re-create the happenings that Imamura failed to capture on celluloid in the first place? To make the grainy 100 min interview piece slightly more cinematic? Or to intentionally distort the reality? Fascinating stuff, nevertheless.