What Have You Just Seen... Marks Out of 5

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 29 Jan 2008, 18:59

Shikijo mesu ichiba (Japan, 1974) – 3,5/5
Directed by one of Nikkatsu’s most interesting directors, Noboru Tanaka, Shikijo mesu ichiba is an Osaka set story of a young prostitute. While the film comes with the usual overload of sex scenes and would benefit from some editing, the director’s skill with images and audio is undeniabe. Shot beautifully in black and white, some of Tanaka’s audiovisual compositions are nothing short of breath taking. The lead star Meika Seri’s persona is perfect for the lead role, and even occational wooden acting feels spot on. The supporting cast (including former classical ballerina Genshu Hanayagi, cult poet Sakumi Hagiwara and genre queen Junko Miyashita) features some weak but enjoyably campy performances that add their spice to the weird mix.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 30 Jan 2008, 01:13

Dude, write the English titles of those Japanese films down, otherwise nobody has any idea what you are talking about and you just write them reviews in vain, seriously.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Jan 2008, 01:21

I rarely have any idea what Hung is talking about when it comes to films anyway

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 30 Jan 2008, 07:26

thelostdragon wrote:Dude, write the English titles of those Japanese films down, otherwise nobody has any idea what you are talking about and you just write them reviews in vain, seriously.

And how exactly am I supposed to come up with an english title? Translate myself with dictionary? Not all Japanese films have an english title.

EDIT: Confidential: Sexual Market, according to NY Times. Still, I think it would be better to go with the original title, which is the one people know the film by, instead of the english title that no one, including me, has ever heard of.

Another possibility would be to use Thomas Weisser's bootleg title from his book, but he was translating the titles himself without any connection the company that produced the film and that's not exactly the way to go either.

bradavon wrote:I rarely have any idea what Hung is talking about when it comes to films anyway

That I'll take as a compliment

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 30 Jan 2008, 09:26

Rear Window (1954): 4.5/5

Brilliant movie. I'd never seen it before but this was excellent.

Jimmy Stewart is fantastic in it, and I suppose it shows what a good director Hitch is that the film is so interesting/well played despite the fact that for a lot of the time, all you see is James Stewart looking out a window. The mix of suspense and humour is also good.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 30 Jan 2008, 11:16

thelostdragon wrote:Dude, write the English titles of those Japanese films down, otherwise nobody has any idea what you are talking about and you just write them reviews in vain, seriously.

What's stopping you from copying and pasting the title of the film into google or the imdb?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 30 Jan 2008, 11:20

@Hung
OK, in the case of this film it might be an exception. But you often do that, don't you? I mean you can do whatever you like, it's just that I'd prefer you to write "Ritual" instead of "Shiki-Jitsu", so I know you are writing about a film I have actually wanted to know about, because I might have heard about it earlier. Anyway, it's up to you. I'm not making a big fuss out of it.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 30 Jan 2008, 12:15

Hung watches a lot of films that are on r2j only without any subtitles & in many cases no "official" English title. He also doesn't really understand the language well enough to translate the titles effectively, so I think he can be forgiven for prefering to stick to the Japanese titles of most (or all) of the JPN films he reviews!

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 30 Jan 2008, 12:36

Why forgiven? He didn't commit any crime. Maybe I was just being too concerned and curious about the titles of the films, as I also love Japanese cinema.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 30 Jan 2008, 12:57

I usually include all known AKAs in my quick takes to make sure people understand what I'm talking about:

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Jan 2008, 13:02

LD has a point. If there is one I'd prefer to know it's English title too. If nothing else because it makes searching for the film easier.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 30 Jan 2008, 13:34

Wow, I go watch Tennen kokekko and there's a thousand replies when I come back

thelostdragon wrote:"Ritual" instead of "Shiki-Jitsu",

The problem here is that we've got opposite views on this. I've always known Shiki-Jitsu as Shiki-Jitsu so it comes automatically when I write. Often it's the case that I've been looking forward to some film for 6 months, and only around (or after) the dvd release I find out the film has been given an english title. Sometimes it's even a problem for me as I have missed a few films when they had been disguised with an english title (Lemon no koro being the most recent example... took me some time before I realized the "Graduates" subtitles were for that film).

Shingster wrote:He also doesn't really understand the language well enough to translate the titles effectively, so I think he can be forgiven for prefering to stick to the Japanese titles of most (or all) of the JPN films he reviews!

You're quickly becoming my favourite person here

bradavon wrote:LD has a point. If there is one I'd prefer to know it's English title too. If nothing else because it makes searching for the film easier.

In case of more rare films like the 70's pinku's you're usually much better off with the original title. For example in case Shikijo mesu ichiba, Confidential: Sexual Market seems to be the official english title (although I'm not sure), but the only big site listing it is The NY Times. IMDB doesn't know such title. Wiki, calls it Secret Chronicle: She Beast Market. That title is also used in the Weisser book, with an aka Lusty Beast Market, but Confidential: Sexual Market is not mentionef at all

However, what is incommon for all sources is the original title... which is in fact Maruhi: Shikijo Mesu Ichiba (my bad, the Finnish TV dropped 'Maruhi' from the title)

tom2681 wrote:I usually include all known AKAs in my quick takes to make sure people understand what I'm talking about:

I remeber that post. I tried to identify the film, but didn't succeed because there were* too bloody many aka's.

* somebody please teach me english here. Is it "was" or "were"?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 30 Jan 2008, 14:06

It's "were", because "AKAs" is plural.

There "was" an AKA.
There "were" too many AKAs.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 30 Jan 2008, 14:22

thanks.

I've seen so many people using "was" that I started wondering if I had missed something.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 30 Jan 2008, 14:50

WOW A Frenchmen teaching English

Tom is spot on.

HungFist wrote:I've seen so many people using "was" that I started wondering if I had missed something.

Annoyingly many English speakers cannot even speak the language properly

. Typos are one thing but laziness is another thing entirely. I too have seen WAS used when it should've be WERE, even in so called professional marketing literature. Like Nite instead of Night it's one of those cases that people use it incorrectly so often it almost becomes acceptable.

Nite is wrong but Donut is fine

.

I've even heard many times Americans use Inernet in professional adverts too.

p.s - Fair enough regarding the film titles then.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 30 Jan 2008, 15:48

If there is an English title it doesn't hurt to look it up if it makes it easier for people who don't know the Japanese names. However, unlike HK cinema, English titles aren't mandatory, so the print may well only give a Japanese title. But like I said it only takes 30 secs to check the IMDB for one.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 30 Jan 2008, 16:11

thelostdragon wrote:Why forgiven? He didn't commit any crime.

Tis just a term of expression, I don't mean it literally.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 30 Jan 2008, 18:23

I know. Just wanted to express that I'm not pissed at Hung or anything, because my post sounded harsher than it was supposed to be

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 30 Jan 2008, 18:52

thelostdragon wrote:I know. Just wanted to express that I'm not pissed at Hung or anything, because my post sounded harsher than it was supposed to be

No it didn't.

You're all oversensitive

Tennen kokekko (A Gentle Breeze in the Village) (Japan, 2007) – 4/5
I’m not sure if Nobuhiro Yamashita will ever be able to direct anything as good as No One’s Ark and Realism no yado anymore, but the quality of his new films remain pleasingly high. Small village romance Tennen kokekko displays the mainstream effect in tighter editing, although the overall pacing is thankfully not hasty at all. As always in Yamashita’s movies, the cinematography and use of music are excellent. Characters and storyline are good, with no melodrama weakening the pic. The young cast fares well.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 30 Jan 2008, 20:15

The Shaolin Avengers (1976)

Dir: Chang Cheh
Cast: Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-chun, Chan Wai-lau, Bruce Tong, Lung Fei, Tsai Hung, Wang Lung-wei, Shan Mao, Leung Kar-yan

Primarily a film about Fong Sai-yuk (Fu Sheng), with Hu Huei-chien (Chi) mostly regelated to the sidelines, despite sharing the Chinese title. The narrative is a bit odd, being told as a series of flashbacks intercut with the grand duel.

Infamous setpeices, such as Fong's fight on the poles, and Hu;s attack on the cotton mill, are re-created and exoanded upon from Chang Cheh's earlier film Men From The Monastery, to the extent of shamelessy recycling dialogue sequences from that film.

Fu Sheng's interpreatation of Fong is one of his weaker roles, being far too smug for the character to be likable - Meng Fei-s playing of the role in Prodigal Boxer is far superior, despite Fu being the better actor. Chi Kuan-chun is still as wooden as ever but it's less noticeable. The villians are all well played, with special praise going to Chan Wai-lau's freaky, mute performance as Pai Mei, that really gets under the skin

Speaking frankly, I've always found Lau Kar-leung's choreography from the 60's though to the late 70's to be very slow and un-cinematic, so Hsieh Hsing and Chan San-yet's choreography here is welcome, being considerably more fast and aggressive than Chan Cheh's usual choreographer. The use of coloured gels enlivens the gory moments, and the death of a character with a most embarassing Achelles heel is wonderfully sick!

Lightweight, but fun.

Footnote: There's a rather odd flashback scene which exists soely to show Fu Sheng busting some moves on Chang Cheh's new discoverie, future Venoms Chiang Sheng and Lu Feng, both looking pretty ghastly in Ching dynasty lay haircuts

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 31 Jan 2008, 06:28

Seven Samurai: 5/5
God what a classic! I just can't look away once I start this movie. So well constructed and definately one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Zodiac (director's cut): 4.5/5
My second time watching this film only this time it was the director's cut in HD and I am not really sure what was added but this was a brilliant film. I was constantly engaged in the story and it really made me interested in the history of the whole zodiac case.

Meet the Spartans: 0/5
Worst piece of shit ever made. The directors of this crap should be thrown out of hollywood. I was dragged to this movie by friends and going into it I knew what to expect but it was even worse than I was expecting. I didn't laugh once and wanted to hang myself after 20 minutes.

Rambo: 2.5/5
I enjoyed it but it had no real substance just some of the best and most amazing killings I have ever seen in a theater!

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 31 Jan 2008, 12:55

Sweeney Todd 4/5

Really good film, quite surprised how well Depp can sing, and Alan Rickman, on this subject, here is the only only problem i had...which was mroe about me than the film. Alan Rickman sings, about pretty women, the demenour of this character is the same as Professor Snapes, so i was in fits of laughter when he began singing becuase i began imagining Snape singing. It was an amusing sight...

I felt sorry for Helena Bonham Carter, everyone knocks her singing, but notice that she sings in the old london accent, its a very hard accent when its not your own, and to sing in it has gotta be difficult, granted she cant sing amazingly well but it wasnt bad.

The cinema was packed, at the end of the film a fair few people gave the round of applause.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 31 Jan 2008, 15:33

The Big Lebowski - 3.5/5

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 31 Jan 2008, 20:44

Timecop hd-dvd 2.5/5

One of Van Damme's better efforts is looking a little dated now,not sure whether i'll be keeping this tbh.

Apocalypto blu-ray 4/5

2nd time around watching this,great movie with a simple fast moving story and very well directed. even at nearly 2 and a half hours t never feels overlong.

Under Siege 2 blu-ray 3/5

Decent action packed sequel to the original made back when Seagal could still cut it. Eric Bognosian is no Tommy Lee Jones as the villain. the added resolution of blu-ray makes it painfully obvious at times it's Seagal's double on top of the triain

Halloween unrated (2007) 2.5/5

ok but ultimately not entirely successful remake from Rob Zombie. As Loomis Malcolm McDowell is very hammy. but it's not a total failure,seeing more of Michael's backstory was good as were the numerous cameos by genre stars.this unrated version had a different ending to the one i first saw.

Zodiac Director's Cut hd-dvd 3.5/5

Decent if overlong thriller featuring the real life serial killer case. super late 60's/early 70's feel to the whole movie which was very well directed. cracking hd transfer as well. i imagine this film will be even better on future viewings but it'll be a while till i sit through it again.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 31 Jan 2008, 22:09

What Halloween (2007) is considered the best cut? -

Theatrical
Work print
Unrated - Presumably labelled the Director's Cut