What Have You Just Seen... Marks Out of 5
- grim_tales
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A Woman Called Sada Abe (Japan, 1975) – 1,5/5
Noboru Tanaka’s view of the famous true story is, unfortunately, rather bland. This despite the fact that it’s considered as one of the very best films in the genre by some. The visually talented director is trapped with a script that takes place almost fully in one room. Tanaka still manages to create some stylish images, but the music choices are weak. The lead role is played by genre legend Junko Miyashita, but her acting talent isn’t on the level this story requires. The characters feel distant, which partly the director’s fault. The little impact the film might have had in 1975 was all gone only one year later when Nagisa Oshima’s notoriously graphical but psychologically challenging adaptation of the same story hit the screens, under the title 'In the Realm of the Senses'.
Noboru Tanaka’s view of the famous true story is, unfortunately, rather bland. This despite the fact that it’s considered as one of the very best films in the genre by some. The visually talented director is trapped with a script that takes place almost fully in one room. Tanaka still manages to create some stylish images, but the music choices are weak. The lead role is played by genre legend Junko Miyashita, but her acting talent isn’t on the level this story requires. The characters feel distant, which partly the director’s fault. The little impact the film might have had in 1975 was all gone only one year later when Nagisa Oshima’s notoriously graphical but psychologically challenging adaptation of the same story hit the screens, under the title 'In the Realm of the Senses'.
- thelostdragon
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bradavon
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I don't believe they're connected are they? When does it start? I never bothered with LOM * but reckon I'll set my PVR to recorded Ashes to Ashes. It does look very good.grim_tales wrote:Life On Mars: S1 E1 - 5/5
Excellent. Trying to watch both seasons before A2A starts.
* And it's too much hassle downloading it or buying th box set.
- grim_tales
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saltysam
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bradavon
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1.5 out of 5 is harsh. I enjoyed it back when I saw it in the cinema.
I'd give it 6 out of 10 myself. Jamie Bell Sophia Myles act well. Does it need to be bright and happy?

I'd give it 6 out of 10 myself. Jamie Bell Sophia Myles act well. Does it need to be bright and happy?
It's Ashes to Ashes and Life on Mars stop with your abbreviationsgrim_tales wrote:Well A2A is a sort of spin-off/sequel to LOM (you may know?) so they possibly could be, A2A has many of the same characters as LOM did (bar Sam Tyler).
Thanks. If it gets confusing I'll probably stop watching it, unless it's so good I have to check out Life on Mars (which I doubt it will be).grim_tales wrote:It starts on 7 February, 9pm on BBC1.
- Markgway
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MALLRATS 2.5/5
Occasionally funny second film from Kevin Smith. A box office disaster but nowhere near that bad. Despite this being a studio film with bigger budget the same flaws that affected Clerks - stilted acting, gags that miss the mark - seem writ large here. It's thus not as good as Clerks but still better than any of his subsequent features.
Occasionally funny second film from Kevin Smith. A box office disaster but nowhere near that bad. Despite this being a studio film with bigger budget the same flaws that affected Clerks - stilted acting, gags that miss the mark - seem writ large here. It's thus not as good as Clerks but still better than any of his subsequent features.
- grim_tales
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DangerousLeeHandsome
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bradavon
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Saving Private Ryan starts of fantastically but annoyingly goes all Spielberg in the final act and gets all sentimental on us. It's still a decent film though.
Jaws is still easily Spielberg's best film. Minority Report is also very good.
Jaws is still easily Spielberg's best film. Minority Report is also very good.
Thanks. I seriously doubt I'll check out Life on Mars now.Fair enough Brad. Its too late now of course but it may get confusing if you watch A2A and then Life on Mars.. maybe.
- HungFist
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- grim_tales
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- Knetan
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hey,
Last Breath 3/5
The original version of Jungle Heat. Both were possibly shot at the same but Flash Gordon's Sam Jones appears in the Jungle Heat edit. In Breath, we follow a band of HK/Taiwan soldiers being recruited at the tail end of the Vietnam war. Chin Han, Chen Sing and Dorian Tan all take part in some muddled drama about the pointlessness of it all but Last Breath triumphs when going quite gory and cruel on us instead. Highlight sequence being the jaw-dropping part where Fan Mei-sheng scalps a soldier dug into the ground, slices his skull open and pours acid into it. Promptly, the poor fella leaps out of his skin. Sweet...
A Lady Came From The Hell 1/5
Rather stiff murder mystery and melodrama out of Taiwan.
The Everlasting Glory 1.5/5
A dignified act from O Chun-hung doesn't redeem this boring war-drama that possibly history buffs may get something out of.
Screaming Tiger 2.5/5
Aka King Of Boxer, Jimmy Wang Yu stars in a genre vehicle someone tried to take to more deep levels but it creates a tedious experience instead. Excellent, gritty action makes up for it partly, especially Wang Yu and Lung Fei fighting on both a train and a waterfall at the end.
Last Breath 3/5
The original version of Jungle Heat. Both were possibly shot at the same but Flash Gordon's Sam Jones appears in the Jungle Heat edit. In Breath, we follow a band of HK/Taiwan soldiers being recruited at the tail end of the Vietnam war. Chin Han, Chen Sing and Dorian Tan all take part in some muddled drama about the pointlessness of it all but Last Breath triumphs when going quite gory and cruel on us instead. Highlight sequence being the jaw-dropping part where Fan Mei-sheng scalps a soldier dug into the ground, slices his skull open and pours acid into it. Promptly, the poor fella leaps out of his skin. Sweet...
A Lady Came From The Hell 1/5
Rather stiff murder mystery and melodrama out of Taiwan.
The Everlasting Glory 1.5/5
A dignified act from O Chun-hung doesn't redeem this boring war-drama that possibly history buffs may get something out of.
Screaming Tiger 2.5/5
Aka King Of Boxer, Jimmy Wang Yu stars in a genre vehicle someone tried to take to more deep levels but it creates a tedious experience instead. Excellent, gritty action makes up for it partly, especially Wang Yu and Lung Fei fighting on both a train and a waterfall at the end.
- grim_tales
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- thelostdragon
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- grim_tales
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Thoughts on A2A:
My thoughts on A2A:
I enjoyed it, it was good overall I thought.
There was good and bad...
The bad - I didnt like the Alex character very much, very irritating at times and she was far too smug and self aware of her surroundings (she knows what year it is right off the bat etc) and it made me want to slap her. I know she was Sam's psychologist, and I also know Sam wasnt particularly likeable at the start of LOM, but in LOM we "were" Sam and shared his "What the hell is going on" feelings even though he thought he was superior in policing ways.
I think Gene spoke for most when he said "Is this psychology bollocks meant to impress me?" Indeed
On the other hand, Sam was also annoying initially and he was a bit of a dick towards his colleagues too.
The Good - However, Gene was brilliant and got some great lines. I loved the bit when Gene groped Alex as it was hilarious and just SO Gene
I also loved Chris, and the part when he hugged Shaz was so sweet and SO Chris 
There were some excellent funny/scary moments - the Rainbow one, some WTF moments too (Molly appearing next to Alex on the couch)... and indeed, some lines messed with my head, like the part when Ray said "Sam died last year".
Eh? So time passed for him in "1973" - where's Annie then?
I'll still stick with it next week, its not perfect though, I thought I was watching a LOM parody at times. Despite this, I have a feeling the writers are going to mess with us again, they cant simply tell exactly the same story as LOM.. can they?
My thoughts on A2A:
I enjoyed it, it was good overall I thought.
There was good and bad...
The bad - I didnt like the Alex character very much, very irritating at times and she was far too smug and self aware of her surroundings (she knows what year it is right off the bat etc) and it made me want to slap her. I know she was Sam's psychologist, and I also know Sam wasnt particularly likeable at the start of LOM, but in LOM we "were" Sam and shared his "What the hell is going on" feelings even though he thought he was superior in policing ways.
I think Gene spoke for most when he said "Is this psychology bollocks meant to impress me?" Indeed
On the other hand, Sam was also annoying initially and he was a bit of a dick towards his colleagues too.
The Good - However, Gene was brilliant and got some great lines. I loved the bit when Gene groped Alex as it was hilarious and just SO Gene
There were some excellent funny/scary moments - the Rainbow one, some WTF moments too (Molly appearing next to Alex on the couch)... and indeed, some lines messed with my head, like the part when Ray said "Sam died last year".
Eh? So time passed for him in "1973" - where's Annie then?
I'll still stick with it next week, its not perfect though, I thought I was watching a LOM parody at times. Despite this, I have a feeling the writers are going to mess with us again, they cant simply tell exactly the same story as LOM.. can they?

