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

[bradavon]

Are there that many TVs still in existence in Europe that cannot handle NTSC? I just wonder why they still do this.

[Yi-Long]

Is R-E-M also the DVD-publisher? Or will maybe Amasia pick it up?
Was it the uncut version?

r-e-m will also be releasing the DVD. Amasia is actually Splendid Entertainment.

Thanks
I don't think R.E.M. releases movies here in Holland. We do get Amasia releases, which seem to be in pretty good quality, most of the time. The just released The Rebel here, but I'm waiting for it to be priced lower (it's now 13 bucks, which I think is too much for a movie, especially in an age where in a few years time I'll probably have to 'upgrade' my collection to BluRays)

[Markgway]

MURDERER (2009)

2/4

For two-thirds this a plodding psychological thriller (with a couple of bloody shock moments to keep you awake)... then it goes bananas with the most outrageous twist ever. Almost worth seeing just for how balls-out twisted it gets.

[brooce-leroy]

Murderer 2/5

More or less what Mark said. It does have the most outrageous twist ever. I have wanted to see it ever since I read a review about this most ridiculous of twists. I believe a recent Hollywood horror/thriller also has a similar twist. I also wanted to see it because I heard that Aaron Kwok gives a very OTT ham stuffed performance, of which he doesn't disappoint. Towards the end, he has all but turned into the Simon Yam style acting back in his CAT III psycho days! I like Eddie Cheung (especially in Johnnie To's films) but he is wasted here, as is Chin Kar Lok and Chen Kwoon Tai. The latter two's characters could have been played by anyone off the street such is their lack of screentime/dialogue, and I wouldn't call them cameo roles either. I guess it was supposed to be The Aaron Kwok show. What is funnier is that, in the dvd's making of, the makers think they have created a psychological thriller masterwork.

[Markgway]

I thought Eddie Cheung did a good job.

[grim_tales]

Ooo, a twist film, will have to check it out

[saltysam]

Lone Wolf & Cub:Sword Of Vengeance 4/5

Great first movie is this classic series of films.Not particularly action-packed but superbly atmospheric.Think the role of Daigoro was better done by the kid in the tv series though.

[HungFist]

Gozu (Japan, 2003) – 3/5
Takashi Miike's strangest movie follows a young yakuza ordered to eliminate his big brother who has gone mad. The task turns into a surreal journey to hell. Ichi the Killer writer Sakichi Sato’s screenplay is 100% insane, sometimes too intentionally so. Nevertheless, there are moments of brilliancy, and the actors are perfect in their roles.

Tokyo Gore Police (Japan, 2008) – 3,5/5
Yoshihiro Nishimura's literally jaw dropping gore opus features some of the most impressive handmade special effects in recent memory. And plenty of blood (four thousand litres were used, according to the director). Audition's Eihi Shiina stars as an engineer hunter tracking down mutants who can replace body parts with deadly weapons such as chainsaws. Yes, it’s Blade Runner in red. Sometimes Nishimura tries too hard – the wrist cutting scene in the beginning being a good example – but he’s also got some sense of style; the main character drives an old Saab turned into a police car in the Shinjuku neon light jungle. Additional fun is provided by movie director cameos, including Takashi "I hate the Japanese" Shimizu, and Paul Verhoeven esque commercials (Suicide is kawaii!!, by Noboru Iguchi). All in all, it’s unbelievable Nishimura managed to shoot this all in just two weeks and with no time for rehearsals. Thrilling trash, just don't expect technical merits on other areas than special effects.

Yes, my initial review from 2008 states the opposite. I thought I'd surprise you.

Below are 2 amazing, spoiling screencaps, not work safe:
upload/HungFist/PDVD_040.jpg
upload/HungFist/PDVD_068.jpg

[gasteropod]

I love the bit where she fires a rocket downwards to fly up onto a rooftop at the beginning.

[HungFist]

That's actually a scene I think could have been much better with better editing and sound effects. It looks better in this (superb) trailer than in the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bNuHJmtTpQ

[saltysam]

Lone Wolf & Cub:Baby Cart At The River Styx 4/5

Ogami and Daigoro continue their amble through Japan,nonchantly killing various bandits and would be assassins on the way.much more action than the first one,and possibly the best of the series.The Gods Of Death were awesome characters.

[HungFist]

New Battles without Honor and Humanity (Japan, 1974) – 3/5
Fukasaku’s yakuza epic takes a restart; new story, old cast, same theme. Bunta Sugawara plays a yakuza henchman who makes a hit and spends 8 years behind the bars. When he’s released, his old boss (Nobuo Kaneko) has seemingly lost his touch, and sworn brother Tomisaburo Wakayama plans to take over and turn against his own family. Fukasaku deals with the interesting loyalty dilemma, but mixes in a bit too much humor (Kaneko overacts on the border of comic relief, despite his character being vital for the storyline). The camerawork is handheld documentary style as should in the films of the genre, but perhaps a touch less hectic than in some other Fukasaku movies. Supporting cast includes Toei regulars from Reiko Ike to Tsunehiko Watase and Hiroki Matsukata.

New True Story of a Woman Condemned to Hell (Japan, 1976) – 1/5
Koyo Ohara’s final film in the True Story trilogy isn’t quite the worst wip garbage Nikkatsu has to offer, but lacks real merits nevertheless. A handful successful elements can be pointed out – a couple of beautiful tattoos, and an instantly recognizable Downtown Boogie Woogie Band score – but they do little to electrify the otherwise impassionate movie.

[HungFist]

School Day of the Dead (Japan, 2000) – 2/5
First of all, it must be said School Day of the Dead is a really dumb film. The silly screenplay comes close to turning some scenes into unintentional comedy. However, it should also be noted that Kyoko Fukada is at her most charming in this film. It’s entirely thanks to her that the film holds up till the end, more or less. For lovers / haters of Japanese ghost horror it might be good to tell in advance that School Day of the Dead does not feature any supernatural elements.

Patriotism (Japan, 1966) – 2/5
Yukio Mishima’s black & white and silent short film is a piece of interesting history, but not much else. It does get quite graphic in the harakiri scene, considering the production year. Mishima ended his own life in similar fashion four years later.

[grim_tales]

A Bittersweet Life: 4.5/5

Very good film, very violent. The hotel worker/enforcer's boss's girlfriend is sweet The music in the film is excellent.

[grim_tales]

The music in the fim is excellent.

[saltysam]

The music in the fim is excellent.

You'd be far better editing your original post and adding to it with new thoughts Grim,this way it looks like you are talking to yourself

[Yi-Long]

It;s been a while since I seen A Bittersweet Life. I really liked it, though didn't rate it as highly as Grim. $,5 seems a bit steep.

The scene with the punks on the highway is fantastic though Brilliant scene.

[saltysam]

Lone Wolf & Cub Baby Cart To Hades 3.5/5

The series continues with this effort which doesn't reach the giddy heights of River Styx but is a fine film nonetheless.A Bit slow at first but builds to a great climactic battle with Ogami taking on guns,swords and anything that gets in his way.

[thelostdragon]

Agree with Grim on "A Bittersweet Life". Gave it a 4.5/5 as well. I love it when simple stories are told so well.

[grim_tales]

I'd never seen it before but it was very good

[saltysam]

Lone Wolf & Cub Baby Cart In Peril 3.5/5

Fourth in the series has Ogami hired to kill a beautiful female killer.Not the best in the series but any movie whose opening sequence features a topless female killer despatching enemies right left and centre has to be good The Lone Wolf suffers more punishment here than previous entries in the series and ends withhim barely surviving an ambush at the hands of the yagyu. 2 to go,looking forward to them.

[Yi-Long]

Just watched A Dirty Carnival. I score it a 4/5.

Slowburning crime-drama about a young guy making his way upwards as a gangster, and the balance between being a 'normal' person, and a criminal.

It's a bit long, and a little bit predictable, but still pretty damn good. Especially the acting by many involved was very good. The lead is convincing, but personally I was most impressed by Jin Goo, who has a small role as the lead's partner in crime within the group. He reminded me alot about a favourite HK ctor of mine: Patrick Tam Yiu-Man.

Also, the actor who plays the movie director (who looks a bit like Stephen Chow btw, both in appearance and facial expressions) does a great job, as well as the dude who plays the big boss.

Soundtrack is OK, but nothing immediately memorable. Cinematography is pretty basic and a bit bland TBH. And although the movie is pretty long, there are some characters in the movie who you would have liked to have seen get some more screentime, if only to learn more about their personalities and their relationship with the lead.

Also, I'm a little bit disappointed that the movie doesn't really have the footage from the amazing teaser in it. It does have the song, which is very fitting, but it only comes at the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcNOQsTI7vw

Definately worth a watch, but at the same time it really lacks any stand-out scenes that will stick with you. It's the overall experience that will either impress you, or bore you to death.

[thelostdragon]

Just watched A Dirty Carnival. I score it a 4/5.
Definately worth a watch, but at the same time it really lacks any stand-out scenes that will stick with you. It's the overall experience that will either impress you, or bore you to death.

That was exactly my rating when I watched it like 3 years ago. I only watched it once so I disagree with your comment about the film not having any memorable scenes. I clearly remember the scene where the girl's ex-boy friend follows her and the lead actor/gangster and he pisses them off until he beats the shit out of him after giving him many chances to just go away.
That was a great and well-acted scene in my opinion.

[Yi-Long]

Just watched A Dirty Carnival. I score it a 4/5.
Definately worth a watch, but at the same time it really lacks any stand-out scenes that will stick with you. It's the overall experience that will either impress you, or bore you to death.

That was exactly my rating when I watched it like 3 years ago. I only watched it once so I disagree with your comment about the film not having any memorable scenes. I clearly remember the scene where the girl's ex-boy friend follows her and the lead actor/gangster and he pisses them off until he beats the shit out of him after giving him many chances to just go away.
That was a great and well-acted scene in my opinion.

Yeah, that is a good scene, but IMHO nota great scene, like for example the highway scene in A Bittersweet Life, or the diner-scene in Arahan. I think both of those have a lot more 'impact'.

I do think they could have given this scene MORE impact, by putting a bit more focus on how the girl suddenly sees what the lead actor is capable of. We see her tell him in the next scene that he scares her, but I think it would have worked better if they had zoomed in on that a bit more, in the scene before that. They really should have used that scene better to show that 'transformation' between 'normal' guy to suddenly getting so extremely violent (the beating was deserved, though), which is pretty much what the movie itself is trying to say.

They showed it a little bit. Like I said, it's a good scene, but compared to some other movies, including the ones I mentioned, it's not GREAT. Again, in my opinion

[saltysam]

Lone Wolf & Cub Baby Cart In The Land Of Demons 3.5/5

Even bleaker than usual 5th entry in the series is extremely violent and quite nasty.Ogami takes on mission to kill a feudal lord,his wife and and (fake) child.

Lone Wolf & Cub White Heaven & Hell 4/5

The baby cart series hurtles to it's conclusion and probably tries to cram too much into it's 84 minute running time. disappointingly nothing is resolved,the fims ends with Itto surviving an attempt to kill him by Retsudo,who escapes into the distance. No doubt another entry was planned.