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

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 16 Oct 2005, 22:10

Fly Me to Polaris - 4.5/5

I started seeking out more Jingle Ma titles, after seeing Silver Hawk.

Before you start, yes I know the film's not that great (and many would consider that an understatement).

However I was drawn by the cinematography and Jingle Ma's use of colours (particularly blue). I checked out Fly Me to Polaris (thanks Bruce), and I loved it. Storyline wise, it is similar to "Windstruck", "My Left Eye Sees Ghosts" and "Down to Earth" (three films I enjoyed).

It's about a guy who dies and comes back to Earth for five days in a different body. He decides to spend his time with the girl he loved but is forbidden to reveal who he truly is.

Fly Me to Polaris is beautiful to look at, again with heavy emphasis on the blues. The music is wonderfully soothing, totally complimenting the visuals. Plus I'm a sucker for sappy little movies. Amazing stuff, will look out for more Jingla Ma movies for sure.

I could hear Cecilia Cheung speak all day, what a voice.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 16 Oct 2005, 22:21

Agree with you. In my review I gave 'Polaris' a 4/5.
http://www.hongkonglegends.net/fulltime ... olaris.htm

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 16 Oct 2005, 22:44

Thanks for the link LD, was an enjoyable read. Yeah those piano ballads and sad violin solos really got to me.

I've been checking out Jingle Ma's list of titles and I think (based on imdb) this may actually be his masterpiece. His other titles have not scored past 7/10.

Shame, I'm in love with this guy's cinematography.

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 17 Oct 2005, 02:38

grim_tales wrote:I can't decide which version of Musa was better. The pacing was a bit better on the shorter version IMO but I have to say I didnt "notice" what scenes were missing. Hmmm...
The picture and DTS on the PA DVD is excellent.

In my opinion, this is a VERY RARE case where the international version of the film is superior. The editing is vastly improved, especially during the final scenes.

I already had the Korean disc when i got the PA edition, but i'm sure the PA will be the one i choose when i watch it again.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 17 Oct 2005, 07:57

I thought Volcano High International Cut was better than the Director's Cut.

Perhaps it's the same case with Musa.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 17 Oct 2005, 08:40

I only rented the PA DVD of Musa though.

The picture quality on the PA DVD is better than the Eastern Eye DC.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 17 Oct 2005, 08:57

Game of Death II - 3/5

Pure cheese, but great fun

Trying to spot the cut and paste joins is hilarious, as a lot of the time they just use scenes from his other films when the real Bruce is entering a room/talking or whatever and dub new dialogue in

You can see this in the Abbott scene as some of it is footage from Enter The Dragon. In the ETD scenes the monk looks totally different

From certain angles, Tong Lung (sp?) looks a bit like a young Jackie, probably because of his hair and face. It looked a lot like Jackie's hair in SITES and Drunken Master.

Were the Mandarin names put on the credits? Huan Cheng Li (?) = Hwang Jang Lee right?

Isn't the music different on the English dub? This is where I get confused, I think HKL only got the HK print of Game of Death II (aka Tower of Death) but they just slapped the "Game of Death II" title over the top at the start (understandably changed due to 9/11).

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 17 Oct 2005, 14:38

The fights at the end of GoD II (including Lee Hoi San - the guy from Magnificent Butcher) and Hwang Jang Lee are great!

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 17 Oct 2005, 14:42

I haven't seen GoD2, but:

Wong Chong Lee = Hwang Jang Lee = Huang Cheng Li (I suppose)

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 17 Oct 2005, 14:55

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 17 Oct 2005, 23:26

grim_tales wrote:The fights at the end of GoD II (including Lee Hoi San - the guy from Magnificent Butcher) and Hwang Jang Lee are great!

Totally agree. I think it is a very underrated action flick. I suppose because people are disappointed that it rips off Bruce Lee. But regardless it has some awesome fights.

Hey Bisc, if you really like Cecilia Cheung as much as I do, check out "Lost in Time". It is not directed by Jingle Ma, but it is still a very powerful drama.

http://www.hongkonglegends.net/fulltime ... intime.htm

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 18 Oct 2005, 14:34

Did HKL use the Chinese print for GoD II?

Is the international (Fox) print worth picking up to see the differences?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 18 Oct 2005, 15:27

Hmmm... HKL have the MediaAsia print. As far as the picture quality is concerned, I'm totally satisfied with the HKL. The extras of the HKL version belong to the most entertaining extras for a single disc release in my opinion.

My thoughts about the film and detailed info about the special features can be found here:
http://www.hongkonglegends.net/modules. ... cle&sid=12

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 18 Oct 2005, 15:34

Yeah the picture is good on the HKL IMO.
I think when "Fist of Fury Platinum" is released they should put more older 70's trailers and trailers from other countries on there, instead of just the HK trailer and the new HKL trailer (kinda like they did on WOTD).

I hope the original HKL trailer (for the CE of "Fist") is included though, I loved the haunting melody on that trailer.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 18 Oct 2005, 15:46

Yeah, they did a great job with the CE trailer. Sends shivers down my spince when just thinking about it.

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 20 Oct 2005, 08:49

Tell me Something - 4/5
Just watched this again. I've seen it 3 times now, and i still can't completly confirm what exactly happens in this movie. Nonetheless, i still really enjoy it..I just wish i could figure it out 100%. If anyone wants to share ideas on this movie, feel free to PM me or post with spoiler tags

Land of the Dead (unrated cut) - 4/5
I was very surprised at the amount of gore they were able to get into the R-rated theatrical release, but that was nothing compared to this version! I still think this flick is exactly how a zombie movie should be, tasteless and over the top gory

Great stuff! much better then the recent Dawn of the Dead remake.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Oct 2005, 09:21

The Spiritual Boxer (Shaw Brothers) - 4/5

Really enjoyed this

I may be wrong but was this one of the first horror/martial arts hybrids (not counting Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires)?

It has a fun story and some great fights

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Oct 2005, 17:13

A Fistful of Dollars - 4/5

Very good movie

The HD transfer (on the new German SE) is brilliant 8)

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Oct 2005, 18:11

Hey,
I also have some questions

I thought Ennio Morriconne (sp?) composed the music for Fistful of Dollars

However, his name isn't anywhere on the opening credits of the film and the music is listed as being by a different man

Also, on the German trailer for the "My Name Is Nobody" SE, they used some of the music from "Once Upon A Time In The West" (I think!)

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 20 Oct 2005, 19:20

grim_tales wrote:Hey,
I also have some questions
I thought Ennio Morriconne (sp?) composed the music for Fistful of Dollars However, his name isn't anywhere on the opening credits of the film and the music is listed as being by a different man

Well, according to IMDb, it is indeed Ennio Morriconne who did the music (who else could have!?), but for some reason was credited as Leo Nichols. Who knows why

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Oct 2005, 19:23

Hmm. I'll have a look at the credits again.

Who is the animé girl in your avitar?

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 20 Oct 2005, 20:29

It's from full metal panic right?

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 20 Oct 2005, 21:53

Yep

She is Kaname Chidori from FMP.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Oct 2005, 00:28

grim_tales wrote:Hey,
I also have some questions
I thought Ennio Morriconne (sp?) composed the music for Fistful of Dollars However, his name isn't anywhere on the opening credits of the film and the music is listed as being by a different man

Leo Nichols was a westernised psuedonym for Ennio Morricone used by distributors on intitial release to give the film(s) a more American appearence. Later prints corrected this.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Oct 2005, 11:18

Thanks Recon/Mark

Wierdly, the "Restoration: Italian Style" extra is on the German Paramount SE even though that refers to the MGM SE, though there is a text based essay talking about how the German DVD was done.