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

[chazgower01]

Quest of the Sex: Rumble in the Women's Empire (2003, Hong Kong) internet 1/5
A low budget Chinese period comedy about sex is a recipe for disaster and this 82-minute turd lives up to the apprehension. All of the regular's are here: Sophie Ngan (clothed throughout), Matthew Ng (Naked Poison II, Beast of Tutor), always up for nudity Le Rong-Rong (Beast of Tutor) and Co Co Chow (Naked Poison I & II), and the skinny little sex machine, with the great name Hoh Kan-Yee (Beast of Tutor). They just seem like they're all trying EXTRA hard to read their lines poorly.
The sets are bad, the acting is bad, the comedy is bad, the script is bad, which makes the sex... besides the lesbian stuff, the only guy having sex with these women is the fat guy! Who's idea was that? Well hell, if the movie is going to be THIS bad, just make it a straight out porno for gosh sake.
Because apparently, the fairy's pussy juice brings immortality!

[grim_tales]

Naked Poison 2 (2002, Hong Kong) internet 2/5
Because you demanded it!
With nothing in common with the first one, other than a return of Sophie Ngan (and Co Co Chow), this story doesn't even follow any of the same ideas as the first, instead concentrating on some kind of Memento rip off, where Sophie can only remember 15 minutes at a time and writes on her body in black ink. It's really not worth going into.
The honest to gosh, only reason to see this movie is Sophie Ngan's only (that I know of) full frontal scene. A 3 minute shower towards the end of the movie, this is an actress who's done plenty of topless, but usually wears a 'shash' during love scenes (including in this movie), but here she gives her fans a long look at the goods, including some looking up.
If only Amy Yip would've done one of these scenes, she could've extended her career another 10 years.
NSFW:
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QkYAFkTsfnc/ ... 2BNgan.png

I remember Naked Poison II, as you say it was like a sexploitation version of Memento
On the HK DVD it looked very artificial/cheap looking for some reason.

[Markgway]

On the HK DVD it looked very artificial/cheap looking for some reason.

Shot on video.

[chazgower01]

On the HK DVD it looked very artificial/cheap looking for some reason.

Shot on video.

Which always adds a sleazy feel to things!

[chazgower01]

Days of Being Wild (1990, Hong Kong) DVD 4/5
I think many people, myself included, overlook the ending, which I thought was out of place in the film, because of just how amazingly shot this movie was and what a joy it was to see the first time.
Compared to his first movie, this was like a quantum leap forward. I saw this originally before I saw 'As Tears Go By', so I had nothing to compare it to at the time, but I just remember being awed at the visuals, and the assuredness of the storytelling. Much is made about Christopher Doyle's contribution (much deserved) to the look of Wong Kar-Wai's films, but this is MORE than just a visual aesthetic - this is a confident, steady, character study - a storyteller on his own terms, taking his time and telling us exactly what he wants us to see and hear and experience.
I'm still amazed at certain things about this movie that have stayed with me... the clock, the rain, the characters... I almost feel I was there, and I'm remembering.
Great actors, interesting characters, beautiful visuals, confident storytelling... just that ending.
Oh, and my favorite scene... Zeb (Jacky Cheung) giving Mimi (Carina Lau) that money, after selling the car that Leslie Cheung had given him (that he always wanted), and telling her that if it doesn't work out to... "come back to me," as he quickly exits and she starts to weep and then really cry.
Just the timing, the understanding of it, the performance... ah, man... this is what it's all about...

[HungFist]

Aesthetics of a Bullet (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 3.5/5
Toei director Sadao Nakajima helmed this film for Art Theater Guild. The outcome feels exactly that. A lowlife wannabe gangster (Tsunehiko Watase) gets his chance to reach for the stars when a local gang send him to Kyushu with a gun & a stack of money. Little does he realize he's being used as a scapegoat. There's an evident Toei vibe to the premise, but the film portrays gangsters as incompetent losers who cannot even start epic trouble. Watase especially seems be to enjoying himself playing a bigger loser than usual, a man who sells rabbits and lives off his girlfriend's money. Miki Sugimoto joins the cast in the film's latter half, which is nice, though she'd go on to make a far bigger impression a few years later in her second ATG film, Preparation for the Festival (1975). Rock band Zuno Keisatsu provides the electrifying soundtrack.

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable (女囚さそり　けもの部屋) (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 4.5/5
Superb third film is a fascinating, melancholic character study that concludes the original trilogy. Director Ito, who had originally wished to set the film in hell, injects a lot of mythology against which Kaji's runaway character comes out as a tragic woman destined to live a demon's life, a fate she accepts despite a silent yarning for normal life. There are several amazingly good, existential scenes contrasting her and a young prostitute (Yayoi Watanabe) who is not yet in touch with her identity. With its fairytale touches and references to Kojiki (the tale of Izanagi and Izanami) the film comes out a sort of alternate vision of the real world (or hell, indeed) modelled after character psyches. This is precisely what makes the movie such a logical continuation to its predecessors while simultaneously breaking new ground (something that Ito handled extremely well throughout his 3 entries). While not as outrageous as Jailhouse 41, cinematically there's not a false note in it, with Ito and Kaji in perfect command of their arts, and cinematographer Masao Shimizu painting absolutely sublime visuals. A beautiful, under-rated near masterpiece.

[chazgower01]

Aesthetics of a Bullet (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 3.5/5...Miki Sugimoto joins the cast in the film's latter half, which is nice, though she'd go on to make a far bigger impression a few years later in her second ATG film, Preparation for the Festival (1975)....

I believe these are the only two Miki Sugimoto movies I haven't seen. It must be great to see them in 35mm!

[chazgower01]

My Horny Girlfriend (2002, Hong Kong) internet 1/5
Lame Cat III comedy about a sexually harassed office worker who goes on vacation to learn to lifeguard (even though she can't swim) and gets even more sexually harassed by lesbians, bullies, and lifeguard coaches. Japanese actress Ohsako Yumi does all of the most extreme nakedness, including what looks like actually getting her coochie eaten.
NSFW:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-393pHupzeTM/ ... 2%2BPM.png

Ok, maybe not. Maybe that's a mouth full of pubic hair.

Though this kind of surprised me:
NSFW:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-uAQZl8j9k/ ... 3%2BPM.png

Grace Lam, who gets mostly topless, made 24 movies between 2001-2003, mostly Cat III cheapies, after trying to do more mainstream films in her first few years. I don't find her all that more attractive than some of the lesser names she works with, and she's extremely coy about removing her bottoms (she does her M/F scenes wearing them and even the MFF scene!), but apparently, she was a big deal during this time. (Note: She does remove them in the final MF love scene, but we see nothing lower than the belly button - It's Cat III, get wth it!)

[chazgower01]

Cyber Cafe (2003, Hong Kong) internet 0.5/5
Low budget, shot on video Cat III story about a loser who opens a Cyber Cafe that becomes a whore house. With Hoh Kan-Yee (Beast of Tutor, Quest of the Sex: Rumble in the Women's Empire) in a whirlwind 2003 in which she was in 6 different Cat III movies, and then disappeared forever.

She's probably not pretty enough to be a regular lead actress (though I think she's as attractive in the face as Grace Lam), but her skinny little body is always ready for a sex scene and she's up for it all... threesome, lesbian, whatever...
Anyway... I'm a fan of her 'work', but besides all of that, this movie sucks.

[chazgower01]

The Professional (2003, Hong Kong) internet 0.5/5
Low budget, shot on video Cat III story about a sex worker, NOT an assassin... starring Hoh Kan-Yee (Beast of Tutor, Quest of the Sex: Rumble in the Women's Empire, Cyber Cafe) in what I can assume is her only 'starring' role, even though she's the girl behind the main girl on the cover art.

Unfortunately, besides the fact that it's just plain terrible, her scenes in it are mostly the lamest she's done. (Though early on they show some pixelated video of what looks like her being inserted by what looks like some Japanese guys... Hmmm, maybe she DIDN'T just disappear....)
It also includes maybe the worst filmed sexual assault in movie history.

[HungFist]

Are you watching those CAT III films just for fun, or is there some bigger purpose? Research for something?

Aesthetics of a Bullet (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 3.5/5...Miki Sugimoto joins the cast in the film's latter half, which is nice, though she'd go on to make a far bigger impression a few years later in her second ATG film, Preparation for the Festival (1975)....

I believe these are the only two Miki Sugimoto movies I haven't seen. It must be great to see them in 35mm!

Indeed. I saw Preparation for the Festival in an ATG retrospective years ago and were really surprised by Sugimoto's performance. I had always loved her as a pinky violence star, but I didn't expect a solid drama performance from her. She must have taken some acting classes between her Toei films and Preparation for the Festival

[chazgower01]

Are you watching those CAT III films just for fun, or is there some bigger purpose? Research for something?

Maybe a book. But it’s also somewhat fun, especially when I discover one that’s not bad or actually good!

[chazgower01]

The Killer (1989, Hong Kong) DVD 4/5
To me, this has always been the easiest to give to someone to see if they might like Hong Kong cinema. The plot's pretty straightforward, the gun battles fierce but not too overly drawn out, and the main characters are all enjoyable.
I've always liked it better than ABT2 and Hardboiled (blasphemy to some), as those seem to go on forever to me. And I think this still holds up well, even with Danny Lee's loud suits. A classic of Hong Kong Cinema.

[chazgower01]

Brush Up My Sisters (2003, Hong Kong) internet 1.5/5
Three hot girls join the police academy, each for their own reasons: Bosomy Teresa Mak to find the person who raped and killed her sister; cute Natalie Ng who's got the hots for a policeman, and Pinky Cheung who wants to uncover the hidden lesbianism within the female police academy. Hey! You and me both!
Alas, we never even get a hint of that... just a silly story that makes the Inspector Wears Skirts movies look like high art. Jade Leung is good as the tough as nails trainer, and Teresa Mak is believable in her crusade to find the killer, but none of it sticks - it just meanders - going through the motions.
Hoh Kan-Yee (My Horny Girlfriend, Beast of the Tutor) in her 6th film of 2003, as one of the trainees, in her only NON nude role!

[HungFist]

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Grudge Song (女囚さそり　７０１号怨み節) (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 2.5/5
Shunya Ito resigned from the series after completing what was meant as a trilogy, one that retained an amazing quality and variety by going from a politically coloured exploitation to surreal anti-patriarchal odyssey and finally a melancholic character study. The fourth film, helmed by gun for hire Nikkatsu action director Yasuharu Hasebe, was purely economics at work. The film shows promise initially by pairing runaway Kaji with a former student radical left badly scarred emotionally and physically by police brutality. It works as groovy 70s crime cinema with a Nikkatsu Outlaw influence for a while despite being completely at odds with the series' underlying thematic with its romance (isn't the theme song all about trusting in men being a woman's crime?) and lack of patriarchal criticism (female warden this time). It is not a bad film, but by the time it gets to its compulsory prison part and revenge episode, it's evident it's trying new and old at the same time, with the latter element coming out as nothing but a pale shadow of Ito's films, lacking his vision and goals, and adding little noteworthy new.

Did the Red Bird Escape (赤い鳥逃げた？) (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 4/5
Fantastic "70s depression" zeitgeist about two small time goons (Yoshio Harada, Masaaki Daimon) and a girl (Kaori Momoi) living together and trying to make money with frauds and blackmails. The opening scene sees rifle wielding hired hand Harada catch an unfaithful wife with her pants down with Daimon, both men hired by the husband. The film is a bit of a slow burner, not entirely unlike Tatsumi Kumashiro's slacker drama Africa's Light (1975), but the fantastic cast really makes you care for the sad bunch (of which carefree slacker girl Momoi spends half of the movie topless). Also kudos to cinematographer Tatsuo Suzuki. Whether it's about capturing grey streets, orange sunsets or snowy mountain roads, the cinematography is nothing short of terrific. Director Toshiya Fujita is at his element with this kind of material. He's ironically best known internationally for his most atypical film, the period revenge fairytale Lady Snowblood.

[chazgower01]

Fatal Love (1993, Hong Kong) internet 2.5/5
There were 3 movies in Hong Kong released with the English translation of 'Fatal Love' in 1993, but this one stars the sexy Ellen Chan, as a cop who goes undercover to find a serial rapist/killer. She goes through sort of a 'male cop' thing - she beats up another female cop, gets suspended from the force, is brought back to go undercover because she's so damn good.
Handsome HK leading man Michael Wong plays the suspect, a wealthy businessman that she meets on the golf course (she's hot, of course he's attracted), has dinner with, goes jogging with, and even stays at his home (separate rooms) - all as a nice way of showing us what a perfect gentleman he is (and as a way to show off Ellen Chen in a variety of hot clothing). Staying at his home is an excuse to search his office in the middle of the night (and see the security guy having rough sex - razor blades, cigarette burns, punches) with some little hottie - but she doesn't suspect HIM!
Then we see another attractive female (and an amazingly upclose vajayjay angle, this movie has a few of those) as she has sex with... someone... and is then viciously murdered (Cop: "And he loves raping the corpse.").... is it Michael Wong?
Owing a bit to American thrillers, it's not bad. It's attractive people, with decent acting and an ok story... If you're there to see Ellen Chan's only full frontal nude love scene near the end, there are worse movies you could be subjected to while waiting. Just turn it off after they roll onto the floor. The ending is just....ugly and stupid.

[chazgower01]

Take Me (1991, Hong Kong) internet 2.5/5
Veronica Yip's first movie is a perfect example of the Hong Kong Film Industry: Responding to the popularity of Amy Yip, by finding another big breasted female, last name Yip (to confuse people), who ISN'T afraid to give us some on-screen nipple (or more) and pump out a rapid succession of movies and hope it catches on. It did.
This movie (released in October) did HK $13Mil, 'Hidden Desire', (November) did HK $8Mil. and Pretty Woman (December) was her biggest hit yet - three months in a row!
Many feel Veronica (a former Miss Asia Pageant runner-up) somewhat legitimized actresses doing Cat III movies and then opened the door for actresses to go into mainstream films afterward. She certainly seemed to have no problem doing it herself...
In 'Take Me' she plays a woman (Milky!) whose husband dies on their wedding night ("No, he didn't even screw me."), but follows her around as a ghost, as she tries to get a new man. Or two. It's a romantic comedy, that's not really that funny (which in HK terms also means it's not 'silly'), but IS lighthearted and kinda fun to watch. It has its moments.


Note: There's a fight scene between Yip's first lover (Ng Sing-Fat) and some robbers, that looks way out of place in this movie, and is actually kind of entertaining. Could've used more of that!

[chazgower01]

Hidden Desires (1991, Hong Kong) internet 3/5
It almost seems like producers thought after Veronica Yip's first movie, "I know! Less story and longer sex scenes are the answer!" And for the first half of this movie it's lame story and LAME sex scenes.
Then Veronica Yip has a fantasy sex sequence involving a sword and a knight in armor (oh yeah, and a regular dude) which is actually pretty decent, and then...Rena Murakami shows up.
You may remember her from Sex & Zen (she's the wife of Elvis Tsui, that's having crazy acrobatic sex with him, while Lawrence Ng spies on them), where she was (in my opinion) the star of the first half of that movie. Here she shows up and has a barrel bath that is amazingly sensuous and sexy (involving an over sized luffa), then a sex scene with one of the who-cares characters of the movie, that's really well done and sexy, and then... and... I'm no expert on cinematic rape scenes. For the most part they're ugly, and not really my thing, but... this one was... titillating? It's a pretty well filmed EIGHT MINUTE scene.
At that point, the movie abruptly ends! WTF?
Not a great movie by any stretch, but I'm starting a Rena Murakami fan club.
NSFW:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKlH9UEtRXQ/ ... 6%2BAM.png

Were Veronica Yip's tits selling this movie or what?

[chazgower01]

Pretty Woman (1991, Hong Kong) internet 3/5
Veronica Yip plays an office worker, who is raped and then accidentally killed by a co-worker late one night. When everyone starts wondering what happened to her at work, the killer hires a LOOKALIKE girl (also Veronica Yip, working as a hostess) to walk into the office and resign. But when she's saved from her pimp by a guy who just happens to work in the same office, she changes her mind and goes to work there to be near him.

The prostitute and the Corporate guy. Sort of like... ya know... the U.S. Pretty Woman movie.
Except here, everyone in the office is having sex with everyone else and that's the main focus during the middle half of the movie. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes it seems to go on forever. Lee Yuet-Sin is fully naked a lot. A sex drug in the coffee machine leads to an office orgy, complete with shocked visiting business associates ("Don't get angry, have some tea first!"). There's an added storyline involving the mob, Alex Fong provides a couple of decent fights, and Charlie Cho plays his usual creepy character (he was the rapist in Hidden Desires).

The big selling point for the movie though was that Veronica Yip was going to bare all, and she does, near the end, in a bath scene that's become somewhat well known (with a rather 'quick glimpse' of full frontal). Combined with the swimming scene she fantasizes about during the bath (where she touches her lover's nut sack over his speedos - never saw AMY Yip do that...) the whole thing lasts TEN MINUTES. And it's... good stuff. Veronica Yip, as a Cat III star was the real deal.
NSFW:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q608YIbFkX0/ ... 1%2BAM.png

[chazgower01]

Dream Lovers (1994, Hong Kong) internet 0/5
Not really a movie, but rather a collection of sex scenes from various movies narrated by the unbearable Charlie Cho, with someone who looks like the Chinese version of Moe Howard.

Murakami Rena's scenes are the barrel bath and rape scene from Hidden Desires (1991).
I got bored while watching some of the other scenes, so I googled Murakami Rena's REAL porn scenes which are here and there on the internet. Not great porn, but still interesting to see her actually having sex... like I always say: If you're going to just make an adult movie and not a story, why not make an ACTUAL adult film?

Though an actual adult film WITH a story would be nice too.

[Markgway]

If you like Rena Murakami, check out Escape from Brothel (if you haven't already...)

[chazgower01]

If you like Rena Murakami, check out Escape from Brothel (if you haven't already...)

Getting ready to watch it again... the main thing I remember from that (and it's been 20 years since I saw it) was the naked Sophie Crawford fight.

[Markgway]

I always found Crawford more attractive as a brunette (see her interview on the Cinema of Vengeance doc).

[Killer Meteor]

Yeah, she's lovely in that!

I really have a weird urge to watch Cyprus Tigers. Was on holiday in Cyprus the year the film was made. Had terrible heat stroke.

[Markgway]

Cinema of Vengeance excerpt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff2z0MMxq-8

Hard Copy excerpt about Sophia and her stalker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdeFIhPQakc