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

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 23 Jun 2006, 11:32

Zinda - 2.5/5

Didnt think this was as a total disaster given how compelling Oldboy was, but its nowhere as suspenseful as Oldboy. The performance of the lead character called "Bala" in this one is a shadow of Choi Min-sik (Oh Daesu), not as emotive or expressive and maybe this is just because I'm not used to Indian movies, but I found it distracting how characters were speaking almost all Hindi and would slip the odd word/line of English in.
The film lacks the haunting music of Oldboy as well.
An important plot point was removed Didnt the original involve incest?

Not as violent as the original though the part where Reema (the "Mido" character in the original?) sets herself on fire when the younger Bala mistakenly says she'll screw anyone for $15 is quite terrifying and upsetting. Did Oldboy end with Oh Daesu's daughter being spared?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 23 Jun 2006, 14:01

Blackadder: The Cavalier Years - 3.5/5

Special sketch/episode set during the reign of Charles I. Whats funny is Stephen Fry's "King Charles" sounds rather like someone doing an impression of the present Prince Charles

Very amusing

Blackadder: Back and Forth - 2/5

Just not as good as the others

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 23 Jun 2006, 18:52

*Waits for beats from Tom*

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 23 Jun 2006, 20:08

hey,

Temptation Of A Monk 5/5

Clara Law leaves Hong Kong with this bonafide masterpiece, carrying a title that pretty much sums up the film. Extremely gory at times, erotic and a slow-building, complex portrayal of an outcast trying to make sense and find a place in his world again. Cinematography by Andrew Lesnie.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 24 Jun 2006, 00:51

grim_tales wrote:*Waits for beats from Tom*

Wank yourself, lazy.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 24 Jun 2006, 05:45

You know what I mean... 8)

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 24 Jun 2006, 09:26

Hostel - 2.5/5
Lots of sex, lots of gore, and a few pretty disturbing scenes towards the end.
Works as an exploitation flick, but nothing more.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Jun 2006, 11:48

Alias: Episode 1 - 2.5/5
Booooooring. I'm happy I just rented the first disc from the place I work at part-time.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 24 Jun 2006, 12:32

The Final Cut - 3/5

this film could have been sooo much better! the concept was really quite good, and the actors were good, it just wasnt developed enough. too bad really this could have made a great film.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 24 Jun 2006, 13:23

City Hunter - 4/5
One of Jackie's best films. And probably the funniest HK movie ever made.

Hellish Love - 3/5
Pretty good, but far from Sone's best films. Lots of pretty images, but missing the wild originality of the best pinku / roman porno films.

Tokyo Fist - 4/5
Violent, beautiful, disturbing and damn impressive movie by Tsukamoto. Features one of the best sex scenes in movie history.

Revenge Of The Pink Panther - 3,5/5
Pretty similiar to Pink Panther Strikes Again. Both are very funny movies, but not as good as A Shot in the Dark

Pale Rider - 3/5
Sometimes unintentionally comic, but there's nothing wrong with that. Weak start, but otherwise a pretty cool film.

Zoo - 4/5
5 episodes, the first (twin sisters) and the fourth (anime) being my favourites. The rest were good, though the director of thelast episode was trying a bit too hard to be a Japanese David Lynch.

Kamikaze Taxi - 4/5
This and Bounce Ko Gals made Masato Harada one of the most interesting Japanese directors of the 90's. He's one of those rare directors that actually have a style of their own. Haven't seen any other movies by him, though.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 24 Jun 2006, 15:41

HungFist wrote: Revenge Of The Pink Panther - 3,5/5
Pretty similiar to Revenge Of The Pink Panther. Both are very funny movies, but not as good as A Shot in the Dark

This review confused me.

HungFist wrote: City Hunter - 4/5
One of Jackie's best films. And probably the funniest HK movie ever made.

Agreed but I reckon it's Jackie Chan's best film of all time, and probably the funniest HK movie of all time. My favourite scene is when Jackie Chan gets aroused after receiving a beating with sticks.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 24 Jun 2006, 15:51

BiscLimpkit wrote:
HungFist wrote: Revenge Of The Pink Panther - 3,5/5
Pretty similiar to Revenge Of The Pink Panther. Both are very funny movies, but not as good as A Shot in the Dark
This review confused me.

sorry. I meant Pink Panther Strikes Again

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 25 Jun 2006, 21:39

Shinobi - 4.5/5
Wow!! Fucking awesome movie! I didn't expect this to be that good.
Great story, although i wish the love story between the two main characters was explored alittle deeper.
Other then that, near perfect.

Best action film to come out of Japan since Azumi.
Well worth the price of the R2 JPN.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 25 Jun 2006, 22:07

Thanks Recon. My thoughts exactly.

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 26 Jun 2006, 01:49

I actually agree with most of your opinions on films.
I think we are two out of like 10 people worldwide who love Natural City

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 26 Jun 2006, 10:35

The HK DVD will come with my next YesAsia order.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 26 Jun 2006, 18:26

If it doesn't get stolen by customs.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 26 Jun 2006, 22:00

BiscLimpkit wrote:If it doesn't get stolen by customs.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Jun 2006, 14:18

The Calculus Affair (1964) - 1.5/5

Oh dear, thought the 90's version was much better.

It would have been interesting to see this in French but the English 60's dub sounds really cheap with crappy voice work, hearing TinTin (and most other characters) speak with a plummy RP British voice didnt work for me at all. The music is very poor. The animation looks cheap too (fair enough it was the 60's).
There were some things in this version not in the 90's version, Calculus/Tournesol was kidnapped and forced to invent an ultrasound machine that could destroy a city or something, the 90's version didnt say this.
Colonel Brutel = Colonel Sponse (sp?)

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 27 Jun 2006, 16:47

hills have eyes (2006) 4/5

pretty decent remake,no real surprises but delivers in the horror/gore stakes.these characters are horrible ! :twisted:

dragonhero005 · Post by **dragonhero005** » 27 Jun 2006, 19:10

God of Cookery

Great ideas! Funny movie.

/5

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 28 Jun 2006, 00:56

Typhoon - 3/5
What a shame. Expected a lot more. The trailer made it look so brilliant.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 28 Jun 2006, 01:10

Cradle 2 the Grave - 3/5

hmm...interesting...not quite what i expected, certainly not as cheesy.

it had some good action, but wasnt an amazing movie..just average...although the little fight with the tiny guy was funny..

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 28 Jun 2006, 09:28

Can someone answer my questions/views about Zinda?

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 28 Jun 2006, 16:15

thelostdragon wrote:Typhoon - 3/5
What a shame. Expected a lot more. The trailer made it look so brilliant.

hmm interesting

Could you give alittle more detail on what you didn't like about it? I was really looking forward to seeing this...i would have ordered it already but i'm broke from my Asia trip.

Disappointing because your not the first person i've heard bad things from.

anyway, i just watched..

Art of Fighting - 3/5
Wow, probably the most generic film i've seen in a while...but still pretty entertaining. The script is structured like an old kung fu film, except even more generic. The basic "kid gets beat up all the time - kid meets older guy who in skilled in martial arts - kid asked older guy to teach him - guy says no - kid gets beat up again - asks older guy again - older guy becomes a mentor and teacher - kids gains his confidence and beats up his long time bullies" formula.

Script needs some work, but i like these types of films and it was fun to see it in a modern setting.