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

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 20 Sep 2006, 18:14

hey,

A Bloody Fight 2.5/5

Modern day vehicle for some of Lau Kar-Leung's players (including himself as well) and directed by Wilson Tong. Limp drama but fairly intense on a gore level, mostly focusing on brief gunplay and fights. Lau Kar-Leung has the best fight and one wishes he would've handled this show. Have a feeling it could've lit up much more.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Sep 2006, 18:39

I heard HSNT (HKL) is missing footage from John Woo's DC or something

I think Mark said that.
If the DVD was cheaper I'd pick it up

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 20 Sep 2006, 18:50

Initial D 1.5/5
dull as dishwater film based on the japanese manga. very disappointing.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 20 Sep 2006, 19:02

hey,

well grim, Heroes Shed No Tears has normally been seen in a shorter version than Woo's reportedly longer cut but the HKL dvd does have an extra few minutes not seen until now. Involves a meeting and subsequent sex scene with Chun Yuet-sang I think. Thinking about it, it's likely footage Woo cut or never shot himself.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 20 Sep 2006, 20:19

Ah, I see.
Can you identify the music (if you know what scene I'm talking about)?

Thanks BTW

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 20 Sep 2006, 20:38

hey,

afraid I can't remember that music.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 21 Sep 2006, 00:38

halloween 2/5

what a waste of 90 minutes of my life....i was looking forward to seeing this film, i'd heard it was good...boring as hell! one of those movies you think "i'll keep watching maybe something cool will happen" and nothing cool happens, you get to the end and think...well what did i just spend 90 minutes watchign that for?! borefest. not scary, not intriguing, not creepy. just dull... the story wasnt developed well enough, ok its a 1970's movie but when compared with the likes of TCM...no contest. TCM is 1000 times better. this was just crap

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Sep 2006, 01:39

Told you....... 8)

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Sep 2006, 08:18

I'm sorry I can't place the music exactly Knete but it sounded REALLY familliar.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 21 Sep 2006, 11:37

The City of Violence (Korea - 2006): 3/5

+ Nice fights
+ Imaginative editing
+ Great acting from Ryu Seung-Wan and Jeong Du-Hong

- Ryu Seung-Wan is no Park Chan-Wook, even though he tries to imitate him
- Not enough fighting
- Weak storyline

Kinda disappointed. I was expecting something huge...

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 21 Sep 2006, 11:59

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence - 4/5
A solid detective plot coupled with a stunning visual & aural experience. Definitely closer to Patlabor 1&2 than it is to GITS1. Oshii is indeed "the Japanese Kubrick".

Snake Eyes - 3.5/5
The technical detail put into this film is staggering, several sequences in the film are hugely impressive. The plot was thin & high predictable though.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 21 Sep 2006, 12:54

The Cat Returns 4.5/5

You know how cats are adorable when they are kittens but turn out to be dicks once they're older? This film proves it.

Godzooki · Post by **Godzooki** » 21 Sep 2006, 14:05

tom2681 wrote:The City of Violence (Korea - 2006): 3/5

+ Nice fights
+ Imaginative editing
+ Great acting from Ryu Seung-Wan and Jeong Du-Hong

- Ryu Seung-Wan is no Park Chan-Wook, even though he tries to imitate him
- Not enough fighting
- Weak storyline

Kinda disappointed. I was expecting something huge...

Can i ask how you have seen this? The dvd release is early October right?

What was the action on par with?

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 21 Sep 2006, 14:45

Korean Star wrote:Can i ask how you have seen this? The dvd release is early October right?

Pirate copies have already made it onto the internet

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 21 Sep 2006, 15:12

Great-looking DVD-Rips are already available in all fine p2p networks.

Tigger wrote:What was the action on par with?

Arahan. Lots of high-kicks and stuff.
Although there's a "1 vs 100" fight that's really cool (reminded me of Kill Bill vol.1 and Dragon Tiger Gate).

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 21 Sep 2006, 17:33

Ultraviolet (Unrated): 0/5

:laughing3:

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 21 Sep 2006, 18:51

Finally! A film that Tom and the rest of the world thinks is shit!

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Sep 2006, 18:54

Even Romero didn't like it much.
That should tell you something..

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 21 Sep 2006, 21:23

De Passievrucht (AKA Father's Affair)
9 outta 10. Very good Dutch movie about a man who finds out his son is not his own, and aims to find out who the real father is. He cant ask the mother of the boy, as she has died when the buy was 4.

Just watched this. Very well directed and very well acted by all involved. I'm glad to see Holland turn out such a movie, and sad to see it hasnt been released overseas on DVD. The lead-actor is tremendous in this role.

If it ever does get an english-subtitled release, you guys should check it out.

Godzooki · Post by **Godzooki** » 21 Sep 2006, 21:43

tom2681 wrote:Great-looking DVD-Rips are already available in all fine p2p networks.

Tigger wrote:What was the action on par with?
Arahan. Lots of high-kicks and stuff.
Although there's a "1 vs 100" fight that's really cool (reminded me of Kill Bill vol.1 and Dragon Tiger Gate).

Really? i wish i was home, i cant wait to check this out. Gonna get the set for the behind the action scenes extra's. Ryu Seung Wan is a talented director, not great but i like his style.

As for the action, high kicks? I love korean bootwork, i think im going to love this film. 1 v 100? Should it not be 2 v 100? i take it one of them die?

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 21 Sep 2006, 23:09

Steamboy Director's Cut 2.5/5

See this attitude of "I'll sort out the visuals first, worry about the plot later" attitude that anime directors seem to have is decidedly irritating.

The scientific and engineering principals were a joke. Alright I know it's all "make believe" but at least put some effort into explaining how their contraptions work. The explanations were vague at best. The characters just rambled on like a bunch of loonies.

The underlying message illustrates that science should always be used for good, but mankind's lust for power will bring inevitable destruction. It's a recurring theme that is clumsily depicted throughout the film. Characterisation was weak and the filmmakers had around two hours to make something of it.

The visuals were splendid though and Steamboy may have been decent if it hadn't tried to be so deep and meaningful. It even struggles as a no-brainer anime to be honest.

Really disappointed with this one, especially as Akira was such a masterpiece.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 22 Sep 2006, 00:03

BiscLimpkit wrote:Steamboy Director's Cut 2.5/5
Really disappointed with this one, especially as Akira was such a masterpiece.

You were expecting another Akira from Steamboy?

Otomo is a One Hit Wonder.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 22 Sep 2006, 15:02

EvaUnit02 wrote:You were expecting another Akira from Steamboy? Otomo is a One Hit Wonder.

Of course. Weren't you?

Otomo is indeed a one hit wonder - funny you should mention that. I was just about to start a thread on one hit wonders.

dragonhero005 · Post by **dragonhero005** » 22 Sep 2006, 17:22

PTU

To me it's strange that there are a few really bad reviews about this out there. Some say it's too stylised, for others it lacks a good story...
In my opinion this is a great movie that stands out as one of To's new movies. Policemen are also human beings and often they are not any better than others or even more evil.
I also think that in a way it can be compared to Election (haven't seen part 2 so far...) - of course visually there's a big difference, but in both films To shows very unlikeable and cold characters who only care about themselfes and only are concerned about their reputation and would do anything to keep it and/or to get more power.

Very good.

4.5/5

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Sep 2006, 18:18

I hated PTU first time I saw it.

Second time it had grown on me a little.

I wouldn't recommend it though, as it's just as shallow and self-conscious as most of Johnnie To's work.