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

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 23 Oct 2006, 23:24

Bring it on Again 3.5/5

not as strong as the first by any means, but i do find the coreogrpahy in such films fascinating...the plot was sketchy and slow until the end when it all kicked off. ok for a laugh and to kill 90 minutes. but not a hugely great film, just great coreography...

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 24 Oct 2006, 07:32

8-gatsu no Kurisumasu (aka Christmas in August - Japanese Remake) 2005
3/5
I'll need to watch this again, as I was knackered and not really paying attention. Not seen the K-original so should probably do that first. The acting seemed heart felt and the scenes were nicely captured. But the editing felt somewhat abrupt, making it difficult to follow. Quite often the film would jump forward and miss out essential scenes (unless I just dozed off for a few mins - that would explain it actually).

Anyway, would love to revisit this and watch the original.

Summer Time Machine Blues (Japan 2005) 4/5
Awesome, funny but don't think about it too much, or it'll hurt your head. Nice little wink to the Back to the Future Movies. Will need to hunt this on DVD ASAP.

I also half-watched some new Kou Shibasaki movie about making bento (again I was knackered). Anyone know the title of the film? It has a black dude in it. It may or may not have been made in 2005.

Edit: Just found out it's called Kencho no Hoshi - alas no English subs on the J-DVD. Hmm if anyone knows what I should do about this, lemme know thanks.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 25 Oct 2006, 16:05

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade 3.5/5
Aye not bad.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Oct 2006, 16:14

LOL @ Bisc, I liked Musa DC

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Oct 2006, 16:16

Brad I agree, I love the Spiderman cartoon (90's).

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 25 Oct 2006, 18:13

hey,

Big Brother (Alex Man) - 2.5/5

Business as usual with this redemption story but director Clifford Choi does show he can create raw, emotiona power cheaply. These minor things done right helps the rest of the film.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 25 Oct 2006, 22:57

Dragon Tiger Gate 3/5

Mini Review:

I'd read some unfavourable reviews for this movie, so I was expecting it to sit somewhere between poor and awful. I must say I was quite surprised as I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. If you want to watch an entertaining, although quite superficial, comic book based martial arts movie. then I don't think Dragon Tiger Gate does a lot wrong to be honest. Okay, if you have seen the previous Donnie Yen/Wilson Yip collaboration Sha Po Lang, then maybe you might be a bit disappointed, as it is not quite as good as that one. However, it knocks the socks off quite a few Hong Kong CGI oriented, martial arts flicks of previous years; namely disasters such as Avenging Fist, The Touch and Twins Effect movies. The action scenes work quite well on the whole, with a balanced blend of CGI and wirework (without going too OTT). Nic Tse in particular pulls off some nice kicks. Only downside is that we don't see Donnie do any of his trademark bootwork.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 25 Oct 2006, 23:11

yeah Dragon Tiger Gate is pretty good. some pretty good action actually, good special effects. but that hair doesnt suit donnie yen!!! :mrgreen:

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 25 Oct 2006, 23:15

It's a really neat film, isn't it. I enjoyed it, too and gave it a 3.5/5. Great camera work and Nic Tse does indeed pull off some nice moves. Donnie might doesn't do any of his trademark moves, but the fight between him and the henchmen on the baseball field is awesome. The ending was a bit OTT in my opinion, though. Shameless review plug:
http://www.asia-on-dvd.com/index.php?na ... cle&sid=69

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 25 Oct 2006, 23:18

I'll have a read then.

The only thing missing was Donnie's kicking, but I guess it wasn't his character's speciality (instead his is hand technique, whereas Nic is kicking and Turbo has his nunchakas). I was dreading that it's be another Twins Effect jobbie or Silver Hawk, but really like it.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 25 Oct 2006, 23:24

There are five major action sequences in the film. The one that introduces Nicolas Tse's fighting abilities was rightly positioned at the beginning of the film. I was amazed at how well Donnie Yen turned this non-martial artist into an on-screen fighter. Nicolas Tse's claims that this was his first real action film, while all the films he did before only featured stunts and short fights. He is kind of right in claiming that, because I have never seen him perform so well in terms of physical action. This scene is the definite kicking showreel for Nicolas Tse.

I have been watching the extras, and I didn't expect Nic to say that. I thought he looked quite effective as a screen fighter under Ching Siu Tung's choreography in the excellent (well, I loved it at the time) My Schoolmate The Barbarian. His kicking is really good in DTG for someone who is really a non martial artist.

I agree that the end showdown is a bit of a letdown compared to the other stuff that came before it.

The only other big criticism is that the middle portion of the movie comes to a shuddering halt, and the attempt to introduce all the character's back stories just took too long.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 25 Oct 2006, 23:28

True. The problem is that DTG has had a publishing span of what... 20 years? It must have been a real bitch to do all the characters justice in a 2-hour movie. And as a TV series I doubt that it would have been as successful.

Have never watched "My Schoolmate the Barbarian". Any good?

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 25 Oct 2006, 23:30

My Schoolmate....is definitely worth a watch LD. Nic Tse kicks ass in it whilst looking like Jin from Tekken.

It's a fun movie too with some funny moments. Definitely give it a go.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 25 Oct 2006, 23:34

Cool. Adding it to my list.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 26 Oct 2006, 07:14

Yup My Schoolmate is probably one of my favourite films in the HK highschool/martial arts genre.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Oct 2006, 08:11

El Mariachi - 4/5

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 27 Oct 2006, 09:41

The Devil Wears Panda 3.5/5
I forgot I watched this. 8)

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 27 Oct 2006, 12:07

Layer Cake - 3/5

This was pretty good. Like most British films, for me it gets a little bit dull after the first 20 minutes, but it does pick up again further in. Well worth a watch...

Keung · Post by **Keung** » 27 Oct 2006, 19:53

Hum Tum
5/5

Great Indian comedy flick! Caught it on Channel 4 last night.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 27 Oct 2006, 22:30

hey,

Final Justice (1997) - 3/5

Interesting drama concerning ethics and morals of a priest (Lau Ching-Wan) accused of rape. Director Derek Chiu manages to provide some very workable symbolism. However Eric Tsang as Lau's triad childhood buddy show little restraint and the subsequent court room drama is rather pedestrian. Excellent performance from Lau Ching-Wan however.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Oct 2006, 22:37

Ken,

Is that the recent Mega Star reissue you watched?

How are the anamorphic transfers?

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 27 Oct 2006, 22:41

hey,

it indeed was. As you may know, some of the older titles are in actuality unreleased 16:9 discs for the Japanese market and does carry 5.1 remixes. However Final Justice and Scarred Memory were among those newly done ones and therefore have been blessed with 2.0.

As far as the transfer for Final Justice goes, it's allright. Not the most vivid or sharp but does the job fair on all fronts. Minor print damage, some spelling flaws in the subs but I can live with that.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Oct 2006, 23:11

Cheers! I haven't seen Final Justice.

I was thinking about upgrading A Moment of Romance 2 from my Universe but haven't heard any word - you got that one?

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 27 Oct 2006, 23:17

hey,

am not planning to upgrade from my Universe dvd as I didn't like the film much (and I know you did so that makes sense). Echo chamber 5.1 remix (easily fixed) but it's still cut I heard from someone who was looking for that specifically.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 27 Oct 2006, 23:36

Thanks, I was hoping it would be uncut. Pity.

I guess it's still worth it for the 16:9.