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

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 01 Nov 2006, 05:18

fuck Korean cinema!

Time to install an anti-swede filter on this board, I think. :twisted:

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 01 Nov 2006, 09:02

In the Line of Duty 4 3/5

Not as good as Tiger Cage 2, but there was enough of Donnie Yen kicking ass to satisfy my needs.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 01 Nov 2006, 09:46

I'm going to check out Bill Bailey: Bewilderness/Cosmic Jam next. For "Part Troll" a lot of Bewilderness material was reused.

I love the news theme part in "Part Troll" where he compares the BBC News theme to a rave

CBS News theme: "And now some puppies will lick your face..."

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 01 Nov 2006, 10:14

Knetan wrote:hey,

fuck Korean cinema!

OK this is worrying, Jeroen from the AsianDVDGuide has taken over Ken's account.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 01 Nov 2006, 12:49

I never got why so many people are strictly obsessed with films from a certain country. Most will only watch American movies. Others like Ken mostly HK movies. I never cared where the film is from as long as it is good. As long as the storyline is good, the actors are good or as long as there is anything else that makes it worth to watch.

Bloodsport - 4/5
Classic! Didn't age at all.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 01 Nov 2006, 14:32

I'll watch films from anywhere, try anything.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 01 Nov 2006, 16:54

hey,

OK this is worrying, Jeroen from the AsianDVDGuide has taken over Ken's account.

LOL. My obsession isn't in teenage Japanese girls however.

Take that Korean cinema comment with a slight grain of salt as I admire a lot that comes out but I'm being very selective and usually go by gut feeling. It just has to hit me beforehand, big time (Save the Green Planet was one such example) My viewing home is mainly at Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, for better or worse.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 01 Nov 2006, 18:32

brooce-leroy wrote:I'll watch films from anywhere, try anything.

Same here. That especially applies to porn.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 01 Nov 2006, 20:36

hey,

Asian Connection 3/5

Quite competent despite being yet another Danny Lee cop movie. Shot in Cantonese and Mandarin synch sound, directors David Lam & Yuen Tak go for an even tone, delivering a fairly fun dual act between Danny Lee and and Michael Chow, bloody violence and even some characterdepth when the two different schools of cops clash.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 01 Nov 2006, 20:50

I don't think I have ever seen a Yuen Tak-film.

My Boss My Hero - 4/5
Watched this again tonight with a mate who hasn't seen it before. We have been laughing our asses off.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 01 Nov 2006, 21:27

hey,

that's actually Yuen Tak's only directing credit. David Lam has done some fair stuff, including the violent Women's Prison, Girls Without Tomorrow 1988 and Final Shot.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 01 Nov 2006, 21:30

Knetan wrote:that's actually Yuen Tak's only directing credit.

Ah, that explains it then.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 01 Nov 2006, 21:58

Knetan wrote:hey,

Madam City Hunter 2/5

No, I didn't spot a connection but what I did see was a juggling act between grating nonsense and Yuen Clan action done in a welcome over the top way.

Is this like an official sequel to City Hunter? (Sorry if that's a stupid question. I'm naive when it comes to HK titles).

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 01 Nov 2006, 22:07

thelostdragon wrote: My Boss My Hero - 4/5
Watched this again tonight with a mate who hasn't seen it before. We have been laughing our asses off.

Agreed, absolutely superb comedy. There's a similar film called She's on Duty (with a woman, instead of a man) but it's not as good.

Any ideas if the sequel's good?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 01 Nov 2006, 22:18

You know, I was wondering the same thing and something stops me from buying this. Maybe because I was a bit disappointed with the recent Korean films I bought, started by the sweet crap that was "Daisy". "Typhoon" was also a big let-down. I expected a lot more. "Duelist" was crap, too.

Next I'll be watching "Running Wild", "City of Violence", "The Bow" and "Welcome to Dongmakgol" (haven't seen that one although I've had it on DVD since almost a year).

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 01 Nov 2006, 22:25

Aoi Kuruma (aka A Blue Automobile) (2004) (imdb)
Director: Hiroshi Okuhara
Rating: 2/5

A Blue Automobile appears to be writer-director Hiroshi Okuhara’s third feature length film, after his previous two titles Timeless Melody and Nami (aka Wave). I know very little of this filmmaker but Asian retailers have been quick to praise his 2004 indie drama, based on Yoshitomo Yoshimoto’s manga. After noticing phrases such as “prize winning” and “best film so far”, I simply had to hunt this film down, especially after Japan Times’ Mark Schilling claimed A Blue Automobile to be one of his top films of 2004.

Arata of Ping Pong and Afterlife fame stars as Richio, a bleached, spikey haired DJ who works part time at an independent music store. Traumatised by a childhood event that leaves his eye scarred, Richio wears sunglasses to mask his deformity and suffers from a remarkably pale complexion. To comfort his rage and inner demons, he sees his girlfriend Akemi (Kumiko Aso) and also her younger sister Konomi (Aoi Miyazaki), who is bored with highschool boys and longs for someone more rebellious. To add to this complex love triangle, Richio’s boss frequently insists on parental advice, after a failed marriage leaves the future of the record store in jeopardy.

A Blue Automobile is about as contemporary as you can get when it comes to indie filmmaking. As the premise suggests, not a lot physically happens. Instead Okuhara chooses to play with moods, minimalism and at times, absolute silence. It is a film about boredom, youths and choices. Subsequently, the pace is so slow that it can leave the viewer battling against sleep. A problem I felt with this film was the substantial lack of information. There is only so much to gain from a five minute blank expression. Camera movement is virtually negligible and music is very much non-existent – the only noises that you’ll hear are conversations and background murmurs. As expected, Aoi Miyazaki delivers the most heartfelt performance. She is, after all, a huge face in the Japanese film industry, starring in such titles as Nana, Su-ki-da and Eli, Eli, rema, sabachthani? (aka My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?). The remaining cast members however fail to leave a lasting impression, ranging from Arata’s decidedly irritating and unexplained monotone attitude to Kumiko Aso’s inability to laugh convincingly (truthfully, she cannot even smile without looking awkward).

Ultimately, I cannot help but be disappointed with A Blue Automobile. It had nice atmospheric touches but is absolutely soulless in other respects. I am beginning to think that I am perhaps not clever enough to enjoy this film – maybe others are seeing something that I have missed. I will try to revisit this film again and endeavour to remain focused. Although I doubt my opinion will be swayed from the original viewing.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 02 Nov 2006, 00:02

Dunno if you're aware of this Bisc/Lost Dragon, but My Boss, My Hero has actually been remade in Japan as a Jdorama - It's surprisingly good as well! Although I have to admit it bares almost no resemblence to the original, this is more whacky/manga-esque and doesn't provide any social critique of the education system. (Which is shocking, as most school based Jdoramas usually do.)

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 02 Nov 2006, 01:24

That sounds interesting. What's the title? What disc have you seen?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 02 Nov 2006, 01:30

Last Life in the Universe - 4.5/5
Brought tears to my eyes. Not because it's sad, but because it is almost perfect to watch.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 02 Nov 2006, 02:42

thelostdragon wrote:That sounds interesting. What's the title? What disc have you seen?

Not out on DVD yet, although when it is it'll no doubt have no subs. There might be a cheapo Malaysian DVDset released with Eng subs though, so if I see it i'll let you know.

BTW Have you seen Das Blut der Templer? I only ask because YesAsia are flogging the r2j disc at a crazy cheap price in case you're interested here.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 02 Nov 2006, 02:46

LD wrote:Last Life in the Universe - 4.5/5
Brought tears to my eyes. Not because it's sad, but because it is almost perfect to watch.

Wow ! Are you serious ?

That was by far the most boring film I have ever seen in my entire life.
So slow...
Kinda like 2046 in slow-motion.

Anyway, glad you liked it.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 02 Nov 2006, 11:54

Shingster wrote:BTW Have you seen Das Blut der Templer? I only ask because YesAsia are flogging the r2j disc at a crazy cheap price in case you're interested here.

Huh? Is this the really bad German TV movie?

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 02 Nov 2006, 12:24

It would appear so, I did wonder if it was a festering turd, but couldn't find much on it in english.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 02 Nov 2006, 13:29

tom2681 wrote:[Wow ! Are you serious ?
That was by far the most boring film I have ever seen in my entire life.
So slow...
it.

Then you will have an idea of how it feels when we watch soul destroying pap like Twins Effect 2. 8)

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 02 Nov 2006, 15:06

BiscLimpkit wrote:Aoi Kuruma (aka A Blue Automobile) (2004)

I always wanted to see Aoi kuruma and strangely, now after reading your review I want to see it even more... Sounds like a movie I might like

thelostdragon wrote:Last Life in the Universe - 4.5/5
Brought tears to my eyes. Not because it's sad, but because it is almost perfect to watch.

One of my favourite films of the recent years, too