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

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 19 Nov 2006, 15:16

hey,

cast the likes of Francis in there and you might have something...

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 19 Nov 2006, 15:33

Brad,

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 19 Nov 2006, 16:05

bradavon wrote:Why are you surprised? She used to do glamour modelling. Anyway cheers Slasher/Eva I'll check out the trailer.

Really?? I was under the impression she had never gone any glamour modelling.... Def agree with crappy streaming trailers, there is no need for it now since broadband

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Nov 2006, 16:30

Yep not half as much as the likes of other Page 3 ladies but she did do some.

I happen to think Streaming still exists SOLELY so they can try and control people downloading media.

Knetan wrote:cast the likes of Francis in there and you might have something...

E-mail the director and ask:

martincampbell@casinoroyale.hongkongremake.com.hk

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 19 Nov 2006, 18:59

dragonhero005 wrote:I guess it's been one of e-m-s's first releases, they became much better now (their versions of Full Contact, Chinese Ghost Story etc. are great!).

They became much better, but it all went back to sub zero when they decided to cut and edit "Tom Yum Goong".

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 19 Nov 2006, 19:28

hey,

Rose (aka Blue Valentine) 3/5

"Have you ever seen Maggie Cheung act in a movie with Roy Cheung?
I don't know, we haven't tried but maybe there will be some sparks" This is actual dialogue from Rose, a not so subtle in joke but director Samson Chiu actually makes us believe it's an intriguing proposition for a romantic drama. And it is on a pretty decent level which means we get a break from the norm in terms of what Roy Cheung is usually given to do. A bit predictable and sappy, this was only Chiu's second film but end reel poignancy is quite strong and would be even more so in subsequent films such as Yesteryou, Yesterme, Yesterday and When I Fall In Love... With Both.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 19 Nov 2006, 19:53

The Magic Crane (Tsui Hark - 1993): 4,5/5

One of the most ambitious Wuxia flicks ever made.

Bigger than "Swordsman 2", "Flying Dagger" and "Butterfly and Sword".
Crazier than the climax of "Dragon Gate Inn".

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 19 Nov 2006, 19:59

hey,

it's pretty cool film yea, even with the wonderfully ropey magic crane special effect!

Similiar use of a lyre cropped up in Deadful Melody with Yuen Biao and Brigitte Lin. A fun spectacle in its own right.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 19 Nov 2006, 20:04

Ken wrote:Deadful Melody with Yuen Biao and Brigitte Lin

Thanks.

*Downloading this one*

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 19 Nov 2006, 20:38

bradavon wrote:Casino Royale

Pity as bar a few niggles:

1. Yes it's about 20 minutes too long
2. M as Judi Dench is right out of place
3. A reference to 9/11 (What???)
4. No Miss Moneypenny

Definitely a bit longer than necessary, and I don't really understand poker that much either (although I got the jist of it), so it felt a bit long after the blistering opening third of the film.

I disagree about Judi and thought she was fantastic. She gets better as M in every film IMO. What is wrong with a reference to 9/11? It is set in the modern day. I know it wrecks any form of timeline continuity but this is a reboot/reimagining. I don't think it's a big problem anyway as we've always had to accept a new face playing 007 after a certain period.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 19 Nov 2006, 20:50

Casino Royale 3.5/5

It stops short of being a 4/5 because slightly over long, and the ending is too abrupt (although I realise that the story is not over yet). It starts off on fire, with some ferocios set pieces (which "out-Bourne" Jason Bourne) but the rest can't quite live up to it (on this first viewing anyway).

In a way, I commend the writers for focusing on the interplay between Bond and Vesper after the opening third of the film. The final third definitely focuses on the story and the main leads, and everything else that follows revolves around their relationship. Definitely closest Bond film in style to On Her Majesty's Secret Service (which I think is amazing, and Lazenby in no way as bad as some make out).

The big success of the film is definitely Daniel Craig. He is absolutely amazing as Bond, who seems like an indestructible force of nature, but paradoxically is quite vulnerable too. Pierce Brosnan had his style which I really liked, but I think Daniel Craig is more like Tim Dalton Bond, except he takes it one step further, and everything is just right about the performance. Absolutely fantastic, and the doubters should now be eating so much humble pie that they end up with diarohea(sp?).

So 3.5/5 for now, but probably a 4/5 after further viewings. After all, I didn't like Goldeneye at first, but is now my favourite Brosnan Bond.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Nov 2006, 21:26

brooce-leroy wrote:I disagree about Judi and thought she was fantastic. She gets better as M in every film IMO.

Don't get me wrong I too thought she was fantastic. That's not what I said.

brooce-leroy wrote:What is wrong with a reference to 9/11? It is set in the modern day. I know it wrecks any form of timeline continuity but this is a reboot/reimagining.

The reason you just mentioned. Don't forget I said "niggles" an important word in the cons with the film. I overall don't give a shit (they're just niggles).

brooce-leroy wrote:I don't think it's a big problem anyway as we've always had to accept a new face playing 007 after a certain period.

Of course I never said I have a problem with a new 007. Craig's performance is one of the best the series has ever seen.

brooce-leroy wrote:which "out-Bourne" Jason Bourne

I do get bored however with all the Bourne comparisons.

007 was killing people and bedding ladies well before Bourne was even born. They're two very different series and only have the lead character being a spy in common, that's it. The comparisons are unfair IMO.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (which I think is amazing, and Lazenby in no way as bad as some make out)

Funnily enough I'm about to watch OHMSS in a minute. It was on ITV4 earlier. I should give it another chance.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 19 Nov 2006, 21:33

Fair enough, but it does sound like you're saying Dench is not suitable as M in this film, by saying she is out of place. I thought she was very much "in place."

OHMSS, The Living Daylights and License to Kill are all excellent Bonds IMO. The Living Daylights certainly isn't dull, with a great sense of scale and spectacle, and some good set pieces throughout. It was my first Bond at the cinema and I remember loving it.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 19 Nov 2006, 22:23

Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies are definitely my favourite Brosnan Bonds IMO.
Bourne has more in common with the earlier Bonds and those films were much better as a whole than DAD IMO, we're comparing them to modrn Bonds, not early ones.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 19 Nov 2006, 23:06

Waiting... 3/5
Felt too close and comparitively inferior to Clerks II (yes yes, I know it was made first). But the "game" made me lmao from time to time.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 19 Nov 2006, 23:48

I can't believe all the praise Tomorrow Never Dies is getting here

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Nov 2006, 00:04

Why not it's a great action film, like most of the newer Bonds it's not Spy thriller but a decent action flick it is.

brooce-leroy wrote:Fair enough, but it does sound like you're saying Dench is not suitable as M in this film, by saying she is out of place. I thought she was very much "in place."

Sorry that's my mistake for not choosing my words more wisely. As usual bench is very good, if a little odd considering the time line.

brooce-leroy wrote:OHMSS, The Living Daylights and License to Kill are all excellent Bonds IMO. The Living Daylights certainly isn't dull, with a great sense of scale and spectacle, and some good set pieces throughout. It was my first Bond at the cinema and I remember loving it.

My first Bond was Goldeneye I think.

I've deleted my comments about the Dalton Bonds until I've seen it again. They're based on opinions of films I've not seen for so long and therefore not worth much.

grim_tales wrote:Bourne has more in common with the earlier Bonds

Only in the sense both are spy thrillers, otherwise they have nothing in common.

grim_tales wrote:we're comparing them to modrn Bonds, not early ones.

Regardless it's not a fair comparison.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Nov 2006, 00:20

On her Majesty's Secret Service

6 out of 10

First the good, agreed Bruce it's not half as bad most people seem to think. Lazenby I was surprised to see is actually good at the action scenes (he looked in control of the fights), he's also pretty suave too.

That said he has a serious charisma problem. For what he is he has more charisma than I was expecting but when you consider him again Connery, Moore, Brosnan and Craig (I've left Dalton out not remembering well enough his performance) he's seriously lacking. We're expected to honestly believe women fall at his feet?

This would actually have not been so bad had the running time been less (140 minutes). Bar a couple of small fights at the start I had to endure Lazenby's vapid charisma for a good 90 minutes before something finally happens.

The stupid plot of brainwashing the women was very 1960's free love rubbish. When it does however it doesn't let up and the ending (from the ski chase onwards) is lots of fun.

By golly Diana Rigg was a looker wasn't she and when she dies this is played out surprisingly well.

I was also surprised to see only one gadget in the entire film and Q only appearing briefly at the start and finale.

It did make a nice change to see Blofeld again and also all the 1960s touches such as "Mr and Mrs James Bond" which are from a bygone era we won't be seeing again.

Also unlike Craig's performance Lazenby's is very much of an Englishmen, a womaniser yes but an Englishmen still the same. This too is from an era now over.

All in all not a bad film, pity it's not a particularly good one either.

It's such a shame OHMSS wasn't made earlier as planned with Connery as I seriously reckon given the script it would've been one of the best.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 20 Nov 2006, 00:51

Intermission - 4/5

Just watched this film on BBC2 and I have to say I was very surprised. Very coarse, but very funny with it. At its heart, it's a love story; it just features wheelchairs, crashing buses, women with moustaches and vigilante cops on the way

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 20 Nov 2006, 02:05

Wow, I thought I was the only person who really liked The Magic Crane??

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 20 Nov 2006, 03:20

What's not to like about it ?
It's got everything a Wuxia fan needs.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 20 Nov 2006, 05:12

hey,

Wow, I thought I was the only person who really liked The Magic Crane??

You usually feel very alone in your opinions, yea?

This is one of the rare cases then.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 20 Nov 2006, 14:41

Goldeneye 4/5

Watched it again.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 20 Nov 2006, 16:11

Always Sanchone no Yuhi (Always Sunset on Third Street): 4/5

Nice little dramatic film with some funny bits here and there.
+Awesome use of CGI to recreate Tokyo from the 50's.

Some of the melodrama is quite over the top and unnecessary, but the actors are convincing enough.

Will buy the Thai DVD.
or
Will sell a kidney so I can buy the japanese DVD.

Thanks Bisc.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 20 Nov 2006, 17:31

No problem man! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I recommended it to my wee sis and she loved it. I'd just get the Thai - supposedly it's a director port. I have the single disc JPN R2.

It's a shame that not too many people will see this movie - their loss I suppose.