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

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 24 Dec 2006, 13:22

It's A Wonderful Life (1947) Paramount 60th AE R1 - 5/5

A masterpiece. Warm, uplifting, gentle and sad all at the same time in various places through the film. Jimmy Stewart is perfect here as all round nice guy George Bailey, who lives in the small town of Bedford Falls. Lionel Barrymore plays the nasty Scrooge like character called Mr. Potter (reminds me of Mr Burns in the Simpsons for some reason)

I know the film is meant to say even "insignificant" things are very important and everyone can make a difference/contribution, but is the film saying that without Bailey the town would fall apart and be *so* different?

Still, a beautiful film - watched at the perfect time.

slasher13 · Post by **slasher13** » 24 Dec 2006, 13:48

bradavon wrote:@ Slasher: Which DVD did you watch? I can't wait for the R1 DD, the HK DVDs are awful.

Lourdes wrote:No, just no.
No people shouldn't ask for the uncut version? They do listen I know that much.

Hey Bradavon.....

Errrr sorry, wrong title - meant to say TAI CHI BOXER, I've seen Tai Chi Master, excellent movie, can't wait for R1 version

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 24 Dec 2006, 14:45

bradavon wrote:Personally I wouldn't have used the cunt word but that's more Eva's style.

Please quit making generalisations about me, you cunt.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 24 Dec 2006, 23:09

A Bittersweet Life 3/5

been wanting to see this for a while. now i have, well im kinda dissapointed. its not a bad film but not great either, a little too slow and the action is lacking. the storyline is poor. after watching the likes of OldBoy and the action and story in that, ABL pales greatly in comparison. i expected a big showdown at the end, and actually a big lead up to the showdown but got neither. it was slow in the beginning then really rushed. average movie really.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 24 Dec 2006, 23:35

Shen wrote: A Bittersweet Life 3/5

been wanting to see this for a while. now i have, well im kinda dissapointed. its not a bad film but not great either, a little too slow and the action is lacking. the storyline is poor. after watching the likes of OldBoy and the action and story in that, ABL pales greatly in comparison. i expected a big showdown at the end, and actually a big lead up to the showdown but got neither. it was slow in the beginning then really rushed. average movie really.

That's a bit depressing to hear. I just ordered the movie a few days ago cause I had heard so much good stuff about it...

THANKS FOR RUINING MY CHRISTMAS, SHEN!!!

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 24 Dec 2006, 23:52

Yi-Long wrote:
Shen wrote: A Bittersweet Life 3/5

been wanting to see this for a while. now i have, well im kinda dissapointed. its not a bad film but not great either, a little too slow and the action is lacking. the storyline is poor. after watching the likes of OldBoy and the action and story in that, ABL pales greatly in comparison. i expected a big showdown at the end, and actually a big lead up to the showdown but got neither. it was slow in the beginning then really rushed. average movie really.
That's a bit depressing to hear. I just ordered the movie a few days ago cause I had heard so much good stuff about it...

THANKS FOR RUINING MY CHRISTMAS, SHEN!!!

aww sorry

it was one of the few dvds i bought before seeing the movie, on reccomendations from a friend and the good stuff i heard. i mean its not a bad film, i just dont think it lives up to its hype.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 25 Dec 2006, 00:37

Shen wrote: A Bittersweet Life 3/5

been wanting to see this for a while. now i have, well im kinda dissapointed. its not a bad film but not great either, a little too slow and the action is lacking. the storyline is poor. after watching the likes of OldBoy and the action and story in that, ABL pales greatly in comparison. i expected a big showdown at the end, and actually a big lead up to the showdown but got neither. it was slow in the beginning then really rushed. average movie really.

Sorry to hear that. I think it is a big mistake to expect another "OldBoy", because "OldBoy" is a unique film experience.

What "A Bittersweet Life" succeeds in is that it is a film noir. While some might refer to slowness in such movies, I say calmness. Not in a "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance"-way, but in a "Le Samourai"-way with Alain Delon.

I love the imagery in "A Bittersweet Life". I love the way the audience can follow the lead character from someone who doesn't have the need to get himself dirty in a fight (as seen in the beginning of the film when he beats up those thugs in the club), to someone who fights due to anger (the idiots in the car at night), to someone who fights out of desperation. I think Jung Doo-Hong, the action director, has delivered some of his best work in this film.

What I also like about this film is that it treats itself as what it is. A simple story of revenge. Not as complex as the mentioned "OldBoy", but rather simple. The bad guys did something to the lead character and hell, the audience and him want them to bleed, and he won't hold back until they do.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 25 Dec 2006, 00:44

thelostdragon wrote: Sorry to hear that. I think it is a big mistake to expect another "OldBoy", because "OldBoy" is a unique film experience.

What "A Bittersweet Life" succeeds in is that it is a film noir. While some might refer to slowness in such movies, I say calmness. Not in a "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance"-way, but in a "Le Samourai"-way with Alain Delon.

I love the imagery in "A Bittersweet Life". I love the way the audience can follow the lead character from someone who doesn't have the need to get himself dirty in a fight (as seen in the beginning of the film when he beats up those thugs in the club), to someone who fights due to anger (the idiots in the car at night), to someone who fights out of desperation. I think Jung Doo-Hong, the action director, has delivered some of his best work in this film.

the lead guy was cute

what action there was, was ok. but it didnt hold my interest for too long, tho i did enjoy the scene where he escaped the thugs. that was good stuff. just felt that the ending was a big let down. i guess after seeing such films with big showdowns, oldboy, lady vengeance, even SPL. this was pretty poor. and the emotion tho conveyed ok could've been put across better imo

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 25 Dec 2006, 00:46

Your spoilers dont work LD, so again: THANKS FOR RUINING MY XMAS!!!

Anyway, how high would you rate the movie, LD?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 25 Dec 2006, 00:59

Shen wrote:i guess after seeing such films with big showdowns, oldboy, lady vengeance, even SPL. this was pretty poor.

Especially after having seen the films prior ABL from Korea, it was its subtleness that was so refreshing to me. A lot of other Korean films go a lot into this blockbuster direction. To me ABL is a very good mixture of an independent movie and a film you can show to people who are usually not that much into Asian cinema.

and the emotion tho conveyed ok could've been put across better imo

What I like so much is that it doesn't try to be manipulative. Many films use music to an extent that you just have to shed a tear. ABL fascinated me without all the usual stylistic devices like sad music. Which is also what I love so much about "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" or the films of Kim Ki-Duk. "The Foul King", directed by the same director as ABL is very similar in terms of that it works well without the overuse of music etc.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 25 Dec 2006, 01:00

Yi-Long wrote:Anyway, how high would you rate the movie, LD?

4/5.

What about the spoiler tags? What happened?

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 25 Dec 2006, 01:14

mmh i guess i shuld have to watch it again, i did notice the use of music, i just thought that the characters expressions of emotions were poor. up until the end where he meets face to face with his former boss. that worked well. but before that, especially the girl it was just lacking, it wasnt "real" enough.

it had its good points and bad points. i agree about the journey thing, thats was a good idea. but the story just seemed lacking a little.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 25 Dec 2006, 01:21

Shen wrote:mmh i guess i shuld have to watch it again

Hey, I didn't want to doubt your ability to judge, lol. It's really fine for me if you didn't enjoy it as much as I did. I'm just sorry I was the one who recommended it to you, lol.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 25 Dec 2006, 01:33

thelostdragon wrote:
Shen wrote:mmh i guess i shuld have to watch it again
Hey, I didn't want to doubt your ability to judge, lol. It's really fine for me if you didn't enjoy it as much as I did. I'm just sorry I was the one who recommended it to you, lol.

hehe, dont worry, i mean its a good film in its own right, i think i've just been spoiled by oldboy thats all

plus i watched it in 2 halfs. since i was relegated to my room for an hour whilst my gifts were wrapped, i came down to watch something on tv them went and watched the last half of ABL. so i guess that fucked up the continuity of the film

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 25 Dec 2006, 06:14

thelostdragon wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:Anyway, how high would you rate the movie, LD?
4/5.

What about the spoiler tags? What happened?

Aw thanks

Ehmm.... dont know what's wrong withthe spoiler tags, but I can just read what's in between them...

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 25 Dec 2006, 11:22

hey,

Rhythm Of Destiny 2.5/5

Sentinmental drama and designed as a vehicle for Aaaron Kwok to be Aaaron Kwok, Andrew Lau shows no interest in this highly commercial exercise. However Danny Lee does and is way too good for this movie. Makes it much more bearable.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 25 Dec 2006, 14:57

I think A Bittersweet Life is the closest that South Korea has come to delivering a Jonnie To type movie. Talking of Jonnie To.....

Exiled 3.5/5

I'm not quite sure what to make of it to be honest. It has all the To stylistic trademarks: great performances from Fran Ng and Tony Wong, inventive camerawork/angles, and a lot of quirky, offbeat moments that you would maybe not expect (unless you've seen a lot of his Milkyway movies).

I haven't actually seen The Mission properly yet, but I believe that this is sort of an "unofficial" sequel. As a standalone movie, I thought that it works really well. For me, the Macau setting, the several cool characters, the music, and To's trademark flamboyant direction made it feel like a modern day Leone western. It can even bear comparison with The Wild Bunch from another perspective.

Despite so much going for it, there just seemed to be something else missing that stops it from being a four or five star movie. I haven't figured out what it is though.

Fatal Contact 2.5/5

Hmmm....very strange movie this one. Disjointed as hell. The scriptwriter doesn't know if he wanted to write a comedy, tragi-melodrama or action movie. It tries to be a bit of everything (in a way that a lot of 80s and 90s HK movies were) but doen't hold together at all. It just goes from what one extreme to the next.

The worst part is the melodrama. It is so over the top I thought I was watching a cheesy daytime soap opera. The parts of the film that work really well is the action and the comedy. The action scenes really show off Wu Jing's ability and the choreography is top notch. The lighter scenes are also great fun. I'm not Ronald Cheng's biggest fan (he is a better singer than actor) but he is on good form here, and also shows he is not too shoddy in the martial arts either.

It is a shame that the ridiculous melodrama is amped up to 11, otherwise this would be a very good movie.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 25 Dec 2006, 15:00

hey,

Fatal CONTACT. 8)

Risk · Post by **Risk** » 25 Dec 2006, 17:01

I saw two films last Monday, the first on DVD the second in the cinema. Apologise for my lame review, it is not really a review but really just my opinion on the films.

Banquet 2/5

I was very intrigued by this movie as there has been lots of big advertising for this film here in Beijing, but to be honest it is nothing special. My view mayb be slightly slanted as I dislike Daniel Wu but he is not that bad here, he plays a character suited to how I think he is. Zhang Ziyi plays more or less the same type of role she always plays too. I've just worked out whilst typing that these big epic films (CTHD, House Of Flying Daggers etc...) are very much like Shakespeare a lot of family problems.

Anyway the film is not as grand graphically/CGI wise as House Of Flying Daggers and there is not much to do with a banquet/food either. The plot centres around the crown prince (Daniel Wu), his mother/stepmother (can't remember) the late emperor's wife (Zhang Ziyi) and his the late emperor's brother (don't know the name of the actor but I was told he does a lot of comedy) who betrayed the late emperor and seized the crown. There is not really that much action in comparison to other big budget films such as Hero and House Of Flying Daggers.

I've given it 2/5 as its pretty standard and not really outstanding but I was expecting a bit more with all the marketing put into it, so I feel a bit underwhelmed by it all.

Curse Of The Golden Flower 3/5

The film is also about an emperor's family power struggle featuring Chow Yun Fat (emperor), Gong Li (his Mrs), Jay Chou (sort of hero of the film, second son of the emperor) and Ye Liu (that's his name on IMDB, as the crown prince).

Chow Yun Fat as always I feels puts in a grand performance, or just maybe he portrays his character in a very grand manner, after all he is the emperor and he is the daddy. I'm not a big fan of Mando-pop stars turned actors ie Jay Chou but his dialogue for someone who has top billing. With this film I've really started to like Ye Liu; he puts in a very grand performance. Well i think Gong Li portrays her charcter rather well, I haven't found anything to moan about but then I don't really know much about Gong Li.

From what I remember the film has only really one duel, which seemed quite well executed, but other than that its more really about battles, a bit like Lord Of The Rings, armies. There is not that many battles but they build it up very nicely to give the battles a very epic feel. The CGI is noticable in some places.

This film is a stark improvement over the Banquet. It just seems more interesting, even though the themes are very similar. Its by no means exceptionally brilliant but I enjoyed it, but then I like Rob-B-Hood/Project BB.

I watched both films with subtitles which I do prefer as I am not fluent in Mandarin (or Cantonese).

There are 3 other big films currently being shown at cinemas in Beijing, The Knot (set in war times, I think its a love story), an Andy Lau film (I think big budget epic film with armies set in times of horses, armour and sand, sorry I don't know the correct terminology to describe such films) and Confessions Of Pain starring Tony Leung, Shu Qi (& two other people get billing on the posters), seems to be a modern film and I heard directed by the same people who did Infernal Affairs.

Sorry that my reviews are a bit pants and I'm just giving my feeling on the films.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 Dec 2006, 15:30

hey,

Deadly Deal 2.5/5

Director Ken Siu makes sure this gangster actioner doesn't stray, a major positive in any Hong Kong film but story-wise we've seen it done even if Simon Yam and Ray Lui carry the material to solid level. Synch sound is a plus.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 26 Dec 2006, 15:37

Risk wrote:an Andy Lau film (I think big budget epic film with armies set in times of horses, armour and sand, sorry I don't know the correct terminology to describe such films).

That would be "Battle of Wits", an epic war movie.

brooce-leroy · Post by **brooce-leroy** » 26 Dec 2006, 17:39

Running Out of Time 4/5

Never get bored of watching this. The easy chemistry between Lau's Andy and Ching Wan is what makes this movie work so well. The plot, whilst stretching plausibility, also moves along at a fast pace, never allowing the audience to become restless. The support cast (or comic relief), particular Hui Siu Hung (never been better) and Lam Suet add to the fun.

Monster House 3/5

Really enjoyed this and wouldn't recommend to kids under 6 or 7.

The Grudge (US) 3/5

Wafer thin horror that revolves around a series of eerie set pieces. Some good scares, although their impact on me was diminished due to having seen Scary Movie 4.

I had actually watched this once before on a dodgy dvd, but watched it properly this time with decent AV.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Dec 2006, 18:08

FYI Guys spoiler tags are bust. I've let Mordib know.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 26 Dec 2006, 18:36

Shen wrote: A Bittersweet Life 3/5

been wanting to see this for a while. now i have, well im kinda dissapointed. its not a bad film but not great either, a little too slow and the action is lacking. the storyline is poor. after watching the likes of OldBoy and the action and story in that, ABL pales greatly in comparison. i expected a big showdown at the end, and actually a big lead up to the showdown but got neither. it was slow in the beginning then really rushed. average movie really.

I thought it blew Old Boy away in every single way

but hey I think Old Boy is one of the most overated films ever made, awith an appauling end section that guts any film before it.

But each to their own and hey lots of people Love Oldboy, I just dont see why with such a silly end.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Dec 2006, 18:42

Personally I thought like the rest of the film the ending in Oldboy was anything but silly, excellent actually.