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

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 02 Mar 2007, 17:26

hey,

Had no ideas that HK still made good films. Alright so they're all directed by Johnnie To but still...!

I'll take that trade-off and it's not like Johnnie is slowing down or draining himself of creativity. Arguably Exiled is more of the same but god he's good at making the same engrossing again. Josie Ho's addition is nice though.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 02 Mar 2007, 18:40

Lady Snowblood 2 - 4/5

Good film

Shame the transfer is shit.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 02 Mar 2007, 23:24

You Only Live Twice Ultimate Ed. - 5/5

Classic Bond - great movie

Aki is nicer than Kissy Suzuki IMO 8) (Though they were both nice).

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 02 Mar 2007, 23:33

House of Wax (2005)
2/5

Terrible movie but it's a guilty pleasure of mine

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 Mar 2007, 00:49

The Number 23 1.5/5
This was terrible. Unintentionally funny though.

Mr Vampire 4/5
Pretty good.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 03 Mar 2007, 01:00

[quote="BiscLimpkit"]The Number 23 1.5/5
This was terrible. Unintentionally funny though.[quote]

It was, there were many times I found myself laughing at more than actually caring for the characters. Oh and did anyone catch all the hidden numbers throughout the movie that in some way equal 23? License plates, and other things.

Barbarian King · Post by **Barbarian King** » 03 Mar 2007, 03:54

Black Snake Moan - 5/5

Brilliant! I doubt I'll see a better movie this year...besides 300 and Grindhouse.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 03 Mar 2007, 04:27

Pan's Labyrinth - 4.5/5
Wonderful film with only two minor flaws I noticed.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 03 Mar 2007, 07:54

hey,

Wo Hu 3/5

Intelligent and entertaining writing from Wong Jing is tranferred quite well to screen by Marco Mak. Both should be thankful to have veterans Francis Ng and Eric Tsang on board as they embody an important thematic that isn't evident at all times in an uneven narrative. Featuring the return of Miu Ku-Wai and Yueh Hua.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 Mar 2007, 09:50

Knetan wrote:hey,
I'll take that trade-off and it's not like Johnnie is slowing down or draining himself of creativity. Arguably Exiled is more of the same but god he's good at making the same engrossing again. Josie Ho's addition is nice though.

Watching Exiled and Election 2 reminded me of how awesome Johnnie To can be. The two films focus on the triads but are completely different in style.

It's good to see well choreographed slow-mo gun fights again.

Only thing is that Francis Ng's acting was way OTT. This guy just loves soap opera style drama. But it adds to the campness of this film.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 03 Mar 2007, 09:51

Sukeban Boy (Oira sukeban) (Japan - 2006) - 1,5/5

So bad it’s good? Nah, this is just bad and that’s all there is to it. The jokes are mostly awful, although there’s a some good ones too. One death scene almost made me fall off the chair. And the very next scene made me want to close the television so there we go, it’s even again. Some funny scenes I admit but an equal amount is irritating scenes as well. The way the girls talk, which meant to be some sort of ”parody” of ”female behaviour” really starts getting on your nerves soon. The main character has a voice almost identical to that of Anna Tsuchiya’s in Shimotsuma Monogatari, btw.

Anyway, none of the girls come with any kawaii charm. It wouldn’t be so bad but I hate the darkness and slightly the red/orange colour scheme they use so much. It makes the film, and the girls, look even less attractive. The closing credits scene is the only scene shot in bright light, and visually it’s easily the most pleasing scene in the film (it’s just that there’s certain other factors that make the scene a little less than enjoyable). Also, the budget... well, there is no such thing. I mean Sukeban Boy makes Sachiko Hanai look like a high profile production. Thinking of it, Sachiko Hanai was a good film. Loaded with Emi Kuroda’s real cuteness, energy and ”innocent” charm and some truly funny political content etc. Sukeban Boy aims a lot lower... and hits, unfortunately. Also, someone should’ve told them school girl gore is not cool.

The HK dvd’s a kinda joke, too. The film is not anamorphic even though the back cover would let you understand it is. It also claims the running time is approx. 70 minutes. The dvd timer stops at 54. The disc runs a little over 60. The english subtitles equal to the quality of the film and feature more mistakes than this review. Cantonese 2.0 dub is offered alongside japanese 2.0, 5.1 and, you’re not gonna believe this, D fuckin TS 5.1. Yeah.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 Mar 2007, 09:58

HungFist wrote: you’re not gonna believe this, D fuckin TS 5.1. Yeah.

Why's that hard to believe? HK labels are always DTS crazy...

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 03 Mar 2007, 10:11

BiscLimpkit wrote:
HungFist wrote: you’re not gonna believe this, D fuckin TS 5.1. Yeah.

Why's that hard to believe? HK labels are always DTS crazy...

yeah, but this is like a home video with DTS. Most student films probably have bigger budget than this film. I don't have DTS capability myself, but I can't imagine it leading to any better sound quality in case if Sukeban Boy.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 Mar 2007, 10:14

That doesn't suprise me. If a HK label released a compilation of youtube clips, I'd expect to find a 6.1 DTS-ES track (full rate).

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 Mar 2007, 10:16

captainjoe wrote: It was, there were many times I found myself laughing at more than actually caring for the characters. Oh and did anyone catch all the hidden numbers throughout the movie that in some way equal 23? License plates, and other things.

Aye that whole film was a farce. I'm surprised no one else in the audience found it funny. I think a few even liked it. lmfao.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 03 Mar 2007, 10:56

hey,

Watching Exiled and Election 2 reminded me of how awesome Johnnie To can be. The two films focus on the triads but are completely different in style.

Indeed. The Election films move beyond their genre contraints and vents issues of lost loyalty and the influce of China after the handover. Does sound like old themes to bring up again but To has a firm grip on them.

It's good to see well choreographed slow-mo gun fights again.

Yea, although To's tac for Exiled's scenes are different to The Mission as they are acrobatic. The whole film is wonderfully unashamed male stuff and what many miss that it's CINEMA. Meaning no reality connection as such and it's allowed to be a little silly. For both comedic purposes and when showing male bonding. Best bit coming early where the assassins furnish Nick Cheung's apartment. Low-key, deadpan. Love it.

Only thing is that Francis Ng's acting was way OTT. This guy just loves soap opera style drama. But it adds to the campness of this film.

It kind of works yea, as a counterpart to Anthony's more level-headed, calm act. There's a type in each of the camps but do watch WO HU for a look at what sympathy and heart Ng can bring to a triad character.[/quote]

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 03 Mar 2007, 11:19

BiscLimpkit wrote:The Number 23 1.5/5
This was terrible. Unintentionally funny though.

Saw this yesterday, it isnt that bad, it was good to see Jim Carrey in a serious role for once, yeah some things were unintentionally funny, but for what it was, it was good. i did expect something different tbh, but as it panned out and turned into what it did, it still worked.

and yeah i noticed the other things in the film tha added up to 23.

so... 3/5

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 03 Mar 2007, 14:21

Knetan wrote:Wo Hu 3/5

LOL, it was funny, because there were at least two scenes where characters mentioned Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau, in order to let the audience know that they are very aware, that the story of the premise sounds very similar to "Infernal Affairs".

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 03 Mar 2007, 14:26

hey,

at that early point, I thought the filmmakers were into trouble but they let go of that smug behaviour later. Love the fellows Jordan Chan gathers up at the usual tense restaurant confrontation. A little hard to not laugh though when some of the chopper boys are elders, made up to look like rascals!

Nice way to mess with genre notions.

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » 03 Mar 2007, 16:27

The Fifth Element: 4/5

Great visual look to the film. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 03 Mar 2007, 17:10

I went to see The Number 23 last night and thought it was terrible. The only Jim Carrey film I don't like, in fact.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 03 Mar 2007, 18:21

What about Batman Forever?

Barbarian King · Post by **Barbarian King** » 03 Mar 2007, 18:44

Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut - 2.5/5

Definitely the best version of the film released thus far, but still lacking. The battle sequences are intense and amazing, but everything else is lacking. This finally proves that the problems with the film began in the earliest stages with the script and concept. It's just a flawed film at it's core and this is the best it will ever be.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 03 Mar 2007, 18:49

I saw the first 15 minutes of the theatrical cut. It was so horrible I closed the TV

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 03 Mar 2007, 22:28

Beyond The Barricade (Musical Show) - 4/5

Good show in which past West End performers sang famous "musical" songs, some great ones (I Don't Know How To Love Him, Oh What A Circus/Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Evita), Phantom of the Opera, Suddenly Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors), Lion King etc), but some of them were from Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, and I've never seen them/don't know the songs, so they didn't go down that well.
Good fun though