What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[RickyTheDragonSteamboat]

Technically it does look excellent. The problem is, the colours have been completely fucked around with. It's not "supposed" to look like that at all.

Well the first version I saw was my Japanese R2 dvd and I always felt that it looked kinda cheap. But I guess you're right.

[HungFist]

I Am Waiting (Japan, 1957) – 2.5/5
Superstar Yujiro Ishihara stars in a moderately entertaining Nikkatsu Noir. Ishihara plays a former boxer with dark past, now trying to stay out of trouble and move abroad with his brother (Naoki Sugiura). This plan is fatally complicated by yakuza beauty Mie Kitahara and her ruthless boss.

Rusty Knife (Japan, 1958) – 2.5/5
Nikkatsu all star casting doesn’t get better than this; Yujiro Ishihara, Akira Kobayashi, and Jo Shishido (before his cheek operation), supported by female lead Mie Kitahara. The male trio play yakuza gone straight, approached by the police in order to bring down the town’s biggest mobster (Naoki Sugiura). The film mainly suffers from predictable storyline.

[HungFist]

Zombie Hunter Rika (Japan, 2008) – 1/5
Stylish pop song, broken English, self-irony. The first 10 minutes of Zombie Hunter Rika show promise. But it's the lack of the first two, and the overdose of the third one in the long run, that make the remaining 80 minutes nearly unbearable. Zombie Hunter Rika is a post modern zombie comedy that is trying to be clever awfully hard, but failing at every instance. There are few poignant observations being made, but instead much of the humor is even reminiscent of Hong Kong cinema’s worst low points. The unexciting action choreography is by Tak Sakaguchi – mainly displayed in two scenes, and judging by the the moves, performed by one stunt double in two roles. Gore effects are underwhelming – perhaps partly because the bar has been raised notably in the recent years by Yoshihiro Nishimura's special effects company that was not employed here – but there are a few gut-wrenching bits that feel almost out of place. Oh, almost forgot. Three maids, two of them getting topless for a moment. That's something, isn't it?

[Yi-Long]

Watched Princess Aurora last night.

I think LD once mentioned he liked it a bit better than Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. I certainly didn't. I didn't care much for the story nor for any of the characters, and the revenge was weakly motivated and not all that original or exciting either.

I'd score it a 2/5, mainly for the soundtrack and some nice cinematography and style-choices by the director. Acting was OK but nothing special.

[HungFist]

The Girls Rebel Force of Competitive Swimmers (Japan, 2007) – 1.5/5
Gore meets AV girls, part 15. Following the popular trend of employing adult entertainers in Japanese splatter films, the brilliantly titled Girls Rebel Force of Competitive Swimmers stars two from the cuter end – Yuria Hidaka and top billed Sasa Handa. Their talents are in full use, despite the raging living dead epidemic that might tone down most people’s sexual desires. Low budget and executed with little skill or punch, the film sadly never comes close to living up to its title. As a cheap trash with good concept it entertains in bits early on, but ultimately becomes a living dead on its own. Gore effects are modest.

[HungFist]

Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl (Japan, 2009) – 4/5
If Tokyo Gore Police had been a romantic high school comedy. Cute transfer student (Yukie Kawamura) and charming gothic lolita (Eri Otoguro) battle over the school's only decent guy. Love hurts, and leaves one hell of a mess. Yoshihiro Nishimura and Naoyuki Tomomatsu's film, drawing its inspiration from female manga artist Shungiku Uchida's comics, is hit and miss but with high accuracy. The sheer the amount of ridiculous jokes and gore effects is overwhelming. It's the combination of this kind of energy and cinematic skill – including terrific soundtrack that comes with a variety from chorus to cheesy love songs – that sets Vampire Girl apart from the standard Japanese gore film. Blood is plenty here too, although this time with CGI support. It's not a problem, as the film is a comedy, and there’s still thousands of liters of real fake blood. The visual look is competent with highly aesthetic bloodshed and eye popping caramel colors. The main actresses are both great and backed up by a load Nishimura regulars (Eihi Shiina, Takashi Shimizu, Cay Izumi、Jiji Bu) and some new faces, including Reiko Ike lookalike　Sayaka Kametani. Some genre and cultural knowledge is recommended, as the film is packed with references to Nishimura's past works and Japanese social phenomena.

[grim_tales]

Rape of the Sword: 3/5 Anticipates CTHD by 30+ years, nicks music from TGTBATU. I must clear out though.

[DangerousLeeHandsome]

The Storm Warriors - 1/5
This movie makes no fucking sense. Anyone care to elaborate? This movie sucks balls and my generous 1 star rating is for the swanky CGI effects, which were pretty top notch.

Around the World in 80 Days - 3/5
I kid you not, this movie is actually not as bad as everyone says. The fights were surprisingly well shot and choreographed. I found Jackie's fight with Karen Mok to be very amusing. Far from great but I say its worth a rental.

[Markgway]

The Storm Warriors - 1/5
This movie makes no fucking sense. Anyone care to elaborate? This movie sucks balls and my generous 1 star rating is for the swanky CGI effects, which were pretty top notch.

Yep. It's a 2-hr CGI battle sequence. Well done if that's your bag. But some of us like actual stories with actual characters.

[oldeschool17]

I tried to do a search but didn't find anything specifically, but how are the Magnolia Pictures versions of the DVD/Blu Ray for Red Cliff? All I know is its the International cut. Hows picture/vid/subs?

[luckystars]

The 'Special Edition' DVD & Blu's of Red Cliff are the long versions for both, however the release is cut (if that bothers you).

Not sure an ideal release is out there for part 1...

[oldeschool17]

The 'Special Edition' DVD & Blu's of Red Cliff are the long versions for both, however the release is cut (if that bothers you).

Not sure an ideal release is out there for part 1...

Isn't that a bit of a contradiction or am I misunderstanding? So Magnolia Pictures is longer than the regular theatrical release but is still cut? How much is cut and does it have that much of an impact on the movie? Fuck these idiots for cutting up a movie in this day in age.

[bradavon]

There's nothing wrong with the UK EIV SE Blu-ray, unless I'm wrong? Any idea how the EIV and Magnolia releases compare?

It sounds like the Magnolia Special Edition could be the Extended Cuts but cut by the censor, right?

[grim_tales]

Yeah thats it. The EIV BD is the longer release but its cut by the BBFC for horsefalls.

[bradavon]

We're talking about the American Magnolia BD .

[grim_tales]

Ah, sorry

[oldeschool17]

I'll rent it next week. Anything I should take note of as regards to identifying if its cut or not other than horses falling? Apparently the run time is 288mins.

[bradavon]

Why would the MPAA cut horse falls?

[luckystars]

Oops I was talking about the UK release.

[oldeschool17]

Why would the MPAA cut horse falls?

The better question is why would anybody cut a film, period?

[bradavon]

@ luckystars: Old School asked about the Magnolia Blu-ray (Magnolia are a USA outfit). You then directly responded.

So are now saying, we have no idea after all, what the Magnolia BD is like?

[romerojpg]

Why would the MPAA cut horse falls?

The better question is why would anybody cut a film, period?

Because some things should not be done. Animal cruelty is vile, and the people who do it deserve to be in jail. They still treat horses like shit over there and maim and kill them for a film. Dickheads.

[Markgway]

Why would the MPAA cut horse falls?

The better question is why would anybody cut a film, period?

Because in the UK it's the law.

[oldeschool17]

Never seen this movie before so I guess I didn't understand by what/why was cut. If a horse was indeed killed or forceably harmed in this movie than I can understand the cut.

[Yi-Long]

Yeah, millions of people in the UK eating meat from mistreated animals each and every day is perfectly fine, but if a spoiled movie-star horse gets tripped, and we get outraged(!)