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

[Heka]

Hana-Bi (Japan, 1997) - 5/5
A very blue movie in more ways than one. This is Takeshi Kitanos movie where he plays a cop who's life isn't going that well. He's wife is dying and most of his friends are dead or in a poor state. This translate very well to a Finnish audience because it's very common both here in Finland and in Japan just to let the sorrow be in your heart and not express it in any way. This is exactly what Nishi (Kitanos character) does, he keeps his head high even through the tough times. This may also be why these two countries lead the suicide charts but that beside the point.

This movie is very atmospheric and has long sequences with no dialog. You could probably count the lines of Nishi with two hands but the movie works none the less. This is because most of the shots are absolutely beautiful and Joe Hisaishi has composed a brilliant soundtrack. Especially this track struck a chord in me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_t1kaOaXY

To all of you who think this movie was boring and nothing happened in it consider this. I think this film was one of the most realistic portrayals of sadness and emotions. There was a scene were Kitanos character talked to an old police colleague of his at the beach and the dialog went down so fucking realistically. There was no Hollywood bullshit where the characters need to kick and scream to explain what they are feeling. You could feel the emotions in the scenes which was nice.

I also need to thank Hung for recommending and showing me such good movies.

[thelostdragon]

Hana-Bi (Japan, 1997) - 5/5
To all of you who think this movie was boring and nothing happened in it...

I don't know such people. 'Hana-Bi' is one of my favourite films. And whoever didn't shed a tear or two when watching this film is an emotionless wreck.

[Heka]

Say you're serious so I can proceed to mock and insult you.

Skip to 3:34

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3hsgh ... shortfilms

Better than any fight in The Street Fighter.

A few posts ago you guys said something about "screenfighting" talent put now it has become painfully obvious you haven't got a clue what you are talking about. There was no fighting in that scene, there were random cuts that started in one place and ended in another. You could see that none of those actors could pull of those throws, kicks and punches in real life. This was not the case with Chiba, Bruce lee, Jackie Chan or the other greats. A big part of a fighting scene is how the characters move and if you've got any kind of eye you can spot a real martial artist from an actor. Oh wait, you just demonstrated that you are totally clueless my bad. I hate when plebeians like you (Mark and Shingster) talks shit about a subject they lack knowledge of.

Well it sure is nice to make new friends on the internet isn't it?

[luckystars]

I don't know what Marks talking about but thats some really nice photography anyway

[grim_tales]

The Iron Fisted Monk: 4/5

Good little film considering this was Sammo's debut as director, sometimes the tone is uneven between darkness and lighter stuff, and the rape scenes are unpleasant and difficult to watch.
Some very good fights though. But I really can't stand the annoying Dean Shek who appears to play the same slimy character with a stupid laugh in every film I've seen him in. Regular villain Fung Hark On (sp?) is convincing as a Manchu bad guy.

[Keung]

Dean Shek never gets any love, haha. If he annoyed you, I'd say he played his part quite well.

[luckystars]

Dean Shek never gets any love, haha. If he annoyed you, I'd say he played his part quite well.

I actually love Dean Shek as an actor and find him very funny, but my theory is people nearly always associate him with his annoying character in Drunken Master and Snake In The Eagles Shadow....something of a Yuen Clan invention, that character type...which they do a lot in their early films with other actors (such as the 'rabbit face').

For example I love him in Better Tomorrow 2, but people say he ruins the movie...

[Keung]

Shek is the fuckin' man!

[Markgway]

A few posts ago you guys said something about "screenfighting" talent put now it has become painfully obvious you haven't got a clue what you are talking about.

...and you're an expert I suppose?

There was no fighting in that scene, there were random cuts that started in one place and ended in another.

Really, because I could've sworn I saw a fight scene.

You could see that none of those actors could pull of those throws, kicks and punches in real life.

Then you must be psychic because Lazenby apart I've no idea who any of those actors/stuntmen were; but apparently you can tell their abilities just by watching one "randomly edited" fight. Go you.

A big part of a fighting scene is how the characters move and if you've got any kind of eye you can spot a real martial artist from an actor.

I've got two eyes in fact and you're of course talking absolute arse. Leung Ka-Yan isn't a martial artist but looks great on screen; Don Wilson, Bill Wallace, Dolph Lundgren, etc are real life martial artists and don't. But then you knew that right...?

Oh wait, you just demonstrated that you are totally clueless my bad.

Why are you taking criticism of Chiba so personally? Are you his ass buddy or something?

I hate when plebeians like you (Mark and Shingster) talks shit about a subject they lack knowledge of.

Plebeians? You're a real charmer aren't you?

Another shit Chiba fight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AewA7ZfMM6k

Well it sure is nice to make new friends on the internet isn't it?

When I want to make friends I leave the house. I don't hang out on forums with pretentious geeks like you desperately hoping I'll be accepted. I'm not like you and that makes me very happy.

[Heka]

Ah the famous "reply to each sentence separately" technique used by Brad among others. Well I will try to keep this dialog constructive even when you try to change the matter by questioning my sexual preferences. The stuntmen in that Bond scene were mostly taking bumbs (A wrestling term for falling down without hurting oneself), granted they might be as skilled as Bruce Lee but when the cut can't last for more than 3 seconds it's really hard to tell.

Let me give an example (phew almost wrote that" your simple mind can understand" at the end of that last sentence but stopped myself because I want to keep this civil)
The difference between that Bond action scene and let's say a Chiba action scene is the same as the difference between these two drum solos.

This one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzqumbhfxRo

And this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V70BYk5D0e8

You can clearly see from the way the two gentlemen hold the drumsticks and hit the rides, toms and cymbals which one is a pro and which one isn't (even before the cuts start). The same applies for every kind of motion. When you see a Martial artist or any athlete for that matter in a movie you can absolute tell that they are used to moving their body in certain ways.

As for the case of Leung Ka-Yan I agree that I may have used the term martial artist to liberally and it very well might be that this man doesn't fit under it. But just looking at the few fights that this guy has on youtube gives a impression that he was an athlete and he was trained in choreography , this differs him from somebody like George Lazenby who has probably gone through a more western actor training or perhaps no training during the making of IHMSS. Also the term martial artist means that you are just practicing some martial art, it doesn't mean that you've achieved something in it. Leung Ka-Yan may very well have studied some kung-fu or other traditional Chinese arts.

Tired of reading yet? Well here's more. You mentioned Don Wilson, Bill Wallace and Dolph Lundgren as bad "screenfighter" and I agree with this. I never said that all martial artist make good action scenes. Neither did I say that you need to be a martial artist to make a good fighting scene. I only pointed out the fact that one can see the difference between a actor and a martial artist/athlete. I don't know if you are a native English speaker but you reading comprehension needs work. My criticism for that OHMSS clip wasn't aimed at all the millions of action scenes that have been acted by people with no training. I was just amazed that you could not see the difference between a scene like that and a scene like the one you posted in your angry reply.

At the end of the day we are just arguing about taste which rarely leads anywhere. I may have been a little hotheaded when writing my initial message but I stand by my words and I'm glad that I got to see what kind of man you are filling your reply mostly with petty insults and very little content. Think of me as a lonely, basement dwelling hikikomori if it keeps you happy.

[thelostdragon]

The gayest thing that has happened on Bullets in a loooong time.

[luckystars]

The gayest thing that has happened on Bullets in a loooong time.

You mean 'since Brad last posted'

[thelostdragon]

The gayest thing that has happened on Bullets in a loooong time.

You mean 'since Brad last posted'

Cut him some slack. Give him a fresh start.



Now THAT was gay.

[Yi-Long]

An argument between someone who thinks Lazenby had some good on-screen fights, and someone who thinks Sonny Chiba had some great on-screen fights...

... myeah.... I'm gonna go and watch some Jerry Springer fights(!)

[bradavon]

Ah the famous "reply to each sentence separately" technique used by Brad among others.

Instead of the post such fucking long posts you send people to sleep technique?

Give it a rest with the Brad jabs please. I've not put posted on this thread for nearly 3 weeks, you have to go back 5 pages. Try some thing original and pick on someone else for a change. I wouldn't give a shit if I was posting on this thread or had said something dumb but to pick on someone when they're not even around is rather lame.

Honestly it gets really fucking boring sometimes. At least wait until I actually say something stupid before taking a jab.

You mean 'since Brad last posted'

It starts with F and ends with F. I'll let you fill in the blanks.

[bradavon]

Cut him some slack. Give him a fresh start.

Thank you.

Now THAT was gay.

Witty

(see I do have a sense of humour too).

Lol... Lazenby's skills in OHMSS are superior

I basically agree. It's just a shame he was completely void of charisma. It's a pretty good film but he's so badly cast. In a role where your looks and charisma aren't so crucial, he'd be good.

[Shingster]

The irony is, myself and Mark have been watching HK + JPN martial arts flicks (at least in my case with the Japan action films) since before Hung and Heka probably even outgrew their own nappies, and I know for certain that Mark's knowledge of HK cinema is encyclopaedic (and far more comprehensive than my own) - especially when it comes to Kung Fu films, so yeah he probably has "no clue" what the hell he's talking about!!

Oh and I never said Chiba was a shit action star, just lacking in physical ability compared to the best of HK cinema, but the distinction probably didn't register, such is the loftiness of Hung & Heka's intelligence.

[Markgway]

Ah the famous "reply to each sentence separately" technique used by Brad among others.

So I can give each of your nonsense points the attention it doesn't deserve. I'm nothing if not fair.

Well I will try to keep this dialog constructive even when you try to change the matter by questioning my sexual preferences.

You're the one who's gotten the hump over Chiba.

The stuntmen....granted they might be as skilled as Bruce Lee but when the cut can't last for more than 3 seconds it's really hard to tell.

Hard to tell? But just a few posts back you said this:

You could see that none of those actors could pull of those throws, kicks and punches in real life.

So which is it...?

Let me give an example (phew almost wrote that" your simple mind can understand" at the end of that last sentence but stopped myself because I want to keep this civil)

Too late for insincere civility. You've stuck your thorn in the wrong lion's paw. I've dealt with bigger and badder than you on forums. If I can pwn Mister Gil you're no challenge. I don't care about your drum solos you anal oaf. Go play with your Chiba dolls and let the rest of us just enjoy some fucking movies.

Tired of reading yet?

Yes.... you're one boring motherfucker. Remind me to thank Hung Fist for bringing you here.

At the end of the day we are just arguing about taste which rarely leads anywhere. I may have been a little hotheaded when writing my initial message but I stand by my words and I'm glad that I got to see what kind of man you are filling your reply mostly with petty insults and very little content.

You started with the petty insults... you're the one who got all hot under the collar because I dissed Chiba. Now you say it's a matter of opinion (which is what I said previously and you ignored). You lowered the tone. Remember that. I'm just dishing out what you asked for.

Think of me as a lonely, basement dwelling hikikomori if it keeps you happy.

I'd prefer not to think of you at all.

[thelostdragon]

How can anybody seriously compare A James Bond fight scene with a Chiba fight scene? Apples and bananas. Both tasty, but not the same.
I kinda resent the way Heka arguments about it, though. Do you need to be a martial artist to be entitled to have a fight? In real life I mean. The answer is simply no. What I am getting at is that fight scenes are all about context. If the story of the film requires two retards to have a fight, so be it. I mean check this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhTYJGjc2g

[Heka]

Oh and I never said Chiba was a shit action star, just lacking in physical ability compared to the best of HK cinema, but the distinction probably didn't register, such is the loftiness of Hung & Heka's intelligence.

I read your use of the work "skill" wrong then. It's a pretty broad term. If you meant this then is apologize for any nasty words. I don't doubt your and Marks knowledge about HK and JP action films, I've seen it reading this forum that it's on a very high level, I just argued about a certain type of action scene against another.

Give it a rest with the Brad jabs please.

That jab was intended for Mark as it seems that for some reason he doesn't like you all that much, at least on the internet. But fair enough no more unnecessary Brad jabs.

You're the one who's gotten the hump over Chiba.

I'm not exactly sure if you are again calling me gay but using such slurs tell more about the user of the slur than the one who's being called one. Thinking that calling somebody gay is an insult is often an indicator than someone is poor and/or ill educated.

So which is it...?

My argument stands. I assumed none of those actors and stuntmen/villains could not perform those actions in real life because the cuts were placed to awkwardly, if the cuts had been rolling a little longer and I would have seen them do something spectacular/athletic I would have I different opinion. Then again the villains were mostly being beaten up which isn't the best to show your fighting skill. Though in HK cinema the guys who are beaten up often look as skilled and athletic as the one who's doing the beating. Remember the fact that I'm not saying scenes like this (OHMSS) are bad I just dissed this particular one.

Too late for insincere civility. You've stuck your thorn in the wrong lion's paw. I've dealt with bigger and badder than you on forums. If I can pwn Mister Gil you're no challenge. I don't care about your drum solos you anal oaf. Go play with your Chiba dolls and let the rest of us just enjoy some fucking movies.

A post ago you said you didn't care to be like me supposedly a "pretentious geeks like you desperately hoping I'll be accepted. I'm not like you and that makes me very happy." Yet you seem to be exhibiting these kinds of characteristics. I don't believe you can "pwn" some anonymous person on message board. Thinking that I will be faced by words like motherfucker and anal oaf is a bit childish. If you argument your position correctly I will change mine accordingly. To refresh what is my position: The whole thing started because you augmented that Lazabys skills in OHMSS were superior to Sonny Chibas in The Street Fighter. I'm just augmenting against that. I would have posted the exact same message only with Bruce Lee switched with Chiba if you'd said that: Lazabys skills in OHMSS were superior to Bruce Lee's in Fist of Fury.

You started with the petty insults... you're the one who got all hot under the collar because I dissed Chiba. Now you say it's a matter of opinion (which is what I said previously and you ignored). You lowered the tone. Remember that. I'm just dishing out what you asked for.

I'm glad to argue with you, it's nice practice for my English. The reason why I lowered my tone is because I seem to have incited so much "internet rage" (in you Mark) with only a short message and if I were to write long massages with many insults a doubt we would get anywhere with this argument. If you've read the messages I've posted I said Chiba has more "skill" both on screen and off screen than Lazaby. I never said that real martial artist make better scenes. I just said that you can spot if a dude or a gal has been training in a martial art (or some other skill) when they are kicking and punching on screen. This has nothing to do with taste. The taste comes in when you compare an action scene like the one in OHMSS and the one in The Street Fighter. I fully believe that you like the former one better and I think there are many more people that do so, but you said Lazabys skills are superior than Chibas which is something I don't buy.

[grim_tales]

How can anybody seriously compare A James Bond fight scene with a Chiba fight scene? Apples and bananas. Both tasty, but not the same.
I kinda resent the way Heka arguments about it, though. Do you need to be a martial artist to be entitled to have a fight? In real life I mean. The answer is simply no. What I am getting at is that fight scenes are all about context. If the story of the film requires two retards to have a fight, so be it. I mean check this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhTYJGjc2g

That's hilarious in a very violent slapstick way

[HungFist]

The irony is, myself and Mark have been watching HK + JPN martial arts flicks (at least in my case with the Japan action films) since before Hung and Heka probably even outgrew their own nappies, and I know for certain that Mark's knowledge of HK cinema is encyclopaedic (and far more comprehensive than my own) - especially when it comes to Kung Fu films, so yeah he probably has "no clue" what the hell he's talking about!!

ah, the usual "I'm older" argument

The last time I heard that was when this one "old expert" on another board couldn't tell the difference between original soundtrack and Fortune Star downmix... He was so insulted when I pointed out his mistake that he went on to tell me how he had been watching these films all his life, dubbed and out of sync in theaters before I, a worthless brat, was even born...
(not that it has anything to do with out case here, just pointing out it's one of the dummest arguments known to man)

In any case, it all depends on how you see it and what you see in it. Someone with real martial arts experience (and an obsession on real fighters) like Heka no doubt sees these films differently than I do.

Oh and I never said Chiba was a shit action star, just lacking in physical ability compared to the best of HK cinema, but the distinction probably didn't register, such is the loftiness of Hung & Heka's intelligence.

Oh just admit you were typing faster than you were thinking when you wrote "poor man's Bruce"
That was Bra..., ehm, bullets level ignorance

Anyway, everybody just chill out

[thelostdragon]

Mark & Heka?

[HungFist]

I think Sanada there looks more like Heka. But that would make Mark Chiba. That's not right

[Heka]

I think Sanada there looks more like Heka. But that would make Mark Chiba. That's not right

I'm flattered. Hiroyuki Sanada is a good man to be compared to.

As for my pickle with Mark or more specifically his opinion. I'm willing to burry my war axe so this thread can be used for its original purposes which if I remember correctly is reviewing Asian films/series.

Mark & Heka?

Yes I think so. I think we both have that smile on our face when we write our messages. It's a funny thing when you think you are right and try to prove it with all your argumentation skills and you still can't get your point across. I know Mark is feeling the exact same thing towards me.