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

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 18 May 2008, 17:04

grim_tales wrote:Has anyone seen Assembly yet?

Look back in this thread, its amazing what you can find if you look

Its a load of cock by the way

(apprently)

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 18 May 2008, 18:03

Hmm, you wouldn't be judging a film based on external opinions now would you romero?

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 18 May 2008, 18:15

Yup thats why I laughed and said apparently, as I still want to see the bugger no matter how people slag it off.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 May 2008, 19:18

Shingster wrote:Hmm, you wouldn't be judging a film based on external opinions now would you romero?

Romero do that? No never. He's allowed to do it, no one else is though

.

grim_tales wrote:Has anyone seen Assembly yet?

FYI you can Search and order by Post not Thread (bottom left of the Search function). That way it will be easy to see the reviews.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 19 May 2008, 03:35

I watched Rapeman, well some of it then I flicked through the rest. It's a crap film but I wouldn't object to it in the slightest and I tend towards having a real problem with the portrayal of wome in Japanese cinema. The rape consists of about a minute or so of strange video effects including the odd shot of a boob but mostly curled toes and feigned ecstacy. Nothing unpleasant and the whole thing is just so stupid that nobody could take offence to it.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 May 2008, 09:01

Lourdes wrote: Nothing unpleasant and the whole thing is just so stupid that nobody could take offence to it.

Don't underestimate Saint Romero.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 19 May 2008, 16:23

Shaberedomo Shaberedomo (Japan - 2007 - By Hideyuki Hirayama with Taichi Kokubun and Karina): 4 / 5

I like this film.
Maybe it's because I'm learning japanese, and this film is about speaking japanese.

http://lovehkfilm.com/panasia/talk_talk_talk.htm

Godzooki · Post by **Godzooki** » 19 May 2008, 20:12

grim_tales wrote:Has anyone seen Assembly yet?

I have and i thought it was really good until the fighting/war stopped! Then it became a bit tired and boring.

The war scenes are quite graphic ala Saving Private Ryan!

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 19 May 2008, 20:34

tom2681 wrote:Maybe it's because I'm learning japanese, and this film is about speaking japanese.

You seen Nezumi no Ban (Hard Day's Night)? That's another rakugo themed film. I'd also recommend the Jdorama Tiger & Dragon.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 19 May 2008, 20:47

I've heard of both but haven't seen them yet.
Thanks for the recommendations.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 22 May 2008, 12:14

Path of the Beast (Japan, 1980) – 4/5
Slightly misleadingly titled Kumashiro drama, that only reveals its roman porno roots in a handful of unnecessary sex scenes. But the film is terrific, not least because of the amazing cinematography. The director loves long takes, and here he often lets the camera roll for more than four minutes continuously. The theme song is also excellent, and the leading actress gives a surprisingly good performance.

Beat TG · Post by **Beat TG** » 24 May 2008, 10:17

The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

SPOILERS!!!

Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano) is a hardcore kung fu freak who spends his time collecting kung fu movies and hanging out at a shop to check out new titles. One day, he visits the shop and chats with the shop owner (Jackie Chan in one of two roles), who then tells a tail of a pole he's keeping that used to belong to a legend known as the Monkey King (Jet Li himself in one of two roles) and his conflicts against the fierce Jade Warlord (Collin Chou) which had ended with the Monkey King losing the battle and trapped for a very long time. As Jason is done with his business, he cycles his way home but get into trouble with a gang who starts to pick on him, and after seeing the movies he rented, forces him to rob the shop owner's place. The situation ends with the shop owner getting shot and Jason, after escaping and eventually confronting the gang on the roof top above the shop with the pole, is suddenly "drawn" into a dream world. There he meets drunkard Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), female warrior Sparrow (Yufei Liu) and The Silent Monk (Jet Li) who are upon a mission to bring back the pole Jason carries with him to free The Monkey King and stop Jade Warlord and his army of warriors, including the deadly white-haired witch Ni Chang (Li Bing Bing).

I didn't come with much expectations except for the action (which I knew would be something special) but the whole movie was surprisingly entertaining and satisfying. Before I go further I just going to point out that the subplot depicting the modern times wasn't to my likings because I found that low and too conventional: a kung fu fan or general nerd who becomes a somebody, bullies that pick on him, the way of discovering yourself etc (many might find that acceptable and amusing because they know what they will know when they see it though so it should be a welcoming experience). But these are just little things that leave the superior and entertaining portion of the whole movie: the dream world where the main story takes place, with a handful with well build (but not enough) characters and and the overall character development.

As the Monkey King and The Silent Monk, I think Jet did a solid job shifting back and forth between two different characters, an amusing and serious/silent type (the latter of which is something Li's synonymous with), and manages to be more than just a one-dimensional character. As for Jackie, we all know what he can do when it comes to humor and here it's no exception and he does it flawlessly as the drunkard (again, something he's synonymous with, which is the point after all: to have Li and Chan battle it out with their trade mark screen personas) who guides Jason in order to bring back the pole to its' original owner. Collin Chou as Jade Warlord gets some worthy time showing off both his fighting skills and his acting chops, and for someone who's limited in English he can still maintain to look so fierce, chilling and overall calm and looks very comfortable when he acts that I think is a huge plus. Definitely one of the highlights to me. So how about the ladies, Yifei Liu and Li Bing Bing? I can say this: aside all the action scenes, I cared more about their characters because the mystic behind them made me lean the interest and fascination on them and the fact that their acting contributed alot to that was the reason I thought they had the best roles in the movie in general (especially Li Bing Bing who I felt stole the whole movie from everyone, even from Collin Chou, with her acting and charisma). Besides, they both are great-looking and very attractive (Liu's super cute but Li's hot so she wins, haha!) Michael Angarano was ok, he can be funny when he wants to but I dunno, I didn't care mostly. His action scenes are good but that's all good I can say about him. His acting wasn't gripping at all.

Now the main thing that everyone has been bragging about for a while: the action! That great thing is that Woo Ping brought back the touch he once had in his movies that we all came to love. Going back and fourth between wirework (excellent usage at that) and traditional hand-to-hand combat as well as weaponry, Woo Ping made sure to utilize the strength of Chan and Li and the result is more than satisfying. We get their trade mark screen personas (like I said earlier) and various types of techniques that Chan and Li are known to have been showing in their previous movies that, best of all, goes into long exchanging rounds in each take, something which is rare today (HK or otherwise). Collin's scenes were also great and come close of equaling them both and knows what to deliver, as always. At first, I wasn't too sure how the ladies would handle it, but after seeing Liu in her first scene got me convinced so therefore I hoped for the good that I got eventually, with the ladies fighting convincingly (even more so I'd say) and doing justice of connecting their characters to their distinctive styles (as in performing accordingly to the distinctive role). Made me enjoy more of their respective performances.

To summon it, Woo Ping's action choreography satisfies and will be worth your time if you want to experience the old choreography structures once again that has been missing for so many years. As for the movie itself, it's not the best type of movie (for me anyhow) for showcasing their respective MA talents but it's the BEST Jackie has offered in quite some years now and one of the best Jet has offered in a while. Plus the movie itself accompanies the action good enough for you to care overall (or at least enjoy your time). Rating: 7/10

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 26 May 2008, 17:38

Barking Dogs Never Bite: 4.5/5

I've been wanting to see this for aaages and I loved it, really inventive. The ending was a bit iffy though, but ah well. I hope it gets released on Blu-ray in the near future.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 26 May 2008, 21:53

Chungking Express: 3/5

Hmm, it was OK, didn't love it.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 26 May 2008, 22:03

It grows on you.
Give it another chance in a year or two.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 27 May 2008, 00:44

Liar: 3.25/5

The second film by the director of My Tutor Friend. Not as good as that, but still pretty good, although it dragged a bit with all the confusing lies at the end.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 27 May 2008, 02:12

Chungking Express is excellent. You may like My Blueberry Nights more, the first part of it is pretty similar. It's out next month on DVD/BD.

I'll be picking it up. Back to Chungking Express: IMO it's when WKW started to get good.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 27 May 2008, 09:43

gasteropod wrote:Chungking Express: 3/5

Hmm, it was OK, didn't love it.

I am going to kill you.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 27 May 2008, 12:53

At least I didn't slag it off!

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 27 May 2008, 12:57

gasteropod wrote:At least I didn't slag it off!

And that's why your family won't also pay for your mistake.

:x

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 May 2008, 14:49

I love CKE, superb film

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 27 May 2008, 14:55

I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK: 4/5

Quirky fun, the cyborg-attack bits were ace, the ending wasn't great. The Blu-ray transfer is excellent - clean, sharp, detailed - much better than the Oldboy one.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 27 May 2008, 15:03

gasteropod wrote:I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK: 4/5

The Blu-ray transfer is excellent - clean, sharp, detailed - much better than the Oldboy one.

Could you decode the lossless audio track at full bitrate?

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 27 May 2008, 15:52

gasteropod wrote:Chungking Express: 3/5

gasteropod wrote:I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK: 4/5

hehe, for a second I thought you were serious with those ratings

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 27 May 2008, 17:57

EvaUnit02 wrote:Could you decode the lossless audio track at full bitrate?

I watched it with DTS Master audio on at 1.5mbps.

Gorgeous: 2.5/5

Average HK romantic action comedy, they make so many of these.