Back from New York Asian Film Fest :D
Posted: 06 Jul 2005, 00:38
Just got back, and had an awesome time! 
Here are reviews of some of the screenings.
Kekexili (China, 2004) - 4/5
Excellent film that tells the true story of volunteers protecting Tibetan antelope against poachers out of their own free will. The film has a very realistic feel throughout, and almost feels half documentary at times. I found it to be very sad, especially the final act, which plays out very different then you would expect. Highly recommended.
Hana & Alice (Japan, 2004) - 4/5
By far the best Japanese school girls film ever. I enjoyed this much more then I expected. Wonderful story of friendship, with just the right amount of humor. Deffinetly worth seeing.
Someone Special (Korea, 2004) - 4.5/5
This was an outstanding romance drama/comedy, one of the best i've seen in quite a while. Perfect amounts of humor, which is very funny. I laughed out loud several times. And a touching story, even if alittle unbelievable. Very Very highly recommended!
R-Point - 4/5
Have had this one on dvd from a while now, but it was awesome to watch on the big screen
One Night in Mongkok (HK, 2004) - 2.5/5
I didn't really get too much out of this film. Pretty decent story and production value, but it just seemed to drag on for too long. Maybe i'll have to give it another chance sometime, but i was pretty underwhelmed this time.
Kamikaze Girls (Japan, 2004) - 3.5/5
This was a pretty entertaining romp of a movie. I do admit that i'm not usually a big fan of films like this, but i tried to go into it with an open mind and give it a fair chance. Some of the humor was very funny, but some wasn't, and at times the whole thing just seemed too obnocsious for its own good. Nonetheless, I did enjoy it very much. It will probably be much better on the next viewing.
Crying Fist - 4.5/5
Outstanding film!! At first you expect it to just be an average boxing film with nothing special about it, but it goes in a completly different direction, and turns out to be a much more. The ending is hands down one of the best i've seen in recent years. Simply loved it.
This was the international premier of the film and director Ryoo Seung-wan was there to answer questions. This was VERY different from his previous recent film Arahan (which i also loved), and proves him as a very talented and diverse filmmaker.
Here are reviews of some of the screenings.
Kekexili (China, 2004) - 4/5
Excellent film that tells the true story of volunteers protecting Tibetan antelope against poachers out of their own free will. The film has a very realistic feel throughout, and almost feels half documentary at times. I found it to be very sad, especially the final act, which plays out very different then you would expect. Highly recommended.
Hana & Alice (Japan, 2004) - 4/5
By far the best Japanese school girls film ever. I enjoyed this much more then I expected. Wonderful story of friendship, with just the right amount of humor. Deffinetly worth seeing.
Someone Special (Korea, 2004) - 4.5/5
This was an outstanding romance drama/comedy, one of the best i've seen in quite a while. Perfect amounts of humor, which is very funny. I laughed out loud several times. And a touching story, even if alittle unbelievable. Very Very highly recommended!
R-Point - 4/5
Have had this one on dvd from a while now, but it was awesome to watch on the big screen
One Night in Mongkok (HK, 2004) - 2.5/5
I didn't really get too much out of this film. Pretty decent story and production value, but it just seemed to drag on for too long. Maybe i'll have to give it another chance sometime, but i was pretty underwhelmed this time.
Kamikaze Girls (Japan, 2004) - 3.5/5
This was a pretty entertaining romp of a movie. I do admit that i'm not usually a big fan of films like this, but i tried to go into it with an open mind and give it a fair chance. Some of the humor was very funny, but some wasn't, and at times the whole thing just seemed too obnocsious for its own good. Nonetheless, I did enjoy it very much. It will probably be much better on the next viewing.
Crying Fist - 4.5/5
Outstanding film!! At first you expect it to just be an average boxing film with nothing special about it, but it goes in a completly different direction, and turns out to be a much more. The ending is hands down one of the best i've seen in recent years. Simply loved it.
This was the international premier of the film and director Ryoo Seung-wan was there to answer questions. This was VERY different from his previous recent film Arahan (which i also loved), and proves him as a very talented and diverse filmmaker.
it only takes 1 film to get an unknown cinea on the worlds film market, they had better hurry up and follow Ong Bak up