Author Archives: JJ Bona

Branded to Kill (1967) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Branded to Kill" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Seijun Suzuki Cast: Jo Shishido, Mari Annu, Mariko Ogawa, Koji Nambara, Isao Tamagawa, Hiroshi Minami Running Time: 91 min. By Milkcan I must say I am very glad to have seen this film. Did it make me a better person? No. Did it teach me things about the cinema I never knew? Well, no. But it did, along with “Super Ninjas”, remind me of how much mindless fun movies … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , |

Battle Royale 2: Requiem (2003) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kinji Fukasaku Co-director: Kenta Fukasaku Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Shugo Oshinari, Ayana Sakai, Riki Takeuchi, Natsuki Kato, Ai Iwamura, Masaya Kikawada, Aki Maeda, Takeshi Kitano, Sonny Chiba Running Time: 134 min. By Equinox21 When good ideas go bad. Ok, so I can understand the point of Battle Royale. I loved the first movie. It made sense (in a sadistic sort of way) to have hooligan kids killing each … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , |

Battlefield Baseball (2003) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Battlefield Baseball" International Theatrical Poster

AKA: Battlefield Stadium Director: Yudai Yamaguchi Producer: Ryuhei Kitamura Cast: Tak Sakaguchi, Atsushi Ito, Hideo Sakaki, Shôichirô Masumoto, Akiko Mishiro Running Time: 87 min. By Equinox21 Without knowing anything about the movie Battlefield Baseball, I decided to pick it up (a bootleg, unfortunately, as it’s the only format that’s affordable) only because it was a re-teaming of actor Tak Sakaguchi and producer Ryuhei Kitamura of Versus fame. I was expecting … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews | Tagged |

Eye, The 2 (2004) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Eye 2" US DVD Cover

Director: Oxide Pang Co-director: Danny Pang Cast: Shu Qi, Eugenia Yuan Lai-Kai, Jesdaporn Pholdee, Phillip Kwok Chun-Fung, Rayson Tan Running Time: 98 min. By Raging Gaijin I have good memories of “The Eye”. I saw in the theatre many years ago but I remember it being an altogether absorbing and chilling horror film. Angelica Lee gave a solid performance, the Pang Brothers’ directing was stylish without being overbearing, and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , |

Eye, The (2002) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Eye" US DVD Cover

Director: Oxide Pang Co-director: Danny Pang Cast: Angelica Lee, Lawrence Chow, So Yut Lai, Candy Lo Hau-Yam, Ko Yin Ping, Edmond Chen, Ben Yuen, Winson Yip, Chutcha Rujihanon, Pierre Png Running Time: 98 min. By Numskull Much like the well-intentioned but underwhelming Inner Senses, The Eye stays a healthy distance away from the camp where past Hong Kong horror films have traditionally spent their summer vacations and attempts to capture … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , |

Pee Hua Kurd | aka The Beheaded (2002) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Komsan Tripong Cast: Thep Phongarm, Theng Therdtherng, Thanisorn Satayamongkol, Note Chernyim, Noppawan Srinikorn, Jaturong Mokjok, Chanis Yaisamer Running Time: 120 min. By Numskull This limp-wristed Thai film (all three of it) seems to be afflicted with the cinematic equivalent of multiple personality disorder. It starts off with a ten minute, Mr. Vampiresque segment in which a sorcerer named Master Gorey visits a graveyard with his three bumbling fuckwit assistants: … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Thai |

Tom Yum Goong | aka The Protector (2005) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Tom Yum Goong" Thai Theatrical Poster

AKA: Warrior King Director: Prachya Pinkaew Cast: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Xing Jing, Johnny Nguyen, Nathan Jones, Bongkoj Khongmalai, David Asavanond, Dean Alexandrou, Lateef Crowder, Damian De Montemas, Don Ferguson, Jon Foo, Ron Smoorenburg Running Time: 110 min. By Kioko I’ve been a martial arts fan for over 20 years now. So from the Bruce Lee films, to Jackie Chan, to Jet Li, I have seen most of these trend … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , , , |

Nang Nak (1999) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona

AKA: Return from the Dead, Nang Nak: Ghost Wife Director: Nonzee Nimibutr Writer: Wisit Sartsanatieng Cast: Indhira Jaroenpura, Winai Kraibutr, Pramote Suksatit, Pracha Thawongfia, Manit Meekaewjaroen Running Time: 101 min. By Mighty Peking Man Nang Nak is the story of Nak (Indhira Jaroenpura), a pregnant woman whose husband, Mak (Winai Kraibutr), is sent off to fight in a war. While he’s away, she gives birth with strange complications. Months later, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Thai |

Last Life in the Universe (2003) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang Writer: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Prabda Yoon Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Laila Boonyasak, Yutaka Matsushige, Riki Takeuchi, Takashi Miike, Yoji Tanaka, Sakichi Sat Running Time: 112 min. By Alexander Comparisons between Pen-Ek Ratanaruang’s Last Life in the Universe and Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express are inevitable: both are photographed by Christopher Doyle; both are studies of quirky characters; both explore the relationships of disparate yet similarly lonely men … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Reviews, Thai | Tagged , , |

Jan Dara (2001) Review

Posted on January 6, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Nonzee Nimibutr Producer: Peter Chan, Jo Jo Yuet-Chun Hui, Duangkamol Limcharoen, Nonzee Nimibutr Cast: Christy Chung Lai-Tai, Santisuk Promsiri, Eakarat Sarsukh, Wipawee Charoenpura, Pathawaran Timkul Running Time: 113 min. By T-Style Ah, the long awaited film for whoever that wanted to see some celebrity tits. To make it more clear for those who aren’t familiar of this film, three words: Christy Chung’s Tits. Before watching this film, I haven’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Thai | Tagged |

Quiet Family, The (1998) Review

Posted on January 4, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Quiet Family" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Ji Woon Cast: Park In-Hwan, Na Moon-Hee, Choi Min-sik, Song Kang-ho, Go Ho-Kyung, Choi Cheol-ho Running Time: 105 mins. By Equinox21 Welcome to The Misty Inn Where guests check in, but they don’t check out! And, as the saying goes, the family that kills together stays together. The Quiet Family is a movie about a group of people who make such stupid decisions and are so dysfunctional you … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged , , |

Real Fiction (2000) Review

Posted on January 4, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Harry Lee, Seung-Soo Shin Cast: Jin-mo Ju, Jin-ah Kim, Min-seok Son, Je-rak Lee, Ki-yeon Kim, Sun-mi Myeong Running Time: 83 min. By Mighty Peking Man I’m currently on a “Ki-du Kim” natural high. I love his unorthodox style of filmmaking, his morbid approach to storytelling and his fascination with toying with viewers’ minds using uncanny visuals. Ki-duk Kim is definitely on the verge … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged |

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (2003) Review

Posted on January 4, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Ki-duk Writer: Kim Ki-duk Producer: Lee Seung-Jae Cast: Oh Yeong-Su, Kim Jong-Ho, Seo Jae-Gyeong, Kim Yeong-Min, Ha Yeo-Jin, Kim Ki-duk Running Time: 106 min. By Slaxor “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…And Spring” tells the story of a monk from childhood to his adult years. Well this may be the most visually beautiful movie I have ever seen. If you told me tomorrow I could be living on the floating … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged |

Samaria | aka Samaritan Girl (2003) Review

Posted on January 4, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Ki-duk Writer: Kim Ki-duk Producer: Kim Ki-duk, Jeong-min Bae, Jeong-min Baek Cast: Gwak Ji-Min, Seo Min-Jeong, Lee Eol Running Time: 95 min. By Equinox21 Kim Ki-duk’s newest movie, Samaria, takes on the problem of child prostitution in a way only Kim Ki-duk can present it. In what could have been a tremendously risqué and dangerous film to make, he takes on the subject in such a way that … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged |

Isle, The (2000) Review

Posted on January 4, 2011 by JJ Bona

Director: Kim Ki-Duk Writer: Kim Ki-Duk Producer: Lee Eun Cast: Seo Jeong, Kim Yu-seok, Park Seong-hee, Cho Jae-hyeon, Chang Hang-seon Running Time: 100 min. By Alexander The only thing that saved this exploitive and pretentious piece of trash from a 0/10 is the gorgeous cinematography. The people responsible for The Isle may not know how to engender audience sympathy, write dialogue, use lighting or tell a story, but they sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Korean, Reviews | Tagged |
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