Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong (2005) Review

Posted on March 29, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong" DVD Cover

“Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong” DVD Cover

Director: Ian Taylor
Writer: Ian Taylor
Cast: Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Lau Kar-Leung, David Chiang, Shih Kien, Gordon Liu, Cheng Pei Pei, Chor Yuen
Running Time: 55 min.

By Mighty Peking Man

After watching Ian Taylor’s Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong, I realize how much of a Hong Kong film connoisseur I’m not. The essence of this IFC produced documentary is that it digs deep into the beginnings of Hong Kong cinema, with well researched historical information and clips from some of the first Chinese films. It goes back from 1928′ Burning of the Red Lotus Monastery and 1949’s The True Story of Wong Fei Hung to the newer films that they inspired such as Drunken Master and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Dozens of action-packed scenes are showcased, covering everything from Shaw Brothers titles like Come Drink With Me, One-Armed Swordsman, and Magic Blade to Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury and Jet Li’s Once Upon A Time In China and many more. Honourable mentions include the renowned Shaw Brothers studios, King Hu, Chang Cheh, and of course, Bruce Lee.

There are trivia footnotes scattered throughout, such as the huge influence Japanese film had on Hong Kong cinema (like 1962’s Zatoichi) and Jackie Chan explaining how he became famous by being everything Bruce Lee was not. Common practices regarding the production of Hong Kong film are also explored such as camera techniques, special effects, and the usage of prop weapons. Lau Ka-Leung and Gordon Liu, two of the Shaw Brothers’ top stars, are shown doing some of these demonstrations.

The documentary is packed with interviews with some of Hong Kong cinema’s most influential players like Sammo Hung (Winners & Sinners), Lau Ka-Leung (Legendary Weapons of China), David Chiang (The New One-Armed Swordsman), Shih Kien (Enter the Dragon), Gordon Liu (36th Chamber of Shaolin), Cheng Pei Pei (Come Drink With Me), Chor Yuen (The Magic Blade) and many others.

I personally could have done without some of the X-Men and The Replacement Killers clips but they were obviously thrown in to justify the influence Kong Kong films have on popular Hollywood action films of today. For a running time of 55 minutes, Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong does a damn good job of giving the viewer a quick, but efficient insight into one the world’s most exciting cinema. I especially recommend this documentary to anyone who still hasn’t got into Shaw Brothers films, as they seem to be showcased more than anything, and that’s a good thing.

Recommended.

Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 8/10

Posted in Asian Related, Documentary, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , |

Circle of Iron | aka The Silent Flute (1979) Review

Posted on March 29, 2011 by JJ Bona
"The Silent Flute" Theatrical Poster

“The Silent Flute” Theatrical Poster

Director: Richard Moore
Cast: David Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Christopher Lee, Roddy McDowall, Eli Wallach, Anthony De Longis, Earl Maynard, Erica Creer, Leo Whang, Tom Ascensio
Running Time: 102 min.

By Raven

Bruce Lee had helped write a screen play called The Silent Flute, which was never produced. Following his death, that screenplay was sold and changed beyond recognition, leaving only a few elements of the original. What became of this mess was Circle of Iron, a very bad David Carradine movie. As a martial arts film, it has flat choreography. As an adventure film, it simply fails to stage content or emotion.

By the looks of it all, its makers intended on a epic, they must have settled for a lot less somewhere down the line. Still, some of Lee’s imagery still lingers on, the ending where the hero looks into his treasure is a great example of what the entire film could have been.

Interestingly, Bruce Lee must have felt close to his writing of Flute which is based on a martial artists in search of a guarded treasure, he would later rework this idea into another screen play entitled Game of Death. A film that also never saw the light of day in its original format due to his passing.

It has been written, that a third attempt to get the original Flute produced was made by Bruce’s son Brandon Lee who had acquired the rights, he too died before production. It would be a good day for all martial artist and movie fans alike if and when a respected film maker brings to the screen what Bruce Lee intended on more than thirty years ago.

Raven’s Rating: 4/10

Posted in Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged , |

Enforcer aka Father is a Hero Blu-ray (Dragon Dynasty)

Posted on March 29, 2011 by JJ Bona
Enforcer aka Father is a Hero Blu-ray (Dragon Dynasty)

Enforcer aka Father is a Hero Blu-ray (Dragon Dynasty)

RELEASE DATE: Pending

Enforcer (aka Father Is A Hero) is a 1995 Hong Kong action film directed by Corey Yuen (Righting Wrongs) and starring Jet Li, Anita Mui, Blackie Ko, Yu Rongguang and Damian Lau.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles |

To Kill with Intrigue (1976) Review

Posted on March 28, 2011 by JJ Hatfield
"To Kill with Intrigue" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“To Kill with Intrigue” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Lo Wei
Cast: Jackie Chan, Hsu Feng, San Yat Lung, Yu Ling Lung, George Wang Jue, Tung Lam, Ma Kei, Kong Ching Ha, Chan Wai Lau, Lee Man Tai, Tsang Ming Cheong
Running Time: 110 min.

By JJ Hatfield

This review will be brief as I have already wasted enough time watching the damned movie.

Two martial arts families clash and one family is wiped out except for Jackie.  He is captured and taken back to the enemy territory because the leader of the family is in love with him. But he has a pregnant girlfriend back home.

There isn’t much more of a plot and there are some possibly disturbing torture scenes such as the leader burning his face and making him drink acid. Enough. This is a wretched wreck of bad acting, meaningless conversations, dreadful dubs, pathetic plot… it’s totally terrible!

There are a few fight scenes I believe but I was near comatose from boredom.  Do not buy this movie. Do not rent this movie. This is one of the worst Jackie Chan movies ever made, perhaps one of the worst movies in general to be made. If you see a copy do not touch it. Inform the local authorities there is a toxic object they need to handle with care. If you see it just walk on by. The only intrigue is how this film was ever made.

JJ Hatfield’s Rating: 2/10

By Numskull

lMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

“I am not a pervert”

– Numskull

It all began the day Lo Wei decided he didn’t want to do “just kung-fu” films anymore. So Lo Wei approached Jackie Chan and said “Our next project will be a mix of action and mystery. You’ll need longer hair, so grow it out with the stuff I use on my private parts, we’ll call it TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE, it will be a great movie!”

And Jackie replied: “Fat shit Lo Wei, you wouldn’t know a great movie if one came up and bit you on the ass!”

But Lo Wei whipped out the almighty film contract between the two of them, which clearly stated that Jackie must must agree to star in the new movie. Then, because of having “The next Bruce Lee” under his thumb gave him a gleeful sense of power, Lo Wei whipped something else out too. And he said, “If you don’t do this movie, I’ll see it that you never work again in this town! How do you feel about that!?”

Then, with a small amount of hostility, came Jackie’s response: “That’s the stupidest question you’ve asked me since the one about whether or not I wanted to watch you bury your bone with that stray dog. Well, two can play at this game! How do you feel about having your hand wrapped around that pathetic little squeak-toy of yours, you sodomizer of homeless canines?!?”

And Lo Wei answered: “I feel a familiar sensation of subdued ecstasy, which gives way to giddy anticipation as I insert said appendage into my vagina for double the pleasure…it’s good to be a hermaphrodite. So, will you do the movie or not?”

“You’re a real pain in my ass”, snapped Jackie.

“Don’t you wish”, came the reply.

“But I haven’t done it doggie-style with a human being since my knee surgery. Besides, I just gave myself an abortion and you know that always leaves me in a rotten mood.”

A wave of realization swept over Jackie, “Oh, so THAT explains the half-starved rat on the string! Is it just me, or do you treat animals better than you treat people?”

Lo Wei twitched nervously, “My lawyer told me not to answer questions like that, or else the Audubon Society will be after me again. So, are you going to star in TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE or do I have to give kung-fu lessons to some alter boy with an acquired taste for oral communication?”

Jackie’s reply was fairly predictable, “Yeah, sure, whatever…but you have to stop tying me up while I’m asleep and forcing me to watch your homemade porno movies Clockwork Orange style, I’ll wear a wig and leave more Miracle-Pube for you”

“It’s a deal”

So, what we have here is an attempt at a genuine mystery story with kung-fu as a plot engine. Does it work? The answer, unfortunately is NO…though it is a definite improvement over the previous JC films made along those lines! “Killer Meteors” (which, in all fairness, may have a good story in its native language, but is an absolute mess in english). Viewed from a general perspective, “To Kill with Intrigue” is a hemorrhoid on the ass of Hong Kong cinema, only worth seeing if you are a fanatical JC completest. Even the last fight scene is a let down…towards the end of it, Jackie gets knocked down and, as he gets to his feet, is kicked back to the ground again…

About nine consecutive times. Bruce Lee would cringe. Oh well…this gets a 4/10 because of the conscious departure from the generic chop-socky structure. Plus, I just had so much fun writing this review, I was in a charitable mood.

Numskull’s Rating: 4/10

By Andrew

Ok, this is what you need to know, i.e. the consumer reports version of what to expect:

– Jackie chases off his girl after making her pregnant
– Some fantasy kung fu
– Jackie is pursued by a witch
– Some wussy gang beats people up
– An old guy helps Jackie out, but Jackie is a punk
– More fantasy kung fu crappy music
– More kung fu torture
– More crappy music
– More torture
– Still torture
– A fight
– Movie ends

Or in plain english:

This film tries to be many things. It tries to be dramatic, suspenseful, and sad like a greek tragedy or hamlet. It tries to use funky camera angles for cinematic effect. The $5 tape I watched blanked every couple minutes or so for cinematic effect.I’m not sure which one was better. Some witch really tortures Jackie because “CAN”T YOU SEE THAT I LOVE HIM!” oh of course, we all like to torture and scar the ones whom we love. Well in this film it’s true, because Jackie chases off the girl he loves after treating her like dirt.

There’s a fight at the end, and Jackie kills the bad guy. Sure he deserved it for that fake chest that he had painted on to look tougher. Then the film pretty much ends. We are all happy because now we can go back to our lives. To give you some idea of just how bad this film was I should tell you that a friend of mine – who is a big Jackie chan fan himself – watched this movie to about the halfway point and said, “so when does Jackie show up? Is he the baby of the pregnant girl and the funny looking guy?” Yeah, it’s really that bad.

Andrew’s Rating: 2/10

By Aloho

I put myself through torture watching this. The story/acting sucks and so the fighting is what I really relied on. Fights weren’t that bad, but not that good either. Camera angles were ridiculous. Maybe rent it for a very cheap price if every other movie is rented out, but for the sake of of humanity, don’t be as stupid as me and buy this garbage. I almost threw it out for taking up to much space!

Aloho’s Rating: 2/10

By Dusty

The coolest thing about this movie is the title. However, I am always one to look on the good sides of Jackie’s movies, and so, I found enough good things to keep me interested. This movie was weird. It scared me a little bit. The costumes were scary kind of. Well, plot, directing, and acting aside, it’s still a Jackie Chan movie, and gets a decent score from me!

Dusty’s Rating: 4/10

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

Platoon Blu-ray/DVD Combo (MGM)

Posted on March 28, 2011 by JJ Bona
Platoon Blu-ray/DVD Combo (MGM)

Platoon Blu-ray/DVD Combo (MGM)

RELEASE DATE: May 24, 2011

MGM Home Entertainment, in conjunction with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, has announced Platoon for Blu-ray release on May 24, in a BD/DVD combo. This acclaimed semi-autobiographical Vietnam war drama, directed by Oliver Stone, received eight Academy Award nominations, winning four (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound and Best Film Editing).

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Equilibrium Blu-ray (Miramax Echo Bridge)

Posted on March 28, 2011 by JJ Bona
Equilibrium Blu-ray (Miramax Echo Bridge)

Equilibrium Blu-ray (Miramax Echo Bridge)

RELEASE DATE: May 10, 2011

It’s Fahrenheit 451, 1984 and Fist of Fury all rolled into one. Directed by Kurt Wimmer (writer of Salt and Law Abiding Citizen) and starring Christian Bale, Sean Bean, William Fichtner. First time on Blu-ray and NOT to be missed.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Martial Arts Titles, Other Notable Titles |

Gorgeous | aka Glass Bottle (1999) Review

Posted on March 27, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Gorgeous" Japanese DVD Cover

“Gorgeous” Japanese DVD Cover

Director: Vincent Kok
Cast: Jackie Chan, Shu Qi, Tony Leung, Emil Chow, Richie Ren, Elaine Jin, Bradley Allan, Vincent Kok, Sandra Ng, Sam Lee, Stephen Chow, Stephen Fung
Running Time: 121 min.

By Vic Nguyen

Lovelorn daydreamer Bu (Hsu Chi), on a typical day in her Taiwanese village, finds a mysterious message in a bottle. The contents read, “I’m waiting for you”, signed Albert from Hong Kong. Thinking that this might be her true love calling, she kisses her countrylife goodbye, and hops a plane to HK. Upon arriving in this new land, she immediately locates Albert (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), only to be discouraged, because you see, he is gay. But ever the goodheart, Albert agrees to take her in, despite initial hesitation.

While exploring the finer life of Hong Kong, Bu embarks on wealthy conglomerate CN Chan (Jackie Chan), who is in the midst of competition with his rival, LW (Emil Chow). The evercurious Bu develops a sudden interest in CN, and eventually, a relationship develops between the two. And on the other hand, LW enlists the assistance of an American kickboxer in order to humiliate CN. Upon their first bout, he does the deed, beating CN in an impromptu kickboxing match. Now, with the guidance of Bu, CN must go through vigourous training, in order to beat LW at his own game, and to gain back the pride he lost.

Director Vincent Kok Tat-chiu takes the reins this time, and does a good job for the most part, injecting large doses of light hearted humor and innocent fun into the mix. Occupying most of the screen time, surprisingly enough, is Hsu Chi, who does an admirable job portraying the innocent but immature Bu (or maybe this is what she’s like in real life), while co-stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai (appearing in the film as a favor to the late Leonard Ho Koon-cheung) and Emil Chau are obviously having a delightful time with their roles. The one performance that emerges as a disappointment is Jackie Chan, who coasts through this one with barely a semblance of enthusiasm, and, at the end (excluding a few scenes), comes off as dull and lifeless as the character he plays. Providing fun cameos are a plethora of celebrity faces, most notably Stephen Fung, Sam Lee Chan-sam, Sandra Ng, Annie Wu, Erik Kok, and Stephen Chow Sing-chi (Chan would return the favor later on, appearing briefly in Chow’s own Lunar New Year’s venture, King of Comedy).

Of course, what Chan lacks in the performance department, he more than makes it up with a series of exhilirating, well choreographed action sequences (all of which shows that this 45 year old man can still deliver). Highlights include Chan’s nifty tricks with several baseball bats, and a couple kickboxing duels showcasing the acrobatic agility of Chan and his opponent, in the form of Australian martial artist Brad Allan. The talents of Allan are really a thing to behold, as he throws off an impressive array of kicking combinations that gives Ken Lo and Benny Urquidez a run for their money. The end bout, set in a recycling plant, is terrific, and is worth the price of admission all by itself. And, in the tradition of Jackie Chan films, an outtakes reel is showcased under the end credits (more oriented with flubbed lines than with action goofups), closing the film with additional laughs, and leaving with the viewer with the feeling that they had a genuine good time.

Gorgeous was released on VCD under the Universe Laser and Video label, boasting a double disc package enclosed in a slick, cardboard case. The film itself is presented in it’s original widescreen format, with small, but legible Chinese/English subtitles burnt on the black, widescreen portion. The disc suffers from hazy, undetailed colors, mild jittering and pixelization, which is constant, but not very distracting. Filmed in sync sound with an even mixture of Mandarin, Cantonese, and English dialogue, the disc offers the viewer the former, in addition to providing a dubbed Mandarin track. A DVD version has also been issued by the same company, but unfortunately, I have yet to see it for myself (it reportedly is chock full of extras, including a subtitled making-of documentary).

The bottom line: don’t expect an action packed thrillride, and go away pleasantly surprised.

Vic Nguyen’s Rating: 7.5/10

Posted in Chinese, Golden Harvest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , |

Hard To Kill | aka Interpol Connection (1992) Review

Posted on March 27, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Interpol Connection" Theatrical Poster

"Interpol Connection" Theatrical Poster

AKA: Hard To Kill
Director: Philip Ko
Writer: Cindy Chow
Producer: Philip Ko
Cast: Robin Shou, Yukari Oshima (aka Cynthia Luster), King Kong, Simon Kim, Philip Ko, Iwanabeo Leung, Romulo Grabiel, Jose Babida, Jess Babida, Simon Yam
Running Time: 87 min.

By Numskull

Co Chi Pang (Robin Shou) is a Hong Kong narcotics officer assigned to bring an international heroin dealer named Lo Tak to justice. He is assisted by a bumbling Filipino policeman and a fierce Japanese agent. Yay. Despite the poster featuring Simon Yam’s face, his role is only a short cameo. As a special added bonus, here is a RECIPE FOR A BORING ACTION MOVIE…

Ingredients:

– 1 hero (generic)
– 1 sidekick (buffoonish)
– 100 lbs. (approx.) eye candy
– bad guys (assorted)
– 2 dead cop partners
– 1 fake human hand
– 1 brassiere (black)
– 1 drug kingpin
– 1 trite plot device
– 1 big villain house w/Christmas tree
– 90 mins. (approx.) incompetent English dubbing
– 1/2 doz. (approx.) unfunny “jokes” (ex.: “She’s got hard tits! Jesus!”)
– 1 coconut
– 1 doz. (approx.) mistimed sound effects

Directions:

1. Generate 350 degrees homoerotic heat by showing sweaty Robin Shou pumping iron during credit sequence.

2. Credit Yukari Oshima as “Cynthia Luster” for no apparent reason. Introduce bad guys with appropriate music and sunglasses to inform audience that they are evil.

3. Set action in exotic location (ex. Manila) to create illusion that movie is somehow special.

4. Arrange meeting of hero and buffoonish sidekick; the latter should be modeled after Joe Pesci’s character from the Lethal Weapon movies and believe Lincoln is still U.S. president.

5. Have buffoonish sidekick guess what Lincoln’s “specialty” (medicine, computers, etc.) is at regular intervals throughout film (about three at first, then another every 15 minutes or so).

6. Kill hero’s partner in flashback (ex. fall from great height), then buffoonish sidekick’s partner in present (ex. shootout).

7. Let simmer until all momentum is gone; pass time with interrogation scene (ex. hero bends back little finger of fake human hand; audience must be able to tell hand is fake with minimum effort) and lifeless comic relief (ex. buffoonish sidekick wets self; buffoonish sidekick uses brassiere as shoulder holster; assassin poses as nurse with half-coconut shells for breasts; etc.).

8. Introduce trite plot device (ex. key) for everything else to revolve around for remainder of film.

9. Have villains choke hero with wire, thus incapacitating his powers of speech, while demanding that he verbally disclose location of trite plot device.

Introduce eye candy too late for viewers to give a damn. Stage short, unremarkable fight scene.

10. Coast effortlessly for 15-20 minutes or until bored shitless. Stage climactic battle at big villain house.

11. Have hero finally kill drug kingpin for both revenge and duty purposes.

12. Conclude with more lifeless comic relief.

13. Garnish with advertisements for other action movies with laughable “badass” voice placed before feature presentation.

14. Serve.

15. Dodge when guests throw at you.

16. Place in waste receptacle.

17. Watch good action movie instead.

Numskull’s Rating: 3/10

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

Drop Blu-ray/DVD Combo (Funimation)

Posted on March 27, 2011 by JJ Bona
Drop Blu-ray/DVD Combo (Funimation)

Drop Blu-ray/DVD Combo (Funimation)

RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2011

Drop is a Japanese movie based on an autobiographical novel by comedian Hiroshi Shinagawa, who also wrote the screenplay and directed. Funimation will be releasing this Blu-ray on 6/21/11. Apparently, there is no DVD version listing. I assume the Blu-ray might include a DVD copy.

Posted in Asian Titles, DVD/Blu-ray New Releases |

Face/Off (1997) Review

Posted on March 26, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Face/Off" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Face/Off” Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Face Off
Director: John Woo
Cast: John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain, Nick Cassavetes, Harve Presnell, Thomas Jane, Margaret Cho
Running Time: 138 min.

By Numskull

There are certain iconoclastic individuals out there who would have you believe that a Hollywood production associated with a Hong Kong film personality is a grievous error…that no film done in any idiom other than the indefinable (and, at times, invisible) Hong Kong “style” can possibly be worth the price of admission. These individuals are delusional fools who are so blinded by their love of the genre that they are unable (or, more likely, unwilling) to see the merit in any other type of movie. This syndrome is not exclusive to Hong Kong fanatics, mind you…it’s also obscenely common among anime fans, special effects geeks, and mass-media controlled simpletons who pay more attention to Leonardo DiCaprio’s table manners than they do to the road in front of them while they’re driving.

In terms of excitement, this movie demolishes just about every Hollywood production out there. Who in their right mind gives a bloody stool if it doesn’t quite meet the paraphenilia listed in The Anal-Retentive Fanboy’s Guide to Hong Kong Cinema? It’s got great shootouts, lots of intensity, it’s vastly superior to Hard Target and Broken Arrow, and there are no barely-visible subtitles that refuse to remain within the confines of the actual screen. The only problems here are a few corny lines of dialogue and Dr. Walsh’s failure to explain why Sean Archer becomes two or three inches shorter when he adopts Castor Troy’s face. Aside from that, it’s an immense pleasure to see an American-made, vengenace-based action movie with lots of crazed violence in lieu of the typical good-uy-saves-the-day bullshit. Any Hong Kong fanboy who won’t watch anything else: F*ck/Off.

Numskull’s Rating: 9/10

By James H.

One of the keys to the success of “Face/Off” is that in the midst of all the preposterous action, the film never really loses sight of the human side of the story. The plot follows FBI agent Sean Archer as he hunts down terrorist Castor Troy. Archer captures Troy and has surgery and takes his face to go undercover to find the location of a bomb. Things complicate when Castor has the same surgery and takes over Archer’s life. As you may have guessed, several gun fights ensue.

“Face/Off” ranks up there with the greatest of American action movies (“Lethal Weapon”, “Die Hard”, “Terminator 2”, “The Rock”, et al). The action is visceral and plenty of fun. Chases, shootouts, explosions, it’s got it all.

The acting is also excellent. Cage and Travolta have a great time playing each other and manage to keep the characters consistent when they change identities. The supporting actors give great performances as well, notably Joan Allen and Alessandro Nivola.

The movie only faults during the denouement, when it becomes a little melodramatic. But that is just one fault in this epic film. Everything else is top notch. The script, the cinematography, editing, music, you name it.

John Woo’s confident and elegant directing keep this film moving at a lightning pace. Had anyone else directed this film, it would have collapsed before the end.

James H’s Rating: 8/10

By Andrew

I could write a novel here and still miss some of the intricacies of Face/Off. I could watch it a hundred times and never identify all the subtle imagery and references. This film is primarily about Castor Troy, a twisted criminal, and FBI agent Sean Archer who is obsessed with bringing Troy to justice. Woo carefully constructs his characters and they remain true to form throughout the film, even though they trade identities.

Before you can finish watching the opening credits you’ve been introduced to Troy and Archer, and you know just why Archer is so bent on rounding him up- Troy accidentally killed Sean’s son while attempting to assassinate the man himself six years ago. Archer never forgave him, but became completeley involved in his work with the FBI, never yielding an inch to anyone and pursuing every criminal relentlessly, unafraid even of dying to take Castor from this world. Our first dialogue with Castor shows a self involved slimeball, who’s not above dressing up like a priest to try to molest a choir girl. It seems unusual that Woo would disguise his villan as a priest because the director professes to be Roman Catholic, but he is making it clear that we should despise Troy. He also makes it clear that Troy really doesn’t belong with the choir, his single black robe and gold chain in stark contrast to the pristene white of a hundred singers.

I’ll skip commenting on the nuances which every movie critic has already pointed out. A few other things I have noticed and truly enjoyed about this film are the scene where Troy and Archer meet for the first time after the surgery. Archer stands in utter disbelief staring at his own face, while Troy shows his sick amusement through facial expression. Notice that in this scene the light reflecting off of Archer (now played by Cage) is constant while the reflections dancing off of Castor’s (Travolta) face are chaotic. Very subtle, but the use of dancing light is used again when Castor makes the candlelight dinner and seduces Archer’s wife. One of my other favorites is the series of confrontations which occur just before the church shootout. The camera cuts back and forth from Castor and Archer’s wife to Archer and Dietrich’s sister. Of the four characters involved in these scenes, only Sasha, Dietrich’s sister, is unaware of the fact that Sean and Castor have swapped identities. The other three characters are all wearing sunglasses during this scene, symbolic of the fact that they know more than they are willing to admit. Only once in his conversation with Sasha is Sean being completely honest, and that is when he takes off his sunglasses long enough to say, “Whatever happens, I promise you, Sean Archer is out of your life for good.”

Woo listened to his test audiences and decided to throw in a happy ending for this film. Although a bit contrived, the ending was so good I felt like crying. We know that Archer is OK, that he hasn’t lost his marriage or the respect of his daughter, and that he has found it in his heart to finally forgive Castor Troy and start healing. What makes this film so moving though is seeing how each man reacts to living the other’s life. Not only do they discover things they never knew about each other, but they have an opportunity to know a little more about themselves. This kind of duality is without parallell in the modern cinema.

Andrew’s Rating: 10/10

Posted in Asian Related, Reviews | Tagged , , , |

The Usual Suspects Blu-ray Digibook (MGM)

Posted on March 25, 2011 by JJ Bona
The Usual Suspects Blu-ray Digibook (MGM)

The Usual Suspects Blu-ray Digibook (MGM)

RELEASE DATE: May 10, 2011

The Bryan Singer (Superman Returns) crime classic arrives, once again, in this special Digitbook Blu-ray version. Starring Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Chazz Palminteri, Kevin Pollak and Pete Postlethwaite.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Scarface Blu-ray (Universal)

Posted on March 25, 2011 by JJ Bona
Scarface Blu-ray (Universal)

Scarface Blu-ray (Universal)

RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2011

In the spring of 1980, the port at Mariel Harbor was opened, and thousands set sail… YOU know the rest. Just order the darn movie. =D For more details, click here. Also available is a $699 version. No lie.

Posted in DVD/Blu-ray New Releases, Other Notable Titles |

Original founder of HKFlix.com speaks out

Posted on March 24, 2011 by squeedle
The end of an era.

The end of an era.

The following letter represents the author’s personal views and not necessarily those of anyone else associated with HKFlix or this website.

Dear HKFlix Customers:

In the wake of HKFlix.com being shut down last week, and in light of some of the feedback I have heard from customers in recent months, I am writing this letter in the hopes of explaining some of what happened to HKFlix and offering you the apology that I feel you deserve.

I was one of the original founders of HKFlix, and an owner until October, 2009, when we sold the business after ten memorable years of operation. HKFlix began (as HKFlicks) in an apartment in Honolulu, HI. It eventually grew to an apartment in Berkeley, CA; a garage in Berkeley, CA; a funky little converted storefront in Oakland, CA; and finally a proper warehouse in San Leandro, CA. We began the business when we were in our early 20’s and learned as we went—often the hard way.

I know HKFlix has always had its critics, but please believe me when I say that it was always run by a very small group of people who sincerely cared about the films we sold, the customers we serviced, and the way we did business. Our goal was to offer collectors the best possible selection, pricing, and shopping experience, while also providing an exceptional work environment and a living wage to our employees.

We took great pride in our network of affiliates—independent, film-related web sites that collected a generous commission for sending more customers our way. We were always eager to help them succeed, above and beyond simply promoting HKFlix—whether that meant offering programming help and advice, free review copies of DVDs, plugging them in our newsletters, or just someone to chat with.

Beyond that, we always invested as much money as possible back into the company to continue to expand our catalog and our quality of service.

No one got rich working at HKFlix—believe me, when you’re working up to 90 hours a week, you’re well beyond the realm of monetary compensation!—but we all took pride in our work, looked out for each other, and took great delight in the positive feedback we regularly received from our customers—who were, by and large, the most loyal any business could ever hope for.

There is a very vocal segment that loves to talk about “bootlegs”, and as that is a conversation that could go on forever, I’ll just address the issue as briefly as possible. The fact of the matter is that HKFlix was always between a rock and a hard place there. What people need to understand is that questions of copyrights on many of these obscure films are often 1) in dispute, or cloudy at best, 2) beyond the means or purview of a small retailer to disentangle, and 3) dictated by what the rest of the industry is doing. Which is to say that if four different companies are claiming a copyright on the same film (or claiming there is none), if the film in question itself contains copyright-infringed material, if other major retailers and distributors are selling a product and our customers demand it, if our distributor claims they have a right to sell the film to us, and if the (alleged) copyright holders are unable/unwilling to enforce their copyrights through proper legal channels (or even reply to our proactive inquiries); then we’re really at the mercy of circumstance to navigate the proper course. None of us at HKFlix liked inferior products from ANY supplier (PanMedia products were often referred to as PanShittia in our warehouse), and we always strove to identify and publicly denounce inferior products on our web site, calling attention to any and all flaws we knew about. Furthermore, we all didn’t agree on this subject. We had plenty of internal disputes about these products. Sure, we made some mistakes along the way, but it does seem HKFlix was held to a higher standard than any of our competitors, which I suppose is both flattering and frustrating.

All of this brings us to October, 2009, when we sold HKFlix. We did our best to find a buyer whom we hoped and expected would honor the traditions of HKFlix and grow the company. I stayed on for some time to aid in the transition, but eventually left the business for the new owner to run. I cannot speak to how the business operated after that, but I was saddened to see that HKFlix.com was shut down last week.

It was very painful to watch the company we had built disappear, to read accounts online of HKFlix customers who had abandoned the site and said their emails and calls were not being answered. I know it might not mean much at this late date, coming from someone whose involvement in the site ended long ago, but please allow me to say this: I AM SO SORRY. I’m sorry if your emails went unanswered. And I’m sorry that one of your favorite film resources has disappeared. Lastly, I’m sorry that I am not in a position to change it. All of you who used HKFlix as a resource over the years during which I operated the business were, and continue to be, important and valued members of a wonderful community.

When HKFlix.com disappeared, a wealth of valuable content went with it. In addition to thousands of customer and professional reviews, there was ten years’ worth of my own personal effort building the world’s largest database of martial arts films, complete with manually-verified technical details the likes of which have never been collected elsewhere. I’ve seen a few scattered comments here and there from people who would like to see that content resurrected in some kind of non-commercial/informational context. I have backups of all the data up to the sale of the business, and rights to it, and would welcome any ideas anyone has about how best to accomplish this (see contact link below). I built the HKFlix web site from the ground up (using nothing but Notepad!) and would be more than willing to do a good deal of technical legwork. But the biggest issue is the hosting costs. HKFlix was a fairly complex site running on Microsoft SQL Server (dedicated) and IIS, which unfortunately makes it very expensive to host. I’m open to hearing your ideas. But please do include some viable means of covering those costs.

In closing, thank you once again for ten years of supporting HKFlix. By doing so you gave good jobs to good people, supported independent films and local businesses, and hopefully got yourself some fantastic films in the process. All of us from the original HKFlix are deeply indebted to you and hope you will continue to search for deserving, independent businesses (and films!) to support in the future. The Amazons, Netflixes, and multiplexes all have their place, but please don’t let them bulldoze over the entire market, at least not without a fight.

Sincerely,
Mhat Bernstein

You can reach me using the contact form on this site:
http://www.mhastery.com

Posted in News |

Infernal Affairs 2 (2003) Review

Posted on March 24, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Infernal Affairs 2" Korean Theatrical Poster

“Infernal Affairs 2” Korean Theatrical Poster

Director Andrew Lau
Co-director: Alan Mak
Cast: Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Francis Ng, Carina Lau, Edison Chen, Shawn Yu, Andrew Lin, Roy Cheung, Teddy Chan, Arthur Wong, Henry Fong Ping, Chapman To
Running Time: 119 min.

By Owlman

Let me begin by saying that the synopsis is not a spoiler. Being a prequel to the first IA, the ending of IA2 is a foregone conclusion – we know that Sam is a top triad boss and we know that Wong has every intention of taking him down.

With that being said, the appeal of IA2 is that the focus of this story is on the relationship between Wong and Sam, hinted only in the first IA as one that use to be quite amicable. In fact, IA2 actually starts off with both Wong and Sam sitting together in a police station sharing a meal and conversation. During this conversation, Wong confesses to Sam that he has never taken him down for his illegal activities because he truly believes him to be a noble person. Further, he also tells Sam that he would rather see him in power than the current top boss, Keung, as he believes that he would be less ruthless and bring balance to the criminal underworld.

This discussion hints at the things to come. As stated in the synopsis, throughout the rest of the film, betrayals are revealed and conclude what Wong originally wished for – and, as a result, remind everyone to be careful of what you wish for.

IA2 really shines in the fact that they’ve put the focus on strong actors who bring complexities to characters that could have been the usual one dimensional cookie-cutter type so prevalent in gangster movie after gangster movie. Anthony Wong is brilliant as the conflicted Inspector Wong who tries to balance the nobility of his profession with the “necessary evils” that he ends up getting involved with. He brings the usual intensity to this role as with his many others and while watching this film, I began to sympathize with his character as he made the difficult and mostly ruinous choices to take the triads down.

On the same coin, Eric Tsang also portrays Sam with a more layered characterization than in the first IA – we know that he’s ruthless in IA but IA2 allows Tsang to reveal the gradual hardening of Sam’s heart. Starting off as a noble follower of the Ngai family who never questions the leader, Sam is beset with a power play that he has never chosen to be involved in and this leads to an evolution into the cold and calculating triad boss in the end.

Playing Hau, the son of the assassinated top triad boss, Francis Ng also brings to his role the cool demeanor that he’s so good with. At first glance, Hau looks like a mild mannered accountant but as the film moves on, it’s obvious that lying behind the low-key manner is everything that Sam is destined to become – cold, calcuating, and ruthless. One of the best scenes in the movie has Hau calling up each of his father’s lieutenants while they’re having a late night dinner together. One by one, each fall victim to his blackmailing and have no choice but to swear allegiance to the new top boss. Whereas this could have fallen into parody with Ng yelling threats to everyone, it showed that more subtle methods are even more effective.

Carina Lau plays Mary, wife to Sam, and a catalyst for everything that happens throughout the film. Instead of playing the character as a subservient type of gangster moll, Lau gets to shine as a dedicated wife who gets a little too involved in her husband’s activities.

You’ll note that so far, I’ve made no mention of the characters of Yan (Shawn Yue playing a younger Tony Leung) and Ming (Edison Chen playing a younger Andy Lau). That’s because their roles are so minor in this film that it’s best to describe them as sub-plots that probably didn’t need to be in there. Sure, you see how they both end up as moles within the triads and within the police force but it really didn’t add anything to an already strong story.

Chapman To…well, he’s just an annoying tool in this movie. ‘Nuff said.

One more minor minus on this film – the score. The use of choral music seemed out of place in many scenes and unnecessarily overpowering in others.

CONCLUSION: IA2 is an excellent prequel and a great showcase for some strong acting. I would be quite happy if they stopped the franchise with this but with the critically-savaged IA3 already out and plans for a TV series, the old economics law of diminishing returns is inevitably going to take effect.

Owlman’s Rating: 9/10

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

Infernal Affairs (2002) Review

Posted on March 24, 2011 by JJ Bona
"Infernal Affairs" Japanese Theatrical Poster

“Infernal Affairs” Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Andrew Lau
Co-director: Alan Mak
Cast: Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Sammi Cheng Sau-Man, Kelly Chan, Edison Chen, Shawn Yu Man-Lok, Elva Hsiao Ah-Hin, Chapman To, Gordon Lam, Ng Ting Yip, Wan Chi Keung
Running Time: 100 min.

By Alexander

Fellow City on Fire reviewer Raging Gaijin had this to say in a recent review: “Now I know the whole ‘the good, the bad, the ugly’ approach to writing a review is over-used and cliché.”

To this I say, Fuck you, dude. My review of Infernal Affairs:

The Good: Tony Leung shines in his role as Yan, and is easily the best thing about IA. Since Tony Leung has appeared in every Hong Kong movie since 1982’s Five Element Ninja (as a tree ninja, I think), it’s easy to forget that we’re actually watching Tony Leung in character, and not just watching Tony Leung walking around as…Tony Leung. I mean, he’s so pervasive in Hong Kong cinema that we don’t point at the television and say, “Hey, that’s Yan, an undercover cop.” We say: “Hey, that’s Tony Leung.” Because Anthony Wong and Sammi Cheng and Andy Lau don’t really act. Instead, they just sort of exist in front of the camera and play themselves, film after film, while only occassionally “getting in character” by donning fat suits and wigs. But in THIS film, I did forget that I was watching Tony Leung. I saw a disheveled, conflicted, hard-working cop, NOT Tony. THAT’S a testament to how good he is in IA. More good: the story is pretty solid and Anthony Wong as Anthony Wong is great. (In fact, he’s as good here as he was in his debut, 1977’s The Three-Fingered Disciples of Shaolin).

The Bad: The worst thing about IA is the hype surrounding it. A few of the reviews I’ve read tout IA as the best thing to emerge from HK since John Woo’s The Killer and Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express. Bullshit. IA is a solid crime flick that proves moderately entertaining. That’s it. Nothing great, and certainly not worthy of TWO sequels. Because I was expecting something superior (superior writing, superior directing, superior this and that and everything else) as result of the effusive praise spewed by bored Asian film fanboys, I was ultimately let down by the average-ness of IA. (You know what I hate? I hate it when Asian film forum posters toss out the increasingly irrelevant and erroneous “You can’t compare Hollywood films to Asian films!” Again, bullshit. Take the underrated U.S. film Narc, for instance. Good movie. Had this film looked exactly the same but had been produced by an Asian crew with an Asian cast, it would have been recognized as the best movie ever to emerge out of HK. THAT’S how far behind Asia is in the realm of filmaking. I mean, if Narc, a film 54 people saw in the theaters, according to IMDB, is that superior to the best Asia has to offer, then how good are Asian films REALLY? Hm? Comparisons are NECESSARY to ensure the bar is set high in Asian film; to ensure we’ll keep seeing creative crime drama gems like The Killer and The Longest Nite, and not generic fare like IA which is only as good as the best episodes of Law and Order.)

The Ugly: Sammi Cheng. Once Hong Kong’s hardest working actress, she’s relegated to a minutes-long cameo as one of the character’s wives. Remember her award-winning turn in the martial arts classic Ancient Shaolin Seamstress? How the mighty have fallen.

The Bottom Line: IA is solid, but not as great as some would have you believe.

Alexander’s Rating: 6.5/10

Posted in Chinese, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , |
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 452
  6. 453
  7. 454
  8. 455
  9. 456
  10. 457
  11. 458
  12. 459
  13. 460
  14. 461
  15. 462
  16. ...
  17. 491