A Tale of Two Sisters was both beautiful and scary, which is pretty impressive. I love the final shot of the film and the music. Amazing.
That film is from the same director as Bittersweet Life and The Quiet Family both of which are well worth a recommendation. He also made The Foul King, but I havent seen that yet.
Full Version: ASIAN CINEMA
hahahaha. I partially coerced a friend who really isn't into martial arts films to watch Ong-Bak. This was his response on another forum he posts at:
His response made me smile for the longest time.
QUOTE
Ong Bak
So my mate insists I watch a Thai martial arts film called 'Ong Bak' that I distinctly recall someone enthusiastically telling me about in college. I never saw it, so I accept gracefully and beautifully like the Olympian visage of manliness that I am, and on a quiet evening, I sit down to watch it.
Holy fuckin' shit.
My experience with martial art films is pretty limited. I saw a few Bruce Lee flicks 'cause my friend was into that stuff when he lived with his stepfather, the one who had an erection for tae kwon do. Eventually my friend's obsession shifted onto the second world war and a firm grasp of neo nazi principles, but anyway, other than those I've seen 'Crouching Tiger' and 'House of Flying Daggers', and that's it. Lots of wirework, slow-motion, some stunt-doubles, and in the case of the latter, plenty of CGI.
Holy fuckin' shit.
The plot is nothing much to speak of. It's basically an excuse to put a camera squarely on Tony Jaa, the 'actor' who plays the central character, jumps through narrow spools of barbed wire, leaps triple flip twisty-turny somersaults in mid air, runs across the shoulders of a throng of people, and beats the shit out of assorted Burmese men in a very impressive fashion for about two hours.
And he actually does it.
You remember in Crouching Tiger where those two Chinese women were leaping across rooftops and jumping in the air in ridiculous wire-suspended bounds, and in House of Daggers where they basically did exactly the same with bamboo, and you thought "yeah okay that looks pretty cool i guess but it's full of wires and stuff and totally impossible"?
Tony Jaa does that kind of shit for real.
He kicks people out of the air, he flips over tabletops, he leaps huge bounds and brings his elbow down on the heads of people like ten feet away, he jump-kicks people off tables and lands perfectly and exactly where they were standing, all that kind of shit. Without wires, CGI, stunt doubles, all that shit. It's all actually him.
At one point he sets his leg on fire and drop-kicks someone.
Holy fuckin' SHIT.
I am not telling you this film is a cinematic epic, but Jesus, the action is the most impressive I have ever seen in any film, and that's what people want to see in a martial arts flick.
In conclusion, as a film, it's pretty average, but as a showcase for Tony Jaa's literally incredible acrobatic and martial ability, it's phenomenal.
I give it 8 military coups out of 10 corrupt prime ministers.
So my mate insists I watch a Thai martial arts film called 'Ong Bak' that I distinctly recall someone enthusiastically telling me about in college. I never saw it, so I accept gracefully and beautifully like the Olympian visage of manliness that I am, and on a quiet evening, I sit down to watch it.
Holy fuckin' shit.
My experience with martial art films is pretty limited. I saw a few Bruce Lee flicks 'cause my friend was into that stuff when he lived with his stepfather, the one who had an erection for tae kwon do. Eventually my friend's obsession shifted onto the second world war and a firm grasp of neo nazi principles, but anyway, other than those I've seen 'Crouching Tiger' and 'House of Flying Daggers', and that's it. Lots of wirework, slow-motion, some stunt-doubles, and in the case of the latter, plenty of CGI.
Holy fuckin' shit.
The plot is nothing much to speak of. It's basically an excuse to put a camera squarely on Tony Jaa, the 'actor' who plays the central character, jumps through narrow spools of barbed wire, leaps triple flip twisty-turny somersaults in mid air, runs across the shoulders of a throng of people, and beats the shit out of assorted Burmese men in a very impressive fashion for about two hours.
And he actually does it.
You remember in Crouching Tiger where those two Chinese women were leaping across rooftops and jumping in the air in ridiculous wire-suspended bounds, and in House of Daggers where they basically did exactly the same with bamboo, and you thought "yeah okay that looks pretty cool i guess but it's full of wires and stuff and totally impossible"?
Tony Jaa does that kind of shit for real.
He kicks people out of the air, he flips over tabletops, he leaps huge bounds and brings his elbow down on the heads of people like ten feet away, he jump-kicks people off tables and lands perfectly and exactly where they were standing, all that kind of shit. Without wires, CGI, stunt doubles, all that shit. It's all actually him.
At one point he sets his leg on fire and drop-kicks someone.
Holy fuckin' SHIT.
I am not telling you this film is a cinematic epic, but Jesus, the action is the most impressive I have ever seen in any film, and that's what people want to see in a martial arts flick.
In conclusion, as a film, it's pretty average, but as a showcase for Tony Jaa's literally incredible acrobatic and martial ability, it's phenomenal.
I give it 8 military coups out of 10 corrupt prime ministers.
His response made me smile for the longest time.
QUOTE (star-ecentral.com)
Double trouble
CHINESE ingenue Zhang Yuqi paid the price for vanity recently when she returned to the set of Stephen Chow’s movie after undergoing double eyelid surgery during a week’s break in filming.
A Hong Kong newspaper claimed that Chow, who is producing, directing and starring in his alien-themed comedy Yangtze River 7 in China, flew into a rage upon finding out his protege’s cosmetic surgery. The actress looked decidedly different when she resumed work on Sept 19.
According to Ming Pao Daily News, the 18-year-old made the mistake of not informing Chow prior to going for the procedure in Shanghai.
The girl – touted as Chow’s new protege after Cecilia Cheung and Eva Huang – was said to be in tears and beg Chow to forgive her and even offer to have her single eyelids restored.
The paper added that Chow and his crew considered reworking the script to retain Zhang but they felt that she would not appear as natural as before even if she got her old look back.
What was to have been Zhang’s major big-screen debut now hangs in the balance as the production team is said to be looking for a new actress.
When asked about the report, a spokesman for Chow’s Star Overseas group declined to comment.
What price vanity? In Zhang’s case, it could be costly.
CHINESE ingenue Zhang Yuqi paid the price for vanity recently when she returned to the set of Stephen Chow’s movie after undergoing double eyelid surgery during a week’s break in filming.
A Hong Kong newspaper claimed that Chow, who is producing, directing and starring in his alien-themed comedy Yangtze River 7 in China, flew into a rage upon finding out his protege’s cosmetic surgery. The actress looked decidedly different when she resumed work on Sept 19.
According to Ming Pao Daily News, the 18-year-old made the mistake of not informing Chow prior to going for the procedure in Shanghai.
The girl – touted as Chow’s new protege after Cecilia Cheung and Eva Huang – was said to be in tears and beg Chow to forgive her and even offer to have her single eyelids restored.
The paper added that Chow and his crew considered reworking the script to retain Zhang but they felt that she would not appear as natural as before even if she got her old look back.
What was to have been Zhang’s major big-screen debut now hangs in the balance as the production team is said to be looking for a new actress.
When asked about the report, a spokesman for Chow’s Star Overseas group declined to comment.
What price vanity? In Zhang’s case, it could be costly.
just in case you're wondering...
QUOTE (sleepsurgery.com)
Eyelid Surgery, Asian Blepharoplasty
Eyelid surgery, or Blepharoplasty, is an operation that corrects drooping eyelids, bags and bulges about the eyes. These conditions develop as a result of laxity of the eyelid skin and protrusion of fat through the weakened membranes around the eyes. It is not limited to older patients, as many people inherit a predisposition toward development of fat protrusion at an early age.
Surgical correction is appropriate for all age groups. In some cases, this condition might be caused by other medical problems such as allergies or thyroid disorders. In these patients, the proper treatment is medical rather than surgical.
In Asians, approximately 50% have a single eyelid. They lack the fold in the upper eyelid that is common to most other ethnicities. The creation of an upper eyelid fold, sometimes called Asian Blepharoplasty or the double eyelid procedure, has been one of the most popular procedures among Asian women in both Asia and America.
The addition of a crease to the eyelid can make the patient appear more refreshed and less stoic. Having the eye fold also makes it easier to apply makeup. Most Asians seeking this procedure wish to enchance their beauty and maintain their ethnic identity and not appear more “Western” or “American”. The asian eyelid surgery is different, in that smaller incisions are used and fixation sutures are placed to maintain the newly created fold.
If you’re considering double eyelid surgery, we recommend that you consult a facial plastic surgeon who is board certified or has completed a residency program that includes instruction in this procedure, as well as the standard training in blepharoplasty surgeries.
Eyelid surgery, or Blepharoplasty, is an operation that corrects drooping eyelids, bags and bulges about the eyes. These conditions develop as a result of laxity of the eyelid skin and protrusion of fat through the weakened membranes around the eyes. It is not limited to older patients, as many people inherit a predisposition toward development of fat protrusion at an early age.
Surgical correction is appropriate for all age groups. In some cases, this condition might be caused by other medical problems such as allergies or thyroid disorders. In these patients, the proper treatment is medical rather than surgical.
In Asians, approximately 50% have a single eyelid. They lack the fold in the upper eyelid that is common to most other ethnicities. The creation of an upper eyelid fold, sometimes called Asian Blepharoplasty or the double eyelid procedure, has been one of the most popular procedures among Asian women in both Asia and America.
The addition of a crease to the eyelid can make the patient appear more refreshed and less stoic. Having the eye fold also makes it easier to apply makeup. Most Asians seeking this procedure wish to enchance their beauty and maintain their ethnic identity and not appear more “Western” or “American”. The asian eyelid surgery is different, in that smaller incisions are used and fixation sutures are placed to maintain the newly created fold.
If you’re considering double eyelid surgery, we recommend that you consult a facial plastic surgeon who is board certified or has completed a residency program that includes instruction in this procedure, as well as the standard training in blepharoplasty surgeries.
QUOTE (iht.com)
A Hong Kong star extends his reach
By Alexandra A. Seno International Herald Tribune
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2006
HONG KONG Even deep down in the tunnels of Hong Kong's underground train system, there is no escaping Andy Lau Tak-wah. Always the embodiment of studied casual glamour, the actor's handsome likeness fills entire walls, advertising one of the many products that he endorses. Such is his stature that the Hong Kong government enlisted Lau as an official spokesperson for a courtesy campaign. Television news frequently features items about him and his latest films. Magazines and newspapers can't get enough of him.
With just a glint of mischief in his eyes, the star declares: "It is great to be Andy Lau in Hong Kong." The 45-year- old has dominated the Mandarin and Cantonese-language box office continuously for more than two decades. He is the big-screen hero of contemporary classics like 1990's "Days of Being Wild," 2004's "The House of Flying Daggers" and the recent "Infernal Affairs" trilogy, which - despite what the director Martin Scorsese says - has essentially been remade by Hollywood as "The Departed." To Chinese communities everywhere, Lau is larger than life, the epitome of the urbane Hong Kong male. Men want to be him; women want to be with him. The kung fu comic actor Jackie Chan is Hong Kong's favorite court jester; Lau is its eternal matinee idol.
"I like my life. You have to go through all the ups and downs, but while business is good, you try to do more," he said one recent Sunday afternoon in his award-filled, movie memorabilia-adorned office high above Hong Kong's industrial district of Kwun Tong. After months of requests, the busy actor - who doesn't have much need of the international media - finally agreed to a meeting. Leaning back into a chair, a large glass window framing urban Hong Kong behind him, he conversed comfortably in fluent English, something he didn't really do just a decade ago.
South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival, arguably Asia's most prestigious, is to award Lau the Asian Filmmaker of the Year prize on Friday and he is very pleased. Previous winners have included the Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf and the arthouse filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien of Taiwan. While Lau, who was born and bred in Hong Kong, is better known for his highly commercial, big-budget work in front of the camera, he will be honored in Pusan as a champion of independent films in the region, a role that clearly means a lot to him.
"While I have this power, I want to try to create possibilities for newcomers. They need support," he said, adding that when he was starting out, powerful people helped him. The studio system in Hong Kong is no longer calling all the shots, and one of the reasons personalities like Lau have maintained supremacy for so long is that it has become very difficult for new movie talent to break into the big time.
Last year, Lau launched Focus: First Cuts, a daring venture jointly financed by Lau and Rupert Murdoch's Asian broadcasting group, STAR TV. The project was created to make full-length feature films by first-time Chinese directors using high-definition video technology. Following screenings in cinemas, STAR also committed to airing the works on its Chinese movie channel, which is available on cable networks across Asia.
First Cuts has a modest budget of arabout 25 million Hong Kong dollars, or $3.2 million, to make six films, which so far seems to have been money well spent.
A First Cuts movie, "Crazy Stone" by the young mainland director Ning Hao, is the closing film of the Pusan festival. Described by a STAR TV executive as "Guy Ritchie gone to China," the comic jewel-heist caper became a surprise hit when it played in China earlier this year. Made for under $500,000, it grossed almost $3 million.
Lau said that he is happy doing product endorsements because he feels they let him "earn money to invest in new talents" in the Chinese cinema. He said he hopes to do only two films each year, having had roles in as many as five a year. Lau has wrapped up work on "The Battle of Wits," an ancient Chinese war epic by the Hong Kong director Jacob Cheung Chi- leung. He is finishing the Chinese-language drug-lord drama "The Protégé," produced by Andre Morgan, who was a producer of the Academy Award-winning "Million Dollar Baby," and who began his career in Hong Kong making films with Bruce Lee.
Of his deficit of Hollywood aspirations, Lau said: "I get a lot of scripts for gangster movies, but it's all the same. I don't want to be pigeon-holed. How come a Chinese person can't be Spiderman?"
There is plenty enough for him to do in Asia, but frankly, when he's not working, he'd rather be bowling. Lau, who says he typically scores between 180 and 200, bowls competitively in Hong Kong and spends on average 10 hours a week at the lanes.
Would Lau go watch "The Departed?" He said that he was planning to, and that he likes Scorsese. In "Infernal Affairs," Lau portrayed the organized crime mole in the police force with steely charm. The unexpected success of the first "Infernal Affairs" film in 2002 is often credited as a turning point for the Hong Kong industry. What does he think of Hollywood remaking the movie? Lau said: "There are lots of remakes of Asian films, but they're not as good as the original. Maybe the box office is very good, but I don't think that it can be the classic."
By Alexandra A. Seno International Herald Tribune
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2006
HONG KONG Even deep down in the tunnels of Hong Kong's underground train system, there is no escaping Andy Lau Tak-wah. Always the embodiment of studied casual glamour, the actor's handsome likeness fills entire walls, advertising one of the many products that he endorses. Such is his stature that the Hong Kong government enlisted Lau as an official spokesperson for a courtesy campaign. Television news frequently features items about him and his latest films. Magazines and newspapers can't get enough of him.
With just a glint of mischief in his eyes, the star declares: "It is great to be Andy Lau in Hong Kong." The 45-year- old has dominated the Mandarin and Cantonese-language box office continuously for more than two decades. He is the big-screen hero of contemporary classics like 1990's "Days of Being Wild," 2004's "The House of Flying Daggers" and the recent "Infernal Affairs" trilogy, which - despite what the director Martin Scorsese says - has essentially been remade by Hollywood as "The Departed." To Chinese communities everywhere, Lau is larger than life, the epitome of the urbane Hong Kong male. Men want to be him; women want to be with him. The kung fu comic actor Jackie Chan is Hong Kong's favorite court jester; Lau is its eternal matinee idol.
"I like my life. You have to go through all the ups and downs, but while business is good, you try to do more," he said one recent Sunday afternoon in his award-filled, movie memorabilia-adorned office high above Hong Kong's industrial district of Kwun Tong. After months of requests, the busy actor - who doesn't have much need of the international media - finally agreed to a meeting. Leaning back into a chair, a large glass window framing urban Hong Kong behind him, he conversed comfortably in fluent English, something he didn't really do just a decade ago.
South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival, arguably Asia's most prestigious, is to award Lau the Asian Filmmaker of the Year prize on Friday and he is very pleased. Previous winners have included the Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf and the arthouse filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien of Taiwan. While Lau, who was born and bred in Hong Kong, is better known for his highly commercial, big-budget work in front of the camera, he will be honored in Pusan as a champion of independent films in the region, a role that clearly means a lot to him.
"While I have this power, I want to try to create possibilities for newcomers. They need support," he said, adding that when he was starting out, powerful people helped him. The studio system in Hong Kong is no longer calling all the shots, and one of the reasons personalities like Lau have maintained supremacy for so long is that it has become very difficult for new movie talent to break into the big time.
Last year, Lau launched Focus: First Cuts, a daring venture jointly financed by Lau and Rupert Murdoch's Asian broadcasting group, STAR TV. The project was created to make full-length feature films by first-time Chinese directors using high-definition video technology. Following screenings in cinemas, STAR also committed to airing the works on its Chinese movie channel, which is available on cable networks across Asia.
First Cuts has a modest budget of arabout 25 million Hong Kong dollars, or $3.2 million, to make six films, which so far seems to have been money well spent.
A First Cuts movie, "Crazy Stone" by the young mainland director Ning Hao, is the closing film of the Pusan festival. Described by a STAR TV executive as "Guy Ritchie gone to China," the comic jewel-heist caper became a surprise hit when it played in China earlier this year. Made for under $500,000, it grossed almost $3 million.
Lau said that he is happy doing product endorsements because he feels they let him "earn money to invest in new talents" in the Chinese cinema. He said he hopes to do only two films each year, having had roles in as many as five a year. Lau has wrapped up work on "The Battle of Wits," an ancient Chinese war epic by the Hong Kong director Jacob Cheung Chi- leung. He is finishing the Chinese-language drug-lord drama "The Protégé," produced by Andre Morgan, who was a producer of the Academy Award-winning "Million Dollar Baby," and who began his career in Hong Kong making films with Bruce Lee.
Of his deficit of Hollywood aspirations, Lau said: "I get a lot of scripts for gangster movies, but it's all the same. I don't want to be pigeon-holed. How come a Chinese person can't be Spiderman?"
There is plenty enough for him to do in Asia, but frankly, when he's not working, he'd rather be bowling. Lau, who says he typically scores between 180 and 200, bowls competitively in Hong Kong and spends on average 10 hours a week at the lanes.
Would Lau go watch "The Departed?" He said that he was planning to, and that he likes Scorsese. In "Infernal Affairs," Lau portrayed the organized crime mole in the police force with steely charm. The unexpected success of the first "Infernal Affairs" film in 2002 is often credited as a turning point for the Hong Kong industry. What does he think of Hollywood remaking the movie? Lau said: "There are lots of remakes of Asian films, but they're not as good as the original. Maybe the box office is very good, but I don't think that it can be the classic."
Andy Lau's next film sounds pretty cool but not dissimilar to Infernal Affairs. Sort of.
QUOTE
In this action thriller, Andy Lau plays drug lord Jong who portrays himself as a businessman. His pregnant wife (Anita Yuen) does not know about his illegal drug business. Nick (Daniel Wu) is an undercover officer who has spent the last eight years penetrating the core of Jong’s drug sales ring and is working his way up to be Jong’s closest aide and “protégé”.
Meanwhile, Louis Koo and Zhang Jingchu (as Jane) play husband and wife and are both linked with the drug business, with Jane herself being a drug addict. Louis Koo plays a drug trader and a heartless husband who even uses their 3-year old daughter in traficking drugs. In her struggle to quit drugs, Jane is entangled in an affair with both Jong and Nick.
- quote fromkfc cinema
Meanwhile, Louis Koo and Zhang Jingchu (as Jane) play husband and wife and are both linked with the drug business, with Jane herself being a drug addict. Louis Koo plays a drug trader and a heartless husband who even uses their 3-year old daughter in traficking drugs. In her struggle to quit drugs, Jane is entangled in an affair with both Jong and Nick.
QUOTE
First Finish-Chinese Film "Jade Warrior" Premieres
2006-10-27 17:12:01
CRIENGLISH.com
The first Finish-Chinese co-produced martial arts film, "Jade Warrior," made a grand debut at the China National Film Museum on Thursday in Beijing.
At the premiere, director AJ Annila said that it was a long-held dream for him to combine an epic Finnish story and traditional Chinese culture in his work. He also revealed that he started learning about classic Chinese literature in his childhood, which essentially gave him two cultural backgrounds to work from.
The film is inspired by the epic Finish poem Kalevala and set in both ancient China and modern-day Finland.
Shooting venues included Finland, Estonia and China's Zhejiang province.
Famous Finnish actor Tommi Eronen and Chinese starlet Zhang Jingchu played the lead roles in the epic film.
Cinemas have already begun to show the movie as of Tuesday this week.
It had its world premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival in September.
2006-10-27 17:12:01
CRIENGLISH.com
The first Finish-Chinese co-produced martial arts film, "Jade Warrior," made a grand debut at the China National Film Museum on Thursday in Beijing.
At the premiere, director AJ Annila said that it was a long-held dream for him to combine an epic Finnish story and traditional Chinese culture in his work. He also revealed that he started learning about classic Chinese literature in his childhood, which essentially gave him two cultural backgrounds to work from.
The film is inspired by the epic Finish poem Kalevala and set in both ancient China and modern-day Finland.
Shooting venues included Finland, Estonia and China's Zhejiang province.
Famous Finnish actor Tommi Eronen and Chinese starlet Zhang Jingchu played the lead roles in the epic film.
Cinemas have already begun to show the movie as of Tuesday this week.
It had its world premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival in September.
I just watched a movie called P.
Set in Thailand, and made by a western director the film is set on a young girl who moves to Bangkok from her rural village to get money for medicine for her sick grandmother. Practising magic in the city, the youngin becomes embroiled in ick!
Its good, you should check it out. Scarey, disturbing with a great soundtrack.
luvs nix
Set in Thailand, and made by a western director the film is set on a young girl who moves to Bangkok from her rural village to get money for medicine for her sick grandmother. Practising magic in the city, the youngin becomes embroiled in ick!
Its good, you should check it out. Scarey, disturbing with a great soundtrack.
luvs nix
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163818/
Anyone seen this?
I'd be quite interested to get it if it's any good. It's dirt cheap so I'd assume the worst.
Anyone seen this?
I'd be quite interested to get it if it's any good. It's dirt cheap so I'd assume the worst.
QUOTE (monkeyman @ Nov 11 2006, 04:53 AM)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163818/
Anyone seen this?
I'd be quite interested to get it if it's any good. It's dirt cheap so I'd assume the worst.
Anyone seen this?
I'd be quite interested to get it if it's any good. It's dirt cheap so I'd assume the worst.
it's not great, but if you want a good slice of hong kong action / comedy fun, look no further...
QUOTE (dandan)
hitman - and her...
a rich yakuza boss is killed, by the killing angel assassin, activating a clause in his will that will pay the person that avenges his death $100 million. jet li stars as fu, a down on his luck mainlander, who has come to hong kong as an assassin; the thing is, he's too soft-hearted and won't kill the old, young or women. still, he wants to earn money to buy his mother a nice house so, when he hears about the $100million contract he investigates. fu bumps into crocodile man (eric tsang), a low-grade con man and 'agent' for hired killers. for some reason he's putting up the $5million deposit, that makes him eligible for the $100million reward and he takes fu under his wing. the two then set out to earn their reward, but things are not quite that straight-forward...
this is a good fun film, tsang and li work very well together. the supporting cast are very good too; simon yam, plays the cop investigating the murder; gloria yip smoulders as tsang's daughter and sato keiji is nicely evil as the grandson of the murdered yakuza boss, who has different plans for the $100million.
all in all, it's a decent film, the comedy generally hits the spot, the plot is well-paced and engaging, the cast are good and the action doesn't disappoint either. great fun for a sunday evening.
a rich yakuza boss is killed, by the killing angel assassin, activating a clause in his will that will pay the person that avenges his death $100 million. jet li stars as fu, a down on his luck mainlander, who has come to hong kong as an assassin; the thing is, he's too soft-hearted and won't kill the old, young or women. still, he wants to earn money to buy his mother a nice house so, when he hears about the $100million contract he investigates. fu bumps into crocodile man (eric tsang), a low-grade con man and 'agent' for hired killers. for some reason he's putting up the $5million deposit, that makes him eligible for the $100million reward and he takes fu under his wing. the two then set out to earn their reward, but things are not quite that straight-forward...
this is a good fun film, tsang and li work very well together. the supporting cast are very good too; simon yam, plays the cop investigating the murder; gloria yip smoulders as tsang's daughter and sato keiji is nicely evil as the grandson of the murdered yakuza boss, who has different plans for the $100million.
all in all, it's a decent film, the comedy generally hits the spot, the plot is well-paced and engaging, the cast are good and the action doesn't disappoint either. great fun for a sunday evening.
Watched Warrior King on the weekend. Absolutely no edits, which was a relief. Understanding the dialogue didn't add much to the film to be honest, but it was nice to know exactly what was going on. The only change I could discern was the guy from The Bodyguard had all his English lines dubbed so you could understand it. They did a very good job as well, keeping his accent but toning it down so you could understand what he was saying.
QUOTE
China to Build Bruce Lee Theme Park
2006-11-28 10:16:42 CRIENGLISH.com
A special theme park with a statue and memorial hall will be built to honor the late Hong Kong action star Bruce Lee in his ancestral home in Shunde in south China Guangdong province.
The Associated Press on Monday quoted Wong Yiu-keung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bruce Lee Club, saying the park will have a martial arts academy and conference center.
The Hong Kong-based Apple Daily reported the park will take an estimated $25.5 million to build. It is expected to be complete in 3 years.
The San Francisco-born Bruce Lee boosted the popularity of martial arts films around the world, starring in cult classics like "Fists of Fury" and "Enter the Dragon". He died from a brain hemorrhage in Hong Kong in 1973, aged 32.
2006-11-28 10:16:42 CRIENGLISH.com
A special theme park with a statue and memorial hall will be built to honor the late Hong Kong action star Bruce Lee in his ancestral home in Shunde in south China Guangdong province.
The Associated Press on Monday quoted Wong Yiu-keung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bruce Lee Club, saying the park will have a martial arts academy and conference center.
The Hong Kong-based Apple Daily reported the park will take an estimated $25.5 million to build. It is expected to be complete in 3 years.
The San Francisco-born Bruce Lee boosted the popularity of martial arts films around the world, starring in cult classics like "Fists of Fury" and "Enter the Dragon". He died from a brain hemorrhage in Hong Kong in 1973, aged 32.
'enter the dragon' themed house of mirrors?
I think I've found my new holiday destination.
Excitement!
My local cinema are doing a ''Wild Japan'' season, where they are showing Japanese films from the 60s and 70s. They all seem pretty interesting and I'll probably see them all, but I was just wondering if anyone here could say which ones I mustn't miss.
Female Convict Scorpion
Jigoku
School Of The Holy Beast
Pale Flower
Branded To Kill
The Great Melee
Female Convict Scorpion
Jigoku
School Of The Holy Beast
Pale Flower
Branded To Kill
The Great Melee
QUOTE (maian @ Jan 10 2007, 04:36 PM)
My local cinema are doing a ''Wild Japan'' season, where they are showing Japanese films from the 60s and 70s. They all seem pretty interesting and I'll probably see them all, but I was just wondering if anyone here could say which ones I mustn't miss.
Female Convict Scorpion
Jigoku
School Of The Holy Beast
Pale Flower
Branded To Kill
The Great Melee
Female Convict Scorpion
Jigoku
School Of The Holy Beast
Pale Flower
Branded To Kill
The Great Melee
hmm, is that at 'the showroom'? it's the same line-up that 'the hyde-park' had for it's 'wild japan' season...
'branded to kill' is brilliant. just go, watch, you'll love it.
QUOTE (dandan)
branded to kill - the smell of rice cooking...
the oddball story of hanada aka number 3: the third best assassin in japan. hanada (jo shishido) is a killer, a hit man, and a good one; he has a pretty crazy wife and a love of the smell of cooking rice. one day, hanada makes a mistake and now, number one (koji nambara) is coming after him...
this film is a real slice of surreal, bizarre yakuza action, with a crooked sense of humour, endless invention and is, to cap it off, a visual treat. apparently, the studio president, back in 1967, didn't see it that way and seijun suzuki's contract was terminated. well, you can't win them all...
excellent stuff.
the oddball story of hanada aka number 3: the third best assassin in japan. hanada (jo shishido) is a killer, a hit man, and a good one; he has a pretty crazy wife and a love of the smell of cooking rice. one day, hanada makes a mistake and now, number one (koji nambara) is coming after him...
this film is a real slice of surreal, bizarre yakuza action, with a crooked sense of humour, endless invention and is, to cap it off, a visual treat. apparently, the studio president, back in 1967, didn't see it that way and seijun suzuki's contract was terminated. well, you can't win them all...
excellent stuff.
the female convict scorpion films look like a blast; sleazy & bloody, but there's three films and i'm not sure which one they'll show. haven't seen any of them, but they are on my 'to watch' list. this review will give you an idea of what to expect...
i haven't seen the others, but they're all pretty well known titles, with a slant towards sex, sleaze, blood and violence, mixed in with visual flair and general odd-ballery.
martin may be able to shed some more light on them.
QUOTE (dandan @ Jan 10 2007, 03:59 PM)
hmm, is that at 'the showroom'? it's the same line-up that 'the hyde-park' had for it's 'wild japan' season...
Yeah, I thought it might be part of a countrywide thing.
Cheers for the recommendation on Branded To Kill, I'll definitely go along for that one. FI think it's the first Female Convict Scorpion film they're showing.
you do that!
when are they showing it (too lazy to look), as i could be tempted to see it on the big screen...
when are they showing it (too lazy to look), as i could be tempted to see it on the big screen...
Branded To Kill is showing on Tuesday January 30th at 9:00.
QUOTE (crienglish.com)
First Asian Film Awards Shine HK Film Festival
Asian Film Awards, the first organized by Hong Kong International Film Festival aiming at appreciating the talent of Asian film makers, made a glamour debut by drawing stars both within and out of the region.
Among the stars Tuesday night were French director Luc Besson, Hong Kong entertainment ambassador Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau, star of "Infernal Affairs", Bond girl Michelle Yeoh and South Korean pop star and actor Rain.
Yet, the most shining star during the awards was South Korean film "Host", which swept 4 awards among 10, including the best movie, best actor, best cinematographer and best visual effects.
Leading star of the monster film, Song Kang-Ho beats the hottest nominees such as Andy Lau and South Korean star Rain by acting as a slow-witted man fighting to rescue his daughter abducted by a monster.
The other 6 awards shared equally by other 6 regions. Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke, won best director by his Venice Film Festival winner "Still Life", a story about the impact of three gorges dam on common people's life.
Hong Kong film designer Tim Yip Kam-tim won the best production design in "The Banquet", the only winner among Hong Kong nominees. Some analysts believed that it was a smart move to show the Asian Film Awards here although most of the Hong Kong nominees left with an empty hand.
Japanese actress Miki Nakatani defeated Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi wining the best actress by "Memories of Matsuko". Iran writer ManiHaghighi won best screenwriter in "Man at Work", beating the "Crazy Stone", a small budget movie but a surprise box winner in the Chinese Mainland.
Indonesia's Rahayu Supanggah won best composer in "Opera Jawa" and best editor title went to Lee Chatametikool of Thailand in "Syndromes and a Century".
The Chairman of the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival said before the awards ceremony that Hong Kong film production had been seeking ways to break its bottleneck during the past years but could not find a way so far. Both the government and the film workers want to make a contribution in this regard.
And the 3 billion Hong Kong dollars film development fund proposed in Hong Kong government budget this year may be to rebuild Hong Kong film industry which was a brilliant industry on the international film stage.
Analysts admitted that the Asian Film Awards plus a three week long festival may not be enough to reach the target of promoting Hong Kong film industry but it is a good start at least in this field.
Chinese director Jia Zhangke poses with his "best director" trophy at the first Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Jia Zhangke won the prize for his film "Still Life."
South Korean actor Song Kang-ho poses with his trophy after winning the best actor award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Song Kang-ho was honored for his role in the thriller "The Host," which also garnered the prizes for best picture, best visual effects and best cinematographer.
Japanese actress Miki Nakatani poses with her trophy after winning the best actress award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Hong Kong veteran Andy Lau with his trophy after winning the "Box Office Star of Asia" award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Asian Film Awards, the first organized by Hong Kong International Film Festival aiming at appreciating the talent of Asian film makers, made a glamour debut by drawing stars both within and out of the region.
Among the stars Tuesday night were French director Luc Besson, Hong Kong entertainment ambassador Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau, star of "Infernal Affairs", Bond girl Michelle Yeoh and South Korean pop star and actor Rain.
Yet, the most shining star during the awards was South Korean film "Host", which swept 4 awards among 10, including the best movie, best actor, best cinematographer and best visual effects.
Leading star of the monster film, Song Kang-Ho beats the hottest nominees such as Andy Lau and South Korean star Rain by acting as a slow-witted man fighting to rescue his daughter abducted by a monster.
The other 6 awards shared equally by other 6 regions. Chinese director Jia Zhang-Ke, won best director by his Venice Film Festival winner "Still Life", a story about the impact of three gorges dam on common people's life.
Hong Kong film designer Tim Yip Kam-tim won the best production design in "The Banquet", the only winner among Hong Kong nominees. Some analysts believed that it was a smart move to show the Asian Film Awards here although most of the Hong Kong nominees left with an empty hand.
Japanese actress Miki Nakatani defeated Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi wining the best actress by "Memories of Matsuko". Iran writer ManiHaghighi won best screenwriter in "Man at Work", beating the "Crazy Stone", a small budget movie but a surprise box winner in the Chinese Mainland.
Indonesia's Rahayu Supanggah won best composer in "Opera Jawa" and best editor title went to Lee Chatametikool of Thailand in "Syndromes and a Century".
The Chairman of the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival said before the awards ceremony that Hong Kong film production had been seeking ways to break its bottleneck during the past years but could not find a way so far. Both the government and the film workers want to make a contribution in this regard.
And the 3 billion Hong Kong dollars film development fund proposed in Hong Kong government budget this year may be to rebuild Hong Kong film industry which was a brilliant industry on the international film stage.
Analysts admitted that the Asian Film Awards plus a three week long festival may not be enough to reach the target of promoting Hong Kong film industry but it is a good start at least in this field.
Chinese director Jia Zhangke poses with his "best director" trophy at the first Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Jia Zhangke won the prize for his film "Still Life."
South Korean actor Song Kang-ho poses with his trophy after winning the best actor award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007. Song Kang-ho was honored for his role in the thriller "The Host," which also garnered the prizes for best picture, best visual effects and best cinematographer.
Japanese actress Miki Nakatani poses with her trophy after winning the best actress award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Hong Kong veteran Andy Lau with his trophy after winning the "Box Office Star of Asia" award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
QUOTE (crienglish.com)
Chinese mainland actress Fan Bingbing arrives for the Asian Film Awards as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Hong Kong actor Tony Leung arrives for the Asian Film Awards as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
South Korean actress Lim Su-jeong (left) and actor Jung Ji-hoon, better known as Rain, arrive for the Asian Film Awards as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Taiwan actor Chang Chen arrives for the Asian Film Awards as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Hong Kong actresses and members of the pop duo "Twins" Gillian Chung (left) and Charlene Choi arrive for the Asian Film Awards as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Hong Kong actress Maggie Q arrives for the Asian Film Awards as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh poses backstage during the Asian Film Awards, a part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong, in Hong Kong on Tuesday, March 20, 2007.
interview with martin chappell, a sound designer in hong kong film, which i did for kfccinema.com...
There are some WICKED Asian films doing the rounds from recent years, but I never bought into Crouching Tiger, I thought it was wank. And - although this won't go down well - I really didn't like Shaolin Soccer.
However....
Ong Bak
Fearless
House Of Flying Daggers
Kung Fu Hustle
Ichi The Killer
are all amazing.
I'm more of an old school Asian film fan myself, simply cos I don't like sleek wirework.... so I spend a lot of time watching films like
Streetfighter / Revenge Of Streetfighter
8 Diagram Pole Fighter
36th Chamber Of Shaolin
18 Bronzemen
One Armed Swordsman
Drunken Master
Golgo 13
Spooky Encounters
etc etc etc
However....
Ong Bak
Fearless
House Of Flying Daggers
Kung Fu Hustle
Ichi The Killer
are all amazing.
I'm more of an old school Asian film fan myself, simply cos I don't like sleek wirework.... so I spend a lot of time watching films like
Streetfighter / Revenge Of Streetfighter
8 Diagram Pole Fighter
36th Chamber Of Shaolin
18 Bronzemen
One Armed Swordsman
Drunken Master
Golgo 13
Spooky Encounters
etc etc etc
Only just spotted this: Beat Takeshi's latest Kantoku: Banzai!, in which he plays a tormented director, involving a mix-up of various genres, but with a mostly comic edge. Still yet to see Takeshis', which is similarly self-reflective, but that shall be rectified soon methinks.
QUOTE (Kick in the Head @ May 7 2007, 04:03 PM)
Only just spotted this: Beat Takeshi's latest Kantoku: Banzai!, in which he plays a tormented director, involving a mix-up of various genres, but with a mostly comic edge. Still yet to see Takeshis', which is similarly self-reflective, but that shall be rectified soon methinks.
That looks awsome.
QUOTE (Kick in the Head @ May 7 2007, 03:03 PM)
Only just spotted this: Beat Takeshi's latest Kantoku: Banzai!, in which he plays a tormented director, involving a mix-up of various genres, but with a mostly comic edge. Still yet to see Takeshis', which is similarly self-reflective, but that shall be rectified soon methinks.
Looks like a good bit of fun. Just seeing him on screen makes me warm & fuzzy. Though sadly I think we probably have seen him at his peak. I hope not.
it's funny, 'takeshi's' got a pretty bad reception (even though there were a few who really liked it) and i think that this will go the same way. kitano seems to have moved on a lot in the past few years and looks like he's returning to his roots as a comedian, which seems to split the audience who loved his most popular works.
Saiyuki - one for Zeden methinks. It's a new Japanese film version of the Journey to the West aka Monkey story, which itself is following from a TV series made in Japan last year.
I think the first HK cinema film i saw was God of Gamblers. I just fell in love with the way Chow Yun Fat acted. I bought into the whole heroic bloodshed genre. I got a shit load of John Woo/Chow's films along the Flaming Brothers, Full Contact, Better Tomorrow line. Every one of them just put any western action films to shame. Hong Kong 1942 was a stunning film, if a rather large step away from Chow's usual film type.
QUOTE (Kick in the Head @ May 28 2007, 03:15 PM)
Saiyuki - one for Zeden methinks. It's a new Japanese film version of the Journey to the West aka Monkey story, which itself is following from a TV series made in Japan last year.
Cheers for the heads up. I remember spotting some info about the series ages ago, but if it's hitting the big screen I'd say there's a much better chance for it to eventually hit these shores. It'll have to be pretty special to beat the original mind.
Ooh good thread
Battle Royale
Tomie
Tomie: Re-Birth
Suicide Circle Club
Shinobi
Spin Kick
Brother
Ong Bak
The Protector(don't know the actual title =[ )
Battle Royale
Tomie
Tomie: Re-Birth
Suicide Circle Club
Shinobi
Spin Kick
Brother
Ong Bak
The Protector(don't know the actual title =[ )
MUST. RENT. THIS. FILM! Behold the madness of 70s Japanese horror flick Hausu.
Saiyuki update - the website now has the trailer up (5th selection on the side-menu - 予告). It has an impressively epic feel coupled with toilet humour and shameless mugging. Could be daft gaudy fun...or just terrible...
just a quick note to anyone who uses, or has used, the excellent hong kong movie database or reads their, equally outstanding, hkmdb - daily news blog - they need some money to keep going.
if you're a fan of hong kong cinema, then it is an amazing, unrivalled resource, and something which a lot of people invest a lot of time in for nothing more than the love of it.
there's a link to donate in the first post of their news blog...
if you're a fan of hong kong cinema, then it is an amazing, unrivalled resource, and something which a lot of people invest a lot of time in for nothing more than the love of it.
there's a link to donate in the first post of their news blog...
QUOTE (Kick in the Head @ Jun 1 2007, 07:28 AM)
MUST. RENT. THIS. FILM! Behold the madness of 70s Japanese horror flick Hausu.
UK's finally catching up!
First, the incredible HAUSU is getting a DVD release from Monday, thanks to Eureka! following the sold-out midnight screening at Curzon Soho last night. Highly recommended to fans of insane horror and goofy comedy.
AND, Artifical Eye is releasing Takeshis' (which has some grindingly obstructive flaws, though is still one of my favourite Kitano films), with a cinema release on February 12th, and a DVD release on 8th March.
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