Zelena
Member: Rank 2
I think I bailed on this one. I liked the actress because she looks like one of the snotty girls from Sunny, but I couldn't get into it.
Yeah probs. I see they distributed Oasis so I'm not going to knock 'em.
Review Recently Seen, Part 1 (Feb 2017)
- Thread starter sitenoise
- Start date
sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
I Am Not Madame Bovary [2016] • China
Director:Xiaogang Feng
7/10
A gorgeous film. But.
A little panic at first re: the circular aspect ratio thing, but it really works. It's a beautifully framed film in both a circle and a square. Fan Bingbing gives a wonderfully natural performance but she's no Gong Li. As a sort of updated Story of Qiu Ju, the comparison is unavoidable. There's a lot of expository dialog that moves at a grand.father.ly pace, but I never really understood how this woman was such a thorn in everybody's side. Since the culturally twisted justice she was seeking is a great story idea I let that slide and just basked in this two hour moving painting. Not for action movie fans.
I'm not going to post a trailer because that means I'd have to watch a few to pick the best one.
Director:Xiaogang Feng
7/10
A gorgeous film. But.
A little panic at first re: the circular aspect ratio thing, but it really works. It's a beautifully framed film in both a circle and a square. Fan Bingbing gives a wonderfully natural performance but she's no Gong Li. As a sort of updated Story of Qiu Ju, the comparison is unavoidable. There's a lot of expository dialog that moves at a grand.father.ly pace, but I never really understood how this woman was such a thorn in everybody's side. Since the culturally twisted justice she was seeking is a great story idea I let that slide and just basked in this two hour moving painting. Not for action movie fans.
I'm not going to post a trailer because that means I'd have to watch a few to pick the best one.
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sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
I confess it took me four days to get through it. lol The relationship between the father and daughter was cutely Chinese.
sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
Mine too. I loved the part where Soo-jung shows us her bare ass and farts. I thoroughly enjoyed disapproving of this film from start to finish. Bravo.
Zelena
Member: Rank 2
I can't believe you saw I am Not Mme Bov before me! :mad::eek: Been waiting for this one for a long time.
Yeah I remember it had some brilliant trailers. In style this year to have trailers better than the film.
Daniel Larusso
Member: Rank 3
Pulse (2001) - 2nd viewing
Two groups of people discover evidence that suggests spirits may be trying to invade the human world through the Internet. At first this seems to be your typical j-horror, but later it becomes a very meaningful film about loneliness and isolation. It's one of those films that really make you think. In this film we often see the characters alone in their japanese houses which are nothing more than tiny cubicles and the internet is used as a way that can lead even more to the end of social interaction. There are a few dialogues that get very awkward, representative of how hard social interactions can be. The encounters with the ghosts are both haunting and beautiful. It might be hard to some of us to get into social interactions, but this film encourages us to put some effort in it, even if we get hurt again and again by getting too close to other people. Total isolation in order to avoid that kind of pain is not the solution. The apocalyptic imagery at the end of the film is awesome. This is Kiyoshi Kurosawa's best film.
9/10
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Daniel Larusso
Member: Rank 3
The Godfather: Part II (1974) - 2nd viewing
Probably the best mafia film ever made. This sequel/prequel follows the rise to the power of Vito Corleone and the moral decline of Michael Corleone in 2 different timelines, with some of the best acting in Robert De Niro and Al Pacino's careers.
Both stories are very engaging and the cinematography is simply stunning. Time flies by despite its three-and-a-half hours.
9/10
Ring of Curse (2011)
A bullied girl starts writing a cursed script for the schoolplay that kills whoever read it. It's a low-budget film, but the story is spooky enough to give it a try. The ending scene is funny and gives a reason to its japanese title "Gomennasai" ("I'm sorry").
6/10
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divemaster13
Member: Rank 4
I was in the mood for a HK weepie last night, and pulled Fly Me to Polaris off the shelf for a rewatch. I'd seen it back in 2003 and rated it pretty highly. Still feel the same way about it. The first 30 minutes or so are typical HK silliness, but then it really did start tugging the heartstrings. In a nutshell, it's a touching story of blind/dumb man who dies, but has a chance to come back for 5 days in an attempt to connect with a girl he has secretly loved.
The guy ("Onion," played by Richie Ren) is basically a goofball throughout most of this, but Cecilia Cheung as the girl ("Autumn") is a revelation. I believe this was her first major role, and she acts circles around the rest of the cast. She has to portray a range of emotions, and there's never a false step. She must have taken crying lessons because she really turns on the waterworks during the last half hour or so, and it never comes across as anything but totally natural. She absolutely sells it and is what makes this movie. Eric Tsang has a small role and, as always, is very good as well.
3.5 / 5
The guy ("Onion," played by Richie Ren) is basically a goofball throughout most of this, but Cecilia Cheung as the girl ("Autumn") is a revelation. I believe this was her first major role, and she acts circles around the rest of the cast. She has to portray a range of emotions, and there's never a false step. She must have taken crying lessons because she really turns on the waterworks during the last half hour or so, and it never comes across as anything but totally natural. She absolutely sells it and is what makes this movie. Eric Tsang has a small role and, as always, is very good as well.
3.5 / 5
sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
This was surprisingly fun. 7.77/10
sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
Cecilia got off to a great start. Failan, Lost in Time, she was an archetype of that weepy thing. Angelic, in many ways. I've always meant to watch Fly Me to Polaris and follow it with the Japanese remake, Night of the Shooting Stars. You may have nudged me to point of finally doing it.
ebossert
Member: Rank 3
Highly Recommended
Cat Sh*t One (aka Apocalypse Meow) (2010) (Japanese Anime Action Short) (repeat viewing) – The aspect that makes this 22-minute OVA a lot of fun is that it takes a ridiculous premise (bunny rabbits attempting to save two of their own, who have been captured by camels and imprisoned in a heavily secured desert base) and implements realistic physics and weaponry that creates a bizarre mix of practicality and absurdity. If the animals were replaced by human characters, this would feel like a CGI simulation created by the U.S. military. Given the runtime limitations, there’s almost no character development but the shootouts and action choreography are highly entertaining. The animation is also top notch. An entire series of episodes was originally planned, but was scrapped because this OVA did not make enough money.
Graveyard of Honor (2002) (Japanese Crime Drama) (repeat viewing) – Takashi Miike directs this remake of the 1975 original which concerns an uncontrollable, volatile yakuza henchman whose dishonorable actions earn a lot of enemies. Unlike some of the lesser yakuza films, this one has: (1) high quality acting from everyone involved; (2) engaging character interaction; and (3) a de-emphasis on hysterical behavior (what little occurs is justified – e.g., drug use, etc.). In addition, the protagonist’s life mirrors the bursting of the Japanese economic bubble that occurred in the early 1990s that crippled many aspects of the economy of that country for over a decade. There isn’t much in terms of character development because the lead is introduced in a mature state of nihilism, but his impulsive acts of violence create an captivatingly chaotic environment for the supporting characters to deal with. I wondered how things were going to play out with the yakuza conflict – is this guy gonna bite the dust, or is he going to take down anyone who gets in his way.
Recommended
Seoul Station (2016) (Korean Animated Horror) – Several groups of people try to survive a zombie pandemic that unleashes itself in downtown Seoul. There is some social commentary regarding the homeless, but it’s the plethora of zombie attacks and horror imagery that make this entertaining. It is very briskly paced and mostly grounded in its action design. Some very good suspense sequences here, the best of which is likely on a set of construction beams. There are also a few moments that are mean-spirited, but that should not come as a surprise to those who are familiar with Sang-ho Yeon’s prior animated works. Some have rightly criticized the animation (which is clunky), but it didn’t bother me that much.
The City of Lost Souls (2000) (Japanese Action/Drama) (repeat viewing) – A Brazilian criminal and his Chinese girlfriend seek passports to flee Japan – which in Takashi Miike’s world cost $180,000. This begins with an action-packed opening, then quickly establishes the many characters and conflicts in a rather frenetic manner. Yet again, Miike explores individuals who seemingly have nowhere to go and no allegiances to speak of. In this case, it’s characters with mixed heritage or non-Japanese roots who are attempting to survive in (or escape) the country. Consequently, this film is loaded with cultural variety, but Miike uses that to establish some good dialogue and interaction along the way. There are some great moments to be found: the transport bus breakout, the cockfight, the ping pong duel, and the shotgun shootout being the most notable examples.
Aladdin (1992) (American Animated Drama/Romance/Action Musical) – Jafar and his parrot Iago seek the lamp hidden within the Cave of Wonders but are told that only a “diamond in the rough” may enter. Jafar identifies a street urchin named Aladdin as worthy. Aladdin and his pet monkey, Abu, cross paths with Princess Jasmine, who has run away from the palace. This is a respectable movie that is lively entertainment and has some pretty good songs, but I found the primary romance to be merely decent and not all that interesting. Also, Jafar’s actions and the resolution of his conflict seemed haphazard and lazy. Fun stuff though.
Phantom of the Theater (2016) (Chinese Horror) – A haunted theatre, filled with the vengeful spirits of a tragically-trapped performance troupe murdered in a fire 13 years ago, waits for the once-grand palatial playhouse to re-open with a new show – and bring in new victims. A film director sets his sights on the location for use in his debut film, but the cast and crew begin to experience horrific deaths via spontaneous combustion. The protagonists are very skeptical and do not believe in the supernatural, which may prove to be a mistake. This is set in Shanghai during the 1930s, which is a neat setting. This is very nicely shot, with fantastic set designs and lighting. There are a lot of CGI special effects too, but they are actually pretty cool and creative. No Japanese onryo ghosts here. The story blends in some elements of “Phantom of the Opera”, but is likely not as dramatically impactful as it wants to be.
Let’s Eat (2013-2014) (Korean Comedy/Drama/Romance/Thriller Television Series) – This K-drama (16 episodes, 50 minutes each) depicts the daily life and romance of a 33-year-old single woman who loses self-control when she is near gourmet foods. She meets an insurance salesman, especially talented with describing the taste of foods. This focuses more on the eating of food instead of the preparation of it. These characters enjoy food about as much as real people enjoy sex, meaning that this K-drama is as close to food porn as you’re gonna get. If you watch this on an empty stomach, you’re in serious trouble! The script is mediocre and this meanders around, but the light tone and chemistry between the actors definitely keeps things entertaining. There is a light thriller element that clashes with the rest of the show, but it’s such a trivial aspect that it can barely be considered a flaw (even though it does show up a bit during every episode). Very laid back and moderately fun viewing.
Your Name (2016) (Japanese Anime Drama/Romance) – Makoto Shinkai directs this film about a high school boy and girl who swap bodies but are separated by locale. The characters don’t know what’s going on until the 30 minute mark, but the viewer will figure it out far sooner. The story is basic and some of the plot elements are very contrived (like the use of “hazy memory” that prevents the characters from knowing certain things about one another), but the animation is nice and the drama is pretty good. This flick is overrated though.
Not Recommended
Reptilian (aka Yonggary) (1999) (Korean Action/Horror) – Archaeologists discover the bones of Yonggary, a gargantuan dinosaur 50 times the size of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Out of nowhere, people slowly are being killed around the dig site. The digital SFX are terrible, as is the acting. This is basically on the same level as a Sci Fi Channel Original film. The action is repetitive, with lots of exploding planes. Nothing to see here. However, there is one epic line of dialogue though, “If that thing were any meaner, I’d swear it was my wife.” The DVD release is not the original film, but an international version with some added scenes, digital effects, and some re-editing.
Onibi: The Fire Within (1997) (Japanese Crime Drama/Thriller) – A yakuza hitman gets out of jail and decides to start a new life, but soon his criminal past catches up with him. This is a bland gangster flick that has pacing problems. The story and characters are dull-as-dirt. There’s some violence near the end, but no one will care.
A Yakuza In Love (1997) (Japanese Crime Drama/Romance/Comedy) – A hitman sets out to whack the rival gang’s boss, but gets sidetracked by a lovely waitress. Like this director’s other films, this is lacking in anything dynamic or interesting. It’s very basic and cliched, meandering way too much. Consequently, this is painfully lethargic and blandly shot. It gets so bad that the filmmakers fall back on gratuitous sex scenes in an attempt to wake the viewer up. The lead actress is terrible. This is boring garbage.
Cat Sh*t One (aka Apocalypse Meow) (2010) (Japanese Anime Action Short) (repeat viewing) – The aspect that makes this 22-minute OVA a lot of fun is that it takes a ridiculous premise (bunny rabbits attempting to save two of their own, who have been captured by camels and imprisoned in a heavily secured desert base) and implements realistic physics and weaponry that creates a bizarre mix of practicality and absurdity. If the animals were replaced by human characters, this would feel like a CGI simulation created by the U.S. military. Given the runtime limitations, there’s almost no character development but the shootouts and action choreography are highly entertaining. The animation is also top notch. An entire series of episodes was originally planned, but was scrapped because this OVA did not make enough money.
Graveyard of Honor (2002) (Japanese Crime Drama) (repeat viewing) – Takashi Miike directs this remake of the 1975 original which concerns an uncontrollable, volatile yakuza henchman whose dishonorable actions earn a lot of enemies. Unlike some of the lesser yakuza films, this one has: (1) high quality acting from everyone involved; (2) engaging character interaction; and (3) a de-emphasis on hysterical behavior (what little occurs is justified – e.g., drug use, etc.). In addition, the protagonist’s life mirrors the bursting of the Japanese economic bubble that occurred in the early 1990s that crippled many aspects of the economy of that country for over a decade. There isn’t much in terms of character development because the lead is introduced in a mature state of nihilism, but his impulsive acts of violence create an captivatingly chaotic environment for the supporting characters to deal with. I wondered how things were going to play out with the yakuza conflict – is this guy gonna bite the dust, or is he going to take down anyone who gets in his way.
Recommended
Seoul Station (2016) (Korean Animated Horror) – Several groups of people try to survive a zombie pandemic that unleashes itself in downtown Seoul. There is some social commentary regarding the homeless, but it’s the plethora of zombie attacks and horror imagery that make this entertaining. It is very briskly paced and mostly grounded in its action design. Some very good suspense sequences here, the best of which is likely on a set of construction beams. There are also a few moments that are mean-spirited, but that should not come as a surprise to those who are familiar with Sang-ho Yeon’s prior animated works. Some have rightly criticized the animation (which is clunky), but it didn’t bother me that much.
The City of Lost Souls (2000) (Japanese Action/Drama) (repeat viewing) – A Brazilian criminal and his Chinese girlfriend seek passports to flee Japan – which in Takashi Miike’s world cost $180,000. This begins with an action-packed opening, then quickly establishes the many characters and conflicts in a rather frenetic manner. Yet again, Miike explores individuals who seemingly have nowhere to go and no allegiances to speak of. In this case, it’s characters with mixed heritage or non-Japanese roots who are attempting to survive in (or escape) the country. Consequently, this film is loaded with cultural variety, but Miike uses that to establish some good dialogue and interaction along the way. There are some great moments to be found: the transport bus breakout, the cockfight, the ping pong duel, and the shotgun shootout being the most notable examples.
Aladdin (1992) (American Animated Drama/Romance/Action Musical) – Jafar and his parrot Iago seek the lamp hidden within the Cave of Wonders but are told that only a “diamond in the rough” may enter. Jafar identifies a street urchin named Aladdin as worthy. Aladdin and his pet monkey, Abu, cross paths with Princess Jasmine, who has run away from the palace. This is a respectable movie that is lively entertainment and has some pretty good songs, but I found the primary romance to be merely decent and not all that interesting. Also, Jafar’s actions and the resolution of his conflict seemed haphazard and lazy. Fun stuff though.
Phantom of the Theater (2016) (Chinese Horror) – A haunted theatre, filled with the vengeful spirits of a tragically-trapped performance troupe murdered in a fire 13 years ago, waits for the once-grand palatial playhouse to re-open with a new show – and bring in new victims. A film director sets his sights on the location for use in his debut film, but the cast and crew begin to experience horrific deaths via spontaneous combustion. The protagonists are very skeptical and do not believe in the supernatural, which may prove to be a mistake. This is set in Shanghai during the 1930s, which is a neat setting. This is very nicely shot, with fantastic set designs and lighting. There are a lot of CGI special effects too, but they are actually pretty cool and creative. No Japanese onryo ghosts here. The story blends in some elements of “Phantom of the Opera”, but is likely not as dramatically impactful as it wants to be.
Let’s Eat (2013-2014) (Korean Comedy/Drama/Romance/Thriller Television Series) – This K-drama (16 episodes, 50 minutes each) depicts the daily life and romance of a 33-year-old single woman who loses self-control when she is near gourmet foods. She meets an insurance salesman, especially talented with describing the taste of foods. This focuses more on the eating of food instead of the preparation of it. These characters enjoy food about as much as real people enjoy sex, meaning that this K-drama is as close to food porn as you’re gonna get. If you watch this on an empty stomach, you’re in serious trouble! The script is mediocre and this meanders around, but the light tone and chemistry between the actors definitely keeps things entertaining. There is a light thriller element that clashes with the rest of the show, but it’s such a trivial aspect that it can barely be considered a flaw (even though it does show up a bit during every episode). Very laid back and moderately fun viewing.
Your Name (2016) (Japanese Anime Drama/Romance) – Makoto Shinkai directs this film about a high school boy and girl who swap bodies but are separated by locale. The characters don’t know what’s going on until the 30 minute mark, but the viewer will figure it out far sooner. The story is basic and some of the plot elements are very contrived (like the use of “hazy memory” that prevents the characters from knowing certain things about one another), but the animation is nice and the drama is pretty good. This flick is overrated though.
Not Recommended
Reptilian (aka Yonggary) (1999) (Korean Action/Horror) – Archaeologists discover the bones of Yonggary, a gargantuan dinosaur 50 times the size of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Out of nowhere, people slowly are being killed around the dig site. The digital SFX are terrible, as is the acting. This is basically on the same level as a Sci Fi Channel Original film. The action is repetitive, with lots of exploding planes. Nothing to see here. However, there is one epic line of dialogue though, “If that thing were any meaner, I’d swear it was my wife.” The DVD release is not the original film, but an international version with some added scenes, digital effects, and some re-editing.
Onibi: The Fire Within (1997) (Japanese Crime Drama/Thriller) – A yakuza hitman gets out of jail and decides to start a new life, but soon his criminal past catches up with him. This is a bland gangster flick that has pacing problems. The story and characters are dull-as-dirt. There’s some violence near the end, but no one will care.
A Yakuza In Love (1997) (Japanese Crime Drama/Romance/Comedy) – A hitman sets out to whack the rival gang’s boss, but gets sidetracked by a lovely waitress. Like this director’s other films, this is lacking in anything dynamic or interesting. It’s very basic and cliched, meandering way too much. Consequently, this is painfully lethargic and blandly shot. It gets so bad that the filmmakers fall back on gratuitous sex scenes in an attempt to wake the viewer up. The lead actress is terrible. This is boring garbage.
sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
Daniel Larusso
Member: Rank 3
Best title ever LOL
plsletitrain
Member: Rank 5
Too lazy to quote the posts so I'll just call-out anyone I'll reply to.
@Zelena
I don't think my not liking Your Name will change if I'd see an HD version of it. Nevertheless, Makoto Shinkai has been on my look-out list because I have this feeling I will like one or two of his films so I think he's something to watch out for. 5 cm per second is on my to-watch list but not on the top priorities though. If only........................
And I was supposed to watch I am not Madame Bovary instead of Black Coal Thin Ice but the runtime is a pulls-own-hair-emoticon worthy so I gave it a pass. Ugh. Yeah, I'll try to watch it later. (But your description of All About My Wife might move that later into tomorrow or the day after next. lol)
@Daniel Larusso
An anime with a title Apocalypse Meow as a title is not just highly recommended, it should be on everyone's to-watch list.
@sitenoise
I thought IMDb would wait for a universal Feb. 20 shutdown. Its still Feb. 19 in some parts of the globe ya know. Oh well.....
@Zelena
I don't think my not liking Your Name will change if I'd see an HD version of it. Nevertheless, Makoto Shinkai has been on my look-out list because I have this feeling I will like one or two of his films so I think he's something to watch out for. 5 cm per second is on my to-watch list but not on the top priorities though. If only........................
And I was supposed to watch I am not Madame Bovary instead of Black Coal Thin Ice but the runtime is a pulls-own-hair-emoticon worthy so I gave it a pass. Ugh. Yeah, I'll try to watch it later. (But your description of All About My Wife might move that later into tomorrow or the day after next. lol)
@Daniel Larusso
An anime with a title Apocalypse Meow as a title is not just highly recommended, it should be on everyone's to-watch list.
@sitenoise
I thought IMDb would wait for a universal Feb. 20 shutdown. Its still Feb. 19 in some parts of the globe ya know. Oh well.....
sitenoise
Member: Rank 5
Yeah, I had to look that one up, make sure ebo wasn't pulling our legs.
@plsletitrain Madame Bovary is not for you
plsletitrain
Member: Rank 5
@sitenoise
I was about to ask you this question on my previous post: Do you think Madame Bovary will work for me?? But then I deleted it because I didn't want you to think I was making you decide which one I watch. But yeah, you can decide which one I watch (especially if its a movie with a two hour runtime). lol. Okay then, bye Madame Bovary. I'll watch All About My Wife instead.
I was about to ask you this question on my previous post: Do you think Madame Bovary will work for me?? But then I deleted it because I didn't want you to think I was making you decide which one I watch. But yeah, you can decide which one I watch (especially if its a movie with a two hour runtime). lol. Okay then, bye Madame Bovary. I'll watch All About My Wife instead.