tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61537364293297238822024-03-13T10:17:12.188-07:00TemptAsian FilmA look into Asian Films and Anime.Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-13815029814024779062021-07-24T15:49:00.015-07:002021-07-25T08:12:28.617-07:00Shadows Review 2020 Hong Kong 殘影空間<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2W8zIzNvvjuyN65ZRTogW9lT_4owcGCRWcnRttqalH4N1sIhMDTeVDqv8tsHxO72CaokYfTS-jRrrnrKd1k3VfPb2D3s_-n6smkVDfa04AW1oUtFApuoEAUSkYcp1A4v3ZOH4MjE6Q0x/s1024/shadows+Hong+Kong+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2W8zIzNvvjuyN65ZRTogW9lT_4owcGCRWcnRttqalH4N1sIhMDTeVDqv8tsHxO72CaokYfTS-jRrrnrKd1k3VfPb2D3s_-n6smkVDfa04AW1oUtFApuoEAUSkYcp1A4v3ZOH4MjE6Q0x/s320/shadows+Hong+Kong+review.jpg" /></a></div><br />Shadows 殘影空間</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Year: 2020</b><br /><b style="font-family: inherit;">Director: Glenn Chan</b><br /><b style="font-family: inherit;">Writer: Felix Tsang, Kiwi Chow</b><br /><b style="font-family: inherit;">Cast: Stephy Tang, Philip Keung, Tse Kwan-ho, Ben Yuen</b><br /><b style="font-family: inherit;">Running Time: 94 minutes</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Country: Hong Kong<br /><br /></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>The UK Premiere is on July 25th at BFI Southbank as part of the Chinese Visual Festival (<a href="https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=shadows2021intro&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=" target="_blank">Tickets</a>)</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /><br />Shadows is a dark psychological thriller with nightmarish imagery and some supernatural elements. Featuring another excellent lead performance from Stephy Tang. This has been hailed as one of the best Hong Kong films of the year.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span><br /><br />Revolving around a sinister murder case in which
a social worker is compelled by an inner voice to kill his family and
commit suicide. Shot in atmospheric noir style and with a taut, twisting
narrative that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, the film
features a commanding lead performance by popular actress Stephy Tang,
who was herself traumatised by the emotionally gruelling shoot and the
film’s delving into the darkness of the human psyche. (<a href="http://chinesevisualfestival.org/production/shadows/" target="_blank">Chinese Visual Festival</a>)</span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><div><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Glenn Chan makes his Hong Kong film debut with an ambitious thriller that will make an impression with its uniqueness and inventiveness. Out of recent Hong Kong films, it's hard to think of one that is similar. And while not everything about this film works, there is plenty to celebrate and admire.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Stephy
Tang is a revelation. Over the years, she has managed to shake off the pop star image and establish herself as a serious actress. Stephy is now known for acting in challenging and dramatic roles, her most prominent being The Empty Hands and My Prince Edward. Both of these roles got her a nomination for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards. After watching Shadows, it feels like she could receive a third nomination as she<span style="font-family: inherit;"> delivers another show-stealing performance. </span><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>This film is incredibly stylish. Featuring slick camerawork and great cinematography to give it a noir feel. There is brilliant use of lighting throughout to create the dark mood and unsettling atmosphere. When Dr Tsui enters into a patient's subconscious there is often an impressive use of imagery and visual effects on display to capture how anxious and terrifying the whole process is. It's all handled excellently.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Unfortunately, the scenes inside the patients subconscious is an intriguing idea, and it looks fantastic, but it feels like an idea that was never fully realised. This was a concept that deserved more time to be explored before the film reached its exciting and somewhat bemusing conclusion. While this gimmick might have borrowed ideas from other films, they manage to make it work and still feel fresh and it feels like more screen time should have been spent on this. <br /><br /></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCXVCqhL_odYXjtH_MXmYoyhWyugBDbsS7undI-TDKWGTxPW-hybQ8qxkPSYgBXXVZ5BfuyNESB1jTijY0cmM2quqm1zF80qo0tavIWq169SL0ynkutrSdiyQDzHXmo7OtLyVVuOSaCF9/s900/%25E6%25AE%2598%25E5%25BD%25B1%25E7%25A9%25BA%25E9%2596%2593+review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="900" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCXVCqhL_odYXjtH_MXmYoyhWyugBDbsS7undI-TDKWGTxPW-hybQ8qxkPSYgBXXVZ5BfuyNESB1jTijY0cmM2quqm1zF80qo0tavIWq169SL0ynkutrSdiyQDzHXmo7OtLyVVuOSaCF9/w400-h245/%25E6%25AE%2598%25E5%25BD%25B1%25E7%25A9%25BA%25E9%2596%2593+review.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Philip
Keung co-stars as detective Ho and injects some fun into the story. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ho and Dr Tsui team up in an almost buddy-cop style trope as they investigate
the crime together. His character of Ho is pretty simple and wants to
work within the law and catch the bad guys, but the way he plays off of
Dr Tsui is a neat contrast. There's also a side story involving his
daughter which is often touching and charming.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">t
a trim 94 minutes, the film is a breeze, and it is entertaining from start to
finish. Some extra time to fully develop the ideas and plot could have
benefited the overall story, as well as more time exploring how much actual
power the psychiatrists have over the patient's free will. Parts of the
film are pretty ambiguous which suits the style and genre of film, but
some viewers might think it's too open-ended.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Overall, Shadows is a good thriller that is visually stunning and entertaining even with its flaws.</span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>7/10<br /><br /></span></span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MMnmxR79mu4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Reviewed as part of the <a href="https://chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Chinese Visual Festival</a> / <a href="https://chinesevisualfestival.org/focus-hong-kong/focus-hong-kong/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong<br /></a><br /></div></div></span></div></span></div></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-51501113912327791412021-07-17T08:50:00.003-07:002021-07-17T08:52:26.031-07:00Drifting 2021 Hong Kong 濁水漂流<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgog5nX41WGd-bLHnXgS7UipBif2_dlFMOFDIiA-8uI1Win16Ht5ZiKr5JP-wMe4pq-md_wic9SB52wXOpGLoS3O1GG4UtbCcPniysir1jaxef3yhT0PkE97EA8qywPTzI-Ss_z9M_o7h37/s1024/Drifting+%25E6%25BF%2581%25E6%25B0%25B4%25E6%25BC%2582%25E6%25B5%2581+review.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="719" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgog5nX41WGd-bLHnXgS7UipBif2_dlFMOFDIiA-8uI1Win16Ht5ZiKr5JP-wMe4pq-md_wic9SB52wXOpGLoS3O1GG4UtbCcPniysir1jaxef3yhT0PkE97EA8qywPTzI-Ss_z9M_o7h37/s320/Drifting+%25E6%25BF%2581%25E6%25B0%25B4%25E6%25BC%2582%25E6%25B5%2581+review.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Drifting 濁水漂流</b><br /></div><b>Year: 2021</b><b><br />Director: Jun Li</b><b><br />Writer: Jun Li</b><b><br />Cast: Francis Ng, Loretta Lee, Tse Kwan-ho, Cecilia Choi</b><b><br />Running Time: 112 minutes</b><b><br />Country: Hong Kong</b><p></p><p></p><p>"I may be homeless. But I am not worthless.<b>"</b></p><p>The excellent Francis Ng is almost unrecognisable as he delivers one of his finest performances in this powerful drama about a group of homeless people. One of the very best Hong Kong films of the year. <br /><b></b></p><p><b></b><i>Jun Li follows his acclaimed trans drama Tracey with a socially
conscious story focusing on the plight of the homeless in Hong Kong,
based on a real life incident. Taking place against a contrasting
backdrop of luxury and extreme poverty, the film follows Fai (Francis
Ng), just out of jail and stuck in an endless cycle of nomadism, coming
up against an uncaring government and a police force whose actions are
antagonistic at best. A stunningly frank film about Hong Kong’s
socio-political and economic divide, Drifting confirms Jun Li as a passionate filmmaker committed to bringing the stories of the marginalised to the screen. </i>(<a href="https://chinesevisualfestival.org/production/drifting/" target="_blank">Chinese Visual Festival</a>)<br /></p><p>Jun Li wrote and directed Drifting and based it on a 2012 court case that involved homeless people in Sham Shui Po. But rather than focusing on the court case, Li puts the characters at the forefront. Their stories, daily life and struggles are explored much deeper than surface level. There's also not too much attention on the reasons that they ended up homeless. There's a memorable scene with Fai chatting to reporters, and he explains that the media is only interested in talking about this drug use or his time spent in prison. This is an intriguing piece of social commentary on not only how the media sometimes view homeless people, but also some of the general public share a similar view. Li often makes it clear that it's not important why they are homeless, it's about their hardships and how other people treat them, even those with good intentions.<br /><br />Hong Kong is a beautiful country, and the film captures this with excellent cinematography by Leung Ming-kai. The high-rise flats and skyline are on full display and often suddenly juxtaposed with the homeless camps and temporary accommodation. It's a startling contrast showing off the living conditions of the rich versus the poor, especially in Hong Kong, where apartment prices are sky-high. With more and more high-rise apartment buildings springing up anywhere there is vacant land, it makes the characters wonder where the homeless people are supposed to go. <br /><br />The cast are all splendid in these often challenging roles. Francis Ng has always been a superb actor but doesn't always get the chance to show his full potential as he does here in his role as Fai. Ng has undergone a transformation of sorts and plays an extremely convincing drug addict. It's a powerful performance that easily could have gone too far, but they know exactly when to dial it back. Elsewhere, Cecilia Choi and Pak Hon Chu also shine in their supporting roles. It's always a treat to see Loletta Lee in a modern Hong Kong film especially with a film that allows her to sink her teeth into the role. Tse Kwan-ho almost steals the show with one particularly heartbreaking scene involving a video call which is sure to have award shows and festivals buzzing.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7Uwpw10LZyIR2u7zxy8q_ZKEx6uVoNzbeyCSwngV3gNXDgKxlFTnf1iz1NzwQnvhTHAa-QS_ReHO_0vpW9cXBRYQ2cOskB1Mcfbrb_1gLXwdSlpScORQ-q51z_AHWaX5e8fRuGNn0UfL/w400-h225/Drifting+2021+review.jpeg" width="400" /><br /><br /></div><p></p><p>Drifting captures a true sense of realism while still being visually stunning and cinematic. The film feels almost like a docu-drama at times, with the viewers standing at the side and watching the character's lives unfold. This emphasises the helplessness as you watch this heartbreaking tale unfold. Jun Li manages to craft all of this wonderfully without the film ever becoming "poverty porn." Drifting is one of the most affecting Hong Kong films to come out in years, and it will leave you thinking about the characters and their situation long after the credits have finished rolling. <br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>8/10</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Drifting has it's UK premiere at the <a href="https://chinesevisualfestival.org/production/drifting/">Chinese Visual Festival</a> on the 15th of July 2021. <br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pSsmMquGPwg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-75933148166989624542021-04-06T10:00:00.002-07:002021-04-06T10:02:08.161-07:00Beyond the Dream Review 2019 Hong Kong 幻愛<p><b> </b><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJhBRSICnfr8Oz03nP3W0yAO4cZ4l7bB6-XMFMCbzAi3fXzo-z59foZhMi1DxwdI7WczkH-en2VCS3-At8MzyWE6RyVFdco76xAwqTAr8-KC7fS7Xq5jYxrSWZbn2F6kfuVD1jc-XCg5I/s2048/Beyond+The+Dream+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1455" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJhBRSICnfr8Oz03nP3W0yAO4cZ4l7bB6-XMFMCbzAi3fXzo-z59foZhMi1DxwdI7WczkH-en2VCS3-At8MzyWE6RyVFdco76xAwqTAr8-KC7fS7Xq5jYxrSWZbn2F6kfuVD1jc-XCg5I/s320/Beyond+The+Dream+poster.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br />Beyond the Dream </b><span class="aCOpRe"><span>幻愛</span></span><b><br />Year: 2019</b><b><br />Director: Kiwi Chow</b><b><br />Writer: Felix Tsang, Kiwi Chow</b><b><br />Cast: Cecilia Chow, Terrance Lau, Nina Paw, Chan-Leung Poon</b><span><b><br />Running Time: 120 minutes</b></span><span><b> <br />Country: Hong Kong</b></span><br /><br />Based on the award-winning short film Upstairs (2006), which was also
directed by Kiwi Chow, Beyond the Dream became the highest-grossing domestic film in Hong Kong
in 2020 since the COVID-19 pandemic. The film also won awards and
nominations at a long list of festivals, including Best Adapted
Screenplay award at 57th Golden Horse Awards, which is Taiwan's equivalent to the Academy Awards. <i><br /><br />Lok (Terrance Lau) is a recovering
schizophrenic who yearns for love. One day, he encounters the young and
beautiful Yan (Cecilia Choi) and quickly falls in love with her. Just
when he struggles whether to tell her about his illness, he has a
relapse and becomes delusional. Little does he know that she’s a
psychological counsellor who has a hidden agenda. The pair develops a
relationship that is beyond their wildest dreams. </i>(<a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/film/beyond-the-dream/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong</a>)<p></p><p>The film opens with a woman having a mental breakdown on a busy street and rather than anyone trying to help her, most people laugh and take photos. This is an extremely raw and powerful scene that sets the tone for an emotional drama focusing on mental illness and a romantic relationship. Upon initial viewing, this plot might start off seeming predictable, but it quickly twists and turns into something else entirely. The film becomes more complicated as Lok's <span class="ILfuVd"><span class="hgKElc">psychosis worsens, and it definitely requires your full attention to completely understand what is happening in reality, and in his delusions.<br /><br />Both lead actors give award-worthy performances, with Terrance Lau being a huge surprise. Lau is a former TV actor and he plays this part spectacularly. Portraying someone that is mentally unwell can be a massive challenge, But Lok never takes it too far or turns the character into a stereotype. In fact, it feels like a very honest portrayal which can also become scary at times. Cecilia Choi is also wonderful and plays her roles with a subtle charm, innocence and mystery that still allows you to root for this flawed human being. Whether they are sharing a romantic moment together, or having a full-blown argument, they have great natural on-screen chemistry that enthrals your full attention. <br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVpw9SVzWcOaxccC6K-uaO5PoMZUiVkMvArE7FgEIyyec85iQNn5gQk4geipkntoukL68p1NAZARbQmKfkC-vPlT5kNeNU5Wsc_65MAAIN9iP5cdIktrkvh-qjZ2F4KU7vhCTbBufUI5m/s1000/Beyond+the+dream+review+%25E5%25B9%25BB%25E6%2584%259B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVpw9SVzWcOaxccC6K-uaO5PoMZUiVkMvArE7FgEIyyec85iQNn5gQk4geipkntoukL68p1NAZARbQmKfkC-vPlT5kNeNU5Wsc_65MAAIN9iP5cdIktrkvh-qjZ2F4KU7vhCTbBufUI5m/w400-h225/Beyond+the+dream+review+%25E5%25B9%25BB%25E6%2584%259B.jpeg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While the cast and plot are rightfully praised, the production aspects also need commending. The camerawork is rich and varied. And the cinematography and pale colour palette are stunning. The look and feel of this film gel perfectly together, and it's honestly a visual treat. And the shallow depth of field enhances the dream-like nature of the story. The production values raise the expectation of this from another independent film to something greater.</div><p>Beyond the Dream is a Hong Kong film through and through, but it's also unique in its film-making methods. The locations used on-screen aren't what people have come to expect in their Hong Kong cinema. They don't spend time glamorising the neon lights and busy shopping streets, and instead, they use their time to build up a real-world that locals actually live in. The use of trains as a plot device is marvellous at separating these characters from one another, or for bringing them closer together. Similarly, the cramped and confined high-rise apartment buildings add to the notion of not having anywhere to escape in moments of need, and that everyone knows all of your business.<br /></p><p>While the film can be dark and challenging at times, and sometimes it becomes convoluted, intentional or not. Overall, it's an ambitious film that deserves the attention and accolades it has received thus far. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>7.5/10<br /><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Beyond The Dream is streaming as part of the <a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong Film Festival</a> from the 31st of March until the 6th of April.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y1X2n0DVqgQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-84692937771595682982021-04-01T10:11:00.007-07:002021-04-03T15:59:15.864-07:00My Prince Edward Review 2019 Hong Kong 金都<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVZc9x8Dkslw8uNiXqvlOHq_108eRjFKcJDQXF27b-Nzxj2AM77S9ivLjEXGJqoT6hi8p7URoZ7HoPMmh8bDH3lFALKIcJyXfopT3PvvTgdt2V5EnxwbaYQHKkLzOqAlmsv6UTKMly-xV/s1792/%25E9%2587%2591%25E9%2583%25BD+2019+Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVZc9x8Dkslw8uNiXqvlOHq_108eRjFKcJDQXF27b-Nzxj2AM77S9ivLjEXGJqoT6hi8p7URoZ7HoPMmh8bDH3lFALKIcJyXfopT3PvvTgdt2V5EnxwbaYQHKkLzOqAlmsv6UTKMly-xV/s320/%25E9%2587%2591%25E9%2583%25BD+2019+Review.jpg" /></a></b></div><b><br />My Prince Edward </b><span lang="zh">金都</span><b><br />Year: 2019</b><b><br />Director: Norris Wong</b><b><br />Writer: Norris Wong</b><b><br />Cast: Stephy Tang, Chu Pak-hong, Jin Kai-jie, Nina Paw, Eman Lam</b><span><b><br />Running Time: 91 minutes</b></span><span><b> </b></span><span><b><br />Country: Hong Kong</b></span><br /><p></p><p></p>The directorial debut of Norris
Wong has been one of the most popular and acclaimed Hong Kong films of
recent years, winning multiple Best Film, Best New Director and acting
awards and screening at festivals around the world.<div class="meta-detail-synopsis">
<p><i>My Prince Edward is set in Prince Edward district’s Golden Plaza, a
shopping mall in Hong Kong best known for bridal shops and cheap wedding
supplies. Fong (Stephy Tang) is a clerk at one such bridal shop. She
has been with Edward (Chu Pak Hong), the owner of a wedding photography
shop in the same mall, for seven years. Everyone sees Edward as Fong’s
Prince Charming, destined to head to the altar. The problem is that Fong
must first sort out the sham marriage that she was paid to take part in
years ago before she can get married for real. </i>(<a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/film/my-prince-edward/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong</a>)</p></div><p>My Prince Edward is a clever play on words, set in the Prince Edward district and one of the main characters being named Edward. This small detail made me think the film was going to be a fun Rom-Com, similar in tone to something like My Best Friend's Wedding. But I was pleasantly surprised. My Prince Edward has the romance angle, but there's much more to it than that. This is a very well written story dealing with complicated topics, such as the stigma around divorce, and political issues between Hong Kong and China. The film is very honest, heartfelt and touching. This could easily have become another familiar story, but it's tackled in such an interesting and fresh way, and it leaves many parts of the story up to the viewer's interpretations. <br /></p><p>This is not a fairy tale by any means. Stephy Wong's character Fong deals with a lot of problems that are deeper than surface level tropes. It shines a spotlight on Hong Kong marriage culture and questions who is it really for. Is it for the happy couple? Or is it to please the family? Or maybe it's a contract to stop you from leaving each other? Or maybe it's for a VISA or residency? There are clever metaphors and imagery sprinkled throughout to drive these ideas home. Fong is also feeling pressure to get married because of her age, even though she is still in her early thirties. The film is packed full of ideas that viewers can relate to.<br /></p><p>My Prince Edward is wonderfully directed, especially for a debut director. The film has snappy pacing and editing. And at a trim 91 minutes, it never outstays its welcome. It also takes its time with the characters and gives them time to develop and breathe. There's some stunning camerawork and cinematography placed throughout. Their apartment has a massive neon sign attached to the building which often illuminates the street and their bedroom with a pink haze. One shot that stood out, in particular, involved an overhead camera while both characters lay in bed with the neon shining in the window to light their faces. There's also a subtle nod to a famous shot from In The Mood For Love if you really pay attention.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianXEVYXih_mC62m2WMhb-5FueqW3kn-qY_v1Kc58juMspBUOk5EDFkvoimJSull-XHQhdAs8XH3VONcpQbM7fRr1AA9bV5rEk7EQKSBKnh8EgLuEdJ8LWGQofrP5WhrczSTwgyfmCLXIk/s1920/My+Prince+Edward+2019+review.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianXEVYXih_mC62m2WMhb-5FueqW3kn-qY_v1Kc58juMspBUOk5EDFkvoimJSull-XHQhdAs8XH3VONcpQbM7fRr1AA9bV5rEk7EQKSBKnh8EgLuEdJ8LWGQofrP5WhrczSTwgyfmCLXIk/w400-h266/My+Prince+Edward+2019+review.jpeg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVpw9SVzWcOaxccC6K-uaO5PoMZUiVkMvArE7FgEIyyec85iQNn5gQk4geipkntoukL68p1NAZARbQmKfkC-vPlT5kNeNU5Wsc_65MAAIN9iP5cdIktrkvh-qjZ2F4KU7vhCTbBufUI5m/s1000/Beyond+the+dream+review+%25E5%25B9%25BB%25E6%2584%259B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <br /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>The small cast were excellent and their character differences made them all stand out from one another. Stephy Tang has turned into a brilliant actress, and this comes across as a very natural performance for her. She received a nomination for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards for this role, which is well deserved. Chu Pak-hong plays the role of Edward, and during half of the film, you will spend your time wanting to strangle him. His character is overprotective, a tad annoying and even sometimes disinterested. But deep down you can tell that he honestly loves Fong. None of the characters in this film are perfect, and it doesn't ever try to pretend they are. </p><p>My Prince Edward is a modern and uniquely Hong Kong story. It's made specifically with Hong Kong in mind, and it wouldn't quite work if it was set anywhere else. But, the story and the characters are completely universal, and everyone could get something different out of it. Norris Wong has cemented her name as a new director to keep an eye on. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />8/10<br /><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />My Prince Edward is streaming as part of the <a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong Film Festival</a> from the 31st of March until the 6th of April.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DMUYt9i8V9s" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-79068634052977468592021-03-04T10:42:00.004-08:002021-03-04T11:02:22.335-08:00From Miyamoto to You Review 2019 宮本から君へ <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Jm3GCMo4VPpzlv3H05XknZ3nfuTi4BoYf5erXtA9uAYKEeTtg1qi_2NPL0Ez-89YBYtwiTIbct0MMLqZL6Z8RRsAMnOjp-hd4OXUiuR2qHt6F7sCCLxd9nnwLONzUwxvynxAu0j5Dra8/s800/From+Miyamoto+To+You+Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="566" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Jm3GCMo4VPpzlv3H05XknZ3nfuTi4BoYf5erXtA9uAYKEeTtg1qi_2NPL0Ez-89YBYtwiTIbct0MMLqZL6Z8RRsAMnOjp-hd4OXUiuR2qHt6F7sCCLxd9nnwLONzUwxvynxAu0j5Dra8/s320/From+Miyamoto+To+You+Review.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>Miyamoto 宮本から君へ</b><b> <br />Year: 2019 </b><b><br />Director: Tetsuya Mariko</b><b><br />Writer: Hideki Arai (manga), Tetsuya Mariko, Takehiko Minato</b><b><br />Cast: Sosuke Ikematsu, Yu Aoi, Arata Iura, Wataru Ichinose, Kenichi Matsuyama</b><b><br />Running Time: 129 minutes </b><b><br />Country: Japan</b><br /><p></p><p></p><p>Tetsuya Mariko's follow up to his 2016 controversial hit Destruction Babies is 'Miyamoto,' an adaptation of an award-winning manga and TV Mini-Series. Sosuke Ikematsu won the Kinema Jumpo Best Actor Award for his role in this film. <b><br /></b><br /><i>A quirky tale of high-octane love is told through the eyes of a
hot-blooded stationary salesman, Miyamoto (IKEMATSU Sosuke), as he falls
hard for Yasuko (AOI Yu) upon their introduction. At first using
Miyamoto to get rid of an unwanted boyfriend, Yasuko ends up growing
attached to the overzealous admirer and the two enter a relationship.
Soon however, their love is put to the test when he fails to protect her
from a violent assault and their volatile relationship devolves with
increasing pace until it reaches an explosive and melodramatic finale. (<a href="https://www.jpf-film.org.uk/films/miyamoto" target="_blank">Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme</a>)</i><br /></p><p>Going into this film blind made for an interesting experience. I had only seen the poster on the Japan Foundation website and underneath it was listed as "Quirky, Romance, Drama," so I had assumed it would be a Japanese romance similar to something like Cyborg She. This couldn't have been further from the truth. What I watched was an extreme, violent, unpredictable and sometimes humorous story dealing with themes of toxic masculinity (not a term I use often, but it is what it is). Looking back at the listing, there is a warning stating it features "scenes of a very strong violent/sexual/abusive nature." While the experience of the film is heightened when you watch it unprepared, I am glad they attached this warning because the sexual abuse scene is realistic and tough to watch. It completely caught me off guard and it might be distressing to people that don't watch as much violent cinema. </p><p>Hiroshi Miyamoto is played by actor Ikematsu Sosuke and he channels everything about this character. He spends most of the film either whispering nervously while he speaks or full-blown shouting while he is losing control of everything around him and seeking revenge. Even though he is a flawed character, and quite selfish, you will be rallying behind him by the end. His overall goal is to become more of a "man" and summoning up the bravery to protect his wife and have a happy relationship... Although, his reason for doing this is much more complicated than it originally seems. <br /></p><p>Yu Aoi is a wonderfully talented actress. Her strengths in convincingly handling the emotional scenes in Miyamoto are simply remarkable. Yu Aoi carries the weight of these events and adds much-needed depth to the serious issues that this film tackles. The sexual abuse and the fallout leaves many questions up to the viewer. What is the correct response and action? Is it more violence? It also challenges the viewer to question, are you are getting revenge for the person that has been wronged, or is it for yourself? <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh1ILUxKJR8MbclMfPHMNahytNPCbZR3isuZlGGm_VBZ0UO5Cw-h7ZoKEnjcCta63dY9nXxnnIqTCtYPAk71pw4CSSn5UOGUeXlipVT5xW9vRp7RoQYKfPZMa9BxUhlj6Y7BNHSfJJlRl/s640/%25E5%25AE%25AE%25E6%259C%25AC%25E3%2581%258B%25E3%2582%2589%25E5%2590%259B%25E3%2581%25B8++review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh1ILUxKJR8MbclMfPHMNahytNPCbZR3isuZlGGm_VBZ0UO5Cw-h7ZoKEnjcCta63dY9nXxnnIqTCtYPAk71pw4CSSn5UOGUeXlipVT5xW9vRp7RoQYKfPZMa9BxUhlj6Y7BNHSfJJlRl/w400-h266/%25E5%25AE%25AE%25E6%259C%25AC%25E3%2581%258B%25E3%2582%2589%25E5%2590%259B%25E3%2581%25B8++review.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br />For the most part, the storytelling is crafted very well. The pacing sags a touch in the middle but picks up for an enthralling finale. The non-linear plot adds to the suspense of the story as you are greeted by Miyamoto looking battered and bruised, and then discover what happened to him through a sequence of flashbacks. This enhances the overall unpredictability of the film, where you often assume the worst. It becomes a little convoluted at times, especially trying to figure out the current timeline. Thankfully, that never becomes a major issue, but a little more clarity would have been welcome at times. <br /><br />The antagonist of Takuma Mabuchi played by Wataru Ichinose is completely despicable in every way. There is no grey area involved with him. Takuma Mabuchi is exactly the driving force the film needed, and I don't think there will be one single viewer who doesn't want to see him get his comeuppance. The final confrontation between the protagonist and antagonist is brilliantly staged. It's a no-nonsense, realistic and violent brawl. It pulls no punches and some moments will have viewers squirming in their seats. The payoff is definitely worth the wait and viewers are rewarded with a thrilling piece of filmmaking. <br /></p><p>Miyamoto is a unique film. The clever marketing from the poster and synopsis, leave the majority to your own assumptions. This could also be seen as a negative, as some people might skip on it, believing it to be a general romantic drama. If you don't mind violence and dark themes in your films, this is worthy of watching and dissecting the meaning behind it all.<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>7.5/10<br /><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zOBFZTzzLTU" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Reviewed as part of <a href="https://www.jpf-film.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-1399036595334006552021-02-28T14:42:00.017-08:002021-02-28T15:20:31.824-08:00A Beloved Wife Review 2019 喜劇 愛妻物語<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bQXzQ6JyXj75Q7DQHf6NMH5zLPl5X5Fw2cdV_unMcvad7Tmv083Yu0gIQxZpJX4nc5iRtEhIFrKconNTAQTFRwJPaf6IhkmoMc7z3fTcxZUwgbAwe7bMGlFAxMb0PD2VFO5dddVC0gnu/s950/A+Beloved+Wife+Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bQXzQ6JyXj75Q7DQHf6NMH5zLPl5X5Fw2cdV_unMcvad7Tmv083Yu0gIQxZpJX4nc5iRtEhIFrKconNTAQTFRwJPaf6IhkmoMc7z3fTcxZUwgbAwe7bMGlFAxMb0PD2VFO5dddVC0gnu/s320/A+Beloved+Wife+Review.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>A Beloved Wife 喜劇 愛妻物語</b><b> </b><br /></div><b>Year: 2019</b><b> <br />Director: Shin Adachi</b><b> <br />Writer: Shin Adachi</b><b> <br />Cast: Gaku Hamada, Asami Mizukawa, Chise Niitsu</b><b> <br />Running Time: 115 minutes</b><b> <br />Country: Japan</b></div><p>Shin Adachi adapts his own semi-autobiographical novel focusing on the love/hate relationship of a married couple. Winner of the Best Screenplay Awards at the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival. <b><br /></b></p><p><i>Gota (HAMADA Gaku) is an unsuccessful screenwriter struggling to
catch his big break and is seemingly set upon in all areas of his life;
teetering on the brink of financial ruin, unable to push through a
relentless writer’s block, and besieged by a wife that openly despises
him while refusing all of his sexual advances. One day, despite strong
resistance from his wife (MIZUKAWA Asami), Gota drags his family on an
impromptu and ill-funded research trip in the hope that it will kick
start his career and improve his ailing marriage. (<a href="https://www.jpf-film.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Japan Foundation</a>)</i></p><p>Gaku Hamada is one of the most likeable and sympathetic actors in recent memory. For fans of Third Window Films, you will recognize him from a string of great movies, including Fish Story, Sake Bomb and See You Tomorrow Everyone. Gaku almost has a childlike immature quality and innocence, that always makes you feel compassion for him, even in A Beloved Wife when he is acting like a pervert. This simple story relies on both leads to be terrific, and thankfully they are.</p><p>Asami Mizukawa plays the role of the wife, and she is not a very easy person. I have to admit, while Asami was excellent in the role, and I know she was not supposed to be a completely likeable character. There were moments when her character became grating and I wondered why her husband would put up with it. Her constant abuse and put-downs become tiresome, even for the viewer. And it makes you wonder, why would this couple continue rather than break up? It could be in part, due to their daughter, who is completely adorable and offers some warming moments between the family. But, it appears there is more to the couple's relationship. Almost like they are playing a game. A game where Gota is abused but he either oddly enjoys it, or he puts up with it because he really wants sex. They both appear disappointed in their own life, and that is what is causing the friction. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSSnLzC_Av19g8uVelS9TcBNsgQI3emYoZrdjROp3Wq_tIToKjB8Hefwyxc1yysji5SRfPP4VbgJOGul-4Rt2F8d6ThdsHHGuIrzLhZ-GKUi8dNG_rASs9TntdlhWjpKX4rNzZTuO383Q/s1280/%25E5%2596%259C%25E5%258A%2587+%25E6%2584%259B%25E5%25A6%25BB%25E7%2589%25A9%25E8%25AA%259E+review.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSSnLzC_Av19g8uVelS9TcBNsgQI3emYoZrdjROp3Wq_tIToKjB8Hefwyxc1yysji5SRfPP4VbgJOGul-4Rt2F8d6ThdsHHGuIrzLhZ-GKUi8dNG_rASs9TntdlhWjpKX4rNzZTuO383Q/s320/%25E5%2596%259C%25E5%258A%2587+%25E6%2584%259B%25E5%25A6%25BB%25E7%2589%25A9%25E8%25AA%259E+review.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Most viewers will know people in a relationship like this one. Some viewers might even be in a similar relationship themselves. And that is one of the strongest elements of the film; realism. The portrayal of the characters, the way they talk and interact with one another, and their relationship habits are incredibly honest and realistic. Although they are played up to the extreme for comedic affect. <br /><br />The humour is awkward, at times very awkward. If you don't enjoy cringe, then it might not be for you. However, there are some great laughs to be had. The moments usually come from Gota when he is in full-on horny mode. Some of the situations he gets himself into, and the way he tries to use them as his ticket to sex, are genuinely eye-covering funny. On the other side of the spectrum, there are some very sweet comical moments between Gota and his daughter which should enact more of a playful chuckle. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">To stop the film from becoming too dark and depressing, most of it is set in Kagawa Prefecture. Featuring beautiful beach backdrops, it's a sharp juxtaposition of how toxic their marriage has become. There's also a lighthearted, bordering on comical score, which often lifts the mood and makes you forget about how unhappy the marriage has become... Until the fighting starts again. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are moments when A Beloved Wife shows more heart, usually during the flashback scenes, and it honestly starts to make you care for them both. I only wish there was more of this. Sometimes watching this film felt like a chore, and other times I wanted to reach through the screen and give them both a slap. When we view glimpses into their past, I felt more of a connection with their relationship, but these were few and far between. More of these moments would have done wonders for the pacing. It starts to become a bit of a burden at nearly two hours and would have benefited from a little trim around the edges. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>7/10</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k7_lfJbiD2U" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Reviewed as part of <a href="https://www.jpf-film.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-63532317900512672942021-02-11T14:24:00.002-08:002021-02-11T14:38:16.568-08:00Till We Meet Again Review 2019 Hong Kong 生前約死後<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzeZpk4KxgORwj80o1PS2o_6848dVFLfNAh5soYY5DH2Jz8YPd6Shi3n8tTxLfJM0Zn7whtXkQ8lptNmuC9yOT0kuNxY10LX4IpQdZCxMj8WVkyofrj97rtSJ3tYcqztGoAKgY67da4HS/s1500/Till+We+Meet+Again+Review+Hong+Kong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzeZpk4KxgORwj80o1PS2o_6848dVFLfNAh5soYY5DH2Jz8YPd6Shi3n8tTxLfJM0Zn7whtXkQ8lptNmuC9yOT0kuNxY10LX4IpQdZCxMj8WVkyofrj97rtSJ3tYcqztGoAKgY67da4HS/s320/Till+We+Meet+Again+Review+Hong+Kong.jpg" /></a></div><b><br />Till We Meet Again 生前約死後</b><b><br />Year: 2019</b><b><br />Director: Steven Ma</b><b><br />Writer: Steven Ma</b><b><br />Cast: Steven Ma, Josephine Ku, Jennifer Yu, Himmy Wong</b><span><b><br />Running Time: 97 minutes</b></span><span><b> <br />Country: Hong Kong</b></span><br /><p></p><span><b></b>Steven Ma directs this extremely personal story dealing with mental illness, which might be almost too dark and realistic. <b><br /><br /></b></span><i>Mui leaves her family after an irreversible mistake made by her son
Ka-wai. Years have passed, and Ka-wai is living a solitary life, now
working as a salesman, still trying to look for an explanation for it
all and desperately hoping to see his mother again. As the truth is
gradually unveiled, Ka-wai’s own world begins to crumble.</i><p></p><p>It's clear from the start, this is a story based on real experiences. Steven Ma, who wrote, directs and stars in this film, based it on his own battles with mental health and how he dealt with his mother's death.<i> </i>He literally wears his heart on his sleeve for this film and doesn't shy away from showing how scary it can be to live with a mental illness, especially if the help you are getting is not working. Steven Ma does a decent job acting throughout, he shines more in the mental breakdown scenes rather than the emotional moments with his family. <br /></p><p>The film doesn't focus on a plot, it's more about showing how dark the world can seem when you are dealing with grief and depression. And this is something the film is extremely successful at. There are moments throughout that are so troublesome and realistic, that it was tough to watch. The way they depict panic attacks is downright scary. This is eye-opening for someone that hasn't experienced this themselves. The sheer realism and not shying away from these elements, no matter how dark it gets, is something that needs to be applauded.<br /><br />While the story is a little bumpy, between the psychosis and the flashbacks, the film never becomes too confusing. In part this is due to the flashbacks being colour-graded differently from the rest of the film. If it wasn't for this subtle touch, it could become confusing as some of the flashbacks so long that you might forget as you slowly adjust to the visual style. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oFkO2NbxIYmrupI_sn6heT-6od0TNBI6NcRRwf8cIOo-65DwKiKW-vO5gwGFZ5gylP7Yc123-eTl1Vqx9ai3aSd5RNTAht4O4LuFiA7PYJZ4fgh4-E5pPW04ZahSsQhlhMAtNM3FhUrr/s1920/%25E7%2594%259F%25E5%2589%258D%25E7%25B4%2584%25E6%25AD%25BB%25E5%25BE%258C+review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oFkO2NbxIYmrupI_sn6heT-6od0TNBI6NcRRwf8cIOo-65DwKiKW-vO5gwGFZ5gylP7Yc123-eTl1Vqx9ai3aSd5RNTAht4O4LuFiA7PYJZ4fgh4-E5pPW04ZahSsQhlhMAtNM3FhUrr/w400-h225/%25E7%2594%259F%25E5%2589%258D%25E7%25B4%2584%25E6%25AD%25BB%25E5%25BE%258C+review.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oddly, there is something else going on which leads to a twist later on
in the film. This feels like it was added to give the film more of a cinematic feel. It's not clear if they thought the writing was more clever
than it actually is, because everyone can see this coming. It's not
bad, just very predictable. However, after the twist, they spend too
much time explaining what happened, but it's already crystal clear to viewers. They
could have cut out most of the explanation and the film work have
flowed better overall. Although the film is only 97 minutes, it could
have used a bit of a trim to fix some pacing issues.<br /><br />Problems
aside, this feels like an important film and story. It's one of the most realistic
portrayals of mental health issues problems that we have had on
screen. And while it might feel dark and depressing at times to watch,
that is how it keeps up its accuracy. Till We Meet Again might not be for
everyone, but if this is a topic of interest for you, then
there is plenty in here to digest.<br /><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>6.5/10<br /></b></p><p><br />Till We Meet Again is streaming as part of the <a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong Film Festival</a> from the 9th of February at 10:00 GMT until the 15th of February at 23:59 GMT.<br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mmmjI2iKt54" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-20267554693967338972021-02-10T13:31:00.008-08:002021-02-10T13:48:49.665-08:00Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down Review 2019 Hong Kong 夜香・鴛鴦・深水埗<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8IiT3OuyWRvhMgs8_WkQFbEv1l-F8PKV9rMZBG4fpOBnLiIh5W0yH40chEo42XrKH9XTzUJ9bZb4C3BzJoO97khOLAJctLq7Vr4DBSK1q2QBt5oXcRjNwwG729N8ggF2u7olDjHoqWl7/s707/Memories-To-Choke-On-Drinks-To-Wash-Them-Down-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8IiT3OuyWRvhMgs8_WkQFbEv1l-F8PKV9rMZBG4fpOBnLiIh5W0yH40chEo42XrKH9XTzUJ9bZb4C3BzJoO97khOLAJctLq7Vr4DBSK1q2QBt5oXcRjNwwG729N8ggF2u7olDjHoqWl7/s320/Memories-To-Choke-On-Drinks-To-Wash-Them-Down-poster.jpg" /></a></div> <br />Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down 夜香・鴛鴦・深水埗</b><br /></div><b>Year: 2019<br />Director: Leung Ming-kai, Kate Rilley<br />Writer: Leung Ming-kai, Kate Rilley<br />Cast: </b><span><b>Leong Cheok-mei, Mia Mungli, Zeno Koo, Lam Yiu-sing, Gregory Wong, Kate Reilly<br />Running Time: 78 minutes<br />Country: Hong Kong</b></span><br /><br /><i><span>Four stories (three fictional, one documentary) show how fiction and
fact, humour and drama, the personal and the political are contemporary
facets of the same ever-fascinating, complex, challenging realties that
constitute Hong Kong. Leung Ming-kai and Kate Reilly’s delightful
anthology captures the rich mix of cultures that defines Hong Kong in
lively and gently provocative fashion, following a diverse set of
characters from different backgrounds as they reminisce on the past
while looking to the challenges of the future. (<a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong</a>)<br /><br /></span></i><span>Memories to Choke On is an anthology film from two directors Leung Ming-kai and Kate Rilley. They work together to tell four different contemporary stories about life in modern Hong Kong. What is impressive about this film is how each story is completely different but they all feel incredibly real. It's basically a slice of life anthology. Each story focuses on a different aspect of Hong Kong life, ranging from immigrants, family, food and politics. <br /></span><i><span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span><br /></span></i><span>The first film depicts the story of an Indonesian caretaker looking after an elderly Hong Konger. The story could use a little more urgency, but by the end, it all comes together. The relationship between the characters is simple but charming. They have good chemistry and begin to form a bond over the fact they both came to Hong Kong as immigrants. This story might be the weakest of the bunch, but that does not mean it was bad per se.<br /><br />The second segment is arguably the best of them all. It's a simple story of two brothers hanging out in their mother's toy shop before she sells it to a new owner. The brothers browse through old toys and reminisce on memories of growing up and their mother's expectations of them. The style of this film stands out massively compared to the first. It's shot incredibly well, and they manage to capture the iconic urban city life. There are some stunning images of the characters walking by stalls and independent shops that looks like high-class night photography.</span><i><span><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69MK0MmrJghGqBvHAxuhLCE0gnI_MpbjglaRmvlEBp4YubFyYKFZlreprF9Zun4FOrDjhLXZAtjuovHeqG8ZbXO9hGf22zTYBiTj16WOA2CbRvbt85xaFeyBN34AJ-noNjUdoQYnN0iyz/s2048/memories-to-choke-on-drinks-to-wash-them-down-still-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69MK0MmrJghGqBvHAxuhLCE0gnI_MpbjglaRmvlEBp4YubFyYKFZlreprF9Zun4FOrDjhLXZAtjuovHeqG8ZbXO9hGf22zTYBiTj16WOA2CbRvbt85xaFeyBN34AJ-noNjUdoQYnN0iyz/w400-h225/memories-to-choke-on-drinks-to-wash-them-down-still-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></i><br />The third segment features the director Kate Reilly acting as an American living in Hong Kong as an English teacher. She meets another teacher on her first day, and they form a will-they-wont-they relationship. This story focuses on the differences between different races making Hong Kong their home, and it does this through a series of realistic and natural conversations. It's no secret to anyone that Hong Kong has some of the best food in the world. And if you are a foodie, this film will be a treat, as we get to see the characters going to eateries and sampling some of the best local dishes while their relationship blossoms. The structure of this film being non-linear can throw you off if you don't pay attention to the inserts explaining when it is taking place, and if you aren't familiar with when some of the Hong Kong holidays and events occur. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Surprisingly the fourth film is a documentary, which was a little jarring at first, but quickly becomes apparent on why it was chosen. The final film follows Jessica Lam as she runs for a job on the district council. This documentary works incredibly well because Jessica is such a charming and likeable person. She seems almost out of her depth running for a political office job, as she feels like a regular everyday person. But there is something fun and interesting about the way that she speaks and carries herself, that you can't help but cheer her on. It was a bit of a gamble finishing on a documentary, but it feels like the rightful ending.<br /><br />Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down works effectively as depicting Hong Kong today, for locals and for outsiders. While the film in total only runs for 78 minutes, the plot of some of the films, especially the first one, might be a little too breezy for some viewers. The stories can be a little challenging with their subtlety and require some thinking about what the true meaning behind them is. But for a film like this, that is part of the fun. Now, where can I find some Hong Kong style French toast? <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>7/10</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down is streaming as part of the <a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong Film Festival</a> from the 9th of February at 10:00 GMT until the 15th of February at 23:59 GMT.<br /><b> </b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-6qnbqQc0CA" width="560"></iframe><i><span><br /><br /></span></i></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-31742943542643270252021-02-09T16:42:00.018-08:002021-02-09T16:59:21.797-08:00A Witness Out of the Blue Review 2019 Hong Kong 犯罪現場<p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MrIojf2YelAghViOASMOY5EE1oOnR4l9g4sgQDQZzmD4NuoFk_-V2W9VobmzbJFZqk7TsOMkHdeXeXPXbCRS7eLm0wrclLbjawveR3rbVKFiPd1bSIdZWzsuiWI18yx37BPhBDbAcI2Z/s1000/kOveOf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MrIojf2YelAghViOASMOY5EE1oOnR4l9g4sgQDQZzmD4NuoFk_-V2W9VobmzbJFZqk7TsOMkHdeXeXPXbCRS7eLm0wrclLbjawveR3rbVKFiPd1bSIdZWzsuiWI18yx37BPhBDbAcI2Z/s320/kOveOf.jpg" /></a></b></div><b> <br />A Witness Out of the Blue 犯罪現場<br />Year: 2019<br />Director: Andrew Fung<br />Writer: Andrew Fung<br />Cast: Louis Koo, Louis Cheung, Jessica Hsuan, Cherry Ngan, Philip Keung<br />Running Time: 104 minutes<br />Country: Hong Kong</b><br /><br />Louis and Louis deliver great performances in this sleek crime thriller.<br /><br /><i>An offbeat award-winning Hong Kong murder mystery that’s part police
thriller and part Freudian psychodrama. After a criminal is found dead,
police suspect that the murder is linked to an earlier violent jewellery
store robbery, with the only witness being a talking parrot. Also known
as a screenwriter for Stephen Chow and Johnnie To, Fung Chih-chiang has
previously tackled the western, musical and media satire genres, and
continues to surprise with his highly entertaining fourth directorial
outing, which offers a fresh, fun perspective on the detective noir, and
boasts a fantastic ensemble cast.</i><p></p><p></p><p>Writer/Director Andrew Fung is back, and this time he dips his toes into the crime genre. While the script might seem a little convoluted, the mystery and performances are strong enough to keep the film entertaining throughout.<br /><br />The ever-reliable Louis Koo shines once again and proves to the haters why he seems to be in nearly every commercial Hong Kong film released in the past two years. Koo plays the character Sean Wong, a criminal with some heart. He's bad, but he's not all bad. Right? Wong is an intriguing character that has his faults but is still likeable. There is a side story with him living in an apartment with elderly people and a partially sighted woman that seems tonally different from the majority of the film. The main story is often pretty dark but they managed to provide some laughs and heartwarming moments with the introduction of these characters. The change in tones might be jarring for some people, for others it might be a welcome break.<br /><br />The rest of the main cast are all great in their roles. While Louis Cheung plays Larry Lam as a a good-guy cop, he's also not exactly good at his job. And this is something that works in the film's favour. Lam is constantly getting into bother or getting one-upped by criminals. But because they have established him as a nice guy, you end up anxious and fearing the worst for him. Philip Keung is another extremely reliable actor and he keeps viewers on their toes in his role as the Police Inspector. And last but not least, the parrot. The parrot is an interesting plot device that really starts to have more purpose later on, but it definitely has charm and made me laugh more than once. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94JkHc-NFqMLF_lZho7GU4pMx36f36iXaHp5UDJ2cFLvT6SAT4FfPYB_IJdtOekSImQv3O1yr5uiAyzZM8d-rPjvjYXP9I6EiIzhavA796nkXKL0U70lUGcpELEipDQSMhxpKmjI8EzaC/s700/0+fu2wCpFK3EaVAo-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="700" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94JkHc-NFqMLF_lZho7GU4pMx36f36iXaHp5UDJ2cFLvT6SAT4FfPYB_IJdtOekSImQv3O1yr5uiAyzZM8d-rPjvjYXP9I6EiIzhavA796nkXKL0U70lUGcpELEipDQSMhxpKmjI8EzaC/w400-h225/0+fu2wCpFK3EaVAo-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cinematography is good, but also plain. The film looks polished, but
also kind of flat. Some of the shots look great, but then some look repetitious. This might seem like nitpicking, but from a thriller
like this, you would expect more style. The look is very similar to a bunch
of recent Hong Kong films such as The White Storm 2 or Integrity. They
look fine overall, maybe even good at times, but it feels like they could do more stylistically. <br /><br />While the plot might be a little convoluted, it's also intriguing and full of twists to keep you engaged. Some viewers might be able to guess what is going on, but they throw enough at you to make you question yourself. There are some fun set pieces throughout to keep the action fans happy, and the conclusion of the film is very memorable. They manage to go out with a bang rather than a whimper.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>7/10<br /><br /><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">A Witness Out of the Blue is streaming as part of the <a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong Film Festival</a> from the 9th of February at 10:00 GMT until the 15th of February at 23:59 GMT.<br /></div><b><b><br /><br /></b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ormop5jYPRY" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-11435076988249633382021-02-09T08:25:00.015-08:002021-02-09T17:01:16.755-08:00The Empty Hands Review 2017 Hong Kong 空手道<p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLIWqDojWMLg9HMZ_T6rbzuUUCxQ4puOdPpdKC5ZObMk-k-0jPbaIKHkq4SJBFr0X9dQvM_xVx07RcSFkn2iOk9rhDnUMxTPWazaM341B4DU3-RFtypEj5D2Eetb48ifkJpoEQSV3Mq8a/s1000/the+empty+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="692" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLIWqDojWMLg9HMZ_T6rbzuUUCxQ4puOdPpdKC5ZObMk-k-0jPbaIKHkq4SJBFr0X9dQvM_xVx07RcSFkn2iOk9rhDnUMxTPWazaM341B4DU3-RFtypEj5D2Eetb48ifkJpoEQSV3Mq8a/s320/the+empty+hands.jpg" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />The Empty Hands 空手道<br />Year: 2017<br />Director: Chapman To<br />Writer: Chapman To, Erica Li<br />Cast: Stephy Tang, Chapman To, Yasuaki Kurata, Dada Chan, Juju Chan<br />Running Time: 87 minutes<br />Country: Hong Kong</span></span></b><br /><p></p><p><i>Mari is a Hong Kong girl with a Japanese father, a karate instructor who turned their home into a dojo to train his pupils, forcing her to practice as a child. Despite demonstrating great skill, Mari quits after being pushed too hard, growing up to be a directionless and angry young woman drifting through life. After her father dies, Mari decides to sell the dojo, though her plans are ruined when it turns out that he has left a controlling 51% share to former pupil Chan Kent, recently released from prison. At odds with Mari over the fate of the dojo, Chan Kent offers her a deal – if she returns to training and can survive three rounds in an upcoming match, he promises to sign his share over to her. </i>(<a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/film/the-empty-hands/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong</a>)</p><div><p></p><p>The Empty Hands is a difficult film to explain and truly do it justice. This is not a standard martial arts film. It's not even really a karate film. On one hand, it's an atmospheric arthouse character study that only uses karate as a way to connect and explore the characters. But on the other hand, the entire film works because it hinges on the meaning and discipline of karate. Similar to The Karate Kid and the popular Cobra Kai series, karate can be used as a form of motivation to improve your entire wellbeing. This is one of many ideas that this film explores.<br /></p><p>Chapman To has always been a great comedic actor. His roles in films such as Vulgaria and Men Suddenly In Black are hilarious and that's what he has become known for. I don't think anyone was expecting him to write, direct and act in a film as complex and sophisticated as The Empty Hands. Chapman is a blackbelt in karate and has always wanted to make a film featuring this martial art. You can sense this is a passion project from him in every aspect. </p><p>The main star Stephy Tang is outstanding in her role as Mari, she delivers a critically acclaimed, award-winning performance. Stephy trained in karate for six months and boxed 2 to 3 times a week to prepare for the role and it shows with her physicality and screen presence during the action. She is completely believable in the training and karate fights. But, Stephy also carries the emotional weight of the film. Her character has many layers and a lot of baggage. The relationship with her father is made heartbreaking at times by her excellent performance. For an actress that is known for starring in rom-com roles, she knocked this one out of the park. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiwsKffKlmW1MuxeNVrQDzr2mcYwyaR6_lWOi9qrhj8b1vUFKqKSMyor4Hgrmryj3Or73iqUG-vDK1EESfe-iIjwuV9U5KnXf6w9dfPLtcnQb1DbcFz9ZBSGm1Z6wr81bvPooihkE1P12/s1600/The-Empty-Hands-1600x900-c-default.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiwsKffKlmW1MuxeNVrQDzr2mcYwyaR6_lWOi9qrhj8b1vUFKqKSMyor4Hgrmryj3Or73iqUG-vDK1EESfe-iIjwuV9U5KnXf6w9dfPLtcnQb1DbcFz9ZBSGm1Z6wr81bvPooihkE1P12/w400-h225/The-Empty-Hands-1600x900-c-default.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>There are some moments and tropes that you've come to expect from
martial art films such as the training scenes. They feel extremely
effective and realistic here, and they never quite verge into a full-blown Rocky
montage. The fight scenes are not the main focus of the film, and they
are not as flashy as Hong
Kong's kung fu films, but they deliver something real. The fights are
shot up-close and personal, but often the composition is artsy and
unusual. It's an exciting mix of techniques. The sound design
is also superb throughout and they succeed in making you feel every single hit. <br /><br />The film is shot beautifully. There are stunning cinematography and subtle camera movements used to constantly keep the film moving and equally be visually pleasing. Some shots really stand out, such as gorgeous scenes of the actors performing karate katas in empty fields. The lighting style for some scenes might seem pretentious in another film, but it does not seem out of place here at all. <p style="text-align: left;">The dramatic themes but down to earth storytelling, championed by Stephy's performance are executed so well, that by the time it gets to the finale, you are emotionally involved for every single beat. At a neat 87 minutes, the film is incredibly brisk and appealing. Chapman To does a fantastic job controlling the structure and pacing of the film, it's remarkable to think this is only his second time directing. Hopefully, we can see more films like this from director Chapman To, and more performance like this from Stephy Tang. Superb.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>8.5/10<br /><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Empty Hands is streaming as part of the <a href="https://focushk.chinesevisualfestival.org/" target="_blank">Focus Hong Kong Film Festival</a> from the 9th of February at 10:00 GMT until the 15th of February at 23:59 GMT.<b><br /><br /></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SctWZveRn-A" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-84949983780649568392018-03-07T06:48:00.000-08:002018-03-07T06:48:26.022-08:00The Third Murder Review 2017 Japan 三度目の殺人<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq8Z6D8lXhCiKaUwbyE9YzBtOC8_Nct75CXqfTOLy6wLqkeqBnd1l9pBJFbWHS2uuNhfLhHi2Wy0vLzCCKtk4Fo28AOUbPJzAIy1G9w6L-mhwnMK_MebHrwMxQx2J0KrZCtHC1UFdz4zZ/s1600/The+Third+Murder+Koreeda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq8Z6D8lXhCiKaUwbyE9YzBtOC8_Nct75CXqfTOLy6wLqkeqBnd1l9pBJFbWHS2uuNhfLhHi2Wy0vLzCCKtk4Fo28AOUbPJzAIy1G9w6L-mhwnMK_MebHrwMxQx2J0KrZCtHC1UFdz4zZ/s320/The+Third+Murder+Koreeda.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<b>The Third Murder 三度目の殺人</b><br />
<b>Year: 2017</b><br />
<b>Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu</b><br />
<b>Writer: Kore-eda Hirokazu</b><br />
<b>Cast: Masaharu Fukuyama, Suzu Hirose, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Mikako Ichikawa, Izumi Matsuoka, Yuki Saito, Kōtarō Yoshida, Isao Hashizume, Kōji Yakusho</b><br />
<b>Running time: 124 minutes</b><br />
<b>Country: Japan</b><br />
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Japanese auteur Kirokazu Kore-eda's latest film is a break away from his usual gentle family-centric dramas instead opting for a complex murder mystery legal thriller.<br />
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<i>Misumi (Kôji Yakusho) has beaten and killed an industrialist. He turns himself in and confesses to the crime. The case could not be more straightforward until defence attorney Shigemori (Fukuyama Masaharu) arrives, determined to do all he can help his client avoid the death penalty. Challenging assertions, seeking out inconsistencies and refusing to take anything at face value, he seeks to obscure the truth in order to save his client. (</i><a href="https://glasgowfilm.org/shows/the-third-murder-nc-15" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Glasgow Film Festival</a><i>)</i><br />
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Kore-eda is undoubtedly one of the finest Japanese directors working today. His films have been consistent and received praise at film festivals from critics and fans alike. However, in spite of this, he has never managed to become one of the well-known Asian directors whose name is known worldwide to more of a mainstream audience like Miike or Kitano.<br />
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The Third Murder has performed very well in Japan; it did well at the box office and recently went on to win six awards at the 41st Japan Academy Prize. Including three big awards for Kore-eda himself for Director of the Year, Screenplay of the Year and Best Editing of the Year. It also took home the main award for Picture of the Year, as well as Best Supporting Actor (Koji Yakusho) and Best Supporting Actress (Suzu Hirose).<br />
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But is it any good? Short answer, yes. Is it as good as Kore-eda Hirokazu's other work? Short answer, no.<br />
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The film opens with Misumi played by veteran actor Koji Yakusho gruesomely murdering a man at night with a hammer. It's a startling introduction, and it informs the viewers they aren't in for a typical whodunit type of film. Instead, Kore-eda uses his slow-paced meditative style to unwrap a complex narrative of why he committed murder. There are many different theories and ideas placed throughout the film which will leave most viewers with different beliefs as they try to piece it together for themselves.<br />
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The script is expertly handled with the courtroom scenes and the scenes with lawyers interviewing witnesses really bringing the film to life with its sheer honesty and brutal reality. In preparation for making The Third Murder, Kore-eda brought together seven lawyers over several months and had them do mock interviews with a criminal and stage mock trials while he observed and studied their thought process and language. This idea paid off extremely well as it all feels incredibly accurate.<br />
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Some of the greatest scenes of the film involved the lawyer Shigemori interviewing Misumi behind security-glass. These would involve long takes with little to no camera movement with everything focusing on the characters facial expressions. Sometimes he would frame the scene where you could only see one of the faces and the other was just a reflection in the glass. This all adds the emphasis to how important these discussions are for the lawyer and just how frustrating it is for him to try to get to the bottom of this mystery as Misumi constantly changes his version of what happened.<br />
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Suzu Hirose actually shot to fame back in 2015 with her starring role in another Hirokazu Kore-eda film Our Little Sister. She was only 16 at the time of release but managed to deliver a stunning performance. Now, at the still young age of 19, she has somehow managed to improve leaps-and-bounds. If there is one actor or actress in Japan that I was to tell you to keep your eye on, it would be Suzu Hirose. I believe she is going to have an exciting future in the film business.<br />
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The only downside to the story is a subplot with Shigemori's daughter slows down the pacing of the film and can get a little muddy as the story overlaps with some similarities to Misumi's own story. The film might also be a little too 'talky' for mainstream viewers, which could turn them off before we get to the exciting climax. For those who are familiar with Kore-eda's filmography then this shouldn't be an issue at all.<br />
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The Third Murder tackles some interesting points and asks compelling questions about the legal justice system and the death penalty, which is still legal in Japan. Kore-eda may have written this as some social commentary towards these issues, as the ideas and themes will definitely linger in your mind long after you have finished watching.<br />
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<b>7.5/10</b></div>
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Written and reviewed as part of the <a href="https://glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival" target="_blank">Glasgow Film Festival 2018</a></div>
Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-34589821341791233132018-03-05T06:44:00.001-08:002018-03-05T06:44:17.251-08:00When The Promised Flower Blooms Review 2018 Japan さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>When The Promised Flower Blooms aka Let's Decorate the Promised Flowers in the Farewell Morning さよならの朝に約束の花をかざろう<br />Year: 2018<br />Director: Mari Okada<br />Writer: Mari Okada</b><br />
<b>Cast: Manaka Iwami, Miyu Irino, Ai Kayano, Yuuki Kaji </b><br />
<b>Music: Kenji Kawai<br />Running Time: 115 minutes<br />Country: Japan</b><br />
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Acclaimed screenwriter Mari Okada makes her directorial debut with a breathtaking animated fantasy feature. <b><br /><br /></b><i>The people of Iolph have a lifespan of hundreds of years and maintain their teenage appearances for life. When an army invades their peaceful town, seeking Iolph blood and the secret of their longevity, a young girl named Maquia is forced to escape. Wandering the land alone, she encounters an orphaned baby in the forest. Maquia chooses to raise him, but as the boy grows older, her looks remain the same, throwing the difference in their lifespans into ever-sharper focus. </i><a href="https://glasgowfilm.org/shows/lets-decorate-the-promised-flowers-in-the-farewell-morning-nc-15" target="_blank">(Glasgow Film Festival)</a><b><br /></b><br />
Although this is Mari Okada's directorial debut, she is no stranger to the Japanese animation world. She has worked as a screenwriter for hits such as Basilisk and Fate/Stay Night and worked on many other successful shows such as CANAAN, Black Butler and Vampire Knight. I believe working on a variety of different genres has helped her first attempt as a director because When The Promised Flower is something of a genre-bender itself. Combining elements of fantasy, action, drama and coming-of-age, Mari managed to create something truly epic.<br />
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The film features some beautiful animation with the backdrops being the main stand out! They have created a beautiful fictional world which takes place on locations such as an island that looks similar to Themyscira from Wonder Woman to a city that is reminiscent of a location from Game of Thrones. These are simply breathtaking to just sit back and admire as the characters explore them. While the main characters themselves might not be as aesthetically pleasing and are more minimalist than what you would see in a Ghibli film, they still seem to work very well with this style and genre.<br />
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The meat of the story focuses on the main character Maquia and her relationship with her adopted son Erial. Their relationship starts off cute and cuddly with Erial being a baby right through to boyhood, featuring some hilarious and often touching moments between them. However, things get more complicated as he gets older, grows taller and goes through his teenage years on his way to manhood, yet his mum still appears to look like a teenage girl. This is when the story gets deep and ventures into some heart-wrenching scenes. While not everyone can relate to being immortal, everyone can relate to the changing relationships between parents and children as they grow up.<br />
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There are also a couple of wonderfully crafted action scenes spread throughout the film which keeps the flow of the film going at a steady pace while also keeping you interested and alert. They could have benefited from another big action scene, but the film already has a near 2-hour run-time and I don't think they wanted to go overboard.<br />
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Because the Iolph people are immortal, the story will often leap forward years ahead which can sometimes be a little jarring. Some of the characters don't stand-out as well as others which can leave you confused trying to figure out who is who. However, because of this plot aspect, they manage to create some compelling, powerful and intriguing storytelling which wouldn't be feasible otherwise. <br />
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Kenji Kawai took control as the musical composer and really lifted the film to give it the feel of a huge blockbuster film. Kenji Kawai has lent his hand to many massive anime films including Ghost In The Shell and The Sky Crawlers. However, he has also ventured into live-action, composing for films such as Ringu and the massive Ip Man series starring Donnie Yen. Kenji has created a score that fits the film's emotion perfectly while also suiting the medieval setting, and although there are only a few big action scenes, the music really brings them to life. The main title song Viator by Rionos is enchanting and when it plays at the end I overheard more than a few people bubbling away in the theatre. <br />
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The film has a few issues for the climax with many false-endings and some over-clarification. I believe the viewers will have already figured it out without them rehashing points and explaining it again. The film manages to redeem itself with their real ending though, which is what viewers will have been waiting patiently for. <br />
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When The Promised Flower Blooms is truly magnificent! It's an incredible story of a relationship between mother and son which just so happens to be set in a stunning Game of Thrones-esque fantasy world! Highly ambitious, extremely moving, at times hilarious and completely beautiful from start to finish. <br />
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<b>8/10<br /><br /></b><i><a href="https://twitter.com/AllTheAnime" target="_blank">All The Anime</a> are releasing When The Promised Flower Blooms in select UK and Ireland cinemas on 27th June.</i><b><br /><br /></b>
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<i>Screened and reviewed as part of the <a href="https://glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival" target="_blank">Glasgow Film Festival 2018.</a></i></div>
Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-82002883056224248242018-02-28T09:50:00.000-08:002018-02-28T10:31:47.851-08:00Mary and the Witch's Flower Review 2017 Japan メアリと魔女の花<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><br />Mary and the Witch's Flower メアリと魔女の花<br />Year: 2017<br />Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi<br />Writer: Riko Sakaguchi and Hiromasa Yonebayashi<br />Based On: The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart<br />Running Time: 103 mins<br />Country: Japan<br /></b><br />
The debut film from Japanese animation company Studio Ponoc screened at the Glasgow Film Festival 2018 in both original Japanese language with English subtitles and the newly produced English dub.<br />
<b><br /></b><i>The director of When Marnie Was There returns with a thrilling animated adventure based on the Mary Stewart classic The Little Broomstick. Mary is sent to live with her great aunt in the countryside. Venturing into the woods, she discovers a mysterious blue flower that only appears once every seven years, and an old broomstick. Soon she is soaring beyond the clouds to a city in the sky where Madam Mumblechook presides over the Endor College of Magic. An absolute charmer that young and old alike will love. (<a href="https://glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival" target="_blank">Glasgow Film Festival</a>)</i><br />
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Back in 2014 Studio Ghibli announced that it would stop making films after Hayao Miyazaki decided to retire and the company came under financial hardship. There was a missing void in high-quality hand-drawn animation that many feared wouldn't be replaced. But several of the most talented alumni behind Studio Ghibli decided to join forces, start their own production company Studio Ponoc and create animated films in the same traditional fashion. The name Ponoc comes from the Serbo-Croation word for 'midnight' which is meant to signal the beginning of a new day.<br />
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Hiromasa Yonebayashi has the all-important job of directing their first feature film. After his successful and highly acclaimed 'Arrietty' and 'When Marnie Was There', Yonebayashi once again returns to the tried-and-tested formula of adapting a British novel to Japanese animation.<br />
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On the surface, the film appears to combine elements from classics Kiki's Delivery Service and Castle In The Sky mixed with the wizardry of Harry Potter. Die-hard Ghibli fans will be keen to notice moments or visuals which are lifted from films like Spirited Away, The Cat Returns and Princess Mononoke, almost like they are paying homage. There is also a scene featuring a kid with glasses trying to fly a broom who shares a striking resemblance with Harry Potter, this has to be completely intentional!<br />
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As you would expect, Mary and the Witch's Flower is full of vibrant, bright and stunning animation. The backdrops and scenery are beautiful and lifelike. The style and technique looks very Ghibli-esque but it still has some of its own unique flavour. The soundtrack is handled by composer Muramatsu Takatsugu, who also scored Yonebayashi's last film When Marnie Was There, and it is a real highlight of the film. The soundtrack fits the world wonderfully, bringing the drama and action to life with its magical sound. The music also really helps build up the suspense and action towards the climax.<br />
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The humour and jokes are handled extremely well with some genuinely great laughs throughout. The cat duo of Tib and Gib are excellent comic relief. Their mannerisms and movements are used to add some real comical humour and the animators managed to capture exactly how cats act and move in real life. Like a Disney film, there are plenty of jokes for adults and children, there were many children in attendance during this screening and they were laughing loudly at many of the gags.<br />
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One of the main issues with the film is that the world they have created and its lore is just too large to develop over one movie. It would have ideally worked better over two or three films or maybe even an anime series. The introduction to Endor College for Witches is fascinating and there is some time spent there, but you end up craving more before it's quickly abandoned to further the story. Mary's dilemma and intentions are also never really fully explored or realised, she doesn't have enough drama or consequences in her life, it almost just seems like another day to the protagonist as she never really learns or develops as a character. <br />
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The screening I attended was the original Japanese language, which was handled extremely well. But I believe Mary and the Witch's Flower could be seen in either the original Japanese language or the English dub. The film
is based on an English book, it's set in England and the characters have
English names. I haven't watched the English dub but judging from the
trailer the new English voice cast seems to suit the film very well. It
could be one of those rare animes which can be enjoyed fully either way.<br />
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An excellent stepping point for Studio Ponoc which will draw in the fans of Studio Ghibli while hopefully creating some new fans of their very own. The film isn't ambitious as it could have been but maybe playing it safe was the best option for the beginning of this new company. If their future films are as good as or can improve on Mary and the Witch's Flower then their new work could be truly spellbinding.<br />
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<b>7/10</b></div>
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<i>Screened and reviewed at <a href="https://glasgowfilm.org/glasgow-film-festival" target="_blank">The Glasgow Film Festival 2018</a></i></div>
Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-65791630167594077082018-02-12T14:32:00.000-08:002018-02-12T14:53:09.060-08:00City of Glass Review 1998 Hong Kong 玻璃之城<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>City of Glass 玻璃之城<br />Year: 1998<br />Director: Mabel Cheung<br />Writer: Mabel Cheung, Alex Law<br />Starring: Shu Qi, Leon Lai, Daniel Wu, Nicola Cheung<br />Running Time: 110 mins<br />Country: Hong Kong</b><br />
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City of Glass was another commercial success for the tried and tested team-up of director Mabel Cheung and writer Alex Law. But can it match up to their other hits such as An Autumn's Tale, Eight Taels of Gold and The Soong Sisters? <br />
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<i>Raphael (Leon Lai) and Vivien (Shu Qi) tragically died in a car accident on their way to a New Year's celebration in London, England. They met and fell in love during their days at the University of Hong Kong in the 1970s, but many challenges and obstacles would often come between them. In the present day, after their funeral, Raphael's son, David (Daniel Wu) and Vivien's daughter, Susie (Nicola Cheung) met for the first time and go on a journey together to discover more about their parent's secret lives.</i><br />
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Following two extremely different love stories, a nostalgic romance in the past and a fresh romance in the present. One story is about destiny and tragedy while the other is more uplifting and positive. Although the film is well written and the characters are extremely likeable, the shifting between stories and time affects the overall drama and impact that the film could have had. It also somewhat hinders the authenticity of the story as Shu Qi and Leon Lai's characters appear to age extremely well. With that being said, Shu Qi is thoroughly engaging and possibly one of the most beautiful screen actresses of all time.<br />
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The film is full of stunning still moments with excellent cinematography, dazzling art direction and gorgeous locations, especially capturing the nostalgia of the seventies. Mabel Cheung manages to brilliantly take this period of energetic youth and excitement and frame it all beautifully. The musical soundtrack fits the film perfectly, the choices of songs really set the mood and feelings of the scenes. Leon Lai's rendition of Try to Remember will be lodged in your brain after watching and no doubt you will be humming it for days. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbc2_t0ye2twyCLCqPnCTzOkheoqdeiuQcsoAtJgR5i95PE03LooO9vItn-UAlaOQtesS-wvr5w6oDhnOgYJfNZ3bzJXxgEqHX0VI-n20jjS-eMJPTFkY2R8CDI5mFndnpaucm6ajwAG_/s1600/City+of+Glass+Review.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbc2_t0ye2twyCLCqPnCTzOkheoqdeiuQcsoAtJgR5i95PE03LooO9vItn-UAlaOQtesS-wvr5w6oDhnOgYJfNZ3bzJXxgEqHX0VI-n20jjS-eMJPTFkY2R8CDI5mFndnpaucm6ajwAG_/s1600/City+of+Glass+Review.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1432" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbc2_t0ye2twyCLCqPnCTzOkheoqdeiuQcsoAtJgR5i95PE03LooO9vItn-UAlaOQtesS-wvr5w6oDhnOgYJfNZ3bzJXxgEqHX0VI-n20jjS-eMJPTFkY2R8CDI5mFndnpaucm6ajwAG_/s320/City+of+Glass+Review.png" width="320" /></a><br />
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David and Susie are played very well by Daniel Wu and Nicola Cheung. Both are fun characters with a story which unfortunately doesn't receive as much time to blossom. With more development, their romance and side story could have really felt more important. Even with less screen time, the young actors manage to showcase and capture the self-doubt of the Hong Kong youth, some of which is still prevalent to this day.</div>
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City of Glass has a lot going on, some of the side-stories and plot devices add to the story, like the Diaoyu Islands dispute, but you are left wondering if it was really needed for the overall story. But in contrast, the Hong Kong handover is used during the story with Wu and Cheung's characters and it embodies the feeling of the whole film. Both sets of love stories can be used as a metaphor for the end of British rule in Hong Kong and the handover to China with an uncertain future ahead.<br />
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Overall, it's a flawed film but definitely worth watching. The story, romance and light melodrama are commendable but it's more of a stunning cinematic showpiece with exquisite performances from Shu Qi and Leon Lai that really makes the film feel significant.</div>
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<b>6.5/10</b></div>
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-31163908327331319972018-01-21T12:16:00.001-08:002018-01-21T12:20:50.553-08:00Il Mare Review 2000 South Korea 시월애<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<b><br />Il Mare 시월애<br />Year: 2000<br />Director: Lee Hyun-seung<br />Writer: Yeo Ji-na, Kim Eun-jung, Kim Mi-yeong, Won Tae-yeon<br />Starring: Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae<br />Running Time: 96 mins<br />Country: South Korea<br /></b><br />
Il Mare is the Italian translation for "The Sea" which is the name of a beautiful house which both protagonists live in but tragically they are separated by two years in time.<br />
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<i>Eun-joo (Jun Ji-hyun) moves out of her house "Il Mare" on the lead up to Christmas in 1999. She leaves a Christmas card in her mailbox for the future owner, asking them to forward any of her mail to her new address in the city. Sung-hyun (Lee Jung-jae) is the original owner of "Il Mare", he moves into the house in 1997 and discovers the Christmas card in his mailbox from Eun-joo, it is signed with the date 1999, Believing it to be a joke, Sung-hyun writes her back telling her so and reminds her that it's actually 1997. The two eventually realise that they live in the same house but are separated by two years of time, after discovering that they can communicate through the mailbox, they start to bond through the letters they send each other.<br /><br /></i></div>
Jun Ji-hyun has superstar written all over her in this performance but she actually didn't become a megastar until a year later with the release of My Sassy Girl. Il Mare surprisingly did poorly at the box office but later developed a big following among Korean film fans after the home release and Jun Ji-hyun's popularity explosion. It's now regarded as a bit of a classic! Lee Jung-jae and Jun have great chemistry even though they hardly spend any screen-time together. You really believe in both characters and root for them to overcome their obstacles to meet and be together.<br />
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Il Mare is a stunning film with exceptional cinematography and stunning locations. The beach and the house sets are breathtaking and inspiring. It really makes you want to live in a location similar to this. The locations for the film were Ganghwa Island's Sukmodo and Jeju Island's Udo, I'm not sure if these are popular locations for movie-fans to visit, but if they aren't then they should be.<br />
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The beach setting and calm pacing, topped with a beautifully relaxing piano musical score give the film a tranquil feeling and peaceful vibe. The story and subplots also develop organically at a slower pace which allows viewers the time to piece together clues and absorb every little detail. That being said, the story involving two different timelines can be puzzling at times and a second watch really does the plot justice!<br />
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For fans of modern Korean dramas, there is plenty to keep you entertained and plenty of familiarities. The story has many dramatic moments and tears will be shed. Il Mare has similar beats, ideas, acting and pacing. It also has an engaging plot from beginning to end which will keep you emotionally invested.<br />
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In 2006 Hollywood attempted a remake of Il Mare titled The Lake House starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. It really doesn't come close to the original, especially by simplifying the ending. Avoid it and seek out the far superior original!<br />
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<b>8/10</b></div>
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-36341889878324624272018-01-11T15:52:00.001-08:002018-01-12T09:44:08.749-08:00Best Asian Films of 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2017 was another brilliant year for Asian Cinema! Although not as strong as 2016 which had many record-breaking films also doing well worldwide. 2017 has been a varied year with countries like Hong Kong having a strong showing, Thailand producing a huge award-winning film, China continuing to make brilliant and terrible films which are both very popular and South Korea came nowhere near to their string of hits they produced last year (The Wailing, Train To Busan, The Handmaiden, Inside Men, The Tunnel).<br />
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That being said, there are still many films from 2017 that I haven't had a chance to see or that hasn't been released in the UK yet. But from what I have seen, this is a list of my favourites.<br />
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<b><u>10. Wolf Warrior 2 (China) (IMDB - 6.4/Rotten Tomatoes - 70%)<br /><br /></u></b><br />
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kjVDINb05TpWemm2UuhNi1fP_G2bISN8qT8lPk-vCxwcVGk5Isl0ekNB61-L0H5FdpJELPlGE0h4y5ozYF0Qna7F6SC6L2tENWiFznixb9Hkkil2qx28m1453v-e__o9faJ5tCthHOnW/s1600/best+asian+movies+2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kjVDINb05TpWemm2UuhNi1fP_G2bISN8qT8lPk-vCxwcVGk5Isl0ekNB61-L0H5FdpJELPlGE0h4y5ozYF0Qna7F6SC6L2tENWiFznixb9Hkkil2qx28m1453v-e__o9faJ5tCthHOnW/s400/best+asian+movies+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></b>Wolf Warrior 2, the Chinese action film directed by and starring Wu Jing became the highest grossing film in China of all time, completely smashing the previous record set by The Mermaid. (<a href="http://temptasianfilm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/wolf-warriors-2-review-2017-china-2.html" target="_blank">My full Review here</a>)<br />
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<i>After the events of Wolf Warrior, Leng Feng (Wu Jing), China's deadliest special forces operative settles into a quiet life on the sea. When sadistic mercenaries begin targeting nearby civilians, he must leave his newfound peace behind and return to his duties as a soldier and protector. A Chinese destroyer arrives to evacuate strictly Chinese civilians caught up in the middle of the civil war, but after overhearing guards talking about needing someone to rescue workers at a factory and an important doctor who knows the vaccination for Lamanla, Leng Feng volunteers.<br /><br /></i>It is extremely interesting to a Chinese film almost mimic the formula for big-budget Hollywood films and do it so well. It's similar to films such as Rambo but told from the Chinese political perspective. The action scenes are brilliant especially the introduction featuring some cleverly shot underwater fight scenes. The special effects and CGI are mostly handled very well and the story never sags as there is always some action only a few minutes away.<br />
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Wu Jing shines in this role and finally becomes the film-star he deserves to be after being a sideman in many previous great Hong Kong and Chinese action films.<br />
<b><br /></b><b><u>9. The Outlaws (South Korea) (IMDB - 7.1/Rotten Tomatoes - NA)<br /><br /></u></b><br />
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTe3Qnrgic-vDIPOZiK2FJ4XCCSBmVUX2NWa3IDUX66LQqv_YJV_2y1Tmu6AC4aRTUOHHuxtGQfZPhsrE4odId2AiKBTOrxhKxCDyHNS-oYoXcS7B0lYYGiYhxQI9lmg-PoHysDkLG3GU/s1600/The+Outlaws+Korean.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTe3Qnrgic-vDIPOZiK2FJ4XCCSBmVUX2NWa3IDUX66LQqv_YJV_2y1Tmu6AC4aRTUOHHuxtGQfZPhsrE4odId2AiKBTOrxhKxCDyHNS-oYoXcS7B0lYYGiYhxQI9lmg-PoHysDkLG3GU/s400/The+Outlaws+Korean.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></b>The Outlaws is a crime film based on real events from 2007 known as the Heuksapa Incident, revolving around a turf war between a local gang that runs the Garibong-dong neighbourhood and an up-and-coming ruthless Chinese gang.<br />
<b><br /></b><i>A local gang war is on the verge of eruption. Jang Chen is a Chinese loan shark in the Chinatown area of Seoul and is backed by his two terrifying henchmen Wei Sung-Rak and Tang-Tae who use brutal methods when collecting money. When Jang Chen makes his move to take over the local gang's turf of Garibong-dong, a local bruiser detective Ma Seok-do tries to keep the peace while stopping the local gang warfare.</i><br />
<b></b><b><br /></b>Ma Seok-do is played brilliantly by Ma Dong-seok, most people will know the actor as his role in Train to Busan as the tough-guy husband who is on the train with his pregnant wife. Incredibly well suited for the role mainly due to his macho appearance and the way he carries himself. Ma Dong-seok has a build that makes him look like a tough rugby player or a bouncer, which makes the role of the tough-cop extremely believable as he enters scenes and slaps about the bad guys like they are cannon fodder. <br />
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The story is equally as compelling due to the villains of the film. Jang Chen and his two henchmen really do commit some horrible acts in the film, so much though so that they aren't even likeable bad-guys, they are genuinely chilling and horrifying characters that you are praying they get caught before they do anything else.<br />
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The Outlaws is a familiar plot, in a familiar story and setting but it's the characters and the style that are its real driving force for making it still seem like a fresh film.<br />
<b><br /><br /><u>8. Blade of The Immortal (Japan) (IMDB - 6.8/Rotten Tomatoes - 85%)<br /><br /></u></b><br />
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFP_udr75-eLG-xwAx_1-p1bq5buGuTFCQmh-C4cZmaQ7HETioXLUa-WGlSprwwRHD59DS4jEijRhYkuCz6Km5nqCCkah5Rckz5-ePbobVYUZObvWjOonB407LsZQmkxn4-gGXaU1IPF4/s1600/Blade+of+the+Immortal+film.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFP_udr75-eLG-xwAx_1-p1bq5buGuTFCQmh-C4cZmaQ7HETioXLUa-WGlSprwwRHD59DS4jEijRhYkuCz6Km5nqCCkah5Rckz5-ePbobVYUZObvWjOonB407LsZQmkxn4-gGXaU1IPF4/s400/Blade+of+the+Immortal+film.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></b>Takashi Miike marked his 100th film by returning to two genre's he is already familiar with (manga adaptations and the samurai genre) for the completely bonkers over-the-top and highly entertaining Blade of The Immortal.</div>
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<i>A highly skilled Samurai called Manji becomes cursed with immortality after a legendary epic battle. After meeting a young girl named Rin, he decides to help her avenge her parents who were killed by a group of swordsmen led by Anotsu. Still haunted by the murder of his sister, Manji realises that fighting evil and helping Rin will help regain his soul.</i><br />
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Miike is still one of the most exciting directors working today! During the 90s and early 2000s, he released many fascinating films, often breaking boundaries and going against the mainstream with shock cinema. But for the past 10 years or so, he has directed some films that are a lot more commercial and not up to his usual standards. Many of his fans believe his last truly great film was 2010's 13 Assassins or 2011's Hara-Kiri. So it would make sense for him to return to the Samurai genre once again.<br />
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If you are looking for a film filled with many bloody battles and fight scenes then this film definitely delivers. Featuring many huge battles with one vs over one-hundred, it sometimes reminds you of a video-game like Dynasty Wars as Manji cuts down victim after victim. There's also some more low-key skilful Samurai Swordplay fights shot with stunning cinematography for the real Samurai enthusiasts. <br />
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For the Miike fan's who are more into his crazy side. Fear not, Blade of the Immortal often ventures into the downright bizarre especially in scenes with characters losing limbs. There is also a fair share of laughs delivered in a shock black-humour type of fashion which will leave you shaking your head while you laugh out loud.<br />
<b><br /><br /><u>7. Duckweed (China) (IMDB - 6.5/Rotten Tomatoes - 100%)</u></b><b><b><br /><br /></b></b><br />
<b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTTp5iU_4CWCBw6pQZuv7aJLPeYcytjLWtyN24U_0UbF3XbYm5W0cu_ztOBaTo3Z2WPQIepwrAXTC1OTjEIFP8z2y_iYuB-fM_hgT0-6Be-vWceDbM-D5YUMChEKVz7rYWl1rX-34cEB9/s1600/Duckweed+review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTTp5iU_4CWCBw6pQZuv7aJLPeYcytjLWtyN24U_0UbF3XbYm5W0cu_ztOBaTo3Z2WPQIepwrAXTC1OTjEIFP8z2y_iYuB-fM_hgT0-6Be-vWceDbM-D5YUMChEKVz7rYWl1rX-34cEB9/s400/Duckweed+review.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></b></b>Duckweed was released for the Chinese New Year but fortunately, it doesn't descend into the usual idiotic nonsense that they are known for. Instead of slapstick comedy, Duckweed puts a smile on your face with nostalgia. <br />
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<i>Xu Tailang is a champion rally driver who after unfortunately being involved in a massive car accident is transported back in time to 1998. Waking up, the year before he was actually born, Tailang accidentally bumps into his father Zhengtai. In the 90s his father was a hoodlum who ran a lame gang and ran a small Karaoke bar. When Tailang realises the women, his father is dating isn't his mother, he quickly goes about trying to break them up while also finding his real mum.</i><br />
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The best thing about Duckweed is that it never takes itself too seriously. Ignore logic and just enjoy this trip to a simpler easy-going time. The director may have borrowed plot points from American 80s cinema, especially Back To The Future, but the film is also steeped in 90s Chinese pop-culture. From the fashion to the films they watch and emulate, there are many references to 90s Hong Kong films. The gang that Zhengtai often act like they are starring in a John Woo film especially with their attitudes to brotherhood.<br />
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The 1990s do not seem that long ago, but the world has changed and moved so quickly. Gone are the days of groups of guys hanging out and eating dinner and drinking beers while telling stories, because now everyone has a mobile phone glued to their hand. And that's what this film celebrates. Many people didn't want to change and move on and there are also mentions of them from characters who collect videotapes or stock up on the essential pagers.<br />
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The idea of going back in time and meeting someone who unfortunately died before you got the chance to meet them will always tug at the heartstrings. But going back in time and hanging out with your father while you are both the same age, seeing how he became the person that you know him as today is equally as gripping, interesting and emotional.<br />
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<b><b><u><br />6. Memoir of a Murderer (South Korea) (IMDB - 6.9/Rotten Tomatoes - NA)<br /><br /></u></b></b><br />
<b><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssl76TXjd8UQki4B6H9OQL_6Y_PNDw2OZZCKKPJc4WrkgdjnY4cC-IEc1ELR4m5hTnCVlpNkpGy8aJ22Dxlq6AovgGpViS5b4kN7H91lA_paGQstzkN5v-LlQa5265nNTR6UWHuEfjDLy/s1600/Memoir+of+a+murderer+korea+review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="860" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssl76TXjd8UQki4B6H9OQL_6Y_PNDw2OZZCKKPJc4WrkgdjnY4cC-IEc1ELR4m5hTnCVlpNkpGy8aJ22Dxlq6AovgGpViS5b4kN7H91lA_paGQstzkN5v-LlQa5265nNTR6UWHuEfjDLy/s400/Memoir+of+a+murderer+korea+review.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></b></b>South Korea definitely makes the best serial killer films on the planet. And with Memoir of a Murderer director Won Shin-yun still manages to keep the genre fresh and interesting.<br />
<b><b><br /></b></b><i>Veterinarian Byeong-Soo was a former serial killer who reluctantly gave up killing after an accident seventeen years earlier. Now he is being plagued with dementia and Alzheimer's setting in which is quickly erasing his old memories. After getting into a car accident with Min Tae-joo he immediately recognises that he is also a killer. When he discovers his daughter is dating Tae-joo he battles to keep him away, but in doing so he also must battle his own memory which he no longer trusts.</i><i><br /><br /></i>Memoir of a Murder is an excellent example of how to do a serial killer thriller but still keep it feeling new. Not just dealing with a game of cat and mouse, and the themes of murder and serial killers, the film also tackles the confusing subject of memory loss and how the mind works. Imagine catching someone in the act; you know they are a killer, you go to the police to inform them but by the time you get there you completely forget what you were going to tell them in the first place. That's how frustrating and scary life is for Byeong-soo who only wants to protect his daughter.<br />
<b><b><br /></b></b>Sol Kyung-gu has a great outing as an ageing serial killer. He almost becomes unrecognisable in his weathered broken down role. His mannerisms are also great, as the film progresses you witness him struggle more and more with his memory but you also see changes in his appearances such as his slight facial tick which develops more and more to the stage of it being similar to Takeshi Kitano's immediately following his real-life accident.<br /><br /></div>
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Memoir of a Murderer is a dark and brutal thriller reminiscent of popular films from the Korean new wave which will keep fans of that era happy. Featuring elements and plot devices similar to films like Memories of Murder, I Saw The Devil and Oldboy, although unfortunately it never quite hits the same heights.<b><b><br /></b><br /><br /><u>5. A Silent Voice (Japan) (IMDB - 8.2/Rotten Tomatoes - 91%)<br /><br /></u></b><br />
<b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXfgL3f6Bw_GpqddZ2sOcZ27puPuJJmg1SFFnKPFlWZH8hSqlbz6PAkfxcPuZuW1nJsrd6FIePsK7HGeotVTI2ce9Yp3TUTQgFEJc8i85gMroVHQdAIbFxKKqYqTDk4GezhcndcJ0HrIi/s1600/a+silent+voice+review.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="800" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXfgL3f6Bw_GpqddZ2sOcZ27puPuJJmg1SFFnKPFlWZH8hSqlbz6PAkfxcPuZuW1nJsrd6FIePsK7HGeotVTI2ce9Yp3TUTQgFEJc8i85gMroVHQdAIbFxKKqYqTDk4GezhcndcJ0HrIi/s400/a+silent+voice+review.png" width="400" /><br /><br /></a></u></b><br />
Released in 2016 in Japan but released everywhere else in 2017. A Silent Voice is one of the most mature, honest and emotionally charged anime films ever made. <a href="http://temptasianfilm.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/a-silent-voice-review-2016-japan.html" target="_blank">(my full review here)<br /><br /></a><i>A Silent Voice revolves around elementary school student delinquent Shoya Ishida. When a hearing impaired girl Shoko Nishimya transfers to the school, she starts to get bullied, especially from Ishida. Several years later he meets her again and sets himself on a path to redemption by trying to make it up to Nishimya and to help reconnect her with her old classmates that she never had the chance to befriend.</i><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>Tackling many different subject matters such as bullying, suicide, redemption, friendship and love. A Silent Voice is one of the most ambitious anime films ever made. Without using giant robots or time travel or fantasy, it achieves its deserved praise by focusing just on raw human emotions. Bullying is the main subject of the first act. Often shown lightly and during montages, some of these scenes are actually surprisingly amusing. But you soon realise that this poor girl is being bullied, and it's really not funny at all. Any feeling of amusement you had quickly changed to anger as Nishimya is tormented by her classmates. It's hard to think of an anime film that brings out so many feelings of outrage and pain while you watch on helplessly.<b><u><br /><br /></u></b>The animation style of the characters and backgrounds are completely stunning. Although there are animes out there with higher production values, which might look technically better. A Silent Voice is bright and sparkling and beautiful to look at. The film's soundtrack fits perfectly. It might open with a bang as My Generation by The Who kicks off the intro. The audio then transitions into a lighter soundtrack with piano and soft musical scores which suits the underlying themes and tones.<b><u><br /><br /></u></b> A Silent Voice is a must-see for anime fans. It wasn't as popular or as accessible as other recent emotional anime films such as When Marnie Was There and Your Name. But while maybe not as big, A Silent Voice delivers something much deeper. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if every school student was sat down and forced to watch A Silent Voice then this world could be a much better and kinder place.<br />
<b><br /><br /><u>4. Let's Go Jets! (Japan) (IMDB - 7.1/Rotten Tomatoes - NA)<br /><br /></u></b><br />
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Um3Xep72QJ0_JbN4PF8LxM6SR5_ZXSkjR0SBmuz1gZupe8KTiTfuAJ2nw4gwI1GxndQCNtgfD9gdu0FicPYfp3TAgUUNRwDQ6NWgFVM-w55ZCjuj1rlPx6H0_6cqAtvUtHIOsJ9hwJFM/s1600/Top+10+Asian+Films.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Um3Xep72QJ0_JbN4PF8LxM6SR5_ZXSkjR0SBmuz1gZupe8KTiTfuAJ2nw4gwI1GxndQCNtgfD9gdu0FicPYfp3TAgUUNRwDQ6NWgFVM-w55ZCjuj1rlPx6H0_6cqAtvUtHIOsJ9hwJFM/s400/Top+10+Asian+Films.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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One of the most surprising films of the entire year for me was a film about Japanese cheerleaders. Based on a true story of a cheerdance club from Fukui High School in Japan who made it to the national competition in the USA in 2009.<b><br /><br /></b><i>High School Girl Hikari Tomonaga joins the cheerdance club at Fukui Chuo High School because she thinks it will make her cooler while also impressing her crush Kosuke Yamashita. The cheerdance club is still finding its feet after being recently converted from a baton twirling club. The girls must deal with an ultra-strict instructor Kaoruko Saotome and her many rules, as she announces that their goal is to compete at the National USA Cheerdance Championship.</i><b><br /><br /></b>The driving force and backbone behind the entire film is a show-stealing performance from 19-year-old Suzu Hirose, whose claim to fame was a stunning role in Our Little Sister (2015). It's an incredibly energetic performance that draws you in. She really becomes the character she is playing. The instructor backs Hikari because she sees something special, her smile, her charisma, her aura. Fortunately, the actress embodies all of these aspects because it makes the story all the more believable.<br />
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Let's Go Jets! Takes the coming-of-age sports drama formula and manages to make it incredibly charming, extremely funny and at times deeply moving. Laughs are had and tears are shed... All over some girls becoming cheerleaders!<br />
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This unique and quirky take on a school cheerdance club is achieved by taking an American institution and transporting it to Japan and seeing it uniquely through their eyes. Think less of Bring It On! and imagine more of the 2004 Japanese comedy Swing Girls meets the 2002 Japanese sports-drama Ping Pong!<br />
<b><br /><br /><u>3. Bad Genius (Thailand) (IMDB - 7.9/Rotten Tomatoes - 92%)<br /><br /></u></b><br />
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj861blh0_Ei83JLG-HnMOR641CZI02rI9JoBxoAUMWaJLNK3Tcz3K3yL9LwSzFQPpp-T6S1LuWIj_Z3JD-xq3uSUdEo1UGLNKXppgCkiD4yAYwGfLj2LgLZEJ_BAPcxwpEdpDng3JdKBHC/s1600/top+10+asian+movies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj861blh0_Ei83JLG-HnMOR641CZI02rI9JoBxoAUMWaJLNK3Tcz3K3yL9LwSzFQPpp-T6S1LuWIj_Z3JD-xq3uSUdEo1UGLNKXppgCkiD4yAYwGfLj2LgLZEJ_BAPcxwpEdpDng3JdKBHC/s400/top+10+asian+movies.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></b>Another surprise hit for 2017 was the Thai film Bad Genius. When most people think of the best Thai films they will think back to Tony Jaa's Ong Bak and The Warrior King or maybe even their horror film's like Shutter. But their biggest hit in years is a drama about students who cheated on exams.<br />
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<i>Lynn is a genius High School student who receives a scholarship to a prestigious school because of her high intellect. After befriending a few of the wealthier students and offering to help them on their exams, she quickly realises she can make money by helping them cheat. After a few successful schemes, they decide to take the cheating to the next level by going to Sydney, Australia, and helping her friends back in Thailand cheat the international STIC(SAT) exams.</i><br />
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On the surface Bad Genius is a modern-day heist film, think Ocean's Eleven meets The Social Network. It's a clever, extremely tense thriller with nail-biting, intelligent, neatly woven set-pieces which just so happen to take the normal heist setting and transport them to a student exam room. The production looks fantastic and very slick to give it the feel of a huge-scale thriller.<br />
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The cast all does a tremendous job, especially Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying who is likeable and relatable in the lead role. She is believable as a genius who would resort to helping these students cheat exams but at the same time still being a sympathetic character that you want to succeed. The rest of the cast all have great chemistry with all the school friends bouncing off of each other and creating some very enjoyable and funny scenes together.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm8927531/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" itemprop="url"><span class="itemprop" itemprop="name"></span></a>Bad Genius is a real crowdpleaser. It became the highest grossing film in Thailand in 2017 then went on to do extremely well across Asia breaking many box-office records for a Thai film. It's hard to place exactly why a teen-comedy meets a high-stakes thriller was such a success with fans and critics, but Bad Genius just simply works on every single level.<br />
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<b><br /><u>2. Mad World (Hong Kong) (IMDB - 7.4/Rotten Tomatoes - NA)<br /><br /></u></b><br />
<b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjq2wWinfyFE_8eLPINVtetLMt6IaxeyCyDnbRRTj1olojBFwx7aS1mULChC0EZ42zmzW5-gTl3iLs4PFe3ZkcYOgT-OvkBaWOBa6T0TrbXlipwrSkeWn-GbOKPQEcSWgL5lCjmLcd-o4/s1600/Mad+World+Review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="980" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjq2wWinfyFE_8eLPINVtetLMt6IaxeyCyDnbRRTj1olojBFwx7aS1mULChC0EZ42zmzW5-gTl3iLs4PFe3ZkcYOgT-OvkBaWOBa6T0TrbXlipwrSkeWn-GbOKPQEcSWgL5lCjmLcd-o4/s400/Mad+World+Review.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></u></b>For his directorial debut, Wong Chun managed to convince Eric Tsang and Shawn Yue to star is a low-budget drama dealing with the issues of mental health and the problems of living in an urban society.<br />
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<i>Tung, a mentally ill financial analyst suffering from bipolar disorder is suddenly discharged from hospital and has to adjust to now living with his estranged father. Tung is struggling to reconcile with his ex-fiancee while dealing with the cloud of his mother's death who was also diagnosed with bipolar. The former financial analyst tries to find a new job and gain control of his life with support from his father. </i><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>Mad World was shot in Hong Kong in just over two weeks on a shoe-string budget of $258,000 USD. This speaks wonders for the power of the brilliant script written by Florence Chan, so much so that it would attract a star cast of Eric Tsang and Shawn Yue with support from Elaine Jin and Charmaine Fong. The storytelling is personal and ambitious. It never shies away from social stigmas. It takes the issues of fear and intolerance towards mental health and tackles them head-on.<br />
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The heart of the story revolves around Tung and his father's relationship. Drawing off of each other's emotions, the film is filled with extremely powerful scenes between the two leads, many tear-jerking moments that are deeper than any melodrama as they will stay with you, make you think and maybe even challenge your own beliefs or attitudes towards these subject matters.<br />
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So far Mad World has won a total of 13 film awards at the big Asian Film award shows, and it's received even more nominations. It was selected as Hong Kong's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards but unfortunately, it wasn't selected. An exciting break from genre films from Hong Kong which will hopefully inspire other local filmmakers to tackle more risky projects.<br />
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<b><u><br />1. A Taxi Driver (South Korea) (IMDB - 7.9/Rotten Tomatoes - 95%)</u></b><br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="739" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GmYNoTgDXREOhKZAJxS3iNij7Q_SUD5Y9Kjqeu0bZ7kWpRcvtLNw2wlbr7MZgaUk45kongZvxuuJ58IA-j7gjAQj84X3ZDqNoMvlQTDzQkXW3vNeJLBnhYOUA0ti7QJ3tl0aR-Hjp940/s400/A+Taxi+Driver+Review.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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A Taxi Driver is a South Korean historical drama based on the true events of the Gwangju Democratization Movement from May 1980.<br />
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<i>In 1980, a foreign journalist Hinzpeter hires a down-on-his-luck taxi driver to take him to Gwangju, South Korea. They soon arrive to find a city under siege by student protesters and the military. After witnessing a street demonstration being met with tear-gas and military brutality, Hinzpeter is determined to record footage and smuggle it out to be shown by a German news channel.<br /><br /></i><br />
Directed by Jang Hoon who helmed the 2011 war epic The Front Line and starring the ever-reliable Song Kang-ho, who is now arguably one of Korea's finest actors after delivering excellent performances in a string of hits such as JSA, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, Memories of Murder, The Host, The Good, The Bad and The Weird, Thirst, Snowpiercer and The Age of Shadows. Essentially everything he touches turns to gold and A Taxi Driver is no exception. His onscreen team up with German actor Thomas Kretschmann is perfect and it's actually dumbfounding how great their chemistry is together considering the number of barriers between them.<br />
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For a historical drama, the story is still filled with some genuinely heart-warming moments including seeing the locals coming together, embracing the foreigner and the sheer pride they convey in their goals. There are also some excitingly tense scenes featuring the protagonists trying to escape the overpowering military, especially one long car chase which would rival any action film.<br />
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A Taxi Driver is extremely captivating, powerful, informative and moving from start to finish. The film is opening doors in South Korea to look into the events that took place during the uprising which has never fully been revealed. It's also a great tool for the rest of the world to learn about a moment in modern history that most will be completely unaware of. It's an educational gut-wrencher which deserves to be witnessed by everyone.<br />
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<u><b>Honourable Mentions</b></u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIrZeETb3zHUlIXyfEOR5LDukVDifEZXoYC76H5eg6uN0yWa3UfwqsDepKEtHtuslpSikgtITmhONt_4QmyXdhax2teJQzccD-mT_H6bTYHAblBc4dXUMCkJAv9lQ7uGkf4SOPE6tUft9/s1600/best+asian+films+2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1296" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIrZeETb3zHUlIXyfEOR5LDukVDifEZXoYC76H5eg6uN0yWa3UfwqsDepKEtHtuslpSikgtITmhONt_4QmyXdhax2teJQzccD-mT_H6bTYHAblBc4dXUMCkJAv9lQ7uGkf4SOPE6tUft9/s400/best+asian+films+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a><u><b> <br /><br /></b></u>I
have 4 honourable mentions. Films that were originally in the top 10
but unfortunately got knocked off the list. First honourable mention is <b>Headshot</b>,
the Indonesian martial arts film starring Iko Uwais from The Raid fame
and directed by the Mo Brothers(Killers). Fans of The Raid and Merentau
will love the brutal relentless action! The film was actually released
in 2016 but in the UK we never got it until 2017, which is why it never
made the list. The third instalment in the SPL series <b>Paradox </b>was
another big box office hit in Asia in 2017. A great Hong Kong
action film with an excellent dramatic and physical performance from
Louis Koo. Fans of the SPL series and martial art fans, in general, will
be pleased! South Korean action comedy <b>Confidential Assignment</b>
was another film that was just edged out of the list. The 3rd biggest
film at the Korean box office of 2017. Think Rush Hour but instead of
Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan teaming up, it's a South and North Korean.
Some great action scenes & shoot-outs and this one is genuinely
funny! The last honourable mention is <b>Shock Wave</b>. This Hong Kong
action thriller directed by Herman Yau and starring Andy Lau was viewed
by many as Hong Kong's first proper Blockbuster. Filled with many
impressive engaging action set-pieces and fairly great special effects,
Shock Wave is an entertaining film looking at the work of the bomb
disposal unit. <br />
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So there we have it. My top 10 of 2017! As previously said, there are still loads of films I haven't seen yet from '17. But if there is one you feel strongly about being excluded, then let me know.<br />
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Let's see what 2018 has in store for us!</div>
Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-44505983114791924262017-12-17T11:55:00.003-08:002017-12-17T12:47:14.087-08:00Asian Christmas Films Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="720" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3f0-QXt49wQ7LUp8796PCbCsWaqfmiECzGEDtTDdSDPXwl8fUPcpBuyuw8sOWS0v8xr3q092qTZ2sOkoznmlPVxfZDofOt88tE6swqscX4-bkfklDyiG8Ghg8cF2kDsrCp5PTN7Og6gn_/s400/kfc-for-christmas-japan.png" width="400" /></div>
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Back in 2013, I wrote an article highlighting <a href="http://temptasianfilm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/asian-christmas-films.html" target="_blank">3 of my favorite Asian Christmas films</a> from Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. After rewatching
more this year, I figured a follow up was due with 3 more of my
favourites! So sit down in front of the TV with your family, grab a
Christmas KFC and some mulled wine and let the holiday festivities
begin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1If652EXJmriET433upJK6LFujsUrrEQmgqNKfZkYtPCqRyMxRu0OWUgATqAHVfcmnYetUu8BwOWTdrKfFw9NjwkSsgG06ndYa-Ca6R7zyfG9jfY3iBcZur0NUmBTUjJLMT7afCgjDIoH/s1600/Japanese+Christmas+Film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1If652EXJmriET433upJK6LFujsUrrEQmgqNKfZkYtPCqRyMxRu0OWUgATqAHVfcmnYetUu8BwOWTdrKfFw9NjwkSsgG06ndYa-Ca6R7zyfG9jfY3iBcZur0NUmBTUjJLMT7afCgjDIoH/s320/Japanese+Christmas+Film.jpg" width="213" /></a><b>すべては君に逢えたから<br />It All Began When I Met You<br />Year: 2013<br />Director: Katsuhide Motoki<br />Writer: Atsuko Hashibe<br />Cast: Hiroshi Tamaki, Rin Takanashi, Fumino Kimura, Masahiro Higashide, Tsubasa Honda, Miwako Ichikawa, Saburo Tokito, Nene Otsuka, Nenji Kobayashi and Chieko Baisho<br />Running time: 106 minutes<br />Country: Japan</b><br />
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In 2013 Japan released their Love Actually inspired romantic Christmas film. Following 6 different semi-interlinking stories focusing on 10 different characters in the lead up to Christmas. The film revolves around the location of the magnificent Tokyo Station which was used in celebration of its 100th anniversary.<br />
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<i>The characters and their stories feature a wide range of diversity. A train driver has received the news that his illness has left him with only 6 months left to live and he is faced with the difficult decision of telling his son. A long-distance relationship between a fashion designer in Tokyo and a construction worker in Sendai is facing some real tough issues. Will they be able to resolve their schedules and meet each other for Christmas? A miserable company president with severe trust issues meets a woman at a restaurant in Tokyo Station. He believes all women are only after his money but that accusation doesn't sit well with the woman. A 7-year-old girl who lives at an orphanage hopes and prays that her mum will come back to pick her up for Christmas. The owner of a cake shop at Tokyo Station is reminded of a promise she made to her partner 49 years ago while she watches one of her part-time workers nervously try to approach her crush.</i><br />
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The romantic element of "It All Began When I met You" is actually more suited for the Japan setting than it is for the British setting of Love Actually. In Japan, Christmas not being a national holiday, is actually more about couples and dates than it is about family. Many singles desperately try and find someone they can date and spend Christmas with.<br />
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While the film may play out like a romantic comedy. The film is actually far from it. Some of the stories are sad and others are downright tragic. Plus some of the "love" stories feature some characters acting like jerks. Some of the stories don't quite touch the heart as much as they should, but still does a fair job of feeling Christmassy and some of the stories shine on their own!<br />
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A solid Christmas film with great performances and a beautiful setting. You will laugh, you will cry and probably cry again.<br />
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<b>7/10</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Bj2JcQV4-tQ95iMkvRvhuApsyP2HbIgeEMzrZRF8EekRDCLJB7F8d-9tGQJ4788raAMV6exFFgYN_rXUo5yjw79LPNZTFri1MYViHWxtExIlGnDSaONYh4uj4E4V7euDs4-MjgN-fBZx/s1600/The+Tower+Korean+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Bj2JcQV4-tQ95iMkvRvhuApsyP2HbIgeEMzrZRF8EekRDCLJB7F8d-9tGQJ4788raAMV6exFFgYN_rXUo5yjw79LPNZTFri1MYViHWxtExIlGnDSaONYh4uj4E4V7euDs4-MjgN-fBZx/s320/The+Tower+Korean+Movie.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
<b>타워</b><br />
<b>The Tower</b><br />
<b>Year: 2012</b><br />
<b>Director: Kim Ji-hoon</b><br />
<b>Writers: Kim Sang-don, Heo Jun-seok</b><br />
<b>Cast: Sol Kyung-gu, Kim Sang-kyung, Son Ye-jin</b><br />
<b>Running time: 121 minutes</b><br />
<b>Country: South Korea</b><br />
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2012 saw the release of the surprise Christmas disaster film, The Tower, inspired by The Towering Inferno(1974). Set on Christmas Eve in Seoul and released on Christmas Eve across South Korea on Christmas Day. It's not exactly your everyday standard festive film, think of this one as more of a Die Hard or Batman Returns.<br />
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<i>It's Christmas Eve at Tower Sky, a luxury twin-skyscraper in central Seoul as the staff and president prepare for a massive Christmas party. Dae-ho the maintenance manager has a crush on the restaurant manager Yoon-hee, which often causes him to screw up in her presence. Dae-ho's daughter arrives for the Christmas party, but he has to leave her in the care of Yoon-hee as he is forced to deal with security issues including a faulty sprinkler system. While everyone is enjoying the party, the Sky Tower manager dazzles the guests with fake snow being dropped from above from hired helicopters. However, strong winds cause serious disaster as one of the helicopters loses control and crashes into one of the towers. Raging fires soon begin to spread across the building, engulfing floor by floor. Veteran firefighter Young-ki leads the fire department to the scene to try and stop the disaster.</i><br />
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The Tower is easily one of the best disaster films in years. While most disaster films struggle to hold the viewer's attention in the opening act while they patiently wait for the action and chaos to start, The Tower manages to be entertaining from the very start. All of the characters are intriguing and their stories as captivating as you try to suss out who will become the heroes and who will be the victims. The pacing is frantic with none of the acts really dragging out or leaving you bored.<br />
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For being a lower budget film than Hollywood counterparts, all of the visual and special effects are brilliant. The scenes with the fire spreading are genuinely scary as are the exploding flames. The film often leaves you feeling on edge and tense and almost claustrophobic as the fire surrounds all the poor guests.<br />
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The film definitely has it's Christmas moments. From the party setting, to the Christmas music to the family drama and romance. The first half hour introduces you to the characters and makes you care for them. The next hour and a half is an adrenaline rush and those characters you now care about trying to survive. If you are looking for a 2 hour no-nonsense gripping thrill-ride this Christmas then this one is for you.<br />
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<b>7.5/10</b><br />
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<b>MIRACLE デビクロくんの恋と魔法</b><br />
<b>Miracle: Devil Claus' Love and Magic</b><br />
<b>Year: 2014</b><br />
<b>Director: Isshin Inudo</b><br />
<b>Writers: Kou Nakamura (novel), Tomoe Kanno</b><br />
<b>Cast: Masaki Aiba, Nana Eikura, Han Hyo-Joo, Toma Ikuta, Hitori Gekidan</b><br />
<b>Running time: 115 minutes</b><br />
<b>Country: Japan</b><br />
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The most original film on the list is easily Miracle: Devil Claus. Not being based on or inspired by another movie but based on an original Japanese novel, this makes Miracle feel all the more uniquely Japanese.<br />
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<i>A bookshop worker Hikari(Masaki Aiba) is extremely kind and reserved, not really getting himself out there, his kindness often makes him look pathetic to others. Hikari dreams of becoming a successful manga artist and he spends his free time spreading mysterious flyers called "Debikuro Communication" around the city. He meets a girl one cold winter night that he immediately falls for. Anna(Nana Eikura) has been Hikari's best friend ever since they were children but she secretly wants more from him. It turns out she works with the girl that had the chance encounter with Hikari, a successful lighting designer So-Young(Han Hyo-Joo). Meanwhile, Kitayama(Toma Ikuta) who was friends with Hikari is back in town, he is now a popular manga writer and his life is just about to cross with Hikari once again.</i><br />
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The Devil Claus from the title is actually a fictional character that Hikari creates for one of his manga comics. The character pops up from time-to-time as an animated cartoon character in a real-world setting, looking like a similar effect to Roger Rabbit. It is only Hikari that can see him like an imaginary friend, offering wisdom and often added to scenes for great comic effect.<br />
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While not being as cliche as you might first think, it is still a somewhat familiar story of misunderstood love and finding your way, set to the backdrop of Christmas. The story has just enough Christmas and romance to be in that genre without becoming to sickly-sweet. Pretty predictable from start to finish, it never pretends to be anything more than a fun Christmas drama. This is one that will certainly leave you feeling in the Christmas spirit and maybe even hoping for a Christmas miracle.<br />
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<b>7/10</b><br />
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So there we have it. Another Christmas is nearly upon us. But there is still some time to sit down with a few festive films and get into the spirit of the holidays.<br />
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!<br />Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-58095173718118094212017-08-22T10:31:00.003-07:002017-08-22T10:46:59.867-07:00Wolf Warriors 2 Review 2017 China 战狼2<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpVr1rlmtcpOydq8CCamd1dIQaJca5wrvWw2IAf64erWSLJOwyexUrm3VfOnyChuvk7o1y140wH78BI3DrZFiOj3L4_tM54Y6leRAoMVoTXUUpPBMYZ3vemh-8BqkaDqg7-o_4vIm4cPv/s1600/Wolf+Warrior+2+Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpVr1rlmtcpOydq8CCamd1dIQaJca5wrvWw2IAf64erWSLJOwyexUrm3VfOnyChuvk7o1y140wH78BI3DrZFiOj3L4_tM54Y6leRAoMVoTXUUpPBMYZ3vemh-8BqkaDqg7-o_4vIm4cPv/s320/Wolf+Warrior+2+Review.jpg" width="228" /></a><b><br />Wolf Warrior 2 战狼2</b><br />
<b>Year: 2017<br />Director: Wu Jing<br />Writers: Wu Jing, Dong Qun, Liu Yi</b><br />
<b>Cast: Wu Jing, Celina Jade, Frank Grillo, Hans Zhang, Wu Gang</b><br />
<b>Running Time: 121 Minutes<br />Country: China</b><br />
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2017's surprise blockbuster hit Wolf Warrior 2 is one of those rare cases of the sequel not only being better than the original but surpassing the film in every single way.<br />
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<i>After the events of Wolf Warrior, Leng Feng (Wu Jing), </i><i>China's deadliest special forces operative settles into a quiet life on the sea. When sadistic mercenaries begin targeting nearby civilians, he must leave his newfound peace behind and return to his duties as a soldier and protector. A</i><i> Chinese destroyer arrives to evacuate strictly Chinese civilians caught up in the middle of the civil war, but after overhearing guards talking about needing someone to rescue workers at a factory and an important doctor who knows the vaccination for Lamanla, Leng Feng volunteers.<br /></i><br />
Viewers will realise within the first few minutes if this film is for them. Kicking off with an immense fight scene between Wu Jing and Somali pirates which takes the fight into the ocean. Cleverly orchestrated, they are submerged underwater into one of the best underwater-fight scenes ever filmed, which is neatly edited to look like one take. It's fun, ridiculously over the top and sets the tone for what's to follow for the next two hours.<br />
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Many viewers and critics had issues with the original Wolf Warrior, mainly due to its propaganda feel and the fact it came across like a recruitment video for the Chinese army. This sequel essentially strips all that away. While still being highly Nationalistic, it actually works to the plot and doesn't feel quite as contrived. The film has less in common with The Founding of a Republic and it's more in line with a Chinese version of Rambo. Wu Jing directs the film, as well as starring once again. Wu has improved leaps and bounds as a director and this time he keeps the plot simple and straight to the point, which allows the story to flow without the need to ever over-complicate things. If at any time your mind starts to wander during some of the character development scenes, don't fret because there is another exciting action scene right around the corner.<br />
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The location of Africa is also a fresh setting for the series, while not explicitly stating which country the film is set in, it's only ever mentioned as Africa. The setting emerges the viewer right into the heart of Africa. Full of wild interesting locations, including the slums which play host to an exhilarating car chase. There's also the introduction of some very fun African characters. There is a touching relationship with a boy that Wu Jing becomes a godfather too. The boy and his mother are both hilarious characters and inject some humour into the violent action story. The stereotypes of some of the Africans may be bordering on offensive to some, but it all seems in good fun.<br />
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Wolf Warrior 2 is probably the best action film of the year thus far! It's filled to the brim with some breathtaking action scenes and set-pieces throughout. The action is on a huge scale and with great stunt work that would make a Hong Kong stuntman proud. There are highly intricate martial arts hand-to-hand fights which Wu Jing shines throughout. There are also plenty of shoot outs full of a wide variety of guns and tanks, topped off with knife fights and loads of explosions. Some of the action scenes are ridiculously over the top, such as Wu Jing stopping a bazooka in the most ridiculous yet entertaining way possible. But that's all part of the fun! Suspend your disbelief and have some fun. Although Scott Adkins is missing from the film, Frank Grillo steps up and plays an excellent villain. Grillo also helps deliver a brutally skilful final fight-scene with Wu Jing which doesn't disappoint at all.<br />
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Remain in your seat after the film is finished for a mid-credit Marvel-esque teaser scene that reminded me of a Coors Light commercial... And will give fans of the series something to look forward to.<br />
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Wolf Warrior 2 is a highly entertaining film. If you like your old school action films, this is for you. It's fun from start to finish and the action never lets up. Given all of this, it's really not a surprise that the film is doing so well at the box-office. As a side note; this is the first time in years, outside of festivals, that I've watched a film in the cinema that received a round of applause.<br />
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<b>7.5/10</b></div>
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<br />Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-55282940950067245762017-08-20T06:40:00.004-07:002017-08-20T06:59:39.536-07:00Once Upon A Time 三生三世十里桃花 Review 2017 China<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<b>Once Upon A Time - Shi Li Tai Hua - 三生三世十里桃花</b><br />
<b>Year: 2017</b><br />
<b>Director: Zhao Xiaoding, Anthony LaMolinara</b><br />
<b>Starring: Liu Yifei, Yang Yang, Luo Jin, Yan Yikuan</b><br />
<b>Based on: Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossoms by TangQi Gongzi</b><br />
<b>Running Time: 110 mins</b><br />
<b>Country: China</b></div>
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Once Upon A Time is the latest Chinese CGI-heavy fantasy-romance drama. Big budget Chinese films brimmed of CGI have become increasingly popular over the years but with many previous films not having special effects up to Hollywood's standard, how does Once Upon A Time compare?<br />
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<i>This is the story of Bai Qian, a goddess and monarch from the Heavenly Realms. In her first life, she was the disciple of Mo Yuan. Due to a devastating war, Mo Yuan’s soul was destroyed while sealing the Demon Lord. Seventy thousand years later while Bai Qian was trying to reseal the Demon Lord, she was sent to the mortal realm to undergo a trial to become a High Goddess. There, she meets Ye Hua with whom she falls in love and eventually married. However, their love ends tragically. Many years later, the two star-crossed lovers meet again as deities but all her memories have been erased due to her request. Ye Hua, who is now a crown prince black dragon 90,000 years younger than Bai Qian, gets a second chance at love with her.</i><br />
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Sounds confusing? Well, it is. Prior knowledge of the original book "Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossoms" or maybe even the TV series would have helped. But with this being my first time discovering this story, I was left scratching my head a few times. The confused identities, the forced romance and the convoluted plot would work better over the 58 episode TV series. The enormous task of trying to cram all of this story into under 2 hours was always going to be tricky. That being said, the 2 directors almost manage to pull it off, with only a few of the ideas not entirely clicking. The story revolves around two seemingly star-crossed lovers who continue to encounter each other over numerous lifetimes, in its simplicity. Keep telling yourself that.<br />
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Surprisingly Once Upon A Time is actually beautiful to look at. Shot almost entirely against green-screen with limited physical sets and props, the visuals are stunning! Being co-directed with visual-effects artist Anthony LaMolinara, whose credits include Hollow Man and Spider-Man 1 and 2, appears to have certainly helped in that department. The backdrops all look mesmerising and seem to go on for miles; the visual-effects creatures look more real than what most Chinese films have to offer. The costumes are also exquisite with many remarkable embroidered outfits and complex hairstyles which are worthy of recognition. The same praise can be given to the music which is full of traditional sounding Chinese instruments and reminiscent of big blockbuster scores from films such as House of Flying Daggers.<br />
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The two lead characters Liu Yifei (Bai Qian) and Yang Yang (Ye Hua) are both great in their respective roles. There is good on-screen chemistry between them and their love story is charming, even if it does seem a little contrived at the beginning. Once you discover more about these complex characters and their stories unfold with twists and turns, it ultimately results in some emotional and heart-warming scenes delivered from the pair.<br />
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Another exciting aspect of the film is the action scenes. There is more action in the film than the trailers and advertising would lead you to believe. Some of these are executed fairly well with fun wire-fu sword fighting magic and battles with CGI monsters including a tiger, a dragon and some bizarre giant earth-tree creature. All of these are a welcome break from the drama and they give your brain time to recover.<br />
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The film is flawed but still enjoyable overall. With many good elements to it, especially being a treat for your eyes and ears. The plot is bewildering but eventually, the main points become clear and allow you to relax and soak it all in. If you like big fantasy fairy tales then you will enjoy this one, but make sure you keep your thinking cap on!<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><b>6/10</b></span></div>
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-13054738379333553942017-08-12T09:38:00.001-07:002017-08-12T10:09:14.772-07:00Be My Baby Review 2013 Japan 恋の渦<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lhK4XYeYlO63ch7n5Zbmk_SpAvHqmkxyAYXrVhveJVyJ7RPcB-Wh0JFLBQO7nUmvR4bIGiMrWVvHUte3HCkuPeFSWB-szzCusWMld69whh-IKBxEBbZa-kgLdWONWzkWmw33DYrVgC9P/s1600/FB_IMG_1502547022702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lhK4XYeYlO63ch7n5Zbmk_SpAvHqmkxyAYXrVhveJVyJ7RPcB-Wh0JFLBQO7nUmvR4bIGiMrWVvHUte3HCkuPeFSWB-szzCusWMld69whh-IKBxEBbZa-kgLdWONWzkWmw33DYrVgC9P/s400/FB_IMG_1502547022702.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><br />Be My Baby </span>恋の渦<span style="background-color: white;"><br />Year: 2013<br />Director: Hitoshi Ohne<br />Writer: Daisuke Miura<br />Starring: </span>Kenta Niikura, Naoko Wakai, Takumi Matsuzawa, Daisuke Sawamura, Yuki Ueda, Yumi Goto, Kenta Enya, Chihiro Shibata and Aya Kunitake<br />Running Time: 138 mins</b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />Country: Japan</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><br /></b></span>An unflinching, unflattering and honest voyeuristic look at a group of 9 Japanese twentysomethings and their intertwined relationships.</span><br />
<i style="text-align: center;"><br />Unfolding in the two weeks following a casual party at the home of the overbearing Koji, nine 20-something Japanese revellers with long, deeply entwined histories navigate the secrets and lies of contemporary relationships. Touching on issues of self-respect, emotional manipulation, casual viciousness, petty interpersonal politicking, dependency, insecurity, infidelity and misogyny, director Hitoshi One's (Moteki - Love Strikes) satire is as dark as it is soapy with unfortunately recognisable characters with recognisable human flaws.</i><br />
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A surprise hit Japanese indie film that was made for under £7000 and shot in only 4 days. As part of an idea from an actor's workshop, Be My Baby features all newcomers delivering strong performances under director Hitoshi Ohne (Bakuman).<br />
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If you have previous knowledge of Japanese youth culture then you are bound to get more out of the film. The opening act can be quite challenging as the viewer is introduced to each character in quick succession, as you try to piece together their motives and intentions it becomes quite overwhelming. The party scene still accomplishes its job of setting up the rest of the plot which thankfully slows down as we get into the meat of the story.<br />
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Most of the characters aren't nice people. They are mean and honest and very real. At times it's almost uncomfortable to see them talk about other people behind their back. Viewers will likely all relate to a character or a situation and will know people just like them. We have all met someone who is in a relationship that they don't know if they want to be in anymore. Or someone who is in an emotionally abusive relationship. Or someone who just tries their hardest to fit in with their friends even though they are the complete opposite. Or someone who is mean to just about everyone yet is still popular in his social circle. The majority of the characters aren't likeable and you will find yourself waiting with bated breath for these people to get their comeuppance.<br />
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The film could have been trimmed to about the 2-hour mark and would have flowed better overall narratively. However, that doesn't hinder from how great the story is, especially with some strong emotional punches along the way; as well as a shock ending. There is really no fault to find with the actor's performances, each one of them is unique and strong in their own way. If I hadn't read about the actors being newcomers, I would have never guessed. </div>
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Filmed in only 4 locations, all of which are small dingy Japanese apartments. It always feels like you are right there; in amongst the story. This also adds to the uncomfortablity and claustrophobia during some of the scenes as the viewer is so close to the action but also feels helpless and with no escape.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">7.5/10</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SBS0B34/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00SBS0B34&linkCode=as2&tag=emptsianilm-21&linkId=0da5069cf95381e09cda0188301f2ab4" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=GB&ASIN=B00SBS0B34&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=emptsianilm-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=emptsianilm-21&l=am2&o=2&a=B00SBS0B34" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SBS0B34/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738&amp;creativeASIN=B00SBS0B34&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=emptsianilm-21&amp;linkId=0da5069cf95381e09cda0188301f2ab4" target="_blank">Available to buy from Third Window Films</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iVaHyXXxCd4" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-26501612090558050932017-07-23T15:46:00.000-07:002017-07-23T15:46:01.981-07:00Planet of the Apes Series ranked best to worst! <div style="text-align: center;">
This is an Asian Cinema blog but every now and again I do write about other films too.</div>
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For fans of Planet of the Apes, this is my ranking of the entire series from best to worst including the latest War for the Planet of the Apes. </div>
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Check it out! </div>
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<a href="http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2017/all-8-planet-of-the-apes-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best/">http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2017/all-8-planet-of-the-apes-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best/</a></div>
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Now back to Asian films!</div>
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-53818542426631770242017-07-06T16:35:00.004-07:002017-07-06T17:03:48.963-07:00Children Who Chase Lost Voices Review 2011 Japan 星を追う子ども<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Children Who Chase Lost Voices aka Journey To Agartha 星を追う子ども<br />Year: 2011<br />Director: Makoto Shinkai<br />Writer: Makoto Shinkai<br />Running Time: 116 minutes<br />Country: Japan</b><br />
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2011 saw the release of Makoto Shinkai's 3rd film and the follow-up to his highly acclaimed 5 Centimeters per Second. For Children Who Chase Lost Voices his themes and directions completely changed, this time focusing on the realm of fantasy. It's his most ambitious film to date and one that would draw many comparisons to Studio Ghibli.<br />
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<i>Asuna Watase lives a lonely and somewhat sheltered life. After her father passed away she spends most of her time herself listening to a radio which was left to her as a memento. The radio uses a strange crystal in place of a diode which picks up music that sounds unfamiliar to her. Asuna randomly encounters a mysterious boy in her hideaway and they begin to have a connection which tragically gets cut short. After a discussion with her substitute teacher Mr. Morisaki, Asuna believes she might have a chance to see the boy again. She goes on a journey to a mysterious world where mythical beasts roam and brave warriors fight for their lives as she is destined to learn about life and death. </i><br />
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It's impossible to discuss a Makoto Shinkai film without talking about the artwork and animation. In terms of animation, Makoto is one of the very few who can compete with Ghibli for how beautiful his films are to look at; Children Who Chase Lost Voices is no exception. The director transports you to the fictional world of Agartha through backgrounds full of rich stunning colors and exceptional fantasy artwork. With this film being more fast paced than his earlier 5 Centimeters per Second the viewer might not be able to take in all the art as well as you would like as some of the action scenes zoom past before your eyes can process it. The English dub is actually handled extremely well and is a bonus if you want to really get immersed in the film without being distracted by subtitles.<br />
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For fans of Makoto, there will be a few familiar elements that are discussed such as separation of loved ones and loneliness. However, there is a whole new genre tackled with the fantasy setting which completely separates it from his other work. The story is somewhat complex and occasionally there is actually too much going on. With the introduction to the new world and its lore, it can get overwhelming trying to keep up with all the new information along with plot twists and various characters and beasts.<br />
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There is surprisingly some dark ideas throughout the story as it tackles many adult themes and subject matters. This is actually a breath of fresh air to see some of these topics discussed while watching a bright animated fantasy film. Some of the scenes actually left me a little shocked while contemplating the characters motives for some of their choices. There is also some on-screen violence during the action scenes which caught me off guard; this will be why the film was released in the UK with a 12 rating.<br />
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There are many elements and even some characters throughout the film which is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli. Films that look to have been an inspiration of sorts include Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Castle In The Sky. This isn't necessarily a bad trait, however, it does take you out of the film sometimes when you keep seeing images that remind you of Ghibli films.<br />
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Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a fine film in Makoto Shinkai's filmography. While it is fun and stunning to look at, it's not without its flaws. It's still easily one of his most ambitious films and it's a nice stepping stone on the way to his masterpiece Your Name.<br />
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<b>7/10</b><br />
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See this if you liked:<br />
Your Name<br />
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind<br />
Princess Mononoke<br />
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-10233389997237152712017-05-23T14:34:00.001-07:002017-05-23T14:34:09.132-07:00Takeshi Kitano's Films Ranked Best To Worst <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2017/all-17-takeshi-kitano-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAywbtvoW1DP75ORaesdthHFlej5HZv5M66MAxACi-R59xanjl9z-K_lFc6icWUtKLllTkJ6la5XAa3vhEJSy5nM0GZV30eTMLaK8CMt-VoMD75nEZzzGfkv7WubZ37j6tAM2L-TxVyk0/s400/IMG_20170523_222005_846.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first article is up on <a href="http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2017/all-17-takeshi-kitano-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best/" target="_blank">Taste Of Cinema</a>.</div>
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It's a comprehensive list ranking all of Takeshi Kitano's directorial filmography from best to worst.</div>
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Give it a read. And let me know what you think.</div>
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Thanks!</div>
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-15747529181058395702017-05-20T07:40:00.000-07:002017-05-20T09:10:29.278-07:00Han Gong-ju Review 2013 South Korea 한공주<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Han Gong-Ju 한공주<br />Year: 2013<br />Director: Lee Su-jin<br />Writer: Lee Su-jin<br />Cast: Chun Woo-hee, Jung In-sun, Kim So-young<br />Running Time: 112 minutes<br />Country: South Korea<br /></b></div>
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Lee Su-jin directs a powerful and brave coming-of-age story based on real life events of an infamous crime that happened in Miryang, South Korea.<br />
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<i>17 year old girl Han Gong-ju is forced to change schools after being involved in a scandalous incident. Her previous school teacher takes it upon himself to help her out by arranging a place for her to hide out, in his mother's home. After starting a new school, Han Gong-ju tries to move on from the incident while keeping to herself but when her new friend Eun-hee discovers that she is a talented singer, she records her and uploads it to the internet on a fansite. Just as Gong-ju's life is starting to come together, her past begins to catch up.<br /></i><br />
Surprisingly Lee Su-jin tackled such a controversial subject for his directorial debut while also serving as the screen-writer. It proved to be a rewarding choice as the film went on to win numerous top awards around the festival circuit including the Tiger Award at the 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Golden Star at the 2013 Marrakech International Film Festival and Best New Director and Best Actress at the 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards.<br />
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The story is told through a non-conventional narrative and plot structure. Jumping subtly between past and present, it often catches you off guard before you realise what time frame the story is currently in. This adds to the viewers confusion as the mystery starts to unfold leaving you desperate and anxious to know what transpired. The storytelling and pacing is handled expertly as the film reaches it's nail-biting conclusion. With each new flashback, the horrifying incident gets more and more shocking as the viewer discovers exactly what occurred. Although these scenes can be hard to watch, credit to director Lee Su-jin, he never delves in to shock tactics to get a reaction.<br />
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Chun Woo-hee at the age of 26 plays a character ten years her junior with finesse and believability. Starring as the traumatised teen she delivers a subtle, yet often highly emotional and convincing performance which encourages you to root for the character as she tries to adjust and move on with her life. Chun Woo-hee's award winning performance would probably net her an Oscar nomination if this was a Hollywood picture.<br />
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The story is helped along with some humour and beautiful music and although the film is very dark, it still often feels upbeat. Gong-ju takes up trying to learn to swim once she moves school which adds some light-hearted comic relief moments. As does her new friendship with Eun-hee, which is sweet and adds some much needed charm to the film. Overall the film and story is bold and powerful, and even though it can be a hard watch, it deserves to be seen.<br />
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Hang Gong-Ju is a low budget film which went on to receive critical acclaim and break box office records in South Korea for an independent release. The films also elevated two new stars in the lead actress and director who are certainly people you should keep a close eye on.<br />
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<b>8/10</b></div>
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Temptasianfilmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09827161383393480097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153736429329723882.post-15361146696153635102017-04-30T05:32:00.001-07:002017-04-30T05:41:13.369-07:00Love Off The Cuff Review 2017 Hong Kong 春嬌救志明<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love Off The Cuff 春嬌救志明</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Year: 2017</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Director: Pang Ho-cheung</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Writers: Luk Yee-sum, Wan Chi-man, Pang Ho-cheung</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cast: Miriam Yeung, Shawn Yue, Paul Chun, Jiang Mengjie</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Running Time: 120 minutes</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Country: Hong Kong-China</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pang Ho-cheung re-teams Shawn Yue and Miriam Yeung for his third installment in the romantic-comedy Love In A Puff series. Is this story starting to show signs of fatigue? Or is this an inevitable set up for a fourth film?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Picking up after the events of 2012's Love In The Buff, Cherie (Miriam Yeung) and Jimmy (Shawn Yue) are now a relatively happy couple, living together and dealing with their daily ups and downs. Jimmy still has trouble growing up and taking the relationship seriously, while Cherie can be a bit overbearing and her demands make it somewhat challenging to live with. Furthering their stress, Cherie's father (Paul Chun) returns to town out of blue to introduce them to his new young fiancee. At the same time, Jimmy's childhood friend, who also happens to be his godmother, comes to visit with the request of wanting Jimmy to father her child through artificial insemination. After a disastrous trip together to Taipei, the couple are finally forced to confront their doubts about their future together.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The plot is very bare, as was the rest of the series, but that's never what drives these films. It's about the characters, their realism and their situations together. It almost has an intimate documentary feel as we peek in to a couples insecurities as we watch Cherie snoop through Jimmy's phone. Or her worrying about their younger lodger walking around the apartment in her bra. Jimmy is constantly doing something wrong or upsetting his partner by accident, which is a character trait that a lot of men, including myself, can relate to. And that's the driving force behind these films, how relatable and real that they feel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love Off The Cuff, like the rest of the series, is a very local Hong Kong film. The characters talk and act like Hong Kongers which is part of the appeal of Pang Ho-cheung's work. He isn't afraid to possibly alienate some viewers by keeping it brutally realistic. Some of the humour is distinctive to Hong Kong, so some of the jokes may go over your head. And there are references throughout to HK pop-culture such as jokes about the Young and Dangerous films, Nick Cheung, Leon Lai and even some Canto-pop songs. There is a karaoke scene featuring a pop song(that i'm unfamiliar with) which is used rather effectively and even if you are unfamiliar with the song, you still understand the sentiment. But if you are a local, i'm sure it would have even more depth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pang Ho-cheung handles humour excellently in his films, and Love Off The Cuff is dirtier and more outrageous than before. There is a scene involving a gag about "literally shit" as Cherie puts it. It's childish, it's crude, and it's genuinely funny, it received a loud roar of laughter in the cinema hall I was in. There is some situation and shock humour throughout the film, but it's all executed well. A memorable scene has cops finding the 2 leads in a mistaken sexual act situation which gets funnier and funnier as it progresses, this is similar to comedy you may see in American Pie or Superbad. It's not always possible to get humour to work this well for the Hong Kong audience that the Western world also understands, but I think this series has tackled that very well, even if that wasn't their overall intention.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF_DChxI-HxLYvjCkDy__dstyRS6wZM1OJO0djbvySB66WHLU3FvGDWtxIBqYBMbx3yPnBIxNUZQEMMSiuUH_tnJ_n-BUIJAS-7ut0pugH5tb2hxpqlDsJqrnezaXd8WDPmgLFAa-xBI-/s1600/Love+Off+The+Cuff+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF_DChxI-HxLYvjCkDy__dstyRS6wZM1OJO0djbvySB66WHLU3FvGDWtxIBqYBMbx3yPnBIxNUZQEMMSiuUH_tnJ_n-BUIJAS-7ut0pugH5tb2hxpqlDsJqrnezaXd8WDPmgLFAa-xBI-/s400/Love+Off+The+Cuff+2017.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shawn and Miriam have grew together throughout these films. They have always had great chemistry but now after 7 years, it almost feels like they have became these alter egos and it makes the whole experience more worthwhile. Both do a superb job in their roles, and none of their acting could be faulted. The supporting cast are also great with Cherie's regular friends returning for shenanigans. And her dad played by Paul Chun has some brilliantly funny scenes which boosts the film with some needed energy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">120 minutes didn't feel overly long, but it could have been trimmed down by about 15 minutes or so to help the overall flow of the story progression. There is also one scene which came across as being a bit too dark and startling for this genre of film, it caught me off guard and stayed with me for a while afterwards. But Pang Ho-cheung is a genre busting director at heart, which is evident by his bizarre intros to his films. This time is was a highly entertaining story about Gat Gat Gong... Which almost makes me hope he directs a monster horror film next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although I wouldn't go as far to say that fatigue is setting in, I'd rank this film better than part two but not as good as part one, it did feel like more could have been done to progress the characters story further as a lot of the film is familiar territory. With the ending we are left wondering, is this the end of the trilogy? Or will there be a fourth to let us fans know what happens next? I personally think there is enough story left in these characters to make another film. So how about we get the next installment <i>"<b>Love Up The Duff</b>"</i> (That name has been shamelessly stolen from my partner who suggested it after our viewing).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>7/10</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love Off The Cuff is currently showing from the 28th April in cinemas across Hong Kong, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK. For more information check <a href="http://magnumfilmsglobal.com/" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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