Shadows Review 2020 Hong Kong 殘影空間

Shadows 殘影空間

Year: 2020
Director: Glenn Chan
Writer: Felix Tsang, Kiwi Chow
Cast: Stephy Tang, Philip Keung, Tse Kwan-ho, Ben Yuen
Running Time: 94 minutes

Country: Hong Kong

The UK Premiere is on July 25th at BFI Southbank as part of the Chinese Visual Festival (Tickets)

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.

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. (Chinese Visual Festival)

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.

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 delivers another show-stealing performance.

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.

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. 

Philip Keung co-stars as detective Ho and injects some fun into the story. 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.

At 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.

Overall, Shadows is a good thriller that is visually stunning and entertaining even with its flaws.

7/10

Reviewed as part of the Chinese Visual Festival / Focus Hong Kong

The Third Murder Review 2017 Japan 三度目の殺人

The Third Murder 三度目の殺人
Year: 2017
Director: Kore-eda Hirokazu
Writer: Kore-eda Hirokazu
Cast: Masaharu Fukuyama, Suzu Hirose, Shinnosuke Mitsushima, Mikako Ichikawa, Izumi Matsuoka, Yuki Saito, Kōtarō Yoshida, Isao Hashizume, Kōji Yakusho
Running time: 124 minutes
Country: Japan

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.

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. (Glasgow Film Festival)

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.

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).

But is it any good? Short answer, yes. Is it as good as Kore-eda Hirokazu's other work? Short answer, no.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

7.5/10

Written and reviewed as part of the Glasgow Film Festival 2018

Han Gong-ju Review 2013 South Korea 한공주

Han Gong-Ju 한공주
Year: 2013
Director: Lee Su-jin
Writer: Lee Su-jin
Cast: Chun Woo-hee, Jung In-sun, Kim So-young
Running Time: 112 minutes
Country: South Korea

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

8/10

Reincarnation Review 2005 輪廻 Japan

Happy Halloween!

Since it's approaching Halloween I thought I'd sit down to an Asian horror classic.

This entry to the J-Horror collection is directed by Takashi Shimizu(Ju-On: The Grudge/Marebito). While not quite reaching the heights of Ringu and Ju-On, Reincarnation still holds it's own as a fine supernatural thriller.

When a young actress gets a role in a film based on a series of grisly murders in the 1970s, she begins to experience the killings as if they are happening in front of her. When she discovers an 8mm camera that appears to contain footage of the murders, she decides to develop the film, with terrifying consequences.

Japanese subways are always so crowded

Shimizu is great at creating an eerie atmosphere and tension. This is the real strong point of Reincarnation. Although the film might start off a little slow, it gets more and more tense as the film progresses. By the start of the third act, you'll be on the edge of your seat as the story unravels and plot elements running parallel with each other join up to give a thought provoking and compelling conclusion.

Yuka delivers a stunning performance as Nagisa Sugiura, an actress cast in the lead role of the horror film within the horror film. The film seems to be partly influenced from The Shining with the setting of the hotel, some similar plot points and also her acting style adds to this.

Traditional Japanese head massage

J-Horror isn't for everyone. It is much slower paced than American counterparts. And it doesn't have the constant jump scares, although, Reincarnation is quite creepy and does have a jump scare or two. But it's the story that matters, Reincarnation will have you guessing and questioning throughout the entire film until everything clicks in to place wonderfully at the climatic ending.

If you are looking for a Horror film to watch this Halloween, you could do worse.

7/10

See this if you liked:
The Ring
The Grudge
Dark Water

Matt Damon and Andy Lau team up to fight monsters in 'The Great Wall'

The trailer for The Great Wall has dropped... And it looks insane!

Directed by legendary director Zhang Yimou(House of Flying Daggers/Hero), starring Matt Damon & Andy Lau and featuring an all star international cast of Willem Dafoe, Pedro Pascal, Eddie Peng and Jing Tian.

When a mercenary warrior (Damon) is imprisoned within The Great Wall, he discovers the mystery behind one of the greatest wonders of our world.  As wave after wave of marauding beasts besiege the massive structure, his quest for fortune turns into a journey toward heroism as he joins a huge army of elite warriors to confront this unimaginable and seemingly unstoppable force.

The Great Wall is Zhang Yimou's first English language speaking film and is currently the largest budget Chinese film of all time with a budget of $135 million.

Coming to cinemas on February 17th 2017.

Phone Review 2002 South Korea 폰

Phone is a solid slice of Asian horror which was released during the wave of popular horror exports from The Ring to The Grudge to Dark Water to A Tale of Two Sisters. But does Phone live up to the hype of it's counterparts?

Stylish Korean horror starring Ji-Won Ha as an investigative reporter who, having recently published a controversial article about sex scandals, has begun receiving a series of menacing phone calls. In an effort to escape the calls, she changes her number and moves house. But the calls keep coming - and when her friend's young daughter innocently answers the ringing phone, she starts to scream in terror and goes on to exhibit increasingly crazed behaviour. As she tries to unravel the mystery behind the phone calls, Ji-Won uncovers the terrible secrets that lie behind her new phone.

Something that is always striking yet refreshing about Asian horror films is that the vast majority of them play out like a mystery thriller. The frights are there. The tone is creepy. But your interest is usually kept until the very end because you are waiting for the unveil. And Phone is no exception.

The real strong point of Phone is the story which is actually clever and complex. Full of twists and turns, it takes you till the end to figure out exactly what is happening and why. And just when you have pieced it all together... They throw another twist at you!

Don't know if cute... Or creepy...

Ha Ji-won is a great lead who is likable and convincing with her desperation of trying to help her friends daughter and solve this mystery. But the little girl Young-ju played by Eun Seo-woo delivers the best performance of the film. For a child, her acting and delivery is brilliant. She can change it from cute to creepy half way through a sentence., which is remarkable.

Going in to Phone, as a horror, you are going to want to be scared. In all honesty the film doesn't fully scare you. The tone and setting is definitely creepy. But there are no real moments that will leave you feeling terrified. There is also no real "jump scares" so don't go in expecting any of those modern Hollywood scares. Phone isn't as scary as Ju-On, but it is a completely different breed of Asian horror.

All in all, South Korea did deliver another good horror film with Phone. Some of the plot and story feels similar to other Asian horrors, and maybe it wasn't as scary as it could have been. But it's a fun film with a compelling story and a stand out performance from the young girl that's definitely worth checking out.

7/10

Secret Review 2007 Taiwan 不能說的秘密

Jay Chou’s directorial debut is an interesting and engaging drama with an original story full of twists which will leave you dumbfounded. Starring Jay Chou(Initial D) and Gwei Lun-mei(Black Coal, Thin Ice).

Yeh Hsiang-lun/Jay (Chou) is an exceptionally gifted pianist who has recently transferred to the Tan Jiang College of Arts at the behest of his father (Anthony Wong). One day, while walking through the school's soon-to-be-demolished conservatory, Yeh hears an intoxicating melody being performed by talented Lu Hsaio-yu/Rain (Guey Lun-mei).

Jay Chou rocking that school uniform

Secret is one of those films that you really can't describe too much in the synopsis or go into too much depth in discussion because that will ruin the entire point of the film. Everyone should avoid reading message boards or spoiler reviews before they see this film, it's the best way to enjoy it and get the full effect. The first hour almost plays out like a love triangle drama, then suddenly the film becomes much much more.

While Jay Chou might not be known as the greatest actor. He pulls off roles like this. Jay has the charisma and charm to make it work. Gwei Lun-mei is a stunning actress and carries the emotional side of the film, as well as making the chemistry between her and Jay believable.

Kung Fu and action scenes are replaced in Secret by intricate piano battles and compositions. Director, writer and actor Jay Chou really gets to show off his musical genius with not only the piano playing scenes but also the soundtrack, many of the songs were composed and performed by Jay himself. The title song “Secret” went on to win Best Original Song at the 44th Golden Horse Awards. The score is fantastic, offering drama to the simplest scenes, and sending the exciting scenes through the roof.

Listen to my award winning soundtrack

Anthony Wong plays a great supporting role as Jay’s father, which is the second time he's played this role, Initial D being the first. Anthony is instantly likable in this role and actually gets to exercise those acting chops in some important scenes. There is great screen chemistry between Jay and Anthony Wong, some more scenes focusing on their relationship would have been a bonus.

Visually, Secret looks fantastic. The school chosen for the story is a stunning building with wonderful interiors and green surrounding parks. Another high point of Secret is the visual effects. For a film with a relatively low budget there is some wonderful looking added special effects. This of course all looks even more spectacular on this excellent Blu-Ray release from Edko Films.

Secret is a really great film! It was probably aimed at the teen audience, but it is more complex than a standard love drama and I think it is fitting for everyone. Plus, it further cements just how creative the writer, musician, actor and director Jay Chou is.

8/10

Be wary, this disc was locked to Region A. Blu-ray.com has it listed as Region Free, so there may be various editions out there.

Best Asian Films of 2015

Top 10 Asian Films of 2015 

It's always hard to do a top 10 list of Asian films for a certain year, with release dates varying worldwide. A Japanese film that comes out in Japan in 2014, might not be released in the UK or USA until 2015... If at all. So, allow me some freedom with the release year. Some films on this list might have came out in their home country in 2014. Anyway, on to the list!

10. The Assassin

For my full review of Assassin click here

http://temptasianfilm.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/the-assassin-review-2015-hou-hsiao-hsien.html?m=1

Hou Hsiao-Hsien's The Assassin is a stunning film. With beautiful costumes, sets and exquisite fight scenes, packed with a wild original soundtrack. Unfortunately the confusing plot and lack of emotion causes the story to drag and almost feel like a chore at times.

Nie Yinniang(Shu Qi) is a deadly female assassin who has been raised and trained as a killer by a nun Jiaxin. After failing to kill her target out of sympathy during a mission, Yinniang is punished by receiving the ultimate test from Jiaxin. She is sent to Weibo to kill the military governor Lord Tian Ji'an(Chang Chen) and send the region in to chaos. This is no easy task as Yinniang was originally arranged to marry Lord Tian before her disappearance.

This sounds like a basic plot, and it should be. But with the story telling and dialogue that HHH uses in his film, the story ends up extremely muddled. Rather than flashbacks, we are treated to more dialogue of characters explaining previous events, which doesn't make the story any clearer.

There are a few great fight scenes in this film. Excellently choreographed. With an interesting style which sometimes is so quick it takes you a second to release who has the upper hand or dealt the last blow. This is not a Kung Fu film, and don't expect House of Flying Daggers.

This is one that I think everyone has to see for themselves and make up their own mind. Many love it. And many hate it. It won best director at Cannes which is a high accomplishment!

9. Yakuza Apocalypse

Takashi Miike goes back to his roots with the Yakuza genre. Only this is no ordinary Yakuza film, this is a Yakuza Vampire Martial Arts Comedy. And it is completely Barking mad!

When Kageyama is bitten by his dying vampire boss, he must get used to his new powers before seeking revenge.

This is one of those films where you have to be on Miike’s wave length to really get it. It's crazy and chaotic but it's also a well made film.

The action is great, some well executed fight scenes. And Mad Dog(The Raid) really shines as a skilled Fighter who disguises himself as a geeky tourist. The main villain, the toughest opponent, the person everyone fears…. Wears a giant frog mascot costume. This really has to be seen to be believed.

A wild fantasy film from Miike, which may not be accepted by everyone. But if you let your guard down and accept the craziness, you are in for a highly entertaining ride.

8. Wild City

Ringo Lam is back with his first feature film in 12 years! It's not his greatest film, but it's a solid entertaining action flick reminiscent of the Golden age of Hong Kong cinema.

A cop-turned-bar owner befriends a drunken woman at closing hours and finds himself pursued by her former lover and the thugs he employs. The chase turns deadly when the bar owner's deadbeat brother and a suitcase full of cash enter the picture.

The streets of Hong Kong have never looked better in Ringo’s City Trilogy. Stylishly shot with beautiful cityscape backgrounds, visually Wild City is a treat for the eyes. And for something to keep your eyes on the screen, can you spot the giant UK boyband poster in the background of a serious fight scene?

Louis Koo and Shawn Yue are both excellent leads, and believable as half brothers. Koo always brings the charm and has great star appeal. While Yue is still fresh and cool as a representative of a modern Hong Konger.

Full of great action, from chase scenes, to fight scenes, to shoot outs and some stellar car chases which are equally gripping and stunning.

One of the great Hong Kong directors is back, not with the loudest bang we had hoped for, but a bang nonetheless. And now we can be optimistic in what Ringo’s next film will be.

7. Assassination

The latest big blockbuster hit to come out of South Korea, becoming the 8th highest grossing film in Korean cinema history.

Assassination is a highly enjoyable espionage action film directed and co-written by Choi Dong-hoon who gave us 2012’s big hit The Thieves.

While Korea is occupied by the Japanese Army in 1933, the resistance plans to kill the Japanese Commander. But their plan is threatened by a traitor within their group and also the enemies' forces are hunting them down.

A fun historical drama that has elements of a western film with a bit of John Woo chucked in. Fantastic action from the stylish shoot outs to car chases. The costumes, sets and locations are all excellent in painting the picture of 1930’s Korea.

The story can be somewhat complex as it unravels. Full of twists, some you see coming and some that surprise you. Double crosses and Triple crosses are present so be sure to give this film your undivided attention.

The only really downfall is the length, at 2 hours and 20 minutes it felt a little bloated and could have done with about 15 minutes taken off.

A very fun enjoyable film which will satisfy the fans of Korean cinema and the fans of Hollywood period adventure films.

6. SPL 2

A great new Hong Kong action film starring Wu Jing, Tony Jaa and Max Zhang.

A follow up to the 2005 hit film SPL(released Internationally as Kill Zone), this is a sequel in name only.

A undercover cop attempts to find the mastermind of a drug syndicate. When his cover is blown, he winds up in a Thai prison. Surprisingly, he is a bone marrow match for a guard's daughter.

The storyline can be a bit confusing, and gets a bit muddled near the end. But that takes a back seat to the action, which is superb.

Think of the classic SPL fight scenes but add in a bit of The Raid and you'll know what you are in for. Some great bone crunching fight scenes with some in your face brutality. A highlight is a massive prison riot with Kit (Wu Jing) trying to get a phone signal while taking on Jaa!

The story may drag a little but it's worth it for the insane fight at the end, which might get a little silly, but it is fantastic. One of the better Hong Kong action films of recent years, highly entertaining.

5. Saving Mr Wu

A surprisingly sharp, intelligent thriller from China. Directed by Ding Sheng who brought us The excellent Little Big Soldier and Police Story 2013 and starring Andy Lau and Liu Ye.

Saving Mr Wu is based on the real case of a TV actor Wu Ruofu being kidnapped and held for ransom.

Police race against time after criminals posing as cops kidnap a Hong Kong movie star (Andy Lau) and threaten to kill him.

Told in an interesting way with flash backs and shot handheld, this is a fun fast paced thriller which never gets dull.

Andy Lau basically plays himself, the character Wu has been changed to suit Lau more, and it works well with some charming moments. Andy again shows just how great an actor he is in this one.

But it's Qianyuan Wang that steals the show. Wang plays the villain, the brains of the operation, the main guy behind the kidnapping. And he is superb! He plays the psychopath brilliantly and his last scenes are chilling.

Very enjoyable film which probably hasn't received the recognition it deserves.

4. 100 Yen Love

100 Yen Love is an independent Japanese sports drama. Directed by Masaharu Take and starring the wonderful Sakura Ando(Love Exposure).

Ichiko (Sakura Ando) lives at her parents' home. She rarely hangs out with other people. Ichiko and her sister's relationship goes bad, causing Ichiko to move out and live alone. What brings happiness to Ichiko is to watch a middle-aged boxer (Hirofumi Arai) practice at a boxing gym. The boxing gym is located between the 100 yen shop where she works and her home.

The real selling point of this film is the lead actress, Sakura Ando. She delivers a stunning physical performance as a 32 year old slacker who discovers herself through boxing and embarks on a drastic life journey.

100 Yen Love isn't full of clichés and doesn't play similar to other big sports and boxing dramas. The story and characters develop in such a way that you never quite know where the story is going and make the result hard to guess.

A unique blend of drama, tears and comedy will have you hooked on this acclaimed Japanese film which certainly packs a punch.  

3. Black Coal, Thin Ice

Released in 2014 but it's UK cinema release was 2015.

A very dark Detective thriller, Black Coal, Thin Ice. A great mainland Chinese film which surprisingly made it past their censors.

An ex cop and his ex partner decide to follow up on investigation of a series of murders that ended their careers and shamed them, when identical murders begin again.

Fast paced Noir filled with twists and turns and some truly gobsmacking shocking moments. Excellent performances from all the leads especially Gwei Lun-Mei who is really incredible.

Winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Black Coal, Thin Ice is actually getting better reactions from the critics than the viewers. 

Brilliant film! Tense and exciting start to finish.

2. Veteran

Veteran went on to become a huge hit for South Korea in 2015, and ended up making it as the 3rd all-time highest grossing film in South Korean cinema history.

Detective Seo Do-cheol is tough and merciless when it comes to crime. But while investigating a high-profile case, Seo finds out that arrogant young millionaire Jo Tae-oh the third-generation heir to powerful conglomerate Sinjin Group is pulling some strings behind the scenes. However, no matter how rigorously Seo's team pursues him, Jo always escapes with the help of his wealth and connections.

Made by successful director Ryoo Seung-wan who gave us hits such as Crying Fist, The City of Violence, Arahan and The Berlin File and starring Hwang Jung-min(A Bittersweet Life/A Man Who Was Superman) and Yoo Ah-in(Antique/Tough As Iron).

Veteran is a great Action Comedy which is reminiscent of some Koreans films from the late 90s and early 2000s. It's a solid flick helped along by the lead performances. Seo Do-Cheol is a great badass Detective who is likeable and lights up his screen with his excellent fight scenes. And Jo Tae-oh is one of the most memorable film villains I have seen for a while, he is pure evil and completely smug which will have you eagerly waiting for him to get what he deserves.

Extremely fun film!

1. Ip Man 3

Donnie Yen is back as Master Ip, the role which really propelled him globally as a mainstream martial arts star. Director Wilson Yip returns to team with Donnie for their final Ip Man installment.

When a band of brutal gangsters led by a crooked property developer make a play to take over the city, Master Ip is forced to take a stand.

Ip Man is the grandmaster of Wing Chun martial arts. But if you aren't aware of this then go watch Ip Man 1 and 2 immediately.

Legendary fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping takes over from Sammo Hung who choreographed the previous 2. This doesn't make a drastic change in the fighting style as it comes off very similar and with many returning signatures such as the quick chain punches.

Ip Man 3 is first and foremost a Martial Arts film. And it definitely delivers with fantastic Kung Fu and some of the best fight scenes you will see all year. There is a fight in a lift against a Muay Thai fighter which is exhilarating!

But, the final fight scene against Max Zhang(The Grandmaster/SPL II) steals the show here. Not only is it the best fight scene in the film, but it's on the best in the Ip Man series. The style, the moves, the weapons, the speed. It's hard to think of any recent martial art scenes that are so crisp and accurate.

A large bulk of the story focuses on Ip Man’s relationship with his wife Cheung Sing-wing(Lynn Hung). Previously she hasn't had a large role and more just watched from the sidelines. But in Ip Man 3 the pair have to deal with something which brings them closer together and gives the film more of an emotional boost than the previous outings.

Mike Tyson also delivers a great role as a villain. Not the best actor, but he suits this role very well. And the fight scene is handled nicely with Tyson using his powerful punches for an up close hard hitting fight.

Fantastic film. Better than Ip Man 2 but not as good as the first. But that's still good enough to make it my top Asian film of the year.

So there we have it, my top 10 of the year. Some surprises in there! And some which have probabley been left out. There are also some I haven't got to see yet and some haven't been released English friendly. So let me know if I am missing anything!

The Detective Review Hong Kong 2007 C+偵探

A Hong Kong mystery thriller set in Thailand directed by Oxide Pang(The Eye/Abnormal Beauty) and starring Aaron Kwok(After This Our Exile/Cold War).

Tam(Kwok) is a private investigator living in Thailand who has been hired by a man nicknamed Fatty to track down a young woman who he believes is trying to kill him. Tam takes the job after being paid a large amount of cash and handed a photo of the woman. This could all be linked to a series of murders in the area.

Aaron Kwok delivers a stunning believable performance which really makes this film so good. Complete with a brilliant setting and style, and a captivating story, the result is one of the best Pang Brothers films in years.

Where did I leave my keys?

An intriguing story which may get a little muddled towards the end but the negatives don't out way the positives. Still a highly entertaining film with a satisfying and exciting ending. Also, the film has a fantastic soundtrack to really set the mood. That Thai pop song used in the intro is incredibly catchy.

As far as recent Hong Kong films go, this is better than most. I'd definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.

7.5/10

Best Asian Films of 2013

Happy New Year readers!

As it's the beginning of the new year, it's time to reflect on last year. And time for the all important best of list.
2013 gave us some brilliant films from Asia! From the Blockbusters to Martial Arts to Comedy to Anime to Gangster to Thriller. There was a wide variety of stunning films and something for all fans to enjoy.
It was hard to narrow this list down to 10. So sorry for some really great films I had to cut out. And keep in mind there is still a lot from 2013 I am waiting to see.

Some of these films on my list might not have been released in their native country in 2013, but it was 2013 before the Worldwide or UK release.

10. Blind Detective (Hong Kong) - IMDB = 6.3 - RT = 44%

At number 10 we have the first Johnnie To film to make the list. Staring Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng this is a Hong Kong romantic comedy/crime thriller.

Forced to leave the service after turning blind, former detective Johnston Chong See Tun (Andy Lau) ekes out his living by solving cold cases for police rewards. During a bank robbery case, he meets an attractive hit team inspector Goldie Ho Ka Tung. (Sammi Cheng). When Ho notices Chong's strong sense of hearing and smell, she enlists his help in a personal case and he decides to take a stab.

Johnnie To tackles some unfamilar ground with this film, part wacky comedy with slapstick humour, this is really not what we have come to expect from To. The other half of the film is a dark and gritty crime thriller.

That is where the problem lies. This film is still enjoyable but it had the potential to be so much better. It does have one of the finest Hong Kong directors, teaming up with arguably the best lead male and female working in Hong Kong. But some of the film is hard to swallow when it's dealing with dark tones of murder and cannibalism but including some slapstick comedy.

My favourite parts of Blind Detective were definitely with Johnston and Ho re-enacting the crime scenes and taking turns playing the murder and victims. This is where the film really shone for me and Lau and Cheng have brilliant on screen chemistry.





9. The Tower (South Korea) - IMDB = 6.4 - RT = None

Number 9 is a big disaster flick from South Korea. Set on Christmas Eve, and released on Christmas Day on South Korea, The Tower could be added to your list of films to watch next Christmas. That being said, it's probably as Christmassy as Diehard.

Lee Dae-ho (Kim Sang-kyung) is a single father and manager of the 120 story luxurious landmark building complex, Tower Sky in Yeouido, Seoul. He is secretly in love with Seo Yoon-hee (Son Ye-jin), a restaurant manager. The owner of the complex, Mr. Jo decides to hold a "White Christmas" party for tenants and VIPs on Christmas Eve, with helicopters circling above, sprinkling snow onto the party. While the party is in full swing one of the helicopters crashes into the building and the building catches fire. Dae-ho moves quickly to save his daughter Ha-na, Yoon-hee and his colleagues. At the same time, firefighter Kang Young-ki (Sol Kyung-gu) fights to bring the blaze under control, helping Dae-ho in the process. Together they fight to save the lives of everyone.

The first aspect to really surprise me about The Tower was the special effects. Bar a few scenes with the helicopters, the effects were fantastic! The fire, real and CGI, were both done very well! And used in a way that actually added to the terror of the film.

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 then this is for you.





8. The Grandmaster (Hong Kong) - IMDB = 6.6 - RT = 74%

Wong Kar-wai is back after 6 years with a martial arts drama based on the Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man.

Ip Man's peaceful life in Foshan changes after Gong Yutian seeks an heir for his family in Southern China. Ip Man then meets Gong Er who challenges him for the sake of regaining her family's honor. After the Second Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man moves to Hong Kong and struggles to provide for his family. In the mean time, Gong Er chooses the path of vengeance after her father was killed by Ma San.

Unfortunately there has been 5 films about Ip Man and a TV series. If there wasn't then this film might have made a much bigger impact. Especially with all the all star director and the outstanding cast of Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi.

Wong Kar-wai delivers some stunning kung fu fights in The Grandmaster, especially the scenes in the snow and rain which are reminiscent of The Matrix. The martial arts is more in the style of Crouching Tiger than the Donnie Yen Ip Man film, which is fine as long as you suspend your disbelief and take this film as fantasy.




 

7. The Berlin File (South Korea) - IMDB = 6.7 - RT = None

The Berlin File is a brilliant South Korean spy thriller with elements of The Bourne Identity.

Exposed during an illegal arms trade gone wrong in Berlin, a North Korean "ghost" agent finds himself in the crosshairs of an international manhunt. Was he betrayed by his wife or his country? He must prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice.

First thing I should say about The Berlin File is that it is pretty complex so make sure you pay attention.

The director Ryoo Seung-wan also made the excellent Crying Fist and City of Violence. The Berlin File also has an all star cast. Starring one of Korea's leading actors Han Suk-kyu(Christmas In August/Shiri), Ha Jung-Woo(The Chaser/Nameless Gangster) and my favourite Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun(My Sassy Girl/Daisy).

The Berlin File is a great non stop thriller, with brilliant action scenes and stunning locations and sets. Definitely one for the action fans.


 

6. Shield of Straw (Japan) - IMDB = 6.3 - RT = 44%

Takashi Miike makes my top 10 list pretty much every year. And he does it again for 2013 with his latest thriller.

After killing a 7-year-old girl, psychopath Kunihide Kyomaru turns himself in to the police. Since his victim was the daughter of one of the country's richest men, terminally ill billionaire Ninagawa, who buys ads in all the major papers offering a hefty reward for anyone who kills Kunihide. There are a few caveats, including a clause that the execution must be authorized by the government, but the consequences are clear: It's open season on Kunihide, who has nothing but five dedicated cops to protect him, led by security police lieutenant Kazuki Mekari.

Shield of Straw was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival which was a bit of a shock for me. This is definitely one of Miike's more mainstream films, it could have argueably been a Hollywood thriller, which doesn't seem like the type of flick that Cannes would usually favour.

Out of all the films on my top 10 list, Shield of Straw is one of the most tense. The time really does fly by as the story sucks you in and you eagerly wait to see in the police can complete their seemingly impossible mission.

As a director, Miike keeps growing and growing. Some of his films might seem more commercial or mainstream than before, but he still pushes boundries and tells the story is his unique way. With Shield of Straw, the story will stick with you long after it finishes and it will be one you will be thinking about and questioning for hours.




5. Drug War (Hong Kong/China) - IMDB = 7.1 - RT = 93%

Johnnie To's second entry in to my list, is the brilliant edge of your seat Drug War.

After losing control of his car and crashing into a local restaurant, a man loses consciousness on the street. Later, while working on a case, the police's anti-drug division captain, Zhang Lei (Honglei Sun), realizes that the man in the crash is drug lord Tian Ming (Louis Koo). In order to avoid the death penalty, Tian Ming helps the police put a stop to the entire drug trafficking circuit, but just as soon as the police are ready to make a large bust, Tian Ming makes a decision that shocks everyone involved.

Johnnie To is one of the greatest directors going today and the best to come out of Hong Kong in recent years. He filled in the gap that people missed in the John Woo glory days.

Saying that, Drug War is lighter on action than previous Johnnie To films, but it is so well shot and the story is so compelling that the film is still very exciting and fast paced. And when the action does come, it is the insane brilliant Johnnie To action that you have come to expect. There is a fantastic shoot out in a drugs factory. And another near the end in an open space which is fantastically shot and down right crazy.

This film should be higher on my list, but the top 5 is so tight it was hard to choose. After another watch it could move up a place or 2...

   

4. Wolf Children (Japan) - IMDB = 8.1 - RT = 92%

An animated film has made my top 10 list, and it ISN'T a Studio Ghibli film!

Hana is a 19-year-old student who falls in a "fairy-tale like" love with a "wolf man". Over the course of the 13-year story Hana gives birth to two children - older sister Yuki, and younger brother Ame, or "Snow and Rain". At first the family quietly lives in the city trying to hide their wolf heritage, but when the "wolf man" suddenly dies Hana makes the decision to move to a rural town, far from their previous city life.

This film making my top 10 will be no suprise to people familair with Mamoru Hosoda's work. He has an impressive list of animated films under his belt with the brilliant 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' and his equally impressive follow up 'Summer Wars'. But, I think this time Mamoru Hododa has topped his previous works.

Wolf Children is another one of those anime films that proves that hand drawn animation and 2D is still relevant. A wonderful story, told brilliantly, with great likeable characters and some of the best animation is a formula for success. Mamoru Hododa is building a strong reputation which in future could see him as a rival to Studio Ghibli.

3. Silent Witness (China) - IMDB = 7.6 - RT = None

A Chinese courtroom thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Tycoon Lin Tai's daughter Lin Mengmeng becomes the murder suspect of his father's fiance Yang Dan. Her defense lawyer Zhou Li and prosecutor Tong Tao gains in-depth understanding through cross examinations in court before Tai admits that he murdered Yang Dan in court. Did Lin Tai really murder Yang Dan? Who is actually the murderer of Yang Dan?

Wow, what a complex sounding synopsis!

Silent Witness really caught me off guard because I hadn't heard or read anything about it. All I knew was Aaron Kwok was in it and that was enough to get my attention.

Credit is due to the director Xing Fei for making such a compelling film. Silent Witness moves at 100mph and starts with a bang. After roughly 25 minutes of tense court room drama, it seems like the film could be ready to finish. But no, that would be too simple. Xing Fei tells his story in a nonlinear fashion which makes the story more fascinating as it's told from different characters perspectives and it really does keep you guessing.

Full of just enough twist and turns to keep you interested but not too many to leave you feeling frustrated. Very enjoyable film.

2. Rurouni Kenshin (Japan) - IMDB = 7.5 - RT = None

This film is a bit of a dream for not only Samurai fans but also fans of the original Anime and Manga!

Former legendary assassin Kenshin Himura ('Takeru Sato') has now become a wandering samurai. Offerring aid and protecting those in need as atonement for his past deeds. During this time Kenshin Himura comes across and aides Kaoru Kamiya (Emi Takei). Her father opened the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu, a kendo school located in Tokyo and Kaoru is now an instructor there. Kaoru then invites Kenshin to stay at her dojo. Their relationship develops further, but Kenshin is still haunted by his violent past.

More rare proof that anime adaptions can be done correctly! For fans of the original anime Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X, you need not worry! This film really does it justice.

The lead actor Takeru Sato looks and acts extremely like Kenshin which was a big positive for this film, there is even that moment when he dons the signature outfit he wore in the anime.

The running time is over 2 hours, but it feels nothing like that as you are thrown into a story full of wonderful sets, stunning costumes and some very well choreographed fight scenes. My main worry for this film was how the fight scenes would be tackled, live action version of anime sometimes tend to go over the top, but what works with anime, doesn't always work with film. Fortunately for Rurouni Kenshin this isn't the case, the fight scenes are very well done, exciting and realistic but with just enough fantasy chucked in.

This is a very fun film that most people will enjoy. It's not incredibly deep, and it won't move you to change your life. But it's just a great film that you can sit back and relax and be lost in the world that is created on your screen.

And a little bit of good news. This was such a success in Japan that 2 sequels have been announced.



How bad ass is the song in this trailer?!


1. New World (South Korea) - IMDB = 7.6 - RT = 71%

Infernal Affairs meets The Godfather in the best gangster film since Election.

As Korea's biggest crime organization 'Goldmoon' expands its powers, Kang, the head of police investigation planning department, orders the undercover cop Ja-Seoung to participate in project "New World", that will take down 'Goldmoon'. Ja-seong must choose either to follow Kang's orders as a cop or to keep his loyalty with Jeong Cheong, the under-boss of the 'Goldmoon' crime organization.

This film almost went over my head, which is quite a surprise when you look at the cast. Directed by Park Hoon-Jung and starring Choi Min-sik(Oldboy, I Saw The Devil), Lee Jung-jae(Il Mare, Typhoon) and Hwang Jung-min(A Man Who Was Superman, Bloody Tie). That's an all star cast to rival The Departed.

There is so much that makes New World brilliant. But I can't quite place it. The characters, the screenplay, the cinematography, the story, the action, the musical score. It's one of those films were eveything just clicks and you end up with a top notch film.

New World is super stylish, reministant of the glory days of the Hollywood Gangster films. And each actor is on their A game. Choi Min-sik is excellent as always, a character who without saying or doing much can have your attention. But it was Hwang Jung-min who stole the show for me, with his over the top arrogant fame hungry gangster asshole role, every scene he is in is gold and he will leave a lasting impression! One of my favourite scenes involves Hwang Jung-min's in an elevator which sprung to mind and rivals a very famous scene in Oldboy. And New World also has one of the most memorable film endings I have seen in years.

This is really a must watch! It this was a Hollywood production I would have no doubt it would run rampant during this years award season.

Get it watched now! ... And you have no excuse because as I type this it is currently on US Netflix.



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So there we have it. 2013 has finished, and this is what I believe to be the best films of the year. My ordering might change with more viewings of each films. But what can you do?

Also, I am sure there are a lot of films I have missed out because I haven't had a chance to view them all. So if you think I have missed anything out, or you disagree with my list or order. Then leave a comment, or hit me up on Facebook or whatever.

Until next time, happy viewing!