Once Upon A Time - Shi Li Tai Hua - 三生三世十里桃花 Year: 2017 Director: Zhao Xiaoding, Anthony LaMolinara Starring: Liu Yifei, Yang Yang, Luo Jin, Yan Yikuan Based on: Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossoms by TangQi Gongzi Running Time: 110 mins Country: China
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Without them there would have been no Magnificent Seven. Clint Eastwood wouldn't have a Fistful of Dollars. And Darth Vader wouldn't be a Samurai.
Mifune: The Last Samurai, a new film by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steven Okazaki, explores the accidental movie career of Toshiro Mifune, one of the true giants of world cinema. Mifune made 16 remarkable films with director Akira Kurosawa during the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema, including Rashomon, Seven Samurai and Yojimbo. Together they thrilled audiences and influenced filmmaking around the world, providing direct inspiration for not only The Magnificent Seven and Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood’s breakthrough, A Fistful of Dollars, but also George Lucas’ Star Wars. Weaving together film clips, archival stills, and interviews with such luminaries as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. Narrated by Keanu Reeves.
Mifune: The Last Samurai is a chronologically told portrait of one of the most important and influential actors to ever grace the big screen. Mifune as an actor and a person left an undoubtedly large impression on the world, but can an 80 minute documentary do his legacy justice.
Starting off with a brief introduction to Chanbara cinema, the audiences is treated to the foundations of early Samurai films traced back to the earliest days of cinema while viewing a collection of clips from extremely rare or long forgotten films. 'Chanbara' is the Japanese word for “sword fighting films” and is derived from the sound of two swords crashing together. A real highlight is the only surviving scene from a 1926 film ‘Chokon’ in which a Samurai takes on multiple enemies on his own, while licking the blood off of his sword to give him strength.
The documentary goes through his life from being born in China, to getting drafted to fight in World War II, to returning and trying to make a living as an assistant camera-man to then accidentally becoming an actor. All the way until his untimely death. Drawing the attention of Akira Kurosawa at Toho studios, a fierce collaboration between the actor and director started which would stretch over 16 films. Kurosawa left many choices up to Mifune and allowed his to create and mold his own characters, ultimately allowing him to create his own heroes.
There are many intriguing interviews from big name Hollywood interviews like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg who offer their own praise on Mifune’s work and how it inspired them. But it's the candid interviews from his family, friends and Co-stars that are the real heart of the film. Kanzo Uni was his frequent fight choreographer and takes great delight in telling you he was killed by Mifune onscreen more than 100 times. His daughter explains why Mifune turned down the role of playing Obi-Wan Kenobi after George Lucas himself sought him out.
One of his Co-stars explains a hilarious yet scary situation while shooting the finale of ‘Throne of Blood’ were Mifune’s character is bombarded with hundreds of arrows. What people don't know is that these were all real arrows being shot towards Mifune which he actually had to dodge… and it was college students firing the arrows… and they also had no insurance for this scene. Stories like that show how dedicated to his art that Toshiro Mifune was. And just how crazy he could be.
The main problem with The Last Samurai is it is just too short. It's never really a problem to leave you wanting more. However, appearing in almost 170 feature films, the majority of these films aren't touched upon and some of the big ones are alluded. They also hint at why Mifune and Kurosawa stopped collaborating without really giving any detail. The same can also be said for his documented affair. Although, these could have been avoided because the documentary is more a celebration of his life and career and these issues might bring the tone down.
Mifune: The Last Samurai is still a very well constructed informative picture which will open eyes to newcomers of his work and the Samurai genre. And for his already established fans it offers a great intimate insight into his life with many details and stories they won't be aware of.
Benny Chan's latest Hong Kong action film Call of Heroes is getting a select UK cinema release on September 2nd. For a full list of cinemas check out the official website here
Set in 1914 following the collapse of the Qing dynasty, the film tells the story of a group of villagers standing up to a cruel young warlord.
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.
Director Kim Han-min’s(War of The Arrows) 16th century historical epic is one of the greatest naval battle films ever made. And it now happens to be the biggest grossing South Korean film of all time. Starring Choi Min-sik(Oldboy/Lucy), Ryu Seung-ryong(Blades of Blood), Cho Jin-woong(Nameless Gangster), Jin Goo(Mother), Lee Jung-hyun(Juvenile Offender) and Kim Myung-gon(Masquerade).
South Korean war drama based on the Battle of Myeongnyang which took place in 1597. After being disgraced and demoted Yi Sun-shin (Min-sik Choi) is reinstated to Admiral and commands the last 12 ships of the Joseon Navy in a battle against the invading Japanese forces and their fleet of 200. Against the odds, can Yi lead his men to victory?
Spectacular looking film based on the true battle led by revered Admiral Yi Sun-shin. Domestic audiences are well aware of the history and facts of this legendary battle, but international audiences are in for some surprises and a real treat.
Squad Goals.
Yi was known for his strategies. Using unorthodox tactics, “turtle” ships and even the current to win battles. The story is interesting from beginning to end, but it's the battle scenes were things really get compelling and exciting. You never know exactly what Yi has up his sleeve, and some of his tactics are rather surprising.
Visually the battle scenes are spectacular and intense. A fine blend between CGI and replica ships, the scenes look extremely realistic with only a few sketchy CGI moments. The ships look fantastic, especially up close, and especially while they are being blown to pieces sending woodchips and bodies flying everywhere.
Stunning costumes in The Admiral.
The 2nd half of the film is action filled, but the first half is filled of backstories and character development. This causes some issues as there are too many side stories and characters being introduced from both sides that it gets complicated and hard to keep up.
Minor issues aside. Choi Min-sik delivers another stunning performance. A reserved but still charismatic, intimidating performance. The Japanese characters(played by Korean actors) are also extremely interesting in their methods and the costume designs are stunning with the Samurai-esque outfits,
A great war film from South Korea which is extremely different from their usual North Vs South war story. Highly recommended.
Arriving 16 years after the original, Sword of Destiny doesn't live up to it's predecessor as a sequel, but as a film on it's own merits it is decent, entertaining and reminiscent of 90s Kung Fu films.
Renowned warrior Yu Shu-Lien comes out of retirement to keep the legendary Green Destiny sword away from villainous warlord Hades Dai.
An extremely basic plot, but it works with the style of film. The main point that can't be emphasised enough is, do not go in to this expecting the original Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Times have changed. The budget is smaller. It has a different director, different producers, different writers and the only returning cast member is Michelle Yeoh. It can't match the original. But it is a fun Wuxia film in it's own right.
Could this be Yen's last Wuxia film?
If you are wanting some great fight scenes, then you will get your Netflix money's worth. That's one of the high praises CTHD2 has, the great Martial Art scenes. Directed by legendary Yuen Woo-ping and starring Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen, the fights were always going to be good. But they honestly surpassed expectations. The fights are fast, furious and vicious and all completely varied throughout. There is a fight in a tavern which has great comedy elements. There is a stunning fight on a frozen lake which was innovative. And the last fight with Yen and Jason Scott Lee is extremely well choreographed and very exciting, even if it has a little too much CGI.
Something that Sword of Destiny relies on that the original didn't is CGI. Filmed in New Zealand instead of China, CGI is used to add in backgrounds or buildings or mountains to make the film’s setting look more like China. The majority of these are used tastefully and are actually pretty to look at. However, the CGI added to the fight scenes is when it becomes a little jarring, especially the last fight when it comes across unnecessary but it never ruined the scene or made it unwatchable.
Michelle Yeoh is superb in her role as usual. And Yen always delivers. The rest of the cast all vary from acceptable to good. Jason Scott Lee is a great villain, a little over the top but all in the best way, and he looks like he is having a blast in the role. The rest of the English speaking cast do a fine job in their limited roles, some of the dialogue may sound a little cheesy but acceptable. It is pretty amusing to see a Wuxia film with Asian actors with accents varying from American to Australian to English.
The magnificent Michelle Yeoh Yeoh playing the teacher to Snow Vase (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) is one of the most interesting dynamics. The 2 characters have great chemistry together and a relationship that should have had more screen time. These scenes were done wonderfully and another great highlight of the film.
For the purists who are going to complain about this film regardless, one of the main issues they have is that it was filmed in English. Well, an interesting option is you can change the audio language to Chinese with English subtitles. After checking this out it does add a bit of authenticity to the film, although there is no real issue with the original English language. But the option is there.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is an interesting experiment. The name has obviously been used for marketing purposes. People who loved the original will watch it out of curiosity and people who already have Netflix will surely watch it just out of interest. I just hope that the film gets great viewing figures because Netflix is the future and I would love to see them fund more Kung Fu films or Asian films in general.
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!
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!
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.
If that was all the problems The Assassin had, it would be still great! But unfortunately the slow pacing is a real issue in this film. The marketing probably hasn't helped, with reviews, trailers and posters stating this is a martial arts or Kung Fu film, when it is actually quite far from it.
Yes, 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.
That is the juxtaposition of The Assassin. The fight scenes are so quick and finish almost instantly, yet the pacing and story telling is so slow the film almost grinds to a halt on a couple of occasions.
Hou Hsiao-Hsien's way of film making uses lots of long cuts. Sometimes these are of wild beautiful scenery. Or of people staring without dialogue. This can be a useful tool in film making, but it feels that it's used so often in The Assassin that sometimes you might wonder if your DVD has stuck.
The Assassin was a bit of a disappointment. It's one of the most talked about and exciting films of the year and it ends up falling a little flat. The film looks gorgeous. And Shu Qi is a fantastic lead. But the film has many flaws which unfortunately ruins the experience.
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! Give it a watch but just don't expect a House of Flying Daggers.
I travelled to Japan last year with 2 of my good friends. We went from Tokyo to Osaka to Hiroshima to Kyoto. It might not be about Asian films or Anime, but it's Japan, and we seen a lot relating to them both!
We seen many sights and sounds from the neon lights of Tokyo, to the Studio Ghibli museum, to Hello Kitty Land, to the temples and castles of Kyoto and Osaka, to the Atomic Bomb Memorial in Hiroshima.
I edited together all of our video footage into a highlight video. So check it out!
I will also add some photos of our journey which I think they readers will enjoy!
Enjoy, let me know what you think! And if you liked it, give it the thumbs up on facebook.
2012 has been an excellent and surprising year for Asian cinema. Oddly this year Korea only has 1 film in my top 10, Korea usually dominates the best Asian films. There are also surprise entries from countries like Thailand and Vietnam. It was tough to narrow it down to 10, but here is my list. I have also included their IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes ratings when possible. Some of these films might have not been released in 2012 but they weren't released on UK DVD until 2012.
10. The Viral Factor - Hong Kong (IMDb = 5.9/RT = 56%)
Director - Dante Lam
Starring - Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse and Ling Peng
I love Jay Chou! He is one of my favorite performers(singer/actor) from Asia, I will watch anything he is in. The majority of Hong Kong films seem to get low ratings and bad reviews, especially the Action films. The Viral Factor is no different. However, this is still a very fun film. It's back to the good old Hong Kong action films with plenty of action, fight scenes and gun shoot outs.
If you are looking for an intelligent film with a great story that will make you think, then this isn't for you. If you want to sit back, relax and watch some crazy stunts, brilliant car chases, awesome shoot outs and brutal fight scenes... While 2 guys try and stop criminals releasing a virus from infecting the world... or something to that effect. Then get the popcorn and enjoy.
9. Mitsuko Delivers - Japan (IMDb = 6.2/RT = No Score Yet)
Director - Yuya Ishii
Starring - Riisa Naka, Aoi Nakamura and Ryo Ishibashi
Number 9 is a Japanese Comedy entry from director Yuyu Ishii(Sawako Decides).
Mitsuko Delivers tells the story of a young woman Mitsuko(Riisa Naka) who always believes that everything will be okay. Even after moving to America with her lover, getting pregnant by him then getting dumped by him she returns to Japan, nine months pregnant, broke and forced to move out of her apartment, she still feels like everything will be okay. Mitsuko decides to go with the wind, literally. After lying on a bench and watching the way the wind blows, she packs up and heads off that way.
Mitsuko Delivers is a very funny feel good film. The relationship with her parents, who still believe she is happy in California and the boy who has had a life-long crush on her makes the film interesting. And the films climax is brilliant. Definitely worth a watch and it's one to put a smile on your face.
8. Headshot - Thailand (IMDb = 6.1/RT = 60%)
Director - Pen-Ek Ratanaruang Starring -
Nopachai Chaiyanam, Sirin Horwang and Chanokporn Sayoungkul
Headshot is a Thai crime noir which tells the story of Tul(Nopachai), a hitman who wakes up from a
coma to realize that he's now seeing everything upside down. Tul wants
to quit but is instead recruited to join a secret organization that gets
rid of crooked politicians untouched by the law.
Seeing the world upside down and being a hitman is an in interesting idea and is explored very well. The film is told in a non-chronological order from his pre-hitman days to being a cop, and to the present where his attempts to lead a
monk's life gets ruined by his earlier life of violence that come
back to haunt him.
A great film with a very likeable lead character and a finale that is filled with enough gun
battle to excite the casual action seeker.
7. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney - Japan (IMDb = 6.8/RT = No Score Yet)
Director - Takashi Miike Starring -
Takumi Saitô, Mirei Kiritani and Shunsuke Daitô
Number 7 on the list is a video game adaption and also the first on the list from acclaimed director Takashi Miike.
This film is based on the popular video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and focuses on the second and fourth case of the game. The story set in the not so distant future, where the government has introduced a bench trial system that sees trials last three days before a verdict is reached. Ace Attorney follows a rookie and likeable lawyer Phoenix Wright, who has to defend Maya Fey, the sister of his deceased friend Mia Fey. He faces against Miles Edgeworth who has a perfect win record. In his second case, after Miles is charged with murder, it falls on Phoenix Wright to defend him. This time he is up against the best prosecutor of all time, Manfred Von Karma. To solve this case Phoenix looks beyond the court room drama and searches the clues from the DL-6, a 15 year old case with clues left behind by Mia Fey.
This is arguably one of the best video game films of all time. Takashi Miike has got it spot on. He even kept the gamers happy by taking the music directly from the game and incorporating it in the film. Miike has also managed to capture the excitement of the court room battles which will leave you on the edge of your seat. A very exciting and captivating film.
6. Blood Letter - Vietnam (IMDb = 6.5/RT = No Score Yet)
Director: Victor Vu Starring - Huyuh Dong, Midu and Khuong Ngoc
Nearly every year there is a big budget epic Chinese film, with brilliant locations and sets, stunning costumes, martial arts and wire fu. This year, it just happens to be a Vietnamese film.
Now I will be the first to admit I am ignorant to Vietnamese cinema, I can't recall seeing a lot of films from there or any that stood out. That made this film all the more enjoyable and exciting for me as I got much much more than expected!
Blood Letter begins with a massacre of Le Chi Vien, the full Nguyen Trai family are brutally murdered leaving only one survivor, a young 5 year old boy who is found by a monk. The monk raises the child and trains him in martial arts, the boy grows into an adult with great fighting skills and a new name, Tran Nguyen Vu. When Nguyen Vu discovers his family history, he sets out on a journey seeking revenge and to clear his family's name. Along the way he encounters others with vengeance on their mind, Hoa Xuan, a female sword-wielding martial artists. Together them team up and seek revenge against the ones that framed them for crimes they didn't commit... The Royal Family.
This film is beautiful to look at showcasing the gorgeous scenery of Vietnam from the mountains to the crystal clear lakes. The sets and costumes are almost on par with the likes of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Hero. And the martial arts and fightscenes are exciting and well choreographed. Blood Letter is a film you need to seek out!
5. Himizu - Japan (IMDb = 6.9/RT = 92%)
Director:Shion Sono Starring:Shôta Sometani, Fumi Nikaidô and Tetsu Watanabe
Himizu is the latest worldwide release from Shion Sono one of the 'it' directors from Japan. With Suicide Club, Love Exposure and recently Cold Fish under his belt. And he delivers, again.
This film competed at the 68th Venice International Film Festival and Fumi Nikaido and Shota Dometani recieved the award for Best New Young Actor and Actress.
Sumida(Shometani) and Keiko(Nikaido) are 15 year olds living seemingly meaningless lifes. They have a lot in common including the fact their parents hate them and both sharing a dream of living an ordinary life. Set in Japan in the tsunami hit areas, when Sumida is abandoned by his mother and is left alone to manage a boat-rental business previously ran by his family, his classmate Keiko sees this as a chance to help out and also get close to him.
The description of this film might make it sound like a rom-com. But it is far from it. It's a gritty, violent drama with no laughs but characters who you want to fight for as you can genuinely feel their pain. Himizu is an adaption of Minoru Furuya's popular manga with the same name, the word himizu is a species of a Japanese mole.
Himizu is a grim film. Realistic and heart wrenching, it is the hardest film on this list to watch. With brilliant young actors playing provoking characters and an extremely intense ending, this film is definitely worth watching.
4. Nameless Gangster - South Korea (IMDb = 7.2/RT = No Score Yet)
Director: Jong-bin Yun Starring: Peter Cavnoudias, Min-sik Choi and Jung-woo Ha
"The Korean mob film Scorsese would be proud of." Time Magazine
On the verge of being fired, a corrupt customs official finds a haul of
drugs and teams up with a vicious gangster to become the most powerful
crime partnership in Busan. Set in the 1980s and '90s when corruption and crime was so rampant that the government declared war on it on 13th October 1990.
This film is just plain cool! The look is very stylish with a nice score to match it. And the characters are all likeable and bad ass. Especially the leads Choi Min-sik(Oldboy, I Saw The Devil) and Jung-woo Ha(The Chaser, Breath).
Definitely one for fans of gangster films especially if you enjoyed films like Goodfellas, which this film draws a lot of comparisons.
3. Hara Kiri - Japan (IMDb = 7.2/RT = 80%)
Director: Takashi Miike
Stars: Kôji Yakusho,
Eita,
Munetaka Aoki
The second film by Japanese cult director Takashi Miike to make this list!
Miike had a worldwide hit in 2010/11 with 13 Assassins with critics and fans a like. So it seems safe for him to release another Samurai flick... However, Takashi Miike doesn't do playing it safe. Hara-Kiri goes in a completely different direction from 13 Assassins. Take the action and blood fest out and replace it with a compelling story, brilliant acting and a lot of drama.
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai is a remake of the 1962 film Harakiri by Masaki Kobayashi, widely regarded as one of the greatest Samurai films of all time. Miike also shot this film entirely in 3D, which is a touchy subject. So it's actually quite surprising to see it receive mostly positive reviews. The 3D wasn't used as a gimmick in this film, it was used more to add depth and layers to scenery and surroundings, such as with falling snow flakes. Another exciting point of Hara-Kiri is the original score which was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, it fits perfectly with the story, setting and dramatic themes of this movie. This makes it not just visually stunning but also audibly beautiful.
For fans of Miike's films, there are a few violent/bloody scenes, however they serve a purpose and are a little tough to watch. There is also an extremely memorable, well choreographed fight scene that will satisfy martial arts and action fans.
Watch Hara-Kiri, I highly recommend it. But don't go in expecting an action film. Except a very well told story with likeable characters, drama galore and gorgeous cinematography and music.
2. We Were There (Bokura Ga Ita)- Japan (IMDb = 7.7/RT = No Score Yet)
This was the surprise film of the year for me. I knew nothing and hadn't heard anything about this movie before I watched it. I was actually 35,000 feet high when I watched We Were There. Sitting on a plane on the way back from Japan, scrolling through the in fight films I noticed We Were There parts I and II. I stuck it on to kill 4+ hours of the flight... And I tried my hardest not to cry like a baby.
The film is based on the manga Bokura ga Ita and the anime of the same name. The manga was released in 2002 and has currenlty sold over 10,000,000 copies. Released as 2 separate films in the cinema with a one month wait between them.
We Were There is the story of a romance between Nanami Takahashi(Yuriko Yoshitaka) and Motoharu Yano(Toma Ikuta). Motoharu is the most popular boy in highschool, Nanami falls in love with him but doesn't know about his past relationship were his girlfriend died in a car crash and his ability to not let go of her.
Filmed across Japan in Hokkaido and Tokyo, which is where I had just left, there was another love story going on. The love story between me and my favourite country which made this film even more emotional for me, especially with the great locations Takahiro Miki used in his film.
We Were There is the only romantic drama in this list. It is not usually the type of film I would go out of my way to watch, it was either just luck or fate I got to see this film. But i'm glad I did. Gripping and emotionally moving, it sucked me in for over 4 hours and told me a brilliant story. Hankies at the ready.
1. The Raid - Indonesia (IMDb 7.6/RT = 84%)
Director: Gareth Evans
Starring: Iko Uwais,
Ananda George,
Ray Sahetapy
Was there really any doubt what number 1 would be?
I don't even have to say anything about The Raid. It is one of the greatest action films of all time.
Needs to be seen by everyone! Now!
And there you have it. My list of the best Asian films of 2012. There is a bunch of films that I had to cut out to make this list. And a lot of thinking and chopping and changing went into making this list complete. I'm happy with the finished 10.... I just hope I haven't missed anything out!
