Reviews written by Kevin Kennedy
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Jaurim vol. 4 -04
Jaurim vol. 4 -04
(8)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:December 1, 2009 Jaurim is the real dealThis album served as my introduction to the music of Jaurim and I didn't quite know what to make of it during my first couple listens. The band's sound seemed to be all over the map. Now after hearing this album many times, I can't say that I've found a musical theme that ties it all together, but I've come to appreciate the band's tremendous versatility and its dedication to their craft. The group's playing is tight throughout, generating hard-rocking songs that range from old-school bluesy rock to grunge. And the swaggering, brassy vocals of singer Kim Yoon Ah are remarkable; she definitely is a legit rock star. By the way, don't miss the bonus track buried at the end of this disk. Jaurim has won me over. I'm eager to sample some of their other work. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
It's A Wonderful Life
It's A Wonderful Life DVD Region All
(7)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:November 30, 2009 Cavalcade of stars in holiday filmFirst things first -- this version of "It's A Wonderful Life" has nothing whatsoever to do with the Frank Capra classic of the same name, except that they both are set around the winter holidays. In this film, the controlling parents of three adult children have managed to mess up their children's lives through their heavy-handed parenting. The eldest daughter (Teresa Mo) fled to France simply to get away from her parents; she returns home for the holidays with a hippie-ish friend Ronaldo (Leslie Cheung) who crushes the hopes of her long-suffering suitor (Lau Ching Wan). The eldest son (Raymond Wong) is drowning his sorrows in drink after messing up his marriage to a lovely restaurant owner (Petrina Fung). The second son, a stuttering, hermit-like comic book artist (Tony Leung Ka Fai), finds difficulty overcoming his shyness to pursue the girl of his dreams (Anita Yuen).
Things take a turn for the wacky when Ronaldo starts dispensing off-beat advice to the various family members and their friends, advice which turns lives upside down when they put Ronaldo's ideas into action. It all adds up to a feel-good romantic comedy, with nice performances from Fung Bo Bo, Lau Ching Wan, and Leung Ka Fai. This "It's A Wonderful Life" won't make you forget the Frank Capra classic and its production values are straight out of the bargain basement, but it delivers a strong pro-family message and provides an amusing diversion. (Note: This DVD hasn't been remastered and its image quality is sub-par.)Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Turning Point (DVD) (US Version)
Turning Point (DVD) (US Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$14.99List: US$15.99Save: US$1.00 (6%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:November 30, 2009 Structural problems beset actioner"Turning Point" is a film with exciting scenes, solid performers, gunplay galore, and lots of crashing cars. Yet the whole turns out to be less than the sum of its parts. The film tells the story of Laughing Gor (Michael Tse), a convenience store cashier turned gangster, who is sent by his gang boss (Anthony Wong) to go undercover as a cop (echoing Andy Lau's role in "Infernal Affairs"), only then to be sent by the police to go undercover as a gangster. Back in the underworld, Gor falls in love with the sister of his bitter gangland rival (Francis Ng). All the elements are in place for a gripping tale of Gor's conflicting loyalties. Unfortunately, the film's structure, endlessly shifting back and forth between past and present, undermines the ability of the story to generate any forward momentum and sabotages the story's inherent tensions.
"Turning Point" sets a star-making stage for Michael Tse and he delivers. Anthony Wong is effectively creepy as Gor's gangster boss. The film has many terrific scenes. If the filmmakers simply had set the scenes in chronological order -- insteading of doing all that back and forth in time -- I believe that this could have been a superb, action-packed drama.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Electric Shadows (Hong Kong Version)
Electric Shadows (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 25, 2009 A must-see movie!As "Electric Shadows", a bottled-water delivery boy is knocked off his bike by bricks strewn in his path. He inadvertently knocks over a pile of bricks, then is assaulted by a young woman he does not know. The film then unfolds the connections between the delivery boy and the young woman and her reasons for assaulting him. In that mystery lies a wonderful, warm, heartbreaking human drama about families torn asunder ... and about how movies can motivate us and enrich our lives. The story reaches from China's Cultural Revolution to the present and from a dusty Ningxia village to the streets of Beijing.
One can quibble about improbable coincidences in the storyline, but the emotional power of this lovingly crafted film sweep all such concerns away. Don't miss this one!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Shit Up! (Hong Kong Version)
Shit Up! (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 25, 2009 Amusing, lightweight action-comedy"S**t Up!" begins with an aging crime boss retiring from his position as honcho of Korea's criminal world. He appoints as his successors Byuk Dol (Choi Bul Am) and Gae Dduk (Noh Joo Hyun). Of course, there is no way that these two rivals can cooperate, so they soon schedule a fight to determine who will run the show. A third gangster, however, clears his own path to power by setting the two rivals up to be arrested and sent to prison for fifteen years. When Byuk Dol and Gae Dduk finally are released from prison, they are determined to gain revenge against Dong Pal, the gangster who sent them away. However, before they have the opportunity, Dong Pal is himself imprisoned. A remorseful Dong Pal promises take care of Byuk Dol and Gae Dduk for the rest of their lives by providing them a fortune and allowing them to live in his mansion. But that fortune comes with a price -- Byuk Dol and Gae Dduk soon spend their time as bodyguards to Dong Pal's pop star daughter Eun Ji (Im Yoo Jin). And yet another bad guy has plans to kidnap Eun Ji and make her his own.
Choi Bul Am and Noh Joo Hyun provide plenty of laughs as the aging gangsters who haven't lost their punch. Seeing them (or rather their stunt doubles) in action beating up hoards of villains is a hoot. And the image of Gae Dduk with his 'Ronaldo' haircut can't help but bring giggles. The story, however, is very slight and awfully improbable; it also is littered with concepts and characters that are introduced, but then never fully developed. Consequently, "S**t Up!" provides a nice evening's diversion, but I can't imagine ever wanting to watch it again.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Spring Subway
Spring Subway DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:November 24, 2009 Stylish arthouse film"Spring Subway" is a stylishly lensed, unconventionally told study of the illusory quality of intimacy and commitments among men and women in contemporary China. Husband Jianbin (Geng Le) lost his job, but hasn't yet told his wife. He pretends to go to work, then spends each day riding the subway. Wife Xiaohui (Xu Jinglei) becomes immersed in a friendship with a coffee shop owner (Zhang Yang) who seeks a deeper relationship with her.
Jianbin chats with a chubby chef (played by the actor who seeks kudos in the film "Gimme Kudos"); the chef is about to meet a potential wife, but arrives to find his prospective mate being taken to the hospital after a gas explosion. Jianbin visits the hospital to which the woman was taken. Pretending to be the chef, he returns each day to spend time with the woman. He finds an emotional bond with her that is missing from his marriage. Meanwhile, the chef befriends a promo girl who passes out free samples of a breakfast bar on the subway. We also meet a young man who yearns for a pretty young photo shop worker, yet flees when she agrees to meet him.
Will Jianbin and Xiaohui allow their marriage to dissolve through neglect? Will the chef find his soulmate? Will the young man conquer his fears? All of these stories are addressed in a cryptic style, creating a kind of visual mosaic that draws the viewer into the film. Arthouse film buffs should embrace this fascinating glimpse into relationships in urban China.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Getting Home (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Getting Home (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 21, 2009 A journey to the heart of nobility"Getting Home" is a classic road movie, a tale of the extraordinary adventures encountered by one ordinary man as he travels across China. But this is a road movie with a difference. This ordinary man, migrant worker Lao Zhao (Zhao Ben Shan), is traveling across the country carrying on his back the decaying (and pungent) body of his deceased co-worker Lao Liu. Zhao feels honor-bound to return Liu's remains to his family in his hometown near Chongqing, and he will let nothing deter him from reaching his destination. Along the way, Zhao encounters the best and the worst of human nature, as people seek to help him or to prey upon him.
It's a simple story, a story that is both universal and profoundly Chinese, and it is told with exceptional warmth and great humor. Zhao Ben Shan gives the performance of a lifetime, infusing his earthy, dogged character with true nobility. And the film looks great, providing spectacular sweeping panoramas of the gorgeous Chinese countryside. You won't soon forget this terrific film. I like it so much that I'm eager to share it with friends.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Marriage Certificate
The Marriage Certificate DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 21, 2009 Can this marriage be saved?In "The Marriage Certificate", a naughty teen daughter stirs up trouble between her parents with consequences the girl never anticipated. Through the manipulative machinations of Xiaowen (Li Xiao Meng), her mother Yuting (Lu Li Ping) becomes obsessed with finding her marriage certificate. Yuting tears up the house looking for the document, driving her husband, psychiatrist Gu Ming (Feng Kung), to his wits' end. The daughter then plants the seed with her mother that Gu Ming just might be having an affair with his pretty young intern. Through these suspicions and obsessions, the parents' once-complacent marriage is brought to the brink of divorce ... a divorce that they can't obtain until they find that marriage certificate!
Director Huang Jianxin is a master at illustrating the joys and stresses of family life, at merging whimsical humor with serious human issues, and at limning the comical excesses of China's bureaucratic government. He also has a knack for drawing delightful performances from child actors, as with Li Xiao Meng in this film and with the little boy in the equally excellent film "Something About Secret". "The Marriage Certificate" is very highly recommended.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Something About Secret
Something About Secret DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 19, 2009 Beautifully executed tale of guiltIn "Something About Secret", He Liying (Jiang Shan), driving a company car, returns home late on a rainy night after spending the evening drinking with her work colleagues. As she arrives near her home, her car strikes a woman riding a bicycle. Liying's first impulse is to check on the prone body of the victim, but instead she drives on to her home, leaving the body on the wet street. Liying's husband, Li Guoqiang (Wang Zhi Wen), witnessed the accident from a distance, but is unsure of the driver's identity. When she arrives home, Liying says nothing about the incident to Guoqiang and remains mum as events surrounding the victim unfold.
The victim is hospitalized in a coma. She turns out to be the mother of one of the schoolmates of Liying's and Guoqiang's son. Newspapers are filled with reports of the hit-and-run accident. The victim's daughter perches on the street corner at which the accident took place, bearing a sign that asks eyewitnesses to step forward. Liying and Guoqiang go about their daily lives, but everything has changed, as Liying becomes consumed with guilt and responds by lashing out at those around her and as Guoqiang's suspicions about his wife grow. Will Liying admit her guilt? Will Guoqiang's suspicions tear the marriage apart?
"Something About Secret" proves to be a skillfully written and directed and an exceptionally well-acted exploration of the effects of unconfessed guilt. The filmmakers keep things from getting too gloomy by leavening events with some surprising touches of humor, mostly provided by the delightful little boy who plays Liying's and Guoqiang's son. I recommend "Something About Secret" very highly for a general audience. It tells an important moral tale without ever becoming preachy.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Go-Con Japanese Love Culture
Go-Con Japanese Love Culture DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 18, 2009 The story doesn't add up"Go-Con: Japanese Love Culture" tells of three friends who devote themselves to endless efforts to hook up with women. Each night they engage in a "game" called Go-Con, in which they invite four women to join them (and a hopeless loser that they add to the group to increase their odds of success) for a night of drinking, trivial talk, and 'truth or dare'-style games, leading (they hope) to a one-nighter. The first half of the movie plays these silly (and repetitive) antics as smutty slapstick and depicts the three friends as shallow jerks who care little for each other and even less for the endless parade of women they meet.
In its second half, the movie shifts gears and seeks to portray the guys as actually sensitive souls who have trapped themselves in their own empty routine and who actually hope to find the women of their dreams for committed relationships. The transition is rough and the movie then takes itself much too seriously; it seeks a significance that it has not earned. There is no chemistry between the three friends and the woman each of them desires and little reason to believe that these women would have any interest in the guys.
Due to its subject matter, "Go-Con" is suitable only for mature audiences, but it is hard to imagine mature audiences having much interest in a movie that is as trivial as the "love culture" it depicts.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Love In Magic (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Love In Magic (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 17, 2009 Good performances in inconsistent film"Love in Magic" is an oddly conceived movie; the parts of the film just don't add up. The story opens as a smutty, low-brow sex comedy, as we are introduced to the dashing professional magician Ji Hoon (Yeon Jung Hoon). Ji Hoon has bedded so many women that he can't keep them all straight. One of his old conquests, the pretty high school art teacher Hee Won (Park Jin Hee), has moved on with her life and become engaged (seemingly without enthusiasm) to a plastic surgeon. However, the lives of Ji Hoon and Hee Won are turned upside down when a video of them in flagrante is found on the internet by Ji Hoon's voyeuristic assistant.
The movie then shifts gears, as Ji Hoon and Hee Won undertake a long search to determine at which hotel their love-making was surreptitiously filmed; since they apparently had 17 such sessions, there is a lot of (repetitive) ground to cover. Belatedly (long after the thought occurs to the viewer), Ji Hoon and Hee Won realize that their search is meaningless. The damage was done when the video was posted on the 'net; finding the hotel will solve nothing. Indeed, it is obvious that the scriptwriters cooked up this entire sequence to provide an excuse for comedic squabbling between the two lead characters.
After a series of heartbreaking events befalls Hee Won, the scriptwriters bring their tale to funny and heartwarming ending -- a scene that yields a comic twist on the classic ending of "The Graduate". Indeed, the ending is the best part of the movie. Yeon Jung Hoon and Park Jin Hee are attractive and talented actors and it is a pleasure watching their work. (I highly recommend that everyone check out Park Jin Hee in a dramatic role in "Shadows on the Palace" and in a side-splittingly hilarious role in the excellent "Lost and Found").Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Owls' Castle (Fukuro no Shiro) (Japan Version - English Subtitles)
Owls' Castle (Fukuro no Shiro) (Japan Version - English Subtitles) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$46.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:November 15, 2009 A gorgeous, action-packed classicFans of the "Shinobi no Mono" series will love "Owl's Castle", which tells the same story from a different perspective. Warlord Nobunaga, viewing the ninja of Iga as the only roadblock to domination of all of Japan, adopts a 'take no prisoners' approach to his attack on Iga, cruelly murdering every man, woman, and child his troops encounter. The handful of survivors is bent on revenge, even after Nobunaga is long gone from this life. Juzo (Nakai Kiichi), one of the survivors, is commissioned to assassinate Hideyoshi (Mako Iwamatsu), Nobunaga's successor. Juzo, however, may have met his match in ninja turncoat Gohei (Kamikawa Takaya), who has turned his back on his fellow Iga survivors and cast his lot with the powers-that-be. Juzo's intentions also are torn between the woman he loves (Tsuruda Mayu) and the woman who loves him (Hazuki Riona).
"Owl's Castle" is a treat on so many different levels. It yields a captivating tale of political intrigue, lots of exciting ninja action, memorable performances from its handsome cast, and some of the most astonishingly beautiful cinematography I've ever seen. Each shot is framed to yield a gorgeous work of art. Moreover, "Owl's Castle" offers a profound meditation on an interesting, thoroughly Japanese theme: When a man's identity becomes entirely identified with his mission, then what does he do when that mission becomes pointless?
Nakai Kiichi infuses his performance with the manly appeal of Tanba Tetsuro in his prime, while adding a wry humor all his own. Mako Iwamatsu gives an extraordinary depth to his rendering of the aging ruler. Hazuki Riona brings a spritely energy and exceptional physical beauty to Kisaru, the young ninja who loves Juzo. "Owl's Castle" is a great capstone to director Shinoda Masahiro's brilliant career. I believe it belongs in the same class as such ctimeless films as "Ran" and "Sansho the Bailiff".Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Tokyo Friends (The Movie) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Tokyo Friends (The Movie) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:November 15, 2009 For fans of the series"Tokyo Friends: The Movie" is a sequel to a five-episode direct-to-DVD series. If, like me, you come to this movie without having seen the preceding series, you will feel like you are entering in the middle of a story ... which, of course, you are. As the movie begins, Ryoko (Maki Yoko) is about to marry her co-manager at a pub, Hirono (Matsumoto Rio) is throwing herself at her ex-boyfriend, then joining a theatrical troupe, Maki (Kobayashi Mao) is working in an art gallery in Manhattan, and Rei (Otsuka Ai) is gaining a following for her band, Survival Company. Maki phones Rei and tells her that she saw Rei's old boyfriend and bandmate Takashi (Eita) from a distance on a Manhattan street. Rei drops everything to travel to the Big Apple to search for Takashi. Against all odds, in a city of 8.3 million people, Rei bumps into Takashi on a New York street. Will Rei and Takashi get together again? Will Rei pack in her singing career just when it is about to take off?
If you have seen and enjoyed the five-episode series, those questions likely will make you eager to see this movie. If you haven't, well, then those questions are not so gripping. Fortunately, the film's attractive cast and great J-Pop music make "Tokyo Friends" a watchable film even for novices like me. When Otsuka Ai gets behind a microphone and begins to sing, the film comes to life.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San, The Matchmaker (23rd Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San, The Matchmaker (23rd Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$44.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:November 15, 2009 Great showcase for Kaori MomoiIn "Tora-San, the Matchmaker", the 23rd film in the series, Tora rescues impetuous Hitomi (Kaori Momoi) from the advances of a bumbling sexual predator. We next encounter Hitomi, in the midst of her wedding ceremony to the scion of a wealthy family (Fuse Akira), hyperventilating as she feels trapped in a fate she doesn't want. She flees the wedding and makes a beeline for Toraya, where Tora is more than happy to help the young woman with whom he is smitten.
Her jilted groom does not give up his pursuit of Hitomi. However, in his own attempt to find himself, he quits the family firm, becomes a mechanic, and moves to a run-down tenement. Will Hitomi come to embrace the love of this good-hearted man? Kaori Momoi's natural, spontaneous acting style perfectly suits the character of Hitomi. Also excellent is veteran actress Koguri Michiyo as Hitomi's rather starchy mother. The film is capped off with a lovely song by Fuse Akira.
"Tora-San, the Matchmaker" is filled with funny, warm, and heartfelt moments. I recommend it very highly. This Shochiku remastered DVD provides brilliant, crystal-clear image quality, a huge improvement over the fuzzy images found on the less pricey Panorama DVD. If your budget will allow, definitely choose this Shochiku release.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Stranger Of Mine (Hong Kong Version)
Stranger Of Mine (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:November 13, 2009 Ingeniously conceived romantic comedy"A Stranger of Mine" is a delightful surprise. It opens as a quirky comedic romance, then splinters Rashomon-style to examine fragments of that theme through strangely different perspectives, and closes by bringing those strands back together in a masterful exposition of fallen human nature. If all of that sounds too high-faluting for you, don't worry. "A Stranger of Mine" also happens to be very entertaining.
Crestfallen office drone Miyata (Nakamura Yashui) has just been dumped by his gorgeous girlfriend. His old schoolfriend Kanda (Yamanaka Satoshi), now a scruffy gumshoe, invites him to dinner at a restaurant. Kanda urges Miyata to start seeing other women, then asks a disconsolate woman sitting alone at another table to join them. Kanda then vanishes, leaving Miyata and the young woman Maki (Kirishima Reika) to get acquainted, which they do in their shy, awkward manner. Maki, it turns out, has just broken up with her fiance and has no place to stay. Miyata offers to let her spend the night in the spare bedroom of his apartment. However, after they arrive, Ayumi (Itaya Yuka), Miyata's old girlfriend comes to pick up some of her things and Maki takes the opportunity to leave. Miyata, in an uncharacteristic act of boldness and determination, sprints after Maki's taxi and, after finally catching up to it, persuades the hesitant Maki to give him her phone number.
At this juncture, the story fractures into wild subplots involving the old girlfriend Ayumi, who turns out to be a grifter, the detective Kanda who becomes entangled with her scheming, and a yakuza boss (Yamashita Kisuke), from whom Ayumi unwisely seeks to steal a pile of cash. These subplots are tautly menacing, yet laced with wild humor, putting one in mind of Itami Juzo's great films. In the end, defying expectations, all roads lead back to Miyata and Maki and their nascent romance.
Kudos to director Uchida Kenji (who also wrote the script) for pulling off an exciting, edgy, funny, and friendly little romance. "A Stranger of Mine" deserves a wide audience; I recommend it very highly.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (US Version)
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (US Version) DVD Region 1
(1)Our Price: US$18.99List: US$19.95Save: US$0.96 (5%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:November 12, 2009 Ichi in love?"Zatoichi and the Chess Expert" spins an intriguing tale of detection and an exploration of Ichi's character that goes beyond anything we've previously seen in the series. As Ichi is entering a boat, a wandering samurai saves him from falling into the water; Ichi and the samurai quickly become friends and Ichi delights in the samurai's fascination with chess. Next Ichi encounters a woman and child travelling the countryside as musical performers; the child inadvertently is injured as a consequence of a scuffle between Ichi and some gangsters he had cheated. Ichi, feeling responsible, takes the woman and child under his wing and, when the little girl contracts tetanus as a consequence of her wound, Ichi goes to great lengths to obtain expensive medicine for her cure. Ichi's affection for the woman and child go beyond mere friendship and the woman reciprocates Ichi's feelings. Then a third strand is woven into the story; at an onsen, meets a sickly man and his sister (who is dressed as a samurai). The sickly man's retainer is murdered and, after a bit of sleuthing, Ichi suspects he knows who did it.
All of these strands get come together to produce a climax in which both Ichi's nobility of spirit and his self-loathing drive the story to a satisfying conclusion. The film is smoothly directed, attractively staged, and creatively lensed. The image quality of this film is much, much better than that of the previous DVDs in this Home Vision series; the pictures are sharp and the colors pop in this beautiful release of the film. All Zatoichi fans will embrace this movie; it will be a particular treat for those who prefer exposition over action. Highly recommended.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Re-incarnation Of Golden Lotus (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
The Re-incarnation Of Golden Lotus (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:November 9, 2009 A Joey Wang classicBefore she is to be reincarnated, in order that she not bring into her new life past loves and hatreds, Golden Lotus (Joey Wang) is asked to drink three cups of a memory-erasing potion. She refuses to do so, swearing revenge against those who have wronged her. The reborn Lotus is a dance student during the Cultural Revolution era, when she witnesses the burning of the "Jin Ping Mei", the book that describes her former life as an ill-fated concubine. As she matures, she draws the unwanted attention of the school's master, then is thrown out of school when she is accused of stealing a pair of athletic shoes that she gives to the boy she loves (Wilson Lam).
Ten years later Golden Lotus is selling fruit along the roadside outside of Guangzhou, when tourist Wu Da (Eric Tsang) meets her and falls head over heels in love with her. Soon he is buying her expensive gifts, but the air conditioner he buys her short-circuits the electricity to her village, drawing the wrath of her jealous neighbors. Wishing to escape her meager surroundings, she agrees to marry Wu, although she has no feelings for him. However, when she arrives in his Hong Kong home she soon draws the ire of her in-laws, who consider her a golddigging interloper. Coincidentally, her chauffeur in Hong Kong turns out to be the boy she loved in her schooldays. Out of loyalty to his employer (Wu and the chauffeur grew up together in Shantou), the chauffeur rejects the advances of Lotus. Feeling dejected and hopeless, Lotus soon winds up in the bed of a degenerate photographer, with consequences that threaten to blow her marriage apart.
Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that these events mirror the same tragic circumstances that ruined Golden Lotus's former life. Can she avoid the same fate and instead find true love? Joey Wang looks gorgeous and gives one of her best performances in "The Reincarnation of Golden Lotus". This is a dense, multi-layered story; I enjoyed it the first time I viewed it and found it even more engrossing when I watched it again and could better understand the parallels between Lotus's contemporary and past lives. Given its occasionally lurid content, this movie should be restricted to mature audiences.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Steal It If You Can (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Steal It If You Can (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(4)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:November 8, 2009 Can Sang Tae become king of his castle?In "Steal It If You Can", super-wealthy computer game designer Choi Kang Jo (So Ji Sub) in his spare time gets his kicks by breaking into people's homes and stealing trivial items and small amounts of cash. The more sophisticated a home's anti-burglary systems, the bigger the challenge and thrill for Kang Jo.
Nebbishy administrator Ko Sang Tae (Park Sang Myun) seems to have won the 'lottery of life'. Although his is not particularly smart, not particularly ambitious, and not at all good-looking, he somehow has managed to marry a gorgeous bride (Song Seon Mi) who comes from a family of great wealth, has two lovely children, and lives in a spectacular home. However, all is not well for our chubby hero; his wife and kids view him as a hopeless loser.
Now Kang Jo has set his sights on Sang Tae's home, breaking into it at will, each time nabbing the remote control for the family's immense TV, stealing a few bucks from the wife's pocketbook, taking food from the refrigerator, and leaving behind messages to woo Sang Tae's bride. Now it is time for Sang Tae to stand up and defend his home and, in doing so, to regain the respect and love of his family. But bumbling Sang Tae hardly seems up to the task.
The first part of "Steal It If You Can" provides uncomfortable moments as we see Sang Tae being thoroughly dissed by his family. The film picks up comedic energy as he seeks to defend his home, first by obtaining an easily-foiled guard dog, then by training with a crazed martial arts instructor, and finally by installing a host of over-the-top home-made barriers to entry. It leads to an exciting and dramatic showdown between the master thief and the hapless homeowner. Unfortunately, the filmmakers squander the climax by being a bit too clever. Nonetheless, "Steal It If You Can" provides plenty of laughs and an enjoyably different take on its familiar underdog-rising-to-the-occasion premise.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Shall We Kiss aka: First Kiss (US Version)
Shall We Kiss aka: First Kiss (US Version) DVD Region All
(6)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:November 8, 2009 Top-notch rom-comMovie magazine reporter Yeon Hwa (Choi Ji Woo), reeling from a relationship break-up, is thrown together in her job with photojournalist Kyung Hyun (Ahn Jae Wook). Their personalities could not be more different. Yeon Hwa is a repressed, introverted bookworm who lashes out at the world because of her wounded feelings. Kyung Hyun is a stylish good-time guy, the life of every party. Kyung Hyun, however, knows that he and Yeon Hwa have in common something very important ... and, consequently, can't help but be drawn to his work-partner, in spite of her spiky personality.
Filled with colorful characters and great humor, simmering with yearning for true love, and capped by an exceptional performance by Choi Ji Woo, "First Kiss" is an almost-perfect romantic comedy. And it gets better with repeated viewings! I recommend "First Kiss" very highly.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Hua Yao Bride From Shangri-La AKA: A Bride From Shangri-La (Hong Kong Version)
Hua Yao Bride From Shangri-La AKA: A Bride From Shangri-La (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Related promotions:November 8, 2009 Colorful display of minority culture"Hua Yoa Bride from Shangri-La" is filled with thrilling music, colorful costumes, exciting dances, an attractive cast, and creative cinematography. In short, it looks and sounds great and its depiction of the minority culture and lifestyle is interesting. It has a good premise: A 'wild child' young woman is betrothed to a traditional young man, but the local culture dictates that they must live apart during their three-year betrothal. The willful girl chafes at this arrangement, leading to sparks flying between the couple. Can this marriage be saved? This premise is set against the backdrop of the training of a team of women dragon dancers for a big competition, which offers many opportunities for great song and dance.
The film, unfortunately, has two failings. First, the story remains on quite a superficial level. The audience gets few glimpses into the hopes, dreams, fears, and motivations of the film's characters. Second, the director clearly encouraged a very broad acting style from his cast. We see lots of mugging, lots of overblown expressions, and very little subtlety in these performances. This is particularly disappointing in the case of lead actress Zhang Jing Chu, who displayed fine acting skills in "Peacock" and "Red River", but here is reduced to doing exaggerated schtick.
Despite these failings, "Hua Yoa Bride" provides a colorful and entertaining display and is well worth a look.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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