Reviews written by Kevin Kennedy
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Zatoichi Sakategiri (Japan Version)
Zatoichi Sakategiri (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$54.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 16, 2009 Ichi to the rescue, against his better judgmentThe eleventh Zatoichi film, known in English as "Zatoichi and the Doomed Man", is one of the quirkier entries in this series. The movie opens with Ichi receiving fifty lashes as punishment for illegal gambling. He interrupts the caning with a series of zany questions which serve only to infuriate the man delivering the punishment. Back in his jail cell, Zatoichi is beseeched by prisoner under a death sentence to travel to the man's hometown to seek the help of two local bosses there who can prove his innocence. Unlike his typical behavior, Ichi wants no part of that man's troubles, but his interactions with a bogus monk, Hyakutaro (Fujiyama Kanbi), end up leading Ichi to the prisoner's hometown after all. There, in carrying out the doomed prisoner's mission, he becomes entangled with the usual corrupt gangsters (and a beautiful damsel in distress) that leads to a showdown with an army of sword-wielding thugs.
While the general outline of this film's story may sound much like the stories in other Zatoichi films, it is the details that set this movie apart. In one of the funniest scenes in the series, we see the false monk Hyakutaro seeking to cash in on Zatoichi's reputation by pretending to be him. The Zatoichi impersonation done by Fujiyama Kanbi is uncanny and hilarious. The damsel in distress Yone (Taki Eiko) plays a key role in the film's resolution and Miss Taki gives a striking performance. One of the peculiarities of this film is Ichi's almost passive detachment from the film's events; his involvement is begrudging and he often relies upon others to move the events forward.
"Zatoichi and the Doomed Man" packs a lot of story and action into its 77 minute running length and leaves a strong impression. I recommend it highly. (I watched the unremastered and rather grainy English-subtitled release of this film from Home Vision Entertainment.)Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Run Papa Run (DVD) (US Version)
Run Papa Run (DVD) (US Version) DVD Region 1
(1)Our Price: US$10.99List: US$14.49Save: US$3.50 (24%)Related promotions:October 15, 2009 One of a kind!In director Sylvia Chang's "Run Papa Run", triad gangster Tin Yun (Louis Koo) and sweet Christian girl Mabel (Rene Liu), the lawyer sent to bail him out of jail, fall head over heels in love the instant they lay eyes upon each other. The bond between the pair proves to be a durable one, despite the conflicts in their chosen professions. Soon Mabel becomes pregnant, Tin Yun marries her, and the couple must forge a family while seeking to prevent their daughter from learning just what Tin Yun actually does for a living. For his part, Tin Yun tries to live an approximation of a normal life by focussing on the management of the businesses that his gang controls. But can one truly live with one foot in the triad world and one foot in the straight world?
The film's story is told often in a light-hearted, fantastic manner. For example, in one scene Mabel breaks out in song to celebrate her love for Tin Yun; in other scenes Tin Yun turns to the camera and speaks directly to the audience. The film also provides laughs by showing Tin Yun's gang progressing through the years, first with the long hair of the early '70s, then with the frizzy 'dos of the late '70s, then with the dizzy duds of the early '80s. It is hard to say which was more hilarious -- seeing Lam Suet with shoulder length locks or with a faux Afro. As we see Tin Yun wrestle with family issues, the movie even incorporates a strong dose of Jesus's teaching as a pivotal turning point in his development. All of these elements add a wonderful depth and richness to this fanciful tale. And what a treat it is to see strong performances from such screen veterans as Nora Miao, Ti Lung, Max Mok, Siu Yam Yam, and Kent Cheng!
"Run Papa Run" deserves a wide audience. It should appeal to both men and women, lovers of gangster and action films, as well as fans of family dramas, comedies, and quirky fantasies. I recommend it very highly.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
W&Whale - Hardboiled
W&Whale - Hardboiled
(2)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 15, 2009 I'm ready for moreThe first time I listened to W&Whale's "Hardboiled" album, I must admit that I wasn't much impressed. Most of their songs are built on light, jazzy R&B grooves and the group seemed more enamored with those grooves than with developing memorable melodies. However, with each subsequent hearing, I have been warming up to this album and now can recommend it with real enthusiasm. Track 2, the album's first song, gets the project off to a great start; it is a snappy, jazz-tinged R&B wonder topped by a brassy sound from singer Whale. The album then takes us through a wide range of sounds (mostly, but not always, R&B-based).
Whale is a real treat. She can be sassy; she can be sweet. And her phrasing is so strong that her voice drives both melody and rhythm. She also penned the album's finest ballad, the aptly named "Whale Song". The band's playing is crisp, clever, and precise throughout. It may have taken me a while to warm up to this band, but I now am eager to hear what comes next from this talented crew.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Like You Know It All (DVD) (First Press Edition) (Korea Version)
Like You Know It All (DVD) (First Press Edition) (Korea Version) DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$25.99List: US$31.99Save: US$6.00 (19%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 14, 2009 Calling all arthouse film fans!In "Like You Know It All", Kim Tae Woo stars as Director Ku, a 39 year old director of low-budget indie arthouse films that are beloved by critics for their obscurity but ignored by the general public. The movie is comprised of two prolonged episodes, the first in which Director Ku serves as a judge at a film festival in Jecheon and the second in which he travels to Jeju Island to talk to a class of film students about his movies.
At Jecheon Director Ku runs into Boo (Gong Hyung Jin in a brilliant performance), a man with whom he collaborated on some films. Boo's hard-drinking ways practically destroyed his life and his health, until he met a woman who saved him and helped him pull his life together. At Jeju, Ku encounters one of Korea's most famous artists, who had been a mentor to Ku when Ku was at university. Ku also learns that his old mentor now is married to a woman he had loved in his youth, but who had left him because of his indecisiveness.
Through the course of these travels and encounters, we slowly get to know this Director Ku. While at first he seems to be an affable, somewhat hapless intellectual, we begin to see that he is a serial liar, a self-involved, self-indulgent, unreliable jerk with all of the moral fiber of a snake. And yet one suspects that he has deluded himself into believing that he is quite a nice guy, as he leaves a trail of emotional wreckage and disappointment in his wake.
Director Hong Sang Soo's ninth feature film proves to be a very dark comedy, a character study of a purely selfish man. It is a very talky film and seems intentionally crudely made to give it almost a documentary feel. "Like You Know It All" will not appeal to everyone, but arthouse film buffs will embrace it.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Prosperous Of Family (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version)
Prosperous Of Family (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 13, 2009 Gripping melodrama"Prosperous of Family" stars Wu Xiu Fang as the third wife of a local lord. She is beloved by the lord for her great beauty and humble nature, but for those same reasons she is hated by the lord's first and second wives. The Yellow Turbans are threatening the country, spreading terror and destruction in their wake. One day they kidnap the lord, leaving his family to believe him dead, and then burn his residence to the ground. This disaster tears the family apart; the first and second wives leave for greener pastures, abandoning the first wife's spoiled and obnoxious little boy to the care of the third wife. Life becomes terribly hard for the third wife, as she slaves at a loom to earn a little money to keep the boy fed. All the while, she must fend off the unwanted advances of lecherous suitors and the scorn of the first and second wives.
"Prosperous of Family" proves to be a well-written, well-acted, lavishly mounted, and creatively lensed melodrama that engages the viewer from start to finish, even tossing in some action and laughs along the way. Wu Xiu Fang absolutely shines in this fine film, breaking our hearts and winning our admiration. I bought this film on a whim and had no real expectations for it, but I truly enjoyed it. Anyone who loves those old Shaw Brothers melodramas should check out "Prosperous of Family"; you'll be glad you did!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Five Venoms
The Five Venoms DVD Region 3
(4)Our Price: US$14.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 13, 2009 One of Chang Cheh's bestThe martial arts master who has headed the Venom Clan is dying. The five fighters he taught wreaked havoc in the world and managed to amass a pile of loot that has been entrusted to sixth person. Now that the master is dying, he wants to try to right his wrongs. Therefore, he takes one final student, Yang De, trains him in all the various skills he taught the five Venoms, and gives him a mission: He is to find the various Venoms (all of whom now are living anonymously under secret identities), ally himself with those of the Venoms who have reformed their ways, eliminate those Venoms who continue to follow a life of crime, find the loot, and devote the loot to charitable purposes. Being a loyal student and righteous man, Yang De begins his mission, taking the guise of a street urchin. But how can he uncover the Venoms, whom can he trust, and how can he find the loot?
That's the set-up for this martial arts classic and it proves to be a sturdy vehicle for generating suspense and staging memorable fights. This remastered version really sparkles, bringing the story to life in a manner that my murky old VHS tape of the film never could. Director Chang Cheh spends little time on character development or parsing motives; instead, he emphasizes what fans of the genre seek -- action and more action. Nonetheless, what makes the film work as more than just a display of fighting skills is the thoughtful way in which the script works out the corrupt schemes of its evildoers and the detective work of its heroes.
"The Five Venoms" is essential viewing for all fans of martial arts movies.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Ashura (2-Disc Set) (US Version)
Ashura (2-Disc Set) (US Version) DVD Region 1
(1)Our Price: US$12.99List: US$14.98Save: US$1.99 (13%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 12, 2009 Once a demon warden, always...In "Ashura", medieval Japan is infested with demons in human form and the 'demon wardens' must eliminate them to save mankind. Izumo (Ichikawa Somegoro), the greatest of the demon wardens, gives up the trade and turns to acting after he kills a young girl he suspects may not have been a demon. Five years later power-hungry demon warden Jaku (Watabe Atsuro) is seduced and recruited by a beautiful nun -- and demon in disguise -- Bizan (Higuchi Kanako) to lead a demonic resurgence that will culminate in the coming of demon goddess Ashura to rule the world. Meanwhile, Izumo falls for pretty acrobat Tsubaki (Miyazawa Rie), but, unbeknownst to Tsubaki, her love for Izumo plays into Bizan's dastardly plans.
Director Takita Yojiro (who more recently helmed Oscar-winner "Departures") crafts a colorful world merging gritty medieval reality with wild CGI special effects. The film is at its best when it focusses on relationships -- the growing affection between Izumo and Tsubaki, Bizan toying with Jaku's lusts to advance her demonic ends, the rivalry between Jaku and Izumo. These relationships and the exotic milieu make for an entertaining journey until an overreliance on CGI and Miyazawa Rie's unconvincing fighting skills undercut the impact of the film's tragic ending. Nonetheless, "Ashura" provides an enjoyable ride for fans of the 'swords and sorcery" genre.
P.S. One of the film's highlights is a scene of a kabuki performance that was directed by and which features real-life kabuki actor Ichikawa Somegoro. For Westerners like me, it gives a strong hint of the dramatic power that draws Japanese audience to kabuki.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$14.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 12, 2009 The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind"The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker" is all about sabotaging expectations. The film begins in a mostly light-hearted and quirky fashion, as nerdy college frosh Shiina meets his wildly coiffed and peculiar new neighbor Kawasaki. As they become acquainted, Shiina is fascinated by the stories Kawasaki tells about his life and the lives of their neighbors and acquaintances. However, after Shiina gets to know a moody pet shop owner named Reiko who cautions him against believing Kawasaki, Shiina begins to perceive that Kawasaki's stories don't quite add up. As Shiina begins to learn the truth about his unusual neighbor, the tone of the film changes into something much darker; what began as comedic becomes a story of animal abusers, a brave young woman, and a grief-driven yearning for revenge.
Surprisingly, it all holds together and makes for quite compelling viewing. While I believe that the script would have benefitted from a little tightening, I was intrigued by this unusual film and can recommend it highly to all fans of offbeat cinema.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San's Stage-Struck (21st Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San's Stage-Struck (21st Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$44.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 12, 2009 You'll be stage-struck, too!In the opening dream sequence of "Tora-San's Stage-Struck", the 21st Tora film, Tora is depicted as a creature from outer space, a visual trope which perfectly captures Tora's alienation from the day-to-day routine of life at his family's Tokyo sweet shop. However, after once again asking Sakura to pay his hotel bill at a remote inn, a chastened Tora returns to Toraya with a new dedication to set his life on the straight and narrow. He becomes the ideal, hard-working employee at the sweet shop ... until Sakura's glamorous former classmate Nanako drops by. Nanako (Kinomi Nana) is the star of the Tokyo Revue, a glitzy Las Vegas-style musical review, and Tora is undone by her beauty. Dedication goes out the window and he begins finding any excuse to go see the show.
While Tora moons over Nanako, Nanako is torn over her future. She loves her life on the stage, but also loves a man who has asked her to marry him. If she marries, then she will have to give up show biz, but she can't imagine doing so. What will she decide? And will Tora end up disappointed again?
Kinomi Nana makes an indelible impression as the larger-than-life Nanako. Director Yamada Yoji brings the colorful milieu of the Revue's cast and crew to vibrant life. Also on hand to provide a comic foil is Takeda Tetsuya, as a guileless country bumpkin who views Tora as a font of worldly wisdom and who, like Tora, falls under the spell of the Revue. (Takeda previously had starred in Yamada's quirky and heartwarming film, "The Yellow Handkerchief".) For all true Tora-san fans, the clarity of image and sound of this remastered Shochiku DVD make it the clear choice over the murky but cheap Panorama version.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Mad Monk (Digitally Remastered)
The Mad Monk (Digitally Remastered) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$14.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 9, 2009 It's madness, alright!While it appears that Wong Jing had nothing to do with Johnny To's "The Mad Monk", this has the feel of a Wong Jing comedy: The movie's story is the barest of threads and stuff just happens. Indeed, the story basically serves as little more than an excuse to string together a series of gags of varying degrees of funniness.
Stephen Chow is his usual fast-talking comic self; this time he plays a ne'er-do-well god sent to earth to set some things straight. Ng Man Tat, usually a reliable comic foil for Chow's antics, here spends far too much of the movie acting infantile and howling for milk. Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, playing a prostitute who really seems to enjoy her work, is the real reason to watch this film. She has never looked more gorgeous (well, okay, maybe in "In the Mood for Love") and has never given a funnier performance.
The first hour or so of the film are amusing if chaotic. Thereafter, for me, the jokes wore thin and the film's loud antics grew tiresome. Still, all Stephen Chow fans and Maggie Cheung fans should see "The Mad Monk". By the way, this film is not a remake of the 1977 Li Han Hsiang movie with the same title; the two films have nothing whatsoever to do with each other.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Dawn Will Come (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Dawn Will Come (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 8, 2009 Gripping Huangmei melodrama"Dawn Will Come" is a melodramatic Huangmei opera gem from Shaw Brothers. As the film opens, young scholar Gai Liangcai (Lei Ming) arrives at the home of an old master to learn at his feet. However, the old master is traveling and no one knows precisely when he will return. Due to the late hour, Gai asks to stay at the master's home until the next morning. The master's daughter Yan Qiurong (Li Hsiang Chun) agrees to let the handsome scholar stay. Once the scholar sees Qiurong's beauty, all thoughts of learning leave his head; he wants only to possess her. Shockingly, he drugs her and, while she is under the influence, he has his way with her. When it finally is time for Gai to return home, he promises that he will come back to wed the now-pregnant Qiurong.
Once Gai arrives at his home, all thoughts of poor Qiurong are left behind. Instead of marrying the humble beauty he impregnated, he weds Wen Shuzhen (Ivy Ling), who comes from a well-positioned and wealthy family. When Qiurong and her servant journey to Gai's home to find out what has become of him, Shuzhen is shocked to discover her new husband's dastardly deeds. Gai then sets out to eliminate all his problems ... and there seems to be no evil to which he won't stoop. In the end, Shuzhen turns to Gai's father, the magistrate of Suzhou (Shaw Bros. veteran Jing Miao) to set things right, but the magistrate is torn between the call of justice and his loyalty to his son.
Filled with beautiful sets, lavish costumes (Ling Po's gorgeous gowns deserve a movie of their own!), and fine performances from an excellent cast, "Dawn Will Come" is a wonderful entertainment. But what really sets this film apart is its suspenseful ending -- until the magistrate issues his ruling, the viewer never knows whether justice will prevail or Gai will get away with his crimes. Director Gao Li works wonders and "Dawn Will Come" just might be the most thrilling of the Huangmei films.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Princess Ja Myung OST (SBS TV Drama)
Princess Ja Myung OST (SBS TV Drama)
(2)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 6, 2009 Exceptionally lovely musicThe "Ja Myung Go" OST album starts off with a short and rather bland instrumental introduction, but then soars with 19 straight delicious tracks. After the opening instrumental, we get five ballads, each of which is exquisite (even if Kyun Woo perhaps overcooks his vocals a bit on track 4). Baek Ji Young's song is a real standout, but all of the ballads are memorable. Following the five songs, the album serves up fourteen lushly orchestrated instrumental numbers that range in mood from romantic to contemplative to stirring to playful. Every single one of them is a delight. Kudos to music director Lee Pil Ho for this soaringly beautiful soundtrack album. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Freak (New + Best Selection) (2CD)
Freak (New + Best Selection) (2CD)
(1)Our Price: US$18.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 6, 2009 It's time to give Ronald his due!When Ronald Cheng emerged as a singer in the mid-1990s, he was promoted as 'the new Jacky Cheung'. It, of course, was an unfair comparison, leading some to focus on how Cheng couldn't measure up to Jacky's standards rather than on Ronald's real strengths as a singer. True, Ronald lacks the gritty emotional power that Jacky can bring to a ballad, but Ronald has a pure, clear voice, with a big range, near-perfect pitch, and a sweetness of style all his own.
All of those strengths are much in evidence in this superb collection of Ronald's hits. Indeed, listening to this generous 2-disc, 31-song retrospective is a good reminder of the big impact that Ronald made back in the '90s and the force he remains in the music biz. All of the good old songs are here, as are a wonderful assortment of Ronald's sometimes more adventurous recent work. We get love ballads, pop songs, and rockers and Ronald is up to the challenge in every genre. Based on the evidence of this compilation, Ronald has been a greatly underappreciated gem in the Chinese pop music scene. I recommend "Freak: Best of Ronald Cheng" very, very highly.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
5 Centimeters Per Second (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
5 Centimeters Per Second (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$19.49Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 5, 2009 Beautifully animated poetic tale of young love"5 Centimetres Per Second" is a kind of animated poem of young love, separated into three segments. The first segment begins as a series of letters written by junior high student Akari to her closest friend Takaki. The pair had become friends as small children and their special relationship had only deepened as they entered adolescence. However, a job change by Akari's father separates the friends, as Akari must move to a town north of Tokyo. The story then shifts to Takaki's perspective as he journeys by train to meet his old friend before he and his family relocate to southern Japan. A sweet, melancholy tension grows as their long-anticipated rendez-vous is delayed by bad winter weather.
In the second segment, high school girl Kanae silently yearns for the affections of high school senior Takaki. Unfortunately, Takaki is oblivious to Kanae's affection, as he thinks only of his long-lost friend Akari. Kanae finds escape from her silent purgatory by surfing the ocean waves. This heartbreaking segment is told entirely from Kanae's perspective. In the final segment, we jump forward to Akari and Takaki in their mid-twenties. Takaki feels directionless and cheated by life, as it dawns on him that he has squandered his youth yearning for someone who will never be his. The film then resolves into, in essence, a music video comprised of flashbacks of these young lives.
The film's animation is gorgeous, rich in detail and stunningly alive. The voice actors do an affecting job throughout the film. And the poetic story is movingly real, revealing the powerful and churning emotions of young love. The first two segments of the film are practically flawless. Unfortunately, the third segment seems oddly truncated by its music video resolution. The viewer gets the sense that the filmmakers simply failed to conceive of a proper ending to their story, so they just queued the music. Nonetheless, "5 Centimetres Per Second" is a wonderful film, one of the best and truest animated features I've seen in a long time. I recommend it very, very highly.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Justice, My Foot! (Digitally Remastered) (Hong Kong Version)
Justice, My Foot! (Digitally Remastered) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(4)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 5, 2009 Anita, we (still) miss you!"Justice, My Foot" stars Stephen Chow as Sung Sai Kit, a shyster lawyer whose rapid-fire patter succeeds in getting off the hook even the worst of defendants. Unfortunately, Sung's courtroom antics generate some seriously bad mojo that causes all of his offspring to expire before they leave the crib. His wife, Madame Sung (Anita Mui), has had enough; she wants a healthy child and she wants it now. Consequently, she demands that Sai Kit give up his legal career. However, when poor abused Madame Chou (Carrie Ng) shows up at the Sung household needing Sai Kit's services, Madame Sung has a change of heart -- leading to one of the funniest legal battles ever filmed.
Chow and Mui have superb on-screen chemistry; their characters' real love for each other is a treat. Chow is his usual motor-mouthed comic wonder, but it is Mui's Madame Sung who really steals the show with her wild wuxia and antic energy. "Justice, My Foot" features plenty of low-brow yuks about farts and boobs and much of the film's Cantonese humor simply cannot be captured by the English subtitles. Nonetheless, even those who cannot understand Cantonese (including me) will find more than enough belly laughs to make this a very enjoyable 95 minutes.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Mad Monk (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
The Mad Monk (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$14.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 5, 2009 Ji Gong to the rescue!In "The Mad Monk", Yeh Feng surely plays one of the most unusual leading men ever to grace the silver screen. Short, pudgy, drunk, unwashed, and ugly, the monk Ji Gong doesn't make a good first impression on anyone he meets. Indeed, most people assume he is crazy. However, if you are suffering an injustice, then Ji Gong is the man you want on your side ... even if, due to his terrible body odor, you prefer he keep his distance. Ji Gong doesn't defeat the evildoers with fisticuffs or swordplay. He outwits them, usually by playing upon their greed and lust. It becomes a real treat to see Ji Gong verbally joust with people who seek to use their power and wealth to take advantage of the downtrodden.
Yeh Feng is terrific as the scruffy monk who thinks nothing of pawning the saffron robes of his fellow monks in order to buy a drink for himself. The cast is filled with a host of superb Shaw Brothers' character actors. While this is not the lush production that one typically associates with director Li Han Hsiang, it effectively brings to life the daily affairs of average folks in its historical setting. I recommend "The Mad Monk" highly; battles of wits were never more fun.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
IS(Infinity of Sound) Vol. 1 - Step One
IS(Infinity of Sound) Vol. 1 - Step One
(2)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 2, 2009 Took my breath awayI purchased Infinity of Sound's two CDs out of order. I first heard (and enjoyed) their "In Dreams" mini-album before buying their first album, "Step One". I was stunned by what I heard when I dropped the debut disk into my CD player. "In Dreams" had leaned toward dance music, with an interesting fusion of traditional Korean instruments, electronica, and whomping beats. It is a very contemporary, club-oriented album. "Step One" is an entirely different kettle of kimchi.
Indeed, "Step One" is so entirely different that it is almost hard to imagine that the same performers produced it. Infinity of Sound's first album is almost entirely acoustic, emphasizing the triplet's virtuosity on their traditional instruments. The album explores a variety of styles, including contemporary and traditional folk, pop, jazz, what sounds like a children's song, and some quite experimental work. The recording is impeccable, the playing is precise and heartfelt, the singing is captivating, and the overall effect is quite soothing.
I like both Infinity of Sound albums very much and I greatly hope that the trio continues to explore both their acoustic and their fusion sides. Both sounds are intriguing and unique. If you haven't yet heard this exceptionally talented sister act, then I strongly recommend that you explore both of their albums. There is no one else remotely like them!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Portrait In Crystal (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Portrait In Crystal (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 2, 2009 Dazzling, dizzy wuxia popcorn flick"Portrait In Crystal" is the kind of entertaining actioner for which one needs a roadmap to follow its complicated plot. For me, however, it was better not to worry about all the fine points, but instead just enjoy all endless action, the delightfully cheesy special effects, the beautiful dames, and the derring-do from Pai Piao. Long Fei (Pai Piao) has retired from the martial arts world to wile away his time making crystal sculptures. He particularly likes one of his creations, but finds it a bit lifeless. To bring it to life, he cuts his finger and spills drops of blood on it. The sculpture immediately comes to life as a crystal spirit.
Next we visit bad guy Poison Yama (Deng Wei Hao) and he's not happy. His henchmen have been getting slaughtered and it appears that a mysterious crystal spirit is to blame. Yama connects the dots and figures that Long Fei is to blame. Much swashbuckling swordplay ensues. Long Fei wants to get to the bottom of this situation and he tracks down the so-called crystal spirit to the lair of the evil (but comely) Du Sha (Chen Si Jia). More swashbuckling swordplay ensues. (In a lurid subplot, we learn that Du Sha has been depriving young women of their sanity, then turning them into mindless minions for her nefarious deeds.) Long Fei learns that behind all the mayhem lies the machinations of Du Sha's hubby, the evil Tian Di (Wang Rong). Clearly, we are heading toward one final climactic scene of swashbuckling swordplay ... and the filmmakers do not disappoint.
Its hard to take any of "Portrait In Crystal" seriously, but it's all lots of fun and the martial arts are quite good. Pai Piao suits me just fine as a pure-hearted action hero. He looks the part and seems quite adept at pulling off his stunts. The final showdown between Pai and Wang Rong is a doozy. For light entertainment, don't overlook this enjoyable film.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers (DVD) (English Subtitled) (UK Version)
Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers (DVD) (English Subtitled) (UK Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$21.99List: US$23.99Save: US$2.00 (8%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 1, 2009 Brilliant indie comedyWhat's a girl to do when (a) her husband works overseas and calls her only to assure himself that she is feeding their pet turtle, (b) her only close friend, Peacock (Aoi Yu), is a self-centered, life-in-the-fast-lane party girl who treats her like dirt, and (c) she is an invisible non-entity to everyone else? In "Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers", this oh-so-ordinary girl's path is clear: She becomes a sleeper spy for 'another country'!
Ueno Juri stars as Sparrow, the girl whose plain, ordinary life defines humdrum. She basically sleepwalks through life until one day when she spots an obscure postage stamp-sized poster advertising a position as a spy. Sparrow answers the ad and encounters a very peculiar couple who quiz her to determine if she is sufficiently bland to go undetected as a spy. Of course, Sparrow passes the test with flying colors and is hired on the spot, but her mission simply is to live out her normal daily routine waiting for the time when her services may be needed. As she mingles with her fellow spies and lives her new 'undercover' life, Sparrow finds that everything becomes new and vivid; the sparrow becomes a peacock!
"Turtles" is a low-priced indie film, but it is so cleverly written, smoothly directed, and beautifully acted that the viewer becomes swept up in its improbable tale. Its quirky, dry humor produces many very funny moments and its whimsical story proves to be surprisingly heartwarming. Ueno Juri makes the ideal Swallow; Aoi Yu, as usual, is pitch-perfect; and Fuse Eri as one of the peculiar spy-masters is a living, breathing human punchline. "Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers" is a hilarious charmer.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San Plays Cupid (20th Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San Plays Cupid (20th Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$44.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:September 30, 2009 A real charmer"Tora-San Plays Cupid", the twentieth film in this series, is packed with all the elements we've come to expect from a Tora-San movie, plus some explosive surprises! The hulking but hunky Ryosuke (Nakamura Masatoshi), a lineman for the power company, is a boarder at Toraya. He's head over heels in love with sweet Sachiko (Otake Shinobu), a waitress in a local restaurant, but is too shy to ask her for a date. Tora decides to play matchmaker, with results so disastrous that the distraught Ryosuke almost inadvertently blows up the sweet shop. Ryosuke then flees to his hometown in Kyushu.
When Tora learns that Sachiko still has feelings for Ryosuke, he journeys to Kyushu to bring Ryosuke back to Tokyo to patch things up with his true love. Tora meets Ryosuke's lovely sister (Fujimura Shiho) and, naturally, falls head over heels in love. Will we have not one, but two, engagements? Watch this charmingly warm-hearted film to find out.
Director Yamada Yoji, by this point in the series, was exceptionally skilled at creating rich characters and interesting subplots with only a few deft strokes. Nakamura Masatoshi is terrific as the bumbling, tongue-tied Ryosuke and Otake Shinobu's youthful innocence lights up the screen. She is adorable! (She was equally adorable 21 years later when Yamada called upon her again to star in his excellent film "Gakko III: The New Voyage". Check it out, too.) For Tora-San otaku, this remastered Shochiku release is the one to own; its crystal clear images are a treat to the eyes. However, the inexpensive Panorama DVD is an acceptable alternative of Tora-San newbies; its image quality is decent and its less literal subtitles are quite good.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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