Reviews written by Nice Tambourine
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The Storm Riders: 10th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition (DVD) (Remastered) (Hong Kong Version)
The Storm Riders: 10th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition (DVD) (Remastered) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(3)Our Price: US$15.99List: US$17.49Save: US$1.50 (9%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:June 10, 2009 Ekin Cheng foreverI'm so glad they finally re-released Storm Riders on DVD. I remember over 10 years ago when it first came out. Everyone in my theater rioted because it was such a freaking fantastic movie. Afterwards, four of my friends changed their name to "Cloud" - though one claimed it was because of Final Fantasy VII. He was a liar, though.
Having rewatched the film, it amazes me how much it holds up. Centro's special effects are pretty good even by today's standards, and are easily better than that Dragonball Evolution movie. Sonny Chiba's overacting is still amazing even now, and Ekin Cheng's hair knows no equal. Shu Qi is actually pretty good. But what happened to Kristy Yeung, anyway? I saw her recently in Ming Ming and it was like a flashback or something. I look forward to the sequel because it has Aaron and Ekin. I would have liked for Shu Qi to come back, but since the sequel has Lam Suet, all is forgiven.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Boku no Kanojo wa Cyborg (Cyborg She) (DVD) (Special Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Boku no Kanojo wa Cyborg (Cyborg She) (DVD) (Special Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$68.75Related promotions:September 18, 2008 Robot Girls RuleIf My Sassy Girl featured a robot instead of Jeon Ji-Hyun, you'd have Cyborg She. Kwak Jae-Yong rips off his own movie for this flawed but enjoyable manga-influenced charmer, about a dork (Keisuke Koide) whose life is turned upside down by the arrival of a totally hot girl (Haruka Ayase) from the future who turns out to be a robot. I can't remember the exact name of the Cyborg, but who cares? She's cute, and that's all that matters. This is a great approximation of a shonen manga, made all the more so by the Japanese setting and actors, plus the use of time travel and sci-fi concepts to tell a completely throwaway and fluffy story. The big drama occurs when a huge earthquake hits Japan, taxing the SFX budget to the limit, and providing the opportunity for the hot cyborg to sacrifice herself for the dorky guy. There are some twists and turns - much like in My Sassy Girl - but it's all done in service of gooey, romantic emotions that should please people who thought Video Girl Ai was the height of storytelling. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Forbidden Kingdom (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
The Forbidden Kingdom (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(9)Our Price: US$16.49Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:August 11, 2008 Jackie + Jet = 100 Years of AgeIf you add up Jackie and Jet's ages, you'll get a number pretty close to 100. That's the biggest problem with The Forbidden Kingdom. The two kung-fu kings are clearly past their prime, so this long-awaited teaming is a bit of a let down. That said, the film could have been a lot worse, especially since it's a Hollywood production produced by our heroes at The Weinstein Company. The guys who made this film have some obvious love for Hong Kong movies, and even though we have the lame American hero (Michael Arganganonano, or whatever his name is), he's not as offensive as he could have been. Jackie and Jet are okay, too. Not bad for a kid's film, which it pretty much is. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Moss (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
The Moss (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(3)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:August 11, 2008 The Moss is BossI liked The Moss, mainly because it stars Shawn Yue and I haven't seen a film starring Yue for, I dunno, 2 weeks? The man simply cannot say no, because he's in like every other film made nowadays. I appreciate his hard work and tenacity, plus his apparent inability to be picky with his projects.
Yue plays a cop who gets stuck in a bad jam. He must find the guy who murdered a local crime boss while also deflecting suspicion from himself. Meanwhile, the hitman fingered for the crime kidnaps a young girl - and she's the cousin of Shawn's girlfriend (Bonnie Xian). Can Shawn find the hitman? Will the hitman, played by the ultra-dirty Fan Siu Wong, ever clean up or attempt to comb his hair? And what's the meaning behind the title of the film?
Director Derek Kwok also made the pretty good Pye-Dog, and while Moss isn't up to that standard, it's still pretty entertaining. The film is a bit manufactured, bt since most films are nowadays, I can hardly complain. Those seeking a Shawn Yue fix won't complain, and the film has some dark humor that makes it fun for discerning viewers. It was better than The Promise, anyway.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
An Empress and the Warriors (2008) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
An Empress and the Warriors (2008) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(14)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
May 28, 2008 That armor looks heavyThere may not be a more entertaining film than Empress and the Warriors -- though I say that for the entirely wrong reasons. This is a smashing comedy about a bunch of people pretending to act like warriors. Kelly Chen convinces as a struggling actress who lands the part of a lifetime, only to botch it by forgetting to act during key moments. Leon Lai is a total pro here, masking his boredom and apparently quite enjoying his fun treehouse/playset, where he can act like he's in Robin Hood or Return of the Jedi. Donnie Yen is pretty much a waste - until he remembers that people pay good money to watch DOONNIEEEE!!!, after which he explodes in a torrent of powerful preening and disturbing overacting. There's action too, plus some really heavy looking armor that hopefully was made of plastic. If not, then I wonder if Kelly Chen now has back problems. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Playboy Cops (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Playboy Cops (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:May 6, 2008 More Shawn Yue? Hell yes!The last time a young actor in Hong Kong made this many movies, his name was Sam Lee -- and frankly, who would you rather watch, Shawn Yue or Sam Lee? Shawn "I make a movie in my sleep" Yue is Hong Kong's next big star. At least, I hope he is. I would much prefer him to Nicholas Tse, Jaycee Chan, or that Edison guy. Yue can play all sorts of characters and he's a rather versatile actor to boot. Sure, he doesn't have of starring roles, but I think his career will be a good one.
That said, Playboy Cops is not his finest hour - but it's much better than In Love with the Dead. The story of cute guys who beat up people, Playboy Cops won't win any Hong Kong Film Awards, but it's good fun and surprisingly violent. Yue and Aloys Chen (Aloys? Who comes up with these names?) are the two "Playboy Cops", rich young guys who fight crime because they want to. They're after some bad guys who don't like rich people, so maybe this is a personal case. I'm not too sure.
Regardless, the two fight and bicker, while also making eyes at Linda Chung from Love is Not All Around. She plays the official love interest, and does a fine job. Credit goes to Danny Lee, who shows up in a strange role, as well as Ti Lung's son, Shaun Tam, who proves once and for all that his father was the better actor. There's a lot going on here: terminal illness, severed limbs, and lots of blood. Kind of weird for a movie about two pretty young guys wearing suits, but hey, it's got Shawn Yue. But I think I covered that already.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
CJ7 (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
3 people found the following helpful
April 16, 2008 Needs more ChowI thought CJ7 was quite fun, but it needed more Stephen Chow. The guy is hardly in the movie, and honestly, that's what I really wanted to see.
At least the girl, Xu Jiao, is pretty funny, and the CJ7 creature is great, too. The comedy in this film is spot-on, and the drama is actually quite sad and touching.
Overall, this is great for families or for those who like Chow-style humor. Too bad it doesn't have more Stephen Chow in it, though.
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Raise the Red Lantern (Digitally Remastered) (Hong Kong Version)
Raise the Red Lantern (Digitally Remastered) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(3)Our Price: US$10.99Related promotions:3 people found the following helpful
June 19, 2006 Finally, a worthy DVDFirst of all, Raise the Red Lantern is an amazing film. Second of all, it's only previously been available on crappy quality DVDs. Well, no longer. This new DVD remaster of Raise the Red Lantern is an amazing first: it's actually a good DVD. The previous Hong Kong and Taiwan versions had crappy transfers, plus burnt-in English and Chinese subtitles. This new Hong Kong version is actually 16x9 anamorphic, with a clean transfer and improved colors. The subtitles are removable too. Basically, this is the best version of Raise the Red Lantern available. If you like the film, then this is the one to get. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Almost Love (DVD) (Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
Almost Love (DVD) (Limited Edition) (Korea Version) DVD Region 3
(16)Our Price: US$17.99List: US$38.99Save: US$21.00 (54%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:6 people found the following helpful
May 24, 2006 Better than The PromiseSurprisingly fun. Almost Love (a.k.a. Young Comics) doesn't really seem to go anywhere for a while, but the characters are endearing and fun. Kwon Sang-Woo recovers after his epic overacting job in Running Wild with a fun role, while Kim Ha-Neul is charming. The shift from comedy and drama is a bit abrupt, however, and plays like your usual K-drama twist of fate. It works rather well though, and the actors manage to sell both the comedy and drama well. Almost Love manages to make you care about the characters -- which is half the battle for a movie like this. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
McDull, The Alumni (DTS Version) (Hong Kong Version)
McDull, The Alumni (DTS Version) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(4)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
April 26, 2006 Not as good as first two...but still not badMcDull the Alumni isn't so good when compared to the first two McDull movies. Those movies were very charming and accomplished, and had something meaningful to say about Hong Kong and its people. This latest film suffers because it's partially live action, plus it doesn't seem to say as much. The animation isn't as good as the previous films, though the sheer amount of famous faces does compensate. Non Hong Kong people may not get the movie though. It's got some good jokes and even some touching parts, but overall the other McDull movies were better. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
2 Become 1 (DTS Version) (Hong Kong Version)
2 Become 1 (DTS Version) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
(6)Our Price: US$11.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:April 18, 2006 Pretty goodI liked this film a lot. It was fun, with a good message, and Richie and Miriam made an attractive pair. I'm surprised that a film about breast cancer could be so fun and uplifiting. There's a few stumbling blocks here and there (too much touchy-feely exposition, unnecessary side characters), but by and large this is worth your time. For a commercial comedy/drama this is much better than expected. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
ASTA TV International Edition - March 2006
April 11, 2006 Better than The PromiseI enjoyed ASTA TV International quite a bit. The info was definitely new to me, plus I got to discover lots about upcoming K-Dramas I may wish to purchase. I hope YA Entertainment is checking to see which shows are considered "hot" so they can bring them to the US. I really enjoyed the photos too, but was disappointed that there were few celebrities that I could recognize. I hope one day the magazine writes a feature on the magical allure of Bae Yong-Joon's glasses. That would rock. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Promise Limited Edition (Hong Kong Version)
The Promise Limited Edition (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(27)Our Price: US$19.49Related promotions:4 people found the following helpful
February 4, 2006 Not as bad as people say it isThis movie is far from the worst film ever made...didn't anyone see that William Hung movie? The Promise's biggest problem is that it's not what people expect. It's really over-the-top and campy, and is more like a comic book than a beautiful epic. Even though it's not a really great film, it's entertaining and worth watching simply for the eye candy, plus the actors who are mostly pretty good. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Future Cops
October 28, 2005 Pretty awful no matter how you slice itFuture Cops can entertain because it's so bizarre and insane, but at the end of the day it's still crap. The huge amount of stars makes it amusing to watch, and the video game references are great for fans. But does anyone really want to see Street Fighter characters going undercover in high school? Maybe they should do something else instead, like actually fight. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Something Happened in Bali (SBS TV Series)(US Version)
Something Happened in Bali (SBS TV Series)(US Version) DVD Region 1
(33)Our Price: US$29.99List: US$99.99Save: US$70.00 (70%)Related promotions:October 12, 2005 Pretty goodIt's easy to see why this drama was so popular with audiences in Korea. It has a gorgeous cast, a terrific location, and lots of really heavy emotions. The surprises and twists are sometimes melodramatic and even unnecessary, but it does make for very involving television. This drama is also a must for any fan of Ha Ji-Won. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
SWING GIRLS Special Edition (with 16P booklet)(Japan Version - English Subtitles)
SWING GIRLS Special Edition (with 16P booklet)(Japan Version - English Subtitles) DVD Region 2
(2)Our Price: US$70.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
August 8, 2005 A lot of funSwing Girls is, simply put, a great time at the movies. While not the deepest movie out there, it possesses an energy, wit, and easily-enjoyable charm that makes it well worth watching. The girls are all charming types, and they - and director Shinobu Yaguichi - manage to sell the "girls meet jazz" hook of the film exceptionally well. This special edition DVD has the added bonus of short shot-on-video films starring each of the main "Swing Girls". Sadly, the shorts are not subtitled in English, but they're visually funny, and work if you seen the film and are already familiar with each girl's particular personality. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Initial D (DTS Version) (Hong Kong Version)
Initial D (DTS Version) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(14)Our Price: US$11.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:3 people found the following helpful
August 4, 2005 A great commercial Hong Kong movieInitial D isn't going to make me forget Infernal Affairs, but it's slick fun that should be seen by A) fans of the original manga/anime, B) fans of the stars, and C) people who have an investment in Hong Kong Cinema. The biggest problem with Initial D is that it's not the greatest film ever made - which isn't really a flaw, but seems like one because of all the hype attached to the film. If you can ignore the hype and enjoy it for what it is - a fun, impressively made summer movie - then you should be happy with Initial D. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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