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Rear Window (DVD) (Collector's Edition) (US Version)
Brigitte Auber (Actor)
| Richard H. Riedel (Actor)
| Kiva Hoffman (Actor)
| Frank Cady (Actor, Director)
Hitch turns peeking into a cinematic delight...The blinds roll up slowly as this film unveils a classic team-up between Grace Kelly and James Stewart, while the skilled direction by master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock keeps the excitement high. Stewart stars as the unusual protagonist L.B. Jeffries, in this guidebook film shot around the mid-50s, temporarily trapped in a wheelchair due to an unexpected accident. Unable to attend to his regular work as photographer, he does what we all may find us doing from time to time, mostly unintentionally - spying on the people living in our vicinity. Even though the movie just introduces various neighbors as a means to an end, it is all done effectively, perhaps leaving some of the viewers wishing... [read more]
June 7, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Spider-Man (DVD) (Widescreen Special Edition) (US Version)
Tobey Maguire (Actor)
| Rosemary Harris (Actor)
| J.K. Simmons (Actor)
| Sharon Gless (Actor)
It's everybody's favorite neighbor Spider-ManOffering perhaps one of the best comic to real movie adaptations so far, Stan Lee's legendary character, Spider-Man, leapt to the silver screen in the beginning of this century. Climbing to extraordinary heights, the golden boy from the Marvel franchise nicknamed "Wallcrawler" no doubt has also turned into one of the favorites of Sony Pictures, hopefully not only because of his gigantic box-office potential. By now a household name, it's probably senseless to go through the details of Peter Parker's story again. Instead here are some comments by an old comic book lover who has followed Spider-Man off and on since the mid-70s. In the role of the protagonist, Tobey Maguire fits the bill... [read more]
May 31, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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The Selection of Faye Wong - Faye For Sale (XRCD)
Faye Wong
Flying high with the sound of Faye...The first time I came across the sound of Faye Wong was around the mid-90s, which was just about the time that her career started to become very stable. As for the songs featured on this classic selection, they display Faye's fine sense for rhythm and music in general and are a worthwhile retrospective of the songstress' work, which is strongly marked by her unique vocals. Many of Faye's signature songs present focused performances with her voice rising and sinking as well as drawling and pausing in irregular intervals harmonizing with the flow of her songs' lyrics and melodies. Below are some of the tracks that Faye and non-Faye fans may want to check out on this release that mainly... [read more]
May 25, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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The Old Man and the Sea (US Version)
J. Ray (Actor)
| Spencer Tracy (Actor)
| Don Diamond (Actor)
| Harry Bellaver (Actor)
Idyllic nature scenary is nicely blended with Spencer Tracy's tour de force performance in the silver screen adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea. Trying its best to flow as smoothly as the classic novel by Ernest Hemingway, John Sturges' movie from the late 50s lets the audience take part in a crucial experience of an aged fisherman. With the camera firmly fixed on the protagonist as he wages an all-determining battle against his chosen and respected aquatic adversary, a marlin of immense proportions, the excitement never leaves the screen as soon as the two cross paths. Essentially about an old fisherman's attempt to walk out victorious, when his perhaps final opportunity for a big catch... [read more]
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Once Upon a Time in the West (Special Collector's Edition; 2-Disc Set) (US Version)
Claudia Cardinale (Actor)
| Gabriele Ferzetti (Actor)
| Charles Bronson (Actor)
| Peter Cardinale (Actor)
In the end of the 60s, Italy's epic master Sergio Leone blessed the movie world with his probably best-remembered work, Once Upon A Time In The West. The said work may be referred to as one of cinema's finest hours, offering unique character studies enveloped by a captivating plot that pays true homage to the genre of the western. Charles Bronson portrays the film's nameless protagonist, who has a score to settle with Frank (Henry Fonda), a killer for hire. Leone presents the tale in the form of an enigmatic odyssey that provides clues to the past, but not enough for the viewers to piece it all together until the secret is revealed in the final showdown between the two opposing characters.... [read more]
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Death Note (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Fujiwara Tatsuya (Actor)
| Matsuyama Kenichi (Actor)
| Seto Asaka (Actor)
| Kaneko Shusuke (Director)
A killer of the supernatural kind is on the loose...Before the high-profile film Death Note based on the original manga by Oba Tsugumi became a box-office hit, it already had an army of devoted fans. As for those who have not had the opportunity to check out this manga adaptation yet, it is very likely that they will be positively surprised. The Kaneko Shusuke-directed picture essentially revolves around law student Light Yagami, whose faith in the legal system is severely shaken after he discovers that many criminals can escape the arm of justice without receiving their deserved penalty. As luck would have it, he stumbles upon a thin manual-like notebook titled "Death Note" and picks it up, unaware that it was dropped by God of Death Ryuk.... [read more]
May 3, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Into The Night
Jeff Goldblum
| Michelle Pfeiffer
| Richard Farnsworth
| John Landis
Simply a movie lover's dream come trueVeteran filmmaker John Landis gets Michelle Pfeiffer and Jeff Goldblum into trouble that's too good to miss in this adventure ride from the mid-80s. Pfeiffer plays Diana, a happy-go-lucky girl who knows men well. One of these men is destined to become Ed Okin (Jeff Goldblum) who has no other choice than to escort her out of trouble after she lands on the hood of his car chased by a group of Persian killers. Now involuntary accomplices in a matter of life and death that involves half a dozen of priceless stones smuggled to Los Angeles, the two are in for the roller coaster ride of their lives, as the murderous gang starts a relentless chase to get their hands on the valuable gems. The two... [read more]
April 26, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Desperately Seeking Susan (US Version)
Madonna (Actor)
| Rosanna Arquette (Actor)
| John Turturro (Actor)
| Mark Blum (Actor)
Get Into The Groove with Madonna + Co.Desperately Seeking Susan presents a refreshing silver screen treat that not only fans of personals are likely to be fond of. Susan Seidelman's romantic comedy from the mid-80s teams up Rosanna Arquette and pop icon Madonna. It revolves around the story of bored New Jersey housewife Roberta Glass (Arquette), a devoted reader of personal ads, especially those placed by Susan (Madonna), who uses this method to stay in touch with her lover, Jim (Robert Joy). After Roberta acquires a jacket sold by Susan who forgot her locker key in it, the two girls' lives intermingle in a romantic, hilarious, and hazardous way Served in mainly bright pastel colors, the film owes a lot to its female lead,... [read more]
April 24, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Ben-Hur
Charlton Heston
| Jack Hawkins
| William Wyler
There no doubt are endless stories about the classic era of the Romans, but probably no other silver screen production has presented it in such a grand way as Ben Hur. Until today, William Wyler's mammoth epic, which was honored with 11 Oscars including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor, by and large remains unrivalled. Charlton Heston portrays Ben Hur, a man of wealth and influence in the Roman administrative district of Judea. Friends with Messala (Stephen Boyd), an officer from the Roman troops, he soon discovers a brutally different side to his long-time friend, who asks him to betray his own countrymen. When Ben Hur refuses to do so and holds on to his own credo, Messala orders... [read more]
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Shanghai Lounge Divas Vol.2
Hong Kong Various Artists
Harmonic nightingale sounds from a classic era...My partner was kind enough to introduce me to this nostalgic treat from classic female crooners from the heyday of Shanghai-feel music that I first came to appreciate in the 70s through my mother. Among the golden hits on this second volume of Shanghai Lounge Divas are such memorable titles as Lover's Tears, Without You, and Eternal Smile. As for the music served, expect everything from melancholic songs like Three Years, which talks about a desperate love relationship by popular Sino-Japanese songstress Li Xiang Lan (a.k.a. Otaka Yoshiko), to traditional harmonic numbers like Rose Rose I Love You. Whereas the aforementioned Three Years may remind the listener a bit of the dreariness found... [read more]
April 13, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Romancing the Stone/The Jewel of the Nile - Gift Set (2-Disc Set) (US Version)
Kathleen Turner (Actor)
| Douglas Michael (Actor)
| Danny DeVito (Actor)
| Alfonso Arau (Actor)
Turner & Douglas romancing on the screen...Shot around the mid-80s, Romancing the Stone brought together the talents of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas. This romantic cliffhanger silver screen release lives through the synergy of its well-selected cast. Turner portrays female novelist Joan Wilder who risks her career and life in order to rescue her sister who was kidnapped by a gang of hoodlums on the loose in Colombia. It so happens that Joan is in possession of a mysterious treasure map sent to her by her sister. Just when everything's about to go wrong for the novelist, suave Jack T Colton (Douglas) enters the scene and saves the damsel in distress from her predicament as only one of the heroes from her novels can. Captivated... [read more]
March 29, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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When Harry Met Sally... (Contemporary Classics - Special Edition) (US Version)
Meg Ryan (Actor)
| Billy Crystal (Actor)
| Carrie Fisher (Actor)
| Bruno Kirby (Actor)
Should Bergmann stay with Bogart? plus a few other things, on the side...Meet Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) and Harry Burns (Billy Crystal), perhaps one of the sweetest and most energetic couples in the history of Hollywood films. Sally and Harry run into each other by coincidence and are fated to do so off and on throughout the movie while the viewer is introduced to their lives and their standpoints about love and relationships. That being said you can probably already guess that there's a lot of talk about opposite genders involved in this comedy that dates back to the late 80s. However, in this particular case, it works because, excuse the praise, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are simply brilliant in their roles, and there's intense chemistry going on in every scene... [read more]
March 22, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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The Breakfast Club (US Version)
Anthony Michael Hall (Actor)
| Paul Gleason (Actor)
| Kasi Lemmons (Actor)
| Molly Ringwald (Actor)
High school - for some it's heaven for others it's hell. John Hughes' (Ferris Bueller's Day Off) 2nd movie sends the viewer down memory lane to the good/bad old student days with a not so common group of girls and boys torn between elitism and rebellion. Introducing the so called brat pack in its premier formation, namely, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, and Anthony Michael Hall, Hughes presents a comedy drama that lets us take part in a day in the lives of 5 college students. Actually it's a day unlike any other, which starts with the fact that the protagonists have to return to school on a Saturday for detention because they have in one way or another breached... [read more]
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THE WAY OF THE DRAGON Digitally remastered (Japan Version)
Classic Martial Arts Movie Lessons by an Immortal DragonSwitching from his position of overnight star through his role in Big Boss to Hong Kong's national hero after Fist of Fury, legendary Bruce Lee went on to direct and co-produce his third major motion picture, Way of the Dragon. Also known as Return of the Dragon, the tale revolves around Tang Long who rushes to the aid of Chen Qing Hua (Nora Miao) whose restaurant is threatened by a band of organized hoodlums. Lee, known to be a perfectionist not only as far as martial arts were concerned, improvised the role from his earlier roles to present a many-faceted hero. He mostly follows his nature as a well-trained destructive living weapon, but is also very likely to become caught within cultural... [read more]
March 9, 2007 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Some Like It Hot (Movie-Only Edition) (US Version)
Jack Lemmon (Actor)
| Tony Curtis (Actor)
| Tom Kennedy (Actor)
| Edward G. Robinson (Actor)
Two years shy of its 60th anniversary, Some Like It Hot presents perhaps one of the most amusing screwball comedies shot in the olden days. Jack Lemmon (Missing, The China Syndrome) and Tony Curtis (father of Jamie Lee Curtis) portray Jerry and Joe, a pair of jazz musicians on the run from the mob. With no other alternative than to join a girl band, they make a pronto change of clothes and become Geraldine, no, Daphne and Josephine. As being in a band of the opposite sex on the way to sunny Florida wasn't good enough, they run into Sugar Cane Kowalczyc (Marilyn Monroe), a charmingly attractive girl trying to get over some disloyal lovers. Reminding Jerry that they are now girls, Joe finds... [read more]
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Alien (2-Disc Collector's Edition) (US Version)
Sigourney Weaver (Actor)
| Tom Skerritt (Actor)
| Ian Holm (Actor)
| Hugh Grant (Actor)
Survival of the fittest in outer spaceDuring the close of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s, acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Gladiator) and co-producer Walter Hill (48 Hours, Warriors) staged a terror rendezvous in the galaxy that would come to be known as Alien. Not only did it help to establish Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters, Working Girl) as a leading actress, but it also went on to become one of the most enduring sci-fi horror franchises in film history. Everything begins quite harmlessly as the viewer is introduced to a 7-member space crew on their way back to the blue planet. However, things turn from bad to worse after part of the team returns from an obligatory research trip on an unknown planet. As a... [read more]
December 28, 2006 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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A Fish Called Wanda
Jamie Lee Curtis
| Kevin Kline
A "Fish" that maintains its hilarious flavor even as the years go byA Fish Called Wanda from the late director Charles Crichton (The Lavender Hill Mob) was perhaps one of the biggest surprises to come from the United Kingdom in the 80s. Below are some comments on this classic comedy that takes laughter to another level of excellence. Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, Trading Places) plays Wanda Gerschwitz, the supposed lover of George Thomason who is the head of a quartet of robbers. Wanda's also the assumed sister of the latest gang member Otto (Kevin Kline - The Big Chill, Silverado), who likes to pick on George's loyal animal-loving friend Ken (Michael Palin). After the foursome's successful launch of a crime coup, Wanda and Otto, who unbeknown to the other... [read more]
December 12, 2006 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid Special Edition (Japan Version)
Paul Newman
Newman + Redford are the Old West's loveliest banditsThe opening scene of George Roy Hill's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is presented in black and white, showing a short movie reel accompanied by the wording "Most of what follows is true". With regard to the historical facts about the movie's real life alter egos, namely, Robert LeRoy Parker and Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, quite a few things are still veiled in mystery with speculations still waiting to be confirmed. Be it as it may, this review will limit its attention to the merits of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as a movie. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid presents one of the two successful team-ups of high-caliber stars Robert Redford (The Natural, All the President's Men) and... [read more]
November 29, 2006 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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It's A Wonderful Life
James Stewart
| George Bailey
Jimmy's Wonderful Christmas ClassicIt's A Wonderful Life ranks as one of the favorite movies of all time and it's no wonder. One of the key factors to the success of the Frank Capra (Arsenic and Old Lace) movie is no doubt the wonderful cast led by Donna Reed as well as the film's male protagonist James "Jimmy" Stewart (Rear Window, The Glenn Miller Story). Stewart, in one of his most memorable roles, portrays George Bailey. His father is the head of a charity organization that tries to help people in need. However, everything rests on George's shoulders after his father unexpectedly passes away. From that moment onwards, George encounters a lot of mishaps, the biggest of which appearing in the form of greedy mogul Mr. Potter... [read more]
November 21, 2006 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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The Sound of Music
Andrews Julie
Julie enchants with <i>The Sound of Music</i>If you like nature, music, positive thinking and classic movies, Robert Wise's (West-Side Story) The Sound of Music will keep you captivated for its running time of almost 180 minutes. However, chances are high that even general viewers will be swept away by the charm of this Rodger Hammerstein musical turned silver screen epic. Without a doubt, the film's success is mainly due to its perfectly cast female lead, Julie Andrews (Marry Poppins, Victor/Victoria). She portrays Maria, a happy-go-lucky nun who arrives late at all major assemblies, but never fails to please everybody with her merry spirits. After she is assigned to take care of a group of motherless siblings, her joyful nature... [read more]
November 21, 2006 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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