YumCha!
»
Editor Picks - Other Video
Browse
- ycec Editor's Picks By Category
- esid Editor's Picks - By Editor
- yca Feature Articles
- ycpc Professional Reviews
- Awards & Festivals
- ppid Music Pop Chart
- yceb Entertainment News
- About YumCha!
-
Home Alone (US Version)
Catherine O'Hara (Actor, Director)
| John Hughes (Actor)
| Daniel Stern (Actor)
| Kristin Minter (Actor)
Meet an eight-year-old destruction machineMacaulay Culkin rose to fame in this laugh-out-loud comedy hit from the late 90s. Regarded as the good-for-nothing baby of the family, Kevin McCallister (Culkin) accidentally stays Home Alone with hilarious results. Left to his own devices, he teaches two wannabe burglars the meaning of surprise, discomfort, and fear. Written and produced by John Hughes, Home Alone is almost as attractive to me today as when it first hit the theaters. Here are the reasons why I can still wholeheartedly recommend this heavyweight comedy with a lightweight star. The movie offers a tour de force performance by Culkin who does not play but rather transforms into the tale's young protagonist, the unforgettable... [read more]
July 31, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
-
-
Shane (US Version)
John Hurt (Actor)
| Jean Arthur (Actor)
| Burt Lancaster (Actor)
| James Hill (Actor)
It has escaped my mind how long it has been since I first saw Shane, but I do know that it has been one of my favorites ever since. It has all the trademarks of the traditional western starting from hapless settlers in need of protection to a nasty gang of crooks trying to satisfy their selfish gains at all costs. Alan Ladd stars as Shane, a lone but upright gunfighter who seeks to start a life as an ordinary rancher, but later has to return to his old lifestyle for the sake of an innocent family. Not filled with just gun smoke, the film spends a lot of time to introduce the tale's characters, and often focuses on facial expressions and gestures. The perfect example is probably Joey Starrett... [read more]
-
-
Wild Strawberries (Criterion Collection) (US Version)
Gunnar Bjornstrand (Actor)
| Ingrid Thulin (Actor)
| Bibi Andersson (Actor)
| Victor Sjostrom (Actor)
Whenever, I watch an Ingmar Bergman a certain feeling of warmth overcomes me as if I was visiting an old friend and that is especially true for Wild Strawberries, his ambitious study about an elderly man's reflection on life. Actually, I was much too young to understand his movies the first time around (and I wonder whether my parents did), but they have always been filled with a strange kind of intensity that has never failed to draw me in. Bergman's film lets the viewers simultaneously wander through the past and the present of the film's protagonist Isak Borg (Victor Sjöström), a retired professor plagued by the echoes of the past. In Wild Strawberries Bergman has perhaps found the... [read more]
-
-
Money War (DVD) (End) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitled) (SBS TV Drama) (Malaysia Version)
Park Shin Yang (Actor)
| Park Jin Hee (Actor)
I love Korean dramas but I must admit I do get tired of the same old formula now and then. So when SBS kicked off its early summer lineup with Money War (a.k.a. Money's Warfare) in 2007, I was pleasantly surprised by what I now consider to be by far one of the most unique Korean dramas I have seen in years. In its groundbreaking blend of comedy, tragedy, and social satire, Money War tells a heartening tale of ordinary citizens who suffer from major debt hangovers. They often fall prey to unscrupulous moneylenders who charge extortionate interest rates, which in turn traps them in a vicious cycle of debt. And it doesn't get any better as these bloodsucking sharks will use every possible means... [read more]
-
-
My Sassy Girl Director's Cut Special Edition (Japan Version)
Cha Tae Hyun
| Jeon Ji Hyun
| Kim In Moon
| Kwak Jae Yong (Director)
Jeon Ji Hyun delivers girl power in Kwak Jae Yong's My Sassy Girl. Packed with situational humor, this film from the summer of 2001 has laughs and touching moments to spare. Presented through a first person narrative, the viewers are invited to the world of male protagonist Kyun Woo (Cha Tae Hyun), a happy-go-lucky guy enjoying his life as a student. A twist of fate makes him stumble into the girl (Jeon) of his dreams, or is she? The awakening comes very swiftly and miserably for Kyun as this girl reveals her unbelievably bad manners, challenging Kyun to endure multiple blows to his face and other painful mistreatments that disqualify her as his or anybody's girlfriend. Yet, Jeon's... [read more]
-
-
Rocky (2-Disc Set; Collector's Edition) (US Version)
Talia Shire (Actor)
| Burt Young (Actor)
| Carl Weathers (Actor)
| John A. Alonzo (Actor)
Rocky transfers the myth of the American Dream to the silver screen. Shot in the second half of the 70s, Rocky takes you through the boxing ring and more importantly the life of its titular protagonist played by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone also provided the script for this original story of an underdog boxer about to take on the battle of his life when he is offered the unbelievable opportunity to compete for the heavyweight champion title. Director John G. Avildsen's Oscar-winning movie offers an in-depth character study of the main cast, leading to a grand finale in which the titular character attempts to go the distance against all odds. Rocky is one of those lucky cases in which a good... [read more]
-
-
To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition - Widescreen) (US Version)
Alexander Golitzen (Actor)
| Harry E. Edington (Director, Producer, Actor)
| Peter Suschitzky (Actor)
| Wendell Corey (Actor)
When it comes to films starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, I always tend to get a bit nostalgic. Shot around the mid-50s, To Catch A Thief has both stars and was directed by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Cary Grant stars as John Robie, a retired jewel thief earlier known as The Cat who earned his amnesty as a war hero. However, when a new streak of burglaries carried out in a Cat-like manner emerge, he has to prove that his love for stealing is really a thing of the past. Using an alter ego, Robie observes likely victims of the new Cat hoping to catch him red-handed. Set against the beautiful scenery of the French Riviera with an agreeable music score by Lyn Murray and... [read more]
-
-
Wait Until Dark
Richard Crenna
| Audrey Hepburn
| Alan Arkin
This chilly thriller from the latter half of the 60s may stop you from turning off the lights for a while. Directed by Terence Young and based on a story by Frederick Knott, Wait Until Dark starts slowly, but has the viewers holding on to the very end after the premise has been set. The film centers around a young blind woman who gets caught in grave danger after her husband involuntarily turns into the owner of a seemingly harmless toy doll sought after by an ice cold killer. The tale features two opposite poles, namely, Audrey Hepburn in the leading role as Susy Hendrix who is unwilling to turn into the prey in spite of her blindness and Alan Arkin who plays the psychotic hoodlum Roat.... [read more]
-
-
Doctor Zhivago (2-Disc Set) (US Version)
Ralph Richardson (Actor)
| Keith Waterhouse (Actor)
| Julie Christie (Actor)
| Jacqueline Pearce (Actor)
David Lean's Doctor Zhivago presents one of the last century's most passionate screen adaptations. There are some films that continue to be indelibly locked in your mind and this grand-scale epic with beautiful cinematography by Freddie Young became one of them for me. The many-faceted tale's focus rests on coincidental lovers Lara Antipova (Julie Christie) and Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) against the backdrop of tragedies and hardships caused by the Russian Revolution. Based on a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Boris Pasternak, the movie departs from the original text, but nevertheless stands very well on its own, touchingly portraying how the needs of the masses eventually lead to the... [read more]
-
-
Goldfinger (Widescreen; Repackaged) (US Version)
Carol Reed (Actor)
| Shirley Eaton (Actor)
| Gert Frobe (Actor)
| Shirley Bassey (Actor)
If there ever was an action movie that fit in the category of classic, Guy Hamilton's Goldfinger is definitely a worthy candidate. Right from the start of the film, the audience is charmed with the perhaps best Bond movie theme song ever, Shirley Bassey's titular Goldfinger. As for the film, it gets viewers into a real spying mood as the adventures of Ian Fleming's charismatic protagonist are effectively brought to life by veteran star Sean Connery. Bond's suave behavior comes accompanied with John Barry's eternal Bond theme and the by now familiar Bond gadgets among which is one unbeatable Ashton Martin that has remained a tourist attraction to this very day. Just when you think you've seen... [read more]
-
-
Superman The Movie
Christopher Reeve
Towards the end of the 70s, the movie world witnessed a very familiar caped hero take flight again. Superman, perhaps the world's best-known superhero, was never among my favorites, ranking far behind characters like Spiderman, Batman, or the Flash. He was just too super for my taste; super sight, super strength, super invulnerability, etc. just didn't seem tangible enough for me at that time. Now that I'm older, but not necessarily wiser, it seems that Superman: The Movie has won me over as a supporter for the father of all superheroes. Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie offers all the original tale's key elements including the main character's arrival from Krypton, his adoption by Martha... [read more]
-
-
Peter Pan (Platinum Edition, 2-Disc Set) (US Version)
Clyde Geronimi (Director)
| Hamilton Luske (Director)
| Walt Disney
| Bill Peet
All the real-life big screen adaptations seem to be no match for Walt Disney's classic animation of Peter Pan. This movie came as a present for my younger brother and me around three decades ago and I revisit it whenever I need a capful of over-the-top adventures. Based on writings by J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan offers fantastic excitement from beginning to end, revolving around the tale's titular protagonist who lives a life of never-ending adventure. I can still recall the scene in which he has to perform the feat of catching his own shadow and all the ensuing fun as if it was yesterday. As for the story's supporting characters, Walt Disney's rendition is perhaps the best of the Peter Pan... [read more]
-
-
American Beauty
Kevin Spacey
| Annette Benning
Close up on an ordinary guy with nothing to loseRare movie magic shines through in Sam Mendes's American Beauty. This spellbinding cinematic gem from the late 90s offers good performances throughout, particularly by Kevin Spacey who shines in a memorable role as protagonist. Lester Burnham (Spacey) is a guy who has passed the prime of his life and seems to be dispensable as far as his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) and daughter Jane (Thora Birch) are concerned. With this situation as premise, the film presents an interesting study of human behavior, focusing on a dying family relationship through a flashback of the events that have left Lester the empty human shell introduced to the viewers in the beginning. Narrated by the protagonist,... [read more]
April 11, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
-
-
The Paleface (US Version)
Robert Armstrong (Actor)
| Bob Hope (Actor)
| Charles Trowbridge (Actor)
| Jackie Searl (Actor)
Hope turns into the West's biggest fearNorman Z. McLeod's Western parody The Paleface teams up Jane Russell and Bob Hope in top form. In this film from the late 40s, Russell plays the outlaw Calamity Jane who is doing time in prison, but promised parole if she is able to bring a group of corrupt officials to justice. In order to attract as little attention as possible, she poses as the wife of happy-go-lucky dentist Painless Peter Potter (Hope). Due to her sly arrangement, the crooks believe that Potter has been sent as the secret agent and they try everything to outsmart him. The movie draws heavily on Hope's comedic talents, presenting him as dentist who does everything by the book but is still very likely to pull the wrong... [read more]
April 8, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
-
-
Seven Samurai (DVD) (3-Disc Remastered Edition) (The Criterion Collection) (US Version)
Yamada Isuzu (Actor)
| Kurosawa Akira (Actor)
| Chiaki Minoru (Actor)
| Miyaguchi Seiji (Actor)
Classic tale about seven noble warriorsKurosawa Akira's epic movie from the 50s presents a multi-faceted story about survival in times of despair. With a duration of well over three hours, Kurosawa Akira's Seven Samurai might turn some viewers away. However, those who have time to spare, are likely to marvel at this striking tale and discover that time seemingly passes by in the blink of an eye. At the outset of the movie, the viewer is introduced to a poor farming village whose inhabitants discover to their shock that bandits are on their way to loot their homes. After a discussion with the village elder, they decide to hire samurai to protect their lives and belongings. The only problem is that the village is so poor that the... [read more]
March 31, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
-
-
The Purple Rose Of Cairo
Daniels Jeff
| Danny Aiello
| Mia Farrow
Reality or illusion? Woody Allen's love letter to the world of cinema still works like a charm. In The Purple Rose of Cairo, Mia Farrow plays Cecilia, a shy girl whose only consolation during the Great Depression is the movie theater around the corner. As her marriage to the insincere Monk (Danny Aiello) is very unfulfilling, she constantly escapes to the movies were she can marvel at the stars on the big screen who live a life of glitter and fame. Things seem to be going from bad to worse when she catches her husband drunk with one of his female friends, and she is later fired from her job as waitress. Trying to get over her sadness, she watches the new movie The Purple Rose of Cairo again... [read more]
-
-
Coal Miner's Daughter (25th Anniversay Edition) (US Version)
Tommy Lee Jones (Actor)
| Scott Rosenberg (Actor)
| Sissy Spacek (Actor)
| Tony Curtis (Actor)
Memories of a Coal Miner's DaughterCoal Miner's Daughter takes the viewers on the long and winding success story of Loretta Lynn. Michael Apted's autobiographic film retells Loretta Lynn's gradual rise from the status of a coal miner's daughter to her career as award-winning singer-songwriter. Sissy Spacek slips into her role as the second and dearest-loved member of the Webb family. Doolittle Lynn (Tommy Lee Jones) who tries to flee the bleak future of becoming a coal miner marries Loretta at the age of thirteen and later presents her with a guitar that changes her whole life. The film is elevated by the standout acting performances, especially by leads Jones and Spacek, who also sings all of her songs. They successfully... [read more]
March 17, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
-
-
Harvey (US Version)
Cecil Kellaway (Actor)
| Jesse White (Actor)
| Charles Drake (Actor)
| Jeanette Nolan (Actor)
The late James Stewart slips into one of the most memorable roles of his film career in the classic Harvey. Even though my first viewing of this film dates back a few decades, I still have very fond memories of it. In Henry Koster's film version of Harvey, Stewart plays gregarious small town chap Elwood P. Dowd who seems to be a case for the mental hospital. The reason for that are his constant remarks about his best pal Harvey, who to be exact is a 6 feet 3½ inch tall pooka in the form of a white rabbit. This sort of turns into a problem as nobody else can see Harvey and Elwood, always busy to take care of his fellow citizens, doesn't know. Stewart's celebrated performance is backed up by a... [read more]
-
-
The Chinese Connection/Fists of Fury (US Version)
Bruce Lee (Actor)
| Wei Lo (Director)
| Chang Cheh (Director)
One of the earliest movies I had the pleasure to watch with my parents was The Chinese Connection, a.k.a. Fist of Fury. Many consider it to be a milestone work in the world of martial arts movies. Starring the legendary Bruce Lee, this film by late director Lo Wei surrounds the mysterious death of one of Asia's biggest martial arts heroes, Huo Yuan Jia, who founded the respected Jing Wu martial arts school. Lee plays Chen Zhen, a loyal student of the school who is shocked after receiving the news of his teacher's death. When he discovers that his master became the victim of an intentional food poisoning organized by an opposition Japanese martial arts dojo, Chen swears revenge. Viewers are... [read more]
-
-
West Side Story (Single Disc Edition)
Natalie Wood
| Richard Beymer
| Rita Moreno
| Russ Tamblyn
The Sharks and the Jets light up the silver screenOnce upon a fine after-school day, I came across West Side Story. This musical was co-directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and points out some important racial and social class issues. West Side Story opens with the cool whistle of the Jets, one of the film's central gangs, slowly zooming in on the district and some of the film's other major characters. Caught in the middle of the tale is the romance of Maria (Natalie Wood) and Tony (Richard Beymer). Maria is the younger sister of Bernardo (George Chakiris), the head of the Hispanic Sharks, while Tony used to be a member of the local Jets still led by his bosom friend Riff (Russ Tamblyn). As a result, a confrontation between the two... [read more]
February 22, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
-
Bookmark & Share