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: Suspect X (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) Fukuyama Masaharu (Actor) | Shibasaki Kou (Actor) | Kitamura Kazuki (Actor) | Tsutsumi Shinichi

Detective Galileo vs. Suspect X
March 14, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
2008 was a very good year for Japanese television dramas to travel to the silver screen. Just in the list of top ten highest-grossing films of the year, we can find three movies that began on the small screen - Hana Yori Dango: Final, Suspect X, and Aibo the Movie - not to mention other decent-grossing TV spin-offs like Kurosagi, Sushi Oji, and Akai Ito. Spun from the 2007 TV drama Galileo, Suspect X ended 2008 with over US$50 million in box-office receipts, making it the third highest-grossing Japanese film of the year after Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea and Hana Yori Dango: Final. The box office comes as no surprise considering the TV drama's popularity, the star power of leads Fukuyama... [read more]

: Short Circuit (US Version) David Oliver (Actor) | Fisher Stevens (Actor) | Ally Sheedy (Actor) | Steve Guttenberg (Actor)

Mad about input
March 13, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
John Badham's Short Circuit from the latter half of the 80s presents a very different type of robot you'll love to like. Robots here, robots there, robots everywhere. We often meet the calculating, sterile, metal-clad companions of man in literature and films. However, apart from the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO in the Star Wars series and the titular protagonist in the animation Wall-E, there perhaps never was a robot more adorable than Short Circuit's Number Five. Number Five is a super intelligent prototype robot constructed by a military research lab to serve the country in eliminating all kinds of invading dangers. However, as luck would have it, he is struck by lightning and later deported... [read more]

: The Good, The Bad, The Weird (DVD) (Special Edition) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Lee Byung Hun (Actor) | Song Kang Ho (Actor) | Jung Woo Sung (Actor) | Kim Ji Woon (Director)

Good and Weird, and not Bad at all
March 11, 2009 Picked By Koh So See all this editor's picks
Director Kim Jee-Woon's The Good, The Bad, The Weird is one fun movie. This Manchuria-set "Kimchi" Western has action, humor, strong character types and a killer concept. What it doesn't have is a firm grip on reality, plus it's a bit too enamored of its own "wow, we're making an Asian Western" intentions. Those quibbles, however, are incredibly small and pretty much qualify as nitpicking. For fans of Korean cinema, this movie is a must-see, and Asian Cinema genre junkies shouldn't pass it up either. This is a guy's film; there's nothing approximating romance in it - that is, unless you find tough men pursuing other tough men to be your homoerotic cup of tea. The biggest problem with The... [read more]

: Rough Cut (AKA: A Movie is a Movie) (DVD) (2-Disc Special Edition) (Korea Version) So Ji Sub (Actor) | Kang Ji Hwan (Actor) | Kim Ki Duk (Producer) | Jang Hoon (Director)

A Gangster is a Gangster
March 10, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
Kim Ki Duk protege Jang Hoon makes a well-deserved splash with his directorial debut Rough Cut, the most commercially friendly film ever to bear the prickly auteur's name (as producer and screenwriter). Playing on the movie-within-a-movie premise, Rough Cut pits a gangster-like actor against an aspiring-actor gangster for one sprawling brawl of a blockbuster. Essentially a character drama sandwiched between two layers of gangster action, the film combines visceral fighting with a strong screenplay, upturning the grit and glamor of both moviemaking and the gangster's life. Cocky, angry, and out of control, movie star Soo Ta (Kang Ji Hwan) is famous for playing gangster roles onscreen and... [read more]

: Amadeus F. Murray Abraham | Tom Hulce | Elizabeth Berridge

The power of music
March 5, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
A preview featuring a scene with Tom Hulce's (appearing as protagonist Wolgang Amadeus Mozart) shrieking giggle and my past dislike for classical music kept me away from an early viewing of Amadeus. So what got me to watch the movie? It must have been the effect of the ongoing hype and the curiosity towards Mozart stirred up by the non-stop airing of the international pop hit Rock Me Amadeus that was inspired by the film. With respect to the movie, Hulce's invented Mozart giggle aside, I have somehow grown fond of it because of the creativity of the original script which turns Amadeus into an interesting enough "what if?" biopic. I was also delighted by the strong performances of the cast,... [read more]

: Disaster Movie (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Aaron Seltzer (Director) | Carmen Electra (Actor) | Jason Friedberg (Director) | Matt Lanter (Actor)

Laughably good... in a way
February 27, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
First off, check how many of the following movies (or simply their trailers) you've seen and tally your score. * 10,000 B.C. * Alvin and the Chipmunks * Armageddon * Beowulf * Cloverfield * The Dark Knight * The Day After Tomorrow * Enchanted * Hancock * Hellboy 2 * High School Musical * The Incredible Hulk * Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull * Iron Man * Jumper * Juno * Kung Fu Panda * Love Guru * Night at the Museum * No Country for Old Men * Prince Caspian * Sex and the City * Speed Racer * Step Up 2 * Twister * Wanted What the score means: 0 to 5: Stay away! This movie is just not for you. 6 to 13: Some of the jokes may not work for you, but you probably deserve this... [read more]

: Joey Yung & Anthony Wong In Concert Karaoke (2DVD) Anthony Wong (Singer) | Joey Yung (Singer)

Short but sweet musical crossover
February 27, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
They have the same birthday but different styles. Their fanbases hardly overlap, yet when their mikes clash, audiences regardless of allegiances are all in for a blast. The fresh pairing of Anthony Wong and Joey Yung certainly turns many heads. Joey is the reigning queen of Canto-pop, and Anthony's credentials are...well, like he needs any. The first collaboration between these two pop icons, their joint concert held in AsiaWorld-Expo on November 22, 2008 was regrettably too short at just over 100 minutes, but like so many good things in the world, what counts is not the length but the strength. And the concert certainly played to the singers' strengths. There was minimal stage design. Each... [read more]

: Getting Real New + Best Selection (2CD) Ken Chu (Singer)

All of Ken's songs in one release
February 20, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
F4's least idol member takes a break from Tai Chi to release his second solo album Getting Real. Arriving with little promotion or pop fanfare, Ken Chu's two-disc sophomore album is divided into "Now" and "Then" with the former featuring six new tracks and the latter collecting 16 songs from his previous solo album, the F4 albums, and soundtracks. Released back in 2005, Ken's first album On Ken's Time was a genuinely pleasant surprise with its easygoing mid-tempo guitar and pop numbers, and his latest effort follows in the same vein. Though Getting Real doesn't surpass its predecessor, it also doesn't disappoint. And with all his past singles making it onto Disc 2, this album is definitely a... [read more]

: Laputa: Castle in The Sky (Hong Kong Version) Miyazaki Hayao (Producer)

Magic on the ground, in the air, and beyond
February 20, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Miyazaki Hayao undoubtedly stands head and shoulders above all other contemporary animators, and among his works, I consider Laputa: Castle in the Sky to be one of the best. The tale revolving around Sheeta, heiress of a royal family from a legendary flying city called Laputa, and Pazu, who finds and takes care of her, takes the viewer on a fast-paced roller coaster-like adventure. There seem to be no limits to where a fight can take place in this Miyazaki animation that features very fascinating visuals in mid-air, on the ground, and even underground. Take a deep breath, because a chase starting in the air continues on the ground by train in the possibly grandest way ever conceived in an... [read more]

: Attitude (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version) Circus (Director) | Lin Jia Wei (Director) | Liao Ren Shuai (Director) | Charles "Blackie" Chen (Producer)

Big Green Men
February 14, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
In Taiwan, it's easy to see how popular basketball is among the younger generation. At night neighborhood courts are lit bright and filled with sweaty guys, basketball-themed idol dramas abound, Jay Chou made that silly basketball movie, and the only time the high school boys I used to teach showed any interest in anything I said was when I gave away a basketball. Taiwan has a professional basketball league of its own called SBL (Super Basketball League), notable for its scrappy play and spiky-haired players. Take a walk in Ximending and you'll see plenty of Kobe jerseys and Lebron ads. But you just may also catch sight of a T-shirt bearing the logo "Attitude", the popularized slogan of... [read more]

: Ip Man (DVD) (2-Disc Special Edition) (Hong Kong Version) Donnie Yen (Actor) | Simon Yam (Actor) | Gordon Lam (Actor) | Sammo Hung (Action Director)

"I'm Ip Man."
February 13, 2009 Picked By Koh So See all this editor's picks
Donnie Yen isn't just the Man, he's Ip Man. Hong Kong's most prolific martial arts actor goes for Fearless-type cred in director Wilson Yip's biopic of the legendary Wing Chun master. The film tells the tale of Ip Man (Yen) during the 1930s and 40s, covering his rise to prominence in 1930s Foshan, plus his involvement with the imperialist Japanese . Noted for its many famous kung-fu masters, Foshan comes under siege from surly kung fu master Jin Shan Zhao (Fan Siu-Wong), who's looking to rob Foshan's resident martial arts masters of their fame and face. They're quick to jump to the challenge, and all are quick to lose - that is, all except Ip Man, who seems to have zero ego and is... [read more]

: Airplane! ("Don't Call Me Shirley" Edition/Widescreen) (US Version) Leslie Nielsen (Actor) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Actor) | Michael McManus (Actor) | Robert Stack (Actor)

It's Wacky
February 11, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Saying that Airplane left me in smiles would be nothing short of an understatement; in fact, it kept me roaring with laughter. Mad, insane, nuts you name it. Regardless of what anybody's comment to Airplane may be, I still have a hilariously good time with each new viewing. Right from the opening scene that sees the film's principal object approaching a la Jaws, the amusement factor stays high with references to movies from Saturday Night Fever to From Here To Eternity. Even if you don't know the referenced films, you will probably still be driven to laughter (I was) in this spoof loosely revolving around the romance of stewardess Elaine Dickinson and her hopeless drinking-problem-afflicted... [read more]

: Boys Over Flowers OST (KBS TV Drama) Korean Various Artists | Korean TV Series Soundtrack | Tree Bicycle | SS501

Boy Bands Over Flowers
February 9, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
After an anime series, two seasons of Meteor Garden, two seasons of Hana Yori Dango, and a really long movie, haven't we all had enough of F4 and Boys Over Flowers? The answer is, of course, NO. Korea's own take on Hana Yori Dango hit the small screen in January after months of buzz, and fans have dutifully tuned in. In a deja vu of Meteor Garden in Taiwan and Hana Yori Dango in Japan, the series has started a Boys Over Flowers trend in Korea, and the craze naturally includes the music. Meteor Garden gave us Harlem Yu's Qing Fei De Yi and F4's "Meteor Rain", and Hana Yori Dango made mega-hits out of Utada Hikaru's Flavor of Life and Arashi's Wish and Love So Sweet. The Korean Boys Over... [read more]

: Deception (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Ewan McGregor (Actor) | Hugh Jackman (Actor) | Maggie Q (Actor) | Michelle Williams (Actor)

Hunks prevail
February 7, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
Any movie that has both Ewan "Obi-Wan" McGregor and Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman - two guys who possess looks that could turn straight men gay - flaunting their hunk appeal deserves the utmost respect of viewers. That's why this editor chooses to overlook the faults and sing the praises of the erotic thriller Deception, even if it does have gaping plot holes the size of moon craters. A flick that has one of these delectable men in the lead can get away with many mistakes. If it has both of them starring opposite each other, it instantly earns critic-proof status! Ewan, ever the cinematic chameleon, effortlessly slips into his role of Jonathan, a reserved and repressed audit manager who craves... [read more]

: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Clint Eastwood | Lee Van Cleef

Leone's classic portrayal of The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
February 3, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
The first time I watched The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, I was barely old enough to stay up until midnight. My dad, however, made an exception, meaning that he enjoyed all the gun-slinging action just as much as my younger brother and I did. Years later, it remains a one-of-a-kind western that I would take to a faraway island any time without hesitation. Eli Wallach landed a winner with his role as Tuco, a.k.a. "The Ugly". His team-up with Clint Eastwood to portray involuntary partners, each trying to outwit the other, has to be one of the best in movie history and, for me, the best when you limit the field to westerns. Though Clint Eastwood shines in one of his trademark roles, Wallach is... [read more]

: Dreamtrips (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Ng Ka Lung (Director)

An admirable effort at sci-fi from Hong Kong
February 3, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
The year before the turn of the millennium, the Wachowski Brothers enslaved the world in The Matrix, David Cronenberg created eXistenZ, and Hong Kong indie filmmaker Kal Ng embarked on his ambitious Dreamtrips exploring similar subjects. Science fiction has always been a rarity in Hong Kong films. An architect and part-time filmmaker, Kal Ng broke the deadlock with his own conception of Dreamtrips - an advanced technology that creates a virtual reality for its user to roam around in - complete with its own rules, purposes, and internal logic no less. This in itself is a feat too significant to ignore. Like Michel Gondry's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Ng anchors his Philip K.... [read more]

: Ghost (Japan Version) Gackt

Gackt in the Shell
January 31, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
For anyone who's ever suspected that Gackt might be a cyborg - because he's, cough, too awesome to be all human - the suddenly (and thankfully) prolific again rocker answers with his new single GHOST. His second tie-in song for the American sci-fi series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, GHOST is a fabulous follow-up to his December 2008 single Jesus (for anyone who's ever suspected that Gackt might be...). The ghost in question here is not the haunting kind, but rather the ghost in the machine which Gackt gives voice to in this electronic hard rock number. Opening with the sound of creaking machines and techno beats, GHOST jumps into a simple rock melody replete with electronic... [read more]

: TV Theme Songs Collection (3CD) Hong Kong Various Artists | Sammi Cheng | Jacky Cheung | Andy Hui

Classic 1980s TVB Themes
January 29, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
TVB of the 1980s produced so many classic dramas and so many classic theme songs, it's impossible to collect them all in one release (although we fans would sure appreciate it if someone tried). The latest album to rekindle fond memories of TVB's golden decade, TV Theme Songs Collection isn't the best or most comprehensive compilation for 80s TVB themes as there are many famous songs excluded from the collection. But it's the rare and less obvious inclusions that make this compilation a must-have for 80s TVB fans. The album features 50 TVB themes over three CDs from the likes of Alan Tam, Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, Michael Kwan, Susanna Kwan, Lui Fong, Adam Cheng, Roman Tam, and other... [read more]

: Maou DVD Box (DVD) (Japan Version) Ikuta Toma | Ohno Satoshi | Oshinari Shugo | Kobayashi Ryoko

The Devil Within
January 21, 2009 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
A remake of the Korean drama The Devil, TBS mini-series Maou surpasses its predecessor by wrapping the original's stellar storyline in an even leaner and meaner package, with two Johnny's artists in the leading roles to boot. In Japan, you're just about guaranteed a detective drama every season but Maou is a very different beast from the standard case-per-episode format of most police series. Instead, this gripping drama revolves around one case that incorporates multiple crimes and layered backstories, played out as a tragic cat-and-mouse battle between a cop with a tainted past and a conflicted serial killer who never deals the blow himself. Arashi's Ohno Satoshi takes on the complex role... [read more]

: Dainipponjin (DVD) (English Subtitled) (2-Disc Edition) (Hong Kong Version) Matsumoto Hitoshi (Director, Actor) | UA (Actor) | Takeuchi Riki (Actor) | Itao Itsuji

Life of a giant monster-fighter
January 21, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
Daisato likes things that expand when they are needed, such as his trusted foldable umbrella, tasty dehydrated seaweed, and especially his alter ego, Dai Nipponjin (literally, "Big Japanese"), who powers up into a gigantic vigilante as big as a high-rise building whenever Japan is threatened by humongous monsters (or what he calls "baddies"). Sadly, that is not a feeling shared by his fellow countrymen. They have taken the protection offered by their loyal defender for granted. People protest about the collateral damage that he causes. Some think he brings more harm than good. Others just don't care about him. The TV program about his latest exploits gets bumped to the 2am slot due to poor... [read more]

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