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The First 7th Night (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Julian Cheung (Actor)
| Gordon Lam (Actor)
| Michelle Yip (Actor)
| Fung Hak On (Actor)
Is there any film director working in Hong Kong nowadays who is more prolific than Herman Yau? Just in the last 12 months alone, he's got five films released theatrically: the award-winning prostitute pic True Women For Sale, horror drama The First 7th Night, Shaw studio reviver Turning Point, thriller-comedy Split Second Murders, and gangster actioner Rebellion. Despite being small low-budget quickie fare, Yau's films are often well crafted and original, but some do slip off the radar of the cinema-going public. The First 7th Night unfortunately was doomed to such undeserved oblivion, as it is actually one of the better Hong Kong horror films out there most filmgoers have never seen. An old... [read more]
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Model From Hell (DVD) (New Version) (Hong Kong Version)
Simon Yam (Actor)
| Maggie Q (Actor)
| Chiu Chan Keung (Director)
| Ram Chiang
Model From Hell has the letters B, A, and D written all over it, for it's plagued with below-par acting, an atrocious script, and some dreadful effects. So what makes this a keeper instead of a skipper? Why, Maggie Q of course! The American-Vietnamese model-turned-actress has risen to fame as a sex symbol and action starlet after appearing in Hollywood blockbusters like Mission: Impossible III and Die Hard 4.0 (a.k.a. Live Free or Die Hard), and Hong Kong cult hit Naked Weapon. But as is often the case, before majesty comes mediocrity. Maggie Q took her first (mis)step on her road to international movie stardom in this coarsely-made, low-budget little Hong Kong flick in 2000. That said, this... [read more]
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4 Bia (AKA: Phobia) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Banjong Pisonthanakun (Director)
| Parkpoom Wongpoom (Director)
| Yongyoot Thongkongtoon (Director)
Anthology movies are the movie industry's answer to the fast food culture. Stringing together several usually unrelated segments into a feature-length movie comes at the expense of plot and character development, but that is accepted as long as the variety in flavor keeps the audience interested. This principle works especially well with the horror/thriller genre. 2008 Thai movie 4bia (a play on the word "phobia") is a prime example of a delectable horror set meal. Directed by the cream of Thailand's scare masters, 4bia serves up 4 dishes of spooky short stories, ensuring that there's something for different audiences. The appetizer is Iron Ladies helmer Youngyooth Thongkonthun's Happiness.... [read more]
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East Asia Capital Artists Concert Karaoke (3DVD)
Hong Kong Various Artists (Singer)
| Sammi Cheng (Singer)
| Andy Lau (Singer)
| Miriam Yeung (Singer)
Amidst loud, rousing music, 3 figures rise up slowly into view in the middle of the stage. Turns out it's Miriam Yeung, Andy Hui, and Denise Ho... It's M.A.D.! The trio "Leaps Over the Stage" to begin the party celebrating the imminent revival of Capital Artists under East Asia. What follows is the summer favorite "Red Hot Action La La La" when everyone comes out. Bosco Wong looks rad! But why no Sammi Cheng? Saving the ace for last, maybe? Everyone then retreats backstage, except Denise, who starts the solo sessions with a unique presence that holds your attention - especially on her mentor's unforgettable "Break Open the Iceberg" which sends the audience into a frenzy. Fellow Anita Mui... [read more]
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Triad Story (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Stephen Chow (Actor)
| Ng Man Tat (Actor)
| Shing Fui On (Actor)
| Wu Ma (Actor)
For a long time one of the most elusive titles in Stephen Chow's filmography, Triad Story is finally released on DVD almost 20 years after its theatrical run. Regrettably, the budget of the DVD production was obviously very tight, so much so that the manufacturer couldn't find a decent picture for the packaging box and had to settle on using a photo of a pair of melting wax figures instead. Nevertheless, this should not discourage you from buying this movie. Quite the contrary, this movie demands a place on your DVD shelf, particularly if you claim to be a Stephen Chow fan or collector. Triad Story enjoys the unique status of being the only Stephen Chow movie to earn the film rating of... [read more]
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The Forbidden Kingdom (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Jackie Chan (Actor)
| Jet Li (Actor)
| Collin Chou
| Li Bing Bing
A captivating collaboration of the kings of kung fuKids growing up in the 80s should have fond memories of The Neverending Story, a West Germany film about a bullied boy who stumbles upon a magical book which takes him to a strange fantasy land, meeting all sorts of fantastical creatures on his out-of-this-world adventure. This untouchable children classic, the Harry Potter of its time, inspired thrills and joy and awe in this editor's mind. Unexpectedly, similar emotions were evoked some twenty years later by a Hollywood flick called The Forbidden Kingdom. Kingdom has yet other similarities with Story, like both films opening with a flying-through-a-sea-of-cloud shot followed by that of the protagonist waking up from a dream. Simply replace... [read more]
May 13, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
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Happiness Is Free Live (DVD)
Denise Ho (Singer)
On a sunny, breezy Sunday afternoon in February 2009, about 4,000 red-clad, smiling people flocked to the Diocesan Boys' School for one common purpose: to see Denise Ho play a live concert for free. They sat on the green grass of the outdoor sports ground, gathering around a small temporary stage where Denise would entertain the guests. Such a setting lent the concert a sense of intimacy that is fitting for the theme of the event, Happiness is Free, a catchy title coined by Hong Kong's top lyricist Wyman Wong. This generous gesture is the latest endeavor in Denise's social consciousness project that begins with the album Ten Days in the Madhouse and continued with the Decameron documentary.... [read more]
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Security Unlimited (DVD) (Digitally Remastered) (Hong Kong Version)
Samuel Hui (Actor)
| Michael Hui (Director, Actor)
| Ricky Hui (Actor)
| Raymond Chow (Producer)
A comedy gold mine waiting to be rediscoveredThe Hui Brothers filled the void left by Bruce Lee and practically ruled Hong Kong Cinema in most of the 1970s. Their surge in prominence began with Games Gamblers Play in 1974. Equipped with a keen eye for the peculiarities of life and society, and a knack to turn them into belly-bursting jokes, the funnymen trio made themselves household names with a succession of powerful laugh bombs that even newer generations raised on Stephen Chow comedies should find appealing. The Hui Brothers were in the prime of their career and could seemingly do no wrong. Going into the 80s, the comedy icons were at it again, making their fifth collaboration, Security Unlimited. This time, the lesser-known Hui... [read more]
April 14, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
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The Songs, The Film And His Autobiography (2CD+DVD)
Andy Hui (Singer)
When pop singers do best-of albums, nine times out of ten they are a bunch of selected songs served with bonus music videos and/or concert footage. Andy Hui shows us other possibilities with his latest career retrospective compilation The Songs, the Film, and His Autobiography, offering a side dish that is no less, if not more, mouth-watering than the main course. This is not to say the songs are not enticing - they are anything but. Having been in the business for over 20 years and responsible for a long list of big hits of the 90s and onwards, Andy has amassed a huge repertoire on a par with those of the Four Heavenly Kings. The distinctions between the two CDs titled On Core Collection... [read more]
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Legendary Assassin (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Wu Jing (Director, Actor)
| Alex Fong Lik Sun (Actor)
| Ronald Cheng (Actor)
| Sammy Leung (Actor)
A while back, when Wu Jing's first directorial effort Legendary Assassin was released in theaters, and the movie Ip Man was the movie to beat at the box office, Wu was reported to have said that he didn't know who Ip Man was. Apparently, some practitioners of the Wing Chun kung fu found his remark provocative, and publicly challenged him to a no-holds-barred duel on international waters. The one who loses would have to donate money to help Sichuan's reconstruction. Now while a match would be something kung fu fans the world over look forward to, it would not have been approved by the legendary Wing Chun grand master himself. If the Wilson Yip-Donnie Yen movie was anything to go by, Wing Chun... [read more]
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Voice of EARTH (ALBUM+DVD)(Japan Version)
alan
War, hatred, despair, pollution... all the negativity of existence stands a better chance of finding a cure, if Mother Earth has a mouthpiece like alan. This is the verdict this editor reached after basking in the bliss that is Voice of EARTH, alan's first J-pop album. The emerging vocal revelation has established her position thanks in no small part to her unique background. Born in Sichuan, China of Tibetan descent, and raised in the "Beauty Valley", Alan Dawa Dolma received training in erhu and vocal music growing up. The fairy caught the attention of Japan music giant Avex in an audition, and after graduating from Beijing's PLA Arts Academy, she embarked on the road to international... [read more]
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Set Off (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Fan Wei (Actor)
| Ju Wen Pei (Actor)
| Liu Hua (Actor)
Although it's not billed as such, Mainland movie Set Off can actually be branded a romantic comedy - just not a typical one. The film delivers the laughs and gets a message across: beautiful babes don't just favor bad boys. Our good old Lao Cui can attest to that. Cui (veteran comedian Fan Wei) starts off in the Beijing airport as he flies back from Cyprus to divorce his wife, who has cheated on him with his best friend. Barely landed, he receives another smack to the ear: his business partner is selling his restaurant in Cyprus, so he needs to fly back asap. While on his way to the airport, he gets carjacked by a drunken damsel-in-distress, who throws up all over his body. Cui then makes a... [read more]
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Disaster Movie (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Aaron Seltzer (Director)
| Carmen Electra (Actor)
| Jason Friedberg (Director)
| Matt Lanter (Actor)
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]
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Joey Yung & Anthony Wong In Concert Karaoke (2DVD)
Anthony Wong (Singer)
| Joey Yung (Singer)
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]
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Deception (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Ewan McGregor (Actor)
| Hugh Jackman (Actor)
| Maggie Q (Actor)
| Michelle Williams (Actor)
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]
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Dreamtrips (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Ng Ka Lung (Director)
An admirable effort at sci-fi from Hong KongThe 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]
February 3, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
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Dainipponjin (DVD) (English Subtitled) (2-Disc Edition) (Hong Kong Version)
Matsumoto Hitoshi (Director, Actor)
| UA (Actor)
| Takeuchi Riki (Actor)
| Itao Itsuji
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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Get Smart (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Steve Carell (Actor)
| Anne Hathaway (Actor)
| Alan Arkin (Actor)
| Dwayne Johnson (Actor)
This editor has never watched the original Get Smart television series, so there was zero preconception or emotional baggage going into this 2008 movie adaptation, which, at first glance may not seem very exciting, but turned out to be a fun little romp through action comedy territory. Many comedy stars have tackled the inept-spy genre with varying degrees of success. It's certainly not easy. Even the great Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) failed to deliver genuine laughs in his Johnny English. The new Get Smart, directed by frequent Adam Sandler collaborator Peter Segal, doesn't go the James Bond parody route, nor does it mess with genre norms like the Stephen Chow masterpiece To Beijing With... [read more]
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The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (DVD) (2-Disc Special Edition) (Hong Kong Version)
Brendan Fraser (Actor)
| Michelle Yeoh (Actor)
| Jet Li (Actor)
| Isabella Leong (Actor)
The departure of star Rachel Weisz over "creative differences" could have damned the third installment of the popular Mummy series, but the Asia factor managed to breathe new life into this undead monster franchise. In The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the change begins with new director Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story) filling in for the series' creator Stephen Sommers. Brendan Fraser returns as the tomb-raiding hero Rick O'Connell in this new chapter set 13 years after the previous. He and wife Evelyn (Maria Bello, with the unenviable task of replacing the majestic Weisz) are now retired to a peaceful life in Oxford, England, until they are sent by the... [read more]
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Last Christmas DVD Box (Japan Version)
Oda Yuji
| Katase Nana
| Chiriko Sakashita
| Yada Akiko
Inspired by Wham!'s classic holiday anthem Last Christmas, Fuji TV's 2004 drama of the same name captured the original's lyrical presentation of bittersweet romance, catchy tune, and festive mood in a neatly wrapped package that viewers can easily groove to. Oda Yuji (Bayside Shakedown) had established his J-drama king status with Tokyo Love Story 13 years earlier. Last Christmas marked his return to the Gekku prime timeslot alongside producer Ota Toru and screenwriter Sakamoto Yuji. Like in Tokyo Love Story, Oda plays an executive at the Heart Sports company, specializing in winter sports equipment this time. Kenji (Oda Yuji) is still nursing his wound after being dumped by his fiancee. One... [read more]
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