YESASIA: YumCha! - Editor's Picks

YumCha! » Editor Picks - Other Video

Browse

Bookmark & Share

Copy

: Ong Bak - The Thai Warrior AKA Muay Thai Warrior (US Version) Tony Jaa (Actor) | Petchthai Wongkamlao (Actor) | Pumwaree Yodkamol (Actor) | Sukhaaw Phongwilal (Actor)

A Thai spin on bone crunching action
September 2, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Thai Boxing is brought to a whole new level by Tony Jaa in Ong Bak. While the tale is a very simple one, revolving around a mutilated Buddha statue at a remote village in Thailand and the attempted recovery of its missing part in hectic Bangkok, the fighting scenes put Ong Bak a cut above the usual martial arts fare. In general, the film is driven by two factors: Tony Jaa in the role of Ting, who causes all sorts of spectacular damage with his circus-quality martial arts, and supporting actor Petchtai Wongkamlao who is responsible for the acting. Before Tony gets to really take down his opponents in style, he first has to run for it, which is one of my favorite parts in the movie. In this... [read more]

: Gorgeous (Closed Captioned) (US Version) Tony Leung Chiu Wai (Actor) | Jackie Chan (Actor) | Shu Qi (Actor) | Elaine Jin (Actor)

The title says it all
August 23, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Even though I consider myself a fan of Shu Qi and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, I never gave a second thought to watch any of Jackie Chan's movies. As luck would have it I came across Shu Qi, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, and Jackie Chan in their fabulously made collaboration Gorgeous which assembles various film genres including comedy, martial arts, and romance with surprisingly fresh results. Shu Qi portrays exuberant Abu who chases after her knight in shining armor after she receives a romantic message in a bottle from Hong Kong at her rather remote Taiwanese village. She heads for Hong Kong, not knowing that the message was meant for a guy as the sender (Tony Leung Chiu Wai, in an over-the-top role)... [read more]

: 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 fu
May 13, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
Kids 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]

: 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]

: 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]

: 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]

: 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]

: Highlander (Widescreen - Director's Cut) (US Version) Sean Connery (Actor) | Clancy Brown (Actor) | Christopher Lambert (Actor, Producer) | Allan Cameron (Actor)

A kind of magic
January 19, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
My main motivations for watching the late 80s film Highlander were the soundtrack songs by the legendary rock group Queen, and Sean Connery's participation in a supporting role. After revisiting it on the small screen, I am still happy about these two essential factors of the film, as well as the other ingredients that turn this fantasy film into a small favorite of mine. In a time when light sabers and the exhilarating feeling of adventure could be found in the top drawer of topics bound to capture my attention, I ran across the music video of A Kind Of Magic performed by one of my favorite rock bands, Queen. As a result, I soon found myself in a movie theater to watch Highlander, and I had... [read more]

: Get Smart (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Steve Carell (Actor) | Anne Hathaway (Actor) | Alan Arkin (Actor) | Dwayne Johnson (Actor)

Smart casting made it
January 13, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
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]

: 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 Mummy goes east
January 7, 2009 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
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]

: Enchanted (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Susan Sarandon (Actor) | James Marsden (Actor) | Patrick Dempsey (Actor) | Amy Adams (Actor)

Still Disney after all these years
December 30, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Been there, seen that? Fortunately, these are none of the expressions that come to mind for Enchanted, Walt Disney's latest live-action movie with inserted animation segments. As an ardent fan of the Disney family, I couldn't get around this one and dragged my friend to go see it with me. And to our pleasure, we soon got caught up in the magic. No doubt, everyone who has seen his share of Disney films, sometimes thinks, "If only we could switch off the cheesy over-long songs..." Well, they are alive here from minute one but are inserted in an endurable degree, and to the film's credit, with a sort of wit amiss in some of Disney's earlier offerings. With that in mind, you may back off a... [read more]

: Paper Moon (US Version) Randy Quaid (Actor) | Ryan O'Neal (Actor) | Tatum O'Neal (Actor) | Roy Roberts (Actor)

Meet an unbeatable brat and her adult sidekick
December 18, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Paper Moon is one of the movies I happened to come across in my pre-teen years. Remembering it to be quite funny, I dug it up again years later with my good friend and I am happy to say that it still sparkles as one of the best child actor movies I have had the pleasure to watch. The main credit goes to young Tatum O'Neal who plays the role of a lifetime as Addie Loggins. Delivering a tour de force performance, including superb interaction with film and real-life father Ryan O'Neal as swindling but good-hearted thief Moses Pray, she no doubt is the center attraction of the film. A unique nostalgic atmosphere underlined by traditional black and white shooting and a good script with clever... [read more]

: Clash of the Titans (US Version) Rudolph Mate (Actor) | Ursula Andress (Actor) | Franklin J. Schaffner (Actor) | Maggie Smith (Actor)

A flight into fantasy
December 11, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
In a time when CGI effects are turning into the main ingredients of modern films, Clash of the Titans serves as a nice example of a solid palpable fantasy tale. Attracted to this early 80s movie because of my interest in classic Greek and Roman history, I also got an extra helping of action and adventure that stimulated my senses in a fantastic way. Admittedly, the story of Clash of the Titans is as thin as ketchup on fries, but who needs a story in a film about Olympian gods and their haphazard way of dealing with the fate of humans? Interested more in wonders and thrills than in a fact-based lecture, I was dazzled by the film's main attraction, that is the fabulous creatures starting with... [read more]

: Journey To The Center Of The Earth (2008) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Brendan Fraser (Actor) | Josh Hutcherson (Actor) | Anita Briem (Actor) | Wheeler Jane

Entertaining to the core
November 21, 2008 Picked By dian See all this editor's picks
Stripped of the 3D gimmicks that helped make it one of the most successful movies (boxoffice-wise) of summer 2008, Journey to the Center of the Earth inevitably has to endure harsher scrutiny as it becomes available on video. But let's go easy on the folks who made the flick. They knew what they could and could not do, and obviously, they didn't want to present too much challenge for themselves or the audience. The bottom line: it's a kiddie popcorn movie that works on an amusement park ride level, and it's always intended that way. With that in mind, one could find the movie easier to enjoy. The filmmakers wisely chose not to do a direct adaptation of Jules Verne's science fiction classic... [read more]

: Cool Hand Luke (Deluxe Edition) (US Version) Paul Newman (Actor) | Jackie Cooper (Actor) | Luke Askew (Actor) | Strother Martin (Actor)

Newman continues to overcome failed communication
November 18, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Paul Newman, one of Hollywood's elite stars whom I really admire, recently passed away. He left behind a rich repertoire of movie roles, many of which are special and unique in their own way, and Cool Hand Luke is no exception. In director Stuart Rosenberg's 1967 film, America's charismatic blue-eyed star offers an impressive portrayal of a rebel to the end. Newman plays Lucas "Luke" Jackson, a small time offender who has to serve a prison term working in a chain gang for the petty crime of demolishing public property. The major asset of the movie no doubt is Newman, who flourishes as the protagonist. Regardless of whether Luke has to face the relentless blows of his much bigger prison-mate... [read more]

: Love Truly (AKA: Really Really Like You) (DVD) (MBC TV Drama) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitles) (Malaysia Version) Ryu Jin (Actor) | Yoo Jin (Eugene) (Actor) | Lee Min Ki (Actor) | Yoo Tae Jun (Actor)

Romance in the Blue House
September 19, 2008 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
When it comes to TV dramas over 20 episodes long, I tend to either skip over them knowing that I can't invest the time, or I start and never finish. I'm more likely to hold out for period dramas, but I lose interest quickly with long romantic dramas as length too often means descent into padding, cliche, and overblown melodrama. Which is why Really, Really Like You really, really stands out as a romantic comedy. Clocking in at 34 episodes, Really, Really Like You is a tad long for a non-sitcom romance, but I whizzed through the whole drama in record time, and was rather sad to see it come to an end. Really, Really Like You didn't receive as much as love as it should have when it aired in... [read more]

: 48 Hrs. (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Eddie Murphy (Actor) | Nick Nolte (Actor) | Remar James | Annette O'Toole

48 Hrs. you won't forget
September 5, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Viewers are likely to get caught by the pace and the action of Walter Hill's influential 80s buddy movie48 Hrs. in which Eddie Murphy performs at the top of his game as loud-mouthed convict Reggie Hammond. Nick Nolte plays his involuntary partner, police officer Jack Cates, who bails him out of jail under the condition that he helps him capture the cold-blooded killer Ganz (James Remar). Thus begins the on-screen partnership of Murphy and Nolte who offer excellent performances as a seemingly tough cop and a The Police song-humming convict discovering that they may not be so different after all. From Eddie's tour de force show as fake police inspector, to the unlikely duo's not-so-clean fight... [read more]

: Home Alone (US Version) Catherine O'Hara (Actor, Director) | John Hughes (Actor) | Daniel Stern (Actor) | Kristin Minter (Actor)

Meet an eight-year-old destruction machine
July 31, 2008 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
Macaulay 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]

Showing: 1-20 of 87 items Page: 1 2 3 4 ... 5 Next

Quick Links

Browse

Narrow by

Browse More

About YesAsia.com

Bookmark & Share