Reviews written by Kevin Kennedy
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The Inspector Wear Skirts (DVD) (Joy Sales Version) (Hong Kong Version)
The Inspector Wear Skirts (DVD) (Joy Sales Version) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All
(2)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:October 26, 2009 Solid entertainment"The Inspector Wears Skirts" succeeds in spite of itself. Its story is crudely conceived; its script is cliched; its performances never rise above the rudimentary; and its production values are drearily cheap. Compounding those problems is the grainy, unremastered print that Joy Sales has released. And yet ... "The Inspector Wears Skirts" still manages to be irresistibly likeable.
The Hong Kong police force is assembling an elite group of female police officers to work in coordination with their elite male Tiger Squad. Sibelle Hu is placed in charge of the female crew and tasked with molding the rather raw recruits into a tightly-knit, effective undercover fighting force. After some intial problems in their training, she brings in Cynthia Rothrock to help whip the recruits into fighting trim. When the ladies aren't squabbling amidst their training, they are fending off (or encouraging) the advances of the testosterone-driven Tiger Squad. But all the rivalry and tomfoolery is put behind them when both squads are put to the test to prevent a jewelry heist.
It is a treat to see all the familiar faces in the film. In addition to Rothrock and Hu, the cast includes Kara Hui, Ellen Chan, Ann Bridgewater, the inevitable Bill Tung as the police commissioner, Alex To, Stanley Fung, Sandra Ng, and in minor roles Ricky Hui and Shing Fui On. Rothrock, Kara Hui, and some of the male cast members put on some impressive displays of martial arts and Jackie Chan's stunt crew performs eye-popping feats. It all adds up to good cheesy, action-packed fun.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
On His Majesty's Secret Service (DVD) (US Version)
On His Majesty's Secret Service (DVD) (US Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$15.99Save: US$2.00 (13%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 26, 2009 Relentless comic chaosIn "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", Louis Koo stars as Royal Dog, one of the elite troops task with guarding the Emperor and Empress. Royal Dog, however, has no martial arts skills to speak of; instead, he is an inventor of wacky contraptions employed in the defense of the royal family. His overeager fiancee Faithful (Barbie Hsu) grows impatient with her absent-minded beau; she then goes ga-ga over a cross-dressing undercover assassin (Liu Yang) whom all the women in the palace find irresistible. Throw in the evil schemes of eunuch Lord Unicorn (Fan Siu Wong) to overthrow the emperor, an absurd contest to win the hand of Princess Rainbow (Song Jia), and the comic chaos generated by the goofy emperor (Liu Yiwei) and the abrasive empress (Sandra Ng) and you have all of the makings of a hilarious Stephen Chow movie from the 1990s.
Louis Koo is no Stephen Chow. He seems to labor over comic bits that Chow could toss off with ease. But Koo does his level best and is ably supported by a solid cast and some genuinely funny sight gags. The costuming and set design are lavish and the martial arts on display here are sometimes spectacular. For better or worse, this is a Wong Jing movie. Its story is a bit chaotic, it doesn't really add up to much, and at least half of the jokes fall flat. Nonetheless, the movie's non-stop comic mayhem yields enough laughs to make "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" worth watching.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Ghost Story (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
The Ghost Story (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 26, 2009 Demons and the men they seduceIf you have seen director Gordon Chan's excellent 2008 film "Painted Skin" and you are curious about how the great Li Han Hsiang might tackle that same story from Pu Songliang's classic "Tales from Liaozhai Studio", then look no further than "The Ghost Story". "The Ghost Story" combines director Li's wit and style with all of the sumptuous details we expect of a Shaw Brothers classic to produce a thoroughly enjoyable and ghoulish confection. The film actually depicts two of the classic Liaozhai tales. In the first (which runs for 25 minutes), a righteous general quarters his troops at a country inn, where the three lovely proprietresses have a cunning scheme to increase their herds of livestock. The righteous general suspects foul play when his soldiers begin to disappear and manages to turn the tables on the three vixens.
In the second story (which runs about 115 minutes), a randy scholar seeks to take advantage of a damsel in distress that turns up on his doorstep. But there is more to this damsel than meets the eye and soon the scholar's family is at risk in a battle against supernatural forces. Hu Chin gives fine performances, first as the eldest proprietress of the country inn, then as the damsel in distress with a dark secret. Ngok Wah is suitably righteous in the first story and dissolute in the second.
Yes, this film includes some nudity and the kind of simulated groping and grinding associated with blue films from the 1970s, but the emphasis here is on engaging storytelling and no one does that better than Li Han Hsiang. Highly recommended for a mature audience.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Happy Trio (Hong Kong Version)
The Happy Trio (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(3)Our Price: US$14.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 23, 2009 Yeh Feng steals the show!Wide-eyed and acid-tongued country bumpkin Ah Qiao (Li Jing) comes to Hong Kong to build a better life. However, when she discovers that her aunt -- with whom she expected to live -- has moved and left no forwarding address, Ah Qiao has nowhere to stay. She wanders to a public park and winds up on a bench sitting next to dim-witted but companionable Blockhead (Yeh Feng). Blockhead takes the country girl under his wing and into his home and soon they and Blockhead's pal Uncle (Wang Sha) are making a humble living as street musicians.
One day a music impresario hears Ah Qiao singing on the street and he soon persuades the ambitious girl to let him build her a career as a pop star. After undergoing some Eliza Doolittle-like training, Ah Qiao bursts upon the Hong Kong music scene and creates a sensation. Blockhead and Uncle are left behind and Blockhead pines for his former friend. But soon Ah Qiao's mentor makes demands she is unwilling to meet and she has only one person to whom she can turn for help...
While the story of "The Happy Trio" is driven by events in Ah Qiao's life, the movie really belongs to Yeh Feng, who is compelling and believable as the simple-minded, pure-hearted Blockhead. "The Happy Trio" provides a colorful look at Hong Kong's impoverished underside circa 1970. I recommend it highly. (How did Shaw Brothers get away with simply stealing music from "Shaft" and from Emerson, Lake & Palmer for this film's soundtrack?)Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Red Shoes (Hong Kong Version)
The Red Shoes (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$10.99Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:October 23, 2009 Fire your agent, Kim Hye Su!First things first. The shoes are pink, folks, not red! But I guess "The Pink Shoes" isn't much of a title for a horror movie. I bought this movie for one reason: To watch Kim Hye Su, one of my favorite actresses. But watching her in this movie just made me feel sorry for her. The real horror here is how such a fine actress got stuck in such a bomb of a movie.
As the movie opens we see a girl waiting for a subway train. Inexplicably, she finds on the subway platform a pair of pink pumps. Go figure. She tries them on and likes them, but then her schoolmate arrives and steals them from her. The schoolmate walks away down a long, creepy hallway ... heading for a terrible fate. Those darn shoes! Next Sun Jae (Kim Hye Su) finds the dreaded pink pumps on a subway train. Being a shoe fetishist, she can't resist them and brings them home ... but then things begin to go seriously wrong in her life. Sun Jae tries to get rid of the horrible heels, but, like a bad penny, they just keep turning up.
Naturally, these shoes have their own background story involving a fateful love triangle in 1940s occupation-era Korea. And, of course, there's a creepy old lady in the basement. And, assuredly, all of the lighting fixtures flicker on and off at strategically appropriate times. (Gee, that's original.) Inevitably poor Miss Kim is reduced to playing an interminable mad scene. Don't worry, Kim Hye Su -- I won't hold this dud against you!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Private Eye (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
Private Eye (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$26.99List: US$35.99Save: US$9.00 (25%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:October 21, 2009 Gripping tale of detectionHwang Jung Min stars as Jin Ho in "Private Eye" and the film succeeds largely due to Hwang's swaggering, cocky performance. Jin Ho is a downmarket private detective in 1910 Seoul, skulking in alleys to sneak photos of cheating spouses. He strives to save money to journey to America where he hopes to strike it rich. One day medical student Kwang Su (Ryu Deok Hwan) seeks Jin Ho's services and promises to provide Jin Ho a big enough payday that he will be able to passage to America. But Kwang Su's problems are much greater than just a cheating spouse.
In order to learn human anatomy, Kwang Su has been carving up a corpse that he stumbled upon in the woods. He is stunned to learn that the body he's been dissecting is that of the son of a high-ranking government poobah. Kwang Su decides that his only hope of escaping blame for the son's death is to find the murderer ... and he wants Jin Ho to help him find the miscreant. Tracking the killer leads down a path filled with corrupt cops, opium addicts, overbearing Japanese colonists, child abusers, and, strangest of all, knife-throwing circus performers.
Director Park Dae Min keeps the pace brisk and nicely leavens the chilling facts of the case with occasional doses of humor. Hwang Jung Min sets the perfect tone with his fearless performance and is ably supported by Ryu Deok Hwan and by Uhm Ji Won as Jin Ho's former girlfriend who devotes her free time to science. While some of the feats of detection are a bit of a stretch and the plot becomes overly complex, the movie's interesting period atmosphere, strong characters, and solid performances make for a winning cinematic experience. I recommend "Private Eye" very highly.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
GoJoe: Spirit War Chronicle (US Version)
GoJoe: Spirit War Chronicle (US Version) DVD Region 1
(2)Our Price: US$29.95Usually ships within 30 daysRelated promotions:October 20, 2009 Full of sound and fury, signifying ... not muchSet in 12th Century Japan, amidst the long-running wars between the forces of Heike and the forces of Genji, "Gojoe" serves up sword-slinging, blood-spurting violence with over-the-top glee. Benkei (Ryu Daisuke) runs with a band of ruthless outlaw warriors and is so possessed by rage that he inadvertently kills his only son. Horrified by his act, he withdraws from the world and becomes a Buddhist monk. In his absence, the world has changed. Heike has smashed the armies of Genji and now rules Japan. However, at Gojoe Bridge, the Heike troops have met an enemy that they cannot defeat. At night demons cross the bridge and slaughter the forces of Heike.
In response to the slaughter, Sanskrit letters appear on the chest of Benkei, calling him to defeat the demons. He travels to Gojoe Bridge to confront them; there he learns that the 'demons' actually are remnants of the armies of Genji, led by Shanao (Asano Tadanobu), the son of the former Genji ruler. Benkei also learns that his fighting skills are inadequate to defeat Shanao, so he again withdraws from the world to sharpen his skills. In Benkei's absence, Shanao convinces himself that his peerless swordplay is evidence that he is more than a mere mortal; he is a supreme god. He now sets himself against not just the armies of Heike, but also those who serve other gods. When Benkei returns to the fray, it is only a matter of time before he and power-mad Shanao will have their fateful, explosive encounter at the Gojoe Bridge.
The seemingly endless scenes of gory mayhem in "Gojoe" become numbing and its incorporation of supernatural elements never rises above hokum. Nonetheless, the film has a compelling visceral energy and visual flair that kept me watching through its overlong (2 hours and 12 minutes until the final credits roll) running time. Recommended only for fans of the genre.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Loveholics Vol. 1 - In the Air
Loveholics Vol. 1 - In the Air
(1)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 7 daysRelated promotions:1 people found the following helpful
October 19, 2009 Is there life after Ji Sun?With the departure of peerless singer Ji Sun from Loveholic, I've been curious to hear what the band's remaining members might produce next. The answer: An album that sounds very much of a piece with Loveholic's past work. I feared that working with a number of different vocalists might yield a recording that sounded like a compilation album, but that did not happen. Instead, we have an album filled with the tasteful pop-rock playing and songwriting we have come to expect from this group, and vocals which, for the most part, do not present a radical departure from how Ji Sun likely would have performed them (except for the hard rock stylings heard at the open of "Butterfly", the album's last track). Indeed, I would rank the album's first song, "Raining", among the band's best recordings; its heartfelt vocals immediately won me over. If you have been a fan of Loveholic in the past, then you should have no hesitation about buying this album. Trust me -- you'll like it. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Secret Couple (AKA: My Girlfriend is an Agent) (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
Secret Couple (AKA: My Girlfriend is an Agent) (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) DVD Region 3
(3)Our Price: US$29.99List: US$37.99Save: US$8.00 (21%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 18, 2009 Didn't work for me"Secret Couple" takes a mediocre big-budget American action/romance/comedy ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith") and remakes it as ... a mediocre big-budget Korean action/romance/comedy. Loud and frantic, this slickly-made movie delivers lots of noisy action, lots of attempts at humor (few of which I found amusing), an unconvincing romance (due in part to the fact that Kim Ha Neul and Kang Ji Hwan spend little time together), and a complicated plot involving Russian gangsters seeking to acquire a secret new weapon. Too much of "Secret Couple" seemed soulless and manufactured. Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Zatoichi Sakategiri (Japan Version)
Zatoichi Sakategiri (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$54.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 16, 2009 Ichi to the rescue, against his better judgmentThe eleventh Zatoichi film, known in English as "Zatoichi and the Doomed Man", is one of the quirkier entries in this series. The movie opens with Ichi receiving fifty lashes as punishment for illegal gambling. He interrupts the caning with a series of zany questions which serve only to infuriate the man delivering the punishment. Back in his jail cell, Zatoichi is beseeched by prisoner under a death sentence to travel to the man's hometown to seek the help of two local bosses there who can prove his innocence. Unlike his typical behavior, Ichi wants no part of that man's troubles, but his interactions with a bogus monk, Hyakutaro (Fujiyama Kanbi), end up leading Ichi to the prisoner's hometown after all. There, in carrying out the doomed prisoner's mission, he becomes entangled with the usual corrupt gangsters (and a beautiful damsel in distress) that leads to a showdown with an army of sword-wielding thugs.
While the general outline of this film's story may sound much like the stories in other Zatoichi films, it is the details that set this movie apart. In one of the funniest scenes in the series, we see the false monk Hyakutaro seeking to cash in on Zatoichi's reputation by pretending to be him. The Zatoichi impersonation done by Fujiyama Kanbi is uncanny and hilarious. The damsel in distress Yone (Taki Eiko) plays a key role in the film's resolution and Miss Taki gives a striking performance. One of the peculiarities of this film is Ichi's almost passive detachment from the film's events; his involvement is begrudging and he often relies upon others to move the events forward.
"Zatoichi and the Doomed Man" packs a lot of story and action into its 77 minute running length and leaves a strong impression. I recommend it highly. (I watched the unremastered and rather grainy English-subtitled release of this film from Home Vision Entertainment.)Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Run Papa Run (DVD) (US Version)
Run Papa Run (DVD) (US Version) DVD Region 1
(1)Our Price: US$10.99List: US$14.49Save: US$3.50 (24%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 15, 2009 One of a kind!In director Sylvia Chang's "Run Papa Run", triad gangster Tin Yun (Louis Koo) and sweet Christian girl Mabel (Rene Liu), the lawyer sent to bail him out of jail, fall head over heels in love the instant they lay eyes upon each other. The bond between the pair proves to be a durable one, despite the conflicts in their chosen professions. Soon Mabel becomes pregnant, Tin Yun marries her, and the couple must forge a family while seeking to prevent their daughter from learning just what Tin Yun actually does for a living. For his part, Tin Yun tries to live an approximation of a normal life by focussing on the management of the businesses that his gang controls. But can one truly live with one foot in the triad world and one foot in the straight world?
The film's story is told often in a light-hearted, fantastic manner. For example, in one scene Mabel breaks out in song to celebrate her love for Tin Yun; in other scenes Tin Yun turns to the camera and speaks directly to the audience. The film also provides laughs by showing Tin Yun's gang progressing through the years, first with the long hair of the early '70s, then with the frizzy 'dos of the late '70s, then with the dizzy duds of the early '80s. It is hard to say which was more hilarious -- seeing Lam Suet with shoulder length locks or with a faux Afro. As we see Tin Yun wrestle with family issues, the movie even incorporates a strong dose of Jesus's teaching as a pivotal turning point in his development. All of these elements add a wonderful depth and richness to this fanciful tale. And what a treat it is to see strong performances from such screen veterans as Nora Miao, Ti Lung, Max Mok, Siu Yam Yam, and Kent Cheng!
"Run Papa Run" deserves a wide audience. It should appeal to both men and women, lovers of gangster and action films, as well as fans of family dramas, comedies, and quirky fantasies. I recommend it very highly.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
W&Whale - Hardboiled
W&Whale - Hardboiled
(2)Our Price: US$13.99List: US$18.99Save: US$5.00 (26%)Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 15, 2009 I'm ready for moreThe first time I listened to W&Whale's "Hardboiled" album, I must admit that I wasn't much impressed. Most of their songs are built on light, jazzy R&B grooves and the group seemed more enamored with those grooves than with developing memorable melodies. However, with each subsequent hearing, I have been warming up to this album and now can recommend it with real enthusiasm. Track 2, the album's first song, gets the project off to a great start; it is a snappy, jazz-tinged R&B wonder topped by a brassy sound from singer Whale. The album then takes us through a wide range of sounds (mostly, but not always, R&B-based).
Whale is a real treat. She can be sassy; she can be sweet. And her phrasing is so strong that her voice drives both melody and rhythm. She also penned the album's finest ballad, the aptly named "Whale Song". The band's playing is crisp, clever, and precise throughout. It may have taken me a while to warm up to this band, but I now am eager to hear what comes next from this talented crew.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Like You Know It All (DVD) (First Press Edition) (Korea Version)
Like You Know It All (DVD) (First Press Edition) (Korea Version) DVD Region 3
(2)Our Price: US$25.99List: US$31.99Save: US$6.00 (19%)Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 14, 2009 Calling all arthouse film fans!In "Like You Know It All", Kim Tae Woo stars as Director Ku, a 39 year old director of low-budget indie arthouse films that are beloved by critics for their obscurity but ignored by the general public. The movie is comprised of two prolonged episodes, the first in which Director Ku serves as a judge at a film festival in Jecheon and the second in which he travels to Jeju Island to talk to a class of film students about his movies.
At Jecheon Director Ku runs into Boo (Gong Hyung Jin in a brilliant performance), a man with whom he collaborated on some films. Boo's hard-drinking ways practically destroyed his life and his health, until he met a woman who saved him and helped him pull his life together. At Jeju, Ku encounters one of Korea's most famous artists, who had been a mentor to Ku when Ku was at university. Ku also learns that his old mentor now is married to a woman he had loved in his youth, but who had left him because of his indecisiveness.
Through the course of these travels and encounters, we slowly get to know this Director Ku. While at first he seems to be an affable, somewhat hapless intellectual, we begin to see that he is a serial liar, a self-involved, self-indulgent, unreliable jerk with all of the moral fiber of a snake. And yet one suspects that he has deluded himself into believing that he is quite a nice guy, as he leaves a trail of emotional wreckage and disappointment in his wake.
Director Hong Sang Soo's ninth feature film proves to be a very dark comedy, a character study of a purely selfish man. It is a very talky film and seems intentionally crudely made to give it almost a documentary feel. "Like You Know It All" will not appeal to everyone, but arthouse film buffs will embrace it.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Prosperous Of Family (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version)
Prosperous Of Family (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version) DVD Region All
(1)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 13, 2009 Gripping melodrama"Prosperous of Family" stars Wu Xiu Fang as the third wife of a local lord. She is beloved by the lord for her great beauty and humble nature, but for those same reasons she is hated by the lord's first and second wives. The Yellow Turbans are threatening the country, spreading terror and destruction in their wake. One day they kidnap the lord, leaving his family to believe him dead, and then burn his residence to the ground. This disaster tears the family apart; the first and second wives leave for greener pastures, abandoning the first wife's spoiled and obnoxious little boy to the care of the third wife. Life becomes terribly hard for the third wife, as she slaves at a loom to earn a little money to keep the boy fed. All the while, she must fend off the unwanted advances of lecherous suitors and the scorn of the first and second wives.
"Prosperous of Family" proves to be a well-written, well-acted, lavishly mounted, and creatively lensed melodrama that engages the viewer from start to finish, even tossing in some action and laughs along the way. Wu Xiu Fang absolutely shines in this fine film, breaking our hearts and winning our admiration. I bought this film on a whim and had no real expectations for it, but I truly enjoyed it. Anyone who loves those old Shaw Brothers melodramas should check out "Prosperous of Family"; you'll be glad you did!Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Five Venoms
The Five Venoms DVD Region 3
(4)Our Price: US$14.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 13, 2009 One of Chang Cheh's bestThe martial arts master who has headed the Venom Clan is dying. The five fighters he taught wreaked havoc in the world and managed to amass a pile of loot that has been entrusted to sixth person. Now that the master is dying, he wants to try to right his wrongs. Therefore, he takes one final student, Yang De, trains him in all the various skills he taught the five Venoms, and gives him a mission: He is to find the various Venoms (all of whom now are living anonymously under secret identities), ally himself with those of the Venoms who have reformed their ways, eliminate those Venoms who continue to follow a life of crime, find the loot, and devote the loot to charitable purposes. Being a loyal student and righteous man, Yang De begins his mission, taking the guise of a street urchin. But how can he uncover the Venoms, whom can he trust, and how can he find the loot?
That's the set-up for this martial arts classic and it proves to be a sturdy vehicle for generating suspense and staging memorable fights. This remastered version really sparkles, bringing the story to life in a manner that my murky old VHS tape of the film never could. Director Chang Cheh spends little time on character development or parsing motives; instead, he emphasizes what fans of the genre seek -- action and more action. Nonetheless, what makes the film work as more than just a display of fighting skills is the thoughtful way in which the script works out the corrupt schemes of its evildoers and the detective work of its heroes.
"The Five Venoms" is essential viewing for all fans of martial arts movies.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Ashura (2-Disc Set) (US Version)
Ashura (2-Disc Set) (US Version) DVD Region 1
(1)Our Price: US$14.98Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 12, 2009 Once a demon warden, always...In "Ashura", medieval Japan is infested with demons in human form and the 'demon wardens' must eliminate them to save mankind. Izumo (Ichikawa Somegoro), the greatest of the demon wardens, gives up the trade and turns to acting after he kills a young girl he suspects may not have been a demon. Five years later power-hungry demon warden Jaku (Watabe Atsuro) is seduced and recruited by a beautiful nun -- and demon in disguise -- Bizan (Higuchi Kanako) to lead a demonic resurgence that will culminate in the coming of demon goddess Ashura to rule the world. Meanwhile, Izumo falls for pretty acrobat Tsubaki (Miyazawa Rie), but, unbeknownst to Tsubaki, her love for Izumo plays into Bizan's dastardly plans.
Director Takita Yojiro (who more recently helmed Oscar-winner "Departures") crafts a colorful world merging gritty medieval reality with wild CGI special effects. The film is at its best when it focusses on relationships -- the growing affection between Izumo and Tsubaki, Bizan toying with Jaku's lusts to advance her demonic ends, the rivalry between Jaku and Izumo. These relationships and the exotic milieu make for an entertaining journey until an overreliance on CGI and Miyazawa Rie's unconvincing fighting skills undercut the impact of the film's tragic ending. Nonetheless, "Ashura" provides an enjoyable ride for fans of the 'swords and sorcery" genre.
P.S. One of the film's highlights is a scene of a kabuki performance that was directed by and which features real-life kabuki actor Ichikawa Somegoro. For Westerners like me, it gives a strong hint of the dramatic power that draws Japanese audience to kabuki.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
The Foreign Duck, The Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$14.99Usually ships within 1 to 2 daysRelated promotions:October 12, 2009 The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind"The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker" is all about sabotaging expectations. The film begins in a mostly light-hearted and quirky fashion, as nerdy college frosh Shiina meets his wildly coiffed and peculiar new neighbor Kawasaki. As they become acquainted, Shiina is fascinated by the stories Kawasaki tells about his life and the lives of their neighbors and acquaintances. However, after Shiina gets to know a moody pet shop owner named Reiko who cautions him against believing Kawasaki, Shiina begins to perceive that Kawasaki's stories don't quite add up. As Shiina begins to learn the truth about his unusual neighbor, the tone of the film changes into something much darker; what began as comedic becomes a story of animal abusers, a brave young woman, and a grief-driven yearning for revenge.
Surprisingly, it all holds together and makes for quite compelling viewing. While I believe that the script would have benefitted from a little tightening, I was intrigued by this unusual film and can recommend it highly to all fans of offbeat cinema.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San's Stage-Struck (21st Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Tora-San's Stage-Struck (21st Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2
(1)Our Price: US$44.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 12, 2009 You'll be stage-struck, too!In the opening dream sequence of "Tora-San's Stage-Struck", the 21st Tora film, Tora is depicted as a creature from outer space, a visual trope which perfectly captures Tora's alienation from the day-to-day routine of life at his family's Tokyo sweet shop. However, after once again asking Sakura to pay his hotel bill at a remote inn, a chastened Tora returns to Toraya with a new dedication to set his life on the straight and narrow. He becomes the ideal, hard-working employee at the sweet shop ... until Sakura's glamorous former classmate Nanako drops by. Nanako (Kinomi Nana) is the star of the Tokyo Revue, a glitzy Las Vegas-style musical review, and Tora is undone by her beauty. Dedication goes out the window and he begins finding any excuse to go see the show.
While Tora moons over Nanako, Nanako is torn over her future. She loves her life on the stage, but also loves a man who has asked her to marry him. If she marries, then she will have to give up show biz, but she can't imagine doing so. What will she decide? And will Tora end up disappointed again?
Kinomi Nana makes an indelible impression as the larger-than-life Nanako. Director Yamada Yoji brings the colorful milieu of the Revue's cast and crew to vibrant life. Also on hand to provide a comic foil is Takeda Tetsuya, as a guileless country bumpkin who views Tora as a font of worldly wisdom and who, like Tora, falls under the spell of the Revue. (Takeda previously had starred in Yamada's quirky and heartwarming film, "The Yellow Handkerchief".) For all true Tora-san fans, the clarity of image and sound of this remastered Shochiku DVD make it the clear choice over the murky but cheap Panorama version.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
The Mad Monk (Digitally Remastered)
The Mad Monk (Digitally Remastered) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$14.49Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 9, 2009 It's madness, alright!While it appears that Wong Jing had nothing to do with Johnny To's "The Mad Monk", this has the feel of a Wong Jing comedy: The movie's story is the barest of threads and stuff just happens. Indeed, the story basically serves as little more than an excuse to string together a series of gags of varying degrees of funniness.
Stephen Chow is his usual fast-talking comic self; this time he plays a ne'er-do-well god sent to earth to set some things straight. Ng Man Tat, usually a reliable comic foil for Chow's antics, here spends far too much of the movie acting infantile and howling for milk. Maggie Cheung Man Yuk, playing a prostitute who really seems to enjoy her work, is the real reason to watch this film. She has never looked more gorgeous (well, okay, maybe in "In the Mood for Love") and has never given a funnier performance.
The first hour or so of the film are amusing if chaotic. Thereafter, for me, the jokes wore thin and the film's loud antics grew tiresome. Still, all Stephen Chow fans and Maggie Cheung fans should see "The Mad Monk". By the way, this film is not a remake of the 1977 Li Han Hsiang movie with the same title; the two films have nothing whatsoever to do with each other.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This) -
Dawn Will Come (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Dawn Will Come (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3
(1)Our Price: US$15.99Usually ships within 7 - 14 daysRelated promotions:October 8, 2009 Gripping Huangmei melodrama"Dawn Will Come" is a melodramatic Huangmei opera gem from Shaw Brothers. As the film opens, young scholar Gai Liangcai (Lei Ming) arrives at the home of an old master to learn at his feet. However, the old master is traveling and no one knows precisely when he will return. Due to the late hour, Gai asks to stay at the master's home until the next morning. The master's daughter Yan Qiurong (Li Hsiang Chun) agrees to let the handsome scholar stay. Once the scholar sees Qiurong's beauty, all thoughts of learning leave his head; he wants only to possess her. Shockingly, he drugs her and, while she is under the influence, he has his way with her. When it finally is time for Gai to return home, he promises that he will come back to wed the now-pregnant Qiurong.
Once Gai arrives at his home, all thoughts of poor Qiurong are left behind. Instead of marrying the humble beauty he impregnated, he weds Wen Shuzhen (Ivy Ling), who comes from a well-positioned and wealthy family. When Qiurong and her servant journey to Gai's home to find out what has become of him, Shuzhen is shocked to discover her new husband's dastardly deeds. Gai then sets out to eliminate all his problems ... and there seems to be no evil to which he won't stoop. In the end, Shuzhen turns to Gai's father, the magistrate of Suzhou (Shaw Bros. veteran Jing Miao) to set things right, but the magistrate is torn between the call of justice and his loyalty to his son.
Filled with beautiful sets, lavish costumes (Ling Po's gorgeous gowns deserve a movie of their own!), and fine performances from an excellent cast, "Dawn Will Come" is a wonderful entertainment. But what really sets this film apart is its suspenseful ending -- until the magistrate issues his ruling, the viewer never knows whether justice will prevail or Gai will get away with his crimes. Director Gao Li works wonders and "Dawn Will Come" just might be the most thrilling of the Huangmei films.Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
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