YESASIA: YumCha! - Professional Reviews -

: Hindsight (DVD) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Song Kang Ho (Actor) | Shin Se Kyung (Actor) | Kim Min Joon (Actor) | Chun Jung Myung (Actor)
Hindsight attracted a great deal of hype in Korea, marking the return of Il Mare director Lee Hyun Seung after an absence of over a decade. The film also whipped up interest thanks to its casting of one of the country's most popular and acclaimed stars, Song Kang Ho (The Host, Thirst) as the male lead, opposite up and coming young actress Shin Se Kyung (Acoustic), with an accomplished supporting cast that includes another promising starlet in Esom (Second Half), veteran performer Yoon Yeo Jung (who recently impressed with a deadpan turn in The Housemaid), Chun Jung Myung (Hansel & Gretel), Lee Jong Hyuk (Parallel Life), Kim Min Joon (No Mercy for the Rude) and Oh Dal Soo (Detective K). With... [read more]

: Pain (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Kwon Sang Woo (Actor) | Kwak Kyung Taek (Director) | Kim Min Joon | Jeong Ryeo Won (Actor)
Korean blockbuster director Kwak Kyung Taek, responsible for hits such as Friend and Typhoon returns with something a little different in Pain, his first film in three years. Far more of a melodrama than his previous outings, the film still sees Kwak working in his usual tortured macho themes through the rather odd romantic pairing of a man who can't feel pain and a fragile haemophiliac woman. Based on an original story by manhwa artist Kang Pool, many of whose other works have previously made it to the screen, including Apartment, Hello, Schoolgirl and Ba:bo the film has an impressive pair of popular leads in actor Kwon Sang Woo (71 - Into the Fire) and Jeong Ryeo Won (In Love and the War)... [read more]

: Quick (Blu-ray) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Ko Chang Seok (Actor) | Lee Min Ki (Actor) | Yoon Je Moon (Actor) | Kim In Kwon (Actor)
Quick is a Korean blockbuster in the Hollywood mould, which as its title suggests packs in plenty of high speed action, with a motorcycle courier getting caught up in a mad bomber's crusade of destruction. The film was directed by Jo Beom Gu (Three Fellas) and produced by Yoon Je Kyun (Haeundae), and stars Lee Min Ki in the lead as the unfortunate man on the bike, with Kang Hye Won (with whom he co-starred with in Haeundae) as his love interest and support from Kim In Kwon (Fate), Ko Chang Seok (The Front Line) and Yoon Je Moon (Battlefield Heroes). The film kicks off with Lee Min Ki as Ki Soo, a street motorbike champ whose latest race and spat with then girlfriend Chun Shim (Kang Hye Won)... [read more]

: Couples (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Gong Hyung Jin (Actor) | Kim Joo Hyuk (Actor) | Lee Yoon Ji (Actor) | Jeong Yong Ki (Director)
Couples is a Korean remake of Japanese director Kenji Uchida's popular 2004 offbeat romantic comedy A Stranger of Mine helmed by Jeong Yong Ki, who previously enjoyed success with commercial fare such as The Righteous Thief and Once Upon A Time in Corea. Like the original, the new version is by no means a straightforward genre outing, following a series of overlapping tales of various couples whose lives intersect thanks to bank robberies, car crashes and a variety of deceptions. Headlined by popular actor Kim Joo Hyuk (In Love and the War), the film is very much an ensemble piece, with support from a host of recognisable faces including Lee Si Young (Meet the In-Laws), Lee Yoon Ji (Dream... [read more]

: Mr. Tree (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Tan Zhuo (Actor) | Wang Bao Qiang (Actor) | Angel He (Actor) | Wang Da Zhi (Actor)
Acclaimed Mainland Chinese director and international film festival favourite Jia Zhangke serves as producer on Mr Tree for debut helmer Han Jia, who worked as an assistant on Still Life The film was the first from Jia's new Wings Project, designed to help finance and encourage new film makers, and covers many of the themes tackled in his own efforts, chiefly urbanisation and change in modern China. An at times strange and lyrical piece of art house cinema, the film enjoyed a highly successful run at various festivals around the world, and has seen Han already being hailed by many as an important new voice. Wang Baoqiang (Blind Shaft) takes the lead as Shu, the titular Mr Tree (Shu being the... [read more]

: War of the Arrows (DVD) (3-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Park Hae Il (Actor) | Park Ki Woong | Ryu Seung Ryong (Actor) | Kim Han Min (Director)
War of the Arrows (also known as Arrow, the Ultimate Weapon) is a period set Korean blockbuster revolving around battling archers and the 17th century second Manchu invasion of Korea. The film was directed by Kim Han Min, previously responsible for the offbeat mystery Paradise Murdered and attempts to offer something a little different to the usual historical epics by notching up the tension and aiming for more of a focus on action. The film was a massive success at the box office, emerging as the biggest domestic hit of last year, and also brought home a slew of accolades, with Park Hae Il (The Host) winning Best Actor at the Daejong and Blue Dragon Film Awards, Moon Chae Won (The Princess'... [read more]

: The Day He Arrives (DVD) (Korea Version) Kim Sang Joong (Actor) | Kim Bo Kyung (Actor) | Yoo Jun Sang (Actor) | Song Seon Mi (Actor)
Korean art house auteur and international film festival favourite Hong Sang Soo returns with The Day He Arrives, his twelfth outing and another alcohol soaked rumination on the male ego and insecurities. The film sees the director teaming again with Yoo Jun Sang, one of the stars of his excellent HaHaHa as his protagonist, with support from Kim Sang Joong (City Hunter), Song Seon Mi (The Daughters-in-Law) and Kim Bo Kyung (Epitaph) in a dual role. As usual with Hong, the film enjoyed a successful run at various events around the world, including playing Cannes in the Un certain Regard category. Hong again has the plot revolving around a film maker, in this case Seong Jun (Yoo Jun Sang), who... [read more]

: East Meets West (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Ekin Cheng (Actor) | Eason Chan (Actor) | Mini Yang Mi (Actor) | William So (Actor)
Jeff Lau is one amazing filmmaker - not because his films are always great, but because he attempts ambitious and emotional movies using random gags, screechy overacting, rampant slapstick and more navel-gazing romantic metaphor than should be allowed in any film. Lau's films feature little consistency and less sense, plus they've become increasingly intertextual, requiring that you see his other films and their inspirations to fully grasp what he's doing. That's a tall order for any moviegoer, especially in service of a director who superficially resembles Wong Jing. However, Lau's lofty themes, unabashed romanticism and strong character arcs make his films beguiling and even touching,... [read more]

: Paradise Kiss (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) Kitagawa Keiko (Actor) | Mukai Osamu (Actor) | Igarashi Shunji (Actor) | Kato Natsuki (Actor)
More manga hits the screen with Paradise Kiss, a live action version of the popular comic from Nana creator Yazawa Ai. Another title aimed at the female demographic, the film revolves around the adventures and romances of a young high school girl in the fashion industry, played here by actress Kitagawa Keiko (Placing Me Back Together), herself a real life model. Directed by Shinjo Takehiko, who also adapted the manga I Give My First Love to You and with a script from Bando Kenji (Midnight Sun), the film also stars upcoming talent Mukai Osamu (Hanamizuki), with support from Kaku Kento (Shuffle), Igarashi Shunji (Rookies) and Osama Aya (A Liar and a Broken Girl). Kitagawa Keiko stars as Yukari... [read more]

: Let's Go (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Pat Ha (Actor) | Gordon Lam (Actor) | Juno Mak (Actor) | Stephy Tang (Actor)
Let's Go! Where? To see the new Wong Ching-Po movie! Stop the presses, because Wong Ching-Po, the director behind overrated triad thriller Jiang Hu, overwrought exploitation flick Revenge a Love Story and simply awful gang drama Ah Sou has made a good film. At least Let's Go! is entertaining and better than Wong's most recent efforts, and uses his pretentious filmmaking style in an unexpectedly funny and subversive way. Wong Ching-Po is a decidedly serious director and Let's Go! is a categorically silly movie. Combine those two logically opposed factors and the resulting product is a strange and also fun flick that simultaneously reveres and sends up the tokusatsu (live-action Japanese... [read more]

: The 33D Invader (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Yoshizawa Akiho (Actor) | Katou Taka (Actor) | Law Ka Ying (Actor) | Leung Chuk Mun (Actor)
Category III comedy The 33D Invader arrives on the heels of 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy, but possesses none of the tech gimmickry or cultural tourism that made 3D S&Z an international talking point. Originally billed as a 3D film, the 2D 33D Invader possesses few innovations besides being the first Category III sex film to follow 3D Sex and Zen and its massive grosses. Also of note: the casting of popular Japanese AV actress Akiho Yoshizawa, who’s known to some as "AV Stephy" for her passing resemblance to Stephy Tang. 33D Invader won't be a cult sensation because it possesses few factors worth hyping, and yet there’s stuff here besides nudity and cheap laughs. Director Cash Chin... [read more]

: Legendary Amazons (2011) (DVD) (Hong kong Version) Richie Jen (Actor) | Cecilia Cheung (Actor) | Kathy Chow (Actor) | Liu Xiaoqing (Actor)
Cecilia Cheung's comeback continues with Legendary Amazons, a Chinese period epic which also marks the return of Frankie Chan (Warrior's Tragedy), being his first outing as director in over ten years. Drawing upon the same source material as Cheng Gang's 1972 Shaw Brothers hit The 14 Amazons, the film is another charting the deeds of the heroic and patriotic Yang clan as they fight to defend the land against barbarian invaders, led by their courageous warrior women. With Jackie Chan onboard as producer, the film sees Cheung joined by a host of other top female performers, including Shaw action legend Cheng Pei Pei (star of many classics including The Lady Hermit and Lady of Steel), Mainland... [read more]

: Sleepwalker (2011) (DVD) (2D) (Hong Kong Version) Angelica Lee (Actor) | Charlie Yeung (Actor) | Huo Si Yan (Actor) | Kent Cheng (Actor)
Sleepwalker is the latest solo effort from Oxide Pang, one half of the twin brother directorial duo still best known for their hit 2002 ghost story The Eye. The film sees him reteaming with that film's leading lady, his wife Angelica Lee, this time in a plot dealing with kidnapped children and the always creepy subject of sleepwalking. The film also stars Charlie Young, working for the director again after the ill-advised Bangkok Dangerous remake in 2008, along with Huo Siyan (My Name is Fame) and Li Zonghan (Reign of Assassins), plus Hong Kong character actor favourite Kent Cheng (who memorably starred in a long string of 1980s and 90s classics such as Gun and Kill, Mr Lamb, Sex and Zen and... [read more]

: Treasure Hunt (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Cecilia Cheung (Actor) | Lucas Tse (Actor) | Ekin Cheng (Actor) | Ronald Cheng (Actor)
Wong Jing returns with something a little more family friendly than his usual bawdy fare in Treasure Hunt an adventure comedy which he wrote, produced, starred in and co-directed with Keung Kwok Man (Bullet and Brain). The film drummed up a fair bit of interest as a result of starring actress Cecilia Cheung, continuing her comeback after an absence of six years despite some well-publicised off screen family woes, and even pulling in her real life young son Lucas Tse for a cameo. Comedian Ronald Cheng shares top billing, with support from Wong Jing, Liu Hua (The Butcher The Chef and The Swordsman) and Shao Bing (The Lost Bladesman), with Ekin Cheng making a brief cameo appearance. The skimpy... [read more]

: Starry Starry Night (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Rene Liu (Actor) | Xu Jiao (Actor) | Harlem Yu (Actor) | Kenneth Tsang
Starry Starry Night is the third of artist Jimmy Liao's works to get the big-screen treatment, and the third time may be the charm. Not that the previous two film adaptations, Sound of Colors and Turn Left, Turn Right are bad movies; both are likable and entertaining, but each used overly-manufactured sitcom devices to flesh out Liao’s picture books into full-length features. The films had felt emotion but also annoying details or a sometimes ill-fitting irony. Starry Starry Night takes Liao seriously, using fantasy and imagination to approach the darker corners of his work, ultimately showing adolescence as painful and also precious. Director Tom Lin (Winds of September - The Taiwan... [read more]

: Love In Space (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Aaron Kwok (Actor) | Rene Liu (Actor) | Eason Chan (Actor) | Xu Fan (Actor)
As can be guessed from its title, Love in Space is a romantic comedy, which sees directors Tony Chan and Wing Shya following up their surprise 2010 hit Hot Summer Days with more of the same. Boasting Fruit Chan back on board as producer and a glossy budget courtesy of Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox, the film is headlined by a trio of top female stars in Rene Liu (Run Papa Run), Guey Lun Mei (Taipei Exchanges) and Angelababy (Hot Summer Days), with high profile male support from Eason Chan (Lover's Discourse), Aaron Kwok (Love For Life) and Jing Boran (Hot Summer Days). The film follows the amusing romantic adventures and misadventures of the three Huang sisters and their mother in a... [read more]

: Sector 7 (DVD) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Ha Ji Won (Actor) | Ahn Sung Ki (Actor) | Oh Ji Ho (Actor) | Park Cheol Min (Actor)
Sector 7 is a big budget Korean monster film, charting the struggle between the crew of an offshore oilrig and a man-eating horror from the deep. Shot in 3D, the film was directed by Kim Ji Hoon, whose last outing was the considerably more sombre Gwangju massacre picture May 18 and was produced by Haeundae helmer Yoon Je Kyun. Unusually for a genre outing, the film has a particularly strong cast, headed up by Ha Ji Won (Secret Garden) as the roughneck heroine, with support from award winning veteran Ahn Sung Ki, popular TV star Oh Ji Ho (Chuno), Cha Ye Ryun (Little Black Dress), Song Sae Byuk (The Servant), Park Cheol Min (Cyrano Agency), Lee Han Wi (Officer of the Year), and Park Jung Hak... [read more]

: Ladda Land (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) Sophon Sakdaphisit (Director)
The recent popularity of Thai horror continues with Ladda Land, directed by Sophon Sakdaphisit, who also helmed the entertaining genre flick Coming Soon, as well as scripting Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom's superb Shutter and Alone, and working on the hit 4bia anthologies. Drawing upon an urban legend, the film relocates from the usual Bangkok setting to Chiang Mai, revolving around supernatural occurrences in a new upmarket housing estate and attempting to balance its ghosts with financial and domestic terrors. The film follows Saharat Sangkapreecha (The Legend of Suriyothai) as Thee, a marketing manager who leaves Bangkok to take a higher paying job in a new Chiang Mai area... [read more]

: 1911 (2011) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) Jackie Chan (Actor, Director) | Li Bing Bing (Actor) | Winston Chao (Actor) | Jaycee Chan (Actor)
1911 is a milestone film in two very important ways, marking the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution and the 100th outing for the legendary Jackie Chan, his first as director since Who Am I? back in 1998. Charting one of the major turning points in the development of modern China, the film is another in the recent line of big budget patriotic epics, following in the footsteps of the hits Founding of the Republic and Beginning of the Great Revival showing the same kind of celebratory air and attention to historical detail. With Chan headlining in a dramatic role, the film also packs in an impressive cast of popular Chinese stars, including Winston Chao (here playing Sun Yat Sen for the... [read more]

: Blind (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Kim Ha Neul (Actor) | Yoo Seung Ho (Actor) | Ahn Sang Hoon (Director)
Blind is a Korean thriller which takes on the classic suspense theme of pitting a blind heroine against a killer, directed by Ahn Sang Hoon (Arang). In this case, the woman in question is played by Kim Ha Neul, marking somewhat of a change of direction for the popular actress, mainly known for roles in romances and comedies such as My Girlfriend is an Agent, My Tutor Friend, Almost Love and others - a move which certainly paid off, with her winning Best Actress at the Daejong Film Awards, the film also taking home Best Screenplay for writer Choi Min Suk. With support from teen actor Yoo Seung Ho (4th Period Mystery), Yang Young Jo (Blades of Blood) and Jo Hee Bong (Moby Dick), the film... [read more]

Showing: 1-20 of 1,771 items Page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 89 Next

Quick Links

Browse

Narrow by

Browse More

About YesAsia.com

Bookmark & Share