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Damo: The Undercover Lady Detective (MBC TV Series) (US Version - Limited Edition)
Ha Ji Won
| Lee Seo Jin
| Kim Min Joon
| Lee Moon Shik
Fusion period dramas are ratings gold in South Korea, but for the most part, it's a genre I've avoided. The combination of long, serious, and complicated really doesn't appeal to me after a long day's work. Though I am periodically tempted to see what the fuss is all about, the thought of investing myself in an 80-episode monster is just too tiring. Damo, however, comes in a nice digestible size - 14 episodes. If only all period dramas could be this length and this good. Damo packs a very meaty, wrenching, and constantly evolving story into its short length. Ha Ji Won stars as the titular Damo, Jang Chae Ok, an able, no-nonsense female detective who can swing her sword with the best of men.... [read more]
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Damo (DVD) (End) (English Subtitled) (MBC TV Drama Series) (US Version)
Ha Ji Won
| Lee Seo Jin
| Kim Min Joon
| Lee Jae Kyu
Fusion period dramas are ratings gold in South Korea, but for the most part, it's a genre I've avoided. The combination of long, serious, and complicated really doesn't appeal to me after a long day's work. Though I am periodically tempted to see what the fuss is all about, the thought of investing myself in an 80-episode monster is just too tiring. Damo, however, comes in a nice digestible size - 14 episodes. If only all period dramas could be this length and this good. Damo packs a very meaty, wrenching, and constantly evolving story into its short length. Ha Ji Won stars as the titular Damo, Jang Chae Ok, an able, no-nonsense female detective who can swing her sword with the best of men.... [read more]
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Rahtree: Flower of The Night aka : Buppah Rahtree (Hong Kong Version)
Sipparak Yuthlert (Director)
Comes with the horror and the laughsSometimes reminding me of the mix and match neighborhood in Kung Fu Hustle and sometimes of William Friedkin's 70s classic The Exorcist, Rahtree: Flower of The Night sums up as a horror movie I watched with a smile on my face. It all begins with a reflection by the main male lead, Ake (Krit Sripoomseth), who introduces the viewer to a mysterious girl called Rahtree (Laila Boonyasak). Ake attempts to win the interest of the girl, who is both an object of desire and a person veiled in secrecy because her good looks somehow don't match with her odd behavior. After he succeeds and wins her love, he reveals that his efforts to win her love are connected with a scam by a group of boys betting on... [read more]
November 16, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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Nagareboshi (Japan Version)
Nakashima Mika
Nakashima Mika made her debut with Stars eight years ago, and since then, whether coincidentally or otherwise, she has returned to the theme of stars in her music multiple times, including Will, Mienai Hoshi, and Orion. After last month's funky circus-inspired Candy Girl, Mika goes back to the ballad and to the stars for her newest single Nagareboshi ("Shooting Star"). Nagareboshi is the kind of soaring, emotional ballad that Mika has become known for, and this one has particularly sweet and melancholic lyrics about gazing at the same stars and wishing for love. The lyrics are simple yet touching, direct in sentiments: "Look up at the sky, hand in hand/I hope we see the same future." The... [read more]
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Life: Tears In Heaven (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Osawa Takao (Actor)
| Ito Misaki (Actor)
| Ishimaru Kenjiro
| Hakamada Yoshihiko
There's possibly nothing more terrible for me than watching a film about a romance overshadowed by a fatal illness, which makes my selection of Life: Tears in Heaven quite exceptional. The film tells the real-life story of Iijima Natsuki, from his sudden rise to the top as an international windsurfing champion to his demise at the hands of an invisible enemy he can't overcome. Osawa Takao portrays the ambitious windsurfer who competes with a true passion for the sport, moving from place to place with his lover Hiroko (Ito Misaki). Despite often being chased for outstanding rent, Hiroko is still convinced that Natsuki will become a top sportsman some day and supports him every step of the... [read more]
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The Way Home ....(Hong Kong Version)
Kim Eul Boon (Actor)
| Yoo Seung Ho (Actor)
Brings back some fond childhood memoriesNo doubt we all had our naughty moments when we were young, especially when things didn't go our way. Everyone has their own little story to tell about childhood, like female director Lee Jung Hyang's The Way Home. In The Way Home Yoo Seung Ho portrays Sang Woo, a small boy addicted to playing video games and eating junk food. His nightmare arrives in the form of a stay at his grandmother's (Kim Eul Boon) place far away from the heart of Seoul, where he was immersed in all the things he likes best. Told to behave while his single mother tries to find a job, Sang Woo isn't quite willing to oblige. Staying with his deaf and mute grandmother doesn't make things easier. Of course, he is just his... [read more]
November 3, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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The First 7th Night (DVD) (US 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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Kung Fu Chefs (DVD) (2-Disc Edition) (Hong Kong Version)
Sammo Hung (Actor)
| Vanness Wu (Actor)
| Cherrie Ying (Actor)
| Fan Siu Wong
After Kung Fu Fighter, it's understandable to want to run away screaming at the mere thought of another Ken Yip-directed Kung Fu-titled movie starring the tagteam of Vanness Wu, Fan Siu Wong, and those Kung Fu Hustle guys. I certainly went in expecting the worst, but Kung Fu Chefs turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. The film has way better production values than Kung Fu Fighter, and there's a feel-good, self-effacing wackiness to the whole thing that makes it hard to hate on. Plus, Sammo Hung is in it! As a kung fu-in-the-kitchen action movie, Kung Fu Chefs is as silly and chop-socky as the premise and production pedigree promise. Sammo Hung plays a master cook who gets kicked out of... [read more]
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Castaway On The Moon (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
Jung Jae Young (Actor)
| Jeong Ryeo Won (Actor)
| Lee Hae Joon (Director)
Seoul's Han River should be familiar to anyone who's watched The Host as the breeding waters for monster entertainment. But did you know there's also a nature preserve island smack in the middle of the river? That's where Mr. Kim (Jung Jae Young) ends up when he attempts to drown himself, and instead wakes up a castaway on the deserted island. The cityscape shines brightly from the opposite bank, but Kim - who can't swim - is preposterously stranded. Desperation and suicidal thoughts, however, give way to glee when he realizes that he's found his escape from all the debt, heartbreak, and worldly problems that drove him to seek death. Enjoying a newfound life of "perfect boredom", he lives by... [read more]
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Joseph Cheng Debut EP (Version A) (CD+Photo Album) (Preorder Version)
Joseph Cheng (Singer)
Joe Cheng has much room for improvement in the singing department, but he's got everything else down pat for the fans. The Taiwan TV idol's debut EP comes in two editions bundled with great preorder gifts that should make any fan happy. Version A comes with a cute photo album that a colleague of mine dubbed the "evil book of evilness" when I showed it to her to justify my purchase. This isn't one of those typical photo booklets that come with CDs, but an actual A5-sized hardcover photo album filled with adorkable pictures of Joe in Ishikawa, Japan. (There are a few fan-service pool photos in there.) Were the book a bit bigger, it could be sold separately. I've also just retired my Won Bin... [read more]
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COLORS - Melody and Harmony / Shelter (Japan Version)
JEJUNG & YUCHUN (from Tohoshinki)
| Dong Bang Shin Ki (TVXQ)
Dong Bang Shin Ki's "Soulmate Couple" Jae Joong and Yoo Chun offer some hope and music in the midst of the controversy with their new J-pop single COLORS ~Melody and Harmony~. All five members of Dong Bang Shin Ki have tried their hands at songwriting, but Jae Joong and Yoo Chun are thus far the two more notable composers of the group, and they further confirm their talents with this very agreeable self-composed release. Composed by Jae Joong and Yoo Chun, COLORS ~Melody and Harmony~ ranks among the higher echelon of Dong Bang Shin Ki ballads. The title very much reflects the song, which has an almost lulling quality to its easy-going melody, light beats, and gentle harmonization. COLORS... [read more]
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Princess Mononoke (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Miyazaki Hayao (Producer)
Honestly, I have already lost count of how many times Miyazaki Hayao has amazed me with his incredible creativity. Following in the tradition of Miyazaki's other features, Princess Mononoke is filled with all the essential ingredients you could expect in an animation of this scope including valiant heroes, man's ongoing struggle with nature, and bizarre and fantastic characters. The tale takes place in an ancient time when the forests are protected by animals with god-like strength. Caught in the middle of the fight between the forest's guardian animals and a tribe trying to conquer the forest are San and Prince Ashitaka. The former is a girl raised by a wolf deity who does everything to... [read more]
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Over The Rainbow Vol.4 (CD+DVD)
at17 (Singer)
Hong Kong duo at17's Over the Rainbow series comes to an impressive conclusion with their fourth and final Vol. 4 blue EP. The EP's main plug "Nothing To My Name But Love" (Track 1) is the kind of feel-good guitar pop number that the duo excels at, sending out a bright and wistful message in harmonized voices. Wyman Wong's mellow, earthy lyrics about being poor in money, but rich in love and music are clearly personalized for the girls, and reflect the tone of not only this EP but the whole album series. The harmonica accompaniment, ear-pleasing harmonization, and catchy composition make for a bright, fresh, and eminently likable song. The next track, smoky lounge-inspired Mandarin number... [read more]
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Departures (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Hirosue Ryoko (Actor)
| Motoki Masahiro (Actor)
| Hisaishi Joe
| Yoshiyuki Kazuko
An unusual rendezvous with the deadEven though Departures revolves around a topic people normally avoid touching upon, this endearing and at times sentimental film kept me in a viewing mood. Departures essentially talks about Kobayashi Daigo who just got used to his position as a professional cellist when his conductor breaks the news that the orchestra he plays in is dissolved. Unable to entertain the cost for the apartment he shares with his wife in Tokyo, Daigo is forced to move back to the countryside home left behind by his deceased mother. The turning point arrives when he comes across a newspaper job advertisement concerning "departures", which he misinterprets as being linked to the tourism industry due to a printing... [read more]
September 30, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong (DVD+AVCD Edition) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Anthony Wong
| Sandra Ng
| the pancakes
| Brian Tse (Director, Producer)
If I had to pick one movie character that most embodied Hong Kong, it would have to be McDull. On the outset, McDull seems an unlikely candidate. Hong Kong is fast, smart, trendy, materialistic, on the ball. McDull is slow, naive, emotional, and not very bright. Also, he's an animated kindergarten pig. And yet, one would be hard-pressed to name another figure that captures the local culture, sentiments, landscape, language, and lifestyle of Hong Kong as well as McDull does. The neverending urban redevelopment, the cycle of newfangled trends, the flurry of accents and colloquialisms, the obsession with success, and, yes, even the potty humor in McDull's world are all quintessentially Hong... [read more]
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Breathless (DVD) (2-Disc) (Korea Version)
Kim Kkot Bi (Actor)
| Yang Ik Joon (Director, Actor)
Breathless might not leave you breathless, but it's bound to leave an impression. Yang Ik June's remarkable debut film about broken men and broken families provides a brutally honest look into the conditions and consequences of household violence. Many punches are thrown in Breathless, many of them by the story's uncontrollable (anti)hero, but it's no more violence than can be found in other films. There is, however, no thrill or excitement in Breathless's fierce beatings and casual cuffs, but rather an overwhelming sense of discomfort about how realistic and prevalent the film's flawed people and harrowing circumstances are. This unsettling realism at times makes the film hard to look at,... [read more]
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Police Story (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version)
Jackie Chan (Director, Actor)
| Maggie Cheung Man Yuk (Actor)
| Brigitte Lin (Actor)
| Leonard Ho (Producer)
Jackie Chan stars, directs, and even sings the theme song "Story of a Hero" for the full-throttle action extravaganza Police Story, which also doesn't fall short on humor-injected scenes. Chan plays Chan Ka Kui, a passionate police officer who, in spite of his indulgent lifestyle, is always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that law and order are maintained. Chan soon turns into a thorn in the side of drug trafficking mastermind Chu (Chor Yuen) who vows to get rid of the ambitious cop for good. With swift pace and action to match, Police Story presents itself as an exemplary genre work, starting with the opening chase scene that sees Jackie dangling at the side of a double-decker bus... [read more]
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Happy Flight (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Tanabe Seiichi (Actor)
| Ayase Haruka (Actor)
| Fukiishi Kazue
| Tokito Saburo
In today's fast-moving world, planes are the main means of taking people to distant travelling destinations. Yaguchi Shinobu makes a special film dedicated to the airliner in Happy Flight. The movie brings the whole airport industry alive in a charming way, with Ayase Haruka and Tanabe Seiichi caught in the middle as a stewardess and a co-pilot on their maiden flights. It was an absolute delight for me to observe the film's flight attendant group, including Mari (Fukiishi Kazue) who gets a kick out of having foot massages while devouring a meal during an excessively short on-flight break. I also found Terajima Shinobu as chief stewardess Yamazaki, who has the reputation of being a dragon but... [read more]
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Kim Tae Woo - T-Virus
Kim Tae Woo (g.o.d)
In the midst of the girl group dance pop craze, some of K-pop's best idol ballad singers are making comebacks this month, including Tei, Park Hyo Shin, Lee Seung Gi, and Kim Tae Woo who completed his army service earlier this year. Kim Tae Woo's new solo album T-Virus picks up where he left off with the intro track "Words I Want to Say Part 2" (Track 1), the follow-up to his 2006 hit. This short and sweet R&B ballad sounds nothing like its predecessor though, leaving behind balladic dramatics for free-style tempo, self-referential lyrics, and... auto-tune. I actually groaned out loud when I realized the auto-tune abyss had claimed another K-pop singer, but its presence is limited and does... [read more]
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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 actionThai 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]
September 2, 2009 Picked By A-Xiang Joe See all this editor's picks
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United States - English
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