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The Client (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
Jang Hyuk (Actor)
| Ha Jung Woo (Actor)
| Park Hee Soon (Actor)
| Sung Dong Il
The Prosecutor, The Defense Attorney, and The ClientThough The Client was pitched as a courtroom thriller, most of the action and excitement actually happen outside of the courtroom. The film revolves around a strange murder case in which the defendant (played by Jang Hyuk) has been accused of murdering his wife. The circumstantial evidence is strong and the river of blood left in the victim and defendant's apartment confirms foul play, but a body is yet to be found. Ha Jung Woo is the defense attorney who takes up his inscrutable client's cause, while Park Hee Soon is the driven prosecutor with his pride on the line. The stage appears to be set for a legal showdown between the rival lawyers but the courtroom bouts are relatively brief and by... [read more]
February 10, 2012 Picked By Sanwei See all this editor's picks
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Night Ghost (EP)
Evita Wong (Singer)
In Hong Kong, most radio DJs are actually more qualified to become musicians than many of the pop singers they interview because of their extensive knowledge of music. However, many DJ-turned-singers (like Softhard, I Love You Boyz, and even the band Wildchild) have focused more on the comedic aspect of their music, while more traditional vocalists like Chris Wong and Barry Yip failed to break through. Now comes Evita Wong, also known as Ekee. Previously a co-host of a show for young girls on Hong Kong's most popular youth-oriented station, Ekee took on a darker image in recent years, hosting her own nightly alternative rock show before moving to a late-night slot with Wrong Channel.... [read more]
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Kiseki (I Wish) (DVD) (Normal Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Maeda Koki
| Maeda Oshiro
| Otsuka Nene
| Odagiri Joe
I doubt there are many directors in the world that can accurately portray a child's world as well as Kore-eda Hirokazu. In both Nobody Knows and his latest film I Wish, Kore-eda takes an observer's point of view and paints two convincing, albeit very different, portraits of what today's kids care about and how they perceive their world. While Nobody Knows is a dark story of four neglected children in an indifferent society, I Wish, about two brothers hoping to reunite their broken family through a miracle, is a much gentler and optimistic creature. Starring popular comedian duo/real-life siblings Maeda Maeda and co-produced by Japan Railways to promote its new bullet train line, I Wish may... [read more]
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BEAST - 1st Concert Welcome To BEAST Airline (3DVD + Photobook) (Korea Version)
BEAST
The BEAST members look more like little boys playing dress up than pilots in the intro reel for their Welcome to BEAST Airline concert held on December 12, 2010, but it's all business once the show takes flight. The concert opens with the explosive dance hit Special, a personal favorite of mine because of its raspy rock vocal touches. BEAST has such a great repertoire of dance singles - Soom, Bad Girl, Mystery, Shock, Beautiful - the energy level pretty much stays sky high throughout the concert. What I find particularly special about BEAST among the many K-pop boy bands though is actually their equally strong repertoire of side tracks and slow numbers, which don't get plugged and performed... [read more]
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In Time With You (DVD) (End) (Taiwan Version)
Ariel Lin (Actor)
| Wilson Chen (Actor)
| King Shih Chieh
| Jerry Huang
Last year, a little movie called You are the Apple of My Eye turned into Taiwan's collective rose-tinted memory of first love, high school friendship, and coming of age in all its misgivings and blessings. On the small screen, a little drama called In Time with You also took audiences down a heartaching road of love and friendship, then and now, through the story of two longtime friends who are one step away from something more. Of course, In Time with You isn't a record-breaking phenomenon like Apple, but like Apple, the drama's characters started appearing in pop culture usage as representative of that universal someone. If Apple's Shen Chia Yi is the one you let get away, then In Time... [read more]
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East Meets West (2011) (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version)
Ekin Cheng (Actor)
| Eason Chan (Actor)
| Mini Yang Mi (Actor)
| William So (Actor)
Jeff Lau doesn't make smart movies, but he's one of the smartest comedy directors working today. Those who can see beyond the endless barrage of lowbrow gags in his films will actually see genuine thought and consideration going into how he tells his stories. This applies especially to East Meets West, easily Lau's best film since Chinese Odyssey 2002. It's true that East Meets West is not a film for everyone, especially those not used to Lau's frenetic storytelling and comedic style. For those not sure whether East Meets West is for them, use the first 20 minutes as a litmus test. If you can handle Lau's manic pacing, nonsensical pop culture-specific humor (Kenny Bee playing Kenny Bee?!),... [read more]
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When Heaven Burns (DVD) (End) (English Subtitled) (TVB Drama) (US Version)
Bowie Lam (Actor)
| Moses Chan (Actor)
| Charmaine Sheh (Actor)
| Maggie Shiu (Actor)
Who would've thought that TVB's most refreshing drama in years would be one that is simultaneously downbeat and nostalgic and disturbing and romantic? When TVB finally aired When Heaven Burns in late 2011 after putting it in the vault for two years, the suits probably had not expected the kind of impact it would make. While the series recorded one of the station's worst prime-time ratings, it also generated massive buzz from media pundits and an almost cult-like online following. In a sense, the dismal ratings seemed a natural result of the drama "betraying" the core television audience in Hong Kong, made up primarily of housewives who are believed to prefer something cut-and-dry, something... [read more]
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DELICIOUS (ALBUM+DVD) (First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
JUJU
I was skeptical when JUJU announced that she would be releasing a jazz standards cover album. I'm convinced that she's an enthusiastic fan of the genre (her music is largely influenced by the time she spent living in New York), but her R&B and ballad work thus far hadn't convinced me that she could pull off such a challenging musical style. However, Delicious immediately put my doubts to rest. Not only does the album (produced by frequent JUJU collaborator Matsuo Kiyoshi) feature a classy, elegant jazz sound that jazz fans will love; it also shows that JUJU is actually a fantastic jazz vocalist. JUJU first eases listeners into the album's style with Japanese-language pop-jazz track A Woman... [read more]
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Neco-Ban Cats In Your Life (Blu-ray) (2D + 3D) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Lily (Actor)
| Ibu Masato (Actor)
| Ken Arima (Director)
This movie has kittens in 3D: Need I say more? Neco-Ban Cats In Your Life is a short and quiet story about a grumpy old man, his sleepy granddaughter, and the many, many cats that show up in their country home. Ibu Masato frowns away as a proud, retired man with a bad back and a chip on his shoulder about his wife and daughter leaving him at home. He barely speaks out loud, but through narrative voiceover we hear his obsession with time, his grievances with being bored and alone, his concern for appearances, and his crabby curiosity about all the cats running amuck in the house. Through a small, ridiculous turn of events, he ends up stranded on his roof with no way down. The myriad helpless... [read more]
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Moby Dick (2011) (DVD) (2-Disc) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
Kim Min Hee (Actor)
| Hwang Jung Min (Actor)
| Jin Gu (Actor)
| Kim Sang Ho
As someone unfamiliar with contemporary South Korean history, I wonder why the fictional story of Moby Dick takes place all the way back in 1994. Does the conspiracy in the film reflect a current event so closely that the times needed to be change to protect the innocent, or is it simply twisting a similar event that happened around that time? This is especially important in attempting to understand the context of the story, especially since it is surprisingly relevant in the post-9/11 world. Like any conspiracy thriller, Moby Dick has its share of shadowy figures and deaths under unusual circumstances. However, the most important thing about such a procedural is having a group of... [read more]
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Shadowguard (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Simon Yam (Actor)
| Michael Biehn (Director, Actor)
| Phoenix Valen (Actor)
| Michael Wong (Actor)
For many fans of genre movies, Michael Biehn is a living legend. Having played a soldier traveling back in time to protect the future of humanity, and a space marine bravely battling nasty extra-terrestrial creatures, the man has rightfully been immortalized in the pantheon of the all-time greatest sci-fi action heroes. But this awesome actor's first outing as a star-writer-director filled my mind with equal shares of anticipation and trepidation, especially because he did it in a small, obscure Hong Kong action flick made on a minimal budget! Shadowguard, alternatively titled The Blood Bond, wasn't Mr. Biehn's first taste of Chinese filmmaking. He had previously starred in the 2005 Hong... [read more]
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City Hunter (2011) (DVD) (7-Disc) (English Subtitled) (End) (SBS TV Drama) (US Version)
Lee Min Ho (Actor)
| Park Min Young
| Kim Sang Joong
| Cheon Ho Jin
To make things clear right off the bat, the 2011 Korean drama City Hunter is based on the manga by Hojo Tsukasa, but it is not about a lecherous private detective with an underground agency. There is a crime-busting vigilante who signs off as "City Hunter", but his character does not have any obvious connection with the manga hero - although audiences may form conjectures of their own. For those expecting a City Hunter adaptation, the drama's departure from the manga will confound if not disappoint initially. Don't let it stop you from watching. Once you get past the fact that it's not the manga storyline but a different beast, the Korean take on City Hunter easily pulls you in with exciting... [read more]
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Sodagreen 2011 New Album (Hong Kong Preorder Version)
Sodagreen (Singer)
Sodagreen's latest album was officially released on November 11, but a good two months prior to that, they started revealing the album's songs online. By early November, preview or complete versions of every song on the album were available. This practice is, of course, good marketing to build interest and excitement with teasers. This is also the confidence of an artist that wants you to preview the whole album before release, and expects you to buy it because you like what you hear. Every song on the album is instantly recognizable as a Sodagreen creation, but if there's any song that best embodies the album, it's the titular track "What's the Trouble on Your Mind?" (Track 2). Backed by... [read more]
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Music Is Live 2011 903 id club Eason Chan x Miriam Yeung x Edmond Leung (2DVD + 2CD)
Eason Chan (Singer)
| Miriam Yeung (Singer)
| Edmond Leung (Singer)
One of the first Canto-pop CDs I bought was a five-track EP featuring Eason Chan, Miriam Yeung, and Edmond Leung. I had simply bought the mini-album because I was amused that it was released as a promotional tie-in with Coca-Cola. I didn't know at the time that the three pop stars were the top three artists of Capital Artists, nor did I know that Capital Artists would be closing down its operations several years later, sending the three on their separate ways until now. Leave it to Hong Kong's Commercial Radio to break record company barriers and bring the three stars together for the first time for the station's latest "Music is Live" concert. The concert series' trademark is building... [read more]
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Startling By Each Step (DVD) (End) (China Version)
Nicky Wu (Actor)
| Kevin Cheng (Actor)
| Cecilia Liu (Actor)
| Lee Kwok Lap (Director)
China produces a high number of period dramas every year, but only a select few bear the label of director Lee Kwok Lap and production company Tangren (Chinese Entertainment Shanghai, Ltd.). Over the past decade, Lee Kwok Lap and company have successfully adapted Jin Yong classics, heroic folk tales, and fantasy RPG for television, and along the way developed their own brand of fusion period productions that tap into a trendy, idol drama appeal. There's a high level of anticipation attached to every Tangren release, but their 2011 series Bu Bu Jing Xin was even more hyped than usual. The immense popularity of Tong Hua's original novel and the breakout success of the similarly themed Palace... [read more]
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Lan Kwai Fong (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Wang Zong Yao (Actor)
| Jason Chan (Actor)
| Chrissie Chau
| Lin Shiga (Actor)
Lan Kwai Fong takes place in a small area filled with nightclubs in Hong Kong. However, as someone who's been to Lan Kwai Fong, I can say that you don't really need to know what the area is like to understand or appreciate the film. The nightlife experience in Lan Kwai Fong shouldn't be much different from the nightlife in Tokyo, New York, or London. However, Hong Kong is also likely to be the only place whose filmmakers have deemed the subject interesting enough to devote an entire film to it. Even though that can be construed as being reflective on the shallowness of Hong Kong twenty-somethings (especially since the film is a hit at the Hong Kong box office), that doesn't mean... [read more]
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Kazoku ni Naro yo / fighting pose (SINGLE+Music Clip DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
Fukuyama Masaharu
A wedding is a joyous occasion, except for the enormous expense, the chaotic organizing, and the potentially not-so-pleasant meeting of family and friends. But for a woman, there's likely no better moment in her life than the moment when the future groom gets on his knee and pops the question. This may be especially true if that future groom looks like Fukuyama Masaharu. The handsome singer-songwriter has been melting hearts for over 20 years, and his latest single Kazoku ni Naro yo goes straight for all the hopeless, idealistic romantics of his fan base. Used for a series of commercials for a popular Japanese bridal magazine (which ironically stars the tumultuous married-but-separated... [read more]
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49 Days (DVD) (7-Disc) (English Subtitled) (End) (SBS TV Drama) (US Version)
Lee Yo Won (Actor)
| Jo Hyun Jae (Actor)
| Seo Ji Hye
| Jung Il Woo
Many Korean dramas aim to make you cry. Few earn the tears as well as 49 Days does. For one thing, much of the story actually revolves around collecting tears. Doll-like singer-turned-actress Nam Gyu Ri fares surprisingly well in the leading role of Ji Hyun, a privileged, happy-go-lucky bride-to-be who falls into a coma after an accident. A young grim reaper, or Scheduler (Jung Il Woo), shows up and offers Ji Hyun's detached soul a mission to save herself. She has 49 days to collect pure teardrops from three people (other than family members) who truly love her. During this time, she can borrow the body of the sullen, suicidal woman who caused her near death, Yi Kyung (Lee Yo Won), but she... [read more]
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The Fortune Buddies (2011) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Fiona Sit (Actor)
| Johnson Lee (Actor)
| Louis Yuen (Actor)
| Wong Cho Lam (Actor)
TVB struck gold in 2010 when it tailor-made for its top funnymen Louis Yuen, Wong Cho Lam, and Johnson Lee - nicknamed Fook, Luk, and Sau respectively after three Chinese folk deities - a comedic skit show called Fun with Liza and Gods. It scored huge ratings, and a viable new franchise was born. Soon the popular trio extended their reach beyond variety shows to TV drama, stage shows, and even a movie. Jointly produced by TVB and the revived Shaw Studio, and under the lead of producer/star Eric Tsang, The Fortune Buddies is in the same vein as the recent Chinese New Year ensemble comedies that sprang from this partnership, albeit to a slightly smaller scale. Like 72 Tenants of Prosperity and... [read more]
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The Things We Do For Love (2CD) (Hong Kong Version)
Joanna Wang (Singer)
Things We Do for Contractual ObligationJoanna Wang is a musician with dual personalities; while she plays the clean, introverted songstress of gentle pop ballads in the Taiwan music world, she becomes a cynical, eccentric, and sometimes rebellious art school student when she makes video blogs for her YouTube channel. Knowing her disdain for her Taiwanese pop singer persona, I wonder whether the title for her latest cover album - The Things We Do For Love - reflects her real reason for doing this album. Like her previous Taiwanese albums, Joanna produced the bilingual The Things We Do For Love with the help of her father, veteran music producer Bing Wang. And as she did in those past albums, Joanna gives an impeccable vocal... [read more]
October 14, 2011 Picked By Rockman See all this editor's picks
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United States - English
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