Movies
Featured Cinema Articles, Interviews and Reviews
Check Out Some of the Reviews Posted on My Blog
Red Cliff
It's been so long since he was truly relevant to me, I almost forgot how much I used to like John Woo's work. While I was always particular to Ringo Lam's substance versus Woo's style during the height of the heng dai era, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a fool for films like The Killer, Hard Boiled and A Better Tomorrow. I greedily devoured those classics (as well as everything else Woo did that I could get my hands on,) so it's with no small measure of joy that I report that John Woo has once again made a good film. After a mildly nauseating decade and a half parodying himself for Hollywood dollars, Woo has delivered Red Cliff, an engaging, sprawling epic, full of stunning visuals (including some grand special effects) and, not surprisingly, killer action pieces.
Ip Man
Simply, Ip Man is a great pure martial arts movie. Everything that's right about the genre is present here and, for my money, that makes this one a keeper.
Directed by Wilson Yip (SPL) and starring Donnie Yen, one of the greatest screen fighters of all time, The film tells the story of the Wing Chun master (and teacher to Bruce Lee) and does so in a wildly appealing style.
War
War This should have been the greatest movie ever made.
Okay, that's an exaggeration (when have I ever done that?,) but it really should have been at least 75% more fun.
With a set-up this preposterous (Yakuza! Ninjas! Triads! FBI! Back Alley Plastic Surgey!), one of the best screen fighters of all time and one solid screen fighting brit, it should have played like the best of 1980s Hong Kong action- a nonsensical plot buoyed by end to end violence (of the gun and martial arts varieties), stunts and car chases (preferably of the Rémy Julienne style.)
Forbidden Kingdom
Speaking directly to the makers of this film, and quoting Yngwie Malmsteen in the process, I say, "you've released the fucking fury."
Why? Well, as far as I can tell nearly fifteen years of my life, countless hours of watching films and probably 100,000 words on the subject were kicked square in the nuts when I finally sat down to watch The Forbidden Kingdom.
Seriously, it ought to be illegal that a film featuring two of the best screen fighters of all time should turn out to be this bad.
Read More Blog Reviews
Iron Monkey, a review and discussion with Donnie Yen
I've been saying this for years and I have no qualms about saying it now, Iron Monkey is one of the best martial arts movies ever made. As a bonus, the version being released here in the States doesn't have me reaching for my revolver. Seriously. Buoyed by the success of Sony's Chinese language Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Miramax has gone and done what would have been unthinkable a couple of years ago- release Yuen Wo-Ping's 1993 classic basically uncut and in the original Cantonese language. Sure, with new subtitles, a new soundtrack and new sound effects it's not exactly the original version; but it's a lot closer than I ever expected to see from one of these Hollywood re-releases. Besides, since I like the new soundtrack, subtitles and sound effects, I'm actually happy with the changes. In all honesty, if they hadn't left out Wong Fei-Hung's theme, I would have no complaints at all with their handling of the film.
Will wonders never cease?
Requiem for a Dream, a review and discussion with director Darren Aronofsky
Requiem for a Dream, the second feature from director Darren Aronofsky, provides a rare synthesis of cinematic experimentation and emotionally compelling storytelling. It's a brilliant effort. Taking the potential glimpsed in the low- budget, high energy Pi, and marrying it to Selby's powerful tale of love, dreams and addiction, Requiem for a Dream provides a jolting, heartfelt journey into the depths of the human experience.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
I'm biased (which I'll get into), but this is probably my favorite film of the year.
Ang Lee, the director responsible for films like The Ice Storm and Eat Drink Man Woman, here delivers a fascinating exploration of the traditional Chinese Wuxia Pian (film of martial chivalry.) With a blend of traditional elements and a modern attention to craft and character this film plays like a weird hybrid between the worlds of King Hu , Tsui Hark and Lee's own efforts. With an overalltone straight out of Hu's Dragon Gate Inn or Come Drink With Me, wild bursts of outrageous, fantastic action a' la Tsui's Once Upon a Time in China or Zu, Warrior from the Magic Mountain and Lee's own masterful appreciation of humanity. Crouching Tiger. represents a unique and welcomed achievement in genre cinema- a film that should satisfy both the genre fan and (because of its Academy blessed pedigree) the casual moviegoer. ;
More favorites
District B13 review- Another new review. I'm on a roll. 2006 is ending in style.
My first review in several years- One Nite in Mongkok
A Review of The Tuxedo and an interview with the great Jackie Chan.
In The Mood For Love: If you had to choose one filmmaker working in Hong Kong today that has the requisite critical stroke to win the Academy Award® for best foreign film, Wong Kar-Wai would be the guy. Read More>>
Malena review and Guiseppe Tornatore interview
Bamboozled review and Spike Lee Interview: I spoke to Lee about this film and the review features some of his comments. Pretty cool.
Swordmasters of Hong Kong: Reviews of New Legend of Shaolin, Swordsman 2, Ashes of Time and Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain
Michelle Yeoh: Features reviews of Wing Chun, Holy Weapon, Butterfly and Sword and Heroic Trio
Turn Me Loose, an article I wrote about Hong Kong cinema for Boston's Weekly Dig. I was given free reign for a week so it's not a surprise what I came up with. The films covered are : Beast Cops, Thundering Mantis and The Blade.
City on Fire: The Hong Kong Films of Chow Yun-Fat Features a ton of capsule reviews: A Better Tomorrow I-III, City on Fire, Hard Boiled, God of Gamblers, God of Gamblers Return, Once a Thief, The Killer, Full Contact and Wild Search.
Netflix @ Home
Tomie: Revenge
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Shipped on 06/26/09.
Based on the Junji Ito horror comic about a vengeful girl who refuses to die, Tomie: Revenge begins when a young woman named Kazue (Hisako Shirata) accidentally runs over a naked girl on a mountain road. When Kazue stops to help, the girl disappears. A year later, Kazue is obsessed with finding the girl -- especially after an investigator tells her about the infamous "Tomie incidents" in which the dead Tomie inhabits other bodies."
Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5: Disc 2
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Shipped on 06/15/09.
This disc includes the following episodes: "Black Market," "Scar," "Sacrifice" and "The Captain's Hand.""
Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5: Disc 1
"Shipped on 05/22/09.
This disc includes the following episodes: "Pegasus: Extended Version," "Resurrection Ship (Part 1)," "Resurrection Ship (Part 2)" and "Epiphanies.""