Films Seen 2011
A list of films I've seen in 2011 in the order I liked them. I've excluded documentaries but TV movies, shorts and animations are all included.
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- DirectorJoko AnwarStarsFachry AlbarMarsha TimothyArio BayuThe life of a successful sculptor is turned upside down when he begins receiving mysterious messages from someone who asks for his help.A strange horror thriller where everything is not what it seems, one of the best films I've seen this year.
- DirectorKeiichi HaraStarsKumiko AsôChris AyresGreg AyresA sinful spirit is granted the opportunity to prove worthy for rebirth, inhabiting the body of a student who killed himself.An excellent anime film based on a novel; there's a live action film version as well. This one has great animation combining photographs within it and complex themes.
- DirectorBrillante MendozaStarsCoco MartinMaria Isabel LopezJulio DiazA young man tries to make some money so he can marry his girlfriend. He takes a job for $2,000 and then realizes that this job involves killing a woman.A dark and grim "horror" thriller - Mendoza once again shows his talent. This film seems to divide people but for someone looking for pure horror or the grimness of humanity, then this is for you. People looking for tacky monsters or masked killers spouting banal film references should look elsewhere.
- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsAlisa FreyndlikhAleksandr KaydanovskiyAnatoliy SolonitsynA guide leads two men through an area known as the Zone to find a room that grants wishes.A dreamlike and poetic alternate reality Sci-Fi film. No silly special FX or cgi; just existential musings and lovely visuals. Rightfully regarded as a masterpiece.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungSiu Chung MokHoi MangLo Tung and his friend Malted Candy, pedicab drivers working the streets of Macao, have both fallen in love. The problem is that both their objects of affection--one a baker, the other a prostitute--are working under cruel and lecherous bosses. Somehow, the pair must find a way to win the ladies' hearts and free them from their unpleasant jobs.Pedicab Driver - arguably Sammo Hung's best film.
- DirectorLawrence Gordon ClarkStarsPeter VaughanClive SwiftJulian HeringtonAn archaeologist goes treasure hunting along the English coast in search of a lost, fabled crown that supposedly helps protect Great Britain against invasion, but uncovers something much more sinister.Ghost story made for the BBC. Clive Dunn puts in an amazing performance. Genuinely spooky and haunting. Great stuff.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroJerry LewisDiahnne AbbottA passionate yet unsuccessful comedian stalks and kidnaps his idol to take the spotlight for himself.Scorcese does a black comedy and does it brilliantly. It's dated slightly but the variety of Scorcese's films are a testament to his talent.
- DirectorMark HermanStarsAsa ButterfieldDavid ThewlisRupert FriendThrough the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a German concentration camp, a forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.A great film I'm sure a lot of people will only watch it once.
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsCate BlanchettMatt DamonLiam NeesonA five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become a human after falling in love with him.Another quality film from Studio Ghibli. One of their best from the noughties. The quality of animation and non-patronising nature will appeal to adults while being colourful and fun enough for kids.
- DirectorShekhar KapurStarsSeema BiswasNirmal PandeyRajesh VivekThe story of the bandit queen Phoolan Devi who was sent to prison in 1983 and got free in 1994.A classic of contemporary Indian cinema. This isn't a Bollywood film with loads of song and dance numbers, it's powerful filmmaking.
- DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsLee EolKwak Ji-minHan Yeo-reumJae-Young is an amateur prostitute who sleeps with men while her best friend Yeo-Jin "manages" her, fixing dates, taking care of the money and making sure the coast is clear. When Jae-Young falls in love with one of those man she suppresses her feelings towards him in respect of her friend who's jealous.A dark and complex drama from a great director.
- DirectorPhilippe ClaudelStarsKristin Scott ThomasElsa ZylbersteinSerge HazanaviciusA woman struggles to interact with her family and find her place in society after spending fifteen years in prison.An emotionally intense drama, good acting all round and a film which doesn't oversimplify complex themes.
- DirectorBryan ForbesStarsAlan BatesBernard LeeHayley MillsWhen an injured wife murderer takes refuge on a remote Lancashire farm, the owner's three children mistakenly believe him to be the Second Coming of Christ.British drama about a murderer who hides in a barn only to get mistaken for Jesus by a group of schoolchildren. Quite charming in places, tense and gripping in others.
- DirectorGakuryû IshiiYukihiro SawadaStarsShigeru YamamotoAtsuko AsanoMiyoko AkazaA high school student rallies his classmates into rebelling violently when the administration refuses to take responsibility for the suicide of one of the students.Panic in High School - an intense Japanese thriller with great direction.
- DirectorRobert AldrichStarsBette DavisJoan CrawfordVictor BuonoA former child star torments her paraplegic sister in their decaying Hollywood mansion.A camp classic. Many years ahead of its time and massively influential since.
- DirectorStuart OrmeStarsMartin ClunesVictoria HamiltonConleth HillIn the later years of the nineteenth century Latin master Mr. Chipping is the mainstay of Brookfields boys boarding school, a good teacher and a kindly person but he is considered to be married to the job so that it is a surprise when, on a walking holiday, he meets and marries the vivacious Kathie, who becomes his helpmate at the school but sadly pre-deceases him. Just before World War One insensitive new headmaster Ralston tries to edge Chipping out but the boys rally and Sir John Rivers, an old pupil of Chipping's and now head of the board of governors, invites him to stay and, when the war breaks out and Ralston joins up, Chipping becomes the new head. He is saddened by the waste of young lives in the pointless war and also by the death of his old friend and former German teacher Max, who had returned to his homeland to fight for Germany and he reminds the assembled boys that an individual's goodness is more important than their nationality. It is a sad day for all concerned when Chipping himself passes away.Great version of the much adapted story with a brilliant performance from Clunes.
- DirectorBrillante MendozaStarsAnita LindaRustica CarpioTanya GomezTwo elderly women bear the consequences of a crime involving their respective grandsons. One is the victim, the other is the suspect. Both weak and poor, they laboriously solicit money in the midst of a storm, one for the victim's burial, the other for the suspect's bail bond.Another top film from Brillante Mendoza - Successfully blends everyday life with a crime and courtroom element.
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsAnjelica HustonJohn CusackAnnette BeningA small-time conman has torn loyalties between his estranged mother and new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.John Cussack on top form in this neo-noir type film.
- DirectorJonathan MillerStarsMichael HordernAmbrose CoghillGeorge WoodbridgeClassic BBC adaptation of an equally classic ghost story about a skeptical professor on vacation in Norfolk who finds a cursed whistle. Unlike most other episodes of this documentary series about music, this one is live action folk horror.Another BBC ghost story - this one is also spooky considering its age. I preferred 'A Warning to the Curious'; some prefer this out of the two.
- DirectorVera ChytilováStarsBolek PolívkaMiroslav DonutilAnna PantuckovaA hillbilly inherits millions and goes to the city, leaving his village to live a rich man's life in post-communist Czechia.A genuinely funny comedy from the Czech Republic.
- DirectorPeter FilardiStarsVincent KartheiserChad ChristSabine SinghBased on the true story of drugs, satanism, and murder in the upper class town of Northport, Long Island in 1984.There's been many adaptations of the 'Ricky' story. This is probably the best interpretation.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsMargot KidderJennifer SaltCharles DurningA small-time reporter tries to convince the police she saw a murder in the apartment across from hers.A tense thriller in the Hitchcock tradition (mainly Rear Window) but it does it better than most imitators.
- DirectorClaire DenisStarsIsaach De BankoléAlex DescasSolveig DommartinDah and Jocelyn come from Benin, Africa, to coach their rooster, "S'en fout la mort", for an illicit cock-fight in the basement of a restaurant.No Fear, No Die - French drama about cockfighting trainers trying to make it big. Arguably a masterpiece.
- DirectorRichard FleischerStarsTony CurtisHenry FondaGeorge KennedyA series of brutal murders in Boston sparks a seemingly endless and increasingly complex manhunt.A cold and clinical serial killer study with a convincing performance from Tony Curtis.
- DirectorDanny LeeHerman YauStarsAnthony Chau-Sang WongDanny LeeEmily KwanMacau cops begin to suspect a man running a pork buns restaurant of murder, after tracing the origin of a case full of chopped up human remains that washed ashore, which leads them to him.Bunman the untold story - A cult classic. Brutal and unrelenting let down sligtly by some goofy knockabout comedy. A great performance from Anthony Wong.
- DirectorYoshihiko MatsuiStarsToshihiko HinoSimon KumaiYukiko MurataIn the slums of Osaka, various marginalized misfits have their own interpretations of love. Completely alienated from the outside world, they commit sexual perversions, violence and cannibalism.A dark and bleak Japanese film. It's style over substance but it's an art film in the strictest sense.
- DirectorHans Petter MolandStarsStellan SkarsgårdGard B. EidsvoldBjørn SundquistA young writer whose proposal was recently rejected goes to Greenland to spend a year at an outpost for hunting and trapping animals for furs. At the outpost he meets two men who are none too keen to spend the winter with the newcomer.A cold (in more ways than one) drama featuring great acting and photography. Arguably a masterpiece.
- DirectorCharles BurnettStarsDanny GloverPaul ButlerDeVaughn NixonA charismatic old acquaintance drifts into town, stirring up trouble for a mild-mannered family.An intelligent domestic drama incorporating an element of folklore. Very good.
- DirectorToshiaki ToyodaStarsYoshio HaradaRyûhei MatsudaMichio AkiyamaNine convicts escape from prison; most are convicted murderers. They commandeer a van from a strip club.A sort of crime thriller with black comedy elements. Very good but at 2 hours maybe a bit too long.
- DirectorStephen FrearsStarsSaeed JaffreyRoshan SethDaniel Day-LewisAn ambitious Pakistani Briton and his white boyfriend strive for success and hope when they open a glamorous laundromat.It may have dated badly but it is still an important British film.
- DirectorYoung-seok NohStarsSong Sam-dongSang-yeop YukKang-hee KimHyuk-Jin has just broken up with his girlfriend and decides to take a trip to Jeongseon in the province of Gangwon-do. The next day, his friends are too hung over to get up, so Hyuk-Jin makes his way to his destination alone. A trip of opportunity takes a cruel and unexpected turn as misunderstanding and crossed paths occur over and over again.A bizarre road trip film about drinking with friends. Very good.
- DirectorYasuo InoueStarsShidô NakamuraShun OguriHirofumi AraiJûzô Murasaki is a boy miscast in his classroom, being frequently abused, tortured, beaten and humiliated by the bully Tôru Akai and his gang of juvenile punks. After years of repression, rejection and fear without facing Akai, he develops a psychopathic dual personality with a violent alter-ego. While living in the apartment 13 of a tenement building, he becomes unable to control his violent dark personality, who plots an evil revenge against his upper floor neighbor Akai and his family.A tense thriller. Careful pacing and good cinematography make this stand out from similar films.
- DirectorFruit ChanStarsSam LeeNeiky Hui-Chi YimWenders LiAutumn Moon (Sam Lee), a low-rent triad living in Hong Kong, struggles to find meaning in his hopelessly violent existence.A great début. Stylish and inventive.
- DirectorCoky GiedroycStarsKelly MacdonaldJames BolamHans MathesonA young Glaswegian prostitute in London tries to start a new life.Dark drama about prostitution. Kelly MacDonald is great as always, it's a shame this film isn't as widely seen as it should be.
- DirectorBrian De PalmaStarsCraig WassonMelanie GriffithGregg HenryA young actor's obsession with spying on a beautiful woman who lives nearby leads to a baffling series of events with drastic consequences.Another quality film from diPalama - spoofs many horror films, and Rear Window - this deconstructions films to the extent that Scream should have done.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsRyûhei MatsudaMasanobu AndôShunsuke KubozukaA visually stylish tale of two male prisoners bonded by emotion, love and murder.Takshi Miike on fine form with this prison drama.
- DirectorTeruo IshiiStarsEiko NakamuraBunta SugawaraSanae TsuchidaWith her first love that unfolded in the battlefield in her heart, and with a short sword and a pillbox as her weapons, female gambler Okatsu the Tiger Lily travels from gambling site to gambling site.Quality female Yakuza samurai film. I think only Lady Snowblood is better, out of the ones I've seen.
- DirectorHee-jung KimStarsLee Se-yeongChoo Sang-miChoi Moo-seong13-year-old Soo-ah lives with her widowed mother, who since her husband's death has been supporting them by running a diner and is always too busy for Soo-ah, who retreats into believing that a popular singer is her real mother; she watches the singer's music videos and daydreams about the star being her real mother. One day, Soo-ah decides to leave home and go to Seoul for the singer's concert, so she gets on the train with a friend and they land in Seoul. But Soo-ah has no money for concert tickets, so they wait at the back door until the show ends. Soo-ah hesitantly approaches the star--what will happen?A very good drama about Korean adolescents.
- DirectorSabuStarsShin'ichi TsutsumiKeisuke HoribeRen ÔsugiA postman is mistaken for a dangerous criminal by the police.The best Sabu film I've seen this year. It's about a postman who through mistaken identity gets involved with criminals.
- DirectorBuddy GiovinazzoStarsTim RothDeborah Kara UngerJames RussoA paroled murderer returns to the Staten Island home of his youth, where a poignant friendship blossoms with the restrained wife of his temperamental-- and jealous-- brother.Powerful and believable film with good scripting and acting.
- DirectorNacho VigalondoStarsKarra ElejaldeCandela FernándezBárbara GoenagaA man accidentally gets into a time machine and travels back in time nearly an hour. Finding himself will be the first of a series of disasters of unforeseeable consequences.A really strange but really good alternative reality film.
- DirectorKiyoshi KurosawaStarsKoji YakushoManami KonishiTsuyoshi IharaAn experienced police detective has to investigate the murder of an unknown woman dressed in a scarlet dress.A fairly disturbing but very good film about a troubled detective.
- DirectorHideo GoshaStarsRumi AikiHideyo AmamotoNoboru AndôAfter going to prison for killing the boss of the Kanno gang, a gangster gets released early - only to find that his ex-gang has merged with the Kannos. But with bitter resentments lingering on both sides, bloodshed is bound to begin anew.A Yakuza film - I found this a bit dissapointing. Good acting all round but not quite the definitive Yakuza film it is made out to be.
- DirectorYôichi HigashiStarsBunta SugawaraSatomi IshiharaTadanobu AsanoTamako is a 13-year-old girl in her first year at high school. Her grandfather (Kenzo) returns home from prison and proceeds to deal with her school bullies. As Tamako starts to gain respect for her grandfather the pair find themselves being summoned by the local Yakuza leader.A sort of unconventional drama. Focuses on a school girl's relationship with her ex-criminal grandfather. Very good.
- DirectorPatrick ScottStarsEric HickeyAlanna SwovelinHolly FletcherCondoning bestiallity by using comparable visual stimuli for the desired effect of empathy. So it would seem.Really good short film, despite the subject matter manages to be quite charming with it.
- DirectorKatsuhito IshiiStarsMaya BannoTakahiro SatôTadanobu AsanoA spell of time of a rural family's slightly surreal life.A quirky and crazy comedy drama. Recommended for its originality.
- DirectorFred DekkerStarsJason LivelyTom AtkinsSteve MarshallAlien brain parasites, entering humans through the mouth, turn their host into a killing zombie. Some teenagers start to fight against them.Comedy zombie films - we've all seen loads in recent years but this is one of the funnier ones, despite being over 20 years old. Better than 'Shaun of the Dead'.
- DirectorAleksandr KottStarsAleksey KopashovAndrey MerzlikinPavel DerevyankoA war drama set during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, in which Soviet troops held on to a border stronghold for nine days.A WW2 film set in Russia. This one focuses more on the human aspects than the action. Amazing visuals and sound.
- DirectorHa YooStarsKam Woo-seongUhm JunghwaPark Won-sangJun-young (Kam Woo-seong) is a man in his early thirties who has seen his friends and younger brother get married but has yet to open himself to a serious relationship. Rather he is happy floating through life with little direction or ambition. Yeon-hee (Eom Jeong-hwa) is girl approaching thirty who is desperate to find a suitable husband, but is looking for a match based on social and economic suitability rather than love. They meet on a blind date and quickly find that they are incompatible intellectually, but have an instant physical and emotional connection. Both are extremely practically minded, and as such decide to explore each other by starting a casual physical relationship, while she continues looking for more suitable husband and he avoids commitment.A romantic comedy but one which is done so well.
- DirectorGabriel RangeStarsWunmi MosakuIsaach De BankoléLubna AzabalA thriller set in London's slave trade and centered on a woman's fight for freedom.A bleak film about the real issue of modern day slavery. Recommended.
- DirectorChih-Hung KueiStarsKuan Tai ChenFeng KuJason Piao PaiRighteous constable Leng Tian-Ying has a fearsome reputation of killing criminals without remorse. But after being assigned to track a gang that robbed the imperial treasury, he comes to find that his reputation is being used against him.Killer Constable - very violent in places but one of the best Shaw Brother's films I've seen this year. This one relies on sword play rather than hand-to-hand combat.
- DirectorKensaku WatanabeStarsMasatoshi NagaseAoi MiyazakiHirofumi AraiA story about a hitman named Hayamada who carries a distinctive red gun and his reason for his work, and how he came to be alone. His aim right now is to reach a destination, but he's late. Along the way, having injured himself in a vehicular accident, he runs into Miyuki, who as also become alone due to tragic events within her family. As Hayamada collapses from his injuries Miyuki takes him to a hospital.An action/drama involving gun tales and gun philosophy - surprisingly enjoyable.
- DirectorHark TsuiStarsLieh LoChen-Chi LinAlbert AuThree lazybones friends manufacture a firebomb and place it in a cinema. Pearl, a sadistic young girl, has observed the scene, follows the bombers and starts to manipulate them. The four criminals plan more and more daring acts.Action thriller by Tsui Hark - surprisingly violent; Tsui Hark's direction is as good as ever but the film never really elevates itself in a way to rival John Woo's finest.
- DirectorPatrick TamStarsKenny BeeTony Leung Chiu-waiJoey WangTwo lovers are willing to do anything to reunite after criminals separate them.My Heart is the Eternal Rose - Stylish cinematography, good acting and not just loads of explosions but it brings nothing new to the table.
- DirectorGeorge CukorStarsSpencer TracyKatharine HepburnJudy HollidayDomestic and professional tensions mount when a husband and wife work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband.A classic romantic comedy. I can appreciate the film but like 'Bringing up Baby' this does nothing for me.
- DirectorJohn McNaughtonStarsAshley JuddLuke PerryBruce A. YoungChris is young idealistic cop who falls in love and gets married to Pam, a beautiful but emotionally unstable woman who suffers from alcoholism and drug addiction. While Chris is trying hard to have a normal life and some money, Pam is big spender and their marriage is constantly troublesome with the financial situation getting worse and worse. The biggest blow comes after Chris loses his job. In the desperate situation Chris decides to use his police skills to rob banks.The budget may be low but this is high on drama on and feeling. Does what Natural Born Killers does but in a less cartoonish way.
- DirectorAnthony FabianStarsSophie OkonedoSam NeillAlice KrigeBased on the true story of a black girl who was born to two white Afrikaner parents in South Africa during the apartheid era.Really good biopic movie.
- DirectorDavid MooreStarsJulian WadhamAlex PettyferStephen FryDrama about life at Rugby School in Victorian England. The headmaster is fair but not effective and life is brutal for the young boys because of bullying and its consequences. The acting and character development are good and the roles well cast. It's a good adaptation of the novel and was filmed at The Rugby School.A really good adaptation of the classic novel with some great acting.
- DirectorSabuStarsShin'ichi TsutsumiYasuko MatsuyukiRen ÔsugiA simple funeral turns a man's world topsy turvy.A gangster based comedy from Sabu.
- DirectorEdward YangStarsCora MiaoLi-Chun LeeShih-Chieh KingA metaphysical mystery about the lives of three couples in Taipei that continually intersect over a span of several weeks.By acclaimed director Edward Yang. This is a film I would imagine gets better after each watch. I've only seen it once - I think if I saw it again I would score it higher.
- DirectorKôji ShiraishiStarsJin MurakiRio KannoTomono KugaA documentary filmmaker explores seemingly unrelated paranormal incidents connected by the legend of an ancient demon called the "kagutaba."Japanese horror. In the style of many others (Ring, Kairo etc) - this one is genuinely scary in places and has a sense of realism.
- DirectorLee Jeong-beomStarsSol Kyung-guJo Han-sunNa Moon-heeAlong with a partner, a small-time crook arrives at the hometown of his mentor's killer to seek revenge, but gets caught in a fix upon befriending the killer's mother.An action film blending soap opera elements - only in Hong Kong! This style has been imitated by many since.
- StarsMako HyôdôTetsuya KajiMîna TominagaDiving into the sea, Maymui is surprised to find a camera containing images of herself with a man she has never seen before. On top of this, the camera turns out to be a model not yet for sale.Two anime shorts based on the Sci-Fi series 'The Twilight Zone'. Amazing animation.
- DirectorMasato HaradaStarsHiromi GôMariko IshiharaChinA hardened gangster encounters by chance a woman he hasn't seen since childhood. They are both engulfed in the underground world of intergang warfare."Before The Killer there was Heartbreak Yakuza" This isn't as good as John Woo's best films but it is well worth watching. Reminds me of Kitano's films.
- DirectorRingo LamStarsFennie YuenRoy CheungDamian LauA young schoolgirl gets involved in the triads of Hong Kong after a classmate is killed in a fight.School on Fire - a bleak Triad film from Ringo Lam. Unlike many similar Hong Kong films this is anti-violence.
- DirectorYibai ZhangStarsLe GengYang ZhangLan KeA young man and a young woman have been in Beijing for seven years since they came here together to find their career. But life is pretty tough and their love is facing a crisis now.Nice photography and soundtrack in this romantic comedy. Recommended for fans of 'In the Mood for Love'.
- DirectorIan BarnesStarsSamuel HollandRory KinnearKieran HardcastleTells the story of a young man desperate to come of age before time runs out.One of the better short films I've seen. A young ill man tries to fulfil his dying wish of having sex before he dies. Funny in places and quite touching without being emotionally manipulative or forced.
- DirectorHideo GoshaStarsTatsuya NakadaiIchirô NakataniHisashi IgawaFresh out of prison, a broken man reluctantly takes a job to kill three men, but changes his mind when some gangsters target the same men. He then tries to find out why the men are being targeted in the first place.Early Yakuza crime film. Really good.
- DirectorYu-Hsun ChenStarsAkio ChenYi-fan ChenHsiao-fan FanYoung boy, Ah-Jiang, a school failure and day dreamer witnesses the kidnapping of a child. After being taken hostage by a corrupt family, he begins an unusual adventure away from home.Tropical Fish - quirky comedy drama.
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsKuan Tai ChenFeng LuPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThree men who have been physically disabled by an evil warlord and his physically-disabled son become friends and learn kung fu so that they can seek revenge with help from an elderly martial-arts teacher and his mentally-disabled pupil.Shaw Brothers martial arts film. Great stunts and weird characters make this one stand out.
- DirectorTakashi IshiiStarsYui NatsukawaJinpachi NezuToshiyuki NagashimaNami, the widow of a disgraced narcotics officer seeks to clear his name by going undercover.Alone in the Night - another thriller from Takashi Ishii. This is very similar to A Night in Nude. I think this may be the better of the two.
- DirectorTakashi IshiiStarsNaoto TakenakaKimiko YoJinpachi NezuA private investigator takes on an odd job to retrieve a lost Rolex, only to find himself lured into a case filled with violence and sex by his mysterious employer.Thriller by Japanese director Takashi Ishii. This one is about a femme fatale who gets involved with the Yakuza. Very atmospheric and quite dark, it's also a very good Neo-Noir.
- DirectorMitsuo YanagimachiStarsYûji HonmaKeizô KanieHideko OkiyamaYanagimachi's first feature film is about a young man who makes a map of a neighborhood in which he delivers newspapers. He keeps a dossier on each family, recording their habits and rating how much he dislikes them.Drama about a teenager who terrorizes his neighbours. Self assured direction and acting feature here. The plot also seems original in its bleakness.
- DirectorJeong-il ChoiKi-bong DuPatrick LeungStarsChien-Lien WuChing Wan LauHan Jae-seokA mysterious and highly skilled hit-woman in Hong Kong is paid to assassinate top-level crime bosses.Beyond Hypothermia - This action film incorporates a romantic sub plot and features a female assassin.
- DirectorTakashi ShimizuStarsShin'ya TsukamotoTomomi MiyashitaKazuhiro NakaharaA fear-obsessed freelance cameraman (Shinya Tsukamoto) investigates an urban legend involving mysterious spirits that haunt the subways of Tokyo.Japanese horror - a bit like the ring, Tesis and the Hunger combined but still seems fresh.
- DirectorJean-Jacques AnnaudStarsSean ConneryChristian SlaterHelmut QualtingerAn intellectually nonconformist friar investigates a series of mysterious deaths in an isolated abbey.Good monk thriller. Sean Connery is as good as ever and some great set design.
- DirectorKazuo MoriStarsRaizô IchikawaMikio NaritaYumiko NogawaA former soldier, reduced to working at a restaurant post-war, becomes a contract killer for the yakuza gangs he's in contact with.A Certain Killer - Japanese hitman film. This one is really good.
- DirectorCheng-sheng LinStarsChang ChenAngelica LeeChen-Nan TsaiA cute coed leaves her mother's home and gets involved with a pastry chef who just finish his military service. The two rebelious youngsters deal with the harsh realities of life on the streets of Taipei by having links to the local criminal element.A Taiwanese drama about Betelnut girls - surprisingly good.
- DirectorSandy HarbuttStarsDeryck BarnesSandy HarbuttHugh Keays-ByrneAfter one of its members witnesses a political assassination, a motorbike gang becomes the target of a string of murders, prompting a cop to join their ranks to determine who is responsible.Ozploitation Biker film. Has every biker cliche in the book but is more entertaining and thought out than the American equivalents.
- DirectorFumihiko SoriStarsYôsuke KubozukaArata IuraSam LeeAs a child, the introverted Smile was being bullied by a gang of kids until the brash Peco came by and chased all of them away. Peco then takes Smile under his wing and teaches him how to play the game of ping pong. From there, a lifelong best friend relationship comes into existence between these two polar opposite kids. Fast forward a decade later, and Smile and Peco are now about to compete in a high-stakes regional ping pong tournament. While Peco has always wanted to be the best ping pong player in the world, he has never had the drive to fully devote himself to the game. Rather than finding him practicing in the high school gym, you would more often than not find Peco hustling other kids out of money at the local ping pong parlor. This is in contrast with Smile, who has the god-given talents to actually become the worlds best ping pong player but is too humble to destroy his opponents. More often than not, he allows his opponents to win points and even entire games out of sympathy for them. Now these two best friends try to deal with their own inner turmoils as they move further and further into the regional ping pong tournament. Peco has to overcome a knee injury while trying to rediscover the fun aspects of the game of Ping Pong. Meanwhile, Smile now seems to have gained the killer instinct by going through a rigorous training regiment instilled by his high school coach. As the tournament progresses, it becomes more likely that these two best friends will face off against each other in the final match.What 'Raging Bull' is to boxing, Ping Pong is to table tennis? Maybe, a crazy film, similar to the Stephen Chow comedies like 'Shaolin Soccer'.
- DirectorTommy O'HaverStarsSean HayesBrad RoweArmando Valdes-KennedyBilly is a gay fine-arts photographer who falls in love with straight coffee-shop waiter Gabriel.Romantic comedy paying homage to many studio melodramas. Very good.
- DirectorSabuStarsAkiyoShihô HarumiTaka HiguchiA robot with human intelligence escapes from a military testing unit and wreaks havoc in a shopping mall.Another Sabu film, this time a short one. It's about a humanoid robot. This one has Sabu's crazy trademark humour and a surreal nature.
- DirectorLou AdlerStarsPeter DonatDiane LaneMarin KanterThe media and disaffected teens mistake the acerbic rants of an obnoxious teenage punk rocker as a rallying cry for the women of America, launching her and her talentless group to national stardom.Drama about an aspiring "punk" band. Some interesting casting and good direction turn what could have been a rubbish film into a cult classic.
- DirectorRokuro MochizukiStarsEiji OkudaKazuki KitamuraTakami YoshimotoAkira's wife walks out on him, leaving him to confide in his gangster brother-in-law. Using only a cryptic note as a clue the two brothers go on a road trip to find his wife. After a series of violent encounters with strangers, Akira meets a prostitute. The pair start a relationship. After Akira finds his wife, he questions whether he still wants to be with her.A dark crime drama with some comic moments.
- DirectorEric KhooStarsTheresa Poh Lin ChanChiew Sung ChingLawrence Yong"Be with Me" consists of three stories of love vs. solitude : 1) An aging, lonesome shopkeeper doesn't believe in life anymore, ever since his wife died. But he is saved from desperation by reading an autobiographical book and meeting its author, a deaf and blind woman of his own age. 2) Fatty, a security guard in his fifties, lives for two things: good food and love for a pretty executive living in his block of flats. But, if it is easy to satisfy his first need, winning the heart of the distant belle is a horse of another color. 3) Two teenage schoolgirls get to know each other on the Internet. Soon they fall in love.A series of romantic vignettes not my thing at all but believable acting and unobtrusive sentiment made for a good film.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungTak-Hing KwanBiao YuenA hot headed young butcher, who is also a kung fu disciple, gets embroiled in a feud with a rival shaolin temple.The Magnificent Butcher - Not Sammo Hung's best film but the action, stunts and comedy are all solid in this one. Recommended.
- DirectorLung-Wei WangStarsSai-Tang ChanWah CheungKeung-Kuen LaiA man returning to his old neighborhood after a prison term finds that the friends he used to hang out with are now a violent street gang that is terrorizing the community.Angry Ranger - Divides people, some like it, some don't. This is a character driven martial arts action film. Impressive stunts and choreography make it worth watching.
- DirectorKô NakahiraStarsMariko KagaAkira NakaoYasukiyo UmenoYuka is a "good-time girl" from Yokohama who is persuaded by her papa to sleep with a foreign business executive so that he can close an important deal.Only on Mondays - another Japanese drama. This one is about a young working-class woman and her many relationships with sugar daddy characters. Very good.
- DirectorNorifumi SuzukiStarsHiroyuki SanadaShin'ichi ChibaEtsuko ShihomiJoji learns a dark secret from his dying father; he learns he has a twin brother and a sister. He travels to find his brother and finds he has been murdered in mysterious circumstances. While staying with his sister he overhears his Uncle's plans to find a 130CT diamond (named the Queen of Sheba) and soon learns he may be behind other sinister schemes.Roaring Fire - A seriously over-the-top action film. It's all been done before but not with as much absurdity.
- DirectorAna KokkinosStarsAlex DimitriadesElle MandalisDamien FotiouA 19 year old Greek Australian youth struggles with his sexual identity and has one clumsy heterosexual and several homosexual encounters.Not to be confused with Fatih Akin's excellent film with the same name. This is a gritty Australian drama about a young man dealing with different issues.
- DirectorAgnès JaouiStarsAgnès JaouiJean-Pierre BacriJamel DebbouzeAgnes Jaoui plays a local political candidate Agathe Villanova, who returns to her childhood home in the south of France in order to help her sister Florence (Pascale Arbillot) sort through their recently deceased mother's belongings. While she's there, the son (Jamel Debbouze as Karim) of family maid (Mimouna Hadji) takes advantage of her presence and attempts to interview her as part of a documentary about successful women that he's undertaken with his film school teacher, Michel (co-writer Jean-Pierre Bacri). However, Michel's intentions aren't quite what they seem, as he's having an affair with Florence and hoping to persuade her to leave her husband. Meanwhile, Karim finds his own marriage threatened when his attractive hotel co-worker (Florence Loiret-Caille) declares an interest in him.French comedy about a film production crew. Genuinely funny in parts. Features likeable characters and an intelligent perspective of adult relationships.
- DirectorYûgo SerikawaTaiji YabushitaStarsYoshiko SakumaJô MizukiKin'ya KitaôjiZushio and his sister Anju are kidnapped and sold to a cruel slave-master. Will they ever be reunited with their mother again?Beautiful animation every scene looks like a piece of "woodblock" artwork. Nice characters and a storyline which doesn't patronise adults. Recommended for Studio Ghibli fans.
- DirectorMamoru OshiiStarsMako HyôdôJinpachi NezuKeiichi NodaA mysterious young girl wanders a desolate, otherworldly landscape, carrying a large egg.Amazing Gothic style visuals but a very difficult storyline to follow. One of the best looking animations of the 80s.
- DirectorYûzô KawashimaStarsMichiyo AratamaYukiko TodorokiSeizaburô KawazuA couple stand indecisively on a bridge in Asakusa. Tsutae and Yoshiji have lost confidence and passion for their future as they get on the bus for Tsukishima and get off at Suzaki. Across the bridge they see the sign for Suzaki Paradise, a red-light district where Tsutae once worked as a prostitute. Tsutae spots an ad for a waitress at a bar near the bridge and she rushes in to get the job. The kind hearted madam, Tokuko, helps them out by hiring Tsutae and finding work for Yoshiji delivering noodles. But the wanton Tsutae is soon attracted to Ochiai, a rich, generous man who owns an electrical shop specializing in radios.Suzaki Paradise Red Light - A Japanese drama about a young couple trying to find work, not at all sleazy as the title suggests. An absorbing atmosphere and good direction made this a worth while watch.
- DirectorSeijun SuzukiStarsJô ShishidoTamio KawajiReiko SasamoriPolice detective Tajima, tasked with tracking down stolen firearms, turns an underworld grudge into a blood-bath. Suzuki transforms a colorful pot-boiler into an on-target send-up of cultural colonialism and post-war greed.Detective Bureau 2-3 - Japanese gangster/crime drama in the neo-noir style. Some goofy comedy and silly characters lets it down but intense action scenes and well thought out scripting make up for it.
- DirectorPat HoldenStarsNicky BellLiam BoyleStephen GrahamIn the grim early years of Margaret Thatcher's premiership, also the crown years of hooliganism, the opportunities for thrill-seeking young men are what they've always been: sex, drugs, rock n' roll, fashion, football and fighting.Drama about 70s football 'casuals' - I think the best film on the subject could be Alan Clarkes's 'The Firm'. This film has a great soundtrack and an incredible level of detail in relation to set design and fashion. Check out those Forest Hills!
- DirectorSang-il LeeStarsHidekazu MashimaTakashi YamamotoNaohiro AriyamaComedy-Drama about Korean high school students growing up in Japan.Comedy drama about Korean high school students growing up in Japan with a slight baseball theme. A strong directional début.
- DirectorDaisuke MiuraStarsKazunobu MinetaMei KurokawaRyûhei MatsudaToshiyuki Tanishi (Mr Tanishi) is a 29-year-old chronic masturbator and toy vending machine salesman - he is socially awkward and down on his luck. Things change when he meets Chiharu a pretty woman who might actually be into him. Unfortunately, he has competition for Chiharu's affection from handsome, rival vending salesman Aoyama.Black comedy from Japan about a loser vending machine salesman character. Funny in parts but a bit repetitive.
- DirectorShunji IwaiStarsEtsushi ToyokawaTomoko YamaguchiTomorô TaguchiMoemi is not overly pleased when Yukio brings home a couple of turtles to keep her company. Although Yukio works at home as a writer, Moemi feels neglected and desired a dog or a cat, but neither is allowed in their apartment. He drills a hole in the front of one turtle's shell so that it can be taken for walks on a leash, but Moemi spares the second from the same fate by proclaiming it "The House Turtle." Their lives seem reasonably happy until she has her braces removed, and Yukio finds kissing her less satisfying. She soon starts tying up everything in her sight with knotted twine, starting with the turtles. A psychiatrist diagnoses "Obsessive Knot-Binding Syndrome" due to deficiencies in her relationship with Yukio. Moemi continues to expand her activities, tying herself in knots with cords stretching across the apartment. The doctor tells Yukio that her illness has reached a critical point, and that he should tie her up that evening. This he proceeds to do, with her encouraging him to bind her more and more. Where will this end ?A surreal and creative short-ish film from talented director Shunji Iwai. A good film but it's quirkiness makes it difficult to comprehend.
- DirectorGakuryû IshiiStarsYosuke NakajimaTatsuya MoriShigeru MuroiA cop chases a punk who had a fight with his girlfriend through every kind of urban setting, going on so long the punk starts hallucinating.Short cyberpunk film by Sogo Ishii. In a similar visual style to 'Tetsuo Iron Man' but with a gangster theme.