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londonscot2003
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Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)
One of the greatest
I ain't that great when it comes to Western films, but this one truly lives up to it's spaghetti western feel. Clint Eastwood is great as always, and this time as the man with no name, he pulls off a haunting character who, even though is tagged as "good," may not have a complete absence of bad. "The Good the Bad and the Ugly" essentially follows three men who will eventually meet on the same hunt for gold, which is buried in an unknown gravesite with an unknown gravestone. The film revolves around the answers leading up to the finding. While it is a tad long, this film had far too much going for it for that to be a fault. I absolutely loved this movie! Great direction, great cinematography, and the screenplay made the film extremely engaging!
Jingi naki tatakai (1973)
brilliant
With all the trash coming out of Hollywood today, and Asian cinema becoming more popular, and widely watched, I think it is important to look at older Asian films, and this is truly a Japanese film classic, and I highly recommend it. This film is directed by Kenji Fukasaku, which if you know about films, should give you an indication of the quality of the film. It was previously released under the title of 'Battles Without Honour or Humanity'. It takes place in post WW2 Japan, and follows the story of yakuza clans battling for power. The story is similar to that of 'City of God', as both highlight the instability and brutality of gang wars. The story centres around the character played by Bunta Sugawara, and his journey through the yakuza way of life. He puts in a great performance, and commands such screen presence.The direction is raw, solid, and well-hendled by Fukasaku. With so many Hollywood films today, relying on special effects and CGI to hold a film together, it is great to see how films used to be made.
Despite being made around thirty years ago, the film is still fresh, possibly because it is based on the true account given by a yakuza whilst in prison. Don't let the subtitles put you off, cause the story more than makes up for it. I would really recommend you to get this, and if you enjoy it, I would also suggest 'Street Mobster', also directed by Fukasaku, and starring Sugawara.
Hei tai yang: Nan Jing da tu sha (1995)
This part of history should be remembered and learnt from
Excellent film about one of the blackest periods in history it gave me a better insight into what happened. Unlike the second world war which I know pretty much about the subject,having seen plenty of war films and documentaries, the Nanking massacre was something I only vaguely knew about, but had never seen much about the subject.The documentary with the film explains a lot. for example how horrific this event was and how it should be remembered and learnt from. my opinion is that the Japanese government has to admit to the crimes they committed just like the German's apologised for the holocaust. I have to say this movie is very hard to watch, it is extremely graphic. but why it is graphic is because the director wants to show how horrible this event was.
Wo hu cang long (2000)
masterpiece of the east
Director Ang Lee (Sense & Sensibility) has created an epic tale of love, honor, devotion, and intrigue set against a backdrop of 19th century China. When Li Mu Bai (Chow Yung Fat) decides to give the infamous "Green Destiny" sword to his good friend it sets in motion a story of breathtaking passion whether it's a sword fight in a courtyard or a gentle touching of the hands at a table. The acting is superb especially Ziyi Zhang with her porcelein doll looks but lightining quick moves manifesting itself throughout the film especially in the restaurant scene. Chow Yung Fat (Li Mu Bai) and Michelle Yeoh (Yu Shu Lien) play their roles to perfection on two levels, they are great warriors but understate their strengths due to their teachings from the Masters...and the relationship between them is on the surface benign but we know they are madly in love with one another. Then we have Chen Chang (Lo) who sweeps Jen Yu off her feet like Michael Douglas did to Kathleen Turner in "Romancing The Stone". Pei Pei Cheng plays "Jade Fox" nicely as the betrayer but deep down inside someone you can feel sorry for. The action sequences were masterfully choreograghed by Yuen Wo-Ping (The Matrix) as he was able to blend the movements like a Kirov Ballet. Add to this the thunder and fury of the music of Tan Dun for the fighting/action scenes and the beautiful and melodic cello work of Yo-Yo-Ma to bring out the love and passion of the central characters you soon realize your senses are experiencing something special. Only a few films have done that to me in the past...it would be an understatement to simply say i think this is the best film of 2000-2001 since that would be accepting it on just a physical sense but when it touches your mind and soul in ways words can't describe it goes way beyond that.
Batoru rowaiaru (2000)
Amazing
I was excited when I heard about this film, apprehensive as to whether it would hold up to the good press it has received or just degenerate into another violence for kicks gore show. I was in for a shock. The film opens with a powerful introduction, dark, menacing and setting the tone of the film throughout. With teenagers behaviour crossing the line for the authorities action is taken in the form of a winner takes all competition. What initially appears to be a vague and outlandish plot with school children fighting for their lives, pitted against each other in a frantic tale of survival becomes a gripping and frightening tale of normal people pushed to far. The films action sequences are many and varied, never loosing their originality or their power. The director produces an insightful cinematic production and a host of skilled young actors take challenging roles, which could have easily become farcical, and produce harrowing and realistic characters, each as engrossing as the others. The introduction of two unidentified characters (both outstanding performances) feel a little out of place early in the story but settle well as their backgrounds are developed.
Overall this is a violent and bloody story, it plot remains a step beyond the believable but this doesn't hamper the shocking and insightful nature of the piece. It will appeal to those who are looking simply for a fight flick with plenty of gore on show, but on another level it can become frightening, engrossing and truly original. To say any more about the plot would be to take away from the film; but if you can accept the violence necessary to the story line and like your pictures dark and sinister then this film is a must see. I look forwards to future works from the production team and actors alike. Excellent!
Yôjinbô (1961)
Kurosawa does it again
Akira Kurosawa is easily one of the greatest storytellers of the twentieth century. His influence can be spotted in dozens of other films, often his scripts were taken lock, stock and barrel into another genre. This particular film, "The Bodyguard", was remade into a film that made Clint Eastwood a star - A Fistful of Dollars. But to be honest, I think Kurosawa's film was better, and here's why. Unlike his maniacal role in Seven Samurai, in this film Toshiro Mifune's character is calm, wry, cynical and scheming. As a solitary Samurai swordsman wandering into a village he manages to manipulate both groups of criminals against each other while taking money (and sometimes returning it) from each in turn. But in the end, it's a matter of sword against .44, old against new. Sergio Leone never managed to copy that element into his remake of a few years later.
But if Kurosawa had any skill as good as his cinematography, it was his casting. The characters in his films aren't just cardboard cut-outs like many of those we see these days; they had pathos and gravitas where necessary, and despite being set in what to most westerners is an alien culture, you can see that there's always a human element to any character, something you can identify with. The town guard is an absolute treasure, as is the sceming boss's wife (ie the one who really had the brains), and Ushi-Tora's eager but dim brother. The innkeeper gets more and more annoyed and rattled as Sanjuro (Mifune) plans his next move to create havoc between the two factions. And watching them face off against each other after the fencing teacher has run for it and Sanjuro hands his money back and sits off to one side to watch is just priceless.
Kung fu (2004)
Kung phooey
This film is a semi homage, and half mockery, of all kung fu movies and as such, I found it didn't mix well. Are you supposed to laugh? It's not that funny, and the few laughs that are genuine are usually undercut by some extreme violence that jars with the humour.
Are you supposed to enjoy the kung fu fights? They weren't that spectacular. Most of the fights were inforced with elements of special effects, which takes away from the fact that this is kung fu. It's hard to think that a fight is amazing when it's so obviously CGI.
So you're not exactly wowed by amazing fight scenes, most of which were pretty repetitive anyway, with some poor choreography that made most of the fights look slightly messy.
Of course, Hustle is meant to be cartoony, which is fine, and the special effects are pretty amazing, but the film never struck the correct balance between action and comedy.
The storyline is basic fodder. Two chancer want to join the axe gang, who want to get revenge on a peasant village. Usual revenge story ensues with an underdog hero. The film trudges along without the use of a plot in most cases, just fight after fight, and gets repetitive.
Of course, Stephen Chow is pretty good. But he's better as a serious actor. Come on, Chow, you've got better stuff in you!
The extras are pretty worthwhile. a made for TV making of is decent, and an interview with Chow quite informative and funny. Out-takes were pointless, as were the superfluous deleted scenes, but it rounded the package off.
Dip huet seung hung (1989)
classic
An explosive and heart-pounding action classic. An unforgettable and killer action movie masterpiece. A full-throttle action-packed extravaganza that pushes the limit. A spectacular action flick that delivers some of the best action sequences and gun-battles in Hong Kong action cinema. The gun-fights snap and crackle of pure awesomeness. Director, John Woo is one of the true kings of action movie-making. This film stand with his best like Face/Off, Hard-Boiled and A Better Tomorrow. Chow Yun-Fat is at his best. Danny Lee is sensational. Lee and Yun-fat are fantastic together, they square off with one another nicely in scenes that include tension and great character development. A great film that has a great sense of characters. range, emotional depth and story as well as fire-power. One of the best action movies I have ever seen. It's a perfect action film
Kozure Ôkami: Ko wo kashi ude kashi tsukamatsuru (1972)
Amazing
Absolutely breathtaking. I thought it was a bit too violent, a bit too sexual, and a little weird. But all of these things only added to the experience. This is a movie truly for comic book fans. But then again, I like serious movies that are extremely violent and well, it looks like I am watching the right type of stuff. .
Now the story is so captivating, it is the first time in a while that I was watching an Asian film and was really excited, but patiently waited and watched with great interest as the story unfolded. The final battle of the movie was great and really has you saying, "man, I hope this story continues". And ALL of the characters are wonderful as they are bursting with character in their appearance. The acting is also superb. Overall I would have to give this film a 10 out of 10
The Shield (2002)
one of the best series
There are certain shows which come along with a regular premise, but make it their own. "The Shield" is one of these shows. You follow the protagonist "Vic Mackey", a police officer heading up a special unit known as the "Strike team". Their way of protecting and maintaining the peace, is to essentially skirt, and occasionally go well over the boundaries of justice. This means planting drugs on people they know are guilty, taking bribes or withholding evidence to be used again later. It is a scary, and yet highly plausible concept, based upon the real life "Rampart" scandal in Los Angeles (where the show is also based).
I won't ruin any of the story lines, but you can imagine where all of this corruption leads the squad of exceptionally memorable characters. I literally cannot think of a single actor in the entire 7 season run who did any less than a stellar job. Every character evolves, and in some cases it is not for the better. I can honestly say there are less than a handful of shows that have ever shocked me, or hit me with something so powerful I've actually had to stop the enjoyment of watching and sit slack jawed for a while. This show is one of that handful. The drama, the power, the story, they are so strong in the entire run that this show is absolutely a must have. Understand, it is not easy watching. There are some of the most uncomfortable scenes ever written, but I'll be damned if they aren't also some of the most powerful.
Wu du (1978)
Kung Fu fans will love this
Shaw Brothers Movie Studios director, Chang Cheh's 1978 tour-de-force Kung Fu extravaganza. This film set the stage for nearly 20+ more movies starring the 'Venoms' to follow in an attempt to quench the world-wide thirst of fans of this, the first 'Venoms' movie. Long out of print and only found in the possession of private Kung-Fu film collectors, the current commercially available VHS of 'The 5 Deadly Venoms' by EPI, is struck from a good quality master print, and is uncut and formatted in LBX (letterbox), which is a real treat to Kung Fu movie fans. The story centers around the last student of the dying master of 'The Poison Clan', who is sent out to find the last 5 secret members of the clan, all of whom have trained in a special 'Poison' technique. Some of the clan members have gone bad, and the student must locate and destroy them with the help of good members, if he can find them! The script, acting, choreography, costumes, and sets are fantastic. This film combines bare-chested Kung-Fu supermen back-flipping through the air while wielding exotic Chinese weapons and performing unbelievable feats of physical strength, skill, and speed, with a twisting plot of deceit, revenge, and corruption; all against a fantastic & deadly 14th century background. The 5 Deadly Venoms stars Kuo Chui (Lizard), Sun Chien (Scorpion), Lo Meng (Toad), Wei Pai (Snake), Lu Feng (Centipede), and Chiang Sheng as 'Yan Tieh', the last disciple of the Poison Clan master. A 'Must Have' for any Kung Fu movie fan as The 5 Deadly Venoms is truly an all time classic.
Jing wu men (1972)
Spectacular
I'd never seen a Bruce Lee film before, maybe bits and pieces here and there, but this was the first one I just sat down and watched all the way through. I was expecting to be a little bit bored by a bunch of fake action events and no worthwhile plot. I soon found however that the movie was quite intriguing from the start, and for more reasons than one. First thing is, I didn't know that Bruce Lee could ACT. He's got this charisma, which on one hand goes part and parcel with the intensity of fierceness during the fight, yet on the other hand, he's no one-dimensional character either, and there are a lot of good dramatic scenes between characters in between the fights. Actually on-screen drama time is quite a bit more minute for minute than fight scenes, which I was happy to discover. Oh, there is definitely enough fighting, but not to the detriment of the story which grows and develops suspensefully.
'Fist of Fury', set in colonial Shanghai times, is the story of a Japanese martial arts school trying to shut down a Chinese one, to which Lee belongs, after killing their master, and is the basis for a lot of very good fight scenes and just a touch of humor as Lee goes fugitive and then evading the law and donning a variety of disguises, single handedly takes them down one by one (and sometimes all together at the same time). This synopsis however doesn't do justice to the atmosphere of the story, the resonant feeling of 1970s "old Shanghai", rich in violence and Japanese/Chinese historic background. I can see now why Bruce Lee is still revered as the icon of bad@ss 70s cool - but his personality carried very well into scenes beyond the fight, unlike say Jet Li.
Shichinin no samurai (1954)
Greatest film of all time
Akira Kurosawa made "Seven Samurai" because he wanted to make a real "jidai-geki," a real period-film that would present the past as meaningful, while also being an entertaining film. Kurosawa considered "Rashomon," the film rightfully credited with making the West aware of the Japanese cinema, with being neither. But in his attempt to make a truly "realistic" film, Kurosawa redefined the conflict at the heart of Japanese films. Before "Seven Samurai" this conflict was that of love versus duty, where the central character is compelled by fate to sacrifice what he loves in the name of duty. In "Seven Samurai" the focus remains on duty, yet the conflict is now between the real and the pretended. Calling yourself a samurai does not make you one, something proved time and time again in the film, from the test of skill turned deadly between Kyuzo (Seiji Miyaguchi) and the tall samurai to the first appearance of Kikuchiyo (Toshirô Mifune), with his stolen pedigree. Like Katshushiro (Ko Kimura), the youngster who wants to learn from the master, Kambei (Takashi Shimura), the audience is educated as to the true nature of the samurai.
For me this film deals with the heroic, albeit in realistic terms. I have shown the film in World Literature classes, after students have read Homer's "Iliad" and as they begin reading Cervantes' "Don Quixote." Within that context, compared to the brutal arrogance of Achilles and the gentle insanity of Quixote, the heroic qualities of the seven samurai become clear. Their inspiration extends to some of the villagers. Manzo (Kamatari Fujiwara) is crazed with fear over the virtue of his daughter, Shino (Keiko Tsushima), and Rikichi (Yoshio Tsuchiya) fights to avenge the disgrace of his wife and his precipitating the death of Heihachi (Minoru Chiaki), but it is the comic Yohei (Bokuzen Hidari), who finds within himself the ability to fight, a die a tragic death, who is the true barometer for what the samurai mean to the village. But the greatest tragedy is that despite this most noble effort and the bodies buried in honor at the top of the village cemetery, this has been but a temporary union between the villagers and the samurai. When Kambei declares, "We have lost again," he redefines the battles: it was not to kill all the bandits, it was to find a true place in the world. Yet we should have already known this, for the painful truth was driven home when Kyuzo, the master swordsman, is gunned down from behind. No better proof is needed in this film of the bitter truth that the world is not fair.
Mifune is the maniacal spirit of this film, as the faux-samurai Kikuchiyo, the dancing whirlwind whose emotions overwhelm everything including himself. But it is Shimura as Kambei, who embodies the mentor mentality with a minimum of effort, evoking more by rubbing his hand over his shaved head or giving a single piercing look than by any spoken dialogue. Even in a strong ensemble these performances stand out, for clearly different reasons. To fully appreciate Kurosawa's mastery in "Seven Samurai" you need to watch the film several times to better appreciate the way he constructs scenes, using contrasting images, evocative music and varying the length of cuts to affect tempo. For example, look carefully at how the early scene of the farmers searching the streets for samurai and the later sequence where Katsushiro watches Kyuzo and Kikuchiyo waiting for the bandit scouts to return to their horses. Both of these scenes are superb primers to Kurosawa's style.
For years we had to put with the 160-minute version of the film that was made for export, which was actually called "The Magnificent Seven" until John Strugis's Western remake. Fortunately, "Seven Samurai" has been restored to full 208-minute glory, saved from being a lamentable cinematic tragedy on a par with "Greed," "The Magnificent Ambersons," and "Ivan the Terrible." There is a sense in which "Seven Samurai" is truly my favorite film, because it was the one that instilled in me a love of cinema, of the craft and art of movie making, of compelling me to understand intellectually how Kurosawa was skillfully manipulating my emotions. The final battle sequences, fought and filmed in a torrent of rain, exhausting characters and audience alike with its increasingly relentless tempo, is given its potency because of the human elements that have been established in all that has taken place before hand. "Seven Samurai" is a magnificent film against which the vast majority of epics pale in comparison. Not even Kurosawa scaled these heights ever again.
Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
Greatest Martial Arts Movie Of All Time
I think this is the very best martial arts movie ever made. "Kung Fu" "Gong Fu" in modern Pinyin, just means a man who has a great achievement in skill after much hard and wise work. "Wu Shu" in Mandarin. "Mou Seut" in Cantonese, means "MARTIAL ARTS". Many Americans rave about Bruce Lee movies, but they have seen few or no Chinesse movies that star men much more skillful than Lee Sinsaang. The movie takes us inside a "Shao Lin" New Forest, this "Lin" is my surname in Mandarin or "Siu Lam"-"Sil Lum" in Cantonese temple to see the severe training monks underwent. They would not be allowed to eat without performing some exercises properly, for instance. Liu Chia-Hui or Gordon Liu plays a youth who wants to learn martial arts to use against the Manchu oppressors who ruled China 1644-1912. As was the case with Bhodidharma (Da Mo in China), he has difficulty being admitted. He wants to start at the top in the 35th Chamber, but he quickly learns it is best to start at the bottom in Lo Yat Ho Chamber 1. Beautiful Chen Szu-Chia also stars in this film. He masters the training, and at the end, he opens a 36th chamber to teach people outside the temple some martial arts to use against tyrants. About 25 years later, Gordon Liu was in the two "Kill Bill" movies in two roles.
Lat sau san taam (1992)
probably the best action movie ever
This is probably not only the best john woo movie but the best action movie i have ever seen with a kill count of 306!!! it does not get any better than this. chow yun fat is unstoppable as inspector tequila yuen who has unlimited ammo and is pretty much invincible turning gun play into a form of ballet as he single-handedly takes down a criminal empire. I am pretty much devastated that chow yun fat was never picked to star in the expendables. I highly recommend this film especially action film lovers who enjoyed the Die hard films, terminator 2 judgement day or Rambo. you will not be disappointed , 126 minutes of utter madness bullets flying and blood staining the walls.