What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[gasteropod]

The Machine Girl (2008) - 1.5/5

The poster art is better than the film.

[HungFist]

It's not quite that bad, but yes, it's one of the worst of the new wave j-splat films

[gasteropod]

It's certainly a bad film, it just depends how much enjoyment one can get out of it - I didn't get very much.

[HungFist]

The problem with The Machine Girl is that the editing is awful, the sound effects lack any punch, etc. Good ideas, but the technical execution is severely lacking. Robo-Geisha is even worse. It was only with Karate Robo Zaborgar that Iguchi learned how to make kick ass cinema.

In comparison, Yoshihiro Nishimura has kicked ass since mid 90's...

[gasteropod]

Tokyo Gore Police was definitely better than The Machine Girl yeah, haven't seen any of his others though. I hated The Machine Girl's insipid colour scheme, either use proper colour or go black and white!

[HungFist]

Dersu Uzala (Soviet Union, 1975) – 3/5
An over-long, but mostly effective adventure film (once again) proves Kurosawa was one of the best action/thriller directors in the world. The river scene is a terrific example: man vs. nature, without any dumb turbo-packing that makes most action and adventure films these days so silly.

Rhapsody in August (Japan, 1991) – 3/5
Kurosawa’s second last film – he was 81 years old. An admirable effort, although not one of his best works. The Nagasaki set film deals with the nuclear tragedy as well as generation gap between pre- and post war generations. The outcome is a bit clumsy and pretentious, occasionally naïve, too (especially regarding the child characters). Yet, it’s also a good meaning and heartwarming film. The strongest part is the 20 minute section with Richard Gere as an American-Japanese relative. It’s wonderful to see Gere in a Kurosawa film, even if he speaks fluent Japanese like person who's never spoken Japanese before... (duh).

[Keung]

100 Ways To Murder Your Wife - ★★½

The Owl VS Bombo - ★★

[HungFist]

Tokyo Story (Japan, 1953) – 2/5
The “Anti-Christ’s” most famous work – the archetype of dry and classy Japanese family movie that, as Sion Sono put it, inspired Japanese cinema to become more boring. Has its moments, though, the onsen sequence is quite captivating. Voted by Kinema Junpo as the best Japanese film of all time.

The Human Condition (Japan, 1959-1961) – 4.5/5
Masaki Kobayashi’s 9.5 hour war film is quite possibly the most epic movie ever made. Released as three films, the story follows the young and idealistic Kaji (Tatsuya Nakadai) who tries to bring some sense and humanity to a wartime labor camp he works at – until he’s drafted and sent to front line. While a little longer than it needs to be (certain points are unnecessarily repeated) the film is an extremely strong pacifist statement Nakadai is amazing in the lead role, the film’s scope is exceptional, and the beautiful cinematography even resembles Terrence Malick’s films in places. The film’s battle scenes, especially in the second film, are also among the best ever shot. Were they made today, they’ve be filled with CGI. The Human Condition, despite its small flaws, is one of the strongest movie experiences one can ever have!



more screencaptures: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5085&p=161277#p161277

[Xenon]

Election (2005) - sometimes good and sometimes boring. In the end above average. Loved the ending. Looking forward to the sequel.6,5/10

[Markgway]

The Man from Nowhere (2010-South Korea) ***

Good, violent thriller. Derivative, but entertaining.

[Keung]

Missing - ★

The Tournament - ★★

[gasteropod]

Lady Terminator (1989) - 3/5

So bad it's good

[HungFist]

Missing - ★

The Tournament - ★★

Asian films?

Lady Terminator (1989) - 3/5

So bad it's good

And I saw that on 35mm!



I'd dare to call it "an experience to remember!"

[gasteropod]

Ah brilliant, is that Barbara Constable in the photo? Mondo Macabro are releasing it on Blu-ray soon apparently. I'm off to a screening of a similarly bad film in London next month, the infamous THE ROOM, Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero are doing an introduction/Q&A session, I can't wait

[HungFist]

Unfortunately that's not Barbara Constable in the photo, the photo is not even from the same screening

The screen is the same one though. And I do have a photo of Enzo G. Castellari standing there before the screening of 1990: The Bronx Warriors... here


(Enzo in red)

I almost saw Sion Sono's The Room, but instead I ended up paying a forture for the OOP dvd which I didn't know was OOP at the time

In Lady Terminator I remember we had quite a bit of fun with the dialogue

It was the closing film for the festival, played at 9 am, preceded by 6 other movies (including Castellari's High Crime, Sex & Zen 3D, and Ator - The Fighting Eagle...)

[Keung]

Asian films?

"Missing" (2009) (Korea)



"The Tournament" (1974)
- Angela Mao, Carter Wong, Sammo Hung, Wang In Sik

[HungFist]

Now I made the fool out of the wrong guy

[grim_tales]

Ah brilliant, is that Barbara Constable in the photo? Mondo Macabro are releasing it on Blu-ray soon apparently. I'm off to a screening of a similarly bad film in London next month, the infamous THE ROOM, Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero are doing an introduction/Q&A session, I can't wait

I remember a strand on Channel 4 called Mondo Macabro (maybe World's Weirdest Videos as well) where they messed around with footage from cheesy B/Grindhouse films, putting new words on the soundtrack etc, very funny

[gasteropod]

Little Big Soldier (2010) - 3/5

Big WTF moment when Jackie rode a buffalo through a wall

[HungFist]

Take Aim at the Police Van (Japan, 1960) – 3/5
Early 60’s Seijun Suzuki film displays some of the style he would later become world famous for, but never reaches the heights of his later output. At 79 minutes it is, nevertheless, an entertaining crime film with a wonderful title and some shocking (for the era) violence.

Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! (Japan, 1963) – 4/5
Private detective infiltrates yakuza gang in Seijun Suzuki’s super-hip gangster movie. The jazz-tuned film mixes strong colors, femme fatales, sports cars and men with machine guns to a maximum pop cinema effect. Joe Shishido and the ridiculously beautiful Reiko Sasamori star. Pure coolness on film!

　

[HungFist]

Cruel Gun Story (Japan, 1964) – 3.5/5
A highly stylized Nikkatsu action / gangster film starring Mr. Cool Joe Shishido as an ex-con getting back to bad habits. He and three other men are to rob an armored van. Cool to the bone, the film manages to raise bets until the heist scene. From then on things take an overly conventional if entertaining and action packed turn. Very much a genre film.

A Colt is My Passport (Japan, 1967) – 4/5
Super stylish spaghetti noir with Joe Shishido as a professional killer betrayed by his own boss. A simple story where characters are defined by the color of their suits and the model of their pistol. The influences are obvious: American noir, Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns, and Japanese yakuza films. Cool soundtrack, stylish action scenes, fantastic cinematography capturing both the noirish alleys and wide spaghetti western shots, and as expected, very little room for female roles. Deserves a mention in the same breath as Seijun Suzuki’s best films.



I'm catching up with my reviews, it's only been 2½ years since I watched Colt

[Markgway]

An Empress and the Warriors (2008-Hong Kong-China) ***

Martial arts epic received mixed reviews but I rather enjoyed it.

[Keung]

The Inspector Wears Skirts - ★★½
Daddy, Father & Papa - ★★
Lucky Stars Go Places - ★½

[gasteropod]

Gojira (1954) - 3.5/5

Oxygen Destroyer! I recognised the theme tune but not sure where from, was it used in Evangelion?

[gasteropod]

Woochi (2009) - 3/5