What Asian Films Have You Been Watching Recently?

[Takuma Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Takuma]

Kinnosuke Nakamura x 3

Yatappe of Seki (関の弥太っぺ) (Japan, 1963) [DVD] - 3/5
Classic, often filmed matatabi tale of a young wanderer who saves a little girl whose pickpocket father is killed. The second half of the film picks up 10 years later when the protagonist has grown into a full-fledged yakuza wanderer and once again crosses paths with the same girl (now a woman). This Toei version pairs Kinnosuke Nakamura with soon-to-be ninkyo yakuza master Kosaku Yamashita. It's certainly a good film, but perhaps not as much my cup of green tea as Yamashita's “modern ninkyo” films. In this film as well I enjoyed the more yakuza oriented 2nd half the best (it's also beautifully filmed, especially the ending where Nakamura walks into a fight that is to begin after the film's end - the whole scene is just magnificently put together).



The Secret of the Urn (丹下左膳　飛燕居合斬り) (Japan, 1966) [35mm] - 2.5/5
Hideo Gosha's first Toei picture is below par in his otherwise gripping, visionary 60s filmography. He was reportedly brought in to breathe some final life into the out-of-fashion samurai film genre before Toei would pull off the cord and essentially cease samurai productions. He must have been given a very mediocre script to helm, in this case a new one-armed, one eyed swordsman Tange Sazen tale (the character dates back to the 1920s when he first appeared on screen; there were several Lady Sazen variations as well). Jidai geki legend Kinnosuke Nakamura stars; also one of his last samurai films before Toei brought the genre back big time with '78's Shogun's Samurai. Not bad, with plenty of action and some energetic touches, but nothing special either, though I'm unable to compare to the two dozen earlier Tange Sazen film as I haven't seen any of them.

Tokijiro Kutsukake: Lone Yakuza (沓掛時次郎 遊侠一匹) (Japan, 1966) [35mm] - 3.5/5
Tai Kato's adaptation of Shin Hasegawa's often filmed book (at least 7 earlier films + TV versions). Kinnosuke Nakamura is a yakuza wanderer who is assigned to kill a man whose wife and son he had helped earlier. It's basically ninkyo yakuza film with a matatabi touch and a bit of samurai film flavor. Masahiro Kakefuda and Naoyuki Suzuki's script is reportedly an improvement over the source material in some ways, adding more depth. Yet, it's also one of Kato's more old fashioned emotional pictures, which is more to my liking anyway than the cold minimalism found in some of his other films. A classy story drawn in vivid colors, easily recommended.




Hisayasu Sato x 3

Survey Map of a Paradise Lost (ハードフォーカス 盗聴＜ぬすみぎき) (Japan, 1988) - 2.5/5
A male reporter meets an underage call girl whose client is into videotaping all the perverted, often violent acts. Sex, VHS tapes, AIDS, slight cyberpunk vibe, and a speech about how beautiful idol Yukiko Okada looked when she lied in a pool of blood on the street after her suicide (1986). You wish the film was longer; the carnal action takes half of the otherwise interesting 64 minutes, though it must be said the twisted sex scenes are surprisingly watchable, and so is the cute-as-hell Rio Yanagawa.

Love - Zero = Infinity (いやらしい人妻　濡れる) (Japan, 1994) - 3.5/5
Hisayasu Sato's Shinjuku: a lonely protagonist observing strangers on the streets, a young couple injecting each other's blood into their veins, reports of a vampire killer on the loose, AIDS spreading via medical blood products. Slightly underwritten and falling short for its potential, this is still a fascinating existential pink film with a haunting score and great 90s aura.



Rafureshia (すけべ妻　夫の留守に) (Japan, 1995) - 1.5/5
Horny mother, neglected wife and brainwashed-by-sugar-daddy girl go the sexual liberation route in bizarre pink fashion. Too light and comedic, void of the sharp and nihilist socio-philosophical analysis of better Hisayasu Sato films. It's delightfully light on sex, though.


Others x 3

Shaolin Wooden Men (Hong Kong, 1976) [Netflix] - 3.5/5
Jackie is a mute Shaolin student in a straight-faced Lo Wei era film that starts out dull but gets progressively better. The fights are good, Shaolin's wooden men rock, there are crazy color filters and all the kung fu clichés are presented in a nostalgic, enjoyable form. And what can be said about the ending (spoiler: Jackie's not mute, he was just pretending for 15 years)... hah, awesome!



The Yellow Sea (South Korea, 2010) [Netflix] - 3/5
Gripping, but uneven thriller told in an overly complicated fashion. It works better when the politics are put aside and the focus is on the sad protagonist, a man from a Chinese / North Korean border town sent to Seoul to kill a man. There are two major chase sequences, the first one of which is brilliant but the second one a shaky cam mess. The closing scene is great, but the ultra-violent last hour is otherwise too over-the-top to be taken seriously. Feels much like director Na Hong-jin 's first film, The Chaser.

Moebius (South-Korea, 2013) [Netflix] - 2/5
Kim Ki-duk's film about lost dicks. Shocking, but repetitive with one dimensional characters. The film had quite a bit of censorship trouble in Asian countries, including Japan where the film was cut to shreds. The film could only secure an 18 rating in Japan after 5 minutes of censorship cuts to remove "child pornography" (the actor playing “the son” was 15 at the time of filming). Western censors, BBFC included, had no similar objections. How ironic.

[Killer Meteor Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Killer Meteor]

Shaolin Wooden Men is one of my all-time faves!

[ropo1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ropo1]

I downloaded this a long time ago but it looked like total shit with the CGI tiger that I never watched it. I still kept the file though. Based on your review, I'll give it a go later.

Hopefully won't dissapoint! Kinda forget to add how funny i think it is with this kind of humour when the maincharacter assumes something totally offbeat as inner dialogue and then something even more offbeat, might, happen.
The anime Golden Boy sometimes came to mind.

Love - Zero = Infinity (いやらしい人妻　濡れる) (Japan, 1994) - 3.5/5
Hisayasu Sato's Shinjuku: a lonely protagonist observing strangers on the streets, a young couple injecting each other's blood into their veins, reports of a vampire killer on the loose, AIDS spreading via medical blood products. Slightly underwritten and falling short for its potential, this is still a fascinating existential pink film with a haunting score and great 90s aura.

Maybe this is the Sato film i should try out, sounds interesting. Seen ~10-15 of his films but never been to impressed (keep coming back for more though, so something is there).

[mjeon Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mjeon]

47Lab: "Hey since you're such a fan of this awesome movie from Sammo. A blu ray came out about a week ago. I'm sure the colors are much better in this release."

You saved me some money. I had forgotten the name of the film and on the basis of the cover would probably have stupidly bought it again. Look at that cover. It sure looks like a great movie, doesn't it? They don't want you to know it's the Shamu movie. Bastards.

[AngelGuts Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AngelGuts]

Hey since you're such a fan of this awesome movie from Sammo. A blu ray came out about a week ago. I'm sure the colors are much better in this release.

Love MOON WARRIORS. Picking this up.

[mjeon Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mjeon]

You realize this is the one with the killer whale, right?

[Darcy Parker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Darcy Parker]

You realize this is the one with the killer whale, right?

That's an interesting nickname for Sammo Hung.

[Takuma Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Takuma]

Mothra x 2

Mothra (モスラ) (Japan, 1961) [35mm] - 3/5
Entertaining kaiju with a bit of exotic island adventure touch. Editing could be tighter for the 100 min running time, but mostly compensated for by lavish colour cinematography and better than usual cast: Frankie Chan makes a sympathetic lead, Peanuts are Peanuts and Osman Yusuf gets another gaijin henchman role. Only Akira Ikufube's score is sorely missed.

Mothra vs. Godzilla (モスラ対ゴジラ) (Japan, 1964) [35mm] - 2.5/5
A bit duller and less colorful picture than Mothra, with less exotics and rather bland characters. The environmental message remains timely, sadly, and the battles between Mothra and Godzilla are quite intense.


Director's Company x 3

Wolf (狼) (Japan, 1982) [DVD] - 2.5/5
"Running is sex!" A wolf guy runs around Tokyo raping women and punching Renji Ishibashi until he finds a wolf girl (the lovely Megumi Saki from Red Violation and Rape Ceremony) to eat bloody steaks and have sex with. A Banmei Takahashi pink film with a strong Sogo Ishii punk vibe, especially in the punk rock score. Original, but ultimately there isn't that much content other than running, raping and disco partying with an animalistic aroma. Originally released in pink triple bill with Saraba aibo and The Harem Valentine Day, the first productions by Director's Company.



So Long My Partner (さらば相棒) (Japan, 1982) [DVD] - 2/5
"Rock is sex". Part 2 in the Director's Company pink triple bill, about a wanna-be rocker and his two friends. Rock, sex and friendship struggles. Ryo Ishibashi stars, Rikiya Yasuoka is a yakuza, and Yuya Fuckin' Uchida (that's how he's credited) a junkie in a 20 second cameo. Also contains tons of other rockers from ARB, ANARCHY and others, playing roles like Rape Guy A, B, C and D, and Drunker A, B and C. And it was written by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, produced by Banmei Takahashi and directed by actor Ryudo Uzaki. And yet the film is rather dull, executed without the kind of energy that would grab you by the balls. It's watchable with some cultural-historical interest stemming from the cast and crew and the era, but the drama doesn't work and you won't be left with much... except Yuya Fuckin' Uchida.

Harlem Valentine Day (ハーレムバレンタインデイ) (Japan, 1982) [DVD] - 3.5/5
“Blood is sex”. Death Power director Shigeru Izumiya's cosmic cyber punk pink film set in post Sino-Soviet war future (the film opens with low budget battle footage). A crazed, back-from-the-war soldier wanders in the night searching for his lost girlfriend, who has become a prostitute in some kind of Sogo Ishii / Yoshihiro Nishimura / Shinya Tsukamoto style Blade Runner world. He ends up killing most people he encounters. Like Death Powder, I am not sure if this is a good film, but it is odd, visually stunning and fascinating (especially the soundtrack). Guaranteed to leave even the jaded cult film aficionado wondering "what the hell did I just saw", I can't even imagine how the unsuspecting pink film audiences responded when this opened as the final part of the Director's Company triple bill.




Others x 3

Women Who Do Not Divorce (離婚しない女) (Japan, 1986) [DVD] - 1.5/5
80s human relationship anguish with middle aged people crying and acting stupid. A Tatsumi Kumashiro drama about ordinary, dull people being ordinary and dull. A product of the 80s, an era when Japanese films attempted to capture life at its most unexceptional. Snowy Hokkaido settings add a bit to the film, thankfully.

The Most Suitable Profession for Women (女がいちばん似合う職æ¥) (Japan, 1990) [DVD] - 3/5
Interesting, off-kilter neo noir with mentally off-the-rails detective Kaori Momoi entering relationship with murder suspect. It's neither lust nor a grand plan; she just ain't got all the Moomins in the valley and figures in her lonely misery that that might get the investigation moving. Charmingly odd film with director Naosuke Kurosawa's trademark city existentialism, more than a bit of Takashi Ishii influence (they collaborated on the Dream Crimes failure five years prior) and a great Momoi performance. And all the songs on the soundtrack are in French and… Arabian? Persian? I'm not sure. It still falls short of greatness by lacking consistency and a dynamic overall touch - the storyline especially is something of an excuse for mood and character segments - but the film's got several good scenes and it's pleasingly an unorthodox.



the trailer is one of the best I've seen recently:
https://vimeo.com/341579769

Pink Salon Hospital: No Pants Nurses (ピンサãƒç—…院 ノーパン白衣) (Japan, 1997) [35mm] - 1/5
I guess having seen a movie called No Pants Nurses in 35mm is something. Too bad this Shintoho pink is 50 minutes of sex scenes bordering on hard-core, and a minimal, Deep Throat rip off plot. It was directed by Sachi Hamano (real name Sachiko, she dropped the feminine ko to hide her gender), one of the few female pink directors. It doesn't really show; I and a friend tried to come up with anything in the film that would distinguish it from the male helmed pinks till he finally said “the women are active in taking their own pants off”. Hmm, maybe. Released in the US by Pink Eiga as “Whore Hospital”.

[47lab Guest Find all posts View Profile Close 47lab]

Went to check out Won Tae-lee's crime thriller, THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL starring Ma Dong-seok. He's the main reason that I wanted to check this flick out. He's one of my fave actors and "must see" for me but unfortunately, this movie was mediocre and while it did showcase Ma Dong-seok's enormous screen persona & swagger, the rest of the flick was paint by the numbers. The cocky cop played by Kim Moo-yul came across as too try hard annoying and the 'fender bender' serial killer was just laughable & came off as a caricature. I was expecting a genre mashup that Koreans do so well but this flick played it straight and took its self too seriously. There is a decent set up but the latter half just never lived up to my expectations & the finale which turned into a melodramatic court room drama was another letdown. It did feature the usual bevy of action film tropes (the ubiquitous car chase through crowded streets smashing up street vendor stalls, gangland fights with baseball bats and steel pipes & plenty of onscreen violence especially of the bladed variety) but nothing to elevate this film above being just another also ran in the saturated Korean revenge/action thriller genre. Interestingly, Sylvester Stallone's production company has acquired the rights for the English remake and they have retained Ma Dong-seok to reprise his same role. Excellent casting decision since he speaks fluent English & has the heavy physicality & look Western audiences can relate to So I'll probably end up checking out the remake too and I don't think it'll take much to tweak the screenplay to make it more enjoyable than the Korean original.

[47lab Guest Find all posts View Profile Close 47lab]

shit, I couldn't find the thread where we discussed ADC shutting down and I didn't to start a new thread about it, so I'll just post it here. AvistaZ is now open for registrations. Definitely not as resource friendly as ADC and much more mainstream in their selection but you can find some nice HD remasters.

[47lab Guest Find all posts View Profile Close 47lab]

I caught Choi Sung-hoon's 2018 Korean dramedy, KEYS TO THE HEART. It's a fairly predictable melodrama with comedic elements and a tearjerker ending but the acting is uniformly excellent especially Lee Byung-hun. Shame that most Western audiences only know him as Storm Shadow or Terminator Genisys or the vigilante in I Saw the Devil because he can definitely act his ass off in all types of roles. Also shout out to Park Jung-min for playing Byung-hun's autistic savant brother as he was also superb. I remember him from BLEAK NIGHT and TINKER TICKER and he caught my eye as a promising young actor back in the day. Recommended!

[47lab Guest Find all posts View Profile Close 47lab]

Went over the weekend to check out Wong Jing's CHASING THE DRAGON 2: WILD WILD BUNCH & it's a completely separate story from the first one with Donnie Yen as Cripple Ho. This one starts off circa right before the handover of HK back to China and stars Louis Koo & Tony Leung Kai-fai with supporting roles by Simon Yam & Gordon Lam. It is also based on a real life criminal by the name of Cheung Tze-keung aka "Big Spender" who became notorious for kidnapping rich casino & real estate tycoons in the 90s. I don't really know anything about the 'real' Big Spender but if he was anything like Tony Leung's portrayal, then he was a real charismatic SOB and little wonder he had a loyal group of soldiers doing his bidding. Tony Leung really channeled his inner Tony Montana for this one. Louis Koo played the bomb squad expert going deep cover with his usual cool and nothing to criticize in terms of his role here but Leung Kar-fai just one upped everyone. As far as overall, this flick is nothing really special but it had its genuine moments of tension (couple scenes reminded me of Yau's SHOCKWAVE) & it's paced nicely with no real lulls or fillers & the action set pieces were decent too.

[47lab Guest Find all posts View Profile Close 47lab]

Watched the FOX 5 episode mini-series STAINED with Kara Hui in the lead role as a chief inspector for the HK police force who possesses some low level psychic profiler abilities. All the stories are based on real life crimes and it gets pretty gruesome with tales revolving around fratricide, child sexual abuse and rape. It spares nothing in terms of the graphic details as viewers are bombarded with imagery of dismemberment, decapitation, maggots feeding on rotting corpses, cannibalism and gory knife killings are shown in all their gruesome glory. The story is further complicated with Kara Hui's ex-cop husband, played by Anthony Wong going MIA after being suspected of being a rogue cop responsible for a bloody armed robbery. So very interesting plot line mixed with gory death scenes equals entertaining premise and apparently there is going to be a season 2 in the works. Recommended!

[47lab Guest Find all posts View Profile Close 47lab]

There's been a spate of films about the "comfort women" issue that have come out of Korea in recent years & I've made a point of trying to catch all of them. I think the only one I missed was Im Sun's THE LAST COMFORT WOMAN since it didn't have English subs. So I recently set out to watch Min Kyu-dong's HERSTORY about the Shimonoseki Comfort Women trials that were held in the Japanese city between 1992-1998 in a case brought forth by 10 South Korean victims who alleged war crimes involving rape and sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese army during WWII. As expected there are quite a few courtroom drama scenes but I rather enjoyed its straight forward tackling of the subject matter without veering into outright melodramatic sentimentality like some other flicks that have tackled this topic. The star here was actress Kim Hee-ae who portrays an obstinate business minded woman who runs a tour agency & who initially agrees to help the comfort women for the good publicity it will bring her business but eventually becomes a staunch advocate for the comfort women upon discovering her long time housekeeper was a comfort women herself. Recommended.

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Watched a really bizarre Korean indie shot on digital called ANTI-GAS SKIN. Apparently it was shown at festivals in 2010 but wasn't released until a few years later. Equal parts social satire, horror thriller and experimental film set against the backdrop of a mayoral election all the while a gas mask wearing killer is on the loose in the city. Film focuses on 4 individuals whose paths cross on election night while all on their individual quest to find the mysterious masked individual. The most interesting character was a teen-aged "wolf girl" - yes, a high school student who literally has "werewolf syndrome" aka hypertrichosis who is in charge of a suicide cult. The director must've watched a lot of Sion Sono before making this project. This character would've made an interesting story in itself and was really the only entertaining plot line in the whole movie. The only familiar face that I recognized was prolific character actor, Park Ji-hwan as a traffic enforcement cop with an ailing mother who imagines himself a superhero & martial artist and embarks on capturing the masked killer. There is also a weigook in the movie, some mentally unstable redneck US Army soldier whose Korean lover has been killed. He literally starts humping at her gravesite. I'm sure the director is ruminating about the US military presence in Korea with this character but who knows? In the beginning when first introduced to his character, there is a scene of traditional Korean dance and one of the tourists is a dead ringer for film critic, Tony Rayns! Wonder if it was really him? Anyway, I couldn't sit through two hours of this crap and pulled the plug about halfway in and fast forwarded to the ending. Not helping matters was the fact the embedded English subs were terrible - I mean worse than google translate as if the person who made subs just starting making shit up.