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  • Seven 2 One (2009) -- apart from Ross Chen's review, I didn't really read a lot about this one. But it's by one half of my favourite HK filmmakers, Danny Pang, so that made it a necessary catch-up watch. Starts off with a bungled 24hr convenience store robbery, that winds up in a murder, then immediately backtracks and maps out how everyone who was there at the time were (unknowingly) interconnected and in turn connected to the crime. This is a very clever little film that attracted almost zero notice, and the kind of smart "little film" that makes me happy to be a HK movie junkie. Smart, snappy and short (only 81m) but a great flick! As an added bonus, a new young actress, Elanne Kong, that has grown on me in recent times features prominently in the cleverly drawn together narrative arcs.

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    • THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH Blu-ray.

      Anybody pissed off by DNR will love this one - it was not touched. Actually, its a decent upgrade for the detail and at the price - 13 bucks WITH THE SKULL - I cannot complain. And the audio is not lossless. Still, I really like this one though many consider it talky and dull.

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      • School on Fire (1988) -- Well, I've watched it now...and a review will be forthcoming on the blog soon*. In the interim I will say that the first act through mid-section was pretty lacklustre, however once the motorcycle accident happened things picked up considerably and bowed out with a nice big rowdy finish. As for the Joy Sales DVD -- easily one of the very worst titles they've released. In trying to "smooth over" the ugly PAL digiBeta master they had to work with they managed to completely stuff up the colour scheme and loaded the image with tons of digital noise, smearing and macroblocking. I have to say it: watching the disc reminded me of renting nth generation VHS copies from Chinatown years ago. 'twas a travesty!

        * Have since discovered that I have a little more work and research to do with regards to School on Fire, as the DVD also appears to be cut from the VHS version I saw years ago (plus, I have documenatation in a publication somewhere as to the extent of the cuts and how many cuts the HK censors made to Lam's film)
        Last edited by Mike T; 05-07-2011, 04:58 AM.

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        • Never seen SoF but wanted to - that's good info to have, Mike. Thanks!
          It's not going to suck itself...

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          • Finally saw PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK last night and LOVED it. Totally unexpected.

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            • Watched The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Dr. Phibes Rises Again today, for the first time since I was a lad. Such good movies and ever so funny. And, of course, Virginia North was the best Vulnavia. It's a pity they never made the third...

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              • I thought Dr. Phibes Rises Again was vastly inferior to Abominable.

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                • Piranha 3D (2010) -- Hah! This was greeeeeat! ;)

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                  • The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) -- if I'm reading this right, Poe had a fascination with hypnotism, yeah? Good to see Vinnie in a romantic lead for a change. Very nice use of locations, and 'scope framing as always (Mr. Corman was actually quite a fine filmmaker, I must say). For its era, it also had some really funny cheeky, risque dialogue that I never expected to hear, based on other mainstream American films of the time (which were all as coy as). Good stuff again -- very glad I got all the Corman-Poe-Price films I could. Will have to keep my eyes peeled for The Raven to turn up in-stock and cheap again via Amazon UK.

                    ETA: Apologies for hogging up the thread with screengrabs, but this was my favourite exchange of dialogue from the film (and quite risque by '60s standards):


                    Last edited by Mike T; 05-12-2011, 07:28 AM.

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                    • Just finished up season eight of Penn & Teller's Bullshit. Good season of a really interesting series.
                      Rock! Shock! Pop!

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                      • Black Death - well, only half way through cause someone fell asleep. Off to a pretty good start though.

                        Chuck Norris Karate Commandos - this show is so bad.
                        Rock! Shock! Pop!

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                        • Night & Fog (2009) -- based on a true story, a drama from Ann Hui that is as disturbing as it is slow and measured. Tough tale of marriage between Simon Yam and Zhang Jing Chu, and how circumstances and one's innate nature lead to infidelity, domestic abuse, marital rape and eventually murder. Not the most pleasant viewing experience, but a very well written, directed and acted film. Certainly won't appeal to everybody, but I found it engrossing and unsettling.

                          All's Well Ends Well 2009 (2009) -- just about every year Raymond Wong, actor and CEO of Mandarin Films, produces a Chinese New Year comedy. This was from a couple of years back and, per law of averages for the series, was fairly amusing (last year's was horrendous, and Herman Yau co-directed that one!). Lots and lots of cameos by actors, TV stars, pop singers and even a blink and you'll miss it special guest cameo by Donnie Yen. These films are largely useless for anyone outside of the Chinese community, or those with a working knowledge of contemporary HK cinema and pop culture. Accordingly, I found it largely pretty funny, but I wouldn't recommend it beyond family.

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                          • Which was last years? I know I probably shouldn't but I still get a bit excited for Herman Yau movies. I'm sure if it was a New Years film it probably wasn't one of his sleaze fests that I love.
                            Rock! Shock! Pop!

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                            • Originally posted by Ian Jane View Post
                              Which was last years? I know I probably shouldn't but I still get a bit excited for Herman Yau movies.
                              I always get excited for Herman Yau's films too as he's such a versatile, and prolific, director -- but he's also a DOP as well, as has shot some great stuff in recent years. Last year's CNY film was All's Well Ends Well Too 2010. As I mentioned, law of averages with the All's Well films is one good one, followed by a bad one etc. The Yau-Raymond Wong co-directed one from last year was the bad one between the above one and this year's (which featured Donnie Yen playing comedy); period-costume comedy and desperately unfunny, apart from one priceless gag that sent up a famous scene from Ip Man. Here's the trailer -- and yes it's as bad as it looks (and I bought the BD!):



                              Btw, did you know that Mr. Yau did an Ip Man film of his own with Sammo Hung and some new guy last year?



                              Other than that, of late he's done Chaos (2008), a fairly pedestrian HD-DTV post-apocalyptic thriller; The First 7th Night (2009), a horror-crime hybrid (on its way to me as we type); Rebellion (2009), another middle-of-the-road triad drama; Turning Point (2009), feature film spinoff from a popular HK TV series; and Split Second Murders (2009), an inspired but ultimately quite silly black comedy about a guy having a 24hr run of bad luck.
                              Last edited by Mike T; 05-12-2011, 03:45 PM.

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                              • I knew the Ip Man film was finished but didn't know it was available.

                                The last of his I saw was Rebellion, which looked awesome from the trailer and turned out to be boring.
                                Rock! Shock! Pop!

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