Liverpool FC Forum

[joko]

just bought this dvd, a phillipines film: "anakan mo ako"
it has lotsa girls featuring, all of them are almost naked   

[taff]

Just seen Bittersweet life, ok film 

[woof woof !]

Altough my initial reaction to this movie was one of disappointment (having been blown away in recent years with chinese films such as Crouching Tiger,Hero and House of Flying Daggers) now that the film is on general release in the uk AND it's also touted as Jet Li's last epic ,it is perhaps worth revisiting.

Here's a review from "Beyond Hollywood"



Fearless" has been one of the most talked about martial arts films in years for a number of reasons, not least of which was the announcement by Jet Li that it would be his last 'wushu' outing. Adding to the ensuing storm of publicity was the editing out of around forty minutes, which removed Michelle Yeoh's role entirely, and the fact that the family of Huo Yuanjia publicly voiced their anger at the manner in which the legendary figure has been portrayed in the film. Interestingly, "Fearless" also marks the return to Hong Kong for director Ronny Yu, best known to fans for his "Bride with White Hair" films, and who has been working in Hollywood for several years now, mostly on decidedly low brow horror fare such as "Freddy vs. Jason".

Beyond this complicated state of affairs lies a worthwhile film, one which sees a most welcome move away from the CGI enhanced flying combat which has become so common of late. "Fearless" is very much an old fashioned film, based around honest heroism and righteousness and largely freed from the philosophical shoe gazing of Zhang Yimou or the wacky excess of Tsui Hark which have sadly come to typify the modern genre.

The film follows the life of Huo Yuanjia (Jet Li), national hero and founder of the Jing Wu Sports Federation, beginning with his early years of training in Tianjin and culminating in 1910 with an epic battle against four fighters who represent the foreign powers vying for control of China at the time. As such, the plot is nothing new, and plays faithfully to the template set down by countless Shaw Brothers films -- young, cocky fighter pursues fame and victory, discovers the tragic price of glory, hides out in the country, learns the spiritual side of beating people up, returns to face his enemies and confront his inner demons.

Although "Fearless" does gain some points for being based on actual events, however loosely, it nevertheless carries little dramatic weight and has an inherently predictable narrative which illustrates quite neatly why Li has chosen to move away from such roles. This, of course is a criticism which can be aimed at the vast majority of genre films and, whilst offering nothing new, "Fearless" at least tells the traditional tale with a good amount of heart, and though it gives little genuine insight into its central protagonist, it makes for inspirational and unexpectedly moving viewing. In this way, it is difficult to see whether the sizable portion of the film which was removed would actually improve matters, as what remains is well paced, and certainly serves the purpose of what is essentially an action packed crowd pleaser rather than a deep and meaningful biopic.

Director Yu thankfully shows a steadier hand here than he has of late, and manages to balance the different aspects of the film very well. Although much of the narrative is concerned with tragedy and oppression, Yu manages to work in a number of light hearted touches, some of which are quite amusing. Visually, "Fearless" is a handsome affair, with some wonderfully ornate sets and gorgeous scenery providing a perfect backdrop which imbues the proceedings with a sure sense of place.

The film's main strength is its awesome fight scenes, expertly choreographed by genre master Yuen Woo Ping. The frequent battles are breathtaking, fast, and strangely elegant despite being filled with snapping limbs and spraying blood. Although at times slightly marred by gimmicky set ups, these moments lend the film a brutal air of realism which has often been lacking in the genre. The action scenes dominate the film and make up for a fair amount of its running time, which is a definite bonus for Western viewers worried about the lack of English subtitles.

Although it may have its faults, and is at times a little hard to take seriously, "Fearless" undeniably makes for great entertainment. Wearing its heart on its sleeve, with a sincere sense of both national and personal pride, it makes for a rousing experience likely to be enjoyed by all viewers.

[dawson99]

I saw the departed yesterday. film of the year so far by far. brilliantly acted and scripted. i only put it here as its a remake of inFernal affairs. Saw it in Odean. £14 a ticket but best cinema in the UK

also, woof, have u seen princess aurora? Just brought it from cinema store, cost me £30 so it better be good!

[woof woof !]

Got departed on dvd    the other day . A very decent remake, big names puttin' in some good performances but somehow I still preferred the chinese original . "Why Woof ?" I hear you ask The Chinese original was believable , the hollywood version was .........well........... a movie with star names and etc etc etc  .

Haven't seen or even read about Princess Aurora . I've been neglecting my asian film sites lately , gonna have to do some catching up .

HMV had a sale on recently with loads of asian film at half price , I finally got "Save the Green Planet" which I thought was hilarious , also accquired . "Brotherhhood" (korean war movie , ok) "A tale of two sisters" (horror but not really , was also ok" ) "Seven Swords" (period sword action,pretty good) and finally "Spring Summer Autumn Winter and Spring" (a korean drama set in a temple in the middle of a lake , the cinematography alone makes this movie worth owning , brilliant)

[joko]

though a bit late reading it, fearless, a must buy one i guess
i'll grab one soon
thanks for posting it woof

[woof woof !]

No problem Joko , China rocks 

I'm hoping you'll give the likes of me and Dawsino the "heads up" on film in your part of the world.

[woof woof !]

INFERNAL AFFAIRS SHOWING ON CHANNEL 4 MONDAY 6th NOV MIDNIGHT

With the cinema release of "The Departed"directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo Di Caprio,Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson, the hollywood remake of the classic chinese movie "Infernal Affairs". The original is being aired by c4 with parts 2 and 3 being shown on the Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you're only remorely interested in Asian cinema but can't be a'rsed with subtitles I nevertheless urge you to at least set your VCR to catch this one .No Kung Fu or slapstick , just a full on cop/gangster drama so good that despite attracting such star names for the remake this chinese original is still infinitely better . Watch and enjoy .



trailer

[dawson99]

Great film that woof, possibly id even say better than the departed which is my film of the year so far.

Look especially for Andy Lau and Tony Leung who show that they can cut it with the best.

andy Lau some of you will know from house of flying daggers and also from a film called ong woo which im desperate for other people to see.

tony Leung is the leader of asian film at the moment taking part in everything from hero, 2046 and tokyo raiders.

You wont even realise there are subtitles after a while. Infernal affairs 2 is a slightly messier affairwith the young edison cheng taking over affairs (also seen in gong wu and dead or alive 2...oh and a cameo in the medallion)

[dawson99]

one for the real fans:

Orora gongju (princess Aurora)

woof woof, you will love this. have u seen lady vengeance yet?
Well this film cost me 30 and i had never heard of it. But the guy who works in the cinema store in london has never let me down so i gave this a go... and its fantastic!!!

It is so hard to watch at times, but i was literally clapping my hands at other points. Its clever, slickly made and is not dumbed down. look it up

[woof woof !]

Got "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance " last year Dawsino ( brilliant film) .
thanks for the heads up on Orora gongju (princess Aurora)   

[Judge]

just watched Ong Bak and warrier king.

fantastic films starring tony jaa

[dawson99]

tony jaa is just a genius, in ong back where he knees someone and brings his knee about a foot over his head... just should be impossible but no camera tricks in that one

[Judge]

what about when he jumps thru the barbed wire. amazing

[woof woof !]

Not entirely an "Asian" film but the trailer and reviews for "Letters from Iwo Jima " look very very good.

Directed by Clint Eastwood it's the battle of Iwo Jima seen from the japanese side .

review from Rolling Stone

Having just won the Best Picture prize from the National Board of Review, Clint Eastwood's intimate epic Letters From Iwo Jima enters the Oscar race with banners flying, which is a good thing. The director's Flags of Our Fathers had to suffer the alleged indignity of being a box-office underperformer, as if that says anything about quality.

And Letters is quality from first frame to last, a war film that is almost a tone poem in how it reveals the minds and secret hearts of the Japanese soldiers defending the volcanic island of Iwo Jima against American forces over forty days of battle in 1945.

Working from a screenplay by Iris Yamashita (her first), Eastwood's companion film to Flags burrows deeply into Japanese culture, starting with Lt. Gen. Tadamichi (the soulful Ken Watanabe), once an envoy to the U.S., who led the defense and came up with the controversial plan to tunnel the island (eighteen miles' worth) and dig caves to take on the American forces that far outnumbered them.

Eastwood's direction here is a thing of beauty, blending the ferocity of the classic films of Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai) with the delicacy and unblinking gaze of Yasujiro Ozu (Tokyo Story). Characters are drawn with striking nuance and tender feeling, be they Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya), the baker who dreams of seeing his wife and baby, or Baron Nishi (Tsuyoshi Ihara), an Olympic equestrian who brings his horse to the island.

The scenes of combat, shot in desaturated color on the beaches of Iceland by the gifted Tom Stern and edited with grit and grace by Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach, gain in terror and complexity from what we learn of these men. We watch in horror as soldiers bang their helmets with live grenades, preferring suicide to surrender. Eastwood's film burns into the memory by striving for authentic detail. The result is unique and unforgettable.

(CNN brief)
Clint Eastwood's reverse angle on the brutal battle for Iwo Jima is a remarkable companion piece to "Flags of Our Fathers," and the better of the two films. It is also the only American movie of the year I won't hesitate to call a masterpiece.

trailer



Any of our north american members seen it yet ? Not released in uk till end of Feb .
Can't wait .