johnlewis's Reviews

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

5/10

Death Star part deux meets Vader pert deux-action action action!!!

1 January 2016

Warning: Spoilers

Very minimal spoiler alert, but not very much. Let's start with the positive. Hmmm, well I tried. Oh- OK, the two new young lead actors are likable and have their hearts in the story. The problem with them is the same problem the movie has- there isn't much of a story. Also the action is exciting and entertaining, with a few pauses of a very basic story: boy meets girl, girl saves boy, boy saves girl, girl saves... aack! But I actually enjoyed watching the movie because it had enough twists and turns to make watching fun. Abrams did improve on the Star Trek hyper-action-no-personality-acting problem (found in ST) by allowing the two lead actors and Harrison Ford to talk enough to make them likable to the audience, unlike the plastic acting in ST. In short, the best news about this movie is that it is not the same degree of letdown as the new Star Trek movies (at least to me, but other reviews have said otherwise).

Well, that is my positive review part. By necessity a few problems have already been mentioned. The biggest problem is this is a rather exhaustive rehash, poorly done, of the first original Star Wars. As a result, it contains all of the problems, but few if any of the innovations of the original SW (episode IV). The MAIN POINT of Star Wars IV (the first original film) was the mythical allusions and references to other classic movies. Such an idea is TOTALLY missing from the new movie! Why? Would that be hard? Duh! A six year old could think of a few, but Abrams did not think of one. (Maybe I am wrong, and got distracted by all the action going on.) Instead, original plot elements of Episode 4 (the first Star Wars) are inserted in roughly the same order but without any new or old mythical references or allusions (that I could see; I will try again when I watch it someday without the horrible 3-D glasses that take out most of the color). The flight attack sequences are truly cringe-worthy due to the borrowed dialog from the first movie. This is unforgivable. The heroic trio are all that save this movie from being a disaster (Ridley, Boyega, and Harrison). Those three are fun to watch and listen to (in the few times they are allowed to talk). However, the premise of Boyega's (Finn's) conversion story, which makes up the first segment, is not really possible or rational; and no reason for this implausibility is given or implied. It just hangs there through the whole movie. But this isn't the actor's fault, just bad screen writing.

Other problems, the super-villain Sith projection "Supreme Leader" (to me he looks like a giant computer generated character very similar to Golem in LOTR) has no mystery at all, and the Vader replacement Kylo Ren is not much better as a story element (although the actor Adam Driver does some good acting). The only mystery about Supreme Leader is it is hard to figure out if he is supposed to be a giant projection, or a giant person, which has nothing to do with the plot; this question is only a distraction and a technical issue I would rather not have noticed.

It should also be noted that probably this movie will appeal to younger crowds because of the extreme action and computer generated game atmosphere. I can't be too sure of this, and hope I am wrong. There is a lot of nostalgia thrown in haphazardly which might appeal to some older people. It did not to me, but may be partly why I enjoyed this as an entertainment movie. Besides this being too much imitation, the other big problem is such small amount of creativity in the narrative. Star Wars is all about narrative- stories. This movie is missing that. I can imagine a hundred stories better than this for sequels, and I don't even write stories. This movie is purely about generating money, no other motive involved except for the new actors, whose hearts and enthusiasm with their parts saved this from being a bad movie, with the help from a good mentor Harrison.

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Owls' Castle (1999)

9/10

Japan feudalism and culture from a Japanese perspective- a masterpiece

22 December 2012

This is a serious film made for Japanese people, not an action-drama made for Americans. When will Americans stop thinking that we have an inherently superior culture? We don't. No one does. Life imitates art, and the Japanese people are a serious people, but know how to play hard too. This movie has both serious elements throughout, and a playful morality play some of the time, and part action too. Fukurou no Shiro has many deep elements of drama and film greatness- too many to cover in such a short review. A few of these deep elements are intense art, intense scenery and props, and an intense subliminal story of great depth. Even more than all these, the film and its story reveal a great deal about Japanese people and culture. Some reviews keep repeating "too reserved", but this is one of the most crucial aspects of real Japanese culture in existence. If this movie is for the Japanese people to enjoy fully, then it will have to be a reserved story. The pace is also slow. So what? That is to tell a story, not to produce a fast plot. The art of storytelling is the oldest and most refined art in existence. It takes time to tell a good story. The art in this film is fabulous, as is the scenery. The meticulous detail in many of the outdoor scenes is astounding. No other country could do this- I am sure of this. It would take too much time. Here is a revelation for those in the west: art has no time limit. Art is limitless, as close to eternal as any human endeavor can be- so it can sometimes best be expressed not in a rush. The same goes for people's personalities. While it can be said that most of the characters are somewhat two dimensional, at the same time, some of the core characters portray layers of complexity, and a few of the political leaders are able to do this as well even given only a few minutes of screen time. The morality plays are kept subdued and minimal, but the core elements of those are persistent as the determination of the lead character to complete his job. Two of these lessons are: traitors are not forgiven, and a person with integrity will stick with a task if an important one, or if he or she has given a commitment to do it. Loyalty to the clan is also important (a component of lesson no. 1). This film from the late 1990s is perhaps a culmination of a proud people that long ago completed a major rebound after a long emergence from feudalism; and has realized there are core elements of Japanese culture that are impossible for others to imitate, but if they could it would benefit them. The need to imitate western culture has passed. With art and drama this good, Japan culture is accurately portrayed as fully relevant to itself, complete, something profound and significant in the world, and an example of integrity for other cultures.

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Human Highway (1982)

7/10

Makes the Three Stooges look kinda like a Norman Rockwell painting.

12 January 2007

One of the most unusual movies I have ever seen. Makes the three stooges look like total normalcy. Neil Young and the Devo members are in this a lot. This is a musical comedy, but not like one you have ever seen. Imagine an apocalyptic LSD trip after OD-ing on candycane and reading a playboy. No, that's not it either. Well, this is totally indescribable, but I will try. Imagine an alternate history where sometime in the 1960s or 70s, the world has gone gung-ho full blown nuclear everything. Kind of like Iran wants to be now. Just imagine the whole world like that- especially the USA. Most of the action or story takes place in a small combination gas station-diner. Yes, combination gas-station diner. Dean Stockwell is the owner. He is the straight man in the film, and is a hoot. Dennis Hopper plays two or three different characters. But the main focus is on Neil Young as a goofy, not too bright, very incompetent auto-mechanic. Yes, I forgot to mention there is a car repair garage at this combination gas station-diner. Walk inside the diner, and it looks bigger on the inside- like a full blown regular diner with sexy waitresses and a grumpy but amenable cook (Dennis Hopper) and all the usual eclectic customers. The band Devo works and plays music at the local Nuclear Power Plant down the street from the diner-gas station-garage. They wear day-glow radiation orange work clothes and strange looking nose tubes instead of masks. They play guitars with thick rubber gloves. OK-well that's enough description for now. Please-please if you do not have a very strange sense of humor, do not watch this movie. For some strange reasons I can hardly fathom (not), this film has not been available except on a rare laserdisc or OOP VHS not usually seen around much. However, this can be found in DVD form if you search hard enough on the internet.

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Boys Are Easy (1993)

8/10

Three top billing HK actresses together with Wong Jing directing-fabulous!

26 November 2006

This is a great action comedy with that wonderful rare combination of film categories Hong Kong films were so famous for during the early 1990s. Spectacular action combines with outrageous comedy and romance in this spoof of almost everything. This makes similar US romantic situation comedy films look very slow and boring by comparison. Maggie Cheung, Chingmy Yau, and Brigitte Lin are all fabulous, as is Ekin Cheng, Tony Leung Kar Fai and Jackie Cheung. Three sisters decide to get some temporary boyfriends when they think they have discovered their widower dad has terminal cancer with only a month to live. Brigitte Lin is a masculine, abusive, violent cop, who picks a high paid gigolo because she can control, beat, and threaten him to behave. Maggie Cheung is a naive, sweet optimist who accidentally picks a real lowlife very crude low-level sociopath gangster. She thinks he is great, and overlooks all his defects. Chingmy is the younger sexy sister who thinks she is picking a virgin. All three situations are insanely funny and combine for even more insanity when they all get together in the house to meet their dad. The Triad Olympics scene is especially funny- possibly a spoof of special Olympics. Throw your taste out the window, and prepare to witness things you have never seen before when watching this truly outrageous action-comedy directed by Wong Jing. Look for the uncut version on laserdisc if you can- for even more outrageousness.

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Hong Kong Night Club (1997)

8/10

English title is Hong Kong Night Club - good action comedy

30 April 2006

This is an unusual Japan/Hong Kong collaboration. Japanese director Tayayoshi Watanabe creates a great action comedy much funnier and with better action and music track than most Hong Kong films instead of typical HK slapstick. Hong Kong Night Club is more like a decent Japan or American action comedy. Also there is a gay interest story mixed into a hetero romantic triangle. The story involves two investigative Japanese reporters who arrive just before the 1997 Hong Kong hand-over to China. They are investigating Triad involvement in the new, soon to be China owned Hong Kong. Since the triads are so prevalent, they end up getting more involved than they wanted, and are running for their lives from the gangsters who do not want to be reported about. This is a very entertaining movie, and not just the usual fare. Since the two lead roles are Japanese, most of the dialog is in Japanese, with a lot of Cantonese spoken by the other Hong Kong actors.

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Howaitoauto (2000)

10/10

Perseverance- David vs Goliath gang

29 April 2006

This is an astounding action movie. Similar to Die Hard, but in some ways better (if you like Japan films). The lead character is more likable, for one thing. He is just an ordinary guy- not heroic nor an ex-cop. He gets injured and is placed in an extraordinary situation- as a lone fighter against a ruthless gang of terrorists who have seized HIS dam. The only things he has going for him are his intricate knowledge of the dam, plus a deep-seated fear of not being a coward (as he was misunderstood during a past failed rescue where his co-worker froze to death). This combination brings out a desperation that drives him beyond his pain and beyond his normal abilities. The terrorists are lead by a genius who has everything well planned, his gang is loaded with big guns, and the odds are overwhelming against the dam worker turned hero. This is a real classic action movie- one of the best ever made (if you like Japan films).

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Magic Sword (1993)

9/10

Gorgeous period action drama-confusion and magic prevail

26 February 2005

This classical-style drama has plenty of action as well as lush scenery and intricate detail of the period. The story is about a vendetta between some warlord kings in China. One king attempts to develop swords of steel which would not break as did the iron swords of the time period. The king's ruthless methods of ruling embitter his sword smith and his wife to turn against the king and plot his fall. The swordsman's wife jumps into the furnace pot to give the swords to be cast the power of a human soul, thus a magic sword will be formed. Then the sword smith cuts his arm and spills some of his own blood into the cauldron to give a sword his life and soul. Their essences then become two swords after they are formed. She transforms into herself and other creatures when confronted by the king. The sword smith is still alive, but his sword later appears and transforms him as well. This is just an amazing story too convoluted to explain in a paragraph or two, but it is fascinating to watch it unfold. The scenery, costumes, and props in this film are really gorgeous. And it is well acted and directed. Shan-si Ting is the director, a sometimes overlooked Hong Kong director who also made the excellent fantasy action film The Beheaded 1000. He just excels in the exaggerated and fantastic, which he does so well in both films.

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Ocean's Twelve (2004)

1/10

An Empty Shell Game with the viewing audience as the mark.

20 December 2004

I usually try to keep silent about movies I really disliked, but this one goes too far, and seems to be getting off the hook with both the public and reviewers. The two main problems this film had were: 1. The plot, tension, action, and every other feature possible were vastly inferior to the Oceans 11 remake from two years ago. That movie was also on the light and fluffy side of things, but at least it had some real thriller elements and some good solid action to fill out the plot holes. This film has almost no action, no tension (this is not a thriller), and the characters are obviously all just rich actors sitting around BSing (reading their script), admittedly having a great time doing so, but...

Which leads into point #2: this is a very boring film. This is why I have never written a review like this. Every time someone else reviews a film I liked, and calls it boring, I feel that the review is unfair and should not have been written by that person since they obviously don't like the particular genre. The problem is I love flawed but interesting action thrillers like Ocean 11 (both original and the remake). O-12 had far too much dialog from these gleeful stars. The so called brilliance of the two ringleaders George Clooney and Brad Pitt was so trite and unbelievable. The things they could find out about totally unknown identities of other crime figures were ridiculous. None of the lead roles demonstrated the least bit of superior intelligence in anything they said or did, except possibly Katherine Z-J, but she wasn't a criminal, so what is the point?

Finally, the Julia Roberts thing was a travesty. I just hated it. It wasn't funny. It was only an empty shell game, and the only mark was the entire theatre audience for wasting $6 or $8 on such an empty movie. This whole film was like a loose, very weak imitation of The Spanish Prisoner. Since all the crooks had no brains, it was totally unbelievable and boring.

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Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997)

8/10

Widescreen not-dubbed Mandarin version is much improved.

28 October 2004

It is understandable that some reviewers got such a poor impression of this film, because the commonly available China Star DVD (found at Best Buy et all) has a horrid Cantonese dub language track, and for some odd reason also has a poor Mandarin dub. It is also cropped badly (pan and scan). But the language problem is the most glaring enjoyment inhibitor, totally ruining the humor and timing of this very enjoyable western spoof/martial arts action flick. This film was actually filmed with live mikes right here in Texas, in live Mandarin, English, and some Cantonese. This original track is only found in the rare official Taiwan DVD from Thunder Media. The action and stunt-work in this film is almost the eighth wonder of the world. The things Jet Li does with his fighting and acrobatic skills are truly amazing. Great story, too. Very humorous in places- also being a spoof of the Once Upon a Time in China series in general. Since many of the stunts are rather large scale, the widescreen really helps also. Plenty has been said here about the story itself, so I don't need to add much. I agree this is not on the same level as the first two Once Upon a Time in China movies, but really neither is the third. I would rank this almost as good as OUATIC3, if viewed with the original soundtrack and aspect ratio.

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Mary from Beijing (1992)

8/10

A traditional, believable, compelling romantic drama.

27 June 2004

One thing that makes this film stand out and be so enjoyable to watch is that Hollywood stopped making traditional romantic dramas without sex decades ago. Something else that stands out is Gong Li's classic beauty and acting skills, both of which elevate this story to a much higher level than any skinnier, less graceful Chinese actress could have done. Her facial twitches are sometimes rather clichéd, but only because we see them in every film she plays in. It is certainly no worse than Humphry Bogart's ear fidgeting (and much more pleasing to watch). Sylvia Chang has done a wonderful job with this screenplay and her directing. The story just grabs the viewer. I only intended to watch the laser disc for a few minutes to see what the movie was like, and I could not stop watching until the end credits. The camera work by Christopher Doyle brings us much closer to the main characters than a more textbook approach would have. Even the use of extras was amazingly real (not the usual street ad-libbed Hong Kong crowd shuffling junk with people looking at the camera).

This film is an excellent romantic drama about a beautiful "kept woman" who wants to make a real life in Hong Kong, but her boyfriend refuses to introduce her to his father or admit her existence to his family. Also he doesn't want her to work, but she is really bored with her life and the seemingly endless status quo. He also doesn't contact her for days at a time nearly every week. The Hong Kong government won't give her a work ID card without hard proof that she really was born in Hong Kong. Her parents had lived there, but moved to the mainland right after she was born (she grew up in Beijing).

After a while, she meets a handsome next door neighbor who befriends her, and they gradually grow into a close friendship, then more. He shows her more concern and sensitivity at first when his motives are just to be a good neighbor, than her boyfriend does as a fiancé and lover (who won't commit).

Sylvia Chang is one of the most skilled directors and screenwriters in Hong Kong or Taiwan, not to a mention prolific Hong Kong actress. She deserves much more recognition and credit than she seems to get. To me, her films seem to be on a similar level of the greatest Taiwan contemporary directors like Edward Yang and HHH. Because her stories are more traditional, and the fact she is a woman in a man's job (according to the male-dominated Hong Kong and world film cultures)- she seems not to be often viewed that way by the film industry or reviewers. She doesn't use gimmicks, slick effects, or trendy camera work. She just knows how to make people in ordinary situations seem extraordinary.

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Wonderful Days (2003)

10/10

Wonderful science fiction thriller good as live action.

1 May 2004

To me, Wonderful Days is more like a feature film than anime; I guess because the scenery often looks so real. I had the opposite experience of some. I was expecting a good quality SF anime. Problem is I really don't like SF anime, because of the formulaic plots, emphasis on action, juvenile dialog, and 2-dimensional characters. So I was expecting to be very disappointed. I put off watching the DVD for two weeks. I like Science Fiction films very much, but those are almost extinct in Hollywood. I like Blade Runner, William Gibson stories (Johnny Mnemonic and Neuromancer which never got released), and thought Star Wars was just OK-but at least was very entertaining. I was nearly floored by how much I liked this film. What makes Wonderful Days so good is the great screenplay, directing, and yes acting. But the real topper is the realism of the artwork- mainly the scenery. There are a lot of metallic objects and walls, etc. Only the people seem more hand drawn, but that is OK, because with all the surroundings, the cartoon aspect of the humans kind of gets forgotten, because the story is so absorbing (to me). Kind of like in a surreal dream, but one that seems so identical to real life that you can feel your own skin. Simply put- this is a good science fiction thriller with some action-but not all action. Some of this reminded me of Blade Runner, other things were reminiscent of Star Wars. Another aspect of Wonderful Days that enhances further is the Miyazaki factor. Wonderful Days has a similar environmentalist message as some films like Nausicaa of Valley of the Wind, and Princess Mononoke. I think the success of this film also lies partly in the simple, but suspenseful story, and with some good character development, such as Blade Runner had.

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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

10/10

This has a perfection about it.

13 March 2004

I have read cliched comments about some other supposedly special anime- how fantastic the artwork was drawn. Until I saw this film, I never really agreed when I watched those anime that were raved about the art. Even though I haven't ever heard anything about this anime film, I can imagine the same kind of acclaim about the art. Well, in this case, I really do have to rave about the artwork. In Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds, the paintings, story, and music soundtrack combine to form a whole much greater than the sum of the parts. But of all the parts, the artwork and animation was by far the most creative and magnificent art paintings of any feature length animation I've ever watched. This is how science fiction fantasy should be done with anime: soft, flowing plantlife and alien landscapes, not the sharp, hard edges of artificial metal worlds. Humans trying to survive at the most basic levels- as they have for thousands of years, not some cool, hip, fake society. The story was very precious and entertaining. 117 minutes seemed like less than an hour to me. No, this anime wasn't perfect, but it was the closest thing to perfect I have ever seen in a feature animation. This is probably one of the greatest feature animations ever made, and I do not think it can ever be surpassed in our lifetime, because the current trend is more toward the slick and superficial, just as in other mainstream films.

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Joe Gould's Secret (2000)

9/10

Outstanding drama- two great actors- the mystery continues.

18 November 2003

Starring one of the best actors in the world, Ian Holm; and Stanley Tucci, who also does a great job in this period drama based on a true story about one of the most unusual New York writers in modern history (Joe Mitchell), and his attempt to write a feature story on one of New York's most notable philosopher characters- a street person who is well-known in writer circles. Joe Gould claims to have written a massive volume that is the complete history of the world based on countless conversations he has heard from people- overheard in the street, and in conversations with friends and strangers. It is never revealed whether Gould really ever had such a manuscript, or if he was a total hoax- possibly somewhere in between. But the effect he has on Joe Mitchell (an actual top feature writer for the New Yorker during the 1940s), is profound. This is an outstanding drama- one of the best of a couple years ago (2000). <p>As reported on NPR after this film release, Joe Mitchell later unexpectedly stopped writing anything, and became a recluse himself. He would never reveal Joe Gould's secret to anyone. Now this film is inexplicably out of print on DVD, which adds a touch of irony to this important piece of American literary history.

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So Close (2002)

6/10

Mad action mixed with slow romance gets mixed results.

13 May 2003

The first 25 minutes were really boring to me. I just could not get interested in anything going on. No trouble understanding it from the adequate subtitles. Shu Qi's long, boring face shots just don't do much for me or stir any emotional involvement in the storyline, which seems to be the reason for so many of them. Then I realized I was listening to a poorly dubbed Cantonese soundtrack. After switching to the original Mandarin, things started getting more watchable, and by the second half- quite enjoyable after the action picked up a few notches. The weak points of this film are the shallow story- many aspects. The most outstanding is the computer wiz stuff which was typical Hong Kong stupid with ridiculous ideas about computer virus and hackers. No basis on real technology at all- I mean none of it! On to the good stuff: action, action, action. Cory Yeun does know how to direct that. Once Shu Qi was not the principle action figure (after the other two women began participating more, and she less), the action improved a lot. She just isn't very good at it, but the other two women are. Then as the story got a little more complicated in the last third, it finally pulled me in with some good suspense; then the action picked up to a manic higher notch. So overall, a fair action film. Not better than Charlie's Angels. But it is better than the latest James Bond disaster.

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Web of Deception (1989)

7/10

Suspenseful murder thriller. Great actresses.

15 January 2003

This obscure film is actually a pretty good B movie - murder suspense-thriller. But if one does not like extremely manipulative plot techniques, then it is best to stay away from this one, because it will leave you groaning most of the way through. Brigitte Lin and Joey Wang are to me the best Hong Kong actresses in recent years. All the current young things are no comparison at all in acting ability. They don't get much chance to show off these skills since the plot is so contrived, but they still pull it off to a good degree. Joey Wang plays a doppelganger twin sisters (one very good, the other very bad), Lin plays a domineering business executive who is being blackmailed by her most trusted secretary. All this leads to an accidental murder, and attempted coverup. It's all really great fun when taken tongue in cheek. (Though very serious.) I recommend this film to fans of either actress, or to those who like circa-1980s (USA) manipulative TV movies, which this is in that genre.

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Pola X (1999)

10/10

Probably one of Carax's best films

4 January 2003

I've tried to reconcile why so many bad reviews of this film, while the vast majority of reviews are given a rating of between 7 and 10. The reason may be this film is kind of hard to describe in a positive review, although a few have done that quite nicely already. This film is confusing, depressing, and doesn't have a happy ending. I still gave Pola X a rating of 10, because it is basically for me literature and art combined on film. That is really my favorite kind of filmmaking. I've only seen two of Carax's films: this one and Mauvis Sang. As with this film, I'm being somewhat pretentious when I call this one of Carax's best films- but I am. Carax has a minimalist style. If that type of film does not appeal to you and is boring, then it would be best not to watch this. But Pola X was less minimalist than Mauvis Sang, so it had quite a lot of intensity for a thriller- at least for my taste. I found it quite interesting and absorbing. The two lead roles did an excellent job acting. (I mean the lead and the young woman he thought was his half sister.) Catherine D. is always great, but her role was not very large or significant in the story. But everyone did a fine job. I thought the cult stuff was great. It may have not been very believable, but that is due to its being rather abstract. There is a lot going on between the lines in this film. This is a very Freudian psycho-thriller.

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Gangs of New York (2002)

8/10

Gives new meaning to the term "Melting Pot". As in Heat.

28 December 2002

Not an easy film to review. First and most importantly- one that gets such an extreme mix of very bad and very good reviews deserves the truth: this is a very good film. Not one of the best of the year, but just very much above average. I hold a more balanced view of this film than most seem to. I have mixed opinions- mainly regarding the exgageration of the level of violence being so far out, that it made the whole film seem like a surreal science fiction story of an alternate universe of New York City in the mid-1800s. A little more historical accuracy would have made this film a lot more enjoyable for me personally. But if one really likes historical large epic films, this will certainly not disappoint. There are NO boring parts in this film that I can recall. The three hours does pass like three hours, because the tension is high throughout, but it sure was exciting enough and very entertaining. Gangs of New York is a real masterpiece for Martin Scorsese. He has produced so many extremely fine films, such as Kurosawa's Dreams; but most of his directoral films have not been very highly regarded. This film does break that streak. OK- here is the key to know whether or not you should see this film. First- if you cannot think of more than five long films (over 2 1/2 hours) that you have liked before, then do not see this film. In that case, one would have too short of an attention span to enjoy this movie. Second, and more importantly- is the graphic violence and carnage. It is very extreme, so if one has a low tolerance for that kind of thing, then wait for the edited video version from your local "edited video" store. As unrealistic and extreme as the violence was, Gangs of New York made me think about some important aspects of our historical roots. Like many, I'm of Irish descent. I realize why most of us know so little of our immigrant origins. The poverty, squalor, and quasi-annonymnity of that kind of existance would tend to crowd out intellectual endeavors and record keeping, and discourage telling of stories to children. "Well I remember the time my two uncles starved to death and we survived on sewer rats for three years..." Not very enjoyable to retell or recall. Another thing it made me realize was how literal the term "melting pot" really was. I had wrongly assumed before that the term meant merely genetic and social mixing. This film made me realize that it also means the violent mixing "heated up" our American pot of people. First it generated hatred, but after it cooked awhile, it fused us together and difused the hatred (at least for many). So now, many of us Americans have a tradition and heritage of tolerance, acceptance, and even closeness between races and very different cultures. Of course we are not unique, in that the whole world is now a melting pot in all the same ways and more. To sum this film up- it is very entertaining in similar ways as Speilburg and others have done before, but with added elements of greater detail and historical insight. Gangs of New York is a significant acheivement for Martin Scorsese, even if it is not the best film of the year.

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Die Another Day (2002)

3/10

See this another day, but not today ever.

12 December 2002

I Just got out of the movie an hour ago, so am still in partial shock

from the humongous big and loud special effects, and such a poor

story and directing. However, I also realize that I'm being guilty of

the same kind of ultra-biased reviewing that ticks me off, so I better

moderate myself. Actually, the first half of the film was pretty

darned good in many ways. But in the second half or maybe third,

the special effects were the star and focus of the film. I am

extremely biased against special effects-starring movies, because

they are like watching a magician that doesn't even try to hide the

secrets of his tricks. It just seems stupid and a waste of time,

causing me to lose all interest. Actually, it usually even turns to a

feeling of disgust. Anyway, I should not burden those who liked

this film so much with my personal bias. So I will try to just give my

less biased reasons for nixing this film. To review or gauge a

James Bond film, one has to compare to previous efforts. To me,

the last long segment of this movie is the worst Bond film ever- by

a longshot. The reason for this is simple- there is very little human

interaction done in a human manner. Even 007's sexual relationship with Halle Berry's character and the other girl were

merely mechanical at best! What a waste! It is the human element

that makes Bond films usually so much fun to watch. It's in the

banter. Some are very serious, others are lighter fare- but until this

sorry excuse arrived, they all had the human element in common.

It is true that some have less of this than others-maybe more

emphasis on gadgets or car chases... but I can't recall any others

with so little good human interaction- comic, serious, or anything

resembling sympathy or empathy. So about all that is left at the

end are special effects and panoramic camera shots with loud

sound effects. Madonna is a pretty good actress, but she only had

a bit part. Berry can't act her way out of a paper bag, but she gets

second billing. I do like her personality and of course she looks

so incredibly good. But she needs some more time to develop her

acting. The good part of this was the first half - because it actually

did have some good human interaction (but still too little. Why is

nothing developed between the beautiful female officer who

tortures him and Bond? Little explanation about the scorpions or

any details!) But still some good stuff occurs before and after the

torturing scenes. Having Bond become a real renegade and a truly

despised outcast was a nice touch. I've liked every Bond film that

has come before, because I am a sucker for all that stuff. However,

this one brings a new much lower standard. I'm sorry to see the

series die such a grotesque death, but maybe it will make a

comeback in the future. 007 is sure a tough nut to kill.

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Fight Club (1999)

2/10

Biggest disappointment ever seen.

23 November 2002

After reading and hearing so many good things about this movie, I

expected something slick and well written at least. What I saw was

a loose, sloppy, romanticised portrait of a sociopathic

schitzophrenic. The overall silliness of the first five minutes is an

indicator that this is not a movie to take too seriously, which is fine

if this were any kind of comedy-but it just isn't. It isn't campy, and it

isn't funny in any parts. The potential for this film was much higher

than it turned out, especially with all the great talent of so many of

the actors, and having such a unique idea for the main plot. Brad

Pitt was excellent, as were so many of the supporting actors.

Norton was not, but he had an impossible task doing something

the screenwriter and director wanted, but which was to be almost

not human at all. He was forced to be both very inhuman and

inhumane. If someone is really inhuman, it is difficult for the viewer

to empathize unless they have the same tendency of being

sociopathic. An inhumane sociopath is a fascinating film subject,

but not if they are robotic. Yes, I'm over 45, but I enjoy many kinds of youthful films, or can at

least see why they are liked. I enjoy a wide variety of artistic,

abstract, and strange films, as well as mainstream blockbusters. I

base my opinion on overall excellence, not on technical

achievement. Actually a movie this bad, but at the same time

innovative, would have benefitted from being made more low

budget, without all the expensive scenery, props and special

effects. Then it might have focused more on humans and have

better insight into the main character's condition and mind, instead

of being merely hinted at, glossed over, and romanticized. All the

good and bad things that can justifiably be said about this film, the

most truthful one that stands out the most is that it is just raw

stupidity. I realize it is a fantasy story. But that a wimp like Norton

could convince a horde of millions (all men-no women by the way,

since women in the whole world are apparatently only inanimate

sex objects) to convert to some sorry cult with no causes other

than anarchism and individual brutality, is beyond stupidity. This film does have good technical qualities and some great

acting; and it does have content. Some special effects movies

have no real content or human interaction. This does have some

good content, but it is heavily diluted with bad story writing and too

much emphasis on a selfish, unknowable character.

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The Magic Crane (1993)

10/10

Invisible lighting bolts, big boulders, and high adventure.

18 July 2002

This is a wonderful fantasy-flying-fu flick. Not too much serious, except for the occasional graphic violence and blood gushing. Other than that, the plot is loose and fun- and funny at times. The theme of adventure is high on the list. Tony Leung is especially good, as are the two female leads- and the other two male leads for that matter. Why this is rated lower than other fantasy-fu films, I have no idea. This is just as good, and better in some ways (better humor-but not too much as in so many goofy Hong Kong films). Magic Crane is less structured than most films- as was Swordsman II. The similarities to Deadly Melody are there. However, Deadly Melody was more linear. Magic Crane has the randomness and openness like Swordsman II, but is easier to follow than that film, because this story is simpler. Just a simple struggle between an evil large gang and the rest of the martial arts experts; plus a second plot of revenge between two women. The final fight scene is of a similar type as those found in other films of this time period- like Zen of Sword, and Holy Weapon. Lots of wire-work and throwing things- large things like rocks and a giant bell, and small things such as invisible energy bolts from the fingers.

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The Brother from Another Planet (1984)

10/10

Early John Sayles film made it's mark, and introduced talent

5 September 2001

I think John Sayles is one of the greatest directors in America. This is his first commercial film (still was small, independent, and low budget). While Matewan or others may have been better films, I think this is a good second place offering from such a talented director. I'm so excited that this film is finally out on DVD. I can see the facial expressions on Joe Mortons face so much clearer, it reminds me of when I saw it in the theatre over 15 years ago. This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time (out of many thousands)! It has so much in it of commentaries about American life, including of course race and cultures. But it goes much deeper than that. Wildly entertaining and funny, while also being a tense thriller at times about someone on the run from the bad authorities. The story is about a run-away slave or convict who has escaped in a spaceship and crash landed on earth, arriving on Ellis Island. A new twist on the meaning of illegal alien. He sneaks on the boat to shore and begins exploring New York City, learning fast this strange but wonderful culture (that of mid-1980s New York City- which was a wonderfully rich culture). He ends up spending some of his extra time in a run-down bar in Harlem, where the regular clientele expound the wisdom of the ages while they try to figure out who this guy is that can't talk. (Joe Morton's character has no speech capability, but manages to communicate at least as well with his facial and body gestures.) Meanwhile, the bounty hunters from space are on his trail in NYC, just missing him sometimes, but getting ever closer.

Speaking of characters- this film is full of more talent than any other film I can recall. That they did all this on a low budget just amazes me, because ALL the actors do such good acting. There is a lot of dialog in this film, and a large cast. Most of them have been in many films since, and got their start in this one. In addition to being in many of John Sayles' other films, David Strathairn has been in dozens of other recent films, and is a well-recognized face. Joe Morton played two of his most outstanding roles in this film, and in the cult movie Trouble in Mind. After that he has been in hot demand in Hollywood to this day. I just keep seeing him in movies, and he really deserves it- he is such a great actor! And the list goes on. Finally, the music sound track is just gorgeous- mostly light reggae, dub, and light jazz. Just wonderful, and now it is back in print too- on CD. Marvelous!

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Qing guo qing cheng (1975)

7/10

A very absorbing, detailed historical drama.

15 March 2001

This is a richly detailed historical drama about the infamous Empress CiXi, who ruled during the Qing dynasty. She is considered to be a traitor in Chinese history. The screenplay is not without flaws, but the film is nevertheless very absorbing to watch. Li Han Xiang is a veteran director who had a long career in China, and this was one of his later films. He directed dozens of films since the 1950s, including the famous Love Eterne in 1963.

This film was actually made in China by Zhu River Film Production Company in 1988, not in Taiwan. The language is Mandarin, not Cantonese.

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Ninja, a Band of Assassins (1962)

7/10

Confusing, but entertaining, fast paced and fun ninja flick.

21 December 2000

Warning: Spoilers

The confusion level is very high for the story, but so is the entertainment quotient. This is good fun, in a fast-paced, light drama; but without any of the goofball humour that mars later 1970s Japan samurai pulp films. The elderly leaders of two Ninja clans are actually the same person in disguise. The old man frequently changes disguises and travels to the other hideout during the night to give commands and play his role as the clan leader in each place. In one clan, he enlists and inspires one young ninja aspirant to fight for him in trying to overcome a powerful warlord who is trying to kill off all the ninjas in Japan. The young man ends up being seduced by the old man's young wife. The old man catches him and blackmails the young ninja into asassinating the warlord. One of the most interesting things about this film is watching all the now well-worn cliches of ninja behaviour and methods being introduced in this story: The old man climbs up his walls and in his attic almost like a monkey; the old string and poison assasination trick is used in one place, and some mild humour is added when one adept young ninja keeps accidentally killing small birds when trying to hit various assasination targets with his little star wheels. By the end, most of the confusion is cleared up, and I even found myself wanting to watch it again to understand more of the details. Both the evil old nina leader and the young, ambitious ninja warrior are very convincing in their roles, and are just really fun to watch. On the downside, this movie is too well-made to rate as a good B-movie, but is not really good enough quality to rate it as an "A" movie, either. So the overall feeling is that of a slightly better than mediocre grade A movie. Also, the action is spread a little thin and far between longish drama scenes. Since the drama is on the light side, there is no mesmirising effect as with a good Kurosawa yarn. Overall, however, it is still an entertaining and satisfying movie to watch from an early 1960s ninja filmmaking master.

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The Swordsman in Double Flag Town (1991)

9/10

Teen swordsman in disguise visits village in Gobi desert.

4 October 2000

This has a similar look and feel as Tsui Hark's Blade, but the story is more similar to a mix of Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Seven Samurai, with a dash of Mel Gibson's Road Warrior to balance the stew. The people in it are so primitive and expressive the story is easy to follow even without subtitles! Some aspects of the people and animals are very graphically and brutally portrayed. You will learn how horse head soup is made. A teenage boy disguised as a cripple wanders into a small walled village in the Gobi desert. The village is frequently harrassed and extorted by a gang of bandits. The teenage boy is actually a master double-swordsman. The braces he wears on his legs are actually gadgets which "eject" his sword handles up into his hands when he flips a switch on them. He travels disguised as a homeless cripple until one of the bandits tries to rape his girlfriend. It goes on from there. Awsome cinematography of the walled village and surrounding desert. Fairly decent "epic" music soundtrack.

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The Delivery (1999)

9/10

A very good, quirky, over the top action road thriller.

8 September 2000

The basic premise is ludicrous, but this movie rocks! Nice balance of drama and action, mixed with some outrageous wit and dialog. Great fun. There are two big weaknesses in the story: the requirement that the two guys make stops at certain times in certain out of the way places, and the flawed premise of the wife being held as collateral. Everything else in this movie clicks very well. I thoroughly enjoyed the ending, and yes it was way way over the top, but I like it! Very good acting and directing. I hope to see much more such excellent film making from this director.

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