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Reviews
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)
Started ok, but after 2rd episode its does not look good...
(This are base on first 5 episode.)
+good thing about the show: If you are see Kurt Russell, yes he is here. After 5 episode, his time on screen is about 15min at most. Okk,maybe 20min!
+"Past" is actually very interesting
BUT!
-If you come to see the monsters, there is minimal of that.
-If you are here for global conspiracy or more backstory about interesting and mystery's organization, Sorry, there is quite minimal time use on them in the show.
AND!
-If you come to see two adult with some serious daddy issue, you are in the right place!
-If you want to see a couple that has separated having issue and one of them seem to start a new relation with previously one's sister, you are in the right place!
Its not actors fault, when script suck this bad....
Halo (2022)
Scifi...this is, Halo...this is not.
I didn't like this show,because as I see it, its just average scifi show under the skin of Halo. Kind question why the need to buy IP, if studio is going to skip over most of Halo lore anyway.
What I actually do find very interesting about this show, is the fact On IMDB the show got 27.6% 10star with 10,422 vote. That very high for scifi show. Comparable to shows like Star Trek DS9!
Ba bai (2020)
Human, War and Nationalism
9/10
(Have spoiler!!!!)
I am ethnic chinese so maybe I am not as unbias as I think I am on this film. :)
There are 2 things I think viewer should understand and know before going to watch this film:
1. This is a film definite have nationalism tone, it did not try to hide it. But its not political propaganda film of political party. Its the first mainland chinese major warmovie production that is entirely about Nationalist Chinese troops(Many may know them as Republic of China), and its entirely positive! It also almost have ZERO input about CCP and its troops (well,other then the end film text has few lines). So I think this is NOT a propaganda film, well not one for pro-Beijing at least, as it almost go entirely against Beijing's traditional teaching of Sino-Japanese war.
2. This is war movie, not documentary. I see people complain about how few Nationalist soldier actually had die in the real battle compare to this film's. Well its entertainment film, its base of real event, and like many real event, the "real thing" are not full of actions and cant "get your blood bumping" so to speak. Also one thing I hope people watching this film will remember, this battle is part of Battle for Shanghai. Which fall to Imperial Japanese army after Nationalist had loost 4000men(KIA), also with 10 000-20 000civilian deaths. Also Japanese loses was quite high for the period, about 3000, reason likely been Nationalist chinese government had use its best but few in numbers German trained and armed division in this battle. So I think the film maker taking the dramatic license's and exaggerate this battle's scale should be forgiven.
On of the most traumatic and dramatic about the film is it's setup, which is base on real event. Consider this, your nation is under attack by superior enemy force. Youre luckily to be stand in safe area own by other foreign power within in your own nation, which is bit odd in its self. As you stand in lively street of Shanghai that are full of life and entertainment, and as you look across the river, your nation burns on the other side, with street full of death and you watch as your nation's troops are battle a loosing battle and try to desperately hold on in a small piece of land. It must be a Surreal feeling for anyone that was there.
+Film overall is well made, many scenes are beautiful, sad but beutiful. The shot of street full of entertainment and war torn battlefield across the river is stunning. The surreal feeling is there.
+Most actors didnt over played, which sometime happens in chinese warfilms, which can cause the "hero" to sound/look like a clown.
+Major plus to many soldiers speaking local dialect of chinese language. As at that time, the mandarin chinese was not set as official dialect yet(not enforced in schools).
+Most battle scene are well plan and filmed. Its plus many battle scene are build as the survivors of that battle and people across that river have told after the war. Including the famous scene where Cheng Susheng jump off the building in to a group of japanese troops carrying a lot of hand grenades(but there was NO japanese "shield war attack" in the real battle).
+Not many over the top gun play or bullet time is plus now days.
+The major plus side of the film I think is its show off the Human side of soldiers in war. For a chinese war film and one with such clear a nationalistic tone, personally I see it as grows of chinese film industry that they did not make the invading Japanese army like all crazy monsters like typical chinese war films. And not Japanese soldiers are made out to be war crazy monster, there is one that beg for his life after been captured and is setup to be shoot. At same time not all chinese soldier were brave and heroic. Soldiers are order to use surrendered Japanese soldier as targets practice, there is the coward, there is some just want to go home.... Human side of these soldiers was well bring out.
+-The nationalism tone is quite clear,which is minus. But as this film is base on event that is its self nationalistic event, kind hard to make film with that tone....so plus minus zero on this one.
-The unkillable white horse is way too much. I am all for messaging within the film, but too much is too much.
-The plane striking the flag over and over is also bit too much. Even as it really happen, but a scene's heroism overtone is bit too much.
-Too many characters, most are bit too "Soldier A", "Soldier B". No deep at all. Also Some of characters are bit too clisse.
-In messiness of combat, some of the characters are too hard tell apart.
Mo gong (2006)
Mohism and its ethnics of war
8/10
Never read original Japanese book and its manga, so I cant say how the movie compare to original materials. But as ethnic chinese and fan of history, both Mohism(Mo schools of thought) and chinese Warring States period are quite familier subject to me. Also I am a fan of war movies in general. Content minor spoiler.
+ In general, as movie and war movie, the story is well set and moving forward at good pace, characters are interesting and easy to tell apart, visually look good and clean(which is not easy when you have alot large battle scene), battle scene well coordinated, impressively build and mostly very authentic. Some minor problem with cloth/armor, but even compare to some of much bigger budget warfilms, this one is very authentic with it's tactics, weapons and armor.
+Some might disagree, but I do think The movie did bring out the center thought of Mohism, and its struggle in a period which perfectly named as "Warring States". Same reason why they put in at end of movie that scene where Zhao-nation's general and Ge Li having philosophical dual instead of actual duel, which in my view is bit messy, but its a good try to tie up entire Mohism center philosophy of logic and rational thought in such short time(movie viewer might get bored if its too long). Movie also tries to bring out the inner conflict of a Mohist in an age of endless war, and his personal struggle to using violence to stop violence while at same time trying to promote(and make others believes) "peace and love to all".
+The King and general self-centeredness and jealous of Ge Li abilities and success is well build, but is bit too much like plot to show off Ge Li(Mohism) holiness and self-sacrifice. BUT both in a way to good way to show of why Mohism (and others schools of thought from Warring States period) lost to Confucianism. In a age of Kings and Generals that seek hold on to one's own power and to seek one's personal glory at cost of "the little people" or the common men, Elite class is of course NOT going to like of Mohism survived!
-Female general seem quite odd, while its not impossible in that period(endless war and before the rise of Confucianism), but still seem a bit out place.
-Major minus come from Hot-air balloon carrying troop, which is just way too ridiculous! The basic hot air balloon come to use in China around 200-350years later(as earliest possible source claims). This is a major and totally pointless add-on in to an otherwise very good and historic authentic war movie, which is very really disappointing choice by film maker.
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
A new Star Trek
First of all, I like this one. More then Discovery. It's definitely not a traditional Star Trek show, but I bet they did this because there is already the Discovery(show) going on as "traditional" version of Star Trek. This one is more real, more connecting with reality, and storyline in a way much more like TNG then Voyager or DS9, but with interesting enough subplot(of both UFP internal politics and galactic politics). Writing is great, acting and dialogue are also super. There seem to have a habit to put some "action" in to every episode(on 6 now), I think they did this because they afraid some people might find episode lack of action boring.
One important thing I suggest every people does is watch the show and form your own opinions! There seem to some type review bombing going on here(and same ppl keep saying Picard shows numbers has be manipulated,lol!), now days one cant really trust review numbers any more. But I like that studio have the balls to try something new. Same was like DS9, breaking the illusion of perfect paradise. But you will get some heat and hate because the different way you go.
Also there seem to disturbing many "review bombing" this show because the strong women in the show, and calling this show driving feminist agenda? o.O. LoL! It always hilarious when some people can be scared off by strong female characters...
Hong hai xing dong (2018)
Hollywood style Chinese War movie
Do tune off your brain for none stop action for this one.
This is a very good film if one watchs this as purely WAR movie! Just like watching Black Hawk Down, if you like that one, most likely You will like this one too.
Chinese film, specially military war films are catching up with Hollywood. And in many way, learning the both good and bad from it.
+All the military Gears looks great.
+Most of the combat scene, and there is ALOT of it, and damn, they look great! I would said 85% looks real and most part believable. Many the tactics and small details are very well done and not many mistakes in action parts. And you know where all the budget had gone to. Not to the script that is for sure!
+Political overtone and nationalistic tone is WAY WAY less then one would expect from a Chinese military movie(and specially consider this film is made with the help of Chinese military). I would go on to say, that person that says this movie is propaganda movie or too nationalistic, are just watching this for the wrong reason, they are watching this TO HATE it! As if this is classified as Propaganda films, I would say last 20 years of Hollywood war movie should also be classified as one too.
+I like those part of hints that Chinese officer corp members are too stiff to change.
+It's also very nice for the film to actually bring out the Chinese military's interpersonal culture, which just like Asian interpersonal culture in general, that is very different then The west and specially to the US.
There some bad, even if one watch this as war movie.
-Basically the plot is just there to have a reason to SHOOT Guns, big and small ones. Sure, it is "base" on real event. But it should said:It was "base VERY VERY loosely on real event"!
-The "Only" good guys are the Chinese guys, "The Savior" complex and Chinese style political correctness is just funny to watch. Ofc Hollywood movies also do have those in many it's films. Not that one actually expecting these things are not in the film, but minus from a film geeks point of view anyway!
-There is some Chinese style political message and propaganda message in it, not that much, but still it's there and it's ofc minus!
Zhan lang II (2017)
"Chinese Rambo II"
7/10 for the cast.
5/10 for CGI
8/10 for Action
5/10 for Plot/acting
This movie is purely a chinese rambo film, it should be watch as one. This is better then the first one, specially the action part. Don't worry about what some people call propaganda in this. Unless one consider Black Hawk Down a political or Propaganda film, you would enjoy this just fine. Do turn your brain to half power just like Transformer-film or Fast and Furious Films!
The film over all, bring to mind The Rambo 3. There isn't that much political and social message like in First Blood(rambo 1), well it is a chinese action movie. Action is ofc better now days, and for the most part Hollywood style, look's good, just don't think about it too much. And ofc just like Asian action movie in general, it has more Hand to Hand combat then Hollywood movies.
CGI sucked. Most likely because they use all the money to get real "toys" to film. Which in many ways good. As all "toys" look's good.
Cast and plot was as usual, nothing really that stand out if you watch this as Action films. Well, acting was better then Transformers, but hey, you go for giant robot on that one, and in this one, you come to see guns and tanks and alot fist flying. Don't expect much on this too parts!
There is quite less of nationalistic over tone like the first one. I won't rate this even close to as a propaganda film, simple because it cast Chinese guy as good guy, and paint a "ok" but "savior" picture of Chinese military. Unless we also consider Rambo 3, Black Hawk down and most of Hollywood made action film are also propaganda films. But yes, there are few typical political message in it, about Chinese been the good guys here, but overall the nationalistic tone is much much less then what you expect from a war movies(And just like US war movie, if you want Military to help you make film, you can't really make military look like morons in it or make the country look bad). And also there are quite few chinese bad guys also in it.
And no there is no anti-america sentiment in this movie. Only few line and one scene that may consider Anti-US, but even in those few lines, the dialog was made as joke not real Anti-US. "Why aren't US marine come to save you?",.... "How did you contact them? " "....By Tweeting them!". o.O
Bu er shen tan (2013)
Fun Movie with insane large famous Asian/Chinese superstar cast
Badges of Fury is a fun movie, even it mark as "action" and has the name of "detective" in it. This should be seen as a purely comedy film, with over the top tone and style of old 80/90's comedy films. If you didn't like those films, you won't like this one!
One of the major selling point of this Movie other then it's old comedy style, is the fact this movie have a huge cast of famous (mostly)chinese stars! Most just on screen as cameo. And there is quite few funny easter eggs and references to other movies. But as with it's star cast, most of these target are Asian pop culture. If you don't follow Asian pop culture, you woun't get most of the jokes and sarcastic lines/remarks.
The main cast is very good. The lady's are main source of real acting in this movie, two main male lead is more and less just there to have fun and making jokes(some land and quite few missed).
Plot is actually good for this type of movie. Well, it was better then I hoped. Just remember don't take this movie too seriously, you will enjoy it just fine.