Asian Cinema

dw2k6 · Post by **dw2k6** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:55 am

But its probably the worst example of a film about a monster smashing stuff up.

Bob Syko · Post by **Bob Syko** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:26 pm

Don't be silly. You might not like it but there are a lot of monster films out there that are far worse. The remake of king kong with Jeff Bridges in for example, have you ever seen beast from haunted cave? If you have and you think godzilla is worse than that then I shame you and throw fluff in your face.

I think if you watch the american version of Godzilla as a completely seperate film with nothing to do with the Japanese versions then you will enjoy it. Does it even have anything in common with the Japanese version?

dw2k6 · Post by **dw2k6** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:06 pm

Bob Syko wrote:Does it even have anything in common with the Japanese version?

Godzilla in name only.
And I have seen it, In the cinema when it first came out at 7 or 8 years old. Shite.
And now I am a Godzilla fan, I see it as offensive Shite.

James · Post by **James** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:17 am

Quite a massive resurrection here but Iâ€™ve bought a load of new films to watch so...

Welcome To Dongmakgol (Korea 2005)

Â£4.99 at PLAY - also Trailer

What with Brotherhood and The Assembly being released, the Far East is churning out some of the most explosive and epic war films ever made but Welcome To Dongmakgol is a war film with a difference. Set during the Korean War, a crashed American pilot, two South Korean and three North Korean soldiers all end up in an innocent remote village untouched by the civil war raging in the rest of the country, but it isn't long before violence threatens the peaceful village and the former enemies must band together in order to protect what has brought love to their hearts.

And I absolutely loved it. Itâ€™s a visually stunning film with both natural and CGI beauty used to create some poignant scenes mixed in with some charming comedy elements that really makes the magical village of Dongmakgol seem like heaven on earth. Much like Seven Samurai, the soldiers put aside their differences and band together to protect this dream like place from the approaching enemy, and while the action only kicks off towards the end of the film the journey there is a quite a moving experience. Even better, a lot of American viewers complained that the American army was portrayed as being violent and trigger-happy (read: realistic) and that the film comes across as being very nationalistic which to me, is exactly what a foreign film should be and not a nod to Hollywood like they seem to expect.

Knigar · Post by **Knigar** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:58 am

that is an awesome film James I thoroughky enjoyed it, has anyone seen Sonatine, it's one ofBeat Takeshi's earlier films,such a class film.

James · Post by **James** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:43 am

Knigar wrote:that is an awesome film James I thoroughky enjoyed it, has anyone seen Sonatine, it's one ofBeat Takeshi's earlier films,such a class film.

I'm glad someone else has seen (and liked) Welcome To Dongmakgol. It's a shame that a lot of people don't bother with foreign films due to not being able to cope with the subtitles because there really are some gems out there.

Sonatine, if I remember correctly, involves some Yakuza types hiding out at the beach? It's been ages since I watched it so I could well be wrong and to be honest I can't remember if I enjoyed it or not. I have a love/hate thing going on with Beat Takeshi and his films but for his modern action/drama stuff (by passing the excellent Zatoichi for a second) I can reccomend Hana-bi (1997) and the classic Violent Cop (1989) too. Though chances are that if you've seen Sonatine then you've already seen one of the others!

And for something different you could try Getting Any? (1995) a slapstick comedy where Takeshi plays a goofy middle-aged man who is obsessed with the idea of having car sex.

rumblecat · Post by **rumblecat** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:20 am

James wrote: Sonatine, if I remember correctly, involves some Yakuza types hiding out at the beach? It's been ages since I watched it so I could well be wrong and to be honest I can't remember if I enjoyed it or not.

Funnily enough that's exactly how I feel about Sonatine. I remember watching it years ago, but can't remember if I liked it at all... I did watch Takeshis the other week-

- which was pretty far out there, sort of loses it's way as it becomes more and more self-referential but it's kind of worth seeing just for how bizarre it becomes in places.

Knigar · Post by **Knigar** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:05 am

i think we all agree Battle Royale is probably he most memorable film with him in. That is probably one of my fave asian cinema films, I prefer asian cinema to the Hollywood crap that we get over here on a weekly basis, there is a cinema in Manchester called the corner house and I saw 'letters from iwo Jima' there, which is also a class film.

djants · Post by **djants** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:45 am

Havent seen these mentioned, so here are a few of my personal faves...

The eye: Watch it in the dark with the volume up. The imagery is pretty creepy, but it is the sound that really kicks this one off.

The Last Hero in China. Jet Li classic, I always love the end 20 minutes with the 'chicken versus centipede' fight.

God of Gamblers/ Return of the God Of Gamblers- Chow Yun Fat in his best stuff since Hard Boiled.Return has an opening action salvo that pisses on western efforts.

Nine Souls- cracking Japanese film about 9 escaped convicts.

Verus- dumb and very fun

Wild Zero-even dumber, all about the cool.

James · Post by **James** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 10:50 am

Has anyone seen Save The Green Planet? I've been curious about it for ages but haven't seen it in the shops near me.

"Byeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world"

Knigar · Post by **Knigar** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:25 am

James wrote:Has anyone seen Save The Green Planet? I've been curious about it for ages but haven't seen it in the shops near me.

"Byeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world"

just download it from mininova.org but you will need a torrent program like Azureus.

Sasquatch · Post by **Sasquatch** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:34 am

Is it wrong to think a film will be awesome based on a poster? Because I do!

Bob Syko · Post by **Bob Syko** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:06 pm

James wrote:Has anyone seen Save The Green Planet? I've been curious about it for ages but haven't seen it in the shops near me.

I have seen it. It's fantastic, go and buy it. I had the ending ruined for me (by myself) and I still loved it.

James also wrote:And for something different you could try Getting Any? (1995) a slapstick comedy where Takeshi plays a goofy middle-aged man who is obsessed with the idea of having car sex.

I bought that because I love Beat Takeshi but I thought it was complete rubbish. Really disappointed, not in the least bit funny and I will never watch it again, I heard even Beat Takeshi wasn't too fond of the finished product.

Knigar wrote:i think we all agree Battle Royale is probably he most memorable film with him in.

Nope. Kikujiro for me. One of my favourite films, if people haven't seen it then you should track it down because it's really awesome. Beat Takeshi goes on a road trip with some kid to find his Mum, they have some crazy adventures, that's it really.

James · Post by **James** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:38 pm

Bob Syko wrote:I bought that because I love Beat Takeshi but I thought it was complete rubbish. Really disappointed, not in the least bit funny and I will never watch it again, I heard even Beat Takeshi wasn't too fond of the finished product.

That bad? I liked it myself though the humor is very Japanese so I guess it could just be a culture thing. It's weird how Takeshi is considered to be a 'serious' actor in the west while he's more well known for his comedy in Japan. I'm not sure which reputation he wants to be seen as but a lot of Japanese viewers don't take him as seriously as we do over here.

Bob Syko · Post by **Bob Syko** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:10 pm

James wrote:It's weird how Takeshi is considered to be a 'serious' actor in the west while he's more well known for his comedy in Japan.

That is odd, personally I think most of his films have a funny side to them. I was reading an interview with him sometime ago and he said that when Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence was released people at the premiere were laughing whenever he would appear on screen and he wasn't best pleased about it, so I'm guessing he would rather be taken seriously but the fact that nearly all his films have a ridiculous edge to them shows he is still loyal to his comedy roots.

Perhaps he realized he would never be taken seriously and that's why stuff like Sonatine and Zatoichi have their lighter moments in between all the violence?

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