|
Post by christopher on Sept 14, 2008 16:24:00 GMT -8
You don't think Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke sound the same? Granted, they don't sound like rip-offs of each other, but I think one could easily be a "more music from" album of the other. The piano solos in particular just sound very similar, as did the ones from Howl's Moving Castle. There was another clip I recently heard and before knowing what it was I knew it was Hisaishi immediately.
I think the weirdness of Japanime has to be a cultural thing. Kind of like I just didn't get Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. That was the first people-running-on-water-jumping-along-treetops asian movie I had seen and I was really weirded out by it. I REALLY enjoyed Hero, though. IMO, one of the best Asian movies I've seen. The very best is a Japanese film called Twilight Samurai. Anyone seen that one? Don't expect a big epic spectacle. It's a very realistic depiction of live toward the end of the samurai era. Not much fighting, but some fantastic acting, and compelling story.
Spirited Away was just a whole new thing for me. The story didn't seem terrilby cohesive, but it was really interesting at all points, and incredibly animated.
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Sept 15, 2008 1:57:28 GMT -8
Twilight Samurai is a Drama, very sad story. Go ahead and watch Miyazakis other movie. Laputas Flying Castle and Nasicaa from the Valley of the Winds are highly recommended.I got goosebumps every time i heard the nausicaa main theme.The wachowskis much have been inspired a lot by his movie, the creatures reminded me A LOT of the machines in the matrix trilogy, and not only them.
|
|
|
Post by muckle dabuckle on Sept 15, 2008 9:38:33 GMT -8
You don't think Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke sound the same? Granted, they don't sound like rip-offs of each other, but I think one could easily be a "more music from" album of the other. The piano solos in particular just sound very similar, as did the ones from Howl's Moving Castle. There was another clip I recently heard and before knowing what it was I knew it was Hisaishi immediately. Okay. I thought you meant they were rip-offs. I still don't think they sound similar (except the piano solos). Princess Mononoke sounds darker and more synthy while Spirited Away is generally more happy. At least to my ears. The Princess Mononoke theme is dark/sweeping/epic compared to the Spirited Away theme which is a light happy sounding piano theme. Either way they are two of my favorite themes in my entire collection. Actually, I didn't care for that one either. Even with Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-Fat, and Ziyi Zhang I found it boring. I was hoping for something totally different and groundbreaking, but it was just an average wuxia film. I've only watched it once. There have been so many others before it that are just as good or better so I didn't understand the hype either. I think the hype was caused by the western world finally noticing a wuxia film and clinging to it like there was nothing like it because they never saw one before. I don't really care for that either. A movie like that is okay once in a while, but when every single Chinese movie uses exaggerated wire-enhanced action it gets dull. I prefer real stunts performed by the actors own skill. I think Jackie Chan hates these movies as well and just read a quote by him recently about them that might describe your feelings as well, Chris: "I remember going to a film festival in Paris two years ago, where many people asked me, 'Why can everybody fly in Hong Kong movies?' It's very stupid! When I watch a lot of Hong Kong films, I don't know what the hell is going on! It's all quick cuts and moves too fast.... nd even more crazy is that even though these people can fly, they still ride horses half the time. If you can fly, fly, don't ride a horse and then fly! I look at this kind of film and think that people outside of Hong Kong will dismiss all Hong Kong films as rubbish."
-from an interview by Mike Leeder in Screen Power Magazine.
Not that Jackie Chan can totally criticize here when he uses wires to make the impact from kicks and punches look more powerful and starred in "City Hunter" where he flys around dressed as Chung Li from the Street Fighter II videogame. ;D
I still haven't seen that one yet. I hear it's a must for the fight between Jet Li and Donnie Yen. Being Quentin Tarentino was involved with the DVD release I've stayed away so far.
Have you seen a Jackie Chan film? They are so fun. No matter what mood I'm in I'm always happy when watching one of his films.
You'd like like "Hidden Blade" as well. It's by the same director. I'd describe it the same way you described "Twilight Samurai." I posted a link to the trailer in my first post in this thread. It's worth checking out. The themes seemed surprising western to me (unless they changed the dialogue for the western DVD and didn't directly translate what they were saying).
I think that is what attracted all the hype: the artwork and animation in Spirited Away is simply amazing (that's why I bought the DVD and I was just hoping a great story would be a bonus). Maybe that's why the Japanese liked it as well because I seem to remember a huge controversy when they released the DVD in Japan and the film had a red tint to it. People were extremely pissed!
Anyway.
I watched Jackie Chan's "City Hunter" last night. Totally bizarre. The first half is dreadful and then it picks up in the middle and there are some decent stunts and fight scenes. The slapstick comedy saved the movie! I always get a kick out of extreme slapstick. ;D Probably one of Chan's worst movies not surprising being it's based on a Japanese manga.
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Nov 10, 2008 10:18:37 GMT -8
the best part of City Hunter is the Streefighter 2 dream sequence. classic! Any actionfilm fan should watch Invisible Target. Incredible cool action-thriller with Wu Jing as villian.The asian movies i´m really looking forward to are: Queen of Langkasuka (martial arts epic with pirates and sea battles and a man who can control sea creatures) Red Cliff Part 2 Jip Man (like Fearless a Biopic of a famous master, portrayed by Donnie Yuen) Ong Bak 2 (its finally coming) K-20 (looks like a 1920s Zorro) The good, the bad and the weird (said the be of the the greatest asian movies ever, i loved every previous film from this director like A Bittersweet Life and Tale of Two Sisters) The Warlords (battle epic with jet li, takeshi kaneshiro) King Naresuan Part 3 Ninja Scroll Live-Action (LMAO)
|
|
|
Post by muckle dabuckle on Nov 13, 2008 19:53:29 GMT -8
the best part of City Hunter is the Streefighter 2 dream sequence. classic! And creepy! Jackie Chan sure likes dressing in drag. Yeah, I just watched that a few months ago and really liked it. I really liked Jaycee Chan and it seems like he has martial arts potential passed down from his dad, but I guess he wants to be a musician. He did a lot of his own stunts in the movie including falling into those live flames at the end of the movie. I recommend the commentary on the Dragon Dynasty DVD that has group commentary by Jaycee Chan, Andy On, Shawn Yue, and Bey Logan. They all speak perfect english (which is why I'm guessing Wu Jing wasn't included on the track) and I really enjoyed it. I have a confession to make: I like Wu Jing more than Tony Jaa. I don't know if he's already the next big thing in asia, but it would be nice if more of his movies were released in the states. I've only seen Killzone (SPL), Invisible Target, and Fatal Contact. If not for the Dragon Dynasty label I probably wouldn't even know who Wu Jing was. Hopefully that will get a western release soon, but I'm sure they will butcher it to the max. Can't wait! I've read more soap opera crap about the production and it does sound like Tony Jaa's career may be over. But if the movie is the greatest martial arts movie ever made (which it looks like it could be) maybe all will be forgiven. That movie made no sense. Can't wait to see it. I'm going to start building up my Donnie Yen collection. It's very small right now. Is Initial D any good?
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Dec 18, 2008 13:23:13 GMT -8
Ong Bak 2 and Ip Man (especially Ip Man ) are starting to get rave reviews around the net. Ip Man blows Fearless out of the water is the main reaction. With a strong Doniie Yuen performance, great story and tons of incredible fights, in a real special style.Part 2 has already greenlight and will feature Bruce Lee as major character, who was a pupil of Ip Man.
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Jan 19, 2009 15:07:05 GMT -8
Dont miss Chocolate, with a young female that is almost as good as tony jaa. loved that movie, and it has one of the most dangerous showdows in movie history. you can see how many people got hurt during the shooting in the end credits, like jackie chan bloopers but not funny.
|
|
|
Post by muckle dabuckle on Jan 19, 2009 17:03:06 GMT -8
you can see how many people got hurt during the shooting in the end credits, like jackie chan bloopers but not funny. You mean like in the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axf_EXzF_qMI can't wait to see this. It's been on my list for almost a year. It comes out on DVD in the U.S. early february. I'm a little disappointed that the Dragon Dynasty label didn't get the title so it won't get the deluxe treatment, but as long as the movie isn't butchered for the U.S. audience and I have the option of watching it in the original Thai language I'll live. Also, I wouldn't exactly call a lot of the Jackie Chan bloopers funny either. Especially the ones for Rumble in the Bronx when it shows him breaking his ankle jumping on the hover craft, or Police Story where it shows him fracturing vertebrae and his hip, or the Legend of Drunken Master when it shows him get burned in the hot coals he purposely jumps in. ;D The Dragon Dynasty label just released a 2-disc version of one of Jackie Chan's greatest movies "Police Story 3: Super Cop." The bad thing is they kept the crappy U.S. cut, but they at least added the original Chinese language track so you don't have to watch it in dubbed english. There are some great extras on the second disc as well including lengthy interviews with Jackie Chan and his bodyguard Ken Lo. Great stuff!
|
|
|
Post by Jangles on Jan 19, 2009 21:15:49 GMT -8
So did anyone one see Sukiyaki Western Django or Mongol?
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Jan 20, 2009 12:01:47 GMT -8
So did anyone one see Sukiyaki Western Django or Mongol? mongol will be released this friday on dvd here in germany, i´m gonna rent it immediately. a friend of mine saw it yesterday, he said the story lacks a solid flow, its very very fragmented, but everything else is good.i hope they gonna make the whole trilogy
|
|
|
Post by Jangles on Jan 20, 2009 16:18:21 GMT -8
I would agree with your friend about the story being fragmented. However, the development of Genghis Khan and the exotic atmosphere of the film make it an amazing piece to watch.
What is this about the trilogy?
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Jan 21, 2009 12:38:32 GMT -8
I would agree with your friend about the story being fragmented. However, the development of Genghis Khan and the exotic atmosphere of the film make it an amazing piece to watch. What is this about the trilogy? mongol is part one of a planned trilogy about ghengis khan.
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Jan 23, 2009 14:23:43 GMT -8
I loved Mongol, fascinating movie, very well made. Great nature, great culture. Only thing that bothers me was the score. If you go to the composers website you can download half an hour of the best score he he written to date. almost nothing except the theme ended up in the movie, replaced by typical ethnic noise. i was soo dissapointed with the cd, which only has the score from the movie.frisbee.movie is 4,5 stars
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Mar 22, 2009 6:53:16 GMT -8
I had a blast of an weekend with my yesasia order. The Good, the Bad and the Weird kicks ass of most hollywood blockbusters in recent memory with some of the craziest camera-work in a movie ever.tons of western meets mad max action.15 min chase scene at the end is an istant classic.Fun fun fun.9,5 of 10. Ip Man is the best Kung Fu Movie in decades. Perfect in every possible way.Great story, great major character, tons of incredible fight scenes.Its a Martial Arts Bio-Drama about the greatest Wing Chun Master in China, who also was the master of Bruce Lee. (which will be a major plot point in the upcoming sequel) 10 of 10. The Warlords One of the bloodiest and darkest historic battle movies.Jet Li in an unusual role. 3 guys swear brotherhood, but in the end they turn against each other. Its saving private ryan with sword and spears.8 of 10 Red Cliff Part 2 Not as good as part one but with several epic scenes. The short version might work after all. 7 of 10.
|
|
|
Post by General Silliness on Apr 12, 2009 17:07:07 GMT -8
The camerawork and the editimg of Ip Mans Fight scenes is breathtaking. Nowadays you can´t just show some poeple fight from one position, as you sadly know. But in most cases it results in shaky cam whre you can´t follow one single blow. But as a tribut for Bruce Lees Master they crafted the movie carefully and with most respect. As a result, the camerawork and editing in Ip Mans fights is the most dynamic, furious of its kind without ever being shaky.Seriously, you can´t make them better or more exciting. And as a movie i like Ip Man even more as Fist of Legend.Its a masterpiece and maybe the best Martial Arts Movie to date.In the sequel there will be a major duel with sammo hung. Fans know it is the second fight between donnie yuen and sammo hung since SPL/Killzone (and that one was bad-ass) Even the music is really good, but a little over the top sometimes.
|
|