Naruto (2002)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Deni

10 Rules for Aspiring Ninja

  • Be not afraid. The Bad Guy will not kill you until he has explained – in lengthy detail – how he is going to kill you.
  • Be fair. Do not attempt to escape the Bad Guy’s clutches while he is explaining to you how he is going to kill you. Only when he is finished is it permissible for you to attempt an escape. If you do escape, make sure he finds it impossible to
    • … (read more)
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    My Neighbours the Yamadas (1999)

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    Posted on March 11, 2007 by Ching Yee

    I always know that I’m in for an anime treat if I’m seeing a Studio Ghibli [that’s Ghi-bu-ri] film but even I was completely taken by surprise by My Neighbours the Yamadas. The quality of work here still abides by the high achievement previously set by awe-inspiring films such as Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa, My Neighbour Totoro just to name a few.

    OK, the first surprise is the look of the film – simple, yet warm aquarelle/ watercolour … (read more)

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    My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

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    Posted on March 11, 2007 by Andy

    My Neighbor Totoro is a deceptively simple tale. It is the story of a father and his two young daughters moving to the country and adventures the two girls, Mei and Satsuki, have with the forest spirits they find there.

    This simplicity makes My Neighbor Totoro one of the purest examples of Myazaki and Studio Ghibli’s themes and preoccupations. There is the pleasure in discovery of the delights of rural life (Only Yesterday), the multifaceted life of children … (read more)

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    My Lucky Star (2003)

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    Posted on March 11, 2007 by Eugene

    Ah, another Romantic Comedy. If I was the paranoid sort, I’d suspect Mark Gor was sending me to these things with the intention of brightening my outlook and making me a happier person. That may very well work for the weaker amongst us but worry not faithful reader, be comforted that I am much too bitter and cynical to fall for such a weak and obvious ploy.

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…

    Yes. Well.

    No, instead that cynicism comes in to recognise My Lucky … (read more)

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    MUSA: The Warrior (2001)

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    Posted on March 11, 2007 by Jonathan

    Five years of planning and production, a seven million dollar budget, and three hundred staff shooting over five months travelling ten thousand kilometres across the Chinese continent. It is unfortunate that these figures speak to me (and probably you) more than the names involved with the production of MUSA: The Warrior. This film is the result of an amazing creative process, with the time and effort invested clearly displayed on screen.

    This was made on a seven million dollar … (read more)

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    Memories of Murder (2003)

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    Posted on March 11, 2007 by Russell

    A suprisingly powerful film from the director of the amusing Barking Dogs Never Bite, this film about a serial killer has the tone of Se7en but without the weirdness. More importantly, Memories of Murder has addressed the debate about integrity in police methods with the greatest effectiveness since Orson Welles made Touch of Evil. Song Kang-ho (JSA, The Foul King) is, as always, dynamite as the cop who is obsessed with this case.

    Every Korean … (read more)

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    The Man from Hong Kong (1975)

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    Posted on March 11, 2007 by Mark Morrison

    Piss off Picnic at Hanging Rock, stuff Strictly Ballroom, bugger Breaker Morant — this is the Aussie film that you were born to watch!

    Two-fisted and way groovy, The Man from Hong Kong is a lost Australian/Hong Kong kung fu classic. ScreenSound have wonderfully restored both the Technicolour (TM) print and the funkadelic audio. It hasn’t looked this good since 1975 (come to think of it, neither have I…)

    See Sammo Hung and an Ocker cop go at … (read more)

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    Main Hoon Na (2004)

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    Posted on March 11, 2007 by Eugene

    Woot. A back to school hijinks caper. Does not sound like something that’s too inspiring does it?

    Well if Bollywood can come up with an amazing film about cricket then surely one must be prepared to be surprised by even the most staid formulas of old.

    Of course, with that kind of telegraphing, is it really any surprise to say Main Hoon Na is a surprisingly great film to watch and enjoy? Well I hope not because if you saw … (read more)

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