The Magic Blade (1976)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Justin

This is a hard film to write a synopsis for — while every word of the one above is true, it doesn’t really do The Magic Blade justice. While directors Chang Cheh and Lau Kar-leung were making the transition from the swordplay and wuxia films with traditional actors to kung-fu films with actors trained in martial arts, Chor Yuen made a long series of films based on the novels of Ku Lung. These are proper wuxia films, but with more … (read more)

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Love on a Diet (2001)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Ching Yee

How will your loved one[s] react if you suddenly put on 200 pounds? Will they love you any less? Does being beautiful = thin? What sort of message is this film trying to send? These questions whizzed through my head as I watched Love on A Diet, Johnnie To’s latest offering, with HK’s über popstars, Sammi Cheng and Andy Lau [suffering for their art by packing on heavy sumo suits]. These human insecurities form the basis for the premise of … (read more)

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Lone Wolf and Cub Vol 4: Baby Cart in Peril (1972)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

This is the first film I’ve seen that starts with a nipple. I’ve mentioned this fact to a few people, and the response has overwhelmingly been “So what?” No-one else has been at all impressed, and it seems that I’ve been watching all the wrong films. Apparently it’s nipples-a-go-go out there in cinema-land, and everyone’s off to see the latest Kurosawa Nipple Retrospective, leaving me alone in my nippleless wilderness.

Be that as it may, the aforementioned nipple works well … (read more)

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Lone Wolf and Cub Vol 3: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

Once again, we catch up with Itto Ogami and his son Daigoro, as they trundle their way across Japan, killing some folks and not killing others while wandering through a lot of extremely scenic countryside. For some reason, the music is a sort of ghastly 70s blarting, which distracts considerably from the action it’s supposed to underscore.

As the credits roll, accompanied by the nasty blarting music, we’re treated to Ogami and son bathing in a stream and catching fish, … (read more)

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Lone Wolf and Cub Vol 1: Sword of Vengeance (1972)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

Well, I have to say, it’s amazing what a man will do to carry out an assassination. And I really don’t think the synopsis does it justice, and I’m not sure I can either.

For one thing, Tomisaburo (Ogami) is not an actor who over-emotes. I can’t imagine him at acting classes pretending to be an ice-cream. I swear the only difference in his expression throughout the film is whether his eyes were downcast or staring at someone. And I … (read more)

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Lies (2001)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

If you’re looking for a film with lots of flesh, lots of moaning, and a sprinkling of assorted items of discipline, then the Korean film Lies will send you into raptures. The story centres on a young girl who decides to offer her virginity to a famous artist that she rather fancies, and follows her extensive efforts to complete her sexual education.

There’s more sex than your remote control can cope with, in full and glorious detail. There’s a surfeit … (read more)

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The Legend of Suriyothai (2001)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Jason

Well after seeing this film there is only one thing I can possibly say, and that is SHOW ME THE MONEY! I’ve yet to see a film come from Thailand or South East Asia that is so lush, and it’s none of this CGI stuff, this is sheer set and costume extravagance. The film reportedly cost anywhere between 8 – 20 million dollars US. But I guess when you have the Thai royal family backing the film, anything is possible.… (read more)

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The Last Blood (1991)

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Posted on March 11, 2007 by Alison

Fairly ordinary action piece with a less than credible premise, made more interesting by the presence of Andy Lau. Director Wong Jing does some terrible things to young Andy, including throwing him through a plate glass window, blowing things up near him, and generally treating him as he oughtn’ta be treated. Worth it for curiosity value only.… (read more)

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