Line of Control – Kargil (2003)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Russell

It’s not often one finds an imdb review (usually written by some 12-year-old in Bumfuck Nebraska) suitable as a quotable quote but with Kargil; Line Of Control, the review which begins as “Dull, tedious and racist” is hard to beat and harder to deny.

Based on battles which took place on the line of control (a kind of fuzzy and perennially combat strewn no man’s land) in the region of the India and Pakistan border in 1999, Line Of Control… (read more)

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The Lion Roars (2002)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Ching Yee

Alrighty, let’s get one thing straight. I’m not a big fan of Cecilia Cheung and quite frankly, I haven’t met anyone who is. Mind you I gave her plenty of opportunities to prove herself after her fine turn in Stephen Chow’s King of Comedy. Then she did Fly Me to Polaris.

OK, I thought, not entirely her fault as the material was about as wet as Jacques Cousteau’s wetsuit. But then she didn’t redeem herself in a slew … (read more)

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My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Ching Yee

If there are comfort foods for the seasons then Milkyway films must be one of my comfort films.

As I was thinking about My Left Eye Sees Ghosts, Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai’s latest hit, one film in particular springs to my mind — Needing You. In this case, because Sammi Cheng is again the lead actress but My Left Eye has another secret weapon, the pairing of Sammi with another Milkyway veteran — the dark and … (read more)

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Last Quarter (2005)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Deni

Part romance, part fairy tale, part gothic horror, part video clip, Last Quarter, is an interesting and surprisingly original film. Based on hit shoujo (girls) manga Kagen No Tsuki by Ai Yazawa (Nana, Paradise Kiss), it charts questions of an unexpectedly thoughtful and arguably relevant nature with dreamlike clarity. Like a surreal Little Red Riding Hood, the story focuses on Mizuki as she runs from the perceived troubles in her life straight into the arms of … (read more)

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The Killer (1989)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Jonathan

I’m a superlative kinda guy. The third most common phrase in my vocabulary is “It’s the greatest film ever made!” and probably a full half of the films I’ve seen in my nineteen and one-half years on this Earth have been referred to in that way. It may be that at the moment of utterance I might actually mean I what I’m saying – or it might not. It doesn’t really matter unless I describe something in this way more … (read more)

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Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Justin

Akira Kurosawa is one of world cinema’s best-loved directors. Celebrated both in his native Japan and (perhaps especially) overseas, he directed some of cinema’s most enduring and famous stories, and was responsible for bringing Japan’s cinema industry to the world’s attention with 1950’s Rashomon. Fans of action cinema will be (or should be!) familiar with The Seven Samurai, his long but brilliant film tracing the story of a group of samurai hired to protect a village from marauding … (read more)

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I-San Special (2002)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Jason

A group of intrepid passengers embark on a bus ride from Bangkok to the northern province of Nong Bua (the area is known as “I-San”). Hmm let me guess what will happen… monsters, hijackings, kickboxing transsexuals or perhaps a combination? Nope, the situation is much drier, the trip turns into a soap opera full of drama, romance, spite, claws and tears.

Director Mingmonkul Sonakul has created an enjoyable avant-garde film. From the outset the stylistic elements stand out like a … (read more)

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Jan Dara (2001)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Deni

Thinking about the review for this film inspired an interesting, and possibly important, question — what exactly defines erotic? Jan Dara is based on a popular erotic novel, The Story of Jan Dara (Rueang Khong Jan Dara) by Utsana Pleungtham, and yes there’s plenty of tasteful nudity and (possibly not so tasteful) sex in it, but after it was all over, I found myself wondering whether there shouldn’t have been just a little more to it.

What that … (read more)

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