Godzilla 2000 (1999)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Mat

I have been disappointed by previous Godzilla titles. A small part of me, the part that enjoys watching people dressed up in rubber suits push each other into beautifully detailed scale sets, died upon viewing Godzilla vs Megaguirus. Thus, it was with great trepidation that I began watching Godzilla 2000. I hoped that, like the phoenix rising from the ashes, my fondness for Godzilla would be resurrected. I was not disappointed. Apart from a couple of flaws, Godzilla … (read more)

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Ghost in the Shell (1996)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Andy

Having hit the ball out of the park with the superb political-thriller-featuring-giant-robots, Patlabor 2, Mamoru Oshii moved onto Masumune’s Shirow’s manga future populated by cyborgs and humans with cybernetic enhancements — Ghost in the Shell. Ghost, with its blurring of man and machine, presented the perfect vehicle for Oshii to explore the question what it means to be human. (The titular ghost is a ‘soul’ cyborg’s soul equivalent).

Like a Christmas present, Oshii wraps this theme in … (read more)

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Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (2004)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Andy

Ghost in the Shell: Innocence is a unlike anything you have seen before. The viewer is lost in a sea of lush visuals that seamlessly blend a Blade Runner noir future with traditional Japanese iconography. The level of texture detail is astounding with even the wood grain of a door frame revealing varnished depths. CG is integrated seamlessly. A set piece in a convenience store simply has to be seen to be believed — then confirmed by a friend. Anime … (read more)

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Ghostly Vixen (1990)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Angus

The film is called Ghostly Vixen and it stars Amy Yip, Unfortunately (for some) it is not a soft core sex romp, instead you have a decidedly lowbrow supernatural comedy. This film tries hard to be the king of all lowbrow: try the dick joke that has to be seen to be believed or the ‘beating up women is fun’ sequence. In the end the films stupidity nullifies any chance it has to truly offend, really all you you can … (read more)

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Gantz (2004)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Deni

Imagine, if you will, the afterlife. Guns, nano-suits, a black sphere in a blank room and a mission that makes no sense with a group of strangers you’ve only just met.

Not exactly Old Testament, is it, but it’s not as much of a stretch between theology and this series than you might think. When something of a reluctant selfless deed results in tragedy, Kei and Kato are transported, not to the Pearly Gates, but into a 2DLK apartment and … (read more)

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Fist of Fury (1972)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Justin

Fist of Fury was Bruce Lee’s second film in Hong Kong, after The Big Boss made him a superstar across Asia. It’s a much bigger film, shot with a larger budget and higher production values by the same director, Lo Wei. It follows the story of fictional character Chen Zhen, a junior student at the Jing Mo school run by real-life martial arts master Fok Yun Gap (Ho Yuan-chia in Mandarin). It’s been remade and referenced many, many times since … (read more)

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Friend (2001)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Ching Yee

Greetings from the Sydney Asia Pacific Film Festival 2002! Although still in its infancy, this baby has a firm grasp on the rattle and is seriously rocking the joint! A few changes this year – a new venue [the Dendy Cinemas] showing Short Soup short films before the main feature and the tear-and-you’re-there rating cards are just some of the new additions to this year’s festival.

On the film front, Mark’s reports should have whetted your appetite, if not I’m … (read more)

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Fear and Trembling (2003)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Alison

“In old Japan, the Emperor was to be approached with fear and trembling”. Thus the title of this French/Japanese film is justified. And if you don’t think while you’re watching, it’s reasonably watchable.

But once you engage the brain, you’ll find this film rather irritating, as I did. The lead character, Miss Amélie, is probably supposed to have a quirky charm, although she often just looks dishevelled and confused. The Japanese characters are all one-dimensional and uninspiring, and it’s hard … (read more)

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