Looking for Mr Perfect (2003)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Eugene

Must go to Malaysia.

Must visit Malaysia as a tourist and spend money there.

Lots and lots of money.

…

Blargh. Excuse while I just slap my head a few times. Just have to work off that subliminal marketing ploy that just tried to pass itself off as a movie. Oh, who am I kidding, there was nothing subliminal about it. Every second shot was of the wonderful Malaysian backdrops (which do look quite wonderful) and the kind of Malaysian … (read more)

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Love For All Seasons (2003)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Eugene

I’ve often had a conflict when reviewing a film about whether I should write from an objective or subjective point of view. Of course, I quickly realise that an objective review is too dry and impersonal for my tastes (besides, I really don’t know enough BS to fill out an objective review), so instead, it becomes a conflict of reviewing a film for it’s own merits or as a comparison to better (or worse, as the case may be) films … (read more)

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Mighty Baby (2002)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Alison

If you think babies are adorable, then you might get something out of this film. If, like me, you don’t, then you might find this film as disappointing as I did.

Despite having a strong cast who try their best, this baby romance fails to follow up on the promise of La Brassiere. It would have been hard to make a sequel to that one, given that the nature of romantic comedies is to have all the appropriate cast … (read more)

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Needing You (2000)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Alison

It’s no secret to anyone that I rather fancy Andy Lau, and rather like Johnnie To’s work, so it should be no surprise that I enjoy this film. And it must be said that there’s a lot to like, at least for those of you who enjoy the occasional romantic comedy.

For starters, Andy demonstrates the charm for which he’s become famous as a matinee idol. He also demonstrates his skill at throwing up: yep, no Andy film is complete … (read more)

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Once a Thief (1991)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Alison

Okay, it must be said that the plot is fairly simple, and apparently cobbled together from a variety of sources: we get two boys raised as thieves by a cruel foster father, who grow up, meet a beautiful girl that they both fall in love with; her father is a kind cop who covers for them occasionally and tries to steer them on the path to righteousness. Meanwhile, what is to be their last job is a set-up, and one … (read more)

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Sandy Lives (1999)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Ching Yee

Sandy Lives is this year’s Vietnamese entry into the festival but also similar in feeling to Land of Wandering Souls, the Cambodian doco from last year. If you’ve seen either, you will know what I mean.

Sparse, tragic and poetic — both detail the struggles of everyday people under adverse circumstances, although Sandy Lives concerns more of the aftermath where a struggle of a different kind continues for Canh, a communist cadre. He is returning to his village after … (read more)

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St John’s Wort (2001)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Alison

Okay, the World Movies precis runs thus: “Based on, and playing like, the hugely popular Japanese video game, a terrifying horror film that uses interactive video, animation and computer graphics to horrifying effect.” Not entirely true, but not entirely false either. Walk with me through the film…

For starters, the main story, that of a girl exploring a house left to her by her painter father, is reflected not-quite-faithfully in the video game being designed by a group of her … (read more)

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Time & Tide (2000)

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Posted on July 31, 2003 by Ching Yee

Tsui Hark is back, back, back! I, for one, am very happy that he’s returned to his old stomping ground after a sojourn in the US.

Time and Tide is a big departure from anything he has ever done but that’s not the real surprise – his films have always been incredibly varied. His resume reads like the lifetime work of several directors put together and the impressive fact is many of his films are considered modern HK classics; Peking … (read more)

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