This week in cinemas: ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7’ (South Korea)

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Justin

Arriving this week in cinemas via Dream Movie is South Korean film Miracle in Cell No. 7. It looks like a feel-good family comedy, but with a rather unusual setup: the wrongful imprisonment of a mentally-challenged man for murder.

The film stars Ryoo Seung-ryong and Park Shin-hye, and has done very well domestically — it’s number three for all-time box office in Korea right now, with more than twelve million tickets sold.

Here’s a trailer:

http://youtu.be/C2t-fnXY7ss

It’s screening at … (read more)

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Wu Dang (2012)

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Posted on April 23, 2013 by Justin

An entertaining, family-friendly mishmash of martial arts picture and Indiana Jones-style treasure hunt, Wu Dang shows off some serious talent both in front of and behind the camera, coupled with a stunning setting way up amongst the Taoist temples in the Wudang Mountains.

Vincent Zhao returns to the role of leading man after 2010’s True Legend, which was his first cinema appearance in quite some time, after spending most of the decade prior in television in Hong Kong and … (read more)

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Nightfall (2012)

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Posted on April 20, 2013 by Alan

Wong Yuen Yeung (Nick Cheung) gets a get-outta-jail card after doing 20 years for the rape and murder of a teenage girl called Yi Wan. He comes across Tsui Suet (Janice Man), a classical pianist who looks the spit of Yi Wan, and, like wow, crazy, she has the same father, Tsui Hon Lam (Michael Wong). So naturally Yeung follows her to her luxury home in the hills she shares with her parents and goes all creepily stalker, spying on … (read more)

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Giveaway: ‘Tai Chi 0’ on DVD and Blu-Ray (Closed)

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Justin

It’s time for another giveaway, and this time courtesy of Icon Film Distribution we’ve got ten copies of Tai Chi 0, the first film in the series of Chinese 3D period actioners from from Stephen Fung. After this film, we got the less frenetic Tai Chi Hero, and there is apparently a planned third film in the works, Tai Chi Summit.

We here at HC rather enjoyed these quirky steampunk-influenced flicks, and if you missed catching them … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Drug War’ (China/HK)

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Justin

According to distributor Dream Movie’s Twitter and Facebook feeds, we’re getting an Aussie cinema release of HC favourite Johnnie To’s newest film, Drug War on this Thursday, April 18.

(‘War’ titles seem to be coming across my desk a lot lately, actually — we’ve had Cold War and Silent War just recently, too!)

This one’s a bit of a watershed film, since it’s To’s first film in the genre we love him for — Milkyway Image’s neon-splattered crime films — … (read more)

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The Thieves (2012)

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Posted on March 31, 2013 by John Snadden

One of the most enjoyable times I spent in the cinema last year was watching the big-budget, star-studded, South Korean caper flick, The Thieves — where the energy, humour and all-round film-making smarts were a joy to experience.

Sold nearly everywhere as an Asian version of Hollywood’s Oceans franchise – well, that’s called marketing. As I saw it, The Thieves was a surprisingly effective counterpoint to the lethargic, middle-aged preening of director Soderbergh and his precious stars.

A nifty theft … (read more)

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Mountains and monsters @ GoMA QLD

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Deni

Just a quick reminder for lovers of Asian cinema and animation up in the sunny north east – with APT7 coming to a close soon, don’t miss the remaining films that are still showing as part of this great event.

Most notably, this weekend you can catch Wan Mailing’s 1965 Being-Opera style animation Uproar in Heaven, or if you’re in the mood for something a little more epic, Battle Royale and The Host (what? It’s appropriate Easter weekend viewing, … (read more)

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Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013)

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Posted on March 12, 2013 by Rhys

From Melbourne With Love

A survey of the modest collection of obsolete optical media in my apartment reveals 32 Stephen Chow titles, a ratio of at least 5:1 over any other actor or director. Rather than being an irrelevant humblebrag on my part, this elucidates the fact that there is a global audience for Hong Kong’s popular cinema and — more importantly — Chow, whom I still consider its shining star. My take on his most recent film, Journey to … (read more)

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