Smuggler (2011)

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Posted on January 30, 2013 by Justin

Failed — or at least distracted — actor Kinuta (Satoshi Tsumabuki) spends his days dismally holed up in front of a slot machine, a poster child for what we in Australia would call pokies addiction. Quiet and vulnerable, he is manipulated into taking a job he can’t turn down and joins a team of smugglers for the Yakuza: moving a truck full of things that need to pass unnoticed, often things that are suspiciously man-shaped.… (read more)

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The Last Tycoon (2012)

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Posted on January 28, 2013 by Elizabeth Kerr

Many moons ago, pro-exploitation producer-director Wong Jing and actor Chow Yun-fat hit box office and entertainment pay dirt when they teamed up for God of Gamblers. That film’s pulpy action comedy was a silly delight, and proved Wong, something of a Roger Corman for Hong Kong, had the ability to crank out popular hits that didn’t always involve jiggling boobies. It lightened up Chow’s image among niche viewers outside Hong Kong (he was best known to that point for … (read more)

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Lethal Hostage (2012)

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Posted on January 22, 2013 by John Snadden

With a title which sounds more like a low-budget straight-to-DVD feature, mainland director Cheng Er has created a major film which deserves an audience outside China. Lethal Hostage is an inventive and meticulously crafted crime drama set on the China-Burma border.

The story opens with a father who has just been released from jail meeting his only daughter {May Wang) who he hasn’t seen for over ten years. As a child, the daughter was kidnapped by a drug dealer (Sun … (read more)

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The 33D Invader (2011)

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Posted on December 28, 2012 by Rhys

As Michael Douglas approaches 70 and we wave goodbye to the golden-era of Hollywood’s erotic-thrillers, the recent local release of The 33D Invader reminds us that Hong Kong’s Category III films still exceed typical fringe exploitation budgets, and live on in the realm of mainstream Cantonese film. Cash Chin’s latest, distributed by Madman, contributes to his legacy as one of the premier filmmakers of the genre. Whilst it’s unlikely that Chin’s films will be retrospectively revered like those of more … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘The Guillotines’ (China, 3D)

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Justin

If Poppy Hill sounds like it doesn’t have enough grimy warriors in armour and, well, decapitation for you, then there’s another Asian film in cinemas this week that ticks those particular boxes.

HK director Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs, Legend of the Fist) has shown over the last decade or two that he turn out solid (and generally great-looking) genre films, spanning a variety of different styles and settings.… (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘From Up On Poppy Hill’ (Japan, anime)

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Justin

I’m a touch late on cinema releases this week — I blame the season, there’s too much running around to do this time of year!

Studio Ghibli fans that happen to live in a couple of Aussie cities have just under a week to catch their newest anime film in cinemas, From Up On Poppy Hill, directed by Goro Miyazaki and written by his father, Hayao Miyazaki. … (read more)

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This week in cinemas: ‘Back to 1942’ (China)

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Justin

This Thursday (Nov 29) sees the Australian cinema release of Back to 1942, a historical drama from mainland Chinese director Feng Xiaogang (Aftershock, A World Without Thieves, Big Shot’s Funeral). As seems to be more often the case nowadays, we’re getting it right after its premiere at the International Rome Film Festival (on Nov 11!)

The film takes as its subject the famine of 1942-43 in Henan province during the second Sino-Japanese War, and it … (read more)

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Korean Short Film Night at the KCO (Sydney, Nov 29)

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Justin

The hard-working folks at the Korean Cultural Office here in Sydney dropped me a line to remind me that they have their 2012 Korean Short Film night scheduled for Thursday evening next week, with free admission for all (though you’ll need to book). It’s a chance to see some local and international talent strut their stuff with a collection films celebrating cultural diversity and Korean heritage.… (read more)

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