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Hey Khitch...

post #1 of 749
Thread Starter 
Heads up we have The City of Lost Souls by Miike at the Fairfax Cinemas playing now.

When I have no idea though.

Oh and is this worth it?

post #2 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Danl Augharn:
Unless, of course, you like Miike, which would surprise the hell out of me.
Ah what would give you that clue?

This does indeed sound less then the usual Miike flair but I could be wrong. Maybe standard yakuza violence mean something entirely differently to the LA Times then it does to me.
post #3 of 749
Thread Starter 
And indeed I am willing to give Miike some kind of try...but mostly likely not something like the Ebola Syndrome or something along those lines.

And curiously...what does Miike look like?
post #4 of 749
I E-mailed Khitch recently because he's been quiet. It turns out he's at his Brother's wedding (or at least that's his cover story), so I don't know if he's reading the boards.

As for City of Lost Souls, its probably the most normal of Miike's efforts, and its filled with flourishes of Miike moments, but I was a little disapointed with it as a fan of his work (I prefer Audition and Visitor Q to Dead or Alive). I'd call it a minor effort, but it might be a good place to dip your toe.
post #5 of 749
post #6 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Andre 'Lefty' Dellamorte:
I E-mailed Khitch recently because he's been quiet. It turns out he's at his Brother's wedding (or at least that's his cover story), so I don't know if he's reading the boards.

As for City of Lost Souls, its probably the most normal of Miike's efforts, and its filled with flourishes of Miike moments, but I was a little disapointed with it as a fan of his work (I prefer Audition and Visitor Q to Dead or Alive). I'd call it a minor effort, but it might be a good place to dip your toe.
Gonna have to try and meet Khitch one of these days. Seems like a fantastic guy.

How would you rate the violence (probably know what I mean in Miike's case) in Audition and Visitor Q? I really need a good reason or given reasoning by the director to be able to stomach such movies that have such gruesome violence. Its not that the violence itself is something I am against. Its just that if it doesnt serve a proper purpose then I am totally turned off.

Hope that makes sense.
post #7 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Andre 'Lefty' Dellamorte:
Here's Miike
<img src="http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/images/pic_takashi_miike.jpg" alt="" />
Ha guessed right!

A Midnight Eye pic.
post #8 of 749
Guessed Right? Huh? About the picture? Miike's interviewed in Tokyoscope, which is agood little resource.

Audition's violence is central to the plot but it's a horror movie, and the film itself is fairly extreme. But I never found it to be gratutious (though that comment has been leveled at Miike more than I care to count). Visitor Q is probably best described as an attempt to be more transgressive than Pink Flamingos (if such a thing were possible) that succeeds.

Miike's films are - for the most part - extreme, and fascinated with the most base desires, with violence, fucking, and shitting. City of Lost Souls is one of his mellower works, and it includes cockfighting (not with penises mind you, though I wouldn't put it past him).
post #9 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Andre 'Lefty' Dellamorte:
Guessed Right? Huh? About the picture? Miike's interviewed in Tokyoscope, which is agood little resource.

Audition's violence is central to the plot but it's a horror movie, and the film itself is fairly extreme. But I never found it to be gratutious (though that comment has been leveled at Miike more than I care to count). Visitor Q is probably best described as an attempt to be more transgressive than Pink Flamingos (if such a thing were possible) that succeeds.

Miike's films are - for the most part - extreme, and fascinated with the most base desires, with violence, fucking, and shitting. City of Lost Souls is one of his mellower works, and it includes cockfighting (not with penises mind you, though I wouldn't put it past him).
Heh from what I've read I wouldn't put it past him neither.

Well I cant say I don't know what I am getting into when I view his works.
Well I am going to see how BR is and so far I am not fearful of that considering I have seen a couple violent clips and haven't been turned off even if it is violence amongst children.

So who around here is heavily into the Asian pictures coming out?

Because I know you can hear about BR and be a fan of Woo and a couple other directors but still miss entirely what is going on in other countires and with other directors. I have found there is lot more to Asian cinema then is stated or talked about here recently. So far I have been impressed.

Which reminds me...what is the consensus on the Korean flick...2009 Lost Memories?

post #10 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Jackass Movie:
What gave me that clue is the school teacher/student lesbians, the hermaphrodites, the assassins that shoot darts from their chachas, etc. Just doesn't seem like your "thing" I guess.
Ah....well it isn't usually my thing and I can admit that I am not fond of seeing that stuff in all Miike's glory on the screen.

*Shurgs* Like I said there has to be a larger message behind everything. Of course even if you have a great message you can go to far but I figure I have yet to see that limit.
post #11 of 749
Thread Starter 
So the title shock auteur would apply then?

Ah well looks like I will be looking for some more meaningful flicks around town then.

Just not my cup of tea.
post #12 of 749
i thought City of Lost Souls was pretty mediocre, particularly in comparison to Miike's other movies i've seen. definitely more straightforward than the majority of his other efforts. Michelle Reis is pretty gorgeous though
post #13 of 749
Quote:
CTDeLude:
So the title shock auteur would apply then?
For my money, "shit auteur is a better word"
post #14 of 749
Thread Starter 
See there is a point where I just can't handle a director and this would seem to be one of those times. I may be missing the whole point of what he is trying to get across (maybe nothing) but I can only take so much. I like the director to decide and take some variety from his "shock" style if he has one.

But has anyone noticed that Asian directors dress freakin awesome?

WKW that man has sytyle.

post #15 of 749
Quote:
CTDeLude:

Which reminds me...what is the consensus on the Korean flick...2009 Lost Memories?
not bad at all. actually a pretty interesting deviation from your basic Asian run-and-gun/male relationship flick. it does have Korean/Japanese politics as a backdrop, but nothing so deep or esoteric that it can't be followed.

and the first 20 minutes should be shown to anyone who thinks the "lobby scene" in The Matrix "kicks ass"
post #16 of 749
Thread Starter 
Right now I am seriously looking at increasing my knowledge of the film business in most Asian countries as I believe there is some incredible things coming out and ideas about filmmaking being explored so I am trying not to miss much...

And like I said before I am seriously thinkingthat if there is a chance I might want to go study film in either Japan or Hong Kong. There is some incredible things that can be exploited between Asian and American filmmaking brought together.
post #17 of 749
I enjoyed City of Lost Souls. It's not particularly out there like some other Miike classics, but it's got a lot of good quirks of its own. I found the booby-trapped Ping Pong table especially hilarious.

Chris, you don't need to travel abroad to learn what a lot of Asian filmmakers know, as a lot of them graduated from stateside film schools. It's just that the studio system in Asia isn't as structured or hindered by Hollywood style bureaucracy so they can work better without interference. Plus (for the most part), the directors carry a lot more weight than the producers or studio execs.

2009 Lost Memories is a strange hybrid, but it somehow works. Plus they built an entire museum exhibit hall from scratch for the sole purpose of riddling the entire place with M-60 rounds. Your home theater sound system will get an excellent workout.
post #18 of 749
Thread Starter 
Well I am also curious about how they work their crews and such. To be honest I almost want nothing to do with the studios here. if I make a film I want it my own way. Seriously.

There is a way to do this and I am going to try my damndest to find it. But i do think it is incredible about what you can learn from foreign cinema.

If someone can put the pieces together then you have the possibility for incredible things.

I envy Roy Lee's job. This man sits in an office and watches dvds all day looking for properties to adapt and such. He brought Ringu to Dreamworks. In fact I am trying to find out more about his company Vertigo Entertainment.

I have a dream. And that dream I want to see to fruition. Don't know how or when but I will find it.

Yea money is a big issue. But money can be made if you look hard enough. And think smart enough.

Forgive me I am making this into my own little ra-ra speech.

Thanks for the info on the directors learning stateside.

Its good to know about 2099. I know HKFlix gave it some high marks.

Lots to learn lots to learn.
post #19 of 749
Thread Starter 
Anyone catch Dark Water yet?
post #20 of 749
Thread Starter 
More good news....seems Hero may very well have a US ...LA release before the end of the year to beat out the Oscar cut off date.

No established date yet but any LA people need to keep an eye out for this one and let us know please!
post #21 of 749
Dark Water is... really slow. it does build a reasonably creepy atmosphere, but it's an awful lot of divorce proceedings and drippy ceilings to wade through (ahem), especially for the payoff.
post #22 of 749
That mom and her daughter totally won me over though.

Not really that scary, but some good moments. My wife freaked during the faucet scene and when she realized what had happened to the missing girl.
post #23 of 749
Thread Starter 
Hmmm because I was thinking of going to see it at AFI Fest 2002 at the Arclight coming soon.

That and the showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
post #24 of 749
I'm thinking of going to their screening of The Way Home on Nov. 10, but it all depends on whether or not the DVD will street by that date.

The cost of the DVD (around $20) already covers the ticket price for two at the Arclight, but the real bonus is that I won't have to suffer thru the pseudo film hipsters in line endlessly rambling on and on inbetween their Espresso Lattes and puffing on their Camels. The Nuart has scarred me in this regard.
post #25 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Bulletproof Khitcher:
I'm thinking of going to their screening of The Way Home on Nov. 10, but it all depends on whether or not the DVD will street by that date.

The cost of the DVD (around $20) already covers the ticket price for two at the Arclight, but the real bonus is that I won't have to suffer thru the pseudo film hipsters in line endlessly rambling on and on inbetween their Espresso Lattes and puffing on their Camels. The Nuart has scarred me in this regard.
Yes the things we go through to enjoy high cinema.

AFI Fest will probably attract a lot of the Camel smokers.
post #26 of 749
For that cover art alone (not to mention bragging rights that you own something called RoboVampire), I'd say yes Dan.
post #27 of 749
Thread Starter 
Ah a couple more questions Khitch or any other capable entity here....

Is What Price Survival and good little Flick to pick up?

Is Bangkok Dangerous a flick I can enjoy?

Is Princess Blade really a let down?

I'm thinking I should pick up Versus should i?

I am assuming Sonatine is something to pick up right?

Has there been any other movie from a few years till now I have missed out on?

Is The Warrior(India) any good? Or is those damn rain showers just too much!?

Burning Paradise? Volcano High? My Sassy Girl?

I can only trust non CHUD members only so much you know?
post #28 of 749
I will answer what I know for sure:

Sonatine is a Takeshi Kitano film, and Kitano is one of the great working directors. If you check this out, you should check out his entire body of work.

As for My Sassy Girl, I was nigh ordered to watch this my Khitch, and he was right. He was right.
post #29 of 749
Haven't seen What Price Survival yet but the concept of modern day gangsters fighting with swords instead of guns has me intrigued. Plus I liked the director's previous films Black Mask and Moonlight Express so maybe a yes, depending whether you can get it cheap.

I liked Bangkok Dangerous alot, it's a kind of a mix of John Woo heroic bloodshed and WKW visuals and themes of alienation. The Region 1 DVD is Full Frame, so I suggest a rental first. With this and The Eye, the Pang Brothers have definitely made an impact.

Haven't seen Princess Blade or The Warrior yet but hope to soon.

Versus, I thought was aiight, with some moments of giddy joy but not as much as the hype suggests. I'd give it a 7 out of 10.

Sonatine - great. Trust Dre. Trust Kitano.

Burning Paradise - good/great. It's been a while since I saw it. The action's fairly brutal.

Volcano High - Whacky. Fun. Go with it and you'll have a blast.

My Sassy Girl - again, trust Dre. Trust Dave. Trust me.

And Dre, if you're ready for some more teary Korean melo:

Failan - I can see them remaking this with Deniro.
Ditto - Not as heart-wrenching, but still bittersweet. The leads are solid.
post #30 of 749
Thread Starter 
Ah alright...thanks for the heads up on some of them...and I really dont trust almost any region 1 dvds of films from across the seas so thus I order from either dddhouse, senasian, or aznfilms, with the occasional HKFlix.

LadyKoel (my girlfriend if anyone didn't know yet) has the Apex that I gave here that plays all regions as well as having the NSTC/PAL decoder so I don't have to worry about not being able to view the films I get. All I have to worry about is whether or not I can get the kmost out of what I buy.
post #31 of 749
Quote:
CTDeLude:
Ah a couple more questions Khitch or any other capable entity here....

Is What Price Survival and good little Flick to pick up?

Is Bangkok Dangerous a flick I can enjoy?

Is Princess Blade really a let down?

I'm thinking I should pick up Versus should i?

I am assuming Sonatine is something to pick up right?

Has there been any other movie from a few years till now I have missed out on?

Is The Warrior(India) any good? Or is those damn rain showers just too much!?

Burning Paradise? Volcano High? My Sassy Girl?

I can only trust non CHUD members only so much you know?
dunno if i consider myself capable, but here's my pair of pennies:

i liked What Price Survival, but i'm a big fan of the one-armed swordsman movies and other sharp-edged fun. some may find it overstyled

Bangkok Dangerous is a well-made film, but i wasn't as wowed as others seem to be. i wouldn't call it an action film, more of a drama with some guns, and the de facto star has about as much leading man appeal as Steve Buscemi

i liked Princess Blade, but thought it could've been a lot "more" than it was. it hints at macro but delivers micro, if that makes sense. cute lead chick and some decent action stuff though. and again, me like the swordplay

Versus: yes. Sonatine: yes.

haven't seen The Warrior, but loved the song by Scandal. haven't seen Burning Paradise either

Volcano High is good, though it's not the second coming some have heralded it as. still, the final 45 minutes is so ridiculously hyperkinetic it's hard not to be entertained.

loved My Sassy Girl.
post #32 of 749
Thread Starter 
Ah my CHUD allies I do not aim to disappoint in my knowledge on foreign cinema in due time. I have been so thoroughly enraptured by the films of Akira Kurosawa I had yet to take a gander at the films of today.

And how come no one seems to be hyped up by Hero?

Just on a pure artistic level alone? wink
post #33 of 749
Oh Versus, I'm about on the same page as Khitch on that one. Good, but shouldn't be blown up and out.

As for Hero, I'm excited about it, but since it's a Miramax release stateside, it could be a mixed end result.
post #34 of 749
Thread Starter 
So what is the guess on Miramax's move considering they are considering using this as a Osacr contender?

China has said this will be the Foreign language entry but look at what happened with CTHD.

And really reading that Asia Times article I was blown away by the possiblities this movie will present.

So the only thing I actually am worried about is what Zhamou(?) is doing with it and not what Miramax will do with it considering we pretty much foreign flicks via the foreign dvds.

Although it would be nice to see this on a big screen like CTHD.

I mean just the thought of what went into the colors of this films is incredible. I have posted two of the actual posters in the Hero thread and you can tell this well be indeed an artistic film.
post #35 of 749
Versus could definitely stand to lose about a half hour or so, but when i was watching it i couldn't help but think that the filmmakers were just amazed at the fact they were making such a giddy, gory over-the-top horror/action spectacle with gratuitous "cool" posing. guess it was infectious

i'm looking forward to Hero as well, but hesitantly... the last overblown big-budget movie from China i saw was Legend of Zu. guh. i'll definitely be grabbing the overseas Hero DVD though, probably/hopefully before its stateside release
post #36 of 749
Quote:
CTDeLude:
And how come no one seems to be hyped up by Hero?
There isn't a film I anticipate more, with the possible exception of The Last Samurai. The potential for it to be absolutely majestic is just too fucking HUGE.

Absolutely cannot wait for the trailer, which has apparently started airing in China. Within the next few days, when I see it online, you can expect me to gush about it some more.

Picked up a copy of the latest Kino magazine (Korean) while in Seoul, they had a fantastic full color spread (several pages worth) of some mind-bogglingly beautiful images from the film not yet available online. Just knocked me on my ass. This will KILL.
post #37 of 749
Thread Starter 
An image and a poster....

Zhang Zi Yi and Jet Li
<img src="http://www.monkeypeaches.com/pix/021027c.jpg" alt="" />

Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung (There is a green version too)
<img src="http://www.monkeypeaches.com/pix/021027a.jpg" alt="" />

I feel like HBAADU now! wink
post #38 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Bulletproof Khitcher:
Quote:
CTDeLude:
And how come no one seems to be hyped up by Hero?
There isn't a film I anticipate more, with the possible exception of The Last Samurai. The potential for it to be absolutely majestic is just too fucking HUGE.

Absolutely cannot wait for the trailer, which has apparently started airing in China. Within the next few days, when I see it online, you can expect me to gush about it some more.

Picked up a copy of the latest Kino magazine (Korean) while in Seoul, they had a fantastic full color spread (several pages worth) of some mind-bogglingly beautiful images from the film not yet available online. Just knocked me on my ass. This will KILL.
I was looking for your opinion most of all.

Yea any stills of this or Equilibrium I can get my hands onto I d/l for wonderment......

Which reminds me Khitch what is your ethnicity?
post #39 of 749
Ummm... Multi-Asian?

Both my parents are Korean, if that helps.
post #40 of 749
CT, do your interests and/or preferences (foreign or otherwise) lie in any particular genre(s)? just to get a frame of reference as to how my recommendations might fall in line with your tastes. me, i run pretty much the whole gamut: horror, kung fu, action, drama, comedy, cop flicks, artsy, period, sci-fi, swordplay, and as much over-the-top stuff as i can get.

giving a quick glance over at the DVD rack, here's a sampling of some Asian flicks i've enjoyed that i would personally recommend. some you've surely seen (i'll skip the obvious choices like Shaolin Soccer, Ring, Battle Royale, etc. and the works of greats like Kurosawa and Seijun Suzuki), and others listed have likely been previously discussed among us elsewhere on the boards. your mileage may vary, but i'm sure Khitch, Dellamorte and some others can give a solid second opinion.

HK/CHINA:
The Blade
Time & Tide
Wing Chun
Tai Chi Master
The Mission
Running Out of Time
Ninja in the Dragon's Den
God of Cookery
Forbidden City Cop
Bullet in the Head
Fong Sai Yuk
Bride With White Hair
Chinese Ghost Story
A Hero Never Dies
Mr. Vampire
2002
Police Story
Master of the Flying Guillotine
Storm Riders
Dragon Inn
Lifeline
Dr. Lamb
Fulltime Killer
A War Named Desire
Millionaire's Express
Tiger on the Beat

JAPAN:
Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl
Stereo Future
Kairo
Zipang
St. John's Wort
Uzumaki
Space Travelers
Brother
Waterboys
Samurai Fiction
Party 7
Another Heaven
Moon Over Tao

KOREA:
Musa
The Gingko Bed
Bichunmoo
Guns & Talks
JSA
Friend
Foul King
My Wife is a Gangster
Public Enemy
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

THAI:
Tears of the Black Tiger
Jan Dara

oh, and if you haven't seen it, Drive is an absolute blast.
post #41 of 749
Quote:
Dave Davis:
HK/CHINA:
The Blade
Ninja in the Dragon's Den
homina homina homina...

On DVD??? Please tell me they're NTSC, Dave.
post #42 of 749
Thread Starter 
And is it wrong to think Coco Lee is hot?
post #43 of 749
Quote:
Bulletproof Khitcher:
Quote:
Dave Davis:
HK/CHINA:
The Blade
Ninja in the Dragon's Den
homina homina homina...

On DVD??? Please tell me they're NTSC, Dave.
sorry, no... UK R2 PAL. picked 'em up from Benson's World ( <a href="http://www.bensonsworld.co.uk" target="_blank">www.bensonsworld.co.uk</a> ) for 9.99 pounds when they were having their Asian movie sale. good stuff
post #44 of 749
See, the Brits are good for some things...Hong Kong Legends label being one of them. Bey Logan, ex stunman and HK bit-part actor/all round authority contributes a host of audio commentaries, they really go guns on the restoration of the prints, you get a host of extras/interviews with the greats, the artwork is mighthy fine looking and for the price, pristeen DVD's of Iron Monkey, Police Story, Legend Of A Fighter, Magnificent Butcherand Mr Vampire to name but a few are simply joyous.

<a href="http://www.hongkonglegends.co.uk/" target="_blank"> check. it. out.</a>
post #45 of 749
I guess I have no more excuse now for not upgrading to a better Region Free player than the crapola Dingtian that I currently own (which sucks in PAL conversion). Thanks, Dave.

Chris, it's no more wrong than me harboring a 10 year dangerous infatuation with Bonnie Bedelia and Barb Hershey.

Strax, Bey is cool in Circus Kids, and I liked his articles in Action magazine. I don't think I'll ever forgive him for writing Gen-Y Cops though.

"Wassup, dog? Hell yeah, I know JUMBO!"
post #46 of 749
Thread Starter 
Most region frees with PAL/NTSC conversion are pretty expensive right?

And would that affect my home theater system if I stuck that into a JVC system?

Meaning everything is JVC including the dvd...it came as a package.

I'm thinking of getting one.
post #47 of 749
code-free players with PAL decoders can be found for as low as $80, but a pro-scan one will be around $200-300. i've heard the Jaton model they have at aznfilms.com is pretty popular and reliable

you shouldn't have any prob with your sound system. i've got two players, one piped into an Aiwa surround kit and the other into a JVC
post #48 of 749
Does Progressive Scan make that much difference on a 47" Projection HDTV?

I'm stuck between a lower-end Daewoo 5800 ($90) or a Malata 520 ($270), which has Pro-scan.
post #49 of 749
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Bulletproof Khitcher:

Chris, it's no more wrong than me harboring a 10 year dangerous infatuation with Bonnie Bedelia and Barb Hershey.
Ah so its alright if I think Korea has birthed some of the most incredible looking women right?

That one from Shiri wasnt bad at all and then you got Sung Hi Lee(bad actor) and Natasha Yi (another bad actor)!

Wow Weeee!
post #50 of 749
Thread Starter 
Some news on 2046 by WKW....also posted in the original thread in Upcoming Movies

From an interview with Zhang ZiYi

Quote:
Shooting of 2046 will start soon. Wong (Kar-Wai) has asked me to check in on November 17th. There is no script and (I) know nothing about
my role. Based on the test shot I did earlier this year, (I think) it is probably a strange futuristic character. My hair was made very tall and I was
walking the wire with high-heel shoes. 2046 is a big mystery to me. I feel curious and expected.
Yup sounds like this is a WKW vehicle.

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