Saturday, August 8, 2009
Watch Movie A Perfect Getaway 2009,Online English Movie, Download English Film review cast
A Perfect Getaway Hollywood Movie
Cast And Crew
Theatrical Release:
Friday, August 7, 2009 (Wide)
Starring:
view full cast Timothy Olyphant
Kiele Sanchez
Steve Zahn
Milla Jovovich
Directed by:
David Twohy
Genres:
Action Adventure Thriller
Distributor:
Rogue Pictures
Reviews
liff and Cydney (Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich) are an adventurous young couple celebrating their honeymoon by backpacking to one of the most beautiful, and remote, beaches in Hawaii. Hiking the wild, secluded trails, they believe they’ve found paradise. But when the pair comes across a group of frightened hikers discussing the horrifying murder of another newlywed couple on the isCliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich) say they simply want a normal honeymoon in Hawaii. But wait: A couple was just murdered in Honolulu! And another couple (Timothy Olyphant, Kiele Sanchez) is kinda creepy! And another couple (Marley Shelton, Chris Hemsworth) is really creepy!
The buzz: Just a hunch, but it sounds like someone's got some bad business coming their way mid-vacation. The question is who, how and why—as if that's never been done before.
The verdict: Writer-director David Twohy ("Pitch Black") so flaunts his cleverness that he overloads this manipulative thriller with hints at the twist. Blown surprise or not, it's a treat to listen to a writer use words to play with a genre's gears and the audience's assumptions. Though not always credible or as tense as it should be, "A Perfect Getaway" packs uniformly well-balanced performances (Olyphant is walking charisma) and doesn't succumb to gratuitous violence or forehead-smacking stupidity. That sounds like smaller praise than it is.
Did you know? A scene of strangers skinny dipping together doesn't result in any death or violence. Proof that this is always a good, safe idea, particularly in the middle of nowhere, particularly in violent thrillers.lands, they begin to question whether they should turn back.
Unsure whether to stay or flee, Cliff and Cydney join up with two other couples, and things begin to go terrifyingly wrong. Far from civilization or rescue, everyone begins to look like a threat and nobody knows whom to trust. Paradise becomes hell on earth as a brutal battle for survival begins
Watch Movie The Goods ; Live Hard, Sell Hard 2009,Online English Movie, Download English Film review cast
The Goods ; Live Hard, Sell Hard Hollywood Movie
Cast And Crew
Studio: Paramount Vantage
Director: Neal Brennan
Screenwriter: Adam Stock, Rick Stempson
Starring: Jeremy Piven, Ed Helms, Ving Rhames, James Brolin, David Koechner, Kathryn Hahn, Jordana Spiro, Ken Jeong
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: R (for sexual content, nudity, pervasive language and some drug material)
Official Website: LiveHardSellHard.com
Review: Not Available
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Movie Poster: View here
Production Stills: View hereRelease Date: August 14, 2009
Reviews
Jeremy Piven is going out of his freakin mind to promote his new movie The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. Monday night he appeared on WWE Monday Night Raw. He was there to host, and walked out into the arena amidst flaming fireworks and the roar of the crowd. And then he, apparently, decided
The trailer for The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard courtesy of Moviefone . Who is Don Ready? Salesman? Lover? Song Stylist? Semi-professional dolphin trainer? Ready is all of the above -- except for a dolphin trainer. When he's asked to help save an ...
A new Red Band trailer for Will Ferrell produced comedy “ The Goods: Live Hard. Sell Hard .” is online. The film stars Jeremy Piven as a Used-car liquidator named Don Ready who is hired by a failing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable ...
OK I know I already posted a trailer for the movie The Goods: LIve Hard,Sell Hard but this trailer was so fuckin' hysterical I had to post it. I didn't think they could release a trailer that was as hysterical as the first one but I ...
Jude Law might have thought he plucked a plain Jane from Pensacola, but turns out his baby mama Samantha Burke is hardly a rookie at seekin' out celebs. TMZ has obtained photos of the unwed mom-to-be/model/aspiring actress posing and partying ..
watch free Online Comrades in Arms, free Download Chinese Movie Review & Trailers, full movie cast and crew
Comrades in Arms 2009 Chinese Movie
Cast And Crew
Director: Law Wing-Cheong
Producer: Johnnie To Kei-Fung
Writer: Yau Nai-Hoi, Au Kin-Yee
Cast: Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Maggie Siu Mei-Kei, Lam Suet, Ben Wong Chi-Yin, Samuel Pang King-Chi, Tommy Yuen Man-On, Vincent Sze, Lam King-Kong, Lam To-Kuen, Wong Wah-Ho
Reviews
Johnnie To's PTU characters are back, and they're the same flawed but respectable law enforcers that you remember. Tactical Unit - Comrades In Arms is the second of Milkyway Image's PTU spinoffs to see release (though other installments were shot previously), and features the return of director Law Wing-Cheong, who also directed Tactical Unit - The Code. The major cast members reprise their roles, though Fat Lo (Lam Suet) has since been demoted from CID to PTU driver, and Sam (Simon Yam) and May (Maggie Siu) now appear to be at odds, if not engaged in some unacknowledged sexual tension. Maybe one of those yet-to-be-released Tactical Unit films offers an explanation for these changes.
Things are also different behind the camera. The Code was shot on HD-video and only found play at film fests (it has yet to be released to the general public), while Comrades was shot on film and is receiving an actual theatrical release. Also, PTU composer Chung Chi-Wing is back on board (Tommy Wai handled the score for The Code), and the script by Au Kin-Yee and Yau Nai-Hoi better echoes the Milkway house style with its irony and oblique character development. The result: an entertaining and more cinematic spinoff to PTU that's somewhat minor, but still very effectively told. Comrades in Arms isn't a true return to PTU, but its familiar themes and solid craft should please both Johnnie To and Milkyway Image fans.
Sam and May lead separate four-man PTU squads, but there's a heated rivalry between their two teams that borders on hostile. The squad is due for regular turnover anyway, with some of their number graduating onto other duties, but things turn punchy at the farewell party, with squad members trading insults and blows. Also, some of Sam's men utter distasteful comments about May buttering up commanding officer Ho (Ben Wong), with the insinuation that she may be using her gender to curry favor. Ho is also at odds with the demoted Fat Lo, whose disdain towards his superior officer begins to cross the line into insubordination. Ultimately, all the tension spills over into the squad's final assignment together. A trio of armed Mainland thieves has retreated to the hills, and the PTU is assigned to search the area. Will their lack of teamwork doom them, or will they finally discover that elusive cop camaraderie?
Comrades in Arms possesses some of the same edgy irony and cinematic storytelling that made PTU so enthralling, but its spirit is closer to Johnnie To's reverent Lifeline than his award-winning deconstructionist crime thrillers. Comrades is the age-old story of a dysfunctional group who, when the chips are down, learn to put aside their differences and act as a team. That theme lends itself to corny sentiments, and some dialogue certainly comes off that way. Many characters are just types, and the ultimate pro-police feelings may turn off viewers who have a thing against the Man. Also, the setting is unusual; Comrades takes place almost entirely in the day in a remote mountainous area - a far cry from the stark urban noir atmosphere of PTU. The narrative features fewer distinct set pieces, with much of the action feeling familiar if not repetitive. Reportedly, the filmmakers were limited to a low budget, and sometimes it clearly shows.
At the same time, it's impressive that the filmmakers could get so much with so little. For a low-budget Hong Kong film, Comrades in Arms is exemplary. This is less a cat-and-mouse crime film than a wandering-about-in-the-dark one; the cops and criminals ultimately criss-cross all over the mountain, splitting up and running into friend and foe alike as they stumble deeper into the mountains and closer to their individual lessons or realizations. What they learn is rather rote - the themes encompass teamwork, camaraderie, bravery and even religion - but the discoveries are made through wordless action rather than rah-rah speeches. The film chooses not to tell us the obvious and finds growth and emotions within the characters and their situations.
The final shootout is less spectacular than Milkway aficionados are likely used to, but it possesses realistic staging and a positive spirit that is ultimately easy to appreciate. Law Wing-Cheong balances his elements confidently, mixing in ironic humor, smart character details, and recognizable human emotions into his cop-and-criminal saga. This is a lesser Milkyway crime film, but a more-than-adequate successor to the award-winning original that seems right at home among the company's other genre efforts. To many, Milkyway Image is known for more than just genre; their brand means quality too, and Comrades in Arms earns its inclusion in the Milkyway filmography.
watch free Online Night and Fog, free Download Chinese Movie Review & Trailers, full movie cast and crew
Night and Fog 2009 Chinese Movie
Cast And Crew
Director: Ann Hui On-Wah
Writer: Cheung Kin-Wai, Alex Law Kai-Yu
Cast: Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Zhang Jingchu, Jacqueline Law Wai-Geun, Amy Chum (Tam Yan-Mei), Audrey Chan, Ariel Chan, Yim Chau-Wa
Reviews
Ann Hui returns to Tin Shui Wai with Night and Fog, and what a difference a year makes. While her award-winning The Way We Are celebrated the border town’s humble history, local flavor and hard-working residents, Night and Fog references the town’s media-anointed reputation as Hong Kong’s “City of Sadness”, presenting a harrowing and gripping tale of a Tin Shui Wai couple whose escalating estrangement turns into tragedy. Instead of character actors and unknowns, Hui goes for real stars this time, casting Zhang Jingchu and Simon Yam. What hasn't changed is the fact that Hui remains among Hong Kong's best local filmmakers.
Despite the lurid subject matter and controversial setting, Night and Fog isn’t unchecked sensationalism; the film is based on an actual 2004 Tin Shui Wai murder-suicide involving a mainland immigrant, her Hong Kong husband, and their two children. The filmmakers researched the actual event, assembling the facts that they could while extrapolating on the few that they couldn’t to create a compelling tale that’s only a few steps short of a feature-length reenactment. Some choices made don’t always convince, as they seem to convey too much of the filmmakers' thematic intent. However, the story is certainly affecting and Hui's storytelling is measured, thoughtful and genuinely powerful.
Zhang Jingchu, so good in Protégé and Beast Stalker, stars as Wong Hiu-Ling, a mainland immigrant married to older Hong Kong husband Lee Sum (Simon Yam). The couple lives in a highrise Tin Shui Wai housing estate along with their twin daughters (Audrey and Ariel Chan). Sum lives off his pension, while Ling works to make her own living. However, Sum isn’t happy about that. He’s also not happy that Ling is willful, and his physical affection for his wife frequently blurs the line between passionate and abusive.
After one particularly harrowing exchange, Ling flees Sum for the safety of a woman’s shelter, where she strikes up minor friendships and engages in some personal healing. However, even after stints in the shelter and back in China with her family, a resolution is not forthcoming for the couple. Ling does meet with Sum once more in order to settle their affairs, but the end for this family is not a happy one. Meanwhile, flashbacks to the couple's past reveal the genesis of the tragedy, as well as Lee Sum's pronounced and unsurprising capacity for darkness.
There is little mystery in Night and Fog, as the results of the real-life incident are plainly known. What is lesser known is how loyal Ann Hui’s film is to the actual events. The filmmakers’ research and planning involved multiple interviews with survivors of the real-life tragedy, and some of the film’s locations are the actual ones – with the family’s Tin Shui Wai estate and flat being one notable exception. Night and Fog has earned its claims to realism, making this tragic tale of lower class lives into a compelling, even vibrant slice of not-so-happy life. Shot gorgeously on HD video by Charlie Lam (who also served as cinematographer on The Way We Are), the film seems real and immediate, with only a few scenes taking on the appearance of a heightened rather than authentic reality.
Where the film does trip up is with its obvious thematic leanings. Night and Fog may be a true event, but the filmmakers sometimes lay it on a bit thick. The parade of male power figures that refuse to help Ling is a glaring thematic detail, and Simon Yam’s character sometimes crosses the line into demonized caricature. Lee Sum is an astounding heel, whose charm and innate humanity are far eclipsed by his self-serving boorishness and volatile, fragile ego. There’s a real, pathetic human being underneath, but Lee Sum is rendered rather broadly. This is most evident in one particular moment, where Simon Yam literally leers at the audience, and his bursts of violence and unchecked lust sometimes seem too much.
However, human monsters like Lee Sum undeniably exist, and Yam is genuinely frightening in the role. The rest of the cast handles their roles exceptionally well; Zhang Jingchu continues to prove that she’s among China’s most daring and skilled young actresses, and the supporting work from Jacqueline Law and Amy Chum is strong. The film opens after the tragic event, with the many details of the family only gleamed through staged interview segments and key flashbacks featuring the supporting characters. The supporting performances really shine here, adding depth and even suspense to the story.
Aside from its local focus and strong performances, the key strength in Night and Fog is simply Ann Hui’s assured direction. Hui gives each character and situation the proper focus, and the emotions welling up are genuinely compelling. As one-sided as the portrait of this family sometimes seems, there is recognizable humanity in the dark dysfunction they exhibit, and the tension created by Hui never wavers. Everybody knows the ending to Night and Fog, but Hui manages to make the journey suspenseful and even powerful. Likely to be among the year's best films.
watch free Online Murderer, free Download Chinese Movie Review & Trailers, full movie cast and crew
Murderer 2009 Chinese Movie
Cast And Crew
Director: Roy Chow Hin-Yeung
Writer: Christine To Chi-Long
Action: Chin Kar-Lok
Cast: Aaron Kwok Fu-Sing, Janine Chang, Tam Chun-Yat, Eddie Cheung Siu-Fai, Josie Ho Chiu-Yi, Chen Kuan-Tai, Chin Kar-Lok, Wong Yau-Nam, Michelle Ye, Teddy Lin Chun, Dong Yong, Yue Ka-Lun, Wong Wai-Fai, Chan Man-Ching
Reviews
Beware spoilers for Murderer because they'll ruin the unintentional fun. A rollercoaster ride filled with entirely inappropriate emotions, Murderer was co-produced by Hong Kong-based Edko Pictures and US-based Focus Films, among others. First-timer Roy Chow Hin-Yeung directs, and what's the connection between this bunch? Simple, they all worked with Ang Lee on a little movie called Lust, Caution. Ang Lee is also given a "special thanks" credit in Murderer, and the film crew is full of distinguished and talented professionals. Cinematographer Mark Lee Ping-Ban, art director Man Lim-Chung and composer Shigeru Umebayashi all lend their skills, and screenwriter Christine To last gave us Jay Chou's overwrought but very effective Secret. The star is two-time Golden Horse Winner Aaron Kwok. As complete cinema packages go, this is one the year's most attractive.
So, what happened? At first glance, Murderer screams quality and the filmmakers back that up by mounting this psychological murder mystery in a suspenseful if needlessly drawn-out manner. Technical credits are fine, with the look and sound of the film ranking at the top of 2009's locally-produced productions. However, the story is a big question mark, possessing of an intriguing premise but also shallow development, some gaping plot holes, and a third act plot reveal that sends the entire movie careening off a cliff. In trying to shock its audience, Murderer achieves a disturbing level of credibility-busting camp, combining overdone histrionics, mind-blowing plot twists, poor storytelling, and a series of emotions including but not limited to disbelief, dismay and possibly even awe. Regardless of the filmmakers' success or failure here, their bravery and/or lack of self-restraint deserves a salute.
The bare bones plot: some evil bastard is out there bleeding innocent people to death with a power drill, and the latest victim is cop Tai (Chen Kuan-Tai), who's drained of blood and tossed from the seventh floor of an apartment complex. The cops are doubly pissed because the number one suspect is Ling (Aaron Kwok), a respected officer found at the scene with no memory of why he was even there. With Tai in a coma, Ling must piece together the mystery, but what he discovers is that all the evidence points to himself as being the diabolical driller. Was he a grisly serial killer before losing his memory? Or is he being elaborately framed by someone who has the keys to his house, his past and even his psyche? As the evidence mounts against him, Ling begins to insist that it must be the latter, his duty as a cop taking second priority to his increasingly unhinged need for self-preservation. Unfortunately, convincing everyone else of his innocence may be next to impossible.
At this point, Murderer is intriguing and not truly objectionable. Then…IT ALL GOES TO HELL, for the characters, the audience, and possibly the notion of international-quality Hong Kong filmmaking. Hong Kong Cinema has long been known for its chutzpah, mixing genres and changing directions frequently, unabashed in its desire to take audiences for a ride. However, that was back during the wild eighties and nineties, when heightened emotions, breakneck pacing and over-the-top action were as commonplace as dimpled ingenues and floppy hairstyles. Had Murderer been produced with that same anything-goes style then perhaps its excesses would be tolerable, if not enjoyable and pleasingly trashy. However, Murderer supposes quality with its ace production values, deliberate pacing, serious emotions and ardent attempts at award-worthy acting. For a good portion of the running time, Roy Chow seems to be putting together a competent if uninspired commercial thriller, and his actors try their hardest to convey the dark, potentially nihilistic situations.
However, the film starts to unravel. Plot holes quietly appear before yawning wide, the tension goes from thick to amusing, characters (and indeed, the entire police force) start to act unconvincingly, and the acting becomes comically pronounced and overwrought. Chow's direction starts solid but soon becomes a grind, moving too deliberately to seem organic or thrilling. There are a few effective jolts; Chow has a good handle on cinematic scares, effectively using framing and pacing to get the audience to jump. His ability to get a rise out of the audience extends to the drama, too - but for completely opposite reasons. The film's storytelling includes some ill-advised choices, not least among them the decision to reveal everything during an expository "speech of evil" that lasts for an eternity. It's during that speech that audience jaws should hit the floor, but the shock that registers is not because the reveal is so surprising – though, really, only the most cynical filmgoers should see it coming. In all likelihood, most audiences will simply be shocked that the filmmakers actually thought that their elaborate plot reveal would convince.
Murderer's biggest reveal is also the moment when the film jumps the shark, abandoning all hope of winning over its audience while it flirts with new heights of hilarity. Ridiculous details are delivered fast and furiously, and Aaron Kwok's acting goes from smolderingly tense to brimming-with-madness unhinged. Kwok's recent cred as an actor shouldn't be diminished by what he attempts in Murderer, because what he's doing here isn't acting, it's super acting. His performance is measured but ultimately becomes totally out there, and it's done in such a precise and purposeful fashion that it could be studied by future generations of popstar thespians as some sort of deliberate performance meltdown. Murderer goes from OK to bad to bad so forcefully that it invites an instant audience reaction, making it one of the most surprising and probably memorable cinema experiences currently out there. Granted, it may be talked about for all for the wrong reasons, but sometimes it's entertaining when a movie takes an epic nosedive. The filmmakers, studios and industry shouldn't be happy, but audiences with a hankering for spectacular trash? Murderer is there for them
watch free Online Red Cliff II, free Download Chinese Movie Review & Trailers, full movie cast and crew
Red Cliff II Chinese Movie
Cast and Crew
Director: John Woo
Writer: John Woo, Chen Han, Sheng Heyu
Action: Corey Yuen Kwai, Dion Lam Dik-On
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Vicki Zhao Wei, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-Ling, Shido Nakamura, You Yong, Song Jia, Tong Dawei, Hou Yong, Ba Sen Zha Bu, Zang Jinsheng, Zhang Shan, Shi Xiaohong, He Yin
Reviews
It needed to be better and it is. John Woo knocks one out of the park with Red Cliff II, besting the solid but somewhat underwhelming Red Cliff I and delivering an enormously entertaining spectacle that should please mass audiences and the John Woo faithful. Who won't be pleased? Probably the people who think that John Woo only equals gunplay, or those who find his particular brand of cinematic romanticism to be the height of unintentional hilarity. To be fair, Red Cliff II contains moments that could cause giggles, but they're simply a side effect of Woo's pronounced themes of brotherhood, and indeed the homoeroticism actually makes the film more enjoyable. More than anything, Red Cliff II works because it feels like a John Woo film, and builds effectively towards an exciting and entertaining finish. Neither film is an instant classic, their commercialism and obvious execution making it difficult to immediately label them such. Given time, however, the two Red Cliff films may yet be seen as popular art par excellence.
At the end of Red Cliff I, power-hungry Prime Minister Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) was set to attack the Shu-Wu Coalition camped out at the port of Red Cliff. Cao Cao is confident and rightly so; his numbers are superior, and his initial move - sending diseased corpses to Red Cliff - reduces morale and thins his enemy's ranks. Fearing the end for his people, Shu General Liu Bei (You Yong) retreats, taking with him trusted lieutenants Zhao Yun (Hu Jun), Guan Yu (Ba Sen Zha Bu), and Zhang Fei (Zang Jingsheng). That leaves Wu leader Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and his people manning Red Cliff, with the only Shu holdover being strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro), who refuses to leave things undone. With knowing smiles and twinkling eyes, Zhuge Liang and Wu strategist Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-Wau) react to this crisis like any sane men would: they compete with one another to see if they can each fulfill impossible tasks. Zhuge Liang must produce 100,000 arrows in three days, while Zhou Yu must arrange for the death of Cao Cao's naval captains. The price for failure? Beheading.
Betting on such impossible odds with your own head sounds foolhardy, but that's simply how John Woo's romantic heroes joust and parry with one another. Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang show a nearly uncomfortable amount of admiration and respect for one another. And yet, they're also rivals who know that one day they may be foes. The actual Three Kingdoms lore bears out this eventuality, giving that onscreen relationship an ironic edge, but John Woo seems to be less concerned with the past or the future than with the now. Themes of brotherhood, friendship, and honor were already present in Three Kingdoms, but Woo takes them and runs wild, amping them up dramatically while making the characters and situations his own. In his hands, the Three Kingdoms seems only a stone's throw from the thematic excesses of The Killer or A Better Tomorrow. Chow Yun-Fat would have been right at home here.
Compared to the first Red Cliff, this second part moves much quicker, dispensing with backstory and going straight to the strategy and action. While Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu devise clever ways to achieve their impossible tasks, Sun Xiang-Shang (Vicki Zhao) sneaks behind enemy lines, spying on Cao Cao's forces while also making an unwitting friend (Tong Dawei). When the eve of the battle finally arrives, everything seems aligned in Cao Cao's favor - most especially the wind, which makes a fire attack a bad idea for the Coalition. However, Zhuge Liang can apparently read the weather, and surmises that the wind will change in their favor. The trick then becomes waiting until the right time to attack, and the build-up is surprisingly engrossing. Woo uses his celebrated bag of tricks (freeze frames, dissolves, romantic montage, artful slow-motion) to create tension and emotion, with time-outs for some reverent acknowledgement of brotherhood and honor. It's all very inspiring in a cornball cinema kind of way, but this is John Woo's world and by the time he rolls out his old tropes, he's seemingly earned them. His technique is transparent, but he gets his desired emotional effect.
It's great that Woo can fall back on his old tricks, since many were previously deemed inappropriate for cynical Hollywood audiences. Ironically, one Woo signifier that he did squeeze into his Hollywood work - those damn white pigeons - is present here too, but the birds actually have a narrative function. Woo's use of women is also somewhat novel (at least for him). Vicki Zhao's Sun Shang-Xiang plays a large part, and makes a point of showing that her sex shouldn't be an issue. She also spends a good deal of the film in drag, and gets in on some of that John Woo homoeroticism herself - details that could prove ample fodder for gender film theorists who like to give Woo the raised eyebrow. However, there's also Lin Chi-Ling's Xiao Qiao, who seemed in danger of becoming Red Cliff's Helen of Troy, what with the indications that Cao Cao was going to war for her. That motivation is never truly confirmed, but it does offer Xiao Qiao a chance to get involved, as she plays a very key - and surprisingly tense - role in the final battle. Only a flower vase in the first film, Lin Chi-Ling does quite a bit more this time.
The action is also stronger this time. In Red Cliff I, the audience was treated to a strategic depiction of war with occasional pauses for supercool martial arts hero action. Those martial arts heroes are back; Hu Jun rules as Zhao Yun, making Andy Lau's take on the character in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon seem like, well, just Andy Lau. Also, the battles are more chaotic and emotional than the clinical battlefield dissections of the original. Woo pulls out all the stops for the fire attack finale, as the battle moves from sea to land, with moments of strategy, self-sacrifice, friendship and brotherhood dotting each scene like required punctuation. The sequence is a long haul, but it's never droning, as the battle shows clear progression, with all the elements coming together until the main characters finally meet face-to-face as either foes or friends. Anyone who's seen a John Woo movie knows how this should end - with some variation on the classic Mexican standoff - and Woo doesn't disappoint. What's surprising is how he manages to keep the emotions strong until the very end.
Red Cliff I featured an old-school portrayal of war as necessary and even honorable, but in Red Cliff II one character does utter the hackneyed words, "There are no winners here." The words are true but unnecessary, and could easily have been excised. The stronger theme in Red Cliff is not that war produces no winners, but that those who practice treachery, dishonor and naked ambition should be brought down simply because it's the right thing to do. The characters in Red Cliff seem to live this mantra, giving up life and limb not for pride or gain, but simply to stop a megalomaniac from having his way. Like the best John Woo works, Red Cliff delivers theme and character through action, and finds places on the battlefield for characters to reveal themselves for who they are. Nothing is new in the details, but how and when they come to light prove to be entertaining and even affecting. Friendship and honor rule all in Red Cliff, and even wartime allegiances are of lesser importance.
Three Kingdoms purists may be upset with the liberties taken with the source material, but hopefully they'll still be able to enjoy Red Cliff II for its entertainment value. Besides the solid direction and fine technical credits, the actors are better this time around. Tony Leung is still conspicuously dubbed, but his performance is solid, and the strong ensemble cast aids him. In particular, Zhang Fengyi's Cao Cao makes a stronger impression than in the previous film, and Takeshi Kaneshiro now seems more comfortable as Zhuge Liang, imbuing the character with a knowing, righteous charm. In general, everyone seems to have grown into their roles, each handling their iconic characters with pronounced, but still playful seriousness. Still, it's not the actors but Woo who's the star, and he comes through, managing to make his common and even clichéd themes matter. If Red Cliff I showed promise then Red Cliff II delivers with strong, entertaining authority. This is John Woo on a grand canvas, but despite the bigger budget and the larger scale, the film still feels like a personal one. Red Cliff II easily marks the best thing that Woo has done in over a decade, and hopefully is a sign of things to come. Given the lean Windtalkers/Paycheck years - and the resigned feeling that came with them - I'm just glad I'm alive to see this happen.
Cast and Crew
Director: John Woo
Writer: John Woo, Chen Han, Sheng Heyu
Action: Corey Yuen Kwai, Dion Lam Dik-On
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Vicki Zhao Wei, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-Ling, Shido Nakamura, You Yong, Song Jia, Tong Dawei, Hou Yong, Ba Sen Zha Bu, Zang Jinsheng, Zhang Shan, Shi Xiaohong, He Yin
Reviews
It needed to be better and it is. John Woo knocks one out of the park with Red Cliff II, besting the solid but somewhat underwhelming Red Cliff I and delivering an enormously entertaining spectacle that should please mass audiences and the John Woo faithful. Who won't be pleased? Probably the people who think that John Woo only equals gunplay, or those who find his particular brand of cinematic romanticism to be the height of unintentional hilarity. To be fair, Red Cliff II contains moments that could cause giggles, but they're simply a side effect of Woo's pronounced themes of brotherhood, and indeed the homoeroticism actually makes the film more enjoyable. More than anything, Red Cliff II works because it feels like a John Woo film, and builds effectively towards an exciting and entertaining finish. Neither film is an instant classic, their commercialism and obvious execution making it difficult to immediately label them such. Given time, however, the two Red Cliff films may yet be seen as popular art par excellence.
At the end of Red Cliff I, power-hungry Prime Minister Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) was set to attack the Shu-Wu Coalition camped out at the port of Red Cliff. Cao Cao is confident and rightly so; his numbers are superior, and his initial move - sending diseased corpses to Red Cliff - reduces morale and thins his enemy's ranks. Fearing the end for his people, Shu General Liu Bei (You Yong) retreats, taking with him trusted lieutenants Zhao Yun (Hu Jun), Guan Yu (Ba Sen Zha Bu), and Zhang Fei (Zang Jingsheng). That leaves Wu leader Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and his people manning Red Cliff, with the only Shu holdover being strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro), who refuses to leave things undone. With knowing smiles and twinkling eyes, Zhuge Liang and Wu strategist Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-Wau) react to this crisis like any sane men would: they compete with one another to see if they can each fulfill impossible tasks. Zhuge Liang must produce 100,000 arrows in three days, while Zhou Yu must arrange for the death of Cao Cao's naval captains. The price for failure? Beheading.
Betting on such impossible odds with your own head sounds foolhardy, but that's simply how John Woo's romantic heroes joust and parry with one another. Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang show a nearly uncomfortable amount of admiration and respect for one another. And yet, they're also rivals who know that one day they may be foes. The actual Three Kingdoms lore bears out this eventuality, giving that onscreen relationship an ironic edge, but John Woo seems to be less concerned with the past or the future than with the now. Themes of brotherhood, friendship, and honor were already present in Three Kingdoms, but Woo takes them and runs wild, amping them up dramatically while making the characters and situations his own. In his hands, the Three Kingdoms seems only a stone's throw from the thematic excesses of The Killer or A Better Tomorrow. Chow Yun-Fat would have been right at home here.
Compared to the first Red Cliff, this second part moves much quicker, dispensing with backstory and going straight to the strategy and action. While Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu devise clever ways to achieve their impossible tasks, Sun Xiang-Shang (Vicki Zhao) sneaks behind enemy lines, spying on Cao Cao's forces while also making an unwitting friend (Tong Dawei). When the eve of the battle finally arrives, everything seems aligned in Cao Cao's favor - most especially the wind, which makes a fire attack a bad idea for the Coalition. However, Zhuge Liang can apparently read the weather, and surmises that the wind will change in their favor. The trick then becomes waiting until the right time to attack, and the build-up is surprisingly engrossing. Woo uses his celebrated bag of tricks (freeze frames, dissolves, romantic montage, artful slow-motion) to create tension and emotion, with time-outs for some reverent acknowledgement of brotherhood and honor. It's all very inspiring in a cornball cinema kind of way, but this is John Woo's world and by the time he rolls out his old tropes, he's seemingly earned them. His technique is transparent, but he gets his desired emotional effect.
It's great that Woo can fall back on his old tricks, since many were previously deemed inappropriate for cynical Hollywood audiences. Ironically, one Woo signifier that he did squeeze into his Hollywood work - those damn white pigeons - is present here too, but the birds actually have a narrative function. Woo's use of women is also somewhat novel (at least for him). Vicki Zhao's Sun Shang-Xiang plays a large part, and makes a point of showing that her sex shouldn't be an issue. She also spends a good deal of the film in drag, and gets in on some of that John Woo homoeroticism herself - details that could prove ample fodder for gender film theorists who like to give Woo the raised eyebrow. However, there's also Lin Chi-Ling's Xiao Qiao, who seemed in danger of becoming Red Cliff's Helen of Troy, what with the indications that Cao Cao was going to war for her. That motivation is never truly confirmed, but it does offer Xiao Qiao a chance to get involved, as she plays a very key - and surprisingly tense - role in the final battle. Only a flower vase in the first film, Lin Chi-Ling does quite a bit more this time.
The action is also stronger this time. In Red Cliff I, the audience was treated to a strategic depiction of war with occasional pauses for supercool martial arts hero action. Those martial arts heroes are back; Hu Jun rules as Zhao Yun, making Andy Lau's take on the character in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon seem like, well, just Andy Lau. Also, the battles are more chaotic and emotional than the clinical battlefield dissections of the original. Woo pulls out all the stops for the fire attack finale, as the battle moves from sea to land, with moments of strategy, self-sacrifice, friendship and brotherhood dotting each scene like required punctuation. The sequence is a long haul, but it's never droning, as the battle shows clear progression, with all the elements coming together until the main characters finally meet face-to-face as either foes or friends. Anyone who's seen a John Woo movie knows how this should end - with some variation on the classic Mexican standoff - and Woo doesn't disappoint. What's surprising is how he manages to keep the emotions strong until the very end.
Red Cliff I featured an old-school portrayal of war as necessary and even honorable, but in Red Cliff II one character does utter the hackneyed words, "There are no winners here." The words are true but unnecessary, and could easily have been excised. The stronger theme in Red Cliff is not that war produces no winners, but that those who practice treachery, dishonor and naked ambition should be brought down simply because it's the right thing to do. The characters in Red Cliff seem to live this mantra, giving up life and limb not for pride or gain, but simply to stop a megalomaniac from having his way. Like the best John Woo works, Red Cliff delivers theme and character through action, and finds places on the battlefield for characters to reveal themselves for who they are. Nothing is new in the details, but how and when they come to light prove to be entertaining and even affecting. Friendship and honor rule all in Red Cliff, and even wartime allegiances are of lesser importance.
Three Kingdoms purists may be upset with the liberties taken with the source material, but hopefully they'll still be able to enjoy Red Cliff II for its entertainment value. Besides the solid direction and fine technical credits, the actors are better this time around. Tony Leung is still conspicuously dubbed, but his performance is solid, and the strong ensemble cast aids him. In particular, Zhang Fengyi's Cao Cao makes a stronger impression than in the previous film, and Takeshi Kaneshiro now seems more comfortable as Zhuge Liang, imbuing the character with a knowing, righteous charm. In general, everyone seems to have grown into their roles, each handling their iconic characters with pronounced, but still playful seriousness. Still, it's not the actors but Woo who's the star, and he comes through, managing to make his common and even clichéd themes matter. If Red Cliff I showed promise then Red Cliff II delivers with strong, entertaining authority. This is John Woo on a grand canvas, but despite the bigger budget and the larger scale, the film still feels like a personal one. Red Cliff II easily marks the best thing that Woo has done in over a decade, and hopefully is a sign of things to come. Given the lean Windtalkers/Paycheck years - and the resigned feeling that came with them - I'm just glad I'm alive to see this happen.
watch free Online Look For a Star, free Download Chinese Movie Review & Trailers, full movie cast and crew
Look For a Star Chinese Movie
Cast And Crew
Director: Andrew Lau Wai-Keung
Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang, Ming Tang Kit-Ming
Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Shu Qi, Denise Ho Wan-Si, Zhang Hanyu, Lam Ka-Wah, Zhang Xinyi, Maria Cordero, David Chiang, George Lam Chi-Cheung, Ella Koon Yun-Na, Yao Wen-Xue, Pei Wai-Ying, Po Po, Pei Pei, Tony Ho Wah-Chiu, Terence Yin, Pinky Cheung Man-Chi, Belinda Hamnett, Crystal Tin Yui-Lei, Rebecca Pan, Raymond Tso Wing-Lim, Monie Tung Man-Lei, Cheung Tat-Ming
Review
Andy Lau returns to contemporary romance after a string of period epics in director Andrew Lau's Look for a Star, a polished romance about whether or not class differences matter in love. Shot entirely in Macau, the film is full of pretty sights, pretty people, and it even has two established writers onboard - James Yuen Sai-Sang penned some of UFO's greatest hits and has since become an established writer/director himself, while novelist/scriptwriter Ming Tang was the original author behind the classic Andy Lau romcom Needing You. With the prime Lunar New Year release slot to prove its commercial potential, can this team do any wrong?
The answer is yes and no. While the actors themselves turn in fine performances, and the script mostly finds the right balance between charm and drama, Andrew Lau is not a director known for subtle storytelling. Here, he injects his usual brand of filmmaking, confusing overactive editing for style and hammering emphasis into every single important moment as if it's the only way the audience can understand its significance. Nevertheless, Lau can also be very good at making polished, commercial films with great entertainment value, and he also brings that ability to Look for a Star. However, in addition to being polished and commercial, at times Look for a Star is also contrived and embarrassing.
Part of the blame goes to writers Yuen and Tang, who are so into their fantasy romance world and its presumably potent themes. Just in case one story about romance in different classes wasn't enough for the audience to get the point, Look for a Star features three parallel plots about the same thing. Taking central focus is the romance between billionaire tycoon Sam (Andy Lau) and nightclub dancer Milan (Shu Qi). The two meet at a casino table when Milan, probably the nicest nightclub dancer in the world, is standing in for a friend as a card dealer at Sam's casino. For some reason, Milan mistakes Sam for another deadbeat gambler, and the two begin a friendship that quickly turns into romance, even though Milan doesn't know that Sam is the billionaire tycoon she blames for taking away her childhood playground.
Despite that little detail, Sam isn't really such a bad guy. That's not only because he's played by Andy Lau, but also because he's probably the nicest CEO in the world. He doesn't just choose to sit in the front seat of his car – he even hooks up his driver Tim (Lam Ka-Wah) with Shannon (Zhang Xinyi), an attractive real estate agent also looking for love. However, Tim has his reservations because Shannon is also a single mother of a cute little girl. Sam is even nice to construction workers like Lin Jiu (Assembly star Zhang Hanyu), who falls for Sam's right-hand woman Jo (Denise Ho, listed by her pop star name HOCC in the credits). However, their own insecurities about their respective social statuses put a strain on their potential relationship as well.
Even though the Sam-Milan romance takes center stage, the relationship between Lin Jiu and Jo is actually the most involving. The romance strips away much of the Cinderella fantasy of the former and actually creates a romance by developing characters worth caring about. While Zhang Hanyu's Lin Jiu is straightforward as a stereotypical nice guy construction worker, Denise Ho gives a charming and surprisingly self-deprecating performance as a self-conscious woman trapped between her pride in her social status and developing feelings for a regular Joe. Their back-and-forth interactions actually make up some of the more enjoyable moments during the first half of the film, and that plot is also where the film's themes are effectively conveyed without being overly didactic.
But it all goes back to stars Andy Lau and Shu Qi. Even though the two certainly have more chemistry than their last pairing in Wesley's Mystery File and make a believable couple, the plot holes make some of their early conflicts too contrived to care about. For one, if Sam is so famous that his love life, which includes three divorces, can end up on the covers of tabloid magazines, how can Milan have no idea who he is? Fortunately, the mistaken identity contrivance is ultimately shoved aside, bringing the central class difference romance theme front and center. However, unlike the effective delivery of the themes in the Lin Jiu/Jo storyline, the conflicts occur at the expense of the subplots' development, effectively bringing the film to a halt.
Look For a Star culminates in a silly finale that's as cheesy as it is awkwardly embarrassing. In a convenient device that quickly resolves the three plot lines, all the characters resolve their differences on a live television show hosted by a jerk of a host (Cheung Tat-Ming, not overacting here). Not only does the scene have some of the most obvious technical goofs in recent cinema history (what are those film cameras doing at a live TV shoot?), it also painfully wraps up every plotline in monologues of self-realization that only serve to emphasize the central theme of the need to seize happiness on one's own (At least it's better than its lame English translation of “follow your heart”). The conclusions are too easy to reach, and smack of lazy writing.
However, this is also an easy fault to overlook because Look for a Star never takes itself too seriously. Like all holiday films, it has a ton of star cameos; appearances by Maria Cordero, David Chiang, George Lam, and even Rebecca Pan help make for a good game of "spot the star". The film has a generally light tone that makes for an enjoyable sit, and even the extremely cheesy parts are good for a laugh, regardless of their intentions. Despite all of its weaknesses in plot, direction, and character development, Look for a Star undoubtedly entertains in the way that only polished, commercial romances can. It's all a little artificial, but the enjoyment one can get from it may end up being genuine.
Cast And Crew
Director: Andrew Lau Wai-Keung
Writer: James Yuen Sai-Sang, Ming Tang Kit-Ming
Cast: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Shu Qi, Denise Ho Wan-Si, Zhang Hanyu, Lam Ka-Wah, Zhang Xinyi, Maria Cordero, David Chiang, George Lam Chi-Cheung, Ella Koon Yun-Na, Yao Wen-Xue, Pei Wai-Ying, Po Po, Pei Pei, Tony Ho Wah-Chiu, Terence Yin, Pinky Cheung Man-Chi, Belinda Hamnett, Crystal Tin Yui-Lei, Rebecca Pan, Raymond Tso Wing-Lim, Monie Tung Man-Lei, Cheung Tat-Ming
Review
Andy Lau returns to contemporary romance after a string of period epics in director Andrew Lau's Look for a Star, a polished romance about whether or not class differences matter in love. Shot entirely in Macau, the film is full of pretty sights, pretty people, and it even has two established writers onboard - James Yuen Sai-Sang penned some of UFO's greatest hits and has since become an established writer/director himself, while novelist/scriptwriter Ming Tang was the original author behind the classic Andy Lau romcom Needing You. With the prime Lunar New Year release slot to prove its commercial potential, can this team do any wrong?
The answer is yes and no. While the actors themselves turn in fine performances, and the script mostly finds the right balance between charm and drama, Andrew Lau is not a director known for subtle storytelling. Here, he injects his usual brand of filmmaking, confusing overactive editing for style and hammering emphasis into every single important moment as if it's the only way the audience can understand its significance. Nevertheless, Lau can also be very good at making polished, commercial films with great entertainment value, and he also brings that ability to Look for a Star. However, in addition to being polished and commercial, at times Look for a Star is also contrived and embarrassing.
Part of the blame goes to writers Yuen and Tang, who are so into their fantasy romance world and its presumably potent themes. Just in case one story about romance in different classes wasn't enough for the audience to get the point, Look for a Star features three parallel plots about the same thing. Taking central focus is the romance between billionaire tycoon Sam (Andy Lau) and nightclub dancer Milan (Shu Qi). The two meet at a casino table when Milan, probably the nicest nightclub dancer in the world, is standing in for a friend as a card dealer at Sam's casino. For some reason, Milan mistakes Sam for another deadbeat gambler, and the two begin a friendship that quickly turns into romance, even though Milan doesn't know that Sam is the billionaire tycoon she blames for taking away her childhood playground.
Despite that little detail, Sam isn't really such a bad guy. That's not only because he's played by Andy Lau, but also because he's probably the nicest CEO in the world. He doesn't just choose to sit in the front seat of his car – he even hooks up his driver Tim (Lam Ka-Wah) with Shannon (Zhang Xinyi), an attractive real estate agent also looking for love. However, Tim has his reservations because Shannon is also a single mother of a cute little girl. Sam is even nice to construction workers like Lin Jiu (Assembly star Zhang Hanyu), who falls for Sam's right-hand woman Jo (Denise Ho, listed by her pop star name HOCC in the credits). However, their own insecurities about their respective social statuses put a strain on their potential relationship as well.
Even though the Sam-Milan romance takes center stage, the relationship between Lin Jiu and Jo is actually the most involving. The romance strips away much of the Cinderella fantasy of the former and actually creates a romance by developing characters worth caring about. While Zhang Hanyu's Lin Jiu is straightforward as a stereotypical nice guy construction worker, Denise Ho gives a charming and surprisingly self-deprecating performance as a self-conscious woman trapped between her pride in her social status and developing feelings for a regular Joe. Their back-and-forth interactions actually make up some of the more enjoyable moments during the first half of the film, and that plot is also where the film's themes are effectively conveyed without being overly didactic.
But it all goes back to stars Andy Lau and Shu Qi. Even though the two certainly have more chemistry than their last pairing in Wesley's Mystery File and make a believable couple, the plot holes make some of their early conflicts too contrived to care about. For one, if Sam is so famous that his love life, which includes three divorces, can end up on the covers of tabloid magazines, how can Milan have no idea who he is? Fortunately, the mistaken identity contrivance is ultimately shoved aside, bringing the central class difference romance theme front and center. However, unlike the effective delivery of the themes in the Lin Jiu/Jo storyline, the conflicts occur at the expense of the subplots' development, effectively bringing the film to a halt.
Look For a Star culminates in a silly finale that's as cheesy as it is awkwardly embarrassing. In a convenient device that quickly resolves the three plot lines, all the characters resolve their differences on a live television show hosted by a jerk of a host (Cheung Tat-Ming, not overacting here). Not only does the scene have some of the most obvious technical goofs in recent cinema history (what are those film cameras doing at a live TV shoot?), it also painfully wraps up every plotline in monologues of self-realization that only serve to emphasize the central theme of the need to seize happiness on one's own (At least it's better than its lame English translation of “follow your heart”). The conclusions are too easy to reach, and smack of lazy writing.
However, this is also an easy fault to overlook because Look for a Star never takes itself too seriously. Like all holiday films, it has a ton of star cameos; appearances by Maria Cordero, David Chiang, George Lam, and even Rebecca Pan help make for a good game of "spot the star". The film has a generally light tone that makes for an enjoyable sit, and even the extremely cheesy parts are good for a laugh, regardless of their intentions. Despite all of its weaknesses in plot, direction, and character development, Look for a Star undoubtedly entertains in the way that only polished, commercial romances can. It's all a little artificial, but the enjoyment one can get from it may end up being genuine.
watch free Online Shinjuku Incident , free Download Chinese Movie Review & Trailers, full movie cast and crew
Shinjuku Incident chinese movie
CastAnd Crew
Chinese:
Year: 2009
Director: Derek Yee Tung-Sing
Producer: Willie Chan Chi-Keung, Solon So
Writer: Derek Yee Tung-Sing, Chun Tin-Naam
Action: Chin Kar-Lok
Cast: Jackie Chan, Daniel Wu, Naoto Takenaka, Fan Bing-Bing, Xu Jinglei, Masaya Kato, Jack Kao, Kenya Sawada, Yasuaki Kurata, Toru Minegishi, Lam Suet, Chin Kar-Lok, Ken Lo Wai-Kwong, Teddy Lin Chun, Paul Chun Pui, Kathy Yuen, Hayama Hiro, Gladys Fung Ho-Sze
Reviews
A combination of immigrant drama and gangland thriller, Shinjuku Incident probably could not have been made without Jackie Chan. The action star's popularity makes him the film's key figure, and a great deal of audience want-to-see is likely due to his presence. Unfortunately, Chan's much-publicized against-type casting does not prove entirely successful. Jackie Chan isn't a bad actor, but his personality and screen persona are so well established - and his previous films so very dependent on them - that it’s hard to see him as anyone other than the screen icon we know and love. He proves an odd fit in a dark dramatic thriller like Shinjuku Incident, his humanity and everyman likeability somehow making his character seem unconvincing. One wonders if a different lead actor might have served the film better.
Jackie Chan plays Steelhead, a Chinese farmer who illegally travels to Japan in search of his childhood sweetheart Xiu Xiu (Xu Jinglei). After dodging the cops, Steelhead settles into life as an illegal immigrant alongside pal Jie (Daniel Wu) and other immigrant Chinese. Xiu Xiu is still nowhere to be found, but Steelhead must also look out for his own daily existence. Life in Japan isn’t easy; the Chinese work at odd jobs, but have to bolt every time the cops show up for an illegal worker raid. Luckily, Steelhead makes one friend on the opposite side; in one bust, he saves the life of police inspector Kitano (the always entertaining Naoto Takenaka). In return, Kitano helps Steelhead escape the cops and offers further assistance if he requires it.
However, even with a guardian angel on the police force, Steelhead embarks on a crooked path. His destiny is equal parts choice and necessity, as the Chinese must resort to crime to make a decent living. Director Derek Yee doesn't try to justify or excuse their actions, depicting the Chinese as regular, flawed people dealing with an unfavorable environment. There’s an immediate interest and sympathy arising from Yee’s depiction of the illegal immigrants' life. The Chinese struggle against the cops and the gangsters and don't become criminals without some consideration. Steelhead elects for the darker path in order to survive, but he also stresses that there are limits to what's justifiable.
As written, Steelhead should be the movie's most compelling character. However, Chan doesn't convey Steelhead's inner life very well. He tones down his propensity for overacting (this may be the first movie ever where Jackie Chan does not overact his anger), but his character's multiple layers don't shine through. Steelhead is both a good and a bad guy, but when he really does dark things, the effect is not a felt one. Even a last act revelation about Steelhead's past doesn't add the complexity that it should, because Steelhead still seems like a pretty nice guy even when he's doing bad things like shooting people. Jackie Chan is a genial, larger than life figure and at this point it's hard to see him otherwise.
On the other hand, Daniel Wu or Derek Yee fans should be okay with Shinjuku Incident. Daniel Wu doesn't have exceptional range, but he works that range impressively, switching between strong, weak, good and bad with ease. His character is the film's "dope", with his weakness, cowardice, or just plain bad luck causing many of the film's darker turns. There's also fan service; Wu bares his backside early on (alongside Jackie Chan's naked butt...uh, yay), plus his character eventually transforms into a high-strung visual kei glam rocker-type complete with eyeliner and wacky silver wig. Wu's performance is not particularly subtle, and he's a difficult sell as a Mainlander. However, the territory that his performance covers is entertaining, and he provides many of the film's most felt and also most violent moments.
Like Protégé before it, Derek Yee goes for the occasional violent shock, sometimes jolting the film into affecting the audience. The sequences help the film along, upping the stakes while also reminding us that the characters' choices come with a price. The film grows more violent as it progresses; each action begets a reaction, with the characters getting drawn deeper into the underworld seemingly against their will. However, once they're in, they're really in. As the film is quick to point out, power corrupts. Ultimately, people turn to the dark side and have to pay their dues. Cue mega-mega unhappy ending.
Shinjuku Incident works best when it’s not driven by plot. As seen in C’est La Vie, Mon Cheri and 2 Young, Yee excels at telling stories about unprivileged individuals, and makes their mundane everyday lives remarkably involving. Shinjuku Incident serves up characters and situations that rise above the standard genre story, exploring issues and ideas that are unglamorous but also affecting. Yee has a knack for making his characters greater than their basic types, with their circumstances tangibly felt and not just explained through backstory or exposition. His characters are not necessarily likeable or righteous people, but given their difficult circumstances and human responses, they feel real and sympathetic.
The supporting actors help greatly; Yee uses an assortment of veteran actors (Jack Kao, Paul Chun, Lam Suet, Chin Kar-Lok) and newer stars (Fan Bing-Bing, Xu Jinglei), and each makes the most of their roles. The women are especially good, considering that both could have easily been flower vases. As Steelhead's long-lost love, Xu Jinglei has to communicate mostly through facial expressions and restrained emotions. Fan Bing-Bing gets the meatier role, with her character Lily serving partially as Steelhead's moral compass.
Unfortunately, the film doesn't prove consistent. Steelhead makes certain choices that don't entirely convince. This is partly due to Jackie Chan's performance, but also due to the narrative's imbalance between immigrant drama and full-on gangland tale. Compounding matters is the last quarter of the film, which jumps ahead in time to a point where everyone has changed, resulting in a violent, action-packed conclusion that's entertaining but not as emotionally involving as it could have been. The characters struggle with discrimination, cultural differences, greed, corruption - but when the dust clears, the outcome is only expected and not that compelling. There's meaty material covered in Shinjuku Incident, but there's so much of it to process that when the film resorts to genre conventions, it buries all the subtle, thought-provoking content.
Furthermore, the film ends with pretentious onscreen statistics concerning the plight of illegal Chinese immigrants in Japan. Those details are certainly relevant, but since the ending leans more towards genre, the message gets a little lost. Shinjuku Incident feels less like an illegal immigrant drama than it does an all-star gangster thriller featuring a serious performance from Jackie Chan. Perhaps the film would have been better served with an actor like Lau Ching-Wan or Francis Ng in the lead role - basically, a guy whose presence wouldn't have overshadowed the proceedings. Even though Jackie Chan is trying to stretch and even though he's playing just a regular guy, he's still the top dog in every scene.
As an exploration of larger themes, Shinjuku Incident proves a bit unfocused, but it's not without an ability to affect. The film touches upon complex ideas and issues, and even if it can't tackle all of them satisfyingly, it still supplies enough for an involving and even harrowing two hours. Shinjuku Incident works best as a commercial film, proving entertaining and sometimes thought-provoking, and is only hampered when it attempts to be something greater. Similarly, Jackie Chan is an effective lead, but his reach here exceeds his grasp. In the end, both the film and its lead actor are not as good as they want to be - but they both try very hard. (Kozo, reviewed at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2009)
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