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Saturday, September 15, 2007

Toronto Film Festival 2007 Reviews, Part 1


Flash Point (Dao Huo Xian)
[Chinese Action-Drama]

Another well made action-drama film from the same director that gave us SPL 2 years ago - Wilson Yip. Donny Yen, the astounding martial arts actor that appeared in "Shanghai Knights" and "SPL", plays a rough cop Jun who will go to any brutal length to catch criminals. His suave partner Wilson (Louis Koo, who appeared last year in the awesome "Election" and "Election, Part 2") goes undercover to bust a drug dealer brother trio Archer, Tony, and Tiger. But things go wrong in the process and sets off a series of brutal attacks that endanger both cops' lives and those around them. It's all about justice as the intent to get these drug dealers become quite personal.

Yen outdoes himself with his fight sequences which start light (he actually is held back in the first third of the film) then progress to a melee frenzy by the end. It will rivot you out of your seats (and all the other cliches that Roger Ebert and other film critics would say) and make your eyes pop out. In the Q & A at the end with the director, it was revealed that only one explosion scene involved wirework, while all the other sequences were done take after raw take with numerous injuries to the cast. (Some of the outtakes are featured at the end of the film)

For a story, it is a reasonable one but not that original. And there are a few plot points that get left undeveloped (the drug dealer's incapacitated mom) But it does it's job to get you into suspense from scene to scene and feel for these cops when all the madness goes on around them.

It was meant to be an action film through and through and for that, it delivered. And the audience unanimously agreed -- in fact, a few key stunts by both the baddies and Yen got applause during the film.

5 out of 5 stars.


-------------------------

Heavy Metal in Bagdad
[American Documentary]
This documentary, although made by filmmakers who adore heavy metal (Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi of Vice magazine, goes beyond a bunch of guys wanting to perform in concerts and release an album in their native Bagdad. It's about them trying to survive to have a normal free life in a constricted poisionous state of terror on a daily basis. This film doesn't conceal the fact that there's the war going on and in fact uses it to show how unsecure and dangerous their lives are trying to make a living and rock there.

It's fascinating to watch the crew have to go through obstacles to even see them, let along get to Bagdad. And the restrictions and problems they experienced even to get an audience to perform at a barricaded hotel. The first portion of the film show's the peak of the band's existence around 2002, then follows their lives through December 2006. It's facinating to see how their emotions and mental struggles shift from fear to apathy to nostalgia as the movie progresses.

Eventually, they all seek refuge in Syria, with one band member being the only one that brought his family over (wife and daughter). All the others had to leave relatives and such behind. Although initially seeming a better safer live, it's really a purgatory as the band members described it.

It's refreshing to see a film about ordinary guys just trying to live their lives in Badgad rather than the umpteenth story (news or film) about a military tragedy or random civilians lost. By focusing on these four members doing something that we in America take for granted and can do in our homes, our colleges, or a bar if we get a good gig, it makes it much more personal to us. These truly are guys just trying to live an ordinary lives (well, the lives of rockers anyway lol) rather than be involved in the politics or religious beliefs of the war.

It was interesting to note at the end of the film, we were notified that they may now be mandated to return to Bagdad as there is a mandate on October 10 to send all Iraqi refugees back to Iraq -- almost guaranteeing their death pretty much. They made an appeal to donate money for getting these guys transferred to another safe neighboring country instead, which I intend to contribute to.

Very well documented story with good editing of the transitions of the band from year to year so that it's almost a 3 part story: life in Bagdad early years, life in Bagdad later years, and life in Syria. It's also an emotional moment when the band members themselves are shown early footage of this film du
ring the film.

This film is also appropriately nominated for the Toronto Festival Film of the Year.

5 out of 5 stars.

-----------------
  
Chrysalis
[French Sci-Fi Thriller]

Julien Leclercq creates this cold world in the future in Paris where the technology exists, called Chrysalis, which can erase your memories though keep your facilities intact. Think of widespread use of the neuralizer ("Men in Black") or brainwashing ("Bourne Identity" trilogy) by the French intelligence agency. The erasure machine gets stolen by notorious smuggler Dimitri Nicolov (Alain Figlarz) and top cop David Hoffman (Albert Dupontel) and his wife cop partner get on the case to retrieve the device. After his wife gets killed while the two of them chase key players, David turns especially cold and lets her death get the better of him. He is assigned a new partner who tries to deal with his distrusts and violent tendencies on police procedure -- even when it puts her life in jeopardy.

What separates this from being a mere action drama is a parallel story of a doctor who works with Dimitri to use on her daughter who suffered from a near fatal car accident. By wiping her of her memories, and reconstructing her face, she uses the machine to what she sees fit to bring her to a normal life. But as the movie progresses, we see that the daughter's live of constant brain operations and lab isolation slowly drive her mad. The plot heightens when the cops deal with the machine themselves and how it is being used on people. Some definite ethical questions are raised not far off which biological procedures being discovered nowadays.

This story could have just as well worked in modern times which a bit of fictional advancement of medicine. But being in the future enhances this story that's told with filmed cold tones of blue and white washout and not in vibrant colors. The special effects also rival "Minority Report" as the virtual procedures of the machine are demonstrated, especially on a child.

The fight sequences also lend themselves to wonderful martial arts styles that the principal characters exhibit. And parts of the violent sequences get quite raw, even starting with the opening credits scene that made half of us jump.

Wonderful mix of suspense and drama which quite a good amount of action mixed in. The futuristic look is very cool and adds to the backdrop of the story. I love the imagery of several clear and pure instruments (especially in the lab) contrasting the dubious or evil purposes for which they are used. You truly wish for the safety of many of the characters involved. The festival's description of "future shock noir" perfectly fits the bill.

5 out of 5 stars once again!


Monday, September 18, 2006

Currently Listening
Promiscuous
By Nelly Furtado
see related

Toronto Film 2006 Reviews , part 2

While the heart of Friday's films seems to be about dysfunctional families, Saturday's picks seemed predominantly about how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

So here's the Saturday films I've seen:

The Banquet

 -------------------------
[China] The Ming Dynasty was riddled with lust for power, loyalty, jealousy, treachery, and betrayal toward the final years of its empire. This film, in a MacBethlike story, illustrates the fighting and power struggles during this troubled time.

Respected swordswoman Wan (Ziyi Zhang from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), who once devoted love to a prince Wu Luan (Daniel Wu), became disgusted with his choice to abandon his family duty to succeed as emperor and chose instead to be an actor. His troupe pays dearly when he tries to break off his ties. By consequence when it became time to pass the crown, it went to his uncle Li (Ge You), making Wan the empress. Through the course of the film, we see her become more and more consumed by this power as she relishes in her riches and plays quite freely with people's lives and their fates in the quest to eventually become surpreme emperor.

It's no doubt that the part of Wan was made for Ziyi, having played dangerous vixens before. And Daniel Wu does his equal share of superb acting with a conflicting heart and amazing mime skills as well as martial arts. I'm impressed with his screen presence since first seeing him as the gang villian in "New Police Story".

  Excellent supporting cast and with quite poignant final scenes. 5 out of 5.

The Banquet movie trailer


Election (Parts 1 and 2)

 -------------------------
[Hong Kong] This was an awesome action/drama film which illustrates the mafialike world of the Triad Society in Hong Kong - an underworld with fraternal devotion on the surface but greed, deception, and violence beneath it all.

Although the film ticket covers seeing parts 1 and 2 in a double feature, the festival presents them as separate films because of the film dates when they were originally released in Hong Kong (two years apart). But for our purposes, the two films complement and flow into each other well enough to consider the two together as one film. They both center on the central figure Lok (Simon Yam) and his aspiration to becoming the next chairman to the elite Wo Sing clan. The road to that achievement is not without bribery of chief influencers and loyal terriers that stop others from getting in the way. Each part focuses on two different elections that take place, but the second one builds on the characters from the first (those that live that long anyway :)

The violence is very graphic and oftentimes unforgiving, so it's defintiely not for the weak at heart. In fact, it very much rivals "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"

  The movie makes a strong point from early on that once you are in the Society, you follow its rules or you risk consequences. I've heard that it was quite controversial in Hong Kong for it's dark depiction of the Triad Society (possibly to the point of the director banned from creating another film for a limited period of time). Perhaps someone can confirm that? In any case, another winner - 5 out of 5.

Election Part 1 Trailer | Election Part 2 Trailer


Le Voyage en Arménie

 -------------------------
[France] Anna (Ariane Ascaride) is a doctor in France who has been tending to her father Barsam's (Marcel Blüwal) medical treatments. When she learns that he must have an operation and be put in a rest home, she goes to his house to tell him the news...only to find he vanished to Armenia, his homeland. So her family encourages her to go there and find him. Exasperated, she agrees and heads out to a country she considered rather poor with no knowledge of the customs and habits there and very few connections to help her.

The relationship between Anna and Barsam and is one that many of us (myself quite included) can related to : the stubbornness between ourselves and our parents (or our children in some cases) and our refusal to accept one's decision or what one wants them to do.

The bigger plot in the story for me, however, is how much she learns about Armenia and their people living their lives in whatever way they can to earn a living and keep pride in their country and ancestry. All the different characters she meets there: her self-appointed driver, a bubbly ambitious teenage hairstyler, a physician who runs a medical mobile truck for less fortunate families, and his boss with a military background and high respect from the townspeople -- all develop in the course of the story and have more and more underlying layers as they progress in their adventures between the main city and countryside.  We are for the most part supposed to feel like Anna, being naive to the ways of Armenia and the acceptance that things don't happen in a snap as expected in the Western World. Things have to be done certain ways and you have to have an appreciation for what is being done, while at the same time not becoming corrupted in the shadier ways of trying to make ends meet.

The ending definitely fits what the whole story is about and is a truly uplifting piece on acceptance on the way things are. Before you want more out of something, take regard for the things you have.

5 out of 5

Le Voyage en Armenie Trailer


Saturday, September 16, 2006

Currently Listening
Pullin Me Back
By Chingy (Ft Tyrese)
see related

Toronto Film Festival - Movie Reviews Day 1

Here's the Friday films I've seen:

Jindabyne

 -------------------------
[Australia] This centers around the lives of small dysfunctional families in the small town of Jindabyne in Australia. When the guys go out on a fishing trip and find a dead woman's body in the lake, the delayed reaction of dealing with it creates a negative impact on all of their lives. With the victim being aborigine and the families being white, it creates a subplot of mistaken hate crime. But the real purpose of the incident in my opinion is to bring about all their family problems in the forefront.

The director does a very good job of fleshing out all the characters as multi-dimensional so that you're not forced to have an only positive or negative opinion of each of them -- including the kids! It deals with the importance of family and sticking together despite what had gone wrong in the past.
A few of the characters aren't really explained why they have become that way, especially one of the main family's adolescent daughter that has a penchant for animal sacrifices and carrying drugs (???). Which was the only negative in the film.

It's a definite heartfelt drama, with moods similiar to what you'd see on the Lifetime channel. But the characters are given heart despite their weaknesses as they deal with the incident and the bigger picture of their lives. 4 out of 5.

I Am the Other Woman(Ich bin die Andere)

 -------------------------
[Germany] A successful businessman Robert Fabry (August Diehl) comes upon a very seductive prostitute "Alice" (Katja Riemann) during one of his trips, and pays for her services one night. Fast forward to in his office where he learned he will be working with a new client: it's her again, but not as the same person! Different clothes and completely different disposition.

"Alice", when not a callgirl, is really this other woman Carolin Winter who's brought up by this very bizzarre family with a domineering adulterous father, equally adulterous detached-from-reality mother (not unlike the one from "Arrested Development"), and their adulterees. But Robert becomes fascinated by this woman that doesn't realize she's living two lives. He gets engrossed and falls in love with her; so determined to change her into being one normal person that she foregoes proposing to his current girlfriend and is willing to travel to other ends of the country for her.

Upon first reading, you may this it's a romantic tale, but in reality it's coming to grips with Carolin as we learn more and more of why she has become this way and the origins of her family's bizarre behavior. The father, in fact, is one of the show-stealers as someone that will never let go of his daughter and is committed to being both verbally nurturing and descructive to her at the same time.

Katja Riemann really does a superb job of becoming 2 different people with very contrasting attitudes about love, sex, and trust. August plays his character Robert interestingly as someone that wants to go along for the ride: his identity fascination, sexual frustrations, and pleasurable moments with her.

And it actually all makes sense in the ending (once it is explained). A bizzare drama superbly acted out.  5 out of 5.


Saturday, August 19, 2006

Currently Watching
Snakes on a Plane
By Samuel L. Jackson, Byron Lawson, Nathan Phillips (II), Candice Macalino, Taylor Kitsch, Casey Dubois, Gerard Plunkett, David Koechner, Bobby Cannavale, Crystal Lowe, Terry Chen, Kenan Thompson, Bruce James (II), Flex Alexander, Elsa Pataky, Lin Shaye, Mark Houghton, Daniel Hogarth, Darryl Quon, Rachel Blanchard
see related

Snakes on a Plane!

Brief Impression
----------------
Make no mistake, this is a B-movie through and through. But it's a helluva lot of fun if you go see it with a gang of good friends. We managed to see it at Friday 11:40 yesterday, just after opening day, when hardly anyone was at the theater (we figured most people saw the earlier shows and on Thursday). It's more of a thriller than horror filled with cardboard stereotypes and irrelevant sub-stories, but Samuel Jackson definitely helps bridge this film together and keep the story moving. For such a movie, it gets a B-.


Details with semi-spoilers
--------------------------

Good ol' Sam plays an FBI agent who must fly and protect a witness to his father's murder (we believe it's his father anyway). They have to fly from Hawaii to Los Angeles where the trial takes place.  It actually takes a while into the film before they actually board the plane and spend it on needless action sequences (though Sam did look good in them).

Once the action rolls on the plane, the snakes get released from the on-board luggage and all the chaos ensues. And I must say, several of the deaths range from gruesome to funny to both! The first ones in particular were very unsusual and rather...graphic, certainly deserving an R. But definitely in a comical way. You'll just have to see for yourself.

As you may predict, Sam eventually has to play hero and help save the day. And he actually gets a few more good one liners than the muthaf*in line that everyone at this point now knows (though when he does say the line, we were all in such applause that we couldn't hear the next irrelevant line, haha).

Another minor thing to note which thankfully didn't seem like such a stereotypical character is the snake researcher expert in LA. The actor who protrayed the part made the character show some human emotion as he learns what unfolds on the plane and is not just a geek who acts fascinated that such snake behavior could happen. He actually shows genuine concern and speaks to the non-technical characters in plain english. Something rather refreshing in such a role.

So I would recommend seeing it, once again, with several friends for more of a laugh. There were a few really gruesome scenes, but coming from someone that's not a horror flick fan, they were definitely bearable to me. Largely again because it was more of a thriller than horror.

So go see the MF*in snakes on the MF*in plane! :)


Sunday, July 09, 2006

My meme

(Click here to post your own answers for this meme.)

                       
× I miss somebody right now.  (i'm not sure actually. haha. can't think of anyone at the moment.) I don't watch much TV these days.× I own lots of books.
× I wear glasses or contact lenses. I love to play video games.× I've tried marijuana.
I've watched porn movies.× I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship. I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
I curse sometimes.× I have changed a lot mentally over the last year.× I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.
* * * * *                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
× I have broken someone's bones(no one's but my own. haha.) I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal.× I hate the rain.
I'm paranoid at times.× I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free. I need/want money right now.
I love sushi.× I talk really, really fast.× I have fresh breath in the morning.
× I have long hair.× I have lost money in Las Vegas.× I have at least one sibling.
× I was born in a country outside of the U.S. I have worn fake hair/fingernails/eyelashes in the past.  (wig)× I couldn't survive without Caller I.D.
× I like the way that I look.× I have lied to a good friend in the last 6 months.× I am usually pessimistic.
× I have a lot of mood swings.× I think prostitution should be legalized.× I slept with a roommate.
× I have a hidden talent.× I'm always hyper no matter how much sugar I have. I have a lot of friends.
I have pecked someone of the same sex. I enjoy talking on the phone. × I practically live in sweatpants or PJ pants.
× I love to shop and/or window shop. I'm obsessed with my Xanga or Livejournal.  (near to that degree. i check almost daily.)× I'm completely embarrassed to be seen with my mother.
I have a mobile phone.  (who doesn't?)× I have passed out drunk in the past 6 months. I've rejected someone before.
I currently like/love someone.  (hmmm. i guess so.)× I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to have children in the future.
× I have changed a diaper before.× I've called the cops on a friend before.× I'm not allergic to anything.
I have a lot to learn.× I am shy around the opposite sex. I'm online 24/7, even as an away message.
I have at least 5 away messages saved.  (a HELLUVA lot more than 5) I have tried alcohol or drugs before.× I have made a move on a friend's significant other or crush in the past.
× I own the "South Park" movie.  (hate south park)× I have avoided assignments at work/school to be on Xanga or Livejournal(even if i was a 90's kid, i dont see myself doing that.)× I enjoy some country music.
× I would die for my best friends. I'm obsessive, and often a perfectionist.× I have used my sexuality to advance my career.
× I think Halloween is awesome because you get free candy.  (nah, cuz you can dress up.)× I have dated a close friend's ex. I am happy at this moment.
× I'm obsessed with guys(LOL! female-biased obviously.)× Democrat.× Republican.
× I don't even know what I am.× I am punk rockish.× I go for older guys/girls, not younger.
I study for tests most of the time.× I tie my shoelaces differently from anyone I've ever met.× I can work on a car.
× I love my job(s)(i like it. not LOVE it.)× I am comfortable with who I am right now.× I have more than just my ears pierced.
× I walk barefoot wherever I can.× I have jumped off a bridge.× I love sea turtles.
× I spend ridiculous amounts of money on makeup. I plan on achieving a major goal/dream.× I am proficient on a musical instrument.
× I hate office jobs. I went to college out of state.× I am adopted.
× I am a pyro. × I have thrown up from crying too much.× I have been intentionally hurt by people that I loved.
× I fall for the worst people.× I adore bright colours.× I usually like covers better than originals.
× I hate chain theme restaurants like Applebees and TGIFridays.× I can pick up things with my toes.× I can't whistle.
I have ridden/owned a horse.× I still have every journal I've ever written in. I talk in my sleep.
× I've often thought that I was born in the wrong century.× I try to forget things by drowning them out with loads of distractions.× I wear a toe ring.
× I have a tattoo.× I can't stand at LEAST one person that I work with.× I am a caffeine junkie.
× I am completely tree-huggy spiritual, and I'm not ashamed at all.× If I knew I would get away with it, I would commit at least one murder.× I will collect anything, and the more nonsensical, the better.
I enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner.× I'm an artist.× I am ambidextrous.
× I sleep with so many stuffed animals, I can hardly fit on my bed.× If it weren't for having to see other people naked, I'd live in a nudist colony.× I have terrible teeth.
× I hate my toes.× I did this meme even though I wasn't tagged by the person who took it before me.× I have more friends on the internet than in real life.
× I have lived in either three different states or countries. I am extremely flexible.  (not bodily. but in terms of making accomodations, i like to think so.)× I love hugs more than kisses.
I want to own my own business.  (web design eventually. still a pipe dream at the moment.)× I smoke. I spend way too much time on the computer than on anything else.
× Nobody has ever said I'm normal.× Sad movies, games, and the like can cause a trickle of tears every now and then.× I am proficient in the use of many types of firearms and combat weapons.
I like the way women look in stylized men's suits. I don't like it when people are unpleased or seem unpleased with me.× I have been described as a dreamer or likely to have my head up in the clouds.
× I have played strip poker with someone else before.× I have had emotional problems for which I have sought professional help.× I believe in ghosts and the paranormal.
I can't stand being alone.  (i don't particularly fancy it.) I have at least one obsession at any given time.× I weigh myself, pee/poo, and then weigh myself again.
× I consistently spend way too much money on obsessions-of-the-moment.  (not way too much.)× I'm a judgmental asshole.× I'm a HUGE drama-queen.
I have travelled on more than one continent.× I sometimes wish my father would just disappear.× I need people to tell me I'm good at something in order to feel that I am.  (not sure)
× I am a Libertarian. I can speak more than one language. I can fall asleep even if the whole room is as noisy as it can be.
× I would rather read than watch TV. I like reading fact more than fiction.× I have pulled an all-nighter on an assignment I was given a month to do.
I have no piercings.× I have spent the night in a train station or other public place.× I have been so upset over my physical gender that I cried.
× I once spent Christmas completely alone because there was a miscommunication on which parent was supposed to have me that night.× There have been times when I have wondered "Why was I born?" and may/may not have cried over it.× I like most animals better than most people.
× I own a collection of retro games consoles(used to some years ago)× The thought of physical exercise makes me shiver.× I have hit someone with a dead fish.
I am compulsively honest.× I was born with a congenital birth defect that has never been repaired.× I have danced topless in front of dozens of complete strangers.
× I have gone from wishing I was a girl to revelling in being a boy to feeling like a girl again in the span of five minutes, and not cared a whit for my actual sex.× I am unashamedly bisexual, and have different motivations for my desires for different genders.× I sometimes won't sleep a whole night or eat a whole day because I forget to.
× I find it impossible to get to sleep without some kind of music on.  (when i was a kid)× I dislike milk.× I obsessively wash my hands.
I always carry something significant around with me.× Sometimes I'd rather wear a wig in day-to-day life than use my own hair. I've pushed myself to become more self-aware and thereby more aware of others.
× Even though I live on my own I still cry sometimes because I miss my mother.× I hand wrote all the HTML tags in this document. I've liked something which a majority of people claimed was either bad or weird.
× I have been clinically dead for a brief period of time.× Instead of feeling sympathy/empathy with people and their problems, I simply become annoyed.× I participate/have participated in auto drag races and won.
× I do not 'get' most comedy acts.× I don't think strippers are money-greedy or slutty for dancing.× I don't like to chew gum.
× I am obsessed with history/historical things and can't wait for someone to build a time machine so I can be the first to use it.× I can never remember for the life of me where I parked the car.× I had the TEEN ANGST thing going for at least 2-3 years.
I wish people would be more empathic and honest with each other.× I play Dungeons and Dragons weekly. I love to sing.  (karaoke)
× I want to live in my mother's basement when I grow up.× I have a custom-built computer. I want to create a certain someone's babies, even though there's a 0% possiblity of ever achieving it.
× I would be in a relationship with one of my pets if they were human.× I've gone skinny-dipping. I've performed in three plays.
× I enjoy burritos.× I'm Irish and loving it. I have a thing for redheads.
× I am a twin!× Most of the times, I'd rather do something intellectual instead of doing something generically 'fun'.× Once I set out to finish something, I always stay at it until it is completed before I move on to something else.
× I wish there were a way to erase past mistakes.× I sleep more than 12 hours a day.× I wish I could be prouder of what I've accomplished, but it's never enough.
× I need more time to myself.× I wish I was more open-minded.× I hope that I go really prematurely grey.
I download songs from the internet.× I've just reenacted chapter 58 of Death Note with my best friend.× I say random things to freak people out.
× I'm still a little mad about the ending of Death Note.× I love playing Truth or Dare.× I love listening to slow music, but I hate singing to it.
× Music helps me remember that I am not alone.× Playing my favorite sport makes me temporarily forget my problems. I think this survey is particularly long.
× I prefer my LJ friends to my real-life ones.  (i think all of them except one i know from real life.)× I can only hate someone that I love.× I've ordered an extra two shots of espresso to an Americano at Starbucks.



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