Reviews

This short with the possible exception of Inarritu's Powder Keg is the best from the BMW series. This one is a typical film you might expect from Wong Kar Wai (very dark and film noirish). It should not be missed by any of his fans.

The Filth and THe Fury is a GREAT movie and highly recommended to all Pistol fans. While the interviews with Johnny Rotten,& Steve Jones are fairly enlightening about the history of the Pistols, by far the best thing about the movie is the live concert footage of all their great tunes (almost all from the Never Mind The Bollocks... album). The sound on the movie is outstanding!!! You won't hear any better sounding versions of AnarchY in The UK, God Save The Queen, then you will hear here. The end of the movie re: the end of the Pistols drags a little though. Still, a 9 out of 10!!!

Along with Fireworks, This is one of Takeshi Kitano's finest movies. The movie covers the story of 2 "juvenile delinquents" who go thru life trying to find some kind of purpose. One becomes a boxer while the other becomes a yakuza. The film seems to be saying that not enough Japanese people are not taking time to enjoy their life; that people should not be so dead serious all the time.The film also features a very good supporting performance from Susumu Terajima as a "#2 gangster". It's always good to see him in Kitano's films. For the two protagonists, it shows that it doesn't matter what they with their life as long as they enjoy it.

This Takeshi Kitano movie is all over the map and suffers because of it. He tells a "full-out" comedy that tries to cram everything and the kitchen sink re: other Japanese movies. It starts out with Asao looking for sex and doing every weird thing in the world to try to get it but failing; And ends with him becoming the Flyman. There are funny moments when he is mistaken for a hitman and when he auditions as an actor; but many other moments are tedious. Nowhere as good as Kids Return( 9/10) or Fireworks. Overall, a 5 out of 10.

Along with Fireworks, one of Takeshi Kitano's finest movies. This movie is a story of two high school? slackers who appear to be looking for a purpose in life. One becomes a good boxer and the other one becomes a yakuza member. After going thru their experience, they become more confident and content with their life even though it couldn't be said that they were exactly successful. Like real life, perhaps the experience is the thing. Good acting all around. It's always good to see Susumu Terajima in Takeshi's movies as he's a very good actor. Also very good score by Joe Hisaishi. The movie also appears to criticize the fact that many Japanese people treat everything- life, work, etc. so seriously that they don't take the time to enjoy life. Instead, they "pressure" themselves to do good, even though their heart may not be in it. It's not unlike many recent Japanese films like Shall We Dance or Bouncing KOgals, both also good movies. Overall, a 9 out of 10.

This is a great movie!!! It deals with a serial killer; The suspense is quite good and does not follow the Hollywood convention so you don't know what to expect. Plenty of graphic well done sex scenes. Beware that there is also a graphic rape scene. Still a 9 out of 10.

Mixed movie. The first 40 minutes take too long to start the story and sets you up for what looks to be just another stiff of a movie. Movie picks up at the "imagine" sequence of the Jeff Bridges character and starts to get interesting. The movie goes along with Bridges looking for info on the background of Oliver Lang (Tim Robbins). Last 10 - 15 minutes is profound and may make you think whenever you watch the news!!! These last minutes make this movie passable, although there's quite a bit of hooey, coincidences, & "unexplanations" to get to this point. I give it 7 out of 10. Also the Jeff Bridges performance is godawful. (Overacting of the WORST kind). Normally a decent actor, but's that's his WORST performance in a long time. That 's probably what made the ending even better.

Mixed movie. The first 40 minutes take too long to start the story and sets you up for what looks to be just another stiff of a movie. Movie picks up at the "imagine" sequence of the Jeff Bridges character and starts to get interesting. The movie goes along with Bridges looking for info on the background of Oliver Lang (Tim Robbins). Last 10 - 15 minutes is profound and may make you think whenever you watch the news!!! These last minutes make this movie passable, although there's quite a bit of hooey, coincidences, & "unexplanations" to get to this point. I give it 7 out of 10.

Wong Kar Wai's films are an acquired taste; either you like most or all or else you don't like them at all. Having said that, this is his best film and one of the greatest and most important films to come out of Hong Kong. It moves along at a faster pace (though still a little slow) than his other movies. Like his other movies, photography work is excellent and very stylish. He give you the feeling of being in Hong Kong without having to catch the plane. Fallen Angels features the story of a hitman as well as other restless people in HK. Leon Lai Ming is very good in this movie; his acting has come a long way since Wicked City. Overall, a 10 out of 10.

This is a very good movie to take a chance on. For the most part, it's done well on a low budget. It has much nudity and sometimes is tasteless in it's humor. Amy Yip and Chikako Aoyama are very good. The copy I saw didn't have subtitles, but if you understand a little Cantonese, there's enough English to understand what's going on. Robots, killers, sex, gore. You can't ask much more from a movie!!! Overall, 8 out of 10.

This is a great movie!!! 9 out of 10; Totally offbeat, and unpredictable as to how it turns out. Also with great photography of Japan.

This is a GREAT MOVIE!!!! Wong Kar Wai's movies are an acquired taste, but if you like his other ones, you should like this one. Has the usual excellent photography work from Chris Doyle. Wong Kar Wai's films make you feel like you're in HK without having to get on the plane! With Pulp Fiction, This is one of my favorite movies of the 90's; Leon Lai Ming's acting has come a long way since Wicked City. I bought this movie on tape the first day it was priced for sale; The movie covers the usual angst felt by people (in Wong Kar Wai's films) living in HK and their trying to find their true meaning/calling in life. Enjoy this one.

Scary movie, that leaves you with a feeling of dread. Didn't like the way handheld cameras "swoosh" thru the air; It made me feel a little dizzy. Best part of movie is the last 10 minutes. In fact, the last 10 make the whole movie! 7 out of 10.

Baunsu Kogals or Bouncing Young Girls is a very good movie about 3 girls, their friendship and their life in the world of prostitution (Kogals, they call them). Sort of a Japanese version of "Kids", but more likely to be taken seriously. It follows the ennui that these girls and their peers/other youth feel in Japan. An important point scored in the film is when Jonko and Raku ask why does Lisa want to go to New York to study, she says she wants to be in NY because when you live in the US, there's is a feeling of a "can-do" attitude that pervades the culture, which would motivate her to be a better student in Japan and also get her independence.

This movie about japanese teenage girls high-gals or Ko-gals (prostitutes) is a very good movie. It addresses many of the feelings of ennui youth have in Japanese society, like the feeling that they cannot be treated as individuals in Japanese society (part of the group-think) there. An important part of the movie shows when Lisa is asked, why does she want to go to New York to study? She states that her feeling is in the USA you "can-do" anything you want just as long as you keep trying and that you do your best. It's a feeling that these girls feel that they are trapped to being less than they can achieve in Japan. Overall, a 9 out of 10. Note: that the picture on the video box makes the movie look like a porno movie but it's nothing like that. It could be said that it's similar to Larry Clark's "Kids".

I give it 1 out of 10. 1 for the coffee joke. Otherwise, it's terrible. I'm surprised it's doing good box office. Also there is a ton of product placement in the bloody movie.