Celluloid goodness:
Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Man on Fire (2004)
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Spoilers What Movie Are You Watching?
- Thread starter Huntn
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Man on Fire (2004)
Getting away, eh? Excellent idea. I might stream the thing tomorrow. Great cast in that movie.
Followed that up with one of my most favorite Shaw Brothers' Venoms movies' Two Champions of Shaolin (1980). The usual Wu Dang vs. Shaolin business, but boasting some great kung fu (both traditional and acrobatic). Sun Chien, the Tae Kwon Dao kicker of the group, has a great role as the older brother of a family dedicated to Shaolin. His little sister gets to fight too (very unusual in a Chang Cheh SB movie); while Lu Feng steals the last half of the film as the nefarious Wu Dang spy Bao. He's just so good in the role, so he finally whips out the needles and trident, look out.
Blade Runner (1982) Final Cut- Atmospheric, a dark future, sad. I won't call it the best sci-fi, but it has an impact- engineered humans contemplating their existence. First time viewing the Final Cut version, but the ending leaves room for hope, as much hope as a replicant can expect.
[Laughs] "Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."
[Laughs] "Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."
The Kung Fu Instructor (1979) One of my favorite Ti Lung collaborations with director Sun Chung, this neat riff on Yojimbo sees Ti's by the scroll Master being bamboozled into training the most villainous of two local clans. Ultimately, he and his newest protege fight through the many crazy circuits fight choreographer Tong Gai runs them through. This is one of Ti's most intense martial arts performances as he's rarely doubled and performs some beautiful staff forms against hook sword and Guan Dao wielding baddies. The more I watch this, the more I enjoy this than Sun and Ti's most famous (and great) film, The Avenging Eagle.
Hacksaw Ridge - Tremendous rendition of true courage & belief, with the Hollywood touch of the endless magazine. Straight up it's brutal in parts as should be, war must always be understood for what it is, never diluted. In a word Powerful...
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But why didn't they just cut the ropes?Hacksaw Ridge - Tremendous rendition of true courage & belief, with the Hollywood touch of the endless magazine. Straight up it's brutal in parts as should be, war must always be understood for what it is, never diluted. In a word Powerful...
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Agree it's a great movie though.
Hmm, I'm not familiar. Will have to investigate.
As much as I love Chor Yuan's Swordsman and Enchantress; his third and -sadly- final Chu Liu Hsiang movie with Ti Lung, The Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman (1981) (dumb title as this character is not said swordsman) is quickly ramping up to be my favorite Chor Yuen movie.
Basically, Chu (who has risen to the rank of General at this point) goes undercover to the Ghostly Valley to learn of the plot against the elderly but benign Prince. Ghostly Valley is a town where all the worst villains and criminals in the martial world congregate and so Chu discovers said conspiracy (kill the prince!), but also must figure out a way to bring ruin to the mustache twirlers in Ghostly Valley.
While the lead big bad was obvious (the dude has a very demonic look anyway, so slapping a long Chinese beard on him only heightens his sinister appearance), the ins and outs of watching Ti Lung and Lo Lieh happily ham their way through the material is an utter delight. Ti Lung is a highly underrated kicker too. Every time I revisit a Shaw Brothers film, I am always taken aback at how great his footwork is. The man was already a skilled Wing Chun practitioner and makes pole weapons look dangerous (and awesome), but the kicking always surprises me. Plus, his sometimes overly operatic acting is just a blast. He gets it. Lo Lieh was going through his everything goes phase here and I absolutely adore when he plays comedic characters.
I would love this one on blu ray.
Basically, Chu (who has risen to the rank of General at this point) goes undercover to the Ghostly Valley to learn of the plot against the elderly but benign Prince. Ghostly Valley is a town where all the worst villains and criminals in the martial world congregate and so Chu discovers said conspiracy (kill the prince!), but also must figure out a way to bring ruin to the mustache twirlers in Ghostly Valley.
While the lead big bad was obvious (the dude has a very demonic look anyway, so slapping a long Chinese beard on him only heightens his sinister appearance), the ins and outs of watching Ti Lung and Lo Lieh happily ham their way through the material is an utter delight. Ti Lung is a highly underrated kicker too. Every time I revisit a Shaw Brothers film, I am always taken aback at how great his footwork is. The man was already a skilled Wing Chun practitioner and makes pole weapons look dangerous (and awesome), but the kicking always surprises me. Plus, his sometimes overly operatic acting is just a blast. He gets it. Lo Lieh was going through his everything goes phase here and I absolutely adore when he plays comedic characters.
I would love this one on blu ray.
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Shawshank is one of our "Don't start watching" movies, it's so good, and there are so many fantastic scenes/moments, you just get sucked in ("Oh, wait, I want to see the part where ...")
Also has one of my favorite quotes, not just in the context of the movie, but as a rule of life, "Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'".
Masterful execution by Frank Darabont, so funny that he knocked it out of the park, with two back-to-back Stephen King stories centered around prisons (Shawshank and Green Mile).
Side note: per our recent chit-chat about different endings, and you saying you're not big on unhappy conclusions, holy smokes, while I absolutely love The Mist (also Darabont/King), his changes to the ending (of the King story) results in one of the most dark endings I've ever seen in a movie.
There are exceptions.
The original ending was bleak and hopeless but they were still alive as I recall. The change your reference, agreed is worse, however the premise and the story overcome the ending so I can watch The Mist again!
Black Ransom not the best HK offers, equally not bad by any means, as long as you're into the scene.
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Celluloid goodness:
Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Yes, must say that I always loved Shawshank Redemption, an excellent movie.
Blade Runner (1982) Final Cut- Atmospheric, a dark future, sad. I won't call it the best sci-fi, but it has an impact- engineered humans contemplating their existence. First time viewing the Final Cut version, but the ending leaves room for hope, as much hope as a replicant can expect.
[Laughs] "Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."
Agreed re Blade Runner - stunning movie.
Yes, agreed re Shawshank, you can't just have it vaguely on in the background, you simply have to stay with it, and immerse yourself in it and watch it. Great movie.
As my dear friend loves Chin Siu Ho, I suggested she watch one of his last Shaw Brothers films, the comedic kung fu supernaturally tainted Ghosts Galore (1983). Here Chin plays Lu Xing, the wayward con artist son of a famous Taoist priest who teams up with his buddy "Fat Chicken" (Ching Kam) to scam innocent believers of their money.
Along the way they meet Taoist Priest Master Lian Qingren (Lo Lieh) and a brother and sister Ninja pair fleeing from their warlock master (Hwang Jang Lee). Soon it becomes a China vs. Japan slugfest as our Taoist good guys protect the Ninja girl, but the keeper is the end fight which pits Chinese vs. Japanese magic and operatic fight styles (Peking Opera vs. Kabuki). It's a lot of fun and an entertaining way to rethink the whole China vs. Japan brawls Shaw Brothers were so fond of. I like that you see a lot of Chinese mythology and magic mixed in (the God of Prosperity has a cute moment of defeat.
Just what I needed too.
Along the way they meet Taoist Priest Master Lian Qingren (Lo Lieh) and a brother and sister Ninja pair fleeing from their warlock master (Hwang Jang Lee). Soon it becomes a China vs. Japan slugfest as our Taoist good guys protect the Ninja girl, but the keeper is the end fight which pits Chinese vs. Japanese magic and operatic fight styles (Peking Opera vs. Kabuki). It's a lot of fun and an entertaining way to rethink the whole China vs. Japan brawls Shaw Brothers were so fond of. I like that you see a lot of Chinese mythology and magic mixed in (the God of Prosperity has a cute moment of defeat.
Just what I needed too.
Dr Strange Get's a good writeup - time to see if it lives up to the hype
Liking Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor & Tilda Swinton, so have hopes for at least a fair watch.
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Liking Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor & Tilda Swinton, so have hopes for at least a fair watch.
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Be curious to hear what you think. It's in my top two Marvel movies (but I've been a Doctor Strange fan for decades, despite how awful the comics are now).Dr Strange Get's a good writeup - time to see if it lives up to the hype
Liking Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor & Tilda Swinton, so have hopes for at least a fair watch.
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