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- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) Review
- Shaolin: The Blood Mission (1984) Review
- Veteran | Blu-ray & DVD (CJ Entertainment)
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) Review Posted: 17 Dec 2015 10:55 AM PST  "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Korean Theatrical Poster AKA: Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens By Paul Bramhall As the latest installment of the much loved 'Star Wars' franchise hits cinemas in December 2015, the first under the distribution on Walt Disney Pictures, the internet can expect to become awash with reviews from every angle possible. Most of them will be likely scrutinized by the series' diehard fan base just as much as the movie itself, so the very act of writing one is willingly putting ones self in the line of fire of the Star Wars faithful. I myself got to witness 'The Force Awakens' on its opening night in Manila, played to an audience who enthusiastically cheered and whooped throughout its 135 minute runtime, so thought I'd pin a target to myself and offer up my own opinion. It seems nostalgia plays an important part for many who'll be going to see 'The Force Awakens', just as it did for the ill-fated prequel trilogy which kicked off back in 1999 with 'The Phantom Menace'. I was 18 when that movie came out, but even then upon watching it in the cinema, there was no doubt in my mind that what I'd just witnessed was pretty awful. The soulless CGI landscapes, the clunky script, Jar Jar Binks, and the over reliance on playing up the light sabers iconic image as the coolest thing about 'Star Wars'. As a child of the early 80's, of course I also got to experience the original trilogy on VHS, and one of my childhood birthday parties even included a screening of 'Ewoks: The Battle for Endor'. I still remember this movie being more entertaining than 'The Phantom Menace'. Now, 10 years since the last movie was released in the form of 'Revenge of the Sith', 'The Force Awakens' begins a new trilogy that forms a direct continuation of the original three movies, bringing back Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Oh, and Chewbacca. For readers of cityonfire, including myself, there was a particular interest shown in the casting of Indonesian action stars Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian of 'Merantau' and 'The Raid' movies fame. It's not a spoiler to say that they appear onscreen for about 30 seconds. Yayan gets a few lines, but Iko doesn't get to say (or do) anything. For those hoping to see some 'Star Wars' Silat action, you'll come away disappointed. But don't worry, there's still 'Beyond Skyline' to look forward to. Of course Asia's biggest action star, Donnie Yen, is also currently in the process of filming the 'Star Wars' spin-off movie, 'Rouge One', which I'm sure will involve him throwing a few kicks. What you may be surprised to hear though, is that I actually drew a sigh of relief when Iko and Yayan didn't get to show off their impressive skills, as it simply wouldn't have fit in with the story. One of the biggest mistakes the prequels made was their emphasis on the action. With the release of 'The Matrix', the sudden interest in kung-fu saw an increased emphasis on Ray Park's Darth Maul and his double bladed light saber. However 'Star Wars' was never just about light saber fights and TIE fighter battles, it was about the characters taking part in those battles, and what was at stake as a result of them. That's what really made the original trilogy become so fondly remembered. Abrams has realized that in a way that Lucas failed to do when he returned, and in 'The Force Awakens' the grand spectacle is secondary to the relationship between the two main characters – a disillusioned storm trooper played by John Boyega, and a scavenger with no family played by Daisy Ridley. These two innocent players get embroiled in events out of their control when they end up in possession of an android (the ball shaped robot seen in all of the publicity for the movie), which contains a map showing the location of Luke Skywalker, who has long been a recluse. Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, a character who idolizes Darth Vader, is also after the map, and soon everyone from Han Solo to Princess Leia is caught up in the fight to get their hands on it. That's the in-a-nutshell plot of 'The Force Awakens', and to go into any further detail would be heading into spoiler territory, something which should be avoided for such an anticipated movie. But it's fair to say that Boyega and Ridley anchor the movie in a way that makes everything happening seem relatable, taking us along for the ride with them every step of the way as they're overwhelmed, embattled, and ultimately empowered. It's a satisfying journey, and strongly bolstered by a fantastic performance by Harrison Ford, and despite having significantly less screen time, Carrie Fisher as well. Driver really nails the role of Kylo Ren, at once appearing to be completely ruthless, but at the same time convincingly showing his vulnerability in the subtlest of ways. I mentioned earlier that the grand spectacle is secondary, and one of the best things about the action in 'The Force Awakens' is the way the light saber is used very sparingly. The prequels had so many people swinging light sabers left right and center, that the iconic weapon no longer seemed special anymore by the time they'd all been released. 'The Force Awakens' goes a long way to rectifying that, with the light saber perhaps for the first time being conveyed as a weapon that feels both tangible and dangerous. Here there are no villains getting cleanly chopped in half, instead the saber is able to both draw blood and to burn, and the few scenes that they're used in aren't wasted. Quality over quantity. There are of course plentiful aerial battles between the TIE fighters and the X-wings, all of which are filmed in such a way that captures the excitement and thrill of being a part of such a battle. However despite all of the impressive action scenes, what stands out the most about 'The Force Awakens' is just how much of a real movie it is. The cinematography is stunning, with a huge and welcome reliance on practical effects, real filming locations, and wide angle lensing. The score offers up both plenty of new tracks, as well as worthy nods to the famous score of old. The characters are all well rounded and fleshed out, and again, just as many of the more colorful aliens are actors wearing prosthetics as they are CGI creations. Perhaps most importantly of all, the script works, acknowledging what's come before while also paving the way for the movies ahead. While critics could easily beat up on 'The Force Awakens', based on the fact that the plot could essentially be taken as a re-boot of 'A New Hope', it does little to diminish its entertainment value. Based on how big a 'Star Wars' fan the reviewer is, you'll most likely see reviews concluding in a hundred different ways. For me, I wanted an unpretentious piece of sci-fi action cinema, and that's exactly what I got. Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 8.5/10 |
| Shaolin: The Blood Mission (1984) Review Posted: 17 Dec 2015 12:02 AM PST  "Shaolin: The Blood Mission" Korean Theatrical Poster AKA: The Four Shaolin Temple By Paul Bramhall The name of Korean director Park Woo-sang may not be immediately familiar to many, and understandably so. However once the filmmaker immigrated to America, he continued to direct under a different name – Richard Park – and for those who know their B-movie cinema, chances are that this alias should ring a bell. From the mid-80's Park terrorized the B-movie circuit with such titles as L.A. Streetfighters, American Chinatown, and most famously thanks to the recent Drafthouse Films release, Miami Connection. Before his immigration stateside though, under his original name of Park Woo-sang he directed a number of decent Korean kung fu movies. From the Korean version of Zatoichi, with the 1971 flick The Blind Swordsman, through to the likes of the Casanova Wong starring Strike of Thunderkick Tiger. Shaolin: The Blood Mission, was the last movie he made in Korea (the original Korean title is The Fourth Largest Shaolin Temple), and as with so many Korean kung fu movies of the era, it was bought up by Godfrey Ho and Tomas Tang's IFD Films for international distribution, and given an English dub. What separates Shaolin: The Blood Mission from many of the Korean productions that Ho and Tang bought up, is that it quickly becomes clear the movie is a co-production between Korea and Hong Kong, long before their interference. Numerous familiar faces from Hong Kong populate the production, such as Yen Shi Kwan is listed as action director, the main character is a monk played by Suen Kwok Ming, and Ho Kei Cheong appears as a prominent villain. Outside of the principal cast members though, the rest of the performers in Shaolin: The Blood Mission are exceptionally difficult to find any information on. Sites like the Korean Movie Database, the Hong Kong Movie Database, HKcinemagic, and IMDB all return blanks on elaborating beyond a handful of actors. It's a shame, because two of the unnamed members from the trio of monks that make up the protagonists are remarkably skilled, and appear to be Wushu practitioners. The guy who plays the shorter monk in particular is highly acrobatic, throwing in various exciting somersaults and flips whenever he's in action. The third monk is the most muscular of the trio, but again moves with speed and displays some quality talent handling weapons. There’s also an additional character, a rebel who comes to the aide of the monks, who shows off a formidable range of kicks and has some great fast paced fight scenes. However all remain uncredited when exploring the usual avenues to look up information on these productions. The movie itself starts off with a bang. Before the credits have even appeared, Hwang Jang Lee storms down the pathway leading up to the palace steps, carrying a cloth covered severed head in one hand, all set to the shower scene soundtrack from Psycho. It's a double whammy, not only is it a great way to make an entrance, but it's also a great way to start a movie! A familiar plot is soon revealed – there's a list which details rebels against the Ching Dynasty, and Hwang Jang Lee is tasked to find it, of course leading to the Shaolin Temple which is believed to be harboring both rebels and the list in question. After a failed directing gig at Shaw Brothers, Hwang worked almost exclusively in his native Korea from late 1982, before returning to Hong Kong and making Where's Officer Tuba? with Sammo Hung in 1986. Even though many fans consider Korean productions to be a class below their Hong Kong equivalents, which to a large degree is true, what can’t be complained about is the screen time Hwang got in his Korean movies. While many Hong Kong productions would have him randomly pop up in the finale, as a previously hardly seen villain (see Ninja in the Dragons Den and Tower of Death for prime examples), his Korean productions usually had him in prominent roles. Shaolin: The Blood Mission is no different, giving his villain character plenty of opportunities to let loose with his famous kicks. Korean movies are also known for their slightly left of field antics, and here fans of the wacky won't be left disappointed. At one point Hwang and his villainous cohort, played by Ho Kei Cheong, are playing a game of chess. However it's no ordinary game of chess, sitting in high chairs at either end of a huge board drawn onto the ground, scantily clad ladies wearing see through gowns are the pieces, and Hwang instructs his pieces to move by whipping the lady in question. The eliminated piece is usually greeted by being stabbed in the chest, hardly the gentleman's game it has the reputation to be! There's also a bizarre scene were the abbot of the temple reveals he's been hiding a book for a number of years, by having it stitched into his back! Removing it involves a rather gory scene of him having his back sliced open to remove the book from under his skin, after which he promptly dies. If anything, it certainly ensures that the scenes between the fights never get dull. Of course the fights are really what kung fu movies are all about, and Shaolin: The Blood Mission is a pleasant surprise in this department. After a rocky start, which almost seems like it's going to be an intolerable comedy, things turn serious pretty quickly, and the action comes thick and fast. As mentioned, the monks appear to be being played by genuine Wushu practitioners, so plenty of acrobatics and weapons work are included in the fight sequences. I believe this is the only movie which really pits Hwang Jang Lee's kicks against the flowery flourishes of the highly stylized but visually stunning Wushu. The contrast between his powerful and disciplined kicking, to the monks flips and fluidity of movement, makes for a number of unique and thrilling confrontations. Both the three central monks and Hwang Jang Lee also get their own individual chances to shine. The monks in an exam which pits them against each other, allowing for both opponents to display their physical dexterity, and Hwang in one particular scene in which he wades through a small army of monks from the temple, dispatching them with some fierce footwork. Events transpire to culminate in a fantastic three on one, as a spear wielding Suen Kwok Ming, the acrobatic monk, and the boot-master rebel team up to take on Hwang's ferocious villain. It's a long and exhausting fight, one in which every performer gets to do their thing. What I particularly liked about it is that mid-way through, it appears that the good guys are gaining the advantage, at which point Hwang ramps up his kicking to the next level, and as a result the whole fight gets turned up a notch. Throw in rebels getting blown up with dynamite, monks being impaled by flaming arrows, and a chicken losing its head, and Shaolin: The Blood Mission certainly lives up to its title. There are some deaths that would even make Chang Cheh proud, a compliment that any kung fu movie should be happy to receive. While the dubbing and editing of the plot may sometimes leave you scratching your head, no doubt due to Godfrey Ho's involvement rather than any fault of the original production, there's enough solid fight action on display to more than warrant a watch. If you've contemplated watching Shaolin: The Blood Mission before but decided to give it a miss, hopefully this review will make you re-consider, but if it doesn't, I'll ask the same question that at one point the Abbot asks the monks – "Are you totally out of your skull?" Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 7.5/10 |
| Veteran | Blu-ray & DVD (CJ Entertainment) Posted: 16 Dec 2015 12:02 PM PST  "Veteran" Theatrical Poster RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2016 CJ Entertainment presents the Blu-ray & DVD for Ryoo Seung-wan’s Veteran (read our review), an action film starring Hwang Jung-Min (The Unjust), Oh Dal-Su (The Pirates), Yu Hae-Jin (The Flu), Jeong Man-Sik (Kundo), Yoo Ah-In (Punch) and Jung Woong-In (The Quiet Family). Seung-wan is once again paired with Korea's best action choreographer and frequent collaborator, Jung Doo-hong, and together the end result is the director's tightest movie to date. | Trailer. Pre-order Veteran from Amazon.com today! |
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