2007: The Digital Scrounge

[Mike Thomason]

Though I can't really say I'm "tiring" of HK cinema per se, I have to admit it's been a pretty bland year on the SAR front so far -- there's maybe two or three films I'd consider have actually stood out from what I feel has been a largely mediocre sea of titles.

Still, somebody's gotta wallow through that mediocrity, and I'm thankful there's a few folks here who don't mind the task!

To be honest, I'm wallowing through them too (there's not a single Hong Kong [not Mainland Chinese or any other Asian territory, mind you] movie that's been released on DVD in Hong Kong that I haven't purchased -- it's just that I can't be bothered writing about them, I'm sorry to say. People would just get tired of seeing the words "another mediocre release" or "X company (eg: Milkway Image) just going through the motions" from me over and over again, so I elect not to do too much writing at present. I'm still watching -- just not seeing anything of vitality or life worthy of typing about, unlike recent years past. So I've just been catching up with a lot of commercial American tat of the kind I enjoy indulging every now and then, as well as some oldies here and there...

Not dead, as such, just in stasis...

[Brian Thibodeau]

....it's just that I can't be bothered writing about them, I'm sorry to say. People would just get tired of seeing the words "another mediocre release" or "X company (eg: Milkway Image) just going through the motions" from me over and over again.....

Don't bet on that.

Either way, though, I can see how a lot of them may very well deserve to be left to the dustbins of the mind rather than have their deficiencies laid out on paper.

(although, I must confess a certain curiousity about what seems to be a Thomasonian "against-the-grain" take on the Milkyway films, as mentioned here and in your "What Asian films have been watching" thread, in reference to Eye In The Sky...do share!)


And, back on the Asian scrounge thingy, I popped into the Music & Movie wholesale place last night before closing for a quick haul. Nothing major, but a few more 4/$10 VCD titles to pad things out:

MODERN CINDERELLA (2002; Modern; Nadia Chan, Wayne Lai) Some of these early-century Nam Yin/Small Siu productions, though shot on video, do have bits and pieces to recommend them: OK scripts, decent performances, nice location work etc. Judging from the trailers, at least, this seems to have production values set quite a bit higher than most of the others, but I guess I'll see...
IDOL (1993; Universe; Yip Yuk-hing, Chan Hiu-ying) Looks like some kind of stalker-fan thriller.
SECOND CLASS RESIDENT (1981; Ocean Shores; Bennett Pang, Roy Chiao, Annie Liu)
LOVE & SEX AMONG THE RUINS (1996; Universe; Dayo Wong, Ada Choi, Pauline Suen) I'm guessing this UFO feature might be the best of this recent haul, based on a few reviews I've read here and elsewhere, but as always, comments are welcome on any of these!


.

[Mike Thomason]

Just for a bit of fun...

The Call Girls (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Crazy Sex (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Invisible Target (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Simply Actors (Hong Kong) (DVD)
The Third Eye (Hong Kong) (DVD)

...from that funny little place at the bottom of Mainland China that used to make world-class movies.

[Brian Thibodeau]

...from that funny little place at the bottom of Mainland China that used to make world-class movies.

Considering how close some of your ongoing purchases are to release date, surely they must still be doing some things right?

[Mike Thomason]

...from that funny little place at the bottom of Mainland China that used to make world-class movies.

Considering how close some of your ongoing purchases are to release date, surely they must still be doing some things right?

I kid, I kid! (Actually, I knew you'd bite at that one, hehe)

Like you, there is a completist element within me, and I will continue to keep purchasing new HK movies as they're released on DVD (since there's no cinemas for such in my neck of the woods anymore), and keep on watching. There's good years, there's bad years, and there's indifferent years...but there's always HK movies and, believe it or not, there's always something to enjoy in there somewhere. It hasn't been the best year for HK movies thus far IMHO, but there's only been a few titles that I'd say were well below par -- most have been modestly enjoyable, a couple have been great, and the rest have been agreeable time-wasters. Effectively, that makes 2007 not that much different than any other year at the HK movies for me -- I'll keep watching, (mostly)* irrespective of quality or quantity, as long as they keep on churning them out!

* well, DV/DTV films have never been high on my agenda, from any world market. Mind you, Andrew Lau's HD productions this year have been swish!

PS: If I pre-order before DVD release date -- I pay less! That makes economic sense to me, considering some (new) HK titles can increase between $10HK and $40HK list price after street date. Such things can make a difference if you're on a bit of a (movie) budget...

[Brian Thibodeau]

I kid, I kid! (Actually, I knew you'd bite at that one, hehe)

Well of course you did. And I knew you knew!

Of course, I also really do believe there are still world class films coming out of the city—thematically and tecnologically—but they just don't have the international spotlight their predecessors did (not that some of those would have been even half as famous as they are if it weren't for the international fan communities ).

* well, DV/DTV films have never been high on my agenda, from any world market.

No worries, really. I'm doing my best to take care of those for posterity, although there are a handful even I've let stay on the shelves! At least for now... Gotta have some standards after all, even if they're lower than yours. Plus they make great filler.

PS: If I pre-order before DVD release date -- I pay less! That makes economic sense to me, considering some (new) HK titles can increase between $10HK and $40HK list price after street date. Such things can make a difference if you're on a bit of a (movie) budget...

I hear ya. I get what I can up front in the same way, but usually wait for a higher percentage of others to inevitably drop back down in price (which usually doesn't take too too long), since around here, they're likely to end up sitting on the pile for a while before they get their turn in my player.

[Mike Thomason]

And it's about time I started catching up with some culty stuff...

Dellamorte Dellamore (Italy) (DVD)
Fascination (France) (DVD)
The Grapes Of Death (France) (DVD)
Gwendoline (France) (DVD)
Inferno (Italy) (DVD)
Lips Of Blood (France) (DVD)
Tombs Of The Blind Dead (Spain) (DVD)

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

The Vertical Ray of the Sun (2000) Vietnam
Returner (2002) Japan
Quitting (2003) Mainland China

FYI: for those who have Big Lots around (R1) they have been getting lots of the OOP Columbia/Tri-star movies (like Another Meltdown and the ones I bought) for $2.

Looking forward to Drunken Angel coming out on Criterion soon R1 (http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=413).

[Brian Thibodeau]

FYI: for those who have Big Lots around (R1) they have been getting lots of the OOP Columbia/Tri-star movies (like Another Meltdown and the ones I bought) for $2.

Thanks for the tip! With the high Canadian dollar, every trip back to my home town involves a further trip across the border to take advantage of the savings (and the sadly increased wait times at the bridge). I've found a few deals over the years at the Big Lots there, although the place is a little messy sometimes. Guess that's the price you pay to not pay high prices!

RETURNER's a pretty cool movie, but for $2 you can afford not to like it if you want.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

I originally borrowed Returner from my bro awhile back and enjoyed it (though I do not remember everything about the film so I will probably watch it again this year). I've pondered getting it since then; but when I saw it for 2 dollars that was an easy choice. I have not seen the other films (I already own Another Meltdown); but there are other non-Asian films that they have been selling too (OOP from Columbia; I bought a Frank Capra OOP "Matinee Idol" movie).

[Brian Thibodeau]

I originally borrowed Returner from my bro awhile back and enjoyed it (though I do not remember everything about the film so I will probably watch it again this year). I've pondered getting it since then; but when I saw it for 2 dollars that was an easy choice. I have not seen the other films (I already own Another Meltdown); but there are other non-Asian films that they have been selling too (OOP from Columbia; I bought a Frank Capra OOP "Matinee Idol" movie).

Yeah, Big Lots is known for having good deals like that. I've read elsewhere about a lot of OOP stuff turning up in their stores, just never when I'm in them.

[Mike Thomason]

And one spare, as I was permitted the luxury!

Battle Royale (Japan) (DVD)
Battle Royale II: Requiem (Japan) (DVD)

Never having seen the director's cut of part one, I was surprised to find that both films were released in a 3-disc boxset in Korea (with English subtitles on the main features, 16:9 transfers and DTS audio); naturally I have since instantly upgraded from my Universe discs to these versions.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Never having seen the director's cut of part one, I was surprised to find that both films were released in a 3-disc boxset in Korea (with English subtitles on the main features, 16:9 transfers and DTS audio); naturally I have since instantly upgraded from my Universe discs to these versions.[/size]

I'm probably asking for it here , but any thoughts on the actual director's cut of part one? Can't say I'm a fan of that one at all, which I worry might lump me in the "internerd" camp or some such (not sure what the prevailing wisdom is on it). Guess I just thought the expansion of the characters' backgrounds harmed the pace of the original. I too have the Universe one (which still suits me fine for the time being), but my upgrade to the first director's cut tin set from Korea was disappointing outside of the extras. I seem to recall reading that the additional footage was largely done via new shoots, which made the whole concept of the director's cut somewhat fishy. Fortunately I tripled my investment on that one when I sold it after it went out of print!

[Mike Thomason]

I'm probably asking for it here , but any thoughts on the actual director's cut of part one?

Will let you know once I've received it and had a watch! For now, I really wanted an anamorphic version of part 1 that was in the affordable range (UK currency conversion is about 3-1 for me, so a 20GBP disc will equate out at around $50AUD+, which is well beyond what I can call justifiable for a single disc expense!), and when I saw the Korean edition listed in a boxset with part 2 (which I loved for its gung-ho politics!) I couldn't resist for $36AUD (incl. shipping).

Edit: A little bit of a hiccup occured since I posted this originally! A couple of things have cropped up between my original plan of purchasing this title and payday (today); thereby, the addition of the Battle Royale boxset will now have to hold off until next payday in a fortnight.

Don't worry about the phrase "internerd"...it's one I use occasionally, more for myself (signifying that I am also a part of it all as a reminder) than anyone else. I've seen worse...much worse...

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

won these in a lot (just received the package):

The Conman - Andy Lau, Athena Chu
Casino Raiders - Andy Lau Alan Tam
The Last Message - Michael Hui, Sam Hui
Aces Go Places II - Sam Hui, Sylvia Chang
Aces Go Places III - Sam Hui, Sylvia Chang
Young and Dangerous II - Cheng Yee Kin, Gigi Lai
All About Ah Long - Chow Yun Fat, Sylvia Chang
Rush Hour - Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker
A Man called Hero - Ekin Cheng, Shu Qi
Born to be King - Ekin Cheng, Sonni Chiba

Just bought:
Super Inframan (Celestial/Image R1)
Duel at the Supreme Gate (now caught up again on the Rarescope releases)

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Won Black Magic (HK Image/Celestial) online. Looking forward to watching this

As good as BLACK MAGIC is, the sequel (in title only, but featuring the same cast) is even better!

I won BOXER'S OMEN online awhile back. Not sure when I'll get around to it, but I'm hoping at least some of the breathless online hype was true! BLACK MAGIC 2 at least give me an idea of the what the "extreme" threshold might have been in Hong Kong cinema at the time (an era I'm not overly familiar with...just yet), so if BOXER'S OMEN matches that, I'll be a happy man.

Have you had a chance to watch Boxer's Omen yet? I finally watched it this weekend and it found it much more disgusting and disturbing (so it was fun) than Black Magic 1 (still haven't seen the sequel). Some of the effects are cheesy (especially the puppetry, but there is plenty of reguritation and eating things you really shouldn't).

[Brian Thibodeau]

Have you had a chance to watch Boxer's Omen yet? I finally watched it this weekend and it found it much more disgusting and disturbing (so it was fun) than Black Magic 1 (still haven't seen the sequel). Some of the effects are cheesy (especially the puppetry, but there is plenty of reguritation and eating things you really shouldn't).

Sadly, no. And with the film fest going on here, I'm gorging on big screen goodies these days (see the blog if you're interested ) including some new Asian titles still to come as the week goes on.

Considering BLACK MAGIC 2 blows its predecessor out of the water, I'm very much tempted to move BOXER'S OMEN up on the list. I've heard all sorts of wonderful things about it, particularly after it's recent DVD release. BLACK MAGIC 2 really deserves to be seen by more people, but I guess the R1 DVD is just around the corner.

As to the scrounge, since this is the first year I've been able to take the entire week off work to attend the TIFF (and I still only bothered to get tickets to eleven movies - what was I thinking? ), I decided to treat myself to some new Hong Kong releases and older gap-fillers at the downtown W.Y. Trading Centre since it was just up the street from the day's screening venue, plus the guy cut me a good discount for picking up so many new releases. Probably could have waited, but this is literally my second week off in ten years, so I felt like splurging. Sad, I know.

NEW STUFF

MR. CINEMA (2007, Joy Sales)
INVISIBLE TARGET (2007; Universe Single Disc) Hopefully I won't end up wishing I'd sprung for the 3-disc version of this. Looks cool but far too expensive considering the extras)
SIMPLY ACTORS (2007, Panorama) Can't stand Jim Chim's baseless antics, but also can't stand missing a new release...
WONDER WOMEN (2007, Deltamac)
HOOKED ON YOU (2007, Megastar)



OLDER STUFF

DON'T TELL MY PARTNER (1997; Mei Ah)
IT'S A MAD MAD MAD WORLD III (1989; Fortune Star) Found the second film in this series marred by rampant cynicism and a (typical?) misunderstanding of other cultures on the part of Hong Kong filmmakers (far dumber than most western films of the same vintage could be accused of treating most Asian cultures), but I just gotta know how things ended up!

[Mike Thomason]

Some more "food" for the newly reinvigorated blog...

Bruce Lee & I (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Girl With The Long Hair (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Sexy Girls Of Denmark (Hong Kong) (DVD)
The Sugar Daddies (Hong Kong) (DVD)
The Tiger Blade (Thailand) (DVD)*

* I'm taking one for the team on this one! The film was naff, but punting that the HK DVD is uncensored; might have been naff but still want to see it uncut!

[cal42]

Good to see you both back on the blogs!

[Brian Thibodeau]

Good to see you both back on the blogs!

Hey, I never left! Sure, I'm a bit slow...but now that the film festival is on, I can finally claim to be as contemporary as the good Mr. Thomason! Tomorrow's a big day: THE EXODUS, M, MAD DETECTIVE and HOME SONG STORIES, then SILENT RESIDENT and FLASH POINT on Thursday midnight, so keep your eyes peeled for a few days. Probably just the usual unrefined ramblings, but hopefully it will pique some interest. After that, though, who knows....

[cal42]

Well, I noticed you updated occasionally, but I leave the country for a few days and I come back to find no fewer than 5 updates . Now, THAT'S more like it! .

Seriously, I do read all this stuff, even if I don't make comments. In fact, I have them saved on my favourites, and generally look every day.

[Mike Thomason]

I hate walking into the big variety stores when they have sales on...

Danger: Diabolik (Italy) (DVD)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (Great Britain) (2-DVD)
The Mummy (1999) (United States) (DVD)

[Mike Thomason]

Good to see you both back on the blogs!

Thank you kindly! Good to know we have a faithful readership out there!

And here's a bit of interesting trivia I unearthed while researching some information for some of my up-coming reviews of Shaw genre and exploitation titles (no-one expected me to review kung fu films, did they?). From the TELA database:

"Film Title: KILLER SNAKES, THE
Classification: Category III
Director: Kuei Chi Hung
Language of dialogue: Putonghua
Language of subtitle: Chinese, English
Duration: 96 min
Remarks: Contains sexual violence, strong horror and violence"

"Film Title: THE KILLER SNAKES
Classification: Category IIB
Director: Kuei Chih Hung
Language of dialogue: Putonghua
Language of subtitle: Chinese, English
Duration: 84 min
Remarks: Contains suggested sexual violence, some shocking scenes and violence"

Now, being that the version Celestial released on DVD via IVL in Hong Kong carries a IIB rating on its sleeve, yet runs around 95m (allowing for the 4% speedup from the usage of a PAL master that equates to approximately 99m at film speed), do you think someone possibly made a little mistake with the content of what ended up on the disc...based on the above information?

I guess we're all just lucky that they did make such a BIG mistake and transferred the film from the full, uncut version, and not the heavily truncated version that they were awarded a IIB for...

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

I hate walking into the big variety stores when they have sales on...
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (Great Britain) (2-DVD)
...

"Oh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish!"

A favorite pick of mine. Any favorite Python material (films, TV etc...)?

Oh and I've bought and watched Onibaba (1964) Japan

Well, that's the end of the post. Now, here's the meaning of life...

[Brian Thibodeau]

Recently viewed:

CHICKEN AND DUCK TALK. Finally got around to this Michael Hui comedy. Great stuff, if not as good as earlier fare like THE CONTRACT, but all the elements are there: Hui's cheapskate everyman, Ricky's sad-sack support, two excellent examples of set design in Hui's slummy BBQ duck shop and Lawrence Ng's sparkly fast food chicken joint. The opening ballet of bad taste is a classic, and the film has many funny setpieces, but I've never been sold on Clifton Ko as a top-flight comedy director: some sequences here are marred by what seem to be a lack of coverage to better construct the gags, or perhaps poor editing choices. Still, plenty to recommend it (although DVD purists will no doubt find the print to be just average, with weak burned in subs)


Watched a few others, but nothing that probably hasn't been seen by everyone here, or probably isn't worth even mentioning. Plus with the film fest and all...

[Brian Thibodeau]

A favorite pick of mine. Any favorite Python material (films, TV etc...)?

I know this probably wasn't asked directly of me, but as a Python junkie (all the books, all the movies, all the episodes, all the albums), I just had to chime in!

My favourite film from Python is LIFE OF BRIAN, and not just because of the title! I think it's that rare film where virtually every member of the troupe was at the top of their form, and they couldn't have picked a better target. The "controversy" still boggles the mind to this day, but then again, what would good satire be if the fundamentalist factions of the group being satirized didn't miss the point.

MEANING OF LIFE is smashing stuff, but obviously a return to the sketch roots. But what sketches!! I've always had a soft spot for the death comes to dinner/Christmas in Heaven bit that caps off the film.

Favourite TV Sketches:

The Bishop ("OK Devious, don't move!"), directed by Prebendary "Chopper" Harris. That shot of Terry Jones in a bishop suit and his goons walking down the street to the Peter Gunn theme still gives me giggles 30 years after I first saw it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDGoBitd1vY

The Argument Clinic
The Parrot Sketch (bit too easy to pick that one, I suppose)
Ministry of Silly Walks (ditto)
The Pirahna Brothers ("Dinsdale!")
(and any other sketch with Luigi Facotti)
The Bicycle Trip episode ("I'm...just...a...jack in the box...")
The Cheese Shop Sketch
The Most Awful Family In Britain ("I think it's disgustin' you a member of Parliament!")
Olympic Hide & Seek
Timmy Williams' Coffee Time
Blackmail: The Game Show

and of course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhJQp-q1Y1s

[Mike Thomason]

Because I'm on a tight budget this fortnight, only four Shaws...

Diary of a Lady Killer (Hong Kong) (DVD)
The Ghost Story (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Hell Has No Boundary (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Love Swindlers (Hong Kong) (DVD)

[Brian Thibodeau]

Because I'm on a tight budget this fortnight, only four Shaws...

Nonetheless, looks like a good cross section of sex 'n violence there (two of which I've got; have to look for the others now that my attention has been brought to them!). Glad to know other folks venture outside the Shaw martial arts umbrella! I think I've now got more of their non-MA on DVD these days, though I'm a little scared to actually count them up!

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

I know this probably wasn't asked directly of me, but as a Python junkie (all the books, all the movies, all the episodes, all the albums), I just had to chime in!

...

All Python comments are welcome.

Ahh Monty Python is one of my hobbies amongst strangling animals, golf, vintage piss, Proust Summarizing and (BBC2 deletion). However, I only own all the movie and episodes. My favorite is still Monty Python and the Holy Grail where I have memorized too many lines about Holy Hand grenades and Knights who say Ni. Damn Shubbery!

What no Upper Class Twit of the Year, Spanish Inquisition? Bollocks! But everything else bloody well picked.

well it's lunch time and off to have Spam and watch the semi-final between the Bournemouth Gynaecologists and the Watford Long John Silver Impersonators

Sincerely 'PROF. R. J. GUMBY Mrs.

[Brian Thibodeau]

However, I only own all the movie and episodes.

"Dear Sir, I wish to complain about that last sketch...."

I highly recommend all of their albums, as most (if not all) of them contain sketches and other material created specifically for that medium, most of it every bit as brilliant as TV shows and movies. Most of them can be found on CD for reasonable prices these days. I've always been particularly fond of Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album, which has a great bit called "Rock Notes" that's a pretty spot-on satire of music industry media coverage of the day, except that Neil Innes' faux-rock tunes are all about medieval agrarian history and stuff like that.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NJWJBG/