Monthly Archives: April 2012

Movie Review: The Children of Huang Shi (2008)

Posted by amarmirch on

tcohs poster

The Children of Huang Shi is a biopic or based on fact film about a British journalist, George Hogg, who battled his own wars in an effort to save a group of Chinese orphans during the Japanese invasion of China. Saying it was just an “effort” must be an understatement, as he endeavoured to take them across China towards the Gobi dessert (some 700 miles away) as the war-stricken zones expanded. Protecting the innocent turns into desperation to save them — as they would be subject to conscription by Chinese Nationalists to fight the Japanese. The film proves well in depicting an emotional journey, a humanitarian story and unique perspective of war.

Synopsis

childrenofhuangshi

“The Children of Huang Shi” a story of eastern “Schindler’s List” (problogs)

“About young British journalist, George Hogg, who with the assistance of a courageous Australian nurse, saves a group of orphaned children during the Japanese occupation of China in 1937. ” (IMDb)

children-of-huang-shi-1

Mixed reviews come largely from two views: first being that the film is beautiful yet boring (lacking dramatic tension) — which to me just says a political & war drama with a humanitarian story at the core is not always “for” everyone. Secondly, some misrepresentations of facts by way of leaving out a character — which I say is a justified argument. All in all, the film aims to tug on your heart strings by showing just how much a person can really do — to make a difference. The star-studded cast, and their performances, hold up against the magnitude of the true-story and historical importance and are the cherry-on-top element to this epic film and story of war-ravaged China.

Directed by: Roger Spottiswoode

Cast: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers // Radha Mitchell // Chow Yun-fat // Michelle Yeoh // Guang Li

Reviews: Political Film Society // Metacritic // Rotten Tomatoes // NY Times

aparoo’s words: drama, war, human, China, Japan, Sino-Japanese War, WW2, orphans, innocent, rebellion, Nationalists, invasion, survival

aparoo facts: the film is largely in English with some Chinese & Japanese language

aparoo facts: the film is a production between USA, China, Germany & Australia

aparoo says 4/5

Official Website

Official stills

Alternative posters

photo credit: movieinsider.com // slantmagazine.com

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Movie Review: The Message (2009) – Chinese Movie

Posted by amarmirch on

the message cover

The Message (Feng Sheng) is an espionage-thriller set in a Japanese-invaded China during WW2 that depicts intelligence warfare between government and resistance. The Japanese-controlled puppet government faces casualties by way of assassinations orchestrated by resistance spies, thus a Commander uses the tactic of ‘feeding the mole’ to weed the spy out. The task of sending out false intel and tracing it is the easy part, as the film focuses on the confinement and interrogation of suspects. A little psychological cat-and-mouse play quickly becomes gruesome torture in order to uncover a guilty confession. The movie definitely makes you question characters and relationships as the stars pull off a unique ensemble.

Tension is high throughout as the amount of apparent ‘sides’ is unclear when comrade-suspects are pitted against each other. Lines quickly blur and clues or assumed clues add to the confusion. But it’s an enjoyable confusion. Whoever the code-breaking spy is also has to send out a message about the predicament without being compromised — or killed. The antagonizing and evil Commander and his Chinese underling do everything in their power and everything imaginable (or unimaginable) to pin the tail on the donkey. The Message is engaging and explicitly powerful in showing duress vs. integrity. It tried a bit hard when it comes to being eerie and dark ie. haunted mansion or animated evil villains but is entertaining even with over the top elements. More so, there’s a good chance viewer suspicions will get ahead of themselves for better or worse.

message 1

Synopsis

Posters

Directed by: Qunshu Gao // Kuo-fu Chen

Starring: Xun Zhou //Hanyu Zhang // Bingbing Li // Xiaoming Huang // Zhiwen Wang

Reviews: CN Reviews // Love HK Film // Twitch // Variety // Opionator

aparoo recommends: Lust, Caution — another entertaining espionage-thriller

aparoo’s words: espionage, thriller, drama, spies, government, resistance, war, invasion, torture

aparoo says 4/5

Download: Asia Torrents

photo credit: asiatorrents.com // themessage2009.com // ent.people.com.cn

Movie Review: Tokyo Sonata (2008) – Japanese Movie

Posted by amarmirch on

tokyo sonata cover 1

Tokyo Sonata is a melancholic dramedy in a class of it’s own.  Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa‘s sidestep away from bizarre horror flicks plotted him into a bizarre family drama with dark comedy undertones. It’s bizarre but full of intent and controlling of mood and pace, as is his other works. Tokyo Sonata has a conflict of beauty and tension throughout, as it makes a powerful depiction of Japanese society, culture, identity and family. If you thought your family was dysfunctional or even falling apart, think again.

Synopsis // Detailed synopsis

tokyo sonata family

It doesn’t take long to realize that internal and external conflicts associated with each character / family member act as greater destructive catalysts to the family’s make-up. So the viewer is dealing with both individual and greater whole self-destruction. The film has focus on finding ones true self and the forces that may or may not behind it. It also paints a picture of behaviour (and socioeconomics) in contemporary Japan, for better or worse. The characters and family as a whole are a defined parallel to Japan (seen by the Director and many others) as the businessman-father loses his job, the housewife feels a void, the older son is lost and defiant, and the younger son is trying to find his place (with himself and in the world) as he explores his true desires (or tries to).

“An ordinary Japanese family slowly disintegrates after its patriarch loses his job at a prominent company.” (IMDb)

tokyo sonata piano

“This film will portray a very ordinary family in modern Japan. I start from a point where lies, suspicion and a complete breakdown of communication already have established themselves within the family. Without a doubt, this is “modern” and this is also “Japan”. However, I would like to show a glimmer of hope in the end. Can I do that? Even if I could do so, would that be something that saves a conventional family? I just do not know now. Since I do not know, I have a strong desire to make this film.” — Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Director’s Statement)

Reviews: Midnight Eye // Japan Cinema // Rotten Tomatoes

Starring: Teruyuki Kagawa // Kyoko Koizumi // Kai Inowaki // Yu Koyanagi

aparoo’s words: family drama, dark comedy, Japanese society, individual identity, conventionalism

aparoo says 5/5

Download: Asia Torrents

photo credit: asianwiki.com