Mini-Reviews From My Vacation

1) JSA: Joint Security Area (South Korea)

Outstanding movie from South Korea about comradery and friendship where you would least expect it. The Joint Security Area is on the border between North and South Korea. Light on action, but a fresh look at the who dun’ it.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended for all.

2) Full Metal Yakuza (Japan)

Takashi Miike is rapidly becoming one of my favority directors. I read some commentary on him recently and someone said he is the incarnation of Quentin Terrantino and Takeshi Kitano, and I’d throw in a splash of Wes Craven. This one is Robocop with a much deeper and well-thought out plot. The characters are well-defined and you take away a message and get shocked all in the same sitting!

Recommendation: If you liked Robocop and can tolerate sillyness, go for it.

3) No Blood No Tears (South Korea)

This is the ultimate chick revenge film. While many men pick on poor innocent women, the women get their revenge (only one genital trauma scene, and its not graphic thank God!). Great story, and some pretty good fight scenes to boot!

Recommendation: Recommended, especially for female viewers.

4) Ley Lines (Japan)

This is a story about a group of half Japanese, half Chinese youths finding their way and trying to fit into society. Another fantastic story from Takashi Miike, gritty and exciting, the camera moves so fluidly throughout the picture and gives a great perspective of the hardship and humor endured by these youths.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended.

5) The Yakuza Graveyard: Battle Without Honor or Humanity (Japan)

Referred to as the “Godfather” of Japanese culture this is the first part in an epic story about gangsters or “Yakuza” in Japan. It begins just after the second world war and centers around one mans journey through the Yakuza life.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended for Godfather fans and those who don’t mind a dismemberment or two.

6) Alive (Japan)

Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus, Azumi) gets a lot of slack, and I believe its because most people take him too seriously. His movies are entertaining and fresh, I love the way he moves the camera (esp. the scene in Azumi when they are fighting on a wooden plank and the camera is moving around them in a complete 360 degree circle!). Alive is about a prisoner who mysteriously is not killed by the zap from the electric chair is is given a choice, get zapped again or participate in a government experiment to which he gets no further details. Hmmm….

Recommendation: If you’re in the mood for no brainer eye candy.

7) House Of Flying Daggers (China)

The director of Hero (Zhang Yimou) brings us yet another outstanding martial arts epic, with even more dazzling special effects, colors, and martial arts action! The story holds its own, but doesn’t compare to Hero, however this movie is so awesome to look at you won’t care. The acting is top notch and I think American audiences will view the story as fresh and exciting (where I thought too much of Infernal Affairs, especially with Andy Lau as one of the leads).

Recommendation: A MUST SEE for ALL.

Author: Paul Asadoorian
Email: paul_AT_kungfugeeks.com
Date: January 12, 2005