[3.25/10] Sadako 3D (2012)

Sadako 3D (2012)

Brief review: Do you remember Gore Verbinski's horror masterpiece "The Ring", and the equally as sinister original Japanese version it was based on, called "Ringu"? Well, Tsutomu Hanabusa's "Sadako 3D" is sort of a sequel to the latter, but sadly, an unnecessary and terrible one. Although it wears the title of "Ringu"'s central character, this film reveals absolutely nothing about the origin of Sadako - there's no back story, no proper explanation, nothing... just a dumb, heavily contrived plot that makes no sense at all, and tons of cheesy CGIs. It plays more like an "updated" version of "Ringu" rather than trying to be creative, and bring something new to the table. And no more TVs and VHSs, guys! Sadako is more contemporary now, and she comes out of LCD monitors, plasma screens and iPhones. Sure, over the last ten years, technology has developed tremendously, so this "update" is understandable, but the whole 'cursed video' story got lamer and way less effective. Having said that, the worst thing about "Sadako 3D" is not the flat storyline, or that the film is lacking in scares big time, but the fact that the creators dared to destroy arguable the creepiest character in history of horror, by taking away all of the skin-crawling creepiness out of Sadako, and presenting her as your average ghost seeking for revenge. Hanabusa's direction is amateurish at best, the cinematography is bland, and that combined with the lame, made-for-3D special effects gives the film a dull look.

Overall summary: Daft, contrived, sensationally un-scary, but above all completely unnecessary, "Sadako 3D" is J-horror at its worst, not only because of its ridiculously cheap execution, but mainly because it ruins one of the creepiest characters ever, and makes it look lame.

[5.75/10] Tai Chi Hero (2012)

Tai Chi Hero (2012)

Brief review: After the recently released martial arts caper, "Tai Chi Zero", here comes the second installment in the franchise, that promises even more silly fun and crazy fights. Sadly though, the director obviously didn't save the best for last, because compared to its totally refreshing predecessor, "Tai Chi Hero" is a bit of a let down. The story about the origin of Tai Chi fighting style is even more unfocused and less action-packed this time around, and full not-so-interesting back stories, that muddle the plot even more.Also, its clever tag line says 'from zero to hero', but unfortunately, it's more like 'from goofy fun to unnecessary seriousness', which automatically makes this sequel less enjoyable than the wacky "Tai Chi 0". Having said that, the film still has its moments of cheeky humor and slapstick comedy, as well as video game references such as pop-up 'vs.' titles and cartoon-like special effects, plus, it kind of redeems itself in the final act, thanks to the final 'stair rail' fight sequence between Yang Lu Chan and the protector, which is executed to sheer perfection, as well as super-exciting and fun to watch. That being said, this extraordinary action scene is not enough to save the film from being average at best. Angelababy is pretty to look at, and Yuan Xiaochao continues to impress as the protagonist, but it's Tony Leung Ka Fai as Master Chen that gives the most charismatic performance here.

Overall summary: Neither as quirky, nor as funny, nor as inventive as the original, Fung's "Tai Chi Hero" has one true highlight, namely the astonishing final fight scene, but apart from that, this so-so sequel barely delivers the big fun and non-stop action its predecessor did.

[6.75/10] Tai Chi Zero (2012)

Tai Chi Zero (2012)

Brief review: Self-proclaimed as a steampunk kung-fu flick, "Tai Chi Zero" is HK director Stephen Fung's latest film, shot back-to-back with the following sequel, "Tai Chi Hero". Right from the very beginning, particularly the hilarious back story presented as a silent, black and whine film, you could tell that "Tai Chi Zero" will be a quirky, goofy fun, and it turns out exactly that. Sure, it's a bit silly and the story itself is nothing special, but who cares, considering all the delightful craziness happening on screen. Visually,  "Tai Chi Zero" looks like a mash-up of styles and techniques, that feels refreshing and unique in its own way. It's like watching an authentic old-school kung fu film turned into a video game, with a hint of Western influence. The legendary Sammo Hung can do no wrong, and he proves that yet again with his fight choreography, which is imaginative without being too over-the-top. The videogame-ish action scenes are fun, edgy, smartly-executed and accompanied with an outstanding wire-work, and "King Fu Hustle"-like cartoonish special effects. "Tai Chi 0" also celebrates the acting debut of Yuan Xiaochao as the lead character Yang Lu Chan, and what a great debut it is. Although, he barely shines with any remarkable acting abilities, his strong screen presence combined with his enviable martial arts skills will make you rooting for his likable character. The rest of the cast is good too.

Overall summary: Slightly goofy and generally all over the place, yet entertaining and conceptually innovating, "Tai Chi Zero" never take itself seriously, plus, its clever visual approach and creatively-choreographed fight sequences leave you craving for the upcoming sequel.

[10/10] The Raid (2012)

The Raid (2012)

Brief review: Gareth Evans' "The Raid" may have a simple premise, but its plot works perfectly, and that combined with the slick execution, leaves a big impact on the viewer. Why? Because "The Raid" is the real deal! It starts off at a frenetic pace and never lets go, quickly turning itself into a shockingly brutal, ultra-violent, tense and thrilling adrenaline rush of a movie, that features some of the best action scenes ever put on film. Just when you think there's no chance for the next fight scene to top the last, it happens, and that proves Evans' out-of-this-world skills as a director and his ability to deliver a progressively mind-blowing action. Considering the movie's low budget, the technical quality of "The Raid" exceeds expectations big time. Evans' truly innovative direction features an impressive variety of camera angles, razor-sharp editing and camera movements so vigorous, they'll spin your head off. The big, old, dark, filthy building is the ideal setting for the hard-edged story, the amazing soundtrack and crisp sound effects match the high-octane intensity of the film, and the bluish, almost violet, tint of the cinematography has a subtle stylishness about it, that takes the film's visuals to another level. Although there's very little character development the main character, Rama, played by Indonesian martial artist Iko Uwais, is so brave, bold, good-hearted and likable, you can't help but fall for his character.

Overall summary: With its masterfully choreographed and executed action sequences, heart-pounding pacing, inventive direction and highly stylized visuals, Evans' "The Raid: Redemption" is sheer brilliance, and the ultimate cinematic ecstasy pill for every true action junkie.

[8.50/10] Wu Xia a.k.a. Dragon (2011)

Wu Xia a.k.a.
Dragon (2011)

QuickRating: Although its story is somewhat similar to 2010's wuxia phenomenon "Reign of Assassins", Peter Chan's "Wu Xia" is still an engrossing, skilfully choreographed, masterfully directed and visually fascinating martial arts drama, that truly captivates the viewer with its compelling characters, gorgeous scenery and strong script, and showcases Donnie Yen in top form, both acting-wise and fighting-wise.

[7.25/10] The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011)

The Flying Swords of
Dragon Gate (2011)

QuickRating: It's overstuffed with characters, the pacing is uneven and Jet Li is wildly underused, but "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" makes up for its lack of coherence with spectacular sandy scenery, amazing costumes, and frenetic, wonderfully-choreographed action sequences, that while a little heavy on CGI and somewhat cartoonish, are exciting and entertaining to watch as is the movie itself.

[7.50/10] The Flowers of War (2011)

The Flowers of War (2011)

QuickRating: Harsh, graphic and truly dramatic, if rather slow and overlong, "The Flowers of War" is just about as visually stunning and beautifully-shot as any of Zhang Yimou's previous movies (which are mostly masterpieces), yet hardly as striking and memorable. However, the director injects enough heart into the sad story to keep it moving and affecting even for Western audiences. Ni Ni is alluring as Yu Mo, but surprisingly, Bale's cocky portrayal lets the film down a bit.

[7.25/10] A Simple Life (2011)

A Simple Life (2011)

One-sentence review: Due to its slow pacing and difficult subject matter, "A Simple Life" is by no means an easy film to watch, but that doesn't make it less poignant, genuine, sincere and sad, plus, the entire cast gives absolutely brilliant performances.

[5.00/10] The Road (2011)

The Road (2011)

One-sentence review: "The Road" has a sinister atmosphere, well-written and acted characters, as well as a couple of solid scares along the way, but towards the end it gets  too muddled, confusing, and unbelievably nonsensical.

[3.75/10] Sector 7 (2011)

Sector 7 (2011)

QuickRating: Bad news for all creature feature fans. Koreans most anticipated movie of 2011 ended up being monsterously disappointing. Its premise is promising, the choice of location is rather brilliant and the sea creature itself is impressively designed and has a unique look, but "Sector 7" is completely ruined by a by-the-number script, utter lack of thrills, lots of pointless scenes, and Ji-hun Kim's dull, messy and terribly unimaginative direction.

[5.00/10] The Cat (2011)

The Cat (2011)

QuickRating: This potentially good cats-inspired Korean horror flick has a somewhat original concept, and it features a decent cast, some truly ominous images and a few graphically gory kills that fans of the genre would enjoy, however, after an intriguing first half, "The Cat" transforms into the typical Asian story, dealing with ghost kids and unsolved deaths, and it's all too familiar and hackneyed to be effective or very memorable.

[3.00/10] Ghastly (2011)

Ghastly (2011)

QuickRating: Yes, there are some truly iconic Asian horror movies from the past, but sadly, it seems like the filmmakers from the Far East have really ran out of fresh ideas. A couple of fairly gruesome death scenes aside, this Korean horror mess of a movie has nothing to offer in terms of scares, gore and creepy images. With its confusing plot, poor script and amateurish execution, "Ghastly" is an Asian horror cinema at its worst.

[6.00/10] The Sorcerer and the White Snake (2011)

The Sorcerer and
the White Snake (2011)

Brief review: Based on an old Chinese legend, Ching Siu-Tung's latest CGI-driven kung fu fantasy "The Sorcerer and the White Snake" suffers from a weak narrative and silly script, and tries to blend too many different genres unsuccessfully, but it still manages to entertain the viewer, thanks to some spectacular set-pieces and a bunch of quirky characters. Jet Li is a bit bland and emotionless as Abott Fahai, but he proves yet again what an amazing martial artist he truly is. Shengyi Huangand is a bit over-dramatic, and yet she delivers as the White Snake, and the rest of the cast do an okay job. Ching Siu-Tung is undoubtedly one of the best and most creative fight choreographers on the planet, but his directing skills are rather questionable. He tries to achieve a bigger effect by throwing too many things on the screen, and jumping too much from one camera angle to another, and as a result his direction ends up being a bit of a mess. The action sequences are CGI-laden and too over-the-top, yet nicely-choreographed and exciting to watch, and the special effects range from impressive to lame. Some of the settings are absolutely stunning, and the cinematography is sharp, vivid and colorful, which makes the film very appealing, visually.

Overall summary: Goofy, plotless and overly-sentimental, yet visually-fascinating and filled with thrilling action sequences, "The Sorcerer and the White Snake" falls flat on its face in terms of storytelling, but still succeeds as an entertaining and enjoyable martial arts fantasy flick.

[5.50/10] The Lost Bladesman (2011)

The Lost Bladesman (2011)

QuickRating: Aside from a few stunning shots and a couple of thrilling, marvellously choreographed fight scenes, "The Lost Bladesman" is an incoherent, clumsily-paced and visually-unimpressive martial arts flick that can be easily considered a misfire, due to its unimaginative script, messy narrative, lackluster execution and Donnie Yen's surprisingly weak and emotionless performance as Guan Yu.

[5.75/10] Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (2011)

Mr. and Mrs. Incredible (2011)

Brief review: Set in ancient China, "Mr. and Mrs. Incredible" revolves around a couple, who are also retired superheroes, and their new life as ordinary people. Despite its utter goofiness and silliness, the film nevertheless remains enjoyable, due to its charismatic leads, Sandra Ng Kwan Yue and Louis Koo, who both deliver very engaging and rather quirky performances as the title characters. For better or worse, the director Vincent Kok focuses more on the relationship between the lead characters, rather than their skills and super-powers, which is kinda disappointing for those expecting crazy stunts and over-the-top action. The action scenes are very few and in between and mostly unspectacular. The fight choreography is unimaginative, rather flat and lacking in quality and technique, and the cartoonish "Kung Fu Hustle"-like special effects range from great to poor to ridiculous. However, "Mr. and Mrs. Incredible" is very appealing, visually. The highly acclaimed art director, Chung Man Yee, does a phenomenal job with the production design yet again. His style blends authenticity and lushness, and the end result is pure eye-candy. Ngor's vivid cinematography and the bright and colorful costumes add to the film's slick look.

Overall summary: Often bordering on silly and ridiculous, Vincent Kok's "Mr. and Mrs. Incredible" is, ironically, far from being incredible, yet nevertheless, it still manages to captivate the viewer with its quirkiness, likable characters, vibrant visuals and humorous script.

[6.00/10] Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night (2010)

Paranormal Activity 2:
Tokyo Night (2010)

Brief review: Apparently planned before the American "Paranormal Activity" sequel, this Japanese version tells a similar story to the original movie, but this time around, the demon terrorizes an undeniably cute brother and sister in their home in Tokyo. Although, basically, this version is more-of-the-same, it still manages to deliver some good scares, and plenty of shocks and suspense. Just like its predecessors, the film does not rely on cheap scares and loud noises, nor is heavy on special effects and lots of scary images. But as may you know, sometimes less is more, and "Tokyo Night" succeeds in its simplicity, and it's its subtleness that makes itfrightengly realistic. Yes, it hardly brings anything new to the table, but the fact that it's Asian, makes it even creepier. The film gets more and more tense as the story progresses, but it's the characters that draw you into the story, and make you feel connected with them. from the very beginning. Both protagonists are extremely likable and believably-acted by Aoi Nakamura and Noriko Aoyama. Though the terrifying image in the final scene is obviously borrowed from another Japanese horror flick ("Ringu" anyone?), it's still effective enough, and is sure to give you the creeps.

Overall summary: Though hardly as effective as its two American predecessors, "Tokyo Night" features likable characters, plenty of spooky visuals, and a couple of truly chilling scenes of terror, that make it a decent entry into the "Paranormal Activity" franchise.

[9.50/10] Shaolin (2011)

Shaolin (2011)

Brief review: Benny Chan's latest effort, "Shaolin" is a martial arts movie with heart, brain and soul, and it delivers on almost every single level, as it manages to be dramatic, serious, funny and action-packed all at the same time, due to it's well-balanced and thought out script and pitch-perfect execution. Benny Chan is an incredibly versatile and very capable Asian filmmaker, and "Shaolin" is a significant projection of his talent, imagination and skills as a director. His positioning of the camera mount achieves a sensational diversity of camera angles, plus, the dynamic camera movements emphasis and enhance certain scenes. The action is just one of the film's major strengths. The fight sequences and the stunts are extremely high-octane, fast-paced, and briskly-shot and edited by the legendary action director Corey Yuen. Chung Chi Li also does a brilliant job with the choreography, as he increases the effect with a fair use of flawlessly-executed wire work and some polished CGIs. Visually, "Shaolin" also never fails to impress. The production design is as beautiful as it's authentic, and the refined, eye-candy greenish cinematography pleases the eye throughout the film. The intense, yet beautiful music score adds depth to the picture. The acting ranges from good to exceptional. The widely popular Andy Lau's delivers, arguably, the strongest performance of his career. He conveys different emotions with ease, and makes us really care about his evil-turned-good character, General Hou Jie. Jackie Chan brings comic relief, but without being over-the-top this time around. Each and every one of supporting actors also do an excellent job in portraying their characters and making them incredibly sympathetic and likable.

Overall summary: With its compelling story, brilliantly-portrayed characters, fantastic visuals and stupendous action sequences, Benny Chan's "Shaolin" ranks as one of the most accomplished, profoundly-engrossing and slickly-crafted martial arts movies ever made.

Numerous QuickRatings PART 1: Pre-2009 Movies

To Live (1994)

QuickRating: With its splendidly-executed and remarkably-realistic portrayal of one family's struggle during China's pre-revolutionary era, Zhang Yimou proves yet again that he's capable of turning a seemingly simplistic story into something so deeply-moving, heart-wrenching and emotionally-powerful, it may touch your heart and soul forever.

My Rating: 9.00/10

In My Skin (2002)

QuickRating: Although it deals with the disturbing subject matter of self-mutilation, "In My Skin" is neither as shocking nor as effective as it thinks it is, and its bleak, grinding atmosphere and obnoxious characters, make it an unpleasant and rather bizarre experience, that never fully manages to get under your skin, despite its graphicness.

My Rating: 4.50/10

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

[Director's Cut]

QuickRating: Thanks to its excitingly action-packed plot, compelling characters, eye-candy cinematography, top-notch special and practical effects, and stylized goriness, visionary director Snyder's debut feature, "Dawn of the Dead", ranks as one of one of the most most polished and accomplished horror remakes in cinematic history.

My Rating: 8.25/10


The Wrestler (2008)

QuickRating: Exceptionally well acted, yet rather unimpressive compared to Aronofsky's previous efforts, "The Wrestler" is a compelling if slightly overrated character-driven drama, that surely marks Mickey Rourke's comeback as a serious actor, and showcases director's talent, but the film itself is as flawed and inconsistent as its main character.

My Rating: 7.00/10

[4.25/10] Gantz (2011)

Gantz (2011)

Brief review: Based on the popular manga by Hiroya Oku, "Gantz" tells the story of two friends who die in a train accident and become part of a semi-posthumous "game" in which they are forced to hunt down aliens, armed with futuristic weaponry. Though it uses a rather solid source material, "Gantz" never lives up to its potential, as it's a painfully slow-moving and oddly boring action flick, crafted with zero imagination whatsoever. Add to this Shinsuke Sato's lazy direction, the off-beat pacing, the humorless script and the unexciting action sequences, and you'll get "Gantz". On a positive note, it offers some impressive CGIs, cool-looking futuristic gadgets and weapons, and enjoyably over-the-top gore effects, but that's certainly not enough to save this film from being a complete disaster. Acting-wise, both leads never manage to carry the movie on their shoulders. Though charismatic, popular actor and musician Ninomiya Kazunari, totally fails to engage the audience with his boring and underwritten character, Kei Kurono. Matsuyama Kenichi, best known to the audience for his role as L from the "Death Note" films, plays the other protagonist, Masaru Kato, and just like his screen fella Nino, he gives a complete lackluster performance.

Overall summary: Cool visual and gore effects aside, "Gantz" is an unbelievably dull and uninspired manga-based action flick, that fails to deliver on almost every single level. Actually, the sad fact about this live-action adaptation is this: "Gantz" shoots blanks!

[6.75/10] Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010)

Brief review: Directed by Joe Cheung, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is a different take on the story of the origin and development of the Chinese martial arts style, Wing Chun. Though a bit cheesy compared to the Yuen Woo-Ping's 94 version, it's still a well-choreographed, entertaining and visually captivating 90's style kung fu flick, full of engaging characters and exciting action sequences, that instead of taking itself too seriously, brings the fun side of Wing Chun. As a martial arts flick, it features plenty of stirring, if unspectacular fight scenes, filled with excellent wire work. Visually, the movie impresses with its exotically-gorgeous production design, some vividly beautiful images (even though many of them being CG), and a vibrant yellowish cinematography, that exudes richness. Тhough the film has a relatively large cast of actors, the main focus is one Bai Jing, who absolutely steals the show as the title character. Jing is as quirky as she's sweet and likable in her role as the rebellious tomboy, Wing Chun, determined to develop her martial arts skills. Colin Chou, mainly known to the audience for his role as Seraph in "The Matrix" franchise does an excellent job as the villain, while Ye Shaoqun is just okay as Chun's love interest.

Overall summary: Although it often borders on silly, "Kung Fu Wing Chun" is an enjoyable, action-packed and nicely-crafted martial arts comedy, that successfully maintains the 'fun factor' throughout.