Hwayi : A Monster Boy
The essential Korean revenge movie, this time around 5 criminals raised a child they kidnapped. Hwayi inherited all their criminal skills as they became his surrogate fathers. When he discovered the truth behind his identity, the road to vengeance starts. Avoid the trailer at all cost as it's misleading. The less you know about the flick, the more enjoyable it is. To me personally Hwayi reminded me what Leon The Professional sequel could have been. Imagine Mathilda became Leon. It's more of a thoughtful action drama than a bland loud movie. A Korean revenge movie plot won't complete without a sick twist, so be ready for it.
If you dug Chan Wook Park vengeance trilogy, this one belong to the same category.
Hollywood has purchased the rights to remake this awesome flick.

This post has been edited by 6so: Jul 2 2014, 08:22 PM

It's a fool's errand to do digital boob on that particular scene. While the technology is there does not mean it's the wisest choice to do it. It's far more cheaper to get a real boob job or prosthetic effects than rendering it digitally. The basic reason to do it in "post" is when you couldn't film it on camera in reality or cheaper when render digitally.

Photoshop only does correction on a single frame. A sequential footage contains 24 fps. So if that scene plays out for 5 minutes there gonna be 7,200 frames to touch up. Not counting realistic 3d construction,physique tweaking,motion matching,lightings and colour matching. I simply do not see the logic to spend that kind of money on such tedious undertaking.

There are many types of post-production enhancement and it does not work mythically at the push of a single button.

Removing lens flare is a simpler endeavor when comparing it with realistic 3d body renderings. Technically a double passing colour correction technique with simple masking. If you are doing Spiderman performing midair stunts I can understand, but not because to make Eva Green's boobs firmer and larger. I can buy with smoothening her skin or even scaling her feature a bit but not compositing 3d elements to a constantly on the move scene. Bear in mind The Dreamers was a movie released in early 2k as she just started. Over the years the amount of moolah she made can easily use to enhance her body or attributed by hormones. Then there is a question how agreeable of her to allow them to digitally enhance her boobs. It's a reputation thingy as she is known to partake in saucier roles.
The matter is not about what is normal or not normal. Movie making is a precise and controlling exercise when comes to budget. Unless that movie has leeway budget with really big names attached to it. 300 not exactly that type of movie.

I'm fixated at your shallow answers.

Locke - The art of one man show

What we have here is a bold performance and storytelling precedence. The whole movie plays out in real time where Tom Hardy juggling multiple crisis via his speakerphone. The magic is everytime the phone rang, we get a peak on his personality and information pertaining his crisis solely on the conversation he's having. As we get to know more about him, the more intense those conversations get. Everything adds up to a life changing journey he made on that particular night. An early contender for best actor nod comes the award season.
Will catch this again on cinema if they ever screen it here.

This post has been edited by 6so: Jul 4 2014, 02:57 PM

Life itself - Thumbs up!

A deeply touching and mesmerizing look at the life of the most influential film critic of our time. The filming took place during the month of his departure. There's full access to his difficult time at the hospital bed which are a joy and heartbreaking to watch. He constantly put up a jovial facade to face anyone who drops by to see him and yet the documentarian does not shy away from showing the amount of pain he's in. In between the hospital scenes we are given a detail look at his life stories unfolding on the screen. There are interesting behind the scenes look at his love-hate relationship with Gene Siskel that show their good and ugly side of things. A fitting tribute to a towering figure.

Blue Ruin - A different kind of revenge flick

A remarkable bloody revenge thriller. It has the realist style of the Coen Brothers and the unpredictability of Breaking Bad. The story is centered on the seemingly tame protagonist who set out to serve some cold dishes to some red neck targets. There's no big action gun battles, just chain reactions of event spark by a rather clumsy revenge deed. There's a degree of dark humor underlying the slow gripping pace and even the inevitable ending you see coming, you will root for Dwight at his unassuming hand to carry out the deeds.

Aberdeen - The most matured effort from Pang Ho Cheung

A highly entertaining dramedy with impressive cast. There is enough understated comedy beats to keep the pacing brisk without retorting to in your face scenes when comes to HK movies. The selling point of the movie is weaving multiple real world issues facing the dysfunctional family members as bits by bits they come to reconciliation. It has meditative qualities of well crafted stories that does not feel too drab or unbelievable. Ng Man Tat gives a pretty strong performance and most of the other actors suppress their usual over the top acting which gives the movie a more tangible experience. Also, no harm the movie was very well shot.

Broken – A more subtle revenge thriller from South Korea

The first hour is pretty spot on when comes to setting up the characters. In tone, it’s a much more fleshed out movie when compared to last year’s “Prisoners”. While the main story is about the destroyed father searching for his daughter’s killers, it also touches on a failed justice system that allows light sentences on prosecuted underage murderer. I’m pretty impressed with the jump cut editing that shows how confident the director is in his narrative choice. Some might find it jarring but here it became an effective tool to build suspense without going too expository. Pacing or rather direction switch gear to a three way cat and mouse game during the second half between the father, the cop and the killer. It also not afraid to show uncomfortable scenarios like how underage prostitution ring responsible for the killing. Both lead actors gave an exemplary performance as the grieving father and troubled cop. A solid effort.

Thanks!

Finding Vivian Maier - Discovery of a posthumous masters of street photography

By dumb luck a history student bid on a box of negatives that led to Vivian Maier became a modern day photographic phenomenon. That student, John Maloof amassed 100,000 negatives of Vivian’s work. The big draw of her myth was that she’s a recluse nanny who took a lot of great street photography on her spare time. The documentary focus on unveiling who was Vivian Maier as a person and photographer. With any feel good story beats there bound to be darker side of things to her personality. It’s one of those “fact stranger than fiction” kind of story. You can't help but felt sorry especially her later days in life. On a whole, it’s a “fascinating” watch, especially if you are fan of her work. She deserved a spot next to the great Bresson, Robert Frank and Gary Winnograd.

This post has been edited by 6so: Aug 9 2014, 10:05 AM

Boyhood – A 12 years in the making film.

It’s a miracle that Richard Linklater manages to keep this movie under wrap for 12 freaking long years. We literally witness Mason growing up before our eyes. The movie chronicles what it’s really like to go through from adolescence to young adult. Moving from one home to another as mom went through a couple of marriages. While Ethan Hawke plays the cool dad who comes in and out of his life for some positive influence. Those who are fans of Linklater’s “Before” Trilogy will be at ease with this remarkable “Boyhood”. It retains the same attention to characterisation and relatable situations without ever going melodramatic. It’s quite mind blowing for all the casts to commit into this huge undertaking. Easily one of the best drama this year.

Frank - The weirdest film I've seen this year.

Not by any means a biopic of "Frank Sidebottom" - a cult TV personality in England. Beside the weird giant head mask, it's a complete original tale that pays homage to the real Frank. A failed musician somehow got himself into a band that led by Frank. Hijinks and really funny scenes ensues with each passing moment, things getting stranger and crazier. The last 30 mins got a bit dark and sad, an abrupt tonal shift. There are a lot of things to love about the film. Strong cast members, quirky comedy, and majority of the soundtrack were performed by the real actors. I gonna steal a line from avclub review - "... Frank conceals Michael Fassbender’s face, but not his talent."
A ballsy move coming from an a-list actor who hid behind the mask for 95% of the movie. His physical comedy is all refreshing, especially compare to his usual serious character works. He even sang the end credit song which is quite good and catchy. Also can not discount Domhnall Gleeson, who seems on the edge of becoming a breakout star.
A charming and endearing film.

The Rover

Follow up film to one of the more interesting director around. David Michod’s “Animal Kingdom” was an awesome crime drama that puts Joel Edgerton on the map and Oscar nom for Jacki Weaver. “The Rover” takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting with strong emphasis on character story. Guy Pearce sorta reprise his “The Proposition” character tracking his stolen vehicle while Robert Pattison plays a half-wit hostage who can lead him to his car. It’s a film heavily relies on strong acting as we are not being told upfront what these characters are. Bits of backstory slowly emerge as they navigate the lawless bleak society where life does not amount to anything. There’s a career in the making role for Robert Pattison here who shed his teen idol persona. In RDJ’s wisdom, he went full “retard” in a good way with his performance. Another in the book performance for Guy Pearce, who is one of the most underrated actor working today. The use of music is highly reminiscent of Jonny Greenwood’s dissonant style which simply compliment the morbid tone the film takes.
A lighter watch than “Animal Kingdom” but not as drab as John Hillcoat’s “The Road”.

Life of Crime – This is not a prequel to Jackie Brown

Some argue “Jackie Brown” was Tarantino best movie, personally I just dug “Reservoir Dogs” a little better. Nevertheless if someone gonna do another adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s tale of Ordell and Louis, it’s worth a look. It’s best to view the movie as standalone without treating it as a prequel to Jackie Brown. No matter how you cut it, it’s vastly a much smaller movie to Quentin’s film in terms of scope. Or the source material being the first novel about the criminal partnership that has yet to progress to what they are in “Jackie Brown”. Overall the movie takes the middle-ground between best movies based on the author’s work like “Out of Sight” and the heavily Hollywood processed “Get Shorty” and “Be Cool”. Occasionally you get one or two chuckles from the colorful characters, but somehow it did not manage to be more compelling. Tim Robbin is the douchey husband to an unhappy wife portrayed by Anniston, while Mos Def and John Hawkes cook a simple kidnapping scheme. Then the twist and turn comes to play in Leonard-esque fashion.
It’s an ok watch, but nothing memorable about it.

No Tears For The Dead - Hmmm....not quite the next "The Man From Nowhere"

One of the biggest problems with Korean action flicks will always one step away from greatness. Usually they got the action and production quality right, but falter badly on plotline. Herald as the most anticipated movie to come from the director of "The Man From Nowhere", the story does reminded me of the classic Tsui Hark's "Time and Tide". Reluctant ace hitman goes against his gang to save an innocent victim route. The action sequences are above what Hollywood can muster. Only wish the director did not attempt to inject convoluted plots as profound storytelling.
Engaging watch for gun carnage but will be forgotten tomorrow because of dull story.

The Face Reader -2013's korean box office champ

A pretty awesome periodic movie led by the always reliable Song Kang Ho. It does bring me back to those Tsui Hark’s yesteryears hits like Peking Opera Blue etc.… where small character being put into a larger story context with each bits of events building up to a bigger story it wanted to tell. A sorta underdog story of a country bum who got himself embroiled into a deadly “Korean” game of thrones. There are fair bit of charming chuckles from the likable face reader who gets courted to provide his special skill in the government. As charming and capable he is, unbeknownst to him, he is just a pawn in the grander scheme of power plays between players eyeing the throne. The first hour has fantastic build up where all the colourful characters coming into pictures. Although the second half is rather predictable and a little serious, you are already invested in the ensemble cast to see how events play out. A pretty well oiled film where each cast were given enough screen time to showcase the ability. The evil prince and mamasan were the standout for me as Song Kang Ho does his usual awesome performance.

Sin City 2 : A dame to kill for - A dame too lame.
Frank Miller's Sin City was groundbreaking back in the days for a breath of fresh air. Comic books need not about super beings in cape and cowl. Nowadays we have better writers dabbing in the funny book medium with really high quality tales that out pace the golden era of Frank Miller. Mark Millar does his high concept blockbuster pitch, Ed Brubaker with his "noirish" complex writing, Brian K.Vaughan keen sense of sci-fi genre, Joe Hill the son of Stephen King for his smart horror genre, Andy Diggle does his hollywood-esque action movie tales, etc...
For what it's worth, I really like the first Sin City movie. It compiles the 3 seminal story arcs from Sin City series. The sequel adapts ADTKF which was the earlier arcs that started the whole Sin City books and 2 new story arcs. Man this movie suck balls to the core with lazy filmmaking that does not innovate upon source material and all those corny action sequences is off putting to say the least. The dialogs became self-parody and there's no compelling reason for the 3 stories to interweave with each other. Saving grace again is on Eva Green but then the script is a total train wreck.

The Treatment/De Behandeling - The most FUBAR film this year.

It’s one of the more emotional draining movie that confront a heavy subject. It echoes a similar treatment like the excellent HBO’s True Detective. Then can’t help but wonder how much of True Detective was influenced by the book of this film based on. This Belgium made psychology thriller was more succinct and satisfying. It does not rely on cheap exploitation like “cough”8mm“cough” to make case for the antagonist. All the unflinching stuffs happen off camera, but smart writing and execution made in more devastating than having to present it on screen. It’s the endless toying of our emotional button that will have your blood pressure worked up. I’m glad I went in blind without knowing any details of the movie. European cinema again at the forefront of churning potent dark thrillers. If you are a fan of Let me in, The Hunt, TGWDT, Bullhead, etc… a must watch.

This post has been edited by 6so: Sep 30 2014, 01:30 PM

Even it got screen locally,expect it to be heavily butcher because of nudity and violent kills.