jenlim Reviews

Triad Underworld (2004)

Jiang Who? (and the blahs)

[3/10 · 5 October 2004]

Somewhere on the Internet someone said Jiang Hu had the curse of coming after the Infernal Affairs series. Actually, that was not its only curse, and appeared to be the least of its worries. Forget the bar against which good triad movies are compared; just take the ordinary standards of a passably all-right movie that's worth your money and you will find yourself feeling short-changed.

Nothing much happened in the movie, and what did happen in the movie, well, sucked. Sure, there was a really clever twist in the way the story was told, but that was a high point in an almost two-hour long low point, unless you are looking to find out more about triad philosophy, love weird disco scenes with weird looking people strutting weirdly at weird angles, or find sense in hearing Western music in a triad movie set for the most part in an Italian restaurant. Jiang Hu came off totally pretentious: one could actually feel that whoever was making the movie was trying desperately to come off as a sophisticate, intellectual and visionary, which is too much baggage for a tired plot. The distracting music and dance sequences, the 'play' on lights, the script from hell, the sudden silences, and the spastic Edison Chen added to a pretty long list of what could have been re-shot, reworked, rewritten and redone.

Even to one who is no cineaste, hopping from one Chapman To movie to the next and going from this cheesy film to the next farce, it's a hard movie to watch and even more difficult to enjoy. Lower your lowered expectations.

Leaving Me, Loving You (2004)

Revenge is Leaving You Loving Me

[5/10 · 5 October 2004]

Normally a movie will take you from the moment two people meet. It will show you how they came to know each other better, why they fell in love, and maybe what broke them up. Interestingly this movie dispenses with the stuff that most romantic movies devote celluloid to, leaving us with the story of a breakup.

It doesn't exactly start at the moment of breakup. To be precise there is a one-minute truck scene. The truck is loaded with produce at a farm and begins its transit when morning breaks. Colors sweep the sky ever-changing as the truck negotiates lanes, roads, highways and bridges. Night falls, and then the impact of metal on metal causes several potatoes and a couple of onions to roll on an asphalt highway. Then Leon Lai and Faye Wong break up. Actually they broke up no longer than a second ago. If you like what you just read, you might just like Leaving Me, Loving You.

The movie has more picture-perfect scenes than several movies combined. This is its strongest point: it's a visual extravaganza. Visit Shanghai without breaking the bank. Find out for yourself that an apartment with a lavender ceiling looks wonderful with pink, yellow and green walls. Look straight into a frescoed dome that lords over a fantastic museum. Check out what Faye Wong and Leon Lai are wearing (what shirt goes with that green vest; which shoes match this and that skirt perfectly). And the script was all right too. Some good acting, lots of interesting locations, more than enough silence… let's just move on to the rough patches.

What's with Moon River? It's so identified with Breakfast at Tiffany's any movie without an allusion to it opens up a hole. And who could get past this movie without cringing every time 'Loving You' was played? It's easy because you're beautiful… (cringe) La la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la la la la la la la... (cringe) And when you find out why they broke up (it includes 'too much sex') you'll sit up and wonder, really? You two could have fooled me! It's one of those problems you can pin on either the director or the scriptwriter, it's hard to tell. But if you want to blame the actor and producer, the fact that Leon Lai is both should save you the trouble of choosing your target.

Overall, if you already know the secrets of the universe, discovered your purpose in life and have two-hours to spare it won't hurt to see this movie. For the rest of us who end up wearing our slippers on the wrong feet in the middle of the night, you'll have to figure this out (secrets, purpose, whether or not to watch).

Lover's Concerto (2002)

watch it and weep

[8/10 · 23 June 2004]

get your Kleenex. you'll need it.

if you haven't seen this movie, let this be the last review you read before you watch it. don't watch the trailers too; this movie is best seen when you have no idea what it's about. i must have gone "what???" at least four times in this movie. that's a good thing, since most movies nowadays don't have many surprises. one twist? two? try four, or five, depending on how well you can predict what'll happen.

the acting was pretty okay, and the art direction is pleasant. you will have no trouble at all keeping your eyes glued to the screen, except for the necessary dabs here and there. even with the cheesy factor, my sister and i still cried a lot while watching this movie. my brother cried a little, and my cousin who's hell bent on not crying didn't cry but with a lot of effort.

it's funny because i don't think anyone can truly relate to the characters in this movie, because the situation in lover's concerto is pretty unique. but the emotions are familiar and you'll have no trouble at all (crying along with the cast).

Sound of Colors (2003)

Better off gray.

[11 June 2004]

Sound of Color had a really cool website, nice publicity photos, and Tony Leung-Chiu Wai, so I'm not sure if I ended up not liking the movie because the hype was hard to top, but I was disappointed. The story wasn't great, and the visuals were boring. They really could have done more with how the picture looked, since it could have helped the story.

A lot of movies are shallow and some shallow movies are okay, but the subject of Sound of Color had a lot of potential to become a good story, so it was a shame that the film's writers did not go further.

They got good actors who couldn't do a good job because the script did not demand much from them. This movie has exactly one scene with emotional impact.

I tried watching it fast forward and I liked it better. I paid $6.80 for this movie and I wish I could get my money back.

Chinese Odyssey 2002 (2002)

If you like goofy...

[9/10 · 11 June 2004]

Chinese Odyssey 2002 is a really funny movie. If you've seen Ashes of Time, Chungking Express, He's a Woman, She's a Man, and any Zhao Wei movie, or the original Chinese Odyssey movies you have to see this. It's hilarious in a silly Hong Kong comedy way. And it has all the elements: action scenes, magic, love stories, and a Bollywood-style song number you will never forget. Oh, get it out of my head!

I don't know why it's not faring so well in the polls because I've seen it so many times but it still makes me laugh, and I haven't shown it to anyone who didn't find it funny.

The shocking part is that it only cost me $2.70 to buy this movie. In a state of recession, cheap laughter is twice as enjoyable.

Happy Together (1997)

Life After Love

[9/10 · 11 June 2004]

Watching Happy Together is an emotional experience. If you've ever gotten your heart trampled on, look at the screen and you will find yourself staring at a mirror. This is your story. And the wonderful thing about this movie is, it's not just a good story. It's a visual wonderland, a super-stellar extravaganza of only two superstars (they're all you need)and, maybe by accident, a compassionate statement on homosexuality.

Problems, hurts, and feelings are universal and unconfined by sexual preferences and demography. If you've ever felt alone, I hope you watch this movie and find yourself in good company.

There are many Internet articles on Happy Together.

Rouge (1987)

Rouge

[11 June 2004]

This is one of the best films I've seen. As far as ghost stories go, this is one of the scariest for me. It's not scary by way Stir of Echoes or Gothika, but it will give you chills like nothing before. Sure, angry ghosts are scary, but a heartbroken ghost is scarier. She could appear to your left right now and ask for your help. Isn't THAT scary?

If you love ghost stories, love stories, Hong Kong and Chinese music, this movie has all that. It was a pleasant surprise to find a film that told a familiar story so beautifully it becomes unique.

Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui were perfect for their roles. Watch out for the scene where Leslie wears Peking Opera makeup. Fans of "Farewell, My Concubine" will surely love the foreshadowing of Leslie's future internationally-acclaimed performance.