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Reviews
Survive Style 5+ (2004)
Only Opinions...
Everything said is an opinion so it might help you decide or it may give you the wrong impressions. Be aware of this.
I read a few opinions on this website before watching Survive Style 5 and they were mostly misleading. I am not bitter but this is simply what I think. The film had it's moments which were mostly good comedy and some romance(or maybe that's just me being attracted to beautiful women), but overall the film was drawn out, the story was too difficult to comprehend, and I can endure long silences with no action or movement, but only when there is a purpose, and in this film I saw no purpose and lost interest through the film a few times.
There was a review here on IMDb that described the silent character's role as amazing, but I just did not feel his amazing performance. In comparison, I watched Musa The Warrior the following night where the leading role is a silent one and I was truly awe struck by his performance, which had just as little dialog and I know it's a completely different story and setting, but writing and acting and directing created the most mesmerizing silent performance I have ever witnessed, and it ranks highly among all other characters I have seen. Musa's character was an amazing performance and like someone on IMDb already mentioned about Korean films in relation to SS5, there are better quality films out there with better writing, acting, directing, and which come together to make quality films that have a lasting impression because they are so compelling. Musa was one of these films that is so absorbing that after two hours when the film had ended, it seemed like on an hour and a half.
So watch and enjoy what films you will, opinions are for the individual and should be cautiously observed. I hope you enjoy the film and many more Korean films to come.
Unleashed (2005)
Nothing new, or exciting.
To start with the good, the acting was acceptable. Morgan Freeman played a decent character, nothing to different from his past career. Blind was a bit of a challenge. And Jet Li did a very good job with his part animal-part human character. I think his first US film that focused on a sensitive side of Jet Li. But overall, average performances.
The fighting has some good elements to it, like the Unleashed theme with the collar. Also, the narrow bathroom fight; creative stuff but still not sustained through the film. The blows by Jet Li, at certain points of the film, were very powerful and looked real. Unfortuntately the fighting sequences eventually were drawn out and repetitive.
The story is the weakest element, as most action films are plagued with. I though that Luc Besson would do some good, but it seems that Leon was his only home run. I won't give detail but Dann's uncle should be a mean, rude, violent man, but he sometimes tries to be reasoning and forgiving. And the flashing light idea was a very bad attempt at a plot point to introduce Morgan to Li. Other areas of the screenplay add to the faulty plot.
And cinematography looked hopeful from the trailer, but also was not fantastic. There are some occasional moments that look good, even beautiful(the speeding pan along rooftop with contrast between shingles and sky).
Harsh Realm: Pilot (1999)
Hard to watch and should NOT be watched.
Simply, Harsh Realm is overall a thoughtless show with a potentially good premise. But, it fails harshly in writing because of clichés and weak characters. The reasoning behind the main character is flawed which made m lose interest immediately.
Sorry, there are many more traps which Harsh Realm has seemingly stuck its head into that I could go on, and I should go on, but it is so bad I have no energy to even waste my time trying to communicate the details of finger painting with feces.
Trust your instinct and never watch or mention this film because it does not deserve any recognition.
Kung fu (2004)
More action, less characters, and almost as good as Shaolin Soccer.
In comparison to Shaolin Soccer, the only other Stephen Chow that I've seen, Kung Fu Hustle comes close, but not quite the same quality.
My favorite feature of Chow's films is the humor. The situations he writes into the films, along with the other credited writers, are strange and hilarious. But the plot is the only lacking aspect of the film, I think. The story was fun and very entertaining but not fulfilling for me. Of course the special effects and production values were great! This time around, Chow uses LOTS of effects, and the SFX crew does it well. The change from real actors to CGI is good and smooth, even thought the animation isn't fluent. But its a comedy and I'm not complaining. Its even comparable the quality of the Matrix.
The acting, also, is quality. Some returning actors from Shaolin Soccer and many new who are charming characters. Unfortunately, the characters are not as in deep or lovable as Shaolin Soccer, especially Sing(CHow), but the cast and characters stand strong on their own without comparison to Chow's precious film. And with Woo-ping choreographing, its looks fast, fluent, creative and professional.
Overall, the film is certainly worth one's time. But I cannot be the judge, you must see it for yourself.
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
One of the greatest film ever, of amazing importance.
Koyaanisqatsi should not be watched, it should be experienced. The images can be very moving and reveal a true view of what life is like in civilized countries, especially the USA.
Not only is the composition of every shot studding, but the details into patters of nature and human's chaotic lives, that Reggio allows the viewer to see, can be both beautiful and haunting.
Along with music by Philip Glass, the simplicity of the films features is another strong aspect of the overall feeling.
Don't judge the style of film-making, simply let yourself experience the beauty and tragedy of life in the clash between nature and humankind's struggle for wealth.
Midnight Express (1978)
A moving film, but not reaching it's potential.
FIrst of all, I think the context of where my criticism is coming from is important to know for those who read this. i have never been to prison but I have spent most of my life alone. The film was touching but was not very intense, and it should have been since it took place in a Turkish prison. In fact, I thought the prison wasn't bad at all. Not imprisoned in cells but something life a living apartment. The director or writer should have used more details to really give a feel for what the problems were at the prison because I wasn't bothered by the setting. The main character mentioned be lonely or something like that but that didn't seen effective either in communicating the feel of the prison. Only did the conditions seem radical later in the film when he is transfered. But up till that point it wasting striking me as a horrible experience.
Other criticisms are the abrupt homosexual sequence and the 70's soundtrack. The story moved along well but the suddenness of the homosexual encounter was too abrupt and could have been built up better by the writer. Also, the music had it's strong moments but was also distracting sometimes because of the distinct outdated 70's tunes. But I wont say much about that because the 70's were awesome and it was a 70's movie. Too bad all the 70's songs don't last.
Otherwise, the film was good and had enjoyable acting but still not enough character development.