I guess I was in the right mood yesterday, because I enjoyed it quite a bit.
This one was Tarantino being VERY Tarantino. All of his strongest influences and homages (blatant ripoffs ) were on parade in abundance. Score, goofy zooms, Dutch angles, framing, wicked dialogue, over-the-top violence, you name it.
Foxx and DiCaprio were great, but Waltz just ripped it up, again. The guy is awesome and just exudes massive charisma. It is a magical recipe, combining Waltz + Tarantino dialogue. It's like Depp as Sparrow, it just works. The supporting cast, many known faces , all did a good job as well.
I watched the bonus material and Waltz and Foxx went into big time training for handling horses and guns. Super dedicated and it showed.
Costumes and sets were elaborate and great.
I thought it was very appropriate and with good taste that Tarantino BLEW
[Show spoiler]himself
UP WITH DYNAMITE.
Whether it is homage or ripoff, Tarantino does it right. Worked for me.
Film 4/5
PQ 4/5
AQ I had the volume too low to offer an opinion.
I think the most interesting aspect of the film was where it was set within Candyland and the characters were playing off one another in a very taunt and tense way.
I took my Dad to go see it, expecting him to hate it due to the length and the nature of how it challenges good taste (took him just because he likes westerns) and it turned out he absolutely loved the film, I was pretty shocked because he looked a bit tiresome while the film was going on, but it's still interesting nonetheless. Same sort of thing happened when I took him to watch Inglorious Basterds as well.
Fair enough, Broken Flowers has been on my radar for a long time.
Have you listened to Kermode's take on I'm So Excited? He's pretty much nail on the head got it, I was a bit surprised though when I looked on Rotten Tomotoes and saw most critics enjoying it.
Broken Flowers is very good, but just know that it's much more droll (like Aki Kaurismaki) than his early films. I think Midnight Train (which features nimble nonlinear storytelling) and Stranger than Paradise are his easiest films to get into. I think the general rule is, each film got more esoteric than the last. I haven't seen Limits of Control, yet, but I hear that's his most radical departure from the norm
The only Jarmusch film I've seen is Coffee and Cigarettes. It did not appeal.
It has a few great skits (Alfred Molina's and Cate Blanchett's) but yeah, it's not too memorable. You should give Midnight Train, Down by Law or even Dead Man a chance.
So now it comes to this. Iron Man started off beating the snot out of terrorists and confronting the Iron Monger. Then he was challenged by Whiplash, and made to face a number of personal challenges. Lastly, he helped save Earth from an otherworldly invasion, and he personally passed through a wormhole to deliver a nuke to the Chitauri mothership. Where does Iron Man stand after all this?
The third Iron Man film pits Tony Stark against more challenges, which ultimately straddles the breaking point for the character. The man proves to be a wreck to start with - a definite far cry from the suave narcissist we saw in the beginning of the first film - but now his personal life, his body, and his mind all pay the price for all of Iron Man's burdens. In this (final?) round of heroic challenges, Iron Man confronts the Mandarin terrorists, who ultimately target him personally. In one of the biggest action scenes of the movie, Stark's home is demolished in a torrent of missiles. That's just the beginning: from then on, the film traverses across all of the US as Stark works to find answers, and is made to fight more bad guys, find answers, fight more bad guys, and ultimately thwart the enemy's endgame. By that point, the stakes are raised really high, and it builds up to a lengthy, explosive, all-out climax.
There is definitely a ton of action and quality special effects to behold here. At the same time, the action and drama is finely-balanced with the same style of comedy and wit that's gone into the first two films. Overall, the tone and pacing of Iron Man 3 is very much consistent with the other films. All of the characters and concepts are in line with what's in the other films. IM3 is pretty much on the same level as IM1 and IM2.
And that's a huge relief, considering that in most superhero franchises, the third films don't usually fare that well (remember X-Men: The Last Stand? Or Spiderman 3? Or Superman III?!). IM3 practically breaks that curse, not only with its purposeful execution, but also with its strong basis in characterizations and storytelling. As indicated above, there is a lot to be said about the character and his progression across the three films. This third film effectively completes his transformation, resolves some long-standing issues, and still manages to pull out a few impressive twists.
This film is competently-made with good photography and editing. Acting is as great as ever, and the writing is generally good. This production has plenty of fine-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is pretty cool.
Iron Man 3 is as satisfying of a conclusion to the Iron Man franchise as it is a satisfying summer blockbuster. I say "conclusion" because it makes these first three films feel whole and complete as they are. However, as a post-credit message asserts, Tony Stark will return. If so, he'd certainly be welcome, especially in Avengers 2, but even if an Iron Man 4 never comes, this third film does its job admirably.
4.5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)
It has a few great skits (Alfred Molina's and Cate Blanchett's) but yeah, it's not too memorable. You should give Midnight Train, Down by Law or even Dead Man a chance.
I was intrigued by the guests who appeared in that film (Jack and Meg White, woohoo! ). But yeah, it's not that memorable.
[Show spoiler]So now it comes to this. Iron Man started off beating the snot out of terrorists and confronting the Iron Monger. Then he was challenged by Whiplash, and made to face a number of personal challenges. Lastly, he helped save Earth from an otherworldly invasion, and he personally passed through a wormhole to deliver a nuke to the Chitauri mothership. Where does Iron Man stand after all this?
The third Iron Man film pits Tony Stark against more challenges, which ultimately straddles the breaking point for the character. The man proves to be a wreck to start with - a definite far cry from the suave narcissist we saw in the beginning of the first film - but now his personal life, his body, and his mind all pay the price for all of Iron Man's burdens. In this (final?) round of heroic challenges, Iron Man confronts the Mandarin terrorists, who ultimately target him personally. In one of the biggest action scenes of the movie, Stark's home is demolished in a torrent of missiles. That's just the beginning: from then on, the film traverses across all of the US as Stark works to find answers, and is made to fight more bad guys, find answers, fight more bad guys, and ultimately thwart the enemy's endgame. By that point, the stakes are raised really high, and it builds up to a lengthy, explosive, all-out climax.
There is definitely a ton of action and quality special effects to behold here. At the same time, the action and drama is finely-balanced with the same style of comedy and wit that's gone into the first two films. Overall, the tone and pacing of Iron Man 3 is very much consistent with the other films. All of the characters and concepts are in line with what's in the other films. IM3 is pretty much on the same level as IM1 and IM2.
And that's a huge relief, considering that in most superhero franchises, the third films don't usually fare that well (remember X-Men: The Last Stand? Or Spiderman 3? Or Superman III?!). IM3 practically breaks that curse, not only with its purposeful execution, but also with its strong basis in characterizations and storytelling. As indicated above, there is a lot to be said about the character and his progression across the three films. This third film effectively completes his transformation, resolves some long-standing issues, and still manages to pull out a few impressive twists.
This film is competently-made with good photography and editing. Acting is as great as ever, and the writing is generally good. This production has plenty of fine-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is pretty cool.
Iron Man 3 is as satisfying of a conclusion to the Iron Man franchise as it is a satisfying summer blockbuster. I say "conclusion" because it makes these first three films feel whole and complete as they are. However, as a post-credit message asserts, Tony Stark will return. If so, he'd certainly be welcome, especially in Avengers 2, but even if an Iron Man 4 never comes, this third film does its job admirably.
4.5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)
Recommendation: Sure.
Saw it today and couldn't agree more. I loved it and obviously am already looking forward to the Blu-ray release.
As far as the "Tony Stark Will Return" thing, they could get away with that meaning just for The Avengers 2, but another Iron Man movie someday would not be a surprise either.
Leave it up to Shane Black to come up with quite possibly the best post credits scene of all the Marvel Studios movies. At least I assume it was him.
I'll admit, Iron Man 3 wasn't a disaster, but what a awful chore to sit through. As for The Chinaman - oh, my bad - The Mandarin, the less said the better. But I will say,
[Show spoiler]along with dreadful Spider Man movie from last year, I am absolutely disgusted at seeing amputees portrayed as bad guys. Don't even bother trying to excuse it with some ridiculous non-explanation, and I have nothing further to say about this.
[Show spoiler]So now it comes to this. Iron Man started off beating the snot out of terrorists and confronting the Iron Monger. Then he was challenged by Whiplash, and made to face a number of personal challenges. Lastly, he helped save Earth from an otherworldly invasion, and he personally passed through a wormhole to deliver a nuke to the Chitauri mothership. Where does Iron Man stand after all this?
The third Iron Man film pits Tony Stark against more challenges, which ultimately straddles the breaking point for the character. The man proves to be a wreck to start with - a definite far cry from the suave narcissist we saw in the beginning of the first film - but now his personal life, his body, and his mind all pay the price for all of Iron Man's burdens. In this (final?) round of heroic challenges, Iron Man confronts the Mandarin terrorists, who ultimately target him personally. In one of the biggest action scenes of the movie, Stark's home is demolished in a torrent of missiles. That's just the beginning: from then on, the film traverses across all of the US as Stark works to find answers, and is made to fight more bad guys, find answers, fight more bad guys, and ultimately thwart the enemy's endgame. By that point, the stakes are raised really high, and it builds up to a lengthy, explosive, all-out climax.
There is definitely a ton of action and quality special effects to behold here. At the same time, the action and drama is finely-balanced with the same style of comedy and wit that's gone into the first two films. Overall, the tone and pacing of Iron Man 3 is very much consistent with the other films. All of the characters and concepts are in line with what's in the other films. IM3 is pretty much on the same level as IM1 and IM2.
And that's a huge relief, considering that in most superhero franchises, the third films don't usually fare that well (remember X-Men: The Last Stand? Or Spiderman 3? Or Superman III?!). IM3 practically breaks that curse, not only with its purposeful execution, but also with its strong basis in characterizations and storytelling. As indicated above, there is a lot to be said about the character and his progression across the three films. This third film effectively completes his transformation, resolves some long-standing issues, and still manages to pull out a few impressive twists.
This film is competently-made with good photography and editing. Acting is as great as ever, and the writing is generally good. This production has plenty of fine-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is pretty cool.
Iron Man 3 is as satisfying of a conclusion to the Iron Man franchise as it is a satisfying summer blockbuster. I say "conclusion" because it makes these first three films feel whole and complete as they are. However, as a post-credit message asserts, Tony Stark will return. If so, he'd certainly be welcome, especially in Avengers 2, but even if an Iron Man 4 never comes, this third film does its job admirably.
4.5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)
Recommendation: Sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilloWertz
Saw it today and couldn't agree more. I loved it and obviously am already looking forward to the Blu-ray release.
As far as the "Tony Stark Will Return" thing, they could get away with that meaning just for The Avengers 2, but another Iron Man movie someday would not be a surprise either.
Leave it up to Shane Black to come up with quite possibly the best post credits scene of all the Marvel Studios movies. At least I assume it was him.
Well looks like we have two more in the fun vehicle to join Walt's Ghost and Myself. I guess Diesel is the one who's sitting with Rodes in the not so fun car.
I'll admit, Iron Man 3 wasn't a disaster, but what a awful chore to sit through. As for The Chinaman - oh, my bad - The Mandarin, the less said the better. But I will say,
[Show spoiler]along with dreadful Spider Man movie from last year, I am absolutely disgusted at seeing amputees portrayed as bad guys. Don't even bother trying to excuse it with some ridiculous non-explanation, and I have nothing further to say about this.
That's a bit of a ridiculous thing to take from both those films (especially since Dr. Curt Connors has had his amputee arm in the comics, not so sure about Extremis). Plus the films don't really say "look out, amputees are evil people, never give them powers". But you said not to bother with a non-explanation, so I won't.
The Good:Awesome action sequences (i.e., when Stark infiltrates the Mandarin's lair, the Air Force One rescue, and the geek-out-inducing climactic battle at the oil rig with all the Iron Man suits). A bunch of pretty funny moments (my favorite has to be the one with Stark tied up to a bed frame). Love the kid sidekick (played by Ty Simpkins).
The Bad:Too many lame twists (including a major one that might piss off die-hard comic fans). Uneven pacing. Has some great moments and plot points, but the whole isn't quite as impactful as it was intended to be.
The Bottom Line:A sporadically entertaining but infuriatingly hollow mess of a follow-up. Ranks right down there with The Incredible Hulk and Captain America as the weakest installments in the Avengers franchise.
I will probably tweak my IM3 review to address some of its negative issues. The twist with the Mandarin didn't bother me one bit; I actually loved that character and his portrayal. But, it seems to be a big deal-breaker for some people.
There were a few things I wasn't sure about regarding the movie's plot.
[Show spoiler]How did Tony figure out that the Extremis people were connected to the Mandarin in the first place? Did I miss him finding a clue? How do Extremis people keep finding Tony, even when he's in the middle of nowhere? How do all the pieces of Iron Man's suit rocket themselves across half the nation without running out of fuel?
Just little plot holes, but nothing that bothers me personally. My score will likely remain the same.
Okay, just to be clear, there's only one more film with Tony Jaa. The other one I have in mind stars somebody else. Both are awesome though.
40:
[Show spoiler]Yojimbo
Japan
This film was adapted from Dashiel Hammett’s hard-boiled novel Red Harvest, but it was remade into A Fistfull of Dollars, and later Last Man Standing, and would go on to inspire a whole bunch of other great films. So an American detective novel inspired a Japanese samurai film that would give birth to a whole slew of endearing American westerns. How funny is that?
On its own merits, Yojimbo moves a little show, but it does have some smashing fights and battles. Toshiro Mifune plays it really cool as the Yojimbo (bodyguard), who plays both sides of a gang war for his own profit. It’s a pretty cool story which is so fundamental that it’s been incorporated in multiple settings and genres. The film itself is really nicely-shot and well-acted. It’s an eastern classic, which could be seen on western terms.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Good
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[Show spoiler]Painted Skin (Wa Pei)
China
When it comes to Asian fantasy films, there’s always a certain lushness in the visuals that I desire. As good as many films are, it’s the Painted Skin films that have delivered the best thus far. Painted Skin offers an interesting story, involving the seduction and relationships between men and demons, which results in a number of fantastic encounters and a rather exciting climax. It’s a pretty cool myth, with great characters that I really cared for. The experience is just brought down slightly by some iffy special effects.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 38:
[Show spoiler]Painted Skin: The Resurrection
China
The first Painted Skin movie has its visually striking moments, but dang, this second one is bigger and bolder yet! Most of the imagery here is really fantastic and imaginative. It’s maybe a grade more exciting and impressive than the first film. And it still has a superb story attached to it; it’s not a direct sequel or prequel to the first film at all, but deals with the same type of situations and the same type of mythologies. Between the two, I can’t even tell which one is better; they’re both really nice.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 37:
[Show spoiler]Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (Lik Wong)
China and Japan
Man, life in the slammer is rough. So rough, a guy tries to strangle another guy with his own intestines! That’s but a small taste of the grotesque absurdity contained in this wild and crazy film. At its core, it’s the heroic struggle of Riki, a man imprisoned wrongfully, but with an insane amount of super-strength. He can punch through walls, in addition to punching a bad guy’s head clean off his body. Filled with silly dialogue, cheap monsters, and highly-exaggerated violence, this film is just so awesome and funny, it should be a must-see.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Pretty Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 36:
[Show spoiler]The Protector (Tom Yum Goong)
Thailand
After the runaway success of Ong Bak, Tony Jaa continued to kick serious butt in The Protector. This film pretty much has the same story, just swapping out a Bhudda statue for an elephant. The film touches on some stark and bleak issues regarding trafficking, but it’s the action that stands out the most. The stuntwork is phenomenal, and the fights are incredible. One of the biggest highlights is in watching the main character running up four floors of stairs, beating up bad guys all the way up, all in one continuous shot. It’s a short, simple, but perfectly entertaining thrill ride.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Average | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 35:
[Show spoiler]OldBoy (Oldeuboi)
South Korea
Man, this film is SICK! And I mean that in all senses of the word. On one hand, it is something very dark, bleak, strange, and incredible to watch: the camera angles, the violent action, and the psychotic characters combine to form a type of entertainment that’s unsettling yet gripping. The actual events of the story are pretty sick too, especially with the big reveals in the end. But even the premise, with a guy being imprisoned in an apartment for 15 years, is a pretty disturbing concept. The vengeance that follows is appropriately wicked, and it is especially awesome to see the guy whacking dozens of other guys with a hammer in a cramped hallway. Overall, despite straddling the threshold of what’s sane and decent, OldBoy is something strange and disturbing that’s well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 34:
[Show spoiler]Invisible Target (Naam Yi Boon Sik)
China
This movie starts off with a bang, and the action pretty much continues nonstop throughout. It’s a thick and dense action film, with loads of cool fights and chases, and some very tense situations. The film struck me as being every bit as exciting and awesome as one of the later Die Hard films, for it is that entertaining. The story is pretty dense, with quite a few characters to follow, but it is a sound and decent story. Among the film’s stars, Jaycee Chan does his father, Jackie Chan, proud.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 33:
[Show spoiler]Thirst (Bakjwi)
South Korea
Of all of Chan-Wook Park’s films, I’ve determined that I liked Thirst the best so far, even though OldBoy might be the guy’s most popular one, and Stoker might be the one to propel him into the American spotlight. In 2009, Thirst came out with the intriguing premise of a priest becoming a vampire. That in itself presents a fantastic moral dilemma, resulting in plenty of conflict, drama, emotional turmoil, and bloodshed. With fantastic visuals and camera-work, and great performances, Thirst really captivated my attention, my heart, and my mind.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 32:
[Show spoiler]Hard Boiled (Lat Sau San Taam)
China
When it comes to action films, Hard Boiled is an absolute must-see. There is so much action, it’ll melt your brain! Hardly a moment goes by without characters busting out guns in both hands, flying through the air, blasting each other with bullets! The last act involves the main hero, Tequila, and his buddy shooting bad guys all throughout a hospital, racking up a record-breaking body count (the move in total has 307 stiffs). And oh yeah, there is still a story to this, with a cast of endearing characters.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 31:
[Show spoiler]NeoTokyo (Meikyû Monogatari)
Japan
Here’s a bizarre little treat. NeoTokyo is a compilation of three animated shorts from three prominent anime directors. The first segment from Rintaro is a short and sweet affair, focusing on a little girl’s imagination running wild. This ultimately sets up the framework for the next two segments: my favorite is Yoshiaki Kawajiri's rip-roaring adrenaline-inducing futuristic death-race. This is followed by Katsuhiro Otomo’s story about a man trying so hard to convince a robot to stop constructing on a cancelled project. Together, all three stories offer a little bit of something imaginative and visually stunning, and is well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 30:
[Show spoiler]Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)
Japan
Do your teenage kids drive you nuts? Well, in the future, it may get so bad, they set up the Battle Royale program: a totally screwed-up dystopian concept in which the government rounds up all their problem children and plants them on an island, where they fight to the death. What follows is a bleak, sobering, violent series of conflicts and encounters; it is inherently disturbing to watch friends, lovers, and classmates murdering each other. The film underscores this with an appropriately poetic and emotional tone.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 29:
[Show spoiler]Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Japan
Remember Vampire Hunter D, further down my list? Well, in 2000, Yoshiaki Kawajiri revamped things a bit and came out with this phenomenal sequel. The film is loaded with smashing action scenes, to include motorcycle chases, monster fights, laser beams flashing everywhere, and people getting cut up real good! It’s all done with quality animation style and a fantastic visual flair. It’s a fair story that makes for perfect entertaining, especially around Halloween.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
It took a good six years to craft this series of shorts, all with the thematic basis of the apocalypse. The first story is a stylish little thing about a touching romance in the midst of a zombie-pocalypse. The next story is the most interesting, as it focuses on a robot in a Buddhist temple that achieves enlightenment. Then, in the last story, a giant 8-ball comes along and threatens to destroy the world. Pretty weird stuff, but very interesting at times, with excellent craftsmanship and style, and with a certain earnestness that makes it all the more presentable. Some viewers have been disappointed with this series, but I thought it was cool stuff.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 27:
[Show spoiler]The Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira)
Japan
If you’ve seen the anime series The Cowboy Bebop, you’ll probably go into this movie loving the characters and their world already. On its own merits, the story is pretty simple, almost like a two-hour episode. However, it is really cool and awesome stuff! The franchise focuses on four hip characters, all bounty hunters hopping from one planet to another, all with their own unique banter and personalities. They thrive in a world that’s decisively 50% sci-fi, 30% film noir, and 20% western. It’s got great comedy, lovable characters, awesome action, superb animation, and some really awesome music. The only thing cooler than this is, arguably, Firefly.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 26:
[Show spoiler]Throne of Blood (Kumonosu-jô)
Japan
Shakespeare’s classic play Macbeth is brought to life in this dark and bloody film. Instead of Scotland, the film is set in feudal Japan, with Toshiro Mifune filling in for Macbeth, with all the same raging bloodlust and madness. The film is pretty short, but covers all the same bases as the original play, and brings it all to life with superb acting and cinematography. The film, like the play it’s based on, remains a timeless classic.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 25:
[Show spoiler]Chocolate
Thailand
As it stands, Chocolate currently has the best fight scenes I have seen thus far. Yes, they are that awesome. It’s a real inspiring sight to watch JeeJa Yanin punch, kick, and slide her way through a small army of thugs, all while slipping through narrow spaces, kicking people into lockers, evading swords and blades, and in one scene, dodging a flying pallet while sliding under a table. And yet, the film still has a quality story with good characters, and a lot of heart. In addition to all the fighting, JeeJa nailed the role as an autistic girl struggling to save her mama, and she provided a much-needed pathos to make the film rise above and beyond most other films. I really found this one endearing, in addition to being fun and generally well-made. Not everybody is into this film, but I think it’s at least worth a look.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 24:
[Show spoiler]Berserk: The Golden Age Arc: The Egg and the King (Beruseruku: Ougon Jidaihen I - Haou no Tamago)
Japan
Berserk, the manga, the 1997 anime series, stands as my top favorite story of all time. Yes, I love Berserk more than my favorite films, the Lord of the Rings. It’s that epic. Lately, Japan has been producing a reboot of the anime, to be dished out in a multitude of two-hour films, which looks to do good justice to the manga. The Egg and the King is the first of this series, and it covers a lot of familiar ground. Animation quality is pretty slick, albeit a little weird with the CGI. Above all, it’s a thrilling and enticing story, and this film establishes the basic levels of characterization and conflicts that would ultimately build up to something greater in the next installments. My only complaint about this film is that, compared to the older anime and the manga, certain details and nuances get cut out. However, it’s a good representation of this great story, and chances are good that the Battle for Doldrey will be awesome.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 23:
[Show spoiler]The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan Maut)
Indonesia
Once this film gets going, it’s…just……..dang…
If you’ve seen Dredd, then you’ll know what to expect out of The Raid. Both films deal with characters trapped in a building, fighting entire armies of bad guys to try and reach the head honcho. With The Raid, the characters pretty much spend all of their time fighting, hiding, and fighting some more. The martial arts choreography in this film is phenomenal; it’s all so fast, so brutal, so relentless, it’s actually pretty exhausting for certain viewers. If you crave action like I do, then the film will be a mind-numbing awe-inspiring experience. There is a semblance of a story, with endearing characters. If nothing else though, The Raid stands as one of the most action-packed movies I’ve ever seen.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 22:
[Show spoiler]Tetsuo: The Iron Man
Japan
The best way I’d describe this monstrosity of a film would be if Eraserhead was made in Japan by a bunch of crackheads. It’s a fast, erratic, eye-gouging experience, but so full of fantastic and grotesque imagery and style that it’s hard to turn away. Love it, hate it, it’s still the epitome of an experimental film, and it is one wicked experiment. You may try to dig up a story and interesting themes out of this, but if nothing else, it’s the film’s hyperkinetic style that will stand out the most.
Experience: Very Good | Content: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 21:
[Show spoiler]Tokyo!
Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany
Even though a number of French directors contributed to this compilation of stories, Tokyo! feels so very Japanese, thanks to its unique settings and outlandish stories. The first story in this film focuses on a girl, who inevitably turns into a chair. The second, easily my favorite, is about a strange man who comes up out of the sewer to routinely reign terror on the surface-dwellers. The last is an endearing piece about a social recluse who’s eventually forced to leave his perfect home in pursuit of a girl he loves. All three stories have their merits, and are well-filmed. They get pretty weird, but that’s all part of their charm.
Entertainment: Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
I took my Dad to go see it, expecting him to hate it due to the length and the nature of how it challenges good taste (took him just because he likes westerns) and it turned out he absolutely loved the film, I was pretty shocked because he looked a bit tiresome while the film was going on, but it's still interesting nonetheless. Same sort of thing happened when I took him to watch Inglorious Basterds as well.
Sounds like Tarantino's style works for your Dad.
Quote:
Just out of interest, what's your thoughts on
[Show spoiler]Stephen being the big bad guy
at the end of the film?
He seemed to be a slimeball from the moment we met him, all the way to the end IMO.
[Show spoiler]One thing to remember is that he had a cushy job and he was the top dog at that house. Nice clothes, easy work, a nice place to sleep, good food, brandy and a smoke now and then. He had it "made" for a black man during those years, and Django ruined everything for him by killing DiCaprio. Not too surprising that he was p!ssed off at Django.
Okay, just to be clear, there's only one more film with Tony Jaa. The other one I have in mind stars somebody else. Both are awesome though.
40:
[Show spoiler]Yojimbo
Japan
This film was adapted from Dashiel Hammett’s hard-boiled novel Red Harvest, but it was remade into A Fistfull of Dollars, and later Last Man Standing, and would go on to inspire a whole bunch of other great films. So an American detective novel inspired a Japanese samurai film that would give birth to a whole slew of endearing American westerns. How funny is that?
On its own merits, Yojimbo moves a little show, but it does have some smashing fights and battles. Toshiro Mifune plays it really cool as the Yojimbo (bodyguard), who plays both sides of a gang war for his own profit. It’s a pretty cool story which is so fundamental that it’s been incorporated in multiple settings and genres. The film itself is really nicely-shot and well-acted. It’s an eastern classic, which could be seen on western terms.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Good
-------------------- 39:
[Show spoiler]Painted Skin (Wa Pei)
China
When it comes to Asian fantasy films, there’s always a certain lushness in the visuals that I desire. As good as many films are, it’s the Painted Skin films that have delivered the best thus far. Painted Skin offers an interesting story, involving the seduction and relationships between men and demons, which results in a number of fantastic encounters and a rather exciting climax. It’s a pretty cool myth, with great characters that I really cared for. The experience is just brought down slightly by some iffy special effects.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 38:
[Show spoiler]Painted Skin: The Resurrection
China
The first Painted Skin movie has its visually striking moments, but dang, this second one is bigger and bolder yet! Most of the imagery here is really fantastic and imaginative. It’s maybe a grade more exciting and impressive than the first film. And it still has a superb story attached to it; it’s not a direct sequel or prequel to the first film at all, but deals with the same type of situations and the same type of mythologies. Between the two, I can’t even tell which one is better; they’re both really nice.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 37:
[Show spoiler]Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (Lik Wong)
China and Japan
Man, life in the slammer is rough. So rough, a guy tries to strangle another guy with his own intestines! That’s but a small taste of the grotesque absurdity contained in this wild and crazy film. At its core, it’s the heroic struggle of Riki, a man imprisoned wrongfully, but with an insane amount of super-strength. He can punch through walls, in addition to punching a bad guy’s head clean off his body. Filled with silly dialogue, cheap monsters, and highly-exaggerated violence, this film is just so awesome and funny, it should be a must-see.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Pretty Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 36:
[Show spoiler]The Protector (Tom Yum Goong)
Thailand
After the runaway success of Ong Bak, Tony Jaa continued to kick serious butt in The Protector. This film pretty much has the same story, just swapping out a Bhudda statue for an elephant. The film touches on some stark and bleak issues regarding trafficking, but it’s the action that stands out the most. The stuntwork is phenomenal, and the fights are incredible. One of the biggest highlights is in watching the main character running up four floors of stairs, beating up bad guys all the way up, all in one continuous shot. It’s a short, simple, but perfectly entertaining thrill ride.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Average | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 35:
[Show spoiler]OldBoy (Oldeuboi)
South Korea
Man, this film is SICK! And I mean that in all senses of the word. On one hand, it is something very dark, bleak, strange, and incredible to watch: the camera angles, the violent action, and the psychotic characters combine to form a type of entertainment that’s unsettling yet gripping. The actual events of the story are pretty sick too, especially with the big reveals in the end. But even the premise, with a guy being imprisoned in an apartment for 15 years, is a pretty disturbing concept. The vengeance that follows is appropriately wicked, and it is especially awesome to see the guy whacking dozens of other guys with a hammer in a cramped hallway. Overall, despite straddling the threshold of what’s sane and decent, OldBoy is something strange and disturbing that’s well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 34:
[Show spoiler]Invisible Target (Naam Yi Boon Sik)
China
This movie starts off with a bang, and the action pretty much continues nonstop throughout. It’s a thick and dense action film, with loads of cool fights and chases, and some very tense situations. The film struck me as being every bit as exciting and awesome as one of the later Die Hard films, for it is that entertaining. The story is pretty dense, with quite a few characters to follow, but it is a sound and decent story. Among the film’s stars, Jaycee Chan does his father, Jackie Chan, proud.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 33:
[Show spoiler]Thirst (Bakjwi)
South Korea
Of all of Chan-Wook Park’s films, I’ve determined that I liked Thirst the best so far, even though OldBoy might be the guy’s most popular one, and Stoker might be the one to propel him into the American spotlight. In 2009, Thirst came out with the intriguing premise of a priest becoming a vampire. That in itself presents a fantastic moral dilemma, resulting in plenty of conflict, drama, emotional turmoil, and bloodshed. With fantastic visuals and camera-work, and great performances, Thirst really captivated my attention, my heart, and my mind.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 32:
[Show spoiler]Hard Boiled (Lat Sau San Taam)
China
When it comes to action films, Hard Boiled is an absolute must-see. There is so much action, it’ll melt your brain! Hardly a moment goes by without characters busting out guns in both hands, flying through the air, blasting each other with bullets! The last act involves the main hero, Tequila, and his buddy shooting bad guys all throughout a hospital, racking up a record-breaking body count (the move in total has 307 stiffs). And oh yeah, there is still a story to this, with a cast of endearing characters.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 31:
[Show spoiler]NeoTokyo (Meikyû Monogatari)
Japan
Here’s a bizarre little treat. NeoTokyo is a compilation of three animated shorts from three prominent anime directors. The first segment from Rintaro is a short and sweet affair, focusing on a little girl’s imagination running wild. This ultimately sets up the framework for the next two segments: my favorite is Yoshiaki Kawajiri's rip-roaring adrenaline-inducing futuristic death-race. This is followed by Katsuhiro Otomo’s story about a man trying so hard to convince a robot to stop constructing on a cancelled project. Together, all three stories offer a little bit of something imaginative and visually stunning, and is well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 30:
[Show spoiler]Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)
Japan
Do your teenage kids drive you nuts? Well, in the future, it may get so bad, they set up the Battle Royale program: a totally screwed-up dystopian concept in which the government rounds up all their problem children and plants them on an island, where they fight to the death. What follows is a bleak, sobering, violent series of conflicts and encounters; it is inherently disturbing to watch friends, lovers, and classmates murdering each other. The film underscores this with an appropriately poetic and emotional tone.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 29:
[Show spoiler]Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Japan
Remember Vampire Hunter D, further down my list? Well, in 2000, Yoshiaki Kawajiri revamped things a bit and came out with this phenomenal sequel. The film is loaded with smashing action scenes, to include motorcycle chases, monster fights, laser beams flashing everywhere, and people getting cut up real good! It’s all done with quality animation style and a fantastic visual flair. It’s a fair story that makes for perfect entertaining, especially around Halloween.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
It took a good six years to craft this series of shorts, all with the thematic basis of the apocalypse. The first story is a stylish little thing about a touching romance in the midst of a zombie-pocalypse. The next story is the most interesting, as it focuses on a robot in a Buddhist temple that achieves enlightenment. Then, in the last story, a giant 8-ball comes along and threatens to destroy the world. Pretty weird stuff, but very interesting at times, with excellent craftsmanship and style, and with a certain earnestness that makes it all the more presentable. Some viewers have been disappointed with this series, but I thought it was cool stuff.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 27:
[Show spoiler]The Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira)
Japan
If you’ve seen the anime series The Cowboy Bebop, you’ll probably go into this movie loving the characters and their world already. On its own merits, the story is pretty simple, almost like a two-hour episode. However, it is really cool and awesome stuff! The franchise focuses on four hip characters, all bounty hunters hopping from one planet to another, all with their own unique banter and personalities. They thrive in a world that’s decisively 50% sci-fi, 30% film noir, and 20% western. It’s got great comedy, lovable characters, awesome action, superb animation, and some really awesome music. The only thing cooler than this is, arguably, Firefly.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 26:
[Show spoiler]Throne of Blood (Kumonosu-jô)
Japan
Shakespeare’s classic play Macbeth is brought to life in this dark and bloody film. Instead of Scotland, the film is set in feudal Japan, with Toshiro Mifune filling in for Macbeth, with all the same raging bloodlust and madness. The film is pretty short, but covers all the same bases as the original play, and brings it all to life with superb acting and cinematography. The film, like the play it’s based on, remains a timeless classic.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 25:
[Show spoiler]Chocolate
Thailand
As it stands, Chocolate currently has the best fight scenes I have seen thus far. Yes, they are that awesome. It’s a real inspiring sight to watch JeeJa Yanin punch, kick, and slide her way through a small army of thugs, all while slipping through narrow spaces, kicking people into lockers, evading swords and blades, and in one scene, dodging a flying pallet while sliding under a table. And yet, the film still has a quality story with good characters, and a lot of heart. In addition to all the fighting, JeeJa nailed the role as an autistic girl struggling to save her mama, and she provided a much-needed pathos to make the film rise above and beyond most other films. I really found this one endearing, in addition to being fun and generally well-made. Not everybody is into this film, but I think it’s at least worth a look.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 24:
[Show spoiler]Berserk: The Golden Age Arc: The Egg and the King (Beruseruku: Ougon Jidaihen I - Haou no Tamago)
Japan
Berserk, the manga, the 1997 anime series, stands as my top favorite story of all time. Yes, I love Berserk more than my favorite films, the Lord of the Rings. It’s that epic. Lately, Japan has been producing a reboot of the anime, to be dished out in a multitude of two-hour films, which looks to do good justice to the manga. The Egg and the King is the first of this series, and it covers a lot of familiar ground. Animation quality is pretty slick, albeit a little weird with the CGI. Above all, it’s a thrilling and enticing story, and this film establishes the basic levels of characterization and conflicts that would ultimately build up to something greater in the next installments. My only complaint about this film is that, compared to the older anime and the manga, certain details and nuances get cut out. However, it’s a good representation of this great story, and chances are good that the Battle for Doldrey will be awesome.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 23:
[Show spoiler]The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan Maut)
Indonesia
Once this film gets going, it’s…just……..dang…
If you’ve seen Dredd, then you’ll know what to expect out of The Raid. Both films deal with characters trapped in a building, fighting entire armies of bad guys to try and reach the head honcho. With The Raid, the characters pretty much spend all of their time fighting, hiding, and fighting some more. The martial arts choreography in this film is phenomenal; it’s all so fast, so brutal, so relentless, it’s actually pretty exhausting for certain viewers. If you crave action like I do, then the film will be a mind-numbing awe-inspiring experience. There is a semblance of a story, with endearing characters. If nothing else though, The Raid stands as one of the most action-packed movies I’ve ever seen.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 22:
[Show spoiler]Tetsuo: The Iron Man
Japan
The best way I’d describe this monstrosity of a film would be if Eraserhead was made in Japan by a bunch of crackheads. It’s a fast, erratic, eye-gouging experience, but so full of fantastic and grotesque imagery and style that it’s hard to turn away. Love it, hate it, it’s still the epitome of an experimental film, and it is one wicked experiment. You may try to dig up a story and interesting themes out of this, but if nothing else, it’s the film’s hyperkinetic style that will stand out the most.
Experience: Very Good | Content: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 21:
[Show spoiler]Tokyo!
Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany
Even though a number of French directors contributed to this compilation of stories, Tokyo! feels so very Japanese, thanks to its unique settings and outlandish stories. The first story in this film focuses on a girl, who inevitably turns into a chair. The second, easily my favorite, is about a strange man who comes up out of the sewer to routinely reign terror on the surface-dwellers. The last is an endearing piece about a social recluse who’s eventually forced to leave his perfect home in pursuit of a girl he loves. All three stories have their merits, and are well-filmed. They get pretty weird, but that’s all part of their charm.
Entertainment: Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
To be concluded...
really not sure how you Chocolate lower than raid redemption. Don't get me wrong, I like raid: redemption but chocolate is far superior IMO even if just in fight sequences.
I will probably tweak my IM3 review to address some of its negative issues. The twist with the Mandarin didn't bother me one bit; I actually loved that character and his portrayal. But, it seems to be a big deal-breaker for some people.
There were a few things I wasn't sure about regarding the movie's plot.
[Show spoiler]How did Tony figure out that the Extremis people were connected to the Mandarin in the first place? Did I miss him finding a clue? How do Extremis people keep finding Tony, even when he's in the middle of nowhere? How do all the pieces of Iron Man's suit rocket themselves across half the nation without running out of fuel?
Just little plot holes, but nothing that bothers me personally. My score will likely remain the same.
1) Trevor told Stark about something that ended up with him getting caught.
2) That lady Extremis was getting evidence from the lady that Stark meets up with.
3) Pretty silly detail to get hung up on in the grand scheme of things.
Okay, just to be clear, there's only one more film with Tony Jaa. The other one I have in mind stars somebody else. Both are awesome though.
40:
[Show spoiler]Yojimbo
Japan
This film was adapted from Dashiel Hammett’s hard-boiled novel Red Harvest, but it was remade into A Fistfull of Dollars, and later Last Man Standing, and would go on to inspire a whole bunch of other great films. So an American detective novel inspired a Japanese samurai film that would give birth to a whole slew of endearing American westerns. How funny is that?
On its own merits, Yojimbo moves a little show, but it does have some smashing fights and battles. Toshiro Mifune plays it really cool as the Yojimbo (bodyguard), who plays both sides of a gang war for his own profit. It’s a pretty cool story which is so fundamental that it’s been incorporated in multiple settings and genres. The film itself is really nicely-shot and well-acted. It’s an eastern classic, which could be seen on western terms.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Good
-------------------- 39:
[Show spoiler]Painted Skin (Wa Pei)
China
When it comes to Asian fantasy films, there’s always a certain lushness in the visuals that I desire. As good as many films are, it’s the Painted Skin films that have delivered the best thus far. Painted Skin offers an interesting story, involving the seduction and relationships between men and demons, which results in a number of fantastic encounters and a rather exciting climax. It’s a pretty cool myth, with great characters that I really cared for. The experience is just brought down slightly by some iffy special effects.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 38:
[Show spoiler]Painted Skin: The Resurrection
China
The first Painted Skin movie has its visually striking moments, but dang, this second one is bigger and bolder yet! Most of the imagery here is really fantastic and imaginative. It’s maybe a grade more exciting and impressive than the first film. And it still has a superb story attached to it; it’s not a direct sequel or prequel to the first film at all, but deals with the same type of situations and the same type of mythologies. Between the two, I can’t even tell which one is better; they’re both really nice.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 37:
[Show spoiler]Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (Lik Wong)
China and Japan
Man, life in the slammer is rough. So rough, a guy tries to strangle another guy with his own intestines! That’s but a small taste of the grotesque absurdity contained in this wild and crazy film. At its core, it’s the heroic struggle of Riki, a man imprisoned wrongfully, but with an insane amount of super-strength. He can punch through walls, in addition to punching a bad guy’s head clean off his body. Filled with silly dialogue, cheap monsters, and highly-exaggerated violence, this film is just so awesome and funny, it should be a must-see.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Pretty Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 36:
[Show spoiler]The Protector (Tom Yum Goong)
Thailand
After the runaway success of Ong Bak, Tony Jaa continued to kick serious butt in The Protector. This film pretty much has the same story, just swapping out a Bhudda statue for an elephant. The film touches on some stark and bleak issues regarding trafficking, but it’s the action that stands out the most. The stuntwork is phenomenal, and the fights are incredible. One of the biggest highlights is in watching the main character running up four floors of stairs, beating up bad guys all the way up, all in one continuous shot. It’s a short, simple, but perfectly entertaining thrill ride.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Average | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 35:
[Show spoiler]OldBoy (Oldeuboi)
South Korea
Man, this film is SICK! And I mean that in all senses of the word. On one hand, it is something very dark, bleak, strange, and incredible to watch: the camera angles, the violent action, and the psychotic characters combine to form a type of entertainment that’s unsettling yet gripping. The actual events of the story are pretty sick too, especially with the big reveals in the end. But even the premise, with a guy being imprisoned in an apartment for 15 years, is a pretty disturbing concept. The vengeance that follows is appropriately wicked, and it is especially awesome to see the guy whacking dozens of other guys with a hammer in a cramped hallway. Overall, despite straddling the threshold of what’s sane and decent, OldBoy is something strange and disturbing that’s well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 34:
[Show spoiler]Invisible Target (Naam Yi Boon Sik)
China
This movie starts off with a bang, and the action pretty much continues nonstop throughout. It’s a thick and dense action film, with loads of cool fights and chases, and some very tense situations. The film struck me as being every bit as exciting and awesome as one of the later Die Hard films, for it is that entertaining. The story is pretty dense, with quite a few characters to follow, but it is a sound and decent story. Among the film’s stars, Jaycee Chan does his father, Jackie Chan, proud.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 33:
[Show spoiler]Thirst (Bakjwi)
South Korea
Of all of Chan-Wook Park’s films, I’ve determined that I liked Thirst the best so far, even though OldBoy might be the guy’s most popular one, and Stoker might be the one to propel him into the American spotlight. In 2009, Thirst came out with the intriguing premise of a priest becoming a vampire. That in itself presents a fantastic moral dilemma, resulting in plenty of conflict, drama, emotional turmoil, and bloodshed. With fantastic visuals and camera-work, and great performances, Thirst really captivated my attention, my heart, and my mind.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 32:
[Show spoiler]Hard Boiled (Lat Sau San Taam)
China
When it comes to action films, Hard Boiled is an absolute must-see. There is so much action, it’ll melt your brain! Hardly a moment goes by without characters busting out guns in both hands, flying through the air, blasting each other with bullets! The last act involves the main hero, Tequila, and his buddy shooting bad guys all throughout a hospital, racking up a record-breaking body count (the move in total has 307 stiffs). And oh yeah, there is still a story to this, with a cast of endearing characters.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 31:
[Show spoiler]NeoTokyo (Meikyû Monogatari)
Japan
Here’s a bizarre little treat. NeoTokyo is a compilation of three animated shorts from three prominent anime directors. The first segment from Rintaro is a short and sweet affair, focusing on a little girl’s imagination running wild. This ultimately sets up the framework for the next two segments: my favorite is Yoshiaki Kawajiri's rip-roaring adrenaline-inducing futuristic death-race. This is followed by Katsuhiro Otomo’s story about a man trying so hard to convince a robot to stop constructing on a cancelled project. Together, all three stories offer a little bit of something imaginative and visually stunning, and is well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 30:
[Show spoiler]Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)
Japan
Do your teenage kids drive you nuts? Well, in the future, it may get so bad, they set up the Battle Royale program: a totally screwed-up dystopian concept in which the government rounds up all their problem children and plants them on an island, where they fight to the death. What follows is a bleak, sobering, violent series of conflicts and encounters; it is inherently disturbing to watch friends, lovers, and classmates murdering each other. The film underscores this with an appropriately poetic and emotional tone.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 29:
[Show spoiler]Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Japan
Remember Vampire Hunter D, further down my list? Well, in 2000, Yoshiaki Kawajiri revamped things a bit and came out with this phenomenal sequel. The film is loaded with smashing action scenes, to include motorcycle chases, monster fights, laser beams flashing everywhere, and people getting cut up real good! It’s all done with quality animation style and a fantastic visual flair. It’s a fair story that makes for perfect entertaining, especially around Halloween.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
It took a good six years to craft this series of shorts, all with the thematic basis of the apocalypse. The first story is a stylish little thing about a touching romance in the midst of a zombie-pocalypse. The next story is the most interesting, as it focuses on a robot in a Buddhist temple that achieves enlightenment. Then, in the last story, a giant 8-ball comes along and threatens to destroy the world. Pretty weird stuff, but very interesting at times, with excellent craftsmanship and style, and with a certain earnestness that makes it all the more presentable. Some viewers have been disappointed with this series, but I thought it was cool stuff.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 27:
[Show spoiler]The Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira)
Japan
If you’ve seen the anime series The Cowboy Bebop, you’ll probably go into this movie loving the characters and their world already. On its own merits, the story is pretty simple, almost like a two-hour episode. However, it is really cool and awesome stuff! The franchise focuses on four hip characters, all bounty hunters hopping from one planet to another, all with their own unique banter and personalities. They thrive in a world that’s decisively 50% sci-fi, 30% film noir, and 20% western. It’s got great comedy, lovable characters, awesome action, superb animation, and some really awesome music. The only thing cooler than this is, arguably, Firefly.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
-------------------- 26:
[Show spoiler]Throne of Blood (Kumonosu-jô)
Japan
Shakespeare’s classic play Macbeth is brought to life in this dark and bloody film. Instead of Scotland, the film is set in feudal Japan, with Toshiro Mifune filling in for Macbeth, with all the same raging bloodlust and madness. The film is pretty short, but covers all the same bases as the original play, and brings it all to life with superb acting and cinematography. The film, like the play it’s based on, remains a timeless classic.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 25:
[Show spoiler]Chocolate
Thailand
As it stands, Chocolate currently has the best fight scenes I have seen thus far. Yes, they are that awesome. It’s a real inspiring sight to watch JeeJa Yanin punch, kick, and slide her way through a small army of thugs, all while slipping through narrow spaces, kicking people into lockers, evading swords and blades, and in one scene, dodging a flying pallet while sliding under a table. And yet, the film still has a quality story with good characters, and a lot of heart. In addition to all the fighting, JeeJa nailed the role as an autistic girl struggling to save her mama, and she provided a much-needed pathos to make the film rise above and beyond most other films. I really found this one endearing, in addition to being fun and generally well-made. Not everybody is into this film, but I think it’s at least worth a look.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 24:
[Show spoiler]Berserk: The Golden Age Arc: The Egg and the King (Beruseruku: Ougon Jidaihen I - Haou no Tamago)
Japan
Berserk, the manga, the 1997 anime series, stands as my top favorite story of all time. Yes, I love Berserk more than my favorite films, the Lord of the Rings. It’s that epic. Lately, Japan has been producing a reboot of the anime, to be dished out in a multitude of two-hour films, which looks to do good justice to the manga. The Egg and the King is the first of this series, and it covers a lot of familiar ground. Animation quality is pretty slick, albeit a little weird with the CGI. Above all, it’s a thrilling and enticing story, and this film establishes the basic levels of characterization and conflicts that would ultimately build up to something greater in the next installments. My only complaint about this film is that, compared to the older anime and the manga, certain details and nuances get cut out. However, it’s a good representation of this great story, and chances are good that the Battle for Doldrey will be awesome.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 23:
[Show spoiler]The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan Maut)
Indonesia
Once this film gets going, it’s…just……..dang…
If you’ve seen Dredd, then you’ll know what to expect out of The Raid. Both films deal with characters trapped in a building, fighting entire armies of bad guys to try and reach the head honcho. With The Raid, the characters pretty much spend all of their time fighting, hiding, and fighting some more. The martial arts choreography in this film is phenomenal; it’s all so fast, so brutal, so relentless, it’s actually pretty exhausting for certain viewers. If you crave action like I do, then the film will be a mind-numbing awe-inspiring experience. There is a semblance of a story, with endearing characters. If nothing else though, The Raid stands as one of the most action-packed movies I’ve ever seen.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
-------------------- 22:
[Show spoiler]Tetsuo: The Iron Man
Japan
The best way I’d describe this monstrosity of a film would be if Eraserhead was made in Japan by a bunch of crackheads. It’s a fast, erratic, eye-gouging experience, but so full of fantastic and grotesque imagery and style that it’s hard to turn away. Love it, hate it, it’s still the epitome of an experimental film, and it is one wicked experiment. You may try to dig up a story and interesting themes out of this, but if nothing else, it’s the film’s hyperkinetic style that will stand out the most.
Experience: Very Good | Content: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
-------------------- 21:
[Show spoiler]Tokyo!
Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany
Even though a number of French directors contributed to this compilation of stories, Tokyo! feels so very Japanese, thanks to its unique settings and outlandish stories. The first story in this film focuses on a girl, who inevitably turns into a chair. The second, easily my favorite, is about a strange man who comes up out of the sewer to routinely reign terror on the surface-dwellers. The last is an endearing piece about a social recluse who’s eventually forced to leave his perfect home in pursuit of a girl he loves. All three stories have their merits, and are well-filmed. They get pretty weird, but that’s all part of their charm.
Entertainment: Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
To be concluded...
Seen 5 of these, Riki-Oh, Oldboy, Thirst, The Raid and Battle Royale.
1) Trevor told Stark about something that ended up with him getting caught.
2) That lady Extremis was getting evidence from the lady that Stark meets up with.
3) Pretty silly detail to get hung up on in the grand scheme of things.
I just realized you're right about all of that.
[Show spoiler]I thought that Stark drew the connection between the Mandarin and Extremis way earlier, when he blamed the Mandarin on camera and started investigating the Tennessee stuff. It just occurred to me that I was way ahead of him , and he really wouldn't have known they were connected until meeting Trevor, or at least seeing the Extremis in action. Up until then, he probably just assumed it was all Mandarin. And yeah, I forgot that Stark horned in on the Extremis trade-off in Tennessee.
As far as the rocket things go, I think it starts to strain the level of believability. To say nothing of all the remote-controlled suit action. But...to heck with it.
[Show spoiler]Okay, just to be clear, there's only one more film with Tony Jaa. The other one I have in mind stars somebody else. Both are awesome though.
40:
[Show spoiler]Yojimbo
Japan
This film was adapted from Dashiel Hammett’s hard-boiled novel Red Harvest, but it was remade into A Fistfull of Dollars, and later Last Man Standing, and would go on to inspire a whole bunch of other great films. So an American detective novel inspired a Japanese samurai film that would give birth to a whole slew of endearing American westerns. How funny is that?
On its own merits, Yojimbo moves a little show, but it does have some smashing fights and battles. Toshiro Mifune plays it really cool as the Yojimbo (bodyguard), who plays both sides of a gang war for his own profit. It’s a pretty cool story which is so fundamental that it’s been incorporated in multiple settings and genres. The film itself is really nicely-shot and well-acted. It’s an eastern classic, which could be seen on western terms.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Good
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[Show spoiler]Painted Skin (Wa Pei)
China
When it comes to Asian fantasy films, there’s always a certain lushness in the visuals that I desire. As good as many films are, it’s the Painted Skin films that have delivered the best thus far. Painted Skin offers an interesting story, involving the seduction and relationships between men and demons, which results in a number of fantastic encounters and a rather exciting climax. It’s a pretty cool myth, with great characters that I really cared for. The experience is just brought down slightly by some iffy special effects.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]Painted Skin: The Resurrection
China
The first Painted Skin movie has its visually striking moments, but dang, this second one is bigger and bolder yet! Most of the imagery here is really fantastic and imaginative. It’s maybe a grade more exciting and impressive than the first film. And it still has a superb story attached to it; it’s not a direct sequel or prequel to the first film at all, but deals with the same type of situations and the same type of mythologies. Between the two, I can’t even tell which one is better; they’re both really nice.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (Lik Wong)
China and Japan
Man, life in the slammer is rough. So rough, a guy tries to strangle another guy with his own intestines! That’s but a small taste of the grotesque absurdity contained in this wild and crazy film. At its core, it’s the heroic struggle of Riki, a man imprisoned wrongfully, but with an insane amount of super-strength. He can punch through walls, in addition to punching a bad guy’s head clean off his body. Filled with silly dialogue, cheap monsters, and highly-exaggerated violence, this film is just so awesome and funny, it should be a must-see.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Pretty Good | Resonance: Highest
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[Show spoiler]The Protector (Tom Yum Goong)
Thailand
After the runaway success of Ong Bak, Tony Jaa continued to kick serious butt in The Protector. This film pretty much has the same story, just swapping out a Bhudda statue for an elephant. The film touches on some stark and bleak issues regarding trafficking, but it’s the action that stands out the most. The stuntwork is phenomenal, and the fights are incredible. One of the biggest highlights is in watching the main character running up four floors of stairs, beating up bad guys all the way up, all in one continuous shot. It’s a short, simple, but perfectly entertaining thrill ride.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Average | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
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[Show spoiler]OldBoy (Oldeuboi)
South Korea
Man, this film is SICK! And I mean that in all senses of the word. On one hand, it is something very dark, bleak, strange, and incredible to watch: the camera angles, the violent action, and the psychotic characters combine to form a type of entertainment that’s unsettling yet gripping. The actual events of the story are pretty sick too, especially with the big reveals in the end. But even the premise, with a guy being imprisoned in an apartment for 15 years, is a pretty disturbing concept. The vengeance that follows is appropriately wicked, and it is especially awesome to see the guy whacking dozens of other guys with a hammer in a cramped hallway. Overall, despite straddling the threshold of what’s sane and decent, OldBoy is something strange and disturbing that’s well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]Invisible Target (Naam Yi Boon Sik)
China
This movie starts off with a bang, and the action pretty much continues nonstop throughout. It’s a thick and dense action film, with loads of cool fights and chases, and some very tense situations. The film struck me as being every bit as exciting and awesome as one of the later Die Hard films, for it is that entertaining. The story is pretty dense, with quite a few characters to follow, but it is a sound and decent story. Among the film’s stars, Jaycee Chan does his father, Jackie Chan, proud.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]Thirst (Bakjwi)
South Korea
Of all of Chan-Wook Park’s films, I’ve determined that I liked Thirst the best so far, even though OldBoy might be the guy’s most popular one, and Stoker might be the one to propel him into the American spotlight. In 2009, Thirst came out with the intriguing premise of a priest becoming a vampire. That in itself presents a fantastic moral dilemma, resulting in plenty of conflict, drama, emotional turmoil, and bloodshed. With fantastic visuals and camera-work, and great performances, Thirst really captivated my attention, my heart, and my mind.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]Hard Boiled (Lat Sau San Taam)
China
When it comes to action films, Hard Boiled is an absolute must-see. There is so much action, it’ll melt your brain! Hardly a moment goes by without characters busting out guns in both hands, flying through the air, blasting each other with bullets! The last act involves the main hero, Tequila, and his buddy shooting bad guys all throughout a hospital, racking up a record-breaking body count (the move in total has 307 stiffs). And oh yeah, there is still a story to this, with a cast of endearing characters.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
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[Show spoiler]NeoTokyo (Meikyû Monogatari)
Japan
Here’s a bizarre little treat. NeoTokyo is a compilation of three animated shorts from three prominent anime directors. The first segment from Rintaro is a short and sweet affair, focusing on a little girl’s imagination running wild. This ultimately sets up the framework for the next two segments: my favorite is Yoshiaki Kawajiri's rip-roaring adrenaline-inducing futuristic death-race. This is followed by Katsuhiro Otomo’s story about a man trying so hard to convince a robot to stop constructing on a cancelled project. Together, all three stories offer a little bit of something imaginative and visually stunning, and is well worth seeing.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]Battle Royale (Batoru Rowaiaru)
Japan
Do your teenage kids drive you nuts? Well, in the future, it may get so bad, they set up the Battle Royale program: a totally screwed-up dystopian concept in which the government rounds up all their problem children and plants them on an island, where they fight to the death. What follows is a bleak, sobering, violent series of conflicts and encounters; it is inherently disturbing to watch friends, lovers, and classmates murdering each other. The film underscores this with an appropriately poetic and emotional tone.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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[Show spoiler]Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Japan
Remember Vampire Hunter D, further down my list? Well, in 2000, Yoshiaki Kawajiri revamped things a bit and came out with this phenomenal sequel. The film is loaded with smashing action scenes, to include motorcycle chases, monster fights, laser beams flashing everywhere, and people getting cut up real good! It’s all done with quality animation style and a fantastic visual flair. It’s a fair story that makes for perfect entertaining, especially around Halloween.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
It took a good six years to craft this series of shorts, all with the thematic basis of the apocalypse. The first story is a stylish little thing about a touching romance in the midst of a zombie-pocalypse. The next story is the most interesting, as it focuses on a robot in a Buddhist temple that achieves enlightenment. Then, in the last story, a giant 8-ball comes along and threatens to destroy the world. Pretty weird stuff, but very interesting at times, with excellent craftsmanship and style, and with a certain earnestness that makes it all the more presentable. Some viewers have been disappointed with this series, but I thought it was cool stuff.
Entertainment: Very Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]The Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira)
Japan
If you’ve seen the anime series The Cowboy Bebop, you’ll probably go into this movie loving the characters and their world already. On its own merits, the story is pretty simple, almost like a two-hour episode. However, it is really cool and awesome stuff! The franchise focuses on four hip characters, all bounty hunters hopping from one planet to another, all with their own unique banter and personalities. They thrive in a world that’s decisively 50% sci-fi, 30% film noir, and 20% western. It’s got great comedy, lovable characters, awesome action, superb animation, and some really awesome music. The only thing cooler than this is, arguably, Firefly.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: High
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[Show spoiler]Throne of Blood (Kumonosu-jô)
Japan
Shakespeare’s classic play Macbeth is brought to life in this dark and bloody film. Instead of Scotland, the film is set in feudal Japan, with Toshiro Mifune filling in for Macbeth, with all the same raging bloodlust and madness. The film is pretty short, but covers all the same bases as the original play, and brings it all to life with superb acting and cinematography. The film, like the play it’s based on, remains a timeless classic.
Entertainment: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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[Show spoiler]Chocolate
Thailand
As it stands, Chocolate currently has the best fight scenes I have seen thus far. Yes, they are that awesome. It’s a real inspiring sight to watch JeeJa Yanin punch, kick, and slide her way through a small army of thugs, all while slipping through narrow spaces, kicking people into lockers, evading swords and blades, and in one scene, dodging a flying pallet while sliding under a table. And yet, the film still has a quality story with good characters, and a lot of heart. In addition to all the fighting, JeeJa nailed the role as an autistic girl struggling to save her mama, and she provided a much-needed pathos to make the film rise above and beyond most other films. I really found this one endearing, in addition to being fun and generally well-made. Not everybody is into this film, but I think it’s at least worth a look.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
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[Show spoiler]Berserk: The Golden Age Arc: The Egg and the King (Beruseruku: Ougon Jidaihen I - Haou no Tamago)
Japan
Berserk, the manga, the 1997 anime series, stands as my top favorite story of all time. Yes, I love Berserk more than my favorite films, the Lord of the Rings. It’s that epic. Lately, Japan has been producing a reboot of the anime, to be dished out in a multitude of two-hour films, which looks to do good justice to the manga. The Egg and the King is the first of this series, and it covers a lot of familiar ground. Animation quality is pretty slick, albeit a little weird with the CGI. Above all, it’s a thrilling and enticing story, and this film establishes the basic levels of characterization and conflicts that would ultimately build up to something greater in the next installments. My only complaint about this film is that, compared to the older anime and the manga, certain details and nuances get cut out. However, it’s a good representation of this great story, and chances are good that the Battle for Doldrey will be awesome.
Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Very High
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[Show spoiler]The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan Maut)
Indonesia
Once this film gets going, it’s…just……..dang…
If you’ve seen Dredd, then you’ll know what to expect out of The Raid. Both films deal with characters trapped in a building, fighting entire armies of bad guys to try and reach the head honcho. With The Raid, the characters pretty much spend all of their time fighting, hiding, and fighting some more. The martial arts choreography in this film is phenomenal; it’s all so fast, so brutal, so relentless, it’s actually pretty exhausting for certain viewers. If you crave action like I do, then the film will be a mind-numbing awe-inspiring experience. There is a semblance of a story, with endearing characters. If nothing else though, The Raid stands as one of the most action-packed movies I’ve ever seen.
Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Good | Resonance: Highest
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[Show spoiler]Tetsuo: The Iron Man
Japan
The best way I’d describe this monstrosity of a film would be if Eraserhead was made in Japan by a bunch of crackheads. It’s a fast, erratic, eye-gouging experience, but so full of fantastic and grotesque imagery and style that it’s hard to turn away. Love it, hate it, it’s still the epitome of an experimental film, and it is one wicked experiment. You may try to dig up a story and interesting themes out of this, but if nothing else, it’s the film’s hyperkinetic style that will stand out the most.
Experience: Very Good | Content: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Very High
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[Show spoiler]Tokyo!
Japan, South Korea, France, and Germany
Even though a number of French directors contributed to this compilation of stories, Tokyo! feels so very Japanese, thanks to its unique settings and outlandish stories. The first story in this film focuses on a girl, who inevitably turns into a chair. The second, easily my favorite, is about a strange man who comes up out of the sewer to routinely reign terror on the surface-dwellers. The last is an endearing piece about a social recluse who’s eventually forced to leave his perfect home in pursuit of a girl he loves. All three stories have their merits, and are well-filmed. They get pretty weird, but that’s all part of their charm.
Entertainment: Good | Stories: Very Good | Film: Very Good | Resonance: Highest
To be concluded...
Just curious,but how come a 4 part countdown not come to a conclusion at the 4th installment?....
Maybe you meant 5 part.Bit under the influence now
really not sure how you Chocolate lower than raid redemption. Don't get me wrong, I like raid: redemption but chocolate is far superior IMO even if just in fight sequences.
It's a pretty close call for me, but I put The Raid ahead just a smidge for more even pacing. Chocolate takes a little bit to get rolling. But I do agree that Chocolate's fight scenes are the best.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foggy
Seen 5 of these, Riki-Oh, Oldboy, Thirst, The Raid and Battle Royale.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
) were on parade in abundance. Score, goofy zooms, Dutch angles, framing, wicked dialogue, over-the-top violence, you name it.
, all did a good job as well. 
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