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Asian Cinema Overrated

Magoo

By Magoo,
in Film, TV & Radio

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Tom*

Tom*

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idiot:

Well, I respect that, just accept that other people aren't as enthusiastic about the film as you. I didn't find it at all impressive or interesting, but that doesn't mean my opinion is 'ridiculous' or somehow inferior to a director's because he makes movies for a living.

Well I love The Killer and Hard Boiled, but I respect the fact that everyone has their own opinion on films, just like with music, art etc.

However, some things I feel NEED to be recognised as influential and impressive. Woo's action has been (poorly) imitated by many hollywood and HK films, and the impact of his films on action cinema is definitely evident.

I guess what I'm saying is, fair enough you don't like them, but can't you at least try to like them a bit??? pleeeeaaase :D

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Vemsie

Vemsie

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However, some things I feel NEED to be recognised as influential and impressive. Woo's action has been (poorly) imitated by many hollywood and HK films, and the impact of his films on action cinema is definitely evident.

Well said. You don't have to like them. But that's something else than saying they're shit. I'm not a big fan of Citizen Kane for instance. But I can see that it's an influential movie.

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CrispinG

CrispinG

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I'm not a big fan of Citizen Kane for instance. But I can see that it's an influential movie.

As can I, but I maintain it's dry, boring and dated. I believe I explicity said that John Woo 'introduced balletic action' to cinema. I still think it's been bettered a thousand times over and that it's no longer as impressive as it probably was on release.

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Magoo

Magoo

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Well said. You don't have to like them. But that's something else than saying they're shit. I'm not a big fan of Citizen Kane for instance. But I can see that it's an influential movie.

Aye that's cool.

As can I, but I maintain it's dry, boring and dated. I believe I explicity said that John Woo 'introduced balletic action' to cinema. I still think it's been better a thousand times over and that it's no longer as impressive as it probably was on release.

But I think that kinda sums up why I don't like Woo and HK action, bar Jackie Chan.

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Vemsie

Vemsie

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I still think it's been bettered a thousand times over and that it's no longer as impressive as it probably was on release.

I demand you name at least thousand movies that have better action than the steadicam shot in Hard Boiled. I'd be impressed if you could name one to be honest.

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Flockheart

Flockheart

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I believe I explicity said that John Woo 'introduced balletic action' to cinema. I still think it's been bettered a thousand times over and that it's no longer as impressive as it probably was on release.

Who by? Hard Boiled is one of the best action films ever made, what do you consider better in the genre?

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CrispinG

CrispinG

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Well, it was a joke. I really don't watch a huge number of action films, but I honestly found Hard Boiled or The Killer (someone tell me which one I'm thinking of) quite boring, and it was very difficult to keep watching. I made it to the anticlimax through sheer determination after reading so many positive reviews.

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Flockheart

Flockheart

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Well, it was a joke. I really don't watch a huge number of action films, but I honestly found Hard Boiled or The Killer (someone tell me which one I'm thinking of) quite boring, and it was very difficult to keep watching. I made it to the anticlimax through sheer determination after reading so many positive reviews.

I can agree with you about the Killer I do think it is overatted but thou shalt not speek evil of Hard Boiled cos it's fucken class :ph34r:

I got you were joking about Die Hard (remembering Empire's qoute and all) - I was just hoping you were going to say something really daft like "The Matrix" so I could really let rip! :D

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Pochacco

Pochacco

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The Killer, Bullet in the Head and A Better Tomorrow 1 & 2 are some of my favourite films ever. Bullet in the Head particularly tells a wonderful/miserable tale/lesson about friendship and loyalty, it's not all just mindless action. It does of course have some of the best action scenes in any movie ever, though :D I also like Hong Kong 1941, but I only really bought that out of interest as I think it's Chow first movie. It's not very action packed. I really enjoy Bey Logans commentarys on the Hong Kong Legend re-releases, does anyone know if they are planning to do one for Bullet in the Head?

Bullet In The Head

Soo impatient! :ph34r:

If it's action you want you can't go too wrong checking out the following:

Beast Cops (HKL)

Naked Killer (HKL)

Shiri (Korean - released by Tartan)

These are usually overlooked and underrated IMO.

Also you're missing the point about Asian Cinema being overrated if you're only going to take into consideration primarily action/ horror (which all this thread thus far has been about). I think enough points have been made about good action movies and horror already. There are lots of great movies of various genre including comedy, romance, suspense, etc.

My Sassy Girl (Korean)

Il Mare (Korean)

JSA (Korean)

Shaolin Soccer (Chinese)

The Road Home (Chinese)

C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri (Chinese)

God of Gamblers (Chinese)

Then there are the Martial Art ones, such as:

Musa: The Warrior (Korean - out on HKL)

The Shaolin Temple (Chinese)

Fist of Legned (Chinese)

Drunken Master 2 (Chinese)

I've only listed a handful - watch at least a few of these before dismissing Asian Cinema altogether - it has a lot to offer on a wider scale and I haven't even mentioned any of the gazillion Indian movies that there.

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Pochacco

Pochacco

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Also: I dislike Chow Yun Fat. I hated him in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, too.

Dislike and hate mean totally different things. Watch God of Gamblers and The Return of The God of Gamblers.

Then come back and tell me what you think :D

Problem is, the majority have only seen him in action roles. He's a very versatile actor and is great in comedy also. Don't be so judgemental and narrow minded about his capabilities by basing it only on one or two action movies that you've seen.

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Pochacco

Pochacco

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The Return of... is good fun. Chingamy Yau is especially lush and the opening of the movie with the gunplay is nothing short of 'wow'.

The other God of Gambler spins offs featuring Stephen Chow I didn't bother with - mainly cos' it involved him as Ko Chun time travelling and stuff.

Stick with God of Gamblers, The Return of The God of Gamblers (both starring Chow Yun Fat) and God of Gamblers: The Early Years which is a prequel to both movies starring singer/actor Leon Lai as a young Ko Chun about how he became The God - his like for chocolate and that jade ring.

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kev

kev

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Shiri (Korean - released by Tartan)

My Sassy Girl (Korean)

YES. excellent films :D

sympathy for mr vengeance and my wife is a gangster are class too.

also, i second everything vemsie has said. and i'll chuck in a mention for city on fire as well, the inspiration for reservoir dogs. chow yun fat rules.

but anyway, i can understand if people might not get the appeal of stuff like the killer, city on fire, hard boiled, god of gamblers, a better tomorrow, if they think these films have aged badly or something. obviously i disagree but hey. its not like there haven't been any recent asian action films. as has been mentioned, ichi the killer. dead or alive is good too. battle royale, obviously. black angel. shiri and my wife is a gangster. if you want martial arts, zatoichi, hero and ong bak.

shunji iwai as well, is a fantastic director. dunno if many people here have seen any of his films, but i'd have to say swallowtail butterfly, all about lily chou chou and april story, the three of his i have seen, are all some of my favourites of all time. and they look so, so beautiful.

and obviously, lets not forget akira kurosawa. i hope no one is going to bother claiming his films are overrated :ph34r:

i don't like these just because they're asian, i like them because they're good. just like i like good hollywood films, or good films from anywhere else.

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Pochacco

Pochacco

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My Wife Is A Gangster is hilarious and is a must see Korean movie :ph34r: - I forgot that :D

Also Kitano Takeshi's other movies such as Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Hana-Bi shouldn't be overlooked either.

I think the main reason why The Killer was popular back in the day was because it established Chow Yun Fat as an A list actor, gave Danny Lee the break he needed (although subsequently mostly did cop characters after that) and featured Sally Yeh - a massively popular singer in HK which helped with audience ticket sales. Watching it now it does come across as dated but hey I still prefer it to Face-Off. The church scene in Face-Off doesn't even compare to that in The Killer.

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