Foreign Gems #-M

I'll admit that I am not a huge fan of these hand held camera movies, let alone horror movies. But ... director and writer Jaume Balagueró along with the help of Paco Plaza are f****** geniuses. Forget Cloverfield this is a movie to remember.

The basis of the story is a news crew spending the night with the fire department to film an episode for a television show. This is the first successful part of this film. It is a news crew, which means that the camera work is more professionalized. Less shakiness is always good.

Another good element of this film is the runtime. It runs at only 75 minutes, but this is perfect. It doesn't drag itself on and on. The first 10 minutes or so is more or less character development for the lead, Angela. The rest of the film takes place in a small multistory apartment building. Once you reach this setting, you get a small taste of the zombie carnage before the film slows down for the next 20 minutes, which lets you get to know the residents of the building. This may not sound all that great, but it is all worth it because the last half an hour is superb.

The suspense is great and you WILL jump out of your seat multiple times. Even when you know something is going to happen, the fear factor still hits you.

I still don't like the fact that the camera man, who they never show, is intent on carrying the camera all over the place, but the story does a nice job at making it feel like the camera is needed. Especially at the ending. Speaking of the ending, it is a little coincidental, but it is interesting and damn entertaining.

The acting is how it should be with people screaming. The lead, Manuela Velasco, is fantastic and some of the supporting characters are good as well.

Good cinematography and sound make this a great "one camera" movie. I highly recommend this to suspense and horror fanatics.

I always thought that if I'd ever seen an animation as wacky as this it would not be from Hollywood. Guess what? It wasn't. This outrageous comedic animation comes from Korea.

The story is completely ridiculous, but it does wonders for this film. The human characters look very kiddish and cartoony and there is a group of characters called the diaper gang that really remind you of smurfs. Don't let that last sentence fool you into thinking this is a goofy cartoon for kids. This is FAR FROM IT. This film has everything a growing adult could ever want. Nudity, major violence, and extreme profanity. Just think of South Park on overload.

As mentioned earlier, the animation of the characters are really cartoony, yet this movie uses a combination of CG with the animation thus making this film visually pleasing. Nicely rendered backgrounds and colorful characters really liven up this film.

The action in here is a plenty and damn intense. This film is filled with blood and killings. I've never seen so much shootings in a single film, and I've seen Shoot 'Em Up. There is a character named Geko and whenever he is on screen his kill count goes up faster than the death of Taye Diggs in Equilibrium. The last twenty minutes of this short 90 minute film is explosive, which includes an awesome rail cart chase. If anybody can re-create this in live action, it would probably be one of my top action scenes.

This movie is not for everybody, but if you want to go for a hell of a ride, check this bad boy out. The theme in the ending credits is damn catchy as well. "Aachi & Ssipak ..."

Director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, shows how a mostly dramatic film can cater to those who are not meshed with the dramatic genre.

So, how do people who do good for others help themselves? Watch this movie to find out. While the story may not sound all that intriguing, it is the storytelling that will grab your attention. Just think of other directors like Tarantino, the Coens, and sometimes Takashi Miike. These directors dazzle you with good dialogue, entertaining visuals/cinematography and memorable characters. Jean-Pierre Jeunet does the same thing with this film.

The cinematography and the cinematic elements that come with it are top-notch. When everything comes together you get a film that feels like it is flying by you. This is by no means a slow-paced romantic drama.

The character buildup is simple, yet effective. The film tells you exactly what the characters like and dislike as they are introduced. The only downfall of this is that it is a bit much to remember in just a short amount of time. Luckily, you can just re-watch the film to catch what you missed and having to watch this film again is not a painful thing to do.

The acting is great. Audrey Tautou puts on quite a performance and I can't imagine anybody else pulling off this role like that.

I recommend this to anybody that wants to see a visually bizarre film with good dialogue, characters, and acting. If you have already seen this then I recommend Kamikaze Girls.

The saga continues. Appleseed fans rejoice because this sequel builds off the original. Almost every aspect of this film is done better than the first installment and with that said this is a sequel that turns out better than the original.

I believe that it is possible to watch this film without ever seeing the first, but like almost any sequel I would recommend watching the previous film beforehand. Pretty much every surviving character from the first film appears in this one as well. They aren't just cameos either.

The only aspect of this film that I feel falls short compared with the first is the story. Don't let that disappoint you though. The story is by all means interesting and entertaining. Its just that the first film's story was so good and original. The story here just didn't seem to go as deep as Appleseed's one. Just like the original though, the story moves at quite a nice pace and there is never a dull moment. Even the slow parts, which aren't all that slow, are still entertaining to watch. The writers also found the room to add some minimal, but good, humor at certain points. Something that the first film lacked.

Probably the biggest element of the this film is the CG. There is a three year gap between Appleseed and this film and those three years show in the graphics department. The environments, as well as the characters, look much sharper and better rendered. The visuals alone can keep this film from becoming boring.

How about the action? Well, there is more of it and it is choreographed much better. I assume we can thank John Woo's production for that. The fights are more martial artsy along with the gun-play. The opening sequence of this film is pretty damn spectacular.

People that are fans of Appleseed should see this film as soon as they can. Everybody else that isn't a fan of Appleseed, well that is just too bad.

This animation is based off a manga that I have not read at this time, so I cannot comment at how close the story or characters are to it. What I can comment on is the CG effects and the cell shading animation. This movie really does an excellent job at combining the two to produce a great graphical feature. In short, it is visually stunning.

As far as the plot is concerned it takes you on a futuristic sci-fi journey and like many other animes you really need to pay attention or you may be lost. It may require multiple viewings, which isn't really hard to keep yourself from doing anyway.

There are quite a few action scenes and they are rendered and animated nicely. You will not be disappointed at the gun power this movie has to offer. The techno-rock soundtrack enhances the action as well.

As mentioned earlier the visuals are great, but one thing that the cell shading didn't do too well was express emotions on characters faces. This isn't too big a problem since it is easily to tell what a character is feeling with the tone of their voice, the partial facial expressions that can be seen, and the scene of the movie.

Any anime fan should enjoy this film and may want to check out the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series and vice versa. I myself enjoyed the "Stand Alone Complex" series a bit more.

What can I say? Battle Royale is an instant classic Japanese thriller based off of a manga by the same name. Kinji Fukasaku is a lucky man to have this film on his directing resume.

The story is without question unique, controversial, and entertaining. Teenage classmates are forced to kill each other or be killed themselves. Yep, I'm sold.

The run time is just under 2 hours, and this is one of those films where there is room to make it longer. The pacing is pretty quick and the story wastes no time at jumping into the good stuff. The development of the major characters happen as they become a part of the story and there are a lot of characters to follow. There is never a dull moment in this picture.

The violence is a plenty, as it should be, and the blood is kept in check. This may sound like a gore fest, but it really isn't that bad. Don't get me wrong though, this is not for a younger audience.

The acting is fantastic, with Takeshi Kitano providing a little weirdness. A ton of the actors and actresses become memorable after this film. Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Masanobu Ando, Chiaki Kuriyama, and Kou Shibasaki come to mind.

Battle Royale is a film that most people will want to check out in their lifetime. "Life is a game. So fight for survival and see if you're worth it."

This was supposed to be Jackie Chan's return to his classic ways. After watching this I can say that it is true. It's really been a while since I've seen a Jackie Chan movie like the ones we've come to love from the 80's and 90's. The past few years we've been stuck with the Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon series, as well as The Myth and New Police Story. Not to mention the few other American movies he has done. Don't get me wrong, most of the above movies are good, but it really was time for him to make another one of his action/adventure movies.

First off this movie is not your typical Rumble in the Bronx or your First Strike. It focuses less on the action and more on the story. It was also nice to see Jackie play a thief instead of a cop like he usually does. You heard me right, he plays a THIEF.

Like I mentioned earlier this movie is story driven. Don't let that chase away you action fanatics though. There are pretty good stunts performed in this movie with a few fight scenes thrown in. In fact, quite a few of the stunts will shock you and make you wonder how Jackie can pull them off at his age. Like many other movies most of the action comes in the beginning and the end. But what the middle lacks in action it makes up for in comedy. This movie had me laughing out loud since it was so funny. How can you not laugh when Jackie gets a diaper of crap thrown at his face? This is hands down one of Jackie Chan's funniest movies. Even with all the comedy in the middle they even had the time to thrown in a decent car chase which ended up in a Jackie Chan stunt fest, which I must say was pretty damn amazing. The ever so popular Daniel Wu even makes a cameo in this chase and provides a hilarious Brokeback Mountain joke.

When all is said and done this is a film with a highly entertaining story with some nice stunts, good acting, tons of laughs, and an emotional ending. A must see for Jackie fans. And yes, there are outtakes when the credits are rolling.

This is an excellent movie with a great story. There is a great cast of characters in here and the fight sequences are choreographed pretty well.

With that said, some of the action gets downgraded by the editing and some of the characters aren't utilized as much as the others. The one's that aren't utilized are also the one's with the more dynamic swords. (Movable parts, etc.) Nevertheless this is an enjoyable wuxia adventure and is definitely worth your time.

John Woo goes for an epic Chinese costume action war drama, say that 10 times fast, and he succeeds.

The plot is straightforward, however it is how the film plays out that makes this movie as great as it is. The first 20-30 minutes is all action before it slows down for the next hour. During this time, the pacing is slow to moderate and it does drag a little bit, which contributes to the 2 hour 20 minute run time, but the characters do get some good development. The introduction of characters are spread out as well during this period, and this is a good thing. The final 45 minutes is nearly all action with an ending that sets up a sequel. To be continued.

There are no guns in Red Cliff, but Woo still delivers some impressive action sequences. The battles are big, but Woo is able to zoom in and focus on certain characters, which allows for more in the way of good martial arts choreography. The action in the beginning is also able to setup the characters for the action at the end.

The actors are nicely chosen and all put on good performances, with Takeshi Kaneshiro and Zhao Wei being the most entertaining of the bunch.

First impressions may lead one to believe that John Woo isn't the right man for this film, but Red Cliff has got the action, story, acting, and CG to warrant a watch.

There are a number of Hong Kong crime thriller movies seen from year to year and Dante Lam delivers a great one known as The Beast Stalker.

At a high level there is nothing out of the ordinary in regards to the story, but when it comes down to it, there is more than meets the eye. This 1 hour 45 minute production will not fly by and this is not surprising. These types of films out of Hong Kong, the better ones anyway, tend to be slower paced with emphasis on characters.

After a more than decent action sequence in the beginning, the next hour and 15 minutes play out like a typical police investigation, with the exception that the lead investigator works on his own rather than having a whole squad working under him. The good camerawork and interesting story help this part from becoming a bore. The final half an hour is one impressive piece of work. The action picks up and the suspense factor is really high. The conclusion is also nicely written.

Nicholas Tse is no stranger to this type of lead role, however he doesn't really impress until the ending, when he brings out the drama. Nick Cheung is a suitable villain and the makeup work is well done. Jingchu Zhang has already proven to me that she is one of the better young actresses out of Hong Kong and she is fantastic in here. It almost seems as if this is an easy role for her to pull off too. Wong Suet-Yin is just adorable as Ling.

The Beast Stalker isn't an explosive blockbuster thriller. It is merely a solid piece of work that delivers from all sides. This is a film to consider watching if the situation arises.

First comes Ong Bak. Then there is Tom Yum Goong. Now here is Chocolate. Director, Prachya Pinkaew, still isn't an award winning director in my book, but his films keep getting more entertaining.

The marketing for this flick revolves around the action and that is what this film delivers. Now, there is some story here and it all happens in the first 30 minutes. Instead of diving into the action and opening with a bang, Chocolate is a slow burn for the first half an hour. It all focuses on growing up with the main character of Zen. Throughout this part you see her watching Tony Jaa and Bruce Lee movies and you are just dying to see her fight. They hint at it a few times, but nothing explosive ever happens. That's OK, because that just makes the last 50 minutes that much sweeter, like chocolate. No pun intended.

During the final 50 minutes the story gradually deteriorates and the action takes over. There is TONS of it and with each fight they add something new. The dojo scene is fantastic and the fight on the side of the building is a stunt man's dream. It really is something else. In fact, all the fights are really something. It truly is great to see a female kick some ass.

JeeJa Yanin has huge potential at martial arts and she does a good job at playing an autistic woman. Hiroshi Abe also lifts up the acting. Everyone else is pretty much forgettable.

In the end, there isn't much to the story, but this is all about the action. If you like martial arts, you owe it to yourself to give this a try. I'm going to go get some chocolate now.

This is the movie that Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs came from. With that said, if your a fan of Reservoir Dogs you will see many similarities here.

Chow Yun-Fat does an excellent job in this movie as well. If you haven't seen any of his earlier works you will be surprised at his acting abilities.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is without question, a classic martial arts film from Ang Lee.

At just under 2 hours, the plot may seem weak in the early going, but things gradually come together to form a likable story. There is two sides to this film; the drama and the action. Both are done well, and this is a big reason why this picture caters to a lot of people.

An ample amount of the dialogue is slow and dramatic, and the film tends to drag a little in the desert scenes, but all of this contributes to the story.

The action counteracts the dramatic scenes and Yuen Woo-Ping's martial arts choreography is just phenomenal. This movie includes one of the greatest fight sequences caught on film. The fights aren't short and sweet either. Ang Lee lets the action continue for some decent stretches, which allows him to get some fine camera work in.

All of the major actors portray their characters well. Chow Yun Fat is the biggest name, but both Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi overshadow him. Way to go ladies.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon may not be action from start to end, but this is a must see for martial arts fanatics.

Death Note is a Japanese live action film that comes from a manga. As popular as the manga is, this film is quite surprising at how low budget it seems at times. That's not to say that it is a bad movie. It is quite good.

"The human whose name is written in this note shall die." The story is what makes Death Note as interesting as it is. It has a horror feel to it, but it isn't a horror at all. It is more of a crime mystery. The pacing itself is fairly slow and it does run until 2 hours, which is just a tad long. There are a few segments in the second half of the picture that are responsible for this. Other than that, the rest of the movie is far from boring. Especially when it seems there is no bad guy.

The nice thing about the writing is that it explains nearly everything. It leaves little up to the imagination. The rules of the "death note" show up at appropriate times and they are thought up nicely. It even answers the question regarding people with the same name.

Despite having a low budget feel and look, there is CG. The Ryuuk character is entirely CG and although he does look a little weak, he is still tolerable.

The casting is pretty good, although the acting isn't great. Tatsuya Fujiwara, of Battle Royale fame, plays the lead character of Light (aka Kira). Ken'ichi Matsuyama is a good "L", but all that constant eating of sweets makes you want to brush your teeth. There are a number of cute females in here. Asaka Seto and Yu Kashii are the major ones to look out for. The popular Shido Nakamura provides a fitting voice for Ryuuk.

Death Note may not look spectacular, but the story really saves it. It is worth the watch for manga fans.

Picking up right where Death Note left off, this sequel, or continuation, is more or less similar to its predecessor, with a much more drawn out and deeper story.

The beginning of this motion picture reiterates all the rules of the "Death Note" again and the dialogue for the first 5 minutes quietly gives background from the first film. Despite all that, this will not necessarily help those that are watching this without having seen the first. It is more of a recap for those who HAVE SEEN the first.

The style of this movie, once again, has that low budget feel to it and that is perfectly OK. The story is interesting and it keeps the viewer paying attention, as all the back and forth strategies between the 2 lead characters feel like something out of Mission Impossible. The story is also a little drawn out, which makes the movie reach the 2 hour 20 mark.

The CG is minimal as Ryuk and the newcomer, Rem, are the only 2 entirely CG characters. There is also a small glimpse of another "God of Death" as there is a little amount of back story for Rem's character.

Ken'ichi Matsuyama steals the show as L again and his constant sweet tooth is as agitating as ever. The cute Erika Toda, who has a small role in the first installment, steps up for a major role this time around and the sexy Nana Katase comes in to play an intricate part of the story.

Death Note: The Last Name offers up a great science fiction story that keeps the brain working. There is no question that this is for those that enjoyed the first Death Note.

YES! This is the movie that I have been waiting for. A great wuxia/sci-fi/fantasy film all rolled into one. This is the first true answer that I've seen to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is a superb start to a hopefully great trilogy.

The story is great. Really more of a sci-fi/fantasy, rather than a wuxia tale, although it is a wuxia setting. The film is near the 2 and 1/2 hour mark but it did not feel that way at all. The film does move at a moderately slow pace, but the good story, cinematography, and great acting keep this thing livened up.

As previously mentioned, the acting is well done. Kou Shibasaki, of Battle Royale fame, literally steals the show as Dororo and makes me wonder if she could have pulled off the Azumi character better than Aya Ueto did. She really has shown her maturity since her Battle Royale days. It is her acting alone that keeps the movie entertaining. I was also happy to see an appearance from Anna Tsuchiya, from the great Kamikaze Girls. I only wished that she had a bigger part.

There is quite a bit of action in here and it is great to watch, but it is not the greatest swordplay out there. Yet, it doesn't have to be. I love great swordplay as much as the next guy, but this movie isn't driven by the action.

The CG isn't too bad. Personally, I think it could have been a little better, but once again it works. The demons in this film come in the forms of all different fantasy types of creatures and they really go all out on the variety that appear.

This film should be a great watch to a variety of people since it covers quite a few genres nicely. Action adventure, drama, science fiction, and fantasy. Pick your poison and give this film a peek.

Eden Log has a low budget and a relatively newcomer for a director by the name of Franck Vestiel. This movie has a great official website and it is a great watch.

This French science fiction film is really something. If you thrown in some zombies, this is how Resident Evil SHOULD have been. The story is creative and it is told in a, for a lack of a better word, creative way.

The atmosphere is dark and lacking in color, but that enhances this film even more and it helps to show the great lighting. Not only is the setting dark, but you are kept in the dark with the story as well. You literally follow the journey of the main character, who wakes up at the bottom of a cave with no memory, as he makes his way through a maze of a laboratory. Whenever he learns something, you learn it with him.

Yes, the plot will seem flat for most of the movie because you don't really know what is going on, but the ending will explain most things. Besides, the camerawork and the visuals are nicely done. The mutant creatures look good and the digitized voice work from the computer systems are fantastic. Even the background music is spot on.

There isn't much to say about the acting since the dialogue is at a minimum. For the most part there is only one major character for the first half of this 1 hour 40 minute film and two in the second half. Still, this is far from boring.

To be honest, this film may not be for everyone, but I think a good portion of people will appreciate the consistency and writing of this picture.

Oh yeah, there are two spoken versions of this film. French and English. They are not dubs either. The scenes where the language is visible from the character's mouths are shot twice, one for each language. This isn't a whole lot since the rest of the dialogue comes from people behind masks or recordings from speakers.

Exiled is a crime thriller follow up film to Johnnie To's own The Mission. This is long overdue.

This film is standalone and easy to pick up without having seen The Mission, however watching it is highly recommended. It isn't because the stories are continuous, although they are just a little, but because it is that d*** good of a film.

The story itself is straightforward, good, and while it isn't anything surprising, it is Johnnie To's directing that makes this picture as good as it is. The pacing is slow to moderate and the story does take a little bit of a dive in the middle. Once again, it is the spectacular cinematography and minimal dialogue that carry this film.

There are multiple shootouts and all have Johnnie To's signature all over them. The choreography is nicely done and the camera work just enhances them even more.

Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, Roy Cheung, and Lam Suet all reprise their roles as the 4 hitmen from The Mission. Nick Cheung, Josie Ho, Richie Ren, Simon Yam, Ka Tung Lam, and Ellen Chan all round out the star studded supporting cast.

Exiled comes highly recommended to fans of The Mission. People that enjoy Hong Kong crime thrillers will also want to see this.

Straight up, Eye for an Eye is Korea's answer to Heat. Before viewing this, a friend of mine described this to me as a cross between Soderbergh's Ocean's films and Michael Mann's Heat. If I may say so, that is pretty darn accurate.

When it comes down to it, the story involves cops chasing bad guys. The first 3rd of this 90 minute picture is all about the Ocean's Eleven type of heists as the criminals outwit the cops. This comes complete with upbeat jazzy music and playful screen divisions and transitions. The film then turns to detective work, which involves a cocky police captain that has his own tricks up his sleeve to outwit the criminals.

While the story is no doubt interesting, it is some other things that hurt this picture. The editing, especially in the latter stages, makes the film seem jumpy at times. The character development is also only successful for the two main characters, while everybody else, on both sides, get lost in the shuffle.

The action is a little weak as well. There isn't a whole lot and there is nothing special about any of it.

Suk-kyu Han and Seung-won Cha are fantastic in this picture and they are the 2 leads. The supporting cast is OK, but they are forgettable as I previously mentioned.

Sure, Eye for an Eye has its flaws and lack of originality, with the Ocean's Eleven and Heat comparisons and all, but this is far from a bad movie. Fans of Korean crime films will enjoy this.

This movie is labeled as a kung fu classic and I have no argument with that. With this type of film most people only expect to see the fights with the cheesy dialogue and sound effects. Well, this film actually excels in all departments.

First off, this film does NOT have as many fights as others of this genre. That is OK because where this film lacks in fights it makes up for in story. I never thought I would see such an entertaining story for this type of movie. Instead of having a single lead, there are actually 6 characters with an equal amount of screen time. This is not your usual "training for revenge" flick either. It is also not the 5 deadly venoms working together to take out the bad guy as some people will come to think. Watch this film if you want to know.

The start of this film is great. There is a quick introduction of the 5 deadly venoms; centipede, snake, scorpion, lizard, and toad. It shows some quick training exercises, but what makes it interesting is that their identities are kept a secret because of the masks they wear. As the movie moves on you begin to figure out who is who.

As mentioned earlier, the fights are minimal. There are only a few short sequences for the first 2/3 of this 90 minute flick while the longest fight comes at the end. Although the fights may be few, they are well choreographed. It is all hand-to-hand combat as well. If you like sword fights and weapons, then I am truly sorry.

What is really surprising is that the acting is pretty good. Philip Kwok not only can fight, but he shows that he can act as well. All 6 of the main characters put on good performances.

This is a must see for kung fu fanatics and this is no joke. Good story, acting, and fights. What more could you ask for? Oh, also listen for some background sounds used in Kill Bill.

Being a fan of Godzilla and Ryuhei Kitamura there was no way I could hate this. Low and behold this ended up being my all-time favorite Godzilla movie.

The story is nothing new here. You have the aliens coming down to earth and they control the other monsters, which Godzilla must destroy. Although the story is nothing new, this is what you expect in a Godzilla movie and that is why it works.

Once again Godzilla is played by a guy in the suit and that was to pay homage to all the past Godzilla movies. It doesn't look all that bad either. The CG effects are done very well, especially when Godzilla blows fire, and the action comes in bunches. If you've seen other Kitamura movies you will know that he loves to have action and this film is no different. It ranges from hand-to-hand combat, sword and gun play, a motorcycle chase, spaceship fights, and of course plenty of monster fights. There are many of the past Godzilla monsters in this flick and Godzilla takes on all of them throughout. Mothra even helps out for the final fight.

Any Godzilla and/or Kitamura fan should enjoy this movie. All others can still find this movie enjoyable as well. Just kick back and let Godzilla take over your night.

Leave it to Korea and director Ji-woon Kim to come up with a fun and entertaining Western film. Well, it isn't exactly a Western, but it is close enough.

There isn't much to the story and this is a little bit of a letdown. Fortunately, this film still has a lot going for it. The title The Good, the Bad, the Weird corresponds to the 3 major characters, known as "The Good," "The Bad," and "The Weird." They actually have names in the film so they aren't called that, but you catch my drift. Naturally it seems as if "The Good" will take precedence over the other two, however the director sees things differently and places major emphasis on "The Weird." "The Good" is actually the least important of the 3.

There is a lot of action throughout this picture and it is fantastic. The first hour has a handful of shootouts and the camerawork is nicely done. The film slows down just a bit in the second half, leaving a few parts feeling unnecessary. Nevertheless, it contributes to the 130 minute run time. Just before the final showdown at the end, there is a 15 minute chase in the desert complete with motorbikes, horses, jeeps, canons, pistols, machine guns, and shotguns. Excellent stuff. "The Good" puts the shotgun to good use in this film.

The star of the show is Kang-ho Song, who plays "The Weird." 99% of the comedy stems from his character and as I mentioned earlier, his character has the most airtime. Woo-sung Jung as "The Good" and Byung-hun Lee as "The Bad" also put up good performances.

The Good, the Bad, the Weird isn't a typical Western movie, especially with the mixture of Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese dialogues, but it is definitely something to not overlook.

At first glance this will look and sound like a typical Hong Kong crime drama. Well, it is much more than that. Whenever Johnnie To directs, produces, or writes a crime flick things just seem to go right. This film is no exception.

The story, in a sense, plays out like an average cops and robbers movie. You have a gang of thieves pulling jobs for money and a group of cops trying to stop them. Well, similarly to how Johnnie To used the element of the media in Breaking News, this film focuses on the SU or surveillance unit side of things. So what you actually have here is the SU versus the robbers, with the cops being background in this flick. This is what makes the story interesting. A unique perspective with some great cinematography and characters.

This film has little to no action in it, but this is what makes this film really successful. The SU are not known for dealing with the villains. They just track them down and let the cops take care of the rest. There is only one shootout in this film and it is short and none of the main characters are involved. If you are looking for some action this film is NOT for you.

The acting in this film is superb. I've seen Simon Yam in so many movies I pretty much know what he brings to the table. He had an ace up his sleeve in this film. His performance, along with Tony Leung (the older one), and Maggie Shiu are rock-solid. The younger character in the movie, played by Kate Tsui is as good as she is beautiful. The acting really helps to make this film as good as it is.

This film comes in at just over 90 minutes, but could have done just as good if stretched to the 2 hour mark. Fans of Johnnie To type crime dramas should definitely give this a watch.

Shinobu Yaguchi has already proven that he can deliver amusing Japanese comedies with Waterboys and Swing Girls. Does he drop the ball with Happy Flight? Of course not. [Thumbs Up].

The weakest aspect of this film is probably the plot. Set entirely at an airport and on a plane, there isn't much depth to anything. Basically, whatever can go wrong on a flight, goes wrong. It seems it is not such a happy flight after all.

Well, what the film lacks in story, it makes up for in everything else. There is quite a variety of characters to follow, ranging from pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, ground control, etc. This movie actually gives good insight into what makes an airport function.

The comedic elements are funny. This isn't a non-stop laugh-er, but it isn't trying to be. It seems Yaguchi knows the secret for when to make Happy Flight serious and when to make it funny. [Thumbs Up].

As mentioned earlier, there are a number of memorable characters, but Haruka Ayase is really something. Her facial expressions and personality are just adorable. The rest of the cast fulfill their duties as well.

Happy Flight is another successful film on Shinobu Yaguchi's resume, and fans of his previous works will most likely enjoy this one as well. [Thumbs Up].

An interesting story with top-notch special effects and cinematography. This movie is story driven with a moderate amount of action sequences, which are choreographed fairly well. If you only care about the martial arts action you'll probably only be interested in the battle between Jet Li and Donnie Yen, which is the highlight battle of the movie in my opinion.

This is a nicely told story with excellent special effects. There is a moderate amount of action and it is well choreographed, but it is nothing compared to a Jet Li or Donnie Yen fight sequence. The acting is not bad and Zhang Ziyi does a good job of portraying a blind girl. Well worth the watch.

One of Kon Ichikawa's final projects in his career is a remake of his own 1970's film The Inugamis. The original movie stems from the novel by Seishi Yokomizo.

The story behind this film involves murder and mystery and it almost makes one think of a board game to movie adaptation. Don't worry, because this is not as corny as it sounds. At 10 minutes past 2 hours, the pace for this drama mystery is slow. That may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the story is just that darn engrossing.

The film will make the viewer think and pay attention the ENTIRE time. Nearly every minute and every line of dialogue is an integral part of keeping up with the mystery. There are also a ton of characters to keep track of. You may come to notice that one of the main posters and covers of this film shows 25 characters. Yes, there are 20+ characters to get to know in this story. That may sound overwhelming, however, this is where the slow pace really helps. As the movie progresses the characters become easier and easier to remember and recognize.

There is just a hint, every now and then, of overacting, but that doesn't hurt this movie in anyway. In fact, it helps to jazz it up a bit. All the acting is nicely done and so is the camerawork. I just want to point out that Kyoko Fukada appears as one of the side characters. Simply gorgeous.

The Inugamis AKA Murder of the Inugamis is one interesting mystery that hardly bores. Despite the minor flaw of making the viewer analyze too much, this is one good watch for mystery fans.

Wilson Yip is no stranger to working with Donnie Yen, so what better combination to bring a part action, part historical, biography of the man who trained Bruce Lee to the big screen.

The story is a tad weak and from my understanding, it isn't entirely accurate. Then again, what ever is these days? I guess this is why this film is more semi-biographical. There is basically 2 parts to this 1 hour 40 minute picture. The first 30-40 minutes is all character buildup for Ip Man and some of the supporting characters, while the final 1 hour is where the story kicks in.

One thing with this film is that the segments between the fights tend to serve as fillers. It isn't that the film sucks, because it doesn't. It is just the fights are that d*** spectacular and that is all the viewer will want to see.

As for the fights themselves, the choreography, thanks to Sammo Hung, is superb. There isn't a ton of time spent with the slow motion either, and this is a plus. The fights are fast, so let us view them that way.

Donnie Yen does a decent job with the acting, but it comes down to his marital arts once again. Hands down, he can fight. The supporting cast is good. Simon Yam, Ka Tung Lam, and Yu Xing carry this picture in the acting department and leave the action to Donnie Yen.

Ip Man is a very good historical martial arts film, even though the story may be lacking a bit. No question, that this is a must see for Donnie Yen fans.

Nice little tale of Wong Fei Hung. Entertaining movie with plenty of action throughout. Donnie Yen and Yu Rongguang can really dish out the moves. Any Donnie Yen fan should watch this movie.

I was expecting great things from this movie and it did not disappoint. I have never seen a movie quite like this. It is a movie from Finland, but at the same time it seems like it could have come from China. I say this because it combines Finnish and Chinese mythology into one complete film. Half the movie takes place in modern day Finland while the other half takes place in ancient China. The two intertwine and feed off each other perfectly. It was great to see two different languages being used throughout the film as well during their respective periods. One way to describe this film would be a "Finnish Wuxia Film".

The story is very unique and entertaining and it is this story that really allows the film to work well with the 2 different time periods and locations. Of course, you may need to watch this film multiple times to pick up and understand everything the story has to offer. But, watching this movie multiple times shouldn't be that hard to do.

Visually, this movie is stunning. The CG effects are some of the best that I have ever seen and having seen Hero, House of Flying Daggers, The Matrix Trilogy, etc. I really believe that is saying something. Combine this with excellent, excellent, excellent, cinematography from the director and you get a beautifully produced picture.

The acting was great as well. Jingchu Zhang, from Seven Swords fame and at the time of this writing will hopefully be seen in the upcoming Rush Hour 3, was as beautiful as can be and Tommi Eronen does an excellent job playing his two main characters.

The title and promo pictures for this movie may fool people into believing that this is an action film. Unfortunately it is not. Don't get me wrong, there are a few great Crouching Tiger-esque action sequences in here, but just like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon this film is really story driven. With that said, there is actually a fight where both the fighters are using BLACKSMITH HAMMERS. Pretty impressive.

This movie is definitely well worth your time if you're in the mood for a great story with some top-notch visuals and a nicely orchestrated soundtrack. I have nothing really bad to say about this film except for the fact that I would have liked more action scenes, but that's just me being an action fanatic. Some people may also be disappointed at its short length. It comes in at a little over 90 minutes.

Director Chan-wook Park comes through with an antiwar picture that revolves around the conflict between North and South Korea.

The pacing of this 1 hour 45 minute flick is pretty slow, but the story is so intriguing that it never is a bore. It also effectively uses the flashback technique to tell the back story.

The first 30 minutes is all about the character of Sophie Jean investigating a shooting incident between the 2 regions of Korea. During this time the film uses quick repetitive flashback scenes that differ by how a certain character's story pans out. Instead of having Sophie investigate for the whole film with flashbacks here and there to explain things, JSA decides to switch gears and tell 90% of the back story for the next 30 minutes, which almost makes you forget about Sophie herself. Eventually the film switches back to investigative mode for the next 30 minutes before going back to unfold the finale of the back story. The writing is nicely done.

The directing isn't as stylized as other Chan-wook Park films like Oldboy and I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, but there is still some good cinematography at times.

It is pretty amazing how 3 of the bigger actors in Korea can all co-exist in this film without overpowering one another. The beautiful Yeong-ae Lee, of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance fame, plays Sophie the investigator and she carries her parts of the picture. She also speaks some pretty decent English, which there is quiet a bunch of throughout the film. The 2 male leads of Byung-hun Lee and Kang-ho Song carry the back story segments nicely.

JSA may lack the action, but the story, characters, and the directing make this a worthwhile film.

Wow! It looks like China really has some competition on these peace period/wuxia films. Before this, the only other wuxia type films that came close to the Chinese greats was Shadowless Sword (Korea), Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (Japan), and Jade Warrior (Finland). After watching this, not only does it prove that China isn't the only wuxia movie makers out there, but this beats 'em all as well. I never really thought I would see the day that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon would be beaten in this genre, but on this day it has, although many may disagree with me.

As you've probably figured out by now, this is a wuxia film with a dash of sci-fi/fantasy, in the forms of demons, and it works out well in this film. The story itself is very good and it is told extremely well. It wasn't perfect though. There were places that I would have liked more description and background as to why something happened, but what story doesn't have these things nowadays. One thing that I was happy to see in this film was character background. At least for the main characters anyway.

What really helps the storytelling is the ABSOLUTELY STUNNING cinematography. I really believed that every single shot was planned out to the last blade of grass or the last inch of sky. Beautiful. Not only was the cinematography good, but the settings and backdrops were excellent. Very pleasing to the eyes, unlike The Curse of the Golden Flower.

The CG effects is where people may fault this movie as not being a fully fledged wuxia film and it shouldn't deserve to be better than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or similar movies that use very little. Nonetheless that is for you to decide. I have made my decision. This movie is LOADED with CG effects and it is done at the right times and at the right places. There were only a few times where the CG looked pretty cheap, but with all the rest, you quickly put that in the back of your mind. The way the demons disintegrated into ashes after being killed was great. I couldn't get enough of it, even though there was a ton of it in the movie already.

The action in this movie comes at various points in the film. There is a good amount of it, but not a whole bunch. This movie really focuses on the story over the action. The fighting isn't fast and furious like we've gotten used to though. Most of the fights are wire fighting and CG effected. Even though they aren't fast the choreography is still there and the action looks beautiful on the screen. If you are watching this just to see the action, then I suggest that you don't. There are many other movies out there that will satisfy your action/martial arts needs.

The acting is probably the weakest part of this movie. It isn't great, but it still is good and believable. I would have liked to have seen more emotion shown from the actors at various points throughout the film.

This is a must see for any wuxia type movie fan and will definitely make its way into my DVD collection someday. Well worth your time to check out.

K-20: Legend of the Mask is a Japanese superhero-esque movie done right. Congratulations Shimako Sato.

Set in an alternate 1949, the film captures the setting quite nicely, with moderate use of CG throughout the entire picture. By the way, the CG is also great. The plot isn't all that complex, yet it is engrossing enough to make the 2 hours and 15 minutes not seem that bad. The first 45 minutes is all story and character buildup, and once that passes, the next hour and a half is quite the fun adventure.

The action is limited, and most of it is all acrobatics and stunt work. That doesn't mean that it sucks because it is entertaining. However, this is not a super hero action extravaganza. K-20: Legend of the Mask is about the story and characters.

Takeshi Kaneshiro fans will love him in this film. It is difficult to question why he is one of the bigger names in Asia right now. Toru Nakamura, Takako Matsu, Kanata Hongo, and Jun Kunimura round out the rest of the cast.

K-20: Legend of the Mask is an entertaining watch for fans of Takeshi Kaneshiro and Japanese adventure cinema.

This is really a girlie movie, but it is more than watchable by anybody. Even guys alone.

The story deals with a dramatic friendship between two girls from different ends of the spectrum. Let me say that this is one of those stories that doesn't really interest me. So, why did I enjoy this movie? The storytelling. This movie really shows how a nice story can be turned into something more entertaining with some great storytelling. This movie seemed to have the right proportion of everything. Great executed dialogue keeps the movie interesting along with some great comedic elements thrown in at the right parts and in the right amounts. Heck, there is even a mini-cartoon to keep things fresh. It even finds the time to thrown in some minimal CG. This movie could have easily become a bore-fest, but like I said earlier, the storytelling and cinematography keeps this movie from becoming so.

The acting in this film is also superb. Both Kyoko Fukada and Anna Tsuchiya are beautiful and have great chemistry together. There are also many other hilarious characters throughout this film that are also played nicely. Some of the characters may seem a little corny, but they fit right in with this film nicely. Great stuff. You may also recognize Eiko Koike from 2LDK fame.

This movie may not sound all that great, but let it be known that it is surprisingly spectacular. Entertaining and visually pleasing. This is definitely a great movie to liven up your night.

I'm curious to know if Japan ran out of fake blood because of this movie. The Machine Girl is just one hilariously cruel and wicked film.

The plot, as one would expect, is pretty thin, but it is good enough for what this movie dishes out at you. Yes, in the end, this is another revenge movie, but it turns out so much differently from the likes of Oldboy, Soo, and The Bittersweet Life as a few examples. First off this film comes from Japan, and not Korea like all the previously mentioned films. Secondly, this film isn't as serious or dramatic either. But it doesn't need to be to be so entertaining. The beginning starts out with a bang, by giving you a taste of the the gatling gun as the cheap looking credits roll. After these first few minutes you know the rest of the film won't hold back on the vioence and gore. It is one thing to shred somebody with a gatling gun, but to place the barrels right on the guys face before pulling the trigger is something else. After that quick taste of blood, the next 15 minutes or so is all character and story buildup. Don't worry, because you can't help but giggle at all the slow and dramatic parts.

Eventually the main character, Ami Hyuga, gets her arm fried in a pan of oil. She pulls out her arm, which then looks like tempura, and all the fun begins. The rest of the film is basically nonstop action. Actually a better description is ridiculous, over the top, nonsense, bloody violence. The thing about the violence is that you end up laughing at it all. You want an example? A woman gets a knife through the back of her head and out through her mouth. She then ends up vomiting blood, guts, and her tongue all over her son's decapitated head who got killed not too long before. This is one of the many gory scenes in this film. Did I forget to mention that replying "You nailed me" when a cute girl is pounding nails in your face is hilarious?

The acting is nothing out of the ordinary. Overacting with funny dialogue and weird characters. The lead, Minase Yashiro, not only looks freaking hot, but she puts on an entertaining performance. In fact, all the female characters in this film are hot. There is even a Japanese porno actress in here.

If you are in the mood for a senseless violent movie with a cute girl dishing out the pain then this is exactly what you are looking for.

The Japanese show once again how animes can not only be great series, but great movies as well. The Cowboy Bebop series is well written and so is this film.

Although this movie is released a few years after the last episode it makes one wonder when this actually takes place in the Bebop universe. With the characters that are involved and some of the conversations that pop up, many may be inclined to believe that this takes place sometime in the middle of the series.

Like many other animes, the story is fantastic. I guess it is easier to focus on the story when you don't have to worry about the acting. This film gives you everything that you remember from the series. The character interaction is good and so is the action. You get the usual gun-play, hand-to-hand combat, and ship chases. The final fight (hand-to-hand) at the end is phenomenal. Nicely choreographed and drawn. My only real gripe with this film is that the whole thing takes place on Mars. This isn't totally bad, but there are too little space sequences when compared to the series. Then again, this is only a two hour movie.

Once again, Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts deliver in the music department. You get the same jazzy feel as the series and this does wonders for this film. The same thing can be said about the voice work.

Visually, this anime is top-notch. The landscapes and futuristic settings are portrayed well and Faye Valentine is still sexy as h***.

You don't have to have seen the series to watch this film, but it will really help with the understanding of the characters. In any case, most of the people that watch this will be fans of the series.

Tetsuya Nakashima really got his name out there with Kamikaze Girls. Memories of Matsuko is the follow up movie and he still has it. This film doesn't disappoint.

My most favorite genres include action, martial arts, science fiction, and fantasy. Other than a little bit of fantasy, you won't find any of the those in here. You will find drama, music, and comedy. Sounds like this isn't high on my must see list. Nakashima finds a way to make this enjoyable.

This is a two hour 10 minute movie and while it will not blow by, it is not a waste of time by any means. When it comes down to it the story is exactly what the title states. Memories of Matsuko. The opening credits aren't anything explosive or fancy, but it sure is uniquely creative. That can be said about this entire film. It isn't the greatest, it isn't the funniest, but it is one h*** of an entertaining time. I previously mentioned that this will not fly by, but the first 45 minutes do. It is so dynamic and upbeat that you don't want it to end. The visuals, camerawork, and background music just blast this movie forward.

The film gradually loses it's pizazz, but not entirely. The great directing and storytelling is still intact. There is still some wackiness going on too, including cartoon birds. While the film tones down, Nakashima does a good job at getting the viewer's interest in the story. This is why the 2 hours 10 minutes is not a waste. You feel for Matsuko, especially near the ending, which I find to be pretty f***** up! You also know the outcome of the movie from the beginning, but it is quite the eventful journey to get there. Even the end credits is worth the watch. It has a mashup of the songs that are done in the film.

The acting is fantastic. Nakashima has a way of getting his leads to shine. In here it is Miki Nakatani. She does a little bit of everything. There are also a ton of recognizable faces, who show up for small roles throughout.

Memories of Matsuko isn't for everyone, but true movie lovers will find this enjoyable. "Happy Wednesday!" Bring on Paco!

Mamoru Oshii brings to life an animation with much to offer in the way of science fiction and action. Ghost in the Shell is an instant anime classic.

At just around 80 minutes, the story has a lot going for it. The futuristic setting is just the start. The only huge problem with the story is the fact that one needs to pay close attention to keep on track with what is going on. At the same time, it also does get a bit technical, however it is unique and interesting.

The pacing is moderate, but it is never boring. There is a decent amount of action and the choreography is fantastic. Once again, the futuristic setting is a positive for these scenes.

Visually, the characters and settings look great. There is no holding back on the violence and nudity either.

The voice acting is effectively chosen as the characters do have voices to match their looks and personalities. The main character of Motoko Kusanagi AKA Major, is one that is highly memorable and a hands down leader for the section 9 task force.

Ghost in the Shell, while a bit short, has an engrossing story, great direction, and memorable characters to warrant a watch. This is a must see for science fiction anime fanatics.

The great original Ghost in the Shell movie from Mamoru Oshii returns in 2.0 fashion.

Story wise, this is the same 80 minute film. The difference comes in the presentation. Certain scenes are redone in CG format, while the rest of the film looks similar, but sharper. The 1995 film is not a prerequisite, however most of the people that watch this 2.0 version will be fans of the original.

The story is futuristic and science fiction heavy, which makes it highly interesting. This is a plus because the pacing is slow to moderate. One of the minor flaws with the story is that a lot of attention is required to follow along with what is going on. Lines of dialogue can be highly technical, which is why it is necessary to not take this movie lightly.

Earlier, I mentioned that certain scenes are redone in CG. This may disappoint some people because the difference is huge. There are scenes that are CG and then all of a sudden the next scene is typical animation, which isn't that bad to begin with. The fact that the CG scenes are gorgeous and based off of the original designs, is enough to forgive this switching flaw though.

The characters have matching voices and this is always a plus when it comes to non live action films.

Ghost in the Shell 2.0 is a classic science fiction animation that pays attention to detail in many aspects of the film. This makes it worthy of a watch.

Kenji Kamiyama gets the honor of directing and putting together the fantastic Japanese animation known as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man.

This film is basically a compilation of all the important bits and pieces of important episodes of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex first season. In my opinion, it is nicely put together. The story flows smoothly and despite it being just under 2 hours and 40 minutes, it never drags.

What will turn people off the most, is the fact that this film is futuristic and very high tech. There is a high level of attention required to follow and understand the story. Unless this is a watch for the second or even third time, this is not a film to just sit back and relax to. With that said, the detail of the story makes it all the more engrossing. There is so much to follow, including a nice twist at the end.

Visually, this animation is fantastic. There is detail for the characters as well as the surroundings and settings. The direction is superb, so it helps the film visually as well.

The voice acting is wisely chosen (both in Japanese AND English dubs). Each character has a voice that match their look and personality. Props to Atsuko Tanaka for bringing Motoko Kusanagi to life.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man is a film for fans of the series, as well as the original films. A must see.

Kenji Kamiyama returns with a fantastic second outing of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime series.

As with "The Laughing Man" film, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven is a compilation of the important pieces of important episodes of the second season of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Along Complex. Hence, 2nd GIG.

The run time is around 2 hours and 40 minutes and this isn't surprising, as a season consists of 20+ episodes. No matter how long it is, the futuristic high tech story is so engrossing that even during the slow parts, the film is never boring.

The visuals are just as superb as the story, and when it is combined with Kamiyama's directing, this becomes one heck of an animation.

Each of the major characters, as well as all smaller characters, have matching voice work that make this a film to take seriously. In English or Japanese, this is not a comedy to just sit back and relax with.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven is for those that are already fans of the series. Superb animation, if I may say so.

The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series has been one of my favorite animated shows of all time. This movie is a sequel to the 2 season series and it does not disappoint. First off it would be wise to actually watch or be familiar with the series (52 episodes) to get a full understanding of the character relationships and the setting of the film. It is possible to watch this without having seen the series, but it isn't highly recommended.

As usual the story is very interesting but it is also complex. You really need to pay attention otherwise you will be lost in all that is going on. As far as action goes there isn't a whole bunch, but there is a nice sequence near the end which includes the return of the lovable Tachikomas. Guns a blazing.

Visually this movie is spectacular and it is pretty similar to the 2nd gig series. It may be even a little sharper. The setting and story concept really allow for the staff to display their artistic talent. Fans of Motoko may be a little disappointed in the beginning because she is nearly non-existent, but she does make up for it in the second half of the movie.

Yoko Kanno does an excellent job with the soundtrack once again. She gives us some new songs as well as some recognizable originals from the series.

Fans of the series will get a kick out of everything this film has to offer while others will just enjoy the visuals.

Very funny and entertaining movie. Fans of Stephen Chow will not be disappointed. The martial arts choreography is surpisingly well done for a comedy like this.

Johnnie To takes a step away from the usual crime suspense films that have made him a successful director and producer. It really is different to see no guns in a To film, but in the end, Sparrow is vintage Johnnie To.

The story revolves around pickpocketing, but there really is more to it than that. You need to pay attention and follow the characters to get the full effect of what is going on. As usual the dialogue is at a minimum, which lets the acting and great cinematography tell the story. The minimal dialogue does tend to keep you in the dark, but that just makes the movie that much more entertaining.

With Sparrow, the background music is upbeat, jazzy, and it does wonders in this setting. It is almost as if it is a musical of sorts. This is a nice way to liven up a drama.

The cast is made up of actors that are no strangers to Johnnie To films. Simon Yam is the lead once again and he carries this picture with no problem. The beautiful Kelly Lin fills the shoes for the female lead and she carries the film where Yam doesn't. Ka Tung Lam, Wing-cheong Law, Hoi-Pang Lo, and Kenneth Cheung round out the supporting cast. Lam Suet also finds a role to play in here.

Sparrow may be missing the great shootouts, cops, and gangsters that we are used to seeing, but that doesn't make this a bad film. This just shows that Johnnie To is able to take his directing style over to another type of genre. Don't be afraid to check this out if you are a Johnnie To fan.

Joon-ho Bong has put out more than decent films over the years and Memories of Murder is no exception. Hands down, this is one great Korean mystery thriller based off of a true case.

At first glance this film seems like a typical average investigative thriller with the cops tracking down a serial rapist. The earlier parts of this film play out this way, however the final 45 minutes of this 2+ hour picture is just fantastic. In the beginning, there is a little blurb explaining that this is based off of a real life case and at this time it also gives away the ending. Despite all of that, the movie is still engrossing and the ending is worth the watch. In fact, there is a point where the film could have ended, but it gets extended just a few more minutes to make it even better.

Not only is there good writing, but the cinematography is quite impressive. This helps to carry this picture in the earlier parts when the story is still under its peak.

Kang-ho Song and Sang-kyung Kim put on fantastic performances as the 2 lead detectives. Both characters switch personalities as the film progresses and this is interesting to watch. Also, the cops are ones to hate in the early going, but by the end they are being cheered upon to solve the case.

Memories of Murder isn't explosive and it doesn't have to be. The story, acting, and camera work speak for itself.

Gareth Evan's Merantau is one enthralling martial arts movie out of Indonesia.

In short, this film is about a young man going on his "Merantau." Actually, a more fun way to describe the story is a young man goes to Jakarta and whoops some major buttocks. At just around 1 hour and 45 minutes (international cut) this picture is not surprising at how it is set up. The first 30-45 minutes is all character and story, with a couple very small training sequences to serve as an appetizer. At this point the film is at the brink of finally unleashing the pain ... and it does.

The final hour or so contains a ton of action and there is only two, maybe three, slow motion shots. There is also no repeating shots from different angles for massive moves or hits. This is straight up high octane martial arts and stunt work. This truly is fantastic stuff.

Iko Uwais not only displays his Silat martial arts style, but he shows that he has the ability to act as well. Other than Sisca Jessica as the damsel in distress and Mads Koudal as the villain, there isn't much more to say about the acting.

Merantau is one of those films where the action is pretty much all that matters, although there is a decent enough story to go along with it. Check it out if time allows.