Reviews

Sumptuous

Simultaneously a distant sequel and retread of the original film, A Chinese Ghost Story III keeps things together a bit more than II did, following the tradition of the previous two films this closing chapter once again gifts us with equal doses of comedy, action, romance and horror. The photography is as gorgeous as the previous entries, playing with colour, light and smoke with an abundance of stunning direction throughout, Tony Ching Siu-Tung certainly pulled his weight with this series balancing his style with Tsui Hark's eccentric sensibilities. Instead of Leslie Cheung's bumbling tax collector, we get Tony Leung as a bumbling novice monk, a worthy successor, adding a great charm and likeability to his character thanks to Tony's comedic timing. The film delivers a cinematic seductiveness that greatly benefits from the fast-paced plot, chock full of crazy magic spells and action sequences, spellbinding female ghosts, hair-raising demons, a touch of humour, drama and romance, a parade of crazy special effects and a sumptuously enchanting score for a third time courtesy of James Wong and Romeo Diaz. While it may certainly have many similarities to the first, A Chinese Ghost Story III almost plays like a parody of it at the same time, all without being too ridiculous and closing the trilogy out in style. The lengths men will go to for Joey Wong hey?

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When you find your calling in life

I always admire people who have found their calling in life, and dedicate large parts of it to their passion. This film is about this kind of people -- who work steadily towards one goal, with a lot of hard work, attention for detail and perseverence.

It's very Japanese in it's slow story telling, the lights and colours and the detailed sets. It's, again, a story about a small group of outsiders doing a work which is underappreciated by others, who find solace and satisfaction in what they do, not necessarily in what others think of it.

I'm not a het romance fan, but I liked the love story between the main protagonist and the landlady's granddaughter. They are full of respect for each other and the other's passion and interests, even though they don't quite understand them.

And one aspect I also liked: It's a story about words, but in moments of great emotion, the characters fail to find the right words to express them; and in the story telling, silence and the gentle background music is at least as important as the dialogue.
Well worth it.

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A Timeless Love Story: The Emotional Journey of All These Years

This was truly the best Chinese film I’ve ever seen. Every element was flawless—the story, acting, music, and plot all came together perfectly. There was no loose end or lack of explanation; everything was beautifully crafted and thoroughly thought out. The ending was incredibly satisfying, bringing closure in a way that felt earned and authentic. The relationship between the couple was portrayed with such depth and tenderness, making it a highlight of the film. Every challenge they faced was handled with excellence, showing us profound truths about life and love. This movie is a powerful reminder of what it means to live and grow through both hardships and joy

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"You think you can attain real power through ideas alone?"

Uprising explored the plight of slaves and peasants around 1589 during a tumultuous time in Joseon history. It was also action packed with revolts and a Japanese invasion. All while the king waxed on about the insignificance of his tax and work base.

Cheon Yeong has been a slave due to a legal and moral loophole ever since he was a child. He has reluctantly served the underachieving young master, Yi Jong Ryeo. Through the years they became fast friends until a broken promise and a misunderstanding set them on divergent paths as the Japanese began marching across the country.

The first thing I had to do was age the two main characters upward. When a flashback was labeled “Twelve years ago,” all I could think was that the two young boys did not look 30 years old. This trope of brothers or sworn brothers turned mortal enemies due to a misunderstanding has been done many times before. Poor Cheon didn’t even know there was a problem for seven years. He had his hands full fighting the Japanese with a ragtag assortment of peasants and slaves abandoned by the nobility. Yi served the king who had fled during the crisis. No one really cared what happened to the little people who were often killed or left homeless. Even when the king learned of the small band’s heroic results, he was more interested in how he was going to get a strong enough workforce and money to build a more splendid palace. Apparently, nobility had nothing to do with nobleness and keeping one’s word or administering true justice.

While the story was nothing new, the fights were well choreographed and gruesomely realistic. Swords are sharp and used with great force which meant body parts tended to go flying. Cheon was very disarming with a sword. Though it was the corrupt officials who caused righteous people to lose their heads. The director might have taken a little too much delight in mangled bodies. Kang Dong Won gave a strong performance as the dangerous and shrewd slave, though Cheon naively believed the duplicitous nobility too many times. I didn’t find Yi Jong Ryeo a very sympathetic or interesting character nor very nuanced. I enjoyed Kim Shin Rok’s Beom Dong who had a better insight into the ways of the nobility and a lot of moxie. She also wielded a mean staff.

Uprising kept a good pace throughout though it ran a bit long for me. The historical backdrop was far too complex to wedge into 120 minutes which made it feel like the story fast-forwarded over numerous subplots. The tragic showdown between Cheon and Yi was inevitable but a letdown. Honestly, I was more invested in the confrontations between Cheon “The Blue Robed God” and the “Nose Snatcher” Japanese commander Genshin Kikkawa. The animosity and fighting respect between the two warriors was compelling and thrilling. Going into the movie and knowing slavery continued for 300 more years after the events portrayed here only led to the feeling of pathos for many of the lives sacrificed. Despite some of my reservations, Uprising was an entertaining film and worth trying if you enjoy this genre.

22 October 2024
Trigger warnings: Numerous decapitations and dismemberments-many, many body parts flung around

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Good watch

In my opinion, this movie was nothing short of a masterpiece . The cinematography itself was beautiful while the pacing was a little slow at times the amazing cast acting made up for it. The story itself may not be unique but it was a story well told. I for one was so immersed in the movie itself I didn’t even anticipate the ending and when it came I cried. It’s been a long time since I cried too. Probably because I got myself attached to the characters of the movie which made my heartstrings break at the end of the movie but that’s also one of the reasons why I think it’s such a good movie, hence the high rating.

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Genesis

Time and Tide is Tsui Hark's Genesis, his attempt to start again, a rebirth. Made after his failure to break into the American market with his Van Damme duology, Time and Tide is a question of trust, renewal and the ebb and flow of time that lead both its characters and the narrative, a very confusing narrative but a narrative nonetheless. The film's appeal lies in its contemporaneousness, of its time yet still ringing true today, not seeming outdated in the slightest with Hark's style is all over the movie and yet not at all. There are his usual tried and tested techniques but at the same time something totally different; that alone makes his movies oh-so utterly fascinating, evocative of older wuxia flicks. While it might seem generic on the surface, Time and Tide is a fabulous take on an action noir thriller with a new wave twist.

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