Films/DVD Asylum

• I knew - Jon L 12:48:34 08/20/04 (2)
  In Reply to: Hero-BIG YAWN. posted by Duilawyer on August 19, 2004 at 06:54:16:

  that some will not "get" this movie. Viewed from Hollywood or even European style of movie-making, one can find many faults with this movie.

  If you like tightly progressive, clear-as-bell storyline, with event A leading to B and then C, with crackling stunts/effects, as well as every character and motive explained 100% by the movie's end, then "Hero" may be underwhelming.

  On the other hand, If you are someone who has had a lot of exposure to "authentic" Chinese martial arts and history, especially the very long Martial Arts fiction novels (fantastic!), have the been-there done-that background in the Martial-arts mechanics/style and get past the actual fighting, this movie is very "Zen."

  Approached from the flowing-river, Siddhartha type of viewpoint, this movie makes sense IMO. I find it much more moving than Crouching Tiger.
  
  

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  • Could be; tell me what I missed. Was there a point I did not get? - Duilawyer 08:13:24 08/21/04 (1)
    In Reply to: I knew posted by Jon L on August 20, 2004 at 12:48:34:

    Always possible. Especially for the period I lost interest, when the "real" facts emereged.
    
    

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    • Re: Could be; tell me what I missed. Was there a point I did not get? - Jon L 12:05:10 08/21/04 (0)
      In Reply to: Could be; tell me what I missed. Was there a point I did not get? posted by Duilawyer on August 21, 2004 at 08:13:24:

      Since people tend to get different things out of a given movie, I can't speak for the others.

      I have read a lot of "Martial Arts novels," which consist of 10-12 book series usually and very entertaining. In fact, most of these movies are a abridged snapshot of such novels. Just as people complain about any movie based on a novel, a movie just can't do justice.

      Also, I've seen lots of Martial arts/history type movies out of Hong Kong/China, some of which truly are spectacular as far as martial arts effects.

      So, basically when I see "Hero," I'm able to see through the martial arts and fighting, which I've seen and read about plenty before. I also don't require a tight, logical story-telling to be engaged. This movie is like a snapshot watercolor painting of one moment in a gigantic flowing river. There's unimaginable amount of different stories, subtexts, people that exist before, during, and after the story being presented loosely.

      When I take the approach of sitting up on the hill, looking down at the huge river flowing by, just being immersed at one particular sprinkle of colors and shade from the sunlight at a given angle, while the scenary changes unforgivably and unstoppably, I get "it," but I cant' explain...
      
      

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• Thanks, but nobody here has seen AVP? - Chris Garrett 15:44:33 08/19/04 (1)
  In Reply to: Hero-BIG YAWN. posted by Duilawyer on August 19, 2004 at 06:54:16:

  I missed it over the weekend, but will surely see it this w/e. Saw a 30 min "the making of" on E! with Lance Hendrickson (sic?) from Alien and A3, which made it look pretty good, but nobody here has mentioned a word and they didn't release it for review, which is the kiss of death.

  Chris
  
  

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  • Re: Thanks, but nobody here has seen AVP? - Jack G 05:36:13 08/20/04 (0)
    In Reply to: Thanks, but nobody here has seen AVP? posted by Chris Garrett on August 19, 2004 at 15:44:33:

    There has been alot of comment on the sci-fi boards-they have been less than impressed.Try here at Stomp Tokyo's B Movie Bulletin Board.
    Jack
    

    • Stomp Tokyo   (Open in New Window)

    
    

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• i miss bruce lee - TA 11:11:33 08/19/04 (2)
  In Reply to: Hero-BIG YAWN. posted by Duilawyer on August 19, 2004 at 06:54:16:

  i haven't seen hero, but one thing i don't like about most kung-fu films since bruce lee is that the action is cut up and fantasy-like. bruce lee could do four high kicks in a single shot (the cinematographer of enter the dragon reportedly told him he moved too fast for the camera to catch), and that was impressive to see. fight scenes are so cut up these days it's hard to get a sense of the physicality of the stars.
  
  "HO, HO, HO!" - Santa Claus
  
  

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  • Re: i miss bruce lee - Peterloplop 04:17:46 08/21/04 (0)
    In Reply to: i miss bruce lee posted by TA on August 19, 2004 at 11:11:33:

    Tony Jaa (Phanom Yeerum) might be the man for you.
    Watch Ong Bak to see his fighting. He uses Muay Thai mixed with stuntman/gymnastic style jumps and focuses more on big power knees and elbows rather than speed and precision kicks like Bruce Lee. I don't know how realistic this style of fighting is but it sure makes a great show and its one of those movies where the actors really look millimetres away from a hospital bed or a bucket in the morgue.

    Be careful if you buy the dvd, I’ve heard some are badly cut (saw it in a theatre, so sorry I can’t shed any light on which dvd to buy).

    
    
    
    
    

    
    

    
    
    

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  • Re: i miss bruce lee - Cetaele 14:41:27 08/19/04 (0)
    In Reply to: i miss bruce lee posted by TA on August 19, 2004 at 11:11:33:

    Jet Li, as he is now known in the states, is as good as they come when it comes to martial arts. He has legitimate wu-shu training in China, and this is clear in most of his early Chinese movies (such as Shaolin Temple). I agree with you, however, that most modern movies are like music videos in their editing, and I find it distracting.

    I haven't seen Hero, but the visuals look stunning in the previews.
    Cetaele (aka Bob)
    
    

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• Re: Hero-BIG YAWN. - Jack G 09:02:55 08/19/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Hero-BIG YAWN. posted by Duilawyer on August 19, 2004 at 06:54:16:

  Hard to follow story? Perhaps at first, but it was rather clear after a while.

  > > > 2 characters that look alike < < <
  No coment.

  > > > Subtitles that sometimes appear, and sometimes don't so you do not get the prologue translated. < < <
  Didn't have that problem-My disc may be a different version.

  > > > Other than the visuals, this movie hs NOTHING going for it. < < <
  To each his own-it sure isn't typical Hollywood, and appeals to a different crowd. I still think it was good story telling. Far superior to Kill Bill 2.
  Jack
  
  

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• Did you not like Crouching Tiger? - Bulkington 07:57:59 08/19/04 (6)
  In Reply to: Hero-BIG YAWN. posted by Duilawyer on August 19, 2004 at 06:54:16:

  How do you rate Hero relative to it?

  Apparently Jet Li was the first choice for the lead in Crouching Tiger--a mistake averted (I don't know how), IMO.
  
  

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  • Crouching Tiger C- - Duilawyer 08:19:30 08/21/04 (0)
    In Reply to: Did you not like Crouching Tiger? posted by Bulkington on August 19, 2004 at 07:57:59:

    Great to look at; and good acting but plot holes by the dozen, and the aerial stuff left me cold. At the end, she could have jsut flown above the roofs to get the medicine in time. Also, (gulp!) similar looking characters. To this occidental.
    
    

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  • It should be noted... - Cetaele 20:31:44 08/19/04 (0)
    In Reply to: Did you not like Crouching Tiger? posted by Bulkington on August 19, 2004 at 07:57:59:

    ..that mainland China was, in general, not very impressed with Crouching Tiger. Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh's mandarin leaves a little to be desired. Having Jet Li in the lead may have helped (though the story would still have been a bit questionable to the mainland), though I admit that Chow Yun-Fat seemed perfect for the role.
    Cetaele (aka Bob)
    
    

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  • There's nothing wrong with Jet Li's acting, IMHO. - Audiophilander 08:49:02 08/19/04 (3)
    In Reply to: Did you not like Crouching Tiger? posted by Bulkington on August 19, 2004 at 07:57:59:

    I've seen him in a number of films where his acting transcends otherwise mediocre material. No offense, but try to give the guy a little more credit; martial arts skill aside, he's one of the best actors coming out of the orient, not to mention a personal favorite of mine.

    AuPh
    
    

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    • It's not a criticism of him per se - Bulkington 09:15:20 08/19/04 (2)
      In Reply to: There's nothing wrong with Jet Li's acting, IMHO. posted by Audiophilander on August 19, 2004 at 08:49:02:

      I just think that, ensemble-wise, Chow Yun-Fat was perfect for that role, esp. opposite Michelle Yeoh, next to whom Jet Li would have appeared too slight and feral.
      
      

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      • Ah, I see what you mean. - Audiophilander 08:45:10 08/20/04 (1)
        In Reply to: It's not a criticism of him per se posted by Bulkington on August 19, 2004 at 09:15:20:

        Yeah, Chow Yun-Fat was perfectly cast in Crouching Tiger, although I could see/imagine Jet Li as effectively cast with Michele Yeoh in other roles. My favorite Jet Li film, or guilty pleasure if you prefer, is Kiss of The Dragon, where he co-starred with Bridget Fonda; it's an excellent edge-of-the-seat action flick with nice dramatic and occasionally comedic touches.

        AuPh
        
        

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        • Re: Ah, I see what you mean. - Peterloplop 00:25:24 08/21/04 (0)
          In Reply to: Ah, I see what you mean. posted by Audiophilander on August 20, 2004 at 08:45:10:

          If you liked Kiss of The Dragon you should try The Crimson Rivers .
          Content wise, it doesn’t have a great deal in common with KotD but it had a similar feel and that serious but quite silly style. It even had a random kung fu fight slapped in there.

          
          
          

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