Shamo [C-Movie] (Shawn Yue, Ryo Ishibashi, Dylan Kuo)
Shamo is a 2007 Cantonese-language action film from Hong Kong. The film was directed by Pou-Soi Cheang and produced by Same Way Productions Limited. It is an adaption of a Japanese manga also named Shamo.
Cast
- Shawn Yue
- Ryo Ishibashi
- Dylan Kuo
- Bruce Leung
- Annie Liu
- Masato
- Francis Ng
- Pei Pei
- Zing Chau
This pop holocaust of unseemly proportions continues director Soi Cheang’s mad attack on humanity, screaming that the world we live in has gone insane. SHAMO leaks out of the same dark, inner place that the director reached for in his previous film, the nihilistic DOG BITE DOG, only here he creates a savage manga adaptation where everyone is out for their pound of flesh. It’s stylish to a fault, with eye-popping sets, lurid deep colors, fashion magazine layouts, scornful women camping it up like drag queens and luminous cinematography. Pain and violence have rarely looked so chic.
Based on a brutal manga from Izo Hashimoto, the film gnaws joyfully on its material. Ryo (a ripped Shawn Yue) is sent to juvie for stabbing his parents to death while they ate breakfast and he becomes a national pariah after a picture of him in his blood soaked school uniform hits the newspapers. He’s welcomed to his new home with a beat-down and a gang rape, and then he attempts suicide. Fail. His quiet younger sister, Natsumi (Pei Pei) visits him in a fluffy pink showgirl outfit to inform him that he’s ruined her life and she’s leaving town to become a prostitute. Eventually an older prisoner, Kurokawa (Francis Ng), takes him under his wing and teaches him karate and soon he’s destroying his tormentors with iron-fisted punches and gut-crushing kicks.
When he’s released from prison he becomes a gigolo and begins a lengthy trawl through every seamy red light district in Japan looking for his sister. Getting nastier and more feral with each succeeding frame, Ryo decides that the only road to money is to become an Ultimate Fighting champ, and he starts training for the lethal underground fight circuit. No need to fear that this will turn into your mainstream ROCKY story – Ryo’s a slap-happy monster who just wants more. But almost lost beneath his layers of anger, pain and psychosis is a forgotten speck of humanity and a will of iron that perversely makes you root for him through every bruise and gash that he gives and every one that he receives. Perhaps somewhere down the road there will be some twisted redemption waiting for him, but until then he only wants to survive one more day. Last year the New York Asian Film Festival showed the director’s DOG BITE DOG and we are thrilled to bring his encore film.
Kim Bum Soo Vol.6 - Kim Bum Soo
Kim Bum Soo Vol.6 - Kim Bum Soo
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Language: Korean
Genre: Ballad
Artist: Male
Track List:
01 Intro
02 슬픈 활용법
03 Smile Again
04 줄다리기
05 사랑아
06 Interlude
07 굳은 살
08 Do You Know That?
09 쉬운 이별
10 마지막까지
11 Without Your Love
12 님아
13 빛
14 은혜로
15 슬픈 활용법(MR)
Arashi - truth/Kaze no Mukou e
嵐 - truth/風の向こうへ
Arashi - truth/Kaze no Mukou e
23rd single - double A-side
Released on 2008.08.20
Tracklist:
01. truth
02. 風の向こうへ [Kaze no Mukou e]
03. スマイル [Smile]
04. truth (Instrumental)
05. 風の向こうへ (Instrumental) [Kaze no Mukou e (Instrumental)]
06. スマイル (Instrumental) [Smile (Instrumental)]
Bitrate: 320kbps
Into the Faraway Sky (Toku No Sora Ni Kieta) [J-Movie] (Ryunosuke Kamiki, Suzuka Ohgo)
Movie Details
Title: Into the Faraway Sky
Running Time: 144 Minutes
Status: Production/Awaiting Release
Country: Japan
Genre: Drama, Foreign
Acting Credits
Ryunosuke Kamiki
Suzuka Ohgo
Yuma Sasano
Fumiyo Kohinata
Chen Chang
Shinobu Otake
Production Credits
Director - Isao Yukisada
Screenplay - Isao Yukisada
Producer - Shinsuke Koga
Review Summary
Young and handsome Ryunosuke Kusunoki is a new arrival in a Hokkaido village, to which his government official father, Mr. Kusonoki, has been sent to acquire land to push through a new airport. Mr. Kusunoki must persuade the resistant farm community to do his bidding. Ryunosuke has his own problems trying to fit in at his new school. Initially, he has trouble with local farm boy Kohei Tsuchida. However, eventually, the pair becomes fast friends, amusing themselves with activities like exploding cow patties over the villagers. As Ryunosuke bonds with the locals, he increasingly turns against his father and his father’s official business. ~ Baseline StudioSystems
For Eternal Hearts [K-Movie] (Kyeong-ho Jeong, Min-sun Kim, Su-yeon Cha)
Movie : For Eternal Hearts
Release Date : August 09, 2007
Country : South Korea
Director : Gyu-deok Hwang
Starring : Kyeong-ho Jeong, Min-sun Kim, Su-yeon Cha
Runtime : 103 min
“For Eternal Hearts” is an unusual Korean film, in that it dabbles with two of the more popular genres of Korean films, romance and horror, while also playing with our concept of time, the afterlife, and dream vs reality. The film clearly stands out from the crowded pack, but its uniqueness becomes more of its downfall by the second half of the film.
While the film toys with our perceptions of what has transpired in the first half, the development of the storyline suffers because of this. The filmmakers also place a few questionable gaffs in logic to make their story work ( example – why did the library custodian find the newspaper placed on the desk but not notice the lit match?). Yet, the film wasn’t a total disappointment, just not as entertaining as it should have been. An interesting story did seem to be developing prior to all those surprise twists.
Su-Young is a young German literature major in college. He becomes interested in a classmate, only known as “Pippi”, because of her spunk and carefree ways. The relationship doesn’t last long as Pippi ends her life at a student demonstration.
While getting over the death of Pippi, Su-Young picks up a tutoring job. He’s hired to tutor a girl by the name of Su-Ji in mathematics. Her mannerisms are peculiar and she doesn’t seem to take much interest in his math lessons. Su-Young even comes close to quitting the job but something draws him back. They soon fall for each other, but discover several surprises that changes their perceptions on life.
The film also featured a solid, if unspectacular, cast. Kyeong-ho Jeong (My Lovely Week / Gangster High) as the main character Su-Young, gives a performance that’s affable but hardly memorable. He gave off an aura of niceness that most parents would approve of, but there just wasn’t much fire in his performance. It was nice to see Min-Sun Kim (Memento Mori / Raging Life) break out of the sweet innocent roles she more commonly plays, but her character “Pippi” quickly becomes less of a factor after taking an unexpected dive. Jin-yeong Jeong, the king from “the King and Clown”, also appears in a supporting role as the adult Su-Young. On an unrelated note why didn’t his students or for that matter Su-Young turn on the lights?
“For Eternal Hearts” is an interesting film that was built around a handful of surprise twists unveiled in the second of the film. At times it did feel like the filmmakers lost sight of the characters in pursuit of delivering those gee-whiz surprises. Gimmicky? A bit. Entertaining? A bit. Sucks? Not quite.
Turtles Swim Faster Than Expected [J-Movie] (Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi, Ryo Iwamatsu)
Movie : Turtles Swim Faster Than Expected / Kame wa igai to hayaku oyogu
Release Date : July 2, 2005
Country : Japan
Director : Satoshi Miki
Starring : Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi, Ryo Iwamatsu
Runtime : 90 min
Movie Review : Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi and indie film helmer Satoshi Miki (In The Pool / Damaged) all working together in a film? How can one pass up an offering like that? I couldn’t. So much so that the first time I watched “Turtles Swim Surprisingly Fast” was at a Japanese Indie Film Festival held in Korea – without the benefit of subtitles. During the first viewing the lack of subtitles was a huge barrier to enjoying the film and eventually I ended up dozing through parts of the film. This time around subtitles were available and I felt all the better for it.
The movie stars Juri Ueno playing the role of Suzume Katakura. Suzume is a bored housewife that lives all alone while her husband works overseas. Her life is mundane enough that Suzume feels like she is leading an almost invisible existence. Her husband calls often but only to check up on his beloved pet turtle. One day Suzume decides to run up a flight of 100 stairs and during the middle of that run, she sees a trolley cart spill over along with the apples held in that cart. What’s a woman to do when an avalanche of apples are about barrel down your way? If you’re the quirky Suzume you lay down on the flight stairs and hold on for dear life.
After being pummeled by the falling apples Suzanne looks over at a nearby hand railing and notices a tiny stamp sized sticker placed on the bottom of a rail. The tiny stick advertises an opening position for “spies” with an interview being required. With Suzanne’s life being humdrum as it is she has nothing to lose and calls the mysterious phone number.
Three days later she goes for the interview and finds the location to be set within a modest apartment complex with an odd husband and wife couple conducting the interview. The couple claims to be a spies working for a foreign government. The couple looks over Suzume and believes she would fit in perfectly as a spy because of her nondescript appearance. The couple gives Suzume 5 million yen as an advance payment and thus she begins her new career as a spy.
The movie itself is set within a colorful world, reminiscent of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Amelie” while having the quirky off-beat humor of Katsuhito Ishii’s “The Taste Of Tea”. What the film did well was to show how unique everyday life can really be. Suzume with her nondescript life (a lot like her pet turtle) finds out how interesting a “normally” life can be once she works as a spy. Her new job requires her to be as nondescript as possible and this is when the uniquely normal Suzume learns it’s not as easy as it would seem. From ordering dishes at restaurants that would not stand out to purchasing food in grocery stores that would be unmemorable to beating her futon cover in the normal kind of way. That’s not to say everything that Suzume did was your everyday kind of tasks. In fact the more memorable scenes were pure slapstick zaniness.
Highlights include Suzume getting into a sumo wrestling match with her father in his dirt filled backyard, her best friend Kujake (played by Yu Aoi) clothesline an opponent in a wrestling match, Suzume invents a fan that emits the sounds of the Northwest Wind and the after effects ofor Kujake after she cut the power lines at the local electrical station. Although Yu Aoi has a smaller supporting role in the film she does have several laugh out loud funny moments. None being more hilarious than her shouting match after winning a Seine netting trip.
While the pacing of the film is low-key there’s plenty of things to like about the film. The film has the quirky charm of Katsuhito Ishii films and features two of the better actresses today … Juri Ueno and Yu Aoi. Comedic moments come in spurts with many able to rise to the laugh out loud level and odd non-sequiturs that zing right on by. The end result is a charming film that portrays everyday life in the most unique way possible. Wei-Wei-Wei-Wei-Wei Azu-ki Pan-daaa Channnnnn.
Midnight Eagle [J-Movie] (Takeuchi Yuko, Takao Osawa)
Midnight Eagle (ミッドナイト・イーグル Middonaito Iiguru) is a 2007 action film directed by Izuru Narushima and written by Yasuo Hasegawa and Kenzaburo Iida, based on the novel by Tetsuo Takashima. Midnight Eagle is the third film directed by Izuru Narushima.
The film opened in the United States on October 2, 2007 in Los Angeles. It was also shown October 20, 2007 at the Tokyo International Film Festival.[2] The film opened in limited release in the United States in New York City on November 23, 2007, and opened in Los Angeles on December 7, 2007.
Cast
- Takao Osawa as Yuji Nishizaki
- Yuko Takeuchi as Keiko Arisawa
- Hiroshi Tamaki as Shinichiro Ochiai
- A-Saku Yoshida as Major Akihiko Saeki
- Yoshihiko Hakamada as Toshimitsu Fuyuki
- Nao Omori as Major Kensuke Saito
- Ken Ishiguro as Tadao Miyata
- Tatsuya Fuji as Prime Minister Watarase
Plot
A top secret American forces strategic bomber known as “Midnight Eagle” suddenly vanishes in the Northern Alps. Its payload is a specialized nuclear warhead. If it were to explode, the entire nation of Japan would be hurled into an unprecedented calamity. Prime Minister Takafumi Watarase convenes an emergency meeting of the Security Council of Japan. An elite squad from the Self-Defense Force able to operate in severe mountains conditions is formed, and heads off to try and recover the fuselage. Amidst the violent barrage of gunfire from agents of an enemy nation, an actual war is about to begin in the heart of Japan, 62 years after the end of World War II.
As former war photographer Yuji Nishizaki spends time in the mountains taking pictures of the skies, he is startled by gunfire, and notices the freshly spilled blood of soldiers on the snow. Aware that his country is under attack, Nishizaki seizes his camera and heads for the battlefield.
In Tokyo we encounter Keiko Arisawa, the only sister of Nishizaki’s wife, who has died of illness. As Nishizaki never fully acknowledged his wife’s condition, Keiko is extremely resentful of Nishizaki. Two years have passed since her sister’s death, but Keiko still cannot forgive Nishizaki. While continuing to work as a magazine reporter, she has taken over custody of her sister and Nishizaki’s son.
Nishizaki, his high school friend, the newspaper journalist Shinichiro Ochiai, and Major Akihiko Saeki of the Self-Defense Forces, find themselves In the midst of a terrible blizzard as they are desperately heading towards Midnight Eagle. Simultaneously in Tokyo, Keiko contacts an agent who might shed light on an accident she has become privy to. The agent reveals to her the situation going on in the Northern Alps.
Each protagonist is driven by a different set of motivations. Nishizaki risks his life in a battle to protect the life of the one he loves; Ochiai doesn’t flinch from the onslaught of the enemy, his journalistic instinct driving him to record reality; Saeki risks all to protect his country and fulfill his professional duty as a member of the Self-Defense Forces. As to Takafumi Watarase, the anguished Prime Minister, he has no choice but to entrust the future of Japan to these three men. At last, Keiko finds the ﾒkeyﾓ to the incident that will determine everyone’s fate.
With only two and a half hours remaining until the specialized warhead is to explode, will Keiko save Nishizaki, Ochiai and Saeki, and bring to a halt the crisis, which could change the fate of Japan?
Miracle of giving fool [K-Movie] (Cha Tae-Hyeon, Ha Ji-Won, Park Hee-Sun)
Aka: 바보, Babo
Year: 2008
Directed: Kim Jeong-Kwon
Genre: Romance
Runtime: 103 mins
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean
Subtitles: English/Korean
Cast: Cha Tae-Hyeon, Ha Ji-Won, Park Hee-Sun
Synopsis / Plot
Ji-ho is a promising pianist, studying and playing abroad for years. But one night she had a stage fright and never recovers. In despair, Ji-ho comes home and meets her old classmate Sung-ryong.
Once a very bright boy, Sung-ryong had an accident and now he is in late 20s with the mind of a six year old. He is very forgetful, but he has never forgotten his first love Ji-ho. Other half of Sung-ryong’s dumb mind is occupied with his only family – younger sister Jee-in. To take care of her, Sung-ryong sells toasts in front of Jee-in’s school. But Jee-in is embarrassed of her idiotic brother and ignores him.
And Sang-soo is Sung-ryong’s old friend who understands Sung-ryong’s innocent mind. But he inevitably falls to the world of gangsters. Ji-ho is still in her slump, Jee-in falls sick and Sang-soo gets involved in a bloody dispute. But all of their agonies are miraculously saved by Sung-ryong in a way nobody has forseen.
Mai Kuraki - Secret of My Heart
[as requested]
- Album
- Secret of my heart
- Released
- 2002.01.10
- Tracklist
- Secret of my heart
- Did I Hear You Say That You’re In Love
- NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
- Baby I Like
- Stay by my side
- Can’t Get Enough ~gimme your love~
- Delicious Way
- Love, Day After Tomorrow
- Stepping ∞ Out
- Baby Tonight ~You & Me~
- Baby I Like -Extacy Vox Mix-
- ’s All Right -DJ ME-YA Radical Beat Mix-