Reviews

The rest is silence

You know to brace yourself for the pain when Feng Xiao Gang took on Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy in The Banquet. Vengeance, desire, madness, and treachery were never far away in this opulent film inspired by Hamlet.

In a tale as old as time, a king is murdered by his brother who then steals his throne and empress. The Crown Prince lives in a bamboo forest with a theater group pining for his lost love who married his father. When the news arrives that his father is dead, killed by a “scorpion sting,” CP Wu Luan heads for the capital. Empress Wan loves Wu but also enjoys the perks and power of being an empress and is disappointed that Wu seems to have little interest in ruling the country. When Emperor Li declares a banquet, everyone in attendance is looking to murder someone else. Family gatherings can be a bear.

The role of Empress Wan was originally to go to Gong Li but due to scheduling conflicts was taken over by Zhang Zi Yi. In the book, the queen was Hamlet’s mother, but here, the young empress had been his lover. I would love to have seen what Gong Li would have brought to the role but ZZY availed herself well as the conflicted, scheming empress. Ge You brought out the fratricidal emperor’s lethal and sexy sides. Daniel Wu’s crown prince varied from brooding to whiny. That’s not a slam, Hamlet was one of the first emo “heroes.” Zhao Xun made the most of this version of Ophelia though Qing never went completely mad. Despite a strong cast, the writing let them down. By the end of the film, I wasn’t heavily invested in any of the characters. Ironically, Ge You’s acting pulled me in more than any of the other performances. It also didn’t help that I knew what the final course of the meal would be.

The story only thinly related to Hamlet and was told at a glacial pace. In order to spice things up there were some of the most erotic scenes I’ve observed in Chinese films. ZZY had a body double for the full backside scenes, something else you rarely see. The final scene strayed from the book in a puzzling manner which left a bad taste in my mouth. The dependable Yuen clan choreographed the few fight scenes which were elegant and bloody. One clandestine fight was more dance fu and foreplay than fists and kicks.

The Banquet excelled in its stunning cinematography, luxurious costumes, and beautiful score. This film was truly a treat for the eyes and ears. By utilizing blank masks and theater, the film gave us a story within a story. Everyone wore a mask in one form or another. The Banquet was a sumptuous feast for the eyes, but some of the dishes were a little bland.

12/12/24

AKA LEGEND OF THE BLACK SCORPION

Trigger warnings: A "romantic" rape. :(
Also, backside nudity and a few gratuitous breast shots that didn't show everything.

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Like a rolling stone

Full disclosure, after watching this two-minute film I had to scurry across the internet and look up what sailing stones were. After doing my due diligence, I went back and rewatched Sailing Stones. I came to the conclusion that this was more a video piece of art than traditional film.

Sailing Stones was filmed in black and white with zero dialogue. Several expressionless people are on the beach with long narrow tracks behind them. Their ages and sex vary. All stare ahead even as the sound of stone against stone grinds and moves them forward. At long last the sun begins to wake behind the mountain.

For anyone like me who is confused by the title, sailing stones (also sliding, walking, or rolling stones) have been found in Death Valley, California, USA. For a long time, stones were found to have moved with a dragging trail behind them. Turns out when the stones are on a melting sheet of ice, the strong winds can cause them to “sail.”

The disparate people in this short film were propelled in curving trails, victims of external forces instead of their own will and volition. Filmed for 10 CM’s single, “Sleepless in Seoul,” each of the individuals had their own reason for sleeplessness. A pregnant woman, a student, a salaryman, all were pushed about by the ever-present wind. Was the ground frozen beneath their feet or were their hearts and lives frozen as they were dispassionately transported?

I suspect like viewing a painting or a Rorschach test, everyone will have their own interpretation of this short film. I found the concept intriguing.

11 December 2024

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ME ENCANTO DE INICIO A FIN!

Vi varios clips en tik tok y tenia tantas ganas de ver la película para saber porque tanto hype 👀

Me pareció atrevido el modo en que hicieron una historia de este tema siendo que sabemos que la sociedad Kr. no tiene avanzando del todo el ser gay abiertamente, los actores que salen al ser reconocidos hace que el peso del mensaje sea mucho mas alcanzable que si no lo fueran me encantó que ahora se atrevan a tomar estos papeles y que es parte de la sociedad igualmente 😊

AMO LA DINAMICA DE AMISTAD de ellos es tan REAL y bella que me quedo con ese mensaje muchas veces se habla del AMOR de pareja pero el AMOR de amigos es igualmente AMOR ☝️☝️☝️... en todas sus facetas y el mas incondicional que puedas tener si tienes una amistad como la de ellos.

Los amigos son la familia que uno elige y los lazos son tan fuertes cómo los mismo de sangre...

SUPER RECOMENDADA💯💯💯💯💯 al final ver cómo una amistad madura junto con ellos en todas las etapas de la vida de un adulto joven me parece tan adecuado que la volveria a ver sin dudarlo, los que tenemos la dicha que tener este tipo de amistades creo que van a amar esta pelicula tanto como lo hice yo.

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Satisfying love triangle

Josh Kim filmed The Police Box after dropping out of film school. He’s gone on to make other films and shorts. The first short of his I watched was The Postcard. One of his guiding thoughts is “what if?” That question served him well in this seven-minute film, one of the more interesting romances I’ve seen recently.

A young man and a young women sit at the window in a bar each evening. The young woman is fixated on a policeman who walks the beat. Outside the bar is a police box where he writes down notes. After she writes the policeman a note in the book, the young man at the bar takes matters into his own hands.

I have to say, when the film first ended, I was thinking, “What?” Then it dawned on me and I laughed. What a great ending to this short film. The acting was quite basic, but the twist Josh Kim threw in at the last made it all worthwhile. This is one romantic triangle that I can easily recommend.

11 December 2024

PS-After the film ends, he runs it again with the costs he incurred during filming.

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Adorable

Adorkable Shimei x Shijie is one of the more accurate titles I’ve seen. This couple was adorkable. It had the typical clumsy, cute female lead who stumbles and giggles about. And the more mature partner who can wield a sword and protect her.

I tried to find information on this cast. I was more intrigued by the mature swordswoman than the giggle box. I’d also like to know who directed this. This was a very sweet, effervescent 2-minute girl love that could have easily been a commercial for sesame cakes or buns. Wind machines, featherlight dresses and hair blowing in the breeze, and a gauzy lens all gave this a romantic, dreamlike quality. Nothing earth shattering, just a miniscule bubbly slice of life to put a smile on your face.

11 December 2024

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Solid little historical gore filled zombie romp

I love a good zombie film and this ticked two of my personal niche favorites; zombies in World War II. Set during the Japanese invasion of the then Kingdom of Thailand in 1941, the resistance was shortlived lasting only a few hours before the ceasefire was called. This movie adds in the 'zombie' element. While not a new story, as the WW II human experimentation angle ending in a zombie outbreak, is a somewhat well-worn trope (Dead Snow, Outpost, Overlord), Operation Undead does have a unique take on how the undead operate, eating the flesh of the living while trying to keep their humanity but ultimately failing and the world burns around them.

As a fan of paratical zombie effects I was delighted by the ultra gore. Some solid limb ripping, and eviscerations, the plot had be guessing where they were headed right until the end.

As a history and horror nerd I was very much the target audience for this one, and if you like me enjoy a good zombie watch, I recommend.

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Good concept, meh execution

Firstly, I think the whole Akina livestream subplot was incredibly redundant. Especially once they revealed that Mei and Hibiki's family had a connection to the jukai curse and the box for at least 13 years, I just felt like Akina and her whole deal had no place in the movie. It would've been fine without it since the box and the jukai curse are interesting and feel unique. They probably only added Akina cuz she was in howling village and ox-head village so they needed to add her in for the last movie of the trilogy.
Next, It's a shame they didn't explain why the box ended up in the house the couple moved into, and just used it as an excuse to kill a bunch of Mei's friend group. Compared to the other two movies, this one holds last place (although I wouldn't say it's a terrible movie).
The english name also sucks incredibly hard. Sure, it's a reference to Aokigahara forest, but just omitting the word "suicide" would make it fit the movie better in my opinion, since the topic of suicide isn't really explored in it and just focuses on the curse making people do things against their will. Also why the hell did Mei and Hibiki's mother sacrifice herself to save their kids when the stupid box will try to take them 13 years later anyway? Makes her death feel useless.

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Unresolved Fates

The movie had some great action scenes, a clever heist plot, and a talented cast, but the ending just didn’t work for me. It felt weird and unsatisfying, lacking the resolution I expected. The unresolved fates of characters like Zampano, Yenicall, and Macao Park left me with too many questions and loose ends. I wanted more closure, especially after all the twists and betrayals that kept the story so gripping. While the buildup was exciting and filled with tension, the ending felt chaotic, rushed, and incomplete, which kind of ruined the overall experience for me. It left me wondering what could have been.

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"Cheer up"

Ophelia is a short film by Celina Mae Medina. It was not only her thesis but also a result of “two years of personal crisis and research.” The film was dedicated to her friend Allen. While this film is important, if the discussion of suicide is a trigger you may want to avoid it. **

Lia is a college student suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. Scattered throughout her bedroom are sticky notes with positive messages. Her parents try talking with her and at her. “Cheer up.” Always helpful advice when a loved one is having a mental health crisis. They blame her girlfriend and each other. Lia wants to see a psychiatrist, feeling she can no longer go on. Her parents are convinced the problem is spiritual and resist sending her to a psychiatrist, using alternative treatments.

The film did not glorify suicide nor ridicule anyone needing mental health help. Lia’s family was financially well off. Her parents loved her even if they were clueless. But clinical depression and suicidal thoughts don’t care about any of that. Willing them away or praying them away is like trying to put out a four-alarm fire with an eye dropper of water. Director Medina made her short film available on YouTube during the pandemic to start conversations and to help people who are struggling to not feel so isolated. Ophelia showed how devastating and destructive it could be to hear platitudes from people who did not or could not understand the depth of her anguish/and were in denial about how deeply it ran. The running time for Ophelia may have been short but this gut punch of a film will be remembered much longer.

10 December 2024

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Spoilery Trigger Warning Below


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Suicide

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A bus ride you will not forget

Many of the short films I’ve watched have been heartwarming, life affirming, or poignant. Bus 44 blew those sentiments up in 11 minutes of dismal human nature with a series of shock and awe.

Bus 44 travels through a rural area of idyllic lined trees and farm lands. The female bus driver stops for a young man who innocently flirts with her. At the next stop, two men enter the bus with evil on their minds. They rob the bus and make a decision that will prove fateful for everyone.

Director Dayyan Eng squeezed every minute out of this film imbuing the two leads with enough emotions to make them feel real. He managed to hit the Goldilocks Effect with the film not running too short nor too long. Without a whit of compassion, he also demonstrated the dire consequences of the Bystander Effect.

Bus 44 was short, horrifying, and satisfying in a grisly and perverse way. If you are looking for a feel good film, this is not it. Bus 44 showed the dark side of criminal behavior and group passivity. This well made film earned the film festival awards it won.

10 December 2024

***Spoilery trigger warning listed below***

Trigger warning: It’s listed as a spoiler in the tags, but for some people this needs to be more prominently displayed-Rape

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Revenge and Broken Minds

The film shows how the mind can be both scary and unreliable, changing the way characters see the world. What’s even scarier is how the people we trust, especially family, can hurt us more than anything else. The real villains aren’t strangers, but those who should care for us. The film plays with the idea that the mind can be both terrifying and unreliable, as it twists and distorts reality under enough pressure. It also explores what people are willing to do to get revenge or save their loved ones, pushing them to make unimaginable choices. It’s a film that leaves a lasting impression due to its strong performances, gripping storytelling, and unforgettable plot twists.

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