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Upcoming Asian films to look out for
	Topic by: directorcholo Posted: July 28, 2003 - 1:26 PM PDT Last Reply: May 23, 2004 - 8:46 PM PDT

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author	topic: Upcoming Asian films to look out for
directorcholo	post #1  on July 28, 2003 - 1:26 PM PDT   Here is a list I made of a few upcoming Asian movies to get interested in. If you've seen any, feel free to post your opinion of them, or let me know if there's anything big that I missed (I'm sure there are many)... Shaolin Soccer (Hong Kong) Soccer-kung-fu-comedy-romance. One of the best Hong Kong movies ever, from the master Stephen Chow. Most of us have probably seen this one already, but you should know that the US release later this year will be dubbed, have about 15 minutes edited out, and a man's rear end censored. Shame on Miramax. (official US site with trailer) Zatoichi (Japan) Remake of the blind ninja movie series by the one and only Beat Takeshi. This one should be good. http://office-kitano.co.jp/zatoichi/>(official site with trailer) Natural City (South Korea) Big-budget post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie that looks a lot like Minority Report. (trailer) Dragonhead (Japan) Based on the manga of the same name, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi that could be good or bad, but the visual effects are amazing for sure. (official site with trailer) Taigukgi (South Korea) "A Saving Private Ryan style Korean Production from the director of Shiri". The movie isn't even done yet so we might have to wait until 2004 to see it. Wonderful Days (South Korea) The next big South Korean animated movie following My Beautiful Girl Mari, this sci-fi movie is getting a lot of hype as the "Akira of South Korea". I don't know how well the integration of 2-D and 3-D animation will hold up, as a few movies that have done that in the past didn't work too well... (official site with trailer) Warriors of Heaven and Earth (China) "Swordplay epic during China's Tung Dynasty involving the shipment of a sacred bone of Buddha artifact." Not much info on this one yet, but if Vicky Zhao is in it, it must be good... Battle Royale 2 (Japan) This is the most anticipated movie in Asian cinema right now. It takes the action up a notch from BR1, but there are mixed reviews about the plot and character development of the movie. (official site with trailer) Azumi (Japan) Samurai action from the director of "Versus", there were a lot of high hopes for this adaptation of the manga, but so far most reviews have been negative. The trailer looks great though and I for one can't wait to see it... (official site with trailer) Suriyothai (Thailand) Set in 16th century Thailand, a historical epic about Queen Suriyothai. Actually made in 2001, the original film is over three hours long, but for the US release they chopped off nearly an hour (ugh). The heavily-edited result leaves out a lot of essential information. I'd prefer to see the original cut, already released on DVD in Thailand-- hello Greencine? (official US site with trailer)
snafu	post #2  on July 28, 2003 - 1:46 PM PDT   great list, Shaoling Soccer could be rented from GC before but not now. Other than that I look forward to the rest of the movies.
Brujaria	post #3  on August 2, 2003 - 1:16 AM PDT   > On July 28, 2003 - 1:46 PM PDT snafu wrote: > --------------------------------- > great list, Shaoling Soccer could be rented from GC before but not now. Other than that I look forward to the rest of the movies. > ---------------------------------   Too bad they yanked it, that disc has an extended version on it plus extras. Nice disc.   The movie is great too. The best thing Chow has done since From Beijing with Love. Easily my fave HK comedy.
XiuLong	post #4  on September 14, 2003 - 7:19 PM PDT   Beat Takeshi's <i>Zatoichi</i> just won Toronto International Film Festival's People's Choice Award. Unfortunately, the North American rights for distribution were picked up by Miramax. Full story.
Cinenaut	post #5  on September 15, 2003 - 1:32 PM PDT   > On July 28, 2003 - 1:46 PM PDT snafu wrote: > --------------------------------- > great list, Shaoling Soccer could be rented from GC before but not now. Other than that I look forward to the rest of the movies. > --------------------------------- I probably shouldn't say anything (since I want to see a green bar), but I still see a big fat old Rent button on Shaolin Soccer.
Cinenaut	post #6  on September 15, 2003 - 1:33 PM PDT   Of course, the minute I posted that, I looked at the dates of the original posts. D'oh! Dreams of the (quickly approaching) big fat old edit button.
ggsuperhero	post #7  on September 16, 2003 - 11:01 AM PDT   hhmmmm it still is rentable, although it's a disc that's hard to find so you might have to wait. we're trying our best to get more copies in though. > --------------------------------- > great list, Shaoling Soccer could be rented from GC before but not now. Other than that I look forward to the rest of the movies. > ---------------------------------
kamapuaa	post #8  on November 4, 2003 - 7:22 PM PST   I finally got around to seeing Shaolin Soccer, and I hate to admit it, but Miramax may have the right idea in releasing a cut version. This isn't Fellini, where you demand to see the auteur's original version - as "Shaolin Soccer" is right now, it's a relatively funny movie. However, there's too many scenes that either drag or follow half-developed plot threads, and it harps on subjects that American audiences are familiar with, but probably don't consider comedic material. A little judicious editing might improve on it. Perhaps it could have some "Spirited Away" type double release. I'm rooting for one of those Sammi Cheng romantic comedies to be brought over - most Chinese comedies are just too wacky. I saw a preview for "Shaolin Soccer" before an action movie at a super-multi-plex, and I can't imagine it attracting that kind of crowd. Reminds me, reading through this is pretty entertaining - better than the actual movie!
Brujaria	post #9  on November 6, 2003 - 10:53 AM PST   > On November 4, 2003 - 7:22 PM PDT kamapuaa wrote: > --------------------------------- >Miramax may have the right idea in releasing a cut version. > --------------------------------- Persecute! Kill the heretic! I guess you are entitled to your opinion... I guess.
dpowers	post #10  on November 6, 2003 - 3:41 PM PST   it had some slow spots. on the other hand, some the bawdy alternate sequences on the DVD, such as the musical number and the seductress scene, are a riot. (i'm not kidding.)
amoon	post #11  on November 7, 2003 - 5:22 PM PST   I didn't want to start a new thread on this so I'll just post it here. PLEASE GET MORE KOREAN MOVIES!!!! A while back a requested a bunch of korean movies that I found on the web that are supposed to be either R1 or R0. I got a reply saying that they would look into it, and then nothing. What up yo! Am I the only one that wants to see Korean flicks? If that's the case I'll just shut up, but please tell me I am wrong. I mean it's great that you got a couple new ones, but I have been quite as I have watched other sections grow. Who's in charge of this crap? I wanna bust some balls. Cuz the Korean section is being sorely neglected. Wheew! Glad to get that off my chest. I don't wanna sound like a grumpy gus so I'll end by saying that you guys still kick ass, cuz at least you guys got some korean movies, oh yeah and the porn *wipes drool from mouth*
kamapuaa	post #12  on November 8, 2003 - 3:18 AM PST   I agree. I knew nothing about Korean movies until recently, but the ones I've seen have been some of my favorite rentals from Greencine. I hope Greencine's collection gets a little more breadth to it. Greencine should make space to build their Korean & Bollywood movie selections by not buying any more anime titles - I mean, once you've seen five or six of them, you've more-or-less seen them all, right? (ducks) I live in the Bay Area, and I see more and more Korean movies pop up at Chinese VCD stories. Does anybody have any Korean VCD stores they'd care to recommend, or Chinese places with a good & cheap selection?
kamapuaa	post #13  on November 8, 2003 - 3:35 AM PST   Ah, I should say my own favorites. My favorite VCD stories in the Bay Area are the ones around downtown Oakland or Sunset district. They're mostly interchangeable, but a lot of the time you'll find a movie at one store, then not at another. Downtown Oakland, hmmmm...at 9th and Franklin they have Firelink Entertainment, on Webster around 11th they have another good place, too, with a sidewalk display. And you can just wander around, there's other places. Costs are about $20 for 7 videos, although the cooler stuff at Firelink will cost maybe $5. The best selection (that I'm aware of), even if the prices are a little too high, is in downtown San Francisco's Chinatown, at that VCD store between the Li Po Lounge and Wells Fargo. Wish I could remember the address/name. A lot of the Japanese & Korean movies are downstairs, but the more mass-appeal ones will be found mixed in with the Chinese movies.
Eoliano	post #14  on November 8, 2003 - 5:55 PM PST   > XiuLong wrote: >Beat Takeshi's Zatoichi just won Toronto International Film Festival's People's Choice Award. Takeshi Kitano won the Best Director award at The Venice film Festival. >Unfortunately, the North American rights for distribution were picked up by Miramax. Miramax's release date for Zatoichi is June 4. But why unfortunaely?
Brujaria	post #15  on November 8, 2003 - 6:46 PM PST   > On November 8, 2003 - 5:55 PM PDT Eoliano wrote: > --------------------------------- > > XiuLong wrote: > >Unfortunately, the North American rights for distribution were picked up by Miramax. > > Miramax's release date for Zatoichi is June 4. But why unfortunaely? > --------------------------------- Uhhhh, why? Because it's Miram-Ax, so it will be: 1. Cut down to 73 minutes 2. Rescored with hip-hop sound track 3. Dubbed by drama school rejects 4. Advertised with yet another lame cover of "Kung Fu Fighting"
larbeck	post #16  on November 10, 2003 - 7:18 AM PST   Brujaria, that sounds VERY unfortanate, indeed. What films has Miram-Ax so butched in the past?
Brujaria	post #17  on November 10, 2003 - 10:51 PM PST   > On November 10, 2003 - 7:18 AM PDT larbeck wrote: > --------------------------------- > Brujaria, that sounds VERY unfortanate, indeed. What films has Miram-Ax so butched in the past? > --------------------------------- Just so you don't misunderstand, my tongue-in-cheek list is not based in fact - I honestly haven't heard anything about what they are really doing to Zatoichi - but that is typical of what they do to the films they purchase. Particularly Asian films. Their track record for damn near EVERYTHING that they have acquired has been ugly. They have altered more movies than I can list here. Every imported Jackie Chan film that has gone through their hands has been heavily cut, rescored and dubbed (and DAMN, do they ever get tired of using covers of "Kung-Fu Fighting"?). Highlander: Endgame, Halloween 6 and Hellraiser: Bloodline were butchered beyond belief and in the case of the latter two, were substantially reshot. Love it or hate it, Kill Bill was completely truncated so that it could be released as two films in an attempt to quadruple the bookings and receipts (double the number of showings per day per "volume"). Still other films are "trimmed" of dialogue, violence, or whatever they think "needs" to be cut to appeal to the American market (usually dialogue is the first thing to hit the floor - we Americans don't cotton to all that talkin' apparently). Often films are retitled as well. The Pope Must Diet? Eeesh! Gimme a break. I think all the stuff they were going to do with Shaolin Soccer really prompted some ire and got more people aware of Miramax's crimes against cinema. There was a lot of hollering about them doing their usual hack job on it and the venomous reaction from fans on the 'net seems to have had an effect. Will it affect their usual policy of mutilation? Hard to say, but I wouldn't lay cash on it.
Eoliano	post #18  on November 11, 2003 - 8:47 AM PST   >>But why unfortunately? I knew that would get a rise out of all of you! I've vehemently slammed Miramax elsewhere on these boards, specifically Harvey Weinstein, for demanding cuts to Gangs of New York, and no matter what Mr. Scorsese has said regarding his accord to its final length, the cuts ultimately diminished his film.
Eoliano	post #19  on November 11, 2003 - 9:11 AM PST   Also, being a dedicated fan of Takeshi Kitano, it would be dreadful were Zatoichi to lose one minute of its 116 minute running time. I've heard first-hand reports from Tokyo that this is his finest film to date, and impatiently anticipate its release, and preferably uncut.
Brujaria	post #20  on November 11, 2003 - 11:30 AM PST   > On November 11, 2003 - 8:47 AM PDT Eoliano wrote: > --------------------------------- > >>But why unfortunately? > > I knew that would get a rise out of all of you! > > I've vehemently slammed Miramax elsewhere on these boards, specifically Harvey Weinstein, for demanding cuts to Gangs of New York, and no matter what Mr. Scorsese has said regarding his accord to its final length, the cuts ultimately diminished his film. > > --------------------------------- There's another good case in point. I don't usually get too worked up about mainstream cinema, it's usually genre stuff that takes a beating and no one stands up for. It's only the old school who consider horror and exploitation films to be a legit art form (no matter how cheap and tacky) and sadly we are not legion. Harvey Moronstein is essentially a thug from Queens in control of a film empire. His knowledge and appreciation of film is less than zero, his IQ is room-temperature and his business sense is like that of a back-alley knee-cracker. If you have ever had the dubious distinction of seeing him interviewed, his idiocy is blatantly obvious.

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