Biyeolhan geori, Review

Dirty Carnival, just another karaoke-singing, Korean ganster movie. Well not really, I just wanted to say that. There is karaoke, and it is a Korean gangster movie, but it was a cut above the average. The main gangster is quite likeable and seems to have a good heart, but then again he is quite ruthless and not above knocking off those who stand in his way. He says about his right hand man, that he can smile at his victims while killing at them. Is he really much different?

He is still supporting his family, a delinquent brother, smart sister, and ailing mother. He hooks up with his high school friends at a reunion of sorts. He courts the woman as his first true love. Another friend is now a budding film writer/director and he agrees to allow him to interview his gang for his new movie. The movie is a big hit, but is so close to the truth, it causes trouble in the gangster world.

The ending is surprising, so I won't tell. The fight scenes are choreographed looking, but not distractingly so. There is some blood, but hey, gangsters, they have a penchant for guns, knives and beating people to a pulp.

I will rate this one 3/5 acorns. I quite enjoyed it even though the singing was not that good. Some of the tattoos were funny.

Ghost Ships in the Sky, I'm a Skywatcher

I thought this sunset from last night looked like Ghost Ships off on the horizon.

There are at least 6 movies named Ghost Ship or AKA as Ghost Ship That I could find reference to.
1943
1952
1957
1992
1997
2002

Down in the Delta and The Inheritance, Reviews

About all I could yesterday is plant myself in front of the TV. I got stuck on the Women's Channel and watched two movies.

Down in the Delta stars Alfre Woodard who I remember first seeing on Hill Steet Blues. She plays a down and out mom from Chicago who returns to the Delta and finds roots. Wesley Snipes plays her successful cousin from the big city. The corny object in this movie is a family heirloom, a candleabra named Nathan. Her mom always hid Nathan from her since she suspected Nathan would be sold for drug money. Spoiler alert! Nathan was actually the name of here great, great, great, something grandfather. He had been sold for the candleabra right in front of his wife and son, Jesse. As the tale goes, Jesse has an opportunity during the civil war to steal the candlebra, and he roams the country trying to find his father. But, he never does. Instead he talks to candelabra and it has been passes down through the generations. Once Alfre's character has healed, she becomes the keeper of "Nathan". Throw in an autistic child, and a chicken plant going out of business just for good luck.

The Inheritance is based on a Louisa May Alcott story and is a 1997 mad for TV production. It is a Pride and Prejudice sort of tale. Tom Conti plays the dad, level headed and fair. He's always been one of my favorite actors. Meredith Baxtor plays his wife. It was great to see Max Gail who I remember as Det. Stan 'Wojo' Wojciehowicz from Barney Miller, even though he plays and AH. The heroine in this show is an orphan raised by a well to do family. She is loved and cherished. She wins the title for kindest, most honest heroine around. Everyone loves her. This movie just has to have a happy ending. The bitchy houseguest gets hers in end, our heroine has the fairy tale ending she deserves.

It did my hollow head some good to lay back and soak in the good vibes of all these wonderful people. It did me good to see a happy ending. I was entertained!

I will rate these both 2.5/5 acorns. No clives.

Waaah!

Waah, I'm a-wracked with a virus. And I got my flu shot! Waaah, it didn't work.
Waah, waah, my season 2 Battlegalactic DVds aren't here yet.

I finished the miniseries and the first season yesterday, so I can't wait for them to come. Season 1 was an early Christmas present from my awsome sister in Madison. Sisters are the best!!

The Dirk Bogarde character from the original series as been morphed into a woman. It works. Boomer is played by a very beautiful Korean/Canadian actress named Grace Park. Olmos is really great as the head military dude. The actor who played Apollo in the original series is back in this series as a convicted terrorist for interest. The cyclons are new, improved and developing human traits. I don't know that they should be having babies, though. Why is it that every sci-fi drama has to birth babies? I still think that when Keiko had her baby they should have been able to beam it out instead of going through all that breathing and fluid. Man I think I ranted on this before!

I have amassed all the anti-flu remedies and symptomatic treatments I had laying around the house. So far, I'm still sick:(. I put them in my new Magic Bullet, another early Christmas present from by other awsome sister and made Airborne slushy. It helps to keep that feverish feeling down.

Ye Yan, Review

Ziyi Zhang stars in this movie about the intrigue in the Chinese court. Growing up she was in love with the prince, but she ends up marrying his father so he goes far a way and studies dance. When the Emperor dies, supposedly bitten by a scorpion, his brother steps up to take his place and his wife. The prince is summoned back, and survives assassination atempts on his way back.

The film is choreographed almost like a musical. The fight scenes are involved masked soldiers and very red blood. It is a very beautifully done. My main problem with this film is the title. I kept waiting for the Banquet. I was hoping for great food but it was not to be. I also was not sure what to make of the ending. I think the relationships between the the Empress, Emperor and Prince were not developed well and I didn't really like any of them very much.

I will rate this movie 2.5/5 acorns. (No clives).

I made a serious attempt to clean up the house, but alas was waylaid by the computer, the movie and great ramen at Taishoken. I managed to talk my son into changing a lamp for me. I look at all the papers on my desk and realize I have a problem with throwing away receipts. Is it safe to throw them in the trash since only the last four digits appear on most of them now, or do I still have to shred them? If I don't figure that out soon, I'll be buried in an avalance of register receipts. Yikes!

Ansatsu, Review

This black and white samurai picture from 1967 takes place during a period of Japan during the Tokugawa era, when the samurai is falling from his place in society. The emperor will eventually replace the shogun as ruler of Japan and the feudal period which generated so many great pictures about loyalty is crumbling. It has none of the romance of that previous period just the reality of ronin. Some hold to Bushido, but many switch sides at will for survival or other ends.

It does have some great music. Many of the Japanese movies made today use the more modern music been written, but the older scores utilizing a more traditional sound appeal to me much more. I suppose if zombies are jumping out then a heavy metal score really works, but when two highly trained samurai are facing down in a black and white movie, with the dust swirling and eyes glaring, there is nothing like the bleak silence broken by staccato of drums or the hiss of the shakuhachi to enhance the drama.

It is a well made movie, but I am swayed by the period. I like a "hero" to anchor the movie. So there you have it. Much like Raging Bull with it's great film making and acting, I so hated Deniro's character, I have to defer rating the movie to those who can stomach it.

Jeez, there I am true to form, running instead of taking a stand! Yeah, but it's just a movie! I will say, no clives.

Nacho Libre, Lost Season 2 and an oldie

I watched Nacho Libre because after watching all that existentialist stuff at the film festival, I want to laugh. Nacho Libre was silly and fun. I enjoyed the scene where he is in the ring flapping like an eagle. There was not much deep in this movie. Watching Black jump and tumble reminded me of John Belushi, another agile "big" man. I will rate this 3/5 acorns.

While watching Lost, Season 2 I was reminded of the PC games Myst and Riven. The scene change music, the island adventure areas, and the water and mystery all added to this memory. I was very disappointed in Walt shooting Michelle Rodriguez. She needed to be shot as she was difficult to like, but still, I thought better of Walt. I was a little annoyed that food seems to rain down on the lost ones and that they have all the conforts of home in the hatch. I was also annoyed at the unaturally (at least for Hawaii) red mangos that Sawyer was picking from the bamboo forest. I could have sworn mangos grew on mango trees. I wish Sayid would stop torturing people. I mean, I know he is good at it, but hey, shouldn't he be cured by now? All and all I was still amused and intrigued. I will have to wait for Season 3 to come out.

While over at my friend's house I also get to watch oldies with her mom. Sunday we watched Roman Holiday (1953)with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. What beautiful people they both are. Life seemed so much more innocent back then. I also watched Move Over Darling (1963) with James Garner and Doris Day. It was so funny, but the other day I ate at a Vietnamese restaurant run by Japanese people, and heard Que Sera Sera in the background. How Doris Day:)