Review: "Thirst" (2009)

With “Thirst”, Korean director Park Chan-wook crafts a visually stylish twist on the vampire myth that succeeds both as a classic bloodstained horror movie and as a psychological drama that explores the dark depths of human nature.

Taking as its inspirational source the novel “Therese Raquin” by French author Emile Zola, “Thirst” focuses on the story of a good Catholic priest who, while volunteering for a dangerous medical experiment to treat a deadly disease, is accidentally transformed into a vampire. A reluctant vampire, he slurps blood from the IV tubes of comatose hospital patients rather than kill innocent people. Unfortunately for him, his bloodlust also manifests as an unquenchable “thirst” for the beautiful wife of his childhood friend. And so begins a time-tested tale of suffering, death and redemption.

Aside from a compelling story which is refreshed by being transported to modern day Korea, “Thirst” excels at conveying the intense feelings associated with desire and how they lead to complete destruction. Cinematography, set design and music work together to evoke a sense of claustrophobia and desperation.

The performances of the lead actors are also top-notch. Song Kang-ho captures the sense of forlornness appropriate for a priest turned vampire. But it is Kim Ok-bin who shines in the "Therese Raquin" role, transforming her character from innocence to sensuality and culminating in demonic rage.

Review: "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin" (1978)

For martial arts movie enthusiasts, “The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin” is one of the best. Gordon Liu plays San De, a university student rebelling against Manchu rule during the early Ching Dynasty. When his family, teacher and fellow students are massacred, he escapes and makes his way to the Shaolin Temple. Determined to learn kung fu in order to seek revenge against the Manchu oppressors, he submits to the rigorous training of the Shaolin monks.

One of the film's highlights is watching San De progress through the 36 chambers. The training sequences are impressive, combining solid action with a bit of whimsy as San De discovers that mastering the various fighting techniques and weapons is not as easy as he initially thought.

What raises “The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin” above the typical martial-arts revenge flick is its depiction of the spiritual essence of kung fu. We come to admire San De not because he becomes a master fighter but because, by developing his inner discipline, he becomes a better and more enlightened person.

Review: "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie" (2001)

Based on the popular animated TV series, “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie” is a stylish and fast-paced crime thriller filled with adventure, intriguing characters and fabulous music.

Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe in gritty, film-noir style, “Cowboy Bebop” follows the adventures of Spike Spiegel, a lackadaisical Bruce Lee type bounty hunter living on a futuristic and multi-ethnic Mars, and his band of bounty hunting comrades as they pursue a terrorist intent on unleashing a deadly virus that would destroy the planet. Living on the spaceship Bebop, Spike’s crew is an interesting cast of characters: renaissance-man Jet Black is a hardworking and gruff ex-cop; headstrong and sexy Faye Valentine is addicted to gambling and a fighter pilot extraordinaire; free-spirited and eccentric Edward (a girl) is a genius computer hacker with boundless energy; and “data dog” Ein, an exceptionally intelligent Welsh Corgi adept at playing chess amongst other super-dog talents.

“Cowboy Bebop” is a fun ride and the best parts are the amazing fight sequences, on par with any good live-action film. From the opening fight in a grocery store to the showdown on the bridge with the villain, the pacing is suspenseful and the choreography is creative. The scene where Spike, disguised as an office cleaning man, first confronts Electra, a special detective also on the trail of the terrorist, using buckets, mops and brooms is especially impressive.

The production design is also noteworthy as it beautifully captures the look and feel of a multicultural world. The design of the Arab sector is particularly intriguing. Finally, kudos must go to the eclectic music, created by Yoko Kanno, which blends a variety of jazz, classical, blues and rock tunes that underscore the multicultural setting.

Review: "Tekkon Kinkreet" (2006)

Tekkon Kinkreet” is a fast-paced and poignant animated film that features stunning visuals, interesting characters and an emotionally resonant story of brotherly love.

Loosely translated as “concrete jungle”, “Tekkon Kinkreet” opens with the image of a black crow soaring out of the clouds and swooping down over Treasure Town, a decaying and crime-ridden underbelly of a major Japanese metropolis. The symbolism of the black crow as an augury of death and destruction is appropriate given that “Tekkon Kinkreet” is essentially a tale of transformation – of a city and its people.

Part fantasy, part action-adventure, “Tekkon Kinkreet” centers on the story of Black and White, two orphaned boys with unusual superpowers, who live on the streets of Treasure Town and band together to battle various mobster factions that threaten their beloved home by razing the city center to build a modern amusement park. Black is a tough, pessimistic, anger-filled teenager whose first instinct is to fight. By contrast, White is an innocent child with a sunny disposition who’s always dreaming of a better world filled with blue skies, sandy beaches and dives in the ocean with dolphins. Like yin and yang, together they balance each other; apart, they each fall prey to the extremes of their light and dark natures. Despite names that imply a one-note characterization, both Black and White are interesting characters that draw us in with their vulnerability and so we grow to care about what happens to them.

In addition to the narrative of the young boys, director Michael Arias also skillfully weaves an interesting secondary story about the rivalry between old-school, change-resisting yakuza who value comraderie and their traditional code of honor versus the cynical, modern bad guys who care only about power and money.

Although the film would have benefited from tighter editing - some of the action sequences are repetitive – “Tekkon Kinkreet” is a visually fantastic and thought-provoking anime for adults that explores themes of brotherhood and the impact of urban modernization.

Review: "Big Man Japan" (2007)

“Big Man Japan” is a weirdly entertaining but erratic film that blends a parody of monster movies with a bizarre spin on the superhero epic. It’s an oddball take on “Hancock” that focuses a satirical eye on Japanese nationalism and the world of media and reality TV.

Employing a faux documentary style of filmmaking, director Hitoshi Matsumoto (who also plays the lead character) chronicles the surreal adventures of Daisato, a lonely middle-aged man, gifted with the power to transform into a giant when shocked with electricity, as he goes about his job as chief monster fighter for the Department of Monster Prevention. While his father and grandfather were hailed as national heroes and mobbed by fans, monster fighting isn’t quite as popular it once was and TV ratings are down. Daisato is now a pariah within the community – people complain about the noise and property destruction he causes, his wife and child have left him and neighbors throw rocks through his windows and write obscene graffiti on his door. In order to supplement his income, Daisato takes on a talent agent whose job is to sell advertising space on his chest.

Despite the interesting premise, the film is often dull, focusing too much time on the mundane activities of its hero. Nevertheless, there are some poignant scenes, filled with touching details that reveal Daisato’s inherent sensitivity – his gentleness with a stray cat and his thoughtfulness in picking out just the right birthday present for his daughter - while capturing his sense of isolation.

The film picks up momentum during the computer-animated monster fight sequences, which have a purposely fake look as if filmed on miniature sets similar to the Godzilla movies. Broadcast on national TV, we watch Daisato battle a host of increasingly bizarre creatures such as a Stink monster and another with a long eyeball growing from its genital area that it tosses around like a bowling ball. Kudos to the creature designers!

“Big Man Japan” is likely one of the strangest films ever made. It’s over the top and over long but worth a viewing for its sheer quirkiness.

Review: "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" (2007)

“It takes 1,000 years of good prayers for a father and daughter to get along”. Thus begins “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers”: a touching portrait of a Chinese father and daughter trying to bridge the vast gap of geography, language and culture that divides them.

Based on a story by Li Yi Yun about an elderly man who travels from Beijing to Washington state to visit his recently divorced daughter he’s not seen in many years, “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers” is a wistful meditation on loneliness, connecting with strangers and the communication gap between parent and child. Henry O gives a subtle and heartfelt performance as Mr. Shi, a traditional Chinese father who is worried about his Americanized daughter and questions her decidedly non-traditional lifestyle choices. In turn, the daughter Yilan (Faye Yu) is defensive and resents her father’s meddling into her private life. Over the course of his short visit, they gradually open up and reveal some hidden secrets that enable them to begin to heal their relationship. Director Wayne Wang complements the father-daughter drama with a modest yet moving minor story between Mr. Shi and Madam, an Iranian immigrant he encounters in a local park, as they form a close bond talking about their children.

Overall, this is a quiet film - filled with moments of tenderness, humor and sadness - that illustrates some universal truths about human connection and how encounters between strangers can be more intimate than those amongst family.

Review: "Hard Boiled" (1992)

“Hard Boiled” is a gritty, powerful Hong Kong crime thriller in the vein of “Dirty Harry” that combines exciting, visceral action with characters that you care about.

Featuring strong performances by Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, “Hard Boiled” tells the story of Tequila (Chow), a tough-as-nails detective who loses his partner in a teahouse shootout with gun smugglers. Seeking revenge against the ruthless gangster kingpin responsible for his partner’s death, he teams up with Tony (Leung), a disillusioned undercover cop who has infiltrated the gangster’s lair, to bring down the smugglers and stop them from killing.

While the story is solid, the main reason to watch this flick is for the action sequences. Across three unique locations (teahouse, warehouse and hospital) , director John Woo manages to orchestrate a stylish and energetic ballet of gunfights, explosions and bare knuckle brawling that is truly eye-popping. Both Mr. Chow and Mr. Leung are believable as action heroes and very capable actors, imbuing their characters with compassion and bringing emotional resonance to the dramatic scenes.

It is to Mr. Woo’s credit that he allows some breathing room amidst all the fighting and chaos in order to flesh out the dramatic arc of the characters and inject a bit of humor. We can relate to Tequila and Tony -- both are inherently good guys trying to do the right thing against a morally corrupt villain who kills innocent people without remorse – and come to appreciate the bond of friendship that develops between them. Overall, this is a fine blending of action and drama.