Except for one quick, brutal, and negligible scene early on, “The Final Master” abides by that most sacred of martial arts film shibboleths: The challengers must attack the Master one at a time.
NWAW at SIFF
This Thai feature doesn’t show us the island until very late in the film. It’s not all that big on funerals either. What it does show us, for most of its 1 hour and 44 minutes, is three people arguing which direction to go in their car. One of them is always sure that at least one of the others is wrong — that they missed a turn, took a wrong turn, blew through an intersection, or got spun around in wide, slow-going circles.
“Phantom of the Theatre“
“Phantom of the Opera,” a novel by Gaston Leroux, was serialized in France between 1909 and 1910, and published in book form later in 1910. A tale of demented love between a beautiful young singer and a scarred musical genius hiding in the bowels of the Paris Opera House, it’s inspired several film versions, notably the 1925 silent classic starring Lon Chaney Sr., stage adaptations, and at least two musicals, including the world-famous Andrew Lloyd Webber version that spawned its own film.
Homage to B movie pioneer
He went from epitomizing the yakuza drama, to deconstructing the yakuza drama, to destroying his own career. When director Seijun Suzuki, 44 years old in 1967, turned in his film “Branded to Kill” to his employer— Nikkatsu Motion Picture Company promptly fired him. He didn’t direct again for 10 years.
“Sword of Destiny” a shrunken version of the original classic
After more than a decade, the fantastical world of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” makes its belated return in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny.”
Martial arts legends shine on big screen
You may not know the name Fei-hung Wong (1847–1924), but if you’re into martial arts movies, you’ve probably seen some semblance of the legendary hero onscreen.
‘Kanako’ pits esteemed actor against a lot of pointless gore
By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly “The World of Kanako” begins with a Christmas celebration or, to be more precise, several Christmas celebrations. Snow falls slowly. Bright lights twinkle in […]
Top 10 films of 2015 — Films worth seeing again
By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly Troubling. Challenging. Problematic. Call 2015 what you want, it had plenty of reasons to stay in bed with the covers pulled over your eyes. Here are […]
East Side Sushi — Impactful food film hits Seattle theaters
By Tiffany Ran Northwest Asian Weekly We live in a time when films like the recently released “Burnt” and “Chef” (2014) project the glory of chefs and the culinary profession […]
Jafar Panahi’s “Taxi”
By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly If Jafar Panahi’s new movie comes off less than perfect—or even if it seems perfect—one must consider the circumstances. The Iranian director’s own government […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- …
- 41
- Next Page »