kevn57 Reviews

The Witcher (2019– )

GOT vs Witcher

[16 September 2021]

There is more actual fantasy in the Witcher in 8 episodes than in 8 seasons of GOT.

Love Before Breakfast (1936)

Simply Terrific

[11 May 2012]

Last Night I watched A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011)a movie that supposedly represents a modern day romantic comedy, I didn't get one laugh and the bevy of actresses in that movie all combined couldn't compare to Carole Lombard.

I love Lombard's movies she's always entertaining as well as strikingly beautiful, this movie came out the same year as "My Man Godfrey" and while this movie can't compare to Godfrey I think Carole with her starring role in this film is more of a showcase for her. The plot is nothing special, spoiled rich girl and powerful businessman go head to head, but it's the performances especially the chemistry between Lombard and Preston that make this movie worth seeing.

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

A Fun Kung Fu movie

[5 May 2012]

The best animated movie I've seen since Shrek. Po was funny, as was Oogway when he wasn't trying to be inspiring. This movie will also serve as a nice introduction to martial arts movies to kids or friends who wouldn't sit through a subtitled movie. I hope that this movie inspires kids to seek out other martial arts movies animated or live action.

I quite enjoyed the Dragon Scroll's secret which I take was an homage to Bruce Lee's "Circle Of Iron" "Book".

I'd recommend this movie to fans of Jackie Chan's "Drunken Master", Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu Hustle" or Chow's "Shaolin Soccer" which I thought was his funniest movie yet.

Dororo (2007)

If you like 80's fantasy movies you'll love this

[26 January 2008]

The film opens on a bloody battlefield, Kentei year 3048, the battle is over but the slaughter of the fallen continues the conquering general Lord Kagemitsu enters a sealed temple of 48 demons, the Hell Shrine. Kagemitsu makes a deal with the demons to give them 48 parts of his newborn son's body in return the demons are to make Kagemitsu the ruler of the world. The mutilated baby has survived and twenty years later he's looking to take back those body parts as he travels the world slaying demons. His name is Hyakkimaru and he's played by Tsumabuki Satoshi (Orange Days, ), Shibasaki Kou (Galileo, Orange Days) plays Dororo, another victim of the long war Kagemitsu has waged, it's cost her family and home she joins him as he travels battling demons, regaining body parts. Her ultimate aim is to use his demon slaying sword to assassinate Kagemitsu.

The story is based on a manga by the incredible Osamu Tezuka, and the stars of Orange Days, who couldn't have stepped into more different roles. From the sophisticated Detective Utsumi in Galileo to the ragtag thief in Dororo, she great in the role of comic relief and she does her work perfectly. After Hyakkimaru slays the first demon, Dororo is covered in a shower of blood. This happens to her countless times throughout the movie to her frustration. The special effects range from pretty good to fairly bad, one particularly poor effect was demon that reminded me of a man sized rubber-suited Godzilla. Spotty effects aside the film is loads of fun, never taking itself too seriously this is like a Fritz Leiber Fafhrd And Gray Mouser tale brought to film. If you like 80's fantasy movies like Conan, Sword and the Sorcerer, or Deathstalker give this movie a try. If you prefer High Fantasy like Lord of the Rings give this a pass and try the Korean TV drama The Legend instead.

Ghost Train (2006)

Use of Cthulhu Mythos a definite plus

[25 March 2007]

I don't generally like horror movies, I absolutely hate slasher stuff and the real gory horror movies too. But I occasionally do enjoy a good Japanese horror movie because most are long on suspense and pretty low on gore. The Ring and Ju-on being prime examples. I gave this one a try because two of my favorite stars are in it Oguri Shun and Sawajiri Erika, they were good but the movie in general is nothing special. One really cool thing about it though is that it used some of HP Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos, a carved relief in a subway tunnel and Erika's character is looking to goto school abroad at the Miskatonic University.

Ye yan (2006)

Best Non Tradtional Version of Hamlet I've seen

[23 October 2006]

Wu Luan is banished when his father the Emperor of 900 AD China marries Wu Luan's girlfriend making her Empress Wan and Wu Luans stepmother. When his Uncle murders his father and marries his stepmother assassins are dispatched to finalize his uncle's new position as Emperor Li. The assassins' arrival at the theater where Wu Laun studies ignites the first of the marvelous fight sequences. The amphitheater is multileveled with ramps connecting the different areas . The assassins slide down the ramps and fly through the air as they decimate all of the masked actors in a beautiful wuxia ballet of death in their attempt to murder Wu Luan.

Thus begins the Wuxia adaptation of Hamlet however the stories main focus is on the Empress Wan as she tries to save her stepson and former lover from the same fate that befell his father.

The film is beautifully shot the outdoor scenes taking advantage of the natural beauty of the landscape while the interior scenes at the place and amphitheater are gorgeous and impart an epic feel to the story.

The acting is also quite nice, with Zhang Ziyi being the standout in her portrayal of Empress Wan. Her acting has matured quite a bit since I first saw her in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Her fight scenes are also quite good. Daniel Wu as Wu Laun and You Ge as Emperor Li both give fine performances.

The fight scenes are beautifully staged and shot by all involved. The opening fight sequence in the amphitheater is my personal favorite. My only complaint is there are not enough fights, but I understand that this is a limitation of the source material. I'm sure when Shakespeare wrote it he never envisioned its adaptation to wuxia.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes wuxia, historical epics, or someone looking for a neat twist to Shakespeare's Hamlet.

I have this review and some screen shots posted on my blog burndvdburn.blogspot.com

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

I waited 32 years for this movie. It was worth the wait!

[28 December 2001]

I waited 32 years for this movie. It was worth the wait!I first read the book in the 60's, and suffered through the animation movies. I and thankfully the director were ready for the version Tolkien would have made, if he had made movies instead of legends.

Golfballs! (1999)

If you bet on golf and like T&A, rent this video

[5 September 1999]

Of course you know who's going to win the bet the moment it's agreed to, but then again that is exactly what this movie is for, mindless fun. Save it for a rainy day when you can't make it to the course yourself, and dream about the day when your favorite club installs a cart wash.