X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Genre: Action/ Adventure

Language: English

Director: Gavin Hood (Rendition)

Cast: Hugh Jackman (Australia), Liev Schreiber (Defiance), Danny Huston, Ryan Reynolds(Definitely, Maybe)

Runtime: 108 min

Plot:

In this prequel to the successful X-Men franchise, Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) lives a mutant life, and struggles to unlock the secrets to his past. Set in the 1960s and 70s, the movie portrays Wolverine’s hunt for revenge against the villain responsible for the death of his girlfriend. Logan will ultimately take his search even further when he learns the full truth of his origin, while also heading in a bold, new direction.

Watched the movie on 30 April night @ GV Vivo with Sylvia.

I'm not a X-Men fan though, the is my 2nd X-men film. Thus as a general public point of view, the movie is full of actions and special effects. It tells how Wolverine became un-destroyable by going through the mutant Weapon X program, and the main man of all the mutants.

As this is supposed to be the prequel of X-Men, the story bring us all back to the last century, for which Wolverine and Sabertooth serve the country by fighting wars. As they don't die, they just keep fighting different wars, probably from American Civil War to World War I to World War II to maybe even the Vietnam War since I couldn't tell the timeline from the different uniforms they wore.

Good thing is, it has romance, betrayal, vengeance, action, a touch of immortality... All the good elements are there in the right doses. However, the only flaw I want to point out is, age is really catches up with all human. One day after I watched Wolverine, I saw an interview of Hugh Jackman on TV for his role as Wolverine in The Last Stand. He looked slightly younger, lesser wrinkles on his face. Thus the imperfectness occurs. Luckily Harry Porter is shot gradually as those kids grown up. Else the characters will probably be portrayed by different actors in order to be convincing.

ah-deng says: 3½ / 5 I think I may have missed the 2nd post credits scenes... if I read correctly.

252 Signal of Life

Genre: Action

Language: Japanese

Director: Nobuo Mizuta

Cast: Ito Hideaki (Umizaru), Uchino Masaaki, Takayuki Yamada (Crows: Episode 0), Yu Kashii (Death Note)

Runtime: 128 minutes

Plot:

A few weeks after a gigantic earthquake struck Tokyo, the temperature of the Pacific Ocean suddenly increased and caused a tremendous typhoon! The largest typhoon ever in Japan heads towards Tokyo with devastating force. The tidal wave generated by the typhoon covers the coastal city area with water. The Tokyo Fire Department dispatches its elite rescue unit, Hyper Rescue, and their sonar picks up a signal from underwater. Beneath the ground, in one devastated subway station, there is someone sending out a code which is known to rescuers only: 252 252 "We have survivors!In the extreme situation, a rescue party tries to save the survivors at the risk of their own lives. In the face of death, a daring rescue operation is to be carried out, intersecting with many dramas of family, love, pride, and human life.

Watched the movie on 25 April night @ GV Vivo with Sylvia.

The movie depicts the endeavors of humans in the extreme conditions in the aftermath of a disaster. For a country like Japan whose geographical location is pruned to the natural disasters, I can't helped but to feel relieved that I don't have to go through these turmoils.

The Tsunami scenes for the movie made huge impact. I could imagine what happened to Phuket a few years ago after seeing those scenes. For the Tokyo flood sequence, the tremendous amounts of water were poured onto the sets to create a flash flood, achieving the horror of a flood that can't be depicted with the CG. CG was used in the scenes of tidal waves swallowing up the Tokyo bay area to actualize the awesome force of nature. Impressive!

Ito Hideaki has became the spokesman for all uniform occupation, thus when he wore a suit and worked in a car showroom, it just didn't feel right. He looked extremely convincing in no matter what kind of uniform. Maybe he can try to be a postman, technician, mechanic, or even a plumber in his next project.

However, I felt the movie was too safe and draggy. I wasn't moved in terms of emotion, compared to Knowing, which 252 - Signal of life failed to do so. I thought if the main man was to sacrifice instead of him walking out steadily, carrying his ex-colleague, seem more realistic. It would probably earned more tears from the audience.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 It is fate that brings one disaster, it is destiny that bring one hero to rescue.

Gu Gu the Cat

Genre: Drama/ Fantasy

Language: Japanese

Director: Inudo Isshin (Yellow Tears)

Cast: Koizumi Kyoko (Tokyo Sonata), Ueno Juri (Rainbow Song), Kase Ryo (10 Promises to my Dog)

Runtime: 116 minutes

Plot:

Asako, a comic book artist in her early forties, is devastated by the death of her precious cat, Saba, which kept her company for over 15 years, as her assistant Naomi watches on with concern. Naomi is a young woman in her early twenties, who has her set of worries about love and future. Then one day, Asako meets a new cat, Goo-goo, which brings new joy and vitality to her life. What is more, she finds potential for love in a man named Seiji. Like Asako, Naomi, too, embarks on a new life plan.

Watched the movie on 25 April evening @ GV Vivo with Sylvia.

After watching dogs, pig, now comes the cat. So what's next?

It is all about a woman, a gentle yet talented but lonely woman. Thus her pet made her life full. The little kitten truly is endearing. Although I'm not a cat lover, it did put a smile on my face.

The 4 assistants' performance helped a lot in the movie, without them, I bet I would have fall asleep. Thus I guess this story should be made into drama instead. Then the extension of each character could be developed and the story would be more detail.

From a manga to a movie, this is not the 1st one. But with a cat, it may not be simple. However, it failed to hook me towards the end, which i felt disappointed.

ah-deng says: 2½ / 5 What's with the long-haired narrator? So extra....

Magique!

Genre: Comedy

Language: French

Director: Philippe Muyl (The Butterfly)

Cast: Marie Gillain, Louis Dussol, Holly O'Brien

Runtime: 91mins

Official Website: http://www.magique-lefilm.fr/

Plot:

On an isolated farm live Betty and her 10-year-old son Tommy. Tommy rarely sees his mother happy and he would love to see a smile light up her face, but how? One day he discovers that a circus is coming to town. But, due to legal technicalities, they are forbidden to set up their tent in the town. Certain that he has found the solution, Tommy seizes the opportunity and succeeds in convincing his mother to welcome the circus onto their property. The caravans come in and set up in the field next to the farm house. But another problem arises: Bingo, the man in charge of transporting the main tent got lost along the way, and without the tent, there cannot be a show. While all the performers are waiting for the tent to arrive, Tommy gets the opportunity to learn a little bit about the joyful life of transients. Slowly, love begins for two lonely hearts.

Watched the movie on 24 April evening @ The Picturehouse with Vanessa.

A french movie that has the bollywood factor without the dancing. Strong children musical presence. The songs in the movie are linked and the story is told by lots of singing.

The child actor left me good impression. He is matured yet he possessed curiosity like every child has. The bonding between the son and the single-mum, reminds me of someone... The crews of the circus taught young Tommy tricks and life.

Being friends is probably the most important thing for young Tommy who had no father and siblings. How many children could experience the fact that the whole circus crew staying at your house?

It has been a long time since I watched such a movie that does not require much thinking. But will I still remember it after 2 weeks?

ah-deng says: 2½ / 5 A french musical in the form of movie. Wanna try some fried cricket in honey?

28th Hong Kong Film Awards

The HKFA is the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in Mainland China and Taiwan. This year's HKFA was held on Sunday, 19 April. The winners are:

最佳電影 Best Film

葉問 Ip Man

最佳導演 Best Director

許鞍華（天水圍的日與夜）Ann Hui On Wah (The Way We Are)

最佳男主角 Best Actor

張家輝（証人）Nick Cheung Ka Fai (The Beast Stalker)

最佳女主角 Best Actress

鮑起靜（天水圍的日與夜）Paw Hee Ching (The Way We Are)

最佳男配角 Best Supporting Actor

廖啟智（証人）Liu Kai Chi (The Beast Stalker)

最佳女配角 Best Supporting Actress

陳麗雲（天水圍的日與夜）Chan Lai Wun (The Way We Are)

最佳新演員 Best New Performer
徐嬌（長江7號）Xu Jiao (CJ 7)

最佳亞洲電影 Best Asian Film

集結號 (Assembly)

终身成就奖 Lifetime Achievement Award

萧芳芳 Josephine Siao

Revolutionary Road

Genre: Drama

Language: English

Director: Sam Mendes (Jarhead)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (Body of Lies), Kate Winslet (The Reader), Michael Shannon (World Trade Center)

Runtime: 119 min

Plot:

Set in 1955, Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) are a young, thriving couple living with their two children in a Connecticut suburb. Their self-assured exterior masks a creeping frustration at their inability to feel fulfilled in their relationships or careers. Frank is mired in a well-paying but boring office job, and April is a housewife still mourning the demise of her hoped-for acting career. Determined to identify themselves as superior to the mediocre sprawl of suburbanites who surround them, they decide to move to France where they will be better able to develop their true artistic sensibilities, free of the consumerist demands of capitalist America. As their relationship deteriorates into an endless cycle of squabbling, jealousy and recriminations, their trip and their dreams of self-fulfillment are thrown into jeopardy.

Watched the movie on 19 April afternoon @ The Cathay with Sylvia.

Everyone thought that the Wheelers were the extraordinary, trendy and modern couple everyone wished to be. But behind their doors, they were unhappy. However, many issues contributed to the the unhappiness and they struggled to get out of it.

April Wheeler wanted to leave and changed her life, Frank Wheeler agreed but changed his mind. Weren't compromising and commitment factors in an marriage? Where did those gone to? If they were there, the ending probably will not be that dark. And one part where April told her husband: "No one forgets the truth, Frank, they just get better at lying." I got engraved with those words in my head.

One of their family friend, John Givings played by Michael Shannon, almost over-shadowed the couple. I had deep impression on him playing the role - a psychologically unstable son, who stole just about every scene he was in. And I believe that no matter he is mentally stable or not, he pointed out something interesting and I kind of agree -:

"You want to play house you got to have a job. You want to play nice house, very sweet house, you got to have a job you don't like. "

ah-deng says: 3½ / 5 Definitely not the typical romance nor wholesome family movie, are you able to face reality?

17 Again

Genre: Comedy

Language: English

Director: Burr Stears

Cast: Zac Efron (High School Musical 3: Senior Year), Leslie Mann (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Thomas Lennon (Hancock), Matthew Perry (The Whole Ten Yards)

Runtime: 102mins

Plot:

Class of 1989, Mike ODonnell is a star on his high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp. But instead, he decides to throw it all away to share his life with his girlfriend Scarlett and the baby he just learned they are expecting. Almost 20 years later, Mikes glory days are decidedly behind him. His marriage to Scarlett has fallen apart, he has been passed over for a promotion at work, his teenage kids think he is a loser, and he has been reduced to crashing with his high school nerd-turned-techno-billionaire best friend Ned. But Mike is given another chance when he is miraculously transformed back to the age of 17.

Watched the movie on 18 April evening @ Cathay AMK Hub with Sylvia.

Doesn't everyone wish to be able to go back to the days where they were the happiest? For me, of course! ? However, when is the best age to go back?

What if you do not have a choice but could only go back to the time where you are suppose to make up for the regret moment or remake certain decision. But all these dreams could only happen if there is a fairy who could grant one this wish. And we all know that such fairies only appear in fictions or dreams.

I'm glad that the main lead realized that his return as a younger person was not for himself, it was for his family. He guided his children and rekindled his love with his ex-wife. It make him realized that the decision he made in the past was not regretted. But why did he only realize that when he could have did it with returning to his youth? The only way to explain is probably that one needs to pull oneself out of the situation to better judge the situation.

So why dream about going back to the past and reminisce it? We should keep it in our heart and move on with our life and work towards a better future as you may not know, the "golden" age will keep changing when we look back to our life.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 Matthew Perry does not seem to be the right casting for Zac Efron's older version, what about Chris O'Donnell?

Crossing Over

Genre:Drama

Language: English
Director: Wayne Kramer

Cast: Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta (Battle in Seattle)

Runtime: 113mins

Plot:

Crossing Over is a multi-character canvas about immigrants of different nationalities struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles. The film deals with the border, document fraud, the asylum and green card process, work-site enforcement, naturalization, the office of counter terrorism and the clash of cultures.

Watched the movie on 17 April night @ GV Vivo Europa with Sylvia, Dorris & Andy.

Will you give up anything and everything for a status for be an American Citizen? Will you betray yourself to remain in the free country? Will you risk your life even you know you will be deported whenever you are being caught?

Mexicans, Chinese, Palestinian, Australian, Persian, Koreans, all are desperate to leave their homeland and find means to stay in America, legal or illegal. These immigrants all have dreams, but not all the time, everyone can have their dreams come true. Especially when the situation involve human emotion and law enforcement.

While all the characters in the movie cross each other's path, it is all about family. No matter how hard one strives, to go or leave, to feel belonged or abandoned. When one feel lost, it is family that find you and brings you home.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 Probably one of the most powerful, heart wrenching immigrant stories.

BATTLE IN SEATTLE

Genre: Drama

Director: Stuart Townsend
Cast: Charlize Theron (Hancock), Woody Harrelson (Seven pounds), Michelle Rodriguez (Fast & Furious)

Runtime: 100mins

Plot:

Based on one of the most incendiary political uprisings in a generation, Battle in Seattle looks at the five days that rocked the world in 1999 as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in protest on the World Trade Organization. Activists arrive in Seattle, Washington to protest. Riots and chaos ensue as demonstrators successfully stop the WTO meetings.What began as a peaceful protest intended to stop the WTO talks quickly escalated into a full-scale riot and eventual State of Emergency that squared off peaceful and unarmed protesters against the Seattle Police Department and the National Guard.

Watched the movie on 11th April night @ The Cathay Picturehouse with Sylvia.

Protesting for rights to be addressed, protesting for personal interests, wanting their voices to be heard, stop the conference so that the rest of the World knows. This is what the whole movie is about.

The movie brings together a talented ensemble to tell the different points of view from protesters and police to delegates and doctors - each of whom intentionally or accidentally find themselves on the streets of Seattle in those last days of the millennium. The director also seamlessly merges footage of the real event with his fictional narrative. Ultimately, Battle in Seattle illustrates that even against incredible odds, ordinary people can change the world.

In the movie, the protesters kept chanting their believes - The World is watching. Although they knew that whatever they were doing may not achieve what they wanted to achieve, but they still wanted to be a part of it and believed that they can do it one day, not giving up. We all know that those commitments are hard to keep yet we still want to hold on to our believes.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 Sacrifices have to be made in order to have your rights back.

Knowing

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller

Language: English

Director: Alex Proyas (I, Robot)

Cast: Nicolas Cage(National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Rose Byrne (Troy) & Chandler Canterbury (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Runtime: 122 min

Plot:

In 1958, as part of the dedication ceremony for a new elementary school, a group of students is asked to draw pictures to be stored in a time capsule. But one mysterious girl fills her sheet of paper with rows of apparently random numbers instead. Fifty years later, a new generation of students examines the capsule's contents and the girl's cryptic message ends up in the hands of young Caleb Koestler. But it is Caleb's father, professor John Koestler, who makes the startling discovery that the encoded message predicts with pinpoint accuracy the dates, death tolls and coordinates of every major disaster of the past 50 years.

Watched the movie on 10 April evening @ Filmgarde Bugis with Sylvia.

I was on alert during the whole movie. I am really not into any movies that scare me out. Although this movie is not a horror movie, the sound effects really freak me out!

I extremely like the 2 disasters scenes, which were so real that made me believe that the real thing happened. The aftershock after seeing these 2 tragedies made me realise that, Thank God I'm safe and sound till now! I couldn't imagine further...

Nicholas Cage did a reasonably good performance. His interaction with the kid actor was quite convincing. The fatherly touch towards his son, reminding him they will be forever together every now and then, no matter where or what happen, letting him go and assured him again. How many parents out there are willing to be apart with their children?

The ultimate message of this movie is probably the hot issue these days - Global Warming. If we were to continue wasting, the ending may probably happened to our Mother Earth. And our children of the future, what will happen to them? Although the movie lead to slight disappointment at the end, somehow we just couldn't blame the writers for making the ending that way as they probably already ran out of better ideas.

ah-deng says: 3½ /5 Would be good if the creativeness last till the end, but it was better than not "Knowing".

Handsome Suit

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Language: Japanese

Director: Tsutomu Hanabusa

Cast: Muga Tsukaji (DRUNKDRAGON), Shosuke Tanihara (Boys over flowers), Keiko Kitagawa (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)

Runtime: 115mins

Plot:

Diner owner Takuro (Tsukaji Muga) is the star in the kitchen with his fabulous cooking skills, but his below-average appearances make him a dud with the ladies. While renting a tux for his friend’s wedding, Takuro ends up with a “handsome suit” that magically transforms him into a tall and dashing hunk (Tanihara Shosuke)! Suddenly, the world’s at Takuro’s feet as he becomes the hottest male model on the scene and the apple of every woman’s eyes. But it’s not so easy juggling two lives, especially when his suit keeps threatening to malfunction and reveal his true face.

Watched the movie on 9 April late night @ GV Vivo with Sylvia.

A fairy tale-like story, but sad to admit that in the real world, appearance does play a great role in the name of judgement. Although the movie brings out the message not to judge a person by his appearance, it is very tough not to practice that in real life. We are always more attracted to better looking guys, prettier girls, beautiful scenery. Extra time is needed for those less attractive ones to get our attention.

Despite this fact, we are hopeful that one day we are able to hide behind a shield and become somebody else in disguise. However, no one should feel inferior of himself as no matter how he looks, as long as his conscious is clear and he is sincere to everyone who is sincere towards him. Everyone has got dream and they are entitled to dream, regardless how they look.

This comedy is good for relaxing your hard day of work. Always bear in mind that the essential success factor is never the looks. It is the heart...

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 I do not find the fat man ugly. He has his own charm, but probably needs a haircut and style his hair a bit.

The Sniper

Genre: Action

Language: Mandarin

Director: Dante Lam(The Twins Effect)

Cast: Richie Jen(Seoul Raiders), Edison Chen (The Dark Knight), Huang Xiaoming (The Banquet)

Runtime: 87min

Plot:

Ming (Richie Ren) is renowned as the top shooter in the police force. But behind the legend lies a skeleton in the closet: his former teammate and superb marksman Ching (Huang Xiaoming), who was jailed for accidentally killing a hostage, has just been released. With only vengeance in his mind, Ching determines to take on Ming and the police, believing they are the real culprits for his downfall. When a high-security prisoner transfer is sabotaged by a mysterious sniper and a major convict has escaped, Ming and his team are dispatched to profile the suspect. O (Edison Chen), the hot-headed rookie on the team, surprises everyone by accurately replicating the suspect’s impossible shots.

Watched the movie on 9 April evening @ GV Vivo.

This was made and scheduled to release last May but was delayed for almost a year due to Edison's photo scandal. I bet the feeling then and now must be far different for Edison Chan as he was aiming for his role but now, he could be a target.

I have never seen any projects from Huang Xiaoming. I felt he was a bit too good looking for his role. How on earth could someone with his look got landed on the wanted list poster? Perhaps it may be more convincing if he portrayed the role in a more rogue way.

As for Edison Chan, he reminded me of his role in Infernal Affairs when he wore the policeman uniform. Too bad, his running posture gave him away, if only he is better-built.

There were lots of bullets scenes. One thing I liked about the movie is the theme - Sniper. Whenever i watched war films, I liked Sniper's job as they always the calm, disciplined solders. They are always preying their target and in this movie, I was shown to more of Sniper's shooting. They work with temperature, wind speed & Direction, and used decoy tactics to lure target.

ah-deng says: 3 / 5 Should be made into drama version as there wasn't no much rooms for story development with only 87 minutes.

School Days With A Pig

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Language: Japanese

Director: Tetsu Maeda

Cast: Satoshi Tsumabuki (Tears for you泪光闪闪) , Mieko Harada, Tomoko Tabata, Ren Osugi (Nightmare Detective) , Yumi Shimizu, Miu Naraki

Runtime: 109mins

Plot:

Elementary school teacher Mr. Hoshi (Satoshi Tsumabuki) comes to class at the start of term with an unexpected friend in tow: a pig, which he informs his students that they will be raising over the course of the year and then eating. Under the watchful eye of the kindly school principal (Mieko Harada) and her disapproving deputy (Ren Osugi), the kids take to the task with aplomb, christening their new charge “P-Chan” and building her a sty in the school playground. But as the year wears on, many start to have doubts about whether they can turn the class pet into pork chops.

Watched the movie on 4th April late night @ Cineleisure with Sylvia.

As always it is very interesting to watch children movie. Sometimes you thought they talk things ridiculously, sometimes they oppose maturely, sometimes their tears touch your heart, sometimes their laughter puts a smile on you. And there are 26 children in this movie to talk about, and most importantly, the main character - P chan, a class project and a pig.

There are many films featured about dogs, which are relatively easier animals to train and control for movie making. For pigs, all I know is Babe and CG did help a lot during Babe's filming. Not sure how they did it but I am for sure impressed with School Days as the Children in the movie aided alot for the making of the movie with this piggy.

The director gave his cast space to work with the material, and parts of the film have a loose, semi-improvised feel to them. The 4 class debates, 2 voting rounds, and numerous individuals confronting to decide the fate of the pig brings audiences into their project as well, by helping them to decide if P chan should be send to the meat centre or to let the juniors adopt her?

I feel that school play a big part of children's life when they are growing up. They spend most of the day time in school thus it is their sources for most of their knowledge and thoughts. They bring these back home and interact to their families. In the movie, I felt extremely pleasant when parents who initially refuse the idea of keeping P chan, slowly became interested and discussed the situations with their children by showing concerns.

I'm sure the teachers and the children learned a lot from this project, regardless the cast or the true class where this story was written from, as I believe I have learn a lot from this movie too. This experience definitely is going to be in their memories forever. I kind of regretted that I forgotten my box of tissue...

ah-deng says: 4½ /5 Highly recommended! Bring on the bacon… or not.

Fast And Furious 4

Genre: Action-Thriller

Language: English
Director: Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)

Cast: Vin Diesel (Babylon A.D.), Paul Walker (Flags of Our Fathers), Michelle Rodriguez (S.W.A.T.), Jordana Brewster

Runtime: 106 min

Plot:

Heading back to the streets where it all began, two men rejoin two women to blast muscle, tuner and exotic cars across Los Angeles and floor through the Mexican desert. When a crime brings them back to L.A., fugitive ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel reignites his feud with agent Brian O'Connor. But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmaneuver him. And from convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, two men will find the best way to get revenge: push the limits of what's possible behind the wheel.

Watched the movie on 4th April evening @ The Cathay with Sylvia.

My 1st time being late for the movie. I was late for about 15 - 20 min.... missed the part whereby Letty was killed...

I was hoping for more racing but felt not enough, not sure was it because i have missed the front part. Still prefer the 1st few episode whereby there were many racing scenes, the ones in this sequel was more of the tunnel chase...

Paul Walker and Vin Diesel were still cool, portraying the racer roles. The cars used this time round not too fantastic.... Was quite disappointed that it was a more revenge approach.

ah-deng says: 2 / 5 I heard from Sylvia that TVXQ's song was played in the beginning, too bad i missed it, will catch it again on TV soon.

Shinjuku Incident

Genre: Action, Drama

Language: Mandarin

Director: Derek Yee

Cast: Jackie Chan (Rush Hour 3), Daniel Wu (Protégé 門徒), Naoto Takenaka(Twentieth Century Boys: Chapter One), Xu Jinglei (The Warlords 投名状)

Runtime: 120 min

Website / Trailer: http://shinjukuincident.emp.hk/en_main.html　

Plot:

In the early 1990s, a tractor mechanic from China nicknamed Steelhead (Jackie Chan) enters Japan illegally, in search of his girlfriend Xiu Xiu (Xu Jinglei). Steelhead and his friend, Jie (Daniel Wu) meet in the busy Shinjuku district of Tokyo and take manual labouring jobs to earn money. When Steelhead finds out that Xiu Xiu has married a Japanese Yakuza leader named Eguchi (Kato Masaya), he decides to remain in Japan. To obtain citizenship, he agrees to work for Eguchi as a killer, but quickly becomes used to the power. Soon he has become embroiled so deeply in the ways of the yakuza that there is no turning back.

Watched the movie on 3 April night @ The Grand Cathay with Sylvia & Vanessa.

The title of the movie misled me. I thought the incident was going to be or will be showing a huge gang fight at Shinjuku. Although there was the action, but not what I have expected.

Finally a movie which Jackie Chan does not fight that much. I felt that he can't always be the best fighter in a movie, as if not one will even win him. This movie seems more realistic in this aspect. Sometimes, brotherhood stuff needs more than fist and exchanging blows here and there.

There was a scene, when Daniel Wu's role as Ah Jie brought Jackie Chan (who had walked 2 days before reaching their home) to a bath at the bath-house. Both men were naked from the back and audience could see the great difference between the 2 men. One has smooth, clear skin while the other, spotted, tan skin.... Even men got give away the age through their skin.

The movie tells a story whereby immigrant struggle to survive in an unfamiliar country and got involve with the local ruffians. In fact, other than in Japanese movies, not many other language movies covers the topic of Yakuza which was quite sensitive.

ah-deng says: 4 /5 It has been a long time to see Jackie Chan in a non-Hollywood Movie, and he is not required to fight that much, what else to watch? Go find out.

3rd Asian Film Awards

The Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society to recognize excellence of film professionals in the film industries of Asian Cinema.

This year the Awards Presentation Ceremony was on March 23, 2009 and the winners are:

Best Film

Tokyo Sonata (The Netherlands / Japan / Hong Kong)

Best Director

KORE-EDA Hirokazu - Still Walking (Japan)

Best Actor

MOTOKI Masahiro - Departures (Japan)

Best Actress

ZHOU Xun - The Equation of Love and Death (The Chinese Mainland)

Best Newcomer

YU Shao-qun - Forever Enthralled (The Chinese Mainland)

Best Supporting Actor

JUNG Woo-sung - The Good, the Bad, the Weird (South Korea)

Best Supporting Actress

Gina PARENO - Service (The Philippines)