While movie stars such as Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Jet Li and Jackie Chan have become household names in North America, one of the biggest names in Hong Kong cinema is, for the most part, still relatively unknown. Funnyman Stephen Chow has built his career on absurdist humor and Jim Carrey-style shenanigans in films such as The King of Comedy, From Beijing with Love, and The God of Cookery (which was slated to be remade into a Jim Carrey vehicle before falling into development hell). Unfortunately, because of his penchant for Cantonese wordplay and in-references to Chinese culture, it has been difficult for his films to find audiences outside of his native Hong Kong and China. Last week, we explored his most recent foray into American cinema, Kung Fu Hustle. This week, we take a look at his debut trek into foreign waters, Shaolin Soccer-the good version, that is. Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: ‘Shaolin Soccer’
Tag: asian cinema
MasterChugs Theater: ‘Kung Fu Hustle’
Stephen Chow might just be the saviour of action cinema. Anyone who caught his previous film, the deliriously wonderful Shaolin Soccer, will know what to expect: martial arts mayhem meets the vicious comic brilliance of vintage Tex Avery cartoons. No gag is too cheesy, no special effect too extreme. That is the wonder and awe of Kung Fu Hustle. Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: ‘Kung Fu Hustle’
MasterChugs Theater: ‘Ichi The Killer’
As June pulls to a close, we conclude “Asian Cinema is fricking crazy” with a movie that might embody that theme more than any movie in history. Heck, it might just embody the last two words better than any other movie in history. Coming from the utterly demented mind of Takashi Miike, “Ichi the Killer” is easily one of the most controversial films of the last decade, and with good reason. Consisting of a hyper stylized visceral barrage of over the top gore, torture and rape, which hangs loosely on a threadbare skeleton of inconsequential plotting and that boasts a madman’s sense of logic. Whilst all this is certainly true, as Ichi the Killer is incredibly grotesque and overwhelmingly sadistic, beneath the surface lurks a fierce intelligence, albeit a psychotic one, which attempts to make an intellectual point through antagonizing and unapologetically provoking its viewer rather, than any kind of given subtlety. By all means, this movie is not for any one with an aversion to violence of any amount.
Interested yet? Hit the jump for more. Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: ‘Ichi The Killer’
MasterChugs Theater: ‘Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky’
We continue our look at the wacky hi-jinx that is “Asian movies are fricking bonkers” with a look at a classic MCT. This is being done because you truly cannot speak about crazy Asian films without talking about one of the most infamous ones of them all. It’s inspired quite the legion of prison movies, superpowered chi movies and its fair share of weird trembling ogre movies. Oh, and it’s bloody. Oh dear lord, is this movie ever bloody. Enjoy!
In cinema history, there are some movies that make their audience treasure the life that they have, yielding smiles or tears. Some movies make us laugh. Others have been known to renew our faith in the indomitable spirit of humanity.
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky is the type of movie that makes the audience go “THAT WAS [CENSORED] INCREDIBLE!” and for good reason, too. If you’ve ever seen the old Daily Show where they show the loop of the head being smashed, you’ll know what to expect from this movie. For good martial arts, look elsewhere. For a good plot, look elsewhere. For some of the most outlandish gore around, step inside! Be prepared, as the movie being reviewed this week is not for the week of stomach.
Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: ‘Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky’
MasterChugs Theater: ‘The Machine Girl’
Asian cinema may be the craziest in the world. Where else can you get movies involving humans being fed into sweet buns (possibly based on a true story, no less!), superheroes named “Rapeman,” giant monsters that continue to go after Tokyo despite our best efforts and cartoons so blue that they’ll make you blush? Not in South America, that’s for sure. As such, the shortened theme for June 2008 shall be “Asian movies are fricking bonkers.” We do so hope that you’ll enjoy. How can you not?
The first entry for this month is loving coming of age story. It’s about a girl. It’s about her left arm that’s become a gun. It’s about teppenyaki. It’s about family. It’s The Machine Girl. Read on for more. Continue reading MasterChugs Theater: ‘The Machine Girl’