SPL

Alternate Title: Saat po long (Original Cantonese Title)
Country: Hong Kong
Release Year: 2005
Genre: Martial Arts Action / Crime / Thriller
Language Format: Cantonese
Running Time: 93 minutes (UNCUT)

Donnie Yen .... Insp. Ma Kwan
Sammo Hung Kam-Bo .... Wong Po
Simon Yam .... Det. Chan Kwok Chung
Jacky Wu .... Jack
Kai Chi Liu .... Det. Lok Kwun Wah
Danny Summer .... Kwok Tsz Sum (as Shiu Sing Ha)
Ken Chang .... Lee Wai Lok (as Chi-Hiu Cheung)
Austin Wai .... Cheung Chun Fei
Timmy Hung .... Drug Trafficker
Vincent Sze .... Chan Wai
Kenji Tanigaki .... Wong Po's Bodyguard
Chris Tsui .... Wong Po's bodyguard
So Tung .... Wong Po's bodyguard



When you combine martial arts masters with the likes of Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Kenji Tanigaki(from Donnie Yen's acclaimed stunt team), and mix them up with veteran actor Simon Yam you can already tell something good will come out of it.



Of course excellent acting and a high quality story is needed and SPL definitely delivers with a Class A storyline. The action is kept slightly on the minimal side due to its story driven plot. It's not until you get almost to the middle of it, only then you'll start seeing some awesome high flying martial arts action.



As far as the action is concerned everyone delivers. In fact Donnie, Sammo, and Kenji are spectacular martial artists in their own right. These guys shine in everyway as they exhibit their absolutely jaw dropping kung fu skills as they kick, leap, spin, and punch themselves to death. All for our enjoyment.



As for the squeamish, be warned as they are no shortage of blood here. SPL sports some of the bloodiest scenes ever seen in a long time. In fact the mainland DVD version was severely cut because of this reason. So to view the original uncut version go for the Special Edition 2 disc released by Deltamac.



SPL is a gift from the Martial Arts Action gods for it is one of the best Martial Arts flick to be released in a while.

Also worth mentioning is the very absorbing soundtrack used. Some of the sounds used were very energizing to kind of get you in the mood for upcoming action you're about to witness. The editing is also to be commended as it borrows from the Tony Scott School of Filmmaking.

In short, SPL is another Hong Kong Cinematic magic.

INFERNAL AFFAIRS

Alternate Title: Mou gaan dou (Original Cantonese Title)
Country: Hong Kong
Release Year: 2002
Genre: Crime / Thriller/ Action / Drama
Language Format: Cantonese
Running Time: 101 minutes


Andy Lau .... Lau Kin Ming
Tony Leung Chiu Wai .... Chan Wing Yan
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang .... SP Wong
Eric Tsang .... Sam
Kelly Chen .... Dr. Lee Sum Yee
Sammi Cheng .... Mary

Edison Chen .... Young Lau Kin Ming
Shawn Yue .... Young Chan Wing Yan
Elva Hsiao .... May
Chapman To .... Keung
Ka Tung Lam .... Inspector B
Ting Yip Ng .... Inspector Cheung
Chi Keung Wan .... Officer Leung
Dion Lam .... Del Piero
Hui Kam Fung .... Cadet School Principal



Every now and then a movie comes along that totally re-defines how a certain genre is supposed to be made. In this case it's the Crime/Drama genre and it's been re-written by Andrew Lau and Company this with the help of Hong Kong's finest acting veterans in the business as well as newcomers toss in a top of the line movie script for good measure equals to a mega box-office blockbuster. This is exactly what happened to this now classic Hong Kong gem.

Released in 2002 INFERNAL AFFAIRS is a trilogy with that in mind, I will only review the first and in my opinion the best out of the three. If you like gritty crime action dramas that's been polished with A-Class actors and actresses you will be treated to one of the most spectacular movies ever made.



INFERNAL AFFAIRS transcends cultural boundaries as it deals with the universal language of Good Cop vs. Bad Cop formula that's been cleverly made with an awesome script littered with very clever dialogue throughout the entire movie experience.

Every shot, every angle deserves a cinematograpy award that should be equaled to that of an Oscar, or in this case a Golden Horse Award. There are moments in this movie that is simply breathtaking, to say the least. The opening score quickly grabs your attention and sucks you into its world and it will not let you go until its final climax. The soundtrack in the flick makes all the difference in the world. Period.

INFERNAL AFFAIRS is the crowning achievement of Andrew Lau's directing career. There is simply no other movie on his resume that equals to it. Of course not all of the credits should be given to him alone. No, we shouldn't forget the performers who brought the audiences in, into its world of imperfection, malice, hate, and revenge the world of INFERNAL AFFAIRS.



Both of the male leads, Andy Lau and Tony Leung is to be commended for their absolute captivating performances as the two leading moles on each side of the law. Andy Lau is the quickly-rising suave cop who is the mole for the triads, while Tony Leung plays the elusive undercover cop yet very tough triad who is the mole for the cops. Together we are forced on the edge of our seats as we watch these two intelligent personas play a game of chess if you will, but instead of plastic chess pieces the pieces being played are human lives.

Anthony Wong plays it cool as the leader of one of Hong Kong finest Police Divisions trying to take down his old nemesis Eric Tsang, whose the leader of one Triads most powerful side. These two Hong Kong veterans are awesome in their own right now mix them up with the two aforementioned actors you just can't go wrong!



The always playful and cute Sammi Cheng is all serious here as she plays Andy Lau's very understanding and supportive wife. The glorious Kelly Chen another star in her own right plays Tony Leung's psychiatrist as well as his lover.

The young guns Edison Chen plays as the young Andy Lau, and Shawn Yue as the young Tony Leung.

All of them brilliant, absolutely and positively brilliant!!!



There are so many cool scenes in this movie it's impossible for me to list them all, and why would I? It's always better to see the flick rather than someone telling you about it! It's a definite must see. No doubt about it!

This is Hong Kong Cinema at its best!!!

No wonder Brad Pitt snagged the rights to remake it after seeing it. The American remake will be directed by Martin Scorsese, and it will star Matt Damon, Leonardo Dicaprio, Martin Sheen, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg. It should be interesting since Media Asia the original production company of the original Hong Kong movie is co-producing this the remake as well. The title is called THE DEPARTED. Why that title? I do not know!



INFERNAL AFFAIRS is without a doubt another Hong Kong Cinema gem!

SHIMOTSUMA MONOGATARI

Alternate Title: Kamikaze Girls (International Title)
Country: Japan
Release Year: 2004
Genre: Psychedelic Comedy
Language Format: Japan
Running Time: 102 minutes


Kyôko Fukada .... Momoko Ryugasaki
Anna Tsuchiya .... Ichigo Shirayuri
Hiroyuki Miyasako .... Momoko's Father
Sadao Abe .... Doctor and Ryuji "the Unicorn"
Eiko Koike .... Akimi
Shin Yazawa .... Miko
Hirotaro Honda .... Yakuza Boss
Kirin Kiki .... Momoko's Grandmother
YosiYosi Arakawa .... Grocery Store Manager
Katsuhisa Namase .... Pachinko Parlor Manager
Ryoko Shinohara .... Momoko's Mother
Yoshinori Okada .... Baby, 'The Stars Shine Bright' Owner
Kanako Irie
Haruo Mizuno
Yuichi Kimura

Director....Tetsuya Nakajima



Shimotsuma Monogatari or better known as Kamikaze Girls is in a class by itself.


I guess the closest comparison if you were to compare it to another flick with similar whacked out crazy, fast paced comedic delivery, littered with huge amounts of pyschedelic embellishments would be FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

That is only if you had to!



I tell you Nakajima-san must've smoked a very expensive very strong ganja while he was filming this Japanese Comedic Gem. Watching Kamikaze Girls is a complete and utterly different experience. It's really in a class by itself, the flick is littered with 100% Japanese no-nonsense humor that gets thrown at the viewer at the speed of 100 miles per hour!

Right from the beginning it starts out very colorful due to the anime-ish style introduction of the characters that the viewers are about to meet. Kyoko Fukada the main character is shown riding a what appears to be a vespa-like motorcycle who smashes into an oncoming truck.

THE END.

No really, it does end after the one minute running time it took to show the opening credits. But then, the movie rewinds itself for the viewer.

Very cool!

I know it sounds kinda wierd, and unusual but Kamikaze Girls is one of those very rare flicks that are difficult to review because well there's nothing you can base your opinions on!

I mean, it's just weird! In a good way!!!

Because of that fact, one should see it and judge for themselves.

Getting that out of the way, I suppose I should review the actresses who plays the main characters.



Kyoko Fukada is awesome playing an eccentric Japanese Teen who gets seduced by the 17th Century Rococo Lolita Fashion. As viewers we are treated to see the everyday lifestyle of an individual willing to do whatever it takes so that she's able to afford, and buy her expensive Lolita wardrobe!



Anna Tsuchiya is also a wonder to watch playing the once nerd turned bad-ass who kicks ass, no she really kicks the sashimi asses of anyone that gets in her way!

So what happens when you mix these two very unique personalities?

Well that my friends is the premise of the wonderful Japanese romp through the Shimotsuma stomping grounds of Japan courtesy of Kamikaze Girls.

The best thing about this flick is that it never takes itself seriously.
It's just very fun movie to watch.

As mentioned before the movie's plot, and humor moves very fast so therefore you really have to pay attention because if you look away even for an instant, you gonna miss something important and when you look back you'll be like.."what the hell just happpen?"....or...."what the ??...."

So pay attention to the movie my friends. Pay attention!

This flick will definitely trip you out because there's some scenes where you don't really know what's going on, or sometimes you won't have any idea whether a particular punchline is funny.

Heck there'd be times when you don't know that what you just saw WAS the punchline! I cannot describe how unusal Kamikaze Girls is, so I'd recommened it very highly because it's just something different.

Worth mentioning is the ultra catchy J-pop/J-rock-ish soundtrack that is used.
Tomoko Kawase the front girl for the ultra successful J-band THE BRILLIANT GREEN, a.k.a TOMMY FEBRUARY6, and a.k.a TOMMY HEAVENLY6 provides the awesome soundtrack, full of energetic sounds, as well as slow, more mellow somber background tracks.

A definite Japanese sleeper hit of 2004.
If it wasn't for SWING GIRLS, which is another Japanese comedic gem release in the same year, I'd say Kamikaze Girls would be the best Japanese comedy of that year.
But being a close second is not exactly bad either!

So don't miss this pyschedelic Japanese comedy.
It's one of those rare flicks that after seeing it, you won't soon forget it.