All posts by James Mudge »
Interview: Documentary Filmmaker Pan Zhiqi
James Mudge recently sat down for an interview with Chinese documentary filmmaker Pan Zhiqi, director of “Private Detective” and “Lost Wall”, while he was appearing at the 2013 Chinese Visual Festival. James Mudge: How...
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Man on the Edge (aka The Gangster Shaman, 2012) Movie Review
Gangster comedies have been only too common in Korean cinema for more than a decade now, so it’s not too surprising that the genre has of late been running out of steam both in...
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Juvenile Offender (2012) Movie Review
Produced and supported by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, “Juvenile Offender” is a humanistic and socially aware look at the country’s youth justice system, and more importantly at the struggle of a...
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Drug War (2012) Movie Review
Cult favourite and auteur Johnnie To joins the ranks of Hong Kong directors trying their luck on the Mainland with the thriller “Drug War”, following up on his co-produced “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”...
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Say Yes (aka 101 Proposals, 2013) Movie Review
“Say Yes” is a Mainland Chinese romantic comedy based on the hugely popular 1991 Japanese television series “101st Proposal”, which was previously adapted for the small screen in Korean a few years back. Sticking...
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National Security (2012) Movie Review
Director Chung Ji Young delivers another no holds barred look at Korean justice and politics in “National Security”, following up his multiple award winning “Unbowed”, which starred Ahn Sung Ki as a real life...
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The Purge (2013) Movie Review
There’s no denying that writer director James DeMonaco’s “The Purge” has an entertaining, if scarcely credible premise – in America 2022, society has reached a harmonious balance thanks to the titular yearly event when...
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Interview: Documentary Filmmaker Cheuk Cheung
James Mudge recently sat down for an interview with Chinese filmmaker Cheuk Cheung, whose documentary “My Way” recently won the 3rd Prize Jury Award at the Chinese Visual Festival, and is scheduled to play...
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Chinese Visual Festival ’13: The Transition Period (2009)
Part of his series exploring institutions in China, Zhou Hao’s remarkable 2009 documentary “The Transition Period” offers an amazingly frank look at the workings of the Chinese government as it follows a civil servant...
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Chinese Visual Festival ’13: Cop Shop II (2011)
The sequel to his acclaimed observational documentary “Cop Shop” (2009), “Cop Shop II” (2011) sees influential Mainland Chinese director Zhou Hao returning after a year to again capture the daily operations of the police...
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Rurouni Kenshin (2012) Movie Review
Watsuki Nobuhiro’s “Rurouni Kenshin” has long been one of the most loved manga in Japan, telling the story of the wandering pacifist samurai of the title and his many adventures. Known as “Samurai X”...
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Chinese Visual Festival ’13: Emergency Room China (2013)
“Emergency Room China” is the latest film from award winning Mainland Chinese director Zhou Hao, one of the most acclaimed and influential figures of the Modern Chinese Independent Documentary Movement. Following on from his...
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I am the King (2012) Movie Review
“I am the King” is a Joseon Dynasty set Korean comedy which takes a light hearted look at the mysteriously undocumented period before Sejong the Great took the throne, supposing what might have happened...
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Chinese Visual Festival ’13: Happy or Not (2003)
Shot back in 2003, “Happy or Not” is Wu Wuna’s second film, and was the deserving winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Taipei Film Festival. The documentary sees Wu’s own sympathetic personality...
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Chinese Visual Festival ’13: Let’s Fall In Love (2009)
Originally released in 2009, “Let’s Fall in Love” is a hugely popular documentary from Taiwanese director Wu Wuna (also credited in places as Wu Tairen) which sees her seeking out and following the efforts...
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Interview: Documentary Filmmaker Huang Weikai
James Mudge recently got the chance to interview Chinese documentary filmmaker Huang Weikai, the director of “Disorder”, which recently won the First Place Jury Award at the 2013 Chinese Visual Festival, screening this Sunday...
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The Chrysalis (2013) Movie Review
Though limited by notoriously tough censorship, the horror genre is slowly but surely finding its feet in Chinese cinema, with directors coming up with new and occasionally creative ways to work around the restrictions....
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Love in Time (2012) Movie Review
“Love in Time” is an old fashioned Hong Kong romantic comedy directed by Leefire, a multi-talented type also known as a playwright, radio host and song writer, following up on his not entirely successful...
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Marrying the Mafia 5: Return of the Family (2012) Movie Review
The “Marrying the Mafia” series has proved one of the most enduring and popular in Korean cinema, now reaching its fifth instalment and marking its tenth anniversary with “Return of the Family”. This fourth...
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