All posts by James Mudge »
Fearless (2006) Movie Review
“Fearless” has been one of the most talked about martial arts films in years for a number of reasons, not least of which was the announcement by Jet Li that it would be his...
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The Hills Have Eyes (2006) Movie Review
French director Alexandre Aja divided genre fans with his breakout hit “Switchblade Romance” (a.k.a. “Haute Tension”), mainly due to the inclusion of an ending which could be politely termed ‘wacky’. Given this, the decision...
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The Cremator (1972) Movie Review
“The Cremator” is a re-release of Czech director Juraj Herz’s unsettling 1968 effort about a deeply macabre man who slowly becomes a monster. The film has been enjoying somewhat of a revival of late,...
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B420 (2005) Movie Review
“B420″ is written, produced and directed by first timer Mathew Tang, and gets off to a less than promising start by having a frankly hideous title. Mixing letters and numbers in such a lame...
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A Side, B Side, Seaside (2005) Movie Review
“A Side, B Side, Seaside “, directed by Chan Wing Chiu, was accepted into competition at the 2005 Hong Kong , Pusan and Tokyo festivals, though why is a complete mystery, as it barely...
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The 14 Amazons (1972) Movie Review
“The 14 Amazons” is a 1972 Shaw Brothers classic, directed by Cheng Gang, who also made the likes of “The Sword of Swords” and “Flying Guillotine 2″ for the famous studio. Although perhaps not...
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The Unforgiven (2005) Movie Review
“The Unforgiven” marks the debut of Korean director Yoon Jong-bin in impressive fashion, having won several awards at the 2005 Pusan Film Festival, including the FIPRESCI and NETPAC prizes. What is most remarkable about...
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Antarctic Journal (2005) Movie Review
“Antarctic Journal” apparently took five years to complete, a fact which suggests that debut Korean writer-director Im Pil-sung possesses the same dogged determination and endurance as his characters. The film is difficult to categorise,...
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Mr. Socrates (2005) Movie Review
“Mr. Socrates” is the first film proper from Choi Jin Won, whose only previous credit of note was co-directing “Memento Mori” (the sequel to influential teen horror “Whispering Corridors”), and is another in the...
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Cache (aka Hidden, 2005) Movie Review
“Hidden” is the latest film from German auteur Michael Haneke, director of “Code Unknown” and “Funny Games”. The film has already garnered a multitude of awards, including the best director and Jury prizes at...
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Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005) Movie Review
“Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles” sees Zhang Yimou returning to the kind of intimate drama with which he made his name as a director. Eschewing the flashy visuals of “Hero” and the cheap...
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Wait Til You’re Older (2005) Movie Review
“Wait ’til you’re Older” is a Hong Kong take on the ever-popular fantasy scenario of a child inhabiting the body of an adult. This is a theme much-beloved of Hollywood screenwriters, with essentially the...
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Match Point (2005) Movie Review
“Match Point” sees veteran New York director Woody Allen shifting his gaze to London, in a tale of temptation and intrigue set against the ever dependable backdrop of the English class system. Unfortunately, the...
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Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005) Movie Review
“Welcome to Dongmakgol” proved to be the sleeper Korean hit of 2005, earning enough to become the fourth biggest grossing domestic film of all time, as well as being chosen as the country’s entry...
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Brutal Incasso (2005) Movie Review
“Brutal Incasso” is a low budget film from Denmark which takes a wacky look at the lives of two incompetent gangster henchmen. To be honest, it’s difficult to imagine any viewer feeling particularly enthusiastic...
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Murder-Set-Pieces (2004) Movie Review
“Murder-Set-Pieces” comes with the claim of being the most brutal and visceral horror film ever made, proudly boasting of being banned by a long list of festivals, as well as several processing labs. On...
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Malefique (2002) Movie Review
French horror has been enjoying somewhat of a revival over the last few years, with films such as “High Tension” and “In My Skin” enjoying international success. “Malefique” is another such slice of full...
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The Big Scene (aka Murder Take One, 2005) Movie Review
“The Big Scene” is the latest film from Korean director Jang Jin, best known for the abstract gangster comedy “Guns and Talks”, in which he attempted to present a new spin on the usual...
Read More »The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) Movie Review
“The Exorcism of Emily Rose” is a film with the word ‘earnest’ stamped all over it, being based on a true story and with a two-hour running time rarely seen in the modern horror...
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