All posts by James Mudge »
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011) Movie Review
Taiwanese films have been causing an increasing stir both at home and abroad, none more so than historical blockbuster “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale”, which tells the true story of a 1930s aboriginal...
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University City Savages (2009) Movie Review
Screening at the 2012 Chinese Visual Festival. “University City Savages” is a bold documentary which deals with one of the most topical and controversial issues in Modern China, the government’s practice of forced land...
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Vegetarian (2009) Movie Review
“Vegetarian”, originally released in 2009, marked the debut of Korean art house director Lim Woo Seong, and like his recent “Scars” was adapted from a short story by writer Han Gang. The film is...
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Interview: Documentary Filmmaker Zhou Hao
About the Director: Zhou Hao was born in 1968 in China. He previously worked as a photographer at Xinhua News Agency and Southern Weekend. He started making documentary films in 2001 and now lives...
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The Flowers of War (2011) Movie Review
“The Flowers of War” has been one of the most hyped Chinese films for some time, and with good reason. Boasting a budget of around US$100 million, marking it as the most expensive Chinese...
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Where Should I Go? (2011) Movie Review
Screening at the 2012 Chinese Visual Festival. Director Li Junhu’s documentary “Where Should I Go?” explores one of the most interesting issues in contemporary China, the interaction between the rural and the urban. Covering...
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Using (2007) Movie Review
Screening at the 2012 Chinese Visual Festival. “Using” was Chinese documentary director Zhou Hao’s follow up to his much loved and critically praised high school doc “Senior Year”, and is a very different proposition...
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Million Dollar Crocodile (2012) Movie Review
“Million Dollar Crocodile” is a genuine cinematic milestone, marking China’s first proper foray into the CGI creature feature genre. As the title suggests, director Lin Li Sheng’s film follows the exploits and adventures of...
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Bachelor Mountain (2011) Movie Review
Screening at the 2012 Chinese Visual Festival. Director Yu Guangyi completes his ‘Hometown Trilogy’ with “Bachelor Mountain”, following up on the documentaries “Timber Gang” (2006) and “Survival Song” (2008). The film is another set...
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Senior Year (2005) Movie Review
Screening at the 2012 Chinese Visual Festival. Although high school students in the West may think they have it tough, the pressure and hardships they face are simply nothing when compared to the trials...
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My Way (2011) Movie Review
“My Way” has been one of the most eagerly anticipated Korean blockbusters for some time, marking the return of writer director Kang Je Gyu a long 7 years after his massive hit “Taegukgi: The...
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Dancing Queen (2012) Movie Review
Korean comedy “Dancing Queen” has already emerged as one of the year’s biggest hits, following popular film and television actress Uhm Jung Hwa (“Seducing Mr. Perfect”) as a housewife who gets the chance to...
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Shanghai Quest (2007) Movie Review
Screening at the 2012 Chinese Visual Festival. Kim Taylor’s documentary “Shanghai Quest” has an immediately intriguing premise, following the ups and downs of three westerners trying to make their fortunes in Shanghai. Her three...
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Dragon Boat (2010) Movie Review
Screening at the 2012 Chinese Visual Festival. “Dragon Boat” is the latest film from acclaimed Chinese director and artist Cao Dan, a feature documentary which charts the effects of modernisation on the tradition of...
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Prometheus (2012) Movie Review
After what feels like a decade of remake/sequel/prequel/reboot confusion and mutterings about ‘sharing the same DNA’, Ridley Scott’s return to the “Alien” franchise, “Prometheus”, finally hits the screens. It’s perhaps not too surprising that...
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The Spin Kid (2011) Movie Review
Screened at Taiwan Cinefest 2012. Popular Taiwanese star Blue Lan follows up domestic box office smash “Night Market Hero” with “The Spin Kid”, a fusion of modern and traditional culture with the actor as...
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A Reason to Live (2011) Movie Review
“A Reason to Live” is the latest film from acclaimed though not particularly prolific Korean writer director Lee Jeong Hyang, following on from his popular 1999 comedy “Art Museum by the Zoo” and 2002...
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Pacemaker (2011) Movie Review
“Pacemaker” is a Korean underdog sports story, this time revolving around the titular runner, a support athlete who helps to set the pace in long distance events during the first section of the race....
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Spellbound (2011) Movie Review #2
Romantic comedy gets a ghostly twist with the Korean film “Spellbound” (aka “Chilling Romance”), which marks the directorial debut of “Love Phobia” and “Two Faces of My Girlfriend” writer Hwang In Ho. Mixing laughs,...
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