All posts by James Mudge »
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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Piranha 3DD (2012) Movie Review
The killer fish are back in “Piranha 3DD”, the amusingly titled sequel to Alexandre Aja’s schlocky but fun 2010 remake of Joe Dante’s vaguely loved 1978 original. The film, which sees “Feast” trilogy director...
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Love On-Air (2012) Movie Review
aka “Wonderful Radio” As its title suggests, “Love On-Air” is a radio themed Korean romantic comedy, which revolves around popular actress Lee Min Jung (“Cyrano Agency”) as a DJ and former pop star juggling...
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The Magicians (2005) Movie Review
Originally released back in 2005, “The Magicians” was the 4th film from Korean indie director Song Il Gon, known for artistic and offbeat genre offerings such as “Feathers in the Wind”, “Spider Forest”, and...
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Speed Angels (2011) Movie Review
Hong Kong director Jingle Ma follows up “Love You You” and “Mulan” with more cinematic popcorn in the glossy form of “Speed Angels”. In this latest bid for commercial success and mass appeal, Ma...
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The Avengers (2012) Movie Review
The dreams of comic book and superhero fanboys around the world finally come true with the arrival of Marvel team up “The Avengers”, or “Avengers Assemble” as it’s been released in some countries. Having...
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Piggy (2012) Movie Review
“Piggy” is a gritty British revenge thriller, which marks the feature debut of writer director Kieron Hawkes. Martin Compston (“The Disappearance of Alice Creed”) stars as Joe, a socially awkward, shy young man sleep...
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War of the Dead (2011) Movie Review
As its title suggests, “War of the Dead” is a horror-action hybrid which sees soldiers facing off against zombies, this time with a World War II backdrop. Much like its undead ghouls, the Finish...
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Mutant Girls Squad (2010) Movie Review
Fans of Japanese splatter have reason to celebrate with the arrival on DVD of Sushi Typhoon’s “Mutant Girls Squad”, a film which combines the talents of three of the finest (and craziest) directors working...
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The Woodsman and the Rain (2011) Movie Review
Screened at the 2012 Terracotta Far East Film Festival. “The Woodsman and the Rain” is a warm hearted comedy with an appealingly offbeat premise, following the relationship between a young director and a gruff...
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Inseparable (2011) Movie Review
Screened at the 2012 Terracotta Far East Film Festival. “Inseparable” is somewhat of a landmark event, being one of the first Chinese films to feature a bona fide Hollywood star in a lead role....
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Arirang (2011) Movie Review
Screened at the 2012 Terracotta Far East Film Festival. Controversial and (very) angry Korean director Kim Ki Duk returns after an absence of 3 years with the self-reflective documentary “Arirang”. Having taken a break...
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