Asian Movie Reviews »
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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New Posters for Amazing Spider-Man, Men in Black 3, and Inseparable
A collection of groovy posters for three movies for ya this Monday. The first is a very nice, battle-hardened look at Marc Webb’s “The Amazing Spider-Man”, which is definitely going for that whole gritty...
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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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Monsters Club (2011) Movie Review
Screened at the 2012 Terracotta Far East Film Festival. Japanese auteur Toshiaki Toyoda returns with “Monsters Club”, following up the likes of “Blue Spring” and “The Blood of Rebirth” with more avant-garde alienation and...
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From Up on Poppy Hill (2011) Movie Review
Screened at the 2012 Terracotta Far East Film Festival. “From Up on Poppy Hill” is the latest offering from legendary Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, and is another in their line of nostalgia themed...
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Gyo (2012) Movie Review
Screened at the 2012 Terracotta Far East Film Festival. “Gyo” is an OVA anime adaptation of the horror manga by popular artist Junji Ito, the mad genius best known for the likes of “Tomie”...
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The Journals of Musan (2010) Movie Review
“The Journals of Musan” is a Korean indie drama which has won a great deal of praise, having been hailed by several critics as one of the best Korean films of 2011, and winning...
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Silenced (2011) Movie Review
Based on the novel “Dokani” by Kong Ji Young and charting shocking real life events and sexual abuse at a school for hearing-impaired children, “Silenced” (a.k.a. “The Crucible”) emerged as the most controversial and...
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The Viral Factor (2012) Movie Review #2
Dante Lam, the current great hope of Hong Kong action cinema, returns with “The Viral Factor”, another slice of explosive, melodramatic mayhem. Following on from a mightily impressive run of critical and commercial hits...
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The Great Magician (2011) Movie Review
“The Great Magician” was one of the more highly anticipated Chinese releases of late, marking actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai’s return to the screen after a break of three years, having presumably been worked...
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Romancing in Thin Air (2012) Movie Review
Although best known internationally for his action films and triad thrillers, legendary Hong Kong director Johnnie To has enjoyed huge popularity domestically with romantic comedies and dramas, having collaborated with screenwriter Wai Ka Fai...
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Scars (2011) Movie Review
“Scars” sees indie director Lim Woo Seong following his impressive and much praised debut “Vegetarian” with another dark exploration of the female psyche in modern Korea. The film has the writer director again drawing...
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White Vengeance (2011) Movie Review
Although its odd English title might suggest some kind of racially themed thriller, “White Vengeance” is actually Hong Kong director Daniel Lee latest Chinese historical epic, following up on “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the...
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The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011) Movie Review
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a good old-fashioned Chinese martial arts movie, and I guess it’s appropriate Tsui Hark’s “The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” would be the movie to welcome me...
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Always (2011) Movie Review
Respected Korean indie director Song Il Gon, praised for the likes of “Magicians”, “Flower Island” and the superb psychological mystery “Spider Forest”, tries his hand at something a little more commercially friendly with the...
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Re-encounter (2010) Movie Review
2010 and 2011 were particularly great years for Korean indie cinema, with lots of very worthwhile productions making it to the screen and showcasing a wealth of upcoming talent. One such outing was “Re-encounter”,...
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