larkinoz Reviews

Countdown (2011)

Countdown - a Cool Korean Movie

[9/10 · 29 July 2012]

I've watched a lot of Korean movies but the 2011 Korean film COUNTDOWN is surely one of the very best.

It is well written and produced, convincingly acted by the entire cast, continually engaging and entertaining and well worth watching.

Countdown stars two of Korea's top actors Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Jae- young and is brilliantly written and directed by Huh Jong- ho.

Tae Gun-ho (Jung) is a tough collection agent who uses a cattle-prod in fights. After a series of fainting spells he is told he has liver cancer and quickly needs a liver transplant to survive. He uses his skills to track recipients of organs donated by his late son. First of these is Cha Ha-Yeon (Jeon), a beautiful con woman with a long list of nasty enemies she has defrauded.

Locating Cha turns out to be easy. She's about to be released from prison. But the deal she proposes includes getting even with some really bad types. He tries hard to keep Cha and her liver safe until the transplant and also to stop her ditching him.

BUT WAIT ! That's only part of the story. For me the main plot involves Tae's son and how he died. It's a very moving father and son experience involving tragedy, sadness and tears but eventually the realization of love.

There's also the case of Cha and a daughter she deserted when aged 17.

This is not a romantic film. It is realistic though and so well done it will probably be one of those movies you remember.

Love Generation (1997)

One of My Favourite Love Films

[10/10 · 19 December 2011]

I have watched this movie twice. That's how good I think it is. And the main theme song too. I love it and still play it often. It's an engaging romance that somehow keeps you watching, probably because of the excellent acting and a very good script. It has a great cast.Kimura Takuya and Matsu Takako work well together.I won't go into the story but it's mainly about a relationship and the ups and downs of love before that magic moment when two lives are entwined permanently together in happiness and warm regard. Anyone with a touch of romance hidden in them will enjoy this movie. Now I must go and play that theme song again. Wish I knew the words in English but I think it's called Baby You're Mine

Shirley (2011 TV Movie)

Take the Dog for a Walk

[4 October 2011]

This is a pathetic review of an outstanding and talented personality who became part of British musical history. As a long time fan of Shirley Bassey and who later had the chance to meet her albeit briefly I was utterly disappointed with this effort. It's a boring, straight laced account of biographic detail that a school boy could have written. It's poorly acted and scripted. There's no humour even though Shirley was known for it. Worst of all, in a tale of some of the best songs ever written and sung by one of the best ever singers, there was hardly any music at all. They could at least have put in a couple of complete songs but no we just get a few lines here and here. On top of that the actress does not portray Shirley Bassey's mannerisms- there's no Bassey passion, no shake of the head, no twist of the mouth, no movement of the body. My advice is watch something else or take the dog for a walk.

The Hovering Blade (2009)

Excellent Focus on Need for Adult Punishment for Juveniles

[8/10 · 2 April 2011]

I think previous reviewers have missed the point of this film. It's primarily focused on whether we should punish juveniles who commit adult crimes with adult sentences. Or should juveniles get away with it in the interests of their repentance and return to to society.

It's an excellent Japanese police drama with a top Japanese cast of actors. Not like your over the top Hollywood stuff. This is more real life and it's a problem that many countries, not only Japan,face today.

Juveniles rape and murder and know they cannot get the proper full punishment because they are classified as juveniles. They laugh at society and the law.

Even the police must get frustrated with the situation. As one policeman in the movie asks:"Are the police here to protect the law or to protect the citizens. Where is the sense of justice?" I say it's well worth a watch.

Shanghai (2010)

Li Gong the Great

[8/10 · 16 August 2010]

Whenever I see Li Gong in a movie she dominates it so much that it has to be good for me because I adore her. Her presence takes a movie to new heights and sensations. Just one glance and she says a thousands words. I think without her this movie would have been a much lesser thing.

As an Asian movie lover I enjoyed it. It was a brave attempt to recreate that fantastic old Shanghai. It didn't quite do it but did it enough to make a colourful historical backdrop for a fairly routine story line. What really made this movie successful was actor performance and there are plenty of top class actors in it to make it really worthwhile. For actors alone it is worth watching and especially that wonderful lady Li Gong who is simply hypnotising.

I watched this in Chinese with English subtitles which I found an interesting change. Japanese is also spoken.

Well worth a watch

InAlienable (2007)

Something different and worth watching

[7/10 · 9 July 2010]

Firstly, I enjoyed this and I'm very fussy about what I watch but this film held my attention throughout and was well acted. Yes, the special effects could have been better and yes the ending could perhaps have been a little clearer for clots like me but overall it was entertaining and quite interesting because of the various legal and moral issues it raised.

Put it this way, before I chose to watch this I browsed through scores and scores of movies and could not find one that interested me. Most of the movies made, especially modern ones, are garbage. I wonder why they bother and wonder even more why people even watch them. But this movie, humble as it is, was better than most. It's worth a watch.

Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005)

Perfection

[10/10 · 3 July 2010]

I have watched many movies in my long life but can truly say that I've seen nothing better than this one. Maybe it's because we now live in an age when movies are story starved high tech sex and violence ravings that this film stands high above the crowd. Do not miss it. It's a beautifully woven tale about ordinary people that will make you laugh and cry. The acting and direction is superb and the musical score is delightful. Watching this movie can remind you of the important things in life,can make us maybe rethink our values. Both sexes and all ages will enjoy this presentation.I will certainly be watching this movie again. It is that good and that enjoyable.

Righteous Kill (2008)

Garbage

[1/10 · 13 September 2008]

I really don't understand how this film is getting such a high rating here. I found it totally boring and the diction was so bad they should have had English sub-titles. So what if two famous old farts star in a movie together again. So what? It sure did not help the story and maybe even made it more boring because their acting techniques never seem to change whatever role they are playing. Back to that subject of diction. This, in my opinion, is a really serious matter with a lot of US movies. I am English but I have to use sub-titles to understand many US movies. The Hollywood version of English seems to be just a lot of mumbled slang.

He ni zai yi qi (2002)

Together is Tops

[9/10 · 21 January 2008]

Together is a top movie. Don't listen to the poopers . It's worth a watch and is most enjoyable. It will make you laugh and cry and the music will elevate you. What more is there to say? It's a nice change to get a Chinese movie that not all about martial arts or full of violence. Instead we have a good human story here, well written, acted and produced. It's a simple tale that is made splendid by the fine acting of the cast. Personally I wish China produced more movies like this, rather than those boring martial arts epics that all seem to tell the same tale. Human relationships and the decisions we have to make in life are much more interesting.

Sky of Love (2003)

there's a weakness somewhere in this plot

[4/10 · 18 August 2007]

Initially the plot seems really interesting but there's something not quite right about it. This is made especially frustrating by the ending when the male lead finds but does not talk to the female lead or even see her face. It seems the story is left incomplete because there is no conclusive exchange between the two main characters. The plot had the makings of a fascinating tale and perhaps under different direction and writing this might have been achieved. The film is still worth a watch but just be ready for an ending that leaves you up in the air a bit. The acting is fine and I am always amused by the way Asian actresses use their eyes and facial expressions so cleverly. It's something that Western actresses don't seem to do much.

Honesty (2003)

good....honestly

[7/10 · 1 August 2007]

It's a great shame that the West does not see more Chinese movies than it does. Most will never be known to most Westerners and they are missing out on lots of really great entertainment. It's not a co-incidence that Hollywood has used so many Asian movie plots. The Asian movie scene is really moving. Honestly is a very funny and innovative romantic comedy from Hong Kong and I honestly recommend it. If it doesn't entertain you and make you laugh your socks off, then you need medical assistance. Like most Chinese movies, the acting is great and special mention must be made of the lovely and talented Cecilia Cheung who I hope we see lots more of. This is a movie for everyone to enjoy. I hope it will entice people to further explore the world of Asian movies.Whether it is Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Thai there's a whole big world of entertainment to be explored.

The Last King of Scotland (2006)

boring boring

[4/10 · 27 June 2007]

Having lived through those times and already knowing lots of details about the real life monster, I found this movie boring. It just didn't portray what a horror the man really was. The movie took a timid approach and the slow storyline was weak and often disconnected.

It could have been a really powerful film and it could have unveiled details of things that were not revealed at the time. It also lost opportunities, such as the Isreali attack on Entebbe and the hostage rescue attempt. This major event was glossed over and could have been portrayed better.

I was very disappointed with this film and not over impressed by the acting. See something else or read a good book.

Music and Lyrics (2007)

This a sweet, worth seeing movie

[7/10 · 27 June 2007]

This is a sweet, worth seeing movie. You will like it. It will make you feel good and it has a few worthwhile messages in the storyline.

Hugh Grant comes over as an acceptable singer of his charming ditties and is brilliantly teamed with Barrymore. He had to learn to sing for the part, and learn to play piano. I liked the very English way he handled himself.

The only bad thing for me was the use of a huge Buddha on stage in a gawdy and sexy pop scene. As a Buddhist I found this affronting. People nowadays seem to have a thing about using Lord Buddha's image as a commercial decoration and I think it is disrespectful. Would they use Mohammed or Jesus Christ the same way? Other than that the movie was good

Bandidas (2006)

This is a bad movie, especially for Penelope Cruz

[1/10 · 27 June 2007]

It dismays me that at the height of a brilliant career, Penelope Cruz (who I adore) has lowered herself with a movie like this piece of American junk. It is a truly awful movie, an insult to the intelligence of even a dummy.

How can a successful, talented, brilliant, actress who has played in so many good movies allowed herself to be degraded by such low standards.

The story is pathetically weak and even the acting talents of the cast cannot save it. Some may try and excuse the film by saying it's funny, but for me there were no laughs.

I do hope that Penelope raises her standards again and stars in something with more class and challenge. Perhaps she should stay with the European movies scene.

Folks, it's not worth your time, or your money.