vince4953529 Reviews

See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)

Not bad but oh my Joan Severance

[6/10 · 3 April 2019]

I had to pause the video when I first saw Joan Severance graced the screen. I had to rearrange my schema toward human beauty. To say simply she is the most spectacularly gorgeous striking woman I have ever witnessed. With that off the way, this movie was mildly entertaining, but not outrageously funny. It's intersting to see Manhattan in the late 80's with its grittiness in contrast with the unchecked commercialism that is today.

Touch of the Light (2012)

Well done film that exceeded its peers

[9/10 · 16 July 2015]

This is a really well-done film revolving around the theme of "pursue your own dream" or "you are your own agent". In a nutshell it is about a blind pianist fought with his own self- doubt to being recognized as a world-class performer. The standout about this film is the smoothness of the dialogue. I have noticed recent Taiwanese films being plagued by awkward and often cringe- inducing dialogue. But not here, the jokes are genuinely funny and tender moments emotive. The leading actress is gorgeous and this is the first that I have seen her. I really admired this film. Sadly it's likely only to be viewed by a very limited audience.

Before Sunrise (1995)

Heartwarming

[8/10 · 22 August 2013]

18 years... 18 years after this film released I've finally pulled the trigger to film it. I've seem copious films decades earlier than this and obviously younger than this. But alas, a highly-acclaimed film has to be seen sometime. It's not a mind-blowing film, yet in a degree the best world I can describe this is; heartwarming, comforting... and very safe. The dialogues & humanity in this film explicitly showing the humane emotions & ambiguity among people. Yet the writer/director showed it in such a way that it is never provocative, edgy or pretentious. It is just good-old human emotion manifested in dialogues between 2 estranged lovebirds.

It's never boring despite the continuous dialogues. This is a possibly a sign of human's penchant to voyeurism & gossiping, but that's a bit too much for this.

Spring Breakers (2012)

Strange film with lasting impressions

[6/10 · 28 June 2013]

Saw lots of 1 or 2 stars reviews. It is a strange movie. It's beautifully-filmed, yet it's very repetitive. I actually lost attention many times and started doing other things only to force myself into watching this film without distraction. This film gives me a sense it's mocking all the clichés being used in today's Hollywood film industries or America's dumbing-down popular culture. Examples: all the stock figures particularly the wigger gangster portrayed by James Franco, the over-the-top antiques from the 4 main girls. The dialogs is banal ("spring break forever...", "we're finally going to see the world".) it's laughable. The antics done by the characters are extremely humorous. Some scenes are just borderline on full-blown ridiculousness (playing a Britney Spears song on the piano, girls wearing pink masks totting guns, Florida white trash bearing silver teeth...). This is a very good comedy. Harmony Korine has done an excellent job calling this film a satire; a mockery of today's mindless youth behaviors and the pervasive stupidity among the masses, or could be a commentary on the absurdity of the Hollywood culture. But if he meant this film to be a "serious" thriller, it would be terrible.

Hear Me (2009)

light-hearted affair

[7/10 · 29 July 2011]

This is a light-hearted romantic teen movie from Taiwan. I felt just like many recent Taiwanese movies, the dialogs could be a little awkward at times, even though the majority of the film was communicated in sign- language. The diminutive yet terminally cute leading actress was good at her role, serving as a reserved character. The male lead character was more expressive in nature, although I felt at times came out a bit obnoxious. The language aspect reflects fairly accurately among the current Taiwanese society today, where the parents speak in Taiwanese while the children replied in Mandarin. In a way it is sad to see a native language is replaced by an invading tongue, and I hope there is a trend coming to slow up this trend. Overall this is a harmless romance Taiwanese movie.

When Love Comes (2010)

life... a series of very emotional events

[8/10 · 20 February 2011]

When Love Comes is one of the more popular Taiwanese movies that came out in 2010. The plot deals with teenage pregnancy, conflicts between cultures and generation gaps, and changes within oneself etc.

When Love Comes is a very straightforward film, yet the messages underneath were actually very complex and very profound. The film confronted traditional and conservative Taiwanese values that clashes with the emerging foreign Western culture; in the meantime the generation gap that causes so many conflicts, and how the traditional Taiwanese culture expressing the idea of "love" that is so subtle and so clandestine.

Very realistic dialogs here, when I was watching this I could picture my family members and friends speaking like them; I chuckled and teared up at times. Very emotional and very real; the lives of a Taiwanese family.

Au revoir Taipei (2010)

Interesting Taiwanese film

[8/10 · 14 August 2010]

Au Revoir Taipei reminds me of some Western romantic films where love affairs are often thrown in with gangsters, cops, chases etc. But this film clearly is a lot more light hearted contained some hilarious dialogs between the characters. I laughed out loud during the interactions between the cops and between the real estate agents.

The colors in this film are vibrant, contrasting the night sky, which is very pleasant to behold. There are many locations in the film which I recognized that only added to the realism. I wish there will be more movies like this coming out from Taiwan where intelligent plots and genuine comedic moments dominate.

Days of Wine and Roses (1962)

Tragic

[9/10 · 26 May 2010]

Alcoholism isn't a topic explored enough through the medium of cinema. Days of Wine and Roses is an extraordinary film depicting the effects of alcohol abuses and AA meeting.

The movie title is romantic and lovely, and when people are indulging alcohols that's the feeling they would get. There were already enough deserved praises about Jack Lemmon's performance. The amazingly beautiful Lee Remick is equally outstanding as well. The way she delivered those monologues is magical. The scene of her drunk on gin and being delirious in the motel room is heartbreaking and it's one of the bleakest scenes I've seen.

Days of Wine and Roses shows the destructive nature of boozing unflinchingly. This film does not lose its edge after forty years.

City Island (2009)

an absolute thrill

[9/10 · 17 May 2010]

This is one of the smoothest and most brilliant-acted movies I've seen for a long time. Andy Garcia is mesmerizing as the head of a very interesting household. The entire films is a roller coaster ride. You'll see strippers, carjacks, BBW fetish, annoying casting girl with double-chin saying "thank you" way too many times, spousal arguments... etc. all the good stuff.

The dialogs are razor-sharp, realistic, and full of life. Julianna Margulies totally transformed into the sexy mom full of bites and passion. The New Yawka accent is a pleasure to my ears. I do agree the end might be a little too sappy but that does not take away the overall awesomeness of the film. City Island is entertaining, comedic, touching, and should not be missed.

Paris, Texas (1984)

life as you know it

[10/10 · 14 February 2010]

Call me bias, but I'm just a sucker for the blues guitar, the rustic Americana small towns, and the melancholic shots of the colors of night.

This brilliant film has more than the gorgeous cinematography to offer, it delivers powerful emotional punches. The final exchange between Travis and Jane is one of the most touching and emotional-devastating scenes I've ever witnessed. Also this particularly scene where they were driving through a Texan town when the night sky just sets, and raindrops began to fall on the windshield as the wipers smeared up the glass. It was such a beautiful scene that had imprinted into by mind for quite awhile.

The scenario was simple and relate-able. Young couples fell in love, living in the fast lane. Then naturally things happened in life, they couldn't take it, and they went to lead themselves separate lives. The feeling was still there and they met again. It's full of emotive feelings, just as what life is.

After Hours (I) (1985)

hilarious and entertaining

[8/10 · 12 February 2010]

For me the most entertaining movie I've seen has to be DeNiro's Midnight Run. After viewing After Hours, I've concluded that this film ranked right up there as being supremely funny and entertaining.

A simple date at Soho gone wrong, that's basically the whole premise of the film. The main character went through unexpected events one after another. Along the way many weird people popped up as the time goes on. My favorite scenes include the moments between Paul and the bartender, and moments with Kiki.

This is not a film with deep philosophical messages, it's simply a film to laugh out loud with. If you enjoy films like Midnight Run, Clerks, True Romance etc. This one would be right up your alley.

Last Life in the Universe (2003)

melancholic and hypnotic

[8/10 · 5 February 2010]

This film basically tells the story of the encounter between two individuals through a random incident. The girl here is the delightful and pretty Noi, and the guy is the laconic and awkward Kenji.

There is this moody and melancholic feel throughout the whole film. The girl's house is dimly-lit, the sky is gray, and conversations between the two are sparse. The atmosphere evokes many feelings from myself. There are certain scenes that conjured up some nostalgic memories from the past, and I can relate to many scenes from the movie all too well.

There are some magical scenes: the two of them sitting silently watching television while the girl chain-smokes away, the scene where the papers gyrated around the house caused by the wind...

This is a rather slow film, and the plot is simplistic. It's rather a film to be felt and experienced.

High Fidelity (2000)

Depictions about life and relationships

[7/10 · 1 February 2010]

This film is about how complicated and unpredictable relationships could be. I can relate to many scenes in this movies: the arguments, being accused of not willing to grow up, the endless phone calls, the late tears at night, the breaking-ups and the going-backs...

The film also music-heavy. I've listened to lots of bands to my life so I know most of the music they were discussing in there. Setting in Chicago, I've been to most of the locations shot in the movie. It reminds me a lot of the movie "Reality Bites". About relationships, music, friends... that most people can relate to.

I also found many characters to be memorable. Iben Hjejle also gorgeous in the film, also an unexpected appearance by Tim Robbins. Jack Black is explosively hilarious, bursting out lines and lines of comedic gold.

Jesus Camp (2006)

fascinating

[7/10 · 30 January 2010]

I have heard many of the messages from the movie in real life, so they are not that new to me. But there were also things that are novelties to me; such as talking to the a cardboard image of George W. Bush, discussions about social issues within the church... etc.

As far as many reviewers' fear of what would happen when these kids grown up, I have some few insights. I've been with many of these similar kids when I was young; going to Christian schools, being taught as warriors for the Lord... etc; and I've known many of them in their 20's. Some of them became atheists, some ceased going to the church, some still remained. Human are rebellious and hedonistic in nature, it is difficult to become a life-long radical in a free society. Not saying if it's good or bad, it's just human nature.

The church depicted in this movie is just an extreme form of Christianity. Welcome to the 21st century, when you think you've seen everything, think again.

Hei gou lai le (2004)

A true Taiwanese indie movie

[8/10 · 17 January 2010]

This is an entertaining Taiwanese comedy depicting some coming-of-age events happened around a boy's life. It is a very authentic film about lives of average working class Taiwanese, as I know many people with similar backgrounds. It reminded my childhood when I hear the languages, accents, characters... all felt so real and dear to me. You see events unraveled around a boy's life; a dancer that he has a crush on, the death of a close one, etc.

There were a few touching moments, and many funny ones.

This is a movie without being sugar-coated and without the overly commercially feel that most of the Taiwanese TV shows manifests. A definitely gem that you can find in DVD in Taiwan.

Brüno (2009)

funniest movie I've seen this year

[9/10 · 14 October 2009]

Bruno is just about the most hilarious film I've witnessed this year. There are bizarre scenes such as doing karate with dildos in hands, conversation with gay converters, a swinger party, attempted hookup with Ron Paul...the list goes on and on. Definitely on the of the most absurd and entertaining films, but if you are easily offended or socially conservative, then you probably should stay away from this movie. The final scene of the fight ring is set in St. George, Arkansas; where I've driven pass through before but did not have the chance of a thorough exploration. The folks in the "Bible belt" of USA obviously aren't as open to homosexual activities as else wheres. I've seen billboards written with huge Bible verses dotted along the highway as I drove across Arkansas. It's a huge country with many regional cultures for sure.

Rebels of the Neon God (1992)

an atmospheric masterpiece

[10/10 · 30 June 2008]

Having lived in Taiwan from the mid eighties to the late nineties, this film showed how Taipei was like during the early nineties. That was when the MRT was still under construction, and everything looks a little bit old, filthy, run down, and crowded. This film accurately portrayed the lives of the youth living at that time, such as hanging out all day in the arcade, obsession with motorbike racing, and for some going to the after school tutor seminars. when watching this film a wave of nostalgia hit me as I realized that Taiwan now is a lot more polished and modernized, and not as gritty as before, which I have dearly missed.

The film showed the "little people" of a big city. They are often ignored, alienated, and living day by day in the fringe of a faceless and monolithic society.