Spin Kick

Actors:
Kim Dong Wan
Jeon Jae Hyun
Hyun Bin

A group of misfit Manesh High school students get arrested for getting into a fight on a bus by challenging anyone who dares to cross the line they have drawn. In order to stay in school and out of jail, the principle made a deal with the misfits to join the tae-kwon-do team. The challenge is to reclaim fame to Manesh High school , find a coach and keeping the misfits in the team without killing each other first. Yong Gaek (Kim Dong Wan) is the leader of the misfit gang leader who initially decides to stay in the team to win over a girl Seong Wan (Jeon Jae Hyun) but quickly found another reason to pursuit tae-kwon-do. Yong Gaek immediately clashes with the team captain Min Gyu (Hyun Bin) and tries to claim the title of the alpha male. Each member on the team has each of their own reason to win the competition.

The movie opens with a tone setting itself to be a comedy action film which quickly fades away and shifts into a more serious tone. Korean movies are known for spicing the movies up with a hint if not drown by comedy. Spin Kick is just like "Bad News Bears" where you take a bunch of amateurs and try to turn them into pro; no new concept here. Kim Dong Wan is originally a singer with boy band Shinwan and started venturing out to the acting world with "Spin Kick" being his first leading role. Hyun Bin is the reason why I decided to watch this movie because of "A Millionaire's Fist Love" and because he's cute. Actually I wanted to watch a comedy to relax on a Sunday and was disappointed I was not laughing out loud but digging into the sensitive side.

Spin Kick is a light movie you can enjoy with a decent not-so-fresh story with some eye candies. There's nothing particularly special about the movie, but if you're bored like me on a Sunday evening with nothing better to watch, give Spin Kick a chance to occupy your evening.

Merry-Go-Round (東風破)

Directors: Mak Yan Yan | Clement Cheng
Actors:
Teddy Robin (泰迪羅賓)
Nora Miao (苗可秀)
Ella Koon (官恩娜)
Lawrence Chou (周俊偉)
Denise Ho (何韻詩)

Merry-Go-Round, featured in Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, follows the story of three lost souls in Hong Kong. Merry (Ella Koon) is a terminally ill patient who goes to Hong Kong from San Francisco to find an internet friend Allen (Lawrence Chou) to confess her love out of loneliness. Eva (Nora Miao) is a Chinese herbal doctor going back to Hong Kong to stop his nephew from selling the herbal shop which has been passed down for generations. Allen is a man who's trying to find redemption by selling the herbal clinic to obtain a sum of money to help the wife of a co-worker.

After being rejected by Allen, Merry wonders to a coffin house, which stores coffins with the dead until claimed and shipped back to their hometown, meets Uncle Hill (Teddy Robin) who offers her a job as an assistance. While working at Tung Wah Coffin House and getting acquainted with Uncle Hill and learning his past, Merry desperately tries to win Allen's heart. Eva tries desperately to save the shop by peaking Allen's interest in herbal medicine. Allen is so filled with guilt he is willing to do anything to make sure his co-worker's wife and son is well taken cared of.

Merry-Go-Round maintains a good melancholy tone throughout the film. There were areas of the movie where the visual cinematography is beautifully done, but I didn't feel it was consistent throughout the film. The movie jumps back and forth from present to the past telling the love affair between Eva and Uncle Hill. It's always interesting to see the contrast between past and present and see how characters develop into who they are by getting a glimpse into their past. Merry-Go-Round moves in a decent pace which kept me engaged with a decent assembled cast. I didn't find anyone particularly standing out in the film, but it was definitely going down memory lane seeing Teddy Robin in films again; known to be a comedic actor in films such as "Three Against the World" and "Working Class." Lawrence Chou may not be a household name, but definitely recognizable from films such as "The Eye" and "Recycle." He can be seen dropping his trouser in "Dream Home." Merry-Go-Round is worth watching for the enlightening soundtrack by Hong Kong musician Ketchup and somewhat engaging story of lonely souls trying to find their root in Hong Kong.

Best Commercial Ever

This has got to be the most touching, inspiring commercial ever!

The Storm Warriors (風雲II)

Director: Ping Brothers (彭氏兄弟), Ma Wing Shing (馬榮成), Yee Chung Man ( 奚仲文)

Actors:
Ekin Cheng (鄭伊健)
Aaron Kwok (郭富城)
Nicholas Tse (謝霆鋒)
Charlene Choi (蔡卓妍)
Simon Yam (任達華)
Kenny Ho (何家勁)
Wong Tak Bun (黄德斌)

A highly anticipated sequel of wuxia mythology in a decade making from the premiere of the original Storm Warrior. The sequel is about Cloud (Ekin Cheng) and Wind (Aaron Kwok) trying to stop Lord Godless (Simon Yam) and his son Heart (Nicholas Tse) from taking over the wuxia with ruthless method and stopping at nothing to reach their goal. To stop Lord Godless and his invincsible armor they seek help from Lord Wicked (Wong Tak Bun) which he instructs Wind to harness dark power to increase his power instantly. Cloud also trained with nameless master swordsman (Kenny Ho) to take his skills to the next level. The dark power overtakes Wind and it's up to Cloud to stop him.

The sequel is definitely worth the decade wait as the special effect is mind blowing and unimaginable. The detail of all the energy harvesting to final manifestation of the strike is breathtaking. Storm Warriors is based on a popular comic book. Like any other movies based on comic book or books, it feels like a long preview. You don't know the detail to the story unless you've read the comic book. The transition from one scene to another is also very choppy and does not flow well. Acting was decent from all actors except when Ekin Cheng tried to be emotional toward the end of the movie; it was oh so forced and very laughable. I tried to concealed my giggle with no prevail. Aaron Kwok still looks good at his age and definitely a better actor than Ekin Cheng. Oh how I long for another scene of Cloud practicing his martial arts in the waterfall from the first Storm Warriors. Enjoy this for the special effect and nothing more.

Somewhere I Have Never Traveled (帶我去遠方)

Director: Fu Tien Yu (傅天余)

Actors:
You Xin (游昕)
Li Yun Yun (李芸妘)
Lin Bo Hong (林柏宏)
Zhou Yong Xuan (周詠軒)
Lin Mei Shiu (林美秀)
Mei Fang (梅芳)
Li Yong Feng (李永豐)

A coming of age movie about cousins living in a coastal town itching to get out. Ah-Hsien (Lin Bo Hong) is saving money to escape the small town to New York with his boyfriend; while Ah-Gui (Li Yung Yun & You Xin) wants to go to a secluded island promised by Ah-Hsien. Ah-Gui becomes extremely jealous when Ah-Hsien becomes involved with someone and spirals downward into becoming a snappy melodramatic diva. Somewhere I Have Never Traveled is about adolescents discovering who they are and journeying down a new path in life.

Somewhere I Have Never Traveled is beautifully shot with vibrant colors and there's an innocence and purity to the cinematography that feasts the eyes. Li Yung Yun was so great playing the young Ah-Gui. She possess the innocence of a young girl when she's sharing the screen with Ah-Hsien. When she's alone she's melancholy and exudes old soul when she speaks. Lin Bo Hong also did a good job playing a teenager who's discovering his sexuality when a foreigner from japan (周詠軒) visits the small remote coastal town to visit the temple-church with a painting of the last supper with chinese mythology icons. I'm afraid this is another not-so-happy ending for the gay boy. Don't hesitate to watch this. It will definitely keep you engaged.

Prince of Tears (淚王子)

Director: Yon Fan (楊凡)

Actors:
Fan Chih Wei (范植偉)
Terri Kwan (關穎)
Joseph Chang (張孝全)
Oceane Zhu (朱璇)
Lin Yo Wei (林佑威)

Set in the era of White Terror in the 50's in Taiwan, Prince of Tears is a movie about anti-communist witchhunt and two generations connected by a children's story book "Prince of Tears." One autumn afternoon pilot Han Sun (Joseph Chang) and wife Ping (Oceane Zhu) were arrested for treason and association with anti-communism. The daughters given to Ding (Fan Chin Wei) to care and the sisters lives will never be the same again. Love, friendship and betrayl is the theme of the movie.

Prince of Tears is OMG so slow. Picture is beautifully shot and lots of eye candies but OMG did it move so slow; they even walk really slow in the movie. The dialogue is poetic which compliments the picture but it felt a bit dragged out. It's nice to see Fan Chin Wei and Joseph Chang collaborate again after Crystal Boys. Joseph Chang is also known for his excellent performance in Eternal Summer who struggles managing his relationship with his gay best friend and girlfriend. Highly recommended if you like Joseph Chang and wonders what he may be hiding underneath those fabrics. Lin Yo Wei is another pretty boy you may want to keep an eye out for. He was introduced to Taiwan entertainment as a boybander and have appeared in numerous TV series. Aside from feast for the eyes with astounishing picture and beautiful people, Price of Tears is only a treat for the eyes. The voice over got annoying and I really didn't care what happens to anybody in the film but can't wait for it to end. Prince of Tears is also inspired by a true story with a hint of lesbian flair. I want to like this movie so much, especially with Fan Chin Wei and Joseph Chang but dullness of the story trumped anything good associated with the movie.

Haeundae

Director: Yoon Je Kyun

Actors:
Ha Ji Won
Sol Kyung Gu
Uhm Jung Hwa
Park Joong Hoon
Lee Min Ki

A marine geologist Kim Hee (Park oong Hoon) discovers Korean East Sea is showing signs of activity similar to the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and heads to Haeundae to warn the authorities but was turned away. In the mean time, residence of Haeundae goes through life as usual with problems in life, career and love. Fisherman and seafood restaurant owner Man Sik (Sol Kyung Gu) has feelings for Yeon Hee (Ha Ji Won) but doesn't know how to express it partly due to feeling responsible for the death of her father during the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Man Sik's brother Hyung Sik (Lee Min Ki) is a coast guard who got intertwined with a Seoul privileged university whom he met during a rescue. Coincidentally, Kim Hee's estranged ex-wife Yu Jin (Uhm Jung Hwa) and daughter resides in Haeundae and proceeds to get them out of harms way. The inevitable finally comes and disaster is blanketed over Haeundae.

First disaster movie and one of top 5 grossing film in Korea, Haeundae delivers in special effect and did not fail in keeping the audience engage in the visual effect and emotional turmoil when disaster strikes. The disaster didn't strike until the last 20 minutes of the film, but the first half was necessary to build the characters and understand the lives of those in Haeundae. It makes the devastation that much more impactful when disaster do strike because now you're connected to those who are fighting for their lives. Haeundae is a disaster movie but it did not lose the Korean flavor of including comedy in the film. Haeundae is funny, sad, adventurous all rolled up in one. It's a nice feeling of being able to experience different emotions in one film and not feel so burden by the heaviness of a typical disaster movie.