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.