SIFF, again
I've gone over the SIFF schedule in a bit more detail; and altho I haven't added a lot more films that I want to see (only one or two), I figured I could just throw out some opinions on why I want to watch films (you have to come up with your own reasons). All links are to the SIFF page for a movie, many of them feature trailers for the film if you are interested (I apologize that their trailers appear to have been run through a decreased production quality filter). I've placed the movies I'm most interested in at the top, and I've tried to label my own must-sees in bold.
Please please PLEASE let me know if you are interested in going out to movies with us in general, or in seeing any movies with us in specific. I will do my best to make group arrangements, problem involving an email list of something facebook-y, and will probably be putting movies up on my google calendar as I decide to commit to showings. If you will be in Seattle during part of SIFF (Doc!) and want to force us to commit to seeing something with you, go ahead and let us know.
Any questions? Let me know.
Anyways, here we go:
The Beast Stalker
Hong Kong, directed by Dante Lam
Reasons to watch
* It's an HK cop actioner: SLAM DUNK!
* It's directed by Dante Lam, of Beast Cops, Hit Team, and, um... The Twins Effect fame.
* It stars Nic Tse (who has gone from being surprisingly good at acting & action to being one of HK's top action stars) & Nick Cheung (who I think got the HK film award for best actor for this performance).
* Listed on lovehkfilm.com's top 10 of 2008. And you know I listen to Kozo!
* Must-see.
Showings: 4 PM, Friday 22 May @ Neptune; 7 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ Harvard Exit; 11 AM, Saturday 30 May @ Uptown Cinema
Black Dynamite
USA, directed by Scott Sanders
For some reason, they don't have the trailer up on the SIFF website. Watch it here. Having seen that, if you don't feel a burning need to see this movie you not only have no soul, you are also dedicated to helping The Man keep your brother man down. Must-see!
Showings: 9:30 PM, Friday 5 June @ Egyptian; Midnight, Saturday 6 June @ Egyptian (my preferred showing time).
The Clone Returns Home
Japan, directed by Kanji Nakajima
I hadn't heard of this before, but the description is intriguing and the trailer is enthralling. You should watch it. Not a must-see, but definitely a film I'm very very interested in seeing.
Showings: 9:30 PM, Thursday 4 June @ Uptown Cinema; 4 PM Tuesday 10 June @ Admiral; 9:30 PM, Saturday 13 June @ Egyptian.
Daytime Drinking
South Korea, directed by Noh Young-seok
Click on the link. Read the description, watch the trailer, then come back here. So: which showing would you like to aim for?
Showings: 4 PM, Tuesday 26 May @ Egyptian; 9:45 PM, Monday 1 June @ SIFF Cinema.
Dead Snow
Norway, directed by Tommy Wirkola
Nazi zombies? Nazi zombies! NAZI ZOMBIES! NAZI ZOMBIES!!! Must-see.
Showings: Midnight, Saturday 23 May @ Egyptian (would be my preferred showing, except I hope to be holding a birthday party somewhere that night); 9:30 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ Pacific Place Cinema.
I Sell the Dead
USA, directed by Glenn McQuaid
It's got a catchy title, it features a hobbit AND Ron Perlman, the description sounds cool, and the trailer looks awesome. Also, midnight showing at Egyptian might work out. Grave robbers + undead = Must-see.
Showings: Midnight, Friday 22 May @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Neptune.
Sniper
As I said in my previous post, this movie got a last-minute re-write in the editing room last year after CameraGate (or PenisGate, or EdisonChenGate, or whatever they call it) hit the big time in HK. Regardless, it's an HK cop actioner so it's a must-see.
Showings: 9:30 PM, Monday 1 June @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Wednesday 3 June @ Egyptian.
Warlords
Hong Kong, directed by Peter Chan
Another movie so must-seeable that it requires a list:
* Directed by Peter Chan, of Perhaps Love, Comrades: Almost a Love Story, and Who's the Woman, Who's the Man fame.
* Starring Jet Li, Andy Lau, and Takeshi Kaneshiro
* An epic historical war & brotherhood film from Hong Kong
* It's totally AWESOME!
* I own a pirated DVD I accidentally bought in Chinatown last Christmas, so I would be morally obliged to give them my money even if I didn't want to see it again in the theater of my own volition.
Showings: 9:45 PM, Saturday 23 May @ Neptune; 9:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Egyptian.
Yes, I Can See Dead People
Hong Kong, directed by David Lee
Okay, you've got me, it's only on the list because A: it's from Hong Kong, and B: it's an excuse for a midnight movie. I would like to point out that midnight Hong Kong movies is probably my favorite thing in the entire universe. Hence, must-see. I do hear it's eminently watchable (the beginning of the lovehkfilm review is "You probably expect nothing from this movie...surprise, you get more than nothing!")
Showings: Midnight, Saturday 30 May @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Tuesday 2 June @ Uptown Cinema; 9:45 PM, Friday 5 June @ Admiral
Less interested, but still interested:
Breathless
South Korea, directed by Yang Ik-june
I don't have a lot to say about this: the pitch sounds interesting, the trailer looks interesting. It's a low-probability of attendance for me, but if someone else were particularly interested or it fit into a schedule around a couple other films I would give it a shot.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Thursday 11 June @ SIFF Cinema; 9:30 PM, Saturday 13 June @ SIFF Cinema
Bronson
United Kingdom, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
I haven't heard of this before, but the description sounds pretty interesting. Another one I'll watch if karma lines up and won't cry if it doesn't.
Showings: 9:30 PM Saturday 23 May @ Uptown Cinema; 9:30 PM Tuesday 26 May @ Neptune
Forever Enthralled
China, directed by Chen Kaige
You mostly have me at "Chinese movie" alone. "Movie about a Peking Opera star" and I'm completely sold. "Directed by Chen Kaige" would pique my interest. Of course, we have all three, and I'm pretty certain I want to see this. Why only "pretty certain"? From what I've read, the second half drags a little, and that might have something to do with the fact that this is the half carried by Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi. Throw in the facts that it's over two hours long and Chinese Censors = no Leon Lai/Zhang Ziyi sex scene, and I'm more ambivalent then I might be otherwise. Still: definitely interested, and desire on the part of others to see this movie would go a long way. Watch the trailer, let me know what you think.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Sunday 7 June @ Uptown Cinema; 9:15 PM, Wednesday 10 June @ Admiral; 3 PM, Saturday 13 June @ Cinerama
Hansel and Gretel
South Korea, directed by Yim Phil-sung
I've heard good things about it on the tubes, and the trailer looks pretty kick-ass.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ Neptune; 3:30 PM, Friday 29 May @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Sunday 7 June @ Admiral.
Inju, the Beast in the Shadow
France, directed by Barbet Schroeder
Based on a novel by Edogawa Rampo? I'm halfway there. Sounds okay from the description, and the trailer takes me another ~25% of the way there. Unlike the trailer, I hope the actual film has subtitles. That's another 10% right there, right?
Showings: 6:30 PM, Thursday 4 June @ Egyptian; 1:15 PM, Saturday 6 June @ Uptown Cinema; 4:15 PM, Friday 12 June @ Cinerama
Miao Miao
Hong Kong (but really Taiwan, I think), directed by Hsiao-Tse Cheng
Apparently this was made by a bunch of people who've worked with Wong Kar-Wai; but the list doesn't include WKW himself, Christopher Doyle, or the stellar casts he surrounds himself with, which are a lot of the reasons to go see WKW films. Based on the trailer, this doesn't look like it brings a lot new to the table, but I could see the ladies or those who like consuming teen-oriented fare being quite interested in this. And it looks pretty damned gorgeous. Not something I'll push hard for, but certainly something I'd love to get dragged along to.
Showings: 4:30 PM, Friday 29 May @ SIFF Cinema; 7 PM, Tuesday 2 June @ Egyptian Theater.
Moon
UK, directed by Duncan Jones
Starring Sam Rockwell, this sounds pretty awesome and I've heard consistently awesome things about it. The only thing that keeps this from being at the top of the list is the certainty that I'll have the option to catch this in the theater later this summer. But if you want to catch it NOW, I'm certainly persuadable.
Showings: 7 PM, Tuesday 26 May @ Egyptian; 4:15 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ SIFF Cinema.
My Dear Enemy
South Korea, directed by Lee Yoon-ki
It looks a bit slight and a bit romcommy, but it's definitely got potential. Give the trailer a spin and see what you think.
Showings: 6:30 PM, Sunday 24 May @ Harvard Exit; 1:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Harvard Exit
Once Upon a Time in the West
USA, directed by Sergio Leone
Based on a script by Bernardo Bertolucci and Dario Argento, this is the Greatest Western Ever Made. Every chance offered by fate to see this in the theater should be taken quite seriously.
Showing: 1:30 PM, Friday 6 June @ Harvard Exit
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
France, directed by Michel Hazanavicius (the first name I've had to just copy and paste!)
This spy comedy has gotten a lot of really really good press, and this is an outdoor showing. That has a lot of potential. Also, they're showing the sequel, but only at the closing night gala, which is expensive. Curses!
Showing: 9 PM, Friday 6 June @ Juanita Beach Park
Wild Rose
An early Chinese silent film? SOLD!
Showings: 1:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Egyptian (okay, that's probably not going to happen)
ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction
Okay, this movie is solely on here because of the title. It does sound pretty cool, tho.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Tuesday 2 June @ SIFF Cinema; 10:00 PM, Thursday 4 June @ Kirkland Performance Center
Please please PLEASE let me know if you are interested in going out to movies with us in general, or in seeing any movies with us in specific. I will do my best to make group arrangements, problem involving an email list of something facebook-y, and will probably be putting movies up on my google calendar as I decide to commit to showings. If you will be in Seattle during part of SIFF (Doc!) and want to force us to commit to seeing something with you, go ahead and let us know.
Any questions? Let me know.
Anyways, here we go:
The Beast Stalker
Hong Kong, directed by Dante Lam
Reasons to watch
* It's an HK cop actioner: SLAM DUNK!
* It's directed by Dante Lam, of Beast Cops, Hit Team, and, um... The Twins Effect fame.
* It stars Nic Tse (who has gone from being surprisingly good at acting & action to being one of HK's top action stars) & Nick Cheung (who I think got the HK film award for best actor for this performance).
* Listed on lovehkfilm.com's top 10 of 2008. And you know I listen to Kozo!
* Must-see.
Showings: 4 PM, Friday 22 May @ Neptune; 7 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ Harvard Exit; 11 AM, Saturday 30 May @ Uptown Cinema
Black Dynamite
USA, directed by Scott Sanders
For some reason, they don't have the trailer up on the SIFF website. Watch it here. Having seen that, if you don't feel a burning need to see this movie you not only have no soul, you are also dedicated to helping The Man keep your brother man down. Must-see!
Showings: 9:30 PM, Friday 5 June @ Egyptian; Midnight, Saturday 6 June @ Egyptian (my preferred showing time).
The Clone Returns Home
Japan, directed by Kanji Nakajima
I hadn't heard of this before, but the description is intriguing and the trailer is enthralling. You should watch it. Not a must-see, but definitely a film I'm very very interested in seeing.
Showings: 9:30 PM, Thursday 4 June @ Uptown Cinema; 4 PM Tuesday 10 June @ Admiral; 9:30 PM, Saturday 13 June @ Egyptian.
Daytime Drinking
South Korea, directed by Noh Young-seok
Click on the link. Read the description, watch the trailer, then come back here. So: which showing would you like to aim for?
Showings: 4 PM, Tuesday 26 May @ Egyptian; 9:45 PM, Monday 1 June @ SIFF Cinema.
Dead Snow
Norway, directed by Tommy Wirkola
Nazi zombies? Nazi zombies! NAZI ZOMBIES! NAZI ZOMBIES!!! Must-see.
Showings: Midnight, Saturday 23 May @ Egyptian (would be my preferred showing, except I hope to be holding a birthday party somewhere that night); 9:30 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ Pacific Place Cinema.
I Sell the Dead
USA, directed by Glenn McQuaid
It's got a catchy title, it features a hobbit AND Ron Perlman, the description sounds cool, and the trailer looks awesome. Also, midnight showing at Egyptian might work out. Grave robbers + undead = Must-see.
Showings: Midnight, Friday 22 May @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Neptune.
Sniper
As I said in my previous post, this movie got a last-minute re-write in the editing room last year after CameraGate (or PenisGate, or EdisonChenGate, or whatever they call it) hit the big time in HK. Regardless, it's an HK cop actioner so it's a must-see.
Showings: 9:30 PM, Monday 1 June @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Wednesday 3 June @ Egyptian.
Warlords
Hong Kong, directed by Peter Chan
Another movie so must-seeable that it requires a list:
* Directed by Peter Chan, of Perhaps Love, Comrades: Almost a Love Story, and Who's the Woman, Who's the Man fame.
* Starring Jet Li, Andy Lau, and Takeshi Kaneshiro
* An epic historical war & brotherhood film from Hong Kong
* It's totally AWESOME!
* I own a pirated DVD I accidentally bought in Chinatown last Christmas, so I would be morally obliged to give them my money even if I didn't want to see it again in the theater of my own volition.
Showings: 9:45 PM, Saturday 23 May @ Neptune; 9:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Egyptian.
Yes, I Can See Dead People
Hong Kong, directed by David Lee
Okay, you've got me, it's only on the list because A: it's from Hong Kong, and B: it's an excuse for a midnight movie. I would like to point out that midnight Hong Kong movies is probably my favorite thing in the entire universe. Hence, must-see. I do hear it's eminently watchable (the beginning of the lovehkfilm review is "You probably expect nothing from this movie...surprise, you get more than nothing!")
Showings: Midnight, Saturday 30 May @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Tuesday 2 June @ Uptown Cinema; 9:45 PM, Friday 5 June @ Admiral
Less interested, but still interested:
Breathless
South Korea, directed by Yang Ik-june
I don't have a lot to say about this: the pitch sounds interesting, the trailer looks interesting. It's a low-probability of attendance for me, but if someone else were particularly interested or it fit into a schedule around a couple other films I would give it a shot.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Thursday 11 June @ SIFF Cinema; 9:30 PM, Saturday 13 June @ SIFF Cinema
Bronson
United Kingdom, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn
I haven't heard of this before, but the description sounds pretty interesting. Another one I'll watch if karma lines up and won't cry if it doesn't.
Showings: 9:30 PM Saturday 23 May @ Uptown Cinema; 9:30 PM Tuesday 26 May @ Neptune
Forever Enthralled
China, directed by Chen Kaige
You mostly have me at "Chinese movie" alone. "Movie about a Peking Opera star" and I'm completely sold. "Directed by Chen Kaige" would pique my interest. Of course, we have all three, and I'm pretty certain I want to see this. Why only "pretty certain"? From what I've read, the second half drags a little, and that might have something to do with the fact that this is the half carried by Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi. Throw in the facts that it's over two hours long and Chinese Censors = no Leon Lai/Zhang Ziyi sex scene, and I'm more ambivalent then I might be otherwise. Still: definitely interested, and desire on the part of others to see this movie would go a long way. Watch the trailer, let me know what you think.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Sunday 7 June @ Uptown Cinema; 9:15 PM, Wednesday 10 June @ Admiral; 3 PM, Saturday 13 June @ Cinerama
Hansel and Gretel
South Korea, directed by Yim Phil-sung
I've heard good things about it on the tubes, and the trailer looks pretty kick-ass.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ Neptune; 3:30 PM, Friday 29 May @ Egyptian; 9:30 PM, Sunday 7 June @ Admiral.
Inju, the Beast in the Shadow
France, directed by Barbet Schroeder
Based on a novel by Edogawa Rampo? I'm halfway there. Sounds okay from the description, and the trailer takes me another ~25% of the way there. Unlike the trailer, I hope the actual film has subtitles. That's another 10% right there, right?
Showings: 6:30 PM, Thursday 4 June @ Egyptian; 1:15 PM, Saturday 6 June @ Uptown Cinema; 4:15 PM, Friday 12 June @ Cinerama
Miao Miao
Hong Kong (but really Taiwan, I think), directed by Hsiao-Tse Cheng
Apparently this was made by a bunch of people who've worked with Wong Kar-Wai; but the list doesn't include WKW himself, Christopher Doyle, or the stellar casts he surrounds himself with, which are a lot of the reasons to go see WKW films. Based on the trailer, this doesn't look like it brings a lot new to the table, but I could see the ladies or those who like consuming teen-oriented fare being quite interested in this. And it looks pretty damned gorgeous. Not something I'll push hard for, but certainly something I'd love to get dragged along to.
Showings: 4:30 PM, Friday 29 May @ SIFF Cinema; 7 PM, Tuesday 2 June @ Egyptian Theater.
Moon
UK, directed by Duncan Jones
Starring Sam Rockwell, this sounds pretty awesome and I've heard consistently awesome things about it. The only thing that keeps this from being at the top of the list is the certainty that I'll have the option to catch this in the theater later this summer. But if you want to catch it NOW, I'm certainly persuadable.
Showings: 7 PM, Tuesday 26 May @ Egyptian; 4:15 PM, Wednesday 27 May @ SIFF Cinema.
My Dear Enemy
South Korea, directed by Lee Yoon-ki
It looks a bit slight and a bit romcommy, but it's definitely got potential. Give the trailer a spin and see what you think.
Showings: 6:30 PM, Sunday 24 May @ Harvard Exit; 1:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Harvard Exit
Once Upon a Time in the West
USA, directed by Sergio Leone
Based on a script by Bernardo Bertolucci and Dario Argento, this is the Greatest Western Ever Made. Every chance offered by fate to see this in the theater should be taken quite seriously.
Showing: 1:30 PM, Friday 6 June @ Harvard Exit
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
France, directed by Michel Hazanavicius (the first name I've had to just copy and paste!)
This spy comedy has gotten a lot of really really good press, and this is an outdoor showing. That has a lot of potential. Also, they're showing the sequel, but only at the closing night gala, which is expensive. Curses!
Showing: 9 PM, Friday 6 June @ Juanita Beach Park
Wild Rose
An early Chinese silent film? SOLD!
Showings: 1:30 PM, Monday 25 May @ Egyptian (okay, that's probably not going to happen)
ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction
Okay, this movie is solely on here because of the title. It does sound pretty cool, tho.
Showings: 9:15 PM, Tuesday 2 June @ SIFF Cinema; 10:00 PM, Thursday 4 June @ Kirkland Performance Center