A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop AKA A Simple Noodle Story AKA Sānqiāng Pāi'àn Jīngqí

A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop AKA A Simple Noodle Story AKA Sānqiāng Pāi'àn Jīngqí

Beijing New Picture Co.

11 December 2009

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

This is a remake of Blood Simple, which I surprised myself by liking, and this isn't bad, but it just didn't click for me.  Yimou Zhang directed, after Not One Less AKA  tiān shàng yǒu ge tàiyáng, but before The Great Wall.

Là dove non batte il sole AKA The Stranger and the Gunfighter AKA El kárate, el Colt y el impostor

Là dove non batte il sole AKA The Stranger and the Gunfighter AKA El kárate, el Colt y el impostor

Compagnia Cinematografica

1974

Western, Action, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

A Western and an "Eastern" (complete with martial arts) mashed together.  Antonio Margheriti directed.

Vampire Cleanup Department AKA 救僵清道夫

Vampire Cleanup Department AKA 救僵清道夫

Media Asia Films

16 March 2017

Horror, Comedy
DVD
C-

Too gory for me, but I can see the appeal.  Sin-Hang Chiu and Pak-Wing Yan co-directed, and co-wrote with other people.

2046

2046

Jet Tone Productions etc.

20 May 2004

Sci-Fi, Romance

DVD
C-

Stylish but it didn't draw me in.  Kar-Wai Wong wrote and directed.

Terminal (2018)

Terminal (2018)

Highland Film Group

11 May 2018

Crime Drama

DVD 

C-

In contrast to The Terminal (2004), this has sharp dialogue, but I didn't care about the story.  Vaughn Stein wrote and directed.

Shock Wave

Shock Wave

Universe Entertainment etc.

20 April 2017

Action

DVD
D

Forgettable.  Herman Yau directed and co-wrote.

Once Upon a Time in China

Once Upon a Time in China

Golden Harvest etc.

15 August 1991

Historical Drama, Action
DVD

D+

Definitely not my kind of movie, but the cinematography is kind of nice.

Once a Thief (1991)

Once a Thief (1991)

Golden Princess Film etc.

2 February 1991

Action, Comedy

DVD 

D+

One of those movies where the people onscreen are clearly having much more fun than I am.  John Woo directed and co-wrote.

Infernal Affairs III AKA Mou gaan dou III: Jung gik mou gaan

Infernal Affairs III AKA Mou gaan dou III: Jung gik mou gaan

Media Asia Distribution

12 December 2003

Crime Drama

DVD
D-

Uh, yeah, no, especially the eye surgery.  Andrew Lau and Alan Mak co-directed.

Jet Li's Fearless

Jet Li's Fearless
Rogue Pictures
26 January 2006
Action, Historical Drama
DVD
C-

I liked this better than some martial arts movies because it shows the human side of its hero, with a long flashback to his childhood.  Ronny Yu directed.

Enter the Dragon

Enter the Dragon
Warner Bros.
August 19, 1973
Action
DVD
D+

I'm not a martial arts fan, but I did like the very '70s music during the credit sequence.  Robert Clouse directed.

The Drummer

The Drummer
Emperor Motion Pictures
11 October 2007
Crime Drama
DVD
C

For a story about gangland rivalries, this isn't bad, with a sense of humor and passion (as well as cute animals).  However, it does have the title character being threatened with having his hands chopped off for fooling around with the gang leader's girlfriend.  Kenneth Bi wrote and directed.

City on Fire (1987)

City on Fire (1987)
Cinema City & Films Co.
13 February 1987
Action
DVD
D

This is very bloody but I did like the music.  Ringo Lam wrote and directed.

Butterfly and Sword

Butterfly and Sword AKA Xin liu xing hu die jian 
Regal Films Distribution
16 January 1993
Action
DVD
D+

Odd martial arts movie, e.g. the "old maid" sister making fun of her grown brother's penis, and the crime lords being eunuchs.  John Chong wrote the screenplay based on the novel Liuxing Hudie Jian by Lung Ku.  Michael Mak directed.

Astro Boy

Astro Boy

Summit Entertainment

October 23, 2009

Children's, Sci-Fi

DVD

C

This Hong-Kong-American production is based on the manga series, which I've never read, although I feel like I saw some of the 1963 TV series growing up in the '70s, but it wasn't as memorable as Speed Racer.  This movie isn't bad as these things go, and I like the touches of political and other satire, especially in the opening "educational film" sequence, narrated by Bell.  Still, I didn't feel enough invested in the characters or story to continue beyond twenty minutes.

David Bowers directed and co-wrote.  I tagged the voice actors for characters I'm sure I heard in the scenes I watched.

Dragon Lord

Dragon Lord
Golden Harvest
21 January 1982*
Action, Comedy
DVD
D

Chan, then 27, directed and co-wrote this comparatively low-budget feature which opens at an odd sporting event and then shows him as a lazy rich boy, whose best friend accidentally pees on him when they're startled to see some girls by the river.


*This wasn't released to American DVD until 2007 (with apparently no video release before that).

Armour of God 2: Operation Condor

Armour of God 2: Operation Condor
Golden Harvest
7 February 1991*
Action, Comedy
DVD
C-

I found this less funny and definitely more sexist (and possibly racist) than Twin Dragons, although the cinematography is undeniably better, from the shots of Jackie (as Jackie AKA Condor) rolling down a tropical mountain in a giant hamster ball to escape from natives, to the smooth one-shot stroll through a Spanish mansion.  This time Chan directed and co-wrote.


*Hong Kong release date, although this American dub is from July 18, 1997

Twin Dragons AKA Shuang Long Hui AKA Brother vs. Brother

Twin Dragons AKA Shuang Long Hui AKA Brother vs. Brother
Golden Harvest
15 January 1992*
Action, Comedy
DVD
C

Jackie Chan plays twins who are separated soon after birth, in a hilarious sequence that the rest of the first quarter-hour can't match.  This is the movie on this blog I was most on the fence with so far, but I decided I didn't care enough about the grown-up twins to continue.  Ringo Lam and Hark Tsui co-directed, and Tsui also co-wrote the screenplay.


*This is the Hong Kong release date; however, the American dub didn't come out until April 9, 1999.