Foreign Gems #-M

I'll admit that I am not a huge fan of these hand held camera movies, let alone horror movies. But ... director and writer Jaume Balagueró along with the help of Paco Plaza are f****** geniuses. Forget Cloverfield this is a movie to remember.

The basis of the story is a news crew spending the night with the fire department to film an episode for a television show. This is the first successful part of this film. It is a news crew, which means that the camera work is more professionalized. Less shakiness is always good.

Another good element of this film is the runtime. It runs at only 75 minutes, but this is perfect. It doesn't drag itself on and on. The first 10 minutes or so is more or less character development for the lead, Angela. The rest of the film takes place in a small multistory apartment building. Once you reach this setting, you get a small taste of the zombie carnage before the film slows down for the next 20 minutes, which lets you get to know the residents of the building. This may not sound all that great, but it is all worth it because the last half an hour is superb.

The suspense is great and you WILL jump out of your seat multiple times. Even when you know something is going to happen, the fear factor still hits you.

I still don't like the fact that the camera man, who they never show, is intent on carrying the camera all over the place, but the story does a nice job at making it feel like the camera is needed. Especially at the ending. Speaking of the ending, it is a little coincidental, but it is interesting and damn entertaining.

The acting is how it should be with people screaming. The lead, Manuela Velasco, is fantastic and some of the supporting characters are good as well.

Good cinematography and sound make this a great "one camera" movie. I highly recommend this to suspense and horror fanatics.

Shinji Aramaki successfully follows up Appleseed, with Appleseed: Ex Machina.

While seen as a continuation of its predecessor, it is possible to view this installment without having seen the first. The story is more or less standalone, but the buildup for the existing characters and futuristic setting is nearly non existent in this one. This is where Appleseed comes in to play.

The 1 hour 40+ minutes is an appropriate time as this film delivers everything it needs to. The story is interesting and heavy on the science fiction, while the the Japanese voice work is a positive.

The action seen throughout the picture has John Woo's signature all over it. Guns are a blazing and bullet casings are dropping all over the place. It is definitely fun to watch.

Visually this film gets high praise. Japanese animation already looks good, but turn it into CG, render it to look like cel shading, and it all dazzles the eyes.

Overall, Appleseed: Ex Machina has little in the way of disappointments and is a compliment to the Japanese animation genre.

1 part comedy, 1 part action, Seung-wan Ryoo's Arahan is a bundle of amusement.

After an opening sequence with dialogue that acts as the hook and some stellar opening credits, Arahan is off and running. The first half consistently uses humor to help liven up the storytelling before it turns into an action fest for the finale.

The action is fantastic and the CG effects are more than suitable for this picture. What really stands out is the choreography, thanks to Doo-hong jung, which comes complete with fists, swords, and some other special powers thrown in the mix. The final fight is actually quite long and this contributes to the film's 1 hour 50 minute run time.

Seung-beom Ryoo delivers a joyous performance with his facial expressions and line delivery. The lovely So-yi Yoon is also a delight to watch. The rest of the supporting cast completes the circle of fine acting.

At the end of the night, Arahan is one successful action comedy out of Korea. Check it out if time allows.

What can I say? Battle Royale is an instant classic Japanese thriller based off of a manga by the same name. Kinji Fukasaku is a lucky man to have this film on his directing resume.

The story is without question unique, controversial, and entertaining. Teenage classmates are forced to kill each other or be killed themselves. Yep, I'm sold.

The run time is just under 2 hours, and this is one of those films where there is room to make it longer. The pacing is pretty quick and the story wastes no time at jumping into the good stuff. The development of the major characters happen as they become a part of the story and there are a lot of characters to follow. There is never a dull moment in this picture.

The violence is a plenty, as it should be, and the blood is kept in check. This may sound like a gore fest, but it really isn't that bad. Don't get me wrong though, this is not for a younger audience.

The acting is fantastic, with Takeshi Kitano providing a little weirdness. A ton of the actors and actresses become memorable after this film. Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Masanobu Ando, Chiaki Kuriyama, and Kou Shibasaki come to mind.

Battle Royale is a film that most people will want to check out in their lifetime. "Life is a game. So fight for survival and see if you're worth it."

Teddy Chen's Bodyguards and Assassins is a Hong Kong action adventure with a lot to remember.

The story concept is exceptional and there are two parts to it, if broken at a high level. The first surrounds the recruitment and planning, while the second involves the execution. Both parts are successful at what they do, without any rushing. That is probably why the run time is 15 minutes past 2 hours.

There are a ton of characters to follow, thus making the setup for each character, as well as the main plot line, a hefty number of minutes. Things are kept interesting and there isn't much drag to bog down the movie. The setup is all worth it as the final 50 minutes define the title of the movie in exciting fashion.

The latter portion is where most of the action occurs. The martial arts choreography is decent, but the camera angles do need some work. It isn't a huge flaw because the martial arts isn't the centerpiece of this picture anyway.

An all star cast fills up the faces of the major characters. Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung, and Wang Xue Qi deliver the better overall performances. Donnie Yen, Li Yu Chun, and Leon Lai carry the action.

Bodyguards and Assassins may seem a bit long, but there is enough to fill it up. Get on a rickshaw and enjoy the ride.

John Lasseter successfully reaches the checkered flag with Cars.

With a run time just under 2 hours, which include scenes during and after the closing credits, Cars has everything it needs to amuse from beginning to end. The biggest compliment to the film are the characters. Why? The characters have character. That makes them likable, thus making the story that much more enjoyable. Heck, cars can carry a film.

The visual look of the cars are family friendly and they look adorable. That's not to say that there isn't a whole lot of effort put into the visuals because the detail is there. The shine of the car bodies is enchanting to the eyes.

The voice work is praiseworthy. Owen Wilson and Bonnie Hunt are a good one two punch, but Larry the Cable Guy deserves a lot of credit. He is a perfect match for his character, Mater, while also providing much of the comic relief.

Cars may revolve around a race car, but it takes its time unfolding the story and it works out for the best. Highly recommended.

Based on the novel by the same title, Tetsuya Nakashima's Confessions excels with the storytelling.

The entire film is dark in nature, disturbing, and exhausting. At times, it also feels like the entire film is in slow motion. To sum it all up, the 1 hour 45 minutes do not speed on by; however, all of this isn't as bad as it sounds. This is thanks to Nakashima's directing.

The storytelling is phenomenal, as everything is laid out in the first portion. Heck, it is laid out enough that the film could have concluded, but it doesn't and things keep on rolling. Slowly but surely, bits and pieces of the plot become clear which all adds up to a satisfying conclusion.

The cinematography is a huge plus. From the dark tone to the slow motion, every shot has that feeling of being thought out beforehand and this aids the storytelling nicely.

The cast is another asset. The young actors and actresses that make up the student body all shine as they successfully display the possible cruelty of teens. Ultimately, Takako Matsu is the star of the show and she ends up carrying the picture right from the get go.

Despite its depressing theme, Confessions is an example of great film making.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is without question, a classic martial arts film from Ang Lee.

At just under 2 hours, the plot may seem weak in the early going, but things gradually come together to form a likable story. There is two sides to this film; the drama and the action. Both are done well, and this is a big reason why this picture caters to a lot of people.

An ample amount of the dialogue is slow and dramatic, and the film tends to drag a little in the desert scenes, but all of this contributes to the story.

The action counteracts the dramatic scenes and Yuen Woo-Ping's martial arts choreography is just phenomenal. This movie includes one of the greatest fight sequences caught on film. The fights aren't short and sweet either. Ang Lee lets the action continue for some decent stretches, which allows him to get some fine camera work in.

All of the major actors portray their characters well. Chow Yun Fat is the biggest name, but both Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi overshadow him. Way to go ladies.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon may not be action from start to end, but this is a must see for martial arts fanatics.

YES! This is the movie that I have been waiting for. A great wuxia/sci-fi/fantasy film all rolled into one. This is the first true answer that I've seen to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is a superb start to a hopefully great trilogy.

The story is great. Really more of a sci-fi/fantasy, rather than a wuxia tale, although it is a wuxia setting. The film is near the 2 and 1/2 hour mark but it did not feel that way at all. The film does move at a moderately slow pace, but the good story, cinematography, and great acting keep this thing livened up.

As previously mentioned, the acting is well done. Kou Shibasaki, of Battle Royale fame, literally steals the show as Dororo and makes me wonder if she could have pulled off the Azumi character better than Aya Ueto did. She really has shown her maturity since her Battle Royale days. It is her acting alone that keeps the movie entertaining. I was also happy to see an appearance from Anna Tsuchiya, from the great Kamikaze Girls. I only wished that she had a bigger part.

There is quite a bit of action in here and it is great to watch, but it is not the greatest swordplay out there. Yet, it doesn't have to be. I love great swordplay as much as the next guy, but this movie isn't driven by the action.

The CG isn't too bad. Personally, I think it could have been a little better, but once again it works. The demons in this film come in the forms of all different fantasy types of creatures and they really go all out on the variety that appear.

This film should be a great watch to a variety of people since it covers quite a few genres nicely. Action adventure, drama, science fiction, and fantasy. Pick your poison and give this film a peek.

This movie is labeled as a kung fu classic and I have no argument with that. With this type of film most people only expect to see the fights with the cheesy dialogue and sound effects. Well, this film actually excels in all departments.

First off, this film does NOT have as many fights as others of this genre. That is OK because where this film lacks in fights it makes up for in story. I never thought I would see such an entertaining story for this type of movie. Instead of having a single lead, there are actually 6 characters with an equal amount of screen time. This is not your usual "training for revenge" flick either. It is also not the 5 deadly venoms working together to take out the bad guy as some people will come to think. Watch this film if you want to know.

The start of this film is great. There is a quick introduction of the 5 deadly venoms; centipede, snake, scorpion, lizard, and toad. It shows some quick training exercises, but what makes it interesting is that their identities are kept a secret because of the masks they wear. As the movie moves on you begin to figure out who is who.

As mentioned earlier, the fights are minimal. There are only a few short sequences for the first 2/3 of this 90 minute flick while the longest fight comes at the end. Although the fights may be few, they are well choreographed. It is all hand-to-hand combat as well. If you like sword fights and weapons, then I am truly sorry.

What is really surprising is that the acting is pretty good. Philip Kwok not only can fight, but he shows that he can act as well. All 6 of the main characters put on good performances.

This is a must see for kung fu fanatics and this is no joke. Good story, acting, and fights. What more could you ask for? Oh, also listen for some background sounds used in Kill Bill.

Exiled is a crime thriller follow up film to Johnnie To's own The Mission. This is long overdue.

This film is standalone and easy to pick up without having seen The Mission, however watching it is highly recommended. It isn't because the stories are continuous, although they are just a little, but because it is that d*** good of a film.

The story itself is straightforward, good, and while it isn't anything surprising, it is Johnnie To's directing that makes this picture as good as it is. The pacing is slow to moderate and the story does take a little bit of a dive in the middle. Once again, it is the spectacular cinematography and minimal dialogue that carry this film.

There are multiple shootouts and all have Johnnie To's signature all over them. The choreography is nicely done and the camera work just enhances them even more.

Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, Roy Cheung, and Lam Suet all reprise their roles as the 4 hitmen from The Mission. Nick Cheung, Josie Ho, Richie Ren, Simon Yam, Ka Tung Lam, and Ellen Chan all round out the star studded supporting cast.

Exiled comes highly recommended to fans of The Mission. People that enjoy Hong Kong crime thrillers will also want to see this.

Kenji Kamiyama returns with a fantastic second outing of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime series.

As with "The Laughing Man" film, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven is a compilation of the important pieces of important episodes of the second season of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Along Complex. Hence, 2nd GIG.

The run time is around 2 hours and 40 minutes and this isn't surprising, as a season consists of 20+ episodes. No matter how long it is, the futuristic high tech story is so engrossing that even during the slow parts, the film is never boring.

The visuals are just as superb as the story, and when it is combined with Kamiyama's directing, this becomes one heck of an animation.

Each of the major characters, as well as all smaller characters, have matching voice work that make this a film to take seriously. In English or Japanese, this is not a comedy to just sit back and relax with.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven is for those that are already fans of the series. Superb animation, if I may say so.

Kenji Kamiyama gets the honor of directing and putting together the fantastic Japanese animation known as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man.

This film is basically a compilation of all the important bits and pieces of important episodes of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex first season. In my opinion, it is nicely put together. The story flows smoothly and despite it being just under 2 hours and 40 minutes, it never drags.

What will turn people off the most, is the fact that this film is futuristic and very high tech. There is a high level of attention required to follow and understand the story. Unless this is a watch for the second or even third time, this is not a film to just sit back and relax to. With that said, the detail of the story makes it all the more engrossing. There is so much to follow, including a nice twist at the end.

Visually, this animation is fantastic. There is detail for the characters as well as the surroundings and settings. The direction is superb, so it helps the film visually as well.

The voice acting is wisely chosen (both in Japanese AND English dubs). Each character has a voice that match their look and personality. Props to Atsuko Tanaka for bringing Motoko Kusanagi to life.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - The Laughing Man is a film for fans of the series, as well as the original films. A must see.

Leave it to Korea and director Ji-woon Kim to come up with a fun and entertaining Western film. Well, it isn't exactly a Western, but it is close enough.

There isn't much to the story and this is a little bit of a letdown. Fortunately, this film still has a lot going for it. The title The Good, the Bad, the Weird corresponds to the 3 major characters, known as "The Good," "The Bad," and "The Weird." They actually have names in the film so they aren't called that, but you catch my drift. Naturally it seems as if "The Good" will take precedence over the other two, however the director sees things differently and places major emphasis on "The Weird." "The Good" is actually the least important of the 3.

There is a lot of action throughout this picture and it is fantastic. The first hour has a handful of shootouts and the camerawork is nicely done. The film slows down just a bit in the second half, leaving a few parts feeling unnecessary. Nevertheless, it contributes to the 130 minute run time. Just before the final showdown at the end, there is a 15 minute chase in the desert complete with motorbikes, horses, jeeps, canons, pistols, machine guns, and shotguns. Excellent stuff. "The Good" puts the shotgun to good use in this film.

The star of the show is Kang-ho Song, who plays "The Weird." 99% of the comedy stems from his character and as I mentioned earlier, his character has the most airtime. Woo-sung Jung as "The Good" and Byung-hun Lee as "The Bad" also put up good performances.

The Good, the Bad, the Weird isn't a typical Western movie, especially with the mixture of Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese dialogues, but it is definitely something to not overlook.

Shinobu Yaguchi has already proven that he can deliver amusing Japanese comedies with Waterboys and Swing Girls. Does he drop the ball with Happy Flight? Of course not. [Thumbs Up].

The weakest aspect of this film is probably the plot. Set entirely at an airport and on a plane, there isn't much depth to anything. Basically, whatever can go wrong on a flight, goes wrong. It seems it is not such a happy flight after all.

Well, what the film lacks in story, it makes up for in everything else. There is quite a variety of characters to follow, ranging from pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, ground control, etc. This movie actually gives good insight into what makes an airport function.

The comedic elements are funny. This isn't a non-stop laugh-er, but it isn't trying to be. It seems Yaguchi knows the secret for when to make Happy Flight serious and when to make it funny. [Thumbs Up].

As mentioned earlier, there are a number of memorable characters, but Haruka Ayase is really something. Her facial expressions and personality are just adorable. The rest of the cast fulfill their duties as well.

Happy Flight is another successful film on Shinobu Yaguchi's resume, and fans of his previous works will most likely enjoy this one as well. [Thumbs Up].

Based off of a novel by Novala Takemoto, Tetsuya Nakashima's Kamikaze Girls is a Japanese comedy that comes full of style.

At first glance, this picture looks like a 1 hour 40 minute girlish movie. Sure, it does have elements of that, but there is much more to the film that makes it watchable by guys and girls alike. The first 15 minutes throws everything on the floor and lays it out just as fast. The pacing is frantic, yet manageable, as the lead character, Momoko, builds up her story. Gradually things settle down, just a bit, as the main plot takes off.

The story of two unlikely friends is good on its own, but Nakashima's directing is absolutely worthy of note. He knows what he wants out of every scene and he gets it. Scene transitions, quirky dialogue, and colorful settings light up the film from beginning to end.

Both the beautiful Kyoko Fukada and Anna Tsuchiya put on stellar performances and they have no problem putting this film on their shoulders. No wonder this film is as good as it is. The supporting cast is also great, despite being overshadowed by the two leads.

Kamikaze Girls is a director's dream that shines on many levels. It is a highlight in Japanese movie making.

Kenji Kamiyama returns with a fantastic second outing of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime series.

As with "The Laughing Man" film, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven is a compilation of the important pieces of important episodes of the second season of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Along Complex. Hence, 2nd GIG.

The run time is around 2 hours and 40 minutes and this isn't surprising, as a season consists of 20+ episodes. No matter how long it is, the futuristic high tech story is so engrossing that even during the slow parts, the film is never boring.

The visuals are just as superb as the story, and when it is combined with Kamiyama's directing, this becomes one heck of an animation.

Each of the major characters, as well as all smaller characters, have matching voice work that make this a film to take seriously. In English or Japanese, this is not a comedy to just sit back and relax with.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven is for those that are already fans of the series. Superb animation, if I may say so.

The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series has been one of my favorite animated shows of all time. This movie is a sequel to the 2 season series and it does not disappoint. First off it would be wise to actually watch or be familiar with the series (52 episodes) to get a full understanding of the character relationships and the setting of the film. It is possible to watch this without having seen the series, but it isn't highly recommended.

As usual the story is very interesting but it is also complex. You really need to pay attention otherwise you will be lost in all that is going on. As far as action goes there isn't a whole bunch, but there is a nice sequence near the end which includes the return of the lovable Tachikomas. Guns a blazing.

Visually this movie is spectacular and it is pretty similar to the 2nd gig series. It may be even a little sharper. The setting and story concept really allow for the staff to display their artistic talent. Fans of Motoko may be a little disappointed in the beginning because she is nearly non-existent, but she does make up for it in the second half of the movie.

Yoko Kanno does an excellent job with the soundtrack once again. She gives us some new songs as well as some recognizable originals from the series.

Fans of the series will get a kick out of everything this film has to offer while others will just enjoy the visuals.

Joon-ho Bong has put out more than decent films over the years and Memories of Murder is no exception. Hands down, this is one great Korean mystery thriller based off of a true case.

At first glance this film seems like a typical average investigative thriller with the cops tracking down a serial rapist. The earlier parts of this film play out this way, however the final 45 minutes of this 2+ hour picture is just fantastic. In the beginning, there is a little blurb explaining that this is based off of a real life case and at this time it also gives away the ending. Despite all of that, the movie is still engrossing and the ending is worth the watch. In fact, there is a point where the film could have ended, but it gets extended just a few more minutes to make it even better.

Not only is there good writing, but the cinematography is quite impressive. This helps to carry this picture in the earlier parts when the story is still under its peak.

Kang-ho Song and Sang-kyung Kim put on fantastic performances as the 2 lead detectives. Both characters switch personalities as the film progresses and this is interesting to watch. Also, the cops are ones to hate in the early going, but by the end they are being cheered upon to solve the case.

Memories of Murder isn't explosive and it doesn't have to be. The story, acting, and camera work speak for itself.