Re-cycle

"Re-cycle" is the Pang brothers(The Eye movies series) new fantasy morale tale about a young writer who gets sucked into another dimension. The effects are fantastic on blue-ray, but besides that, I can't say anything good about this movie. There were moments when I thought the visuals were so amazing, it's such a shame that the story was horrible. Everything that takes place in the "other" world feels like nothing more than the pang brothers trying to hit us over the head with their moral point of view. To me it lacked depth, and felt contrived. The end was also one of the biggest dissapointments I've had so far this year. I found myself thinking "man, they could have done so much better with this idea!". I feel like they completely dropped the ball when it came to the writing. I can only give this movie 4 out of 10, and it's only getting that much because of the few moments the visuals really gripped me. If you're going to see this movie, see it as a moving painting only, expect little from the plot-line and you'll go away happy.

Rent it with netflix!

Honey and Clover

How do you take a very long well-known and well-liked anime series and make it into a movie? Not Easily. "Honey and Clover" was directed by Masahiro Takata. It stars Yu Aoi as the beautiful, artisticly eccentric Hagu, and Sho Sakurai as kind-hearted Takemoto. The plot is simple....friends at an art college try to better their art while pursuing impassioned crushes at the same time. There were some aspects of the plot that confused me, and I felt that too much had to be left out(the anime lasted for seasons so I'm sure they found it hard to really do justice to the characters in a single movie). I couldn't understand for the life of me why certain characters did some of the things they did.....and yet....at the same time.....I found myself falling in love with the movie....falling in love with the idealism and romanticism embraced by this group of inspired youth. It's not all happy, and like most artististic/creative people I know, it carries a constant sadness throughout.
I haven't seen enough of the anime to really compare the two, but I can say that I was able to just let go, ride the ride and feel the emotions....it is an enjoyable movie, and when the movie was over, I wanted it to continue. I wanted to know what happened to these characters in the future, I wanted to follow them on their journey.
I don't think this movie will appeal to everyone. Some of you may think the plot is too slow, or too sentimental.
I say, however, "bring on the sequel!" I give it 8 out of 10.

Have this movie delivered to your home!!!

The Tsunami Diaries

"The Tsunami Diaries" follows director Timmy Turner, a well known surfer, as he enlists the help of friends and strangers in an effort to bring disaster relief to lesser known parts of Indonesia. At first, I questioned his motives....was it all done for a movie? Was it just a gimmic in the disguise of a humanitarian quest? My final answer.....no. When you see the impacted lives not only do you feel sympathy and relief that these people are getting help, but you also feel the weight of all those that could not be on screen, that were never helped in anyway. It was a massive disaster, that will continue to claim victims for years to come. Timmy did what he could, and I think the film itself shows what a single person CAN do if they only refuse to let the thoughts "who am I, what can I possibly do." to dominate their minds. Their are times where technically I wish they'd edited a few seens differently...but that is such a minor complaint. The documentary is only about 49 minutes long but you will feel overwhelmed as the screen darkens. You will also feel a bit more comfortable in your own circumstances, realizing how good your life is and how fortunate you truly are. I applaud Timmy Turner for doing the impossible and bringing much needed help to those who need it. I have to give this 8 out of 10.
Rent this movie now through netflix!!!!

Lethal Angels

Lethal Angels is an erotic thriller/action flick directed by Wai-Man Chen. It stars Tien Hsin(Woman Soup, The Duel) as a very attractive woman who joins a team of female assasins. She begins to question the groups motives when she is given a very difficult new assignment. I was really drawn into the story of this film, and enjoyed all the choreography of the action sequences. The characters are well written and likable...I did feel I was able to connect and sympathize with their plight. I enjoyed the cinematography and style of the director as well. I definitley suggest this film. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

Available on Netflix!

Sex and Fury

Sex and Fury is an Asian Cinema "cult classic". It's part of "The Pinky Violence DVD Collection"
and stars Legendary actress Reiko Ike and Christina Lindberg(Most famous for playing "One Eye" in the fantastic film "Thriller: A Cruel Picture".
Reiko Ike plays a woman determined to get revenge on those who killed her father.
I popped this Dvd in the player, with child-like giddiness...expecting something that would absolutely thrill me, especially since it's been stated as being on of the movies that helped inspire Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill". I was a bit dissapointed, however. My main complaint comes in the sword play, which, except for the one exception where a character fights naked, falls flat on every other level. The choreography was unbelievable and uninteresting, and the plot let me down completely. I was unhappy how some of the characters were handled including Christina Linberg's character and her love interest. I felt all the actresses talents were a bit wasted...and the cinematography could and should have been brilliant, but also seemed to lack inspiration, as if the director Norifumi Suzuki was worried more about a pressing schedule than giving the film any true substance.
It's worth seeing, if only to see Christina Lindberg in another film. It's a shame it wasn't worthy of her, or Reiko Ike.

Available on Netflix!

Life boat

Star Wars Told by young child

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