Hi,

I find myself doing this every year. The program for this year's Philly Film festival is out, and as usual I'd like to hear what more knowledgable people have to say about the following Asian films.

(Note: this is an utter mashup of countries, just picked the ones that looked vaguely interesting to me out of the program. And, of course, all titles in English.)

BLACK HOUSE

CONFESSION OF PAIN

EPITAPH

EYE IN THE SKY

SOO

VEXILLE

BLOOD BROTHERS (quite curious about this one).

As always, thanks in advance. Last year your recommendations led me to EXILED, which I liked quite a bit and probably wouldn't have gambled on by myself.

doug

I haven't seen any of these titles myself yet, but I bought a ticket for EPITAPH at New York's "New Directors/New Films" series.

I can recommend Eye in the Sky -- and strongly DISrecommend Confession of Pain (a waste of a good cast).

Take a look at Autumn Ball (Estonia)-- also And Yet I Didn't Do It and Matsugane Potshot Affair (both from Japan)....

I've heard good things about VEXILLE (if you liked either or both APPLESEEDS, you should like VEXILLE).

Hi Doug --

EYE IN THE SKY is worth a look. To help you make up your mind, here's a link to a -- mine, actually -- interview with its director, Yau Nai Hoi:-
http://www.bcmagazine.net/hk.bcmagazine.is...4yaunaihoi.html

And my review of the film (along with others):-
http://www.bcmagazine.net/hk.bcmagazine.is...4/17cinema.html

OTOH, I strongly suggest you don't be fooled by the number of prominent names attached to COLOUR OF PAIN and BLOOD BROTHERS and, instead, give both those movies a miss.

Have to agree with Michael and Yvonne that EYE IN THE SKY is worth a look. However I didn't mind CONFESSION OF PAIN or BLOOD BROTHERS - not great but not bad either. Besides I'd watch Liu Ye in any damn thing. He's positively electric in BB and everything else I've seen him in. I also really enjoyed Sun Hong-Lei's performance in BB. It reminded me of one of those Christopher Walken seminal crime lord performances.

Also you didn't mention it but I JUST DIDN'T DO IT looks good to me and it's from the director of SHALL WE DANCE. http://www.phillyfests.com/pff/film-details.cfm?id=7481

Thanks to everyone so far.

Unfortunately, because I don't have a lot of time (isn't that always the way? you have the time and no money or the money and no time) and scheduling conflicts, I'm gonna have to pass on EYE.

This is what I've bought tickets for so far:

TIMECRIMES (mainly because it was discussed somewhere else here in Mobius)

VIOLENT SATURDAY

STORM

and I don't know if you'd classify this as Asian or not -- made in Russia with what looks like an all Asian cast -- MONGOL. Very curious about this -- I love these kind of swords and thunder movies.

I might have room for a couple others, though, so if anybody else has any opinions on the ones I mentioned or any of 'em, let me know.

thnks again,

doug

Mongol is excellent. Great cast (two of the leads actually studied Mongolian and got it right), wonderful stunts and action. I sure loved it and highly recommend it if you are into adventure films (just the right amount of myth is added to the legend)
Actually Mongol is shown in theaters here now.

I think it is qualified as an Asian film btw.


Epitaph is not bad at all. But I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it.

MONGOL was an Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Film this year. Picturehouse releases it commercially on June 17.

I know this is unrelated to this particular thread's subject, but here's a little article about Jackie Chan and Jet Li hooking up for a second on-screen collaboration:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=88455646