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Reviews
Se, jie (2007)
Lee Has A Dim View of Women
The ending of the movie was a shocking reminder that not all celebrated film "artists" have an enlightened view of women. Lee would have us believe that his character Mak Tai Tai would be so swept up in a few rather emotionally barren yet physically steamy sexual encounters with the monster Mr. Yee that she would betray her friends and herself. This despite her knowledge of the brutality of Japanese rule in China, especially as administered by Yee. Moreover, Lee perpetuates the outrageous notion that a woman being raped can somehow end up enjoying the sexual attack. He wants us to believe that she developed some sort of emotional connection through sex, lustful attention, and a gaudy gift from Yee, despite Yee's distant and unfeeling treatment of women generally, not just Mak Tai Tai. Notably, in Lee's dynamic, it is the woman who ultimately surrenders all common sense and caution through lust, not the man. Mr. Yee keeps his head and flees at her suggestion, and proceeds to execute her and her friends, despite feeling bad about it. The only way Lee's shameful rendering of a woman's viewpoint would be believable is if he had convincingly portrayed Mak Tai Tai as a completely dysfunctional soul who had been mistreated by men in her life to the point that she could only function in a relationship by being dominated by the male to her detriment. To the contrary, Mak Tai Tai was an independent, bright woman caught in a tough life along with millions of her Chinese counterparts under Japanese occupation. I rated the movie as I did because of the wonderful photography, acting and pace preceding the end. If I had to rate it solely on my comments above, I would have given it a one. Clearly, Lee has developed keen insights into how two males may achieve a mature and moving emotional connection in an affair (Brokeback Mountain), but has no clue as to what makes women tick.
Awake (2007)
Laughably horrible plot
What follows are 16 examples of absurd plot points: (1) The film immediately makes a big deal about the family conglomerate's potential merger with a mob-connected Japanese company, receiving world wide notoriety, but then this point is completely abandoned. (2) Hayden, the young heir to a gigantic business fortune, is only 22. Too young for an MBA, and probably just out of college. Yet, he's got a major role running a huge company and making deals himself. (3) Hayden's heart is so bad that he learns his new heart is ready, just before he's going to have honeymoon sex with Alba. Up to that point, except for one wheezing incident on some steps, Hayden sprightly bounds about, looks 22 and rigorous, and even looks great on the gurney going into the ER. Don't transplant candidates have a hard time breathing, much less walking, and much less contemplating sex? (4) Hayden's Mom is very beautiful but looks the 50-52 years of age this website says she was when filmed (born in '55). Yet, a big deal is made about her having Haden extremely young; so young they're more like friends than son and mother. An actress about 40 should have been cast. (5) The evil transplant team consists of just 3 surgeons (is the Australian actress a doctor or a nurse?), and a drunk anesthesiologist. Don't transplant teams have upwards of 10 professionals in the OR? (6) No hospital staff ever enters or checks on the OR during what is supposed to be a long transplant procedure. Where are the other staff and patients at this hospital? The hallways are deserted, except during "second Hayden's" wanderings. Mom and Hayden's new evil bride sit alone for most of the time in the hospital's waiting room. (7) Hayden's announced goal for his conglomerate is to create more jobs, as he proudly proclaims to Mom following that week's new acquisition. What rich entrepreneur ever wanted to create more jobs (i.e., more overhead)? (8) The evil transplant surgeon is being sued in 4 malpractice suits yet the hospital continues to allow him to freely operate, even on a 22-year-old Billionaire. (9) As seen in a photo on the evil surgeon's office wall, evil Alba looks exactly like she did when she recently worked at that very hospital as a nurse, but amazingly no one except maybe one doctor remotely recognizes her even though she spends hour after hour sitting in a public space in the waiting room. (10) Success for the evil conspiracy hinges on the completely far-fetched scheme of convincing Hayden to use this much-sued surgeon, Alba somehow getting a job as Mom's secretary, and Alba marrying Hayden before the new heart is ready, so that the evil surgeon can kill him on the OR table; yet they have no control over when a new heart will be available. (11) The decision to marry Alba, marrying her, and receiving the notice of of the availability of the new heart all took place within a matter of hours; way too short a time for Hayden to change his will (not mentioned one way or another) prior to her marrying him, so for all she knows he's going to leave his fortune to the American Cat Society. (12) Mom makes a call to her friend the world's best heart surgeon just before killing herself so he can put her heart in Hayden. No indication whether anybody bothered to check if she'd be a suitable donor. (13) As his new wife, evil Jessica would have had power of consent to take him off life support after the new heart failed, but the movie gave that power to Mom, and Jessica never objects. (14) The world's best heart surgeon somehow responds, with his team, about 5 minutes after receiving the call from now-dead Mom. His team is just about as tiny as the evil team, but at least there's a nurse. This puny team by itself manages to prep dead Mom, remove her heart and plop it into Hayden in record time. No wonder he's the world's best! (15) The world's best heart surgeon immediately figures out that the new heart failed because the evil surgeon injected it with poison, when there are probably 10,000 better and more obvious reasons. (16) The drunk anesthesiologist figures out the conspiracy despite never asking a question and not being present for much of the procedure, and calls the police. Maybe the world's best heart surgeon also provided the police details he got from Mom. Unclear. Whatever, even before Hayden is out of the OR with his new-new heart, the police have all the facts and assemble a big team to arrest everyone at the hospital. (17) Sorry, I just don't have the courage to address the ridiculous "second Hayden" and his many conversations with both alive and dead Mom.
La misma luna (2007)
The Real Deal
There was only one other person in the theater when I recently saw this movie at a local multiplex late at night: An Hispanic gentleman. He was seated in the uppermost, dark corner of the theater. He had a deeply tanned sun-worn, old-before-his-time look (may have been in his 30's, 40's or 50's; hard to tell), wore somewhat tattered clothes, and kept his old cowboy hat titled low over his eyes. This is a plot-heavy movie whose ending becomes more obvious as the movie progresses. I thought the movie was well done, but as a second generation white American it did not have a particularly deep impact on me. However, as the movie went along, I became aware that this man was quietly weeping through the especially intense parts that dealt with the pain of separated families, and the sacrifices made by immigrants. I suspect this moviegoer was moved less by the movie itself, and more by the reality depicted. The movie thus rang true for me. It was the most powerful personal experience I have ever had at the movies, and I will always cherish it.
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
The Bourne Crew's Favorite Movie??
SPOILERS -- I just saw this movie on cable, and I was stunned how much the seemingly "unique" and "signature" hand-to-hand combat action sequences of the Bourne Supremacy series films (which post-date this one) are similar to the action in this terrific film. Check out the first such scene where Gena defeats at home, against overwhelming odds, an anonymous attacker who's armed with a powerful weapon. Gena gets realistically knocked around, just like Jason, is very unexpectedly creative at critical moments (throwing her kid through a hole in the wall to save her) just like Jason, uses and throws household items (including a refrigerator door, kitchen supplies and a pie) against the attacker to fend him off just like Jason, and ultimately displays incredible personal combat and killing skills that come out of nowhere related to her amnesia, just like Jason. I'm sort of bummed, because until I saw this great action movie, the Bourne films struck me as being really different and creative in this respect. Guess not. OK, no one does car chases like the Bourne crew, but this film was an eye-opener at what a trend-setter Harlin was. Or maybe not. I'm sure somebody out there will be more than happy to tell me who Harlin "allegedly" copied for his personal combat sequences . . .
Festen (1998)
enjoyed it, but rings false note
Having waded through most of the comments, it is evident that this is a polarizing film. I happened to find the film extremely engaging, and was not bothered in the least by the seemingly amateurish cinematography. I detected a false plot note that put a damper on my enthusiasm as the film drew to a close. The father rightly draws the wrath of his sons for his despicable behavior and at the end is shunned by the family at large, finally providing redemption of sorts for his abused twins. However, early on Christian mentioned that his mother knew of the father's transgressions, and even witnessed an event in progress but did nothing. She defended her husband throughout the celebration, tried to deflect all of Christian's comments, and remained in denial throughout. Christian rightly harbored anger and condemnation for her early on, yet there is no closure on such an important issue. Michael's late sudden epiphany and outburst regarding his family's tragic dysfunction should have been directed to her as well, not just his father. She was the knowing yet silent facilitator. Nevertheless, she is allowed to remain seated at the closing breakfast table, and is depicted as almost noble as she rejects her husband's entreaties to come with him, as he is driven from the breakfast room. She too should have apologized to Christian, and should have been sent off in disgrace.
Dead Awake (2001)
Stylish dreamy fun
I was riveted to the screen watching this movie. It has a special ambiance and quirky quality which reminded me of David Lynch's efforts. Granted the plot gets a bit contrived and murky at times, but I didn't feel it detracted from the overall experience. The quality of the cinematography, the playful reeling out of the plot through time-adjusting edits, and the consistency of the actors' characters made it a special film. One commentator called Baldwin's character zombie-like, but that may have missed the mark. The key character is supposed to be exhausted, at the edge of sleep, and befuddled due to his insomnia. Baldwin played it perfectly. There are a lot of really fun moments in this film, and I might note that it includes one of the most sensual screen kisses ever (notably, both actors were fully clothed). If the plot had received a little more fine-tuning, I would have rated the movie even higher.