Nanking

Released Year: 2007

Directed by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman

Document Story:

Nanking is a 2007 documentary film about the 1937 Nanking Massacre committed by the Japanese army in the former capital city Nanjing, China. The film draws on letters and diaries from the era as well as archive footage and interviews with surviving victims and perpetrators of the massacre. Contemporary actors play the roles of the Western missionaries, professors, and businessmen who formed the Nanking Safety Zone to protect the city's civilians from Japanese forces.

Particular attention is paid to John Rabe, a German businessman who organized the Nanking Safety Zone, Robert O. Wilson, a surgeon who remained in Nanking to care for legions of victims, and Minnie Vautrin, a missionary educator who rendered aid to thousands of Nanking's women. In the winter of 1937, the Japanese army occupied Nanking and killed over 200,000 and raped tens of thousands of Chinese, one of human history's worst atrocities. In order to protect Chinese civilians, a small group of European and American expatriates, Western missionaries, professors, and businessmen banded together to save 250,000, risking their own lives.

The film describes the Nanking Massacre by reading from letters and diaries which shows the activities of John Rabe, a German businessman, Robert O. Wilson ,the only surgeon remaining to care for legions of victims, and Minnie Vautrin, an educator who passionately defends the lives and honor of Nanking's women during the war time. The film includes survivors who tell their own stories, the archival footage of the events, and the testimonies of Japanese soldiers who participated in the rampage.

L² Scored: 6/10

L² Comment:

I really love this documentary film, thanks to Tagnan for this DVD. I have learn what has happened on Nanking. The documentary story was taken from wikipedia as i'm not able to write it. See this gentleman pic above? His story touch me the most.

His mother carry his younger brother when they run away from the Japanese army attack. But the mother was stab and slashed by the army and gain a lot of wounds. The little brother is crying because of hunger. The mother risk her life and still breastfeed the baby brother with all the wound around until she die.

This is really a good documentary dvd :)

The Way We Are 天水圍的日與夜

Released Year: 2008

Directed by 許鞍華 Ann Hui

Casted by:
鲍起静 Paw Hew Ching as 媽媽 Mother
梁進龍 Leung Chun Long as 張家安 An
陈丽云 Chen Lai Wun as 婆婆 GrannyStory:

An and his mother live in Tin Shui Wai, the mother is working as the fruit seller of a supermarket while An is a form 5 student who is waiting for his result to go for form 6. Then the mother met granny who is a lonely old woman who stay in their same block. The granny also work in the supermarket as the vegetable seller.

The granny is very self defend and not willing to open herself to others. The mother then help her a few time and the granny become her friend later on. An's grandmother went hospitalize and An went visit her. The grandmother told An to be a good boy because his mother has been working her whole life as hard as she can but all her earning was used to support An's 2 uncle for study. An feel his mother is so grateful.

One fine day the mother accompany the granny went to visit her grandson but came back with disappointment. From that onwards they 2 woman become true friend and they stay happily together as neighbors.

L² Scored: 4/10

L² Comment:

Hmm~ the story line is a bit plain actually. You can say that it just tell out the living of 2 woman in the original life from Hong Kong. I can't feel the peak point of this film hence i just feel a bit boring though. Maybe i have put a very high expectation in this because this film has help the 2 ATV actresses won the best actress and best supporting actress in a few HK film Awards.

Little Big Soldier 大兵小將

Released Year: 2010

Directed by 丁晟 Ding Sheng

Casted by:
成龙 Jackie Chan as 梁國士兵 Leong Army
王力宏 LeeHom Wang as 衛國將軍 Wei General

劉承俊 Steve Yoo as 文公子 Prince Wen

林鵬 Lin Peng as 歌姬 Lady

Story:

City Wei is going to attack City Leong soon, during their war there, The Wei General was betrayed by his own brother, Prince Wen. Wei General lost his gang of armies and was caught by a Leong's small army. During their way to City Leong, they met the Lady who sing and drug them. She got their horse and money away.

The small army continue to bring the general on their journey, they get to know each others. But in the meanwhile, Prince Wen came along to hunt the General down so that he can become the emperor in city Wei. But Prince Wen and his sidekicks met the barbarian and get involved into a fight with them.

The general has been escape a few time but in the end, he decided to follow the army back to City Leong because he know that Prince Wen is betraying their brotherhood. But the two of them were captured by the barbarian. Prince Wen decided to safe him in the end but this pissed off the barbarian and they began to fight. During the fight, Prince Wen kill the barbarian princess. This really make the barbarian angry and they killed all the Prince Wen sidekick.

In the end, Prince Wen sacrifice himself to save the general and ask the general to become the emperor for Wei. But the small army still captured the injured general and brought him to Leong. But before they reach, the army make an agreement with the general to free the Leong from war if the general become the emperor.

The general promise and was set back to his own city. But Leong was taken by Qin City. The small army was killed and died. In the real history, the general become the emperor of Wei and agree to surrender to Qin emperor to prevent from war.

L² Scored: 7.5/10

L² Comment:

Google from wiki, i realized that the original cast is supposed to be Daniel Wu. but later on Jackie Chan noticed that he has been filming 2 movies with Daniel before so he was going to look for some new faces in his film. His wife actually suggested their son Jaycee but was quickly turn down by Jackie. Then only LeeHom came into the picture.

I think this is quite an interesting movie, not much about fancy story line. But the part which touch me a lot is when Jackie realize his own country has been defeated. You can see the sadness and disappointment from his eyes. Bravo Jackie, i never know he can do this... i mean... he's not really those emotion-kind-of-actor right? Beside all his kunfu-martial thingy.

The Messenger 风声

Released Year: 2009
Directed by 陈国富 Chen Kuo-Fu & 高群书 Gao Qin-Shu

Casted by:
周迅 Zhou Xun as 顾晓梦 Meng
黄晓明 Huang Xiao-Ming as 武田 Tanaka
李冰冰 Li Bing Bing as 李宁玉 Yuk
张涵予 Zhang Han-Yu as 吴志国 Guo
苏有朋 Alec Su as 白小年 Nian
Story:

During world war II, at Nanking, 5 person is working for the Japanese Government. The messenger Meng; the translator Yuk; army leader Guo; assistant gabenor Nian & army contacted Kim. Not long later all 5 of them are invited by the Japanese Lieutenant Tanaka to a mansion.

5 of them were suspected to be a spy for the anti-japan-group. To investigate who's the spy, 5 of them back-stab each other. Nian was the first to be tortured to admit that he is a spy based on his wordings are found the same from the spy list. Nian was tortured to death. Tanaka later on found out that the spy usually contact with an old man. Tanaka purposely invite the gang to a lunch and the old man appear to collect the information.

Tanaka forced to bring Kim out for investigate, but he get freak out and killed himself with a pistol. Yuk was the second one to drag out, but when she thought she will be tortured like previously by striping off naked, but she was inform to stay in her room.

Tanaka and gang left Meng and Guo in the room. They got the radio on and heard that Meng accused Guo of being the spy and putting a code on a cigarette. Guo trying to strangled Meng but Tanaka they all stop him. But Meng later on announce to Yuk that she's the spy and Guo was released in hospital. Meng later on was tortured to told out the person behind by rubbing her vagina on a rope. Suddenly an attack from Meng to bite off Guo's ear, and Meng was shot to death.

Tanaka's mission failed and he was slice on his throat when he was send back to Japan, and the person who killed him is Guo. Guo went back to find Yuk after the war, and he told her that actually he's the person who behind the spy and the spy is really Meng. Both of them know each other and try to find out a way to send the message out to their group and finally Guo managed to do it when he's in the hospital.

L² Scored: 8/10

L² Comment:

The movie is damn good, never a part which is boring. Alec Su good performing although not a huge appearance. Li Bing Bing is surprisingly good in her acting and this brought her the best actress in a lot of awards.

Woohoo ! 大日子

Released Year: 2010

Directed by 青元 Qing Yuan

Casted by:
林德荣 Jack Lim as 阿炳 Peng
杨佳贤 Jason Yeoh as 阿发 Fatt
陳誌康 Royce Tan as Rain
颜江翰 Gan Jiang Han as Alan
邱文博 Bernard Hiew as Bobby
曾洁钰 Chek Keat Yoke as 連容 Rong
萧慧敏 Siow Hui Mei as 連心 Mindy
萧斐弘 Siow Ho Phew as 連八記 Pakcik
卓慧勤 Vivian Tok as 水嫂 Mrs Sui
顏薇恩 Gan Mei Yan as 阿蓮 Lian
黃一飛 Ng Hock Chye as 阿水 Sui
Story:

Peng lost his job due to the economy downturn. He was look down by Lian and her mother. To prove that he still afford to send his parents to Japan, the whole family sneak out and took fake photos. But the lie was quickly burst out when Lian discovered it.

Rain in another hand forced to close down his saloon while Fatt decided to went back to Penang to learn hokkien mee cooking method to please his girlfriend Mindy. Peng and Rain discovered that Rong is hiring people who born in tiger year to join the woohoo team. By riding a motorbike, they were forced to trick Fatt into driving them there. 3 of them went there and began their life in woohoo with Bobby and Alan under the teach of Pakcik.

Eventually, the newspaper report the excellent performance of Woohoo. Peng & Rain request Rong to pay their salary, but it turn out Rong is lying and she could not afford to pay for the salaries. Peng & Rain drag Fatt out together with them but later on they return to help to expand the chinese cultural. The woohoo team went well and everything goes good for everyone.L² Scored: 6/10

L² Comment:

A production of MyFm radio and Astro Media of Malaysia. DJs and Tv Host show off their hidden talent in this movie, a 2 thumbs up for the story line. Especially to Vivian Tok & Gan Mei Yan, good performance i should say... hopefully there'll be more movie from the Malaysian chinese crew.

The Hangover

Released Year: 2009
Directed by Todd Philips

Casted by:
Bradley Cooper as Phil Wenneck
Ed Helms as Stu Price
Zach Galifianakis as Alan Garner
Justin Bartha as Doug Billings
Heather Graham as Jade

Story:

Doug is going to marry Tracy in 2 days time, of course his buddy, Phil, Stu & Alan is going to throw him a bachelor party in Las Vegas. Four of them drove the Mercedes that Tracy's father lend them to. They got their way there and manage to get into the most expensive villa in Caesar Palace Hotel. While they are toasting on top of the hotel, silly Alan drug everyone of them.

Next morning, Stu discover that he has lost a tooth and a receipt of USD800; Alan found a tiger in the hotel's toilet while Doug is missing. Nevertheless, there's a mattress hanging on top of the hotel. When they are about to leave, they heard a baby crying in the wardrobe and Alan insists to carry him along. Phil then discover he got a hospital wrist band and they track down the hospital and went for some information. But to their surprise, the valet brings them a police car instead of the Mercedes.

Arrival in the hospital, doctor explain that they have estacy in their blood and they were send from a wedding. They went to the chapel and the father told them Stu was actually marry to a girl name Jade last night. They got Jade address and zoom to find her with Stu in a surprise. Jade was happy to see them and claims that the baby was hers. Stu even more surprise when he saw her wearing his grandmother's ring which he is going to use to propose to his girlfriend.

The guys is on their way back to Caesar Palace when 2 police officers arrest them for stealing the police car. To make a deal, 3 of them offered to become the testing-tools in a school for the police to demonstrate. But luckily the police found their un-damage Mercedez and they are about to drive away. They heard banging sound from the car booth and discover an Asian man, Leslie Chow inside naked. Leslie attacked them and ran away. When they return to their hotel, they saw Mike Tyson in their room. It seems like the tiger in the bathroom belongs to Tyson and he wants the guys to send it back to his mansion.

Dangerously, the guys managed to get the tiger back to Mike Tyson's mansion and saw the cctv of what happened that night. They then resume their search for Doug. Gangster appeared and it is the Leslie Chow's gang. He claimed that he has kidnap Doug because the guys stole his USD80,000 accidentally. Alan use his card-counting tactics to win the money and exchange for Doug. After that they only realized is another Doug that Leslie has caught. Feeling depress, Phil called Tracy 5 hours before the wedding and told her that they lost Doug.

But Stu finally figured out that he might know where Doug is and stop Phil from telling the truth. In the end, they found Doug on the rooftop, full of sunburn. They quickly drive him back for the wedding while ordering the tux with speed delivery service. When they finally reach, wedding gone well. Stu's girlfriend accused Stu for lying and Stu angrily shot her back of her affair with a waiter and ask for a break off.

Alan then found a camera and all 4 of them look back on the photos and managed to figure out the whole things that happened on the night before.

L² Scored: 7/10

L² Comment:

A very interesting and funny film. Love the way how the story is actually presented. From a tiny clue lead from one to another and the whole story is chained up. Heard that they are going to film The Hangover 2, but don't really think its a good idea. If the sequel is not good, then it might spoilt the impression of the first one. You know, some movies are better leave in one

Epic Movie

Released Year: 2007
Directed by Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer

Casted by:
Kal Penn as Edward
Adam Campbell as Peter
Faun A. Chambers as Susan
Jayma Mays as Lucy
Jennifer Coolidge as The White Bitch
Story:

4 orphans have their own fate to be arrange as brothers and sisters and will take a ride on a weird adventures. Lucy was running and fell down after she tricked on a corpse. By solving the puzzle of the Da Vinci Code, she managed to find the gold ticket to attend the Willy Chocolate factory. Edward at the Mexican monastery and was beaten by a kid. But when he was on the way of smack out from there, he managed to got a ticket of Willy too! Susan on a plane but was attacked by huge numbers of snake, Samuel L Jackson threw her out from the plane and she got crash on top of Paris Hilton with the Willy ticket. Peter was from the mutant school, always bullied by others. After he got banged by Wolverine, he managed to get a Willy ticket from a locker.

As the 4 orphans reach Willy Wonka Chocolate factory, they were tortured like hell. Lucy and then accidentally went into a wardrobe which lead her into another world"Gnarnia". She met the half human-goat which call her the queen. Edward in another hand went through the wardrobe too but he met the White Bitch instead. The White Bitch use her big boobs to seduce Edward and gain his trust on her side. The White Bitch was actually plan to control the Gnarnia and so she send Edward to jail when he doesn't trust her anymore.

The other three were worried and they went to look for Oslo the lion who finally use chinese kungfu to save Edward out in trade that the other 3 have sex with him. But after saving Edward, Oslo was killed by The White Bitch. When the 4 orphans went back to Gnarnia, they were worried that they can't fight against thewhite bitch. But a lot of people include the mutants are willing to join force for help. So everyone has a good party, even Peter has to sleep with Mystique, his dream girl.

Time came for the war, the 4 orphans are losing. But Peter managed to find a remote on a floor, he pause everyone so that they can defeat their opponents one by one. They decided to let the white bitch to live and send her for trial but she was accidentally killed by Captain Jack on a running huge wooden wheel. And so everyone was happy staying in the Gnarnia till they grow old and they suddenly found the wardrobe again when they are peeing.

By going back to the wardrobe, they are back to the real world and they are young again. They even see Sascha Baron wearing his disgusting swimsuit and showing off his butt.

L² Scored: 3/10

L² Comment:

Really quite facinating that the story line can be twisted like that especially all these huge movie block buster are chained into such a silly movie...