Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Cmovie - PTU (2003)



Photos - Google
Synopsis - Fandango & KFCC


Johnny To's police drama PTU details the ramifications of an officer losing his weapon. Seargant Lo (Lam Suet), head of the police anti-crime division, finds his gun missing after an altercation with a gang. Police Tactical Unit (PTU) team leader Mike Ho (Simon Yam), not wanting to get the soon-to-be-promoted Lo in hot water, gives him some time to recover the firearm. While Li and Mike attempt to find the gun before the gang kills anyone with it, police investigators suspect that there may be corruption within the PTU. To filmed the picture off-and-on for over two years before it played at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide



Directed by Johnnie To Kei Fung

**Simon Yam Tat Wah, Lam Suet, Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Ruby Wong Cheuk Ling, Raymond Wong Ho-Yin, Eddy Ko Hung, Wong Tin Lam, Lo Hoi Pang, Kenneth Cheung

PTU stands for Police Tactical Unit



One night in the underground streets of Hong Kong, police officer Fay Sa loses his gun in an attempt to catch some low life gangsters. This might not seem like a big deal but in China, a police officer who loses his gun loses his job too and might get a prison sentence.

Fay Sa needs that gun before dawn and to help him find it he will get the assistance of his friend Mike Ho, a leading guy of one of the PTU sections, who’s methods are sometimes over the edge. However, to make things worst for Fay Sa, the killing of the son of a big triad boss and a woman detective who suspects that something is fishy with Fay Sa will complicate the search of the lost gun.



With under 100 minutes, PTU explores the dirty cops and gangsters. Interesting enough, the movie was mostly shot in the dark, in the night time. The lighting and special camera effects is an extra plus in the movie. Definitely worth a watch!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Kmovie - A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)


Synopis - kfccinema
Photos - google


Su-mi and Su-yeon have always been very close as sisters. Su-mi, being the elder of the two, is very protective over her young sister Su-yeon. Since the death of their mother, the stepmother has ruled the house with an iron fist. Su-mi has always managed to confront her stepmother, but Su-yeon, being a very calm and fragile girl, could not defend herself against the psychological and physical abuse of her evil stepmother. Su-mi has tried many times to explain the situation to her father, but his relationship with the stepmother and his disbelief has insured no result.

Su-mi and Su-yeon are now back from a mysterious absence and being back home doesn’t seem to please the two sisters very much. Having to live under the same roof as the stepmother is a nightmare for them. However, during the following days, strange incidents will occur. Another presence can be feel within the house, is it the step mother trying to scare the girls, or a spirit trying to take revenge?



Lots of caps on this page, may contain spoilers.

Hollywood has remade A Tale of Two Sisters as, The Uninvited, taking some inspiration from it. I have seen the trailers to The Uninvited and never did I think it was like A Tale of Two Sisters, again, it's just the inspiration, with probably the main plot taken. Nope, I haven't seen The Uninvited yet and not sure if I want to.



A few nights ago, I re-watched it because a friend's daughter wanted to watch a Korean horror so I put this one in the dvd. I saw the movie a few years ago and it gave me a haunting feeling.

Unlike Hollywood horror movies, Asian horrors don't have those jumpy scenes. Instead you could see a ghost or ghastly figure at the door or edge of the bed in the dark. Very much subtle.



What I also love about Korean horror movies is you when you watch the movie, you always assume or think about what is happening. Either the movie directing tricks you into thinking a certain way or you will later find out the truth.

80% of the movie is filmed inside the house. You are always left guessing if the house is haunted. Or if it's the evil stepmother.



The acting on the two rising actresses, Im Soo Jung and Moon Geun Young, are amazing. More props to Im Soo Jung. I've seen her a few of her movies, such as ...ing and I'm a Cyborg But That's Okay.



Moon Geung Yong is very well known now. I've also seen her in a few of her movies, such as My Little Bride and Innocent Steps.



A Tale of Two Sisters is definitely a must-see Asian horror classic. Just don't group it with Japanese horrors. I actually prefer Korean horrors over Japanese horrors.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Kmovie - Please Teach Me English (2003)



Synopsis - Sensasian
Photos - Google Images


Please Teach Me English is a romantic comedy poking fun at the national obsession with learning English. Young Ju, a young civil servant obligaed to learn the pesky language; and all because not a single official could understand the foreigner who charged into the local authority to complain about being over-charged in English. However, as Young Ju takes a shine to Moon Su at the language school she enrolls in, shame then that Moon Su has only eyes for the Aussie teacher, Jatherine. The fun begins as the pupil desire to learn English from her teacher turns into a desire to beat her at love....



It's been a while since I"ve seen Please Teach Me English. I re-watched it today because my daughter's friend just recently gotten into anything K0rean. While I was flipping through my Korean dvd collection, I knew that she would like Please Me English. I was correct. But while re-watching it, I remembered how much I adored the movie.



Although I am going to point out what made me cringe about the movie is the poor English by both leads. Now, now, I understand that both are trying to learn English. It just sounded a bit funny. I mainly cringed cause I felt really bad for them. I guess I should be quiet since they probably laugh at me if they heard me try to speak some Korean.



What made me enjoy the movie a lot is the humor! I love the video gaming feel, which got me laughing non-stop!



I've mentioned it before but I love Kmovies for letting the girl or guy be themselves without having a transformation for the other person to fall for them. I love how they stay real throughout the movie.



Young Ju is a dorky girl who falls for a good-looking guy who thinks of her as "plain" or "normal." Looking beneath those spectacles, nerdy outfits, and pigtails, you will see a beautiful girl.



OMG! This is the actress Lee Na Young who plays Young Ju. Now, she's a hottie!!!



I ain't gonna lie. I didn't think Moon Su was all that! He was decent. Not a guy who I would take a second glance. Admittedly, I never thought of Jang Hyuk as good-looking.



But boy, was I wrong!! After seeing him in recent photos, I had to take a double look and change my opinion on him!



I've concentrated on both of their looks and failed to talk about their acting. Both are great. It's sad but I've only seen Lee Na Young in this movie, nothing else yet. As for Jang Hyuk, I've seen him in Windstruck, So Close, S Diary, and Volcano High.



If you want a good laugh, then Please Teach Me English is for you.