Ashes of Time Redux

Way back when, I saw Ashes of Time Redux via Netflix. As I recall, I didn't really understand it, but loved the special effects. While shopping one day, I stopped at a bin of bargain movies, and there it was, thought I'd get it, and watch it again. Last night, was the night!

I'm not sure I understood it any better this time. In fact, I don't think it's the movie I remember. However I did a little research and now it makes a bit more sense. I was trying to make the movie a whole and it's really chapters. I kept waiting for the character introduced in the beginning to reappear. In short, I was bringing my Eurocentric education to an Asiacentric story. 

Will probably watch it again; however, at this point I will only give it 4 stars. It's Chinese (Hong Kong), directed by Wong Kar-Wai. It's a great action movie, lots of swords and fake blood. 

Official Trailer is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyD_L5ubmL4 

Original review:

Ashes of Time Redux (Dung che sai duk), 2008

Chinese, English subtitles

94 minutes, directed by Wong Kar Wai

5 stars

 

The story started off a bit disjointed for me, but once I saw it as a puzzle, where one puts the straight edged border pieces together first, then fills in the center, by the time the end came, it all came together, beautifully. While placing the puzzle pieces, I enjoyed the scenes, the costumes, and the music. This is the story of a swordsman who retreats to the desert to recover from a broken heart. He hardens his heart to survive, and becomes a hired killer. He, of course, must learn his lessons, and in doing so, we are treated to wonderful sword fights, vignettes of his memory, and absolutely stunning scenery. Disclosure: I put my disc in the Netflix envelope, mailed it, and ordered my own copy!

The Scalphunters

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Auntie Lenora.

Dripping in Chocolate (Amazon Prime)

2012

1 hr 32 min

Australian

4 stars

This wasn’t quite a cozy mystery, the cop does figure it out, but barely in time. All roads lead back to Juliana Lovece and her Chocolate shop. The first murder victim was found outside her shop, with one of her candy wrappers, as other corpses appear, her candy becomes the tie-in. And when a local politician is murdered, she is the primary suspect. I truly enjoyed this movie but would have loved to have had captions. Sometimes the Aussie accent was too thick to easily understand. Fortunately, not often, but it was frustrating at times. Light romance. Good acting. Enjoyable.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTJ9sLw-rpA

Rocketman (Amazon Prime)

2019

2 hr 5 min

R

Biopic/Fantasy/Elton John

5 Stars

 

Not your standard bio pic, lots of fantasy, but very entertaining, and full of his music. It tells the story of how Reginald Dwight became Elton John, how he and Bernie Taupin met and after something like 50 years of collaboration, they still haven’t had an argument. For me, it was a great movie to watch during the “National Lockdown.” It follows John through his most drug addled times (probably the R rating) and how he became sober (for 28 years and counting). To be honest, I cried as he sunk further and further into his addictions and cheered when he had his breakthrough moment. He is one of my all-time favorites both for his music and for admitting he has a problem, facing it, and dealing with it.

 

 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3vO8E2e6G0

The Eagle Huntress

2016

1 hr 27 min

G

Foreign Documentary

5 Stars

This documentary is absitively posolutely fantabulous!! The true story of a 13-year-old girl, Aisholpan, a Kazakh nomad who bucks tradition to become an Eagle Huntress. And very possibly goes back to the old times, pre-Islam, when Mongol women had more autonomy. She does not rebel, there is no great teenage angst, there is a loving and supportive family. Her father is an Eagle Hunter, and undertakes her training, including the capture and raising of her own eagle.

Fantastic photography, heart-warming story, an interesting glimpse into another culture. Recommended for the entire family.

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfi5JS6HTH0

The Bride with White Hair

1993

1 hr 29 min

Chinese / English

Martial Arts

4 Stars

Enjoyable movie. A young boy saves a young goat and is then surrounded by wolves. A young girl calls off the wolves and saves him. Thus begins their improbable story of forbidden love, for the girl belongs to the conjoined and evil twins and the boy is the heir apparent of the (good) warlord. While the story may not be all that compelling, the photography and choreography and costuming surely are. If you enjoy Chinese fairy tales combined with martial arts (what could be better?) check out this movie!

Probably not for the youngsters.

Trailer http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106342/videoplayer/vi1820301849?ref_=tt_ov_vi

Shaolin

2011

2 hr 11 min

R

Chinese / English subtitles

Martial Arts

4 stars

More story than I expected, well done. A warlord who ambushes and kills his rival loses everything he ever loved or cared about, and ends up a fugitive who finds refuge in a Shaolin monastery. There he finds redemption. At least for a while.

Marvelous choreography, great fight scenes, just an over all first rate wuxia movie. A little long in places, but worth the time to watch. And Jackie Chan steals the show.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUF8_EhO6vU