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East Asian Cinema

This category contains 108 posts

‘Hiroshima Mon Amour’ (1959): The Most Insufferable Drama Ever

Directed by: Alain Resnais || Produced by: Samy Halfon, Anatole Dauman Screenplay by: Marguerite Duras || Starring: Emmanuele Riva, Eiji Okada, Stella Dassas, Pierre Barbaud Music by: Georges Delerue, Giovanni Fusco || Cinematography: Michio Takahashi, Sacha Vierny || Edited by: Jasmine Chasney, Henri Colpi, Anne Sarraute || Country: France, Japan || Language: French, Japanese, English … Continue reading

‘Silence’ (2016): The Most Drab, Depressing, and Overindulgent Film of Scorsese’s Career

Directed by: Martin Scorsese || Produced by: Barbara De Fina, Randall Emmett, Vittorio Cecchi Gori, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Gaston Pavlovich, Martin Scorsese, Irwin Winkler Screenplay by: Jay Cocks, Martin Scorsese || Starring: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Tadanobu Asano, Ciaran Hinds, Liam Neeson, Issey Ogata, Shinya Tsukamoto, Yoshi Oida, Yosuke Kubozuka Music by: Kim Allen Kluge, … Continue reading

‘Election’ (2005-2006): No Honor Among Thieves

Directed by: Johnnie To || Produced by: Dennis Law, Johnnie To Screenplay by: Yau Nahi-ho, Yip Tin-shing || Starring: Simon Yam, Louis Koo, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Nick Cheung, Lam Suet, Gordon Lam, Wong Tin-lam, Maggie Shiu, David Chiang, Tam Ping-man, Mark Cheng, Andy On, You Yong Music by: Lo Ta-yu, Robert Ellis-Geiger || Cinematography: Cheng … Continue reading

‘Mad Detective’ (2007): Supernatural Criminal Mystery

Directed by: Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai || Produced by: Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai Screenplay by: Wai Ka-Fai, Au Kin-Yee || Starring: Sean Lau, Lam Ka-Tung, Andy On, Kelly Lin, Flora Chan, Lee Kwok-Lun, Jo Kuk, Jay Lau, Lam Suet, Cheung Siu-fai Music by: Xavier Jamaux || Cinematography: Cheng Siu-Keung || Edited by: Tina Baz || … Continue reading

‘The Mermaid’ (2016): Generic Fantasy with Hamfisted Social Commentary

Directed by: Stephen Chow || Produced by: Stephen Chow, Y.Y. Khong, La Peikang, Yang Wei, Wang Changtian, Yang Zhenhua, Cao Pu, Liu Yang, Wei Jie, Cai Dongqing Screenplay by: Stephen Chow, Kelvin Lee, Ho Miu-kei, Lu Zhengyu, Fung Chih-chiang, Ivy Kong, Chan Hing-ka, Tsang Kan-cheung || Starring: Deng Cho, Lin Yun, Show Luo, Zhang Yuqi, Lu … Continue reading

‘Drug War’ (2012): Johnnie To’s Sociopathic Crime Saga

Directed by: Johnnie To || Produced by: Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai Screenplay by: Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi || Starring: Sun Honglei, Louis Koo, Huang Yi, Wallace Chung, Gao Yunxiang, Li Guangjie, Guo Tao, Li Jing, Lo Hoi-pang, Eddie Cheung Music by: Xavier Jamaux || Cinematography: Cheng Siu-Keung, To Hung-Mo || Edited … Continue reading

‘Babel’ (2006): Alejandro Iñárritu Goes Full Oscar-Bait

Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu || Produced by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Jon Kilik, Steve Golin Screenplay by: Guillermo Arriaga, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu || Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, Koji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi Music by: Gustavo Santaolalla || Cinematography by: Rodrigo Prieto || Edited by: Stephen Mirrione, Douglas Crise || Country: … Continue reading

‘I Saw the Devil’ (2010): Unleash the Monster in You

Directed by: Kim Ji-woon || Produced by: Kim Hyung-woo, Jo Sung-won, Kim Jae-young, Kim Jung-hwa Screenplay by: Park Hoon-jung || Starring: Choi Min-sik, Lee Byung-hun, Jeon Kuk-hwan, Chun Ho-jin, Oh San-ha, Kim Yun-seo, Choi Moo-sung, Kim In-seo Music by: Mowg || Cinematography by: Lee Mo-gae || Edited by: Nam Na-yeong || Country: South  Korea || … Continue reading

‘Joint Security Area’ (2000): A Stage Play on Film Done Right

Directed by: Park Chan-wook || Produced by: Shim Jae-myung Screenplay by: Kim Hyeon-seok, Jeong Seong-san, Lee Moo-yeong, Park Chan-wook || Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho, Lee Young-ae, Kim Tae-woo, Shin Ha-Kyun, Herbert  Ulrich Music by: Jo Yeong-wook || Cinematography by: Kim Seong-bok || Edited by: Kim Sang-beom || Country: South Korea || Language: Korean, English … Continue reading

‘Berandal’ (2014, Re-evaluated): Gareth Evans’ Reach Exceeds His Grasp

Directed by: Gareth Evans || Produced by: Ario Sagantoro, Nate Bolotin, Aram Tertzakian Written by: Gareth Evans || Starring: Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadwo, Alex Abbad, Julie  Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endo, Kazuki Kitamura Music by: Fajar Yuskemal, Aria Prayogi, Joseph Trapanese || Cinematography by: Matt Flannery, Dimas Imam Subhono || Editing … Continue reading

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