The movie is about two guys in search of serial killer on the loose. After a brutal murder of a girl one rainy night, Heong-sa (Kim Dong-wuk) an incompetent detective is assigned to find whoever is behind the killing. Happy to solve the case, he will do everything he could to catch murderer as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a man named Baek-so is also obsessed in finding the killer. However, he is just a regular person. Now Heong-sa must prove that he is chasing the right  suspect while Baek-So commit to finding the truth behind the murder in this cat-and-mouse chase action comedy.

Yoo Oh-Seong is known for his role in 2001 “Friend”. Also starring in this film are Sim Eun-kyeong (Living Death, Hansel and Gretel), Seong Ji-roo (Marrying the Mafia, Public Enemy, No Mercy), and Kim Mi-so . “Happy Killer” will hit Korean cinema April 8, 2010.

Check out the Youtube trailer (thanks to Filmsmash) below

Rhapsody In August a film directed by Akira Kurosawa was a flick that can be dubbed as one which was an “acid test” for what other say to regain his lost glory in the cinematic arena. As always, Akira Kurosawa was known for as a director who loved to “play with images” in his mind and hands. In addition, as he entered his twilight years, he became less realistic and more fanciful in his works. This was highlighted in this movie in a manner by which the sky was opened in this particular flick symbolizing the light that flowered in the sky the moment the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. There appeared a beautiful rose engulfed by ants depicting those who had fled after the devastating atomic attack. Moreover, a picture of a twisted jungle gym playground left the way, it looked like after the bomb heat melted into grotesque sculpture. These images are one –dimensional. Meanwhile, chattering creatures resembled the younger generations who were not yet in this world prior to the bombing attacks.

In this case, Kurosawa made the viewers think of the relevance of these images in relation to the events which had transpired during the Nagasaki incident. Through these, moviegoers were taught one very important lesson. Kurosawa’s masterpiece wanted us to realize that wars were between governments and not between its people. In addition, we must respect the ideological differences between people and nations to preserve world peace.

Overall. this film was interesting to watch and very symbolical. Therefore, this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Based on a manga created by Kaitani Shinobu, this movie is set where the 2nd season of the drama series left off. In the first series, a college student Nao Kanzaki is lured into a mysterious game by tricking other players to win. However Nao got tricked by her former sensei, desperate for help, she enlisted the aid of person named Shinichi Akiyama. In the second series, the duo is faced against new opponents with the help of a rival player named Fukunaga .

In Liar game: Final Stage, Players are encouraged to trust each other to win the tournament. However, a mysterious player named X is secretly plotting to sabotage everyone of their chances to win the LGT.
 
Doreamon: Nobita’s Great Battle of the Mermaid King, also on its first week topped another US animated Avatar which hold the first slot since December 26, 2010. Live adaptation Saru Lock The movie Starring Higa Manami, Hayato Ichihara (Negative Happy Chain Saw Edge) and Ashina Sei, drop down from the 4th to 7th slot while Ototo: Younger Brother holds the 8th slot. Oscar winner The Hurt locker is on top 9th and Keroro Gunso the Super Movie another animated film round up the 10th place.

To describe this film, it was Kurosawa’s big splash. He based his storyline on the legends of Shiro Sakata In addition, he had employed a fantastic camera trick, with tense and controlled action. Moreover, this film was done when Japan was losing in the devastating war. Actually, this was one action film without a samurai genre. In this flick, you can see how Kurosawa used his God given talent to create a remarkable and excellent editing technique, which was responsible for the well – executed judo fighting sequences with great speed and unbelievable movements. Two particular sequences were magnificent.

The first one happened in the beginning of the film. In this scene, the members of the other jujitsu school, who was their rival. Even though they were outnumbered, Yano managed to beat all his opponents in the nearby river. While the camera was focusing on gang’s pans continuously, the shots of Yano waiting for them to attack, was static. In summation, these contrasting shots were suggestive of the character’s fighting skill, as well as his great physical strength and greater mental of his own self.

The next sequence started with a crane shot of a narrow street where Sugata was surrounded by a treacherous crowd. He then moved back and forth, throwing people into the ground. This scene indicated the metaphor of his rigid training, which befitted him to be called a “judo master. Overall, the film was great and therefore, can be highly recommended.

The movie is about Adnan Saladin, a Takraw master who got injured after a tournament. He is now in search for talented ballers to win the championship back from Thailand. The game is unique on its own; besides having a firm grasp on the game it also demands a great skill in Martial Arts. Hopeless in finding the right protégées, he encounters several challenges along the way and to make matter worse he has no choice but to accept the incompetent Ku Mok and Hamidi (Raja Lawak).

For those unfamiliar with the sport, it is a game native to Southeast Asia similar to volleyball where the players touch a rattan ball with their head, chest and feet. The game is not only played in Malaysia and Thailand, but in Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines as well.

Rosyan Nor will play alongside sexy actress Scha Al-Yahya (playing as Ratna) in this version of Shaolin Soccer, she is also a cast in Action packed drifter movie Evolusi Kl Drift 2. Libas is one of Jurey Rosli’s featured film and will be shown September 30, 2010.

Check the trailer below

After a bout with depression, Akira Kurosawa bounced back to life again with this beautiful work of art. Set in the Siberian forest during the 19th century, Dersu Uzala was one of the movies which left a legacy in Kurosawa’s filmmaking career. In essence, this was all about true friendship that did not wither through the years. This was one of the most amazing pictures of Kurosawa, because his choices of locations were awesome. The landscapes were beautiful and the characters were well – developed, to give the movie more meaning and soul which will surely captivate the viewers. Throughout the film, I cannot help but wonder what would ever happen to the man in the woods. On the part of the captain, it sounded too mysterious why after all his successes in life, he searched for a grave. Isn’t it irrelevant? What moved me to tears while watching this was the sad and bitter reality that Dersu, a man with a lonely soul lived in isolation, his world came crushing down and depicted a cruel world for a man who fell from grace in his own homeground. With respect to the bad point of the movie. it was slow moving at times, especially in the opening salvo of the film. However, it reflected a theme of cross-cultural friendship in a wonderful fashion.

In summation, this film was so endearing and worth watching, Overall, this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Plot

It starts out with Xavier Adriano (Ian Veneracion) the man behind a popular afternoon TV show “Hilakbot” a reenactment series tackling the day to day encounter of people who witness or have knowledge of paranormal activities. Albeit its high ratings, GBS network want to move it to primetime slot and ask him to come up with a better concept. He accepts and decided to shoot in a place called Siquijor.

However he is not helming the show on his own, the network assigned Doreen as the executive producer. With her reputation of cultivating great shows, the two will have to work together. They are also former lovers who separated with an unresolved issues.

Having the hand in the creative decision, she also replaced the crew cameraman. This infuriate Xavier even further. His present girlfriend and the shows host, Alex tries to calm him down and encourage him just work together. With the rest of the team ready, they travel to the island.

While staying there, nothing unusual happens. With deadliness looming, Xavier went back to his old ways of reenacting an event. When they all went back to Manila- strange things start to happen to each of them one by one. Dismissing it as a cursed, our protagonist investigate what is really happening. The more he digs deeper, the more the mystery builds up. Will he be able to redeem himself and the rest of the crew or will it be too late?

My Review

“Siquijor Mystic Island” has a very interesting premise, there are elements here that are purely based on Filipino superstitions like witchcraft cursing and hexing. Accroding to some report, this is a place that is mysterious in real life, it is located in the south of the country that locals really tried to avoid but hold an enchanting beauty of its own when tourist first laid their eyes on.

There are mentions of the existence of famous Philippine folklore creatures like Aswang and Tikbalang, but here lies the main flaws. It did not go in to detail in describing as to why were the entire TV crew got cursed.  Despite being labeled as Horror, it is not particular gory. To be honest I could count some gruesome scene and the exorbitant puking parts is utterly disgusting but were used in a very stomach churning way. However, with too many filler slow pacing scenes, the approach did not actually work and it feels as if you are in roller coaster ride.

To some degree it tried to be original but actually the concept is something that have been used before . The overly used long haired lady in white ghost seen in the opening credit and the screeching voice talking on the cellphone are the most memorable point and unfortunately I find them disappointing. With “Ringu” and “Phone” influence in mind, I wonder if the director is targeting audience new to Asian horror.

The actors and actresses tries their part very hard, but there is an obvious indication that memorizing their part of the script is more of a concern than coming out of them naturally. They are so detached that there is no blend of chemistry among the characters

On the brighter side the film major strength lies in the creepiness factor, the filmmaker put a lot of attention to ensuring that viewers gets plenty of chills every now and then.

Overall, the movie is not something that would stuck in your mind after few days, as a side note you will find yourself hanging with its very shallow climatic ending. However it bodes well for the Filipinos as they could relate to it in a sense. Compared to another CP released “Kinatay” it lacks the polished work needed to rake up scares to die-hard fan of horror movies.

Trailer:
[See post to watch Flash video]

Siquijor: Mystic Island was directed by Mark Philipp Espina. and co-written by Adolfo Alix Jr. Starring Angel Aquino, Assunta de Rossi, Ian Veneracion and Yul Servo. It was released in March 14, 2007