All right now. I know that for some of you who (realllllyyyyy) know me, you will probably say that it’s very un-normal that since I started on this blog, I haven’t talked about movies. I am a movie addict. I confess, but this is something I am proud of. It took me years to master this craft, and more years to hone the art of critique-ing. I am as voracious in films as I am with books. I watch anything – everything! I am as curious as a mouse smelling cheese. I watch Filipino movies whenever I am home, Bollywood, Thai movies in Thailand, Myanmar movies, Ugandan and Nigerian films, movies from South Africa, Ethiopia and even Botswana. Chinese, Japanese and Korean movies appeal me, especially the horror bits. I have a regular dose of German, Dutch, English and American movies from my expatriate colleagues. Truth is, I have watch about 3 films last night, plus a short documentary of the life and death of Linda Lovelace, of the Deep Throat fame.
So why haven’t I written about movies? I don’t know. Now I feel like I am doing you guys some injustice!
Anyways, just an information and for you to note while you are heading down your favorite video store, these are some of the interesting, thought-provoking, gut-wrenching, tear-drawing and vividly stimulating products of cinema – that I have seen the past two weeks. In no particular order, of course.
1. Ichi, the Killer by Takashi Miike. 5 minutes into the film and you would see blood and guts (yes, my dear, intestines) everywhere. It is the most gruesomely beautiful Japanese film I have seen to date. The story is about a 30 plus old simpleton who was bullied as a boy and has witnessed a rape. Instead of helping or calling for help, he got aroused. A weird (his role was not really explained in the film) “cleaner” provokes him into a killing spree and the rest is a visual masterpiece of gore and violence: The targets are the members of the Yakuza. I love Kakihara (blond Yakuza leader) with his homo-masochistic role and the funny ways he inflicts pain on people. In general the movie is mordantly funny as they are pungent (you must love the eviscerations!) and Ichi and Kakihara really grows on you.
2. The Isle by Kim Ki-Duk. Korean. This morbid story of a woman who runs a bait and fishing ‘islands” (which often serves as a motel for philandering husbands). She rented one of her fishing islands to a “silent” guy who was running from the authorities. This man killed his wife and is hiding, pretending to have a fishing holiday. Story is simple. The grotesque part is when the woman (whose name escapes me for now) inserted several fish hooks (I think there is more than 5!) into her vagina and pulled them out! Now I never flinch or flicker when I see gross things, but this one did me!
3. Across the Universe. Now I am not much for love stories but this one got me hooked. Beatles. Musicals. Bono (as Dr. Robert) singing I am the Walrus. What more do you want?
4. Vacas. This is a Spanish movie done in the early 1990’s. I wasn’t so sold on the first 10 minutes (bad dubbing voices, off shots) but the movie grew on me. Yes, it is bloody. Yes it shows penises and breasts. It also shows incest and adultery. This movie created a stir back then – I certainly doubt that it would should it be shown now. Something to while you idle time.
5. Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino. I have actually watch this film 5 times, excluding the bits and pieces (meaning my favorite scenes). I don’t think I need to delve on this: Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Bruce Willis and Samuel Jackson – all did mighty fine. I just can’t seem to get enough of the dance and the killing sprees.
So-so, huhommm movies ( I actually cat napped in some of them): Mongol, Sex and The City Movie (really bad, this one), Quantum of Solace (what has happened to Bond?), City of Men (poor follow up to City of God), Onion the movie (yes, dear and they might make a movie on garlic and thyme, too) and of course the real sleeper: The Good Night. The latter had Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz in it and was directed by Gwyneth’s brother. Apt.
There. I have done it. Now could you please let me go back to my movies? I have Old Boy and Lady Vengeance (Korean), Volver (Spanish) and the unedited editions of The Shining and The Exorcist.
Where can I get siopao and coke?
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