Change Your Image
palaeo
Reviews
Rambo (2008)
Meat-grinder, that's it.
In the line of going-berserk-with-adrenaline action, this is another installment of nostalgic RAMBO series. Compared to the last three, there is no emotional tension, no such a Crenna as a father-figure. I am astonished that I was so really hooked up by the brutality and graphic severity of Rambo-action as not to recognize the movie was already over after about 80 min. Every piece of human flesh is totally exploited--head-explosion by a super power sniper gun, beheading with custom-made machete, jack-hammering human body with .500 machine gun, harakiri-like disembowelment, etc--and it's setting another score for a new breed of Rambo series. Too sorry for old Stallone to go naked and expose his old titties. The last scene is a direct copy of the first installment--same costume, same mood, same scenery. Possible is that Sylvester is trying to close the chapter of his own era by finalizing both Rambo and Rocky and by sealing them as legend. Is it worth? I'don't think so.
AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007)
I 100% agree with the first reviewer- forget the first AVP and love this!!
I saw this a premiere in the Christmas day at downtown Montreal. I would like to give an edge on Lando, the first reviewer. Yeah, it resuscitated as a new breed with the old styles. Personally, it was quite a long time for me to be amazed by a screen in a theater because recent movie experience of mine was limited to the home-theater DVD. I bet it is worth viewed in a Hi-Fi big screen and strongly recommend it.
To title this movie, I think it can be called a hybrid genre. It carefully preserves and contains the authentic auras of both the Alien and the Predator series. To some extent, it still resorts to some cliché of two movies (e.g. the human host, the hi-tech arsenal of predators, the gruesome violence of both species); but as far as I remember, this piece is well-intermingled with the elements of overall stereotypes and keeping a good balance, conditionally and emotionally, between two extremities: the action and the suspense.
Remember the P1. It is highly touting the muscles of Arnie and maze-like jungle scenes. The P2 shifted from the natural to an urban environment- the downtown LA among crowded people. Now, the geographical setting of the AVP2 is suburban Colorado (a good mixture of both wilderness and urbanism) and the Predator, the main hero, SINGLEHANDEDLY cope with humans, aliens and the Predalien, the main villain. I love the most the streamline of its emotional setting. Several people gather in the town and they have their own personal background history; they are somewhat victimized by both aliens and the predator; somewhat they fight against them at their own costs. However, there is no bull-shi**y alliance between humans and predator; he just hunts down the hostile regardless of species; tries to settle down the mayhem caused by the unexpected birth of the predalien as well as revenging on behalf of his slaughtered cohorts.
Unlike the clumsy narratives of AVP1 depending on the archaeological inscription, the instinctive behavior and prompt reaction to the situation of both species are well-demonstrated in AVP2, just like the separate series decades ago. Especially the intervention of unidentified authority, whether it is the Company of the Alien series or the Secret Governmental Agency of P2, was timely launched without sacrificing the main plot of battling scene among humans, aliens and the predator. In sum, it is more than a success which preserved and synthesized the original cinematic experience brought about by both series. Another sequel is highly anticipated in the same vein.
Silmido (2003)
A fictitious real story which will attract commoners!
Silmido is the name of island in Korea, and it is also the combat training center of 39 Korean 'special force' soldiers. They are all social outcasts such as prisoners and gangsters. However, it not like dirty-dozen. They are trained to kill Chairman Kim Il-sung who sent his own special troops to beat the presidential residence of South Korea in 1960s. 'Silmido' is based on the forbidden and veiled documents on this revengefully organized special force unit- the 684 Battalion. The 684s are all trained to redeem their tattered life and show their instinct-based patriotism toward their authoritative country. However, the high-tensed relationship between North and South Korea got mitigated, their role to kill the Chairman Kim could not stand still. Finally, the new director of Korean Central Intelligence Agency orders to secretly kill all 684s, and their final mission is not deploying to the North but to the presidential residence of their own country.
Unlike other Korean action package, this film is highly focusing on the abusal of masculinity, machoism and patriotism, all of which were placed on wrong place, by wrong persons, at wrong time. The rhythm and tempo of this movie is flawless, and well-made combo of both action and suspense is orchestrated by the hand of senior maestro of Korean movie industry- Director Woo-suk Kang. Very sympathetic scenario based on a Korean bestseller under the same title.
Taegukgi hwinalrimyeo (2004)
Amazingly triumphant film.
This review is based on Korean premiere on 5th Feb 2004, and I dare to say this flick will rock sometime out of Korea. I do not know when its premier will be in North America and Europe but could not argue more that this will be a gemstone in the world of war films. Director Jacky Kang is well-maneuvering between spectacles and dramas, and most certainly preserving historical accuracy. It is hard to say this film is totally free from the fragments of old legendary war films such as 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Thin Red Line', and 'Dear Hunter'. However, Director Kang shows his craftsmanship to overcome the limits of previous war flicks and creates another dimension of his own style and paragon of action-packed, humanity-based combat scenes. This film is the most luxurious production in Korean film industry so far and the first war movie that scoped on the life and death of normal Korean people during the Korean War, which will be very good source for understanding contemporary Korean society and war history. Probably a must-see for serious viewers but possibly a goof for narrow-eyed couch potatoes.