Title: Bad Guy
Film Director(s): Kim Ki-Duk
Film Producer(s): Lee Seung-Jai
Released: 2001 [Korea]
Genre: Drama
Sub-Genre: Crime

Overview:
Hanki, a thug in a brothel, falls for a college girl Sunwha whom he came across in the street. As she totally ignores him, Hanki kisses her in a fit of anger. What he gets from her is only an insult.
Soon, Sunwha falls a victim to Hanki's plot and she becomes a prostitute in his area to repay the money she owes. Hanki ruins her life to his level and he keeps watching her in a secret place hidden at the other side of a mirror in her room.

She gets used to the life as a prostitute. She finds out it was Hanki who screwed her life but she also knows it is too late to get out of the situation. While she gradually falls into the desperate ordinary life, Hanki is torn apart between an obsession for her and a sense of guilt.

In the middle of love, hatred, compassion and despair, they become one and face their destinies...


Cast: Cho Je-Hyun, Seo Won, Kim Yoon-Tae, Choi Duk-Moon, Choi Yoon-Young, Shin Yoo-Jin, Kim Jung-Young. . .


IMO:
this is a extreme arty farty show which few will appreciate... anyway u wouldnt believe it at all if i say the ger was kidnapped and forced to prostitution for no reason whatsoever and she actually ended up liking the guy who forced her to prositution in the first place... u might think its stupid, but catch it, then u will know its a tragic love story...

Rating:
4 out of 5 snoopys

Title(s) AKA: Arahan; Arahat
Film Director(s): Ryu Seung-Wan (Ryoo Seung-Wan)
Film Producer(s): Kim Mi-Hee
Released: 2004 [Korea]
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sub-Genre: Comedy

Overview:
2004 A.D. In the midst of Seoul, where high-resolution camera phones, MP3s, digital cameras, Pentium 4 computers, X-game and internet chatting are the big issues for its young population... The window-cleaners who calmly carry on their job, dangling thousands of feet above the ground... The wrinkled grannies on the street who handle heavy satchels as if they were air-filled balloons... What if these are the "masters" of the secret disciplines of the East, preserving the peace of our world without our knowledge?
Sang-hwan became a cop out of his naive desire to bring justice to those who take unfair advantage of their strengths... But the tough reality is that even local gangsters can beat him up... One day, he suddenly encounters a group of strangers... "You are destined to become Maruchi! We will teach you how to shoot ch'i energy from your palms, too. Really!" They are known as the Seven Masters... Thus Sang-hwan is paired with his partner-to-be, Eui-jin, who is destined to become Arachi.

Sang-hwan of course thinks they are pulling his leg, but Eui-jin is cute, so maybe he should go along... But when will I learn palm-wind and levitation techniques? All I ever get to do is clean the house! Meanwhile, the Master of Absolute Evil HeugUn (Dark Cloud) has freed himself from his imprisonment, after being sealed in by the Seven Masters. Only Maruchi can prevent HeugUn (Dark Cloud) from plunging the world into dark chaos!

Can Sang-hwan be reborn as Maruchi and combine his forces with Arachi in time to defeat HeugUn (Dark Cloud) and restore the peaceful flow of ch'i to the world?


Cast:
Ryoo Seung-Bum (Ryu Seung-Bum), Yun Soy, Ahn Sung-Ki, Jung Doo-Hong. . .

IMO:
it has been a long time since i have seen effects that actually look realistic enough... this is one worth taking notice of...

Rating:
3 out of 5 snoopys

Title: Lovely Rivals
Film Director(s): Jang Gyu-Seong (Jang Gyu-Sung, Jang Kyu-Sung)
Released: 2004 [Korea]
Genre: Comedy
Sub-Genre: Romance

Plot: A female teacher's crush on a male colleague turns out to pose a serious challenge when a 12-year old student insinuates herself between the two adults and makes their would-be love connection a complete nightmare.

Cast: Yeom Jeong-A, Lee Se-Young, Lee Ji-Hun (Lee Ji-Hoon). . .

IMO:
jeong-a... is that ger from a tale of 2 sisters where she plays the mother... but she stands out playing the sultry lady from a big swindle... anyway its a surprise i managed to remember her face after watching this show... the young girl also quite good sia...

Rating:
3 out of 5 snoopys

Title(s) AKA: Drug Store Girl
Film Director(s): Motoki Katsuhide
Released: 2003 [Japan]
Genre: Romance
Sub-Genre: Comedy

Overview: After her boyfriend cheats on her, Keiko skips town in despair, winding up in the small city of Masao. Once there, she finds work at a drugstore and quickly attracts the attention of all the town's male citizens, who all take up lacrosse after learning that it is Keiko's favorite sport.

Cast: Rena Tanaka (Reina Tanaka), Akira Emoto. .

IMO:
this movie is sick, all the lao ah pek all fall in love with rena sia, then somemore they try to pick up lacrosse so that they can be close to her, end up she becom their manager and whoever scores the first point gets to go out on a date with her... YIKES! rena dun sell urself to them, i will protect u!

Rating:
3 1/2 out of 5 snoopys

Title(s) AKA: One Hundred Days With Mr. Arrogant; One Hundred Days With Mister Arrogant; Slave Love
Film Director(s): Shin Dong-Yup
Released: 2004 [Korea]
Genre: Comedy
Sub-Genre: Romance

Overview:
Ha-young is a high school senior who has the utmost zeal and energy for everything she does, except for studying. She gets dumped by her boyfriend on their 100 day anniversary. And on her way home, she lets out her frustration on an empty can of coke by giving it a nice long kick. But the fate has its own plan. The flying can hits Hyung-joon on his head while driving his Lexus430 and crashes his car into the wall. Furious Hyung-joon demands Ha-young to pay for the damage of his car.. which is $3,000!!! Luckily, Ha-young manages to escape from the scene of the accident.
Ok, so she wasn't so lucky after all. She thought she successfully escaped the unfortunate accident scene, but little did she know, she dropped her wallet at the scene. When she gets home, she receives a phone call from Hyung-joon demanding money from her. When he shows up at her school, she agrees to pay for the damage by being his slave for 100 days and signs the ‘Enslavement Agreement.' Then the nightmare of slavery begins! Starting with cleaning his house, assisting him in while he shops, doing all the chores, cleaning his car and even writing his school reports!

Ha-young puts up with all the humiliations and hardships for the sake of $3,000 she owes Hyung-joon. However, one day, she discovers that a car bumper could be fixed with only 10 bucks! This is when Ha-young ‘the poor little slave girl' transforms herself into ‘the goddess of revenge'! She takes her revenge on Hyung-joon starting with his car. However, the joy of victory lasts only short time. Hyung-joon appears before her eyes at her very home as her new tutor! Then the new kind of ‘slavery' begins in a form of teacher vs. student...


Cast:
Kim Jae-Won, Ha Ji-Won, Kim Tae-Hyeon. . .

IMO:
romantic comedy by the koreans.... and a nice one too, watch ha ji won funny actions!

Rating:
3 1/2 out of 5 snoopys

Title: Avalon
Film Director(s): Mamoru Oshii
Film Producer(s): Atsushi Kubo
Released: 2001 [Japan]
Genre: Science Fiction
Sub-Genre: Action/Adventure

Overview:
In a future world, young people are increasingly becoming addicted to an illegal (and potentially deadly) battle simulation game called Avalon. When Ash, a star player, hears of rumors that a more advanced level of the game exists somewhere, she gives up her loner ways and joins a gang of explorers. Even if she finds the gateway to the next level, will she ever be able to come back to reality?
This landmark film from Japanese director Mamoru Oshii is an amazing and beautiful blend of live action and stunning CGI--and not that cheesy "Mission: Impossible" type CGI either, this is digital art at its finest.


Cast:
Malgorzata Foremniak, Wladyslaw Kowalski, Jerzy Gudejko, Dariusz Biskupski, Bartek Swiderski, Katarzyna Bargielowska, Michal Breitenwald, Zuzanna Kasz, Alicja Sapryk. . .

IMO:
this has something to do with the matrix u know... imagine u are playing urself in a game... fun right...

Rating:
3 1/2 out of 5 snoopys

Title(s) AKA: Princess Blade; Shurayuki-Hime; Shurayuki Hime
Film Director(s): Shinsuke Sato
Film Producer(s): Taka Ichise
Action Director(s): Donnie Yen Ji-Dan
Released: 2001 [Japan]
Genre: Martial Arts
Sub-Genre: Swordplay/Sword(s)

Overview:
In an unknown country closed off from the outside world for well over 500 years, the ruling dictatorship enlists the help of the Takemikazuchi family, a clan of skilled assassins who sought asylum from their nation years ago. The most highly trained member of the family is Princess Yuki, killing dissidents and rebels who attempt to thwart the ruling body.
One day Yuki discovers a dark secret that changes her life forever: her mother may have been killed by her own leader, a member of her adopted nation's ruling class. Soon, Yuki is fighting for her life, enlisting help from the most unlikely of allies--a rebel named Takashi--while her own family attempts to hunt her down.

A wild ride into a dark, apocalyptic future, where law is upheld with the power of the samurai sword, "Princess Blade" is a stylish and spectacular ride featuring some of the most mind-blowing fighting and special effects sequences ever seen.

Cast:
Hideaki Ito, Yumiko Shaku, Shiro Sano, Yoichi Numata, Kyusaku Shimada, Yoko Maki. . .

IMO:
the plot is dumb, but the scenes are absolutely fabulous... i tink the female lead kicks more ass than aya ueto in azumi... very cool and stylo milo, can watch, just forget the plot can liao...

Rating:
3 out of 5 snoopys

Title(s) AKA: White Collar Worker Kintaro; Salaryman Kintaro
Film Director(s): Takashi Miike
Film Producer(s): Mitsunori Morita
Released: 1999 [Japan]
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sub-Genre: Comedy

Overview:
Kintaro is a reformed delinquent, the former leader of a biker gang who has gone straight. Working at a construction company, his unorthodox tactics cause trouble with his colleagues. He is transferred to a tiny countryside branch, where he butts heads with his lazy superior, until the two men discover a plot by the competition to put the construction company out of business. With the help of his old biker friends, Kintaro prepares to confront the masterminds behind the scheme.
"White Collar Worker Kintaro" is hugely popular in Japan. Movie, manga, TV series and animation, it's a true pop-culture phenomenon. Directed by cult favourite Takashi Miike (director of "Audition", "Dead Or Alive", and "Gozu").


Cast: Katsunori Takahashi, Michiko Hada, Tsutomu Yamazaki. . .

IMO:
hmm... nothing to comment on this really... a movie about how ppl rise up against the authorities...

Rating:
2 1/2 out of 5 snoopys

Title: Happiness of the Katakuris
Starring: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda, Naomi Nishida

Director: Takashi Miike
Studio: Fortex Group Ltd.
Rating: 18 Up
Genre: Comedy


Synopsis:

Notorious though he may be, Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike is not just some sick bastard -- he's a sick bastard with heart. Compared to his ultraviolent Dead or Alive (another recent Miike movie to premiere at the Royal), his torture extravaganza Audition or his manga-inspired bloodbath Ichi the Killer, The Happiness of the Katakuris is a movie the whole family can enjoy. It has a tender love story for the grown-ups, some scares for the teens, a few shoddy and inexplicable claymation sequences for the kiddies and a wealth of fabulous musical numbers -- it's like spending a rousing evening at Sing-a-Long Sound of Music before committing a killing spree.

Though Western audiences are unlikely to notice, Miike's movie shares its premise with a recent Korean black comedy, The Quiet Family. A plucky family named the Katakuris opens a guest house and is disappointed at the lack of visitors. When guests finally arrive, most meet violent ends before getting the chance to eat their complimentary breakfasts. Terrified that the discovery of the deaths will spell ruin for the business, father Masao (Kenji Sawada) convinces the rest of the family to help him bury the bodies. Meanwhile, daughter Shizue (Naomi Nishida) is romanced by a naval officer who claims to be a British secret agent and the nephew of Queen Elizabeth II. ("Diana!" he laments to Shizue. "If only I was there! Damn the paparazzi!")

While the storyline meanders badly and the violence is depicted with uncharacteristic modesty, the musical sequences are terrific. The songs parody a wide variety of styles, from romantic ballads to full-blown Rodgers and Hammerstein production numbers to flashy karaoke videos complete with onscreen lyrics. Anyone with a weakness for song-and-dance dementia on the level of Forbidden Zone and Cannibal! The Musical will find all this irresistible. The Happiness of the Katakuris will put a song in your heart, then stick a knife in your chest.

The Katakuri clan, innkeepers who live on the depopulated slopes of Mount Fuji, band together with tuneful Von Trapp-like determination when their guests keep turning up dead. The most rousing numbers arrive early: Upon discovery of the first body, reaction shots are given the full music-video treatment, replete with dry ice and blue light. In a trippy, literally levitating romantic duet, the daughter is wooed by an alleged U.S. Navy pilot, who later claims to be from the British royal family and speaks warmly of "Aunt Elizabeth."

IMO:
this is the remake of the quiet family if i am not wrong... maybe its the other way round cos this one seems more original... a funny clay opening intro followed by the unexpected deaths... the big difference between the 2 movies is happiness actually has a lot of singalongs... like musical like that loh...

Rating:
3 out of 5 snoopys (sorry but i tink a quiet family is really beter)

Title(s) AKA: A Wacky Switch; Me2Go; Me 2 Go
Film Director(s): Jeong Young-Won
Released: 2004 [Korea]
Genre: Comedy
Sub-Genre: Crime

Plot:
Destitute writer Dong-Hwa lands a job writing the biography of crime boss Man-Chul. But after he saves Man-Chul's life, Dong-Hwa finds himself in a position of power within the mafia--and Man-Chul finds himself growing disinterested in mafia life.

Cast:
Jung Joon-Ho (Jeong Jun-Ho, Jung Jun-Ho), Son Chang-Min, Jeon Mi-Seon. . .

IMO:
why would a triad boss wanna become an author? it only happens in the movies...

Rating:
2 1/2 out of 5 snoopys

Title: Super Size Me
Director: Morgan Spurlock

Plot Outline:
An irreverent look at obesity in America and one of its sources - fast food corporations.

Credited cast:
Morgan Spurlock .... Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Banzhaf .... Himself (as John F. Banzhaf III)
Bridget Bennett .... Herself
Ron English .... Himself
Jared Fogel .... Himself (as Jared Fogle)
Dr. Lisa Ganjhu .... Herself
Don Gorske .... Himself
Dr. Daryl Isaacs .... Himself
Alexandra Jamieson .... Herself - Morgan's Girlfriend (as Healthy Chef Alex)


IMO:
can u imagine gaining 12kg in 30 days? for those who keep saying they cant gain weight at all should try the McDiet... provided u can afford to buy everyday...


Rating:
4 out of 5 snoopys

Title(s) AKA: Romantic Assassins; Romantic Warriors; Crazy Assassins
Film Director(s): Yun Je-Gyun
Released: 2003 [Korea]
Genre: Action/Adventure
Sub-Genre: Comedy

Overview:
Cruel scoundrels who leave blood and destruction in their wake...
Ruthless bastards who'll do anything for cash...
But what is the truth behind these rumors?
They called them...the Romantic Assassins.

Romantic Legends

Widespread Unrest: Unbelievable guys who will turn the whole world upside down! During the Chosun dynasty, a group of assassins are notorious for their willingness to do anything and kill anyone for the right fee. However, contrary to their deadly reputation, they're actually a group of hopeless incompetents who don't even know the first thing about martial arts, much less completing a job right. One night, they get lost while trying to pull off an unusually big job and end up taking shelter in an abandoned house in the middle of the forest...

Enemies all around: one little, split-second mistake leaves them all in a big, fat mess. As it turns out, this abandoned house was the headquarters for a bunch of dead virgins holding serious grudges... Stumbling into the decrepit ruins, the assassins mistakenly drink from a bottle containing 999 teardrops full of ghostly spite thinking it was liquor. This little gaff prevents the ghosts from passing peacefully onto the "other side,and they are understandably upset. When the spirits realize that it will also work if their deaths are avenged, they began to threaten the scared assassins into doing the deed...

When all else fails, hold your breath & just jump! The hapless assassins find themselves entrusted to be the ghosts' avengers... However, they discover that their target for revenge is China's top assassin, the all-powerful Sa-ryong. After much agonizing, this bunch of unskilled warriors blindly throws themselves into an attack, but the outcome is predictable. The ghosts are disgusted with their performance and resort to teaching them supernatural martial arts...


Cast:
Kim Min-Jong, Choe Seong-Guk, Jin Jae-Young. . .

IMO:
female ghost wear mini skirt jumping up n down in the air... what do u get? loads n loads of upskirts!!!

Rating:
3 out of 5 snoopys

Title(s) AKA: Ouija Board
Film Director(s): Ahn Byeong-Gi
Released: 2004 [Korea]
Genre: Horror
Sub-Genre: Thriller

Overview:
When high school student Yoo-Jin moves from Seoul to a small village, she finds she is constantly tormented by her classmates. She chants "Bunshinsaba" to call upon an evil spirit; and soon after, her tormenters begin to die mysteriously one by one. Two commit suicide, and one is hit by a car while trying to skip town. The townsfolk, frightened by this rash of deaths, conclude that Yoo-Jin must be at fault, as these horrible occurrences began after she arrived. And they vow to do something about it...

IMO:
tries too hard to be scary... succeeds in shocking, but the actions are abit out la...

Rating:
2 1/2 out of 5 snoopys

Title: Monster (2003)
Director: Patty Jenkins

Plot Outline: Based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlize Theron .... Aileen
Christina Ricci .... Selby
Bruce Dern .... Thomas
Lee Tergesen .... Vincent Corey
Annie Corley .... Donna
Pruitt Taylor Vince .... Gene/Stuttering "John"
Marco St. John .... Evan/Undercover "John"
Marc Macaulay .... Will/Daddy "John"
Scott Wilson .... Horton/Last "John"
Rus Blackwell .... Cop
Tim Ware .... Chuck
Stephan Jones .... Lawyer
Brett Rice .... Charles
Kaitlin Riley .... Teenage Aileen
Cree Ivey .... 7-Year-Old Aileen

IMO:
another one of those movies when doing bad things is the right thing to do... and what the heck would a prostitute wanna go les for anyway...

Rating:
3 ouf ot 5 snoopys

Title: Ge Ge
Director: Itsumichi Isomura
Cast: Takako Ohsawa, Yuriko Ishida, Ryuzo Hayashi, Seiichi Tanabe, Arata Furuta
Running time: 114 minutes

Plot:
"Gege" is the story of a man named Takayuki (Takako Ohsawa) who is suffering from a rare disorder called Behcet's Disease, which is causing him to gradually go blind. He has a fiancee named Yoko (Yuriko Ishida).

IMO:
erm, drama show that would have been better if its is a drama series on the tv...

Rating:
2 1/2 out of 5 snoopys