The Banquet L.E. R0 (2 Disc)

Synopsis:

Director Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet, which premiered at the prestigious Venice film festival and screened at many other major festivals, became Hong Kong's submission to the Oscars this year. This epic features multiple award-winning actor Ge You, Feng's long-time collaborator, as a cunning emperor. The internationally popular Zhang Ziyi returns to Chinese cinema to portray a queen who experiences intense inner struggle. Hong Kong handsome prince Daniel Wu and best actress winner Zhou Xun from Perhaps Love also excel in delivering their roles. Inspired by the Shakespearean play Hamlet, The Banquet unfolds a story about power struggle in the royal court, which eventually climaxes at a night banquet.

The film promises a thrilling visual experience with its carefully designed details. Tan Dun and Timmy Yip, both Oscar winners for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, team up again in this project, offering wonderful art direction and captivating music respectively. Action choreographer Yuen Woo Ping designs the dazzling fighting scenes in The Banquet to enrich the film's aesthetic dimension, which deserves as much applause as its fascinating story.

Zhang Ziyi stars as the young Empress Wan, who used to be in love with Prince Wu Luan (Daniel Wu) but is now his step-mother. The late emperor's brother Li (Ge You) comes to throne and sees Wu Luan, now living away from the palace indulging himself in arts, a great threat to his power. He sends assassins to kill Wu Luan but the mission fails. The young prince returns to the palace and meets Empress Wan, who is newly married to Li, and a young girl Qing (Zhou Xun) who falls for him. Emperor Li decides to host a banquet, but everyone has a hidden agenda when they attend...

Super Mini-Review:

The film was beutifally shot, choreagraphed and scored. There was more fighting in it than I had expected. My girlfriend (Yvette) said "It's like they are dancing when they fight". This is how I saw it as well, and belive it was intentianal. You didn't want to take your eyes off the screen when this was going on.

It is inspired by the Shakespearean play Hamlet, and it had every bit of tragedy you would expect. I enjoyed the movie for what it was. It's not all together my type though. I am still really glad I saw it. The ending irritaded us a little, but I think that was also intentional.

The DVD is the HK SE 2-Disc L.E. Set w/ photo book. The DTS sound was really loud. Heard my speaker rattle a couple of times. The subtitles were really good as well.

I amost didn't review this, but since I said I would, here you have it. Sorry so short. What? No, I'm not!

Rating: Glad I saw it, but selling.

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Pan's Labyrinth - El Laberinto del Fauno Limited Edition DTS (R3 Korean DVD Set)

I'M BAAAAAACK!




Synopsis:

From Guillermo Del Toro, director of Devils' Backbone, Blade 2 & Hellboy. Pan's Labyrinth is a fanciful and chilling story set against the backdrop if a fascist regime in 1944 rural Spain. The film centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her mother and adoptive father; a military officer tasked with riding the area of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. With post-war repression at its height, Ofelia must come to terms with her through a fable of her own creation. This Film is on More than 100 top ten lists and was recently named best picture of 2006 by the national society of film critics.

Mini-Review:

This was not what I expected from this movie. In a good way. I had the impression, that it would be more of a fairy tail story more for kids. This, it is not!

I really enjoyed it. It is a touching story that is pretty violent. It's set in Spain 1944, and shows a conflict between the army and rebels. This could be compared to other conflicts in the past and now. It's the story of how a girl deals with what is going on around her. Again, a touching story.

The creator's and mystical world are wonderfully done. Same with the score (DTS was great on this release). I hope everyone gets a chance to see this. Guillermo del Toro is one of my favorite directors, and I await more goodness from him in the future.


This release is the Limited Edition (Korean Version). It is a 2 disc, but unfortunately the second disc is not English friendly. As i said before, the DTS was booming when it needed to be. The subtitles for the film were really good. I've heard Del Toro did the subtitles himself (wait, that might be for the US release 0_o). Others have complained about the video. They say it was too dark. I did not really see this, but I also don’t have a whopper of a TV (35” Sony). Yeah, that’s right. BACK OFF!

One of my most valued renters @ RoseBusters* almost received a 2 month suspension to his account because of how the DVD was returned. See below:


This would have been his first and only strike, until I realized it was out of his hands (back to zero). This case has a mind of it's own. See this thread on DVDTalk. The outside casing and glue obviously did not agree on something.

I sent it back, and got a replacement. This is a nice set, but because of the above mentioned issue and the lack of subtitles on the extras, I will be selling this. Note: Not selling the movie, just the Korean release! I will be getting the R1 2-Disc release coming out on 05/15/07. Guaranteed English friendly.

Rating: Sell Korean version, GET 2 DISC R1 RELEASE!

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*Note: if you do not know what Rosebusters is, there is a reason. Don’t ask. You’re not cool enough and you suck it! ;)-