I was on vacation and I got the opportunity to finish a few movies. Instead of creating separate entries for each one, I thought I’d just put it into one.
- Xiao Wu/Pickpocket
This is a movie about a bit of a younger man whose friends have kind of left him behind. He tries to chase after this karaoke girl, but she ended up disappearing with somebody else. Lots of scenes of him smoking and being moody. He’s eventually arrested and then paraded through the streets to shame him. It was a decent movie.
7.5 / 10
- Farewell my Concubine
Okay, this one is actually a really great movie. It follows the story of a couple of Chinese opera actors and their treatment at the hands of the various governments that rise and fall. They both have a rough childhood. One is a boy that looks quite feminine, which makes him popular in the concubine role. The rainbow cult would salivate over this movie if they knew about it. Some of the shots are very ascetic, especially liked the ones with the Japanese officers.
8.5 / 10
- Ju Dou
Apparently, this movie was created by the same director whose created Raise the Red Lantern. That was actually one of the first Chinese movies I ever watched. That one was quite good, this one is as well. In many ways the themes are similar. Struggles of women, fading of the Chinese aristocracy, debauchery, and elegance. Both movies make use of vibrant colors. If an American had created a similar film they probably would’ve created a monstrosity, but this one was handled quite well. Goes to show you the difference when you create a female lead who’s actually likeable instead of just a massive cunt that I’m supposed to cheer on. Then if this was American too then the “villains” probably would’ve cackled loudly and hardly be human.
8 / 10
- Caddyshack
It was okay, I guess. I mean it wasn’t bad, but meh. Don’t even really want to spend time discussing it. If I wasn’t with someone, then not the movies I probably would’ve watched.
7 / 10
- Robocob
I’m sure everybody has heard of this one. I actually ended up liking this movie more than I thought I would. I’m glad they confined this movie to just Detroit and kept it on a smaller scale. If it had been some save the world plot then I think this movie would’ve been much worse. But, it does kinda do that American thing where the characters are constantly crying and looking intensely at each other, having those “serious” conversations. Can’t say I appreciated that much.
7.5 / 10
- Once Upon a Time in the West
This movie is honestly just a mess. Could’ve been way shorter than it actually was. There were too many characters. Too many concurrent threads. Every scene was so drawn out. They had to stare each other down in every single scene. None of the characters were all that memorable or likeable. That damned harmonica was obnoxious. I don’t know, just can’t say I really liked it that much. Again, isn’t terrible, but it’s not good I think.
6.5 / 10
This scene is gorgeous. Really shows an appreciation for ascetics.