Seligor's Asian Greats A-Z [E]
Welcome to my own list of mainly Asian Films and DVDs for your enjoyment. I am sure there are many lists like this but the following are all close to my heart. I watched my first Korean film here on IMDb a long time ago and was caught in the web of intrigue so much so that myself and my husband ended up in South Korea a few months later and we are still visiting when ever we've saved enough money. We hope to go to China and Taiwan this next year. And there you have it, my reason for "My collection of Asian Greats; from A to Z. I hope you enjoy the patter as well as the film identity. x Dorothy Milnes-Simm.
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- DirectorJohnnie ToStarsLouis KooSuet LamTony Ka Fai LeungRival gang leaders are locked in a struggle to become the new chairman of Hong Kong's Triad society.The time has come in the Hong Kong Triad Movement to elect a new Chairman, but this is "The Wo Shing Society" so why not take a chair and watch how it's done.
Acclaimed Director "Johnny To" [the Mission, another amazing film of my choice)] brings this gripping view into how the outcome of this Election comes about. It's not done in a booth, more in a bar or two. I will leave you to find out who stands the better chance of becoming top dog but I wouldn't take any bets on it. - DirectorJohnnie ToStarsLouis KooSimon YamNick CheungAs election time nears, current Triad chairman Lok (Yam) faces competition from his godsons. At the same time, Jimmy (Koo) looks to increase his business relations with mainland China."ElectionTwo". Well if you thought Election One was good then be prepared to be astonished by what the second film brings. It's extremely violent, shockingly cruel and all in all terrific!!
The Elected chairman from the first movie has become all powerful and a bit of a B....d feared by all, there are many small twists creating mant huge mistakes but miss it at your peril. Brilliant. - DirectorSiu-Tung ChingStarsKelly ChenDonnie YenLeon LaiAfter the death of her father, a woman is forced to take over as empress and fight to save her kingdom.The Warriors comprise of Donnie Yen and Leon Lai, names from "Hero, Flying Daggers, Golden Flower" at it has Donnie Yen with hair, which is very rare. Kelly Chen plays a very good Empress and the film as a whole is also very good. Not quite the battles say of Hero and The Three Kingdoms but an enjoyable love story as well.
- StarsKim Kap-suBae Soo-binJeong Ho-geunJang Bo Go (Choi Soo Jong) was a slave from Shilla (a Korean dynasty that lasted from 57 B.C. until 935 A.D.) He was sold in China during the Tang Dynasty, where he was trained as a gladiator-slave. Through hard work and perseverance, he made it back to Shilla and became a successful sea merchant. The sea passage at the time was plagued by pirates and Jang Bo Go went head to head with them in battles and managed to keep the pirates at bay.Korean Drama, TV Series of 50 episodes from the novel written by Choi In-ho. The star Jang Bo-go, born in Korea about 846! in the ship builders yard where he grew up his life takes on challenge after challenge until he dominated the sea in the East Asia and promoted international trade during the United Shilla Dynasty (676-935) His fights against the Pirates who destroyed many of the traders vessels are unbelievable. Yet as I say with so many Korea Films/Dramas don't expect your heroes to stay the distance. Have those tissues ready and maybe some cough mixture for your throat after all the shouting at the small screen.
- DirectorSiu-Tung ChingStarsJet LiShengyi HuangRaymond LamA master monk tries to protect a naive young physician from a thousand-year-old snake demon. A contest of psychic powers results in mayhem."Bai she chuan shuo" also Sorcerer and the White Snake, all one and the same and the first film Jet Li has made since Warlords, Fantasy, beautiful women, martial arts and sword fights. Altogether the perfect ingredients for a perfect film, Very enjoyable not one of Jet Li's best but very watchable. xx
- DirectorKaige ChenStarsGong LiFengyi ZhangZhou SunIn pre-unified China, the King of Qin sends his concubine to a rival kingdom to produce an assassin for a political plot, but as the king's cruelty mounts she finds her loyalty faltering."The Emperor and the Assassin "by any other name. King Ying Zheng of Qin, want to unite the seven individual kingdoms of China. Lady Zhao
(the beautiful Gong Li) who also happens to be the kings lover and together they have a plan to assassinate Qins most powerful Enemy.
Here again is where fate takes over and mans greed starts anew. I love this film which also comes from the director of the film "Farewell, My Concubine" - DirectorJonathan FinniganStarsMichael DrewMichael YamashitaThe epic story of one of the greatest naval explorers, China's Admiral Zheng He. 600 years ago, he led the world's largest fleet of ships ever seen. His rise and fall is the cautionary tale of perhaps the worst foreign policy decision everAlso known as "Emperor of the Seas" is a Documentary of the life of Zheng He. Dramatic reconstructions. This film is set in China, so don't get it mixed up with the Korean Drama "Emperor of the Sea".
In July 1405, the Ming Emperor Yongle, gave Zheng He the command of the greatest Armada with which he had to sail to the Western Ocean with 300 ships and persuade the rulers of the far flung countries to pay homage to the Emperor as the "Son of Heaven". The document continues by following the voyages of Zheng He and
his trials and tribulations. Very enjoyable and an amazing feat when you realise that all this happened back in the 13th Centuary. - DirectorJohnnie ToStarsNick CheungAnthony Chau-Sang WongFrancis NgA friendship is formed between an ex-gangster, and two groups of hitmen - those who want to protect him and those who were sent to kill him.Taking place in Macau in 1998 amid the gang warfare including four hit men earn their keep. Until one of the men decides he's had enough and leaves the cruel environment taking his wife and baby with him.
Unfortunately the Gang Boss instructs the other hit men to chase the renegade down. But loyalty cuts both ways and the men have to decide who do they protect.... Hm good film, directed by John Woo so it has to be pretty gruesome. Enjoy. x - StarsLee Min-kiRyu Seung-suLee Eun-seongMoo Yeol is a taekwondo instructor who falls for Eun Jae at first sight when she comes and asks him to help her find gold treasures at the agency. Hee Kyung is a tarot card master and Yong Soo is a manhwa shop owner who passes his days with no dreams nor hopes but gets involved in the gold hunting simply for fun. Moo Yeol, Hee Kyung, and Yong Soo gather together at the empty Inquiry Agency office and they discover a dead corpse in the basement. The four of them later decide to start a treasure hunting project.When we saw this Drama on KBS it was called "The Four Gold Chasers. Oh my goodness what a drama, funny, no hilarious Four totally different people become involved under the weirdest of circumstances the out come "Gold Chasers". You have a totally crazy Tarot Card (Big maybe) reader, a strange Comic Store (Manwha) owner. A Taekwando instructor (of sorts) Then along come "Eun Jae, at it is now that things get very funny and very complicated. Brilliant, absolutely Brilliant. Enjoy.
- StarsJeong Woong-inKim Jung-hyunRyu DamStory of Queen Seondeok who was born a princess, brought up among commoners and overcame many trials to become the ruler of Silla.A huge Korean Drama in 78 Episodes and every one of them left you waiting for the next. I have literally sat for a whole week watching this Drama over and over again at home. I almost know the Korean words now. Powerful, Terrifying, Passionate and Deadly. This is one of the greatest Drama's along with Comrades" and "Emperor of the Sea" we have ever watched. And we have probably watched more Dramas than films we have in our collection. Superb, Glorious, Cruel. Many episode of this Drama are huge hits on YouTube especially the one ...... no I'll let you find out for yourselves. Brilliant.
- DirectorJeffrey LauStarsLeslie CheungBrigitte LinMaggie CheungA parody of Louis Cha's renowned novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The story begins with the Queen of Golden Wheel Kingdom and having an affair with her cousin West Poison, both of whom are planning to take over the Kingdom. The 3rd Princess discovered their treason but she was defeated by West Poison. She flees and sought for her master's help. He spoke of a powerful secret martial arts manual hidden in the mountains, which if she could retrieve and learn, she would be able to defeat West Poison. But things get complicated along the way when West Poison beat her to it and stole the secret manual away. She soon gathers an alliance to challenge West Poison's exponentially increased new power.In the 1990's cult film-maker Wong Kar Wai and Hong Kong director Jeff Lau established Jet Tone Films, to say that most of them are remarkable is an under statement. This film is from the same pen as "Ashes of Time" which is in section "A" of Asian Greats. And has many of the same cast as A.O.T. and The other film in this trilogy "First Love, the Letter on the Breeze.". But Eagle Shooting Heroes is so funny you will need tose tissues again but for tears of laughter not sadness.