16 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2009 • TAIPEI TIMES

FILM REVIEW OTHER RELEASES Compiled BY Martin Williams fter 10 years of frustrating not a revolutionary, to fund an kung fu talent on the bad guys. There is a rooftop brawl, production and roughly anti-assassination operation. Director Chan opts to build close combat and a sword fight- A NT$710 million spent, Hong Meanwhile, the Qing court anticipation for the action ing display. However, too much New York, I Love You Kong director Teddy Chan’s (陳 sends General Xiao-guo (Hu Jun, extravaganza by cutting the use is made of fast cuts and the 德森) 胡軍) and a gang of nasty royal film into two halves, with the action lacks punch. It fails to Bodyguards and Assassins Admirers of the anthology (十月圍城) has finally hit the big assassins to hunt down Sun. They first half going out of its way to pump up the adrenaline in the Bodyguards and Paris, Je T’aime from three screen. With a star-studded first slaughter a group of soldiers ensure that enough screen time same way that Yen did in last years ago will rush to see this ensemble cast, ace production who are charged with protecting is given to each of the dozen year’s (葉問). Assassins Ip Man loosely connected battery of values and an action-packed, Sun and manage to kidnap Chen. or so main characters. All have Though it is admirable on 十月圍城 10 short films by different pseudo-historical story about a Li awakens to his their dramatic moments which the director’s part to place directors, including China’s Jiang Wen (姜文). Such group of kung fu fighters on a revolutionary duty and recruits a shed light on their motives and emphasis on storytelling and productions usually struggle to live up to the promise of mission to protect revolutionary ramshackle group of bodyguards dispositions. When it works, the character development in what DIRECTED BY: Teddy Chan (陳德森) all the directing and acting talent on show, but even in leader Sun Yat-sen (孫中山) from to protect Sun. They include focus on the various characters is otherwise a purebred action a below average collection there are better segments to the Qing court’s assassins in 1905 Li’s loyal rickshaw driver Ah is quite engaging, and it is a flick, the film fails in its attempt STARRING: savor. Even so, critics thought this effort didn’t stack up Hong Kong, it looks set to be a Si (Nicholas Tse, 謝霆鋒), street pleasure to watch the pretty- to deliver genuine emotions. Wang Xueqi (王學圻) as Li Yue- against its Parisian predecessor. solid blockbuster. Unfortunately, vendor and former Shaolin monk faced Tse play a surprisingly Chinese actor Wang is probably tang, Tony Leung Ka-fai (梁家輝) there is one major flaw: Chan’s Stinky Tofu (NBA player Mengke convincing simpleton, and Yen the only exception, and he as Chen Shao-bai, Nicholas Tse attempt to strike a balance Bateer), aristocrat-turned-beggar as a compulsive gambler with almost single-handedly carries (謝霆鋒) as Ah Si, Donnie Yen (甄子 Gokusen: The Movie between action and drama doesn’t Prince Lau (Leon Lai, 黎明) and loose morals. the dramatic weight of the film 丹) as Chung-yang, Leon Lai (黎明) flourish, making the film a merely gambling addict Chung-yang When Sun arrives, the film through the first act. 胡軍 as Prince Lau, Hu Jun ( ) as Yan Manga-adaptation time again, adequate choice of entertainment (Donnie Yen, 甄子丹). immediately turns into a piece of Preachy talk about the glory 王柏傑 Xiao-guo, Wang Bo-Chieh ( ) though Gokusen offers the for the holiday season. With the assassins surrounding action cinema, unfolding more or of the revolution also strikes a as Chung-guang relative novelty of a female The plot is simple: Sun Yat-sen Hong Kong’s Central district less in real time as the multiple false note. Leung’s revolutionary yakuza boss-in-waiting — Zhang Hanyu (張涵予) in heavy ready to attack and the colonial action sequences are connected and his young adherent Chung- RUNNING TIME: 132 MINUTES responding to her better makeup — is about to arrive in police ordered to turn a blind together to make a one-hour-long guang, played by Taiwan’s Wang angels and working as a schoolteacher with a classful of Hong Kong to meet with other eye to the assassination attempt, finale. During a running battle Bo-Chieh (王柏傑), enjoy their Language: in Mandarin with reprobates. Ergo, this is one teacher you do not want to revolutionary leaders and plot the Sun’s bodyguards know they have through the center of Hong didactic speech on how the English and Chinese Subtitles cross or talk back to, even if she is into impossibly cutesy overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. to fight to the last man to get the Kong, all of the characters get to revolution will save the Chinese antics. Subtitle “The Movie” refers to the fact that the film To ensure Sun’s safety, activist revolutionary leader out of Hong show off their fighting skills. It people a little bit too much, TAIWAN RELEASE: TODAY is a crossover from the popular TV version of the comic. Chen Shao-bai (Tony Leung Ka- Kong alive. plays out like a computer game and when this spiel is repeated Trivia: Nakama Yukie, who plays the teacher with a crime fai, 梁家輝) turns to his friend Li For Yen’s fans, there is a where the villains and heroes a second time, the audience is pedigree, has largely been a TV actress, but one of her Yue-tang (Wang Xueqi, 王學圻), a long wait to see the martial go up against each other against likely to roll their eyes and fidget earlier film roles was the evil Sadako in the prequel Ring successful businessman who is arts star unleash his awesome different backdrops. in the seats.  photos courtesy of Applause Entertainment 0: Birthday.

Ex

Released in other overseas markets as Many Kisses Later, this Italian box office champ is a comedy with a cast of thousands and good spirit to spare. The action centers on a half-dozen couples between Christmas and Valentine’s Day and how their romantic histories affect their relationships. Massively popular, though its depth is perhaps reflected in the fact that it was nominated for nine Davids (the Italian Oscars) and won none. A remarkably similar American film called Valentine’s Day opens here in two months.

Like a Star Shining in the Night

A French entry in the deadly- disease-threatens-blissful- romance genre, this one has the male of the couple (Nicolas Giraud) come down with Hodgkin’s disease and ‘Bodyguards and Assassins’ is the first film waste away, but not without the love and carnal loyalty of his fiancee (Salome Stevenin). It’s the latter of these that by Cinema Popular, a production house that aims gets this DVD preview a release from tomorrow at the to be China’s answer to DreamWorks Baixue theater in Ximending, but the upside is its positive message of love — and desire — come what may.

By Ho Yi Staff reporter Give Me Your Hand

Held over at the last minute last week, this European co-production involving two brothers and a pretty road trip starts at the Baixue Bodyguards fail to save tomorrow. Original title: Donne-Moi la Main.

Albakiara

Missed this one last week. An Italian drama about randy youth, Albakiara was released last year. If disaffected youth, the day sex, drugs and rock music is your cup of espresso, get in quick to see it before it finishes tonight at the Baixue. Or wait for the imminent DVD release. FILM REVIEW Sherlock Holmes, the action figure Guy Ritchie’s latest movie cuts against the grain of the popular cinematic interpretation of the world’s most famous detective

By Ian Bartholomew As a two-man comedy act, Sherlock semblance of intellectual prowess. Staff Reporter Holmes has some amusing moments, There are a couple of fight scenes For those who have watched Guy but all the rest is like the mirror ball which, despite the use of slow motion to Ritchie’s career from the rollicking high and fancy lights at a magic show, capture every drop of sweat, are devoid Sherlock Holmes of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels designed to distract the audience from of excitement, just as a hair-breadth (1998), through various pale imitations the essentially meaningless activity escape from a rotary saw in an abattoir of the same, Sherlock Holmes, which is that is taking place on screen. Holmes has all the trappings of horror without DIRECTED BY: Guy Ritchie released today, will offer few surprises. It is portrayed as something of a flawed even an iota of fear. is more of the same, though he makes up superhero, with a potentially interesting There is plenty that looks good on STARRING: Guy Ritchie for this with higher-than-ever production subplot involving the character of screen, including solid performances. Starring: Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock values and lots of attitude. Depending on Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), a Yet there is a feeling of squandered Holmes), Jude Law (Dr John Watson), how you look at it, it is either too much sexy criminal who Holmes has never talent as the director panders to an Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler), Mark or not enough to ward off the mind- overcome. Minor characters such as audience who he clearly despises, Strong (Lord Blackwood), Eddie numbing indifference that one feels for Inspector Lestrade are used for nothing feeding them the cinematic equivalent of Marsan (Inspector Lestrade) all the characters involved. more than a plot device. bread and circuses. RUNNING TIME: 128 MINUTES The Victorian London of Sherlock Once again, the laborious setup of For all that, Ritchie also sees the Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law star in Holmes is splendid to behold, created various gags engages Ritchie more than opportunity of a franchise, which is set TAIWAN RELEASE: In general release Sherlock Holmes, directed by Guy Ritchie. from a lush palette of blacks and any attempt to endow his characters up with the introduction of Professor  Photos courtesy of Warner Bros browns, with an occasional splash of red with personalities. Attitude is more than Moriarty, who is named but never seen. — ruby lips or crimson blood. Through sufficient for Ritchie, and the lavishly Clearly we can expect Holmes to return, this splendid set march a terrifically presented story has little more depth although given this flat-footed opening trim Robert Downey Jr., whose self- than a catwalk show. Downey has his act it’s unlikely. satisfaction seems too much even for an Holmesian schtick down pat, but that egocentric great detective and whose only elicits a few snickers. smarmy smugness brings to mind the The evil genius is Lord Blackwood worst excesses of Roger Moore’s James (Mark Strong), who uses mysticism Bond. Jude Law’s Dr Watson has plenty as a cover for his plans to achieve of potential, but is incomprehensible ultimate power. His nefarious plot as Holmes’ associate. Nothing is done is cleverly constructed, but Ritchie with the homoerotic undercurrent misses opportunities to build tension, that is hinted at between the two men as the clues fall effortlessly to Holmes’ and Law’s only function is to play the deductive powers with an ease that straight man to Downey’s comedian. deprives his activity of even the