西門町 - Westgate Tango

西門町 (Westgate Tango) is an 2012 film out of Taiwan. The movie stars Dylan Kuo, Anthony Wong, and Amber An. The film takes place almost entirely in Taipei's Ximending.

Amber An takes to the shops of the infamous Ximending of Taipei. There she finds a shop owner that takes in all sorts of pretty gals to help hawk all the crazy stuff you find there. Dylan Kuo is a shop runner and fortune teller in training. When their world's collide, Amber takes to Kuo right away. When the bad guys come running in to take some real estate properties, the life and death sakes of living in Ximending are escalated. Will the two be able to break on through to the other side, especially with Dylan's mysterious background.

The movie was slow, mysterious, and a hard watch. I liked the way the movie was shot as it did highlight Ximending I've not seen in other variety shows. As the premiere counter culture area of Taiwan, it attracts tourist, locals, and other Taiwanese to the area. In the movie, the various people land there and make a living there due to a past they are running away from. Others are just trying to make a living. This movie was a brief look into the lives of those that make it run.

被偷走的那五年 - The Stolen Years - Upcoming

被偷走的那五年 (The Stolen Years) is an 2013 film out of Zhong Guo. It was released a couple of weeks ago in Zhong Guo, a week ago in Hong Kong, and this weekend in Taipei. Directed by Barbara Wong, it stars a mostly Taiwanese cast. The movie stars Bai Baihe and Joseph Chang. Amber An, Christine Fan, and 阿Ken round out the supporting cast. The movie trailer looked like a Taiwanese movie with the majority of the people. However, whenever Bai opens her mouth, you know she straight outta Zhong Guo. Which just seems weird given the context. However, its about the story, not the origins of its stars.

The movie is about a couple that was previously married. The wife in the story has an accident and loses memory of the last 5 years of her life. Believing herself to still be married to the husband in the story. Without the current life to fall to, she must now reconnect with her life from 5 years ago. Including the man she divorced not long ago.

Interesting story as it a simi retake or re-telling of the story from the The Vow. But it also looks to seek out why our lives change so much in a mere 5 years. Thus, the Stolen 5 years.

I can't wait to watch this one.