命運化妝師 (Make Up) is being released tomorrow in Taipei on June 24th. The movie stars Sonia Sui, Nikki Hsin-Ying Hsieh, Matt Wu, and Bryant Chang.
From the trailer, it looks like a mystery suspense with a little "horror" edge to it. But it stars Sonia Sui and Nikki Hsieh! Dood, that's enuff for me to get on board.
陽陽 (Yang Yang) is a 2009 film out of Taiwan. The movie stars Sandrine Pinna. Supporting cast include Bryant Chang, Huang Chien-Wei, and He Si-Hui.
Sandra Pinna plays Yang Yang, a high school track student. The film starts with Yang Yang's mother getting married to her high school track coach. The coach also has a daughter of the same age, Xiao-Ru, and they move into the same house. Xiao-Ru's boyfriend Shawn likes Yang Yang more and gets a one time intimate exchange. Yang Yang doesn't want to rock the boat at home and is very cold to Shawn's advances after. Xiao-Ru finds out and adds steroids to Yang Yang's water before a competition. Yang Yang is disqualified and leaves her home for a life in the entertainment. Yang is no ordinary teenage Taiwanese high school student. Yang is half-french and that brings her special attention. Specifically in the Taiwanese entertainment industry.
The movie was all over the place and the gorilla film footage was dizzying at times. The themes of the film was of the struggle of a mixed race person in Taiwan. People have automatic assumptions when they meet them. Here in LA, a mixed race person is very common. So it may be no big deal here, but still a big deal in Taiwan. The ABC factor was huge in the 90s and 00s. Recently, the novelty of ABCs in Taiwan has started to ware out. Because its so common in the entertainment industry now vs. 10 to 20 years ago.
Should you watch the movie? Yes if you like to see a slice of life Taiwan life and how mixed race interaction is. No if you're looking for an enjoyable ride. The movie was a downer and the decisions for the characters were a little perplexing.
絕命派對 (Invitation Only) is a 2009 movie out of Taiwan. The movie stars Bryant Chang and a host of others. It is Taiwan's entry into the torture porn genre. I've known about this movie since April.
The movie follows Bryant Chang as Wade. Wade is a chauffeur to the president of a big construction corporation. While he waits, we buys car mags and dreams of owning those rich and out of range exotic cars like the Ferrari and Lamborghini's. President Yang invites Wade to an exclusive weekend party that is Invitation Only.
But there is something really special about this party. All the party goers are among the rich and famous. And they all apparently like some sick sick things.
The movie starts with the party and a slasher event. From that point one, you're pretty much informed that this will be a gory and bloody film. But half way through the film, you know who the bad guys are! This made for a much drawn out second half of the film.
If you liked Saw and Hostel, you might like this. I've never really gotten into torture porn and find that this film is somewhere in between a straight slasher triller and torture porn.
I would give it a go if you've got the guts to stick around for the gore and blood.
Eternal Summer (盛夏光年) is a 2006 film out of Taiwan. It stars Joseph Chang, Bryang Chang and Kate Yeung.
Jonathan and Shane are childhood friends. Shane is a trouble maker and Jonathan is asked to befriend Shane in the hopes of transforming him into a better student. The once class number one Jonathan declines as they get older and Shane becomes a better student. Carrie enters the picture in High School and the love triangles start.
On a trip somewhere, they three start to realize how important they are to each other. However, Shane is so use to having Jonathan around, but Jonathan wants to part with Shane. Things come to a head and everything comes out.
The movie was very stylish and had really good cinematography in my opinion. Although the story wasn't all the appealing to me, I was glued to the movie.
This movie is a good example of good Taiwan cinema.
夏天的尾巴 (Summer's Tail) is a 2007 film out of Taiwan. It stars Enno, Bryant Chang, and Dean Fujioka.
The movie is about Yvette. Yvette is a high school student with a medical heart condition. In the movie, this heart condition sends her unconscious and to the nurses office. Yvette along the way befriends Akira. Who is in Taiwan to improve his study habits. Akira just day dreams about soccer all the time. Yvette then befriends Jimmy. Jimmy longs for a teacher at his school. Rejected, Jimmy acts out and is expelled from school. A boy with no mother sends paper boats down a stream. Yvette reads the paper and investigates.
All in all, the movie is a coming of age story for Yvette in high school. Exploring friendships, family life, school life, helping out others, and looking for love.
Its a movie targeted for those maybe looking for direction, a glimpse of what it was like to be young again.
For me, I am an oldie. I am not looking for direction. But it was a nice glimpse into the adolescent life of some young people.
