大尾鱸鰻 (David Loman) was released in Taipei this past weekend. The movie stars Chu Ko Liang, a jokester that became quite famous in the 1980s. A country bumpkins rise to gangster power. I'll watch it for the young guys, not for Chu. The young guns are Amber Kuo and Tony Yang.
一頁台北 (Au Revoir Taipei) is a 2010 Taiwan film. The film stars Amber Kuo and Jack Yao. The supporting cast include Joseph Chang, Lawrence Ko, and Frankie Gao. The film was written and directed by Taiwanese-American Arvin Chen.
The film starts off in Taipei with a gal leaving for Paris and a local boy staying behind. The boy is Kai and has recently graduated from college. Kai helps out with his parents food stall and studies french in a local bookstore. Kai goes to the bookstore daily to study french. A worker at the store, Susie, sees him everyday and starts to take an interest in his activity and eventually him. Kai desperately leaves phone message with the gal that left for Paris with no response back. Eventually one day, Kai gets a call, but its a call to end things. Kai takes into his own hands and decides that he should fly to Paris and win her back. Asking his parents for money without success, he calls on a local loanshark and gets a ticket to Paris. However, that loanshark makes him do something for him. Mistaken for a criminal, Kai and Susie are chased around town by a cop. In the background, the loanshark's muscle kidnap Kai's friend and in exchange for the package that Kai has for the loanshark. The chase around Taiwan begins!
The movie was really amazing. It was an ode to Taipei for both its street life, quarky personality, night market, and food stands. Amber is both sweet and strong at the same time. While Jack was suppose to be emotionless. The subplot that caught my attention was between Joseph Chang, Peggy Tsang, and Tony Yang. That was a weird love triangle in the middle of this caper. The music was also excellent.
I do highly recommend this light hearted romantic comedy that highlights Taipei and its citizens.
夢遊夏威夷 (Holiday Dreaming) is a 2004 Taiwan film about 2 guys looking for a AWOL solider. The English title is a little weird for me as it is more like "Dream of Hawaii". During a scene in the movie, they reference the line.
I think it was a good film. There's all sorts of "weird" supporting characters that get their few minutes in. From the 2 kitchen cooks, to the bala girl, to the gangsters, and to the shop owner. All are presented eccentrically.
The recent Taiwan films I've watched recently all have a similar feel to them. They go at a slower pace, focus on many characters' unique attribute, highlight the landscape, and seek discovery. Holiday Dreaming had all those elements.
Part of the story takes place on the eastern coast of Taiwan. I couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful and tropical it all was.
