愛到底 - L-O-V-E (Love)

愛到底 (L-O-V-E / Love) is a 2009 movie out of Taiwan. The movie is split up into 4 story arcs. Each arc has its own directer and stars. But none of the 4 stories are linked together. This film has been on my radar since March.

The first story arc stars Van Fan and Megan Lai. Van and Megan are celebrating their 7th year together. They recall together how they met and fell in love. In a 3 hour elevator ride. Van had a broken foot in that elevator. While at the hospital for an examination, another patient approaches him because they have the same sounding voice. The patient has 3 months to live and ask that Van calls his suicidal mother to wish her well, so that she will continue to live on. Van now has a brain tumor (assuming here) and he's going in for life threatening surgery. Van ask for the same to the ether for someone to call Megan.



The second story arc stars Blue Lan, Annie Liu, Alan Kuo, Tammy Chen, and Chie Tanaka. Annie Liu is a tour guide for the 華山 area. Blue Lan is the director for a MV shot in the area. Alan Kuo, Tammy Chen, and Chie Tanaka are there to make the MV. Annie Liu and Alan strike up a friendly relationship. To Blue's distaste. Blue confronts Annie and ask her why she's ignoring him. Annie doesn't remember him and the love triangle is officially started. We later find out that Annie and Blue were together 3 years ago. But three years ago, they split and Annie gets into an car accident and loses some of her memory. Including all of her memory of Blue.



The third story arc stars Ethan Ruan and Alice Tzeng. This arc is hard to describe as it doesn't have a story. It is about a couple that are at a crossroads in their relationship. One is more mature and one is less. When will the less mature be ready to grow to the same level?

The forth story arc stars mainly Tracy Chou. The rest of the crew is like a who's who of the Taiwan entertainment industry. Many many cameos. The story arc is also hard to describe because it has a storyline, but an exaggerated one. The premise is comedic in nature. This arc doesn't have the feel of the other 3 and is the most light hearted.

Should you watch it? Yes. It was a well made film that presents love in 4 very different view points. Can they stand along on their own? Probably not. But as a premise of the title of the film goes, love to the end (愛到底), with all 4 stacked together, you get the point.

對不起,我愛你 - Su Mi Ma Sen, Love

對不起,我愛你 (Su mi ma sen, Love) is a 2009 film out of Taiwan starring Chie Tanaka and Wu Huai-Chung. They actually play themselves in the film.

Chie Tanaka, hot off the heels of Cape No. 7 is a model in Taipei from Japan that goes to Kaohsiung for a day off to recharge. Wu is a movie store and parts worker that journals his life. Wu noticed Chie at the movie store and chase begins. There is a certain purse that gets lost, a $500 dollar bill that plays into "fate". They meet up again in a church and the day spent around Kaohsiung begins. Along the way, they talk, get to know each other. Do they fall in love at the end? You'll have to watch and see.

Running in a brisk 73 minutes, it was a short and sweet film. I'll be honest, I was quite bored at the 45 minute mark and was ready to stop. But the last portions of the film brought it home and made up for it. It's a slow film, no doubt about it, but it's with a purpose.

Chie's Chinese seems to be better in this film, than in Cape No. 7. I wonder how much longer she's gonna want to do Chinese films.

愛到底 - L-O-V-E (Love) - Upcoming

愛到底 (L-O-V-E / Love) is being released this Friday in Taiwan.

I am looking forward to it. Seems to be a episodic movie about 4 different love stories.

It has a star studded cast from past and present. I wish it the best of luck in Taiwan and aboard in the Asia region. I also hope for a version on the US shores by the end of the month that's in good quality.

海角七號 - Cape No. 7

I picked up 海角七號 (Cape No. 7) at a local entertainment store with English Subs recently. The majority of 海角七號 is in Taiwanese, so I knew I had to have a version with English subtitles. I've had the China version for a few weeks now, but couldn't understand it as the movie starts in Japanese and runs mostly in Taiwanese. Only about 25% of the movie is in Mandarin, of which is the only other language I know besides English. Even though the main female protagonist speaks in Mandarin and Japanese and does not understand Taiwanese.

The movie is about the formation of a band to open up for an Japanese artist. A local hotel has a beach stage set up for this special event. Local tough guy 洪國榮 and crew are unhappy with the hotel. Specifically how the hotel came to 恆春鎮 (Hengchun) and the townspeople are not benefitting. They find out about the concert and want an opening band to be made up of locals to represent. The search starts and a makeshift group of unique personalities eventually is chosen to form the band. Tomoko is tasked with making this locals' band is presentable. In the backdrop of all this is the story of a address from 60 years past, 海角七號. Which was an address in the 40s, but in modern day Taiwan, it has lost its place.

I've been anticipating this film since the summer and when it was No. 1 in the Taipei films charts for over a month, it added to the hype. I really wanted to catch it at the LA Taiwan Film Festival a couple of weeks back, because of its English Subs.

Did it ever live up to expectations. It was slow to start, but finishes strong. The character development was pretty good and each was developed to move the story along. In the end, I was highly satisfied and proud of that this film is representing the Taiwan film industry.