陣頭 - Din Tao: Leader of the Parade

陣頭 (Din Tao:Leader of the Parade) is an 2012 film out of Taiwan. The film stars Alan Ke. The rest of the ensemble cast include Crystal Lin, Alien Huang, and Samantha Ko. Cameo apperances by Esther Liu and Matilda Tao. The movie is inspired by the real life Din Tao troupe from Taichung, Taiwan called Jyou-Tian Folk Drum and Arts Group (九天民俗技藝團). Din Tao is a traditional troupe that plays during religious festivals in Taiwan.

Da and Wu-Cheng are school brothers in a Din Tao group. After years of fighting, they finally split. Da and Wu-Cheng go in very different paths. One is successful and one is on a much smaller scale. They both have sons that grow up to join the family business. However, one goes off to Taipei in search of fame in a rock band. When things don't work, he returns home. The son gets interested in the Din Tao business and integrates some "rock" antics into traditional Din Tao.

The movie was a good watch. A feel good movie with nice eye candy and a engaging story of tradition vs modern day advances. The generation gap challenges and how to keep tradition alive as well. A good watch and feel good movie.

陣頭 - Din Tao:Leader of the Parade - Upcoming

陣頭 (Din Tao:Leader of the Parade) is released in Taipei over the weekend. The movie stars Allen Ko and Alien Huang. The movie follows two competing Din Tao (drum) troupes in rural Taichung (臺中). The the drum battles begin.

I think I am skipping this one and I doubt it'll make it to LA in DVD.

轉角*遇到愛 - Corner * With Love

轉角*遇到愛 (Corner * With Love) is a 2007 drama out of Taiwan. The two main stars are Show Luo and Barbie Hsu. There's a large supporting cast, but they too many to list.

Lang, played by Show, is a oyster egg cake cooker at a restaurant in Shanghai serving Taiwanese style dishes. Lang is there because he got tricked into coming here. An agent told him that someone wanted to but his comic strip. Xin Lei is a piano playing daughter of a rich Taiwanese family in Shanghai . Xin Lei has the world at her heels along with a "perfect" fiance.

How in the world can these two meet and eventually fall for each other? Its a little thing I like to call drama magic. Because in real life, it could and would never happen. Xin Lei's family business goes under and she's literally kicked out into the streets to fend for herself. In a strange turn of events, both lead protagonist head to Taiwan for the remainder of the series.

The version I watched was a China version and the episodes were like 22 minutes long. It was quite annoying to skip the opening and ending titles so often. Had I know this before hand, I would have rented the Taiwan version with only 19 episodes. The China one broke it up into 40 episodes.

The like the series for the most part and would recommend it. There was rumors of a sequel, but Barbie's been busy with a movie career of late.

Catch for a good glimpse of Shanghai and for two of more appealing leads in Show Luo and Barbie Hsu.

Holiday Dreaming - 夢遊夏威夷

Originally posted on xanga.



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.