I have gone more towards South Korea this decade even though I don’t often get the opportunity to see movies from that country outside of film festivals or special screenings. There is a stated goal from South Korea’s government for them to make quality cinema and spread their culture overseas they want to win all the awards. This is not in any sort of order other than by year.
Best
Parasite (2019)
It only just came out but is pretty much ruling all at this point. If it wins the Academy Award for Best Picture Song Kang-Ho can run around with his underpants on his head and still get roles.
Still don’t know how they are going to follow this up? I would like to see a parallel story following the high school baseball team from the other carriage. You can watch the prequel Seoul Station but it is not really necessary (I saw it on a double bill with this movie.)
I could not organise my feelings about this movie into a form that I could put down. I have not seen a movie that punishes you so hard for making assumptions or thinking that you “get it”.
The Handmaiden (2016)
I felt like a perv watching this movie in the cinema. No wonder both sessions plus the bonus screening at MIFF sold out that year.
Snowpiercer (2013)
I do remember liking this at the time but not sure it stands up as much as the director’s other work.
Comrade Kim Goes Flying (2012)
And old-school propaganda movie from North Korea but with a nice sweet story and supporting equality.
More of a disappointment they could not decide if this wants to be an action movie or a historical drama. Everything stops dead when it switches styles. By all accounts Kingdom is everything this movie is not.
OK, this a cheat since it is an Australian director in director but gets special mention due to the director not telling the people from Stop CSG Sydney that she was making a communist propaganda movie. Doubly so since her and the tour guide director criticized at the Q&A the director of the Red Chapel for deceiving their North Korean hosts.
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)
If you are a fan of Donnie Yen and martial arts movies I would still recommend this movie, otherwise you might want to wait for “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame” that looks a lot better (and it was). http://hkmovies.timchuma.com/returnofchenzhen.htm
The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011)
While not essential viewing compared to some of Tsui Hark’s earlier work, it is still a lot better than the super serious historical Chinese epics or all the “Happy Birthday China” movies that seem to be coming out at the moment. http://hkmovies.timchuma.com/flyingswordsdragongate.htm
Project Gutenberg (2018)
This got a lot of shit but I liked it. That shot of Chow Yun Fat setting the counterfeit money on fire is totally not in the movie. Needs 100% more scenes of the engraving the money. http://blog.timchuma.com/2018/10/project-gutenberg-2018/
IP Man 4 (2019)
A nice wrap up to the series and well worth your time when it comes out on streaming or whatever service you get to see it through. I thought I reviewed the 3rd one by I can’t find it. This serves for both. http://www.impulsegamer.com/ip-man-4-the-finale-review-2019/
The Mermaid (2016)
Supposedly the biggest box office of the year in the world, why do I not care about any of the characters or story at all?
Bleeding Steel (2017)
Medicore!
Some of these actors should have just asked if they needed the money this much. I am ashamed to watch it.
L Storm (2018)
Not bad, just adequate, but movies have to do a lot more than just be OK these days. Louis Koo’s hair is indestructible as it even survives getting electrocuted and his suit is always immaculate. http://blog.timchuma.com/2018/08/l-storm-2018/
I did go to it for 11 years in a row until circumstances intervened and I could no longer make it (In 2017 I was not living in Melbourne and in 2018 I had just started a job a week before.) Not too sure about 2019 either as I am going over to the USA during October and will no doubt be broke on my return.
25th – 27th November 2005
Sarah Blasko, That 1 Guy, Sophie Koh, Dave Graney & Clare Moore, Mia Dyson, Tony Joe White, Tides of Welcome Choir
Blues Train – Shannon Bourne & Grant Cummerford / Dave Hogan’s Meltdown, Blackeyed Susans, The Hoodangers, Wagons, Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set, Sally Ford & The Pachuco Playboys, The Saints, Melbourne Singers of Gospel, The Junes, Joe Dolce, Not Drowning Waving, Jeff Lang
24th – 26th November 2006
Dallas Frasca, Rebecca Barnard, Portentia, Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing, Unconscious Brothers, Anne McCue,
Chris Wilson, Yann Tiersen, Blaze, Jimi Hocking, Little Green Houses, Rose Bygrave, Charcoal Club, Royal Chord, Detonators, Shannon Bourne, Bay of Pigs, Don Walker, Barb Waters & Cyndi Boste, Collard Greens & Gravy, The Models, Neapolitan Croxton Showcase (Sarah Carroll, Dan Warner & Marcel Borrack), Betty Harris, Weddings Parties Anything, Ska Vendors, Sophie Brous Ensemble, Tides of Welcome Community Choir, Kerri Simpson, Andy Baylor, TnT, Suzannah Espie & The Last Word, The Exotics
23rd – 25th November 2007
Chris Wilson & Shane O’Mara, The Basics, AlMacandJack, Antagonize, Girl Vs Ghost, Lil’ Fi, Mia Dyson, Nick Charles, Gotye, Unconscious Brothers, Ross Hannaford, Sweethearts, The Junes, My Friend the Chocolate Cake, Rich Family Band, Lisa Miller, The Leisuremasters, The Rustys, Sambrose Automobile, The Periscopes, Sarah Carroll, Nigel Wearne, Laura Baxter, Sweet Dolores, Steve McEwen and the Yes Men, Sime Nugent, Hank’s Jalopy Demons, Paul Kelly, Bob Log III, Vardos, Mrs Wainright, Tides of Welcome Choir, Bless this House, Bec Willis, Dan Kelly, The Breadmakers
November 28th – 30th 2008
Harry Angus, Unconscious Brothers Spectacular with Rebecca Barnard, Josh Owen, Geoff Achison & Guy Pearce, Vulgargrad with Zulya, Kate Miller-Heidke, Sweet Dolores, The Wilson Pickers, Geoff Achison, Tides of Welcome Choir, Diamond Jim and the Tuff Tones, Fireside Bellows, Sarah Carroll and Andy Baylor, Kerri Simpson, ROOT!, Oh Laura, Tripod, Jeremy Jay, Kaya, Marshall and the Fro, The Bawdies, The Town Bikes, Elana Stone, The Bedroom Philosopher, Jackson Jackson
November 27th – 29th
Tinpan Orange, The Megahorns, Pigram Brothers, Gun Street Girls, Aluka, Alica Merrit, Steve Jones, Charles Jenkins & The Zhivagos, The Junes, Djan Djan, Mal Webb, Stephen McEwan & The Yes Men, The McClymonts, Dan Musil, Organ Boy, Black Market Rhythm Co., Even, Dan Sultan, Tides of Welcome, Grace Barbe, Bertie Blackman, Howl, Peter Combe, Tim Finn
November 26th – 28th
Frank Yamma, Katie Noonan & The Captains, Izzy, Mr Percival, Ashleigh Mannix, The Black Sorrows, Stephen McEwan, Chloe & Anika, Dave Steel & Tiffany Eckhardt, Beau (The Rustys) & Brittney McNeil, Catherine Sanzarro, Victoriana Gaye, Tides of Welcome Choir, Sweet Delores, Sweethearts, The Nymphs, Mary Gauthier, Kate Vigo & the Underground Orchestra, Ray Beadle Band, Quarry Mountain Dead Rats, Blue Shaddy, Gareth Liddiard, Dan Kelly’s Dream Band, The Mercurials, Catherine Britt, Sally Seltmann, The Rustys, The Meanies, Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing
November 25th – 27th 2011
Leah Flanagan, The Widowbirds, President Roots, Puta Madre Brothers, Pseudo Echo, The Herd, The Delta Riggs, Pete Denahy, The Sweethearts, Tides of Welcome choir with Dave Steel, Dead River Deeps, Wagons, The Cruel Sea, Brothers Grimm, Laine Lane, My Friend the Chocolate Cake, Woody Pitney, The Plains, BOOM! BAP! POW!, Kimbra, WHATEM 2 CD Launch with Sarah Carroll, Chris Wilson, Hausfrau, Sophia Katos, Lash78, Dadhouse, Frente, Gypsy & the Cat, Bondi Cigars
23rd – 25th November 2012
Loon Lake, The DC3, Tom Richardson Project, Howlin’ Steam Train, TZU, Baby Animals, Jackson Firebird, DJ Emma Peel, Kira Puru and the Bruise, Bee Gees Tribute Showcase, Cat Sanzaro, Izzy Losi, Lily & King, Sweethearts, The Tiny Giants, Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes, King Cannons, You Am I, Ruby Boots, Tides of Welcome Choir with Tiffany Eckhart, Dave Steel, Chris Wilson and Sarah Carroll, Jordie Lane, Butterfly Boucher, Pinky Beecroft & the White Russians
22rd – 24th November 2013
The Pigs, Russell Morris, Transvaal Diamond Syndicate, Darren Percival, The Owls, The Tiny Giants, The Living End, The Brow Horn Orchestra, Tides of Welcome, Yirrmal and the Yonglu Boys, Hussy Hicks, Sweethearts, Ginger and Tonic, Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, Andrew Swift and the Rattlesnake Choir, Genevieve Chadwick, Spiderbait, Stompy and the Heat, The Ray Mann Three, Twin Beasts, Papa Pilko and the Bin Rats, Microwave Jenny, Jeff Lang, Dallas Frasca, Underground Lovers, The Basics, Mason Rack Band, King of the North
28th – 30th November 2014
Davidson Brothers, Sweethearts, Hiatus Kaiyote, The Little Stevies, Georgia Rodgers, Skunkhour, Skyscraper Stan and the Commission Flats, The Delta Riggs, Dan Sultan, Áine Tyrrell, Karl S Williams, Charles Jenkins, Marlon Williams, DD Dumbo, WILSN, Murdena, Dyson Stringer Cloher, Emma Swift, The Bombay Royale, Jazzy Jazzper and the DARE OHHS, Jesse Valach & Blues Mountain, Stella Angelico, Tijuana Cartel, The Imprints, Tides of Welcome, Aluka, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Waifs, Charm of Finches
27th – 29th November 2015
Tinpan Orange, Faux, Georgia Rodgers, Jack Filmore, Louis Baker, Harts, Morgan Bain, 19-Twenty, The Snowdroppers, The California Honeydrops, Sahara Beck, Bellarine VET Music (Righteous Desmond, Evony Dilema, Rachael Hart, Chitra Ridwan, Abby Grace & Erica Lyon, Mild Child), Sweethearts, Mustered Courage, Áine Tyrrell, Benny Walker, All Our Exes Live in Texas, The Tiny Giants, Damian Cowell’s Disco Machine, Tides of Welcome, Ainslie Wills
25th – 27th November 2016
with The Mojo Corner, Jordie Lane and the Sleepers, Liz Stringer, Chitra, Kylie Auldist, Bobby Alu and the Palms, Quarter Street, Alice Ivy, Bellarine VET Music (Hey Mammoth, Gypsy May (Liz Powell), Madeliene Cope & Zack Darkes, Erica Bjornenak, Jess Viola, Nina Denham), Sweethearts, Sarah Carroll and the Left Wing, JAWN, Leah Senior, Sweet Jean, Eilen Jewell, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, Peter Garrett and the Alter Egos, Kira Puru, The Run, Geoff Achison & the Souldiggers with Chris Wilson, The Tiny Giants, Hollie Joyce, Tides of Welcome, Reuben Stone, Matt Anderson, Charm of Finches, Snuff Puppets, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Melbourne Fringe 2014
The Tuxedo Cat – Jackal Room, Saturday 4th October 2014
I had heard of video game inspired shows before in the comedy festival and fringe, but never gotten around to seeing them. This one seemed a bit different due to it being two brothers putting on the show and them sharing their experience. If it was my brother it would be lots of dead arms and teasing, but they manage to bring something different to the show.
There was some acknowledgement by the show’s creators that they expected a male-skewing audience but it is different from the 90s when it was mainly boys that played video games. In my audience there seemed quite a few women who came along with their partners and were happy to be there.
The basic premise of the show is about the two brothers growing up playing video games and the things they learned from them. While it would be advantageous to know the video game trivia going into the show, even you were just a casual fan you should get most of the references.
I enjoyed the Street Fighter II style introduction and that game and Mortal Kombat make up a significant portion of the show along with the competing brothers aspect. I did like the part about Goldeneye and a prop-heavy joke about Odd Job that you have to see to really get.
I also liked that they acknowledged that not everyone was able to buy games each month when they were growing up. Like myself they only received games for Christmas and birthdays and were happy with them. Having to share a single Game Boy on a trip around Australia certainly taught them how to share.
The part about games influencing their education was interesting, as I once had an English teacher who complained on an end of year report that I never wrote about anything except video games.
There were some dance moves and a demonstration of how the composer from Mario Paint is still being used to produce music to this day in a nod to the chiptunes movement.
The show had almost finished its run when I saw it, but hopefully it gets another run during the comedy festival or at some conventions around the place.
I would recommend going to see it if you are at all into games or enjoy game related humour.
with Jan Di Pietro, Elle Diablo, Laura Davis
Melbourne Fringe 2014
Tuxedo Cat – The Wild Pony, Friday 19th September 2014
Having enjoyed her yearly recap of lesser-known celebrities who have died on the Cracked website I ended up following Lisa-Skye on Twitter and decided to go to her show as I am a bit out of the loop with newer comedians and have been going to see live music more than comedy for quite a while now.
The funny thing about social media is that it can seem like you know people more than you really do due to passing messages backwards and forwards all the time. I was able to sit in the front row without Lisa knowing who I was and probably as I have a chimp as my profile picture.
I do remember seeing posters for her previous shows up in the tools manufacturing business on Johnston St near the Tote, but I had never been to see any of her shows before. The closest I had seen to live was a promo spot on Media Strikes Back on Channel 31.
Due to the chat show format and different guests every night I guess the content would change from night to night. Also the show was having an audio recording made for a podcast.
Sparking up things for the night was the threat of a glitter on anyone who said something that was offensive to the host. A lot of glitter ended up being tossed around any way as did a box of d’Lite snacks for the audience to try and so they would get the joke of Lisa’s “bachelor chow”.
There were some interesting shows talked about by the guests that are happening during Fringe and some funny stories including Laura Davis and the person seeing her on the tram.
The “snack off” was interesting with each of the guests saying what their ultimate comfort food was and Lisa winning as it involved fried donuts and ice cream for breakfast and she had to buy the donuts the night before.
The hour seemed to go by quite quickly and if you already follow Lisa on Twitter or social media I would recommend it (some of the jokes are easier to get if you do.) Sound spill from another show close by was the only issue I had, hopefully it is cleared up for future shows.