Movies I watched Feb 8 - Feb 14
So I’m still on a huge kung-fu kick (pun intended) since I was working on a spreadsheet of 100 martial arts movies, which I’ll be posting soon. So all but 2 of the movies I watched this week contained martial arts.
Movies I watched this week behind the cut.
The Prodigal Son
Big fan of Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung and I’ve been meaning to watch this for a long time but just haven’t seen it available anywhere til now, found it on a free streaming channel called TCL on my Roku tv, so I watched it and loved it. My favorite part of this movie is the guy that plays his master Lam Ching-ying, he’s one of those guys that’s ubiquitous in Hong Kong movies but typically in a supporting role. I really thought his performance was really good for what could’ve been (and usually is) a caricature, a lot of the other cares ARE caricatures, intentionally, but Lam Ching-ying plays an effeminate opera troupe leader but he’s nuanced rather than over the top about it. Warning that he is called some homophobic slurs within the movie. Fun movie, great choreography, and a good satisfying story too, will definitely purchase a hard copy of this one.
Martial Arts Master Wong Fei Hung
Found this while looking for more movies featuring Lam Ching-ying, he plays the bad guy in this, a Japanese swordsman bent on defeating dojo masters to prove he’s the best. Chin Ka-lok plays the hero, Wong Fei Hung, who is a Chinese folk hero that has been played by every major Hong Kong action star; Jackie, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Sammo, Gordon Liu, and so many others. I didn’t know this before but this, Drunken Master, Once Upon a Time in China, Iron Monkey, Rise of the Legend and so many other films are fictionalized stories about Wong Fei Hung in different stages of his life. An interesting thing I’m finding about Chinese culture through film is they treat historical figures really no differently than we treat superheroes. Wong Fei Hung, Ip Man, Huo Yuanjia (portrayed by Jet Li in Fearless among others), and it’s kinda cool and beautiful that after these people have long passed on they have become these epic larger than life characters. Anyway, the movie is cool, has really fun choreography. It kinda ends abruptly, but that’s because it touches on elements of his life that are later explored in other films. Cool movie.
Unlucky Stars
This stars and is directed by Dennis Ruel, on the left, its an independent martial arts film that is on youtube for free, definitely recommend it. The title and the whole film is an homage to 80′s Hong Kong cinema; there’s a “lucky stars” series of films that star Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and others. If you’re bout that life you’ll catch references, if you’re not it’s still a fun little beat em up. It’s not going to blow you away with it’s cinematography, story or acting, but I thought it was really good for a low budget affair of essentially a bunch of stunt performers getting together to make a movie together. Had some good laughs, fights and stunts are great, I hope these guys get an opportunity to keep doing bigger and better stuff.
Undisputed 2
I’ve known about the Undisputed films for a long time and was never too in a rush to watch them, decided to rent the movies on Prime and was not disappointed. When you watch a lot of East Asian action films the choreography in American films, especially straight to video stuff like this, can seem a little slow and boring, but that wasn’t the case with this at all. The fights are fun, the characters are fun, and Scott Adkins kills it. Oh, and by the way Undisputed 1 features Ving Rhames, and I don’t remember else, I saw it eons ago, I don’t think it has any connection to these films other than the concept of fighting in prison.
Undisputed 3
It was such a smart move to turn the franchise’s focus to the villain of the previous film. Boyka has a real Vegeta story arc in these movies, and his super athletic style is just fun to watch. The highlight of this movie to me is when he faces off against a capoeira expert and they’re both just flipping around during the fight. I think this movie is my favorite of the Undisputed series, it has a satisfying end.
Triad Wars
This is a mob movie with Sammo as the boss and Wu-Jing, pictured above as his enforcer. It’s more of a crime movie than an action movie, but the action scenes are crazy, it’s like if you’re watching the Departed than all of a sudden someone starts flipping around and cutting off everybody’s arms. There are some brutal kills in this. I honestly don’t know if I was following the story that well, the weird thing about movies where different crime factions go to war is it’s like... these people are all evil, and we watch them do fucked up shit, and they all have the same motivation; money, so it’s like I’m not really emotionally invested in what happens, I’m just here to enjoy a guy in all white landing on top of car and then proceeding to kill everyone with a sword.
Fighter in the Wind
I had been looking for this movie for a while but forgot what it was called, and it’s hard to search for martial arts movies because what are you going to search “the movie where a guy fights a lot of people”? Anyway I finally found it and it’s a cool movie, another film that’s based on a true historical figure, I don’t know how faithful this movie is but it was enjoyable. This coward who is always being humiliated in fights decides to train himself to become stronger and then challenges every dojo owner in Japan to a fight. It’s a karate movie, so the choreography is not as flash as kung-fu films, and he essentially wins his fights not because he has better technique but because he can take more punishment and hit harder. SIde note: THe lead actor looks so much like Stephen Chow it was distracting.
Judas and the Black Messiah
The hype is real. This was a good ass movie. The performances are all perfect. I knew that Fred Hampton was assassinated, but to see the whole story and how it went down and to get to know him really gave you the full impact of just how fucked up it was on so many levels.
Undisputed 4
Back to Undisputed! Boyka’s back baby! Cool movie, and furthers his character development. I still think I like the previous movie a little better but this was fun too.
Brigsby Bear
Kyle Mooney is the current best member of SNL, he wrote this film and it’s funny and weird and endearing. I guess after watching people fight in prison, the true story of a black radical being assassinated by the government, and countless people dismembered and impaled, I wanted to watch something a little more lighthearted and fun. Kyle Mooney is an awkward manchild who wants to recreate a show he grew up with. I don’t want to say anymore than that, but I enjoyed it.
A Kid From Tibet
Yuen Biao with some Golden Child style mystical action adventure. It’s not mind-blowing in terms of action, but I liked this, it has some precursor to Naruto type stuff in it, doing hand jutsus to initiate powers and stuff like that. My favorite thing about the movie is the main henchwoman played by Nina Li Chi, who I’m not retroactively deciding is one of 80′s crushes. I actually went ahead and bought this on DVD just because it’s such an obscure movie I wanted to have it my physical collection.
Nina Li Chi
That’s all for this week!
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Le département de la police de Hong Kong est en pleine crise, un groupe de terroristes à enlevé cinq officiers et demande une rançon. Les premières investigations laissent entrevoir qu’il y aurait une taupe dans les hauts gradés des forces de l’ordre. Rapidement, des tensions apparaissent entre les commissaires adjoints…
“Hon Zin” (寒戰), ou “Cold War’ est un thriller policier hongkongais datant de 2012, écrit et réalisé par Longman Leung et Sunny Luk, à qui l’on doit également “Helios” (2015). Les acteurs principaux sont Aaron Kwok, qu’on a pu voir dans “Port of Call” (2015), Tony Leung Ka-fai, qu’on a pu voir dans “Our Time Will Come” (2017), Charlie Yeung, qu’on a pu voir dans “Kung Fu Jungle” (2014), Gordon Lam, qu’on a pu voir dans “Firestorm” (2013), Chin Ka-lok, qu’on a pu voir dans “The Bullet Vanishes” (2012), Aarif Rahman, qu’on a pu voir dans “Tales of Mystery” (2015), Eddie Peng, qu’on a pu voir dans “Operation Mekong” (2016), et Andy Lau, qu’on a pu voir dans “Shock Wave” (2017). À noter également la participation d’Andy On, qu’on a pu voir dans “Special ID” (2013). Une suite, intitulée “Cold War 2”, a été réalisée en 2016.
Le scénario concocté par Longman Leung et Sunny Luk, qui endossent tous deux la double casquette de scénariste et de réalisateur, nous plongent pleinement dans l’univers du thriller policier, avec un super travail d’écriture. Dans ce métrage, on va œuvrer dans les arcanes de la police de Hong Kong. Une force d’une unité d’urgence, transportant des équipements de pointe et cinq policiers disparaissent. Rapidement, les enquêteurs découvrent que les terroristes qui se cachent derrière cet enlèvement, possèdent une excellente connaissance de leurs procédures. Le chef de la police de Hong Kong est en voyage professionnel à l’étranger et son adjoint, M.B. Lee (Tony Leung Ka-fai) dirige les opérations de sauvetage auxquelles il a donné le nom de code “Cold War” et place toute la police en état d’urgence.
Sean Lau (Aaron Kwok), un autre adjoint du chef de la police de Hong Kong pense que Lee agi de façon disproportionnée car l’un des cinq policiers enlevés étant son propre fils, Joe Lee (Eddie Peng). Après avoir consulté le surintendant Vincent Tsui (Chin Kar-lok) et Albert Kwang (Gordon Lam), qui croient également tous les deux que Lee prend des mesures trop extrêmes, Lau relève Lee de son commandement et prend la direction de l’opération Cold War. Bien que les otages soient libérés, la remise de la rançon est un fiasco. L’inspection générale des services débute une enquête afin de découvrir les raisons du dysfonctionnement, et pour savoir à qui profite vraiment le crime…
Les personnages sont assez nombreux, et ils sont tous policiers. Bien que le récit soit articulé autour de Sean Lau (Aaron Kwok), le personnage incarné par Tony Leung Ka-fai, soit le commissaire de l’unité des opérations spéciales, Waise M.B. Lee, est nettement plus intéressant. Ce dernier est un dur à cuire, un homme direct, percutant, qui n’aime pas perdre de temps en palabres inutiles, et qui souhaite installer, en toutes circonstances, des actions concrètes et efficaces. La scène où il est interrogé par le jeune Billy K.B. Cheung (Aarif Rahman), officier d’ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption), commission indépendante contre la corruption, est tout simplement délectable.
Le développement de “Cold War” nous conduit à un métrage de 102 minutes avec plusieurs rebondissements et une intrigue captivante. L’action représente environ 40 % de la durée du film. La photographie assurée par un binôme composé de Jason Kwan et de Kenny Tse offre de très beaux plans de Hong Kong avec différents lieux, le bâtiment principal de la police, le port de la ville, l’autoroute et les alentours proches de cette mégapole. Les scènes d’action sont bien orchestrées et tranchent avec le calme relatif du reste du métrage. Les effets spéciaux sont maîtrisés et restent cohérents avec le récit.
La distribution offre de très bonnes prestations. Le focus est essentiellement positionné sur Aaron Kwok dans le rôle d’un haut dirigeant de la police de Hong Kong. Ce dernier a une vision très académique du travail de la police. Il s’avère parfois hésitant, réfléchit beaucoup, tout en ayant une approche humaine et respectueuse de son métier. Toutefois, les cinéastes ont su créer une forme d’ambiguïté autour de son personnage, de manière à ce que le spectateur s’interroge sur sa véritable nature, son intégrité, jusqu’au point de douter de sa sincérité. On retiendra que ce sont essentiellement les personnages incarnés par Eddie Peng et Andy On qui amènent les scènes d’action les plus percutantes. La séquence sur le toit d’un immeuble où l’unité d’intervention doit batailler avec des artificiers venus installer des feux d’artifice est assez spectaculaire.
En conclusion, “Cold War” est un très bon thriller policier disposant d’une histoire originale, d’une intrigue captivante et d’un développement enthousiasmant. Le rythme est modéré, le récit est fluide et la narration est linéaire. La photographie est plaisante, la bande originale est discrète, et l’édition est agréable. La distribution offre de bonnes prestations, avec un petit plus pour Tony Leung Ka-fai, au service de personnages peut être un petit peu trop nombreux. L’ensemble est prenant et offre un agréable moment de divertissement. À découvrir…
COLD WAR (2012) ★★★★☆ Le département de la police de Hong Kong est en pleine crise, un groupe de terroristes à enlevé cinq officiers et demande une rançon.
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The Thomas and Uber Cup 2018 also known as the 2018 BWF Thomas & Uber Cup will be the 30th edition of the Thomas Cup and the 27th edition of the Uber Cup, This event is a Team event contested by the men and women’s national teams of the member associations Badminton World Federation (BWF). The tournament will be hosted by Bangkok, Thailand at IMPACT Arena
This will be the first time that Thailand will be hosting this prestigious tournament from 20 to 27th may 2018, where Denmark and china will be defending Men’s championship and Women’s championship crown respectively.
Thomas and Uber cup finals 2018 draws:
Thomas and Uber cup 2018 Schedule:
Thomas and Uber cup 2018 team level details:
Thomas cup:
Algeria: Abderrahim Bouksani, Balahoune Majed Yacine, Belarbi Mohamed Abderrahime, Hamek Adel, Khaldi Samy, Larbaoui Sifeddine, Mammeri Koceila, Meddah Adel, Medel Youcef Sabri, Ouchefoun Mohamed Abdelaziz
Australia: Chau Matthew, Gobinathan Ashwant, Joe Anthony, Leung Simon Wing Hang, Schueler Jacob, Serasinghe Sawan, Tam Raymond, Teoh Kai Chen, Vuong Eric, Yan Peter
Canada: Dostie-Guindon Paul-Antoine, Ho-Shue Jason Anthony, Lai Jonathan Bing Tsan, Li Antonio, Lindeman Ty Alexander, Yakura Nyl, Yang Brian, Yao Duncan
China: Chen Long, Li Junhui, Lin Dan, Liu Cheng, Liu Yuchen, Qiao Bin, Shi Yuqi, Wang Yilyu, Zhang Nan, Zheng Siwei
Chinese Taipei: Chen Hung Ling, Chou Tien Chen, Hsu Jen Hao, Lee Jhe-Huei, Lee Yang, Lu Ching Yao, Wang Chi-Lin, Wang Tzu Wei, Yang Chih Chieh, Yang Po Han
Denmark: Antonsen Anders, Astrup Kim, Axelsen Viktor, Boe Mathias, Christiansen Mathias, Conrad-Petersen Mads, Jorgensen Jan O, Kolding Mads Pieler, Rasmussen Anders Skaarup, Vittinghus Hans-Kristian Solberg
France: Corvee Jordan, Corvee Lucas, Gicquel Thom, Kersaudy Bastian, Labar Ronan, Leverdez Brice, Maio Julien, Merkle Arnaud, Popov Toma Junior, Rossi Leo
Germany: Jansen Jones Ralfy, Kaesbauer Peter, Lamsfuss Mark, Roovers Alexander, Roth Fabian, Schaefer Kai, Schaenzler Lars, Seidel Marvin Emil, Zurwonne Josche, Zwiebler Marc
Hong Kong: Ho Wai Lun, Hu Yun, Lee Cheuk Yiu, Lee Chun Hei Reginald, Mak Hee Chun, Ng Ka Long Angus, Or Chin Chung, Tang Chun Man, Wong Wing Ki Vincent, Yeung Shing Choi
Indonesia: Ahsan Mohammad, Alfian Fajar, Ardianto Muhammad Rian, Christie Jonatan, Gideon Marcus Fernaldi, Ginting Anthony Sinisuka, Kholik Firman Abdul, Mustofa Ihsan Maulana, Setiawan Hendra, Sukamuljo Kevin Sanjaya
India: Attri Manu, George Arun, M.R. Arjun, Prannoy H. S., Reddy B. Sumeeth, Sai Praneeth B., Sen Lakshya, Shlok Ramchandran, Shukla Sanyam, Verma Sameer
Japan: Endo Hiroyuki, Inoue Takuto, Kamura Takeshi, Kaneko Yuki, Momota Kento, Nishimoto Kenta, Sakai Kazumasa, Sonoda Keigo, Tsuneyama Kanta, Watanabe Yuta
Korea: Choi Solgyu, Chung Eui Seok, Ha Young Woong, Heo Kwang Hee, Jeon Hyeok Jin, Kang Min Hyuk, Kim Dukyoung, Kim Won Ho, Seo Seung Jae, Son Wan Ho
Malaysia: Arif Mohamad Arif Ab Latif, Chia Aaron, Goh V Shem, Lee Chong Wei, Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao, Soh Wooi Yik, Tan Wee Kiong, Teo Ee Yi, Zulkarnain Iskandar
Russia: Alimov Rodion, Dremin Evgenij, Grachev Denis, Gulomzoda Shokhzod, Ivanov Vladimir, Karpov Georgii, Lemeshko Nikita, Malkov Vladimir, Sirant Sergey, Sozonov Ivan
Thailand: Avihingsanon Suppanyu, Isriyanet Tinn, Kedren Kittinupong, Namdash Kittisak, Phetpradab Khosit, Phuangphuapet Nipitphon, Puavaranukroh Dechapol, Thongnuam Pannawit, Viriyangkura Tanupat, Wangcharoen Kantaphon
Uber Cups:
Australia: Chen Hsuan-Yu Wendy, Fung Zecily, Khoo Lee Yen, Lim Lauren, Ma Louisa, Mapasa Setyana, Slee Ann-Louise, Somerville Gronya, Tam Jennifer, Veeran Renuga
Canada: Beaulieu Anne-Julie, Choi Catherine, Honderich Rachel, Li Michelle, Pakenham Stephanie, Tam Brittney, Tong Michelle, Tsai Kristen, Wu Josephine
China: Chen Qingchen, Chen Yufei, Gao Fangjie, He Bingjiao, Huang Dongping, Huang Yaqiong, Jia Yifan, Li Xuerui, Tang Jinhua, Yu Zheng
Chinese Taipei: Chen Hsiao Huan, Chiang Mei Hui, Hsu Ya Ching, Hu Ling Fang, Kuo Yu Wen, Lin Wan Ching, Lin Ying Chun, Pai Yu Po, Tai Tzu Ying, Wu Ti Jung
Denmark: Blichfeldt Mia, Bøje Alexandra, Christophersen Line, Finne-Ipsen Julie, Fruergaard Maiken, Kjaersfeldt Line Højmark, Rohde Natalia Koch, Søby Rikke, Thygesen Sara
France: Batomene Marie, Delrue Delphine, Desmons Ainoa, Heriau Vimala, Hoyaux Yaelle, Lambert Margot, Lefel Emilie, Normand Katia, Palermo Lea, Tran Anne
Germany: Deprez Fabienne, Efler Linda, Goliszewski Johanna, Heim Luise, Herttrich Isabel, Kaepplein Lara, Konon Olga, Li Yvonne, Nelte Carla, Wilson Miranda
Hong Kong: Cheung Ngan Yi, Cheung Ying Mei, Ng Tsz Yau, Ng Wing Yung, Poon Lok Yan, Wu Yi Ting, Yeung Nga Ting, Yeung Sum Yee, Yip Pui Yin, Yuen Sin Ying
Indonesia: Ayustine Dinar Dyah, Fitriani Fitriani, Haris Della Destiara, Hartawan Ruselli, Istarani Ni Ketut Mahadewi, Maheswari Nitya Krishinda, Polii Greysia, Pradipta Rizki Amelia, Rahayu Apriyani, Tunjung Gregoria Mariska
India: Bhale Vaishnavi, Ghorpade Sanyogita, Jakka Vaishnavi Reddy, Jakkampudi Meghana, Kudaravalli Sri Krishna Priya, Nehwal Saina, Prabhudesai Anura, S Ram Poorvisha, Sawant Prajakta
Japan: Fukushima Yuki, Hirota Sayaka, Matsutomo Misaki, Okuhara Nozomi, Sato Sayaka, Takahashi Ayaka, Takahashi Sayaka, Tanaka Shiho, Yamaguchi Akane, Yonemoto Koharu
Korea: An Se Young, Baek Ha Na, Kim Hye Rin, Kim So Yeong, Kong Hee Yong, Lee Jang Mi, Lee Se Yeon, Lee Yu Rim, Shin Seung Chan, Sung Ji Hyun
Malaysia: Cheah Soniia, Chow Mei Kuan, Goh Jin Wei, Goh Yea Ching, Hoo Vivian, Kisona Selvaduray, Lee Meng Yean, Lee Ying Ying, Soong Fie Cho, Tee Jing Yi
Mauritius: Allet Aurelie Marie Elisa, Dookhee Kobita, Foo Kune Kate, Leug For Sang Jemimah, Mungrah Ganesha
Russia: Bolotova Ekaterina, Chervyakova Anastasia, Davletova Alina, Evgenova Ksenia, Komendrovskaja Elena, Kosetskaya Evgeniya, Morozova Olga, Perminova Natalia, Pustinskaia Anastasiia, Vislova Nina
Thailand: Chaladchalam Chayanit, Chochuwong Pornpawee, Intanon Ratchanok, Jindapol Nitchaon, Kititharakul Jongkolphan, Muenwong Phataimas, Ongbamrungphan Busanan, Prajongjai Rawinda, Supajirakul Puttita, Taerattanachai Sapsiree
Live streaming of Thomas and Uber cup 2018:
In India:
Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2 is official Broadcaster of the Thomas and Uber Cup 2018 in India. While Hotstar.com will provide the Live Streaming online through the Internet
Outside India:
If you are outside India then watch BWF youtube channel for the Thomas and Uber Cup 2018 Live Telecast, Streaming.
Follow SportsFlu for all updates on Thomas and Uber cup 2018!
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