Cat and mouse - times two
Feb. 6th, 2004 10:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustI slept through The Dead Zone last night. I don't mean that it was boring, I mean I fell asleep early and missed it. I must be off my game. At least I caught Witchblade the other day. I'm wondering why everyone's been so quiet about it lately. Where's all the Witchblade love? *poke poke*
Last Saturday was another Hayase session. I got there late because I was trawling the shops for new goodies, and once I did arrive I wasn't terribly productive. But still, it was cool just to hang out with everyone.
On the Sunday, I went to see Infernal Affairs at the Chauvel. It's been a while since I've watched a Hong Kong movie, and I've missed the experience. Infernal Affairs is a killer of a movie. See, you've got Andy Lau playing this Triad member who's infiltrated the police force, and Tony Leung playing an undercover cop who's infiltrated a Triad gang. Both of them are in long term assignments, having risen high in the ranks of their respective organisations while continuing to report to their real bosses in secret.
In Hong Kong movies, you often get stories where a cop goes undercover and eventually finds his loyalties in conflict - usually accompanied by loads of angst and intense male bonding. But here, everything is doubled. You have two men in parallel situations. They're on opposite sides - *and they're on opposite sides*.
There's one sequence with a big sting operation which is a beautifully choreographed dance of manoeuvre and countermanoeuvre. And then later, as the noose tightens, it becomes a question of who can unmask the other's identity first.
I'm not surprised this movie won the awards it did. It's a brilliant, gripping piece of cinema. Unfortunately, there's a down side to such success. One of the reviews said "See it before it gets remade", and sadly, this was not a throwaway line. Hollywood has bought the rights to do a remake, and the rumours are mentioning phrases like 'Brad Pitt'. My soul trembles.
Last Saturday was another Hayase session. I got there late because I was trawling the shops for new goodies, and once I did arrive I wasn't terribly productive. But still, it was cool just to hang out with everyone.
On the Sunday, I went to see Infernal Affairs at the Chauvel. It's been a while since I've watched a Hong Kong movie, and I've missed the experience. Infernal Affairs is a killer of a movie. See, you've got Andy Lau playing this Triad member who's infiltrated the police force, and Tony Leung playing an undercover cop who's infiltrated a Triad gang. Both of them are in long term assignments, having risen high in the ranks of their respective organisations while continuing to report to their real bosses in secret.
In Hong Kong movies, you often get stories where a cop goes undercover and eventually finds his loyalties in conflict - usually accompanied by loads of angst and intense male bonding. But here, everything is doubled. You have two men in parallel situations. They're on opposite sides - *and they're on opposite sides*.
There's one sequence with a big sting operation which is a beautifully choreographed dance of manoeuvre and countermanoeuvre. And then later, as the noose tightens, it becomes a question of who can unmask the other's identity first.
I'm not surprised this movie won the awards it did. It's a brilliant, gripping piece of cinema. Unfortunately, there's a down side to such success. One of the reviews said "See it before it gets remade", and sadly, this was not a throwaway line. Hollywood has bought the rights to do a remake, and the rumours are mentioning phrases like 'Brad Pitt'. My soul trembles.
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no subject
Date: 2004-02-07 04:39 am (UTC)I have Infernal Affairs on DVD as well as the prequel (which is less complex relationship-wise but still enthralling). I'm totally a big fan of those two male actors, their faces are so expressive, you can read what their characters are thinking unsaid.
There's also a final concluding movie that rounds off the trilogy, hope to get that soon.
Re:
Date: 2004-02-11 04:46 am (UTC)Apparently Infernal Affairs is one of the movies coming out under Madman's new Eastern Eye label.
Also, Edison Chen, who played the young version of Ming, is the guy cast as Takumi in the live action Initial D movie.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-08 08:45 pm (UTC)::squirm::
I keep procrastinating on writing up *everything* I thought about the season one finale. And the first two episodes of season 2. What was originally a daunting task may soon collapse under its own weight and form a black hole. Or something.
I've been thinking I ought to at least make some quick comments, so I can manage to do that immediately after each episode and before the next one airs. Especially in terms of predicting things. I don't mind at all saying "I thought X would happen, but turns out I was wrong". I don't much like saying "I *thought* X would happen" when we've already seen that it does.
Some of the things I've thought so far -
- Everyone's hair is a bit different, indicating that the timeline hasn't been *completely* reset.
- Irons seems way more German this time around.
- Eep! Bondage!
- Danny very possibly *is* less cool now that he's alive. Though he's still pretty cool. And I'm glad he's alive.
- Nottingham *is* a kid. Erk.
Oh, and the season seems to be going well thus far, though I had heard negative things about it, and was watching with some trepidation. I think it's more towards the end that it starts getting less good.
Oh, and I keep meaning to ask you; do you have the pilot/movie or episode 4 on tape? I taped over the first one before I realised I'd want to keep it, and a taping error cut off the last half of episode 4 (with the druidic sacrifices and Conchobar).
That movie sounds cool.
Re:
Date: 2004-02-11 05:19 am (UTC)*grins*
You knew who I was referring to, right?
What was originally a daunting task may soon collapse under its own weight and form a black hole.
Now I feel kind of guilty for trying to guilt you. I enjoy reading your post-ep commentary, but you should be doing it because it's fun, not because you feel you ought to.
Eep! Bondage!
I can imagine the writers sitting around the table, saying, "Okay, what can we do to freak out the audience this week?"
Danny very possibly *is* less cool now that he's alive. Though he's still pretty cool. And I'm glad he's alive.
Same. At the end of episode 1, I was all, "Noooooo! How can they do this to us?" I'm glad the next episode reversed my expectations.
Oh, and the season seems to be going well thus far, though I had heard negative things about it, and was watching with some trepidation.
I'm enjoying it so far too, although I'm curious about where it's going to go after what happened last episode. This is one show that certainly can't be accused of being predictable.
do you have the pilot/movie or episode 4 on tape?
I don't have the pilot, unfortunately - I ended up having to rent it from Video Ezy to watch. I have all the rest, including episode 4. I can send you a copy. Mmm, anything else you'd be interested in seeing on the tape?
By the way, love your new icon. It's... mesmerising.
Re:
Date: 2004-02-15 02:38 am (UTC)Well, I was hoping it was me, cause otherwise I would have been missing out on all those *other* Witchblade conversations you'd found.
you should be doing it because it's fun, not because you feel you ought to
Oh no, don't feel guilty. I experience tension between wanting to write about it (because it is, indeed, fun) and laziness, rather than between laziness and external pressure.
"Okay, what can we do to freak out the audience this week?"
I picture them brainstorming a list, then working their way through it.
I ended up having to rent it from Video Ezy
Your Video Ezy has the Witchblade pilot? Wow.
anything else you'd be interested in seeing
Were you collecting OAT or just watching them? Cause I'm missing the 2nd half of the pilot (I seem to make a habit of that). They aired it in two halves and I forgot, the second night. I don't know; what else do you have?
new icon. It's... mesmerising.
Isn't it? I keep glancing at it and winding up in some sort of a trance. I eventually snap back to consciousness in a cold sweat. I ought to get a nice wholesome Sara&Danny one.
Re:
Date: 2004-02-17 03:55 am (UTC)It looks like it was released as a standalone movie, which I guess it would have been if the series hadn't been picked up.
Were you collecting OAT or just watching them? Cause I'm missing the 2nd half of the pilot
I was mostly just watching them, though there are a few odd episodes I've kept. I know I used to have a copy of the pilot, but I haven't been able to dig it up so far. Have to dig deeper. Hope it hasn't been accidentally wiped.
As for other stuff, I've got all of Ultraviolet, all of Season 1 of Lexx, nearly all of Blake's 7, quite a few ST:TNG and The X Files episodes, and odd episodes from other shows. Also lots of anime fansubs and Hong Kong movies (of varying video quality). I think I've even got John Woo's original Once A Thief movie, with Chow Yun-Fat and Leslie Cheung.
Re:
Date: 2004-02-18 01:42 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-21 04:13 am (UTC)I love Ultraviolet and have them on *incredibly* poor quality video, and am therefore intending to acquire them on dvd.