Zac: Ang Lee’s Life of Pi is unlike any movie you are likely to ever see. Nearly successful at every turn, Pi is an entertaining and engaging film out of a premise that shouldn’t be. [Read more...]
HST…Film Review: Life of Pi
11/20/2012 by Leave a Comment
The Decade's Best – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
10/07/2009 by Leave a Comment
Ang Lee’s – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
On the surface, Lee’s film is a martial arts movie with elaborate set pieces, beautiful choreography, and noble heroes. But under that surface making the film what it is are layers upon layers of sub plots and stories that create wonderful characters and an intimate story that is tragic and heartbreaking.
Li Mu Bai is a master of the martial art Wudan and after having an epiphany during his meditation decides to hang it up and retire from his life of martial arts and defense. Turning his legendary sword, The Green Destiny, to an old friend and state official, Sir Te, it will leave his ownership without avenging his master’s death ten years prior to the villainous Jade Fox. Upon delivering the sword to Sir Te, it is quickly stolen under the watchful eye of Yu Shu Lien, the rumor of the return of Jade Fox begins to spread through Peking, and the crime raises an eye to the Governor’s house hold whose daughter, Jen Yu, has taken a special interest in Yu Shu Lien and The Green Destiny. Upon Li Mu Bai’s arrival to Peking to see Yu Shu Lien he discovers the loss of his sword and discovers the surfacing of his master’s killer and decides to stay his retirement to reclaim his sword and avenge his master’s death. [Read more...]
Review: Taking Woodstock
08/28/2009 by Leave a Comment
Ang Lee’s latest is his lesser effort as of late as he starts off on the right foot but slowly dissolves into a bit of a mess with no narrative to speak of for the second half.
Elliot Teichberg is a want a be artist living in New York City, only to see most of his income be thrown into his families inn that resides in upstate NY. Scrapping to get by, his mother is a stingy Jewish woman that is a bit crazy on top of that while his father just quietly sits by and lets things happen. Forced to move back home, Elliot begins to find new ways to spruce up his families inn to attract new business while splitting time as being the local chairman on the commerce committee of White Lake. Elliot who keeps one ear to the arts and music scene learns about a music festival that can’t find a home has been looking for a place to call home in the surrounding Catskills communities and Elliot invites them up to his inn as a potential site for the festival. Michael Lang is the face of Woodstock Ventures and when he arrives to White Lake he and Elliot find the perfect spot for their festival and begin to put in motion a final attempt to get their “little” music festival off the ground. [Read more...]
Review: Lust, Caution
02/26/2008 by Leave a Comment
Ang Lee’s follow up to Brokeback Mountain takes him back to as he weaves a sexual espionage thriller that works to decent effect.
The film follows Tang Wei as Chia Chi Wong who becomes involved in a resistance groups attempt to assassinate a Chinese official working, Mr. Yee, who is working with the Japanese who are occupying China during WWII. Yee has turned on his country and helps weed out the subversive groups that are attempting to fight back against Japanese oppression. Chia Chi Wong is eventually put in the place to seduce Yee to make him vulnerable but gets in to deep when her feelings begin to conflict her motives. [Read more...]
