Adapted from the bestselling novel by Kotaro Isaka “The Accuracy of Death”, “Sweet Rain” is proximately could become the Asian version to Brad Pitt’s “Meet Joe Black.” Why? Because both are equally playing in a narrative zone about a handsome Grim Reaper who meets a woman on earth and begins to understand human emotions and learns about life. In a substitute to Pitt, the pan-Asian heartthrob stars, Takeshi Kaneshiro playing as the God of Death in this film. This was his first Japanese role since 2002's “Returner,” the actor most recently could be seen in the Chinese historical epics “Red Cliff” and “The Warlords.” The Director is Masaya Kakei, whose unique style, mingling fantasy and humor, has made him one of the most-watched figures in Japanese film today. His picture “Bijokan” drew attention at the festivals to which it was invited in Japan and abroad. “Sweet Rain” is his first full-length feature which beautifully realized on screen with handsome photography and CG effects. In Japan itself, this is also the latest death god feature to appear, after the recently most popular “Death Note”. Though “Sweet Rain” is actually one of those three-story setups, but in three different time slots (past, present, future) – three unrelated stories, at least initially. But the hints of the links are all there and I don't think it is the director's intention to craft convoluted twists. The focus is on the mood, the characters and how they interact with the Grim Reaper. Co-starring in each stories are Konishi Manami (Angel's Egg), Mitsuishi Ken (Megane), and Fuji Sumiko (Hula Girls), and this sensitive and affecting drama explores the value of life and inevitability of death through these three seemingly separate lives, and the lonely death god who connects them together. Check it out completely in the DVD version of the film that already being releases in a friendly English sub Hong Kong version disc.As the story developed into three periods, 1985, 2007 and 2028, the characters in each scene are linked unexpectedly. Grim Reaper Chiba (Takeshi Kaneshiro) loves "music" and believes that it is the best invention by humankind. He is not interested in neither human life nor death but simply manages his task as a Grim Reaper. His task is to assess a targeted human being and to make him die... To be more accurate, it is to observe a target for seven days and then choose either "execution = death" or hold = life" (in most cases "execution" is chosen.) This time his target is Kazue Fujiki (Manami Konishi). She is an unfortunate woman because anyone whom she loves dies one after anther. Chiba would choose "execution" as usual. However, her certain talent moves Chiba and causes him to change his opinion toward human being....
DVD Specifications: Product Title: Sweet Rain (AKA: Accuracy of Death) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version) Language: Japanese Subtitles: Traditional Chinese, English Picture Format: NTSC, Widescreen Anamorphic 1.78 : 1 Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan) Duration: 114 (mins) Publisher: Panorama (HK) Release Date: 2008-11-24 (Save your copy)Featured Reviews:
# Filmcritic.com, by Don Willmott Accuracy of Death is delicate in stating its themes. It's beautifully shot, and it's charming throughout. Credit for much of the film's success goes to Kaneshiro, who is in every scene and never lets you forget why he is one of the world's most compelling big-screen stars. You simply can't take your eyes off him.
# movieXclusive.com, by John Li Being a Japanese production, you can expect everything to be beautifully visualized on screen. The cinematography by Takahide Shibanushi showcases the melancholic showers, the gritty mafia showdowns and the withering sunflowers to great effect.
# Twitch, by Ard Vijn "Accuracy of Death" is by no means a masterpiece and will not floor you with new stunning insights into human nature, yet it still manages to be quite a pleasant little movie. Takeshi Kaneshiro steals the show and is worth the price of admission all by himself.
# A Nutshell Review, by Stefan S The first thing that comes screaming to your mind when you come to know of this movie, is MEET JOE BLACK, yes in caps, and a nagging feeling that it's a rip off / copycat coming some 10 years after that Hollywood movie. Although this is based on the Japanese novel by Kotaro Isaka, you can't help but to ponder upon the similarities between the two movies.
# The Brunei Times, by Pamela Samia, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Watching this film, don't expect to shed buckets of tears or even have eureka-moment about our life beyond, and yet this movie is guaranteed to warm your heart. It triumphs because it tells about life and death as we know it, "nothing special but important".
For everyone who is interested with Thai art and culture, period drama mystery “The Haunted Drum” is probably worth to be one of the recommendation films. It’s about a traditional Thai drum instrumental that wrapped by a romance mystery theme which included ancient curses and killer drums made from human skin in the story. Region 1 DVD is scheduled to release on this November 25 by Tai Seng entertainment. And below is the complete synopsis for the film.
In the year 1821, King Badin and professor Sau were obsessed with making the superb traditional Mohn hill-tribe drum. The story circled for a while that during the making of the drum the band broke up and King Badin’s child, Tip died of a strange illness. In time their story was forgotten. 60 years later, teacher Duang inherited the drum from King Badin. Many revered this drum as an instrument with a spirit that protects the musicians. If any musician pledge their allegiance to the spirit of the drum, they must honor their pledge or suffer ill fate. Ping, a young orphan was determine to study traditional art. He resigned from his government job and went to ask teacher Duang to accept him as her disciple. He was so eager to learn that he secretly practiced during the night. One night he met a young girl name Tip. She saw his determination and she started to teach him. They grew close and fall in love. Deputy Chief of the town wanted the drum for himself and sent some people to confiscate it. Duang fought them off but have to agree on drumming contest. She entered Ping and he won. But the Deputy Chief would not give up the drum so he tried to take it by force. That was a big mistake. Ping found out later that the drums are made out of Tip’s skin. Have to say that this one is more to a love romantic movie than a horror one like what the title or its poster had hinted. So, if you really prefer to the culture entries and the oldies love story, it still has something to look for.
DVD Specifications: Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Language: Chinese, English Subtitles: Chinese, English Number of discs: 1 Run Time: 90 minutes Studio: Tai Seng DVD Release Date: November 25, 2008 (Save your copy)
If commonly it’s Hollywood that took ideas from Asian film, now it’s turn for Hong Kong to borrow from Hollywood. But from many good titles, why director Benny Chan has chosen to remake a mediocre film like “Cellular,” is probably something that can make us scratched our head a little. The original version was released on 2004 and starred Chris Evans, Kim Basinger and Jason Statham. For Asian audiences, the entertaining and suspenseful thrill ride has adapted to a title “Connected” with stars such as Louis Koo (Rob-B-Hood) who taken the everyman hero played in the Hollywood version by Chris Evans, Barbie Xu (Meteor Garden) in the role originated by the older Kim Basinger, Liu Ye (Blood Brothers), Nick Cheung (Exiled), Louis Fan (The Moss), Eddie Cheung (Election), TVB actor Wong Cho Lam and model Ankie Beilke in key supporting roles. The film has just opened in multiplexes around Asia last September, but now it’s already up for the DVD release that had scheduled on this December 4.
In the film, Bob (Louis Koo)’s life isn’t going well at all. A single father in a dead-end job as a debt collector, he’s trapped in a job that goes against his usual easy-going helpful nature and he’s under tremendous pressure to be a better dad, a better brother, a better worker, even a better person. While dealing with all this and his sister (Flora Chan)’s threat to move to China with his son to force him to clean up his act, Bob receives a call out of the blue. It’s a stranger called Grace(Barbie Hsu) who claims a mysterious kidnapper(Liu Ye) is keeping her against her will and begs him to save her and her young daughter. Is it just a heartless prank? The detective (Nick Cheung) he tried reporting the call to seem to think so but Bob’s instincts tell him that he may just be the only thing standing between them and a painful death. But does he have the mettle to rise above his own self-centered concerns and risk everything – including his own son – for two people he has never met and who may not even exist?
Like its original version, “Connected” is also just a fun and thrilling suspense ride that sometimes quite success to grab our attention. As a fun entertaining movie in the weekend, this one is still recommended.
DVD specifications: Product Title: Connected (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Language: Mandarin, Cantonese Subtitles: Traditional Chinese, English, Simplified Chinese Picture Format: NTSC Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan) Publisher: Joy Sales (HK) Release Date: 2008-12-04 (Save your copy)
Summer season was once the prime time for Korean horror films, but in the summer of 2008, Korean Cinema went horror-free and just saving for one big exception: “Death Bell” (a.k.a. Gosa). Proving that quality trumps quantity, the modest budgeted 'rookie' project “Death Bell accumulated over 1.2 million victims in cinemas during 18 days, according to its producer Go-eo Contents Media, and has become one of Korea's highest-grossing horror films ever. The feature debut of music video director Chang, the high school horror focuses on an already dreadful experience that students in Korea are all too familiar with - exams are hell - and takes it to a bloody, terrifying extreme. Acclaimed actor Lee Bum Soo leads a fresh cast that includes singer Nam Gyu Ri of SeeYa in her acting debut, up-and-coming actor Kim Bum (Hellcats), and TV actress Yoon Jung Hee (Love in Heaven). Now the first press Korean edition DVD for the horror thriller will arrives on the store at November 8th, just save one for your copy of this one of the rarely Korean horror movies.
In “Death Bell” 20 of the top students from Chang-ahn High School gather together on an inconspicuous Saturday. Some of whom are: Lee Na (Gyuri Nam) a loyal and sweet young person, Hyeon Kang (Ki-beom) the Don Juan of Chang-ahn and the rebel, Hye-yeong the girl obsessed with becoming the valedictorian, Ko-beol a student that suffers from schizophrenia, and Dong-hyeok the second highest ranked student and a chronic insomniac. These students sit in a classroom eager to partake in lessons held by Chang-wook (Beom-su Lee) and 3 of his co-workers. During the middle of their Saturday afternoon class, music suddenly blares out of the speakers and the television turns on. The students become even more stunned when they see Hye-yeong on TV, submerged in a tank full of water. A voice then comes out and asks the students a question, the correct answer will save Hye-yeong’s life and the wrong answer will end her life. The students only have a limited to come up with their answer and there’s no escape for the 20 students assembled at Chang-ahn High School. Futhermore, more students disappear as more questions are asked. A bloody mid-term is in session.
DVD Specifications: Product Title: Death Bell (AKA: Gosa) (DVD) (First Press Edition) (Korea Version) Language: Korean Subtitles: Korean, English Video Format: Widescreen 1.85:1 (Anamorphic), NTSC Audio Format: DD 5.1, DTS Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan) Running Time: 85 Minutes Publisher: Planis
Special Features: Disc 1: - Audio Commentary - After Commentary - Teaser - Trailer Disc 2 - Making of - Making of costumes - Making of Music - Poster Shootings - Premiere Scenes - Music Videos
