My Weekly Books and Films Update
Linking up with:
Stacking the Shelves (details)
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)
HAPPY THINGS:
1. Spur of the moment coffee dates with friends
2. Safeway's "Legendary Pumpkin Pie" - LOL
3. Anticipation for travel...
Library:
by Lucy Tan
-Contemporary, China, Shaghai | Goodreads
FOR World Reads Challenge: China (here).
For Review:
A Historical Novel Based on a True Story
by Geff Moyer
-Historical, Thriller, Western
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads
PART of my Blog All About It: Escape (here).
AND watched: in theatre for the San Francisco Hong Kong Film Festival (here)
Kuang shou (original title)
Director: Jonathan Li
Writer: Paco Wong
Stars: Jin Zhang, Shawn Yue, Yue Wu
-Action , Crime , Thriller, Hong Kong | imdb | my rating: 5
Reckless police inspector Tung (Zhang Jin) is on a mission to crack down on criminal Shing's (Shawn Yue) gold smuggling scheme, yet fails to arrest him. As Tung continues his manhunt, he discovers Shing's involvement with triad boss Blackie (Yasuaki Kurata), who hides on a casino cruise ship on the high seas. Shing has been involved in a power struggle within the smuggling ring, and is forced to kill his adopted father. He also loses his share of gold smuggling to Blackie. To get even, Shing appears on the cruise, while Tung is there to hunt for him.
SATISFIES that Asian action craving with the added element of water. Interesting though in that things are not so black and white.
Director/Writer: King-wai Cheung
Stars: Stephy Tang, Rachel Leung, Zeno Koo
-Drama, Thriller, Hong Kong | imdb | my rating: 5
Angela is a cop in charge of the murder of a married couple. Her father, who suffers dementia, has always been a pain in her neck. Sensitive from pregnancy, Angela discovers strange aspects of the murder while investigating Connie, a high school girl who turns herself in. Connie, born with a heart defect, is close with Eric, her gay classmate. Upset by her violent, perverted father and indifferent mother, Connie conspired with Eric to commit the crime. With Angela's crises-her husband, and her father with Alzheimer's-at its core, the film follows Connie's testimony on the shocking murder. The film resembles a documentary, rather than crime or detective movie, as it reenacts what has happened bluntly and faithfully. It is probably due to the director's background in documentary film. The opening sequences from the distant view of Hong Kong to a lone old man lost in the streets, and the dark and gloomy flashbacks from Connie's testimony read as the sentiment of today's Hong Kong.
EERY whydunnit tale that got me thinking of bullying.
Gao geung jing dou fu (original title)
Director/story: Sin-Hang Chiu
Director/screenplay/story: Pak-Wing Yan
Screenplay: Wing-Hong Ho, Ashley Cheung
Stars: Babyjohn Choi, Min Chen Lin, Siu-Ho Chin
-Action , Comedy , Horror, Hong Kong | imdb | my rating: 5
Tim Cheung joins the Vampire Cleanup Department which is a secret task force for dealing Chinese vampire Goeng Si. He is instructed by his uncle Chau and he saves a female Goeng Si, Summer from her evil lord Goeng Si who buried alive her.
UNUSUAL cheesy vampires in this fun tale of vampire slayers.
AND watched: on DVD
Director: Ayelet Menahemi
Writers: Shemi Zarhin, Ayelet Menahemi
Stars: Mili Avital, BaoQi Chen, Alon Aboutboul, Anat Waxman
-Drama, Comedy, Israel
imdb | my rating: 5
At thirty-seven, Miri is a twice-widowed, El Al flight attendant. Her well-regulated existence is suddenly turned upside down by an abandoned Chinese boy whose migrant-worker mother has been summarily deported from Israel. The film is a touching comic-drama in which two human beings -- as different from each other as Tel Aviv is from Beijing -- accompany each other on a remarkable journey, one that takes them both back to a meaningful life.
BEAUTIFUL film with the interactions between the characters and their growth.
Director/Screenplay: Christopher Landon
Screenplay: Carrie Lee Wilson, Emi Mochizuki
Story by: Lona Williams, Carrie Lee Wilson, Emi Mochizuki
-Action, Comedy, Horror, Zombies
imdb | my rating: 5
Three scouts, on the eve of their last camp-out, discover the true meaning of friendship when they attempt to save their town from a zombie outbreak.
FUN YA zombie flick with some hilarious unique memorable scenes to add to the zombie genre - one being a zombie singing a Britney Spears tune.
Director/Writer: M. Night Shyamalan
-Horror, Thriller, Comedy
imdb | my rating: 4
Two siblings become increasingly frightened by their grandparents' disturbing behavior while visiting them on vacation.
CREEPY horror story for parents.
AND watched: for Fall Film Challenge - six degrees from Kevin Bacon (here)
Director/writer: Paul King
Writer: Simon Farnaby
Paddington Bear created by: Michael Bond
Stars: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville
-Animation, Adventure, Comedy | imdb | my rating: 4
Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.
Watched: 10/1/18
Connection: Michael Gambon was in Kingsman: The Gold Circle who was with Colin Firth who starred with Bacon in Where the Truth Lies
Love the whimsical vibe of this film. London landmarks are highlighted. Hugh Grant was perfect in his role.
Director/screenplay: Jacques Audiard
Screenplay: Thomas Bidegain
Based on book by: Patrick DeWitt
Stars: John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal
-Adventure, Comedy, Crime | imdb | my rating: 5
In 1850s Oregon, a gold prospector is chased by the infamous duo of assassins, the Sisters brothers.
Watched: 10/2/18
Connection: John C. Reilly starred with Bacon in The River Wild
Shootouts, male bonding and greed play out in this wild west story. Loved the slow pace and vista views.
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently
Thanks for stopping by :-)
