Woochi: The Demon Slayer (전우치) is the 2009 fantasy, adventure film written and directed by Choi Dong-Hoon. Director Choi is very well known for the popular films Tazza and The Big Swindle. Based upon a Korean folktale,Woochi, with its big budget and special effects, became very successful in the South Korean market, becoming the 3rd best selling film of the year. In 2012, a spin off drama series was released.
Woochi begins as a tale set during the Joseon Dynasty. A magical flute has fallen into the hands of evil and monsters have begun to wreak havoc on cities. We are introduced to Woochi, played by Kang Dong-Won (A Violent Prosecutor) , a Taoist wizard, and his sidekick Chorangyi (Yoo Hae-jin) are prosecuted for a crime they did not commit. They are both sealed away in an ancient scroll by three taoist wizards and a man named Hwadam (Kim Yoon-Seok).
To Live (活著) is the 1994 novel adaption by director Zhang Yimou. If you have yet to do so check out our review on his other great film, Raise the Red Lantern. Due to this films portrayal of various policies and campaigns of the Chinese Communist Party, To Live was banned in China, and Zhang Yimou also was banned from filmmaking for 2 years following. Once again, this did not stop Yimou's film from reaching success. To Live is the first Chinese film to have its foreign distribution rights pre-sold, was screened at the New York Film Festival and won several awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Similar to our latest review, Farewell My Concubine, both directors were part of the Fifth Generation film directors, who faced many issues with the release of their films.
Today, we explore the 1993 Chinese film Farewell My Concubine (霸王別姬) directed by Chen Kaige. Based upon the novel by Lilian Lee, the film adaption was extremely popular, as it was one of the most well known works in the Fifth Generation films in Chinese cinema. The Fifth Generation Movement was a group of Chinese filmmakers who were known for boosting the popularity of Chinese cinema abroad. It is no surprise then, that Farewell My Concubine went on to the Academy Awards and received 3 foreign language film nominations, and is still also the only Chinese language film to be awarded the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Farewell My Concubine follows the lives of 2 men over a span of 53 years. It explores the beginning of their friendship, their breakthrough in the Beijing Opera, the Japanese Invasion in the 1930s and the Communist Party takeover in the late 1940s.
From the East Coast to the West Coast, Jackie
Chan has entertained audiences across the globe since the wee-age of eight when
he made his big screen debut as an extra in
“Big and Little Wong Tin Bar” (1962). Now at
the age of 61 with- 128 acting credits, 78 stunt credits, 2 Guinness World
Records- Most credits in one movie (15) and Most stunts by a living actor, Jackie
is still going strong and better than ever. So from everyone involved at
LightsCameraAsia.com we want to wish you a very Happy Birthday!
A Brief History
Jackie Chan’s career can be traced back to 1960 when
at an early age he was sent by his father to the China Drama Academy, Peking
Opera School run by Master Yu Jim-yuen. Over the next ten years, it was here
that Jackie developed his proficient skills in martial arts, acrobatics, music,
and dance until eventually becoming a member of the “Seven Little Fortunes”
performing group- a traveling show composed of the China Drama Academy’s best
students, demonstrating their acrobatic and acting skills to audiences from all
over the world.
Paprika (パプリカ) is a 2006, Japanese film directed by Satoshi Kon. Based off of the 1993 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui, Paprika premiered at the Venice Film Festival, before making its rounds at the New York Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, and many more. In 2010, Director Wolfgang Peterson had announced he was in the works of a live-action adaption, however, that same year the American blockbuster hit that features a similar storyline, Inception was released. It has been quoted that Inception's director, Christopher Nolan, took inspiration from this film. I would have LOVED to see a live action of Paprika though.
Please make sure to check back every other Saturday for NEW reviews! If there is a drama you want to see reviewed, let us know in the comments below!
Woochi begins as a tale set during the Joseon Dynasty. A magical flute has fallen into the hands of evil and monsters have begun to wreak havoc on cities. We are introduced to Woochi, played by Kang Dong-Won (A Violent Prosecutor) , a Taoist wizard, and his sidekick Chorangyi (Yoo Hae-jin) are prosecuted for a crime they did not commit. They are both sealed away in an ancient scroll by three taoist wizards and a man named Hwadam (Kim Yoon-Seok).
Jackie Chan’s career can be traced back to 1960 when
at an early age he was sent by his father to the China Drama Academy, Peking
Opera School run by Master Yu Jim-yuen. Over the next ten years, it was here
that Jackie developed his proficient skills in martial arts, acrobatics, music,
and dance until eventually becoming a member of the “Seven Little Fortunes”
performing group- a traveling show composed of the China Drama Academy’s best
students, demonstrating their acrobatic and acting skills to audiences from all
over the world. 
