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Reviews
Wo lai ye (2001)
Hero in Black (Wo Lai Ye)
This was a humorous series with a Robin Hood-like character with a different twist at the end.
Synopsis: As an officer in a battle, Song Dou witnesses the arrogance and self centered attitudes of the top officials towards their underlings. After the war, as a lowly constable, he resolves to right wrongs. As "Wo Lai Ye", a masked figure in black, he punishes the corrupt, rescues the innocent and redistributes the wealth that he has taken from the rich among the poor. The magistrate and his allies need to keep thinking of different ways in which to capture him as he eludes them. As the masked hero, he rescues Liu Fei Yan, a forthright, outspoken, shrewd young female restaurant entrepreneur.
Song Dou falls in love with Liu Fei Yan, but she only loves "Wo Lai Ye", holding his real self in contempt. His adopted young son keeps their accounts, making sure that everyone who needs help receives it, has to remind him of more practical matters. Feng Pobo, a rich and powerful righteous official from the Capital, visits their city and falls in love with Liu Fei Yan. A conspiracy within the Imperial Family is uncovered as the plot unravels....
Tian long ba bu (2003)
Heaven Dragon -- The Eighth Episode
If you enjoy sword-fighting epics with a flair of fantasy, this 40 episode drama will be a delight. It has a good "wu xia" story line, characters, color, sword fights, kidnapping, intrigue, betrayals, vengeance, armies, contests, assassinations, romances and comedic moments. The characters range from kings and princes to sword fighters, monks and beggars, both among the heroes and villains. (Women are also among the rulers, sword fighters, servants, heroes and villains.) The characters use their wit, intelligence, disguises and talents to reach their goals. It is slightly choppy because of its length since there are several stories being told. Sometimes I wanted to know more about what was happening with the other characters.
The story evolves around Qiao Feng and 2 of his sworn blood brothers, Duan Yu and Xu Zhu. It begins with the tragedy that befell his parents and his rise to the leadership of the Beggar's Guild at the age of 30. An intelligent, honorable rough young man who loves his people, he enjoys drinking with friends. He becomes famous for his skill in the martial arts and for his deeds. When the secret of his parentage comes out, it causes a division in the Beggar's Guild. He decides to leave to make his way in the world. When it seems everyone has deserted him, he discovers his true love and friendship. He gains the friendship of the king of his people and rises to power in another land, only to be faced with a test of loyalties at the end -- to stick to his principles and to the people of his former land or to his oath of allegiance to the king of his people. His friends rally their resources as they come to his side.
Duan Yu, 21, is a scholarly rich young nobleman who prefers studying the Classics to mastering his family's famous martial arts skills. Somewhat naive in this society that honors the martial arts, he believes that discussion rather than fighting is the best way to settle arguments. The unintentional results of his father's many affairs continue to surface and periodically impact Duan Yu's life. Along the way, he also acquires unusual skills that help him master some of the forms of the martial arts in unexpected ways. He falls in love and you want to cheer him on in this very Confucian and proper society (eg. kissing scenes are missing and for a woman to be touched by a man is definitely not proper). Despite his family's pressures, he follows after his own heart. When he finds the woman of his dreams, complications ensue.
Xu Zhu, 24, who was abandoned as a baby, has grown into a humble young monk whose whole life evolves around the Shaolin Temple. A godly young man who strives to overcome his temptations, he is not that skillful in the martial arts. With the best of intentions, he interferes with an unusual chess game to which the renowned heroes of the martial arts world have been invited with unexpected consequences for him. He acquires skills in the martial arts, faces temptations, is offered leadership of a clan, learns more about the world than he ever wanted and falls in love.
Although It is normally available in Mandarin with simplified Chinese subtitles, I did find one that also had English subtitles.
YMCA Yagudan (2002)
YMCA Baseball Team
This was a comedy about the formation of the first baseball team in Seoul, Korea at the turn of the century. The challenges posed by a stratified, Confucian society trying to deal with outside "modern" influences is reflected in the attitudes and the situations faced by the characters.
The main character, a classical scholar, accidentally discovers the foreign sport of baseball. Fascinated by his glimpses of the sport, he tries to find out more about it.
Told with humor against the backdrop of the opening days of the Japanese occupation, the varied backgrounds of the baseball team players, a female baseball "coach", revolutionaries, romance and an unexpected challenge by a foreign team are woven into the plot. In a very grim period in Korean history, the baseball team added a lighter note to people's lives.
I enjoyed this movie.
Zhui ma lao (2003)
Old Fashioned Kung Fu Movie -- Drunken Monkey
Set in the 1930's, the movie is about the head of a delivery guard service who faces the challenges of survival in more "modern" times in Canton, China. Man Bill (Man Biao?), a master at Monkeyfist kung fu, confronts Man Pao, a relative about his lifestyle and different vision for the company.
A young heir and his great uncle, a family betrayal, a government agent, drugs and foreign influence are all interwoven into the plot filled with old fashioned kung fu action and humor.
I wanted to watch this movie because of the director, Lar Kar Leung a.k.a. Liu Chia Liang, whose film credits include: "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin", Chen Kuan Tai's "Executioners from Shaolin" Jet Li's "Martial Arts of Shaolin" and Jackie Chan's "Legend of the Drunken Master". I enjoyed the movie.
Wôtâ bôizu (2001)
Water Boys
This is a light hearted comedy of 5 young men in their last year of (boys only) high school who sign up for a swim team under the direction of a new female coach. The 5 young men who have seen themselves fail in other traditional sports, discover their strengths and overcome weaknesses in their pursuit to participate as a synchronized swim team at their school festival.
The plot had unexpected twists and turns that kept me laughing as new elements, such as the new girlfriend, a trainer who used non-traditional methods, an unexpected pregnancy, drag queens, and a girls high school were added. In Japan, synchronized swimming is normally seen as a women's sport.
It was a very enjoyable movie!
Ogon kujaku-jo (1961)
The Golden Peacock Castle
Many years ago, pirates invaded an island kingdom, killing the royal family and burning the palace. 3 children survived the destruction. One child was raised by a former pirate, another by a loyal bodyguard and another by a wizard. The children have grown up when the story takes place. The island kingdom had 3 royal magic treasures -- a sword, a flute and a mirror.
The movie is about the 3 children as they discover and reclaim their heritage to battle the forces of evil. Swordplay, magical battles, betrayal and a sea monster are all elements in the story.
I loved this movie and saw it several times as a child.