the Asian Film Festival of Dallas was this week.  i had the opportunity to screen some excellent movies, excellent i say.

A Battle of Wits is a chinese movie in a time when China had 7 warring territories.  Stars Andy Lau.  the acting was great. the theme of universal love was a bit over-the-top cheesy for me.  the violence was artfully portrayed.  except for the scenes when i expected andy lau to break into a ballad, i really enjoyed the movie!

Finishing the Game, directed by Justin Lin was the next movie I watched.  freaking HIILLLARIOUS.  you all need to go watch it now.  today.  or at least when it opens nationwide in october.  a mockumentary with off the wall characters.  the filming is a unique blend of old chinese movie at times with "the office."  i went to the theater alone to watch it, but didn't even notice because i was so thoroughly entertained.

Owl and the Sparrow, by Stephane Gauger.  A vietnamese movie that is about everyday life, and the cutesy collision of 3 lives in saigon.  so beautiful.  i took my parents.  they enjoyed the story and the Saigon itself stars so perfectly in this movie.   the director comments that the movie is like a love letter to his birth city.  also a must see!!  opens in VN for Tet...ahem jimmy. :)

Never Perfect, by Regina Park.  A very thought provoking documentary about asian american women getting eyelid surgery.  the film discusses the cultural and gender aspects, but the most interesting to me was the historical aspect.  these cosmetic surgeries originated in japan over a century ago!  ideas of beauty - personal and those ingrained in us by the media and also by our families.  this film made me ponder all evening about my own ideas of beauty, and how my ethnicity and gender play into that.  watch it.  write about it.  let's share.


i would have watched all the movies had i the time.  others that i missed, but hope to catch on video: 5 Centimeters per Second (anime) and Tazza (Korean).

Current Mood: happy