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Film Review: The Equalizer 2 叛諜裁判2 (2018) - USA
Denzel Washington The Equalizer 2
Andrew ChanThe Equalizer 2 叛諜裁判2 (2018) - USA Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Denzel Washington is at his dependable best as the action lead in the “equalizer” hit man that aims to put the wrong things right. Picking up from where he left off in the efficient original, the film takes no prisoners and remains direct, harsh and tough when dealing with criminals and people making bad and wrong decisions in life and crimes. I enjoy the way, director Antoine Fuqua kept the tension moments extremely well. The scene where young neighbour played by...
Film Review: The Quake 八級大地震 命懸一劫 (2018) - Norwegian
Andrew ChanThe Quake 八級大地震 命懸一劫 (2018) - Norwegian Aka Skjelvet Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) The sequel to the hit disaster Norwegian 2016’s The Wave, is a clearly a bigger film with bigger budget to boot. Filmed with comparable Hollywood standards for blockbuster disaster film, think Independent Days and numerous others, the Norwegian is quick to cash in on the prequel success. What happens usually will be a lesser attempt, but Director John Andreas Andersen smartly spent most of the film focusing on character study, family issues, coming to terms with the aftermath...
Film Review: The Negotiation 智命談判 협상 (2018) - South Korea
Hyun Bin Son Ye-Jin The Negotiation 智命談判
Andrew ChanThe Negotiation 智命談判 협상 (2018) - South Korea Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) With two of South Korea biggest stars Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin headlining the latest crime thriller “The Negotiation” genuinely delivers a good old fashioned thriller that condemns wilder government corruptions beyond its hostage and negotiation subject matter. Director Lee Jeong-seok deliberately gives the centre stage to Son Ye-Jin to shine and the way she excellently capture the role of negotiator and the ongoing dilemma between being a human and politics as well as life and death is almost pin-point to perfection. The...
Film Review: Miko Girl 毕竟是巫女 (2018) - Japan
Alice Hirose Miko Girl Taiki Yamaguchi
Andrew ChanMiko Girl 巫女 (2018) - Japan Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) This is a slow-burner coming of age film that shows how a young immature girl grows up and find herself within a Japanese temple as a “Miko Girl”. Director Su-yeon Gu purposely pace the film allowing the characters to slowly get into their roles and translating on screen the evolution and change. What makes the film more enjoyable than it should be, is largely due to the journey that the audience become invested in and by the end of the film the characters grew and...
Film Review: Honey 亲爱的 (2018) - Japan
Honey 亲爱的 Ryusei Yokohama Sho Hirano Yuna Taira
Andrew ChanHoney 亲爱的 (2018) - Japan Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Based on the popular Japanese manga series “Honey”, it is the kind of romantic comedy that we have seen many times about high school sweet hearts with shy young girl meeting trouble-making, but handsome young boy. The Japanese audience enjoy these kind of cliche stories and it is precisely the kind of expect the expected type of film. The film is still enjoyable as the duo in question (played by Yuna Taira and Sho Hirano) are well suited and the sweet romance is easy to root for....