the rebel Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Don't Fear the Subs: Stunning Vietnamese 'Rebel' Action
Filed under: Action », Foreign Language », Independent », DVD Reviews », New on DVD », The Weinstein Co. », Home Entertainment », Cinematical Indie »
Imagine Spider-Man murdering a young boy. The Rebel isn't a revisionist superhero movie, but it does star Johnny Nguyen, who was the masked stunt double for Spider-Man and Green Goblin in two of Sam Raimi's web-spinning adventures. Here Nguyen plays Cuong, an enforcer for the French exploiters in 1920s Vietnam. Anti-colonial protests have been gaining force and exerting pressure upon the ruling French, and Cuong is expected to help put them down. Caught up in his violent duties, Cuong kills a boy almost without realizing what he's done. He feels instant, piercing regret, as though the guilt for all his sins has come crashing down upon him. His remorse becomes a galvanizing force that pushes him to stop shedding the blood of his own people.
To begin, he tries to help a young rebel escape torture and certain death. The beautiful Thuy (Veronica Ngo, AKA Ngo Thanh Van) is important to both sides: her father is leader of the anti-government movement. She is understandably wary about Cuong's true intentions. Just as he's making headway in convincing her of his sincerity, his cynical, ambitious overlord Sy (Dustin Nguyen, of 21 Jump Street fame, who's never been better) appears. Sy is less interested in Cuong's allegiance than in the possibility that he can lead him to Thuy's father.
While the story is riddled with contrivances and genre conventions, the action sequences set the film apart. Johnny Nguyen is flat-out amazing in his grace and control, while Dustin Nguyen more than holds his own in close-quarters fighting. Floating like a butterfly but stinging like a bee, Veronica Ngo, a dancer/model/singer/actress, looks extremely convincing as she fiercely defends her friends and her honor. Oh, and she's a babe and a half.
Bangkok Fest Screening and Dealing Despite Controversy
Filed under: Action », Drama », Foreign Language », Other Festivals », Cinematical Indie »
When the Bangkok International Film Festival got underway last Thursday, I'm sure the organizers breathed a giant sigh of relief. Now in its fifth year, the festival has been plagued by long-standing problems. In February 2006, Grady Hendrix described past difficulties: "It's organized out of Los Angeles, most of the movies aren't subtitled in Thai, and money is spent lavishly to bring over industry people who couldn't care less about the festival's interest-free programming and instead love getting a free trip to Bangkok." Things didn't improve and the LA organizers were out by November 2006 -- not very good timing for a festival planned for late January 2007.Indeed, one month later the festival announced a six-month delay because they had not been able to come to an agreement with the operators of the key theatrical venue in downtown Bangkok. Further adding to their woes, the festival had been heavily dependent upon government funding, which was cut severely after a bloodless coup last fall. The announcement of Persepolis as the opening night film seemed to be a step in the right direction, but then it was yanked under pressure from the Iranian embassy. The Hungarian Children of Glory was the replacement.
Thai boxing picture Muay Thai Chaiya will close the festival, while another Thai film, the "decidedly independent" Bangkok Time (pictured), "a movie that captures its characters in a state of prolonged stupor and half-dream," according to the Bangkok Post," will also have its world premiere. Other Asian films drawing attention include The Rebel, a martial arts-fueled Vietnamese period piece, which got picked up The Weinstein Co. for a probable direct to DVD release, and the upcoming Malaysian action flick Brave, which is not playing the festival but was unveiled at the Bangkok Film Market.
Jeremy Renner Wants To Be An Avenger
Directors We Love: Jim Jarmusch
Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'
Shelf Life: Fight Club_thumbnail.jpg)
Watch: Famous 'Matrix' Scene Re-Created with LEGOs
_thumbnail.jpg)
