Romantic comedies and Chinese movies
Well, I hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day yesterday.
It's apparently quite a romantic day for some people, including one adorable couple I know who got engaged (congratulations Pinky and Allan, you crazy kids!!).
Me, I spent an amusing but not at all romantic three-and-a-half hours in a movie theatre with my 11-year-old nephew watching kids' films (Toy Story 1&2 in 3-D double feature - brilliant!) , then in the evening headed to the folks' place for a big family dinner to celebrate Chinese New Year.
This involves at least three types of roast pork, which is probably someone's idea of a really good time (unless you're a vegetarian) but, again, not terribly romantic...
Something I was able to get more excited about yesterday - The Chinese year of the Tiger!
If you were born in 1962, 1974 or 1986 (or 1998, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914. with a few exceptions like January birthdates) or indeed 2010 starting yesterday this is (potentially) your lucky year, baby!
Here are some horoscopes for you (in rather poorly translated English), if you feel like finding out what 2010 - the year of the White Tiger - holds for you. May be a bit rocky for some, but then, if you've got a bad horoscope you can always decide you don't believe in this stuff.
Also related to the Chinese theme, tonight I'm in Wellington for the gala screening of the new Bruce Beresford film Mao's Last Dancer - a biopic about the incredible life of Li Cunxin who was randomly picked from a school in rural China to join the Beijing Dance Academy at age 11 and went on to defect to America. While performing in England, he fell in love with an Australian ballerina. He's now an Aussie-based stockbroker, father of three and public speaker. (See his website for more about his fascinating story.)
Without the aid of Chinese fortune tellers, looking into the future, I know that 2010 holds a lots of films that are sequels, based on comic books and 80s TV shows, a smattering of sex comedies and the usual roundup of rom-coms and kiddy flicks.
I was amused to see that only TV2 scheduled a romantic-comedy to celebrate Valentine's Day last night (C4 played Jaws 2!). Shame it starred Hollywood's most polarising actress, Sarah Jessica Parker (most men I know can't stand the horse-faced Noo-Yorker). The only good thing I can say about Failure To Launch is at least it isn't as abysmal as SJP's latest abomination of a rom-com Have You Heard About the Morgans?
I wish I hadn't... It's one of those movies where you envy the people who are free to walk out of the cinema.
So two questions today - what's your least favourite romantic-comedy? And what's your favourite Chinese film?
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Sandra Bullock's latest 'All About Steve' was on the plane once. Made me want to stab my eyes with the plastic fork, or smother myself with the wee airline pillow.
Does Kung Fu Hustle count as a favourite Chinese movie?
Okay, favourite Chinese film has to be 'In The Mood For Love', it might be my favourite film period. Beautiful beautiful experience. If I could watch one film for the first time again, it would be this. Any Wong Kar Wai is sublime.
Crappest romantic comedy would have to be 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. It was just bad. The lead character is charming in the books, and the actress is charming in real life so why was the character so bland and forgettable?
A movie about excess consumerisim could not have come at a worse time. Same goes for Sex and the City - the more I watched it the more I hated it).
I was born in the year of the Ox, 1985. Hmph. I am not an Ox.
Any romantic comedy counts as my least favourite romantic comedy. Favourite Chinese film I guess would have to be Kung Fu Hustle. The crazy mystical Crouching Dragons and Flying Houses are all well and good but not really my cup of tea at the end of the day.
Michelle Yeoh is pretty hot though.
@ Niri Tacen
I was born the year of the Pig :(
My fave RomCom? I can't say they're my favourite genre. Hmmmm, this is a toughie. Nope, I can't stand them. I guess I sort of liked Forgetting Sarah Marshall and I Love You, Man but I must say it's a terrible genre.
I'm a huge fan of Red Cliff and Forbidden Kingdom.
Dirty love - dont watch it... ever.
Id have to go House of Flying Daggers too - a very pretty film
Favourite Chinese Movie: "Once Upon A Time In China" - Jet Li's early movies were just incredible.
Rom-Com that should not be: The Ugly Truth. Free tickets or not this movie was awful. Gerard Butler is a great guy - but that blonde cow who has only ever been any good in Knocked Up was so annoying I hope never to see her in anything ever again.
Crouching tiger hidden dragon! I hate alot of romantic comedies, so its hard for me to decide on that one.
Agreed, Kung Fu Hustle was very choice. Does HK count towards Chinese Cinema after the British Occupation ended? If so, Hard Boiled, Infernal Affairs.
Then theres all the early Jackie Chan movies, like Drunken Master.
And all the Monkey Magic monkey king themes movies that always creep up on CCTV, those are choice.
Red Cliff - the full version - oh man oh man oh man.
I really want to see Storm Warriors 3 that looks awesome!
Oh and pretty high up there - Curse of the Golden Flower. Epic fight scene with this golden armoured dude taking on billions of soldiers in a palace forecourt. Epic epic epic wire-fu
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YUM, wish I was at your olds celebrating CNY too!
My fav Chinese movie is House of Flying Daggers, though I love the Forbidden Kingdom too. I don't do RomCom's!
I am sooo having Chinese for dinner tonight...