Robocop
The original Robocop, directed by Paul Verhoeven, was a finely crafted ultra-violent (for its day, it was made in 1987) action movie that had enough wit and energy to raise it above the average. So the first thing that needs to be said about the remake is that it is unnecessary. To add insult to injury, although the new film has pushed the violence up well beyond anything that would have been allowed on screen 20 years ago, it has also lost the Verhoeven touch, which included the aforementioned wit. The film is directed by Brazilian Jose Padilha, who had considerable commercial success with Elite Squad and Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, violent cop dramas set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, and which were happy with the idea that the only way to fight violence is with even harsher measures. Robocop has all the appeal of a recruitment video for a fascist paramilitary group, and despite the presence of a few notable big names, never gets beyond being just a dumb excuse to keep the stunt teams and CGI guys busy.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
A film based on a character created by Tom Clancy. It should be noted that it is not an adaptation of a Clancy novel, and more’s the pity, because input by the author of The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games might have done much to beef up this rather sub-par thriller that chugs along well enough but never actually manages to be gripping. Directed by Kenneth Branagh in his first effort in the spy thriller genre, it has an impudence and swagger that is not unappealing, and the cast, led by Chris Pine as the title character, does a thoroughly decent job. Keira Knightley is wonderfully convincing as the love interest, and Branagh himself has a fine old time playing Viktor Cherevin, the villain of the piece. The story has repositioned the young Ryan in a post-9/11 world, effectively turning the chronology of the original espionage novels on its head, and creating Ryan as a spy for the new world of global financial and political posturing. There is much to be enjoyed, but this obvious attempt to reboot a faded cinematic property tarnishes a little of Branagh’s luster.
I, Frankenstein
Is it possible to create a cut-rate version of something like Wrath of the Titans. I, Frankenstein proves that it is. In this ridiculous movie, Frankenstein’s monster has evolved from tragic monster to flawed superhero who must help save the human race from becoming collateral damage in a centuries-old war between two clans of immortal being. There are plenty of firestorms and monsters and general CGI ballyhoo in this new release from the creators of the supernatural saga Underworld. It presents a mishmash of fantasy imagery that draws from a wide variety of sources but generally fails to make them all come together. Aaron Eckhart is a ripped muscleman with no imaginable connection to Mary Shelley’s creation, but he goes about his business of killing demons and saving his love interest with commendable commitment. One recalls how Michael Sheen was able to lighten the mood of Underworld with his impish charm, but alas, Eckhart might have a more sculpted body, but doesn’t quite have the acting chops to anchor this flick.
Kokowaah 2
Til Schweiger has created a series of German domestic dramas that have proved successful on the alternative scene here. Remember Schweiger two Rabbit Without Ears films. In similar fashion, Kokowaah 2 follows on a story established in the first installment. At the center of Kokowaah 2 is Henry, an author turned film producer, who is having issues with an erratic young actor. His wife Katharina (Jasmin Gerat) struggles with her role as a housewife and mother. Normal life becomes unhinged, Katharina checks out, friend Tristan moves in to help and we have a 3 Men and a Baby scenario. Solid acting, often amusing, and occasionally thought provoking, Kokowaah 2 is an inoffensive domestic/romantic drama with plenty of children’s roles, making it ideal for the whole family.
Golden ChickenS (金雞sss)
It has been 10 years since the last installment of Hong Kong’s tasteless Golden Chicken franchise hit the screen, but it is back for this Lunar New Year with more sordid tits and arse humor. It is all meant as light hearted entertainment, and the film sports some of Hong Kong’s top comedic talents, not least Sandrang Wu (吳君如), as well as A-list actors Tony Leung (梁家輝), Nick Cheung (張家輝) and Alex To (杜德偉). If the world of prostitution is your idea of a bundle of laughs, then there is plenty to enjoy as Wu, as mama-san, takes her bevy of “golden chickens” around the world to learn the tricks of the trade.
A few weeks ago I found myself at a Family Mart talking with the morning shift worker there, who has become my coffee guy. Both of us were in a funk over the “unseasonable” warm weather, a state of mind known as “solastalgia” — distress produced by environmental change. In fact, the weather was not that out of the ordinary in boiling Central Taiwan, and likely cooler than the temperatures we will experience in the near-future. According to the Taiwan Adaptation Platform, between 1957 and 2006, summer lengthened by 27.8 days, while winter shrunk by 29.7 days. Winter is not
A sultry sea mist blankets New Taipei City as I pedal from Tamsui District (淡水) up the coast. This might not be ideal beach weather but it’s fine weather for riding –– the cloud cover sheltering arms and legs from the scourge of the subtropical sun. The dedicated bikeway that connects downtown Taipei with the west coast of New Taipei City ends just past Fisherman’s Wharf (漁人碼頭) so I’m not the only cyclist jostling for space among the SUVs and scooters on National Highway No. 2. Many Lycra-clad enthusiasts are racing north on stealthy Giants and Meridas, rounding “the crown coast”
March 25 to March 31 A 56-year-old Wu Li Yu-ke (吳李玉哥) was straightening out her artist son’s piles of drawings when she inadvertently flipped one over, revealing the blank backside of the paper. Absent-mindedly, she picked up a pencil and recalled how she used to sketch embroidery designs for her clothing business. Without clients and budget or labor constraints to worry about, Wu Li drew freely whatever image came to her mind. With much more free time now that her son had found a job, she found herself missing her home village in China, where she
In recent years, Slovakia has been seen as a highly democratic and Western-oriented Central European country. This image was reinforced by the election of the country’s first female president in 2019, efforts to provide extensive assistance to Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with Taiwan, all of which strengthened Slovakia’s position within the European Union. However, the latest developments in the country suggest that the situation is changing rapidly. As such, the presidential elections to be held on March 23 will be an indicator of whether Slovakia remains in the Western sphere of influence or moves eastward, notably towards Russia and