The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Inspired by the 1940 Walt Disney musical animation Fantasia, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, directed by Jon Turtletaub, who gave us the dubious pleasures of National Treasure back in 2004, is an exercise in taking something that was successful once and shooting it full of CGI steroids to make it a bigger and more powerful cinematic experience. Unfortunately, while the visual effects are spectacular, what passes for the plot is an overwrought pastiche of teen romance and Gothic fantasy. It boasts a few big names, including Nicolas Cage, Monica Bellucci and Alfred Molina, along with a starring role for Jay Baruchel (from the recently released She’s Out of My League). Baruchel is an average guy who finds he has hidden powers and teams up as a reluctant protege of Cage’s sorcerer Balthazar Black to save New York.
Paris Express
Released internationally as Coursier, this action comedy from France stars Michael Youn as Sam, a regular-guy motorcycle courier who gets caught up in a big-time diamond heist on his way to attend his girlfriend’s sister’s wedding. There is plenty of Gallic emoting and trowel-loads of Taxi-style driving set pieces as the hapless Sam, who, try as he might, never seems to get his express deliveries to their destination on time. Fast-paced action takes place in many well-known scenic spots around Paris, and splashes of humor enliven the journey. But as with the whole Taxi franchise, from which Paris Express is clearly just a spin-off, the journey, while exciting enough while it lasts, is quickly forgotten. Throwaway entertainment.
From the Beginning (Do Comeco ao Fim)
The story of an unnaturally close relationship between Francisco and half-brother Thomas develops a seize-the-day idea of romantic and physical love, though some audiences may find the childhood scenes of erotic discovery just a little creepy. As the young sibling lovers emerge into adulthood, there is even more opportunity for the camera to linger over well-toned male bodies, not least as Thomas makes it onto the Brazilian Olympic swimming team. A big hit at the 2010 Taipei Film Festival, this mixture of beefcake and incest is likely to play mainly to a niche audience.
The Fallen Angle (Ningen Shikkaku)
Another adaptation from the fiction of the death-obsessed author Osamu Dazai, whose work has already received cinematic treatment in Villon’s Wife by Kichitaro Negishi, which opened here early this year. The Fallen Angle is by director Genjiro Arato, who has made a name for himself in treating difficult subjects such as incest and child abuse. While some of the themes echo those found in Villon’s Wife, the casting fails the film. The self-destructive anti-hero Yozo Oba is played by entertainer Toma Ikuta, who is unable to find any depth to his character, making this an exercise in the portrayal of casual degeneracy that, at more than two hours, is likely to have audiences hoping that Oba will quickly put an end to his existence so they can get out of the theater.
The Crocodiles (Vorstadtkrokodile)
German kids’ movie about a gang of local children who end up going head to head with a real criminal gang, and, you guessed it, they use ingenuity to outwit the stronger enemy. This take on the Home Alone theme is an action film well suited to young audiences. Director Christian Ditter picked up the Audience Award and the MovieSquad Junior Award at the Cinekid Festival last year. A positive take is given to disabilities, as one of the children is confined to a wheelchair and finds that while the others might have legs, he’s got supercharged wheels. Good, clean fun.
Pokemon 13: Phantom Ruler Zoroark
Pokemon anime dates back to 1997, and this 13th in the series of feature film treatments continues the adventures of the pocket monsters, creations of the manga, computer game and merchandising industry, who are once again involved in an adventure that may be comprehensible to fans but which will certainly be utterly bizarre to those who have not been initiated into these arcane mysteries. For fans and the very young.
April 28 to May 4 During the Japanese colonial era, a city’s “first” high school typically served Japanese students, while Taiwanese attended the “second” high school. Only in Taichung was this reversed. That’s because when Taichung First High School opened its doors on May 1, 1915 to serve Taiwanese students who were previously barred from secondary education, it was the only high school in town. Former principal Hideo Azukisawa threatened to quit when the government in 1922 attempted to transfer the “first” designation to a new local high school for Japanese students, leading to this unusual situation. Prior to the Taichung First
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