The Cold Light of Day
An adequate, if not particularly memorable kidnap-rescue story in which an everyday guy takes on the combined might of two national security agencies to save his family. As might be expected, the government is full of duplicitous motivations, and is represented by two rather underwhelming performances by veterans Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver. The heroic Everyman is played by Henry Cavill, whose lack of charisma only highlights the failings of the plot. The film has a Spanish location, and the cast is enlivened by Veronica Echegui, who has the looks of a young Penelope Cruz — but this bit of eye candy is not enough to make the film more than a bit of stylish filler.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
A wonderful cast provides some luster to this conventional feel-good movie about love and the realization of improbable dreams. Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Emily Blunt fail to distinguish themselves in this rather bland fare, but they are all far too professional to let the side down, and their performances can be enjoyed even against one’s better judgment. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom, whose Chocolate and The Cider House Rules set the tone for this new film. There’s plenty of whimsy and charm, but nothing that you can really get to grips with. McGregor is a fisheries expert who is approached by advertising executive Thomas to implement a project to introduce the sport of salmon fishing to the arid desert of Yemen. He falls in love with Emily Blunt along the way. Who wouldn’t?
Bread of Happiness (Shiawase no Pan)
Feel-good Japanese movie from director Yukiko Mishima starring singer Tomoyo Harada and TV personality Yo Oizumi. Their characters, Rie and Sang, run a small restaurant on the shores of Lake Toya in Hokkaido. Many people visit their establishment to enjoy the homemade food and bread that they create. There is plenty of beautiful scenery, and the caring hosts and the love that goes into the food somehow manages to ease the sorrows of all those who visit.
Crazy Horse
A documentary by filmmaker Frederick Wiseman that looks behind the scenes at the pretensions, the vulgarity and the sheer hard work and professionalism of the legendary French erotic review Le Crazy Horse de Paris. The show, which prides itself on being the “best nude dancing show in the world,” blends old-fashioned burlesque, Bob Fosse and Cirque du Soleil, with lap dance titillation. There are some phenomenally beautiful bodies to look at, and the technical details of this iconic French theatrical tradition are awe-inspiring. Wiseman stands back, watching, taking in both the ludicrous and the delightful with a cool eye that lets audiences make up their own mind about Crazy Horse.
Melody (腳趾上的星光)
Animated film that combines pop music and pop philosophy in a story about a young couple who decide to put their relationship on hold while one goes to Beijing and the other remains in Taipei, each pursuing their artistic ambitions. The characters are voiced by singers Yoga Lin (林宥嘉) and Sinje Lee (李心潔), as well as TV personality Mickey Huang (黃子佼). Romantic cliches abound, though the animation, inspired by the art work of Liao Zenping (廖震平), has a retro appeal. As the two lovers explore their own creativity on either side of the Taiwan Strait, will they be able to get back together again? Who knows; who cares?
Piranha 3DD
Fans of horror comedy will probably be perfectly satisfied with Piranha 3DD, which uses a tried and tested formula of buxom girls in small bikinis and small fish with big teeth to entertain the crowds for the summer. There are some marginally amusing cameos, not least from an aging David Hasselhoff as a lifeguard at the Big Wet Water Park, the venue invaded by the “pre-historic” piranhas, who feast on a large cast of nice looking boys and girls. The scares are pretty low voltage, and there is the occasional grudging laugh, but this is primarily for the fanboy crowd.
Fuzhong 15: June(府中15 ─ 六月:光影傳奇)
A collection of four excellent films being released as part of the New Taipei City Government’s ongoing film program being screened at B1, 15 Fuzhong Rd, Banqiao Dist, New Taipei City (新北市板橋區府中路15號B1) just outside Exit 2 of Taipei Metro’s Fuzhong Station. The four films for the first week of this month include HHH: Portrait of Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢畫像), Let The Wind Carry Me (乘著光影旅行), I Am My Films: A Portrait of Werner Herzog, and The Beaches of Agnes. Detailed information about the films can be found at www.fuzhong15.ntpc.gov.tw. Tickets are just NT$20 each, available through NTCH ticketing, 7-Eleven ibon and HiLife Life-ET kiosks. Thirty tickets will be reserved for sale at the door.
Following the shock complete failure of all the recall votes against Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers on July 26, pan-blue supporters and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were giddy with victory. A notable exception was KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), who knew better. At a press conference on July 29, he bowed deeply in gratitude to the voters and said the recalls were “not about which party won or lost, but were a great victory for the Taiwanese voters.” The entire recall process was a disaster for both the KMT and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The only bright spot for
As last month dawned, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was in a good position. The recall campaigns had strong momentum, polling showed many Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers at risk of recall and even the KMT was bracing for losing seats while facing a tsunami of voter fraud investigations. Polling pointed to some of the recalls being a lock for victory. Though in most districts the majority was against recalling their lawmaker, among voters “definitely” planning to vote, there were double-digit margins in favor of recall in at least five districts, with three districts near or above 20 percent in
The great number of islands that make up the Penghu archipelago make it a fascinating place to come back and explore again and again. On your next trip to Penghu, why not get off the beaten path and explore a lesser-traveled outlying island? Jibei Island (吉貝嶼) in Baisha Township (白沙鄉) is a popular destination for its long white sand beach and water activities. However, three other permanently inhabited islands in the township put a unique spin on the traditional Penghu charm, making them great destinations for the curious tourist: Yuanbeiyu (員貝嶼), Niaoyu (鳥嶼) and Dacangyu (大倉嶼). YUANBEIYU Citou Wharf (岐頭碼頭) connects the mainland
For their 15th wedding anniversary, Katie Walley-Weigert and her husband decided to take a beach vacation with their young son. But the trip didn’t go as planned. Walley-Weigert wound up needing to pack her computer because of a work assignment she couldn’t ignore. The 38-year-old marketing professional had just landed a podcast interview for an executive she worked with, and he had a short window to prepare. As she labored away through most of the vacation, she regretted not being present for her toddler’s introduction to the ocean. “I know my husband and my son are having this once-in-a-lifetime first experience, and
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