Dirty Pretty Things ***

This movie did not live up to the expectations of horror and suspense pertaining to movies of this genre; perhaps it didn't intend to do so. "Dirty Pretty Things" turned out to be a story about suppression of love and desire. The struggles of illegal immigrants in Britain were so hard to watch because the filmmakers seemingly force you to take sides.

Are dirty and pretty the adjectives for the same thing? Or, dirty things and pretty things have to co-exist since they need each other? Apparently there is no easy answer. This movie probably will not be a unforgettable one, but it's that kind of story with a message that we should not dismiss easily out of hand.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring (2003) ****

All I can say is that, this is an amazing movie. It looks like the director/writer Ki-du Kim has attempted to preach about life philosophies from the perspective of Buddihsm. However, the phenomenal scenic beauty and the stunning story centered on fundamental human nature have caught the viewers off guard.



If the director had let the camera speak for itself a little bit more, this movie would have been more poetic. Somehow I felt that when the director is also the writer, it's difficult to restrain the desire to deliver the message of a movie. Nevertheless, the movie itself may have its own life because of its reflections of the ever-changing beautiful and ugly mundane details, in spite of any message.

Snatch (2001) ***

"Snatch" is a cleverly executed film project. The director/writer Guy Ricthie has spinned this story at a turbo speed with his flamboyant style, which may highly please viewers who are seeking the new and creative ingredients in movies. However, for viewers who are looking for heart-felt moments, this movie may just give you nothing but headache.



There are many memorable characters in this movie, of which I believe the director has confidently assured. Among these characters, the Pikey boxing champion (played by Brad Pitt) has no doubt made this film as twice charming as it would be without this weird character.

Well, this is a joyride, not a journey of arts .... you don't need to take my words for it though.

Talk to Her (2002) ****

Pedro Almodovar's Talk to Her may be a disturbing story to many viewers. Almodovar's works have been known for eccentricity with a focus on shock factors. This movie is no exception.

The two main female characters' stories ran in parallel with a common theme: loss of communication with the outside world. However, the men who were obsessed with them treated them differently, which had lead to completely different fates.



I admire the beauty written in this script, but I failed to see the compelling effect of putting the two story lines side by side. The story of the male nurse and the dancer had apparently stolen all the thunder.



If we really feel the urge to summarize the story in one sentence, I guess it would be:

Could a monologue play be a love story?

If so, many viewers probably can't wait to shout with a distain, “no way!” Yes, such an answer can obviously explain why this story may appear to be disturbing. However, the dark side of human nature such as obsession is something we can never get away with. Love is, in essence, a reflection of obsession, at the personal level, isn't it?

Borat (2006) ***

"Borat" is the master of fools and nemesis of smarty-pants.

It's hard for me to believe that this movie is a critically acclaimed one. What bothers me most is not the vulgary prevailing throuought the whole story. The stereotype dichotomy of American vs. non-American cultures stings me all the time.



Of course, "Borat" is smarter than most fools (George W. Bush included). The speech Borat gave in the Rodeo show in Texas was the highlight of Borat's shrewd political statements concerning the foreign policies of the U.S.A. When Borat was abandoned by his producer and wandered into an Evangelical church, Borat's adsurdity elevated to a different level, which was somehow painful for me to watch. That is the most thought and emotion-provocative moment in this movie (see the clip below).

Needless to say, the character "Borat Sagdiyev" is so brave that he sheds the hypocretical political correctness without any hestitation. We may call it a folly liberalism-conservatism hybrid, which has successfully drawn the attention from people holding opposite beliefs.

Therefore, the master of fools should be crowned, at the very least, on April Fool's Day.