Hero, Enchanted, and Warlords

I thought “Hero” and “Enchanted” are both not showing in cinemas now but I am wrong. So, what the heck. I will do a three-in-one review then.

Takuya Kimura was great in the samurai movie Love and Honor. In “Hero”, he plays a rather usual prosecutor who doesn’t dress up like a typical lawyer and defies the higher power. He enjoys slow trials because he believes that only then, the accused can fully appreciate the weight of their sins. Together with him was a team of prosecutors who take on this bizarre case of murder that ultimately involves someone politically influential. The Korean actor Lee Byung Hun (so good looking!) is in the poster of this movie but his appearance is too brief. I think the part of the Japanese prosecutors’ visit to Korea is probably the highlight of the movie. Quite a number of scenes are a bit too far fetched. The entertainment value is there. However, some may find the pace of the movie a bit too slow.

“Enchanted” is a surprise to me. I watched “Enchanted” because it is nominated for the Golden Globe award. A rather forgettable storyline aside, the transition between the animation and the real life acting is pretty interesting. I especially like the acting of Amy Adams. Where does she come from?! She acts as though she was a cartoon character. Awesome! I personally didn’t like the cockroaches and rats but besides that, “Enchanted” is a very entertaining movie. I was laughing all the way till the end. A decent comedy-fantasy-musical film I must say.

It’s been a long time since TK watched a Chinese movie (not for Cynthia and I as Lust, Caution still lives vividly in my mind to say the least). “Warlords” is a well made Chinese movie. Perhaps one of the better ones in recent days. There is nothing groundbreaking in terms of storyline. The same kind of treachery, betrayal, bonding, honor, and sacrifice. Andy Lau plays the honored one who believes in righteousness and he is all for his people. Jet Li plays the General who believes that so long as the means justify the ends, people will understand the truth in the end – even if they have to die for it. Takeshi Kaneshiro plays as the loyal and obedience one who takes promises seriously. Together, they sworn in as blood brothers and have decided to wage war to the Chinese cities that have fallen to the hands of the warlords on behalf of the Empress. The acting is top notch. So is the filming of the war scenes. Nothing groundbreaking like I said. Nevertheless a good Chinese movie to watch in recent days.