DVD REVIEW: THE GRUDGE I and II [JU-ON I & II] (JAPANESE)

Sorry, it's been quite some time since I posted any DVD reviews on my blog....doesn't mean that I haven't been watching movies.....more the case of laziness taking over.

Anyway, whilst it is still fresh in my head, I thought that I'd write about The Grudge I and II (the Japanese version) which I watched last weekend. FYI, when The Grudge opened at "The Melbourne International Film Festival", it was a complete sellout.

The Grudge is the story of the evil dead, left in a house, that is latching itself on to the living. It is the vengence, the grudge from beyond, that no one can stop and no is safe.

Warning - this movie is not for the faint hearted. My eldest daugher slept with the radio on (only because I wouldn't allow her to take the dog to bed with her) cos she was convinced that she heard 'grudging' noises in the night.

After watching these movies, I once again reiterate - the Orientals reign supreme when it comes to horror!!! If you are a lover of horror movies, I totally recommend you watch the movie.

Note: You can buy the Grudge dvds at JB HiFi.

DVD REVIEW: GAAU JI [DUMPLINGS] (CHINESE)

Based on a novella from Lillian Lee (Farewell, My Concubine), this 2004 Hong Kong film directed by Fruit Chan (what a name) stars the box office queen Miriam Yeung and Hollywood actress Bai Ling. The movie dabbles with the supernatural and delivers a haunting and even realistic glimpse of human horrors. The movie was expanded from a short segment, Three... Extremes.


A former tv soap actress decides to eat a Mainland woman's special dumplings in her quest to obtain eternal youth. Trashy Mainland immigrant Mei is a former singer-turned-doctor-turned-abortionist-turned-cook whose dumplings is said to provide eternal beauty. What is truly revolting, is the contents of the dumplings. Watch the movie to see what DUMPLINGS is all about....

Be warned, this movie is not for the faint hearted!!!

DVD REVIEW: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES [HOTARU NO HAKA] (JAPANESE ANIME)

I used to admonish Mr G when he stayed up late and watched Japanese anime. It all backfired when one night, with nothing on telly, I watched my first Japanese anime and to bout, it was an offering from the famous Studio Ghibli. Ever since then, I have been a fan. If you want to give anime a go, I would recommend you start with GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES from Studio Ghibli, one of the finest anime created and one of the most touching war films ever made, anime or not. It is directed by Isao Takahata, who also wrote the screenplay.

Set in the aftermath of World War II, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES focuses on the lives of Setsuko and his young sister Seita and how they struggle against both the elements of wartime and a depreciating Japanese empire. The most striking thing about GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is probably how real everything seems and it depicts the gravity of the era. I cried quite a few times during the course of the movie, and by saying this, I hope I have not put off any blokes that may be reading this – it is mushy, yes, but it deals with war, human emotions and sibling love – not the boy meets girl type of stuff!


With the Japanese empire in crisis and food shortages are a daily occurrence, it is heart breaking to see a brother struggle to make ends meet for his sister, who does not understand the gravity of the situation, especially when the children have had an idyllic childhood, sheltered from the war until the war finally arrives in Japan. Their lives crumble when the children lose their mother in a bombing and their father, whilst he is in service with the Japanese navy. To find out what happens to the children, I strongly recommend you watch GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES. You can purchase it from most DVD stores or on line from JB HiFi.

FYI: The story is based on the semi-autobiographic novel by the same name, whose author, Akiyuki Nosaka (born 1930), lost his sister due to malnutrition in 1945 wartime Japan. He blamed himself for her death and wrote the story so as to make amends to her and help him accept the tragedy. Nosaka suffered a stroke in 2003 and although still struggling with the effects, he still writes a column for a famous Japanese newspaper, the Mainichi Shimbun.


Due to the graphic and truly emotional depiction of the negative consequences of war on society and the individuals therein, some critics have viewed GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES as an anti-war film.

DVD REVIEW: A TALE OF TWO SISTERS (KOREAN)

Last weekend I saw a really awesome Korean horror movie. When it comes to the spate of horror movie offerings in the recent years, my opinion is unshakeable – the Orientals are making better horror movies than the West (mind you I am not saying that Hollywood movies aren’t great….it’s just that I think Asians, with all our superstitious have come up with some really, really novel stories…a far cry from the ‘flying ghosts’ you used to see in Chinese movies!).

Take for example ‘The Ring’. It is undisputed that the Japanese version fares much better than the Naomi Watt movie. Then there are Chinese movies like ‘The Eye’, Thai movies such as ‘Nang Nak’ and ‘Shutter’ and Singapore with it’s offering entitled ‘The Maid’ (I will post a blog on this soon). Then there is ‘A tale of two sisters’.

A Tale of Two Sisters (장화, 홍련 Janghwa, Hongryeon literally 'Rose Flower, Red Lotus') is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film. It was directed by Kim Ji-woon and is both the highest-grossing Korean horror film and the first to be screened in American theatres.
The film is inspired by a Joseon Dynasty folktale entitled "Janghwa Hongreyon-jon", which has been adapted to film several times. An American remake called The Uninvited starring Emily Browning and Arielle Kebbel as the sisters is slated for a 2009 release date. (Source: WIKIPEDIA)

You are intrigued from the start and because you know it is a horror movie, you are forever on your guard but the scary bits arrive when you least expect it. That for me adds to the appeal. You feel the love that the sisters’ share and you share their hatred for their step mother and anger towards their father. Horror aside, it actually is a really good movie and I recommend that you watch this….but if you are faint hearted, preferably with someone who is not easily ‘disturbed’ with supernatural themes. It is also a bit of a tear jerker, so have the hankies handy. And watch out for that closet!???

DVD REVIEW: PRINCESS MONONOKE (JAPANESE ANIME) AND THE HOME SONG STORIES (ENGLISH)

I blame SBS for getting me hooked on anime. A few months ago, SBS was having an anime month featuring movies by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. The anime that caught my attention was “Howl’s Moving Castle” (see HERE). I could not believe the detail and effort that was used to make the movie. I have to admit that Japanese stories are a bit ‘out there’ but I have to say that they are quite entertaining to say the least. To reinforce how good Miyazaki’s and Studio Ghibli’s anime are, they have won academy awards. His last win was for “Spirited Away” (see HERE).

If you want to give anime a go, I’d recommend you watch “Grave of the fire flies” (see HERE) by Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli. See if that does not bring a tear to your eye and make you a fan! This was made in the late 80’s. Studio Ghibli only gets better.

Anyway, yesterday we watched “Princess Mononoke”, another of Hayao’s offerings. Once again, the quality was superb and this time the theme was something much more comprehendible – nature and man’s intent of destroying it and how hate can consume people’s mind and thoughts and make them irrational. I don’t want to give too much away….I’d recommend Princess Mononoke. I am definitely buying it to add to my collection! Check out the cast and the synopsis HERE.

Another movie that I will be buying for my collection (I currently have nearly 400 DVDs) is the Australian movie “Home Song Stories”. My daughter and I cried when we watched this. Mr G declined to watch this because it was too sentimental!

It tells the TRUE story of Rose, a Chinese cabaret singer in Hong Kong (played by Joan Chen) and a mother of two, as narrated by her son who wrote and directed this movie (Tony Ayres). Rose and her kids migrate to Australia in the 60’s after she marries an Australian navy sailor. You are shown the ‘demons’ that are haunting Rose and how they impact her and her children’s lives. It well acted and Joan does a great job in her role. You can check this movie out HERE.