Effects Corner: Visual Effects Schools

Effects Corner: Visual Effects Schools

IP Man

Ip Man is a Hong Kong martial arts action film, was made based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art  Wing Chun and also the first person to teach the art openly. This film was directed by Wilson Yip  and stars  Donnie Yen, with martial arts choreography by Sammo Hung.

Ip Man was the most famous for teaching Bruce Lee. He was also the man of honor who live with his dignity, strong character and philosophy, willing disposition, intelligence, heart and soul. According to the movie, during the days of Japanese occupied China, he was suffering from poverty, and since he witnessed his neighbor being killed for a pocket of rice by Japanese. He proved his mettle by essentially beating the Japanese superiority.

The movie was predictable, nothing special, and quite simple plot, light hearted action film. Similarly, Jet Li seemed tailor made for Fearless, Donnie Yen with Ip Man, that I found that two films share much in common. However, “Ip Man” did expose accurately over a number of historical truths about the real man. To me, Not like Flash Point, or Dragon Tiger Gate, Silver Hawk, the film casted out not only the beauty of Kung-Fu, but the martial-arts’ philosophy. For example, when Ip Man had another martial artist (Master Liao) come to challenge, respectfully Ip Man didn’t accept the competition until finished his dinner with his family which showed me how much he respects his family’s time. Additionally, another henchmen of Jin Shan Zhao were going around challenging various wushi schools in Foshan; obnoxiously he rushed into Ip Man’s mansion to challenge in order to earn reputation in town. Though how rude and ill-manner Zhao was, Ip Man was friendly and moderate to Zhao. Finally even Zhao lost, he upheld the regional pride of Ip Man and other masters in Foshan.

I also like some understatement brilliant philosophy from Ip Man and the Chinese cop turned Japanese translator. Ka Tung Lam who played the Chinese cop role was notably and excellently proved himself as the film’s best actor with his deep and natural performance when he showed the very fine line between traitor and survivor especially during war-time occupations.

I enjoyed the movie because it was perfectly merged humor, tragedy, ass-kicking, historical events and characters, and deep emotion. Regardless to say, the cinematography is excellent with the exception of the depiction of the Wing Chun Style, the film was freshly carried out. Also, the film’s sequence was perfectly edited to attract the audience. Even though, the story overtly portrayed the character as the perfect man in the world, the film yet tightly held the pure perspective of Kung-Fu and philosophy.

Asian American Female acting in movies

Throughout Asian American movies I enjoyed, I noticed that most of Asian American movies are starred by male leading roles. Obviously, we know a handful of recognizable young Asian American leading men working in Hollywood movies and rarely know an Asian American leading women. Regardless to say, we know so much about Chinese Kung-Fu in films through Jackie Chan, Yun-Fat Chow, Jet Lee; however, they were born and grown up in the U.S, therefore I don’t think that they can be count as Asian America actors.

Ken Watanabe— born in Niigata Prefecture, Japan starred in Inception (2010), Shanghai (2010), Letters from Iwo Jima (2007), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Batman Begins (2005), and so on. John Cho—from Seoul, South Korea was playing as the young Mr. Sulu in Star Trek. Justin Chon played Peter Wu in the Disney Channel Film “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior”, and also acted in Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Stephen Chow has announced as a Hong Long action star from “The Green Hornet” movie. There are at least 10 Asian leading actors that I have seen popularly in American movies. Yet, where are Asian leading actresses?

As another famous Kung-Fu artist, Michelle Yeoh starred with Yun-Fat Chow in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; with Jet Li in The Mummy 2 and 3, with Jackie Chan in SuperCop, and with Ziyi Zhang in Memoirs of a Geisha, and et cetera.

As I mentioned above about the overflow and dominance of Asian American leading actors in Hollywood, the Asian American actresses seem to be in the shadow. Mostly I have seen that these actresses usually appear to co-op with other leading male actor as a love interest or supporting male leading. For example, in Lust, Caution, Wei Tang won the Independent Spirit Awards as the Best Female Lead nominee with Tony Leung Chiu Wai as the Best Male Lead nominee. The film itself typically appeals as a pornographic drama movie that assigns strong sexual content, erotic, sitcom-style innuendo. The movement of the movie is quite slow and the physical violence of the intercourse is disturbing. The position of Wei Tang as Yee— an enthusiastic student, who start identifying with the rebellious college group, was coming from desperation and powerlessness.

Again, where can I find Asian American actresses appear without man’s shadow and sexuality?

The Piano

THE PIANO 1993

The piano is a New Zealand film of drama, romance and emotion.

It is a so-called abstract film that communicate with audiences implicitly and indirectly. It was set during the mid- 19^th century, about a mute pianist (Scotswoman, Ada) and her daughter.  Ada’s father sells her into a marriage to a New Zealand frontiersman, Alisdair. Ada hasn’t spoken a word since she was six, therefore her expression and emotion was expressed through her piano playing and through sign language. Alisdair refused to transport the piano due to its weight and space. So, George who is a tattooed illiterate neighbor bought the piano.  To get the piano back, Ada agreed to give George piano lessons. During the piano lessons, George was attractive, fascinated and affected by Ada’s strong personality and passion of music. And so, their relationship was evolved emotionally and sexually.

The film heavily focused on the attraction, passion, and emotional reaction of female’s view. Each character carried differently and distinctively; especially Ada was described artistically feminist, such as: introverted, determined, independent, passion, talented, silent, and extra-ordinarily powerful.  Additionally, the score was performed by Michael Nyman whom is also my favorite for years; “The heart asks pleasure first” with an obsessive melody was the most unforgettable song to me. Interestingly, I feel like the theme and the song become Ada’s character, mood, expressions and body language.

The relationship between Ada and George was conveyed and negotiated sexually but gradually. The nicest thing is that illiterate George was evolved by Ada’s musical melody; which makes me think of the scenario of the deaf is in love with the music of the mute. And, also, George didn’t force her into anything that she doesn’t want. Ultimately, Alisdair found out the secret relationship between George and he was so angry and didn’t want to let her go even he didn’t really love her (Man’s egoism). So, he cut Ada’s index finger with an axe to deprive her of the ability to play piano.

One point that I didn’t get that when Ada’s husband found out their relationship; why Alisdair just stared and watched Ada having sex with George; did it show that Alisdair was the man who lack of sensitivity and ability to understand other’s needs? If so, then I think it is really brilliant how the movie was made in contrast between Alisdair and George. 

Ada was respectfully treated. By George and insensitively ignored by Alisdair .

Finally, Regardlessly, the cinematography was stunning (Ada playing piano by the sea, the forest, the mellow atmosphere that related to Ada’s feelings_ and the beautiful music was played throughout the movie.

The Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides


The name of the movie firstly made me curious, and so I ended up watching it.
The movie simply talks about five beautiful daughters from a strict and incredible traditional Catholic family, was around 13 – 17 years old, ended up their lives by committing suicide.
The movie was set in the mid 1970s and was pretty brilliant cinematic. The content is quite simple, vivid and dramatic. The movement of the movie was also slow; yet appealing and stylist. What I like the most about this film is the sensation, nostalgia, melancholy, emotional progression, and intrigued acting. Plus, the soundtrack was a great choice for such a drama.
Some of my friends were impressed with the movie, and some were frustrated.

I do feel frustrated during watching five beauties dying for their obsessions, fantasies, repression, and emotional destruction. I can sympathize and understand how depressive and repressive a teenager feel when he/she has his/ her parents control and over-watch; however, I feel emotionally disturbing when those girls of the Lisbon family keep daydreaming and fantasizing about boys. Even though, the mother was overprotective (just as my mother), it didn’t seem logical and irrational to explain for the tragic ending of those girls..
Somehow, I find it dull and confused. Are these girls longing for freedom or sex? Maybe both!!
Why would they care so much about talking and being closed to the boys?

The entire attempts of these girls somehow appeared to me as a rebellion and sexual disturbing itself. The first intimate setting was set on Cecilia’s birthday at the house, it was made in hopes of cheering her out of her suicidal depression. And, again, it was quite awkward to me, that how much those girls in the house cared about talking and being closed with those boys. The message from the movie wasn’t powerful and meaningful to me.

To me, It could be more effective and impressive if each sisters in the Lisbon has different perspectives and reaches out for different reasons of whatever they want. I wish that these girls died for something more meaningful and worthier.
Aside from the point of slow motion, lack of concrete explanation, I think the movie overall was well made; Sophia succeeded in showing a wonderful voyeuristic feat and the atmosphere of tragedy was perfectly conveyed.

Baarìa - An Epic Historical Film

Baarìa is a beautiful story of Peppino who is a mischievous boy, spent his entire life to tribute his little town—Bagheria, to join the communist party and agitate for workers’ rights. Baarìa is the first Italian film to open Venice in nearly 20 years, and one of the most expensive movies ever made in Italy. Giuseppe Tornatore, who used to be a freelance photographer, then switched to cinema, directed the movie and his films touch the soul of Sicily, transcending the ordinary, the conventional, the stereotypical. As we know from the AOF book, Italian film was initially cinematic territory, violent gangster, or mafia tales. However, through Tornatore’s movies, audiences will see social statements, emotional stories, powerful messages, and difficult historical and social issues in the real Italian lives.

This journey was initiated from a small town in a Sicilian family. From a little boy, to an educated adult, Peppino became deeply involved in politics, and joined in the communist party. After marrying his sweetheart, he started being more passionate in political struggles and worked non-stop for his political belief. After his great contribution and hard working, Peppino unfortunately wasn’t the one who was accepted and won the vote by the people in town, and always felt like he’s a failure himself. However, he has never stop dreaming and striving not only for his own success but also for his belief in the town in the future.

The movie was woven epically with the unique twist in the end of the movie—dreams, history, memory, remarkable journey interconnect through time. I was completely impressed at how perfect, unique, and rich the movie carried the span epic proportions in time, history, and character. Artistically, the movie honestly, realistically, and fully depicted the stories and happenings to the people in Sicily. Additionally, how wonderful the story was captured in the movie, and how operatically and beautifully the soundtrack was, I was massively enjoyable.

There were a lot of images and scenarios from the movies that brought my memories back. For example, the in-class punishment, abusiveness, poverty, inequality of different classes and statuses, those similarly happened in my country too. Back to those days, my mother was abandoned to go to university because my mother’s father was working for an opponent political group. Or, my parents were discriminately treated in school because of their impoverishment. Also, my parents were too poor to afford new clothes, so they collected used clothes from neighbor, friends, or even from the streets. Those scenarios moved me!! What I really liked in the movie is the communist or socialism, because I find that communist is so related to human’ lives, and similar to Italian political progress, sadly my country used to be socialism.

Personally, I avoid watching heavy political content films, strong tension or War drama; however, I believe that you will find astonishing and amazed, if you like to explore many different stories, histories, passion. As usual, we all see success, unrealistic dreams, fortune, and happy endings in Hollywood films, and life is definitely not like we see from movies. So, if you are tired of those types; you must find this movie realistic, unique and special. The movie has 2 hour and a half hour long; if the length of the movie doesn’t bother you, I highly recommend you to watch this film.

Spartacus, Prison Break, Or Lie to Me, tell me which one you prefer?

Since we’ve been reading and discussing about the Sexuality on Film, I have some frustration about watching shows on TV, and one of the show that makes me disappointed the most is Spartacus.

Unbelievably, my aunts and parents love this show a lot, and not only enjoy the content, progress and sexuality of movie, but also they think that what is on the movie was truly happening back in that day. In the first season, it was about Thracian gladiator led a major slave for a Quintus’s house. Whatever happened and whatever it takes, Thracian as Spartacus would fight and sacrifice everything in order to have freedom and reunite with his wife. The content and movement of the story and character’s development were drawing along with lots of nudity, sexuality, abusiveness, violence, and foul languages. To reflect and depict the epic event, historical character, and the reality of contemporary society, they actually went out of the line and made me sick by a generous input of soft porn plus lack of artistic modification. Obviously, Spartacus series were not only the show for adult’s entertainment, but also another playboy show. Regardless to say, ancient Roman sexuality was more opened than Asian or other countries. Sparta was the first city to practice athletic nudity, and one of the first to formalize pederasty. As an idealism of “Man is measured for everything”, pederastic relationships were considered as a norm; therefore, homosexuality was widespread and socially accepted in ancient Greek. And so, sell the cheap mis-en-scene, the show deeply dug into the sexuality (incest, homosexuality, interracial, et cetera).

What I meant by the cheap mis-en-scene is that the fight, arena, and blood were poorly visualized and obviously fake. Aside from six pack meat, muscles, “body parts” of actors and actresses, and costumes, I find Spartacus show rotten and immoral. It is even explicit to see the potent of selling pornography on TV rather than depict the historical hero. Humanity or sexuality?

I prefer Prison Break to Spartacus. Opposite to Spartacus, Prison Break does not sell pornography but action, mind-bending, intelligence, logical movement and development and drama. However, it is not too good to be called as a worth watching movie. It drew too much attention to Michael Scofield ( Wentworth Miller)’s mastermind; yet, it centers masculinity and gender identity (Male)—merely a Hollywood theme.

Above of all, Lie To Me is my most favorite show, even its plot was a so-called entertainment, but I like its concept and mind-bending mixed crime drama. It is about a psychological expertise who has a talent “read faces” to identify the truth behind lies; and so the Light Man group use their talents to discover and solve crime. I liked it because it is quite interesting with some twisted stories, morality, unique sense of ethnics, and more action less sex (again, contrast with Spartacus show). However, the show bores me with expected storyline, the lack of closure, lack of visual effect and quite dragging the movement.