Makioka Sisters

The film adaptation of Junichiro Tanizaki's brilliant novel 'The Makioka Sisters' of 1983 is very unknown, though it should be a rather good adaptation. I just wonder if they could catch the feeling of the firefly hunt and the magical feeling of the cherry blossoms...

Meinte's Daily Film Fact #10 - Roman Holiday

The Roman summer was stiflingly hot, with the temperatures in the high 90s. Crowds swarmed over all the locations, making huge impromptu audiences for the actors. Meanwhile, Italy itself was beset with clashes between political parties that resulted in strikes and unrest that threatened to disrupt production.

At the beginning of the movie, the elder gentleman dancing with princess Ann says to her, in Italian: "I want absolutely to die on the ship!"

Meinte's Daily Film Fact # 9 - District 9

All the shacks in District 9 were actual shacks that exists in a section of Johannesburg which were to be evacuated and the residents moved to better government housing, paralleling the events in the film. Also paralleling, the residents had not actually been moved out before filming began. The only shack that was created solely for filming was Christopher Johnson's shack.

Zhou Xun

Zhou Xun covers the january edition of Elle. She also talks about her favorite actresses Juliette Ninoche, Isabel Hupert and Cate Blanchett.

Zhou Xun stars in the new film 'The Message' which recently won prizes at the Horse Awards in Taiwan.

Amour à Tair / A Love to Hide (France, 2005)

‘A Love to Hide’ is a less known anti-war film, but nonetheless a very powerful one. It shows the fate which had the homosexual had to suffer, they also were transported to transition camps, work camps and concentration camps.
A French movie which was released back in 2005 and probably the first time this subject was getting attention in France. In WW2 there were laws against homosexuals, they were ill and had to be reformed. After the war ended the laws against them weren’t abandoned. It was 1981 when finally they were accepted in society.

Jean (Jérémie Renier) lives in Paris and wants to help his friend Sarah Morgenstern. He brings her to his friend Philippe’s place and for a while they live kind of happily together though Sarah has a hard time accepting the fact Jean loves Philippe more than herself. Jean’s brother Jacques has always been the black sheep of the family and when he discovers about Jean’s sexuality he makes a plan to regain the trust of especially his father. Jacques collaborates and makes a deal that will put Jena in a jail for one day. But, it horribly goes wrong and Jean is deported.

A strong and powerful film, by director Christian Faure, about love, hatred and the cruelty of war.

Bride Flight / Bruidsvlucht (The Netherlands, 2008)

'Bride Flight' (Bruidsvlucht) is a fantatsic Dutch film which focusses on romance and tragedy. While I sometimes still have to get used to Dutch acting, this film is rather suprisingly good. Especially the technically aspect of film is outstanding, with beautiful scenes (not only of the landscape but also of during the dialogues). The acting of Karina Smulders is just perfect (and ofcourse the minor role of Rutger Hauer is nice to watch).

This kind of film will slowly get to your heart and will leave its trace there.

The story? Check the film!

Thirteen women of Jinling, The

Zhang Yimou's new project 'The thirteen women of Jinling' will start soon. While his latest work 'a Simple Noodle Story (aka: Three Guns: An Amazing Tale) is about to be released, Zhang Yimou said his film about thirteen girls who scrifies there lifes in Nanking will be his highest budget production which will exceed over 100 million USD. A true epic is about to be made!

Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise showed there interest in this production and one of them maybe will get the role of a foreign pastor.

"The film focuses on human nature," commented Zhang Weiping, "we put the story in the background of World War II to display the Chinese struggle and distaste for war and to show our national spirit."

All we can do is wait for the release of another masterpiece from Zhang Yimou.

Zhang Ziyi on Mary Claire

Zhang Ziyi on te latest (Chinese) edition of Marie Claire!

Meinte's Daily Film Fact #8 - owls

Hitchkock always used the sounds of an tawny owl in his exciting nightly scenes. But this tawnly owl lives in Europe and Asia and not at all in North America. David Lynch copied Hitchock and also use this thrilling sound. Well a great sound it is, but based on reality? no...

MEinte's Daily Film Fact #7 - Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

In the really strange but addicting movie 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance' teh snow at the end of the film is not real. Two trucks of salt were used, scattered it all over the street and finally adjusted the scene using computer graphics.

46th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan

During the Golden Horse Awards 2009 in Taiwan a film about Nanjing (again) won some prizes! Though it is a bit strange: Wasn't Florian Gallenberger (John Rabe) told that he couldn't make a movie about the massacre because there could only be one film about this subject? First we had 'City of Life and Death' and now 'The Message'. Believe me, there are more to follow!

Fan Bingbing wins the award for leading actress in 'The Message'.

Meinte's Daily Film Fact # 6: Old Boy

The anthem of Oh Dae Su's and Lee Woo-Jin's school is that of Choi Min Sik's (acctor) school!

It is also funny dat Mr. han only speaks one sentence throughout the entire film. The line on the painting of Dae Su's cell reads "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep and you weep alone." These are the first lines ofElla Wheel Wilcox's famous poem, "Solitude".

Finally: Steven Spielberg will NOT make a remake of this film, a good decision because it just can't be better....but Spielberg wanted to make it, he just couldn't get the rights of the manga's company....

Shinobi (Japan, 2005)

I didn't expect anything from this movie but it suprised me in a good way. Well, it is no masterpiece and the story has been told before but the execution is rather good. though the film is about figthing, it is i na stylish way. When no swords are drawn, the director pleases us with rather beautiful scenery. Just look at the poster...magnificent!

Fan Bingbing

Some new fashion photo's of Chinese actress Fan Bingbing came out this morning.

Design your Universe - Epica

The latest album of Epica 'Design your Universe' gives you what you want.

Almost 80 minutes of metal, close to perfection. Most of the songs are filled with grunts and guitars but also the heavenly 'Tides of Time' is brillint. It was already known that Simone Simons has a very strong and beautiful voice but on this album she is just amazing, her voice reaches all the corners of your soul. The epic 'Kindom of Heaven' last for 14 minutes and is forceful one, you have to listen tot it again and again before it will really grip you but it always keeps interesting.

Don't let this album slip away, it will give you what you are looking for!