SilverKottage

Going into the cinema, to be honest, I had mixed expectations to The Treasure Hunter. I wanted this film to be good but I’ve been told by others that it’s crap (though, these are the people that would rather watch badly filmed in cinema pirate DVDs).

Kill the bad guy, save the girl. All part of a days work for an action hero.

Well, I’ve finished watching the film and I can tell everyone that this film is actually enjoyable. The story structure is classic treasure hunting and the characters pretty much match the various archetypes of the genre.

Classic Character Archetypes for the action genre. Don’t forget your talking LOLKatz!

We got the hero, the mentor, the damsel, the comic relief, the serious guy. Bit like an RPG, isn’t it? There’s also definite hints of inspirations from other hollywood action films besides the obvious Indiana Jones and The Mummy, such as the Harley scene in T2.

A completely and utterly useless scene that’s only in for the special effects and bullet time action.

What didn’t work with this film is some of the pacing and also the villians of the film. Kevin Chu tries to cram a back story for most of the lead and supporting characters that the film loses momentum and has action pieces that does not forward the story at all.

Also, I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing, but he didn’t exploit Lin Chi Ling’s sex appeal. But don’t fear, there is a scene which I thought is much more effective and tasteful.

Well, if Kevin Chu doesn’t think sex sells, I’m sure SilverKottage does!

And another one for luck.

In all seriousness though, this film, although has it’s flaws, did take me on a journey. Maybe the journey had some bumps, but I’d recommend people to still take this journey as you’ll never know when the next Asian film will be up on the big screen in Aussie Land.

This film also has an ending that’s similar to the start of a script I’m writing. DAMN YOU KEVIN CHU!

A big thumbs up to Steph from CineAsia for passing on two complimentary passes to Kevin Chu’s new film, The Treasure Hunter. CineAsia is a group dedicated to bringing blockbuster Asian films to the large cinemas in Australia. So that means no more waiting for DVDs or watching movies in small Chinatown theaters (though, I guess I do miss the stains on the floor).

Things are always better when they’re complimentary

The Treasure Hunter stars Jay Chou, Chiling Lin, Chen Dao Ming and Eric Tsang, this action adventure film opens in just two days in Australia.

I didn’t see it, but I was informed by my brother that the movie trailer was shown before Avatar 3D at Event Cinema. Kudos to the CineAsia team for getting such great support from Aussie commercial theatres! This amount of trailer publicity is on the level of Christopher Nolan’s Inception trailer.

See, it is true, Jesus is Buddha!

From the looks of it, it seems that Kevin Chu has swapped basket balls with whips and motorbikes. Someone sure has been watching recent Hollywood films!

Jay Chou shows that he can start fire by blowing anything.

I’ve always thought contemporary martial art films are making a comeback. That’s what I’ve been telling all my Hong Kong friends and fellow filmmakers. Remember that movie that had Andy Lau in it? No, not Street Fighter…

You better watch it, Jay Chou is on his way to whoop your ass.

So fingers crossed and hope this film does not sink like quicksand.
But either way, it’s got Jay Chou for the girls and Lin Chiling for the guys!

MMmmmmm…. Can’t caption, hands busy.

But yeah, what my girlfriend says is true… she’s definitely putting on a cute voice here.

So those punk ass Hollywood kiddos wanna touch my stuff eh?

The last time I caught up with the news about the rebooting of Bruce Lee projects were a while ago. So what I’m writing now might be obsolete. It might be a good thing, or a bad thing. Actually, this subject might already have been commented upon by KOZO of LoveHkFilm… damn you Kozo!

It’s great that more Asian actors are getting into the American/International industry, but really… remakes?

What I’m refering to are the remakes of The Green Hornet and Enter the Dragon. I’ve never seen The Green Hornet, but reading a wiki about it, it seems like the usual caped crusader fare. But instead of getting Christopher Nolan to direct, we get Seth Rogen as director and lead actor. Stephen Chow was optioned to Direct and play Kato, but now he’s stepped back as producer (I think).

Make a break for it before they ruin our legacy.

I’m guessing The Green Hornet is going to be a comedy film, similar to Get Smart. The latest news I read was that Taiwan’s Prince of Pop, Jay Chou will be helming the role of Kato. Made famous by Bruce Lee in the one season TV serial and starred the son of Charlie Chan in the film series.

I’ve always wanted to be Bruce Lee. All I drink is water too!

Getting Jay is all fine, but I do have one question… can Jay speak English? I already have a hard time listening to him speaking in Cantonese, (dubbed over by himself in Hong Kong movies) so would he redubb himself in English? Sort of like what Jackie Chan did with his old movies?

These are flowers from my fansee, I’m the original Bruce Lee successor.

From one side of Asia to another, we have Rain rumoured to be playing Bruce’s role in Enter the Dragon. A movie about a Shaolin monk/fighter that goes to a mysterious island for some Mortal Kombat action. Unlike The Green Hornet, I’m guessing that Enter the Dragon will be a bloody mess. So much blood that it will make Han look like a character straight out of a Frank Miller comic book instead.

You have dishonoured me… you have dishonoured my family… now you DIE a BLOODY and FIREY and STABEY DEATH!

For one, I am with the fanboys that say Hollywood should not be remaking films. Let the originals stay up on the mantelpiece in dignity. But on the other hand, I think it’s a good re-imagining of material. Young viewers will most likely not get to watch the films of yesteryear, unless they’re film students or suddenly want to be a film blogger.

I’m guessing The Tumbler won’t be used as the Black Beauty in the remake…

So the only way for them to get interest in watching classics is to watch a rehashed version (hopefully not garbaged up) and then get the urge to rent/buy the oldies.

That reminds me, I better go get a copy of Casablanca and Schindler’s List while I work on my Asian six pack.

None of these two guys are even Honky like Bruce. tsk tsk.