Zatoichi (2003) [Film Review]

Zatoichi; or, Blind Justice

    Even with my eyes wide open, I can’t see a thing.
The character of Zatoichi, a blind swordsman conceived by writer Kan Shimozawa, is deeply engraved in Japanese popular culture and remains a cultural icon similar to Tora-san and Godzilla. Throughout the period between 1962 and 1989 the character was played by an acclaimed actor Shintaro Katsu in 26 theatrical movies and 100 episode-long TV show. The 2003 Shochiku production is both a stand-alone movie and an homage to the classic series.

Release Info

Directed by: Takeshi Kitano Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Yuko Daike, Michiyo Okusu, Akira Emoto

Language: Japanese Original Title: 座頭市 Runtime: 116 min

Synopsis
Zatoichi (Takeshi Kitano) is a blind masseur who roams through the Japanese countryside. He reaches a small town which is torn between rivaling yakuza gangs. The war for influence pushes ordinary citizens into poverty as the gangs take over businesses and demand extraordinary amounts of protection money. Zatoichi joins forces with other people who have enough of this exploitation and takes a stand against the gangsters.

Welcome to Lawless Japan
I have frequently heard about this movie over the years, even more so than about the Shintaro Katsu series. Allegedly, Takeshi Kitano made this movie in order to prove that he can make an entertaining action flick. Indeed, Zatoichi is a radical departure from Takeshi’s slow-paced, existential style. The director/writer/actor/editor created the world of flashing blades, ruthless gangsters, and dancing villagers.

Kitano stated in an exhaustive being-the-scenes documentary that he wanted the movie to be dynamic and look like a computer game. He certainly achieved his intention with many amazing fight sequences and gripping cinematography. The scenes at the inn or at Aunt Oume’s house are simply beautiful.

In addition, even though the movie is connected with the Shintaro Katsu series, it could very well be counted as part of the universe, because the bad guys recognise Zatoichi and the main hero even has a flashback of a spectacular showdown in rain. Still, Kitano provides his personal spin on the Zatoichi mythos, bringing his story arc closer to that of Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo (1961). To be honest, my favourite action scene of the movie was Zatoichi’s confrontation with the bodyguard Hattori (played by the great Tadanobu Asano).

What is more, keep an eye out for the final scene. I was totally surprised that Kitano put a Broadway-like number in his movie. It is a ridiculous fun to watch. My respect goes to The Stripes troupe who pulled this off.

With regard to performances, the cast of this movie is outstanding. Takeshi Kitano provides a rougher interpretation of Zatoichi, devoid of happy-go-lucky vibes and musings about morality. Another great performance is that of Yuko Daike as Okinu, a woman who wants to avenge the death of her parents (She looked exactly like Ruriko Asaoka from Goyokin (1969)). There are also great supporting parts done by such veterans as Ittoku Kishibe, Michiyo Okusu, and Akira Emoto.

Recommendations
I highly recommend Zatoichi to chanbara lovers and ordinary viewers. Takeshi Kitano’s take on the blind swordsman story is definitely unique and extremely engaging. Even though I’m a fan of Shintaro Katsu movies, I am a little disappointed that we did not get a sequel to Kitano’s version. At least, there was Ichi (2008), but it is a subject for another review.Overall score: 8/10

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Mulan (2009) [Film Review]

Mulan; or, Rise of a Legend
     Someone once said, go too far from home and you will lose your roots. Kill too many people, and you will forget yourself. If you die in battle, your life will sink into the ground like rain and vanish without a trace. If at that time, you fall in love with someone, hope will blossom again from the earth and embrace life passionately.
Hua Mulan, the courageous woman who joined the ranks of the Imperial Army and saved China from invasion, needs no introduction. The ancient Chinese legend was popularised in the West by the 1998 Disney animation under the same title. In the view of the approaching live-action adaptation (to be premiered on September 4, 2020 on Disney+), I think it is worth to take a look at other popular retelling of Mulan’s story, namely Jingle Ma’s production from the year 2009 with Vicky Zhao in the leading role.
Release Info

Directed by: Jingle Ma Staring: Vicky Zhao, Chen Kun, Hu Jun, Jaycee Chan, Yu Rongguang
Language: Mandarin Original Title: 花木蘭 Runtime: 114 min

Synopsis
China, 450 A.D. The kingdom is under attack from the Rouran tribes. Due to the announcement of a nationwide draft, a retired soldier Hua Hu (Yu Rongguang) is enlisted again. However, he is elderly man struggling with disability. His only daughter Hua Mulan (Vicky Zhao) cannot accept this and she disguises herself as a man, takes her father’s weapon and escapes the household. She joins the army and participates in the confrontations with the Rourans. Her achievements on the battlefield are so outstanding that Mulan even receives the title of the general. However, in the course of the twelve year war, Mulan cannot stand losing her friends in battles. She mourns the love of her life, Wentai (Chen Kun).

Fight Like a Butterfly
Having seen this movie and the 1998 animation back to back, I noticed that people at Disney have taken a lot of liberties with the original story. Jingle Ma’s movie is an attempt to faithfully represent the source of material. In Mulan (2009) there is no place for magic (sorry, Mushu!) and saving the Emperor subplot does not occur at all. Interestingly, two people know Mulan’s secret and they do not give it away. What is more, she becomes a badass general and fights for twelve years (while accepting no reward for her sacrifices)! The legend of Mulan is about the devotion of a single woman to her kingdom.

The movie follows the pattern of a straightforward historical epic. Introduction is very short and we quickly shift to Mulan as an imperial soldier. There are lots of (and lots) of battle scenes in the film which, to me, are either a hit or miss. If you like watching confrontations between two armies taken straight as if from Shogun: Total War game, then you will enjoy the film.

That being said, I appreciate Mulan (2009) for trying to adapt the legend as faithfully as possible. After watching the animation numerous times in my childhood, this live-action endeavour provides a breath of fresh air in terms of storyline. In contrast, the trailer footage from the upcoming Disney movie leaves me a bit unsatisfied. I am genuinely worried that the 2020 production will suffer from bland script and over-the-top CGI sequences.

With regard to performances, Vicky Zhao totally nails it as Mulan. Seeing her in a military armour, I thought to myself: “Yeah, she can totally pass as a guy in that.” Whereas outside of the outfit, she was a delicate and graceful woman! It is no wonder that Vicky was chosen over such super stars as Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi. Second best performer is Chen Kun as Wentai. I really liked the love story between the characters which makes the ending all the more heartbreaking.

Recommendations
If you are waiting to check out the Disney's live-action version, try to watch this one as well. Mulan (2009) is a decent historical epic which will make you look at the character of Hua Mulan from a different perspective. I hope that I will also be able to check out the numerous drama adaptations of the legend which were made over the years.Overall score: 8/10

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Gekisou Sentai Carranger (1996) [Tokusatsu Review]

Gekisou Sentai Carranger; or Forever Traffic Safety!
     Why are you saying something so unheroic and selfish, Dappu?! If you say that… If you say that… I love you guys!
Gekisou Sentai Carranger [Racing Squadron Carranger] marks Toei’s 20th production within the Super Sentai franchise. In addition, this a bit peculiar entry from the 1990s is also connected with one of the biggest urban myths of the series. How does Carranger hold up 24 years after its release? Let’s find out together.

Release Info

Developed by: Yoshio Urasawa Starring: Yuji Kishi, Yoshihiro Masujima, Yoshihiro Fukuda, Yuka Motohashi, Atsuko Kurusu

Language: Japanese Original Title: 激走戦隊カーレンジャー No. of eps.: 48

Synopsis
Dappu (Mari Maruta) is the last survivor of the Hazardian War. A young alien infiltrates the Universal Reckless Driving Tribe Bowzock, a group of savage invaders who run rampant across the cosmos. When the Bowzock gang arrives to blow up Earth, Dappu discovers that Carmagic power (a special force emanating from star constellations) is within the five workers of a car repair shop: Kyosuke (Yuji Kishi), Naoki (Yoshihiro Masujima), Minoru (Yoshihiro Fukuda), Natsumi (Yuka Motohashi), and Youko (Atsuko Kurusu). With the help of Dappu, the five individuals use the mythical power and transform into Carrangers. Their aim is to stop the Bowzock gang from wrecking havoc. However, in the course of their struggle, they have to fight against such formidable villains as President Gynamo (Hiroshi Otake), Instructor Ritchihiker (Nobuo Tanaka), and Reckless Dash Emperor Exhaus (Osamu Kobayashi). Apart from Dappu, the Carrangers are supported by such powerful allies as an intergalactic police officer Signalman (Hochu Otsuka) and the mysterious VRV Master (Kiyoshi Kobayasho).

Safety First
Gekisou Sentai Carranger was developed in 1996 by Yoshio Urasawa. Interestingly, this was the only Super Sentai season helmed by this writer (he went on to contribute a few scripts to Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger). In addition, Carranger was preceded by Chouriki Sentai Ohranger which was plagued by production problems caused by the Kobe Earthquake and the Sarin Gas Attack in 1995.

Due to unsatisfactory ratings, Toei significantly reduced the budget of Carranger which is reflected on the screen. This was the first series not recorded on film but on D-2 cassettes which resulted in heavy quality loss (I mentioned this in my Timeranger review as well). Additionally, the monster-of-the-week designs and the special effects are either hit or miss. So, in view of the significant decline of Super Sentai’s popularity, does it mean that Carranger is a bad season? Not at all.

Carragner was written as a parody of the franchise. To be honest, I appreciate the light-hearted tone of this season as well as zany comedy elements which spur out in every episode. The team is freaking awesome! I like them all as well as their chemistry and insanely catchy transformation sequence. I also love how the special cars morph into two(!) mechas. While initially I was afraid that the presence of Signalman would ruin the show, he actually became a hilarious supporting character.

Speaking of the characters I like, well I have to say that Natsumi Shinohara [YellowRacer] is my favourite yellow ranger of all time. There are only two episodes centering on her, but they are so good! On top of that, there is a love relationship between RedRacer and Zonette (Rika Nanase) (let’s call her a chaotic neutral villainess). Their bantering is fun to watch, and it is still a better love story than Twilight (2008). Furthermore, there’s a (kind of) sixth ranger joining the team for a while who turns out to be a space princess/magician/idol called Radietta Fanbelt (Megumi Hamamatsu/Misaki Sudo)!

Carranger is full of classic Super Sentai tropes, including the shake up, plot twists, and dramatic reveals. What is more, the protagonists have to face not one, not two, but three villains. All of that culminates in an epic two-part finale.

That being said, Carranger unfortunately fell victim to a common urban myth. That is to say, some overzealous fans frequently describe Carranger as the saviour of Super Sentai due to improving the ratings after the low performance of Ohranger. Even I believed in that story, while writing my Super Sentai editorial. The truth is that Carranger’s ratings were better only by 3% in comparison to Ohranger’s. The franchise at that time lived off toy sales, and the ratings started picking up for real during the run of Denji Sentai Megaranger (1997).

It has to be mentioned that Carrangers returned in two crossover episodes, Carranger vs. Ohranger (1997) and Megaranger vs. Carranger (1998). This straight to video specials have much better picture quality than the show itself and they are a joy to watch. In the crossover with Ohranger, the rangers have to cooperate with Chief Miura (Hiroshi Miyauchi) in order to save OhRed, whereas in the Megaranger episode, the teams join forces to save an alien being who can grant wishes. The latter special is especially engaging and action-packed. I still have yet to check out the Megaranger season.

Recommendations
All things considered, Gekisou Sentai Carranger is a fun and amusing Super Sentai entry that (most of the time) does not treat itself seriously. If you are looking for a light Tokusatsu pleaser and you don’t mind cheap special effects, then I recommend it. The show was released by Shout! Factor on DVD in 2017. Carrangers are the only team who bravely fought for traffic safety. Gekisou Accel Changer!Overall score: 8/10

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Peninsula (2020) [Film Review]

Peninsula; or, Never Let Me Go
     Thirty-one cars… passed us by. I thought the first car would pick us up… but there were 30 more passing by.
Peninsula is a sequel to the popular Korean zombie flick Train to Busan from 2016. While initially entitled Train to Busan 2: Peninsula, the first part of the title was quickly dropped and replaced with Train to Busan Presents. Indeed, Peninsula is a movie happening in the same universe as Train to Busan and Seoul Station (2016) anime, but with different characters and a brand new story. Let’s see how this new iteration of Koreans vs. bloodthirsty zombies holds up.
Release Info

Directed by: Yeon Sang Ho Starring: Gang Dong Won, Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Re, Lee Ye Won
Language: Korean, English Original Title: 반도 Runtime: 116 min

Synopsis
Four years after the outbreak of a deadly virus on the Korean Peninsula, Han Jung Seok (Gang Dong Won), an ex-military officer lives as a refugee in Hong Kong. His brother-in-law, Goo Chul Min (Kim Do Yoon), cannot forgive Jung Seok that he didn’t try hard enough to save his wife and child. Due to their low-life status, the two men are recruited by mobsters and given the following assignment: go back to South Korea and retrieve a truck loaded with 20 million dollars. Upon arriving there, the mission is interrupted by dangerous scavengers who built a little world of their own in the zombie city. Jung Seok and Chul Min are separated. Jung Seok ends up being saved by a family of survivors unaffiliated with the scavengers. He remembers that they are the same people whom he refused to help four years earlier. Together with Min Jung (Lee Jung Hyun), the mother of the family, Jung Seok sneaks into the scavengers’ camp to retrieve a satellite phone. The only chance for rescue...

Here We Go Again
I have to admit that I was a bit reluctant to check out Peninsula immediately after it premiered due to many unfavourable reviews which I read online. With incredibly low expectations, I finally watched the film and I was surprised that it is very much watchable.

Similarly to such films as Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) and Aliens (1986) (two sequels to classic masterpieces), the dangers and stakes are already established, so instead of rehashing them, the filmmakers should build on them. This is very much the case with Peninsula. We do not have yet another train survival story, but extensive world building. I liked the premise that those who managed to escape Korea are looked down by the rest of the world. Nevertheless, there are also people who were left behind and managed to stay alive. Even North Korea is referenced as the zombie-free place (obvious wink at one of the scenes from World War Z (2013)).

What I like the most about the film are the characters and their dynamics. Jung Seok is a decent guy struggling with traumatic past, Min Jung is a super cool protective mother saving the day, whereas the children Joon Yi and Yoo Jin (Lee Re and Lee Ye Won, respectively) and the grandpa (Kwon Hae Hyo) provide a much needed comic relief in tense situations. I particularly enjoyed the witty remarks of Ye Won’s character; this kid is gold!

With the bigger budget than the previous film, Peninsula also cranks up the action aspect to the maximum level. However, while watching hordes of zombies getting killed in many ways is certainly enjoyable, the film also goes a bit too far in a few places. The subplot about the scavengers living in a dilapidated city resembled too many popular post-apocalyptic flicks. At times, I was genuinely convinced that Peninsula is remaking chunks of Max Mad: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) and 28 Days Later (2002). In addition, the chase scene in the third act (lots of CGI) clearly drew inspiration from Fury Road (2015).

That being sad, Peninsula is not a bad film. I appreciated the pacing and also the significantly toned down melodrama (Train to Busan relied too much on harrowing moments). If you couldn’t come to terms with the ending of the first film, then the conclusion of Peninsula will certainly leave you satisfied.

With regard to performances, Lee Jung Hyun and Gang Dong Won certainly carry the weight of the picture. I remember Jung Hyun from Battleship Island (2017) and she is undeniably an awesome actress. As for Gang Dong Won, he obviously manned up after the last time I saw him in The Priests (2015). In addition, Lee Re and Lee Ye Won are wonderful as the children fighting the zombies.

At the end of this review, I think I should address the untimely coincidence that is repeated by other reviewers. That is to say, Peninsula is a movie (about a zombie virus) released in the year of the real global pandemic. Well, the movie is fiction and one should be able to differentiate it from real life. Peninsula was commissioned in 2018 and entered production in 2019, so it is not like director Yeon Sang Ho could see into the future and write a script based on the foreshadowings. If some people desperately want to see correlations between life and art, then I suggest watching Wolfgang Petersen’s Outbreak from 1995.

Recommendations
All in all, Peninsula may not be as good as Train for Busan, but it is still worth watching. I do not regret spending two hours on this film. It was a joyous ride, even though it was a one time experience. To be honest, I’m now waiting for the fourth instalment of the zombie saga in which North Korea steps into action. Please Supreme Leader, greenlit this film!Overall score: 7/10

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Everyday Hero (2017) [Film Review]

Everyday Hero (2017); or, Saving the Village
     I never thought I would come to a place like Li Tan Village. But now, when I’m together with the folks, working on these trivial, petty matters, I feel happy. I’m very happy!
Everyday Hero is a 2017 biopic based on the real-life figure of Guo Jian Nan, a local activist who was in charge of the Poverty Alleviation Programme. Director Zheng Hua crafts a calm story about a determined man who wanted to make a difference in a poverty-stricken Chinese countryside.

Release Info

Directed by:  Zheng Hua Starring: Sun Hong Tao, Ru Ping, Ai Liya

Language: Mandarin Runtime: 90 min

Synopsis
Meet Brother Nan (Sun Hong Tao). He is an ordinary engineer who is full of resilience and optimism. He is ordered by his superiors to go to a local village called Li Tan and prepare the construction for the factory. When it turns out that there’s not enough space for the factory, Nan decides to stay in the village and think of other ways to get it out of poverty. However, his duties begin to take a toll on his family life.

Pushing it to the limit
Everyday Hero seems to be just an educational picture showing how poverty alleviation committees work in China, but it is also a charming slice-of-life story. Brother Nan is a kind everyman who wants to do a good deed. The tone of the film and how the simple country life was presented reminded me about Bill Forsyth’s Local Hero (1983).

Evidently, the Chinese government wanted to underline the fact that poverty still exists in the rural parts of PRC and that they are going to fight it. Brother Nan is the symbolic government emissary who does everything in his power to help the villagers, yet most of the action to get things done comes from people he interacts with.

I particularly enjoyed the interactions of Nan with the locals as well as his relationship with a loving wife (Ru Ping) and a daughter. The idealism of Nan is the central focus the story, but some things could have been given greater exposition. At times, it is hard to understand some activities undertaken by Nan which are meant to help the village. More information would definitely benefit the script.

With regard to performances, the performance of the main lead actor, Sun Hong Tao, is solid. In addition, there was also a wonderful supporting part done by an actress Ai Liya who played a deaf-mute woman. She was a true highlight of the film.

Recommendations
All things considered, if you are in the mood for a peaceful biopic with picturesque Chinese landscapes, then Everyday Hero is the movie for you. It is interesting that the Chinese filmmakers devoted a film to a local activist rather than some kind of popular artist or celebrity. It is a thoughtful insight into modern topical problems. My thanks go to TriCoast Studios for sharing the screener. They released the film under their TriCoast Entertainment label. See the trailer below:Overall score: 7/10

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Lady Detective Shadow (2018) [Film Review]

Lady Detective Shadow; or, The Royal Constable
     Wrong! I’m Sima Feiyan. My friends in Jianghu gave me the name Ghost’s Sorrow.
Lady Detective Shadow is a 2018 Chinese production directed by Si Shu-bu and produced by Bey Logan and James Nan. It is a well-made Wushu flick with Shang Rong as the female lead.

Release Info

Directed by: Si Shu-bu Starring: Shang Rong, Zhang Ren-bo

Language: Mandarin Runtime: 90 min

Synopsis

Ancient China is torn between imperial dynasties and rough scoundrels. When a series of gruesome murders takes place in a remote desert area, the courageous Lady Detective Shadow (Shang Rong), who bears the title of the Royal Constable, is called to the scene. With her extraordinary deduction skills and martial arts, she tracks down the murderers. Little does she know, however, that there is a huge hunt going on for a lost treasure…

Shadow of the Night
The movie opens with a beautiful animation which provides the much-needed exposition: these are the times of lawlessness and Lady Detective Shadow is send to clean up the town. The main heroine feels like an amalgam of Sherlock Holmes and Detective Dee due to her outstanding wisdom, memory, and fight skills.

The undeniable advantage of the film is production design and well choreographed action sequences which really give the picture that classic Wushu feels. Even though Lady Detective Shadow was made on a tight budget (evident use of CGI in certain outdoor scenes), it certainly feels like an homage to good old Shaw Brothers productions.

The story itself is a classic morality tale which turns the third act into Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Apart from evident Indiana Jones feels, the narrative is more akin to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with its pacing and subtlety. Of course, Wushu films are not for everyone. If you can’t stand the slow pace, then it is better to give this film a pass.

Speaking about performances, I’m surprised at how much I liked Shang Rong as the main heroine. A sequel has to be made just because of her performance. Ideally, it would have been awesome to see a crossover in which Lady Detective Shadow meets Detective Dee.

Recommendations
If you are into a martial-arts adventure story, then give Lady Detective Shadow a chance. It is an entertaining flick that harkens back to old Chinese period pieces. My thanks go to TriCoast Studios for sharing the screener. They released the film under their DarkCoast label. See the trailer below: Overall score: 7/10

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The Dark Soul (2018) [Film Review]

The Dark Soul (2018); or, In Search of…
     This is not some American town. It’s Asia. An Asian guy looking for another Asian guy in Asian city, that’s one thing. If I walk the streets with some big American, people are going to start talking about me, not to me.
The Dark Soul is one of the latest filmmaking endeavors from director Bey Logan and producer James Nan. A low-key mystery drama with action elements may initially seem to a boring story, but it surprisingly turns out to be a pleasant viewing experience.

Release Info

Directed by: Bey Logan Starring: Kevin Brewerton, Lang-Xing Ye, Connie Song, Bianca Stam

Language: English, Mandarin Runtime: 90 min

Synopsis
An American man called Chandler (Kevin Brewerton) arrives in China in order to find a missing person. A police officials sends him to a local contact, Dickson Lee (Lang-Xing Ye), who is supposedly an expert in such cases. The partners with contrasting dynamics have to find their way through the brutal world of an international crime syndicate. In order to catch the bad guys, they must unravel the mystery connected with independent medical facilities in China.

The Chinese Connection
The Dark Soul plays on the familiar theme of “fish out of water” which was present in The Way of the Dragon as well as A Rumble in the Bronx. However, the situation is reversed this time and we get to see a Westerner trying to get a grip in the Orient.

Intriguing storyline and nicely choreographed fight sequences directly point that this movie may be a decent Jason Statham vehicle; nevertheless, the main leads: Kevin Brewerton and Lang-Xing Ye do a great job.

The story might be confusing at first (a foreigner is looking for a Chinese guy he has never met before), but things become clearer more or less halfway through the picture. I have to admit that the plot twist reminded me a bit about Jun’ya Sato’s classic thriller from 1976 Manhunt. However, I do not intend to share any spoilers.

Apart from great performances of the main leads, I also enjoyed the supporting parts done by Connie Song (as Karen Kan, the flower shop lady) and Bianca Stam who played Mrs. Zhou, the main villainess. She had a great fight scene in the finale and I wish she could have been utilized more in the picture.

Recommendations
All things considered, The Dark Soul is a better effort than Vixen (2018). Indeed, it is engaging and enjoyable for one viewing. In addition, I appreciate the “behind the scenes” montage during the end credits. It clearly shows the passion of the crew and their hard work that went into this big project made on a relatively small budget. My thanks go to TriCoast Studios for sharing the screener. They released the film under their DarkCoast label. See the trailer below:Overall score: 7/10

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The Fatal Contract (2018) [Film Review]

The Fatal  Contract; or, The Mystery of Cursed Paintings
     I saw how hurt he was. I told him to paint a few paintings to burn them to accompany her over the other side, then she will have friends. I never guessed that Bai Wei also had a bad fortune.
The Fatal Contract is a 2018 mystery thriller starring legendary Bai Ling, Tao Hong, and Zhao Yan Guo Zhang in the leading roles. It was directed by Tan Bing who stated the film was inspired by the story of an artist who only painted dead people. Let’s take a closer look at this low-key drama:

Release Info

Directed by: Tan Bing Starring: Bai Ling, Tao Hong, Zhao Yan Guo Zhang

Language: Mandarin Runtime: 90 min

Synopsis
After the suspicious death of an artist, a police detective (Xuan Miao) is looking for a suspect. She turns out to be a woman, Bai Wei (Bai Ling), who supposedly was a model for the artist. However, Bai Wei is nowhere to be found. She actually is with a local painter turned barkeeper, Tu La (Zhao Yan Guo Zhang) whom she marries. In order to avoid being arrested by the police and protect the love of her life, Bai Wei signs a contract with a wealthy art collector Lu Li (Tao Hong). Lu promises that she will help Bai Wei escape. In return, Wei has to ensure that Tu La will paint a specific piece of art for Lu. The couple is unaware that Lu Li collects very special paintings painted by special artists…

All the world’s a stage
I have to admit that The Fatal Contract has strong David Lynch undertones. The movie leaves the viewers in the dark at the very beginning, but it compensates its mysteriousness with a distinct Gothic atmosphere. Especially the lighting and production design enhance this feeling.

The story may be a bit confusing, but it makes the viewers keep guessing what will happen next. Fortunately, the twist in the finale reveals everything. The Fatal Contract interestingly examines the peculiarities of art and its importance in the present day. The relationship between an artist and his creation is the prevalent theme of the film and it should not go unnoticed.

Interestingly, The Fatal Contract marks Bai Ling’s first Chinese production in twenty years. The actress is perhaps best known to Western viewers from such movies as Crank 2 (2009), Taxi 3 (2002), and Red Corner (1997). She still looks amazing at the age of 52 and The Fatal Contract is a true showcase of her acting talent. In addition, another scene-stealer is Tao Hong as a bitter, yet mysterious art collector. It is such a shame that she mostly appears in supporting roles nowadays.

Recommendations
I recommend The Fatal Contract to anyone who is into a slow-paced and thoughtful mystery drama. I strongly hope that Tan Bing’s talent will not be wasted on straight-to-DVD flicks and that he will continue making movies as interesting as The Fatal Contract. My thanks go to TriCoast Studios for sharing the screener. They released the film under their DarkCoast label. See the trailer below:Overall score: 8/10

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