tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post3402235431028476898..comments2024-03-15T20:14:57.052-04:00Comments on Direct to Video Connoisseur: Lat sau san taam aka Hard Boiled (1992)Direct to Video Connoisseurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02310858965138247572noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-45193548177716276762010-06-17T20:40:02.744-04:002010-06-17T20:40:02.744-04:00Hey, by all means, I love (and own) Hard Target as...Hey, by all means, I love (and own) Hard Target as well. I guess I only used that one because it was his first US film, and it was so different, like almost hard to recognize Woo in it.<br /><br />Hard Boiled unfortunately doesn't put asses in the seats the way something like Face/Off or Broken Arrow does, but as you said, with the success of Transporter and The Matrix, hopefully it will.Direct to Video Connoisseurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02310858965138247572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-17245321044712744902010-06-17T19:47:18.590-04:002010-06-17T19:47:18.590-04:00Yes, JD hit the nail on the head about Woo's u...Yes, JD hit the nail on the head about Woo's unfortunate venture into Hollywood. And he wasn't the only one, Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, Simon Yam, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark... I just don't think Hollywood knew what to do with HK talent outside of its element, and it wasn't until later efforts where Hollywood melded with the Hong Kong way of doing things (Transporter, the Matrix) that I think it became more successful. <br /><br />And, for the record, I will admit that I absolutely dig Hard Target; it's definitely not "action as high art" Matt, but its without a doubt one of those all-time cheese fest classics.elementarybeatboxoperator,storylikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15645449097453423234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-11575863813422604862010-06-16T16:20:19.336-04:002010-06-16T16:20:19.336-04:00Exactly. And that's why, for the most part, Wo...Exactly. And that's why, for the most part, Wong Kar-Wai has stayed away as well (MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS wasn't really a Hollywood film but it wasn't his greatest effort either).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-85972682656615469862010-06-16T10:53:35.436-04:002010-06-16T10:53:35.436-04:00That makes total sense what you're saying JD, ...That makes total sense what you're saying JD, and points to why Almodovar has made the right decision to stay in Spain instead of come to Hollywood.Direct to Video Connoisseurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02310858965138247572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-13752124851010369642010-06-16T09:40:59.341-04:002010-06-16T09:40:59.341-04:00HARD BOILED is hands down my fave action film of a...HARD BOILED is hands down my fave action film of all-time, just edging out DIE HARD. As you so rightly point out, Woo's film is action film as high art! The film just hits you with one amazing, over-the-top action set piece after another and just when you think the film can't get any better, Woo does it again with the astouding hospital siege/showdown including the now legendary three-minute take where Chow and Tony Leung take out baddies without an edit. Amazing stuff!<br /><br />As for Woo's drop-off in quality once he hit the States. The studios had no idea what they had and treated him like some kind of newbie, director for hire - case in point, saddling him with Jean-Claude Van Damme (who seems to be the gateway drug for a lot Hong Kong action maestros into the the U.S.) on HARD TARGET. Sam Raimi has said that he was even called in by the studio to take over if Woo messed things up and Raimi basically tore them a new one for even daring to do such a thing.<br /><br />And then, BROKEN ARROW he was still treated with kid gloves but at least allowed to insert his style a bit more. It wasn't really until FACE/OFF (his best U.S. film) that he was really allowed to cut loose with his trademark style. Sadly, for me, it feels like a highlight reel of his best moves from THE KILLER, HARD BOILED, etc. I still enjoy the film but still...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-24623239942558095152010-06-15T20:49:46.522-04:002010-06-15T20:49:46.522-04:00I'm holding off on my top 10 of the 90s until ...I'm holding off on my top 10 of the 90s until I see Unforgiven again, just because I saw it when it came out, back when I didn't appreciate the Western as a genre as much as I do now. I don't have an 80s one because I feel like, being born in 1979, I didn't experience the decade as much as I'd need to to do a list like that justice, though I guess I could just list my faves. I would say, in your 80s one, Raging Bull and Ran are conspicuously absent. (I won't give you a hard time about Fanny and Alexander or Do the Right Thing, because I don't think there's as much your bag as they are mine.)<br /><br />My ten favorite films of the oughts I have here at the DTVC, reprinted from the original Tumblr post. Check it out <a href="http://www.mattmovieguy.com/p/my-ten-favorite-films-of-oughts.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.Direct to Video Connoisseurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02310858965138247572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196474091232449207.post-75792078090107576852010-06-15T19:53:46.834-04:002010-06-15T19:53:46.834-04:00Oh yes this would probably be in my list of all ti...Oh yes this would probably be in my list of all time favorite movies. Also I would put it as one of the best of the 1990s. If I had to pick 10, my list would include Pulp Fiction, Shawhank Redemption, Fresh, Goodfellas, Casino,Saving Private Ryan,A Bullet In The Head (Another excellent Woo movie), Reservoir Dogs,Q&A and Full Contact. (Plus Hard Boiled) <br /><br />For the 80s-The Vanishing,The Terminator, Robocop, Amadeus, A Better Tomorrow, Once Upon A Time In America,Star 80, Prince Of The City,Videodrome and Southern Comfort. <br /><br />For the 00s-Old Boy, Ichi The Killer, Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Sin City, The Wrestler, Lost In Translation, Trumbo,Kill Bill Volume 2 ,Grizzly Man and No Country For Old Men. <br /><br />Anyway for Hard Boiled (I deliberately left such for conversation and encourage you to put such out.) it's an awesome movie. I just what can I say that hasn't been said.Kennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01664118447662130586noreply@blogger.com