Movie Review: Super Typhoon//超強台風

I've been watching some HKIFF films. Not as many as a lot of people would think, but a few. I may write reviews, I may not. Explanation to follow.

I also caught a Filmart screening. When I saw the poster forSuper Typhoon, I figured at least I ought to check it out, since I was certain that a Chinese disaster film would be different from an American one or a Japanese one, etc.Then I saw the trailer, which shows without a doubt that this was not an expensive film to make. Still, it displayed a certain amount of bravado.

Also, the person hawking the film at Filmart, as well as theotherperson that the first person dragged over from another desk to interpret for me, seemed very keen on me watching the film, which was screening that night. I would have felt terrible telling them no.

Complain as much as I do about the Chinese government in general and the part of it that is killing Hong Kong cinema in particular (Shinjuku Incidentsynopsis: China good. Japan Bad. Repeat as necessary), I really have no beef with Chinese individuals (other than a few people, and it's not their ethnicity that renders them tools in my eyes).

There was a fairly big ceremony for the screening, which was supposedly invitation-only. Shamefully, I admit I played the Gweilo Card and was immediately let in without an invitation. The director spoke, I think some government official spoke, people drank wine and ater finger food.

I drank orange juice.

Then we filed in for the screening.

I constantly tell my friends (both of them) and others that I much prefer my didacticism served unflinchingly and shamelessly. I likeChampions, the Dicky Cheung movie. Because it made no bones about being patriotic. Neither doesSuper Typhoon. It's wildly melodramatic, filled with exaggerated pathos, poor acting, and a lot of patriotism and righteousness.

Ilovedit.

Don't get me wrong. In a lot of ways, this film is so bad that you could sell it as a parody of disaster movies and no one would know the difference. But in it's shameless cheesiness, it was one of the most entertaining and hilarious films I have seen in a long time. I found myself wondering why I wasn't hating this party-approved monstrosity and instead was laughing uproariously. And not even in my usual mean, crass way. I want to own this film on DVD. It would make a great DVD to show your friends because it is laugh-inducing from the credits.

There's a part of it that I am dying to tell you about, but I insist that you see it for yourself. I don't want to ruin what may be one of the best comic moments you see in the last 20 years.

Of course, it's not supposed to be funny, which makes it moreso.

And at least they didn't blame the typhoon on Japan.

Speaking of whom...

Most of 'my' HKIFF movies this year are Japanese. A friend prevailed upon me to watch some of them, and I'm glad I did. But I try not to talk about it too much for fear of raising Chinese ire.

Sean's Weird Gratitude Moment:

I went to see Echo of Silence based solely on the promotional photo from the program:I'd have watched thatphotofor 90 minutes (and have). I can admit that today.

I can also admit that I was very happy to find out that Saki Takaoka is 36. We all know I'm trying to age gracefully, so being enthralled by someone who is younger than me by single digits is something to be grateful for.

The naked pictures of her on the internet are not.