GrowlersWorld - Watching Dragon, Hidden Growler - Chinese & East Asian Film Reviews

Watching Dragon, Hidden Growler

INDEX

Many Chinese and East Asian films are very successful due to their fantastic creativity and innovation.

Here are a selection that deserve your attention.

This article was also featured in Chinatown - The Magazine.

Rawle Austin presents...

East Asian films for you!

Where can you get hold of the latest East Asian movies from a company, which is also an expert in the genre?

Tai Seng Entertainment (UK).

I recently had the pleasure of attending a screening of The Ring Virus held by this exciting new company at London’s Soho Hotel.

The Ring Virus is a Korean adaptation of the classic Japanese novel, Ringu by Suzuki Koji.

The same novel gave birth to the successful Japanese horror film The Ring.

Having not seen the Japanese original or it’s Hollywood remake I could view this with a fresh perspective.

Overall I found The Ring Virus very atmospheric and creepy in places though a little slow to start.

The pace picked up mid way through and led to a truly chilling ending.

The performances were adequate but at times lacked depth. The following quote sums up the film beautifully.

‘The film followed a journalist, Sun –joo, who investigates the mysterious death of her niece and discovers that she and her friends have all died under mysterious circumstances during a recent trip.

On visiting their chalet, she uncovers several notes including “you’ll regret it if you see it” and “we shouldn’t have watched it”.

Even more terrifying, Sun-joo uncovers a video tape and watches a bizarre collection of images and words concluding with an onscreen message “Whoever watches this will die in exactly one week, if you want to live…”

The message ends abruptly.

With the help of the eccentric and unconventional Dr Choi, Sun-joo must solve this deadly mystery before she herself becomes the next victim of this extraordinary and terrifying curse.’

So there you have it. Enough information to whet your appetite and watch this film.

Now. About Tai Seng…

Sections of the following have been freely adapted from Tai Seng company information, with permission.

Tai Seng Entertainment (U.K.) is the British branch of the largest East Asian movie distributor in the United States.

These are movies that were originally produced in Hong Kong, China, Korea and across the Far East.

Featuring a wide range of genres, Tai Seng’s films will be distributed across different platforms including cinema and DVD.

The Tai Seng library boasts over 2,500 film titles in languages as diverse as Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Korean, Spanish and English.

Tai Seng has created and developed an entire industry and market in the United States and has now brought that wealth of experience to British shores.

Headed up by General Manager Joey Leung, Sales and Marketing Manager Cheryl Hutchinson and the entire team, Tai Seng Entertainment (U.K.) is looking to expand into Europe in the near future.

Tai Seng is an Asian owned company distributing East Asian films and is a pioneer in this field.

‘Tai Seng has produced and released its own movie feature, RED TROUSERS – THE LIFE OF THE HONG KONG STUNTMEN.

It first premiered in Hollywood in March 2004 and will premiere in U.K. cinemas and various European film festivals in 2005.

RED TROUSERS stars renowned martial artist Robin Shou (best known for his performance and choreography in Mortal Kombat) and features international icon Sammo Hung of the Martial Law TV series, Drunken Master and Eastern Condors appearing as himself.’

The film has been described as ‘a dazzling combination of documentary and futuristic martial arts adventure!’

With Chief Executive Officer and President, Bernard Soo at the helm, Tai Seng’s American base is led and staffed by professionals with over 15 to 20 years experience in the home entertainment industry.

It has 80 staff and operates its own editing, production, duplication and shipping facilities.

Before Hollywood “discovered” Hong Kong movies and movie talent, Tai Seng was already disseminating the features, and continues to be the preeminent and the best source of Hong Kong and Asian entertainment in the United States and now the United Kingdom.

Tai Seng Entertainment (UK) released its first DVD release,

Cop on a mission (Hong Kong, 2001, Drama/Action, 104 mins) on 21 February 2005 and was followed thereafter by:

Run 2 U (March 2005)

A tale of Korean gangsters on the run.

South Korea, 2003, Drama, 86 mins