3 Extremes
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.09 You Save: $8.89 (59%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.99 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of 3 Extremes
Movie Review: Fun, scary, different
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great escape from the teen horror we are getting used to lately. Miike's is one of the most poetic horror movies ever to be made. Cut looks absolutely fabulous, but goes nowhere. That guy has lots of great ideas, but no real idea about what is scary. Dumplings is one heck of a sick idea. This has some of the best editing ever. Don't waste your time with the extended version. This is much more streamlined, and contains a much more startling finish.Movie Review: 1 was definitely extreme
Summary: 3 Stars
*3 Extremes* is an anthology of 3 Asian directors giving a short film.
The first one was "Dumpling" and I thought this was the most gruesome of them all. Let me forewarn you not to eat, especially Chinese food, while watching this particular short because that is exactly what I did. I had to put down my food until this movie was over.
Anyways, "Dumpling" is about a woman who is known for her dumplings that seem to bring restorative powers of youth. An aging actress has sought out this woman for the dumplings. Over time, she starts to notice that she gets a little younger. Of course, there is a price attached for wanting to become younger.
"Cut" was ok. It was the least favorite of mine. Maybe I overanalyze this one but I felt that the ending ruined the whole point of the movie. Anyways, a movie director is captured and imprisoned in his own set that he was currently filming. On his right is his wife who is "stringed" to a piano. On his left is a bound and gagged girl. The kidnapper is deranged and wants a confession out of the director and wants him to strangle the girl to death. For every 5 minutes that passes and the girl isn't strangled, the wife loses a finger.
This one is sort of like watching "Tales from the Crypt" because something goes awry towards the end.
"Box" was interesting. A woman gets this strange recurring dream and then she gets a visit from her dead sister. Then, you're taken back to the time when the woman and her sisters were little girls. They were acrobatic dancers for a man at a one-tent circus.
One evening, a girl decides to tease her sister by locking her in a box. When that is done, an argument ensues between the girl and the man. During the argument, a fire breaks out and quickly engulfs the box with the trapped sister. The man jumps into the fire but he never makes it back. The girl runs away, never looking back.
Years later, the woman is having dreams about her past. Plus, someone is sending her reminders of the past. If you really pay attention, you can probably figure it out before the ending is revealed.
Overall, I thought this film was alright. Nothing really scary or suspenseful. Just gruesome...with "Dumpling". I was telling a friend of mine about this. He told me there is an extended/completed version of "Dumpling". So, I'm curious to check that out.
Movie Review: Three Extremes might be a misnomer ...
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to agree with the previous reviewer ... unless you are an ardent fan of Asian horror, I'd begin my collection elsewhere.
"Dumplings" is well cast. Both actresses engage the viewer fully. And, by all means, the topic is deeply taboo and evokes a visceral response. (I'm willing to bet the crunching of baby-bones has caused more than one viewer to swoon). And the conclusion, well, it was a good as could be expected ... perhaps even better. (Though the tongue thing has me at a bit of a loss). The eye-contact with the viewer in the final seconds is smart ... as if to say, "Would you do anything different for beauty?" I guess, I just wish Fruit Chan had made this a full-length film! 4 out of 5 stars.
"Cut" has a thoroughly post-modern spin. It is clever and visually stunning. It is, a bit predictable; however, the director's "playfulness" easily compensates for the obviousness of the film-short. I really enjoyed the cyclical nature of the piece. It is uncanny, to say the least. Technically speaking, it is a 4 out of 5. As far as story-telling is concerned, a 2 out of 5.
"Box" was the most disappointing. I am a huge Takashi Miike fan ("Audition" and "Happiness of the Katakuris" are two of my most beloved Asian films!) Still, even he could not work his usual magic on this unpredictably "predictable" piece (as in, when it concludes you are like, "Ummmmm, really?! How painfully 'Twilight Zone'!!") (And, yes, the director is quite familiar with Western works). Why this piece may interest fans of the director is his treatment of women. Much like "Audition," the viewer encounters a young woman who (seems to) have endured a strange, unpleasant childhood. It haunts her adult years. Only, there is a wretched spin at the very end (which you may or may not find amusing. You be the judge). Visually, the short film is a 4 out of 5. The story 1 out of 5.
So, if you are a fan of the genre, definitely watch it. There are many gratifying moments for enthusiasts! But, if this is one of your first forays into Asian horror, return to this collection once you have a firmer foundation. (I'm not insinuating that you will fail to understand this collection ... I think anyone can understand these film-shorts ... I am just afraid that they will not make the best impression with you!) Try "Audition," "Ichi the Killer," or even "The Eye" and then return to this one.
Movie Review: secret recipe
Summary: 3 Stars
3 extremes is a one-off epic feature length omnibus that showcases 3 short horror films by 3 prominent directors (Takeshi Miike being the most renowned), each hailing from different Asian nations.
The series commences with 'Dumplings'; a subterranean tale that speaks of a desperate middle-aged woman's pursuit for an age-defying remedy. Dumplings exploits the most pressing and easily offensive themes and gruesome imagery of the three shorts. Even though Dumplings may be considered insensitive and vulgar towards its culmination, the stylized cinematography and the spine-chilling minimalist score successfully evokes a very disturbing atmosphere and the director's talent in the genre of exotic horror in undeniably unique.
'Cut', in my personal opinion, is the weakest and most tedious short by comparison. The premise is cliched and uninteresting. A crazed man breaks into the mansion of a rich young director who previously cast him as an extra in most of his films. He holds the director and his wife hostage in his living room where he tortures them in a long dialogue driven showdown which quickly grows tiresome and is somewhat reminiscent of scenes in earlier American thriller and horror films with a charismatic villain, such as 'Silence of the Lambs' - but the extensive scene in Cut closely resembles 'Saw'. The conclusion is far-fetched and offers the viewer very little in the way of explanation or exposition. The performance of the villain is laughable which is possibly half intentional but in no way scary or provocative.
Takeshi Miike's Box would be the only short most Eastern cinema-goers would skip to first. Box is closely linked to 'Audition' as far as style is concerned. It is slow-paced, atmospheric and contains vague minimal dialogue. Emphasis is placed on objects and locations which are touched upon further as the narrative progresses but much of the supposed context is left to interpretation. Box contrasts against the other two shorts as it is a lot darker and mysterious but its ending is most odd.
Movie Review: From their nightmare to your dvd player.
Summary: 3 Stars
Three short films by three different Asian director that seek to be, according to the commentary track on Takashi Miike's "Box," `what a horror story is supposed to be.' The answer, as evidenced by these three short movies, is macabre suspense story, heavy atmospherics, demented lead characters, surrounded by occasional touches of graphic gore.
The first movie, "Dumpling," by Chinese director Fruit Chan is the best. It's about a woman who will do, and eat, anything to retain her youthful beauty. Genuinely suspenseful, although the movie tips its hand early on explaining what exactly it is she eats to stay beautiful. This feels like an old, old story, a twisted nursery rhyme without a happy ending. Most pleasant of all is the beautiful Bai Ling as the procuress in all this. She's got a fresh, young-Shirley MacLaine thing going that keeps this one from sinking under its own grossness.
"Cut," by South Korean director Chan-wook Park, is a whole lot less compelling. Weird movie extra kidnaps good-guy director and his wife and slowly tortures and torments them on a deserted movie set. Talky, static, and pointless.
Miike directed the last entry, "Box." A young woman has strange dreams and painful memories of her childhood. Lot of boxes in this movie. Has an O. Henry surprise ending that detracts from the overall effect. With suspense and eerieness the objective here, you can imagine how slowly this one, like `Cut,' moves.
The production values are high and none of the episodes were terrible. If the final two had been nearly as good as `Dumplings' I probably would kick in a couple more stars, but as is it a lukewarm three stars seems about right.