sccoverton

I write this review only to provide some sense of balance, as at the time of writing there is only one other review on here.

I have no particular opinion on whether 9/11 was an inside job or not, neither do I believe in the New World Order or anything else like that. I was attracted to this film by its length and by how its arguments are constructed using publicly-available documentation, news footage, and the arguments of its /detractors/. There are some talking heads in support of the overall argument, but they are kept to a minimum. It is, in a way, an excellent example of the socratic method, whereby simply questioning a person (or organisation, or government) on its stance can cause it to break down and refute itself.

As such, it is a compelling watch. I watched it in two sittings in one day, and I didn't really feel the time. The arguments are carefully chosen, supported and summarised, each one with a single, simple question aimed at the proponents of the official story. Whatever you believe about 9/11, this is an admirably constructed documentary that is very clear in its purpose and demonstrates the kind of research and insight that is only possible in the Internet age, where disparate people of a shared mind can combine their time and resources and produce something way beyond the sum of their parts.

And to be honest, if you watch this you will at least be made aware of the very fluid nature of "truth" in a late-capitalist world, if not entirely swayed to the side of those who question the official 9/11 story. I recommend this to anyone who cares - or thinks they care - about truth, freedom and democracy.

Naked Comes the Huntress opens with three travellers in the snowy wastes of Mongolia, hunting for valuable ginseng that will make them rich. As they battle the elements and the threat of starvation they come across a woman lying naked (but very much alive) in the snow surrounded by the wild minks of the region. The treasure-hunters approach her and fall into her trap, and ultimately discover that this woman will tear them apart and lead one of them to murder and betrayal.

If my synopsis sounds good, that's because the individual parts are, in themselves, quite appealing. The illusive (and naked) Mien Mien, the snowy wastes, the three travellers, the legend of the ginseng that will bring them untold riches, the kung fu (promised on the DVD cover). But the film fails to deliver on every single one of these. Even as the story progresses and further appealing elements are introduced - such as corrupt monks and the possibility of mental breakdown - it fails to deliver on these. For example, the film opens with the travellers depicted in vast snowy vistas, evoking Lawrence of Arabia at times, and yet by the end of the film these have been ditched for back-lot and studio locations, all of which are conspicuously snow-free. There is very little kung fu, and what there is is quite pedestrian. The ginseng becomes a very simple plot contrivance (not even a MacGuffin), and the Huntress, together with her Nakedness, very soon lose all their mystery. She even disappears out of the story for long periods after the first act and is soon reduced to a supporting character. All of which makes this quite a dull watch and a missed opportunity, considering the rather intriguing first 10 minutes.

The best thing to be said about this film is the characters of the travellers and how their relationships shift and change as their loyalties are tested from within and without. That this kind of character development could be achieved within such a dull plot is surprising, and suggests that this film was compromised by someone further down the line than the writer.

This film is notable perhaps for having a Chinese actress doing nude scenes, rather than bringing a Japanese actress in as was (and still is) the usual practice.

Not worth watching, unless you're a completist of some sort.

Raymond (Raymond Wong) is a introverted office clerk with the dreaded Seven Year Itch. Endlessly badgered by his live-in "wife", Sylvia (Sylvia Chang), who is obsessed with Chinese opera, by his busy-body mother-in-law, and by his reckless brother-in-law John (Eric Tsang), Raymond spends much of his day ogling girls in the street and in the office and listening to his colleagues' stories of their sexual conquests. When his boss offers him a promotion and business trip to Singapore, Raymond realises he can finally get his marriage to Sylvia registered, whilst also getting a chance to scratch that itch of his once and for all. Alone on the flight to Singapore, Raymond meets Siu Hung (Nina Li), a petty diamond thief, who has singled him out for flirtation that is far from harmless, and soon their fates are inextricably intertwined...

Two of Robert McKee's story "commandments" are: 'Thou shalt not make life easy for the protagonist' and 'Thou shalt seek the end of the line, taking characters to the farthest reaches and depth of conflict imaginable within the story's own realm of probability'. And this film really takes those maxims to heart! What starts out as a mild and charming-because-of-its-age sex comedy turns into a grand farce as Raymond faces the multiplicating consequences of his flirtation with Siu Hung in Singapore. The amount of coincidences, bad luck, wrong-place- wrong-time, and misunderstandings that conspire against Raymond are terrific, and yet at the end we genuinely care for his character and want him not only to do the right thing, but also to have the right thing come to him.

There are plenty of visual gags, some of which are predictable (naked man perched outside a hotel window anyone?) and some of which are laugh- out-loud funny, and the actors do their comedy with aplomb, especially Eric Tsang in a small role. Maggie Cheung also makes a quick appearance. It's easy to see how Johnnie To became as well respected as he has done with early work like this. Definitely worth a watch.

Also, watch the end credits for an amusing "warning" about the Seven Year Itch!