Ika resuraa - The Calamari Wrestler - Minoru Kawasaki . Japan - (2004)

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428662/ 

Plot from Wikipedia: "The magical realist plot revolves around a professional wrestler who, after developing a terminal illness, becomes a giant squid-like creature. While he finds some success in the ring, he craves respect outside it."

Minoru Kawasaki is the MAN ! Not only did he went on making insane movies about Calamari wrestler or psychotic executive Koala ("Executive koala", his masterpiece in my opinion, review coming up !), but he also directed nonsensical comedy "The Rug Cop", one of the bonkiest jap-comedy of all time...What can I say ? This man is a master. With very little money (often no more than a Video production), he makes incredible movies, that are both ridiculous and extremely touching. What's happening is that everything is told like having people turning into Calamari or Squilla was perfectly normal. Therefore, the comical part is not exploited at all. The director leaves us laughing alone and go on making his movie about real "persons" having feelings and emotions. What a genius idea ! Needless to say that some of the fights in this movie are hilarious and so out -there that your belly hurts. And it's not the seafood.

Can't wait to watch his last one "The Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit"...   

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Japanese trailer:

Jigureul jikyeora! a.k.a Save the Green Planet - Joon-Hwan Jang - Korea - (2003)

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354668/ 

Plot from Imdb: "Byeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world."

An incredible mix of genres, in this marvelously demented flick: SciFi, comedy, thriller, gore, etc...All of them  really well handled ! When I first saw this movie, I was mesmerized...I started  expecting a SciFi crazy comedy, then when it went on the be a gruesome torture flick, I was lost. And then on and on. If craziness is often linked with Japanese cinema or Cat III Hong-Kong movies, well we'll have to count in the Korean cinema, from now on. Such liberty and invention...It's a geek dream of a movie !

On another level, the movie is incredibly well made on all technical aspect, witch is very impressive for a first time director. I'm definitively looking forward to see this one again...for the third time.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 Trailer:

Porn legend Jamie Gillis is dead....R.I.P

He'll be remembered by perverts, like us, for his roles in The Defiance of Good (1975), The Opening of Misty Beethoven (1976) (with the gorgeous Constance Money, rahhhh) and Water Power (1977) amongst others. Respect.

 

  

Sei Donne Per l'Assassino - Mario Bava - Italia - (1964)

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058567/ 

Plot from Imdb:"Italian thriller about a shadowy killer in black murdering fashion models through brutal methods"

What a movie ! What an overwhelming demonstration of the formal genius of Bava ! If you need to see only a few Giallis, watch this one amongst them, it's really the quintessential Giallo  from cult director Mario Bava.  Describing it would be painful as it is almost perfect, in every way, the only less interesting part is the actual police investigation. The rest is amazingly well shot, well choreographed, well lighted, etc...there are a few amazing shots during the movie, the long dolly shot through the fashion workshop at the end is really impressive. A real treat for the lover of this genre, it contains all the right ingredients: double faced characters, beautiful but dangerous women, a iconic masked killer (and his black gloves, a mandatory item in a Giallio), some Gothic mansion, etc... The main title of the soundtrack is mesmerizing and fits perfectly the atmosphere. An absolute classic ! Difficult to believe when it was released, it was a failure. Anyway, grazie mille Signore Bava.

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

   

  

  

  

English Trailer: 

Opening credits + music:

 

The Untold Story - Danny Lee/Herman Yau - HK - (1993)

 

a.k.a "Bat sin fan dim ji yan yuk cha siu bau"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103743/ 

Plot from Imdb: "In 1978 in Hong Kong, a grisly murder takes place. Eight years later, on a Macao beach, kids discover the severed hands of a fresh victim. A squadron of coarse, happy-go-lucky cops investigate, and suspicion falls on Wong Chi Hang, the new owner of Eight Immortals Restaurant, which serves delicious pork bao. The hands belong to the missing mother of the restaurant's former owner; he and his family have disappeared; staff at the restaurant continue to go missing; and, Wong can't produce a signed bill of sale: but there's no evidence. The police arrest Wong and try to torture him into a confession. Can they make him talk? And what was in those pork bao?"

Ladies & Gents, this is another masterpiece from the most outrageous duo from HK: Herman Yau and Anthony Wong. They will be responsible a few years later of the movie that made me love Cat III forever: "Ebola Syndrome". Must I add that Anthony Wong is my favorite Chinese actor of all-time ? 

That said, let's see. For starters, you'll have: Gruesome murders, pork chop buns made with human flesh. The main course will be a all family slaughtered in front of each others (including lots of kids) and for desert, some  police and prison torture... Now that's what I call a interesting "Menu". 

There is simply no word to describe this flick, it's everything we love about Cat III: offensive, sick, twisted, horribly funny, disgusting, cheap, out of this world and perfectly appealing to our sick side. Did I mention that I have the Thai version of  "The Untold Story" poster in my office ?  And I prove it with a picture, see last pic (thanks a million to Alex, my partner in crime). Advise of the day: see it, while eating some dodgy Chinese food. It'll add a nice tasty touch to your viewing experience. Bon appétit !

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

   

  

  

  

  

 

Chines trailer:

International trailer:

Dekochari - Crazy Bicycle Tunning - Japan

From Pink Tentacles :