September 9, 1993
Dave (1993) ***
An amusing comedy with Kevin Kline impersonating the president of United States. Full of hilarious, self-reflexive jokes (including Oliver Stone coming up with a not-so-paranoid conspiracy theory).
Butterfly And Sword (1993) ***
A "wu xia pian" pic from Hong Kong, whose action sequences were directed by Ching Siu-Tung. Directed by Michael Mak and produced by Chu Yin-Ping. A great closing-credits song.
The Blue Kite (1993) ***
L'Arbre, le maire et la mediathèque (1993) ***
Very philosophical, gently satiric film set in a quiet French village.
Once Upon A Time In China III (1993) ***
This isn't the final installement of the "Once Upon A Time In China" saga (there were two more films after that), but it is the last "Once Upon A Time In China" movie starring Jet Li (before Chiu Cheuk took over).
The Wonderful, Horrible Life Of Leni Riefenstahl (1993) ***
What's Love Got To Do With It (1993) ***
"Let It Shine" *
"I Know You Love Me Baby" *
"Make Me Over" *
"Rock Me Baby" *
"It's Gonna Work Out Fine" *
"A Fool In Love" **
"Shake It Baby" *
"River Deep, Mountain High" ***
"Proud Mary" ***
"Nutbush City Limits" *
"Disco Inferno" **
"What's Love Got To Do With It" ***
"I Don't Wanna Fight" **
The Wedding Banquet (1993) ***
Les Visiteurs (1993) ***
Silly, but screamingly funny comedy about two medieval knights getting stranded in present-day France.
Trois couleurs: Bleu (1993) ***
Very stylish, slow-moving drama about a young woman who looses her family and withdraws from the world.
32 Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993) ***
Meditative, beautiful film about the great Canadian pianist.
Tai Chi Master (1993) ***
Sword Stained With Royal Blood (1993) ***
A successful mixture of kung-fu and slapstick comedy. An entertaining film from Hong Kong.
Remains Of A Woman (1993) ***
One of two films based on the notorious Patrick Wong case (the other being "Legal Innocence"). This film is better directed, more accurate and less exploitive. The acting is superb (especially Carrie Ng and Loletta Lee), the pacing is swift, and the murder sequence (presented as a flashback) is haunting. But the absence of sex and nudity might disappoint some fans - they might want to check the other, sleazier film. Box office: 3 million HK.
Philadelphia (1993) ***
Interesting courtroom drama about a lawyer with AIDS suing his former employers for wrongful dismissal.
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) ***
"The Thin Man" meets "Rear Window" in this post-modernist Woody Allen comedy-mystery.
The Last Action Hero (1993) ***
Weak action film, but a superb comedy - self-reflexive and almost brechtian in its daring criticism of Hollywood cliches.
In The Line Of Fire (1993) ***
Tense drama about a wacko trying to assassinate the president of United States.
Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993) ***
Almost no plot, but plenty of jokes in this funny spoof of "Rambo" and "Apocalypse Now".
The Heroic Trio (1993) ***
Three butt-kicking heroines (Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui) join forces to fight an evil kidnapper.
El Mariachi (1993) ***
Made on a shoe-string budget by first-time director Robert Rodriguez, this well-directed, superbly photographed and perfectly edited film was among the most astounding discoveries of the year.
Dazed And Confused (1993) ***
George Lucas' "American Graffiti" was a nostalgic look at 1963 made in 1973. This film is a nostalgic look at 1977 made in 1993. ***
Iron Monkey (1993) ***
Martial arts film from Hong Kong, directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, and starring Donnie Yen.
August 8, 1993
Germinal (1993) **
Marie (1993) **
A young girl (Marie Gillain) takes care of a little boy whose father have just died and whose mother lives in Portugal.
Ma saison preferée (1993) **
Interesting film about a complex relationship between a brother and a sister (Daniel Auteuil and Catherine Deneuve).
July 7, 1993
Daughter Of Darkness (1993) ***
This just might be the most demented film of all time, shocking even by Hong Kong's outlandish standards. Lily Chung plays an abused teenage girl suspected of killing her tormentors. But apparently because ''Daughter of Darkness'' is set in mainland China, the cops investigating the crime (led by Anthony Wong) show absolutely no compassion for the poor girl. And neither does the film, playing everything for laughs and succeeding brilliantly. It features the most unbelievable sex torture scene ever filmed. Directed by Ivan Lai, this violent story of sex abuse and murder is one of the best sexploatation films ever made: perverse, gory, kinky and very shocking. To quote a reviewer, M.C.Thomason, ''if you have a strong stomach and are open-minded enough to comprehend another culture's attitudes towards screen violence, then "Daughter Of Darkness" is definitely one of the unsung gems of Hong Kong's adult-horror industry. Just don't blame me if it offends you in the extreme!''.
Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla II (1993) *
Directed by Takao Okawara. Here, Godzilla and Rodan are bad guys, while Mechagodzilla (build by humans) is the hero.
Blade Of Fury (1993) *
Stylish, but dull historical epic set in the turn-of-the-century China. The plot concerns a plot against the Empress Dowager. There are a few exciting swordfight scenes, but it's mostly talk and talk. Director Samo Hung has a bit part as a prison warden.
Executioners (1993) **
Directed by Johnny To and Ching Siu-Tung, it's a action movie about three women who defend an embattled government from a military coup d'etat backed by a corrupt corporation. The film is set in a future ravaged by radioactivity and shortages of fresh water.
Farewell, My Concubine (1993) **
Visually impressive Chinese film about two opera singers. Too much melodrama, not enough subtlety.
Flirting Scholar (1993) **
Stephen Chow will do anything for a gag in this stupid, but funny comedy, co-starring Gong Li.
Island Of The Dead (1993) **
Poetic documentary about a famous star of the silent Russian cinema, Vera Kholodnaya.
The Last Hero In China (1993) **
Directed by Wong Jing, it's an entertaining martial arts film from Hong Kong. Particularly memorable are two fights involving a giant insect.
Magic Crane (1993) *
Hong Kong martial arts film in a fairy-tale setting. A princess, her kung-fu master, his estranged daughter, two martial arts experts ...
Run And Kill (1993) *
A man unwittingly hires a killer to murder his wife. This film contains one of the most shocking scenes ever put on film: a demented killer (Simon Yam) burns a little girl alive, then takes her charred corpse and shows it to her father, mockingly imitating her voice: "Daddy, I'm dark. Don't you recognize me ?". The rest of the movie is equally repulsive, but at least there is some dark humor to relieve the tension. But the murder scene is played straight, making it completely unbearable even for the most jaded and tolerant viewers. There is no sex or nudity, only extreme violence. This is not a gory-but-fun exploitation flick, but a truly monstruous film that begs for censor's scissors. Only recommanded for those truly sick viewers who have lost all sense of decency and moral values. Box office: 6 million HK.
Schramm (1993) *
Directed by Jorg Buttgereit. The hero is a serial killer-slash-sex degenerate. The film has shocking, gory and sexually explicit imagery. A little too pretentious for an "honest" sexploitation flick, but not good enough to trascend its sleazy themes. 63'
Faraway, So Close (1993) *
Wim Wenders' most self-indulgent and least successful film, a pointless sequel to "Wings Of Desire" (1987).
June 6, 1993
The Last Harvest (1993) *
Directed by Linda Ohama. Documentary about the persecution of the Japanese-Canadians during World War II. Length: 48 minutes.
The Secret Garden (1993) *
Laborious adaptation of the children classic. Director Agnieszka Holland fails to find the right tone for the film.
In The Name Of The Father (1993) **
Interesting political drama about a bunch of Irish misfits falsely convicted for being IRA terrorists.
Into The West (1993) **
Bizarre film, set in Ireland, about two young boys running away with their prize horse, with grotesquely ruthless policemen in hot pursuit.
I Love A Man In Uniform (1993) *
Canadian drama about an actor who plays a cop on a TV show and slowly looses his grip on reality.
May 5, 1993
Le Sexe des étoiles (1993) *
A 12-year old girl, obsessed by astronomy, discovers that her father underwent a sex change operation.
Kanehsatake: 270 ans de résistance (1993) **
Powerful, manipulative and one-sided documentary about the Oka standoff in 1990.
April 4, 1993
Week-end à Cannes (1993) **
Directed by Bruno Podalydes. A man makes a reservation for a train trip to Cannes.
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