'Versus' - the coolest movie ever made?!

[Lunar Daydreamer]

'Versus'...

I've just watched this Japanese flick and I can't remember the last time i've been so genuinely thrilled & entertained. :D

Paper thin plot on the face of it maybe, but Yakuza, Zombies, Samurai - how can you argue with that?!

Made on a low budget certainly - and the acting ranges from deadpan to cartoon - but I laughed, I squeeled, I cheered, I flinched! Cracking fun! Oh and just when I thought the film could get no cooler -it just does! Time and time again! And seriously the sexiest and most charismaticly cool lead i've seen in forever (and i'm not that way inclined!)

Has anyone else seen it?!

[Cam63]

Nope. Can't say I've seen it.

Sounds like fun, though.

[shrike]

I've seen it... heck, I OWN it.... I heard of it about two years ago and promptly got a copy.

Its a lot like 'Evil Dead Meets Goodfellas'. Lots of fun, lots of action. The camera work is very Sam Raimi-esque.

I like a lot of eastern cinema. Some of it is right down bizarre.

You ever seen any of Takashi Miike's work? Def NOT for kids.... buts its so perverse and odd that it is fascinating to watch.

[Gail Simone]

I have a copy, and I hate to admit that I got a little bored and haven't finished it. It just seemed to be endless fighting...

Sounds like I'd better relook!

Gail

[StoneGold]

I have a copy, and I hate to admit that I got a little bored and haven't finished it. It just seemed to be endless fighting...

Sounds like I'd better relook!

Gail
Actually, that's mostly what it is. The fighting gets a little better as the movie goes on, but it's pretty much just a series of fight scenes strung together with the occasional piece of often confusing exposition. For what it is it ain't too bad, but I've seen better out of the region.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

It's been a day of great movies to be honest - firstly Jap thriller Infernal Affairs was top stuff (can't wait to see the sequel, or prequel as it I understand it is), then onto Versus and i've just *adored* Big Fish!

I agree sometimes you have to be in the right frame of mind for a movie ... and sometimes you can only watch so much. I was double up for Uzamaki the other night but what I saw didn't really click with me. It was late though. Likewise 'Happiness Of The katakuri's just left me ... baffled!

I had no preceptions of Verses to be honest, knowing little more than that it was a mad Japanese zombie flick. I just found myself getting more and more drawn into the movie as it went on, the coolness of the lead, the acxtion sequences, yes knowing it was hardly Oscar material - but it had been the longest time since i'd enjoyed a movie in quite the way I did this. Just bouncing about with absolute glee, flinching, gasping etc. Just plain good popcorn! :D

Oh & my favourite line of dialogue, that has been making me giggle all day ...

"So you don't remember me then?!"

"No I don't... now f*ck off!" :)

Ooo...what next ... I have 'The Eye' and 'Dark Water' to watch ... 'Spiral' too as well, which I believe ties into the Ring films. It's going to be a late one, better get the kettle on!

Takashi Miike as in 'Beat' Takashi?! Brother arrived here from my net rental place with this bunch - and other than that i've only seen Battle Royale - which I loved! Any recommendations as to his stuff and i'll add them to my 'net rental list! Not only that, but any other cool Jap stuff - please let me know! :)

[StoneGold]

It's been a day of great movies to be honest - firstly Jap thriller Infernal Affairs was top stuff (can't wait to see the sequel, or prequel as it I understand it is), then onto Versus and i've just *adored* Big Fish!

Infernal Affairs was out of Hong Kong. Although, all things considered, I'd watch the particular abbreviation you used for Japan there. Some people might take it the wrong way.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Infernal Affairs was out of Hong Kong. Although, all things considered, I'd watch the particular abbreviation you used for Japan there. Some people might take it the wrong way.

Apologies if any offence caused, I was abreviating it much like I would a British film to 'Brit'. Cheers for the tip of the hat all the same.

[Slayven]

'Versus'...

I've just watched this Japanese flick and I can't remember the last time i've been so genuinely thrilled & entertained. :D

Paper thin plot on the face of it maybe, but Yakuza, Zombies, Samurai - how can you argue with that?!

Made on a low budget certainly - and the acting ranges from deadpan to cartoon - but I laughed, I squeeled, I cheered, I flinched! Cracking fun! Oh and just when I thought the film could get no cooler -it just does! Time and time again! And seriously the sexiest and most charismaticly cool lead i've seen in forever (and i'm not that way inclined!)

Has anyone else seen it?!
should check out "so close" and vampire effect. Vampire effect has vampires, jackie chan and asian pop stars. plus a homage to Bullseye

[MWGallaher]

Apologies if any offence caused, I was abreviating it much like I would a British film to 'Brit'. Cheers for the tip of the hat all the same.

Is anybody else sick of the resurgence of "Brit" in the US vocabulary? It seemed especially tacky on the occasions that President Bush used it publicly, and now it seems *everybody* is using it. As I understand it, the term is not generally offensive to the British people, but still, it seems somehow flippant, especially when it crops up in reference to the soldiers in Iraq. ~shrug~

As for "Versus", I bet I'd like it, but it sounds like something my wife would find absolutely unwatchable...but maybe if she sat through that, she'd have more tolerance for some of the other stuff I pick out to watch. (Note: I've sat through plenty of hours of by-the-numbers romantic comedies and style makeover programs with her; we play fair when it comes to entertainment options.)

[The Xenos]

I love Versus. I acutlaly first saw it at a local arthouse thearter. The whole Yakuza vs Zombie vs Samurai thing caught our interest. My friends and I were quite entertained. I got the DVD of it. It was rather goofy at parts and the plot wasn't much, but it was really fun and damn cool.

Also by the director Kitamura is Alive, which is a bit more serious. I had read the obscure manga it is based on and they added a bit more action and characters from it to make it a bit more like Versus. That was kinda of disapointing, but overall the overall feel and emotion to it was good and kept a lof of what I liked in the manga..

Kitamura's next film is acutlaly the new Godzilla film. There have been a few Gozilla films in the past few years, yet I belive this is some anniversary and there're making a huge film and it's a bit of a surprise that he's doing this big project. He's also done a samurai princess movie called Azumi. He also did another film based on a manga, I think by the same guy who did Alive too, called Sky High. I think of it as a Japanese version of Neil Gaiman's Death as it deals with a spirit of death dealing with poeple who have just died.

-Xenos

[Lunar Daydreamer]

should check out "so close" and vampire effect. Vampire effect has vampires, jackie chan and asian pop stars. plus a homage to Bullseye

Cheers for those - I'll have a gander and see what I can find.

Speaking of tips of the hat, did you see the ever so slight 'homage'/mickey take of The Matrix in Versus too?!

[Lunar Daydreamer]

I love Versus. I acutlaly first saw it at a local arthouse thearter. The whole Yakuza vs Zombie vs Samurai thing caught our interest. My friends and I were quite entertained. I got the DVD of it. It was rather goofy at parts and the plot wasn't much, but it was really fun and damn cool.

Also by the director Kitamura is Alive, which is a bit more serious. I had read the obscure manga it is based on and they added a bit more action and characters from it to make it a bit more like Versus. That was kinda of disapointing, but overall the overall feel and emotion to it was good and kept a lof of what I liked in the manga..

Kitamura's next film is acutlaly the new Godzilla film. There have been a few Gozilla films in the past few years, yet I belive this is some anniversary and there're making a huge film and it's a bit of a surprise that he's doing this big project. He's also done a samurai princess movie called Azumi. He also did another film based on a manga, I think by the same guy who did Alive too, called Sky High. I think of it as a Japanese version of Neil Gaiman's Death as it deals with a spirit of death dealing with poeple who have just died.

-Xenos

From hunting around I see theat Versus actually has a prequel called 'Down To Hell'. Have you seen Versus 2? Is it by the same team or has the mantle been passed (*shudders* at memories of just how awful Battle Royale 2 was)?!

Alive I saw on IMDB and it caught my interest, my I dont think its available on my net dvd list. Azumi sounds very interesting too! Always fun to be switched onto cool new stuff - thanks very much!

I don't know much about Godzilla, other than than it being a phenominon in Japan. Is the Godzilla flick you're referencing the new one - the anniversary and the last ever Godzilla piece? Or have I heard wrong?

[Doug W]

I have Versus on DVD, I think the acting in the opening scene is realy terrible especially from that one guy, you know the one.

The action is cool especially for a low buget flick, but Gails right it mostly just fighting.
I think I would have liked it better if the whole thing was like the short Samurai segment.

my favorite part is probably that napolianic government-agent-type-guy who keeps making increasingly unlikely claims.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Is anybody else sick of the resurgence of "Brit" in the US vocabulary? It seemed especially tacky on the occasions that President Bush used it publicly, and now it seems *everybody* is using it. As I understand it, the term is not generally offensive to the British people, but still, it seems somehow flippant, especially when it crops up in reference to the soldiers in Iraq. ~shrug~

As for "Versus", I bet I'd like it, but it sounds like something my wife would find absolutely unwatchable...but maybe if she sat through that, she'd have more tolerance for some of the other stuff I pick out to watch. (Note: I've sat through plenty of hours of by-the-numbers romantic comedies and style makeover programs with her; we play fair when it comes to entertainment options.)

The Brit term isn't something i've thought about to be honest, we've always been referenced as such, but your comments certainly are food for thought. Within the political arena it was the whole 'Special Relationship' term that always made me feel icky. It sounds sordid Like someone's got pictures of someone else with donkeys. Actually, that would explain a lot...! ;)

As for Versus for your lady, I guess only you know her taste et al, but it sounds like you have an awful lot of leeway to at least whack it on! :)

Hoping you're both well :)

>Lunar. x

[StoneGold]

Apologies if any offence caused, I was abreviating it much like I would a British film to 'Brit'. Cheers for the tip of the hat all the same.
Honestly, caused no offense, because I know you didn't mean it in any particular way. But it has been used as a racial slur, whereas I don't think Brits ever has been, so it's one of those things best skirted around.

[Slayven]

and the grandma and grand daddy of them all for me. Storm riders and Battle Royale.

Storm Riders has a fights where a guy rips his own arm off to gain an advantage and people get impaled with liquid water

[taintedlunch]

'Versus'...

I've just watched this Japanese flick and I can't remember the last time i've been so genuinely thrilled & entertained. :D

Paper thin plot on the face of it maybe, but Yakuza, Zombies, Samurai - how can you argue with that?!

Made on a low budget certainly - and the acting ranges from deadpan to cartoon - but I laughed, I squeeled, I cheered, I flinched! Cracking fun! Oh and just when I thought the film could get no cooler -it just does! Time and time again! And seriously the sexiest and most charismaticly cool lead i've seen in forever (and i'm not that way inclined!)

Has anyone else seen it?!

I'm a big fan of Asian cinema, be it Japanese, HK, or Korean, but I absolutely HATED Versus. It has a great reputation, but I hated it from the second it began until the last frame. The acting is bad, the characters come off as cheesy, and the effects were laughable. It plays like a B-movie ripoff of a Tarantino flick with zombies thrown into the mix. The lead actor, especially, was horrible.

I hate to be so harsh, but I don't want anyone to be tricked into seeing this film like I was. If you're looking for great Asian cinema, look elsewhere. Try one of the following instead:

Infernal Affairs
The Eye
Dark Water
House of Flying Daggers
Audition
Natural City
Old Boy

[taintedlunch]

and the grandma and grand daddy of them all for me. Storm riders and Battle Royale.

Storm Riders has a fights where a guy rips his own arm off to gain an advantage and people get impaled with liquid water

Ah! I forgot Battle Royale! (Skip BR II, it's atrocious!) I thought Storm Riders was pretty cheesy, but better than Versus. If you like stuff like Storm Riders and Versus, you might be better off with The Heroic Trio, the Bride with White Hair, Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain, or A Chinese Ghost Story.

[SoulOnIce]

Versus was crap to be blunt.

Boring as hell.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Versus was crap to be blunt.

Boring as hell.

Care to share why it was you didn't like it?

I dont think i've ever mentioned it - but your daughter's lovely by the way, be very proud! :)

[Slayven]

Ah! I forgot Battle Royale! (Skip BR II, it's atrocious!) I thought Storm Riders was pretty cheesy, but better than Versus. If you like stuff like Storm Riders and Versus, you might be better off with The Heroic Trio, the Bride with White Hair, Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain, or A Chinese Ghost Story.
seen heroic trio. didn't liek the second one. and can never find zu. just trailers

[SoulOnIce]

Care to share why it was you didn't like it?

I dont think i've ever mentioned it - but your daughter's lovely by the way, be very proud! :)

Thank you very much!

I saw it a couple years ago at the Toronto Film Festival so the reasons are a bit fuzzy, but I thought the action was pretty mediocre. At that point I had been watching a lot of Jet Li/Jackie Chan movies and maybe it is unfair to compare but Versus was amateurish compared to HK stuff.

It was just a lot of flash with absolutely no substance. And I don't mind that but the flash has to be damn good and I didn't think it was in this case.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

I'm a big fan of Asian cinema, be it Japanese, HK, or Korean, but I absolutely HATED Versus. It has a great reputation, but I hated it from the second it began until the last frame. The acting is bad, the characters come off as cheesy, and the effects were laughable. It plays like a B-movie ripoff of a Tarantino flick with zombies thrown into the mix. The lead actor, especially, was horrible.

I hate to be so harsh, but I don't want anyone to be tricked into seeing this film like I was. If you're looking for great Asian cinema, look elsewhere. Try one of the following instead:

Infernal Affairs
The Eye
Dark Water
House of Flying Daggers
Audition
Natural City
Old Boy

Always interesting to see the other side of the coin when someone dislikes something that youy've enjoyed.

I'm curious to know how you were tricked into seeing it though. In my mind i'm seing sacks over heads, hands tied behind you back and when the sack's removed - *cinema*. Or maybe chloroform. Hee hee....damn this must be good coffee *pours another cup* ;)

From your other posting - Storm Riders i've seen in many a sale and have always fancied it, but never gotten aorund to picking it up - the point where i'd forgotten about it to be honest. I'll be sure to take a look.

Damn i've come out with some great sounding flicks to watch from this and the 'Asian cinema on a high' thread! Nice one! :)

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Thank you very much!

I saw it a couple years ago at the Toronto Film Festival so the reasons are a bit fuzzy, but I thought the action was pretty mediocre. At that point I had been watching a lot of Jet Li/Jackie Chan movies and maybe it is unfair to compare but Versus was amateurish compared to HK stuff.

It was just a lot of flash with absolutely no substance. And I don't mind that but the flash has to be damn good and I didn't think it was in this case.

You've lead me onto something else that's been rattlign around in my mind regarding Jackie Chan films. I'm sure I saw something like Police Story yeeeears ago and was captivated by it. All I remember is a shopping mall, some amazing action and lots of glass smashing. Was that Police Story?! Also - which Chan filsm would you recommend. All i've seen is 'Rumble In bronx', which was fun - and then a bunch of other western made films which i'd rather forget.

Likewise i'm new to Jet Li, anything you tip the hat to of his (and others)?! :)

[SoulOnIce]

You've lead me onto something else that's been rattlign around in my mind regarding Jackie Chan films. I'm sure I saw something like Police Story yeeeears ago and was captivated by it. All I remember is a shopping mall, some amazing action and lots of glass smashing. Was that Police Story?! Also - which Chan filsm would you recommend. All i've seen is 'Rumble In bronx', which was fun - and then a bunch of other western made films which i'd rather forget.

Likewise i'm new to Jet Li, anything you tip the hat to of his (and others)?! :)

Yeah, Police Story is the one with the mall and the glass, etc.

As for Jackie I would recommend Drunken Master 2 (or The Legend of the Drunken Master as it was called in it's N.American release) which is one of my five favourite Kung Fu flicks. All the Police Story's are worth a look. I would also recommend Crime Story (for a more serious Jackie), Gorgeous, Miracles and Project A.

As for Jet Li, Fist of Legend is incredible. Once Upon A Time in China 1&2 are great, Tai Chi Master is awesome fun, Shaolin Temple 3:Martial Arts is great. Also check out, Fong Sai-Yuk, High Risk, Kiss of the Dragon (american), Bodyguard from Beijing, My Father the Hero (I think that's the title).

That should get you started...

[taintedlunch]

You've lead me onto something else that's been rattlign around in my mind regarding Jackie Chan films. I'm sure I saw something like Police Story yeeeears ago and was captivated by it. All I remember is a shopping mall, some amazing action and lots of glass smashing. Was that Police Story?! Also - which Chan filsm would you recommend. All i've seen is 'Rumble In bronx', which was fun - and then a bunch of other western made films which i'd rather forget.

Likewise i'm new to Jet Li, anything you tip the hat to of his (and others)?! :)

I got into HK films because of Tarantino and Jackie Chan. Tarantino gave Chan a nice little introduction when Chan got some award during the MTV Movie Awards several years ago.

The best film in my opinion of Chan's is Police Story, but it's inexplicably unavailable on DVD. Supercop is a very close second. The fights are not spectacular, but the stunts (especially Michelle Yeoh's) are jaw-dropping and Chan and Yeoh have great chemistry. Rumble is dumb but fun, above average for a Chan movie. Drunken Master II tests your patience but the fight at the end makes it worth it. Armor of the Gods I (Operation Condor 2 in the US) is an older Raiders of the Lost Ark ripoff but there's a fight between Chan and some Amazon women that has to be seen to be believed. Both Project A and Project A2 are funny with breathtaking stunts. If I were to get some Chan films, I'd start with the ones above.

As far as Li goes, I'm not as familiar. I actually liked Kiss of the Dragon a lot, but for my money his best film is Fist of Legend. Once Upon A Time in China (and its sequels) are also recommended.

[StoneGold]

The best film in my opinion of Chan's is Police Story, but it's inexplicably unavailable on DVD.
Not only is it available, you can get it for under $4 plus shipping. http://www.dddhouse.com/dddhouse/en/index.jsp?action=productDetail&productID=542

Actually, you can get a ton of Jackie Chan/Jet Li/Stephen Chow/Chow Yun Fat etc stuff off that website, often for under $10. Although international shipping tacks on a bit more, but as far as I can tell, these aren't even pirates. At least, when a company stops making a movie, they run out. Sadly, no Drunken Master II available. I actually managed to get my hands on a DVD of the original, unedited version, although I think that one might be pirated. No Fist of Legend either. Only version that is even close to available is a crappy dubbed only version.

[taintedlunch]

Not only is it available, you can get it for under $4 plus shipping. http://www.dddhouse.com/dddhouse/en/index.jsp?action=productDetail&productID=542

Actually, you can get a ton of Jackie Chan/Jet Li/Stephen Chow/Chow Yun Fat etc stuff off that website, often for under $10. Although international shipping tacks on a bit more, but as far as I can tell, these aren't even pirates. At least, when a company stops making a movie, they run out. Sadly, no Drunken Master II available. I actually managed to get my hands on a DVD of the original, unedited version, although I think that one might be pirated. No Fist of Legend either. Only version that is even close to available is a crappy dubbed only version.

Thanks! I've been unable to track it down on either eBay or Amazon.

[The Xenos]

Down to Hell is a prequel to Vesus, for Versus is a sequel, but it was made before it. It's an even lower budget student film the director and friends made before making Versus. Sami Rami similary also made a cheaper film called Into the Woods with Bruce Cambell before Evil Dead. I find Kutamura quite comparable iwht Rami. They both have this simialr goofy yet horror tone and they both nabbed giant films starring huge icons in your countries.

-Xenos

[Nick Soapdish]

I think that Police Story was probably the best Jackie Chan movie, but I'd urge caution on the DVD. I've seen a dubbed version on TNT or TBS or something, but the one that I got through Netflix was subtitled and the subtitles were barely readable. It seemed like there were an awful lot of conversations where the white subtitles would be against an off-white background and I think some of them got chopped off by the bottom of the screen as well. OTOH, for $4 you aren't risking that much.

I really liked Jackie Chan's Who Am I? also. It had a really weak plot, but I loved the rooftop fight at the end and there was a pretty decent car chase.

[StoneGold]

The version of Police Story I bought from DDDhouse was well done. I believe the subs are in the letterbox. Course, I bought it a while ago, so it might have been Megastar and now it's Deltamac, I have no idea.

[berk]

I liked Versus; has anyone here listened to the audio commentary? The dvd I rented had two: one in English (only so-so) and one in Japanese with subtitles (lots of fun). I was curious about the female Yakuza character who fights the hero at one point as he and the heroine are walking through the woods; she's winning until the heroine knocks her out from behind; later she teams up with the cowardly little Yakuza guy and they end up fighting the two cops on the road near their car. She seemed to have good moves, so I listened to the audio commentary for those scenes, and sure enough, someone, maybe the director, said she was probably the best real fighter among the whole cast, and that "there are all kinds of stories about her"; apparently she's the daughter of some famous Karate master in Japan, has trained since she was a small child, etc, etc. It also mentioned that the guy who plays the cop she fights in the film is a member of the same dojo as her. Anyway, I thought all that was pretty interesting. Her name was Hoshimi Asai.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

I liked Versus; has anyone here listened to the audio commentary? The dvd I rented had two: one in English (only so-so) and one in Japanese with subtitles (lots of fun). I was curious about the female Yakuza character who fights the hero at one point as he and the heroine are walking through the woods; she's winning until the heroine knocks her out from behind; later she teams up with the cowardly little Yakuza guy and they end up fighting the two cops on the road near their car. She seemed to have good moves, so I listened to the audio commentary for those scenes, and sure enough, someone, maybe the director, said she was probably the best real fighter among the whole cast, and that "there are all kinds of stories about her"; apparently she's the daughter of some famous Karate master in Japan, has trained since she was a small child, etc, etc. It also mentioned that the guy who plays the cop she fights in the film is a member of the same dojo as her. Anyway, I thought all that was pretty interesting. Her name was Hoshimi Asai.

I saw the documentary when the lead tries to cock the gun in his mouth, snaps his tooth off and with the nerve exposed instead of going to the dentists and losing a day's filming - SUPERGLUES the tooth back in his mouth! !!!

[Doug W]

I have the the DVD with the sub-title comentary track too, its pretty awsome. I think its hilarious that the two lead actors who are there absolutly refuse to talk or say anything substantial no matter how much the directior and producer prompt them.

[berk]

Doug W: yeah, they really seemed to be having a good time doing that commentary, which makes it fun for the listener/viewer as well; I think it was a good move to get a whole bunch of them together for it, I think they had 5 or 6 people from the cast & crew; it makes it less likely that the commentary will flag; at times it actually sounded more like a bunch of buddies having a conversation than a dvd audio commentary.

[taintedlunch]

I saw the documentary when the lead tries to cock the gun in his mouth, snaps his tooth off and with the nerve exposed instead of going to the dentists and losing a day's filming - SUPERGLUES the tooth back in his mouth! !!!

As a practicing dentist I can neither endorse and condone this behavior.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

As a practicing dentist I can neither endorse and condone this behavior.

I still shiver at the thought of this being the course of action.

Still being scared of the dentist though, anything is possible!

[taintedlunch]

As a practicing dentist I can neither endorse and condone this behavior.

Oops! I meant neither endorse NOR condone, of course.

[spdk1]

Ryuhei Kitamura Rocks

After seeing Versus I decided to get more of his films. So far I have:

Sky High - Haven't watched it yet, but an online asian cinema board said it was his closest movie to Versus.

Azumi - A samurai movie done in the style of Kitamura, It was a bit like a cross between Versus and Princess Blade if you have seen it...

Alive - a Sci-fi movie that drags a bit in the middle, then gets really good

Versus - My fave of his so far

Down to Hell - This is the "prequel" to versus as Versus was originally going to be called "down to hell 2" It's hard to call it a sequel though because versus was completely re-written before it even filmed to stand on its own. There is a bonus feature on the DVD I have that shows a "down to hell 2" trailer, its funny how NOT like versus it looks....

He has another film called Aragami that ties into versus in some way (I believe the 2 main characters show up) and almost all of his films have cameos of the versus cast in some way.....

Also if you look here
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0457565/
notice that they announced a versus 2 movie

[Crowley]

I keep hearing that I have to see Battle Royale... that and Napolean Dynomite.

either good?

[taintedlunch]

I keep hearing that I have to see Battle Royale... that and Napolean Dynomite.

either good?

Battle Royale is jaw-dropping, to be sure. Feels like a blockbuster; great direction, acting... subject matter might offend a few, but that's what makes it fun!

I heard about a new film, forgot the title, but it has the same director as Versus, same lead actor. It's a zombie baseball movie, or something. Saw an ad in Videoscope. Sounds like a z-grade movie but might be fun. Can't remember the title though...

[spdk1]

Battle Royale is jaw-dropping, to be sure. Feels like a blockbuster; great direction, acting... subject matter might offend a few, but that's what makes it fun!

I heard about a new film, forgot the title, but it has the same director as Versus, same lead actor. It's a zombie baseball movie, or something. Saw an ad in Videoscope. Sounds like a z-grade movie but might be fun. Can't remember the title though...

i had to look that up.....LOL

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384832/

that sounds like a GREAT movie

[Lester C.]

Versus is the greatest movie ever made deal with it! I own the R edition, the special edition, and the directors cut on DVD. If anyone interested is a sequel written that will take place at the end of the first movie and it will supposedly film in 2006 but information on the net been sparse. If anyone knows anything definite one way or the other please post a link and I’ll be your bestest friend ever.

[Selina Quinzel]

I saw Versus like a year and a half ago, and it sure is full of kick assery. Battle Royale is ace too, I've seen that at least 3 times, which is a lot on a crummy bootle.... I mean, um, foreign DVD thingy.

If you like those, run out to see (Riki-O) "The Story of Ricky" :D teeheehee.

[Lester C.]

I saw Versus like a year and a half ago, and it sure is full of kick assery. Battle Royale is ace too, I've seen that at least 3 times, which is a lot on a crummy bootle.... I mean, um, foreign DVD thingy.

If you like those, run out to see (Riki-O) "The Story of Ricky" :D teeheehee.

A women after my own heart and I love your new avatar.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

I saw Versus like a year and a half ago, and it sure is full of kick assery. Battle Royale is ace too, I've seen that at least 3 times, which is a lot on a crummy bootle.... I mean, um, foreign DVD thingy.

If you like those, run out to see (Riki-O) "The Story of Ricky" :D teeheehee.

Hey my thread, I bagsy Selina. I don't care if you saw her first. :P

Selina, I brought DONUTS! :D

[Briareos]

I love Versus. I acutlaly first saw it at a local arthouse thearter. The whole Yakuza vs Zombie vs Samurai thing caught our interest. My friends and I were quite entertained. I got the DVD of it. It was rather goofy at parts and the plot wasn't much, but it was really fun and damn cool.

Also by the director Kitamura is Alive, which is a bit more serious. I had read the obscure manga it is based on and they added a bit more action and characters from it to make it a bit more like Versus. That was kinda of disapointing, but overall the overall feel and emotion to it was good and kept a lof of what I liked in the manga..

Kitamura's next film is acutlaly the new Godzilla film. There have been a few Gozilla films in the past few years, yet I belive this is some anniversary and there're making a huge film and it's a bit of a surprise that he's doing this big project. He's also done a samurai princess movie called Azumi. He also did another film based on a manga, I think by the same guy who did Alive too, called Sky High. I think of it as a Japanese version of Neil Gaiman's Death as it deals with a spirit of death dealing with poeple who have just died.

-Xenos

I think Godzilla Final wars came out last year (I may be wrong) it has every single creature godzilla has ever faced in it. Its supposed to be the last godzilla movie ever from toho or something but i'll believe that when I see it or er um don't see it for like a few years or something.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

A guy at work is a mahoosive Godzilla fan and is going to lend me all the flicks. That added to an Essentials that sounds just plain fab (Godzilla shrinks and fights a sewer rat, Shield, Avengers, Fantastic Four ..bloody hell!)

I watched Fighter In The Wind last week and just plain *adored* it.

Chunking Express is Saturday night's viewing.

[Selina Quinzel]

Mmm, donuts and gorey fighting stuffs. I like this thread!

[Briareos]

I highly Recomened Moon Over Tao its a Japanese period Samurai film and then the aliens show up in the middle of it. Has quite possibly the greatest 2 seconds ever put on film.

[Lester C.]

The Godzilla movie did come out last year and supposedly Versus 2 is in preproduction.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Mmm, donuts and gorey fighting stuffs. I like this thread!

Never let it be said that i'm not sensitive to a lady's needs ;)

And on another tack, has anyone seen The Seven Swords?

Edit: Sky Blue has been posted from my net DVD Rental?! Claps loudly! :)

Thought I was going to have to buy that with my birthday money in a couple o weeks so... yayness! :D

[Lester C.]

Oh yea like I’m giving up without a fight in a Versus thread. Well Selina just so you know my Tokyo Shock collection as well as my anime collection is unsurpassed. As far as donuts go I know for a fact that Lunar has Dunkin while I have accesses to a Krispy Kreme right next to my house.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/lunardaydreamer/Oct2098.jpg

Dunkin and Krispy things sound like an American thing ... I gots Smarties donuts! :D

[Lunar Daydreamer]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/lunardaydreamer/Aug14196.jpg

Dont make me set Bear & Looshkin on you

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/lunardaydreamer/teachingtoysthecomputer.jpg

I'm already teaching them how to use the computer...they'll ...they'll find you...they will you know! :p

[Lester C.]

You keep your stuffed animals. I got Chiyo clones and Man Faye watching my back and I’m not afraid to post either of them. Here’s shot of my girls warding you away from Selina and cheering me on.

http://www.monzell.com/images/chiyo.gifhttp://www.monzell.com/images/chiyo.gif

Don’t make me bring out Man Faye as my weapon of last resort. I’ll do it ask Kyuubi if you doubt me. :evilsmile

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Man Faye nearly corrupted my love of Bebop the last time ... dont taint that any further. Speaking of which, have you seen any of the remastered Bebop dvds?!

[Lester C.]

Man Faye nearly corrupted my love of Bebop the last time ... dont taint that any further. Speaking of which, have you seen any of the remastered Bebop dvds?!

Man Faye is like a nuclear biological bomb. It’s a last resort device that never meant to be implemented but will be used in the face of total armageddon. As for Bebop I already own all of the sessions so I need to see the quality of the new footage before I purchase anything though I will if the quality there like I did for Babylon 5.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

I knew there was a Dolby remix on Yoko Kano, but apparently the visuals have been remastered too, according to Newtype USA.

And if you do use Man Faye again, legally I can swap you for a Giraffe. I'm going to call him Tabletop Derek The 3rd and we will be happy. Let that be a warning to you :p

[Briareos]

If I get banned before you two do there is no justice in this world... :P

[Lester C.]

If I get banned before you two do there is no justice in this world... :P

No one said anything about banning you in this thread. While you do get in political debates with your arch nemesis Pip no one called for your head that I’m aware of. :confused:

[Lunar Daydreamer]

He just wants TWO GIRAFFES for trying to ban us! TWO! :D

[Lester C.]

If I get banned before you two do there is no justice in this world... :P


Oh wait I read your post wrong. Listen the war, which will take place in the Forest of Resurrection, is between me and Lunar Daydreamer. Lunar’s role will be that of Tak Sakaguchi called Prisoner KSC2-303. I’m going to play Hideo Sakaki’s character called The Man. Selina Quinzel is going to be The Girl. If you want in you can be Kenji Matsuda the macho guy maybe Kazuhito Ohba the gay guy. I’ll let you and Pip fight it out to see who plays what part. I see what strings I could pull but either way you going to end up as a zombie Bri so you might to stay indoors that day.

[SoulOnIce]

Versus was crap. Really boring. Nice concept. Terrible execution.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Oh wait I read your post wrong. Listen the war, which will take place in the Forest of Resurrection, is between me and Lunar Daydreamer. Lunar’s role will be that of Tak Sakaguchi called Prisoner KSC2-303. I’m going to play Hideo Sakaki’s character called The Man. Selina Quinzel is going to be The Girl. If you want in you can be Kenji Matsuda the macho guy maybe Kazuhito Ohba the gay guy. I’ll let you and Pip fight it out to see who plays what part. I see what strings I could pull but either way you going to end up as a zombie Bri so you might to stay indoors that day.

That, my friend, is genius.

I say let him play the monkey man. :P

[Lester C.]

That, my friend, is genius.

I say let him play the monkey man. :P

If it weren’t a good way to get banned we could cast Versus the movie with various YABS members.

[Pól Rua]

Please ignore.

[Iangould]

My comic shop also sells DVDs (amongst a bunch of other stuff - we're absolutely shameless about separating people from their cash).

After a while in retail, you start to develop spiels to sell certain products.

With Versus I find the closer is describing the scene where the character who wears glasses has to take them off to wipe off the blood.

That or the line "Maybe we shouldn't have buried our enemies in The Forest of Resurrection."

While I love Versus to bits, it isn't my favorite contemporary Asian action movie - that'd be Volcano High.

[Lester C.]

My comic shop also sells DVDs (amongst a bunch of other stuff - we're absolutely shameless about separating people from their cash).

After a while in retail, you start to develo speils to sell certain products.

With Versus I find the closer is describing the scene where the character who wears glasses has to take them off to wipe off the blood.

That or the line "Maybe we shouldn't have buried our enemies in The Forest of Resurrection."

While I love Versus to bits, it isn't my favorite contemporary Asian action movie - that'd be Volcano High.

I’m drooling over my keyboard remembering that scene. As soon I get off of work I’m watching the director’s cut again.

[Draconomicon]

'Spiral' too as well

I've seen spiral.
That is one HECK of a creepy movie!
It seriously made me consider changing the channel, but not because its so gruesome or something, just because of the bizarre things that happen to the people.

[Lester C.]

Do you guys know how many movies have Spiral or Volcano in the title? I need more details if I'm to procure these classics.

[El Santo]

I saw Versus. Absolute waste of time, IMO. It's like a low-budget zombie flick and a poorly-written action movie got drunk and made an ugly baby. Actually, watching that happen would have been more interesting than Versus.

I know people who absolutely love the film. Honestly, I think you really have to love zombies. A lot. Like borderline necrophilia.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

My comic shop also sells DVDs (amongst a bunch of other stuff - we're absolutely shameless about separating people from their cash).

After a while in retail, you start to develop spiels to sell certain products.

With Versus I find the closer is describing the scene where the character who wears glasses has to take them off to wipe off the blood.

That or the line "Maybe we shouldn't have buried our enemies in The Forest of Resurrection."

While I love Versus to bits, it isn't my favorite contemporary Asian action movie - that'd be Volcano High.

Woo, what's Vocano High?! Tell! Tell! Tell!

Edit: Spied it on my dvd net rental, some very mixed reviewes therin though ... please tell me why you'd like it! Reviews or not, the premise sounds rather cool :)

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Volcano HIgh arrived today from net dvd rental place! Hurrah!

[YoGo]

Infernal Affairs was so good. ALL of them.

You'd think it'd get lacklustre by the third one, but they all stand up fantstically on their own! And you don't need to watch one to understand the other.

I recommend the Infernal Affairs movies if u haven't seen them yet.

[Gavin Higginbotham, BotF]

'Versus'...

I've just watched this Japanese flick and I can't remember the last time i've been so genuinely thrilled & entertained. :D

Paper thin plot on the face of it maybe, but Yakuza, Zombies, Samurai - how can you argue with that?!

Made on a low budget certainly - and the acting ranges from deadpan to cartoon - but I laughed, I squeeled, I cheered, I flinched! Cracking fun! Oh and just when I thought the film could get no cooler -it just does! Time and time again! And seriously the sexiest and most charismaticly cool lead i've seen in forever (and i'm not that way inclined!)

Has anyone else seen it?!

Yeah. I loved the thing. It just had so many cool moments; the little dude with blood over his face screaming, the cop who thinks that he's "FIGHTER" and dies fairly easily, the other cop who tries to put a severed hand on his stump but discovers its the wrong side hand, the zombie fugitive (who I think was Kawada in Battle Royale...) getting splattered by the car, the main bad guy punching through that dude's head, the weird spider-like psycho, the funny biker looking guy who was actually quite badass... plus, my personal fave, the image of the main character just standing in a badass pose, gun is one hand, samurai sword in the other over his shoulder. Sweet.

The movie is pretty much just one big long fight scene, but damn if it wasn't hella entertaining. Plus, the ending at least had a pretty cool twist.

[Lester C.]

the cop who thinks that he's "FIGHTER" and dies fairly easily.

The cop was a fighter at least he was too fast for his own good. When he was shot he leaned backed and ducked the bullet but popped back up too soon and got shot anyway.

[The Xenos]

Infernal Affairs was so good. ALL of them.

You'd think it'd get lacklustre by the third one, but they all stand up fantstically on their own! And you don't need to watch one to understand the other.

I recommend the Infernal Affairs movies if u haven't seen them yet.

Yeah. I want to see it before the American Scorsese remake 'The Departed' comes out. I acutlaly saw them filming it near some strip clubs Boston. Um.. I just happened to be walking hom from the bus terminal. What? I was!

-Xenos

[Iangould]

Volcano HIgh arrived today from net dvd rental place! Hurrah!

Have you watched it yet?

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Hopefully watch it sometime within the next few.

Why do you rate it so highly?

[Iangould]

The main actor is like a young Jackie Chan - he's got that combination of athleticism, charisma, comedic talent and martial arts ability.

The effects are very impressive and the plot's imaginative.

The characters are very broad almost stereoptyical but that's also part of the appeal of Asian cinema - it's very sincere, it lacks any of the selfreferentialism or self-aware of western cinema.

[Lester C.]

I’m going on a quest to buy this film. It’d better be good or there will be drama.

[taintedlunch]

I’m going on a quest to buy this film. It’d better be good or there will be drama.

I swear to you it's horrible! Amaturish and corny to the extreme. Be warned...

The director has a new film Battlefield Baseball. Anyone seen it? It's got baseball and zombies...

[Lunar Daydreamer]

It's certainly a movie you either love or hate.

The first 25 minutes aren't fab, but as soon as our boy gets the leather jacket, you're away :D

[marshal99]

Versus was good fun but Battlefield Baseball was crap.

If you like Versus , then i would recommend Wild Zero - zombies , UFO & Rock'N'Roll !
Here's the trailer. (Small size and poor quality though)
http://www.clipsfromthecrypt.co.uk/wildzerotrlr.rm

Another recent zombie movie that have received decent reviews is one from Thailand , the land of "Ong Bak". The movie is called "SARS WAR"
Check it out here with a poor quality trailer.
http://www.filmbangkok.com/khunkrabi/en_story.htm

[CaptMagellan]

I have a copy, and I hate to admit that I got a little bored and haven't finished it. It just seemed to be endless fighting...

Sounds like I'd better relook!

Gail

I found the middle of the movie to be a bit long and boring but the very last scene (maybe the director's cut? I can't remember from the DVD) that takes place in the future...


In the next set of lives from the characters you realize that the hero is becomes the villain and that the conflict is never ending.

Which to me also brought about the possibility that the 'bad guy' in the main part of the film was actually the good guy all the time and that unfortunately we were just seeing it from the POV of the character that was actually the one we should have been rooting against.

[Gail Simone]

'Versus'...

I've just watched this Japanese flick and I can't remember the last time i've been so genuinely thrilled & entertained. :D

Paper thin plot on the face of it maybe, but Yakuza, Zombies, Samurai - how can you argue with that?!

Made on a low budget certainly - and the acting ranges from deadpan to cartoon - but I laughed, I squeeled, I cheered, I flinched! Cracking fun! Oh and just when I thought the film could get no cooler -it just does! Time and time again! And seriously the sexiest and most charismaticly cool lead i've seen in forever (and i'm not that way inclined!)

Has anyone else seen it?!


I have to be honest...I watched about half an hour and got bored. But I WILL try again on your recommendation!

Gail

[Converge]

http://images.amazon.com/images/G/covers/6/30/516/591/6305165912.l.gif

"I myself once dabbled in passivism.

Not in 'Nam, of course.

OVER THE LINE!"

[Lester C.]

I have to be honest...I watched about half an hour and got bored. But I WILL try again on your recommendation!

Gail

Gail there is no way to phrase this without sounding like a chauvinistic cretin and I sincerely apologize if I offend you but this is what you call a guy movie. The director in the commentary even said as much and by American term, came off as extremely misogynistic towards the female roles of the movie. Which was odd as there was a women with him during the commentary.

[Converge]

Gail there is no way to phrase this without sounding like a chauvinistic cretin and I sincerely apologize if I offend you but this is what you call a guy movie.

I'm a guy and I was bored out of my mind when I watched it.

[Lester C.]

I'm a guy and I was bored out of my mind when I watched it.

You also hate Papa Roach, and Pantera so what do you know about testosterone fueled madness? Anyway congratulations on your 1000th post as you are now a senior member.

[Iangould]

I have to be honest...I watched about half an hour and got bored. But I WILL try again on your recommendation!

Gail

Gail, Versus starts slow and the production values are low.

I don't agree that it's purely a "guy thing".

Once it gets moving Versus is really hyperkinetic and fun.

[Lester C.]

Gail, Versus starts slow and the production values are low.

I don't agree that it's purely a "guy thing".

Once it gets moving Versus is really hyperkinetic and fun.

Gail only read the third sentence.

[Converge]

You also hate Papa Roach, and Pantera so what do you know about testosterone fueled madness? Anyway congratulations on your 1000th post as you are now a senior member.

If you have to like Papa Roach to like Versus then count me out.