Accented Cinema

Accented Cinema - Episode 5 In this episode, we continue our journey through the J-horror genre.

Accented Cinema - Episode 6 It's Chinese New Year, which means Chinese people around the country are gathering around the dinner table and enjoying a lavish meal with their family and friends. Food is such a key part of Chinese culture, it is found in almost any and all situations, from weddings to festivals to funerals. And the food often has greater meaning than just fuel for your body. Today, we'll take a look at foods in Chinese movies, and discuss the meanings behind. Sit back and relax, and bon appetit. By the way, Chinese people worships their gods with foods, too. But after the worship is over, we eat the food. So I guess it's not really for the gods, isn't it?

Accented Cinema - Episode 7 Stephen Chow's new film "The New King of Comedy" just came out, and people can't stop talking about it. While we, in the west, may not all have the opportunity to see it, we can always watch and talk about the original "King of Comedy". In this episode, I'll talk about Stephen Chow, share some insight into the production of the film, and my personal feelings in regards to the film as a filmmaker.

Accented Cinema - Episode 8 I'm one of those assholes that watches bad movies on a regular basis for entertainment. And foreign films are one of those place where I find the most weirdness and fun. But this creates an unfortunate assumption about foreign culture for many. A lot of people begins assume foreign cultures are so different, that they are weird when compare to our culture. In this episode, we'll tackle this misconception head on, and discusses the bias people have when dealing with foreign culture in film. Strap yourself in, because this is going to be a bit controversial for some. Also, don't watch Teeth. I'd rather you watch Chatterbox.

Accented Cinema - Episode 9 Chinese movie sucks. Even your average Chinese would admit, there hasn't been many good Chinese films in recent years. But most of them aren't bad because they are lazy cash grabs. In fact, quite the opposite. Often times, they look expensive. So what went wrong? In this episode, I'll offer my take on why Chinese films went downhill and how to fix it. And if you are into GOOD Chinese films, go to your local cinema and watch "Wandering Earth"

Accented Cinema - Episode 10 Did you know the North Korean Government once kidnapped a South Korean director to make a Godzilla style monster movie? Now you know! There are hundreds if not thousands of videos out there talking about the backstory, and it is most definitely fascinating. But not a lot of people pay attention to the film itself. Today, we'll take a detail look, and do some film analysis, to see if this film has any hidden meanings. By the way, the Japanese film crew agreed to this production, because they were tricked into believing it's a Japanese-Chinese co-production.

Accented Cinema - Episode 11 Making people laugh is difficult. Entire industry of people spent their entire life studying the art of humor, yet no one is ever consistently funny. Knowing this, makes Stephen Chow's career that much more impressive. The man has been consistently funny in near every movie he was in. Today, we'll learn from the master himself, and see how we can tell better jokes, with a Hong Kong flavour. No, this is not the Stephen Chow retrospective I was working on. I still don't have all the Chow movies in my possession, yet. It's coming, though!

Accented Cinema - Episode 12 Today, we are stepping out of Asia, and take a look at a South African classic: The Gods Must Be Crazy. It is not the best film ever made. But it is one of my favourite films of all time. There is this purity of joy within that makes me giggle like a child. In this episode, we’ll stroll through the film and see, why is this film so charming. Did you know Hong Kong loves this film so much, they made 3 separate sequels of it? Well, that’s a story for another time.

Accented Cinema - Episode 13 I wanted to talk about this film for a long time. The Iron Ladies is such a remarkable film from my childhood. It's funny. It's wholesome. It's may be still ahead of its time. And I want more people to appreciate it. There was a lot of ways I can and want to talk about this acclaimed Thai classic. Ultimately, I choose to talk to you about this film, the same way the film taught me when I was a child: To understand the world is much more diverse and people can be much more different in expression than me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. True story. This film and Sailor Moon were 2 of my earliest exposure to LGBT.

Accented Cinema - Episode 14 I'm a Kaiju fan since I was a kid. But I'm also the only Kaiju fan I know. But that probably won't be the case soon, because the the New Godzilla movie is looking good. If you have any passing interests in Kaiju movies, but don't know where to begin, then here is senpai's recommendation: The Gamera Trilogy.

Accented Cinema - Episode 15 In case it isn't obvious enough, I'm ethnically Asian. So, this is somewhat of a personal topic to me. Not to make everything about race, but I think most of us can agree that Hollywood, despite the diverse demographic, has not been to most supportive of minority groups. So, for this episode, let's talk about it. I'll share my personal experience with the industry, and walk you through some of the most offensive or disappointing films.

Accented Cinema - Episode 16 It's an age old question: Can Jackie Chan fight? Many people call Kung Fu "fake", for the simple reason that its practitioner isn't the best in an MMA ring. And that, ot me, its a very narrow minded understanding of Kung Fu. So, for this episode, I'd like to talk about how Kung Fu took over cinema, and how it has changed. And through this exploration, hopefully we can learn to appreciate Kung Fu's beauty.

Accented Cinema - Episode 17 I wanted to talk about this film since I first saw the film in theatres and absolutely loved it. This is one of those film where the more I watch, the more details I notice. And today, I'd like to share some small and big details that might not be able to cross the cultural barrier.

Accented Cinema - Episode 18 Yes, you read the title right. With Ip Man 4 coming out soon, the time is right for a Ip Man retrospective. When talking about the Ip Man series, most people immediately think of its kung fu action. But hidden behind every punch, there is a story: a superhero story. Today, we are going to analyze the story of all three Ip Man films, and find out what works and what doesn't. All the while drawing some parallels to Superman stories of the past.

Accented Cinema - Episode 19 It's time we give the biggest film industry some long over due attention. What better place to begin than with an all time classic: Sholay. I first watched Sholay in a film study class about Indian cinema. And it has been with me ever since. It's such a memorable epic, different from your regular Hollywood fair, yet fresh and interesting. What's so different about it? Why it feels so epic? Let's find out!

Accented Cinema - Episode 20 Watching only the most famous Chinese films to learn about Chinese culture, is like only ordering the most famous dishes from Chinatown. A lot of nuances are missing if you don't look for the local stuff. So in this episode, I'm going to recommend 50 Chinese films for you, some famous, some not, all of which have a huge effect on Mainland China, Hong Kong and/or Taiwan. They aren't necessary the best films. But they defined the shared memories of my generation. Also, am I the only one who grew up watching Ten Brothers?

Accented Cinema - Episode 21 In the Mood for Love is my favourite movie, and in this episode, I want to show you why. Or at least, show you how to appreciation this film, and seeing more than just the story and plot.

Accented Cinema - Episode 22 While primary known as a movie star, most people tend to focus on Bruce Lee as a martial artist. How couldn't they? Watching this man fight is absolutely mesmerizing. But let's not forget that Bruce Lee is also a filmmaker, who single handedly reinvented the Martial Arts movie in genre, first in Hong Kong, and then in the west. In this two-part retrospective, we are going to examine just exactly how Bruce Lee changed the film industry.

Accented Cinema - Episode 23 Last time, we talked about Bruce's contribution to the technique in Kung Fu films. This time, we'll be talking about his cultural impact and the legacy he left, from obvious influence on Jackie Chan, to less obvious influence on the Ninja Turtles.

Accented Cinema - Episode 24 So instead of your usual analysis and critique, we are just going to share a few small tidbits about Bruce Lee, informations that I can't quite fit into the two-part retrospective.

Accented Cinema - Episode 25 It's Halloween, which means we are going to talk horror. And today, we'll talk about one of Hong Kong's most iconic contemporary horror film: The Eye. It may seem like just a knock off of the J-horror films of its time. But if you look carefully, there are a lot of small differences that makes this film a brilliant reflection on Chinese superstitions. Let me show you.

Accented Cinema - Episode 26 After winning Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival, the buzz surrounding this film has never stopped. How can I resist talking about Parasite? Today, we'll examine the fundamental techniques director Bong Joon-ho used in this film, and see how it elevates a film into an art house movie.

Accented Cinema - Episode 27 Today, we are going to do something different. Over the past year of this channel, a lot of people asked me about my film school experience and recommendations. So, let's answer these questions!

Accented Cinema - Episode 28 We are coming to the end of the Star Wars Sequel Saga, and we still have yet to have a truly satisfying lightsaber duel. Why are the sword fights in The Last Jedi so lacking? Well, since Star Wars was originally a Samurai Western set in space, what better place to seek guidance than Asian sword movies?

Accented Cinema - Episode 29 Welcome to the last episode of 2019! Let us celebrates this holiday with the best Christmas movie in the anime industry: Tokyo Godfathers?