Comments on: Who Reviews the Reviewer? http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311 Musings from the Edge of Forever Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:39:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: AlHaru http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10675 AlHaru Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:33:40 +0000 http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10675 Review writing is fun, if you can make money out of it it's even better. I found good movies are easier to write about (and you know your readers are going to like them - the positive stuff); with bad movies, however, it's always been difficult to detach personal grief and anger, sometimes sarcasm. I've been trashing a good number of movies in my attic writings, some of them have been seriously respected and loved. Reviewers and critics are always personal, vastly because a movie experience is also very much a personal experience. Tony Rayns' commentary is more of a collection of information he gathered (as a film scholar), and presented that with his voice that's sometimes boring to listen to. I doubt if people like Rayns have much insights and thoughts about Asian movies other than behind-the-scenes information they'd like to share. Not that I'm doubting their qualifications with regards to their professions, I just wonder if many of them have the same level of attachment to Asian cinema, particularly Hong Kong's, as to European and Japanese. Hong Kong cinema is a fragment so small that most of them must feel that writing or thinking too deeply about it would be a waste of time, because nobody wants to know more about it. Google up Kurosawa Akira, there you'll find numerous reviews, in-depth or not, chanting his influence in world cinema. As for Wong Kar-Wai, people review him couldn't even pronounce his name correctly. "I only wish you guys would cut loose more often on your blogs and do some in-depth pieces on the films that you think matter." - Marie Couldn't have said it better myself. Sometimes I hope that Ross and gang can slim down on bad movies and stop poking too much fun out of them (they're funny to read, regardless). I think most of us who frequent this site have a clear understanding of what Benny Chan has become, and Hong Kong cinema is no longer the same independent service as before. It might also help if the site offers the readers to post opinions. Looks like we've got some pretty interesting brains here around. Review writing is fun, if you can make money out of it it’s even better. I found good movies are easier to write about (and you know your readers are going to like them - the positive stuff); with bad movies, however, it’s always been difficult to detach personal grief and anger, sometimes sarcasm. I’ve been trashing a good number of movies in my attic writings, some of them have been seriously respected and loved. Reviewers and critics are always personal, vastly because a movie experience is also very much a personal experience.

Tony Rayns’ commentary is more of a collection of information he gathered (as a film scholar), and presented that with his voice that’s sometimes boring to listen to. I doubt if people like Rayns have much insights and thoughts about Asian movies other than behind-the-scenes information they’d like to share. Not that I’m doubting their qualifications with regards to their professions, I just wonder if many of them have the same level of attachment to Asian cinema, particularly Hong Kong’s, as to European and Japanese. Hong Kong cinema is a fragment so small that most of them must feel that writing or thinking too deeply about it would be a waste of time, because nobody wants to know more about it. Google up Kurosawa Akira, there you’ll find numerous reviews, in-depth or not, chanting his influence in world cinema. As for Wong Kar-Wai, people review him couldn’t even pronounce his name correctly.

“I only wish you guys would cut loose more often on your blogs and do some in-depth pieces on the films that you think matter.” - Marie

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Sometimes I hope that Ross and gang can slim down on bad movies and stop poking too much fun out of them (they’re funny to read, regardless). I think most of us who frequent this site have a clear understanding of what Benny Chan has become, and Hong Kong cinema is no longer the same independent service as before.

It might also help if the site offers the readers to post opinions. Looks like we’ve got some pretty interesting brains here around.

]]> By: Webmaster Kozo http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10648 Webmaster Kozo Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:41:49 +0000 http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10648 It's great that Calvin can keep his blog updated because the rest of us simply can't. But I do appreciate that people still find some value in LoveHKFilm.com. The site itself is now way behind the current Internet curve so it's nice that some people out there still like what it offers. Hopefully the site can get back on track a bit in 2011. It’s great that Calvin can keep his blog updated because the rest of us simply can’t. But I do appreciate that people still find some value in LoveHKFilm.com. The site itself is now way behind the current Internet curve so it’s nice that some people out there still like what it offers.

Hopefully the site can get back on track a bit in 2011.

]]> By: Marie http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10612 Marie Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:26:14 +0000 http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10612 I always look to Lovehkfilm for insightful and culturally informed reviews of films. I've been doing a lot of research on Johnnie To lately (a lot!) and I keep coming back to your reviews of his films for the insights and information I just don't find anywhere else. (It might be different if I read Chinese, but then again, maybe not.) I mean, who else but you guys would see the links between Needing You and A Moment of Romance? It sure wasn't Tony Rayns or any of the other "big-name" reviewers of Asian films in English. Your understanding of Hong Kong history and culture, and Hong Kong film history and film culture is what makes your reviews a cut of above the rest. I only wish you guys would cut loose more often on your blogs and do some in-depth pieces on the films that you think matter. I always look to Lovehkfilm for insightful and culturally informed reviews of films. I’ve been doing a lot of research on Johnnie To lately (a lot!) and I keep coming back to your reviews of his films for the insights and information I just don’t find anywhere else. (It might be different if I read Chinese, but then again, maybe not.) I mean, who else but you guys would see the links between Needing You and A Moment of Romance? It sure wasn’t Tony Rayns or any of the other “big-name” reviewers of Asian films in English. Your understanding of Hong Kong history and culture, and Hong Kong film history and film culture is what makes your reviews a cut of above the rest. I only wish you guys would cut loose more often on your blogs and do some in-depth pieces on the films that you think matter.

]]> By: Bomby http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10480 Bomby Sat, 16 Oct 2010 08:29:14 +0000 http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10480 You guys generally do a great job on this site - I just think you all need to give Hou Hsiao-Hsien another chance. Having just gotten my bachelor's in film studies and once again taking up reviewing as a part time hobby, I totally agree that reviewing bad movies is easier than reviewing great movies. When I talk about a great movie, I keep wanting to mention the editing and cinematography and other things that only academia and truly devoted cinephiles really pay close attention to. You guys generally do a great job on this site - I just think you all need to give Hou Hsiao-Hsien another chance.

Having just gotten my bachelor’s in film studies and once again taking up reviewing as a part time hobby, I totally agree that reviewing bad movies is easier than reviewing great movies. When I talk about a great movie, I keep wanting to mention the editing and cinematography and other things that only academia and truly devoted cinephiles really pay close attention to.

]]> By: ColinJ http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10468 ColinJ Sat, 16 Oct 2010 04:44:01 +0000 http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10468 I know I just want anyones honest opinion on a film. Andx preferably in an articulate, well-considered way. I know I just want anyones honest opinion on a film. Andx preferably in an articulate, well-considered way.

]]> By: CeeFu http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10446 CeeFu Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:14:10 +0000 http://www.lovehkfilm.com/blog/roninonempty/?p=311#comment-10446 We sure do appreciate that service, sir! I almost always agree with you. Hence I am still intrigued enough to watch Murderer (but not to buy it). Somebody told me, though, there are still other ways to get your Asian film on. Not saying it's me. Just something I heard. :) I don't know if what I do is review (that's too high brow for me), but I think critics get personal with the films all the time; they just aren't that up front about it. I own the fact that I want to catch one of those Pang brothers in an alley for what was done to Storm Warriors. We get attached to movies in a real and visceral way, for good or bad, so that doesn't bother me when you wear your heart on your sleeve. We sure do appreciate that service, sir! I almost always agree with you. Hence I am still intrigued enough to watch Murderer (but not to buy it). Somebody told me, though, there are still other ways to get your Asian film on. Not saying it’s me. Just something I heard. :)

I don’t know if what I do is review (that’s too high brow for me), but I think critics get personal with the films all the time; they just aren’t that up front about it. I own the fact that I want to catch one of those Pang brothers in an alley for what was done to Storm Warriors. We get attached to movies in a real and visceral way, for good or bad, so that doesn’t bother me when you wear your heart on your sleeve.

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