Dumplings DVD

Advantages: superb, stylishly shot, harrowing
Disadvantages: none

...connoisseur of the expensive rejuvenating dumplings of the title. Aunt Mei's youth inducing dumplings have made her famous, and Mrs Lee, desperate to regain the failing attractions of her older wealthy husband (Tony Leung Ka Fai), who embarks on an affair with a much younger woman, is willing to devour the dumplings to secure her desires. Aunt Mei secures her secret ingredients by crossing the borders into mainland China. The secret ingredient is ...
...of the contents of the dumplings only reflect the shallow all consuming fear of age and the unknown future. Another major factor apparent in Chan's 'Dumplings' is the extreme class divide associated with China today. The wealthy have always fed (metaphorically speaking ie-hard labour) off the poor, and grown stronger on it. The collapsing block of urban flats where Mei resides is a stark contrast to Mrs Lee's luxurious hotel living whilst her lavish ... Read review

Advantages: Original, dark drama
Disadvantages: May be offensive to some

Cook Aunt Mei (Bai Ling) has found the secret of eternally youthful looks and she is the product of that. Set in Hong Kong, she travels regularly to mainland China to get aborted foetuses which she then uses as the special ingredient in her dumplings. Mrs Li (Miriam Yeung) is a failing actress who feels threatened by the loss of her youth and the loss of her (older and wealthy) husband's attention. She is prepared to pay Aunt Mei for her dumplings, ...
...that is five months or so along) as she realises her husband is having an affair with a young masseuse. However, Aunt Mei knows a young girl who wishes to have an abortion which meets all of Mrs Li's requirements and more and arranges to perform this. However, Mrs Li's obsession is causing her problems and things start to go wrong. I rented this film as I heard some good things about it, and certainly the premise is original and is fairly sensitively ... Read review

Advantages: original, interesting thought-provoking subject
Disadvantages: meandering, no real conclusion, disturbing for some

...Aunt Mei and her infamous dumplings that hold regenerative powers, allowing the consumer to gain prolonged (or possibly eternal) youth. She meets a new customer who remains the main character throughout the film, a Mrs Li, who tries to use the dumplings to regain her youth and hence the affections of her estranged husband. The next thing to know about this film is what the secret ingredient of the dumplings are. It's not really meant to be a secret ...
...the living proof that her dumplings work. What I found interesting about this was the way that she behaved. She carried herself like an older person might, free from the self-consciousness of youth and not caring about getting messy from flour etc. whilst making her dumplings, but was also young and full of energy and some youthlike habits. So that got me to wondering whether older people seem to have less energy than children do because their bodies ... Read review

Advantages: stellar ensemble cast , quality script
Disadvantages: none particularly

...After a long absence of truly great live action films, Disney once again managed to hit the mother lode in 1975 with the release of the Apple Dumpling Gang. Following a trio of orphans who are fostered with a quite unwilling Russel Donovan, who also happens to be a hopelessly inept gambler, we are treated to some of the very best comic slapstick ever to grace the screen. Poor Mr Donovan is literally duped into holding onto "some valuables" which he is most dismayed to discover are three little vagabonds. The children are out messing about one day when they find a large lump of gold that has become exposed thanks to an earlier earthquake. It is 1878, and this is California, so gold means lots of attention and greed. The townspeople want that gold, so insist it is kept at the bank, and that the children and Mr Donovan cannot touch it... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Three stories, very visual
Disadvantages: Short, some didn't make sense

...Three Extremes, certainly three short but strange horror movies by the Tartan Asia Extreme network, which probably do the best horror movies out there despite them being subtitled they have a great plot, great gory scenes and fantastic twists. I prefer the longer films, but anyway here is the three stories, and three extremes. Firstly one film, three extremes, each by a different director. There is another film out three extremes 2. However I decided to put this to the test yesterday and watched it. The film links in with the 3rd section within the DVD. Dumplings - Directed by Fruit Chan (shorter version of a film) Firstly lets say this is the 45 minute, well shorter version of the film dumplings. This films certainly makes you think, what? As soon as you see the red jelly substance, which is put in this womans dumplings... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A brilliant classic.
Disadvantages: No extras, play menu is a bit plain.

.... Old People, 20. Methyl Steelworks Club, 21. Neck Lumps, 22. Casual Vomit, 23. High Fibre Diet, 24. Never Again, 25. The Road The Gypsies Go. ●General Info● Here is the information that is usually on the bottom half of the back of the cover: Running Time:1 hour and 30 minutes Age certificate: 18 Production year: 1987 Director: Nobby Clark Editors: Paul Naisbitt and Ivan Naisbitt Producer: John Reid Dolby Surround Sound? Yes Studios: Universal and Sleepy Dumpling (music) Ltd. ●And Finnally● I would strongly recommend this DVD to someone who hasn't watched much Billy Connolly, or anyone with a crude sense of humour. It really is a classic and my sides were acheing for hours after watching this along with the tears of laughter at the time of watching this. This review would have been much more funny... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful