The Royal Kingdom - The Pleasure Palace DVD

Advantages: Great Sound
Disadvantages: Subtitled in english

...In ancient times China was divided into seven kingdoms. Qin, the king of the Northern Province, is under permanent threat of assassination attempts. His greatest fears are the warriors "Broken Sword", "Flying Snow" and "Sky". One day one of the minor officials of his kingdom enters the palace, claims that he defeated all three of the emperor's adversaries and tells his story; how he beat "Sky" in a duel and used the love between "Broken Sword" and "Flying Snow" to subdue them. I went to the cinema having heard some of the hype leading to the movie, but with no real knowledge of the storyline, and expecting a lot. I couldnt believe i actually paid money to go and watch the film because i thought at the beginning of the film, it will get better but it doesnt. Dont get me wrong, the storyline is good but could with more work. Compare... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A very good little lollipop of a film that is pleasing to watch
Disadvantages: No character development, short running time and pacing not as good as it could be

...of a superstar and thankfully awareness of his work has in the few intervening years been getting more and more prominent in the rest of the world as well, particularly after his 2001 feature Spirited Away won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film. Now many of his earlier features such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, and others have been released on DVD the world over and his popularity is only getting stronger. But still the requirement for young talent who would later take over the animation duties of Studio Ghibli completely remains there. The first film with this objective in mind came in 2002 with first time director Hiroyuki Morita's Neko No Ongaeshi, or as the not-so-accurate translation goes, The Cat Returns. Based on the manga "Baron the Cat" by Aoi Hiiragi, The Cat Returns... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: This will keep you hot in winter...
Disadvantages: ...and sizzling in summer… !!

...), at one time a Chief Courtesan to the present King’s father when he was in power, who teaches the ways of the Kama Sutra in a school for courtesans. For now Maya will live at Rasa Devi’s commune and learn all she can about being a royal courtesan following the text of the Kama Sutra. [Jai, already fluent in the text’s teachings provides Maya with some extra-tuition… she is a willing student as she is deeply in love with Jai.] By the time Jai realises that he is in love with her, Maya is the favourite courtesan of the by now debauched Raj (steadily, he sinks into an opium-induced stupor and sexually-depraved existence and allows his Kingdom to disintegrate around him). He is obsessed with Maya to the dismay of Tara, as well as Jai. Tara is insanely jealous of her husband’s desire for Maya, but must tolerate it, as must Jai: in 15th Century... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful