Simon 14A 𓅃
@the14amazons.co.uk
Movies, music, games, sci-fi, science, politics. Support the NHS.
@clansofintrigue on Twitter.
@clansofintrigue on Twitter.
This is how all the Japanese classics should be translated.
September 28, 2025 at 1:36 PM
This is how all the Japanese classics should be translated.
#JustWatched THE JADE TIGER (1977, Chu Yuan)
One of the more accomplished Chu Yuan/Ku Long/Ti Lung collaborations, with a suitably labyrinthine plot and gorgeous visuals, with an all-star cast and quite a dark story.
One of the more accomplished Chu Yuan/Ku Long/Ti Lung collaborations, with a suitably labyrinthine plot and gorgeous visuals, with an all-star cast and quite a dark story.
August 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
#JustWatched THE JADE TIGER (1977, Chu Yuan)
One of the more accomplished Chu Yuan/Ku Long/Ti Lung collaborations, with a suitably labyrinthine plot and gorgeous visuals, with an all-star cast and quite a dark story.
One of the more accomplished Chu Yuan/Ku Long/Ti Lung collaborations, with a suitably labyrinthine plot and gorgeous visuals, with an all-star cast and quite a dark story.
LLM-Subtrans uses LLMs to translate subtitles, producing vastly superior results to older machine-translation methods. It cannot replace a professional translator who has actually watched the film, but it is usually "good enough" and can help make obscure films more accessible.
August 16, 2025 at 7:24 PM
LLM-Subtrans uses LLMs to translate subtitles, producing vastly superior results to older machine-translation methods. It cannot replace a professional translator who has actually watched the film, but it is usually "good enough" and can help make obscure films more accessible.
#NowWatching THE LADY HERMIT (1971, Ho Meng-Hua)
Shaw Brothers' attempt to set up Shih Szu as Cheng Pei-Pei's successor in the wuxia genre. I want Cheng Pei-Pei's face... why can't I have Cheng Pei-Pei's face? 😠
Shaw Brothers' attempt to set up Shih Szu as Cheng Pei-Pei's successor in the wuxia genre. I want Cheng Pei-Pei's face... why can't I have Cheng Pei-Pei's face? 😠
August 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
#NowWatching THE LADY HERMIT (1971, Ho Meng-Hua)
Shaw Brothers' attempt to set up Shih Szu as Cheng Pei-Pei's successor in the wuxia genre. I want Cheng Pei-Pei's face... why can't I have Cheng Pei-Pei's face? 😠
Shaw Brothers' attempt to set up Shih Szu as Cheng Pei-Pei's successor in the wuxia genre. I want Cheng Pei-Pei's face... why can't I have Cheng Pei-Pei's face? 😠
#NowWatching CLANS OF INTRIGUE (1977, Chu Yuan)
I love the fever dream logic (and aesthetics) of this film. The best of Chu Yuan's Gu Long adaptations - and we finally get to see it uncut thanks to @arrowvideo.bsky.social. Waited a long time for this!
I love the fever dream logic (and aesthetics) of this film. The best of Chu Yuan's Gu Long adaptations - and we finally get to see it uncut thanks to @arrowvideo.bsky.social. Waited a long time for this!
July 27, 2025 at 6:44 PM
#NowWatching CLANS OF INTRIGUE (1977, Chu Yuan)
I love the fever dream logic (and aesthetics) of this film. The best of Chu Yuan's Gu Long adaptations - and we finally get to see it uncut thanks to @arrowvideo.bsky.social. Waited a long time for this!
I love the fever dream logic (and aesthetics) of this film. The best of Chu Yuan's Gu Long adaptations - and we finally get to see it uncut thanks to @arrowvideo.bsky.social. Waited a long time for this!
The action in is a bit sloppy/stagy but the film is reliably entertaining and the story is good... as long as you don't think too hard on the details. Still no idea who the Jade-Faced Assassin is. boxd.it/1LBVo5
April 27, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The action in is a bit sloppy/stagy but the film is reliably entertaining and the story is good... as long as you don't think too hard on the details. Still no idea who the Jade-Faced Assassin is. boxd.it/1LBVo5
#NowWatching THE JADE-FACED ASSASSIN (1971, Yan Jun)
Fun wuxia that only has a passing acquaintance with making sense but delivers on colourful characters and dramatic developments, and a particularly charming Lily Ho. #ShawBrothersSunday
Fun wuxia that only has a passing acquaintance with making sense but delivers on colourful characters and dramatic developments, and a particularly charming Lily Ho. #ShawBrothersSunday
April 27, 2025 at 7:41 PM
#NowWatching THE JADE-FACED ASSASSIN (1971, Yan Jun)
Fun wuxia that only has a passing acquaintance with making sense but delivers on colourful characters and dramatic developments, and a particularly charming Lily Ho. #ShawBrothersSunday
Fun wuxia that only has a passing acquaintance with making sense but delivers on colourful characters and dramatic developments, and a particularly charming Lily Ho. #ShawBrothersSunday
#NowWatching BABY ASSASSINS - NICE DAYS (2024, Yugo Sakamoto)
The third mainline film in one of my favourite series of recent years. More quirky character-driven comedy, interspersed with exceptional action choreography by Kensuke Sonomura.
The third mainline film in one of my favourite series of recent years. More quirky character-driven comedy, interspersed with exceptional action choreography by Kensuke Sonomura.
March 29, 2025 at 9:36 PM
#NowWatching BABY ASSASSINS - NICE DAYS (2024, Yugo Sakamoto)
The third mainline film in one of my favourite series of recent years. More quirky character-driven comedy, interspersed with exceptional action choreography by Kensuke Sonomura.
The third mainline film in one of my favourite series of recent years. More quirky character-driven comedy, interspersed with exceptional action choreography by Kensuke Sonomura.
It's possible the version of THE REBEL OF SHAOLIN I saw is cut, since it's only 85 mins and the plot makes some inexplicable leaps - but more likely they just didn't give a fuck and wanted to squeeze as many fights in as possible before they ran out of film. Always the right choice.
March 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It's possible the version of THE REBEL OF SHAOLIN I saw is cut, since it's only 85 mins and the plot makes some inexplicable leaps - but more likely they just didn't give a fuck and wanted to squeeze as many fights in as possible before they ran out of film. Always the right choice.
#NowWatching THE REBEL OF SHAOLIN (1977, Chiang Nan)
A proper kung fu movie, Carter Huang plays a Shaolin Monk who is falsely suspected of being a murderous traitor, and has to fight basically everybody he meets, and Polly Shang Kuan dresses like a man for no real reason.
A proper kung fu movie, Carter Huang plays a Shaolin Monk who is falsely suspected of being a murderous traitor, and has to fight basically everybody he meets, and Polly Shang Kuan dresses like a man for no real reason.
March 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
#NowWatching THE REBEL OF SHAOLIN (1977, Chiang Nan)
A proper kung fu movie, Carter Huang plays a Shaolin Monk who is falsely suspected of being a murderous traitor, and has to fight basically everybody he meets, and Polly Shang Kuan dresses like a man for no real reason.
A proper kung fu movie, Carter Huang plays a Shaolin Monk who is falsely suspected of being a murderous traitor, and has to fight basically everybody he meets, and Polly Shang Kuan dresses like a man for no real reason.
Why the fuck are these clowns' travel plans headline news? Or news?
February 27, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Why the fuck are these clowns' travel plans headline news? Or news?
Happy #LetterboxdFriday, here's my #LastFourWatched
February 21, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Happy #LetterboxdFriday, here's my #LastFourWatched
I find it fascinating that the human mind can parse stories like this, full of elements that are so alien to our actual experiences... though anchored in human feelings (and gorgeous animation)
February 18, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I find it fascinating that the human mind can parse stories like this, full of elements that are so alien to our actual experiences... though anchored in human feelings (and gorgeous animation)
#NowWatching SUZUME (2022, Makoto Shinkai)
A sweet teenage girl meets a handsome boy and soon enough she's... chasing a cat across Japan to try and prevent a giant worm spirit from destroying the land... oh, and the boy is a chair now. Anime, ladies and gentlemen.
A sweet teenage girl meets a handsome boy and soon enough she's... chasing a cat across Japan to try and prevent a giant worm spirit from destroying the land... oh, and the boy is a chair now. Anime, ladies and gentlemen.
February 18, 2025 at 7:38 PM
#NowWatching SUZUME (2022, Makoto Shinkai)
A sweet teenage girl meets a handsome boy and soon enough she's... chasing a cat across Japan to try and prevent a giant worm spirit from destroying the land... oh, and the boy is a chair now. Anime, ladies and gentlemen.
A sweet teenage girl meets a handsome boy and soon enough she's... chasing a cat across Japan to try and prevent a giant worm spirit from destroying the land... oh, and the boy is a chair now. Anime, ladies and gentlemen.
CHINESE HERCULES is a better film than THE BIG BOSS in most respects - with the obviously large caveat that Bruce Lee isn't in it. The fights are a cut above the average though. Badly needs a restoration, but it's from a small production company so who knows what materials survive.
February 16, 2025 at 9:40 PM
CHINESE HERCULES is a better film than THE BIG BOSS in most respects - with the obviously large caveat that Bruce Lee isn't in it. The fights are a cut above the average though. Badly needs a restoration, but it's from a small production company so who knows what materials survive.
#NowWatching CHINESE HERCULES (1973, Ulysses Au-Yeung Jun)
Michael Chan Wai-Man stars in an obvious homage to THE BIG BOSS, with fights choreographed by a very young Jackie Chan, with Cory Yuen, Yuen Biao & others in the team. aka FREEDOM STRIKES A BLOW.
Michael Chan Wai-Man stars in an obvious homage to THE BIG BOSS, with fights choreographed by a very young Jackie Chan, with Cory Yuen, Yuen Biao & others in the team. aka FREEDOM STRIKES A BLOW.
February 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
#NowWatching CHINESE HERCULES (1973, Ulysses Au-Yeung Jun)
Michael Chan Wai-Man stars in an obvious homage to THE BIG BOSS, with fights choreographed by a very young Jackie Chan, with Cory Yuen, Yuen Biao & others in the team. aka FREEDOM STRIKES A BLOW.
Michael Chan Wai-Man stars in an obvious homage to THE BIG BOSS, with fights choreographed by a very young Jackie Chan, with Cory Yuen, Yuen Biao & others in the team. aka FREEDOM STRIKES A BLOW.
Let's go, Barcelona!
February 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Let's go, Barcelona!
Bandits From Shantung (1972)
February 14, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Bandits From Shantung (1972)
Bandits From Shantung (1972)
February 14, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Bandits From Shantung (1972)
#NowWatching BANDITS FROM SHANTUNG (1972, Huang Feng)
Another early Golden Harvest production. Straddles the line between wuxia and kung fu a bit, but mostly on the wuxia side. Chang Yi stars, Sammo brings the action.
Another early Golden Harvest production. Straddles the line between wuxia and kung fu a bit, but mostly on the wuxia side. Chang Yi stars, Sammo brings the action.
February 14, 2025 at 7:42 PM
#NowWatching BANDITS FROM SHANTUNG (1972, Huang Feng)
Another early Golden Harvest production. Straddles the line between wuxia and kung fu a bit, but mostly on the wuxia side. Chang Yi stars, Sammo brings the action.
Another early Golden Harvest production. Straddles the line between wuxia and kung fu a bit, but mostly on the wuxia side. Chang Yi stars, Sammo brings the action.
Well that was great! Should probably have watched it 20 years ago when I bought the DVD.
February 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Well that was great! Should probably have watched it 20 years ago when I bought the DVD.
#NowWatching THE MASTER AND THE KID (1978, Lin Fu-Ti)
aka FURY OF THE SHAOLIN MASTER. Quite artfully shot kung fu from Taiwan, starring Yueh Hua, with Lone Wolf & Cub vibes.
aka FURY OF THE SHAOLIN MASTER. Quite artfully shot kung fu from Taiwan, starring Yueh Hua, with Lone Wolf & Cub vibes.
February 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
#NowWatching THE MASTER AND THE KID (1978, Lin Fu-Ti)
aka FURY OF THE SHAOLIN MASTER. Quite artfully shot kung fu from Taiwan, starring Yueh Hua, with Lone Wolf & Cub vibes.
aka FURY OF THE SHAOLIN MASTER. Quite artfully shot kung fu from Taiwan, starring Yueh Hua, with Lone Wolf & Cub vibes.
Happy #LetterboxdFriday! Probably the first time in months that my #LastFourWatched have all been from the same week.
February 7, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Happy #LetterboxdFriday! Probably the first time in months that my #LastFourWatched have all been from the same week.
I wonder how it will seem to someone who hasn't seen SWORDMAN II (preferably at least 3 times to absorb the plot). Would Kitty Zhang convey the twisted tragedy of Invincible Asia more or less if she didn't stir memories of Brigitte Lin's masterful performance at every turn?
February 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I wonder how it will seem to someone who hasn't seen SWORDMAN II (preferably at least 3 times to absorb the plot). Would Kitty Zhang convey the twisted tragedy of Invincible Asia more or less if she didn't stir memories of Brigitte Lin's masterful performance at every turn?
The film is beautiful in a technical way, and the action basically answers the question "What if Ching Siu-Tung had had modern CGI and too much money?" - whilst impressive in its own way, it lacks the wild creativity-on-a-shoestring-budget of 90's Hong Kong wuxia.
February 7, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The film is beautiful in a technical way, and the action basically answers the question "What if Ching Siu-Tung had had modern CGI and too much money?" - whilst impressive in its own way, it lacks the wild creativity-on-a-shoestring-budget of 90's Hong Kong wuxia.