Film Festivals 2004
Another great year for documentary fans with the gripping 'Capturing the Friedmans', political offerings 'Control Room', Robert McNamara in 'Fog of War', and the disturbing psyche of 'The Corporation'. For music lovers there was the fascinating 'End of the Century: The Sory of the Ramones', 'The Mayor of Sunset Strip', 'Metallica: Some Kind of Monster' and 'Festival Express'. Hector Babenco broke a long absence from directing with the powerhouse 'Carandiru' while Zhang Yimou's lush 'Hero' made it to New Zealand screens along with 'Motorcycle Diaries', gut-wrenching Korean flick 'Old Boy', heart-tugger 'Osama' and the delightful 'Triplets of Belleville' to name just a few.
The Cat Returns (2002)
7.3/10
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
From Japan's Studio Ghibli comes this magical animated adventure that will delight and inspire both the young and the young at heart. After saving a... Read more
A Tale of a Naughty Girl (2002)
6.7/10
Director: Buddhadeb Dasgupta
Starring: Samata Das, Rituparna Sengupta, Arpan Basar
India, 1969. Rajani, a prostitute, and her daughter, Lati, both live in a bordello in a little town called Gospaira. Hoping that her daughter will hav... Read more
Hero (2002)
7.9/10
Director: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Jet Li, Tony Leung (Chiu Wai), Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen
Director Zhang Yimou's highly stylized martial arts epic stars Jet Li as a nameless expert swordsman, who tells the ruler of one of ancient China's wa... Read more
Only the Strong Survive (2002)
6.8/10
Director: Chris Hegedus, D A Pennebaker
Starring: Jerry Butler, The Chi-Lites, Isaac Hayes, Sam Moore, Ann Peebles, Wilson Pickett...
Revealing documentary from co-director D.A. Pennebaker ("Dont Look Back") offers a vibrant, captivating look at the legendary Memphis, Tennessee, musi... Read more
Tongan Ninja (2002)
6.2/10
Director: Jason Stutter
Starring: Sam Manu, Jemaine Clement, Linda Tseng
He comes from the mighty Kingdom of Tonga. (pop 105,600- principal export: baby squash) He is trained in the ancient art of ninjitsu. He is, un-supris... Read more
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2002)
7.2/10
Director: Helen Stickler
Starring: Mark Rogowski, Tony Hawk, Stacy Peralta
In the 1980s, professional skateboarder Mark "Gator" Rogowski was one of the sport's most revered icons. This captivating documentary chronicles the d... Read more
The Grudge (2002)
6.7/10
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Starring: Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa
Aka 'Ju-on'. Japanese legend has it that a man who dies in a fit of rage leaves behind a malevolent presence that nests in his home; a contaminant tha... Read more
Laurel Canyon (2002)
6.4/10
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Starring: Frances McDormand, Kate Beckinsale, Christian Bale, Natascha McElhone, Alessandr...
In an exclusive Los Angeles neighbourhood, ageing hippie record producer Frances McDormand finds her empty nest filled by son Christian Bale and his f... Read more
The Man on the Train ( L'Homme Du Train ) (2002)
7.5/10
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Johnny Hallyday, Jean Rochefort
Travelling to a small village to rob the local bank, an ageing criminal (Johnny Hallyday) strikes up an unlikely friendship with a retired poetry prof... Read more
Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972)
7.3/10
Director: Chu Yuan
Starring: Lily Ho, Yueh Hua, Betty Pei Ti, Tung Lin
The most notorious erotic film in the history of Hong Kong cinema, this film shocked Chinese audiences and even today exerts a raw power. Lily Ho, in... Read more