Why We Keep Coming Back For More 2004

Having liked what we saw in 2003 we were quick to book our return to the festival, even attempting to prepare somewhat with a little research into the films on show. The problem with Sitges is that a little knowledge can be dangerous as we soon found out with THE BIRTHDAY. Shaun’s taking the rap for this one as he called it based purely on the involvement of Corey Feldmen. A return to former 80’s glory for Corey this wasn’t.

Fortunately for us and the festival 2004 was also the year of OLDBOY, PRIMER, THE MACHINIST, & ARAHAN. Four absolute belters and the films that would go on to define our love for the festival. For pure indulgence we’ve also included the opening scene from Johnnie To’s BREAKING NEWS. In the subsequent years Mr To has done his best to alienate us but perhaps it’s down to this 7 minute uncut introduction to his style of Hong Kong action that we keep giving him another chance.

 

The Sitges Film Festival. Why We Keep Coming Back For More

It’s that time of year where the collective minds of team Corridorstyle start to wander as the distant, siren-like chimes of the Sant Bartolomeu bell tower grow louder, beckoning us to return once more to our cinematic home. To be honest, the calling is there pretty much all year round but we’ve yet to come by the means necessary for Corridorstyle to remain permanently on-location in Sitges.

While we need no reminding of what it is that keeps us coming back for more, we thought we’d take a walk down memory lane in the lead up to this year’s event to give you pitiful souls who’ve yet to experience the festival a taste of what it’s all about.

And for Corridorstyle there’s only one place to start. The beginning.

But We Like It Because It Looks Cool.

While we’re semi-aware of the hidden textural layers many movies may weave, generally speaking a film rarely has to dig deeper than slick visuals and claw hammers to keep team Corridorstyle  happy. And although we really don’t need any new reasons to stick OLDBOY, BITTERSWEET LIFE, or THE CHASER in the DVD for the umpteenth time, Andrew Lowry at The Guardian has an interesting take on a possible catalyst for Korean cinema’s recent love for bloody revenge.

Somebody should be crucified for this

Following similar gripes about planned remakes of OLDBOY (Sitges 2004 – thankfully still on the drawing board) and LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (Sitges 2008 – we played mardy and refused to watch the remake LET ME IN screened at this year’s festival), we’re to be reminded once more that we, as speakers of the English language, are just not that into foreign language films and the only thing for it is to repackage them without those annoying subtitle-type-thingys at the bottom of the screen.

The LA Times have a piece (HERE) on how Pascal Laugier’s MARTYRS (Sitges 2008 – Colin loved it, Shaun didn’t. Get the wine in) is to be remade for American audiences with Daniel Stamm (THE LAST EXORCISM) at the helm.

The opinion we voiced previously was nothing new for those opposed to these kinds of remakes but we’re going to bleat it out again anyway as we’re firmly in the camp that believe the original films have far more to offer before Hollywood breaks out the make-up.

Potential Sitges Film Speculation Number One

We’ll be absolutely honest, we have no insight whatsoever into what’s actually going to be showing at the festival this year but who cares – it’s getting closer and time to get excited! Over the coming weeks we’ll be posting details of more films we think could be there

The first film we think might have a chance is the Korean film ‘I Saw The Devil’:

Ok…take the stars of Oldboy and  A Bittersweet Life (two of our all-time favourites) and add in the director of The Good, The Bad, the Weird and I think the only way we’d be more excited about a film is if they gave you free beers on the way in.

It looks to have all of the moodyness of The Chaser and A Bittersweet Life and  with Lee Byung-Hun playing a vengeful husband  and Choi Min-Sik playing the killer of his wife, if it is on at Sitges it’s already guaranteed to be one of our must sees.

There’s usually a healthy supply of Korean films at the festival and there’s a couple more on the horizon we’ll be letting you have details of over the coming days, and if they all make it they could make this year’s fest the year of the moody Korean drama.

Fingers and everything are definitely crossed!

Oh Dae Suh Is Back (Kind Of)

As you’ve probably realised by now, we are obsessed with all things Oldboy. I found this on my daily work-avoidance web trawl and thought I’d put it up in case we’re being followed by any other hammer-fight obsessed geeks.

Please click on the link HERE , thanks to our friends over at Ain’t It Cool

Enjoy.