Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Simon 14A 𓅃

A. Tran @antisoci-al-tran.bsky.social · 25d

A WRITER’S ODYSSEY 2: the idea of alternate realities colliding that was played with in the first film is in full bloom here and while it eventually piles-up an enough ideas for two sequels I welcome its go-for-broke audacity. The spectacle and swordplay remain fun and plentiful.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Sep 28

This is how all the Japanese classics should be translated.

The image shows a screenshot of GUI-Subtrans translating the subtitles for The Tale Of Genji (1951) from English to English with a thick Scottish Brogue.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Sep 20

Yay for remembering that Sitges exists before it happens this year! sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/film/2025...

Hard Boiled (4K)

sitgesfilmfestival.com

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 25

#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.

Yueh Hua and Lo Lieh talk by a misty lake

Future stars Yuen Biao and Cory Yuen fronting a crowd of extras with swords.

Norman Tsui offers a toast to Ti Lung, wearing a fetching hat.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 17

#JustWatched CITY ON FIRE (1987, Ringo Lam)
One of the crown jewels of 1980's Hong Kong Cinema. Ringo Lam nails that fatalistic, cynical noir vibe and coaxes a magnificent performance out of Chow Yun-Fat. Great to see this finally get a quality remaster! boxd.it/aLJZUd

A ★★★★½ review of City on Fire (1987)

One of the crown jewels of 1980's Hong Kong Cinema. Ringo Lam's moody noir is all shades of grey. There is none of John Woo's romanticism here - heroism, loyalty and honour are all out of our protagon...

boxd.it

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 16

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.

A kindly robot sits at a wooden desk, patiently translating (we assume) something in a leather-bound notebook.

Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 16

OpenRouter is an aggregator that provides access to a wide variety of LLMs with a single API key. This includes a number of quite capable models that are free to use, such as google/gemini-2.0-flash-exp:free. It is now the default provider for LLM-Subtrans.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 16

GPT-Subtrans is now LLM-Subtrans!
github.com/machinewrapp...
An overdue name change, since it has supported providers other than OpenAI/GPT for a very long time, but with the recent addition of OpenRouter support it seemed like the right time to make the change.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 3

THE LADY HERMIT is in the upper-mid tier of female-led wuxia from the era. Well-written, looks great, decent action and a delightful Cheng Pei-Pei. boxd.it/aAAYCP

A ★★★★ review of The Lady Hermit (1971)

This is quite a lavish production with some great cinematography and charming special effects from director Ho Meng-Hua, in the upper-mid tier of female-led wuxia from the era. It seems like it was in...

boxd.it

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 2

#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? 😠

Shih Szu in period costume, with a blurry Cheng Pei-Pei pouring water in the foreground

Cheng Pei-Pei in white wuxia garb and veil, with Shih Szu holding a sword in the background

Cheng Pei-Pei smiling beatifically behind a white veil.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Aug 2

Uriah Heep do seem to have been strangely forgotten/overlooked - their 1970-1972 run (5 albums!) is gold.
youtu.be/grSWdLdp7po

URIAH HEEP JULY MORNING 1972

YouTube video by LZ1967 PNT

youtu.be

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jul 27

#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!

An ornate boat floats on still water near a pier, bathed in mist.

Ti Lung in a striking orange and black costume, talking with Li Ching in an exotic costume, in an ornate gambling den.

Ling Yun dressed all in black, standing half turned near a tree, on a typically otherworldy Chu Yuan wuia set (swathed in mist).

Tien Ching raises a jug of wine, seated on an elaborate boat.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jul 7

Not just a port of the Celestial subs as they translate on-screen text, which Celestial never did. I actually think they're alright overall, but they translate every shop sign in the background which can be distracting!

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jun 29

Reminiscent of UK Labour working to undermine Jeremy Corbyn when the alternative was Boris Johnson and a hard Brexit. The primary purpose of the establishment-approved Party Of The Left appears to be ensuring that people never have a genuinely socialist option to vote for.

Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jun 29

Temptress of a Thousand Faces is a genuinely fun one but it seems to have been rather overlooked despite a cinema tour when Celestial acquired the Shaws library. It would have been a much more interesting inclusion than this, but I guess Lo Wei's name is more marketable.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jun 27

Could you be more specific?

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Reposted by Simon 14A 𓅃

Travis @coloradotravis.bsky.social · Jun 26

This article claims that people can't move to productive cities because of housing costs. But of course the causal chain could well be the opposite (see Pettis) and work as follows:

1. Productive cities concentrate economic rents
2. These rents flow to capital owners, not workers

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Reposted by Simon 14A 𓅃

Shogun Supreme @timessqkungfu.bsky.social · Jun 24

Yeah, Hard Boiled in 4K on iTunes looks incredible. Original audio mix on both tracks. Bless Apple on their bitrate.

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jun 22

Hmm, maybe it's from a master that was trimmed for TV broadcast or something?

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jun 22

Haven't seen this one! Any good?

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Simon 14A 𓅃 @the14amazons.co.uk · Jun 20

Thanks for all your work and advocacy too! Feeling such a sense of relief already.

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Reposted by Simon 14A 𓅃

Dignity in Dying @dignityindying.org.uk · Jun 20

BREAKING: MPs back assisted dying Bill at Third Reading.

▶️ For: 314
▶️ Against: 291

This is a landmark moment for choice, compassion and dignity at the end of life.

#YesToDignity

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Reposted by Simon 14A 𓅃

Dignity in Dying @dignityindying.org.uk · Jun 17

This Friday, MPs will vote on the assisted dying Bill.

It all comes down to this - Tag your MP and ask them to vote yes.

If it passes, the Bill continues its journey in the House of Lords - if not, it falls.

This could be our last chance to secure a compassionate law.

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Reposted by Simon 14A 𓅃

Matthew Essary @wheelscritic.bsky.social · Jun 13

“Diablo” is lean & to the point but still full of the idiosyncratic flavor Diaz & Zaror bring to all their collaborations. They were also clearly jazzed to have a guy who could hang w/ Zaror physically for a change in Adkins. This is highlight work for all three men. “Diablo” is a must see for fans

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Reposted by Simon 14A 𓅃

Keep Our NHS Public @keepournhspublic.bsky.social · Jun 9

For 20 years we've fought tooth and nail for our NHS.

We've saved 10 hospitals & numerous services, lobbied politicians and brought information to thousands - but without your help, we can't continue the fight.

Will you donate to help us now? 👇 🙏
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/20th-anniv...

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