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This was the day I saw the second screening of Alatriste, and the film's gone even higher in my estimation as a result. And I'm even more impressed with Viggo. He attended the Q&A, was generous toward his co-stars and passionate in talking about the film. (Sorry,

faramir_boromir, I didn't get called on to ask your question.) It's his intellectual curiousity that I appreciate most. He apparently went crazy, getting books on 17th century Spain and CDs of music from the period and sharing them with the cast and crew.

I did rather feel sorry for him afterward, though. He got completely cornered by a pack of rabid fangirls in the lobby after the Q&A and though he was handling it as graciously as ever, he did look like he felt just a bit trapped. (This would be exactly why I don't usually do the autograph thing. I don't like imposing on someone's ability to appear in public just because they're an artist whose work I enjoy.)

Title: King and the Clown
Director: Lee Jun-ik
Country: South Korea
P's Rating: Okay
Jang-seng and Gong-gil are two itinerant clowns who gain success in the capital of Korea by satirizing the king's affair with a notorious courtesan. When they're arrested by an official of the king and sentenced to death, Jang-seng asks that their troupe be allowed to perform for the king. If the king laughs, they will live; if not, they'll be executed. The king does laugh, and the troupe are made palace favourites. Soon enough, though, the troupe start to be worried for their own lives as the king's instability becomes increasingly obvious and courtiers end up dead at the end of their shows. And Jang-seng is worried for Gong-gil, whose feminine looks have attracted the attention of the king. The film is gorgeous, with beautiful costumes and lovely cinematography, but it never got beyond interesting for me.

Title: Exiled
Director: Johnnie To
Country: Hong Kong
P's Rating: Highly Recommended
Johnnie To is one of the most interesting, and prolific filmmakers currently working in Hong Kong today. He's worked in every genre, romantic comedies to crazy riffs on the superhero mythology, but he's best known for his gangster films. And Exiled is a return to top form for To in the gangster genre. It's a companion piece to his earlier film, The Mission, and he's brought together the same cast to tell the story of gangsters ordered to kill one of their own in retribution for an assassination attempt on their boss. The film is filled with stylish set pieces, from the opening shootout in the traitor's apartment to a crazy confrontation with the boss's men in an underground medical clinic. And it's as funny as it is thrilling, with fab comic timing from To's usual stock company, including the ever dependable Lam Suet. And Anthony Wong, as the leader of the hitmen, proves yet again that he's one of the coolest men alive.