Shocking Asia II: The Last Taboos

This film is more of a travelogue that you'll never see on public TV. It's actually pretty good in a haunting way. The Hobbit House still exists in Manila. Apparently it does great business despite the constantly changing owners. The prostitution scenes were clearly exaggerated. And did anyone else notice the shark fishermen (In footage seen previously in Mondo Cane.) were all missing the same limb. (Except for the poor guy missing both arms.) I get the impression part 1 and 2 were filmed on the same trip. Both had a lot of sex and violence in them but not so much to cause disgust. except maybe the sex-change operation in part 1. I wonder how many of those places still exist the way they were. I live in Asia and sometimes wonder. My Japanese friends thought this doc was a scream.

Weather or not this documentary offers a realistic take on Asia is up to the viewer, but it's not very likely. I have lived and/or worked on 4 different continents and thought I had seen everything from modernism to 3rd world life. However much of what you see in Shocking Asia 2, much like it's predecessor Shocking Asia 1 seems less shocking if you take out what appears to be fictionalized narration. Still there are some images that should be avoided if you are squeamish.

Some of the topics that are discussed includes a sacred monkey shrine, public cremation, eastern sex shops, faith healers and a host of other spiritual activities. Some of the segments seem to openly use sexploitation to help sell the video. If you are truly interested in Asian history and culture might I suggest the public library.

I'm sure that although the footage is genuine (although maybe contrived), the dialogue is completely fabricated. From the lepers on the beach who have supposedly lost limbs from shark attacks not leprosy, to the midgets who supposedly run their own bar, even though they obviously only work there. This movie is good for a laugh but to call it a documentary, would be shocking!!