tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37335487783811482112024-02-19T03:53:44.479-08:00OPERATION COUCH POTATOwhenever wherever whatever... no gas mileage necessaryO.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-21381218125833777752012-12-27T01:34:00.000-08:002012-12-27T01:34:24.646-08:00Les Misérables<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc80aOQ3WPsYsc3xmgzSiyTwcRuzQIYhQwCG37b7H-geJb3pKYsAJnLz3Fm2dnH86kp5ls0eS3LsIhjSdabc5mSi6Xkgp0oojUkrzE9UMRpfehYM5cOmu4W02pRlvcJtn4nB28evkVogT/s1600/les+miserables1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc80aOQ3WPsYsc3xmgzSiyTwcRuzQIYhQwCG37b7H-geJb3pKYsAJnLz3Fm2dnH86kp5ls0eS3LsIhjSdabc5mSi6Xkgp0oojUkrzE9UMRpfehYM5cOmu4W02pRlvcJtn4nB28evkVogT/s400/les+miserables1.png" width="267" /></a></div>
"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707386/">Les Misérables</a>" (2012) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0393799/">Tom Hooper</a> was overall Okay.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004266/">Anne Hathaway</a> was amazing and very impressive.<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0413168/">Hugh Jackman</a> was not there 100%.<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000128/">Russell Crow</a> ... don't even bother.<br />
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Overall all the young casts were very talented and amazingly well acted:<br />
Marius played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519666/">Eddie Redmeyne</a><br />
Gavroche the little boy played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4948519/">Daniel Huttlestone</a><br />
and the little Cosette played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4961623/">Isabelle Allen</a> only had a small appearance but validated her existence.<br />
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It is a good holiday movie and a tearjerker. You can't go wrong with Victor Hugo.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Official Site:</span> <a href="http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/">http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Synopsis: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever. (IMDb)</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theaters Now</span></span></span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-14254247882236779852012-10-30T01:13:00.002-07:002012-10-30T01:13:50.569-07:002013 Foreign Language Academy Award Submissions<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Tell me what you think!</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZjGOEZi3Jr2vdkQqV8K89rb9qwiL8kHCckoNHnZBRSTc_IjbEHOurlMeWrd8VFQnPQyezYb1S7Z6vLTlry_SxUiA7T5iswoE-BXPGiHMnlczr0B2Kw7qutdNXpIgA9O66_8sZZ_0nKvO/s1600/Picture+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZjGOEZi3Jr2vdkQqV8K89rb9qwiL8kHCckoNHnZBRSTc_IjbEHOurlMeWrd8VFQnPQyezYb1S7Z6vLTlry_SxUiA7T5iswoE-BXPGiHMnlczr0B2Kw7qutdNXpIgA9O66_8sZZ_0nKvO/s400/Picture+8.png" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mads Mikkelsen in "Jagten"</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I know I would be upset if Michael Haneke wins... and disappointing to see Denmark's official entry is not Jagten... but hoping to see if Mads Mikkelsen bringing home some Oscar ...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxHW5JNBXrMdbiVvJqhIUptacGVoM5ksT58ytGiZGNlOxxsC7R_LH3m_iX2YhEQ15Bsb7gDmyvzdWM7yxZeuAcnvdH4erSnuzCntipcZreZ0AnGAo26Yv3W1xd6Y9Z1_210A0NYny5PDe/s1600/Picture+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxHW5JNBXrMdbiVvJqhIUptacGVoM5ksT58ytGiZGNlOxxsC7R_LH3m_iX2YhEQ15Bsb7gDmyvzdWM7yxZeuAcnvdH4erSnuzCntipcZreZ0AnGAo26Yv3W1xd6Y9Z1_210A0NYny5PDe/s320/Picture+7.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Amour"</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.indiewire.com/article/complete-list-of-announced-2012-foreign-language-academy-award-submissions">http://www.indiewire.com/article/complete-list-of-announced-2012-foreign-language-academy-award-submissions</a></span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-57767949216468473982012-10-06T00:14:00.000-07:002012-10-06T00:14:13.865-07:00The Hidden Face<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">4 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j6aVg0XBXUBqj1thUlmkS_CQP1G0BeuHnTeO3_iNJ3XQqaavDsBRWV73wvRyC2XJwck-wZzI96F1zi8Qcdq9I59gqWbq_4ad5KCzo_HJTlXToEPwvf0B4fRpvH9mJPoYeRyjVYPGIV52/s1600/hiddenface.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9j6aVg0XBXUBqj1thUlmkS_CQP1G0BeuHnTeO3_iNJ3XQqaavDsBRWV73wvRyC2XJwck-wZzI96F1zi8Qcdq9I59gqWbq_4ad5KCzo_HJTlXToEPwvf0B4fRpvH9mJPoYeRyjVYPGIV52/s320/hiddenface.png" width="223" /></a></div>
"<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772250/">The Hidden Face</a></i>" (2011) by André Baiz- La Cara Ocluta is a thriller from Spain.<br />
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You know what happened and you know what is going to happen, but you don't know how it is going to end! Just a great thriller with unexpected and expected result.<br />
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You wouldn't regret watching it!<br />
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Synopsis:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When his girlfriend, Bethlehem, vanishes, the handsome director of the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra despairs -- then gradually moves on. But even as he finds comfort in a new relationship, questions about Bethlehem's disappearance linger. (Netflix)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Available on DVD and Streaming</span></span></span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-13132495331213386582012-08-05T20:17:00.000-07:002012-08-05T20:17:52.465-07:00The Imposter<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQOTNgWqDxMG1GBoEE_TqHvc4ipPVMC3Jsa88UFlrUgyIhtK6o-3iQ7z_4ueIJXetnaVqsFOSfoo0LFL2VhLAscPL3FWtdyd6YmI5rNdCPnak7ROzHoka9gnKQZYpa5GVMVvEjKOyKciL/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQOTNgWqDxMG1GBoEE_TqHvc4ipPVMC3Jsa88UFlrUgyIhtK6o-3iQ7z_4ueIJXetnaVqsFOSfoo0LFL2VhLAscPL3FWtdyd6YmI5rNdCPnak7ROzHoka9gnKQZYpa5GVMVvEjKOyKciL/s320/Picture+5.png" width="223" /></a></div>
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"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1966604/">The Imposter</a>" (2012) by Bart Layton, a documentary about a French imposter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Bourdin">Frédéric Bourdin</a> and the family of a missing child <a href="http://missingchildren.wikia.com/wiki/Nicholas_Barclay">Nicholas Barclay</a>.<br />
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I have seen a film about this case "<a href="http://operationcouchpotato.blogspot.com/2011/07/chameleon.html">Chameleon</a>" (2010) by Jean-Paul Salomé, which I talked about it on my blog.<br />
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The whole story is very disturbing, you know your own child, you know when the person is a stranger. The child do not change much around the age of 14-17. So you know.<br />
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They are the only one know the truth what had happened to Nicholas.<br />
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Synopsis:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A documentary centered on a young Frenchman who convinces a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son who went missing for 3 years.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Official Site:</span> <a href="http://imposterfilm.com/">http://imposterfilm.com/</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Recommended on DVD.</span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-17921153086198791132012-07-09T00:31:00.000-07:002012-07-09T00:31:10.269-07:00Woman in the Fifth<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">2.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605777/">Woman in the Fifth</a>" (2012) - <i>La Femme du Vème</i> by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0667734/">Pawel Pawlikowski</a> was just released here in Los Angeles. A film with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000160/">Ethan Hawke</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000218/">Kristine Scott Thomas</a> didn't appeal to me at first. I didn't see any chemistry between them.<br />
Then I saw the trailer. It did change my mind to see it (On Demand), the suspense story was<br />
interesting but it was a okay film.<br />
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I recommend you to see it on demand or on DVD.<br />
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My last thought was... "So she was....?" and "Oh Ethan Hawke aged not so well".<br />
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Official Site: <a href="http://womaninthefifth-movie.com/">http://womaninthefifth-movie.com/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theaters Now and Available on Demand.</span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-31311306075858123462012-06-03T01:33:00.001-07:002012-06-03T01:38:08.836-07:00"Headhunters" from Norway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">3.5 Potatoes</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1614989/">Headhunters</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">" (2011) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hodejegerne </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">by </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878763/">Morten Tyldum</a>, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">a crime thriller from Norway, </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">is a must-see!</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This film was released at AFI last year and now in theaters in LA. </span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stylish, gruesome, suspenseful and very intelligently written. There are a lot of</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">surprises </span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">throughout the film, some humors are not to miss.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I really enjoyed it. Oh by the way, the guy who plays Clas Greve,</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0182666/">Nikolaj Coster-Waldau</a>, </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">is </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ser Jaime Lannister from the HBO series "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/">Game of Thrones</a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">" </span></span></span></span>if you are wondering where you've seen him.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Synopsis: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">An accomplished headhunter risks everything to obtain a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary. (IMDb)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theaters Now</span></span></span></div>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-42091564976339364782012-05-27T01:02:00.000-07:002012-05-27T01:06:47.204-07:00Snow White and the Huntsman<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">2.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt1AoNKxwcBHnjorSGfduvgjs9eVE28xnv9GOOewz5FpRfIHzLWlFE7bSng4HmzRgdajfeUz9amjpkBP2bAn2ngYl-bPd1jGHK8kuNSz5ZacGYNzeeTa0zlJ6jcKaVhwXUBGJ1rujX3a4/s1600/Snow_White_and_the_Huntsman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt1AoNKxwcBHnjorSGfduvgjs9eVE28xnv9GOOewz5FpRfIHzLWlFE7bSng4HmzRgdajfeUz9amjpkBP2bAn2ngYl-bPd1jGHK8kuNSz5ZacGYNzeeTa0zlJ6jcKaVhwXUBGJ1rujX3a4/s400/Snow_White_and_the_Huntsman.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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I just saw the pre-screening of the "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1735898/">Snow White and the Huntsman</a>" (2012) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2782185/">Rupert Sanders</a>. Stunningly beautiful cinematography, beautiful costume and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000234/">Charlize Theron</a>'s witchy Queen were mesmerizing, yet tough chick Twilight Snow White... not so.<br />
I thought the Huntsman needed some acting lesson but hey one of the Avengers of course can save anyone right? Sorry for the son of the Duke, Duke of the dude to be, couldn't be the magical prince from faraway land.<br />
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A bit confusing to watch, great poster.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In theaters June 1st, 2012</span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-20095342613776325592012-04-01T21:06:00.002-07:002012-04-01T21:06:38.758-07:00"Miss Bala" & "REC 2" Failed...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">1 Potato for both</span></b><br />
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I was pretty disappointed with this film "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1911600/"><i>Miss Bala</i></a>" (2011) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1319671/">Gerardo Naranjo</a>.<br />
I remember this Mexican producer was raving about it at the AFI last year, but I have seen it better...<br />
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Another disappointment in the past a few weeks was the Spanish reality-show style horror "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245112/">REC 2</a></i>" (2009) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0049371/">Jaume Balagueró</a> & <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0687042/">Paco Plaza</a>. The part one was great.<br />
There was a lot of mystery left at the end and I was so looking forward to seeing this sequel...<br />
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BUT the mysterious virus infested apartment building turned out be a house of a bunch of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000304/">Linda Blair</a> wannabe... Fail...<br />
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So what is this third sequel going to be?? OMEN?<br />
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I seriously need to restore my Netflix cue....<br />
<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-576033035302933892012-02-26T00:27:00.001-08:002012-02-26T00:27:58.442-08:00"Welcome to the North" - Benvenuti al Nord<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3.5 potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80TKE4m4JDAjX3fvlGXoLq6oBFyodkokTSKyhv45rMQzePXN1ZKa7m1h4svqmfG3RwmhoFgUTCxPETkq7JI5AaXEBAq6gBL5wqbmuRwj5BU9oMEOUpoJB1sgTAgdOgJAeFHCNf0xZczYu/s1600/welcometothe+north.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80TKE4m4JDAjX3fvlGXoLq6oBFyodkokTSKyhv45rMQzePXN1ZKa7m1h4svqmfG3RwmhoFgUTCxPETkq7JI5AaXEBAq6gBL5wqbmuRwj5BU9oMEOUpoJB1sgTAgdOgJAeFHCNf0xZczYu/s320/welcometothe+north.png" width="225" /></a></div>
Finally, finally, finally saw the remake of "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1064932/">Welcome to the Sticks</a></i>" (2008) -<i> <a href="http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=126535.html">Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis</a></i> by my beloved Mr. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200702/">Dany Boon</a>. Nothing can be funnier than this. But I must say, I enjoyed it pretty much...<br />
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This first remake "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1756415/">Welcome to the North</a></i>" (2012) - <i><a href="http://www.comingsoon.it/Film/Scheda/Trama/?key=48386&film=Benvenuti-al-Nord">Benvenuti al Nord</a></i> was created in Italian by Italian director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591362/">Luca Miniero</a> and was produced by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200702/">Dany Boon</a>.<br />
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The original film was very well respected in this remake, and it was intelligently arranged in the way to follow the culture and its custom well. For example the main character goes to North of France and encounters the sticks with thick accent, but in the Italian remake, the Neapolitan with thick accent goes to North, to Milan, and encounters the different culture and so on. All the necessities from the original film was well marinated into the remake.<br />
I thought it was very well done.<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278329/">Angela Finocchiaro</a>'s double cast in the film was hilarious!<br />
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Highly recommended. BUT make sure to watch the original first!!<br />
By the way, finally the American remake will be released in 2013. FYI.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonS1fEIMGuoUm5iW1mCRm3Z237sOcutIuGBPEIxN7RlvghS-w8tz8a_sWCZfYKBk_g0YNIaPnIPJrovD8ygniHYMb66X1UrYywSHXf828UC0Rl03lUGxBv-YzLcObA-EVOznKEndEHFcK/s1600/bienvenuechezleschtis.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonS1fEIMGuoUm5iW1mCRm3Z237sOcutIuGBPEIxN7RlvghS-w8tz8a_sWCZfYKBk_g0YNIaPnIPJrovD8ygniHYMb66X1UrYywSHXf828UC0Rl03lUGxBv-YzLcObA-EVOznKEndEHFcK/s1600/bienvenuechezleschtis.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<i>Welcome to the Sticks</i>"</td></tr>
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Synopsis (ENG):<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Alberto e Mattia live marital crisis. Silvia doesn't like Milan because of its pollution and she accuses Alberto to be an egoist. In the meantime, Mattia lives with his wife Maria and his son Edinson into his mother's house. Despite himself, he goes to work in Milan. The impact of the Neapolitan on this city is terrible but slowly, the prejudices begin to disappear. (Los Angeles Italia Film Festival)</span></span><br />
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Synopsis (IT): <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In Benvenuti al Nord, Alberto e Mattia, sono in crisi con le rispettive mogli. Silvia detesta Milano a causa delle polveri sottili e dell'ozono troposferico e accusa Alberto di pensare solo al lavoro e poco a lei. Intanto Mattia, il solito irresponsabile, vive con la moglie Maria e il figlio Edinson a casa della madre, lavora poco e proprio non riesce a pronunciare la parola "mutuo". Mattia suo malgrado finirà a lavorare a Milano, incastrato dall'ingenuità dei suoi amici che lo affidano alle cure di Alberto. L'impatto del napoletano con la città sarà terribile: partito con un giubbotto fendinebbia il povero Mattia finirà col rovinare la sua vita e quella dell'amico Alberto. Ma, piano piano, i pregiudizi inizieranno a sciogliersi... (Comingsoon.it)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Official Trailer:</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKJvLexYEE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKJvLexYEE</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: Not Available JUST Yet</span><br />
<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-6053803293894642972012-02-25T12:52:00.000-08:002012-02-25T12:52:31.646-08:00"3"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">3 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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Finally saw <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878756/">Tom Tykwer</a>'s latest film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517177/">3</a></i>" (2010) - <i><a href="http://www.filmstarts.de/kritiken/104955-Drei.html">Drei</a></i> on DVD.<br />
Fun editing style, great music as usual and very Tykwer-esque.<br />
You have to be very concentrated watching this film, no distraction otherwise you can get lost very easily. In fact, I rewound it a few times!<br />
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I enjoyed the story, interesting subject, but the end.... meh for me.<br />
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But I must say the actress <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0294984/">Sophie Rois</a>'s acting was brilliant.<br />
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Synopsis (ENG):<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Berliners Hanna and Simon, a couple in their 40s, have grown comfortable in their marriage. Independently, each meets and romances Adam, a handsome younger man. When Hanna becomes pregnant, all three must face what they've tried to ignore. (Netflix)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Synopsis (GER): </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">20 Jahre sind Kunsttechniker Simon und TV-Moderatorin Hanna nun zusammen – eine lange Zeit, in der sich das eigentlich wunderbar harmonierende Berliner Pärchen doch ein wenig entfremdet hat. Was haben die beiden nicht alles schon durchgestanden? Kinderwünsche, Inneneinrichtung, Seitensprünge, Fehlgeburten; was soll da noch groß kommen? Und dann ist da plötzlich Adam Born, ein erfolgreicher Stammzellenforscher. Nacheinander laufen Simon und Hanna dem bisexuellen Charismatiker über den Weg und lassen sich beide mit ihm ein. Das geht eine Zeit lang gut und tatsächlich rückt das Paar über den Umweg ihrer streng geheimen Affären wieder näher zusammen. Zumindest, bis Hanna schwanger wird... (FILMSTARTS.de)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Official US Trailer:</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5vCJDwgyGI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5vCJDwgyGI</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: DVD Available & Streaming Available on iTune</span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-71097203684433420842012-02-19T20:24:00.000-08:002012-02-19T20:24:50.818-08:00"Born in '68" - "Nés en 68"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">3.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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I finally saw the film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160015/">Born in 68</a></i>" (2008) - <i><a href="http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=135064.html">Nés en 68</a></i> by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0239725/">Olivier Ducastel</a> & <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553303/">Jacques Martineau</a> on DVD. I was so prepared to watch the full-on students movement film, but it turned out to be somewhat a hippy wannabes and their flower children story.<br />
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It started very lightly and having some doubt with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144377/">Laetitia Casta</a> as the lead actor almost made me turn off the DVD. But the story slowly got involved in their lives after the fact and beyond. And this was something that none of those students revolution films have ever done before. It really made me getting into the film.<br />
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The story was interesting, as a film it was ok.<br />
Just made me happy to remember certain moments in Paris the later years in the film...<br />
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After all, I liked it anyway, but it didn't have to be 3 hours long.<br />
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AND Yes I would say she was acceptable, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144377/">Laetitia Casta</a>. :)<br />
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Synopsis (ENG): <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Two young lovers change their lives drastically after the 1968 revolt, leading to choices that move them in different directions. (IMDb)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Synopsis (FR): </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1968. Catherine, Yves et Hervé ont vingt ans, sont étudiants à Paris et s'aiment. La révolte du mois de mai bouleverse leur existence. Gagnés par l'utopie communautaire, ils partent avec quelques amis s'installer dans une ferme abandonnée du Lot. L'exigence de liberté et la recherche de l'accomplissement individuel les conduisent à faire des choix qui finissent par les séparer.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1989. Les enfants de Catherine et Yves entrent dans l'âge adulte et affrontent un monde qui a profondément changé : entre la fin du Communisme et l'explosion de l'épidémie de sida, l'héritage militant de la génération précédente doit être revisité.</span></span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">French Trailer: </span><a href="http://www.allocine.fr/video/player_gen_cmedia=18813226&cfilm=135064.html">http://www.allocine.fr/video/player_gen_cmedia=18813226&cfilm=135064.html</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: DVD Available on Netflix</span></span></span></div>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-47598293964752719932012-02-19T19:46:00.000-08:002012-02-19T20:25:16.839-08:00"In Darkness"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">3 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nulVIXZoR6PfldEJ6fATnl6bCMRIgV993aoUTiPw_kO3Gz5GQ5K71PKIAXIwJJEsjTR3Ct52hSTYUevICbcbZdbooln8FmOzVBzpMgcpeNs04vEYMbJfujBeA5PypcS_PRuE5E-PKcsf/s1600/InDarkness.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nulVIXZoR6PfldEJ6fATnl6bCMRIgV993aoUTiPw_kO3Gz5GQ5K71PKIAXIwJJEsjTR3Ct52hSTYUevICbcbZdbooln8FmOzVBzpMgcpeNs04vEYMbJfujBeA5PypcS_PRuE5E-PKcsf/s320/InDarkness.png" width="216" /></a></div>
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One of this year's Oscar Foreign Language Film Nominees "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1417075/">In Darkness</a></i>" (2011) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002140/">Agnieszka Holland</a> is based on true story. This is not the first time she made a film based on true story, one of her acclaimed film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099776/">Europa Europa</a></i>" (1990) was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099776/awards">the winner of the Golden Globes Foreign Language Film</a> back in 1992 and was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099776/awards">nominated for the Oscar Best Screen Play</a> for the same year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf32jBZ93691dQMTtSK94oLC_afY1ZRkSvVCKTpI9PBjaI2o9GnxTxyeZJE2fDBFQCpYmSeNRC_JJeXU9AI6wp8yHRrjg2U3jh1yCY30msIImKxoLinpJDBDFbi9ZYrVoWQiFqoVKQBH3/s1600/europaeuropa.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLf32jBZ93691dQMTtSK94oLC_afY1ZRkSvVCKTpI9PBjaI2o9GnxTxyeZJE2fDBFQCpYmSeNRC_JJeXU9AI6wp8yHRrjg2U3jh1yCY30msIImKxoLinpJDBDFbi9ZYrVoWQiFqoVKQBH3/s200/europaeuropa.png" width="135" /></a></div>
This film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1417075/">In Darkness</a></i>" has amazing casts; Polish actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0927240/">Robert Wieckiewics</a>, German actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0299811/">Benno Fürmann</a>, German actress <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0775056/">Maria Schrader</a> and many more.<br />
Yet something was missing from the film in my opinion, I felt that the story was scattered around and it wasn't solid.<br />
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"<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099776/">Europa Europa</a></i>" was much deeper and stronger film that still remains in my memory clearly.<br />
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Does this film has a Oscar quality? The story Yes. The film.. not so.<br />
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Synopsis: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A dramatization of one man's rescue of Jewish refugees in the Nazi-occupied Polish city of Lvov. (IMDb)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Official site & Trailer: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.sonyclassics.com/indarkness/">http://www.sonyclassics.com/indarkness/</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theater Now</span></span></span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-79241566695249226622012-01-18T23:18:00.000-08:002012-01-18T23:19:14.137-08:00"Norwegian Wood"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">2.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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I just saw a sneak preview of the much anticipated film <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_131823040">"</a><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_131823040">Norwegian Wood</a></i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270842/">" </a>(2010) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0870843/">Tran Anh Hung</a>, French-Vietnamese director, and base on the novel by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1633142/">Haruki Murakami</a>. None of his novels are never made into film and this was the first one.<br />
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This film was filmed in Japanese with some known and talented Japanese actors: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1947564/">Kenichi Matsuyama</a> for one, he is known for playing the character "L" in the film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912597/">Death Note: L Change the World</a></i>" (2008), young yet very talented and became a father of a baby with actress Koyuki (Last Samurai) a few days ago.<br />
I was also surprised how great the young model <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3460467/">Kiko Mizuhara</a> was. BRAVO for her.<br />
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The film starts very very slow. On top of that, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0452860/">Rinko Kikuchi</a> is not a great choice for this film.<br />
In my opinion, she got her recognition showing her crotch and explicit sex scenes, nothing to do with her acting ability. She doesn't even have an aura. She has no training, no experience in acting before she got the part of the film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/">Babel</a></i>" (2006). Her voice is horrible, the way she speaks is horrible. It is about time for directors to realize she is no good. PLEASE!<br />
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I also wondered always that when the director films in foreign dialogues, how does he or she knows if the dialogue was spoken the way the director wishes?? Isn't that hard to direct if you don't know the language? I think it was also the negative point in this film, that both side of actors and director weren't using their talent to the max... well, that is only my opinion.<br />
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I would give 3.5 Potatoes if the main female character wasn't Rinko.<br />
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Synopsis: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Tokyo, the late 1960s... Students around the world are uniting to overthrow the establishment and Toru Watanabe's personal life is similarly in tumult. At heart, he is deeply devoted to his first love, Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman. But their complex bond has been forged by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Watanabe lives with the influence of death everywhere. That is, until Midori, a girl who is everything that Naoko is not - outgoing, vivacious, supremely self-confident - marches into his life and Watanabe must choose between his past and his future. (Official Site)</span></span><br />
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Official Site & Trailer: <a href="http://www.norwegianwoodmovie.com/">http://www.norwegianwoodmovie.com/</a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theater Jan 27, 2012 (LA)</span></b><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-90057958173945588922012-01-14T02:34:00.000-08:002012-01-14T02:34:09.210-08:00"The Kid with a Bike"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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I saw one of <a href="http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/">the Golden Globes 2012 Foreign-Language Nominees</a> film by Dardenne brothers from Belgium "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1827512/">The Kid with a Bike</a></i>" (2010) - <i>Le Gamin au Vélo</i> by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201094/">Jean-Pierre</a> & <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201095/">Luc Dardenne</a> last night.<br />
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I usually not so fan of their films because they are depressing and mono-toned to me. BUT I see their films on DVD whenever they are available, just to see if I see them differently... But this time, it was different. I liked it. I loved the music effect also and the relationship between the boy and the woman. There was connection between them.<br />
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After the film, there was a Q&A, and actually the Dardenne brothers have such a great sense of humor! WHO KNEW?<br />
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It is highly recommended. ENJOY!<br />
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Synopsis (ENG):<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Abandoned by his father, a young boy is left in a state-run youth farm. In a random act of kindness, the town hairdresser agrees to foster him on weekends. (IMDb)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Synopsis (FR): </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cyril, bientôt 12 ans, n'a qu'une idée en tête : retrouver son père qui l'a placé provisoirement dans un foyer pour enfants.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Il rencontre par hasard Samantha, qui tient un salon de coiffure et qui accepte de l'accueillir chez elle pendant les week-ends. Mais Cyril ne voit pas encore l'amour que Samantha lui porte, cet amour dont il a pourtant besoin pour apaiser sa colère ...</span></span><br />
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Official Site and Trailer: <a href="http://www.legaminauvelo-lefilm.com/">http://www.legaminauvelo-lefilm.com/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theater March 16, 2012</span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-35601499008031433792012-01-14T02:00:00.000-08:002012-01-14T02:00:57.952-08:00一月ドラマ「ハングリー」JP DRAMA<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>1 Potato or less for the rip off...</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFBACcRIqjZmdCH56m51q3lFVXhQuHY5IlOmDhclaAPKkUO3VKCIj6gsdQN9dQRJhKNiVSNgw4wtmyLOE2Dtt3dzdWBogZN4bTtXhxy2gr5jUiY01Ap3mQrQehYzHouXiakAf-cIs-W8R/s1600/hungry.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFBACcRIqjZmdCH56m51q3lFVXhQuHY5IlOmDhclaAPKkUO3VKCIj6gsdQN9dQRJhKNiVSNgw4wtmyLOE2Dtt3dzdWBogZN4bTtXhxy2gr5jUiY01Ap3mQrQehYzHouXiakAf-cIs-W8R/s200/hungry.png" width="163" /></a></div>
So I started to catch up with the January starts of the JP drama...<br />
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This one I just saw "<i><a href="http://www.ktv.jp/hungry/index.html">Hungry</a></i>" (2012) was a disappointment to me...<br />
It is a total rip off of a German movie "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244668/">Soul Kitchen</a></i>" (2009) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0015359/">Fatih Akin</a>. I liked this movie a lot but the whole story line and even the movie set is pretty identical.<br />
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Seriously, can't you get your own original story???<br />
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Shame on you "Hungry"!!!!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">SOUL KITCHEN: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In Hamburg, German-Greek chef Zinos unknowingly disturbs the peace in his locals-only restaurant by hiring a more talented chef. (IMDb)</span></span><br />
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OFFICIAL SITE: <a href="http://www.soul-kitchen-film.com/">http://www.soul-kitchen-film.com/</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">SOUL KITCHEN: DVD AVAILABLE</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-69225125868796639372012-01-01T19:12:00.001-08:002012-01-01T20:11:47.817-08:00"A Separation"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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Happy New Year everyone! Hope I can blog more often this year!<br />
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Today, I finally saw the ending of the film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832382/">A Separation</a></i>" (2011)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Jodaeiye Nader az Simin </i></span></span>by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1410815/">Asghar Farhadi</a>. I saw this film at the <a href="http://ticketing.afi.com/eng/detail.aspx?ID=8198">AFI Fest</a> back in November but we had to leave early to catch another film... typical schedule conflict at the film festival...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntvzNBWOTT96PRh7BdVf8cjNry5lRujt_7yGaPCgSfE7SmXIBiy27nNTzb1PfCfzFHczDXWL93d1lGd-kHSZXq0QgV-qQjQNjU7YY8ypUd1o9KwZ6ZW-fSNLtsNVWAYogAqE0hjO_fGCl/s1600/AboutElly.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntvzNBWOTT96PRh7BdVf8cjNry5lRujt_7yGaPCgSfE7SmXIBiy27nNTzb1PfCfzFHczDXWL93d1lGd-kHSZXq0QgV-qQjQNjU7YY8ypUd1o9KwZ6ZW-fSNLtsNVWAYogAqE0hjO_fGCl/s200/AboutElly.png" width="132" /></a></div>
Anyway, the story went very differently than how I expected. But I liked it, it was well done and well executed. I love his films mainly because he portrays their everyday life well: how people still struggle between the modern life and the old cultural life. The famous actress <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0368689/bio">Leila Hatami</a>, a daughter of the legendary Iranian director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0368688/">Ali Hatami</a>, plays a small yet an important role. And the performance of both <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4299147/">Sareh Bayat</a> who plays the caretaker and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4299072/">Sarina Farhadi</a> who plays the daughter are amazing.<br />
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I appreciated his last film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1360860/">About Elly</a></i>" (2009) - <i>Darbareye Elly</i> more, but both films are highly recommended!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Official Site & Trailer:</span> <a href="http://www.sonyclassics.com/aseparation/">http://www.sonyclassics.com/aseparation/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theater NOW / Limited Time Release</span><br />
<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-65047899825917159702011-12-18T12:25:00.000-08:002011-12-18T12:34:49.141-08:00"La Bûche"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">4 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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This is one of my favorite Christmas movies. "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211286/">La Bûche</a></i>" (1999) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0860019/">Danièle Thompson</a> who is a great comedy writer for many recent French cinemas. This film is her directorial debut. Mixed with the typical family drama around the holiday season and a touch of humor. This movie was also the time I thought <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001250/">Charlotte Gainsbourg</a> became a better actress. I really enjoyed watching this movie.<br />
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Highly recommended.<br />
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Synopsis (FR): <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Noël, cette fête à la fois délicieuse et pernicieuse, sonne l'heure de vérité pour trois soeurs, Louba la chanteuse, Sonia la bourgeoise, Milla la rebelle. Pour leurs parents aussi, Stanislas, violoniste tzigane à la retraite et Yvette, veuve toute récente de son deuxieme mari. (<a href="http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=21474.html">AlloCiné</a>)</span></span><br />
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Synopsis:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After the December 21st funeral of Yvette's (Francoise Fabian) second husband, she is consoled by the three daughters from her first marriage to Stanislas (Claude Rich), a Russian-Jewish violinist. The oldest, Lorba (Sabine Azema), lives with her father and makes a living by singing ballads in a Russian cabaret, Sonia (Emmanuelle Beart) is a fastidious middle-class housewife, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span id="movieSynopsisRemaining" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Yvette's youngest, Milla (Charlotte Gainsbourg), is a go-getting businesswoman. As Christmas celebrations gather steam, Louba learns that at age 42, she is unexpectedly pregnant by Gilbert, her married lover of 12 years. Meanwhile, Sonia develops a habit of taking five-finger discounts while </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">shopping, and Milla takes up with a mysterious drifter who lives as a boarder in Stanislas' house." - Jonathan Crow, Rovi (Rotten Tomatoes)</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: DVD Available</span><br />
<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-79257276546380118412011-12-05T11:09:00.001-08:002011-12-05T11:41:14.296-08:00"Circumstances" - 境遇<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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"<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1986194/">Circumstances</a></i>" (2011) - <a href="http://asahi.co.jp/kyogu/">境遇</a> (Kyogu) is a Japanese TV Movie which was aired on 12/03/2011 in Japan. It is the first story she wrote since the shocking novel "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1590089/"><i>Confessions</i></a>" (2010) - 告白 (Kokuhaku) three years ago, which eventually made into a movie and not only <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1590089/awards">winning many prizes</a> but this movie was chosen to be the Japanese Official Entry for the Oscar 2011.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB1Oy0olzFCVnvycWVuiIGvrbjbI-RRcVMy6oOEsQP28lwTX9u6CSFvQK_8rBRkkruAuu6GOPPUSuDwUAb5q5wtSFqX5Wc6uOtWlsrfUxMFV4ZZD0Wmfpfpo_hTdFkoDtG-euJP8D9cj9/s1600/kokuhaku.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB1Oy0olzFCVnvycWVuiIGvrbjbI-RRcVMy6oOEsQP28lwTX9u6CSFvQK_8rBRkkruAuu6GOPPUSuDwUAb5q5wtSFqX5Wc6uOtWlsrfUxMFV4ZZD0Wmfpfpo_hTdFkoDtG-euJP8D9cj9/s200/kokuhaku.png" width="138" /></a></div>
Unlike the movie "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1590089/">Confessions</a></i>" (2010), "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1986194/">Circumstances</a></i>" (2011) is mellower and comprehensible as a story. Yet the movie chose once again, very quiet and shy type cast as the two main characters: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0559696/">Yasuko Matsuyuki</a> - "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0768116/">Hula Girls</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">"</span></i> (2006) and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0753416/">Ryô</a> - <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405821/">Casshern</a></i> (2006).<br />
The story was easy to follow and I thought I guessed it right at first, then there was a twist.<br />
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I liked it.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Official Site and Trailer:</span> <a href="http://asahi.co.jp/kyogu/">http://asahi.co.jp/kyogu/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Viewing Available on <a href="http://www.pandora.tv/">Pandora.TV</a></span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-522200309191036702011-12-01T13:02:00.001-08:002011-12-01T13:06:52.801-08:00Quote of the Day - Italian<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P5989hFiKkgu8p-W4tzb6lXRbfH8kiSoE-c51Zc8aIfQY_GexKXdEBQXCaX1ol9bwPJF8jceli5LQVrvsD1-RGzXHqyhVNdJ43zV8kbPhqlu1ILZ8PKdis-apdvtgCpcu9aeSfJ28FmH/s1600/charles-louis-de-secondat-baron-de-montesquieu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P5989hFiKkgu8p-W4tzb6lXRbfH8kiSoE-c51Zc8aIfQY_GexKXdEBQXCaX1ol9bwPJF8jceli5LQVrvsD1-RGzXHqyhVNdJ43zV8kbPhqlu1ILZ8PKdis-apdvtgCpcu9aeSfJ28FmH/s320/charles-louis-de-secondat-baron-de-montesquieu.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles de Montesquieu</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">L'educazione consiste nel darci delle idee, la buona educazione nel metterle in proporzione."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> - Charles De Montesquieu</span></span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-89534176715145190342011-11-13T01:21:00.001-08:002011-11-13T02:11:38.402-08:00"Yokai Ningen Bem" - 妖怪人間ベム<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">4 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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There are not many good Japanese TV dramas this season.<br />
So far one of my a few favorites is "<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dkai_Ningen_Bem">Yokai Ningen Bem</a></i>" (2011) - 「<a href="http://www.ntv.co.jp/bem/">妖怪人間ベム</a>」. It is based on the Japanese animation by the same title which was aired on TV in Japan from 1968-1969. I remember the partial story, I am not sure if I watched the re-run or saw or heard about the story...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sJtwpxuA1F-L8x3c8olX2YncW6RPf6mUHjzVX61UaispuMIgH_IhRSWJaHpRVbePX5Gk4bMfJOgWpBBd2Z_I0T-9ibrAzgtlYoR5gq2s-mW8zW_5D3r-mDfuPGp-kbdky1LUViqx5K19/s1600/yokainingenbem_anime.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sJtwpxuA1F-L8x3c8olX2YncW6RPf6mUHjzVX61UaispuMIgH_IhRSWJaHpRVbePX5Gk4bMfJOgWpBBd2Z_I0T-9ibrAzgtlYoR5gq2s-mW8zW_5D3r-mDfuPGp-kbdky1LUViqx5K19/s200/yokainingenbem_anime.png" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.mxtv.co.jp/bem/">Yokai Ningen Bem</a></i> - Animation</td></tr>
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This live-action version is played by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuya_Kamenashi">Kazuya Kamenashi</a> (Bem), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Watanabe">Anne Watanabe</a> (Bela) - the daughter of actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913822/">Ken Watanabe</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3903058/">Fuku Suzuki</a> (Bero).<br />
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By remembering the animation, this is a perfect casting! <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3903058/">Fuku Suzuki</a> is a great child actor while all of Japan is obsessed about another child actress who I think is not the great, not natural...<br />
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Anyway, I am looking forward to watch it every week and I am very curious to see how it will end. As for the original animation, I read it somewhere, they will die at the end. But initially it ended that way because they were creating the sequel which never had a chance to air on TV.<br />
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Well we will see...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Official Site & Trailers: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.ntv.co.jp/bem/">http://www.ntv.co.jp/bem/</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: It is Available on <a href="http://www.pandora.tv/">Pandora.TV</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">JAPAN: On TV Now</span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-87364230353657191052011-11-12T22:14:00.001-08:002011-11-13T02:14:27.552-08:00"Café de Flore" my AFI Fav.<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">4 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-E0RdgZWRtFYcyGYk2QMKcmCtoZoE2MhuSGIqqybG9kTHenasWma208mUHC8lsomrp34XcN4DZsNu1g5INeI9iqqS7ZlWtoyU0sTiJyWebZzZJcDRLAiB5kLy655o3-Tqcy8H8odhvUX/s1600/cafedeflore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-E0RdgZWRtFYcyGYk2QMKcmCtoZoE2MhuSGIqqybG9kTHenasWma208mUHC8lsomrp34XcN4DZsNu1g5INeI9iqqS7ZlWtoyU0sTiJyWebZzZJcDRLAiB5kLy655o3-Tqcy8H8odhvUX/s400/cafedeflore.png" width="275" /></a></div>
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Here is my favorite of all at the <a href="http://ticketing.afi.com/eng/filmlist.aspx">AFI Fest</a> this year, though I couldn't see as many films as I wished to see, I am glad to see something very powerful.<br />
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"<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1550312/">Café de Flore</a></i>" (2011) by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0885249/">Jean-Marc Vallée</a>, starring <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660854/">Vanessa Paradis</a>, is a film which focuses on two different events at the two different periods of times which somewhat relates to one another.<br />
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Unfortunately I missed the first 10 minutes due to the festival schedule change. But it was okay at the end, as it was a slow start. I read at the festival guide that this film was sort of after-the-fact film to the director's 2005 film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401085/">C.R.A.Z.Y.</a></i>" (2005). I see that. But this film stands by itself. It was very intense toward the end and the two stories from the two separate periods merged well together. I really loved how the story turned out.<br />
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Also <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660854/">Vanessa Paradis</a> was amazing in this film, she was a good actress in the past, but she now became a great actress. I hope she will receive a nomination for the <a href="http://www.oscars.org/index.html">Oscar 2012</a>.<br />
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Highly Recommended.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Official Site & Trailer: </span><a href="http://www.cafedeflorelefilm.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">http://www.cafedeflorelefilm.com/</span></a><br />
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Synopsis (FR):<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Il n’est pas facile de dire adieu à ceux qu’on aime; pour y parvenir, il faut parfois toute une vie - ou deux.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Entre le Paris des années 1960 et le Montréal d’aujourd’hui se déploie une vaste histoire d’amour aux accents épiques, à la fois sombre et lumineuse, troublante et malgré tout pleine d’espoir. Film teinté de fantastique, baigné d’une lumière parfois presque surnaturelle, Café de Flore raconte les destins croisés de Jacqueline une jeune Parisienne mère d’un enfant unique, d’Antoine un DJ montréalais ainsi que des femmes qui l’entourent. Ce qui les relie : l’amour, troublant, maladroit, imparfait et inachevé... humain.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Synopsis (ENG):<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Healing a broken heart isn't easy. Sometimes it takes a lifetime...or two. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cafe de Flore is a love story about people separated by time and place but connected in profound and mysterious ways. Atmospheric, fantastical, tragic and hopeful, the film chronicles the parallel fates of Jacqueline, a young mother with a disabled son in 1960s Paris, and Antoine, a recently-divorced, successful DJ in present day Montreal. What binds the two stories together is love - euphoric, obsessive, tragic, youthful, timeless love. Antoine, early 40s, seems to have it all: a thriving career, two beautiful daughters, partner Rose, with whom he is passionately in love. However, nothing is perfect and Antoine's ex-wife Carole remains devastated by their recent separation. Heartbroken, her sense of self has been shattered and her hold on reality has been gradually slipping away. Her dreams are haunted by two recurrent figures - Jacqueline, a young woman, and Laurent, her Down Syndrome - afflicted son - but the reason for their visits to her subconscious, and their meaning continue to elude her. We find Jacqueline and Laurent in 1960s Paris. Abandoned by her husband, Jacqueline sacrifices everything to care for her son. From the moment Laurent is born she promises herself to give him a "normal" life full of happiness. For years she fulfills that promise, joining herself at the hip to her son and watching over his every waking moment. One day at school Laurent befriends Véronique, another Down Syndrome child, forever changing things between mother and son. Carole, meanwhile, is still attempting to unravel the mystery of Jacqueline and Laurent. She sees them not only in her dreams but in her waking life too. Tormented by hallucinations, Carole attempts to suppress them with medication and illicit drugs before seeking out the help of a spiritual guide who leads her to believe that Jacqueline and Laurent are previous incarnations of her and Antoine who are attempting to send her a warning. When she senses Jacqueline and Laurents story could end tragically, Carole realizes she will have to choose a different path. In that moment, she has to decide whether the agony of heartbreak is too much to bear or if she can let go of her pain and move on with her life. The title "Cafe de Flore" refers not to the famous Boulevard St-Germain café, but to a musical theme running through the film that connects the characters in 1960s Paris to those in present-day Montreal. Blending smooth electro beats with the retro sounds of big band strings and horns, the music sets the tone for a story about love in its many forms. - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0885249/">Jean-Marc Vallée</a> (IMDb)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">USA: Release Date Unknown</span></span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-41246793770221172432011-11-06T13:21:00.000-08:002011-11-13T02:14:54.934-08:00"Pina" 3D - Wim Wenders' latest<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">4 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygNCras36kFILMBZsZ9aOsIOA5zAkKZiU6e84jbHn2QCusrg4LHgMb6h8MG0nzZZp7c3idrQArW0l644A-CbLLiwSkyHoQDRFNiplqBcuMcBiiWroc7uqu2iLl2nAGEZQBaKH23SF7ih0/s1600/pina.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygNCras36kFILMBZsZ9aOsIOA5zAkKZiU6e84jbHn2QCusrg4LHgMb6h8MG0nzZZp7c3idrQArW0l644A-CbLLiwSkyHoQDRFNiplqBcuMcBiiWroc7uqu2iLl2nAGEZQBaKH23SF7ih0/s400/pina.png" width="283" /></a></div>
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Last night <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000694/">Wim Wender</a> introduced us the completely "new way" to enjoy 3D.<br />
His latest film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440266/">Pina</a></i>" (2011) a documentary/performing art film about the choreographer<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0062471/">Pina Bausch</a>.<br />
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This could be the totally new way of enjoying stage/theater production also. It makes you feel like you are sitting on the front raw of the theater watching the performing art. So real.<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000694/">Wim Wenders</a> said "...3D was the only way to film dance...". He was so right.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TY4i9tTerdLUjCv9P_IzNJycK6M4XDgiyBOy-KsrPVxqbR3fAwz79g_lE3Iv6ZaYURqPrmEuxl-HLwZlDF_xSMq2YnkjKy8gM9E-agZgEthcvHvDxIfBPuMP7ByiotycVl6pWeiXLUzQ/s1600/WimWenders_Pina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TY4i9tTerdLUjCv9P_IzNJycK6M4XDgiyBOy-KsrPVxqbR3fAwz79g_lE3Iv6ZaYURqPrmEuxl-HLwZlDF_xSMq2YnkjKy8gM9E-agZgEthcvHvDxIfBPuMP7ByiotycVl6pWeiXLUzQ/s200/WimWenders_Pina.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wim Wenders & Pina</td></tr>
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Not only this documentary stunned me by the new discovery, it is also perfect in quality: location choices, music, editing and length of film.<br />
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Highly recommended.<br />
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Official Site & Trailer: <a href="http://www.pina-film.de/en/">http://www.pina-film.de/en/</a><br />
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More about Pina Bausch: <a href="http://www.pina-bausch.de/en/pina_bausch/index.php">http://www.pina-bausch.de/en/pina_bausch/index.php</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theater December 23rd, 2011</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>Germany's Official Submission for the Oscar 2012: Foreign Language Film</b></span><br />
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<br />O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-26833575592173272982011-11-05T00:49:00.000-07:002011-11-05T00:49:37.224-07:00Luc Besson "The Lady"<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">3.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000108/">Luc Besson</a>'s latest film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1802197/">The Lady</a></i>" (2011) was finally premiered at<br />
the <a href="http://www.afi.com/afifest/">AFI Fest 2011</a> tonight. I waited for this movie to be released for a long time, not only the subject was fascinating, but he hasn't directed a live-action movie in a long time!<br />
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Actually I remember reading some interview about 5 years ago (I am sorry I can't quote it because I don't remember where I read it...), him saying he will retire from directing after "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/">Angel A</a></i>" (2006) and focus on producing... Well he did "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0344854/">the Arthur and the Invisibles</a></i>" (2006-2010) series after that but they were not live-action.<br />
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Anyway, sadly I could only give 3.5 Potatoes.<br />
First of all, I think he lost his touch for creating his style... He was at the festival in person and he said "<i>This is the most important film of my life</i>". But I disagreed as an audience.<br />
YES the subject was very important to speak about, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi">Aung San Suu Kyi</a>'s life and achievement can't be explained in 2 hours, unless it is well edited.<br />
And it starts very slow and get intense in the middle and it sucks you in. Knowing what she really went through, it was very heart breaking and tearful.<br />
But the reality hits you and makes you wonder how convincing <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000706/">Michelle Yeoh</a>'s Burmese was... (She acted in 2 languages: UK English and Burmese).<br />
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At the end, it wasn't just perfect...<br />
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And one last thing, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000108/">Luc Besson</a>'s usual soundtrack composer <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0785385/">Eric Serra</a>, you weren't at your best either.<br />
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Synopsis: Th<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e story of pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi and the academic and writer Michael Aris; a true story of love set against political turmoil. (IMDb)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: In Theater December 2, 2011</span></span></span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-78091299804662463512011-10-15T19:19:00.000-07:002011-10-15T19:19:24.492-07:00AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><b>FOREIGN FILM FESTIVALS ARE HERE!</b></span><br />
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There are many foreign film festivals around this season and I have a few recommendations.<br />
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Today's recommendation is "<a href="http://www.facebook.com/14films?sk=wall">Around the World in 14 Films</a>" if you are in Berlin, Germany area.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/14films?sk=wall">AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS</a></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">DATE: November 25th - December 3rd, 2011</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">PLACE: BABYLON Kino, Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße 30, Berlin-Mitte</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">PRICE: $ (0-10) </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">FOR MORE INFO VISIT THEM on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/14films?sk=wall">FACEBOOK</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">WHAT:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Every year in the beginning of december the International Filmfestival AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS brings together 14 extraordinary independent films from 14 regions around the world, to show and share with Berlin's discerning cinema public. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From South America to Africa, through different parts of Europe to the Near East, through the Middle East and Central Asia to parts of the Far East, and on t</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">o North and Central America: 14 films representing 14 different, personal, artistic visions of 14 areas of the world.</span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Each of the 14 films will be presented by another leading German cinema director, who will introduce both the film and the international director (if he is in attendance), and then moderate a discussion with the audience and the director immediately after the film.<br />Already shown and praised at various international film festivals such as Cannes, Rotterdam, Locarno and Venice, most of them are yet still without German distribution, these films have been all but unavailable to audiences in Berlin. (Around the World in 14 Films)</span></span></span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733548778381148211.post-74416148883741126442011-09-20T19:37:00.000-07:002011-09-20T19:38:00.381-07:00"The Brotherhood of War" - Tae Guk Gi<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">4.5 Potatoes</span></b><br />
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I just read comments on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_451555258">the post "</a><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_451555258">The Man from Nowhere</a></i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_451555258">" (2010) - </a><i><a href="http://operationcouchpotato.blogspot.com/2011/05/man-from-nowhere.html">Ajeossi</a> </i>and promised to post the info on this film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386064/">The Brotherhood of War</a></i>" (2004) - <i>Tae Guk Gi </i>by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0437625/">Je-gyu Kang</a>.<br />
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The story is about the 2 brothers who are separated by the Korean War. It shows how people can easily brain washed during the time of misery and anger.<br />
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The film stars <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1047193/">Bin Won</a> and another Korean star <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0417520/">Dong-jun Jang</a>. The director also directed the film "<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0192657/">Swiri</a></i>" (1999) - <i>SHIRI</i>, an amazing spy movie. Both films are MUST-SEE.<br />
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Highly Recommended.<br />
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Synopsis:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jin-Tae (Dong-gun Jang) shines shoes, hoping to save enough money to send his younger brother, Jin-Seok (Bin Won), to university. Their mother runs a noodle shop and wishes</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> best for her two sons, even though things have been tough since her husband died. But all bets are off when</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Korean</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> War</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">erupts and Jin-Seok is unwillingly conscripted into</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> war</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">, which forces Jin-Tae to enlist just so he can save his brother. (NETFLIX)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">USA: Available on DVD</span>O.C.P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14544492358099916576noreply@blogger.com0