"Norwegian Wood"

2.5 Potatoes

I just saw a sneak preview of the much anticipated film "Norwegian Wood" (2010) by Tran Anh Hung, French-Vietnamese director, and base on the novel by Haruki Murakami. None of his novels are never made into film and this was the first one.

This film was filmed in Japanese with some known and talented Japanese actors: Kenichi Matsuyama for one, he is known for playing the character "L" in the film "Death Note: L Change the World" (2008), young yet very talented and became a father of a baby with actress Koyuki (Last Samurai) a few days ago.
I was also surprised how great the young model Kiko Mizuhara was. BRAVO for her.

The film starts very very slow. On top of that, Rinko Kikuchi is not a great choice for this film.
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 "Babel" (2006). Her voice is horrible, the way she speaks is horrible. It is about time for directors to realize she is no good. PLEASE!

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.

I would give 3.5 Potatoes if the main female character wasn't Rinko.


Synopsis: 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)



Official Site & Trailer: http://www.norwegianwoodmovie.com/

USA: In Theater Jan 27, 2012 (LA)

一月ドラマ「ハングリー」JP DRAMA

1 Potato or less for the rip off...

So I started to catch up with the January starts of the JP drama...

This one I just saw "Hungry" (2012) was a disappointment to me...
It is a total rip off of a German movie "Soul Kitchen" (2009) by Fatih Akin. I liked this movie a lot but the whole story line and even the movie set is pretty identical.

Seriously, can't you get your own original story???

Shame on you "Hungry"!!!!!

SOUL KITCHEN: In Hamburg, German-Greek chef Zinos unknowingly disturbs the peace in his locals-only restaurant by hiring a more talented chef. (IMDb)

OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.soul-kitchen-film.com/

SOUL KITCHEN: DVD AVAILABLE

"Circumstances" - 境遇

3 Potatoes

"Circumstances" (2011) - 境遇 (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 "Confessions" (2010) - 告白 (Kokuhaku) three years ago, which eventually made into a movie and not only winning many prizes but this movie was chosen to be the Japanese Official Entry for the Oscar 2011.

Unlike the movie "Confessions" (2010), "Circumstances" (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: Yasuko Matsuyuki - "Hula Girls" (2006) and Ryô - Casshern (2006).
The story was easy to follow and I thought I guessed it right at first, then there was a twist.

I liked it.



Official Site and Trailer: http://asahi.co.jp/kyogu/

Viewing Available on Pandora.TV

"Yokai Ningen Bem" - 妖怪人間ベム

4 Potatoes

There are not many good Japanese TV dramas this season.
So far one of my a few favorites is "Yokai Ningen Bem" (2011) - 「妖怪人間ベム」. 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...

Yokai Ningen Bem - Animation

This live-action version is played by Kazuya Kamenashi (Bem), Anne Watanabe (Bela) - the daughter of actor Ken Watanabe, and Fuku Suzuki (Bero).

By remembering the animation, this is a perfect casting! Fuku Suzuki is a great child actor while all of Japan is obsessed about another child actress who I think is not the great, not natural...

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.

Well we will see...

Official Site & Trailers: http://www.ntv.co.jp/bem/


USA: It is Available on Pandora.TV
JAPAN: On TV Now

Namae wo Nakushita Megami - JDrama

5 Potatoes so far

An Watanabe (center)

I am currently watching the Japanese drama called "Namae wo Nakushita Megami" (2011) - 名前を無くした女神 by Fuji Television with An Watanabe (the daughter of well known Japanese actor Ken Watanabe). The catch copy is "Welcome to Mama Friend's Hell." - 「ようこそ、ママ友地獄へ。」

Each episode I watch gives me goose bumps. The story is about the mothers of kindergarten children. They call them Mama Tomo - ママ友 - mama friend. Apparently they hangout all the time, but they compete each other in anyway possible not to mention with their childrens' grades to which elementary school they are going to apply and what type of lifestyle others have and much more. Endless jealousy and unnecessary revenge everyday. Somethings one does to another are almost criminally insane. I keep saying "can they do that???" all the time. One episode, one mother almost kidnapped another child out of jealousy. We weren't sure what she was going to do to this boy, because he was rescued just on time!

OH I wish everyone in the world can watch this! It is unbelievable!

Official Site & Trailer: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/megami/index.html

USA: DVD Available at Japanese DVD Stores Near You
Online Streaming Available if you Google

"The Eighth Day"

"Rebirth" or "The Eighth Day" (2011) - Yôkame no Semi 八日目の蝉 by Izuru Narushima is a Japanese movie based on the book by Mitsuyo Kakuta.

I have seen the TV version of this story which was aired on NHK by the same title last year.
The story is about a woman who lost her baby by the request of her lover who is a family man, kidnaps his baby. She raises the girl for five years which was the happiest time of her life until it ends...

The TV version was so well done, I loved it. I am not sure how they fit the whole 5 years into some 90 mins movie. I hope I can see it on DVD very soon.


TV Official Website: http://www.nhk.or.jp/drama/semi/

Yôkame no Semi TV

Official Website & Trailer: http://www.youkame.com/index.html



Japan Release Date: April 29, 2011


US Release Date Not Available

"GANTZ"

I saw the trailer of the Japanese movie "Gantz" in theater last December. Unfortunately I missed the US release in January, because I wasn't interested in seeing it back then...
But I just saw "Another Gantz" on TV and now I want to see the theatrical version!


Synopsis: Gantz (ガンツ Gantsu) is a Japanese manga and anime series written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku. Gantz tells the story of Kei Kurono and his friend Masaru Kato who die in a train accident and become part of a semi-posthumous “game” in which they and several other recently deceased people are forced to hunt down and kill aliens armed with a handful of futuristic items of equipment and weaponry. (Wikipedia)

"Villain"

4.5 Potatoes

"Villain" (2010)

"Villain" - Akunin - 悪人 (2010) by Sang-il Lee is a Japanese movie which was released in 2010. I thought this movie would be the Official Submission for the Oscar 2011 Best Foreign Language Film, but the movie "The Confessions" - Kokuhaku -  告白 (2010) by Tetsuya Nakashima took the place instead. Either way, Japanese didn't make the final nominations this year.

The story revolves around the murder committed by Shimizu played by Satoshi Tsumabuki and people connected to him and the victim. The movie asks the simple question who the real villain is... The thought "if..." and "this couldn't have been.." "this wouldn't have been.." will go through your mind through out the movie.

The actress Eri Fukatsu won the Best Actress at the Japanese Academy and the 34th World Film Festival of Motreal. Very well done.


"Villain" DVD Availability Unknown
"Confessions" DVD Availability Coming Soon

サザエさんちのマスオさん。。。

数ヶ月前、サザエさんの新年実写版をみていた時。


マスオさんが大阪出身である事を初めて知った。。。
人生最大の驚きだったと言っても過言ではない。
磯の家を愛してウン十年、私は磯野家の一体何を観ていたのだろう。。。

"Norwegian Wood"

"Norwegian Wood" by Tran Anh Hung, based on the novel by Haruki Murakami.

This is the first time, one of the Murakami's books became film. It was already released in Japan in Dec 2010 and it is going to be released in France in May. I can't wait to see it though we will not be able to see it in the US probably until the end of the year.

The actor who plays the main character, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, is a very talented young actor. He became known for playing the character 'L' in the movie "Death Note". I am really looking forward to see how he transformed himself into the character this time. Not to mention, the director is Vietnamese French. He directed this movie using translator and some broken English... That must have been very difficult to do.

I loved 2 of his films, "The Scent of Green Papaya" (1993) and "Vertical Ray of the Sun" (2000). I did not like "I Come with the Rain" (2008). So I am really looking forward to see if he is back to his style.