I thought I would skip out on a long introduction and just provide you with the latest of my indulgences. I imagine most of you probably never heard of most of these films (with the exception of "I Am Legend". Anyway, read and enjoy, and perhaps rent at your own discretion.
1. クローズド・ノート [CLOSED NOTE] (2007) - Another excellent example of Japanese cinema. This stars the controversial actress Erika Sawajiri and Yuko Takeuchi. Actually, it was this film premier event the led to Sawajiri being labeled as "difficult". She had this grim face throughout and answered the emcee questions with quick, deliberate one word answers and had her arms crossed the entire time. She lost a lot of fans that day, and lost a lot of commercial contracts as well. Stupid girl. But don't let that get in the way of watching this film. It's beautiful. Sawajiri moves into this old house and works part time a fountain pen shop. In her new home, she discovers a diary left by the previous tenant (Takeuchi). Although she knows she shouldn't read it, she does. And so the film starts with two stories - the diary of Takeuchi, and the lessons Sawajiri learns from reading it. Great film but then again, I'm a big fan of Yuko Takeuchi as well.
2. I AM LEGEND (2007) - I pretty much reviewed this film when I reviewed the book in last month's "Page Turners". I will reiterate, what could have been an updated remake of the 1971 film "The Omega Man" that starred Charlton Heston (which in itself was a remake 1964 film "The Last Man on Earth" starring Vincent Price) all based on Robert Matheson's novella "I Am Legend" turned out to be another generic zombie movie - as if we didn't have enough of those already (the "Biohazard" series - "Resident Evil" series for my American friends, "28 Days Later", etc.) with cool but overused SFX and the star power of Will Smith. I mean come on, the zombies all look like a bunch of Uncle Festers of "The Addams Family" movies. Nothing wrong with Smith's acting but the story is so far off from it's original concept, that it should have been given a different title. Do yourself a favor and rent "The Omega Man" instead or read Matheson's original story.
3. BIKUR HA-TIMZORET [International English Title: THE BAND'S VISIT] 「Japanese Title：迷子の警察音楽隊」[MAIGO NO KEISATSU ONGAKU-TAI] (2007) - This is a beautiful and heartwarming movie from Israel and has won many awards including the Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2007. The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra have been invited toIsrael to participate in the opening of an Arab Cultural Arts Center. However, there is no one to meet them at the airport so the one member who speaks a bit of English is chosen to buy bus tickets for the group to the town of Petah Tiqva. However, when the get off the bus and asks the owner of a local diner where the Arab Cultural Center is, they are informed that there isn't any such place. It turns out they bought to tickets to a small Israeli town called Beit Hatikva and the next bus is scheduled to come until the following day. The owner of the diner offers to put them up for the night as the members try to make the best out of their situation. Excellent film. Be sure to check your foreign language section at your local DVD rental shop.
4. 蟲師「MUSHISHI」 [International English Title: BUGMASTER] (2006) - The cinematography is excellent although the story was a bit lagging at times. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (of "Akira" fame), this movie is also based on a manga of the same name by Yuki Urushibara. In feudal times, a Mushi-shi (Bugmaster) or a traveling mystical doctor as explained in the Plot section of the IMDb website would travel around the country and help people who are afflicted with various ailments that have been caused by an infinite variety of bugs. Stars Jo Odagiri and the beautiful, popular, and talented Yu Aoi. Also star Makiko Esumi (you would also know these Japanese actors if you've lived in Tokyo for the last 13 years). I really couldn't recommend it unless you are a big fan of manga. But what this movie lacks in action makes up for it in its visual quality.
5. クワイエットルームにようこそ「QUIET ROOM NI YOKOSO」[International English Title: WELCOME TO THE QUIET ROOM] (2007) – This movie is a blend of “The Fifth Floor” (not that anybody would remember that film) and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. It stars Yuki Uchida and popular screenplay writer Kankuro Kudo. Damn funny movie. Stressed out journalist (Uchida) passes out from overwork and wakes up to finds herself strapped to a bed in a solitary room as a mysterious woman watches her and whispers “Welcome to the Quiet Room”. It seems our protagonist has awakened inside a mental institution where she is kept under observation as she is considered suicidal. We learn near the end of the film that Uchida is pretty much in denial and believes she doesn’t belong here. This movie is done with an excellent amount of humor and although the subject is a little dark, it never gets preachy or boring. Well worth looking for.
6. 舞妓はああああん！「MAIKO HAAAAN！」(2007) - This was one hilarious movie about a Maiko Otaku (Maiko being an apprentice Geisha), who dumps his co-worker girlfriend and transfers to Kyoto so he can be closer to his obsessions. His ultimate dream is to play a game called "yakyuken" with a geisha at a geisha house. But once he's in Kyoto, he finds himself pit against a rival geisha lover who is a popular baseball star. From there on, the movie gets even crazier as Otaku also becomes a baseball star to compete with his rival. Soon, both men go from baseball players to K-1 fighters, to politicians - all in the name of love for Geishas. Crazy but damn funny, starring Sadao Abe, Hiroshi Abe, and Ko Shibasaki. The screenplay was written by the above mentioned Kankuro Kudo. You must go look for this flick!
7. METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY (2005) - Now this is documentary that any self-respecting head-banger can enjoy. It certainly surpasses that piece of crap Penelope Spheeris made back in 1988. You all know what I'm talking about, "The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years". Of course I must admit I enjoyed it when it was released as it was the only documentary I knew of that delved into the world of heavy metal. Back then, I wasn't aware of the other documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" which was released in 1986. Anyway, it was as if Speeris wanted to support the bias held by many people. Rock stars have no brains and their fans are just as stupid as she films a drunken Chris Holmes with a bottle of vodka while babbling unintelligibly in his pool while his poor mother sits by the poolside with a stern look on her face (probably thinking, "why did I let Speeris talk me into sitting here). Or the conceited, no talent, overblown ego maniac from the band Seduce (where are they now anyway?). Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss didn't help their image any either (who cares how many women you slept with Gene?). The only positive thing about Speeris' film was Lemmy from Motorhead and an as yet unsigned Janet Gardner of Vixen. Now along comes avid heavy metal fan and anthropologist Sam Dunn. Now, he does the world of heavy metal justice. He starts his film talking about the peak of metal (which he feels is 1986 - with Iron Maiden at the helm), and travels the world interviewing band members, fans, journalists, and everybody else who enjoys this music. It's quite informative even for the novice or non-metal listener. He discusses the birth of metal, the many genres and sub-genres, and sees for himself the world of Norwegian Black Metal. I'm looking forward to seeing his new documentary "Global Metal" which was released this year. A must watch for music fans!
8. THE PERFECT COUPLE [Original Title: CHOEGANG ROMANCE] 「Japanese Title：最強ロマンス」(2007) - . Mikako and I laughed so much. It stars Mikako's current favorite Korean star, Lee Dong-Wook and Hyung Young. Damn funny film. Lee plays a police officer who suffers from aichomophobia (fear of sharp objects). Young plays an aspiring journalist who wants to do cover more gritty subjects than Korean pop stars. After Young finishes an interview with a egotistical no-talent pop star, she unwinds by eating some Korean oden. Dong-Wook is chasing after an alleged drug pusher and bumps into Young who's outraged at his action. Dong-Wook continues to chase the villain but cannot keep up. When he stops and checks his body, he finds that he's been accidentally stabbed by the journalists oden skewer (and passes out). Journalist chases him, sees the skewer sticking out of his body, finds it amusing and takes a picture of him with her digital camera. This becomes a big news item and is the start of their rocky relationship. Ooh, my mother has got to see this film. She'll love it. I did too!!
9. AIR GUITAR NATION (2006) - After watching the documentary on heavy metal, I came across another one on a subject that captured my interest. The world of air guitar. As a Japanese won the Air Guitar World Championship held in Finland two years in a row (2006, 2007), and also became a minor celebrity here in Japan, I knew I had to watch this film. This was taken when the first American championships were held and leads up to the 2003 World Champion and the first that featured to American competitors. This is serious business in Finland but he just likes some crazy fun. The documentary pretty follows in the footstpes of C. Diddy (who starts off winning the U.S. East Coast Championship held in New York City). His main rival is one Bjorn Turoque (Born to Rock - get it?). This is a competition for rock star wannabees who know they can't play but dream of being on stage rockin' out to some thrashing tunes. It's a fun film to watch.
10. 真夜中の弥次さん喜多さん 「MAYONAKA NO YAJI-SAN KITA-SAN」(2005) - Loosely tranlates to something like "Midnight of Yaji-san and Kita-san". All I can say is "What the heck?????" I was so disappointed as I had high expectations for this film, the screenplay written by Kankuro Kudo (see the above mentioned "Maiko Haaaan!"). I laughed a few times because the story was so stupid and the gags were so overdone. Quite a few stars in this film as well but I think they must have did it as a favor. Its so bad, its stupid. A lot of the gags falls flat and have nowhere to go. And yet, at the local DVD rental store, this is shelved in the "Long Seller" section. Perhaps its the girly fans of Johnny's Entertainment idol Tomoya Nagase who plays a homo-sexual samurai. Even Sadao Abe or Tomomitsu Yamaguchi couldn't raise the laughter scale in this festival of mismatches - Samurais riding a Harley and such. Don't bother looking for this one as most Americans wouldn't get most of the jokes. And quite a few Japanese as well!
11. SAIBOGUJIMAN KWENCHANA [International English Title: I'M A CYBORG, BUT THAT'S OKAY] (2006) - Wretched piece of crap I mistook for an science-fiction fantasy as I thought it was the original film of the Japanese movie [My Girlfriend is a Cyborg]. I was so far off the mark. This is about a mental patient who believes she's a cyborg and some other patient who believes he can steal people's souls. I got so bored (as it was beyond bad), that I just let the film fun its course while I opened my laptop and watched "Room 401" on YouTube. Avoid at all costs!
12. ネガティブハッピーチェーンソーエッジ 「NEGATIVE HAPPY CHAINSAW EDGE」 (2007) - I was once again fooled by the promising previews (and how can you not love that title?). But it turned out to be a teenage love romance with a bit of action thrown in. The film couldn't decide if wanted to be an all-out action film or a sappy teen love comedy (I think I snickered once or twice). Very disappointing.
13. FIDO 「Japanese Title：ZOMBINO」(2006) - Another zombie movie you say? Well, sort of. But more along the lines of "Shaun of the Dead". Some deadly virus causes the dead to rise from the ground, but now there's a company called Zomkon that's created a neck bracelet which makes the zombies tame, so people keep them as pets, companions, and whatnot. But if the power goes out on the bracelet, they revert back to flesh eating zombies. Crazy but fun film! Not exactly a blockbuster but not quite down to the level of a B-movie. I loved it.
14. DOMINO (2005) - Based on the story of Domino Harvey - former Ford model turned bounty hunter. This would have been a great flick if director Tony Scott hadn't been adamant about filming it in a "new visual style". The style was a piece of crap. I really don't understand why people think this is art. It's crap. It reminds me of the filming style of "NYPD Blue" which people also called art but I call crap!! Repetive dialogue was just as annoying. The gratuitous nude scene was unnecessary, and was the Jerry Springer bit. The only high points of the flick were Mickey Rourke and appearance of Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green playing themselves. (Where have you heard those names? "Beverly Hilss 90210") I so enjoyed watching Mickey Rourke tell Brian Austin Green to "just shut the f%#k up". Oh, he gets his nose broken as well! Well hey, I was never a big fan of that particular show. Sorry, I forgot to tell you about the movie itself. It involves some Mafia kids, an Afghan, and a heist of 10 million dollars. Good thing I only borrowed this DVD. I would have slapped myself upside the head for paying money to see it.Grab some popcorn and watch a movie or two, or three, or four...
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