Oh my, I can't believe I've been neglecting posts about movies for so long. I guess that's a problem I have when I write short blurbs about flicks on MIXI (Japanese version of MySpace). I keep thinking that I've already introduced them on my blog, but when I checked to see when the last time I wrote a film post, it turned out to be last September!! The final film blurb being on "Fido" or "Zombino" as its called over here. From then until now, I've already watched around 30 movies - some good, some bad, and a lot of inbetweeners. Also during that span of time, a new burger shop opened in our neighborhood, hooked up with a childhood friend while she was in Tokyo on a business trip, went to Vegas for my sister's wedding, took quite a few walks around various neighborhoods, and of course I read many books! So, checking back on my trusty day planner (I always write down what movies I watched), I can actually share with you the thirty or so movies I subjected myself to starting with a Japanese flick I watched on television (and to think, I almost rented the movie during the time it was aired!). Don't you hate it when that happens? You rent a movie, and then the next day, it gets aired on broadcast television? And as you know, my taste in movies varies from mood to mood so you may find an urge to rent a title that I featured. Check 'em out anyway. And seeing how there will be so many to choose from this time around, I shall try to keep my blurbs to a minimum.
1. ライフ：天国で君に逢えたら [LIFE: TENGOKU DE KIMI NI AETARA] Also known as [LIFE: TEARS IN HEAVEN] (2007) - Based on the life of professional wind surfer, Natsuki Iijima, its his story of striving to become a champion, fulfilling his dream, and then when he thought all was going well, to be struck by tragedy. He was diagnosed with liver cancer, which kept getting worse with time. He had two operations and yet his health did not improve. This is a man's struggle with his life and will to live with the support of his family. Much better than Koji Yakusha's "像の背中", [Walking My Life].
2. WILD HOGS (2007) - It's "City Slickers" with old guys on Harleys. Damn fun movie though. And the soundtrack included two Bon Jovi songs much to Mikako's delight. 
3. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (2007) - Based on the Newbery Medal winning novel by Katherine Paterson about an unlikely pair who become fast friends and invent a world of their own. I was a bit surprised by the ending. 
4. THE KINGDOM (2007) – FBI run a covert mission in Saudi Arabia. Uh-huh, yeah right. But enough action to keep you interested. Uh, some terrorist bombing in U.S. housing area or so. Kind of scary when you think about things like that actually taking place.
5. DAYWATCH (2006) – Russian film I didn’t get. Something about vampires, parallel worlds and whatnot. I think there is a sequel called "Nightwatch" as well.
6. NATIONAL TREASURE 2: BOOK OF SECRETS (2008) – An insult to our intelligence, but I had to watch it anyway, and it met my really low expectations. More absurd than the first flick, which defies believability but was fun none the less. 
7. MIDNIGHT EAGLE (2007) – One of the better Japanese films I’ve seen this year about a fallen plane that was carrying a nuclear device that those baddies, the North Koreans, want to set off.
8. クローズ：０[CROWS:O] (2007) – Based on a violent Japanese comic (nothing to with “The Crow”). Current Japanese heartthrob Shun Oguri stars in this violence festival. He wants to be top dog at some loser high school (hey, it’s based on a comic). Just think of those movies like “Tuff Turf” or “The Principal” or something along those lines.
9. REIGN OVER ME (2007) – Sucked big time. Adam Sandler couldn’t save it. Used 9-11 as a back drop to the actual story. One to skip.
10. L: CHANGE THE WORLD (2008) – Third film in the “Death Note” franchise. It was okay. Well hey, I watched it on television. Stories based on the stealing of some serious virus (as if you haven’t heard that one before).
11. KINKY BOOTS (2005) – This actually was a great film, well maybe not great, but quality entertainment. Young guy’s father is owner of a shoe factory. Keels over. Factory hasn’t been making money for years and yet old Dad continued to make the same kind of shoes. Young guy saves what he thought was a woman, turns out to be a cross-dresser. Then young dude gets an idea. To make shoes for a niche market – boots for cross dressers.
12. MR. BEAN’S HOLIDAY (2007) – Movie length skit is just too long.
13. THE DARWIN AWARDS (2006) – Didn’t get good reviews but I thought it was damn funny. Metallica makes a guest appearance as well. Excellent sound track. Even Tacoma gets a mention. I can I not like it?
14. S DIARY (2004) – Not so entertaining Korean flick. Love, betrayal, revenge, with just a touch of humor (not much, but just a touch).
15. WELCOME TO DONGMAKGOL (2005) – Excellent Korean film. I may have to send this one off to Mom. North Korean soldiers, South Korean soldiers, downed American pilot all find themselves in a small hamlet called Dongmakgol, where the villagers have no idea there is a war going on.
16. HANCOCK (2008) – It was one of the choices on my return flight home from Vegas. Fun, silly action movie with Will Smith.
17. SPEED RACER (2008) – If you’re my age, chances are you watched “Speed Racer” before heading off to school. And now here it is, live action with lots of CG, but the star of course is the Mach 5.
18. BALLS OF FURY (2007) – Parody of “Enter the Dragon” with a Jack Black wannabe.
19. KUNG-FU KUN (2008) - Bad Kung-Fu movie with a cute Chinese kid as the star. Lots of popular Japanese stars couldn’t make this any better. My mother would be amused to see Pinko Izumi in this flick. Oy vay! 
20. THE KITE RUNNER (2007) – I loved the book and this adaptation stays close to its source. An excellent story about friendship, cowardice, betrayal, and atonement. Pretty intense. Story is set in Afghanistan in the early ‘70s about two childhood friends and how their relationship altars after a particular incident. But don’t let me spoil it for you. Go and rent this now!
21. HOLLOW MAN (2000) – It was on television and I had never gotten around to watching it even though I’ve seen almost every Kevin Bacon movie. A twisted take on the “Invisible Man” theme. 
22. MICHAEL CLAYTON (2007) – Just watch the last twenty minutes or so, or better yet, go and rent “A Civil Action” or “Erin Brokovich” instead. 
23. ROOTS TIME (2006) – Reggae road movie with absolutely no plot and is just a little over an hour long. 
24. VANTAGE POINT (2008) – Film critics didn’t like it but I thought it was done quite well. Well, okay, Gus Van Sant used the formula in his movie “Elephant” first but what the hell. 
25. BLINDSIGHT (2006) – Excellent documentary about a group of blind teenage Tibetans who challenge themselves to climb Everest’s 23,000ft Lhakpa Ri Peak. 
26. OH! HAPPY DAY (2003) – Korean rom-com. 
27. LIONS FOR LAMBS (2007) – A satire of the Bush administration no doubt. Tom Cruise as a Neo-con Chickenhawk. Meryl Streep – a journalist who’s forced to question her reporting. College student as an apathetic voter. Overall, this is just lame. Just watch the news instead, preferably not FOX or any that are owned or supported by the current administration. 
28. AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007) – Biopic based on the life of Frank Lucas, the heroin king of Manhattan in the early ‘70s with Denzel Washington. Russell Crowe as the honest cop who tries to bring him down. Excellent film. 
29. HIGHWAY STAR (2007) – Korean comedy about a struggling rock star who becomes a masked singing sensation in a genre not of his choosing – traditional Korean songs, like Japanese Enka. 
30. eXistenZ (1999) – David Cronenberg film with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jude Law. Lots of goo and gore but not really scary. Just a stylized B-movie with more money.
31. THE BUCKET LIST (2007) - Two old geezers with nothing in common, and are opposites of each other find themselves sharing a room in a hospital as they are both suffering from a terminal disease. Jack Nicholson plays filthy rich dude, while Morgan Freeman plays down to earth father figure who passes his time by writing a "bucket list" - a list of things to do before he "kicks the bucket". Jack being filthy rich talks him into doing those things on his list. Excellent little road movie. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
32. RAIN MAN (1988) - Mikako had never seen it and we had just watched a documentary on the actual person that "Rain Man" was based on. Tom Cruise's character was an annoying bunghole for almost the entire length of the film, but Dustin Hoffman was excellent.Wow, that's quite a few films for a three month period, don't you think? And starting this Friday (tomorrow), my neighborhood DVD rental shop is having another half-price rental campaign. Of course I'll be picking up a few titles. I just don't know which ones yet.
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