Continuing with my monthly reviews, today I'm featuring the films I watched in November. As you can tell from the miniscule number of titles that I haven't been watching many films like I used. I spend more time reading books and writing my blog and can't seem to find as much time to watch films as well. And there is still so many I want to see. My sister would be shocked to find out that I still haven't seen "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". My friend who recommended an excellent documentary to see is still sitting on the shelf waiting to be watched. Ah, if only the "Fermata" was real - check out Nicholson Baker's book to find out what I'm talking about.
BON JOVI: WHEN WE WERE BEAUTIFUL (2009) – An excellent documentary of one of the world’s most popular bands. With the release of their new studio album “The Circle”, they also a released a limited edition which includes this film. Done in the same vane as Metallica’s “Some Kind of Monster”, this film takes us behind the scenes as we get a glimpse into the lives members Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, and David Bryan. Even if you are not a fan of the band, you will be able to enjoy this. A nice hardcover book of the same title has been published as a companion volume to this film. A must for any die-hard Bon Jovi fan. I’m looking forward to seeing them again when they hit the shores of Japan.
BON JOVI: WHEN WE WERE BEAUTIFUL (2009) – An excellent documentary of one of the world’s most popular bands. With the release of their new studio album “The Circle”, they also a released a limited edition which includes this film. Done in the same vane as Metallica’s “Some Kind of Monster”, this film takes us behind the scenes as we get a glimpse into the lives members Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, and David Bryan. Even if you are not a fan of the band, you will be able to enjoy this. A nice hardcover book of the same title has been published as a companion volume to this film. A must for any die-hard Bon Jovi fan. I’m looking forward to seeing them again when they hit the shores of Japan. 
MERCYFUL FATE: HAIMSTED SWEDEN 4.3.’97 (1997) – Bootleg video of one of my favorite bands – Mercyful Fate. For those of you who unfamiliar, this is the band fronted by none other than King Diamond. If you want to listen to real Satanic music, forget Slayer, and pick up Mercyful Fate’s first two albums, “Melissa” and “Don’t Break the Oath”. Oh, and listening to these albums didn’t turn me into a suicidal maniac or a devil worshipping church burner or anything – I just thought the music was cool. In fact, I wanted to share the coolness of this band with a buddy of mine that I bought tickets for a show and dragged my friend to see it. Ah, that was some years ago as well, but you're never too old for Metal. This is only for fans of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate.
BABYLON A.D. (2008) – Epic science-fiction adventure starring Vin Diesel. Hey, it’s “Transporter” in the future. Yep, Vin Diesel must deliver a package from a hellhole in Europe to New York. The package being a woman. Oh, and wait, she’s pregnant, although a virgin. It’s “Transporter” and “The Da Vinci Code” rolled into one mess of a movie. It seems to have the same plot as the 2006 U.K. film “Children of Men” which was based on a story written by P. D. James. Check out the U.K. film instead if you’re not a big fan of Vin Diesel.
GLOBAL METAL (2008) – Sam Dunn returns to the silver screen after giving respect to heavy metal music with his first documentary “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey”. Finding the scene not to be dead as so many people hoped, he is inspired to check out the metal scene around the world. As “Metal” featured mostly the U.S. and U.K., this time he focuses on the scenes in Brazil, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, and Iran. You gotta love the tag line for the movie “Seven countries. Three continents. One tribe”. Although, the Japan portion didn’t feature its main export Loudness, it did feature the rock bar “Blackmore” where I was a regular and I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw my friend in this film as well. Heavy metal in Iran you say? Unfortunately, Dunn’s visa to Iran was denied so he met the Iranian musicians in the U.A.E. who were there for the annual Middle East Rock Festival named the “Dubai Desert Rock Festival”. Who says you grow out of Heavy Metal. I still listen to it and am proud to be a head-banger. I plan on going to “Loud Park 2010”. I can’t wait to find out who will be participating. And as I said before, you're never too old for Metal!
WATCHMEN (2009) – Alan Moore’s classic graphic novel comes to the silver screen. The critics said it couldn’t be done. Well, it has been done, but you’re better off reading the graphic novel instead. In an alternate Earth of 1985, super-heroes were as commonplace but forced out of their job by government decree. When one of the former superhero is killed, one superhero starts his own investigation to find out why, only to find that the murder was nothing compared to what he discovers. This is the thinking man’s action hero movie. If you’re tired of Superman, Batman, X-Men and the host of other DC and Marvel characters, you may want to check this flick out. And then you should read the graphic novel. Hey, only one month left of 2009. I may have to do a year in review of all the films I've watched this year. I know that I've watched over 100. And not all of them were great but a few stand out from the rest (at least I think so). I will have to check over my list to be sure. But that won't be until next month. For now, I still have to record some Korean dramas for my mother and send them off so she can share them with her friends. Wow, I can't believe I didn't watch any Japanese films this month, and there have been some good domestic films lately. Guess I will just have to make time to watch films as well.
Until next time!!
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