Change Your Image
enkiduu
Reviews
The Prisoner (2009)
It had good potential and even a few good ideas, but it failed.
I had been looking forward to this remake of The Prisoner for months. Everything I saw, every thing I read, and so many good actors in the cast it promised to be a good production. However even the best production values and unity of talents do not always good storytelling make.
I think maybe the writers may have been victims of their own cleverness. Seeing that they only had a few short format to work within, they felt they could not give too much away. The problem was they didn't give enough. The writers of the original were much smarter - they offered a straightforward setup and a chose the main character to be a protagonist who always drove the show forward with his strength of identity. Six in the remake however is simply a victim who never rises above playing the victim. The original Six by comparison used his intellect, talent and experience to turn the tables on his captures.
To be fair the idea that binds the new series has its merits and watching the last episode was enjoyable if not satisfying.
The series will probably be remade again, but if and when that happens I hope the writers and producers learn from the recent version's failures. The most important piece of advise I could offer is that if they wish to remake the series they should do it out of love and with appreciation for the source material and simply take a small piece of it and then dress it up with similar props and cues.
"Be seeing you."
Warau Iemon (2004)
An unusual take on a classic story.
Warau Iemon is based on one of Japan's classic ghost stories - Yotsuya Kaidan. This story has be produced for stage as well as film. In fact the only other stories that have been filmed with as many versions would be the stories of Chushingura and Miyamoto Musashi. Indeed there is even a movie in which both Chushingura and Yotsuya Kaidan were combined.
However this version of the story has the feel of an origin story - as if to say, "you know the ghost story, well this is the real story upon which that tale is based. And I have to say, this take is much more satisfying and emotionally charged. Traditionally the characters of Iemon and Oiwa are presented with Iemon as the ambitious and heartless husband and Oiwa as the jilted and murdered lover who's reputation has been tainted by the lies. In the ghost story she returns as a disfigured avenging spirit. In Warau Iemon, Oiwa begins the story already in a disfigured state do to disease which robbed her of her exceptional good looks. Her pride remains and in truth so does the beauty, albeit masked slightly by scars and damaged eye. Iemon in this version also carries scars from his past, though they are emotional and perhaps much deeper. Both actors in their roles, Koyuki as Oiwa and Karasawa Toshiaki add incredible depth to these characters with sincerity and precision and truly bring them to life.
It is a common practice for actors who have accepted these roles to make an offering and pay their respects to Oiwa's spirit. Productions in which this has not been observed have been subject to mysterious mishaps and bad luck. For me this movie is perhaps the best offering to make to their troubled spirits. This version was respectful and indeed loving. Certainly it is my own favorite version of the story. I don't know if it presently available on DVD with English subtitles, but certainly if you are familiar with the story, I would not let keep you from watching the film. I give it my highest rating.
Ganryujima (2003)
It's a wonderful thing to unexpectedly find a movie that surprises
First of all, let me say I agree with most of the comments left by the reviewer Kuuzo. That was a great review. This movie though for me was a terrific surprise - in that most of what I had read and heard before watching this movie had been so negative as to pretty much turn me off on seeing it all. I believe now that those bad reviews were written by folks who did not watch the film to its conclusion - that or they did not pay close attention to what they were watching. Lucky for me though Motoki Mashiro is one of my wife's favorite actors so she ordered a copy and we watched it together.
Like many Japanese films such as The Mystery Of Rampo and Casshern , there is a touch of ambiguity to the end that requires the viewer interpret for themselves what the film was ultimately about. And so my take on the movie may be different than yours. (I kind of like it that way sometimes...)
My take on the movie is as follows:
Ganryujima presents a Musashi who is brutish, cruel and clearly a madman. Att this point in his life he has pretty much lost his humanity. He has defeated Baiken and wiped out the entire Yoshioka school and most importantly, he has butchered the Yoshioka figurehead who was a mere child ( a scene absent from the most popular film version of Musashi's life). In Ganryujima he is not traveling to the famous island to fight a duel with Kojiro. He is taking his boatride to meet his death. The movie makes a game of having him "forget" his swords, but by the end of the movie, when his real personality emerges it is obvious this was not a matter of forgetting anything.
In the final battle against a mass of samurai who have come to exact revenge upon him, his attitude provides the answers for the movie's puzzle. He reluctantly enters the fight, at first beating his enemies down without cutting them. However after a few moments his face shows the realization that he will have to kill them all - that he must unleash himself as it were. The expression on his face goes through a marvelous transition in that moment which in itself makes the film worth watching. He then proceeds to go through his enemies like a lawn mower. The music in this scene is perfect and gives depth and understanding to who this swordsman is beyond his appearance and earlier behavior. Not only is the scene exciting, it has an uncanny accuracy in that having read the real Musashi's Book Of Five Rings, I found myself watching as he used not only many of the techniques he wrote about, but also it was the first good presentation of "no mind combat".
Other aspects of the movie worth mentioning are the direction, cinematography and artiste performance. The visuals were beautiful and for all the talking this movie is perfectly paced. The comedy is deceptively fun and the actual drama perfectly subdued until the end.
Lastly I came away from with Ganryujima understanding why my wife is such a huge fan of Motoki Masahiro. For although I have seen him in many roles that ranged from comical to bizarre, his performance in this movie completely blew me away. I am now convinced there is no role he cannot play to its fullest. He is an amazing actor.
In the end thought, don't take my word on this movie. See it yourself. You might be surprised.
Babel (2006)
Give me back the time I wasted watching this movie
Man, talk about annoying. This movie was a gimmick flick if there ever was one. Toss together a few half baked story lines, connect them with the most inane threads, toss in a few political hot buttons and overcook for 2 and a half hours and you get a big plate of something best tossed out before the cat finds it.
Too little time was spent with each of the story lines and too much time was spent showing us things that were unnecessary ( I will skip the details ). The whole was ruined by the total sum of its parts, whereas any one of its individual threads may have actually made a better movie.
Also I have to say a gross disservice was done to the audience in that I am sure some people are coming away from this movie thinking what they saw was an accurate portrayal of these various cultures, when in fact what was there was only the bare bones overlaid and mucked up with a lot of stereotype and cliché.
The tag lines for this movie should have been "Life is too short for Babel"
M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (1931)
A odd sort of quiet witness for Pre-Nazi Germany
I have given this movie a 10, but know many of this generation's movie goers will disagree. I expect many will think it boring and unbelievable. But I would disagree for several reasons. First of all it is paramount to remember that this movie is from the early days of talking films and still works much like a silent movie. Lang seems to have been using the sound medium gingerly and relied much on his silent experience. Secondly, this movie was made for a generation of vastly different sensibilities than that of our own time. Take off you culturally shaped glasses and try to watch the film with an opened mind. You might well see a movie that is both rich is stunning visuals, frame composition, as well as its strikingly humanitarian spirit. For me most interesting aspect of "M" though, is the view it affords of 1931 Germany. Here is a "cinematic" slice of what Germany may have been like prior to the total domination by Hitler and his party. As I watched the characters passing through many of the frames I was surprised at the extremely diverse parade of humanity that made up the cast. There were so many men who's physical forms were in direct contrast to Hitler's Aryan Model that I could not help but wonder how many of them later became victims of the Nazi death machine only a few years after the film was made. In this sense it is a sort of quiet witness for these men.
Give this movie a chance and think about it if you are so inclined.
Der Himmel über Berlin (1987)
Haunting, Stunning. True.
There are very few movies that appeal to my spiritual side and this is certainly my favorite. There is something remarkable about this film which I can't quite put into words. It is what I can only define as cinematic poetry. Like a long piece of prose poetry translated into moving images that are both stark and brilliant, this movie works upon you deeply on the inside. The dialog is often beautiful and at other times quite funny and the scene near the end of the film in which the fallen angel is at last able to be seen and touched by the woman he loves has a piece of dialog that leaves me breathless every time. What an expression of genuine love!
I have taken several friends to see this movie with mixed results. Some are fascinated and others frustrated by its length and non- Hollywood structure.
If I were only allowed one movie to watch for the rest of my life, it would be this film.
Dae Jang-geum (2003)
A great series
When my wife suggested I watch this show I never expected to get sucked in by what looked like a Korea, costume drama, soap opera, but I was so wrong. I started watching this show on TV Japan a few months ago - dubbed in Japanese and without English subtitles - yet in spite of the language issue I was able to quickly follow what was going on in the story. Recently they have begun showing Dae Jang Geum on our local Korean station in the original language with English subtitles and now the show is even more enjoyable. A great story. Great characters and lots of food that constantly sends my wife and I off to our local Korean BBQ.
Basically the story starts before Jang Geum is born and follows her from childhood and up through out her life. She goes from being the child of fugitives on the lam, to kitchen apprentice/lady in waiting in the royal household, to outcast on an island prison, to the first woman doctor to the King of Korea.
The Palace is a genuine snake pit of intrigue and the trials do take their toll on Jang Geum - she changes and grows and is shaped by the influences of his friends and enemies alike and yet still she manages to retain her essential spirit.
What I like most about this show is that Jang Geum is the true hero of the show, whereas her male love interest remains only in a supportive role.
This is a great show and worth watching.
Zulu (1964)
The first movie I ever saw in a theater
This movie holds the special place in my heart as the first movie I ever saw in a theater. I recall it as my father's single favorite movie. He loved Zulu so much so that after seeing it with our mom, he then took my brother and I see it the very next night. I was about 8 years old at the time and was just amazed struck by singing by both the Zulu Warriors and the British soldiers during their battle. The movie does a fine job of showing that no single nation or side in a conflict have the monopoly on heroism and bravery.
Stanly Baker pulls off a believable performance and the RSM is just a classic character.
Sure this movie is dated, but it still great.
Mibu gishi den (2002)
Good Japanese Ciema and so much better than The Last Samurai
This is a very good movie with only a few minor flaws. The cast is exceptional, being many of Japans most better working actors today - the finest being Nakai Kiichi who brings a depth of character and sensitivity to his role which transcends any language barrier. The other main role played by Koichi Sato ( the son of one legendary Mikuni Rentaro )who also does an excellent job of drawing the audience into the fabric of story.
For any viewer who is not familiar with Japanese history and the transition between the end of the Tokugawa Shogonate and the modern era which was ushered in with the Meiji Restoration, the back story will lose some of its richness. The Shinsengumi and its principle characters, though relatively unknown to the west, stand iconic to the Japanese and so much of the interplay between them and the two principle characters is understated and will slip by the average western viewer. I would recommend reading any of Romulous Hillsbourough's books before watching the movie only because the depth of the film will only be increased by doing so. This is a recommendation though not a prerequisite of course.
This movie had a beautiful look and texture with some shots who color tones and composition are as precise as traditional woodblock prints. The sword play is some of the best ( and most realistic ) I have seen in a samurai film with Sakai Masato absolutely brilliant as Okita Soji. The fighting is brutal and bloody, well choreographed and stylish without being stylized. There is still a deadly dance quality to the swordplay, though it maintains its integrity and honesty to form.
My only complaint with the movie is that it could use some minor cutting. The acting in Nakai Kiichi final scene is astonishingly beautiful, but it seriously goes on too long and will threaten even the most patient viewer to loose interest.
In closing, let me say that this movie goes where the Last Samurai should have gone - straight to the heart and soul of a samurai.
Eight Below (2006)
"Inspired by a true story"...as if.
One again Disney has produced a remake instead of an original piece. And to make matters worse they're trying to promote it as "inspired by a true story". That little tag line alone should warn any potential viewers that what they are about to see is not the real story. This movie has noting to do with what happened back in Antartica back in the 50's - which was a genuine tragedy for any dog lover.
Save your money and rent the better film from Japan called Antarctica. It pulls no punches and delivers a great story along with some great cinematic imagery. Antarctica brings out the true sadness and pain of the story with less fluff and fantasy. Takakura Ken and the Dogs Taro and Jiro in the original movie are a better investment of your time and money.
Grizzly Man (2005)
A good film about a self absorbed lunatic.
What this film shows is how a man's obsession can destroy the thing he loves. By the end of the film I found myself thinking what a selfish little boy Timothy Treadwell seems to have been. His recordings show that it was him who was central subject and not the bears. He teated the bears with what he called love, while in truth had no respect for them whatsoever. If he had, he would have kept his distance and observed only, without interaction. Instead Teeadwell's behavior has endangered the bears. Those he was close to, now have less fear of humans than they should. The stranger bear is dead. His crime was that of being hungry and eating a human who did not have the sense to stay out of reach. Treadwell must have known that if he was eaten by a bear, that bear would be hunted down and butchered if for no other reason than to reclaim the human remains in its stomach.
What is most tragic is that Treadwell's actions also led to the death of the woman who was his companion. No more needs to be said about that I suppose.
By the conclusion of the movie I found myself amazed that his so called friends and loved ones so quickly romanticized the his utterly pointless death. Please save us all from such "friends".
Syriana (2005)
Great movie -I hope to see it again soon...but for now I will read the reviews and chuckle
I thought this was a great movie, with strong plot lines, good acting, emotional punch and a bit of a message thrown in for good measure. Its themes of greed, nationalism and religious zeal would seem to be the most prominent, yet in truth it is a story of manipulation. The story does a very good job in giving a 3 dimensional picture of a suicide bomber and if it seemed apologetic I expect that is the result of his being genuinely human.
I hope to see this movie again soon , but it may be a while. In the meantime I am actually enjoying the reviews here on IMDb more than usual. I especially love reading those by the folks who hated the film. Hmmmm... Some folks complain about it being liberal propaganda and trash, others complain that it was too hard to follow and one even reviewer commented that there were too many subtitles.
Reviews tend to say as much ( if not more ) about the reviewer than the movie, so these can really make for high entertainment. I recommend sitting back and reading them for a smile.
Toshiie to Matsu: Kaga hyakumangoku monogatari (2002)
My Favorite Series
This show remains my favorite. There is something wonderful about watching the characters in this series grow up and grow old as they struggle to transform the world in which they live and love. At its core Toshiie and Matsu is a story about love - Love between husbands and wives, Love between friends, and love for an idea.
Toshiie is an interesting character in that he never attains the power or stature of his companions and rivals and yet he is a better man for it - and as such the object of respect and reverence from those who would otherwise have treated him as a dangerous enemy. Toshiie is naive, but he is also the embodiment of all that is best in man. His wife Matsu, is certainly wiser, no less kind and is in fact far stronger than her husband. Together they are able win the hearts of those around them and often change the course of history.
AS an interesting bit of casting, The actress who plays Matsu is actually married to the actor who portrayed Nobunaga ( the best Nobunaga I have seen on screen yet ).
If you can find this series on DVD or see it in re-runs, don't miss the chance
Quintet (1979)
A turn about opinion
When I first saw Quintet in the Theater I was bored to tears. I couldn't understand why my best friend had dragged me all the way into Berkeley to watch such a slow paced, dull movie. Paul Newman's performance was so dead pan I thought, what is going on with this guy?
Well, despite this, something about it must have made an impression though, because a few years later I rented it on tape and gave the movie another try. I was surprised by how different the movie seemed to me. I watched it again a day later and thought, "Wow, this movie has a lot going on."
I appreciated the underlying theme that life is more than simply surviving - otherwise it becomes a sort of twisted addiction of playing a game with death. Essex's question , "What do I win?" and it's hollow answer of "The chance to play again" pretty much sums up the generation we find ourselves a part of as well.
I know this is a flawed movie, but somehow it has become one of my favorites. I still have it on beta and am hoping it comes out in a restored letterbox version with the frosted window effect I remember from the theater. It is a cold movie and you are expected to watch it from arms length - once you get hat, the movie begins to come into focus.
If you hated the move the first time, give it another try.
War of the Worlds (2005)
The sound is the thing
I know most people will come away with various impression of this movie - some will love it, some will like it, some will hate it. I was not overwhelmed by the visuals - they reminded me of things I have seen before and was actually a little put off by some of them. There are certain cheap references to 911 - both visually as well as in the dialog, and the movie also has a Saving Private Ryan look to much of the action which I found distracting. Don't get me wrong, there were some brilliantly chilling moments to the move which I found astonishingly original. However I found myself wondering if the writers actually read the book. At times the move felt as if it were based on the a combination of the radio show, the 1953 movie as well as Jeff Wayne's Rock Opera. The best aspect of the movie was the voice of the war machine. This interpretation of the "Ula" call fro the book was fantastic. Although I would have enjoyed the movie more if it had been done as a period piece, I did find it worth seeing in a theater and hope to give it one more viewing in the near future. The sound is the thing that calls me back.
Sequoia (1934)
A treasure from my Childhood
This movie is a real treasure form my childhood. I remember watching it as the morning movie on San Francisco's Channel 7 while curled up next to my mother when I was about 4 r 5. To this day I think my love for wild animals and sense of loyalty stem from this movie. The theme I hold most dear from the movie is that natural enemies can become friends when both are nurtured with love. I think this movie's message is more timely now than ever before.
This movie reminds me of how man gems have been made in Hollywood only to be lost with the passage of time. Maybe Channel 7 still has a print. It is worth contacting them to ask.
Also, my wife is from Japan and has not had the chance to see Sequoia so I hope it becomes available on DVD so I can share it with her.