kityujonatha Reviews

Kiraware Matsuko no isshô (2006)

A great tragedy with a charming comical outlook

[8/10 · 9 October 2006]

The movie is really wonderful and joyful. The package is really wonderful. As the female lives from 50's up to now, director of this film manage to dissolve a lot of pop culture stuffs, like MTV, TV etc into a fancy comical world. I am sure there would be only Japanese who can create such world.

But what i admire most is he do not forget the story he want to tell. The story actually is a adaption from a original novel which depict a tragic life of a woman. The film, though have a comedy outlook, it is a typical tragic story. The director manages to find a new way to retell the story in a sense which youngster would feel related.

And the story itself is great because it tells us what is so called life. ie ridiculous, unpredictable, etc. and how a woman face her life with constant hope of simply getting better.

The story is a typical tragedy in a Greek kind of style. Though it may contain some preaching scene, but u are free to take it or leave, as the life of the woman is open to judge.

Capote (2005)

should have more insight for non-fictional novel

[8/10 · 11 March 2006]

As an investigative reporter for several years before, i find echo from the movie. Movie is well made with wonderful acting performance from Hoffman and all the sidecast, esp Catherine Keener.

But what fascinate me is how Mr. Capote dealing with the fact( the criminals) and his non-fictional novel( the book). There is is no doubt that Capote created the genre of non-fictional novel which affect the development on journalism. I am sure he experienced the paradox and dilemma of writing a non-fictional novel. To know what i really mean, you can simply ask him how a conclusion or judgment on the criminal can be made? Did you find any difficulty in it? I believe there are bunch of it.

Non fictional novel is written with bias and judgment in no doubt, that why it's so fascinating to read. Mr Capote in the movie obviously experienced the moral struggle it brought. That's why he is not willing to let the criminals get to know the name of the book , coz he feels "guilty" of having that book name and the novel details in it.

So i think the movie can be better by elaborate or explore more humanity on the blurred line between the truth and the novel side and how Mr. Capote dealing with his inner struggle.

PS. Nowaday, Modern journalism is leaning to the non friction novel style, I experienced a lot of consequence from that which Capota did. For example, the way he made "friend" with the interviewee is the usual practice of an investigative reporter. Sometimes, what you did for the job is like being in a social party. And, what's more? you will get cold-blooded finally if u get used to that kind of life. (luckily i escape it at the very last minute :))

Sylvia (2003)

Fail to portrait Ms Plath

[5/10 · 11 February 2006]

It's a great disappointment to watch Syivia, coz i love her poems very much. I must say the movie bring out nothing from her poems except reading them. The poems is a clear indication about how the movie should FEEL like, however, the movie is just another straight forward bio pic on how Ms Plath is dealing with her romantic life.

What it lacks is the depth of soul searching. ie. how does she feel at that time when her husband got an affair? how does she feel after several attempt on killing herself? Why does she end up like this? the movie answers such questions in skin-depth level without searching the core of her soul.

Sad Movie (2005)

Quite a touching one indeed

[9/10 · 5 February 2006]

Watching Sad Movie is a emotional rolling coaster journey. The first 2/3 part of the movie is in fact funny and witty. The character building is clever, i should say. Their relationship with their partners is convincing too.

The film actually is dealing with the theme of communication. The eight characters in the movie are more or less unable to communicate with their loved one. The honest and a bit stupid fireman, a jobless youngster, a mother and the deaf gal form four separate, yet related plot lines of the movie. The movie is moving along the plot line of how these characters's blocks of communication are being solved.

The development is smooth, full of witty moments, and plot lines help each other to maintain a overall light atmosphere of the first 2/3 of the movie.

But when the movie runs to the latter 1/3 part. it turns into a sad mood. It will definitely make you cry as i did. Although some twists may seem a bit over-sentimental, but it is still effective.It's like when you are questioning or even complaining it's too sentimental, you are crying indeed. A very funny cinematic experience.

Overall, it's one of the best Korean romance movie so far.