Category: Films

  • Yu Aoi Film Discussion – Niji no Megami – Rainbow Song

    This is officially my 2nd Yu Aoi film, which I saw right after All About Lily Chou Chou. Considering this is the first time I get into Japanese entertainment like this, I had no knowledge about anything. This is the reason why (I think, I’m pretty sure about it) I thought both Yu Aoi characters in the films were two completely DIFFERENT actresses… until I went to vote on IMDb and noticed that her name was already visited. Same thing with Hayato Ichihara… two different people, I tell you!!!

    I also watched Rainbow Song because I liked the simple poster. LOL! Little did I know that it had something to do with Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi, Hayato Ichihara… and that Shunji Iwai’s name was involved. Well, I actually thought I knew Juri’s name from the opening credits because I was watching Last Friends during those days… le sigh, oh how time flies!

    Okay, let’s see… a little about the film according to Amy.
    This 2006 film directed by Naoto Kumazawa had Shunji Iwai as producer and ghost-writer. It stars Hayato Ichihara as Tomoya, a young man working as staff in a television studio, who finds out his friend Aoi Sato (Juri Ueno) dies in an airplane crash.

    Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance… all mashed up together.
    Starring: Hayato Ichihara, Juri Ueno, Yu Aoi
    Duration: Almost 2hrs.

    Here’s a link to Crunchy to watch it in 3 parts…

    Spoilers ahead!

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  • Hotaru no Haka (Grave of the Fireflies) – Films that Changed your Life Forever

    It’s time for a new “Films that Changed your Life Forever” post! If you check the link to my “Favorites,” you will notice that the film I’m about to talk to is the ONLY animated film that has made its way to my Top10. I am surprised myself, but here is my story…

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  • Ten Steps…

    The upload of the day! xD Marit sure does know how to tease listeners…

    Just listened to it a minute ago… a bit later than I intended (it showed already 200 plays), but I was listening to the soundtrack of Kiraware Matsuko no Issho (Memories of Matsuko) – Man, that film gets me each time in the final “Okaeri”. Even the OST makes me mush inside…

    Anyway, back on Ten Steps… of the 4 tracks released already, this is by far the more country-ish that I’ve listened I think. At first, I thought I was hearing a Dixie Chicks intro xD – But Marit’s got a talent for sounding sweet about not so sweet things… ha! “I’m about to break your heart,” she says… but she’s so chirpy! It’s scary x’D

  • Yu Aoi Film Discussion – RIRI SHUSHU no Subete – All About Lily Chou Chou

    This is the first film I saw with Yu Aoi, without knowing who Yu Aoi was~~ I didn’t even know who Shunji Iwai was. I only decided to watch this because I liked the poster. Yes, I can be shallow like that because I didn’t even bother to read the synopsis… which I have found to be, most of the times, better than knowing what the film is about.

    Here’s a bit about the film:
    (from Wikipedia)
    This 2001 film directed and written by Shunji Iwai, stars Hayato Ichihara (Yuichi) and Shugo Oshinari (Hoshino), as two childhood friends that go through changes between their time in Junior High, and High School.

    Genre: Drama (Some disturbing situations involving young people.)
    Starring: Hayato Ichihara, Shugo Oshinari, Ayumi Ito, Yu Aoi
    Written and directed by: Shunji Iwai
    Duration: +2hr

    You can watch the film in 17 parts on YouTube.

    Spoilers ahead~ You’ve been warned~

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  • Yu Aoi in Matsuko????

    I always trust IMDb, I do… but you know, this trust has been slowly fading the more ‘non-occidental’ projects I watch…

    The thing is… I watched Kiraware Matsuko no Issho (Memories of Matsuko) because I made a list from Yu Aoi’s IMDb filmography. I LOVED the film, but I did not see her… so I went on a cyber-hunt. If you google it up, you will most likely find my posts because apparently I’m the only one that’s bugged by this.

    There are other sites who list her, but I’m inclined to say they are referring IMDb.

    I have given up my hunt, I do not care if I see Yu in Matsuko… LOL’ I will believe that she’s not in it, but there will always be this notion that she might have been… this silly doubt in the back of my head.

  • 2008 Films Seen This Past Month

    Once again… imcomplete internet data makes me keep track of films in here~ xD Sept. 4 –

    WOW, it’s the end of the month O_o, geez Time flies by~~~ The following were on my list of latest buys of Region 3 from Hong Kong:

    • Kiraware Matsuko no Issho
    • Love Letter
    • Hoshi ni Natta Shounen
    • Swing Girls
    • Niji no Megami
    • RIRI SHUSHU (Lily Chou Chou) no Subete

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  • Yu Aoi Film Discussion – Hana to ARISU – Hana & Alice

    First a little about the film:
    (from Wikipedia)
    Shot in 2004, by Shunji Iwai about two girls [Hana (Suzuki) and Alice (Aoi)], and the stress placed on their friendship as they move into high school.

    Genre: Dramedy (Drama/Comedy) [**NOTE: It’s a Drama with Comedy, so don’t expect huge laughs]
    Starring: Yu Aoi, Anne Suzuki
    Written and Directed by: Shunji Iwai
    Duration: +2hrs

    In case you’re interested, I invite you to catch the film at CrunchyRoll – because this post might contain spoilers xD, unless you want to be spoiled.

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  • TOKYO! in Hawaii~~

    TOKYO! the 3-part-collaborative film by Joon-ho Bong, Leos Carax and Michel Gondry, has been (or will be) making rounds in theaters in Japan – I think. – And I won’t be able to watch this in a long~~~ LONG time, I’m pretty sure… but Hawaiian residents will be able to watch it at the Hawaii International Film Festival. [WTF? Louis Vuitton??] xD

    TOKYO! will be showing on:
    Saturday, Oct. 18th 2008 (obviously!) at 8 p.m. at Regal Dole Cannery.
    Sunday, Oct. 19th 2008 at 4.30 p.m. at Regal Dole Cannery.

    Get tickets, and check! Coz schedules could’ve changed during the time of this post and the day of showing~~

    If you are a Yu Aoi fan, and live in Hawaii… or don’t mind spending the airfare to Hawaii, LOL – Go for it! Yu Aoi is featured in the Joon-ho Bong (The Host) directed/written segment title Shaking Tokyo, about a man who stays in his apartment very much like a hermit, trying to isolate himself from society, until he meets a pizza delivery girl (Yu) and there’s an earthquake… apparently.

    TOKYO! - Shaking Tokyo - Yu Aoi
    Yu Aoi faints on Shaking Tokyo, part of TOKYO!

    Also making the rounds at the festival will be Kung Fu Kun (aka, Kung Fu Kid), which in itself isn’t much of a film I would watch… it is kinda funny at the beginning. However, it’s worth noting that there’s a small cameo with Juri Ueno! [click for some funny screencaps] ~ so if you’re a fan of Juri Ueno, you can get tickets for it for the festival!

  • Enter the Dragon – Films that Changed your Life Forever

    Enter the Dragon - PosterYes! Amy grew up with this film. I was VERY little, and my dad, being a feverish Bruce Lee fan, taped Enter the Dragon (Operación Dragón) from a broadcast at Panamericana Television (aka. Canal 5). I still remember the Spanish dub… “PANAMERICANA TELEVSION… PRESENTA!” said the voice in off, “Operación Dragón, con Bruce Lee.” – Of course, I became a feverish 4-year-old Bruce Lee fan~ My grandpa was also a fan… he even named my little cousin “Xiao Long” (FYI. Little Dragon, Bruce Lee’s Chinese name), and yeah~ I KNEW the lines… I still KNOW the lines in Spanish.

    Kick me. Kick me.
    *Kicks*
    What was that? We need emotional content. Try again.
    *kicks*
    I said, emotional content, not anger. Now, try again, with me.
    *kicks, kicks*
    That’s it!

    xD, You know that scene… with Bruce Lee and the student? Right before they try to recruit Bruce to go to Han’s island??

    Patéame. Patéame.
    *Kicks*
    ¿Qué fue eso? Mayor emoción interna…
    *kicks*
    Mayor emoción interna! No ira, otra vez, tonto…

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  • It’s All About Worldwide Distribution!

    Availability in all regions, cross-platform… ubiquitous movies, music… even books, if possible~ x’D Well, maybe I’m going too far with the books, since there’s a base of language and there’d be THAT barrier, but you get my point, right?

    For instance, I can’t really remember when was the last time I went to watch a film at the movies, because I either:

    • Have already seen it on DVD
    • Have already waited months for it to be released, and have already lost interest
    • Have never been interested in it

    So Amy supports world premieres because she’s impatient. Also, I would fully suport Paypal if they were available in Peru, but no~ They do not support accounts in Peru (That’s why I opened one when I was in Canada). Moreover, I would support other online stores (eg. mp3 stores) but they have region restrictions… some more annoying than others. One of the most annoying is the ‘billing address’ issue… even if I have a Canadian credit card, I would not be able to use their service because I don’t have a physical Canadian address anymore… WHILE I am still able to buy a physical album and ship it here for more or less the same amount of money.

    I was also ready to buy shows through BitTorrent, but they support US Only – they ARE nice and professional enough to point it out below the “buy” button, so they won’t waste your time as you try to sign up for a new account there… to then find out you don’t have the right ISP, or you can’t add your credit card, or SORRY, THIS CONTENT IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN SUCH REGION. Ever happened?

    So I’m all for movies and music available everywhere at the same time. And you?