How dare you, Studio Ghibli, do that this weekend?
It’s my dad’s third year anniversary, and I’m Setsuko in this GIF.
Grave of the Fireflies is remains my favorite animated film, and the only animated film in my overall Top10 favorites.
Archives For hotaru no haka (graves of the fireflies)
Ahh… I hope I can finish this post in less than 30min. LOL Or sure I’ll be whining with the people at Anomalous Material for posting so many Memes xD
But we’re lazy, so we’re doing a 31-day Meme into one post. Just like we did on the TV Meme… only with more pictures! Because I think that TV Meme needs photos, right?
1. A Sequel that Shouldn’t Have Been Made
You know there should be something wrong when all the sequels went straight to DVD. That’s a sad sad ending for a good cheesy film like Bring it On. The sequels bring so much shame when mentioning Bring it On, which by the way had Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku… and Gabrielle Union. And cheers. I said Brrrr it’s cold in here! There must be some Clovers in the atmosphere~~~ LOL a perfect introduction to setup what the cheese will be about, and a more poppy-end-of-the 90s-rendition of Hey, Mickey!
A few hours ago, I got back from watching Let the Right One In at the cinema. This is the 7th time I’ve watched the film in what… 2 years? [Twice as a screener, twice at the theater and three time on my DVD] And I still can’t seem to get enough of it. So thinking about whether or not I should add the film to my Top10 Favorite Films of all Time, made me remember that I have updated my Top10 Faves slightly already.
Considering I saw Memories of Matsuko less than 2 years ago (1.7 years according to Flixster), and I’ve also seen it 7 times. It’s quickly climbed up from spot #8 to #3~ While Grave of the Fireflies climbed up from #10 to #5.
What film in my Top10 should I displace? Jurassic Park is still in a special place in my heart, and Donnie Darko… hmm… or will Moulin Rouge! make a disappearing act? I need to watch these three films again and re-evaluate my Bottom5. I’m conflicted~~~ xD
!!!
Just browsed through NHK, and Miyazaki Hayao was there, so I went online to look it up of course. I needed to know why he was gracing my TV screen~~~ xD
Director Isao Takahata, who co-founded Studio Ghibli with Hayao Miyazaki, has revealed that he will be directing his first feature-length flick since 1999’s My Neighbors the Yamadas. Takahata, who also wrote and directed the tear-jerker Grave of the Fireflies, will be taking on the classic folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, or Taketori Monogatari.
via Cinematical.
Grave of the Fireflies is my all time FAVEEEEEE animated film. You will only not cry and feel sad watching this, ONLY ONLY if you’re not human. LOL
Also! There’s more!!! Miyazaki will be working on two new animated films!!!
and a half~~~
I just read over NipponCinema that the Japanese Cinema Blogathon has started. (yesterday, really…)
What is the Japanese Cinema Blogathon?
Someone over at Wildgrounds.com thought it’d be a cool idea to unite forces in order to promote Japanese Cinema. Write, share ideas… anything goes as long as it’s about Japanese Cinema. Check their list of on-going activities…
I’ll start off with something simple…
What I Like about Japanese Cinema
My history with Japanese Cinema isn’t as broad as other people’s. I don’t watch too many older classics, because they are harder to get~~ I mean, it’s just easier to get contemporary stuff. ;P but there are some really great films that I’ve been able to watch this past year.
1. They can be about nothing at all, yet hold so much meaning or be so entertaining.
I saw Kore-eda’s Aruitemo, Aruitemo (Still Walking) a couple of days ago. I think that’s perhaps my favorite Japanese film from last year *laughs* – besides from the fact that I really like Hiroshi Abe *laughs*. That film felt so right to me, from the moment we saw Ryo’s sister and mother discussing and trying to cook in the kitchen, to the very last scene of Ryo’s family walking. There was no big reveal of someone having another kid, or someone getting kidnapped or killed, someone having an affair – none of that. One of the things that just stands out was Ryo and his mom finally remembering the name of the Sumo wrestler… and always being late. Heartbreaking.
A similar thing I can tell you of Linda Linda Linda, which I saw and liked, but LOVED after repeated viewings. Nobuhiro Yamashita’s story of a group of girls trying to make it on time to play on the school festival. Nothing at all! But add to that Doona Bae as non-Japanese lead singer, and rock!!
2. They can be bizarrely good.
From high-on-drug-styled film Survive Style 5+, bike-riding rococo lolita adventures on Shimotsuma Monogatari (Kamikaze Girls), Moulin Rouge!-meets-Amelie-meets-Sin City-esque dramedy musical Kiraware Matsuko no Issho (Memories of Matsuko) – or even high-school-hardcore-Survivor Battle Royale. They are not your typical film, they can only be Japanese. LOL
3. They don’t treat animation as if it’s only for kids.
Yes, Japanese Cinema is not only Anime – to the dismay of some of my friends – but they do a pretty darn good job animating films like Paprika, Tekkonkinkreet, Princess Mononoke, Grave of the Fireflies. Since the day I discovered Hotaru no Haka 6 years ago, it’s become my favorite animated film to date. LOL
… though a couple have been demoted half a star. LOL’
Let’s see~~ From nearly 2000 rated films on my Flixster on Facebook application, this are at the top by rating… in no particular order…
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…
