Tag: shunji iwai

  • Hana to ARISU Cast Goofing Around

    So just a few minutes ago, I put on my Hana & Alice DVD, because I felt like watching something silly about nothing at all… meaning it couldn’t be a film, because I would have to pay close attention to it. This is my 2nd time watching the Making Of, and it’s serious but kinda funny. Well, apparently Japanese edition, and Taiwan edition have different Making Of’s – Well, I only could find clips on them on YouTube (JapPart9, JapPart15, TwClip) – the Japanese ones are pretty funny…

    I’m trying to rip a clip of my own, but it seems to take forever without SmartRipper. LOL’ Will get back to you with that later on this post… in the meantime – Well, just wait!

  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • Are You Ready to Love NY?

    It wasn’t long ago that Lima got the chance to watch Paris, Je t’Aime – and though the shorts are not perfect, they are very enjoyable. They also had a really nice cast put together that included Natalie Portman, Juliette Binoche, Elijah Wood, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maggie Gyllenhaal, heck~~ even Ryan Phillippe. LOL… and with an interesting list of directors that included Cuaron, the Coen and Gus Van Sant~~

    Apparently, the collection of short films were pretty successful, so as Hollywood does what Hollywood does best~~ Now we’ve got New York, I Love You… and there’s a Teaser because apparently there might be a screening at TIFF. Here it is~~

    I was excited about NY, I Love You. I was… but this teaser~~ some of the actors, they’re not on my good list of actors~~ in fact, they are in my list of actors I should skip. LOL’ Though, I’ve probably made exceptions. Anyway, and the music. I like the music… I do. But I thought they could pick tracks less familiar, because at the moment it makes me feel like I put my iPod on shuffle.

    Also… 2010, will you be ready for Shanghai, I Love You? Or should that be Shanghai, Wo Ai Ni??? xD

  • Pricey Hobbies

    Wah… That’s all I have to react, Wah~~~ hahaha

    So because I’m a dork, I usually try to purchase stuff I really quite like listening or watching, or just for the sake of having it. So, for the past week, I have been totally addicted to Yu Aoi material – Films and Shows – so dorky me went “What the heck?” and I visited YesAsia.com to check on DVDs. I watched an episode of Camouflage, which I thought was BIZARRE, but surprisingly good as in “it almost looks like a film” type of show.

    The show (also known as Aoi Yu x 4 Lies, or something like that) is told into four 3-episode-chapters (making the number of chapters 12), each chapter directed by a different director, who had no restrains to tell a story centering on the idea of lies.

    So I watched it, and thought it was really good, but all episodes are not downloading so I went and looked them up. They’re coming out on DVD (Japan Region, 2) this July 15th, on 4 different sets. However, problem number one! They don’t have English subs. And problema numero dos, each set of 3 episodes is roughly $40USD, making the whole 12 episodes $160USD… roughly, give or take. So my mouth dropped, and profanity came out of it hahaha.

    Because of this, I went and searched for Nodame Cantabile (just to check on average prices), which was roughly $240USD for the 11 episodes on the show. LE GASP! My heart broke, my brain cried, and my spirit was broken realizing how broke my bank account would be. Can you imagine?? Buying 3 different Jdrama DVD sets at $240USD each? Lucky, or unlucky for me~~ most of them are not English subtitled. Maybe not knowing Japanese is a perk? LOL’

    The good thing is that Amazon.com has some Yu Aoi movie DVDs, but it’s VERY limited… at a reasonable price, but limited. And I doubt they will list Camouflage… le sigh. I might consider buying “Hana and Alice” and “Hula Girls”, though I will be missing Rainbow Song. T_T

  • Films Seen 2008!

    Crossed some films on my “Want to See” list. (more…)