Reviews

I rarely watch war films, but I've been wanting to watch this one for a while. This one has a very good cast and the acting was terrific. Especially Kim Soo Ah who was around 11 years old at the time. She did a great job in this film despite being so young.

The cinematography gave me chills and it was obviously a very emotional film.

The scenes depicted were cruel and difficult to watch knowing that the people who had been taken to the island thought they were going to work to earn money.

It breaks my heart to know that such things were happening and in some places they are still happening.

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Outdated yet bittersweet

Romantic comedies have been both a topic of interest and ridicule over the years. It is ridiculed by those who find it to be a candy-glossed version of reality. It is praised for its heartwarming rendition of romantic fantasies that feel wonderful to witness on a silver screen. Bang Woo-ri’s ‘20th Century Girl’ is a bit of both. The movie seemed to be alternate of Twenty Five Twenty One, with a small change in the end.

The eye to detailing in the film is well done. We are in fact taken on a ride down the memory lane. As heart-warming as the 20th century romances looked like, relationships were also marred down due to lack of cell phones. Relationships were forgotten, first love rarely became last love, friends lost touch and the yearning.. never ending. The climax of the film is a painful example of how things were different back then.However, the film quite stretches itself way more than it should. Quite unlikely for a repetitive culmination of that kind, it’s indeed the climax that works in favour of the film. Although the whole movie felt cliched, it does have some old school vibes and the feeling of first love being a teen.

In short, 20th Century Girl is a one time watch. If you’re a nostalgia merchant and if you dig yearning and doomed romances, the film would work for you. The biggest quip of 20th Century Girl is that its just another forgettable love-story that banks way too much on yesteryear love, since we have seen a few of this kind in dramas over the years, with more effectiveness in the story.

My Rating : 6.5/10

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The happy ending we wanted!

First, I saw this is Japan when it first came out and Japanese is not my native language, so there was some dialogue I didn’t understand. However, using context clues it was easy to infer what was being said based on the scene. The biggest things for me was that it was still a love story between Kurosawa and Adachi. Kurosawa was still just as in love with Adachi as he was in the series, however you got to see Adachi demonstrating his love for Kurosawa more confidently and openly.

If you were looking for a BL filled with nonstop cutesy moments, over the top romantic expressions, or mature content scenes, then you will not like the movie. However, if you’re looking for a movie that focuses more on how Adachi and Kurosawa navigate issues that many long-term, open, same sex couples face, you will like it. Personally, I especially like that it addressed the families, instead of just glossing over the fact that many Asian families have very strong feelings against having openly gay children, especially sons. SPOILER: I especially loved that just as marriage is the end result of many long-term heterosexual relationships, Kurosawa and Adachi’s marriage was the ultimate end result of their relationship as well.

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"The world is dark. Life is just a dream."

Director Kurosawa once again asks what does it take to be happy in a violent and unpredictable world? This time he frames that theme in a 16th century escape picture with a spunky princess, a stalwart General, and two greedy idiots.

Two peasants who have escaped from capture and grave digging are the eyes into this story. Much like C3PO and R2D2, they are the lowest ranking people in the movie and it starts and ends with them. Always on the hunt for gold, their greed defines their relationship which is filled with endless squabbling and fighting. Once they find two hidden pieces of gold, whetting their insatiable appetites, Mifune appears as General Rokurota Makabe. Little do the two vagabonds know that their simple escape plan from the occupied country saves their lives. Rokurota enlists their help in transporting gold and a young woman to safety. Of course, Yuki is no mere scantily clad youth, she is a princess, the last remaining hope of her clan Akizuki (Alderaan anyone?). The princess was raised as a boy and is headstrong and courageous.

Yuki actually seems to be enjoying their time on the run, reveling in her freedom. Rokurota , ever the traditionalist, struggles to deal with her egalitarian ideas. Kurosawa is once again bucking the old world order and class systems. The two scoundrels have little loyalty and are only in the deceptive march through enemy territory to survive and get their hands on the gold. Because of their greedy actions they endanger the small group on several occasions. Yuki has Rokurota buy the freedom of one of her people who has been sold as a sex slave, against Rokurota's judgement. On the road they are accosted by soldiers and Rokurota has to engage them in battle and chase two of them down on horse. This particular scene was magnificent. No fake horse head bobbing up and down, Mifune with sword extended chases his enemies down. Brilliant. He ends up in the enemy camp where he challenges the leader, General Tadokoro, to a duel which Rokuroto wins and shows mercy to his conquered foe.

The small group ends up at a bonfire where the locals are singing, "The world is dark. Life is but a dream." The princess really listens to the words and smiling joins happily in the dance. Afterwards due once again to the scoundrels greedy actions, the princess, her general, and the maid end up captured. An embittered Tadokoro faces them before their deaths and the princess' dignity and words have an affect on the enemy. Will he choose tradition or make the morally significant choice?

All of the main characters are faced with choices and have to choose whether to remain in a rigid system or to pick a different more merciful way. Sometimes kindness is rewarded, sometimes it is not. As always, even in this comedy, the world is shown as a dangerous place.

I should take a moment to explain my Star Wars comments. It’s common knowledge that George Lucas drew inspiration from this film for the original Star Wars though it looked to me minimally. Kurosawa drew inspiration from the American director Ford, who filmed epic Westerns. For me this film seemed more like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. And of course Leone was inspired my Kurosawa. Art is at its best when people draw ideas from different sources and beyond artificial boundaries and then utilize them in a different manner.
We’re all richer for it.

I didn't care for the two scoundrels whatever they were intended to be, everyman, caricatures, or just a couple of bad guys in need of redemption. Their greed, fighting, betrayals and rapey longings for the princess turned me off. They may have been exhibiting some of man's baser nature but drawing straws to see who would rape the princess turned me off.

Mifune Toshiro was perfect as the General bound to protect the princess at all costs, going so far as to sacrifice his sister. Lithe, athletic, and quick, he showed what he was capable of during the lengthy spear fight with Fujita Susumu's Tadokoro. Fujita as a more moral Darth Vader gave a depth, honor, and humor to the old general. For me, the weaker cast member was Uehara Misa as Princess Yuki. When she played a mute, she did well acting with her eyes and facial movements. Even without speaking she guided the action, always brave and assured. But when she spoke she was usually yelling which was distracting. Goes back to yelling doesn't make a woman strong.

Kurosawa's use of wide screen shooting brought an epic style and feel to the film whether it was the valiant group trekking through the mountains, dark forest, or riding horses over the hills. I love how he was able to show people in the forefront, middle and background in the city scenes giving great visual depth.

One thing that always shocks me when watching these older samurai films is how little clothes some of the men wear. Modern samurai films cover them all up. Even Princess Yuki was in what amounted to shorts. The characters and extras all looked real--dirty, sweaty, and with messed up hair. They showed a variety of war gear and weapons as opposing forces engaged. The first fortress may have been battered by war, but was still impressive and some of the shots, especially during a slave revolt were visually a treat. The world Kurosawa and his team built felt truly inhabited.

Throughout the film, characters were required to choose. Will they continue to live the illusion, a world guided by greed and violence? Or will they let go and live a life where everyone can be happy? Or is it even possible in this dark world? Can people let go of the past's traditional shackles and be treated equally and kindly? Or is it a never ending cycle of pain? The Hidden Fortress may have been a comedy with exciting fights and a thrilling escape, but underneath it wanted to be bigger and seek to escape more than just a mortal enemy but a divisive suffering existence as well.



10/27/22

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90s love stories are really something..

Finally I watched this hyped movie too.My sister also recommended it, though I already knew the ending of it and getting all spoilers still started to watch it for 90s flavoured love story lyk twenty five twenty one ,still I can't get over from it.To be honest that drama serial has my whole heart.
Besides I really like kim yoo,she's so pretty and talented. She did really really well.
As expected I must say 90s love stories are really something that's simple,cute and pure. Maybe there'll be heartbroken but still full of love, joy and overloaded purity. 🤍🤍

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Bitter sweet beautiful melodt

What a beautiful movie to watch!

This movie hits various cords just the right way. The settings of late 90s takes you down the memory lane. Any 90s kid would identify with the setting of the movie.

The characters, each one of them, are so nuanced, well written and beautifully portrayed by the actors. In the 2 odd hours the story gives you comedy, romance and heartbreak and many more shades of emotions in between. I absolutely loved the character arch of Na Bo Ra.

It's a tear jerker and even though I am not a huge fan of melodramas, even the sad ending of the movie was done just right.

I wouldn't be able to watch it for the second time though just because I would know how it ends.

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Relatable, and depressing with a hint of nostalgia

This movie is one of those slow icepicks aimed right true the heart... A story trying to answer the age old question will two miserable souls become happy when crammed together in a tiny apartment or will the two just become miserable? Do you have to be with the person you love or is it better to let go... How many setbacks are too many set backs, is there a way back in to love? Or is it just better to let it go? And does a break up mean we did not love at all?

This is beautifully done with well timed flashbacks, filming angles as well as use of color/lack of color...

The acting in this movie is top, and so is the mood... depressing with a constant feeling of trying to balance between hope and pain.. waiting for the inevitable break up, and to find out what will happen when they reunite. How much of the movie will focus on each etc... Keeping viewers, or at leas me on my toes and with a constant lump in my chest.

There are a few scenes that hit harder than others, reminding me of relationships passed... an experience that may not look so bad but is indeed more painful than most people who just see it can imagine. And I love this movie for making way for that part of being in a relationship.

I also love the female lead, she is very much a human being and extremely relatable. The male lead does seem to lack some communication skills and even if he did remind me of my ex at times, he was not as bad as that guy but did need a lesson or two in communication and anger management.

So what do I say, save this for a day when you can handle darkness... but do not be afraid to watch it, it is one of the better slice of life movies out there.

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"It pays to try" Next time try harder!

A little girl in this movie says, "It pays to try." The makers of this movie should have tried harder. For a movie about a giant tusked turtle battling a giant alien fish it was sardine-ally bad.

Aliens once again come to Earth, this time a giant talking fish looking to take over the oceans because his kind had polluted the oceans on his planet. Using a striking Japanese woman under his control he kidnaps two children and their marine scientist fathers. From there the story never really jells. The kids outsmart the "spacewoman" and get them home. But she comes after them with a long chase scene through Sea World. So many things were convoluted, even for Kaiju science that I found my eyes almost getting stuck from rolling.

Suffice to say the Kaiju fights were bad and repetitive. The kids were annoying. The adults were annoying. The one dad kept saying, "That's impossible!" when the proof was right before his eyes. I wanted for someone to tell this Japanese Vizzini (The Princess Bride), "I do not think this word means what you think it means."

As much as I wanted to like this movie, Gamera deserved better. I'm not too so-fish-ticated to enjoy a ridiculous story or children's Kaiju film, it's just cod this one, was o-fish-ally a poorly made movie re-cod-less of genre, and they missed a great oppor-tuna-ty. They simply couldn't fin-ish what they started. On a scale of 1-10, this one was carp. Salmon had to say it. If this review is too punny just let minnow.


10/26/22

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"Gamera! You're so cool!"

When watching Gamera vs Jiger it helps to remember that this was a 1970 Kaiju movie aimed at children. Gamera meets his match with Jiger and even gets impregnated! And yes, still a children's movie!

Two young boys are once again featured and do their part to save the world and Gamera from destruction. They weren't as annoying as some of the kids in previous movies so that was a win.

The film takes place at the Osaka Expo Center where 70 different countries have set up their science exhibits. One of the groups wants to transport an ancient statue from Wester Island to the Expo despite the protests from a chief that it is cursed. Doesn't take long to figure out what the curse is, because not long after they pull up the statue and cart if off Jiger appears and has it out with Gamera. The crew transporting the statue becomes mysteriously sick. Jiger takes Gamera down by propelling spikes into his elbows and knees leaving the big tusked turtle helpless on his back. After immobilizing his enemy, Jiger becomes a speeding hydroplane heading to Japan and destroying any ships in his way. Gamera is not one to stay down long and follows Jiger to Japan where he is rampaging. This time Jiger drives a long spike into the tusked hero, impregnating him with a Jiger larva and seemingly killing him. Didn't even buy the big guy dinner!

The kids and their mini-submarine take a Fantastic Voyage (1966) into Gamera's body to find the mini-Jiger. They, of course, discover how to destroy the giant Jiger and it has to do with the statue. They manage to reanimate Gamera and get him back into the fight.

Gamera vs Jiger was actually not bad for a children's Kaiju from this era. Even Godzilla was aiming his movies at kids during this time. Gamera had a formidable foe in Jiger. Jiger had numerous weapons, even one that could turn humans into skeletons! The monster suits were decent for this time period. The action was close to non-stop, the kids weren't annoying, and the monster fights were creative with the limited funds and limited special effects capabilities. Most of the acting was bearable as was the kids always riding to the rescue. It was a common theme in these old children's movies so best to roll with that aspect. You may grow tired of hearing the Gamera theme song repeatedly sung by the end, "Gamera, you're so cool!" Other than that, if you enjoy Kaiju movies from this era, Gamera vs Jiger is one to try if you can keep your expectations low. As always, I grade these old niche movies on a curve.


10/26/22

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