1). Summer Wars
Anime, Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Wars
Summary:
The story revolves around a boy named Kenji, who is hired by his classmate, Natsuki, to pretend to be her fiance for a family reunion in celebration of her Grandmother's birthday. Reluctant at first, Kenji eventually takes to the fake position. Things get complicated when a computer virus breaks out over "Oz", a social networking site responsible for the upkeep of many technological activities, both in Japan and the world. The problem? Kenji, a math whiz, suspects that he in fact released the virus onto the net, after breaking an unknown puzzle sent to him on his cell phone...
WHY I LIKE THIS MOVIE:
Besides being directed by a favorite director of movie (another movie of his appears further down the list), Summer Wars is just a good movie all around. Award Winning actually. The blending together of scifi-anime, family drama, and the rural Japanese setting is something that isn't seen a lot in anime. There's something for everybody here, and it's hard to not get engaged with the cast of characters that occupy the Jinnouchi clan's household. Hosoda, who before this had been known for directing the Digimon movies (and my favorite episode) brings his style to the forefront. For some reason....you can tell it's summer in anything he does. He animates heat really well, and it feels like a story that takes place in the Summer. As for movies I can relate this too? Besides the Digimon movie itself, the Summer Wars plot feels like a mix of Family Reunion with Melissa Joan Heart, and Little Miss Sunshine. Definitely something to check out.
IF I HAD TO PICK SOMETHING I DIDN'T LIKE:
Certain characters in the movie don't get a lot of time to shine. The movie can essentially be divided into 3 stories. The Family Story, the OZ Story, and a Baseball Game Story. All 3 relate to each other, but due to the complexity of the story, and the numerous cast, some characters do fall by the wayside, and on your first watch it might be very hard to keep a tally on who's who, and who's children belong to who. One of the characters that essentially gets shafted is Kenji's friend, Takashi. He has an important role to play in the film, but you do tend to forget about him when he's not on screen.
2). Rashomon
Live Action, directed by Akira Kurosawa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashomon
Summary:
A priest and a woodcutter take shelter in the "Rashomon" gate from the rain. Soon after, a commoner joins them and recounts the tail of a terrible murder, with 4 different versions of the story, each changing the tale based on the perception of the character in question. (Sorry, but saying more than that kind of spoils things.
WHY I LIKE THIS MOVIE:
Rashomon may seem like a dark choice for a feel-good movie. That may be true, but the story is really one of restoring faith in humanity, not one that is giving up hope. (Seriously, watch the movie!) Based on two disparate stories (Rashomon provides the setting, In a Grove has the characters and plot. Interestingly, the term "Rashomon Effect" comes from this film.) As a fan of Kurosawa's work in general, it's hard to pick one that makes you feel good. 7 Samurai, while entertaining, isn't exactly a feel good story. There's a lot of death. Here, you're just dealing with one death, and it's happened before the actual events of the story. Add to that, there is life that is salvaged from that death- so you walk away with a sense of restored faith, whereas films like 7 Samurai leave you feeling with a sense of balance, but not necessarily a sense of contentment.
IF I HAD TO PICK SOMETHING I DIDN'T LIKE:
For all the things I like about it, the problem with Rashomon is it's pacing, and that might make it hard for the uninitiated to watch. The plot, while quite ahead of its' time, still makes for a more slowly-paced film. It's for that reason that films like 7 Samurai (which is still my favorite Kurosawa film) and Yojimbo are better recieved by Western audiences. Our movies are traditionally faster, no helping it.
3). PONYO:
Anime, Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponyo
Summary:
"Ponyo on a Cliff" (The Full Japanese title) is probably the most fun movie to watch on a rainy day. Based loosely on The Little Mermaid, (the original book, not the Disney version), the film follows Ponyo, a fish-girl, and her friendship and love with a human boy who saves her, Sosuke. Meanwhile, Ponyo's father (originally a human being at some point), is constructing a plan to wash the world of humanity, for he has come to hate what humans are doing to the planet. Ponyo's need to escape her father's control causes her to unleash her magic, from her mother's side, and summon a storm that bends the very fabric of space and time. All this leads to Sosuke and Ponyo (now more human than fish) teaming up to save Sosuke's mom, and the world.
WHY I LIKE THIS MOVIE:
Like most Studio Ghibli films, the dub cast (and original cast) is full of big names. If you're a movie/tv buff like myself, you can enjoy the film purely on that. (Lily Tomlin, Betty White, Tina Fey and Liam Neeson in the same film....come on.) More importantly, being a Miyazaki work, the art and story are just something beyond the standard fare for animation. When Ponyo's storm happens, it feels like a real storm, and at the same time, it's still magical. (The storm is personified via Ponyo's sisters, who turn into giant....wave fish.) All around, it's a great movie to watch with your family. Kids love it...I mean really love it.
IF I HAD TO PICK SOMETHING I DIDN'T LIKE:
Do you know what an ear worm is? Well this movie has one. Both the Japanese and American versions of the theme can get rather stuck in your head...for a while. You'll find yourself loving the song, but then kind of being done with the song....and then loving it again.
Another, more important note, like most Ghibli films a lot of the story is...assumed. You really can't watch a Ghibli film once, there needs to be multiple viewings. (You can take that as a pro or a con, and really you should watch this movie as many times as you're able.) For instance, there's a lot of things you are left wanting to know- how Ponyo's parents met, what's Sosuke like at daycare, etc. etc. (Fun Fact- the film was originally supposed to take place at a Day Care, but through the process of planning, Miyazaki actually went and formed a Day Care Center, via Studio Ghibli. The Day Care in the film looks fairly like the actually edifice.) Luckily, most of Miyazaki's works are based on books, so if you really like the story, you can hunt down the original work, and do some reading!
5). Lost in Translation:
Live Action, directed by Sofia Coppola
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Translation_(film)
Summary:
Bob Harris, a veteran actor, comes to Japan to film a Whiskey commercial. Staying at the same hotel is Charlotte, a college graduate who is left behind by her husband for work. The two meet, and have a sort-of-affair, with Charlotte slowly being fed up with her husband, and Bob trying to escape the pressures of his family (mostly his wife.) The two get wrapped up in various aspects of Japanese culture, and more importantly, in each other.
WHY I LIKE THIS MOVIE:
There are many reasons why Lost in Translation is amazing. Ms. Coppola's Script, Bill Murray's characterization of Bob Harris, the chemistry between Murray and Johansson. Even just the setting of the movie is enough to thrill Japanophiles and Cinephiles alike. (Hachiko Crossing is now famous for the scene featuring Charlotte, besides from just being a very famous spot on its' own.) What really makes this movie something special is how it turns feelings of isolation and xenophobia and evaporates them. The film is about two outsiders (albeit outsiders in their own life) who are given a chance to play in a sandbox that's not their own. It's a very beautiful film, and at times, can be very funny, or very sad. A must watch if you haven't seen it.
IF I HAD TO PICK SOMETHING I DIDN'T LIKE:
There exists some criticism of the film that states it is "Anti-Japan" (at least, Anti-Modern Japan.) The film involves several adult situations, from crime to a strip club scene, to just the overall feel of the film. I don't personally find anything anti-Japanese in the film, (even the critics agree the film is very accepting of older Japanese traditions, and treats them beautifully), I just think the story of the movie calls for the crazier side of Japan. All countries have their crazy sides, and there's nothing wrong with showing them. (Felini's Roma would be a very boring film if we only got to see everything in a positive light. Same goes for Cinema Paradiso.)
My main issue is, at certain times, you find yourself not quite rooting for the main character. While Charlotte is always on the side of the audience, Bob drifts here and there. That said- this kind of has to happen for the movie to end as it does...so there you are.
5). The Ramen Girl:
Live Action, directed by Robert Allan Ackerman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Translation_(film)
Summary:
Abby is stranded in Tokyo at a job she doesn't really like when her boyfriend Ethan decides to call it quits. Broken, and unsure of how to go forward, she stumbles into a local Ramen shop in the rain. There, she falls in love with the food, and decides that she is destined to make Ramen herself. After much trouble, she gets the head chef, Maezumi, to be her teacher, but he is not an easy sell, and she has her work cut out for her, no matter how many people are in her corner.
WHY I LIKE THIS MOVIE:
I stumbled onto this film randomly (Thank you Netflix!), and it really makes you appreciate Britanny Murphy as an actress. (Truly someone we lost too early.) The film is a very different view of Japan than we get from films like Lost in Translation. The movie doesn't exactly try to be realistic, (Some scenes are very much cartoon inspired), but it's very much a real scenario. The chemistry between Britanny Murphy's Abby and Nishida Toshiyuki's Maezumi is really something amazing to watch. The film works on a lot of levels, but at it's heart, it's about finding something to believe in. (Both Abby and Maezumi have "lost" someone from their lives, and they help each other in restoring what was lost.)
IF I HAD TO PICK SOMETHING I DIDN'T LIKE:
This film has what I like to call "Stock Foreigner Characters." Everyone now and again, you'll see these kind of archetypes pop up in Japanese films. Abby's two friends she meets in Japan are really kind of the downside of this movie- they're important, but they're no way likeable. They're just....well, watch the movie and you'll see what I mean.
Stock Characters will show up in the next blog post, which has something to do with the number 6, and the film "My Darling is a Foreigner."
Till then, keep reading, and if you're feeling generous, donate to the trip by sending a gift through paypal to mh_ch_sh@yahoo.com
Thanks all!
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