The Wind Rises

I've been blessed. The film theatre in my town had four showings of The Wind Rises and I got to see it last night! I'm really glad because there aren't many cinemas showing it in the UK and the film theatre is really cheap too!! This was my first time watching anime on the big screen and it was so exciting, the colours were so much brighter and every thing was so much bigger (especially compared to watching things on my laptop) that I really felt like I was a part of the film! Anyway, The Wind Rises is a Studio Ghibli film and more importantly, it's the last film produced by Hayao Miyazaki. So I was really looking forward to it. Here's what I found out!

First of all, the plot. The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biography, meaning that although the characters and key moments are real, the details about their personal life are made up. To be specific, the movie is about Jiro Hirokishi, an aeroplane designer for Japan during WW2. Jiro is incredibly passionate about aviation and as a young boy dreamed of being a pilot, but he's eyesight is poor so he turns his passion to designing. When he grows up, Jiro goes to Tokyo to study engineering but gets caught in the Great Kanto earthquake which derails his train. He spots the maid of a young girl who injured her leg in the crash and decides to help her out. He leaves with out evening giving the pair his name, but his heroic actions left their mark. So when Jiro bumps into the young lady, Naoko, whilst working for company designing planes for the military the two are happy to see each other and begin spending their free time together. So it's not surprising when Jiro confesses his love for Naoko. But with Jiro devoted to his work and Naoko suffering with Tuberculosis they don't have a cliche obsessive relationship instead they have a relationship that's pure and loyal.

Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai (Movie)

Some of you might be thinking that yesterday was MCM. So why isn't there an MCM special post today? Well, it's because for the first time ever I'm attending MCM on the Sunday so when this post publishes, I'll be happily strolling through the Excel hall. However, fear not! As when I get back I will be sure to tell you all about it! For now, please enjoy this review.

I'm not a fan of reviewing sequels because it's not different to reviewing a second season and it's only interesting to people who have already watched the show. However, you may remember that two years ago (I've really been blogging for a long time) I reviewed the original anime series of Chuunibyou demo Koi da Shitai. But I think it's all right when the the sequel is in a different medium! Seeing how a series is interrupted into a movie is a completely different experience to seeing it as an anime, and I did do this before with the K-On movie! So hopefully you will enjoy this review even if you haven't the anime (which you really should watch!).

Then again, this movie is not strictly speaking a sequel. It's full title is Takanashi Rikka Kai: Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!, and technically it's a retelling. So I am forced to re-state the plot of Chuunibyou.

Chuunibyou is a term used to describe the awkward face some children go through in 8th grade, in extreme cases it refers to the belief that you are actually magical and go around casting spells to fight off imagined evils. In the case of Rikka Takanashi, Chuunibyou is more than just a phase and she moves to high school still completely believing in her 'Tyrants Eye'. Yuuta Togashi on the other hand, is has left his alter ego of 'Dark Flame Master' and intends to live his life as a regular high schooler. But Rikka finds out about his secret past and won't let him keep it a secret! She forces him to join a her club with their senpai who wants to nap all the time, their seemingly perfect class rep and Rikka's 'servant' who is every bit as eccentric as her master. As Yuuta and Rikka spend more time together they slowly find more of each other's admirable qualities but things do not go smoothly as Rikka's chuunibyou causes problems with her family and the solution is never straight forward.

The Thieves

Another recommendation from my dad here. The Thieves is a 2012 Korean Movie which received a lot of press as the 'Korean Ocean's 11'. With a collection of top actors such as Kim Yoon Seok (The Chaser and Punch), Kim Hye Soo (Sandglass and Over the Rainbow) and Gianna Jun (My Love From Another Star and My Sassy Girl) it's no surprise that the action comedy is currently the second highest grossing movie in Korean film history.
Enough with the facts, onto the review! The plot of The Thieves is about a group of robbers, Popie (Lee Jung Jae), Yenicall (Gianna Jun), Chewingum (Kim Hae Sook) and Zampano (Kim Soo Hyun) from Korea who decide to follow the lead of ex-colleague Macao Park to pull off a major heist in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong the team become acquainted with another group of thieves. The distrust between the two groups causes tension. The stakes are high as the 10 thieves try to steal the 'Tear of Sun' which is worth $20 million dollars but every one has their own agendas and no one can be trusted.

No Breathing

Terribly sorry about my last review, for some reason it didn't post when it was supposed to... But to make things up to you, I've found some more sport related media. A Korean movie about swimming.

Won Il was set to be a champion swimmer but he quit and lost his passion for swimming. However after being expelled from school he is forced to join a sports college where he meets Woo Sang a serious swimmer who's headed for the Olympics. The two had met before as children at a competition, now the two form a strange friendship based on rivalry.

The Garden of Words

I think that I've found a hidden gem in the world of animated movies. The Garden of Words was released in May last year but I never heard about until now. It's a real piece of art and I'd be so happy if even one person watched it after my review.
It revolves Takao, a 15 year old boy who wants to make shoes when he grows up. One day he decides to skip school and sit in a Japanese Garden to do some sketching. There he meets a mysterious young woman, Yukino and the two sit under the shelter together until the rain ceases.

.hack//The Movie

One of the first manga I bought was the .hack// Legend of the Twilight and I immediately fell in love with THE WORLD and the .hack// franchise. I watched the legend of the twilight anime, then bought the sign anime and my only light novel is a .hack// one! So when I heard there was a .hack// movie, I jumped on it with eager eyes!!

Now for those of you who don't know about the .hack// franchise let me tell you  all that you've been missing out on! Based in world more advanced than ours is a MMORPG called THE WORLD and extremely realistic world and some kind of calamity. In this movie it's based around Sora who is at first reluctant to join her friends in THE WORLD, but with some pushing from her friends she timidly begins an adventure into her first MMORPG. Whilst she's still trying to understand the basic game-play, she stumbles upon a mysterious, ghost-like girl who gives her a strange item. Soon after users of THE WORLD begin to fall into comas and Sora is told that she is the one to save them.

Petal Dance

I decided to watch a movie this week because as a general rule, movies are easier to review. Looking at recent releases lead me to Petal Dance, I was prepared to watch the movie, review it then return to my stack of homework. Alas, that was never meant to be as Petal Dance is not the straight forward movie I was anticipating.
It's deep and thought-provoking and needs much more attention than I gave it! The plot is sparse and is quite a minor part of the film. It's a very basic tale of life and friendship which is a lot like a slice-of-life without the joy. It takes place over a matter of days when best friends Jinko and Mokoto hear that their former class mate has been hospitalized after an attempted suicide. Unsure of what the best course to take is, they decide to visit her for the first time in 6 years. But before they leave Jinko damages her hand in an attempt to stop some one jumping in front of a train. That some one was Haraki, although she just lost her job she didn't intend to take her own life but after realising Jinko can't drive with her bandaged hand, Haraki elects to be their driver instead. On the long journey to their friend, the three friends bond by talking poetically about bent trees (it's all straight over my head) and when they get there, Miki is surprised by their visit. However they agree to all go to the seaside together so they can talk about wind and draw.

House of Flying Daggers

At the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, House of Flying Daggers reportedly received a 20 minute standing ovation. From big time director Zhang Yimou and starring the beautiful and talented Zhang Ziyi it's no wonder it got so much hype. But what is it all about?

Set in China 859 AD we see the decline of the Tang dynasty. Government is losing control as rebel groups spring up across the country. Most prominently, the House of Flying Daggers, an elusive group who steal from the rich and give to the poor. They've devised a scheme to wipe out the generals best men using Mei (Zhang Ziyi). When police officers Jin and Liu hear that the new dancer may be a member of the Flying Daggers which they've been ordered to annihilate! So Jin is sent to investigate and when he discovers that Mei is blind and shows hatred towards government officials he's lead to believe that she is the daughter of the old leader and a prominent figure to the group. They decide to use this information to track down the Flying Daggers and hopefully slay their leader. Jin is sent undercover as 'Wind' to 'rescue' Mei from prison and have her lead him to the House of Flying Daggers. But on their journey Jin is seduced by Mei's beauty and Mei finds herself falling for Jin's valour and courage. There could be a happy ending for these two lovers, however things are not always as they appear to be...

A Werewolf Boy

Highly acclaimed Korean movie, "A Werewolf Boy", directed by Jo Sung-hee for his commercial debut. It quickly reached 4.12 million admissions making it the most successful Korean melodrama of all time! But is it really worth all the hype?
As an elderly woman Kim Suni receives a phone call about the sale of her old family home out in the country side and decides to pay the place a visit with her grand daughter Eun Joo. From there she reminisces back to when she was a teenager and her and her mother escaped to the country side. Kim Suni was suffering from a lung problem and it was believed that the country air would do her some good. Not long after arriving Suni finds a feral boy who can't read, write or fully understand what people are saying. Despite his unruly nature Suni's mother is kind enough to adopt him and name him Chul-Soo; for she, like all the other villagers, believe he was one of the many children which were orphaned in the Korean War. Unsatisfied by the way that Chul-Soo behaves, Suni starts to 'tame' him using a dog training book. Every time he acts accordingly Suni will pat his head and from these acts of kindness a bond is formed between the introverted girl and the lonely boy.

Ace Attorney (movie)

Requested by a desperate anon is a movie based directly off the Phoenix Wright games. Whilst this isn't the first Phoenix Wright related media, it is the first live-action.The plot is based on the first game (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney) when Phoenix Wright first becomes an attorney we see that he struggles to solve a case on his own. After winning his first court case Wright's mentor, Mia Fey, is struck dead and a witness accuses her sister, Maya Fey, of committing the crime. Wright now has to defend Maya against his rival prosecutor and childhood friend Miles Edgeworth. But when Edgeworth himself becomes a suspect in a murder Wright puts his differences aside and puts all his energies into proving Edgeworth innocent even if he has to go against Manfred von Karma who hasn't lost a single case in 40 years! In a world with a 3 day court system Wright has to gather evidence quickly and with help from his new found ally Maya he has to prove the innocence of friends and put the real criminals behind bars.

Dog Star

Man is this film depressing! It's like Macbeth or something!It's all about Shiro, a dog for the blind, who is caring for a veteran boxer. Within the first 10 minutes of the film the ex-boxer drinks too much and gets hit by a car. That's just a start to the deaths in this film! So apparently this blind boxer wasn't a very nice man because he is sent back to earth as a ghost who needs to perform a good deed or two to be allowed into heaven. Hence he visits Shiro like some kind of Genie and offers to grant Shiro one wish. Shiro wishes to be a human (he can't talk mind you, so this scene was quite amusing) and naturally Shiro's ex-master uses his celestial and gives Shiro the body of a man who had just killed himself (yes, that's another dead person).
Shiro choose this wish out of a desire to find the family who raised him as a puppy. Although most the family died in a plane crash (that's another 2 or 3 dead bodies) he manages to sniff out Haruka's scent and begins to stalk her. A few more deaths later and Shiro finds out that he's old for a dog and that it'll soon be his time to die so he tries to distance himself from Haruka. But there's a chemistry between the two which makes it impossible for the two to part. Alas, it's a love that can never be, and Shiro has to return to his doggy form.
Through out the film, Shiro's former owner appears to offer guidance or consolation (usually quite bad). Sounds quite sweet but in reality he's just an invisible old man who just gets in the way. True, it would be weird if he didn't hang around but his presence really doesn't add anything to the film.

Who Slept With Her?

Who slept with her? Sirasoni saw the student teacher doing the deed with some one and he won't rest until he finds out who! Children, advert your eyes now.

Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop attend a conservative Christian boys school where discipline is strong. But when the extremely attractive student teacher Ji Young joins it's only natural that all her pupils want to get into her pants. Ji Young is put in charge of organising a performance for the school; as such, she spends a lot of time with Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop. In fact it was just after this that the Head of discipline (Sirasoni) looks into a classroom window to see a couple embracing and her a woman moaning. By the time he gets into the class, the couple are gone leaving just Ji Young's red stilettos behind. So, if Ji Young was the woman: who slept with her? Sirasoni has three suspects: Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop. Flashback a few months to when Ji Young first joined (I loved the use of flashbacks in this film) and we see why Sirasoni suspects these people and finally, what happened that night after the performance! It's such a brilliant plot, incredibly funny! It is very weird at first, but once everything's explained at the end it's just pure genius! I loved the ending SO much that I REALLY want to tell you what happens... but that would spoil it for you, so go watch! I think the plot was really well devised and so entertaining. Just.... Just watch it, yeah?

AIR The Movie

I hope every one had a good Christmas, I know I did!! I got some new anime and manga too that I can't wait to tell you about! Also, this is my last post of 2012! So I wish you all a happy new year and hope you will keep reading in 2013!

I completely forgot about this movie! I watched the anime long before my blog was around and intended to watch the movie then to but while surfing the net recently I found it again! since it's not a squeal to the anime I figured I'd review it! But really, you should watch the anime, it's really good! Now, back on track about the movie.
So basically the movie is about a traveler  Yukito. He's a lone wanderer who picks up cash by performing a little puppet show. One time he stops by a town with the intent of earning some money at the Summer Festival they hold. But he is soon spotted by Misuzu who gets him to help her do her field work in exchange for a meal. Misuzu's field work is about the legend of the winged beings who lived in ancient times. As we, the viewer, find out more about the tragic story of the winged being who was forbidden to love we watch as Misuzu's life replays the story. It's really sweet how we get to see a bit of the legend and a bit of Misuzu, the two stories where perfectly matched and such a heart-breaker!! The overall effect is almost haunting, but so sweet at the same time! It's hard to explain. although the idea of love is a bit dodgy, it all seemed a bit too sudden to be true.

Chocolate

Todays review was recommended by Normal, and no, it's not a food review. Also known as 'Zen, Warrior Within', Chocolate is a Thai film. First Thai review guys! I'm spreading toffeeish over the world!!

Anyway, on with the review. Chocolate is a Martial Arts movie and I must confess, it's not a genre that I particularly like because usually they are just filled with seemingly pointless fight scenes. But I found Chocolate to be a very emotional story! Zin was in a relationship with Yakuza boss no.8, until she fell in love with Masashi, rival Yakuza member. When she leaves no.8 for Masashi he shoots his own foot as a warning of what will happen if she sees Masashi again. Soon after Zin falls pregnant and convinces Masashi to return to Japan to make things safer for the child. She names her daughter Zen and finds out that she is very autistic. As Zen grows older she gets lightening quick reflexes and an obsession with martial arts. Alas, the sad bit is when Zin gets Cancer, but is to poor to afford the treatment. Mom (Zin's kind of adopted son person) finds a notebook from when Zin was in the Yakuza of all the people who owe her money. Unknowing of it's origins Mom and Zen go off to collect the money in hopes to cure Zin. Naturally, when no.8 finds out about this he isn't too happy and so we reach the climax. Zen has to use all her ninja-like skills to fight of no.8's gang and protect her mother, Masashi arrives from Japan in time to join in as well. Naturally, I can't tell you how it ended.... BUT IT WAS SO AWESOME!!

My Wife is a Gangster

Just finished watching My Wife is a Gangster and I don't really know what to say... Eun Jin is a legendary gang boss for her shocking skill with a knife, despite being female. But even her menacing threats can't help her elder sister when she is taken to hospital with cancer, little hope of recovering. However Yu Jin (Eun Jin's sister) wants to see some things through before she passes away. Just a small request for her sister. Get married. So her underling, Romeo gets his girlfriend to glam her up and they send her on a blind date, it doesn't go according to plan. But not all was wasted as Eun Jin then finds Soo Il, a push-over who was stupid enough to agree to marry Eun Jin. Now they are awkwardly married with lots of abuse thrown at Soo Il. That would be the end, if Yu Jin wasn't so spoiled. Unsatisfied with her sisters awkward marriage, she now confides to Eun Jin that she's always wanted kids. So Eun Jin literally forces herself upon Soo Il to try get pregnant as soon as she can. Eun Jin gets successfully pregnant and now she's set the task of looking after the unborn while being a gang boss.

K-ON (movie)

The K-ON movie is a direct sequel to the second season of K-ON!!, so before you do ANYTHING watch all of K-ON! and K-ON!! because it's such an amazing anime. I wasn't writing reviews when I watched it, but if I was it would've got 5 pies. So go watch it. Now.
OK, so you've watched it? ALL of it? Good. Now on with the review:

So, the movie is all about the graduation of Mio, Mugi, Yui and Ricchan who are all members of the light music club. The light music club (who's only other member is Azusa from the year below) is actually a band called Hokago Teatime (after school teatime)! But with all the club members leaving Azusa behind they decide they need to prepare something special for her. However, despite they're best efforts, they get distracted and organise a graduation trip instead! The destination (chosen by their pet turtle): LONDON! And if I'm honest with you, I think my favourite part of this film is the fact that they visited my country in sites I've seen myself! So, watch this film to see what fun the girl's can get up to in good ol' England, sort out Asuza's secret present and play a few gigs in between. Nothing serious, no plot twists or highly strung emotions. Just some girls enjoying their final days at high school.

May 18 (Splendid Holiday)

Back to school soon. Yay. Good bye summer! On another note, did you know I have done more than 52 consistent reviews? That's right, it's been over a year since I returned to blogging!

My Dad lent me this film (in all it's limited edition box set glory) saying that it wasn't that good. But, based on true events May 18  is most tragic, tear-jerking tale I've ever witnessed!! No joke about the fact that this is the first time I've actually cried at a piece of media! May 18 is the date in which the citizens of Gwangju, Korea, took arms against the army. The events are true but obviously the characters have been made with the purpose of making every one cry. Brothers Min-woo and Jin-woo are living life quite happily despite having lost their parents (an added detail which I hate for it's cliché). But when soldiers are sent to beat down supposed conspirators from colleges Jin-woo leads his school in protesting. The soldiers are depicted mowing down any college student they see while many others get caught in the middle. It's difficult to pass judgement on this because I know nothing about the incident myself I couldn't say if they've exaggerated it or omitted important facts to make it a greater sob story.

The Good, The Bad, The Weird

Look! I changed my blog!! I thought it'd make sense to use toffee colour being toffeeish and everything. What do you think? I might change it again, but it's better than the ocean don't you think?

This film is really good!! The plot is pretty simple, but it's executed so beautifully. It is inspired by 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly', but since I haven't watched that, I can't make any comparisons or anything like that! It's all based around this treasure map that EVERY one wants!!! Amongst the people who want this map are three villians that are the focus of the squabble. Really, that is the whole movie in a nutshell. But there's also the Japanese army and Chinese Bandits chasing after this map which makes for some pretty extreme battle scenes. It all starts because Yoon Tae Go stole the map on what he thought was a standard train theft, but when news gets out he finds himself running for his life all for a map. It ends with a climatic shoot out between the three of them. Winner takes all.
I did say the plot is simple!!! Of course there are some mysteries and back stories which I could tell you about... but that would spoil the film! In all truthfulness, I did get confused by said simple plot.... but only because I had some difficulties in remembering the characters names..... I'm no good with Korean names ok!

Kamikaze Girls

Kamikaze Girls has possibly THE greatest film opening EVER!!! Momoko gets hit by a truck, she's sent flying into the air with a load of cabbage and says farewell to her friends and family. It then comes up with 'The End'. Obviously, that wasn't the end. Momoko then rewinds all the way to 18th century France. The Rococo era. The time where the French where either sewing, or in bed. But Momoko can only dream of living in this era, as she goes on to explain. She was born into a part of Japan where everyone was born in a tracksuit, and dies in a tracksuit (as she puts it) and her father and mother met, kissed, fell pregnant then married. Thus Momoko is born. She becomes obssesed with the lolita fashion and constantly scavanged money off her father to pay for dress upon dress of lolita wonder. She goes into A LOT of detail of her life, how she sews, how she's very indiffernt and how she's an introvert. Surprisingly enough this is not boring!!

Tekken: The Motion Picture

Gosh, this movie is so ridiculous!I can totally understand why it's on Anime News Network's worst rated anime!! It has no plot and more than half of the film was still animation!! I don't even know the characters names!!
The film is only an hour long and I would say that they just wanted to put a load of fights scenes together with a bit of blood and girls. But that would only work if there was any good animation or art. So basically the whole movie is an hour of wasted time!!
Basically, the main guy is the son of some great fighting guy. So his father throws him off a cliff and orders him to climb back up. Once the little 8 year old (some how) manages to climb up the cliff he vows to take revenge against his father.He then ages a lot and comes back as an overly muscular man with bad hair. Instead of fighting his father in a normal context they decide to draw the plot out a bit more by have the man enter his fathers fighting competition. While this goes on there's a number of pointless sub-plots to distract you...  I mean ....er entertain you!