itojun Reviews

300 (2006)

worst Hollywood movie ever!

[1/10 · 2 October 2007]

I watched "300" without noticing the name of director, Zack Snyder. Yes, he is guilty for awful remake of the classic, "Dawn of the dead".

He did it again. Worst Hollywood movie ever.

Zack took everything from "The Matrix". some of the dialogs were directly taken from The Matrix, Titanic and some other films that I cannot keep up with. Screen visuals are direct copy of "burly brawl", again from "The Matrix" franchise, "The Matrix Revolutions".

And... the script was... How come Spartan people talk about justice and freedom? This is not Armaggedon!

My answer is simple: avoid it at all cost. It is waste of your time.

Baburu e go!! Taimu mashin wa doramu-shiki (2007)

If you love "Back To The Future", the film is highly recommended

[10/10 · 31 July 2007]

I will try to refrain myself from giving out any spoilers...

The movie is about a time machine and going back in time to save the Japan's economic crisis, as well as the mother (Hiroko Yakushimaru) of the main character (Ryoko Hirosue). The time machine in "Back To The Future" was heavily-modfied De Lorean, but in this movie, it is a washing machine from Hitachi!

The movie has values as a modern history study of Japanese culture, in 1990. Do not miss it!

PS: if you like this film, try other films directed by Yasuo Baba as well. You'll love those!

Death of a President (2006)

A must see for everyone who has anything to do with the US

[10/10 · 11 July 2007]

I tried hard not to spoil anything, but English is not my first language so be careful reading it...

I purchased the lions-gate DVD through Amazon because (1) I always try to purchase DVDs from the country of origin, and (2) the distributor in Japan got a rejection from Japanese variant of MPAA. I heard about the title, I heard that it is not available for a wide distribution in the US just like "Commandante" (which is my favorite documentary about Cuba), so I was excited that I got the DVD.

So I played the DVD. The dialog of the very first actor appears on the screen was really something. So, I got really excited. I did not check the package of DVD well enough... my jaw dropped onto the floor when the President appeared on the screen. I could not understand how this was made possible. Every time the plot got twisted, my jaw dropped repeatedly. When the final twist is presented, I could not do anything but cry, think, think hard, and harder, about the main topic of the film.

The film is NOT about the assassination of *a* President.

Be very careful watching the film, especially try to catch the culture, the English dialect, and every minor details.

In my opinion the film is a must-see to graduate from grade school.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)

everyone on this planet has to see this "awful truth"

[10/10 · 29 June 2004]

I have been hearing nasty relationship between Mr.Bush and oil industry. Before watching this film I thought it was just another gossip. After watching this, I cried hard because billions of people are suffering by the actions of, just for his family/gang's interest, Mr.Bush. This has to change. I would like to vote for 2004 presidential campaign, but i have foreign nationality all I can do is to pray.

One comment made by my American friend (we watched this movie in Canada together) was that, "this is my first time to see dead US military people". Mr.Bush is controlling news media very well, it seems. I would like to have a satellite dish which can receive Alja-jira (sp?), so that I can watch news from US point-of-view as well as the other side.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

good stuff here and there, but could beat the original

[8/10 · 19 April 2004]

I watched it in Vancouver, Canada (it was not open in japan yet, so I took advantage of my biz trip:-).

It is very good to see good horror films coming up last and this year (texas chainsaw, DotD, Undead and other films).

If I do not see this movie as a remake, I consider it a good horror/action movie. Many funny moments, scary scenes and combat scenes (i liked a scene when the street is filled with thousands of zombie). Good character development for main casts (some of sidekicks are not developed well enough).

However, if I see it as a remake, I do not really like it. The remake stole the "shopping mall" concept and hacked it up with chainsaw.

overall - i guess i will purchase DVD for sure. 7/10. *** possible spoiler below ***



(1) zombie should not run! they're scary not because they are berserk, they are scary because they were DEAD and CAME BACK TO LIFE! they are ROTTEN DEAD TISSUE and there's no way they can run fast like that! (2) i don't understand why they chose becoming-a-zombie to be an "infection" - if you die for natural reason (like being shot), you don't become a zombie. maybe the screenplay author watched "28 days later" to study, not the original? (3) if it is an infection, why noone becomes a zombie after washing injured hands/arms in the fountain? water in the fountain should contain lots of viruses (or whatever makes you zombie). i really waited to see people becoming zombie because of the fountain water.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

The movie has it all!

[10/10 · 7 November 2003]

As a Japanese person I enjoyed the movie VERY MUCH. It is so fun to see Quentin's view of Japan (or fantasized version of Japan). Quentin's understanding of Yakuza/Samurai culture is pretty accurate, though it is not legal to bring in Samurai sword into passenger aircrafts (or walk downtown Tokyo carrying Samurai sword). Fully packed with fun, I gave it 10/10.

BTW, I heard that Japanese edit is completely different from US edit. I hope R1 DVD version (would be unrated) would provide US viewers the Japanese edit - from what I've heard Japanese edit has significant advantages. I'm still wondering if I should buy R1 DVD or R2 DVD (or both).

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

I was satisfied, good ending

[9/10 · 5 November 2003]

1st Matrix was really mind-blowing, and I was a bit worried if 2nd and 3rd installment would be equally mind-blowing as well (afterwards I learnt that it was designed to be trilogy since the very beginning). I was satisfied with Reloaded and Revolutions. There are negative reviews on this, which I understand, but Revolutions did let me think about our daily living in a philosophical way (e.g. is love for real or just an imagination?), just like the 1st installment. I gave 9/10 to Revolutions. I was very lucky to experience Matrix trilogy during my lifetime.

SPOILER ALERT

what did Neo mean by "peace"? Just a peaceful life in Zion, or more than that? (I guess he meant more than just Zion) What happened to those who are still jacked-into the Matrix? (there was a dialog that says "they will be unplugged", but 1st Matrix had dialog "most people are not ready to be unplugged")

KT (2002)

good political/espionage thriller

[10/10 · 5 May 2002]

it is a good political/espionage thriller, based on a real kidnapping incident of Korean politician, Kim Dae-Jun. it covers a lot of sensitive issues in japan and korea - tension between korea and japan after WW2, feelings of japanese-korean, political movements in 70s (red purge), and most importantly, identity problem of JSDF (Japan Self Defence Force). if you like Oshii Mamoru films like Akai Megane, you will enjoy it a lot.

another thing i noted was that the picture is carefully trying to recreate landscapes in 70s. it is rather difficult thing to do as a lot of landscape changed in tokyo. i was amazed to see lots of vehicles from 70s. kudos to art direction guys!

i gave a 9/10 vote.

Himitsu (1999)

Bring your handkerchief and see it at least twice

[10/10 · 25 September 1999]

A traffic accident killed Heisuke (Kaoru Kobayashi)'s wife Naoko (Kayoko Kishimoto), while his highschool-student daughter Monami (Ryoko Hirosue) survived. Actually the survived was his wife's soul in his daughter's body... The story tells their twisted love and life.

The picture is very beautiful, delicate, and touching. It keeps me crying during the viewing. It was great for a guy-who-read-the-novel-already that the movie duplicates most of storylines, scenes and quotes from the novel it is based on. The scenes are just as I imagined. Ryoko Hirosue did it great as the daughter/wife-in-daughter double cast.

I recommend you to see it twice at least. On second viewing (after knowing the final twist) you can feel what Naoko felt in the film, and it will make you cry much more than the first viewing.

I voted 10/10.

The Parent Trap (1998)

A must see, even if you are adult

[10/10 · 27 August 1999]

This may look "a film for kids", but this movie really is, a must-see for both adults and kids. It is a great love story. I'm single but the film reached my heart - I'm sure married couples will love this film too.

When I saw this for the first time, I was on airplane. I was lucky enough to get upgraded that time, so I was with personal video screen - I saw _The parent trap_ twice and cried several time in each of the viewing. Now I got DVD for it, I saw it more than dozen times by now. I feel very happy after every viewing of the film.

Lindsay Lohan did it super (especially accents), dad and mom are really lovely.

If the film comes to a theater near you, don't miss it. On big screen you can find some additional details DVD/Video. The film is totally, and completely lovely.

Open Your Eyes (1997)

good, but ending could have been better

[7/10 · 15 August 1999]

I think it was good, well done, but it could have been better. Specifically I wish to see better way of disclosing the key of the plot (I won't tell you what it is, but it will be disclosed at the very end).

The plot is similar to that of The Matrix, but the way present it is quite different. I like the way The Matrix presents better, but you may have different opinion about it.

I voted 7/10 for this.

Dai yûkai (1991)

lovely piece of film

[10/10 · 15 August 1999]

Three bad boys kidnaps billionaire old-lady. Old lady is much clever than boys and became the boss of the kidnappers herself!

Wonderful plot, lovely old lady, bad boys and cops. I highly recommend this film.

Prince of Darkness (1987)

The green glittering bottle scared me so much

[10/10 · 15 August 1999]

Several years before a friend of mine recommended this to me, I rented this and it scares me to hell! The green glittering bottle, the overall mood in the church, and the video replays!

Some of you may feel the story goes too slow, but I believe it is with purpose - it really worked very well to scare me. The soundtrack is great too.

The Matrix (1999)

Super!

[10/10 · 13 June 1999]

I love this movie, I think this is the best movie I've ever seen. Characters including villains are super, prop are realistic (except the enemy ship), SFX is great, and the clothes especially sunglasses! During my short US trip I seen this 3 times in movie theater. I'm sure I'll see several more times if it comes to Japan.

If you are familiar with Japanese culture, including manga/anime (Japanimation), you'll be able to enjoy much better than a guy next to you. I recommend you to see Ghost in the shell and read Gun Smith Cats beforehand. I believe the director loves Japanimation and Kung-fu movies.