keikoyoshikawa Reviews

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023– )

Strong Beginning ...

[7/10 · 25 November 2023]

This refreshing take on the kaiju / Gozilla universe, plus the upcoming Gozilla Minus One movie, has gotten me very excited with the genre. I was worried at first that the steaming series must not be very good, but happily it's not too bad ... so far.

The Good: Kurt Russel and his son Wyatt Russel were excellent choices for this new series. They bring excellent acting skills and gravitas to the series, and I think without them it would not have been as good. The connection between the two storylines and timelines are very much dependent upon them.

The Bad: Unfortunately, the three young lead actors are not as skillful, and the writing for them also was not as good. In three episodes thus far, they grate on me like petulant teens. I really hope they improve as the series go on - otherwise, this is going to be quite annoying.

Thus far in 2023, this and Foundation are the only series worth watching on Apple TV+ for me.

Onimusha (2023)

I like Miyamoto Musashi

[7/10 · 5 November 2023]

Another alternate history anime that came out in late 2023. Unlike "Blue Eye Samurai", however, "Onimusha" is not as well-polished though it is still entertaining but limited in its very Japanese-style of storytelling, such as too much exposition.

The Good: I do like this version of MIyamoto Musashi in anime. He's flawed, but he's got skill and determination, and he's smart and honorable (in his own way), which makes him the best samurai for his time - and in all of Japanese history and even fantasy versions.

The Bad: It's not a bad anime, but it falls far short of being excellent due to some major technical issues that cannot be overlooked. Chiefly, the story and plot are a bit disjointed and nonsensical, characters are not that well developed, and the dialogue not all that great either. And then there's an annoying kid.

Overall, it's a serviceable anime and a lot better than most that are out there. But compared to the very best ones, such as "Blue Eye Samurai" its flaws become very evident. Still worth a watch.

Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Best Anime of 2023

[10/10 · 5 November 2023]

I watch a lot of anime. I even watch a lot of bad anime. So when a rare gem comes along, I am so happy. "Blue Eye Samurai" is easily the best anime of 2023. It reaffirms what the medium is capable of and shows what talented animators, storytellers, and actors can produce.

The Good: Pretty much everything. The story, the visuals, the character design, the sound design, the thematic design of each episode, the voice acting (although the English original is not bad, I think the Japanese version is even better) - IMO Japanese voice actors are generally better at their craft.

The Bad: Honestly, this series is so well done that I would have to get nit-picky here to name something. But I won't, that's how much I love this series :D. But if I had to pick just one, it would be that the slightly xenophobic tone was noticeable to me - but then that's true to the period in which the story is set.

Special Mentions: Without going into spoilers, here are my most favorite things about "Blue Eye Samurai": (1) good plot twists, (2) suspenseful tea ceremony - I've been to only normal ones, fortunately, (3) sexual haiku, (4) bunraku theater theme, (5) beautiful tracking shots, (6) love and betrayal, (7) the coolest katana/naginata weapon I've ever seen, and (8) yes, strong female characters.

Go watch this series. Even if you don't normally enjoy anime. You won't regret it.

Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine (2023)

Disappointing Documentary

[5/10 · 14 August 2023]

This documentary was surprisingly bland, not very informative, short on good insights into the James Webb space telescope project, and perhaps worst of all more of a sales pitch or propaganda rather than an educational film.

There was a point towards the end of the documentary in which a couple of senior politicians are given a cringe-worthy briefing by a NASA administrator on the first set of photos taken of the very first galaxies 13.5 billion years ago.

Throughout it all I was wondering why we are seeing this at all. What's the point? Where's the interesting stuff about designing and building the telescope? About the controversies of the naming of the telescope? About what it has done for astronomy?

This was definitely a missed opportunity and a disappointing documentary.

Sun Dogs (2017)

Not At All Funny

[3/10 · 23 July 2023]

"Sun Dog" is a quirky movie. And not in a good way. Billed as a comedy drama, it is more disturbing and not at all funny, given the context of what happened to innocent people in the U. S. in the aftermath of 9/11.

I'm actually quite surprised that talented actors like Ed O'Neill and Allison Janney signed up for this project. It's also unfortunate that it's the directorial debut for Jennifer Morrison, who aptly played a doctor in the series "House."

Had this movie been a case-study in how extremism in America got started, even in a dark comedic way, it would have made more sense. Instead, we get a weird mix of teen naivete, awkward outsider, and loneliness.

Plus racial profiling. Let's not forget about that.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

Brilliant and Thought-Provoking

[8/10 · 22 July 2023]

Whoever thought to pair John Boyega with Jamie Foxx is brilliant. Pure genius. Teyonah Paris in the third spot of the badass trio drug dealer, pimp, prostitute just brings it all together flawlessly.

Part sci-fi, part mystery, part action, and part comedy, "They Cloned Tyrone" is a perfect combination of mixed genres, intriguing plot, smart dialogues, and best of all believable chemistry among its actors.

The movie takes us down a rabbit hole of hilarious conspiracy and fantasy that not only African-Americans would appreciate. But to truly enjoy the shenanigans you have to have some understanding of Black American history.

And that's really the only downside of the movie - it's not made for an international audience that is unlikely to know the racial history of the U. S., the medical experiments done on minorities, the policies that kept people poor, etc.

That knowledge by the audience is an essential ingredient to get the most out of the movie.

Nevertheless, I think the general viewer can still enjoy "They Cloned Tyrone."

Trigun Stampede (2023– )

All Flash, No Substance

[4/10 · 15 July 2023]

"Trigun Stampede" is very stylish - crisp animation, good character design, nice sound design, etc. It is beautiful to look at, no doubt. Sadly, that's about the only good things it has going for it.

Story-wise and plot-wise, it is lacking. I never read the original manga or watched the anime, so I can't make any comparisons. But as a stand-alone anime, this version suffers from mediocrity.

The biggest of which is the lack of skilled story-telling. Instead, we get typical over-expositions, unexplained plot-holes, over-complicated plot lines, etc. All of which makes for an unsatisfying watch.

"Trigun Stampede" is interesting for a first watch-through, but that's all. There's nothing imaginative or thought-provoking that would warrant a repeat watching. Mostly because its premise is too bland.

If you're an anime lover like me, yes, you should give this anime series a try. Just don't expect much.

Joy Ride (2023)

Raunchy and Fun

[7/10 · 12 July 2023]

I like to think of "Joy Ride" as the female version (sort of) of "The Hangover". It's not quite that, but it has somewhat similar characters, archetypes, and plot.

Here you have four friends - sort of - and a trip that involves drugs and mayhem. Where "The Hangover" had excellent chemistry among the group, I feel like it wasn't quite there in "Joy Ride".

To be sure, leads Ashley Park, Sherry Cola (what a name!), Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu do have some chemistry, but it's not at the same level as the boys and sometimes I wasn't completely sold on it.

Still, their romp through China was fun if somewhat predictable. But the humor and joy of the movie kind of ended when the scene shifts to S. Korea. After that, it becomes a girl drama and ceases to be funny.

Completely.

Normally, I would have given only 6 stars. But I added an extra star for at least bringing Asian-themed comedy to the fore.

Weakest Beast (2018)

Not let the strange title deter you

[8/10 · 2 July 2023]

Aragaki-san once again plays a professional woman, harried by both work and personal life, who falls for a guy with issues. And she does it well.

"Kemono ni Narenai Watashitachi" does not actually translate into "Weakest Beast", so it's a very strange translation; in fact, it gives the wrong impression totally opposite to the real title.

Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of Aragaki Yui, so all of my reviews of her movies or TV series are going to be a bit biased. Still, I try to be brutally honest.

The Good: What I like about this series is that it shows the downside of working in Japan, the true reality of some families, the challenges of modern-day relationships, and much more.

The Bad: There isn't much to dislike. However, Japanese TV dramas like to use old and tired tropes, and this series is no different. The ending, too, is too predictable and formulaic.

Overall, though, "Weakest Beast" is an enjoyable series and continues to showcase the talent of Aragaki Yui and other actors. I just hope she's not going to get type-cast.

We Married as a Job (2016– )

Aragaki-san is too cute

[8/10 · 1 July 2023]

"Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu", also known as "The Full-Time Wife Escapist" or "We Married as a Job" is a one of the best josei manga out there, and it was brilliantly adapted into a TV series version some years back.

The casting is simply perfect. The lead, Aragaki Yui, is perfect for the role of Moriyama Mikuri, an over-qualified professional unlucky to be born a woman in modern-day Japan - i.e. No good job or career prospects. She's maybe down, but she's not out.

The supporting characters are equally well-cast. The plot is interesting and entertaining. And the dialogues are generally good. But Aragaki Yui stands out the most for me - she's so cute, sincere, and head-strong as Mikuri that she practically steals every scene.

The story line is so apt for today. Declining birthrates, sexless marriages, too many singles, etc. Then there's the cultural/societal limitations on women with respect to work and career. Add to that the usual marital infidelity, challenges of dating, etc.

Everything hits home with this series.

Ooku: The Inner Chambers (2023– )

Good Premise, Bad Execution

[6/10 · 1 July 2023]

I really wanted to like this Japanese anime is a lot more. I really did. While the premise of "Ooku" is very interesting - though not quite unique - it did not manage to turn it into a compelling story.

The Good: The animation is satisfactory. The character design is also good. Use of music is not bad. The premise, as mentioned, is the strongest element, and had a lot of promise.

The Bad: However, the plot based on that premise simply did not deliver. The "action" of the entire series is simply palace intrigues, which, ultimately was boring and made it difficult to keep watching.

Without going heavily into spoilers, all that I can say is that if you are expecting to see a "what if" kind of story that shows interesting consequences to an entire civilization, you would be disappointed.

In the end, this was a mediocre story but I gave it an extra one or two stars for the premise and only somewhat interesting, albeit limited, story line.

Nimona (2023)

Fun but Lacks Substance

[7/10 · 1 July 2023]

If you're looking for a well-animated and entertaining movie, "Nimona" fits the bill. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and interesting. But don't think too much about it if you want to really enjoy it.

The Good: The movie starts off well, drawing you quickly into the story and the action. The characters are well-drawn and the acting is not bad. The pacing is also good. And overall the story-line works.

The Bad: However, dig a little deeper and some flaws appear. First, the main characters lack any real depth. The main villain, for example, is inexplicably "evil". The plot is too simplistic and questionable.

Oh, and there's the LGBTQ+ element which will turn off some parents. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It shows up very early and acts as sort of a warning to viewers if they want to continue to watch or not.

You should keep watching.

Skull Island (2023– )

Mediocre and boring

[2/10 · 25 June 2023]

"Skull Island" is what happens when you try to capitalize on a successful brand but you have a limited budget and average talent (at best). The result is an animation that is not worth watching.

I'm struggling to find something positive about this animated series. But I can't. I love the Godzilla movies, and I love anime, so naturally I had hoped "Skull Island" would at least be half decent. Sadly, it wasn't even that.

Dumb plot lines, bad voice acting, and cheap animation. I'm not sure who was the target audience for this monstrosity. Do yourself and favor and skip this one.

Story: 3 Animation: 2 Acting: 2.

Girl (II) (2018)

Important film but flawed

[6/10 · 17 June 2023]

The content of this movie is not the issue. For the record, I support LGBTQI and I think this is an important movie to showcase the challenges faced by this population group. Sure, there were some actions taken by the protagonist and others in the movie that I thought were dumb or strange, but its their story.

However, my issue is the way the story was told - the direction, the acting, and script. While overall this was a good movie, I found it a bit disconcerting at the beginning because it was not clear when and where these events were taking place. Does this matter? Yes, because in some places being transgender is dangerous; in other places not so much.

The acting was also good for the most part. Kudos to Victor Polster as Lara. But the supporting characters were all dull. This made it seem like the movie was too self-absorbed because everything revolved around Lara, and there wasn't enough about the people around her who are affected by her actions, decisions, and what she does.

And finally, I think the movie was too short. We didn't really get to see the consequences of Lara's big decision towards the end of the movie. And I think that's a shame and a missed opportunity. Still, this movie is worthwhile to watch despite the flaws.

Tour de France: Unchained (2023– )

Le Tour - A Young Man's Sport

[7/10 · 11 June 2023]

I used to ride for exercise. Not much, just 100 km every weekend. Despite that I was never even an amateur cyclist, this documentary still holds some interest for me. It is probably the most well-known men's bicycle race in the world.

What's nice about this documentary is that you get to see the perspective of eight different teams and hear the viewpoints of their main cyclists. What's clear is that there is a lot of passion and pressure in the sport, and that sometimes it can be dangerous.

However, it was amusing to hear at one point someone saying that Le Tour is like war. No, buddy. Not even close. I understand the sentiment, though, so I just laughed it off. It didn't take anything away from the documentary for me :D.

I did deduct some points though for the documentary being mostly an advertisement for the sport, rather than a pure documentary. What I mean is that it showcases the best parts of the sport, staying away from some of the recent controversies.

Personally, I think a more balanced look at the sport would have been better. Still, if you enjoy cycling you're probably going to enjoy this documentary. And even if cycling is not your thing, I think you will still appreciate the commitment to the sports.

Another missed opportunity is that Le Tour is very much a team sport. No single rider is best at all the different types of stages. Yes, ultimately there is only one winner, but to get there you need your team to also perform better than others.

All in all, "Tour de France" is a very good documentary.

The Pez Outlaw (2022)

My Pez Hero :D

[8/10 · 3 June 2023]

"I've been wanting to tell this story for twenty years," says Steve Glew - aka the Pez Outlaw - at the beginning of this documentary.

Aided by his son, Josh, the father and son duo meets a kindred spirit in Slovenia and takes on Pez USA, becoming hilariously like drug dealers with buyers calling them and offering a lot of money for their in-demand products.

But when they meet Gunther of Pez International in Hungary, their business took off - allegedly - and Steve became the arch nemesis of the Prezident of Pez USA. Their cat-and-mouse game only changed when Steve had to decide between his job and his family.

The documentary is well-done, using interviews and re-enactments.

PS: The other hero is their local credit union that gave them their first loan, so that they could go to Europe to buy their first pez dispensers. Whoever that loan officer was, he/she deserves a lot of credit.

Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal (2022)

Unusual and Interesting

[8/10 · 3 June 2023]

I'm unfamiliar with British entertainer Sue Perkins, and stumbled upon this short travel series by chance. I'm glad I did. It is equally entertaining, unusual, and informative.

Ms Perkins shows us a side of Columbia, Mexico, Brazil, and Boliva that perhaps many of us have never seen before - simply because we're not familiar with Latin America. It's something I would definitely love to do if I had been her shoes. Well, some of it anyway :D

Along the way, we get to meet some interesting people with interesting stories. But these encounters are much too brief, and I wish some of them were a bit more longer and detailed. Because they are hardly typical or maybe even unethical.

What I liked most is that Ms Perkins is always respectful and good-natured, even or especially when she's participating in new and uncomfortable experiences. And I guess that's the whole point of the series, and it works.

Whoever were the series' fixers, they did a great job.

Entrapped (2022– )

Disappointing

[5/10 · 31 May 2023]

"Trapped" season one was fantastic. It wasn't just the novelty of a crime drama taking place in Iceland, it was also the setting, the atmosphere, and especially the characters principally the chief of a small town police force Andri Olafsson.

Unfortunately, season 2 was much weaker and less interesting. And now "Entrapped," which is basically season 3, sadly continues the decline of the entire series from its excellent and hopeful first season. And I think I know why.

For season 1, if you remove Iceland, with its harsh and stark environment and nearly perpetual darkness, as the drop, the story would still stand up. The characters were well-designed and the protagonist and his small team quite interesting.

Season 2 didn't make such good use of the environment, and there were really no good character developments among the main ones who we follow. Also, the story was too far-fetched and thus not very engaging.

Come to season 3, what made the original so engrossing has completely disappeared. The series has become just another run-of-the-mill police and drama drama. The story could have taken place anywhere, and that's the shame of it.

A missed opportunity to showcase Iceland and its people.

Blue Thermal (2022)

It's not all hot air

[6/10 · 30 May 2023]

Based on a manga series named "Buru Samaru: Aonagi Daigaku Taiiku-kai Koku-bu," this anime is directly by Tachibana Masaki, who had also directed "Ghost in the Shell Arise: Alternative Architecture."

The Good: Here we get the story of freshman college student Tsuru Tamaki, who is trying to find her social place among the different clubs offered at her school. I think many of us can relate to this, so there is built in sympathy with her character.

The fabricated drama between the team captain and its financial backer is so typical Japanese - i.e. It's ridiculously dramatic and doesn't really serve a useful purpose in the story. But anyway that's what makes for a Japanese story :D.

The Bad: The animation is done in the style of the manga, which is to say the characters and background are more reminiscent of Mizayaki Hayao's earlier works. That is not bad, per se, but my own personal preference is for more modern detailed drawings.

Also, while Tamaki is drawn more like a young teenager, her sister, who is also in university, is drawn as if she is much older and unlikely to still be in university. That's the way the characters were drawn in the manga, so I understand the anime keeping to the same character design.

Overall this was an entertaining anime, but it's not very ground-breaking or memorable.

Hard Feelings (2023)

Is this "German Pie"?

[6/10 · 29 May 2023]

"Hammerharte Jungs" is a weird teen comedy, even by German standard. "American Pie" it is not, but it might be an almost worthy German version. Almost.

The Good: Lacking an ensemble cast, instead we get childhood buddies Paula and Charly, two high schoolers with talking genitals. Yes, it's weird. Lacking in sexual experience, they are egged on by their eager talking organs to lose their virginity. Somewhat comedic moments ensue.

The Bad: And that's the main problem with this movie. Moments and situations that should have been played for comedy somehow got too serious and suddenly very unfunny. The end result is something much less than "American Pie," and instead just another teen drama.

And then there's a strange side story about Charly's parents.

Probably this movie was misclassified as a comedy. As a drama, however, it is not bad. Real-life situations and problems of high school life are worthy subjects and had the "comedic" talking genitals been cut out, "Hard Feelings" would have earned more stars.

8 stars for tackling real issues minus 2 stars for misplaced comedy.

Nothing Lasts Forever (2022)

Vanity and the Rich

[8/10 · 27 May 2023]

"Nothing Lasts Forever" is apt title for this short but interesting documentary on the diamond business, focusing on the diamond cartels and the rise of synthetic diamonds.

We follow a Serbian gemologist with 30 years of experience as he tells us about the production of synthetic diamonds in China. And about how the cartels, as they publicly deride the rise of synthetic diamonds, actually take advantage of them.

We hear from a diamond dealer, who, in trying to convince us how special and valuable real diamonds are, inadvertently tells us about how fabricated the value of real diamonds are - he admits the entire business is about selling a story, a lie.

We listen to an Indian jewelry designer who levels with us that diamonds are basically worthless and how an entire luxury market has been created by selling lies and catering to people's vanity. She's believable because that's her business.

The truth is that diamonds are not rare. Ms Aja Raden tells us there are enough supply to give every person on Earth (8 billion people) a 1/2 carat diamond ring with another 1/2 billion carat left over. It's a glut that keeps on growing.

Essentially, diamonds have value only because many people give it value. And so, like money, if you flood the market with "fakes" such synthetic diamonds, you reduce confidence and hence the overall value of the commodity.

At least that's what the cartels want you to believe. Aja Raden tells us the cartels are actually producing their own synthetic diamonds. Not to sell, but to undercut all other, smaller synthetic producers. The goal is to make "fake" diamonds uneconomical.

It's a two-prong strategy: 1) convince people that "real" diamonds have value, and 2) make sure that they control the production of "fake" diamonds by pricing others out. In the end, it's win-win for the cartels.

FUBAR (2023– )

Boring and Cliché

[4/10 · 27 May 2023]

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

A variation of that is apt for "Fubar". There is nothing like the old Arnold in this series. No fun, no humor, no chemistry. All the actors look bored. And it sounds like they just recite lines at each other.

There isn't really much to say about this lackluster and low-budget series. If you're an Arnold fan, like I am, you're likely to be disappointed. It was both unnecessary and uninspired.

For me, it would have been better to have not watched Arnold long enough to see him become a depressing caricature. Surely he has enough money and doesn't need to make this kind of rubbish.

The only upside - and why 4 stars - are actors Travis Von Winkle (as Poo Bear) and Fortune Feimster. Their buddy-buddy routine is actually not bad and I would have much preferred watching a series based on their characters.

Blood & Gold (2023)

Predictable but Fun

[8/10 · 26 May 2023]

"Sisu" this is not. And that's very ok. Here, it's not one man against the Nazi; it's ordinary Germans against the Nazi - an army deserter, a woman, her brother, and some villagers. Oh, and there's gold.

Our protagonist, Private Heinrich, is just an ordinary soldier. Our other protagonist, Elsa, is just an ordinary farmer. And then the Nazis came to their village looking for gold.

The Good: People in this movie get hurt, they make mistakes. The action scenes are not too over the top. Some of the townspeople are bad, some are good. And the Nazis are all bad.

The Bad: There really isn't much that is bad with this movie. It knows what it is. It gives us the story and nothing more. The title tells us everything we need to know. Nearly perfect.

The Ultimatum: Queer Love (2023– )

So much drama, and I loved it :D

[6/10 · 25 May 2023]

This is my guilty TV pleasure. Five short-term and medium-term couples have to decide if they want to marry or breakup. The third option is the hook up with someone else in the group. So evil. ;)

Unlike most other dating reality shows, at the beginning of the series the couples all have to temporarily breakup. They then get the chance to explore dating someone else in the group. And at the end each person has to make a big decision. That's the basic premise of the show.

There's a good ethnic mix, but the age group is quite similar - which makes sense. We have White, Latina, Black, and Asian couples. I'm not sure if the dialogues are scripted or not - sometimes the discussions just seem to be too smooth - and at times I wonder if some of them are actors.

But in the end it doesn't matter. In four lengthy first episodes we get some entertaining drama - jealousies, flirts, doubts, mistrusts, rejections, and affirmations. However, the focus is usually on just a few couples, and nothing much as happened aside from people talking.

So overall I can't give this series more than 6 stars. But let's see how it goes.

Suzume (2022)

Missing Something ...

[6/10 · 25 May 2023]

I love anime and most of director Shinkai Makoto's work - "The Place Promised in Our Early Days", "5 Centimeters per Second", "Children Who Chase Lost Voices", and "Your Name" are among the best anime in the past few years. I haven't yet seen "Weathering with You".

Unfortunately, "Suzume", his latest work, in my opinion does not live up to the quality of those other works. Don't get me wrong, the animation is just as good. But what was missing is the chemistry between the main characters and a compelling mystery in the story overall.

There is something to be said about reusing common tropes too much. A high school girl or boy protagonist is par for the course in Japanese media and especially in anime, but why does it always have to be that way? Surely sometimes we can get something different?

And the mysterious destruction of a town or city has already been done - and very well so - in "Your Name". Had we not seen these elements before, then I would say "Suzume" is a really good anime. Sadly, precisely because we have seen these elements before, then I have to say "Suzume" is an ok anime only.

If you're a fan of Shinkai Makoto - like I am - then you should watch "Suzume" so you can make up your own mind. If you're not, then probably skip this one because it is not among his best work.