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danielatala8
Reviews
The Apprentice (2024)
The origin
Seeing Ali Abbasi's amazing movie "The Apprentice" leaves you with a feeling of anxiety. How can someone be so empty of feeling and morality, and more importantly how can someone like that be voted by millions of people to rule a country. Ali Abbasi explores all of these facets in a highly stylistic and captivating portrait of a man that had it all, and craves for more.
The Apprentice follows Donald Trump in a specific era of his career, from the beginning and into the madness that spiralled into his huge successes in the 90s and especially his relationship to his lawyer, Roy Cohn.
First of all I gotta say this movie is GORGEOUS, it has style, the vintage grainy feel of the 80s/90s is replicated in such a beautiful way it makes every single frame filled with details and colours that pop. The feel of the era was definitely made with care, and the music as well with some well-chosen great tracks that accompany the scenes. The movie never feels dead, it's always moving forward. The comparisons to movies like Wall Street etc is super apparent but Ali manages to make it his own. It's a portrait that is highly not glamorous and super anxiety inducing because it truly is appalling how someone can even be like that.
The acting is phenomenal and supreme, especially Sebastian Stan that delivers a frightening performance- this really is the Trump that we've seen on tv.
If there's one negative thing that I can think of this movie is that perhaps it doesn't explore many of the film's relationships in a deeper way. Some of the characters in the movie feel a bit cut off from the narrative, this doesn't deter from how great the movie is though.
Go watch it!
To hok wai lung 2 (1992)
School of Cop 2: Electric Boogaloo
Fight Back To School was a fantastic film, a bit rough around the edges storytelling wise but it was an all around amazing film full of action and laughs, it was a film destined to get a sequel- the premise is fresh for it! So did the sequel do good? Sort of.
Fight Back to School 2 follows the same protagonist as last time, Starry Chow who after a demotion in his work goes to infiltrate a school by force to show his superiors that he still got it. This time there's a terrorist threat on an international school in Hong Kong.
First the positives, somehow Stephen Chow doubles down on his already aggressive character and to see him stretch that out even more in the sequel is hilarious, the returning actors all do a pretty great job and they're all playing to their strengths. The movie is competently shot although I wish there were less shots of the school overall, wish there would've been some other cool locations! Also for what it is this movie kind of delivers in a good way! It also has some very hilarious moments.
And now for some of my problems with this movie... once again, but this time it's even more apparent they don't focus the plot on the actual threat that's going on (the investigation and the terrorist attack) which makes it all seem kind of haphazardly executed- a way to keep on adding intrigue to the film would be if they constantly found out clues and stuff in the school (they do but it's always close to the final) which makes it a bit unsatisfactory when for the big showdown the terrorists arrive at the school with basically nothing moving forward the plot before. It's kind of shocking how much they spent on the romance subplot when it basically didn't lead to anything, which is sad. I wish this movie would've taken those opportunities to try and raise the stakes and add a bit more intrigue.
With all being said I still enjoyed this movie, with my criticism above it might sound as if I didn't like it but it's quite the opposite, even for its shortcomings Fight Back to School 2 manages to bring an entertaining time with wacky moments. It might not be as sharp or memorable as the first one but it's still a fun watch nevertheless.
To hok wai lung (1991)
School of Cop
Diving deeper into the Hong Kong police genre here's another movie that caught my eye when I was looking for new movies on the net, and it's a fantastic one- Gordon Chan's "Fight Back to School".
Fight Back to School is about Star Chow a SWAT team leader that is obligated by his boss to infiltrate a school in order to find a missing gun that was stolen by a group of school boys when they went to visit the police station. During his infiltration he has to learn how to become a star student and how to cooperate, something that will prove valuable for his work.
This movie is all around a laugh riot, there's no dull moment in it and you'll be laughing a lot! It manages to cram a lot of character in its 101 minute runtime and I really appreciate it for doing that as some movies tend to get really into the action without any thought to its characters. However I think that the movie could've used with more grounding on the investigation as it happens very scarcely, maybe the crime was a bit too easy to try and make it into a long movie but I'm not complaining.
The actors are pretty fantastic, not a single bad performance, Stephen Chow does amazing as an action/comedy star. The movie is also very nicely shot, with some great nostalgic views and scenes of Hong Kong.
If there are some negatives I'd have to say that the plot could've been more focused on the crime aspect as well but otherwise this movie is a AAA ++++ action comedy, it has it all.
Qu mo jing cha (1990)
Mystical cop
Most of us are familiar with the Hong Kong police movies, all feature extremely charismatic protagonists, a quick witted plot, full of exciting and complicated choreography sequences and some fun humour to spice all that up. Now, imagine all that but with added mysticism and magic on top of it- Wei Tungs "Magic Cop" brings all that and much more.
Magic Cop follows "Uncle Feng" a cop that uses extremely ancient Daoist methods to solve crimes. In the city of Hong Kong a zombie with drugs in its bag is discovered so the Hong Kong police department calls him in for his help, due to his history with the Hong Kong police department he reluctantly accepts the job. He's paired up with two sergeants, Lam and 2237 who bring up their own quirks to solve this case.
Now first to the positives, this movie is GORGEOUS, the shots are nice and the effects are even better and so impressive for their time. Speaking of gorgeousness, the city of Hong Kong makes itself to be a beautiful backdrop for such a fast paced and mystical movie, I knew this before but it never ceases to amaze me what a wonderful place this is for movies.
The story is brief and effective and it doesn't dwell too much on the rules of the mystical powers behind Uncle Feng's magic leaving it all into a mystery. The comedy is well executed with some funny moments, the comedy isn't forced; instead it lends itself to these moments naturally with some laugh out loud happenings.
The acting is also very good, the characters portrayed all have distinct personalities and it looks as if they're all having a blast.
Now to some negatives, while the movie is very effective and entertaining I feel like the motives of the antagonists in the movie aren't really explained or explored all that well, they're just bad guys who happen to use zombies to smuggle drugs which to be honest doesn't need a lot of explanation but it would've been nice to see some more motive besides just being pure evil, in a mystical way.
Also there's some story threads that weren't really resolved within the main plot, like Uncle Feng's involvement with the HK Police department before there's a whole scene with a bag and a document that he needs to sign but for some reason the movie doesn't really return to this point after this.
Also the ending is a bit abrupt, I wish there would've been some form of conclusion for the case or something- as it is presented in this movie it's like:"Evil has been defeated, good! Case closed!" Which can be a bit confusing.
Anyways these are just nitpicks and they didn't really take away from the main experience which was very enjoyable. It looks as if the movie also opened up for some sequels but there was none unfortunately, however there seem to be more Hong Kong cop movies with a mystical touch- can't wait to see more!
Kare no ootobai, kanojo no shima (1986)
"I love mess"- Marie Kondo
As the title to my review alludes to, this is my experience watching "His Motorbike, Her Island", the last movie included in Nobuhiko Ôbayashis 80s Kadokawa movie compilation, and I'm disappointed honestly.
"His Motorbike, Her Island" follows the story of a narcissistic city boy who loves bikes, and writes music(??) who dumps his girlfriend after falling in love with a country girl with the same passion for motorbikes as him.
Let's start with the positives. As always, I love the absolute commitment Nobuhiko Ôbayashi has to make a story compelling visually and aesthetically and in this movie he delivers it in spades, it's a gorgeous movie and the shots are wonderful. The choice to have both black and white and colour shots in the narrative is a very inspired choice but a bit of a missed opportunity and badly applied. The music is also pretty good.
And now to the negatives, this story has absolutely no DRIVE. It's hard to try and connect to a movie when the main character is basically just an asshole that gets his way right on the very end. God I freaking HATED this character (and actor!), and it's not because this person was "bad" per se, there's many interesting and fun bad characters that are great at having as a lead movie driver but in this movie it doesn't work at all.
The story meanders as well, things happen inexplicably out of order and there's many story stuffs that could've used an extra scene (or less) because for real, stuff happens without you even knowing what's going on. And the changes to black and white and colour make no sense at all. There's no natural explanation as to what the characters different relationships are either, stuff happens haphazardly and you the audience has to accept that... which makes me angry honestly. Also I don't get the ending nor what the movie was trying to portray, a city guy that impresses a country girl? A delinquent guy that atones for his sins (not really) by romancing this new girl? You tell me, cause I have no clue.
I was honestly counting the minutes and seconds till the movie was over, I don't appreciate this at all. Now it sounds like I'm being overtly harsh but it's just my feelings, I guess if you want to check out more of Nobuhiko Ôbayashis movies then do it but otherwise this is really not worth it.
Tengoku ni ichiban chikai shima (1984)
Your own personal heaven
On a surface level, The Island Closest to Heaven seems to be your run-of-the-mill adventure story, however it has something more to say than the typical teen romance flick.
The Island Closest to Heaven is about a teen girl, Mari, who after her father passes away travels to New Caledonia in order to find an island that her father talked about. An island that is said to be close to heaven, a paradise on Earth. During her quest she meets the inhabitants of the islands and learns a bit more about herself and about life.
Let's first start with the positives, the movie has a very serene and beautiful feel to it. The vistas allowed by the scenery of the islands is breathtaking and contribute so much to the mood of the story, in contrast to some of Nobuhiko Ôbayashi's earlier films he almost uses no pre-made backgrounds. All seems to be shot in location. The story carries some certain poetic elements and perspectives that add a lot of maturity to the story.
However, this movie also has some negatives that weigh it down. According to the booklet that was added with the movie's Blu-ray release this seems to be very faithful to the book adaptation which might be both positive and negative, the pace feels so sluggish at places where it's not needed. Characters that seem to have an important part in the story vanish and then appear at the very end, which undermines some supposedly very emotional scenes.
However, the thing that bothered me the most was the efforts of the main actress in this movie, Tomoyo Harada. Never have I ever experienced someone so hellbent into not emoting or taking the reins for the emotional path of the movie. During the movie she's described as a "clumsy" "kinda silly" teen but she's not, playing a very aloof and honestly very bland person. This could also boil down to lack of good direction from the director because Tomoyo Harada did almost the same for "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" but I honestly grew tired of her, and it's not that she's making a "subdued" performance. She's just not good at acting. Although I give her credit for her performance during the film's last minutes which showcase that she has some range but it's a bit too little too late honestly. I didn't find anything about her character appealing.
Also it's so funny that the movie synopsis talks about "adventures" and "magic" but the movie doesn't really deliver that.
All in all, I'd say this movie is ok. Not the greatest and it'll leave some people frustrated but it does deliver some gorgeous vistas and vibes and if you're into that, then by all means, please watch!
Toki o kakeru shôjo (1983)
Love transcends space and time
Ok, so I've watched about three iterations of "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time", one which is from the amazing animator Mamoru Hosoda, the second one is a modern reboot from 2010 and this is "the OG" but there's still a tv show from the 70s with the same name, I don't know if the tv show even has a connection to those at all (although funnily enough, IMDB lists the 70s shows as the original to the animated film and the 80s film as the original to the 2010s film which is WRONG). The 80s original packs a lot of slow paced pensive charm that makes you wonder about time and just what a fantastic premise this is.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time follows Keiko, a cheery high school girl that acquires mystical time powers after something happens while she and her friends are cleaning their chemistry lab. The movie then spends a considerable amount of time of her trying to get to the bottom of why she got her powers.
First off I gotta say this is a gorgeous film, Nobuhiko Ôbayashi makes excellent use of practical effects even if they're a bit toned down in this movie compared to "School In The Crosshairs" but Nobuhiko Ôbayashi still makes this a thoroughly stylistic and beautiful movie. The actors are mostly good and the music fits amazingly, I even think that the animated version of this movie makes use of some of the original soundtrack (I gotta rewatch it to confirm tho!).
And now to the negatives, I know this movie was wildly popular for its time and it basically launched the career of Tomoyo Harada but I think she's perhaps the weakest part of the movie, and it's not really her fault. The movie spends most of the time with her trying to make sense of what's going on with her like she's not aware of her time powers until super late in the film, which is so annoying. The animated one in retrospect is better because it uses the power of leaping through time as something fun and gains momentum of the girl understanding her powers fairly early in the movie but in this movie she walks around being confused, sad, , melancholic, dizzy and then more confused and then surprised which for me personally doesn't do much. And I don't think this is the actress's fault but they should've spent more time making her into her own and fun character.
Still the movie has a wonderful allure that makes you stay for the rest of the story, I think in fact the ending is super worth it to watch and it's super unexpected and kinda sad to be honest, which is so different from what a teen movie would do to be honest!
Despite some gripes that I had with the movie I think this is a worthwhile watch not just because of the story and the practical effects but because I think it has a lot to say about time and space and love also this movie shows why this concept of a high school girl leaping through time being such a cool and interesting concept to explore. If you have seen the animated I recommend you skipping the "newer" 2010 remake in favour of this one because it has a lot to offer.
Nerawareta gakuen (1981)
A city pop sci-fi fantasy
At this point almost everyone's heard about Nobuhiko Ôbayashis transcendent movie "House", I haven't seen it but only seen the trailer of it. One could almost believe that this director only did horror arthouse movies with fantastic special effects, but he also did commercial movies with a broad appeal, taking the fantastic to normal settings like high schools and such. School in The Crosshairs makes a strong case for that ambition, combining the normal and the strange in such a wonderful way that still keeps the audience guessing.
School in The Crosshairs is about a high schooo girl by the name Yuka that suddenly discovers she has psychic powers, a discovery that leads to a series of events that unfold around her discovering those psychic powers, meanwhile she has to tackle normal school life and the underlying happenings that are plaguing her school and the burgeoning romance with fellow classmate Seki.
First of all I'd like to say that I really loved this movie, you can see a lot of passion has been put into making this movie look as beautiful as possible, using every single technique and practical effect to make the setting even more appealing, especially the gorgeously drawn backgrounds adorning some of the scenes. The use of practical effects is so creative in this movie that it gives it its own cinematic identity and language, which is fun and imaginative.
Secondly I'd like to praise the story, while not very creative I think it has its own original spin on the tropes and the things that were popular during that time both western and eastern!
Also the actors do a great job, especially the teenage actors, they're great.
The music is also great, just by hearing the Yumi Matsutoya (also called Yumi Arai) theme song in the beginning it just gives the movie a classy feel, and a nostalgic one as well.
Nobuhiko Ôbayashis direction is also great, even if the movie is very by the numbers when it comes to story he gives it his own sense of quirkiness which is just a joy to see.
If there's anything negative that I'd have to say about this film then it is probably about the story, the movie has a quick pace, almost a bit too quick because some of the happenings or character motivations in the movie just seem a little bit too haphazardly put, also the character of Yuka is literally someone with no personality other than they are best at everything which is boring. But these are minor things.
Hope you enjoy!
Norioka Workshop (2022)
Takes one to know one
I'm at the end of my Katsuhito Ishii journey and what a journey it has been! I'm so happy it ended on this short film, I've always thought that Katsuhito Ishii's ideas and methods don't translate well into the long film format but in the short film format he does wonders, even if the story in itself is not very special.
Norioka Workshop is a short film about an actor that hosts an acting workshop that for some reason is only visited by two very particular girls. As the short film goes on feelings get shown and more and more gets unraveled.
I think with this film Katsuhito Ishii wanted to explore the reality of acting what a wonderful art form it is and the ground ethos of its work- namely fooling the audience, Ishii doesn't dwell too long on this question and that's ok. It's a very surface-level exploration with a fun twist at the end, it almost becomes comedic!
The actors do a fantastic job pulling this forward and Katsuhito Ishii is making the best out of this short story! It's kind of strange how these characters in the short story feel more fleshed out than the characters that he's done for his full-length films, it's almost funny.
If you'd say something negative about this short film is that it lacks something that Ishii is an expert of, and that's style and aesthetic. As the setting of the short film's "model house" the short film feels very by the numbers and almost a bit cheap, its almost surprising how this movie doesn't really carry that flair that he puts on his movies.
Even if this short film didn't floor me completely I feel glad to have ended this Katsuhito Ishii movie on a high! Check it out!
Harô! Jun'ichi (2014)
This is perhaps the weirdest you're gonna get from this director
At this point I don't know what to expect from Katsuhito Ishii. Every single film he does feels like a huge left turn, for better or worse. While he's undoubtedly a master at creating movies with a sense of aesthetics and cool characters I've always felt he was a weak storyteller, always focusing on the wrong things, plot devices get introduced out of nowhere, characters seem to be paper thin etc etc. On this movie those weaknesses of his are apparent but this is perhaps the best movie he's done "story wise", and I'm not joking.
"Hello! Junichi" follows the titular Junichi and his group of friends (everyone gets introduced) through a series of events that unfold around Junichi who seeks out to become braver and less of a wuss. Him and his friends world gets turned upside down when a beautiful and slightly delinquent substitute teacher takes and teaches their class for a month, hijinks ensue.
While most of it has a bubbly childlike quality I feel that he could've done more with the overall presentation of the movie as it looks kinda cheap in many parts. Even if this is his most consistent movie to date I feel that a lot of the stuff that he's not good at surfaces still, characters are introduced but don't get any real emotional resolutions, his characters still feel paper thin. However I have to agree that the ending of the movie leaves you smiling even if you're kind of half-annoyed by the kids of this movie.
What I'm more curious about is how he decided to do a movie like this? Something so far from what he's done, something so "mundane"? A simple children's movie. This is what I thought of almost during the whole runtime. It is truly a curiosity. Should you watch this? Maybe? I only got to see this because I bought a box set containing movies outside "The Taste of Tea". If you're a fan of his then go nuts I guess, but outside from that I don't know what this movie could give the average moviegoer, it's a very simple kids movie. But even if I sound a bit too critical from it I would lie if I didn't say that this movie didn't have charm, which it does in its own way, and the ending is sweet.
Tillsammans (2000)
We're all better together than alone despite our differences
So today after several years of having heard of this movie I decided to watch Lukas Moodyssons seminal movie that is still referenced today. It's even more actual now because the sequel has just been released so I thought I would give this Swedish classic a spin, and I was not disappointed.
"Tillsammans" follows the lives in a collective of the same name as they get a new addition to their collective by a mum that has been physically abused and their kids. This instantly sets in motion a series of events that unravels the whole collective, for better or worse.
First off, what I can appreciate about this movie is how funny it can be without being way too obvious. Lukas knows how to make the absurdity of this situation into a very fun one.
Secondly the ensemble of actors is just amazing, top tier acting from both adults and kids in this movie.
Thirdly, this movie is just gorgeous, the period of 70s Swedish socialism and pop culture is captured with 100% precision it's almost uncanny some times.
Also also I can appreciate the political underlying discussion that's also a part of the movie. Also a treatise into how collectives like that can be destructive but also ultimately amazing if you find people that can accept your differences. I think this movie touches a lot of themes of narcissism and just the state of loneliness, humanity is unfortunately a struggle between wanting to feel belonging and togetherness but also the desire of wanting to inhibit and wanting to be respected in your own space.
There are some portrayals that felt a bit weird to me and a bit unfair (like the gay man Klas who forces himself constantly onto his love interest which is then juxtaposed with Lena who starts being forceful and weird around the children of the collective) and also how an abuser of a father gets way too many second chances. But I guess it's within the time period and how the director perhaps interprets the dynamics of these during this time. It doesn't ruin the film but I think it's worth to notice!
If you want to see one of the most iconic Swedish films ever made then I totally recommend you give this a watch. It's heartwarming, uncomfortable but also feels real.
Tôkyô goddofâzâzu (2003)
Should be considered an all time classic
Satoshi Kon's "Tokyo Godfathers" feels like a miracle in itself, a portrait of three homeless people in Japan, one drunk older man, a trans woman and a runaway teen who get caught up in a high octane chase to find the real parents of an abandoned baby in the street. A story that's far removed from the clean and modern aesthetic vistas of Tokyo that shows there's light even in the messiest and darkest places. You can see that this is a story made with love and lust for life, it shows a director in his most generous and open in his portrait, inviting the unsung people- people that are not your typical movie heroes. And that's where a big part of the charm lies.
First things first, I gotta talk about the animation- it is GORGEOUS! Satoshi Kon always knows how to showcase some of the most breathtaking and detailed vistas- every frame tells a story and his vision of modern Tokyo seen through the eyes of homeless people is just amazing. You can watch this movie many times and find something new every watch, it is that good.
Then there's the actors which do a fantastic job in portraying this misfit family, even if they're animated they feel real. You can also see in some extras in how they studied movement and such to make these characters feel more believable. Even the actors that talk Spanish talk with an actual dialogue and not mishmash gibberish (which is what I thought first since they aren't subtitled in the movie). I do applaud him for having a trans woman as one of the main characters and heroes in the story, and this was way back in 2003! So amazing and groundbreaking.
Also I applaud this movie for keeping it very adult-oriented. Don't get me wrong; this is probably Satoshi Kon's most lighthearted work filled with humour and comedy but it's not for kids and that's something I appreciate a lot. Someone that's pushing the boundaries in storytelling and moviemaking, which Satoshi Kon does. That's why him not being around us anymore is a huge loss for art and animation as a whole... who else is championing these adult stories in the world of animation? No one really, at least in movies.
Even if I've seen this movie many times Tokyo Godfathers continues to impress me everytime I watch it. This movie should be way up in the movie discourses and should be regarded as a classic in itself. Check it out!
Kaibutsu (2023)
The complexities of human life
Watching Monster is almost like watching Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece "Rashomon", it's a film that grips you from start to finish, a film that unravels with every single minute. Not a moment wasted, every part of this movie is vital to the story.
Monster follows the story of two friends from fifth graders Minato and Yori, who strike a beautiful friendship that becomes the focal point of many happenings and misunderstandings in this story which makes you ask yourself, who is the real monster? And who is the real villain of this story. The answer is surprisingly complex and for you, the viewer to decide.
This movie is masterfully made, every shot is made with purpose. So is the music that accompanies it, made by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto who adorns every scene with his deeply affecting score.
The actors make a fantastic job as well, I'm not a fan of child actors but here everyone is doing an amazing job from adult to child.
If there's anything negative that I gotta say about this film is that perhaps one plot thread concerning the principal wasn't fully explored in the movie, however I feel that it still becomes very impactful.
Please watch Monster, I feel that there's so many ways that we as humans misunderstand each other and there are many factors lying beyond the rumours that people talk about, this is truly a treatise on the grayscale of humanity.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Am I corny?
There's no way around it, Avatar is a HUGE movie. The first movie, for better or worse, really changed cinema. I can never replicate the same feeling I felt when watching the first movie in cinemas when I was at 9th grade at school. I was instantly drawn, and wanted to stay in this world as much as possible. I bought different versions on Blu-ray and watched them many times, even memorising some lines of the movie. It was truly something amazing. At least according to me, but as with all things popular it's gathered a lot of hate, memes and some infamy during the years. So it feels unreal to see the sequel appear while I myself have gone from being just a kid to becoming a full-fledged adult. And while some of the sights feel familiar and bittersweet I can say it feels great to be back in Pandora.
The movie is great, it's what James Cameron is known for, perfecting sequels and making them into an experience that's bigger than its original movie, we saw that with Alien and Terminator. Here in the second movie of Avatar he does what he's always been fascinated by, water and the life surrounding it. Going to the sea was a brilliant move from the director that also feels like a natural extension of what Avatar really is. And many of its components are stunning, the design, the effects, the music are all fantastic.
The actors do a great job as well, just as in the first movie.
While this movie is great I think it has a few flaws and I think it's just mainly how this sequel is being written. It's a bit like how most sequels are written, bringing back the same antagonists but in another shape, kids of the protagonists etc etc. Some of it can feel a bit cliche but most of it makes sense when you watch the movie. Also with how the movie is going to end (no spoiler) I think they're gonna keep on this premise. I also think some plot points are smoothed over and there's some things that aren't really explained. Maybe it's because they want to keep viewers to see the sequel or something.
As I watched the movie I was first a bit ambivalent because of my memories of how the first was and also the sound of the haters saying that I'm corny and stuff. But the movie has a charm that instantly takes over you as soon as they reach the sea, I damn near cried at some of the stuff that happens in the movie.
So I guess I am corny, I like this, even if some of the plot feels familiar and even if it feels very bombastic but I still feel this movie deserves its flowers and just the amount of time it took to get here feels unreal. Go watch it if you have the time.
Kimitachi wa dô ikiru ka (2023)
It's confused, but it got the spirit
Seeing The Boy and The Heron, Hayao Miyazaki's latest movie feels almost like a monumental event in and of itself. It was announced almost as a surprise with the words "Hayao Miyazaki's last movie". With this amount of hype, including the amazing reviews it's got from critics, my hype was built up to the max. The end result? Not what I expected, and that's ok!
Let's get to the positives, the animation is STUNNING. The way Hayao Miyazaki manages to build these worlds and characters is just an amazing feat, they all come alive with the colours and the movement. Another positive is the tone of the movie, I really hate Disney for trying to market this as a kid's movie, when it's not. It's got some unnerving and scary moments and themes that are not suited for kids, which is good. Hayao Miyazaki is at his best when he manages to blend the adult with the fantastical.
The actors are always amazing, I saw the Japanese dub so I don't know how the western VAs are doing but wow; they all do a fantastic job!
Now to the negatives... a huge thing about Studio Ghibli movies in general, especially the ones from Hayao Miyazaki, is that they're always by rule driven by the characters, it's their journey that's in the front. World building and narrative always takes a second place in his movies to be able to not distract from the characters journeys, big examples of this are Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle where the world building is built by very simple and effective means and rules. But here in the Boy and The Heron the world building is so convoluted and confusing it almost feels like he wanted it to take center stage in this movie and it's such a shame because it feels at like it's at odds with it's own main character who supposedly undergoes a deep deep emotional journey but it all finishes off in a very abrupt and unfitting send-off in the end which really confused me and just didn't feel like a good payoff.
Also the way this movie introduces characters left and right with no rhyme or reason is super confusing. Once again, Hayao Miyazaki did this very minimally in his past movies where the characters get room to be explored and to leave an impact in the story but here once again it's at odds with its own world building- it all feels very haphazard and messy. The Heron is a fun character but I don't feel like he or Mahito do or learn anything from these adventures.
Now, it may sound like I hated this movie, but I didn't. It's just that I care so much about Hayao Miyazaki movies and Studio Ghibli movies that I can't help to compare them to the movies we've seen before. And despite it not being Hayao Miyazaki's best it's still pretty good, it's very much worth a watch.
Party 7 (2000)
Would've probably worked better as a short film
Party 7 is another one of Katsuhito Ishii's creations and it is just as baffling as it is fascinating. The plot is incomprehensible, the characters follow a very specific logic, and the movie is in a permanent standstill until the end. Am I glad I saw it? Yes! Would I see it again? Not really!
Let's get the positives first, Katsuhito Ishii knows how to create aesthetically appealing characters that ooze with confidence charisma and style. That style is translated to his own visual language as well that uses both animation and very purposeful shots throughout the movie and it has some fun flashes of quirky humour ... if only that translated to one of the most core important things of filmmaking. An engaging and cohesive plot.
Party 7 is about 7 characters in a hotel that converge in one single hotel room, two peepers watching from the outside and the rest in their own unfolding drama on the inside, this could make for a very interesting Tarantino-esque plot (Katsuhito is clearly inspired by Tarantino) but it sort falls under its own logic and pace. When the movie finally gets to somewhere, the movie ends. I would understand if this movie is more character-driven or more of a "vibe" piece but it's neither as the characters that we get introduced to in the movie are so paper thin they're almost like Katsuhito Ishii's 2D animations. There's no one that you really engage with for the plot. The result becomes quite messy and unfocused! Which is a shame cause all of the actors are really doing an amazing job!
In turn this movie would've worked far better if it was a short film, which is what I feel about most of Katsuhito Ishii's efforts. They're just not engaging enough to warrant a full length movie... I think in the context of Katsuhito Ishii's own filmmaking career it is a very interesting movie to watch, but don't expect something engaging, it's just a very fun experiment that didn't quite pay off.
(It's worth noting that this movie is now available in Blu-ray as a part of a Katsuhito Ishii compilation made by Third Window, really happy I have this)
Hachigatsu no yakusoku (1995)
A Japanese stoner comedy?
Promise of August is one of Katsuhito Ishii's most well-known shorts, filmed just three years before his debut Sharkskin Man and Peach Hip Girl. And honestly out of the two feature length movies (Sharkskin & Taste of Tea) that I've seen so far this one is my favourite of his.
Promise of August follows the group of three college girls travelling somewhere rural in the quest for a bag of weed. It's very nonsensical and Katsuhito Ishii doesn't shy away from the nonsensical nature of the story.
On the way to find their treasured weed the girls stumble upon a suicidal man who decides to help them.... I'm not gonna spoil more since it's a very short film but it's worth watching it!
In this movie you see all of Katsuhito Ishii's styles in a more condensed and effective manner. I know he is mostly known for his pensive and quirky style but I feel that in such a short story you get even more engaged, which... to be honest I've found it a little bit hard to do with the films I've seen before so I'm happy that I can see a version of his filming that is more effective and to the point! Even the comedy is funny in some points as well.
His style is super fun and always gorgeous to watch, a true sense of aesthetics!
If there's something that I'd say that I don't like about the movie is the portrayal of the suicidal man, he's portrayed as this pervy incel who uses sex to make others feel sorry for him. I think that (and I hope that) Katsuhito Ishii made this character as a way to make fun of these type of guys so in that way I understand.
All in all this short film was a lovely surprise! It's not the best I've seen but it certainly deserves a watch. This was included in the Katsuhito Ishii collection that is a fantastic collection that was issued by Third Window so I'm not sure about the availability of this short film otherwise!
Samehada otoko to momojiri onna (1998)
Destiny's Yakuza
I'm no stranger to Katsuhito Ishii's work. I think we've all seen his The Taste of Tea, which I didn't like at all. It's been a long time since I saw it but I remember it feeling too long and slow and incoherent. Some of that is on this film as well but this film has a very likeable element that despite its quirks it feels more relatable and fun.
There's no denying that Katsuhito Ishii has a fantastic sense of style and aesthetics. His characters are brimming with colour and wonderful. This clashes with how he really does movies which is a very surreal and slow style and you can see that he's really aiming for a Tarantino-esque type of approach which serves the movie good!
As I said, the characters are the focal point of this. I just wish they had more to say and more to do on screen. There's a few moments of this film where you feel there's a momentum and it lacks that for a lot of the movie's runtime. Sure, things happen but it feels very slow. Tadanobu Asano and Sie Kohinata make an excellent lead couple, I honestly wish the movie was more about them.
This movie also has a very weird comical vibe throughout it as to puncture this whole bizarre situation. It mostly serves to give it a lighthearted feel, I wouldn't say I laughed a lot at this.
All in all I'd say this movie is a worthy watch because it has a lot of style and it's just pretty neat! But if you want a fast paced silly action film then you might have to check somewhere else cause this is not it.
Barbie (2023)
Barbie is awesome
Let's just get it out of the way, I freaking love Barbie. So many memories and ideals are connected to her that even without the movie I still get nostalgic about. The iconography, the looks, Ken (~swoon~)... there was one problem though, I am a boy, I could never get a Barbie because my parents never would let me have one. Instead I stole my cousins mermaid Barbie and treated her like one of my most precious toys until she disappeared, perhaps she went into Barbieland? Greta Gerwig's movie seemingly let us tap into all of that and more thanks to a great PR team that I haven't seen work their magic since a long long time, in other words hype has been BUILT. How does it fare? I left the cinema with a smile but I wish that it could have something MORE. Let me explain down below.
Barbie is a movie that is about Barbie, the doll, the idea, living in a world separate from reality called Barbieland a world where Barbie is everything, from the president to a Nobel prize laureate to a doctor. She runs this world in all her iterations, until the stereotypical Barbie somehow gets thoughts about death, she gets a flat foot (CHAOS!) and she gets cellulites (THE HORROR!)- she has to fix this by travelling in the real world with Ken and in this she meets a hard working mother and her cynical daughter- fun hijinks galore!
This movie has got the aesthetics DOWN, like it's so pretty and so meticulously done with all the details, to how the actors act and how the worlds are built- this is more on how the Barbie world is, because when it mixes with the real world. That's where things get a bit complicated.
Example; There's no actual "real" separation between Barbieland or the real world, meaning that the real world feels like a mirror flipped version of Barbieland where people act just as outlandish as the titular dolls. I kinda wish that Greta would've made a script that actually puts Barbie in real world, how it is right now, and I know that Greta is great at making reality feel relatable and recognisable and human but I felt there was not much of a difference. Maybe it was so that they could fill the whole Mattel-company storyline in it? Either way I wish that Greta would play more with these contrasts and fish-out-of-water-feelings.
This in turn makes the other characters that should be relatable for the moviegoers- i.e. The daughter and the mother feel painfully flat and just unnecessary for the story overall, despite making them "deep" they felt honestly super flat, like dolls and stereotypes of characters in a movie. And I don't think that was Greta's intention, not if you see the movies that she's done before where there's always a singular perspective but here I think she's kind of confused on who to use the perspective the most on. Luckily it is Barbie and Ken for the most of the movie, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are doing a fantastic job at playing these characters and it's in their moments where the comedy shines the most.
Another missed opportunity generally I think is just addressing the gay history that is tied to the Barbie brand. And how gay men like me were influenced by it- not to say that this was absolutely important for a movie like this but I still feel like it would've made sense, at least the gay doll of 90s Ken (who was made popular in the 90s due to being bought by mostly gay men) made an appearance, if only briefly. I know, I shouldn't make demands about this but I feel like there would've been something even more interesting with addressing all the boys that play with Barbie dolls, the "real world" feels very black and white in this sense. But I regress, this is just a tangent and a thought!
I love the comedic and camp elements, I think they are what sustain the movie and the fashion of course. Also I love that it brings forth the themes of feminism as that is needed in a movie like this, I think that it does so in a great manner. Is it the movie that I wanted? Not really, but I'm glad that it exists, I'm glad that I saw it. Maybe I was too much swayed by the whole PR marketing strategy but I really wanted this to be a new camp and fun fun classic. Instead it feels just good and that's ok. I wanted it to be more of an adult-oriented movie and maybe that's where Greta kind of flubbed it, trying to make it both kid and adult friendly but she honestly doesn't succeed at neither and that's alright.
Kyûtî Hanî (2004)
Hideaki Anno's Camp Masterpiece
Say what you want about Cutie Honey, but it's a movie that's characterised by its fun- in very few movies have I felt the joy and vibrancy of its director behind it. Considering Hideaki's past endeavours, the much more serious in tone Love + Pop and Neon Genesis Evangelion one would think this movie impossible in his overall oeuvre but it's not- it fits right there earning its place as one of his greatest films. Or that's what I feel in my heart at least.
So Cutie Honey follows the story of Honey Kisaragi, an immortal human born again by the power of love achieved through her choker that her father made when she got into a car accident. A shady and otherworldly organisation called the Panther Claws are trying to get this collar's technology in order to continue being immortal so Honey meets two other people, serious policewoman Natsuki and journalist Seiji that will get her to the bottom of this organisation.
Now let's start with some positives, I think the people that make all of these new superhero movies nowadays should learn a thing or two about this one- Hideaki isn't concerned with making another "origin story" but instead plants the viewer directly into the drama and action of it all. Even if I didn't knew what Cutie Honey was before watching the movie I still felt that I knew these characters and what the gist of the plot was. We still get some minor exposition dumps here and there but it's nothing that interrupts the experience in my opinion- and it happens naturally too (according to me!).
Another thing that I love about this movie is its commitment to use more practical effects and actual miniature set pieces- there's an extras documentary included in the DVD where Hideaki Anno explained that he wanted to keep any digital VFX to a minimum which is just so amazing, wish moviemakers had that same mindset today! Heck, he even created a new style of animation in this movie, a type of animation that combines the poses and stunts a real life actor does with the movements of an anime and manga panel.
Keeping on with the positives, and that's in the hugely talented cast that supports this movie. It wouldn't work otherwise, everyone is camping it up to the max and I love to see it. It all appears as if they're having maximum fun giving their all to make this movie as fun as possible- even supposed newcomer Eriko Sato (the role of Honey) makes a fun and engaging main role (it's kinda weird tho how in the dvd she's marketed as the top swimsuit model of Japan and not an actress lol!).
Another thing that I love is just how it's filmed, it perhaps doesn't have a lot of the experimental shots that one is accustomed to see in Hideaki's past films (Love + Pop being an excellent example for this), but it still carries style and camp and flair.
Speaking of camp, this movie goes all out in visuals, acting and is why I think it could turn off a lot of people expecting something else, due to it being from Hideaki and such but I think if you just let yourself go and just enjoy it for what it is then it delivers in spades!
And now for a few negatives, namely that this movie can feel quite nonsensical in structure and some characters don't get very fleshed out. I know that's one of the main disadvantages of remaking an anime/manga into a live action movie, in a manga you get the development and fleshing out of characters in many many pages but in a movie it has to be cut down... In this aspect I still think Hideaki does a fine job.
All in all this is a wonderful movie, filled with fun and lots of heart and campness. Check it out!
Chûgoku no chôjin (1998)
A deeply poetic film
I think it's one of the most common things that we humans experience in our lives, the wish to fly. Haven't we all imagined to have the power to just lift off the ground and leave all the problems that you have behind? I sure have, and this movie taps into that exact feeling- it's not perfect but it sure leaves you thinking.
The Bird People of China follows the trip of salaryman Wada that is tasked to go to a village in China to find a new vein full of precious stones like jade and exploit it for the good of the company which will lead to a modernisation of a village. It doesn't take long when Wada's trip is intercepted by older Yakuza Ujjie who is tasked to follow Wada's trip in order to ensure payment for his clan (that Wada's company is in debt with). Little do both know how this trip will impact them.
Let's start with the positives, I think this movie is very well done- it's beautiful, it has excellent style and somehow manages to balance the difference in tones when it needs to. The drama, the comedy, the absurdity and more. The vistas of China are breathtaking and almost hypnotic. It's almost as if Takashi Miike wanted to show the meaning of a place that is untouched by modernisation. I think this movie shares a bit of a thematic link with another movie by Takeshi Kitano that is called Sonatine, where Yakuza go to Okinawa and experience a sort of purgatory (just like with this movie where the literal road to this village is called "the road of death"). There's also themes of exploitation and the awfulness of our busy modern lives, these are all present throughout the movie and is conveyed in meaningful ways.
The music is also pretty good and thematic to the movie. The actors are pretty great overall. This is really something so different from what I've seen from Takashi Miike and it makes me appreciate his skill in making movies more, he's made so many movies yet he can do them so amazingly and here's another one that shows another facet of his art.
Now to some of the negatives, despite the general beauty and skill in making this movie I feel that it has a few pacing problems at 1hr 58 mins this movie feels a bit too long and some of the mysteries present just don't take the plot anywhere. You could basically make a much tighter film by cutting down 20 mins I think. It can be argued that the pacing is vital to the movie but I feel that it hinders it to feel that it has a drive, even if it's meant to be a bit meditative and serious at the second half.
All in all I think this is a good movie from Takashi Miike that I think more should experience, even if the pacing and story structure poses a few problems I still think that it has something meaningful to say about our lives in modern civilisation and how we're drawn to it despite the hurt that it gives us. A wonderful effort that should be considered as one of the best movies in the Takashi Miike oeuvre.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)
The boy who's lived many many many lives
It's no news that the story of Pinocchio is one of the most adapted stories in the overall cinema oeuvre, it's a pretty compelling story with darker shades that have captivated many throughout the years, that's why it's with great pleasure to see that one of the greatest of cinema, Guillermo del Toro has chosen to adapt this tale into his darker fairytale style. He's already done this with the brilliant Pan's Labyrinth and that movie about Día de los Muertos that I haven't seen yet. However, with the story of Pinocchio I've only ever seen the Disney version (and my only reference on how this story has been done), and despite all the times that I've seen it as a kid it was one of the Disney movies that scared me the most with its elements of body horror and being swallowed alive by a whale monster- how does Guillermo fare in adapting this tale?
Pinocchio follows the life of Gepetto, a masterful carpenter in an Italian village with the backdrop of the Italian fascist dictatorship looming over him, after the loss of his son his grief is touched or overheard by a forest spirit that decides to give a puppet that Gepetto did, life to accompany him and be his son.
At first glance the story seems to follow the basic story threads and plot of the other Pinocchios however it doesn't, it adds a whole different side to how it is told with a new ending and a different side plot, characters and motive that sheds a whole new light into the story. The most basic element of any Pinocchio story is that of a boy that learns to not lie anymore, however in here Guillermo switches the narrative- rather than a boy learning not to lie it's more about being truthful to oneself and one's own ideals, this is perhaps the most truthful Pinocchio that we've ever got! Don't get me wrong, we do get the whole "nose grows because of lies"-thingy but it's used extremely sparingly and only as a plot device for something that happens near the end of the movie. This Pinocchio isn't chastised because of his lies, it's more because he represents the freedom that so many despise, especially in fascist Italy which changes the whole element of this narrative. This was a good choice that Guillermo made but perhaps it's gonna throw off some viewers. I also like that he used the backdrop of fascist era Italy for this story it's almost too perfect!
The animation is GORGEOUS, it's made with such care and fluidity- in a cinema landscape where 3D animation is the norm it is a great joy for me to see that directors want to do something in this style- it takes a lot more time but it's worth it! You can see the love that's been given to all of the frames, the character designs, it's truly an artful masterpiece in this manner.
The actors are great as well, although there's a bit of a disparity on who gets to have an Italian accent or not, Pinocchio has a very British accent which is alright but it takes away from some of the immersion of the movie (I know this is nitpicky but I think it is worth mentioning). Overall everyone is super good!
The music is good, it's fun to see some of the musical numbers, I don't think they take over the movie (sometimes even interrupted by the characters in the movie when it is perceived to be "annoying") and they serve the movie well.
Despite me loving the movie I think it has a few shortcomings, they don't affect the overall experience but I think they should've been looked into a bit more.
The majority of the movie is about Pinocchio rebelling against his surroundings and instilling friendships in those situations, which is a good thing, but the main problem of this is that the relationship between Pinocchio and Gepetto isn't really earned which makes the impact of that ending scene a bit less emotional (in the context of the movie it is super sad and emotional but it's just not earned to be that way due to how Gepetto and Pinocchio act in the majority of the movie). Gepetto starts his relationship with Pinocchio fearing and almost hating him which makes Pinocchio disappear for the rest of the movie into something else, it would've been way more impactful if perhaps Gepetto could've been a part of these escapades that Pinocchio has? That would've made it even more impactful!
Considering the ending, I won't spoil it here but it adds some really unnecessary continuity to the story which makes it less impactful (again) it also doesn't tie the plot in some of the aspects of one character that is left in the dust (namely the boy named Candlewick).
Another thing that I wish this story would have is perhaps more of Guillermo's signature horror sensibilities, stop motion animation is PERFECT for this type of mashup of genres (see Coraline) and here it does have some unnerving elements but nothing more which is strange considering how amazing Guillermo is at doing this. I honestly think the Disney movie is more scary than this one. I blame this aspect on the marketing and the critics of this film cause they said that this was a bit scary but it isn't really. At least not for me.
All in all this is a great movie, it is awesome to see Guillermo expanding his range to other types of filmmaking and it is always amazing to see stop motion animation- despite some plot choices and some lack of edge I think it still stands as one of the greatest adaptations of Pinocchio. Check it out!
Kopps (2003)
This is the "Top Gun" for the Swedish police force
Just kidding haha! But it would be funny if this film incited more people to join the police force just as Top Gun did for the air force. However, I don't think that's the case for Kopps here in Sweden, nevertheless it still stands as one of the most iconic films from Josef Fares who's been a very influential film in Swedish comedy culture. This movie was also a big part of my own upbringing in Sweden as an immigrant child, so I feel a close connection to this one.
Kopps follows the life of Jacob who works at the police force in a very small village, you know the deal, everyone knows everyone, no crime, only one restaurant where they sell hot dogs and waffles. We get to know the other members of the police force as well! Either way it's a very comfortable life, until that is all shaken by the arrival of Jessica a worker from the Swedish police force HQ that says that they are gonna need to close the police force in the village down due to them having no crime for more than 10 years... so in order to keep their small police force to stay they're going to need to up the crime statistics in their town, with hilarious results!
Let's start with the obvious, this film is FUNNY, I love the humour, it's a blend of reference humour to awkward to quirky to slapstick which is blended in a very fun way. Josef Fares knows his way around a punch line which is also played to every actors strength, as you'll see they're all very good comedians who even do standup and comedy in real life as well (most notably Sissela Kyle in this group). It's also filmed in a very charming manner, like an ode to those American films but in a very small town way, so the film has its own aesthetic despite being a comedy movie (who mostly don't have a good aesthetic). It's very simple but don't let that fool you, it looks beautiful in its simplicity even! I also appreciate the length of this movie, it is short but sweet. It's crazy how all films are almost always 2 hours long nowadays, really don't like that.
Even the music is alright! Making its own tribute to those action film soundtracks but in a small town Swedish movie.
If there's any negatives to say about this movie I guess the ending feels a bit anticlimactic? I won't spoil it here but it ends in a punchline that is funny however they should've done a little bit more to make that punchline deserved.
(It's still a great ending but if I made it I would've changed some of it!).
Check it out if you want a piece of Swedish pop culture, it's a film that's been almost everywhere and everyone knows about it, both this one and Jalla Jalla are amazing!
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Should be in the top lists of best sequels of all time like Aliens or Shrek 2
Home Alone 2 shouldn't work, but it oddly does? It does so by keeping the spirit of the original alive by improving it and making the stakes and plot bigger and better! And here's why.
Home Alone 2 follows Kevin from the first movie, except instead of being left alone at his home he instead gets alone in the city of New York (he got separated from his family in the airport), he learns how to fend himself in the big city and to encounter a familiar villain from the first film.
First off the positives, the movie is much longer than the first one but doesn't feel like it- instead the length feels generous and you don't really want to leave the wintery streets of New York. Building on this critique I think it builds up an excellent atmosphere, just like in the second movie- it breathes christmas through and through. The direction is nostalgically filmed and grand for a movie like this, it looks good with effective shots. The music isn't as memorable as the first one but serves a good purpose throughout.
The actors are excellent as well, delivering their best comedic timing (I mean, who doesn't love Tim Curry!?).
If there are any negatives to be said well... I'd say it's the same as the first one, so many plot points are very hard to explain for this movie, for example how couldn't the family see Kevin go out of the plain when they arrive to Florida? Or didn't the mum check for her son in the plane? It all feels a bit strange but then you have to remember this is a Home Alone movie so just go with the flow. I guess it is kind of hard to write another disappearance and trying to make it make sense, because in a way the characters should have learned from the mistakes of the first movie but eh, it's better not to think too hard about it!
Either way this movie succeeds as a great sequel, building up the ante and just being pure unadulterated Christmas fun. Check it out, if you have seen the first one!
Home Alone (1990)
SAW: The Beginning
Just kidding haha... but it's what's been memed to death over and over again regarding this colossus of the Christmas season, Home Alone. A movie so universally loved that it even has some conspiracy theories behind it (Elvis is still alive and works as an extra in the movie!?), and it is not hard to wonder why it is such a success, it is written by perhaps one of the greatest people to understand how young people are, and that is John Hughes.
In Home Alone we follow the story of Kevin the youngest in a family of 7 (plus cousins and whatever) who is the one that gets the shaft every single time (his siblings and cousins constantly mock him for being so young). An evening when the whole whole WHOLE family is gathered before a trip to Paris in the morning Kevin gets into a big fight that makes him get mad at his family wishing that they never appear in his life again. Morning comes and the family forgets about Kevin and go to Paris. The rest you probably know.
Let's get this out of the way, Home Alone is amazing. Despite all of its plot holes it still works very well as a Christmas movie and as a great movie overall. It makes me wish that we were still in the 90s when people dared to write original movies and concepts, don't get me wrong there are new and original movies right now but not in the same vein as Home Alone and other franchises back then. It has the perfect sheer sheen of nostalgia all around it, it's filmed in a very effective and great way and it has great practical effects.
The music is also legendary with a score that is so iconic that you can't even imagine the movie without it.
Same thing with the acting in this movie it's pretty great for a movie like this, everyone knows what type of movie it is and give their most fun and heartfelt performance. It feels honestly like they had so much fun filming this movie!
Negatives, it feels kinda obvious but there are so many times Kevin could've just gone to the police and stay at the police station or something. The whole plot device of the phone lines not working just doesn't hold a lot of water (especially when later in the movie there are phones working as if by magic). Also there's so many times could've seen where their kid is (I have a hard time believing that they didn't see Kevin going out of the car to the airport, being in a hurry or not). I could go on for ages on how they could've just done stuff much simpler but that kind of ruins the magic of the movie so I choose not to think about these too much. I wouldn't have forgiven these if there were errors like these in any other movie but due to the fact that this movie is fun and great makes it still work and hold together despite its errors and that's a testament to how good it is.
Do I have to say more? If you haven't seen Home Alone then please do it, and if you have kids even better- they deserve to see something fun! I'll always remember the magic of seeing this for the first time in my life. Something that I revisit every single year.