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Gook (2017)
Didn't quite do it for me
Watched this movie on a plane. Was intrigued since I am Asian and grew up during the L.A. riots.
This movie didn't quite do it for me. The pace was too slow. Dialogue was a lot of frustrated yelling and awkward silence. If the director's intent was to make you feel character's pain and struggles, I will give him that.
Plot was predictable, and although the characters did a good job displaying their full emotions on screen, it was difficult to get attached to any of them.
I wasn't a fan of the black and white either, which added to my impatience in wanting the movie to end.
Tsure ga utsu ni narimashite. (2011)
Great movie that helps you reflect on the important things in life
I watched this movie on a flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles, and I'm really glad I did. This movie is one of those Japanese ones that I've come to really enjoy. It combines great acting (the two main characters, a couple, have a genuine chemistry), has a nice, steady pace, and puts many important things into perspective that we often overlook, such as what it means to love one another, what a marriage means, and the serious nature of depression. The movie also has many humorous moments, along with serious ones, and left me both laughing and wanting to shed a tear. This movie is fictional but could pass as a biopic or documentary about how a couple overcame the disease together. The movie runs 2 hours but did not have any slow moments for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
Lion (2016)
1st half great, 2nd half fell short
This is tale of two movies. First half had an excellent pace, great acting, and kept you engaged at all times. The screenplay and film shots captured many of the scenes and moments perfectly. Music blended seamlessly.
The second half, however, left a lot to be desired. The pace slowed down, the main character kept agonizing so much that it became old and tired, and the subplot of his relationship with the girl felt forced and rather unnecessary. It also felt like a Googlemaps paid for a placement as it was referenced and used so many time; this was a distraction.
The ending was nonetheless heart touching and left me with a few tears in my eyes. It's just that the 2nd half could've been directed so much better to make this a truly great film.
Dunkirk (2017)
Solid war film
This was not my favorite Christopher Nolan film (that honor goes to Interstellar), but it was a solid movie nonetheless. The movie has a very tense and raw feel to it that made my adrenaline rush throughout. The dialogue is far and few between and there are 3 plots that are intertwined – the land, the sea, and the air. The most entertaining to me was the air. At the end of the movie, I felt the underlying theme that Nolan was portraying was that of "sacrifice," and how heroism (and cowardice) can come out even in the best of us in times of struggle and hopelessness. Hans Zimmer produced a wonderful score we have become accustomed to. He utilized the "shepherd's tone" perfectly to build up the gravity of each scene when appropriate. Christopher Nolan once again shows his versatility and ambition in taking on a challenging genre and does an excellent job of formulating a cinematic experience to his own style and pace.
Terrace House: Boys & Girls in the City (2015)
Reality show that gives you a glimpse into Japanese relationships and culture
I found out about this show while flying on ANA airlines and watched the movie they had made (Terrace House: Closing Door). The movie was very good, kind of like a long episode of a season, and I was instantly hooked. I was pretty stoked when I found out Netflix would be airing it. I watched 1 episode of "Boys and Girls in the City" and was instantly hooked. This is a reality Japanese show that puts 3 young adult guys and girls in a house together. The goal is to develop friendships and to eventually find love, if possible. Sometimes romance happens, other times it does not. The ages range from 18-30. The housemates are free to leave ("graduate") the show as they please. Every time someone leaves, they replace him/her with a new member, always keeping the same guy to girl ratio. Most of the members are in the acting/modeling industry, so many are good looking, are charming, and/or know how to provide entertainment. They all carry regular jobs (or are searching for one), so they live their normal lives but always come back to live at the house, where most of the conversation/events happen. Sometimes the camera will follow the outside, for when the members go to work (to give us a glimpse of their real world), go on dates, etc. The producers say that there is no script and nothing is rigged. I don't believe this 100% to be true, due to the certain situations that arise that seem a bit forced or suspicious, but it's fun to watch the show and think everything is unscripted. The commentators, famous actors/actresses/personalities in the entertainment industry, provide very entertaining, sometimes hilarious commentary about the members and what transpires everyday. Some of my friends skip through the commentary, but I really enjoy it. I particularly like the chemistry between Yu, Yamasato, and Torii. The subtitles are close to perfection and are able to catch and describe the context of each situation. If you get hooked on the show as much as me and my friends, you'll start rooting for certain people and rooting against others. It's also easy to get attached to them. I believe every member is on some kind of social media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) so it is easy to see into their lives from a different angle, even after they graduate. Netflix has partnered with Fuji TV and have provided an excellent and entertaining show that gives us a fisheye view into the lives of Japanese young adults, how they interact, and an unobscured view into Japanese culture. What makes this show special for me is the pure, genuine relationships that develop between the members, and to get an interesting perspective into the minds of Japanese young adults.
47 Meters Down (2017)
Head scratcher
I enjoy the ocean and generally like the thriller/suspense genre so I gave this movie a try. I went in with no expectations but was pretty disappointed when walking out. This is one of those movies that is pretty predictable, has questionable acting, and at many times leaves you scratching your head (i.e. why did she do that?) Some of the special effects were good, some were overused. It's probably better you save your money and catch this movie on TV when you're bored on a Friday night.
Nobushi no Gourmet (2017)
Entertaining show that dives into Japanese food and culture
Excellent show that embellishes on Japan's food culture. It is based on a manga (comic) of a retired businessman who spends his new found time exploring different cuisines Japan has to offer. Some of his food adventures are intentional, and some are not. During his adventures, he has to summon his inner samurai (alter ego, so to say) to get him out of sticky situations. This show is purely fictional. The main character's chemistry with his very well played wife (famous Honami Suzuki from Tokyo Love Story) is so natural and genuine. Excellent directing, editing, and screenplay as well. Each episode is only about 20 minutes long, so it has a very high watchable rating. I was hooked after the first episode, and I hope they continue to make more. If you have an appreciation for good food and Japanese culture, you will enjoy this show.
Rogue One (2016)
Perhaps my favorite star wars movie
I am surprised this movie does not have a higher rating, and by some of the mixed reviews. For starters, I consider myself a common Star Wars fan. I grew up with Ep 4-6 and have watched all of the movies more than a few times. I don't go to ComiCon or dress up in cosplay, but I appreciate the fantasy value behind the movies, as well as the acting, directing, and character development. And the action scenes and the struggle between good vs. evil is a big plus. Rogue One is arguably my favorite star wars movie. I was sorely disappointed in Episode 7 – too much "kid" and Hollywood appeal, too much of JJ Abram's fingerprints on it, and not enough individuality and too predictable. I could write a long critique on The Force Awakens, but perhaps another time. What Rogue One did for me and made me feel after leaving the theater is what I wished Ep. 7 had done. The movie was paced well (a bit too fast in the beginning though) and kept you focused on one scene to the next. The characters were all solid and played their roles close to perfection. There were some scenes/dialogue I thought would be corny, but I ended up appreciating them because I was empathetic and attached that much to the characters. Many scenes were genuine, the plot line was consistent and delivered a smooth transition between Ep. 3 and 4, and the action scenes were probably one of the most entertaining I've seen in the whole series. There was a great balance between ground battle scenes vs. in space, and it was never too overbearing where you were wondering when it would end. And there were some nice, pleasant cameos from older characters that were timed perfectly. The movie was unique in the sense that it was edgier than the other movies. You could see a darker side (no pun intended) of the rebel alliance. And, there was no real "love story" that has all but become too cliché and predictable. The director, Gareth Edwards, deserves a lot of credit. The cast does as well. The movie ended with me clapping and excited about the direction the saga is heading in and looking forward to future movies, something Ep. 7 failed to do. I think this movie would appeal most to my generation, the ones who grew up with Ep 4-6. I don't think I would recommend this movie to kids younger than 6 as there were some violent and dark scenes. Rogue One stands on its own and should be recognized as one of the better Star Wars movies.
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Good movie, but not great
I was excited to see this movie but kept my expectations low. I didn't do any research prior to watching the film, so in a sense, I had zero expectations. I recommend you do the same.
Pros: The best thing I can say about this movie is the acting. Every actor in the film nailed his/her role close to perfection. Some of the battle scenes were well directed and made you feel right in the middle of the fight.
Cons: Pace was slow in the middle of the movie. It felt like it dragged on with scenes that were forced only to further validate Doss' struggles. The movie and direction obviously wanted to give off a patriotic feel but it failed for me. I enjoyed learning about Doss' heroics, but the last ¼ of the movie was lacking the emotional connection. The scene where the Japanese commander performs seppuku (suicide via knife) was unnecessary. It was overly dramatic and was awkward. The scene was to signify the U.S.'s near victory at Hacksaw but it could have been portrayed differently, more naturally. I had trouble connecting with some of the characters. There wasn't enough character development and camaraderie within the unit to make all the heroics credible.
I am a fan of war movies and I am glad I saw this movie in the theater. I also appreciated the Christian morality subplot. However, it was a slow and awkwardly paced movie that didn't come without disappointments.
The Martian (2015)
Predictable and disappointing
I don't really understand all the hype behind this movie. Maybe it's because I've heard the book was so good that this movie created some buzz before its release. I normally enjoy sci fi movies and I am generally a fan of Ridley Scott. I enjoy being moved by great acting performances and being awed by the mysteriousness and the unknown this type of genre is able to project on the big screen. However, this movie did none of the above for me. Although Matt Damon is an excellent actor, it was difficult for me to fully buy into his character. Despite being alone and stranded on Mars, he lacked emotion and credibility. The other characters in this movie fell flat, too. The biggest disappointments were Kristen Wiig and Jeff Daniels – it was too one dimensional, lacked versatility, and was to cliché. Actually, the plot was very cliché and was very predictable. And the special effects and action sequences were far too similar to what we saw in Prometheus. I guess I expected more with this cast and director but was left wanting so much more.
Ted 2 (2015)
7/10
If you enjoyed the first Ted movie, you'll definitely enjoy this one. It had about 3 laugh out loud moments, and I don't remember the last time laughing that hard in a movie theater. The movie starts off at a good pace and with good humor but slows down a bit in the middle-the end. And I can see how Seth Macfarlane purposely slowed the pace down and focused on certain aspects of the movie to try and reel you in so you get more emotionally attached to the characters. Didn't quite work for me, but the laughs were well worth it. There were some great cameos and plenty of mainstream analogies. Go in with no expectation and you'll enjoy it.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)
9/10
I first watched this film in middle school when I didn't know much about Bruce Lee. Like any kid, I was fascinated by this mysterious and legendary martial artist, and this movie helped pique my interest. Although the movie has many inaccuracies, it tells the story of Bruce Lee in a realistic, innocuous way that is quite entertaining. The movie has a very good flow to it and mixes in the martial arts scenes at the right time to never leave the viewer bored. The acting is absolutely superb, as the chemistry between Jason Scott Lee and Lauren Holly is very believable. And my favorite part is perhaps the score – Randy Edelman creates a masterpiece. Watch this movie with no expectations and enjoy the influence Bruce Lee had on the world yet understand the many demons and hardships he had to face throughout his life. You will not be disappointed.
Soshite chichi ni naru (2013)
10/10
I caught this film on a United flight in spring 2014 while flying to Japan. It was also recommended to me by a Japanese friend so I believe it has some popularity in the mainland. Without any expectations that were too high, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The acting, from the parents to the children, was superb. And understanding how Japanese culture can be, it embellished on the role of family vs. work life. The plot was credible and the movie did not have any slow parts. The ending had me in tears though, and it made me think about what I would have done or how I would have acted if I were in the character's shoes. I would recommend this to those who enjoy drama themes (with a little comedy) and those who liked to be moved.
Boku no hatsukoi wo kimi ni sasagu (2009)
8/10
I caught this film on an ANA flight from L.A. to Japan as a previous poster had too. The plot is about 2 kids who grow up together in love but face difficulties, the main one being Takuma's heart condition that will not allow him to live past a certain age. The film's characters embraced their roles well and the 2 main characters had good chemistry with one another. The film had a good flow to it except for one part that felt a bit awkward (it was when Takuma meets Teru) but otherwise it was enjoyable. The kids who play the main characters in the beginning of the film are absolutely adorable and gives the film an innocent tone from the get-go. And yes, the film had me feel like I was cutting onions in certain scenes.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
It fell by the wayside
I had such high hopes for this movie as we had all been waiting 9 years since the first one. The movie failed on so many points, as many others have commented before. There was too much over the top stuff, where it came to the point that they were trying too hard. Brick was used too much, where it seemed forced. And his interactions with Kristen Wiig had potential but ended up failing. 2 hours for this comedy was too long - I even feel asleep at one point. They could've cut out some material and made it 1 hr 30 min. Just like The Hangover movie where the original was much, much better than the sequel, Anchorman 2 failed to live up to its hype.