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jreasa
Reviews
Japanese Story (2003)
Not enough character development to really get you "into it"
For a film to truly be successful with a paper-thin plot/storyline, it usually needs either: a powerful thematic point or lesson, and/or characters you know enough to either completely identify or empathize with, or at least understand. In "A Japanese Story", I got some of the first, but little to none of the second.
Toni Collette's character "Sandy" carries the film (literally, I think she's in all but maybe one scene), but by the film's end I only had a slight grasp of who Sandy really was...and I didn't have the foggiest clue who "Hiromitsu" really was, the Japanese Businessman who randomly (we don't know why) decides to to boss Sandy around into driving them deep into the desert. I can only guess his whole trip was intended to be as some sort of getaway from his personal life, using "business" as something of ruse to get himself to Australia in the first place.
There is a beauty to the simplicity of two strangers falling in love (well, sort of fall in love) while traveling through a desolate backdrop, but I just couldn't quite get over the hump of constantly asking myself in the back of the head "who the hell are these people and why should I care?". There didn't need to be some wild back story (Hiromitsu's upset the Yakuza and is running for his life!), but perhaps a better understanding of his position, his life back home...it would've drawn me into the story more.
I gave it 6/10 because Collette had to do some serious acting and the scenery was amazing, and you can't help but feel some emotional stirring as the film develops, but there just wasn't enough "meat" to really grab me. Also, what is with the archetypal Japanese stereotypes going on this film? Not calling it outright racist...but I think the writers went a little overboard in drawing attention to the fact that we're dealing with two different cultures. Really, I can tell a Japanese from an Aussie apart, thanks.
Ruang rak noi nid mahasan (2003)
Perhaps just me, but I didn't see anything close to a "love" story per se...
Disagreements and different interpretations of the ending aside, the overpowering feeling I got from the film was one of "redemption".
"Kenji" is an obviously deeply troubled man with a past he's running from, and the fact he's so entrenched in his past deeds or connections he has no one to look after or anything to concern himself with other than his own suicidal thoughts.
"Noi" is his second chance at life, but the chemistry and dynamic of the relationship isn't awfully important. The fact it's nuanced with romanticism is a nice touch, but she represents mostly in my opinion another individual in Kenji's now incredibly closed emotional circle as "someone who needs help". The fact Kenji takes such an interest in her well-being ("good" male influences in her life are apparently uncommon) is what makes her keep this initially creepy guy around.
From start to finish this is what I felt, and makes the ending, while interesting, not the most important thing in my mind to debate. Him smiling in the police station is enough for me; he helped another human being get out of a bad situation, thus at least guaranteeing he added value to a world he was already trying to leave on his own accord. Whatever happens after (if anything) between the two is almost secondary.
The cinematic landscape is littered with films of opposites attracting in strange circumstances. What makes this film better than most is that the underlying premise from my standpoint is something greater.
Thirteen (2003)
Only surprising/shocking if you're an aloof parent
This was a movie that I viewed with minimal expectations, given the premise of the film seemed to be of the "OMG kids these days!!!" variety.
I just recently turned 22, and I can say without exaggeration that these girls are relative amateurs given their age and promiscuity compared to some that I went to school with, in terms of their proclivities in the film. Without giving much away, the movie relies too heavily on shock value, as if the film can be carried in its entirety on jaws dropping in the viewing audience. Perhaps for adults in a white-collar community, this is good enough. Since nothing in the film startled me one bit, the lack of rich substance by the way of plot and character development left me wondering what the point was.
The acting is very good, and the only reason I rate the movie above a "5". Despite this, there's nothing much there. Personally, I experienced my first roaring hangover at age 13, and learned quickly the wonders of "moderation". Some kids just have a natural inclination to give in to peer pressure, and don't exactly learn the first, second, or third time around. It isn't a glaring and growing problem in society; it's a fact of life. Why a movie needs to be made to highlight what is only one portion of teenage life is beyond me.