Change Your Image
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Reviews
Koe no katachi (2016)
Emotions, redemption and relationships
Interpersonal relationship is a really popular subject to discuss for Japanese anime, by which the point that Japanese culture does value social connections is shown.
Apparently this anime is not just a romance in a traditional sense, it also reveals bullying as a serious issue existing in Japanese schools. A pitiful and lonely girl because she is deaf-mute, bullied by a boy in elementary school. Dramatic changes also happen to the boy, turning him into the bullied because of his wrong behavior, which makes him begin to understand the girl's misery and drown in guilt for his own mistakes. Then he makes his effort for redemption.
However, for me this movie does not give a thorough enough discussion on the bullying topic as a youth problem. It instead focuses more on the emotions. Even a subtle emotional change can affect hugely on the relationships among the friends and they have to work hard to fix it.
Youth is a delicate stage, where everything is in the process of growing up, especially learning to deal with relationships and emotions. Therefore, this movie offers a worth-watching lesson of Japanese perspective in this aspect.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Visual pleasure as usual, and incredible ensemble cast
A very successful blockbuster, which I can say is the one I enjoy the most in all the movies I have watched this year in cinema.
I appreciate the visual pleasure it distributes through the abundant scenes with special effects as a typical Marvel movie, for which I suggest audiences to watch it in cinema for the best enjoyment. Also I'm really impressed by how they managed to put all the Marvel characters into this one movie without any pointless or boring plots.
However, it is inevitable that some dialogues and plots to introduce the other characters from a different story to connect to the original ones of Avengers series can make the narrative less compact and focused, but it is not a big influence overall. Moreover, to make up the distraction or confusion due to the added characters, I think they make good use of some of them like Grout from Guardians of the Galaxy.
This is a movie Marvel fan shouldn't miss for sure.
Born with It (2015)
Racial problems in Japan truly reflected
"Why can you speak Japanese?" "Because I am Japanese." This dialogue happens between protagonist of this film, Keisuke and his classmate on the first day at his new elementary school, while he is introducing himself to his class. The class collectively reacts to Keisuke's answer with a confused sound. Apparently, it is hard for Japanese people to view him as a 'real' Japanese because his dark skin. It is hilarious at the first, but then I am also surprised at how accurately it reflects the racism in Japan. A person of another race can never be truly accepted by Japanese society. In Japan there are a lot of Japanese people who are culturally Japanese but mixed race, have never lived anywhere else in their life, and don't speak any other languages. However, they are still viewed as foreigners. As a social problem, it has already been recognized and discussed in public but there is not a big change so far, which is a bit heartbreaking.
Also, I personally like the snow in the scene where eventually Keisuke makes up his mind, taking a brave step to go back to class to cope with all the problems, which is also a symbol of Keisuke standing up in the difficult situation and trying not to be defeated to me. I like the ending of this film as well. It stops at the point when Keisuke enters classroom. Although it is kind of sudden for audiences who might be expecting the reaction of Keisuke's classmates, but this stop is actually appropriate when it is considered as an open ending which gives space to free imagination.
J'attendrai le suivant... (2002)
you will keep wondering even it ends
This short film is very successful on building the character. Although there are not any lines given to the main character, it manages to deliver an image that its producers want audience to perceive.
Walking alone, slow footsteps, looking disoriented, and close-up view of a jealous face towards kissing couple on the escalator, strong impression of a lonely lady is built. When the guy on the train starts to speak, curiosity on her face appears, for there is something new to listen to. She begins to smile with shyness after the guy addresses his intention of looking for true love to all single ladies, and her eyes are lighten with hope. Eventually, she gets off the train at next stop in order to respond to the guy's request, expecting an upcoming good relationship, but it turns out to be just a sketch. Her face turns grey, filled with desperation, from which we can see a huge change will happen to this woman. This also proves that this lady might have been single for long time, suffering frustration and depression from bad experiences of previous relationships, and also she is naive that she easily believe words of strangers, which strengthens her image of loneliness shown from beginning.
Film ends here, but apparently audience will continue to wonder what will be going on next in her life. As what is stated above, this short film succeed in building a vivid character who has "a life lived off screen", a worth-learning point of filmmaking.
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
Take the journey of challenge and CHANGE
A magic spell turns a young girl into a ninety-year-old lady. However, this spell in fact becomes a form of freedom that encourages her to be herself and gives her courage to take risks, so she takes the journey of challenge to go into the magic world full of witches and wizards.
The protagonist, Sophie's youth has offered her few opportunities, while being old frees Sophie's determination to reach her goal, to assert her presence and her will.
After the arrival of the castle, Sophie takes up the role of a responsible housekeeper, putting the household in order. In turn, the magic castle and its residents give her new experiences, where she has learnt to deal with the problems and confusions from both human nature and magical situations. In the process, her dynamic energy necessary for change and renewal brings transformation to the castle into a warm family.
Also, she has grown up with strong will, braveness to express love and protect her beloved ones, which marks her distinguished characteristics. Domestic peace has also been brought by her and Howl as a happy ending of the film.
This film well represents Miyazaki's ability to illustrate hope for future, with positive energy enabling audiences to cope with realistic challenges, for which it always remains my favorite.
Three Days in Kamakura (2012)
a bit confusing
To be honest, after I finished watching this film, I did not understand it very much. I have seen the estrangement between the couple David and Keiko solved by a feeling of family brought by the kid Jay, which makes them communicate better and get to understand each other. I have also seen Keiko's kindness towards the old woman, that in the end of the film, Keiko invited her home for a tea, trying to comfort her when the old woman realized something bad might have happened to her husband, although the old woman is a neighbor always causing troubles to the couple. However, I am still confused. From the point of my view, this film might talk about the complicated interpersonal relationships, or humanity, but the whole image in my head of this film is basically a plain story about people's daily life in Japan. As a consequence, I have not figured out an obvious or focused theme of this film, namely, what this film wants to deliver to audience. As I am used to dramatic storytelling, it is possibly a personal case.
Furthermore, when I watch this film, acting of actors and actresses makes me feel a bit awkward. Especially the interaction of David and Keiko is not very natural, from which I can barely feel affection shown. In addition, the way they talk to each other is quite slow, not in a normal speaking speed. I suppose it can be a consideration of more clearly pronounced lines, but it makes the scene distant from real life.
Embers (2006)
War is also brutal on how it changes people
I think Embers is a short film about war which is worth watching. First of all, it delivers artistic images in the sense that there are quite a few shots of typical New Zealand villages which are stunning for me. Furthermore, the way how it delivers the message of war is impressive. A lonely woman waiting for her husband who went to the battle of Second World War against Japanese forces, is haunted by the illusion that a Japanese soldier kills her husband and then comes to kill her. I suppose this is a good way to present the civilian fear of war, but I just feel the scene appears too many times that it distracts audiences from other important scenes.
However, I like the reverse where she finds the human ear her husband collects from person he kills, because it is from this point that reflection of war, what this film wants to express, climbs on a new level. Her husband has already been changed into someone who takes a human ear as souvenir without any guilt, someone completely different from whom she knows. It makes me understand that war is horrible not only because of the killing itself, but also because of its bad influence continuously going on by existing in survivors' thoughts, mental status, morality and so on.
Lifted (2006)
Great entertainment
I cannot describe how much I am amused by this short film. Also, this film gives me a practical lesson how up and down are properly arranged for optimum effects.
A young alien, who seems like a freshman, tries to practice abducting human by the spaceship technology under the supervision of a predecessor, which is not going smoothly at all. Many funny moments are brought by the continuous failure. For instance, after a sequence of struggling, he gets impatient and flicks switches randomly on the spacecraft control panel, causing the sleeping man to crash into walls, ceilings, trees... Finally he gets the man out of window, but he dropped the man again. Then the up comes. His predecessor steps in, fixing everything in house in order and putting the human back to bed. Instead of taking over the control of panel, the predecessor gives him another chance. The young freshman manages to drop the whole spaceship on the human's house, before flying off. The scream from the abductee in the end gives me a last surprise, which is the point of this film I especially like.
Pixar short films are well known by the way it handles characters. The protagonist's expressive face and his predecessor's poker face intensify the amusement in a contrary way. Lifted is a great film for laughter, but it might fail in building vivid characters. After finish watching the film, audiences should have had emotional connection to the character, but audiences of Lifted might rarely think about the background or off-scene stories of either the clumsy freshman or the skilled predecessor. They are just there for entertainment.
Father and Daughter (2000)
The simplest that touches your heart
When the film begins with a very sweet background music, and the scenes appear in a sequence of simple but beautiful animated images, something soft at bottom of my heart is gently touched. This animated film does not use bright colors or complicated character design. Everything seems to be drawn in simple lines, so audience can barely see their exact expressions. Furthermore, duration of this film is very short, around 9 minutes, but the things delivered from the film story are abundant and meaningful.
Father brings his daughter to a place, two people riding bicycles together. When they arrive at a lake, they have to be separated. Father has to row a boat to go somewhere far away. Daughter is standing at the top of the slope, watching her daddy leaves. After a few steps, father suddenly stops, and turns around, going back to hug his little sweetie again. This is the first time when I feel their deep love for each other, and my heart is filled with sorrow and warmth.
However, father's bike is left beside the trees all the time, but he never comes back. Time goes by, she is always waiting for her father at the slope, no matter how strong the wind is blowing, no matter whom she is with, friends, boyfriend, or family. The daughter keeps visiting the slope by bike, hoping to see her father return one day. There is nothing can hold her back from going to the slope near the lake, where her father left. In the end, daughter becomes old, before her death finally she hugs her father again as a young girl in dream. As far as I am concerned, this is a completion of her life, an echo of the loving hug in the beginning.
As the daughter grows up in different stages, music of this film is slightly adjusted to correspond to the ongoing atmosphere, to arouse expected emotional reaction from audience. Apparently, film producers have made a great choice on background music. It is what I like about this film too.
The Crush (2010)
sweet character and sweet story
This short film did give me enjoyment. First, it is the sweetness of this story that delights me. An eight-year-old little boy who has crush on his school teacher, and he is so innocent that he presents a toy engagement ring to her. At the same time, he is so serious about this crush that he challenges her fiancé for real to a duel after he figures out he is not the right one for her. Through a simple story, the film managed to establish a protagonist whom audiences can easily sympathize with.
What I want to talk about more is that the change of the story from a simple and relatable one to a sudden dramatic change leaves a strong impression on me. The scene where the little boy pulls out the gun, pointing at heroin's fiancé and insisting it's a real gun, is very intense. The scene is entertaining in a sense that it drives audiences away from reality for a while, enjoying the tension of possible gun shots done by a little boy. However, this can also have a bad influence on the adolescent groups within the audience, giving them an image that gun can solve problems if something happens.
The Crush has done a good job on bring satisfaction to audiences by telling story interestingly. As far as I concerned, it is difficult to adapt complicated storylines to the capacity of a short film, but it is not necessary. Nice stories can be told through well-constructed characterization.
Fish Out of Water (2005)
there is no talking , but enough language
A strong feature of this film is that it is a film without any dialogue. Lack of dialogue can be worried as a causation of incomplete or boring storytelling, but this is not a flaw for this film at all. On the contrary, lack of dialogue draws more attention to scene setting, film characters' face expression, background music and some other detailed sounds.
At first, this short film gives me a strong impression on setting of the scenes. From my point of view, it use colors well in the sense that by the warm colors and orangish aura, with special background music whose style is similar to folk or country music, the whole scene setting appears to bring audience a classic, or nostalgia feeling.
It is notable that filmmakers of this film have a thoughtful design on details. For example, the woman who gets on the boat first perform excellently by her obvious and exaggerated face expression, in order to express her emotion. Also, her face expression sometimes indicate how story develops next, like her subtle smile in the car when she noticed the man with paddles. Moreover, this female character is also associated with red color such as red lipstick, red nail polish she daily uses, by which an aggressive and unpleasant personality is strengthened.
As for good considering of detailed sounds, I suppose the knocking in the ending scene of the film is interesting, where everyone is knocking somewhere while waiting for the rowing man but he does not show up, which shows a successful "revenge" on those impolite "passengers". When the man with diving suits appears on the surface of the water, it perfectly solves the puzzle given at the beginning, by the name of this film-fish out of water.