choden Reviews

Mammoth (2009)

One significant and courageous point is the way it tears down the adorable Internet geek image.

[7/10 · 31 January 2012]

There are many aspects that make this film special starting from the its use of clichés and the extent it destroys the popular images of this millennium. One significant and courageous point is the way it tears down the adorable Internet geek image. Recently, Hollywood has produced a great number of youngsters, a generation of movie goers who want to become a Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs one day. Nonetheless, the other side of the coin is not that bright or desirable. Mammoth introduces Leo Vidales, the millionaire geek with all his immaturity and weakness, with his ultra shallow personality and his conscience per diem. Globalization rapes the world, devastates the life of the nanny, and enables a heartless brat like Vidales a millionaire live his life with a descent surgeon wife and a pretty kid. Actually, he is a kind of rapist when he talks about doing charity, when he talks about his fantasies of going to India or Africa with Cookie, when he wants to act like a free - souled hippie who he could never be. He rapes other people's dreams and innocent public images. However, after 2 hours we see him at his Manhattan home, safe and sound, enjoying the peace he himself never deserved.

Mammoth of Lukas Moodysson runs for the cold truth. Except one detail, Salvador would have known. He would have known what could happen to kids when they talked to white foreigners out there. Every Filipino kid know without their grandmas telling. They watch the news on TV, they read the papers, and yes they have friends with sad and scary stories. Moodysson skipped this fact. Maybe despite all his good efforts, he is still too white for the realities of East Asia.

Rabudo gan (2004)

A Tremendous Movie

[10/10 · 28 December 2004]

Kensaku Watanabe's third feature-length film, Loved Gun is an awesome work, full of emotions, passion and precision. Lives of a hit man and a young girl meet at the crossroads of quests, conflicts, and traumas. Motives of revenge and sorrow supply a perfect setting for a chain of events led by the past scores. Hayamada, the restless hit man whose parents were murdered when he was small kid is hired by the young and emotionally damaged Miyuki. Miyuki asks Hayamada to kill her father's lover. However, Hayamada has his own scores to settle, as well. Hayamada's foster dad is also a well experienced hit man Maruyama. Throughout the movie, we get to know him and his apprentice Taneda, too.

Not only the story telling, but also casting is excellent. Masatoshi Nagase who once collaborated with Watanabe in Pistol Opera plays Hayamada. His performance in Loved Gun is as impressing as his portrayal of Ryosuke in Umi wa miteita (The Sea Is Watching). Aoi Miyazaki's portrayal of Miyuki is exceptional. She is so young and so talented that it is easy to say her future as an artist will be very bright. Ittoku Kishibe who plays Hayamada's foster dad has a familiar face. Many people will recognize the veteran actor from Kitano's Zatoichi. Hirofumi Arai appears as the young gangster Taneda and fulfills his position as a rising star. All of these actors accomplish their difficult tasks in the best way. So here comes an outstanding movie that is worth deep consideration.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

A Corner Stone

[10 December 2004]

Now that everyone knows Miyazaki is a great talent and he has been doing many great stuff, his earlier works are internationally popular. After Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, Miyazaki's well deserved fame got huge. Since his fame increased, his older works has been taken from the drawers to upper shelves and this is leading to discussions of which of his works are better than which. Kaze no tani no Naushika has been compared many times with his Mononoke - hime, however regarding how Naushika formed a perfect background for the further works of Miyazaki, this comparison is not very fair. Kaze no tani no Naushika is the basis of Miyazaki's charming mastery which becomes more and more apparent in 1990s. It features one of the greatest heroines in anime history in an unusual sci-fi environment. The story of the film shows us how resourceful human imagination can be. What makes Naushika a cornerstone is not only this efficient story telling but also the visual fiesta that it has been presented in. So lose no time in comparing this film to another, instead savor it again and again.

Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)

Simple and Warm

[10/10 · 27 October 2004]

Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran is a lovely film with great moments and triumphant performances of veteran Omar Sharif and young and promising Pierre Boulanger. In my opinion, what makes this film so important is its simplicity and sincerity. Most of the recent examples of modern French cinema are suffering from flamboyance and Monsieur Ibrahim is an exception. The film delightfully combines a new perspective to love, self identification, and empathy with magnificent acting skills and impressing cinematography. As a Buddhist myself, I've always found Safi ways interesting and this film presents a brief summary of this way of belief besides the touchy 'journey' theme. Religious motives are humanistic and the director carefully avoids any kind of religious propaganda. Instead, the audience watches the journeys of two men, from different ages and different cultural backgrounds. Ibrahim and Moses meet in Blue Rue which is a chaotic place for a 16 old boy to be. Both has a lot to teach each other and share. Abandoned and broken hearted Moses searches a way out through his teenage life full of growing pains, whereas Ibrahim, the immigrant who fell apart from his country searches a way out with the guidance of his beliefs and longings. Dialogues between Moses and Ibrahim are mind nourishing. Side characters are also memorable regarding Anne Suarez's performance as Sylvie and Lola Naymark's performance as Myriam that are truly remarkable.

Oldboy (2003)

Pandora's Box

[9/10 · 23 October 2004]

If you can accept cinema is an art form and art can sometimes be disturbing, you may love this film. Otherwise, it's maybe better to stay away rather than watching this film and declaring it's very disgusting and nerve wrecking.

This is a 'black' film that disturbs and provokes. Revenge stands just beside the deepest feelings such as fear and passion. Mental processes, delusions and strong feelings are excellently filmed throughout the movie, it's hard not to question yourself while watching, what would I do if I were him? Flashback scenes are brilliant, especially the ones at the high school and elevator sequence of Evergreen. The way that Daesu, the man of conflicts, unfolds the mystery of his tragic fate is impressing. Step by step Pandora's Box is being opened and at the end, we even know what color the box is.

Oldboy's not another 'ordinary violent Asian movie'. It's too far from being ordinary. Blood that is shed is nothing compared to the mental damages given. It definitely carries a significant amount of psychological violence which is likely to occupy audience's mind even the movie is over. But it's worth bearing.

Azumi (2003)

One, Long, Boring Movie

[3/10 · 17 October 2004]

Azumi has an interesting topic however; this wonderful topic turns into a one, long boring movie. Hyper kinetic camera work is exaggerated, acting is terrible, and battles are ridiculous... Sword play is obviously better than the ones in Kill Bill but that's not enough. Kill Bill should no more be criteria for any Asian movies. There are many specific moments in this movie that requires critical acting such as the moments when Azumi's internal struggle begins. Therefore, when you watch those moments, you see nothing but a posing high school girl; no mimics, no posture, no feelings exposed, no acting. Fortunately, the film is not a waste of time for the fans of this genre. There are some astonishing fight scenes that remind Crouching Tiger & Hidden Dragon, choreography of those fight scenes are well accomplished, but it's not enough. It was not just well choreographed fight scenes that made Crouching Tiger & Hidden Dragon or Zatoichi great movies that are worth watching again and again. They all had an impressive casting and sense of enthusiasm. Azumi even lacks a comic book atmosphere, because it has a grammar school production atmosphere. Ryuhei Kitamura appears to be an amazing director regarding Aragami and Versus but in Azumi he steps back and spoils a chance. Of course, a brilliant director like him can easily recover and mend his mistakes. But it's not something very easy for young and beautiful Aya Ueto, she has a long way to go, it's better for her if she takes more acting classes...

The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)

Stylish

[14 September 2004]

Zatoichi has become a movie with many unforgettable moments in the hand of Master Takeshi.

Kitano once said in an interview that he respected traditions, but it was his feelings that they could add new things to them. And it is exactly what he accomplished through this brilliant movie. Side characters of the movie are also tremendous so the whole movie is worth watching several times regarding even the smallest elements that appear as details. Michiyo Ookusu who plays Aunt O-Ume is a wonderful actress, I first watched her in Atsumono and I find her facial expressions very distinguishing. She deeply grasps everything about her character and acts in a very natural way. There is a lot to say about Zatoichi's women characters. Their roles are not very central but they are all interesting female figures that help audience comprehend the atmosphere of the time. These women characters are warriors without swords, they all suffer for some reasons and fight with the cruelty around them. Besides, the whole drag queen concept dramatizes the situation of women of the time.

Throughout the movie, black humor is very significant and satirist perspective of the director who manages to unlock the doors of the world of details makes an old story brand new.

When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002)

One of the best Samurai films ever

[24 August 2004]

One of the best Samurai films ever. Kîchi Nakai is an incredible actor and Koichi Sato supports him in the best way during the film. Mibu gishi den is one of the few films that bring you both joy and sorrow. What makes the film so touchy and significant is its realistic perspective; showing people with their different characteristics, a person can be a hero and a coward, at the same time but the last word and last sword are always for the heroes. Kanichiro Yoshimura is one of the crowd at first, we see him teaching in the classroom, we see him falling in love, we see him taking care of his kids. He's so real... We can smell the poverty and desperation when the trouble strikes. And the destiny takes him to Shinsen-gumi. He is so sincere and open hearted that he is not afraid of expressing his own feelings but deep inside he carries the heart of a very noble and brave warrior. Mibu gishi den's characterizations are marvelous, not only with Kanichiro and Saito Sensei, but also with the Kanichiro's childhood friend who is a rich landlord and the doctor we meet in the beginning of the film. Historical background of the movie is also interesting.

The Sea Is Watching (2002)

A Feast of Cinema

[10/10 · 23 August 2004]

A wonderful film to watch with astonishing scenes and talented actors, such as Misa Shimizu and Nagiko Tono. After 15 minutes of watching, your eyes get locked on the screen and you do nothing but breathing in the atmosphere of the film waiting what the destiny will bring to the characters. This film makes you leave your position as a standard audience, it takes you in, it makes you a part of the story... Costumes and settings are brilliant; especially the district of the okiyas is skillfully built. It is definitely not very Akira Kurosawa, however it still gets a lot from the master, especially the stylistic story telling tells us we're in a distinguished land of cinema which is quite far from hollywoodish flamboyance.