I thought that this film was much better than the first and at least was character-driven than plot driven. While I do not prefer this to Ringu 2 as a sequel totally, I think it makes sense and was a good way of continuing the American "Ring" series (though it brings parts of different incarnations of other Japanese horror films in there as well). I personally liked some of the references to Dark Water (Rachel being copy editor--except for a newspaper--, the constant use of water and references to the sea) and the Japanese Ringu 2 (some of the premise of the film and the general image for most of the climactic scene). I thought Sissy Spacek was quite convincing as Evelyn and I think that Max (new love interest) was much hotter than Noah. The acting was slightly more refined, and I guess it might have just been the fact that creepy people walked into the nearly empty theater nearer the end of the film, but it had points that really left me creeped out.
Reviews
6 Reviews
Last Quarter
(2004)
The best movie I've seen in a while!
5 March 2005
OK, I bought the Region 2 English Subtitled DVD of this movie and, first of all, I need to say that the subtitling was excellent despite several minor flaws along the way. Second of all, this film had some of the best special effects I've seen in a Japanese movie in a long time, far superior to those of the live-action Zeiram and Boogiepop films.
Third, the acting is superb. Chiaki Kuriyama plays Mizuki and Eve well, and Hyde (despite his bad English accent) plays Adam well. However, the film lies more with the characters of Hotaru, Miura, and Tomoki in their quest to help Eve from her entrapment in the house.
I only had a few small problems with the experience, but they did not take too much away from the film; the most major of these is a break in the flow caused by a short interlude explaining the meaning of Kagen no Tsuki, the "Last Quarter Moon," that feels almost completely out of place. Outside of this and a few small instances, the film was excellent and convincing.
Although some segments of the trailer make the movie seem slightly on the ridiculous side at times, the extreme emotions (mostly Tomoki, Mizuki's boyfriend, screaming) are accounted for well in the film, being extremely appropriate when they actually appear.
Overall, it was the best movie I've seen in years, with the most constant universe held within it. The characters and their circumstances feel real throughout the entire film. The first A+ film I've watched in years, and the most real. I can hardly wait to watch it again!
Third, the acting is superb. Chiaki Kuriyama plays Mizuki and Eve well, and Hyde (despite his bad English accent) plays Adam well. However, the film lies more with the characters of Hotaru, Miura, and Tomoki in their quest to help Eve from her entrapment in the house.
I only had a few small problems with the experience, but they did not take too much away from the film; the most major of these is a break in the flow caused by a short interlude explaining the meaning of Kagen no Tsuki, the "Last Quarter Moon," that feels almost completely out of place. Outside of this and a few small instances, the film was excellent and convincing.
Although some segments of the trailer make the movie seem slightly on the ridiculous side at times, the extreme emotions (mostly Tomoki, Mizuki's boyfriend, screaming) are accounted for well in the film, being extremely appropriate when they actually appear.
Overall, it was the best movie I've seen in years, with the most constant universe held within it. The characters and their circumstances feel real throughout the entire film. The first A+ film I've watched in years, and the most real. I can hardly wait to watch it again!
The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan
(2004 TV Movie)
The Good, The Bad, and the whaaaa?
21 July 2004
There was bad pacing and way too much focus on the different aspects of it that it would have benefitted to have simply cut. The first ten minutes and the last hour or so were pretty good, when it was focusing on the supernatural. It would have made a good miniseries or three-part special but with the pacing it wasn't beneficial. However, the ending implies that it may be more than just a hoax, it may have not just been staged, although we were told it was. Oh well. It wasn't that horrible but it wasn't the greatest.
Another point, though, is that it had the same predictability of a movie completely unrelated to the subject: <i>The Others</i>. The opening gave away far too much and a good portion of it didn't give anything. It needed less hype and less focus on unrelated matters; even if they were trying to do the "documentary" on the new film, they didn't focus on it when it needed to be focused on. Oh well, it was worth the time for me.
Another point, though, is that it had the same predictability of a movie completely unrelated to the subject: <i>The Others</i>. The opening gave away far too much and a good portion of it didn't give anything. It needed less hype and less focus on unrelated matters; even if they were trying to do the "documentary" on the new film, they didn't focus on it when it needed to be focused on. Oh well, it was worth the time for me.
... Where's the book's influence?
9 June 2004
Warning: Spoilers
OK, I went into this movie with hope that it would be better than what I'd seen on TV of it. However, I was sadly disappointed with it.
First and foremost, I hated the new version of Dumbledore (who came across as cold and uncaring. He didn't have an air of omniscience about him, he had an air of arrogance.
Second, I rather disliked the lack of development of... basically anything (the list would take far more than the maximum hundred words allotted here).
This movie is supposed to be based on the book, though many elements and ideas within the book were disgustingly left out and overlooked. While some people have said he used less computer animation, I think he used just as much but with worse results. The movie itself was too flashy and didn't focus that much on a central plot or characters.
Third, the transitions were shoddy and didn't hold up to the type of film. They simply took up time and took away from the possible nearness to the books.
All this criticism doesn't mean that I hated the movie, just that I rather disliked most of it because of shoddy workmanship. What should have been done was not and the focus was nearly inexistent. What did JK Rowling think of the movie? I would hardly expect that she was flattered by it.
However, I <i>did</i> like the way they showed the ((spoiler)) time-twister thing((spoilers ended)). It just looked cool.
But I must ask the crew (and Cuaròn) to read the book before finishing the next movie so that it's a little better than this last movie.
First and foremost, I hated the new version of Dumbledore (who came across as cold and uncaring. He didn't have an air of omniscience about him, he had an air of arrogance.
Second, I rather disliked the lack of development of... basically anything (the list would take far more than the maximum hundred words allotted here).
This movie is supposed to be based on the book, though many elements and ideas within the book were disgustingly left out and overlooked. While some people have said he used less computer animation, I think he used just as much but with worse results. The movie itself was too flashy and didn't focus that much on a central plot or characters.
Third, the transitions were shoddy and didn't hold up to the type of film. They simply took up time and took away from the possible nearness to the books.
All this criticism doesn't mean that I hated the movie, just that I rather disliked most of it because of shoddy workmanship. What should have been done was not and the focus was nearly inexistent. What did JK Rowling think of the movie? I would hardly expect that she was flattered by it.
However, I <i>did</i> like the way they showed the ((spoiler)) time-twister thing((spoilers ended)). It just looked cool.
But I must ask the crew (and Cuaròn) to read the book before finishing the next movie so that it's a little better than this last movie.
Simply befuddling!
25 August 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Adolescence Mokushiroku (Adolescence Apocalypse) is an amazing movie that require the viewer to have at least a passing knowledge of the Utena series and who the characters are or what it means to be who. But only vaguely. The characters in the movie are variably different from their series counterparts (especially Akio) and it takes a clear mindframe to comprehend the movie.
The surrealistic setting with a constantly-moving school and blackboards allows the characters to seem even more imaginary and set apart from reality. Although the big finale of the film is probably the most critiqued part of it, it is a true reason that Ikuhara doesn't give credit to.
*semi-spoilers*
The amazing chase scene with the Utena-car and the Shiori-car and all those other strange vehicles is one of the most stunning and incomprehensible movie scenes ever. But the essence of the metaphor of driving and the ability to move forward is constant with the film's central message of growth.
And as far as the yuri/shoujo-ai kiss between Utena and Anthy at the end goes, it's nothing that wasn't deeply hinted at during the series (it shows what would happen if Utena and Anthy stuck their heads forward a little bit farther during the opening sequence... of course, it's also a bit different anywa)... But it's still a beautiful story that should be appreciated outside the series.
The surrealistic setting with a constantly-moving school and blackboards allows the characters to seem even more imaginary and set apart from reality. Although the big finale of the film is probably the most critiqued part of it, it is a true reason that Ikuhara doesn't give credit to.
*semi-spoilers*
The amazing chase scene with the Utena-car and the Shiori-car and all those other strange vehicles is one of the most stunning and incomprehensible movie scenes ever. But the essence of the metaphor of driving and the ability to move forward is constant with the film's central message of growth.
And as far as the yuri/shoujo-ai kiss between Utena and Anthy at the end goes, it's nothing that wasn't deeply hinted at during the series (it shows what would happen if Utena and Anthy stuck their heads forward a little bit farther during the opening sequence... of course, it's also a bit different anywa)... But it's still a beautiful story that should be appreciated outside the series.
Courage the Cowardly Dog
(1999–2002)
Irony, simpleness, and unexpectedness makes this a decent show.
11 August 2003
From battling ancient spirits to saving Muriel from an opera-singing sea serpent, Courage delivers an unexpected bit of fun for kids and kids at heart. Sometimes the simple show (which varies little as far as structure goes) delivers social commentary (where else do we see a computer as quick to judge as the Baggs's?) and simple messages for those who need to be reminded (and those who don't)... Personally, I like Courage in the time when so many "Cartoon Cartoons" are weaker or simply less fun to watch. Whatever happened to Sheep in the Big City? Why take that off and show Time Squad instead? At least Courage can speak to different ages and show people that sometimes it's not how you feel that matters but what you will do to save those you love...
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