Summer Movies

[Dogen Z]

It was 34C and almost 100% humidity in Tokyo today. :atsui: We need relief, we need summer movies! Here's a Sony Pictures Classic: :relief:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=ADy8f6t4Ri8&feature=related

It's not like Shonan. :blush: But I like Shonan for its laidback lifestyle.

[Dogen Z]

Okay, I've had my surfing movie marathon including Big Wednesday and Blue Crush (I think GoldieGirl would like this one http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=rzR4QzZqWzg ). What's next? Well, the Dark Night has finally made it to Japan. A must see for this weekend when everyone's left Tokyo because of Obon. Also, Kung Fu Panda and the Forbidden Kingdom might be good and looking forward to Clone Wars and Red Cliff :-). Pass on Hulk and The Mummy and especially Starship Troopers 3.
What about Japanese films? Well, unfortuantely, the only big hits of the summer are Hana Yori Dango, the Finale, and Ponyo by the Cliff. Frankly, I don't care what happens to the characters in Hana Yori Dango and Ponyo is a kids movie (but maybe I'll go see it). There's no Jidaigeki movie like Azumi 1. So sad :(. But there is an anime called Sky Crawlers. I don't know what that's about but will report back in due time.

[hanachan]

Big Wednesday is my favorite one!
Where is he gone, J-M Vincent? I miss him. I saw Gary Busey in some films recent years. Do you know how other 2 guys are?

By the way, Summer movies are horror movies in Japan.
Ghost movies... Yotsuya kaidan, Bancho sarayashiki...:shock:
Have you seen them?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yotsuya_Kaidan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banch%C5%8D_Sarayashiki

[Dogen Z]

Big Wednesday was a good movie, even though it's old. But sorry, I don't know what happened to the other guys in the movie.

Horror movies are for summer? That makes sense because of Obon season. Unfortunately, I'm not a horror fan--I can't believe them :souka:--I'm a victim of too much science and math. The only horror movie I've noticed recently is Ge Ge Ge Kitaro 2. I think that's for kids, too.

Thanks for posting those links. I think I've seen Kwaidan--I think it would be fun to see it as a kabuki play.:-)

[Dogen Z]

It's been raining daily for almost a week now in Tokyo--and the weather has cooled down. Hardly feels like summer anymore but the cicadas are still chirping away--gambatte. :-) Well, even thought the shops have started to display knee high boots, it's still technically summer. Time enough for a few more summer movies. Still haven't seen Sky Crawlers, actually only saw The Dark Night, that was great :cool:.
I did manage to find one Japanese surf flick--Catch a Wave. Don't think it will be as good as the others I've mentioned but will let you know.

[ASHIKAGA]

I kind of want to watch The Dark Knight. How was Heath Ledger as the Joker? Is he really that good or all the buzz was just a hype because of his recent passing?

[Dogen Z]

The Joker was seriously creepy-scarey, you wouldn't want to mess with him unless you were...the BATMAN. :wave: Definitely go see it...and on a big screen.
Well, I've found the next jidaigeki movie. It'll be out in the fall. It seems to be a mix of Azumi and Django/Sukiyaki Western. It's another zatoichi movie but this time Ichi is female. :souka:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=ic-e1vzgO3g

[Dogen Z]

Well, the last weekend of August (the end of summer in my mind) was a bit rainy. :(
So we took that opportunity to watch Catch a Wave. It was kind of cute in a Japanese, teenage kind of way. You might be able to judge for yourself by watching the trailer. Lot of shots of Shonan but I wonder where they filmed the blue ocean.:?
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=_CYclv2xju8&feature=related

I think it was a good summer ending movie because I'm now looking forward to ski season!! :p Shonan is not a world class sporting area but Nagano certainly is in winter.

Unless, I can find a better movie (or spend the winter on the North Shore of Oahu) this will be next. Ichi will be after this.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut9mboYc0lE

[Emoni]

I kind of want to watch The Dark Knight. How was Heath Ledger as the Joker? Is he really that good or all the buzz was just a hype because of his recent passing?

He was as good as the hype. I was very impressed and enjoyed the movie greatly.

[Dogen Z]

If it's still hot and summerish where you are...like it was in Tokyo today...and feel like watching a summer drama, I recommend, Lunch Queen. It might have been Takeuchi Yuka's first major drama (it's actually a romantic comedy)
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=ooaiG5xg9VI
:-)

[Dogen Z]

I didn't know where to post this (music?/movies?) so I'm posting it here.
This looks like it might be a good movie but the song is what grabs you. I had to share this.

WuNwTO9vSdM&feature=related

[Dogen Z]

Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but it was quite warm today, which reminded me that summer is just around the corner, after the rainy season. So I think its time to revive this thread.

Let's start this summer season with some classic yakuza films since there seems to be some interest in yakuza in another part of this forum.

In chronological order:

First, Sydney Pollack's The Yakuza

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Next, Ridley Scott's Black Rain

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Finally, Beat Takeshi's Brothers

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Let's all have a great summer!

[Dogen Z]

If you're looking for comedy rather than action-drama, this "gangster" movie is for you. It's about an over the hill actor who thinks he's in a movie and a gangster boss who believes that guy is the real deal. It stars Eri Fukatsu :cool: and Haruka Ayase (from Ichi).

RWk-tug2Tpc

[justin]

What's it like going out to the movies in tokyo? Same as the states?

[Dogen Z]

What's it like going out to the movies in tokyo? Same as the states?

Well, there are cineplexes and Imaxes just like in Cali and Hawaii. Almost all have comfy high back chairs with cup holders for your drink. Some theaters use a reserve seating system and others use 1st come 1st serve system. Snacks and drinks, including beer, can be bought in the lobby. Before the program begins, there's a melodic signal indicating it's going to begin. Before the movie starts, there are warnings about disturbing others and if you see anyone trying to videorecord the movie, please notify the staff at once.

I think the basic differences are the ticket price, cheapest is 1k yen on the first of the month and 1.3k from a discount ticket shop. Otherwise, its 1.8k yen per ticket. Also, there are few late movies (In Tokyo, movies usually end before 10:30 pm). Many people go during the day.

BTW, the summer movies I've been suggesting are not playing in theaters. They're available in video stores such as the one called Tsutaya, which is the local Blockbuster.

[Dogen Z]

If you haven't seen this yet, now is a good time. If you've already seeen it, it's a good time to watch it again, since it's now out on DVD, and since it's the rainy season in Tokyo.


-MxGOu2Hauk

[Dogen Z]

If you haven't seen this movie yet, now is the perfect time. Mr. Baseball, starring Tom Selleck, is the story of an over-the-hill major leaguer traded to a team in Japan.

A good way to spend some time away from the wilting outdoor heat and humidity.

HABgETOc_ek

[Dogen Z]

If you're feeling a little peckish for something different, you might want to see this--an old movie starring John Wayne as Townsend Harris, the first U.S. Ambassador to Japan. It seems surprisingly accurate with the costumes, setting, and nihongo, but we all know Mr. Harris was far from being John Wayne.

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Hmm, seems like it can't be embedded, so try this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExoESUzePEY&feature=related

[Dogen Z]

If you have even a slight interest in anime, you may want to watch or rewatch this Ghibli Studio classic.

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[LSandra]

Thanks for the tip, Dogen Z.

[Dogen Z]

A good film to watch during these ending days of summer is John Woo's Red Cliff part 2. Part 1 was okay, but there wasn't much action in it. It just sets the story for part 2. If you lack the time to watch part 1, just read a synopsis then watch part 2.

Takeshi Kaneshiro (Taiwan/Japanese), a major actor in Japan, stars in one of the leading roles. There's another famous Japanese actor in but I forget what his name is.

BTW, check out "Alan" in female artist under the music section to see longer footage of the film.

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