Category Archives: Movies

THE DANISH GIRL

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the danish girl

2.5 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

Based on the true story of Lili Elbe, one of the first patients to undergo sex reassignment surgery, back when the procedure was being pioneered in 1930s Germany.

I would have liked to have seen things more from Einar/Lili’s point of view and to know what was going through her mind. Understandably, that would have been really hard to get across in a visual medium, and instead, the story was told mainly through the eyes of Einar’s wife, Gerda.

Alicia Vikander as the supportive wife was the real star of the show. Her nuanced, Oscar-bait performance truly made the film worth seeing.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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3 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

I actually saw the movie several weeks ago and I was thinking of not reviewing it, since it seems like it will never be a good time to openly discuss this highly-anticipated sequel to the legendary franchise. After some discussion with Bini, however, I started to think it might be possible to say a few things without giving too much away.

The Force Awakens is not the best thing I have seen ever, but the film is respectably good and for the most part, lives up to the hype. There are nice callbacks to previous installments, great action scenes, likeable new (and old) characters. The new little droid, BB-8, scores major points for cuteness. And there’s even a cameo from The Lord of the Rings.

I have to say, I thought the overall “map” plotline was… a little hard to believe. However, I’m willing to reserve judgement on that, as it is possible future developments might add some context that isn’t apparent now. We’ll see.

There was just one small part that definitely did disappoint, and that was the too-easy shield-disabling scene. The character in question seriously did not think to secretly call for help or set off an alarm? At the very least, she could have done some stalling; it was obvious the people who were threatening her didn’t know the first thing about what she was doing (otherwise, they wouldn’t need her)!

For anyone who is new to Star Wars, it is best to have some familiarity with the original trilogy, Episodes IV, V and VI, (though not necessarily the prequels) before watching this. For established fans, I say: try to keep an open mind. They may not be reinventing the wheel with this film, but it can be a very fun ride nonetheless.

Attack on Titan: Part 1

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3 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

This live-action version of Attack on Titan is only very loosely based on the original manga. Truckloads of liberties have been taken with the plot as well as the characters. You can pretty much think of it as a whole new story, except with some familiar character names.

The visual and sound effects were really good and definitely emphasized the horror of the Titan invasion. Those who are weak of stomach should be forewarned that the violence is quite bone-crushingly, flesh-tearingly graphic.

In my opinion, the actors were reasonably well-cast for their parts. I had seen Haruma Miura and Kiko Mizuhara in other movies before and didn’t like them that much; however they were fine here. Because there were not many quiet, emotional scenes, the opportunities for bad acting were relatively few anyway.

Being a huge fan of the anime, I was well-aware of the need to check my baggage, all of it, at the door before watching this film. In doing so, I think I was able to enjoy the movie for what it is, an action-filled blockbuster which uses romance as an easy emotional anchor to engage (or enrage, as the case may be) its audience.

Miss Hokusai

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3 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

Going by the trailer, I was somewhat wary that this biographical film about a famous painter’s daughter might not have much of a plot. I expected that there would be a lot of fantastic eye candy in the form of gorgeous Edo-era scenery, though. And that was pretty much what I got.

The film followed O-Ei’s various experiences, showing her encounters with her fragmented family and with acquaintances in her and her father’s line of work. These anecdotes successfully portrayed our lead character’s charming personality.

Miss Hokusai was very much a slice of life story. While certainly the events were affecting and enjoyable to watch, I didn’t feel that they came together in any unifying theme in the end.

I attended the Miss Hokusai screening with family and we had mixed feelings about the film’s soundtrack. I kind of liked the unexpected use of blues and rock music along with classical piano pieces (not unlike the eclectic soundtrack of another period-setting anime, GARO: Crimson Moon), but my sister would have preferred more traditional instrumentation to accompany the seemingly faithful historical images.

BORUTO -NARUTO THE MOVIE-

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3.5 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

The focus of the latest NARUTO movie is on the next generation; it’s something of an epilogue that explores what growing up would be like for Naruto’s son, Boruto. Whereas Naruto lost his parents at infancy, Boruto has a loving family. However, Naruto’s heavy responsibilities as Hokage frequently keep him away from home, even on special occasions, which frustrates and angers his son. Not to mention, Naruto understandably has no idea how to be a good dad.

Boruto, Sasuke’s daughter Sarada, and the other kids are really cute here. The families are all cute, actually, providing for a great ending credits montage.

“BORUTO” has all the elements that are central to the franchise, such as teamwork and family issues. Familiar characters are true to their personalities without becoming caricatures of themselves. There’s some humour and an action-packed fight to protect the village, with just the right amount of nostalgia mixed in. And it’s all nicely encapsulated in the length of a feature film.

Of the NARUTO films that I’ve seen, this one is by far the best. In fact, it might be the best NARUTO anything that I’ve seen or read, period.

Mad Max: Fury Road

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3.25 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

Very little dialogue was required in this film because the almost non-stop action spoke for itself. The plot was simple and easy to follow, and it did not bore me for a second. It also didn’t take long to start feeling sympathy for the characters, even though they were pretty much thrown into the mix without prior introduction.

Since the settings and resources were clearly established early on, when they came into play later, it was logical and satisfying.

Not a complicated story, by any means, but Fury Road was thoroughly fun and thrilling. And it was great to see plenty of girl power balancing out all the testosterone too.

As far as potentially objectionable content goes, I didn’t really find much. Of course there was violence, but the camera did not linger on gory parts or glorify the bloodshed. The most disturbing elements were probably the body deformities and what was considered to be food in the post-apocalyptic environment of the story. Also, no unnecessary profanity, I believe, and no unnecessary romantic subplot either!

The warlord leader of The Citadel was a nasty piece of work, to be sure, but you gotta give credit where it’s due. He certainly knew how to put together a proper war party. Ceremony and a motivational soundtrack are absolutely vital when heading into combat. If you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about!

THE VANCOUVER ASAHI

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2.5 stars (out of 4)

Released 2014

Based on the true story of the legendary Japanese-Canadian Asahi baseball team, which achieved success against brawnier Caucasian opponents through its members’ “brain-ball” style of playing.

The acting was better and more restrained than in many Japanese films I’ve seen. English lines were delivered competently by both Japanese and non-Japanese actors for the most part, as well. We were warned ahead of time that the film’s pacing would be on the slow and deliberate side, especially for a sports movie.

This was a Japanese-made film, but the subject matter was not truly a Japanese story at all. Its focus was on the challenges faced by Canadians of Japanese descent in the years leading up to WWII, with racial discrimination as the primary root cause of the struggles.

As borne out by historical events, baseball obviously did not change the world in this instance; the war continued and the internment occurred. But it was a baby step toward mutual understanding and The Asahi served as a symbol of hope.

To this day, some discrimination against visible minorities still exists in Canada, but I’d like to think that we’ve come a long way in these past 75 years.

KAKEKOMI

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2.5 stars (out of 4)

Released 2015

Divorce in mid-1800s Edo, Japan was the topic of the opening night film at this year’s Toronto Japanese Film Festival on Thursday. Apparently there was a formal process for women of the time to exit an unhappy marriage, although it basically involved renouncing all possessions and living in as if in a nunnery for 2 years.

The movie featured many female roles, and the women were generally portrayed as being stronger, braver, and smarter than the men.

And yet, the tales were still mostly told through the eyes of the medic, a male. Because the narrative was fragmented into several storylines, we didn’t get an in-depth look at what each of the women went through first-hand at the temple. In particular, I would have liked to have seen more of the friendship that developed between Jogo and O-Gin.

When Marnie Was There

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3.5 stars (out of 4)

Released 2014 in North America (2013 in Japan)

I read a review of this movie before seeing it and the review confirmed what I usually expect from a Studio Ghibli film (sumptious visuals, meh storyline), so I wasn’t expecting much going in.

Imagine my surprise when, right from the first line, I was drawn into this story of a quietly self-loathing girl. Why does Anna feel this way about herself? When she is sent to the countryside on her doctor’s advice, why does she take this as evidence that she is not wanted? Even without understanding her history, I was immediately invested in her.

The story itself is not completely original, but the way that answers are revealed to the audience is beautifully paced, and the emotions subtle yet heart-wrenching. And, as expected of Studio Ghibli, the visuals and sound effects are a love letter to the Japanese countryside. Little details brought this world to life for me. For example, when Anna is shown to her room in the house where she is to stay, she muses to herself, “Hm, smells like a stranger’s house.” I know exactly what that feels like: uncomfortably aware that you are not home, even though you know you are welcome. Like From Up on Poppy Hill, this film felt like it had a direct grip on my heart. Suffice to say, I ran out of tissues and left emotionally spent, yet gratified.

Playing at TIFF Lightbox until July 2, 2015 – catch it while you can; it’s definitely worth seeing in a theatre! (Note: I saw the subtitled version.)

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

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3 stars (out of 4)

Released 2013 in Japan, 2014 in North America

I have to confess that I’m not particularly a fan of Studio Ghibli works in general, however I was looking for an opportunity to see Tale of The Princess Kaguya after watching the trailer some months ago and hearing good word of mouth about the film.

The most remarkable thing about this movie is its gorgeous, fluid animation. In some ways, it looks somewhat unpolished, but surprisingly, it gives a masterful impression of ink drawings come to life.

As for the story itself, it’s about a little girl who is magically found in a bamboo stalk. The bamboo cutter, who discovered her, and his wife become her doting parents. He believes she is destined to be a princess and they do what they can to create a new home and lifestyle befitting of her. But will that bring her happiness?

There are a number of complex themes presented, including familial duty, love, gender roles, social hierarchy, and the meaning of life and death. Some parts are quite effectively emotional. This is the type of film that makes you think and feel but refrains from providing any answers.

Even though I personally find this kind of open, existentialist narrative a little bit unsatisfying, I still have to say I’m glad I experienced the film. I absolutely recommend Princess Kaguya for its incredibly beautiful and unique animation style. It’s an undeniably wonderful showcase for the possibilities of traditional 2-D animation.