Weird Music Videos

First, I would like to say there are some pretty messed up videos in this world, grant it, they are pretty funny and it definitely made me laugh but it was kind of distrubing at the same time. But with that said, I want to point out the song, PonPonPon by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu even though the video and her type of style was a little weird and kind of creepy the song was actually very catchy and I literally found myself singing that song for the next few days. And even now, like a few weeks later, I still find myself listening to that song (even the english cover version) and singing it throughout the day. It was just that catchy! So overall, I really liked this song and the other videos even though they may have been on the creepy factor, well some of them were.

The Wind Rises

Okay, first things first, I've have been literally waiting or MONTHS to watch this movie! When I heard that this was going to be Miyazaki's "last" film he was making I was just like I have to wath this a.s.a.p. but I couldn't find it anywhere online and at that time I don't believe it was over in the U.S just yet so I had to wait. But now that I've seen it, I just can't describe the beauty that I saw in it. I mean when he was in his dream world I noticed that all of the sound effects were made by the mouth not with a computer, that just made it even more awesome than it already was. Not to mention the plot and moral of the story, both were well made and I can't say how much I loved this film. Defnitely worth over two hours of sitting there watching it.

Chef

First off, I have to say I really wasn't expecting much from this film since I've heard from other people that it was kind of boring but once it started rolling out its plot and characters I instantly liked it, a lot. I loved the dispute between the father and the son that soon turned into the focus of the story as well how food can culturally change someone's life. Whether it just from someone's words or from someone's dish. All in all, this movie seemed to be saying over and over, don't let other people's words take you down even when everything else around is falling try something new. Try something that you love to do not just something that gets you through your life and bills. Find you passion don't push it down.

Letters to Momo

This movie was well...different. It is some what a typical Japanese spirit movie but I wasn't expecting the comedy along with it. Speaking of the little guy with his tongue, I can't tell you enough how much I love that little dude. He was just so funny especially when he was trying to write only to remember that he couldn't about three hours later or something. He's basically the comedy relief of that movie. Well all three of the spirits were. But over all that movie was amazing! I loved it, can't wait for tomorrow's movie since I haven't seen Godzilla yet.

The Famous Chocolate Factory

First off I would like to point out how many times I've seen this movie. Yes, it is very joy filled and its kind of creepy at some points but I've watched this movie so many times I'm sure I could recite it from front to back maybe even vice versa. Anyway, although I have grown a little tired of this film I do actually enjoy the songs that are incorperated in it especially when its the famous ompa lompa's singing. Overall, this film and its colors are very entertaining to watch (even the new one is pretty good although I prefer the older one better) and it brings a smile to my face when I watch the various different contraptions that wonka comes up with. Definitely a movie to watch for kicks and giggles just don't watch it too much or you'll end up knowing almost every line like myself.

Like Father, Like Son...

This past Thursdays film was actually very interesting. At first when I heard the plot and the title I wasn't really sure on how to take it all in. I just didn't really see what it could be. But after watching the film I do have to say it definitely kept me glued to it. After all I felt many different feelings for the families, the almost disgust for the women that did that to them but then sympathy once I saw how torn she looked. But overall I constantly felt the tension between the sons and the parents it literally made me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the resolve. And speaking of, it felt that the reunion between the two families felt lagged, it was taking a bit too long for them to finally see the answer for their problems.

But overall, this was one of my favorites by far.

After Life Concept...

After life. Usually when I hear those two words I think of the Egyptian type of burial or the resurrection of the dead. I'm not exactly sure why that is but that's what truly comes to mind. But when I saw this film called After Life it made me think about it a little more than I had ever before. I mean for all we know this film could just be right but it also may not, we don't know and that's what makes it so fascinating to look at. No one truly does know what happens after death, yes, we may have an idea but no one has the true ideal of after life.

The after life has definitely caused me to be curious as well kind of scared of the idea. Like, what comes after death takes hold of our breaths? Will it be as glorious as we think? Or just pitch blackness... No one knows and no will after all you can't just die and return to the living that's physically impossible scientific speaking. But what ever the after life is I was glad to be able to see this film even though I was a little skeptical about it in the beginning.

Departures

Oh man...Where to start...

Well first off, this movie was amazing! I literally have no words for this film. The cello music was phenomenal not to mention the piano harmony that went with it, and the acting was just--agh!--beautiful as well!

Okay now that has been said, I have some other things that I would like to point out. For instance, the ceremony. I can see why people think that its a "worthless" job and people who do it are "tainted" with the dead. But to me, that ceremony was just beautiful, the precision, the focus, the determination behind all of it just makes it even better. Not to mention, it really makes you think about why they do that certain kind of ceremony. Personally, I really liked the scene near the end where the old man who cremated the bodies thinks it as some kind of gateway into the next life. And he is the gatekeeper. Just those few lines alone makes me respect the ceremonies and traditions that they do. Not only theirs but ours as well.

But all in all, I loved this film! To be quite honest I would probably watch it again but with hopefully less tears this time.

Yojimbo

This week's for Japan, that night was definitely an odd one but a very interesting film. At first, I wasn't really sure on what to except from it. At first I thought it was going to be a classic Japanese film but from what Yojimbo was not a classic per se, but it did have some very traditional qualities in though. But the one thing that I found interesting was how it was pretty similar to an old western American film where it had those two on two fights or the whole gang facing each other waiting to see who would make the next move.

It also brought to light on their traditions or culture. They definitely have somethings that we Americans would normally wouldn't allow. The way their style of clothing and fighting is also something you wouldn't find here its something that the Japanese take to heart. Over all, that movie was a first for me. And I do have to say it was pretty good in my opinion. Can't wait for next Japan's theme movie Thursday.

Spirited Away

Okay, well that movie was definitely an interesting one. And most of you probably don't know this but that was actually my first time ever watching that movie. But I have watched many of Hayao Miyazaki's films.

Overall, I loved its color and its animation was spectacular, most definitely on my favorite list now. But the one thing that I thought was kind of odd was "no face". Although his name is "no face" he still had a mask to symbolize where his face would most likely be if he did have one. Not to mention how he acted towards Chihiro when she didn't want anything that he provided causing him to become filled with sadness and greed once he entered that bath house.

Also, I absolutely loved the moments of comedy relief near the end with the baby once he was turned into a mouse as well as the little black bird with him. Just the way he mocked Chihiro by stepping onto the smudge mark where she squished the cursed slug. It was kind of a way where he was trying to conquer his fear of germs like he talked about when Chirhiro originally met him in his cushioned room.


But overall, this was an amazing flim and I most likely wouldn't mind watching it again if I got the chance to.