Okay, the movie turns into pure mainsteam after the first half and the ending is such a crowd pleaser it made me sick (although I love the very last scene). But hey, the rest is great stuff. Maeda Aki looks cuter than ever, Sekine Shiori is a new (and cute) acquaintance and Bae Doo-na, my god she was so great. Her acting (especially comedy) is wonderful and her singing is better and more energetic than that of most real pop stars. My favourite thing about Linda x 3 is actually not a scene in the movie but the live gig they held at the premiere (?). The songs are great, the soundtrack and quitar tunes by James Iwa are great, the girls are sweet… Nice film overall. Beats Nana anytime. However, if you want to see a true Nobuhiro Yamashita masterpiece, go watch Realism no yado (2003).
First things second; the girls
Shiori
Aki
Doo-na
Yu
I’ve got too much to say, double posting (don’t do this after me kids)
Official site here: 「リンダリンダリンダ」OFFCIAL WEBSITE
Trailer here: http://www.bitters.co.jp/linda/linda3_tokuhou_500.wmv
US dvd will apparently be released some day (soon)
Sweet cap from the movie
Girls playing for real
I saw this movie last year at the internation filmfestival Rotterdam and thought it was ok. Nothing more, nothing less. One of the most predictable and mainstream films I know but it was still entertaining enough.
Doo-na Bae is one of my favourite actress, so I was actually getting a hold of this this morning before I saw the thread!
Interesting Nobuhiro Yamashita interview: <LINK_TEXT text=“http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/n … ita2.shtml”>Midnight Eye interview: Nobuhiro Yamashita</LINK_TEXT>
The Japan Times review of his latest (Matsugane Ransha Jiken) suggests he’s done another mainstream flick in a row now, and with less success this time.
<LINK_TEXT text=“http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ … 302a2.html”>http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ff20070302a2.html</LINK_TEXT>
And just before Linda he did a live action hentai (which of I was completely unaware till I read the interview)…
R1 review: <LINK_TEXT text=“http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?c … true#24222”>http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=64874&latestcomment=true#24222</LINK_TEXT>
Lesser transfer, lesser extras (missing the live footage for example) but looks still decent.
Yamashita’s new film coming with subs (I’d make a thread for it but I figured I’m the only one interested so maybe not)
CDJapan : Tennen Kokekko (English Subtitles) Japanese Movie DVD
(director Yamashita)
This could be alright. I don’t dare to set my expectations high but I’ll give it a try.
Review: <LINK_TEXT text=“http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ … 720a2.html”>http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ff20070720a2.html</LINK_TEXT>
Yamashita subs everywhere right now. Totally unexpectedly Matsugane Ransha Jiken fansubs appeared a few days ago… and made me intereted in the film again. I think I may have misjudged the film before. I saw some screencaps that looked moch more low key than the horrible official site, and the reviews don’t really look that bad:
Something like Fargo re-imagined by Aki Kaurismäki, The Matsugane Potshot Affair is a delight from start to finish, bearing all the idiosyncratic style and uncompromised confidence of a talented upstart-turned-established auteur.
- <LINK_TEXT text=“Midnight Eye review: The Blessing Bell (Kofuku no Kane, 2002, SABU) … fair.shtml”>Midnight Eye review: The Matsugane Potshot Affair (Matsugane Ransha Jiken, 2006, Nobuhiro YAMASHITA)</LINK_TEXT>
Gonna add this to my next months shopping list.
Watched Tennen kokekko earlier this week and it’s very good. It’s practically missing all the melodrama and crowd pleasing coolness that plagues japanese cinema nowadays. The actors are good, and Yamashita’s eye for cinematography, editing and use of music / silence is exeptional. For example the long side shot where the kids are walking and “listening” to mountains is simply amazing. Overall, no match to Yamashita’s older masterpieces (No One’s Ark, Realism no yado) but best that japanese cinema has to offer at the moment.
The R2J is a near perfect packages. Excellent transfer, gorgeous package, booklet and a bonus disc. And english subs for the film, too.
Screencaptures
Behind the scenes
Maestro needs more sleep…
or he’ll never grow up, lol
Yamashita drawing his picture
Sweet, adorable Kaho
