Hey, Moon.: April 2011

So many things have happened, mostly school stuff, and I haven't been able to write down something sensible in a while. (Or have I ever? Haha.) Most are doodles and scribbles on Yuuta, my planner. So aside from worrying about where to intern this summer, I have been watching some films that have been on my list for so long already.

The Case of Itaewon Homicide (2009)

[이태원 살인사건/ Itaewon Salinsageon ]

Starring Jang Geun-Seuk as Arthur Patterson, one of the two suspects in the murder of a college student in a burger joint at Itaewon, The Case of Itaewon Homicide was based on a true story following the gritty trial of the mysterious case that remains unsolved to this day.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
[時をかける少女/ Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo]

This animated science-fiction film stars Naka Riisa as the voice of the female lead Makoto Konno, a high school student who suddenly discovered the ability to go back through time. The film features Makoto's coming-of-age and friendship with her two friends Chiaki Mamiya (Takuya Ishida) and Kosuke Tsuda (Mitsutaka Itakura).

Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
[大红灯笼高高挂/ Dà Hóng Dēnglóng Gāogāo Guà]

A young woman, Songlian (Gong Li) decides to become the fourth mistress of a wealthy man because of poverty. She then went to live in her new patron's residence along with the man's other wives. Vying for their husband's attention, the first wife and the now three concubines struggle to live through their entwined lives and miseries.

First Love/ A Crazy Little Thing Called Love (2010)
[สิ่งเล็กเล็ก ที่เรียกว่า..รัก/ Sing leklek Tee reak wa... Rak]

This Thai romantic comedy is a coming of age film featuring Mario Maurer and Baifern Pimchanok. A typical teenybopper plot-wise, the story revolves around the affection of the "average" Nam (Pimchanok) for the popular Shone (Maurer), one year her senior. In time, the crush developed into love that carried on through years. First Love is wise and funny, nostalgic and visually-appealing. No wonder it became such a hit among the young viewers.

The Love of Siam (2007)
[รักแห่งสยาม/ Rak Haeng Sayam]

This Thai film is a three-hour multilayered family romance-drama. Starring Witwisit Hiranyawongkul (Mew) and Mario Maurer (Tong), the story revolves around the friendship and romance between the two teenage boys, and the lives of their respective family members and friends.

I can't seem to listen to other songs other than this one from the movie. This has been recommended to me a long time ago and it's definitely worth the accolades it received. The Love of Siam is both tragic and triumphant, poignant and truly heartrending.

I think my intent to create a separate blog where I could write my views on the (mostly Asian) films I have been watching is an offshoot of the past semester that was. I also wish to apply what I have learned from the three film electives I have taken. My fascination for movies seriously took shape only after taking these classes, and I feel like a changed man. HAHA.

I want to make the first entry special, so I decided to re-watch the entire Nodame Cantabile series, so I could write objectively about the The Final Movement parts II and II. I really don't know how many times I've watched random episodes, this series being one of my two all-time favorites. But I think this is the first time I watched it from the beginning.

This time, I think I was paying more attention to the music rather than the plot, and maybe on the transition rather than the acting (maybe because I already know by heart how amazing everyone in this series was haha). Maybe I'm just way too biased but I can't seem to find a fault--the fact that its approach is over-the-top is what makes it effective.

I tried watching it with double the normal speed, but it felt like I was disrespecting the artistic endeavors that made Nodame Cantabile what it is. <3

Hey, Moon.

29 April 2011

Some of the remarkable films I have seen lately

23 April 2011

Because I love Nodame and her friends like that