Jmovie review: A Lone Scalpel/Koukou no Mes

 
Saw this movie at the Japanese Film Festival. The movie I really wanted to see was Matsu Takako's revenge movie Confessions but I forgot all about it as I was too focused on finishing Jeanne D'Arc that weekend. Realised that I had missed most of the festival on Monday but the last movie had Tsutsumi Shinichi (Suspect X) and Natsukawa Yui (KDO) so it was a no brainer to go and watch.

Set in the 80s, Natsukawa Yui plays Nakamura Namiko, a single mom of a boy and a nurse in a rural hospital. She is tired of her work because the surgeons are incompetent and know that they can easily offer the excuse that rural hospitals are ill equipped compared to city hospitals. The rural doctors are only interested in keeping a low mortality rate so that they can get promoted and if they run into trouble, they just transfer the patient to a big hospital. It is with this backdrop that Toma sensei (Tsutsumi Shinichi) an excellent surgeon comes to the hospital and starts changing the lives of those around him, especially Nakamura.

Probably the most striking thing for me in this movie is the way the director films the operations. Its not like Iryu where is cool and magical or like most movie/dramas where its edited to be brief so as not to bore the audience. In A Long Scalpel, we are taken through the steps and like Toma says, surgery is like knitting. Slowly and laboriously cutting and sewing. It actually makes surgery look like hard work. Its not about how fast one can stitch or come up with some clever way to solve a complication. Surgery in A Lone Scalpel is like slowly putting one brick on top of another to create a wall except that major concentration is required. There are no major complications during surgery like in Iryu but its so compelling to watch because I could feel how on edge the characters were and as Toma meticulously went on with his work.

The first half basically deals with the effects of Toma's arrival, his personality and Nakamura's personal life. Its fun to watch Toma because he is this essentric and socially awkward, does his work well and likes to listen to Enka while operating. Nakamura sees him as more than a saviour but puts her passion into being the best nurse she can be. The second half gets into the meat of the story where an opportunity arises for Toma to do a liver transplant from a brain dead patient. Problem is, Japan had not recognised that brain dead patients are essentially dead and it was illegal to shut down life support.

The acting in this movie is of course awesome. Natsukawa Yui is the one actress who can pull off the simultaneous crying/pissed off/sad look that just tugs at your heartstrings. If there is one complaint from me is that, Nakamura should have been the center of the story. Fair enough that we needed to see things from Toma's point of view in order to explain some things but it feels like there are big holes in Nakamura's character arc. The movie would have been better served with her as the emotional anchor for the audience throughout the movie and not just in the beginning and end. Toma is more of an enigma and all scenes should have led back to Nakamura and her reactions/thoughts.

A Lone Scalpel is a movie that is not nearly as good as the sum of its parts but the parts are really awesome. From the realistic surgeries, the very funny mayor, to Toma being the source of humour with his social ineptitude to Nakumara's doe eyed staring at Toma.  Not quite must watch but definitely worth your time.

Reinoryokusha Odagiri Kyoko no Uso eps 1-5

 Reinoryokusha Odagiri Kyoko no Usowas never really on my radar because frankly to me, Ishihara Satomi's only good attribute is having the fullest lips in jdoramaland. I thought she was well cast as the clumsy girl in H2 but ever since then, all her shows from N's Aoi and Puzzle to Tobo Bengoshi hasn't shown me that she is more than a pretty face. Then I read this article on Tokyohive about how she was pretty sad about the last day of shooting and they had a lot of fun making the series. Could be your typical fake 'we had a great time and we're all good friends' dorama/movie promotion or it could be true that they had fun making the show and it might possibly to fun to watch as well. It couldn't hurt to try an episode, could it?

Ishihara Satomi plays the title character is a charisma clairvoyant who has her own regular tv show. Odagiri Kyoko doesn't have any powers but she has great detective skills. For some reason, when she is in regular clothes, people cannot recognise her or her lips from tv so she goes around pretending to be the director of the show while looking for clues. Odagiri Kyoko wants out of being a fake clairvoyant but is bound to servitude by her cousin Kaoru who is also her manager.

Tanihara Sousuke is Taniguchi, a member of the two person psychic police department and he is on a mission real psychics to aid the police. He also happens to be able to do magnificent physical feats, usually accompanied by him claiming to be a champion in a certain sport in the past. He also addresses his boss as S and his boss calls him M.

The modus operandi of the series is Odagiri Kyoko gets some mystical request/guest for an upcoming show, she investigates with Taniguchi to uncover the truth and appear with the guest on the show. The guest/villain is usually misguided and not a bad person and so Odagiri Kyoko cannot reveal the truth. She covers it up by pretending to be possessed by a spirit and speaking indirectly for the guest. It'll probably make more sense once you watch an episode.

To me, Odagiri Kyoko is a new variation to the Trick formula. Investigations into the weird and occult by a couple of flawed characters who make a great team. The humour is not as subdued as Trick but it is pretty funny and I like that similar to Trick, its more than with a straight face rather than winking at the camera. Such as how Odagiri Kyoko always makes a surprise entrance near the climax of each and her 'security guards' are always doing stuff like pointing yellow spotlights at her or dropping documents from the sky in order to make her look like she has powers.

Odagiri Kyoko is one fun show. From the S&M conversations of the psychic department to Kaoru putting Kyoko under her thumb, I was pretty much laughing at most of the jokes. The formula is slightly different from other shows because the perpetrator is not a bad person and though I know the truth, I still want to see how Odagiri Kyoko will cover it up.

Lastly, this show is awesome for Ishihara Satomi because she gets to a variety of roles. She plays the enigmatic clairvoyant, the reluctant investigator and not to mention the various roles when she pretends to get possessed. She's not yet an A-list, able to carry mediocre doramas actress but she has certainly shown me that she is not just a hypnotising pair of lips. Tanihara Shosuke does his usual funny stuff and he has pretty good chemistry with Ishihara Satomi. I can't really call Odagiri Kyoko a must watch as it hasn't really blown me away more than exceeded my limited expectations but its been a pretty good five episodes.

Iryu 3 subs dropped

 The big news this week is that Indokid,  Serene and Jasmine have decided to drop the Iryu 3 subbing project. The reason? Serene says Space, the person who runs yellowcinema disrespected indokid. You can see the whole incident here. From what I can gather, it basically started from yellowcinema uploading the series and subs to the website but not crediting the subbers.

The basis of space's argument is that there is no honour among thieves and that anything that is uploaded online is free to be stolen from others. If there is only one link for subs, what happens when the original link dies, yada yada yada. I'd imagine the 2000 people who've downloaded Iryu 3 would have the subs sitting on their HD if the links to the subs ever stopped working.

It comes back to the whole issue of other sites, especially streaming ones taking and using the work of fansub group without permission. An issue that has cause many a fansubber to stop subbing. My view on this is that it is not really a matter of ethics/morality. It is a question of utilitarianism. What is best for the jdorama addicts like you and me?

What would possess someone who understands Japanese perfectly to waste their time and sub for other people? If you can watch jdoramas and jmovies, why waste your limited free time so that other people can understand the show? Its all because they enjoy the shows and want other to enjoy them too. There's no money to be made.

So if a fansub group says that they would appreciate it people do not post their subs elsewhere, I think it is in the best interest of the community to at least respect their wishes for all the time and effort they have put into the subs, regardless of whether one feels that about sub ownership.

This is not anime where every show under the sun will get subbed by multiple subbing groups with fans arguing who has the best subs. Look through the subbing list at d-addicts and you can see many dropped jdoramas. There are a lot of nice shows out there that have never been fansubbed like Tadano Hitoshi. I think this incident could have been avoided if Space had done a proper apology but its too late now. At least the dialogue in Iryu 3 is pretty easy to understand except for the  medical and operations stuff.

Yellowcinema is an awesome website with lots of content. Its great for getting old stuff which are no longer being seeded and is the successor to am-addiction which is now dormant. With the success of the website, the simple act of crediting the subbers on the main Iryu 3 page would have avoided any controversy.

Mano Erina Calender 2011

I was hesitant to get this calender because the cover was pretty boring but after some soul searching, realised she was the only one who had a calender who I was a real fan of and that makes it worth the risk. Indeed, the risk has paid of and I think her 2011 calender is pretty good.

Awesome pose and the bottom right is very hypnotising.

My favourite picture!

Boring.

Why the life of a ball can be pretty exciting. On the other hand this attempt at cleavage shot and loli look juxtaposition doesn't appeal to me.

The kimono is usually the fail safe photo.

Mano + Piano = win!

The last picture is a better version of the cover.

I also got a Sakuraba Nanami calender and the only thing I have to say is that I'm never buying her calenders again and the photographer did a piss-poor job.

Kanryotachi no Natsu eps 1-6

When we think of Japan, we think of an industralised nation that creates a huge percentage of the world's cars and electronic goods. We think of a prosperous nation that has an incredible public transport system and superb internet. Kanryotachi no Natsu looks at post WW2 Japan as it is trying to revive its economy through the eyes of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI). More specifically, through the eyes of Kazakoshi (Sato Koichi) and Tamaki (Funakoshi Eiichiro) who opposing forces in MITI.

This dorama is about a Japan when the Americans would laugh at their attempts to create their own cars. This was a Japan that would export really cheap shirts to the US that were of poor quality. This was a Japan that was trying to create televisions which would be cheap enough for your average consumer to buy and using the upcoming Olympic games to spur the television industry. This was a time when refrigerators and washing machines were a luxury and cost months of pay. A time when pollution and destruction to the environment was not a foreseeable outcome of modernisation.

Sigh, indoor smoking in the good old days. :)

Probably the most interesting storyline from this dorama so far is the issue of free trade. MITI was responsible for protecting and nurturing the local Japanese industries. Protecting basically meaning restricting imports while trying to improve the local industries so that one day Japan could compete globally, something Kazakoshi was a proponent of.

However, the US-Japan relationship was very important post WW2 and the Americans were trying to force Japan to open the borders of its industries, ie allow free trade. However, the Minister of Trade Ikeuchi, played by the awesome Kitaoji Kinya who is backed by Tamaki believes that the bleeding of local industries is necessary in order to protect the Japan-US relationship and to teach Japan to stand on its own two feet. Basically you have two opposing forces in MITI, each doing what they think is right for Japan. Kanryotachi no Natsu asks all the right question and really gets you thinking about how scary free trade is for a growing economy.

 However the answer to all the questions really is how big is the picture you want to look at and how do you number your priorities? Is sacrificing small industries necessary to appease the US? Would that not mean that they would be more eager to place additional demands on Japan? Or is it not better to let the strong survive in the international marketplace instead of isolating Japanese industries from the world. Like the IBM episode where Japan has spent a lot of money trying to develop their own computer but in the end has to allow IBM limited entry into the Japanese market because Japan's technology is too far behind.

Ep 5 has the best English that I've ever heard by a Japanese speaker in a jdorama.

I come from a country where protecting local industries is just an excuse for politicians to get richer and allow the production of inferior products so its nice to see a show about bureaucrats and politicians actually doing their jobs, arguing over what is best for their country and playing the political game of seeking alliances and influencing votes. The backbone of the first 6 episodes of course the friendship between Kazakoshi and Tamaki, two good friends who are forced to oppose each other because of their beliefs.

I need to get me some white sideburns.

Kanryotachi no Natsu is an awesome show. Unfortunately, the last sub was uploaded in September so the status of the project is up in the air. If you've got an interest in history and want to see how a struggling economy can become a developed country, this is a must watch.

Sasaki Nozomi calender 2010

Apologies for shoddy camera work and lack of lighting. Too lazy to retake the pictures.

'Cover' of the calender.

Ok but would have been epic if she were not wearing a top.

Boring.

Nice view. :)

Kimono is always good.

Would be better if she were standing.

Kampai!

What dreams are made of.

Juui Dolittle eps 1-5

 
I was planning to give Juui Dolittle a miss. The name enough to give me images of talking animals, childish jokes and the over-photoshopped poster didn't inspire any confidence. To my surprise, Tottori (Oguri Shun) does not develop abilities to talk to animals. Dolittle is merely a nickname given to him by his uni friend Hanabishi (Narimiya Hiroki) because he was so good in his studies. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first reunion between these two stand up alumni.

MILF alert in ep 1.

So if Dolittle is not about a vet talking to animals, what is it about? Basically Tottori is the Asada Ryutaro of vets, able to perform the most difficult surgeries that no vet would want to do. He charges a premium for his services and is always direct in his dealings with other people. Hanabishi a charisma vet who regularly appears on television who is excellent at diagnosing animals but is unable to perform surgeries because of a past failure.

Joining them is Asuka, (Inoue Mao) who came to Tottori to help heal her horse but has to pay for it with her body by slavishly helping him out in his vet clinic. Hhmm, sounds like the perfect concept for a JAV. Asuka's job is basically to say to Tottori 'why are you so mean/money-faced' at least 3 times per episode and of course play the nice girl act that she does so well.

I do have to agree that sexy is not a word to describe Inoue Mao.

The bad thing about Dolittle is the stories can be very contrived and try way to hard to pull at the viewers' heartstrings. Your enjoyment of the series will depend on your willingness to be so openly manipulated by a jdorama. For cynical bastards like me who prefer subtle manipulation like in Hachiko Monogatari, some of the storylines and dialogue just had me rolling my eyes. I sort of expected the show to be aimed at kids but I didn't expect the writing to be done by them.

For example, the dolphin episode with the trainer who keeps shouting 'boku wa muri desu' in order to do a story with the message about not giving up. The level of maturity of the writing is such that its like the writer is trying to hit the message of the episode onto the viewers' heads over and over again with a giant hammer. However, I do appreciate the difficulty of writing a series about animals and usually they have two animal cases per episode.

Kuninaka Ryoko makes ep 4 worth watching.

Probably the main thing I enjoyed about Juyu Dolittle was the acting of the three main actors. The interplay between the characters is fun to watch, especially between Tottori constantly abusing Asuka and Hanabishi and Tottori's friendship. Oguri Shun was too young to be cast in Tokyo Dogs but he doesn't look that out of place here. There is the main story of this evil chain of vet hospitals and someone who keeps on harming animals in the park. Perhaps is due to my low expectations but Juui Dolittle is turning out to be a surprising watchable dorama.

Iryu 3 eps 5+6

 
I am so happy that the series is finally back on track. It made me realise that the minimum thing that this series needed was operations with some sort of emotional investment from the viewers and what operation is more important than one where the hero of the series goes under the knife. Sure, we know its going to succeed but the exciting commentary by Fujiyoshi and Fuyumi and the awesome soundtrack

Speaking of soundtrack, the perfect example of how it just elevates the series to another level is that cheesy talk Asada has with the wheelchair kid in episode 5. With any other actor or with any other music, it wouldn't have worked but it was so well timed with the music. The way it the song rises to the chorus just after Asada says the cheesy main line is just so uplifting. I was just humming the song along the scene. Interesting to note that the tune is not in the OSTs of the first two seasons of Iryu. Its sounds a bit like the 'Origin of Silence' but is different.

With my misgivings about Iryu 3 turning Ijyuiin to the dark side so easily, the writer has shown that it was all in good cause, firstly to make Ijyuiin the man regardless of the fact that he runs like a fairy and to fulfill Asada's earlier foreshadowing that a team is a group where members can rise to the occasion and cover for each other when one is not there.

Something tells me pissing Kito sensei off is a bad idea.

All this erratic build up is about whether Team Dragon can exist without Asada and to put Ijyuiin and Kato in the forefront. The writer has finally given me a reason to like those two characters again. Watching Ijyuiin step up to the plate was fun after him playing sidekick for two seasons and him realising what it takes to be in Asada's shoes and the importance of the team to Asada. In addition to allowing Iryuiin and Kato to step into the limelight, this prevents Asada from being overexposed and saves him for the main event at the end of the series.

Kuroki's sad past is finally revealed though he was yet to turn good. I forsee a joint catheter-heart surgery operation for the last episode. They've started building up what could be the final surgery of the series which is a good idea. Episode 7 will deal with an operation which is personal to Kato sensei so we get more personal stories with the team. However, I think that the Kato story should have been saved for later and writer should do stories about the new nurse, Hibiki and the intern Fuyumi.

Hibiki is part of Team Dragon yet we know nothing about her so there is not reason to care about her. Fuyumi has basically been the commentary partner of Fujiyoshi and plot explainer with long haired doctor but for all the screen time she has been having, she deserves an episode for her story. I loled at Kito sensei using the mabo tofu line on Noguchi. Seems like he will be back later but the last two episodes have made me realise that for Iryu, human villains are mere salad dressing. The true bad guy is the operation and as long as there is a hook for the audience to latch to, that's all the show needs. 

Entlassen, Mr Noguchi!

Eps 5 and 6 is an example of the writer wanting to tell a certain story and not really starting it off in the right way but because its a story worth telling, it pays off. Of course this does not apply to all jdoramas but the Iryu series has never had any problems with execution and it was a matter of season 3 finding its own legs to stand on.

Jmovie review: Solanin

Solanin is a movie for the early 20s audience and is based on a pretty successful manga, from what I can gather. Meiko (Miyazaki Aoi) and Taneda are recent university graduates who are currently drifting in life. Meiko works as and OL and does not enjoy her job because her boss is always harassing her. Taneda meanwhile is jobless and is supported by Meiko because he plays in a band with two uni-mates; the drummer is the son of a drugstore owner and the bassist is still in uni because he knows that one he starts working, his life is over.

The first hour of Solanin is pretty much a lot of early 20 angst. Meiko wants to quit her job but is worried about the future. Taneda doesn't know what he wants and is just drifting through the life in a daze, living the perfect lifestyle that I can only dream of. He doesn't like it when Meiko tries to move him move forward because who wouldn't want to continue their uni lifestyle where you actually have time to do nothing. Basically Taneda and co don't want to let go of the band because it represents their youth and yet the band cannot take them where they need to go.

The first hour didn't work for me primarily because there's not much chemistry between Meiko and Taneda. You get two people at the lowest point of their relationship so its understandable but then there's way too much angst and whining that I don't really care about the characters. I'm just watching the movie thinking what's the point of the story? Then 80 minutes in the movie, we finally get the Solanin is about.

I'd be crying tears of happiness too if I were taking Miyazaki Aoi for a ride.

Taneda dies in a motorbike accident. Yes! Now I have to just get past the crying and moping part and then we get to Miyazaki Aoi's awesome performance of AKFG's Solanin. So here's Solanin in a nutshell, 80 minutes of whining, 20 minutes of crying and then final 20 minutes of Meiko learning to play with Taneda's band so she can give an awesome performance at the end.

If only they had cut at least 20 minutes of whining. I know its important for the second half but it was just a constant 'woe is me, I don't put effort in my band, don't have a job and live off my girlfriend'. Essentially the movie was supposed to build up Taneda and his relationship with Meiko before killing but to me it was already lifeless to begin with.

Despite my whining and negative comments (something in common with Taneda), I still this its a watchable movie saved by the awesome though slightly cliched second half, supporting characters and of course Miyazaki Aoi.